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Post by truenorth on May 22, 2018 6:55:32 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 22, 2018 8:06:44 GMT -8
Iannone will not continue in Suzuki and aims for Aprilia It was a special day for the Suzuki team. He received the visit, nothing less than its global president, Toshihiro Suzuki , who came to Hungary to a meeting with the largest distributors of the brand. The Japanese decided to make a stop at Le Mans to see the race live and cheer on his squad. However, things were not as good as expected or as they had been in the previous races: they had three podiums in four races.Iannone fell in turn 5 of the first lap when he was in the 'top 5' could fight, at least, for the podium. Rins was not very consistent and finished tenth to 27.9 seconds behind the winner.However, the biggest stick for Andrea came to the knowledge of part of his brand that does not have him by 2019. The Vasto was informed that they have no intention of renewing. They opened the door to look for the future outside of its structure. He had two consecutive posts in the box, but his irregularity and his bad year 2017, when he was carrying the weight of development and making the wrong path with the cost of a disastrous campaign, weighed a lot. Álex , on the other hand, was renewed for two seasons. It became official on Thursday. The heir of the Suzuki empire gave him courage. They trust him.The solution for Iannone is clear. According to its surroundings, it is very close to signing for Aprilia. I already sensed that this could happen with Suzuki and had spoken with other factories and teams. In fact, he already did it in 2017, when things went wrong and when they were regular. His arrival, along with the continuity of Aleix Espargaró , also officially sealed in France, leaves Scott Redding without room , very questioned by his performance, and Danilo Petrucci , who had in his compatriots a firm option in case of not reaching the official team of Ducati.
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Post by Pistola on May 22, 2018 8:10:14 GMT -8
I still can't get over this from Le Mans.
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Post by truenorth on May 22, 2018 8:51:46 GMT -8
13 “Marc is a freak!” by Mat Oxley on 22nd May 2018 Another race, another victory, so what exactly is Marc Márquez’s big secret? I’m stood in the Le Mans pitlane, chatting with a venerable MotoGP engineer, trying to eke from him the relative merits of every bike on the grid. “The holy grail of motorcycle racing has always been to come up with a device that can save front-end slides, and now Honda has one…” he says, pausing for effect. “He’s called Marc Márquez.” And that there is the story of MotoGP right now. Love him or loathe him, Márquez is on another level to everyone else. He has an ability that none of the others possess. That doesn’t mean he’s unbeatable, because he’s not always the fastest man out there, but it’s this unique talent that helps him to make the difference. Most people only notice Márquez sliding the front tyre when he’s saving a slide, or not quite saving a slide. But his uncanny ability to play with the front tyre isn’t merely about trying to save crashes; it’s about using the front-tyre slide as a performance tool, to help pivot the bike at the apex of the corner to tighten his line and therefore cut faster lap times. His almost supernatural ability to save front slides was especially noticeable at Le Mans, where there were no less than 109 crashes over the three days, more than twice the total at Jerez a fortnight earlier. Márquez was one of those fallers. On Saturday morning he was, as always exploring deep into the unknown when he tipped into the Turn 3 left-hander, lost the front at 56 degrees of lean and crashed his Repsol Honda RC213V. But the crash was a long-time coming, especially in super-slow-mo. The front tyre folded to the left a few degrees, the handlebars swung the same way by a few degrees and the bike stayed like that for what seemed like an eon, as he fought to stay in control, by digging his left elbow into the kerb, by digging his left knee into the asphalt, by adjusting his body position and by gently opening the throttle take load off the front tyre. Throughout these few seconds the tyre had already lost grip, it was merely skating across the asphalt, while Márquez scrambled to remove some load, slow the skid and give the rubber a chance to regain traction. Finally the battle was lost, the handlebars swung to full lock and he was down: scraping the bodywork, breaking the aero and snapping a footrest. Márquez got straight to his feet, picked the bike out of the gravel, bumped-started the engine and carried on like nothing had happened, upping his pace over the next few laps to go second quickest in the session, even though the RCV’s lopsided aero made the bike pull to the right whenever he hit the brakes. There is a reason why riders crash at Turn 3 (Le Mans’ first left-hander). The left side of the front tyre hasn’t touched the asphalt since Turn 12 of the previous lap and has been cooling down ever since, so by the time the rider arrives at Turn 3 the front tyre may have reached a critically low temperature. This is something that all riders must deal with at Le Mans. I remember watching at the same corner on Saturday morning in 2012, when four MotoGP riders ended up in the gravel because their front tyre had cooled down too much on the start/finish straight. Imagine the psychology of dealing with that as you hurtle through the 150mph turns one and two, then brake into the next corner…
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Post by truenorth on May 22, 2018 9:05:21 GMT -8
Márquez will do a complete test with a Red Bull Formula 1 Oriol Puigdemont According to Motorsport.com, Marc Márquez will take a test drive at the wheel of a Formula 1 car in Spielberg in two weeks. Le Mans (France) .- The initiative, promoted by Red Bull, will also allow the premiere of a single-seater to Dani Pedrosa and Tony Cairoli, nine times motocross world champion , all of them sponsored by the energy drinks brand. This is the way that the Austrian company has to thank the effort and the good results achieved lately by the three pilots. The tests, scheduled for the next days June 5 and 6, just after the Italian Grand Prix, will be made with a racing car that will incorporate a V8 engine that was used before the entry into the F1 World of hybrid technology (2014).
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Post by truenorth on May 22, 2018 9:35:55 GMT -8
Yamaha, save the Lorenzo rider Jarvis has already done it with Rossi. Today the Mir option makes it difficult for Jorge to move into Suzuki, but a third official M1 is possible Paolo Scalera 22/05/2018 With the top riders in place, and from that day even if Dovizioso has been slow to sign with Ducati until Le Mans there is only one really interesting rider still free and is Jorge Lorenzo. Needless to be around, or try to belittle five-time world champion. The Mallorcan is a winner whose talent is definitely not diminished by not being able to tame the Red. After all, Melandri has burnt herself (with Stoner on the side that has annihilated her team-mate more than Dovizioso did ) and also Valentino Rossi's Speed , so ... it's useless to spend too many words. The list of pilots who tried us without success is too long to repropose it. The Ducati is not an easy bike, and let's stop with the assertion that today's one is different from that of the Stoner era. Casey won us, Valentino when he got there he immediately realized that he would not get a spider out of the hole. Obviously we talk about different years and different technicians to develop it, Filippo Preziosi and Gigi Dall'Igna are probably the antithesis, but it is the constructive philosophy that counts. And just as every Honda exiting the Tokyo plants meets certain characteristics, so is every Ducati. Otherwise all the pilots would not agree to say that it should be driven forcefully. But back to Jorge Lorenzo, the illustrious absent from the top step of the podium of the last two seasons. Where will Borgo Panigale be abandoned? It was said that the direction taken would lead to Hamamatsu , but just at Le Mans has jumped out the option ( confirmed by the protagonists ) Joan Mir. A relatively safe investment considering that after the World Championship title it took only five Grand Prix to get on the Moto2 podium. The problem, in his case, is a preemption in favor of Honda . But if the HRC does not make it worth the saddle that is currently Andrea Iannone would go to the young Spaniard. A hypothesis so probable that the Maniac has already probed the possibility of Aprilia . Danilo Petrucci , of course, has already been offered , should he be preferred Jack Mille r and not be promoted to the first team alongside Dovizioso-at this point the bikes available in official teams would be over because only satellite teams would remain (on paper). In reality it is not so because they dance two 'ghost' motorcycles, those of the Marc VDS team , in great ambush at this time for the resolution of the relationship between the team manager Michael Bartholemy and the Belgian billionaire Marc van Der Straten . Currently with the Honda Mr. VDS was given in talks with Yamaha . A logical choice that would have brought Franco Morbidelli as a dowry . What would happen at this point if, shaking the torpor that so far seems to have wrapped up Lin Jarvis saw the opportunity to bring back to Yamaha just dear Jorge? A third official bike is what Honda and Ducati have been doing for a long time and it would be the right choice. Given also some recent statements by Vinales could support the same Ramon Forcada (as does Ducati with his technicians in Pramac) in the team, with the solid knowledge of having a third driver available to win. The operation, we are sure, would have the blessing of Carmelo Ezpeleta, who can not afford to see Marc Marquez lord over and over in his league. Of course, there are problems to the realization of this goal: Marc van Der Straten loves the young and the Moto2 and would like to bring up in class queen Alex Marquez , but frankly we do not see the two Spaniards exhibit the same weight on the scale. That said, since there will not be two other Suzuki - it's since the days of Kevin Schwantz that promise and never saw each other - and that even Aprilia will not provide any satellite team, at this moment there are dramatically more riders than bikes available. Someone will remain with the match in hand. Fosse Jorge Lorenzo would be a scandal.
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Post by truenorth on May 22, 2018 19:39:00 GMT -8
Private 2018 Catalunya MotoGP test times - Tuesday Peter McLaren 22 May 2018 Final lap times from the opening day of a private MotoGP test at Catalunya. Following Sunday's French MotoGP, most riders have travelled to Spain to take part in a private test at the Circuit de Catalunya. The test has been arranged to evaluate tyres and gather data on the new track surface, which includes a return to the original penultimate corner instead of the F1 chicane, ahead of next month's race. Rain on Tuesday morning meant many riders have postponed testing until Wednesday. However the following lap times were set by those that did venture out today, which saw dry running in the afternoon and some very quick lap times relative to the 'old' circuit... Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 40.422s [Lap 39/45] 3 seconds faster than MM's quali record!Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 1m 40.519s +0.097s [40/41] Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 40.522s +0.100s [32/39] Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 40.602s +0.180s [54/55] Scott Redding GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 40.928s +0.506s [31/31] Mika Kallio FIN KTM Test Rider (RC16) 1m 41.096s +0.674s [56/58] Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 1m 41.134s +0.712s [44/44] Sylvain Guintoli FRA Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) 1m 42.162s +1.740s [24/37] Official Catalunya MotoGP records: Pole Position: Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 43.589s (2016) Fastest race lap: Jonas Folger GER Yamaha 1m 45.969s (2017)
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2018 2:46:02 GMT -8
Maximum concern for the fall of Tito Rabat. Catalunya Test
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2018 2:53:48 GMT -8
Sun at Barcelona: everyone out to test: Perfect conditions at Montmelò, the first out on track this morning was JorgeLorenzo
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2018 3:07:19 GMT -8
“Yes, my priority is to make the jump to MotoGP”, Joan Mir Everyone believed that Joan Mir was going to do well in Moto 2 when the Mallorcan rider moved to the intermediate category as Moto3 World Champion. But most probably didn’t predict he would perform with the precocity that he has. His spectacular race in Austin in the third GP of the season put him in the spotlight and he automatically entered the list of potential future riders on virtually all factory MotoGP teams. Mir is the name of the moment.
We sat down with the Spanish rider in Le Mans before the French GP to talk about the current season, but more importantly about the future and how likely is the move to MotoGP next year. “If I had an offer from MotoGP, I would like to go…Yes, my priority is to be in MotoGP,” Joan replied with the complete ease. Talking with him is natural. He’s a young man who expresses himself well, is very clear about what he wants to say, and transmits a calmness of one who has everything under control. I think that’s called maturity. The first thing we asked was about the race in Austin, where after passing 19th on the first lap, he crossed the finish line fourth, 5.3 seconds from the winner. “The truth is that after the first two races, in which our progression was good, I expected that in Texas we could be fighting to be ahead,” he explains without false modesty. “In practice we were very strong, always among the 3-4-5 in front. Then in the race what happened was: They touched me and that forced me to race from the back of the pack. But well beyond that, we showed that we are able to be competitive in this category in just a few races.” “I would like my time in Moto2 to be as brief as possible” After Texas you turned into a contender for the title! “It’s true, yes, but it’s not that easy. Here all the riders have a tough experience. Yes it is true that we have scored points in all races and that’s something very positive. We are going a way that I like; we always are in the points. And I think that if you do things right, it’s normal for people to put you as a contender for the title.” I see that you don’t dismiss it [the title]. “I don’t rule it out because if we keep going this way…In each race we are getting stronger. My feelings on the bike are getting better, I feel like we are a single unit. The sensations are the same as I felt last year with the Moto3. So, why not think about the title? At the moment I think my progression is still very good.” You mentioned that consistency in this category is very important, that there can’t be ups and downs. “Exactly. The Jerez race, for example, was complicated by the physical problems I suffered: gastroenteritis, and I preferred to score points rather than try everything and crash.” You’ve had very little time with Moto2. What is the most difficult thing? “Under braking I’m very comfortable with respect to the others. It’s always been my strong point, although I still don’t feel as comfortable as I should; I still can’t stop the bike completely. In a category like this you have to have the bike set up for you. In Moto3, if you didn’t have the perfect bike, with drafting you could manage the race and at the end you were still in the battle. Not here. Here you have to have everything perfect and in just a few races it’s difficult for the team to understand 100% what you need … I know I can do better, but in relation to others I think I’m already at a good level. “I am the one who decides my future. I am fully aware of what I can sign, what I can do and what I want to do” What else? So … In braking I’m fine, in the corners I’m fine, but the moment to turn the bike to get out is where it’s the hardest for me, and that’s where we’re working. We did some tests in Mugello before coming to France that went very well; I feel better every time. And accelerating, how are you? “Well…We are all equal; we all have the same engine. The key is the moment of opening gas sooner, meaning having the bike well positioned to accelerate.” Is it true that you have commented in your garage that your time in Moto2 will be short? “No, I have not said that, but yes, I would like it to be brief. I would like to feel comfortable in this category as soon as possible, as I am doing now, and if I am fighting with the riders in the front in the first year…If a MotoGP offer came then I’d like to leave.” “I see myself along the same path that Viñales followed; I think it’s a step to take if the occasion arises.” Is not it essential that you do it as a champion? “No, my priority is to be in MotoGP; but as I said, to make the jump, I have to feel strong.” Do you think about the case of Miller, who made the step to MotoGP and had a hard time catching up in the category? “It’s not the same; he went from Moto3 to MotoGP. I see myself more on the path that Viñales followed. I think it’s a step to take if the occasion arises. MotoGP is where all the best are; being there is my dream. ” Do you manage your sports career or do you have someone you trust who decides for you? “No, no … I’m the one who decides. I’m fully aware of what I can sign, what I can do and what I want to do.” What do you think is the right way to get to MotoGP? In the style of Viñales, who did two seasons with a transition team like Suzuki, or like Márquez who went directly to the front line going to HRC? Well … It’s hard to say. But I think that when Maverick went to Suzuki the team was a top team, not a second line team. I don’t think it was comparable to a Pramac or some satellite team. The Suzuki option will have projection; Maverick’s path is a good idea.” Your relationship with Alex Márquez, how is it? “Good, good. This team is like two teams in one; We work independently, but it doesn’t mean there is no communication between the two parts.” Do you follow the racing in MotoGP? Yes always. And how do you see it? Well …I see like, I see that Marc is cleaning up a little this year. Making correct decisions in MotoGP is important. I say this because, for example, Viñales signed before the season started and he found himself on a motorcycle that makes him crazy. “Yes, that’s right, making the right decisions is important. But it’s in MotoGP and in the rest of the categories. The important thing in hard times is to go forward and overcome those moments; then the victories come easier.
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Post by truenorth on May 24, 2018 8:57:43 GMT -8
Dovizioso: "Those were days when I thought I could beat Valentino's titles" by Esperanza Murcia Moreno 23 May. 18 Andrea Dovizioso tells his sporting career on 'Asfalto'. A trip as an autobiography for its beginnings and its achievements but also for its dreams. Behind every champion hides a story. Andrea Dovizioso , one of the most reserved pilots of the paddock, wanted to tell his story. He has done it in 'Asphalt' , an autobiography that makes a journey throughout his career. A world championship in 125cc, 18 victories and 84 podiums give more than a good argument. In that autobiography he also talks about his beginnings, when he began to dream on the bike. And in those dreams he talks about a specific person, Valentino Rossi . In reference to those years, Dovizioso tells that he dreamed of equaling 'Il Dottore' and even surpassing him: "It was the years of everything possible, in which the point of reference was Valentino, it was inevitable not to think that he could reach to be like him, the strongest in the world . " He thought about the numbers and said why not: "Doing the calculations: he won the championship in 125cc in his second year, I in the third, so I thought now I go to 250cc, I win immediately and I get up to par; then I go to MotoGP and win the others. " A time when he looked hungry and the illusion did the rest: "Those were days when I really thought I could beat Valentino's titles; I was convinced that I could be stronger than Pedrosa , one of those who I liked the most then; it was just about doing the right things and then getting on the track . " He looked so strong that he was not afraid of his rivals or the circumstances he might encounter: "The opponents? They did not count. Technical problems? I would solve them. I thought big because I was used to winning . " They are the thoughts of a person who begins a dream, a human feeling of who looks at their idols to overcome. He has not managed to get to the numbers he was looking for, but he can say that, today, with his Ducati, he is one of the strongest riders in MotoGP, plenty of material to write 'Asphalt' .
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Post by truenorth on May 24, 2018 9:02:53 GMT -8
Jorge Lorenzo faces the toughest challenge of his sporting career With the matter of Andrea Dovizioso’s continuation resolved, all eyes in Team Ducati have turned towards Jorge Lorenzo. His majestic arrival to the Ducati box is ancient history. The signing of the multimillionaire that should have taken Borgo Panigale’s factory to the top of the championship has not only not fulfilled expectations, but has not even come close. And in this world where you are your results, his value has plummeted sharply. His continuation in the ranks of Ducati is in the air, very much up in the air; there are few who trust him. The possibility of seeing Jorge in red next year basically depends on two things: one is performance and the other is economics…and we can say that both are going to be harsh. First, Lorenzo has to fulfill some sporting obligations and after that, accept certain economic conditions. Few are the people in Ducati who have still faith in Jorge Lorenzo. In the sporting aspect, the Spanish rider will have to demonstrate a high level of competitiveness and, above all, consistency in the next races. And what does that mean? I would say that means he at least needs to be on the podium. The feeling is that his performances in Mugello and Barcelona will determine whether or not to discuss the second part of the conditions for Lorenzo’s continuation: economics. If the first requirement is complicated, the second is even more so. Ducati would offer Lorenzo conditions similar to those presented to Dovizioso two years ago. That is, a fixed “low” salary and bonuses depending on results. Jorge was signed and paid to win the title, but he has not even won a race. If he continues in Ducati he will have to accept the conditions that Andrea accepted two years ago. Dovizioso opted for them, and that is what Lorenzo should do if he intends to continue with Ducati. This proposition that sounds so reasonable is at odds with the Spanish rider, who holds up his three-time MotoGP World Champion status to claim an economic status that is five or six times what Ducati would offer if he meets or exceeds the results requirement. Lorenzo has tired of repeating phrases such as: “In this championship there are two riders who make a difference when they are on an appropriate motorcycle: Márquez and me” or “The money that a team pays me I understand as the respect that team has towards my riding quality.” The opinions are completely contradictory, as you can see. After 11 years in MotoGP on factory teams and well paid, the time has come for Lorenzo to bet on himself … as did Dovizioso two years ago and Rossi in 2013 with his return to Yamaha. But Lorenzo has less and less room for maneuvering. Well, actually at this point he has nearly no room left. With the Suzuki option fading and the other factory bikes spoken for, where can Jorge go? Unless his manager has an ace up his sleeve, on the horizon of Lorenzo’s future, there are very black clouds. It sounds crazy to imagine Jorge Lorenzo closing his time in the World Championship. Just imagining it gives me chills, but as things are, that possibility is on the table. The only option is a drastic change of approach. After 11 years in MotoGP with certainly always with strong contracts, the time has come for Lorenzo to bet on himself. With the current balance in his bank account with many digits—though probably not quite yet at the 100 million the Spaniard wants to make in MotoGP—the money should topic should move into the background. If he says he has a job to finish at Ducati and he is sure of himself, is not it time to make a bet? Andrea Dovizioso did it two years ago—signing an awards contract—and accepted it, as did Valentino Rossi on his return to Yamaha in 2013 … In any case, Lorenzo must first demonstrate that he is capable of being consistently competitive on the Desomosedici… and his time is drastically running out.
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Post by truenorth on May 24, 2018 9:55:21 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 25, 2018 5:21:20 GMT -8
MotoGP Silly Season After Le Mans: Mir In, Lorenzo Out?
David Emmett on Fri, 2018-05-25 04:40
At the beginning of the year, I predicted that MotoGP's Silly Season this year would change the face of the MotoGP grid beyond recognition. The revolution I predicted looks like it is coming to pass, but as with every prediction, the changes happening are beyond even what I had expected. Young talent is coming into the series - Joan Mir, Miguel Oliveira - big names are changing bikes - Johann Zarco, Andrea Iannone - and a couple of major names face being left without a ride altogether.
A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks. Contracts have been signed with Andrea Dovizioso, Johann Zarco, Aleix Espargaro, Alex Rins, Miguel Oliveira, and Pol Espargaro, adding to the contracts signed earlier in the year with Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales, Marc Marquez, and Pecco Bagnaia. With Cal Crutchlow, Franco Morbidelli, and Xavier Simeon already having a contract, there are thirteen seats officially taken for next year. Ducati have an option on Jack Miller - and look certain to exercise it - making it fourteen riders in a strong position. And Taka Nakagami looks very likely to keep his seat at LCR Honda.
But the big news is what happens at Suzuki, Ducati, and Repsol Honda. Rumors that Joan Mir would sign for Suzuki grew very strong at Le Mans, as I wrote on Friday, and now appear to be taking shape. The reliable Spanish journalist Mela Chercoles is reporting in sports daily AS that Joan Mir has signed a two-year deal with Suzuki, which will see him line up alongside Alex Rins for the next two years.
The choice of Mir over either Jorge Lorenzo or Andrea Iannone is the decision of Suzuki bosses in Japan, rather than the team manager Davide Brivio. After a difficult year with Iannone, where both results and PR efforts had disappointed, Japanese bosses decided to choose youth over experience. The pairing of the 22-year-old Rins with the 20-year-old Mir will make them the youngest factory team on the grid, though 2019 will be Rins' third year in the championship, which should be sufficient experience to build a development program on. Mir is exceptionally highly regarded by MotoGP teams, and had interest from both Honda and Ducati. The arrival of Mir means Iannone will be pushed out to Aprilia.
Mir signing with Suzuki leaves Jorge Lorenzo in a very difficult spot. The paddock had been treating Lorenzo's switch to Suzuki as a done deal, as several sources were indicating that a deal was close throughout testing and the early season. But Suzuki's Japanese bosses decided otherwise, and now Lorenzo's only realistic option is Ducati.
The problem for Lorenzo is that Ducati's patience with the Spaniard is wearing very thin indeed. Lorenzo was brought in to Ducati as a three-time MotoGP champion, and a rider ready to take Ducati to wins and a world championship, and he was paid accordingly. Yet it has been Dovizioso who did what Lorenzo was expected to do, while Lorenzo has struggled to adapt to the Desmosedici, much as Valentino Rossi did before him (though it bears pointing out that the current Ducati is a far better bike than the one Rossi rode in 2011 and 2012).
The language being used by Ducati management is much more negative about Lorenzo than it has been previously. "If this chemistry doesn’t start to work at the level we expect, which is fighting for winning races, fighting for podiums, then I don’t think it’s a good idea to continue," Ducati Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti told Neil Morrison for Crash.net. And at a presentation of the Ducati Scrambler Food Factory in Bologna, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali echoed that sentiment, adding that Andrea Dovizioso was the rider Ducati regarded as leading the factory effort, and his teammate would be a rider "we are currently talking to and who will come into the team to work in a measured and balanced way."
Where does this leave Jorge Lorenzo? It is looking increasingly like the Spaniard will find himself without a ride for 2019. Lorenzo has offers, but they are financially at a much lower level, with a very large element of reward via bonuses. That is not how Lorenzo regards himself, believing his MotoGP titles mean he has already proven his value. But the racing maxim that you are only ever as good as your last race seems to be holding true at this point.
Could Dorna step in to aid Lorenzo? Possibly. It is not unknown. Dorna commonly helps out riders it wants to keep in the championship, and is believed to have played a role in mediating a place for Valentino Rossi at Yamaha after his time at Ducati. But again, this will only be possible if Lorenzo is willing to take a step down financially, and in terms of status. An entirely hypothetical option is for Lorenzo to take one ride at Marc VDS once they switch to Yamaha next year, as they are expected to do.
If Lorenzo is out at Ducati, the Bologna factory is expected to promote either Danilo Petrucci or Jack Miller. The two Pramac Ducati riders have both been impressive this year, and in an echo of 2016, are engaged in a battle over supremacy in the Pramac team, which would offer promotion to the factory team.
The signing of Joan Mir marks some relief for Dani Pedrosa. Alberto Puig had been keen to get rid of Pedrosa and replace him with a younger rider. But first KTM signed Johann Zarco, and then Suzuki snatched Joan Mir from under his nose. Puig may want to take a risk on Franco Morbidelli, but so far the Italian has struggled with the Honda, as all rookies of recent vintage have done. So keeping Pedrosa for a year may be Honda's best option.
The moves so far bode ill for a number of MotoGP regulars. Scott Redding and Bradley Smith look to be out of MotoGP as of this moment, and Alvaro Bautista may also lose his ride at the Angel Nieto Team unless his results improve, and especially if another young rider comes up from Moto2.
There is one more wildcard which could be added to the Silly Season puzzle, and that is Jonathan Rea. According to the estimable Mat Oxley, his manager Chuck Aksland was present in Le Mans. Rea would very much like to make the jump across to MotoGP, but the man who is dominating in WorldSBK will only do so if the conditions are right. That means a ride on a competitive bike with a factory or factory-backed team, and of those, only the seats at Repsol Honda and Factory Ducati are available, with a possibility at Pramac Ducati if Miller wins the factory seat. Rea's problem is that no matter how much he deserves such a shot, the team bosses do not seem inclined to give him one. That is a tragedy for both MotoGP and WorldSBK.
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Post by truenorth on May 28, 2018 5:56:25 GMT -8
AndreaDovizioso: "That Marquez is very strong in all areas and that in some respects is superior to everyone else, that is evident. For example, it is the only one able to save so many falls and it is the only one that falls both in the rehearsals and so little in the races "
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Post by truenorth on May 29, 2018 4:39:43 GMT -8
MAVERICK VIÑALES LOOKS FOR A REPLACEMENT FOR RAMÓN FORCADA Diego Lacave Motofan 05/29/2018 The divorce between the pilot of Rosas and his technical boss seems imminent; although everything could be delayed until the beginning of the next season. At least two renowned technical heads would have been "surveyed" by Maverick Viñales in the last big prizes of Spain and France, to replace Ramón Forcada the front of the mechanics of his corner of the box of the Movistar Yamaha Team. And everything points to both have responded that no, at least for the remainder of the season, Viñales. Upon arrival at Le Mans, Forcada's intervention in the previous MovostarPlus program, was very criticized by the most direct environment of the pilot. And in the same environment, just after the French event, the criticism of Viñales to his direct team ("the other Yamaha is on the podium") left no room for doubt. Forcada did not know, until the last weekend, the movements of his pilot. And what can happen immediately after arriving at Mugello is now an unknown and a hot potato for Meregalli, in the first place; and Jarvis ultimately. Ramón Forcada has been at Yamaha for more than a decade. And it was the head of mechanics of the LCR who lived, in 2006, the brilliant premiere in MotoGP of a certain Casey Stoner. He has been a key player in the success of Jorge Lorenzo, with three MotoGP titles, in his career with the brand of tuning forks. When Lorenzo went to Ducati, neither the driver nor Forcada himself wanted to continue walking together. In fact, Lorenzo only took a trusted mechanic, while the main body of the technical staff stayed with Forcada waiting for the arrival of Viñales and following the faithful. to Yamaha, a factory that they know better than some of their European leaders.
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Post by truenorth on May 29, 2018 5:15:35 GMT -8
“Complex and demanding” Mugello awaits After the excitement of their home Grand Prix, Michelin are ready for a vigorous workout in Italy Tags MotoGP, 2018, GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA OAKLEY Round six of the MotoGP™ World Championship sees Michelin pay a visit to Italy and the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with this sensational venue providing a vigorous workout for the tyres. The Mugello circuit is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular race tracks in the world, with its six left and nine right corners a fantastic mix of curves, elevation change, hard braking and a spine tingling fast straight where the premier class riders will reach speeds in excess of 350km/h. Combine this mix and what you get is high stress for tyres, which Michelin have considered when choosing their compounds for the Italian GP. The front and rear soft, medium and hard tyre choices will be ideally matched to meet Mugello’s demands, which is why the medium and hard slick compounds will have a harder right-hand shoulder to try and increase the all-round performance that side of the tyre needs. The Tuscan hills can bring wet weather to Mugello, so Michelin will have the Power Rain tyres in soft and medium compounds for the front and rear available should any rain arrive. The two rear rain tyres will have an asymmetric design, featuring a hard right shoulder, with both of the fronts symmetric. Piero Taramasso, Manager of the Two-Wheel Motorsport Group describes how tough Mugello is on tyres and hints that we could see some lap record times being set this weekend:“After the excitement of Michelin’s home GP, we now head to a track that has its own special place in people’s minds, but is a very complex and demanding one for Michelin. The tyres need to work very hard through the variations of corners and then give good stability under heavy braking, as well as impressive drive and high-speed performance on the long straight. We had to take all these factors into consideration when we chose the compounds for the allocation earlier this year and with so many factors this was one of the most difficult tracks to plan so far ahead for. We had a test at Mugello just before Le Mans and that confirmed a few things, we also had some very fast unofficial lap-times, so it would be good if those could be replicated when we go there for the race weekend.”
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Post by truenorth on May 29, 2018 6:08:38 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 29, 2018 6:34:20 GMT -8
Marquez in Rossi and Dovi's den: "I need to keep my feet on the ground": #93 chases his fourth win of the season at Mugello: "I was competitive in testing, but the situation can rapidly change"
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Post by truenorth on May 30, 2018 7:11:21 GMT -8
Jarvis admits that Lorenzo can run again with a Yamaha Germán Garcia Casanova Motorsport May 30 2018 The director of the Japanese training, Lin Jarvis, responded "may be" to the question of whether Jorge Lorenzo could compete with a Yamaha in the MotoGP World Championship next season. Last weekend, amidst the rumors about the future of Jorge Lorenzo, the theory arose that the Balearic pilot is working on an alternative to Ducati and Suzuki that would allow him to race with a factory Yamaha framed in a satellite equipment, and now Lin Jarvis, top executive of the racing team, admits that such a possibility is real. Jarvis was interviewed on the Italian television channel Sky Sport on Tuesday night, and during the conversation he responded with a "can be" when he was presented with the possibility of Lorenzo running a Yamaha satellite in 2019. Lorenzo has already taken the decision not to follow the next season at Ducati , and is now studying the alternatives, which are not too many after closing, too, the Suzuki gate, a possibility that did not seduce the Mallorcan pilot too much. Jarvis was asked by Sky Sport about his ex-pupil's situation. "It is difficult to understand what will happen to Lorenzo's future, he is not in an easy situation. He is still not out of Ducati, at least officially, although many say that the divorce will be true, "explained Jarvis. "If you ask me this question four weeks ago, I would have told you that I was going to end up in Suzuki , but now it seems an unlikely hypothesis. I repeat, it's a very difficult situation, also because he is used to being a factory driver, a fundamental driver for his team. " "We'll see if Jorge continues or not, we should wait, but in fact it can also be that he surrenders, since there will probably be 4 or 5 fewer places in MotoGP," he said. It was then, when the interviewer raised the possibility of a return to Yamaha with a motorcycle in the satellite equipment. "It can be," Jarvis replied with a smile, making it clear that work is under way. Waiting to know more details on the subject, something that will surely happen during the weekend of the Grand Prix of Catalunya in Barcelona, it is most likely that Lorenzo will run in 2019 with a Yamaha with factory support on a satellite equipment with a Strong support from two big sponsors.
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