Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Suzuki will not have a holeshot device for Qatar

Although the Hamamatsu maker is known to be preparing its own version of the device to help improve the start, Rins told Motorsport.com that he and teammate Joan Mir will have to forego it at the start of the season on March 9th.

“It was originally supposed to be ready for this test, but now we know that we can’t count on it in the first race of the season either,” said Rins during the tests in Qatar.

“The engineers are working on it, but we don’t yet know when we can test it.”

Rins was one of the first to notice Ducati using the device when he noticed Jack Miller’s bike was crouching around corners at last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

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While Ducati has already developed its Holeshot device so that it can be used not just during the start but throughout the race, other manufacturers are at different stages of development.

Five of the six 2020 Yamahas in Qatar were equipped with the device, all four factory bikes and one of the two M1s were used by Petronas SRT rider Fabio Quartararo.

“We’re still fine-tuning because the starts have become an important part of the races and every help makes a difference,” said Valentino Rossi.

Honda’s Marc Marquez, meanwhile, was more cryptic, saying, “When one brand finds something new, the others explore their options.

“This starting system, for example, is already used by Yamaha and we’re trying it out, even though it doesn’t work the way we’d like it at the moment.”

While Ducati, Yamaha and Aprilia all demonstrated their holeshot devices in action at training starts on the start-finish straight in Qatar, Marquez in particular did not.

Aprilia has been using its own version of the device since last year, which lowers the front of the bike instead of the rear, while KTM is expected to introduce it on their bikes as well, having been used in motocross for a number of years.

“The truth is that our starts in MotoGP have always been very good and we haven’t needed them at the moment,” said Pol Espargaro. “But since everyone is starting to use it, we will surely copy it from motocross and apply it as soon as possible.”

Rins signs new two-year contract for Suzuki MotoGP

Rins made his MotoGP debut with Suzuki in 2017 after being promoted from Moto2 and has stayed on the GSX-RR ever since.

The Spaniard has delivered his first single-season victories to Suzuki since his last title win in 2000, initially fending off Valentino Rossi for his maiden win in Austin and later beating Marc Marquez in a thrilling British Grand Prix by 0.014 seconds.

Rins would finish the campaign in fourth in the drivers’ standings.

Suzuki had made no secret of his desire to keep both Rins and Joan Mir for the next two years. Team principal Davide Brivio recently informed Motorsport.com that everything had been “coordinated” so that both would stay on the team.

Rins went live on Instagram on Sunday and confirmed his new deal with Brivio.

Brivio commented: “We are very pleased to confirm Alex Rins as works rider for Team Suzuki MotoGP for two more seasons; 2021 and 2022. With this agreement we are extending our relationship to six years and we believe that this stability will prove to be positive for all of us.

“I have to say this agreement was just waiting for a ‘stamp’ as both Suzuki and Alex had the will to move on together and a fundamental agreement for the continuation was reached months ago, proudly announcing it.

“Our goal as a team is to keep the whole working group together and to become even stronger, we had a fantastic end of the season last year and that is the starting point that we want to rely on when we can start racing again. ”

Rins himself added: “I wanted to continue with Suzuki and I finally did.

“I believe the project has the potential to be successful, I have a desire to win, and that’s why we are a perfect match. It’s the perfect place for me and we work hard together to achieve great results.

“I’ve always believed in the team, so it was easy to come to an agreement in principle very early on. Then we took some time to finalize the details and follow all internal processes. “

Mir’s contract extension has yet to be announced.

Suzuki is the third MotoGP manufacturer to begin finalizing its plans for 2021 after Yamaha kicked off the rider market in January when it confirmed Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo for its factory line-up in 2021.

Honda hit the headlines in February when it announced it had secured six-time world champion Marc Marquez for four more years in a € 100 million deal.

Ducati was known to be interested in both Vinales and Quartararo and Mir, but is now faced with a lack of options outside of their own stable of factory riders.

MotoGP, Michelin welcomes 2020 with the introduction of a new rear tire

Michelin has announced that a new construction rear tire will be available for the upcoming MotoGP season after French tire specialists completed a comprehensive assessment after months of intensive testing.

The latest development of the Michelin Power Slick rear tire is characterized by a construction aimed at greater performance and stability for all drivers and machines – in line with Michelin’s longstanding performance strategy – which will lead to improved lap and race times. First tested in-house under laboratory conditions, the latest Michelin Power Slick rear tire was tested for the first time in the MotoGP field at the Catalunya test in Barcelona in June, followed by further evaluations in Brno in the Czech Republic and Misano in Italy before the unique opportunity for Michelin to inspect the new building during a race weekend – the first time that such a test was carried out on a MotoGP weekend.

With the support of all riders, IRTA and Dorna, an additional 20-minute session was organized on one of the most demanding racetracks on the calendar, as the MotoGP field was asked to complete at least 11 laps each around the 4,448 m long Phillip Island Circuit in Australia. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity gave Michelin a huge amount of data as it was just a tire test where teams and drivers focused solely on evaluating the new design.

After the successful Australian test, Michelin delivered the tire for further testing during the two Spanish tests in Valencia and Jerez at the end of 2019. In all of these tests in 2019, the new construction rear wheel was paired with compounds that are appropriate for the particular tracks and that the riders had used over the race weekend to allow for a clear and objective comparison between tire constructions. With all these intensive tests and the large amount of information obtained, the Michelin technicians in Clermont-Ferrand analyzed all the data and approved the start of the new construction for the 2020 season.

Michelin will supply the latest development of the Michelin Power Sport Slick rear tire for the two pre-season tests scheduled for February in Malaysia and Qatar before the tire makes its competitive debut – also in Qatar – when the Losail International Circuit in Doha hosts the first round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship on Sunday March 8th.

“After such an intensive and intensive test plan, we are pleased to bring the new construction rear tire onto the market. We have been working on this latest development for quite some time and, with the support and full feedback from all of the drivers we know, we have developed a tire that will improve performance for everyone involved – said Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager – We have now informed Dorna and IRTA of the change and provided the teams and manufacturers with the full specifications and detailed data so that they can tune the bikes to get the best performance from this new rear end achieve smooth. This is the first design change for the rear in two years and an important step forward in the evolution of our MICHELIN Power Slick tires for MotoGP. The new construction is in line with Michelin’s long-standing performance approach, which guarantees consistent performance throughout the race, and we now look forward to seeing it in racing conditions and breaking more records. “

Monday, November 29, 2021

MotoGP, after F1, Saudi Arabia also wants MotoGP

“We all want to host big motorsport events, and MotoGP is one of the most watched Saudi citizens.” Money, love and daydreams. A mix that Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Faisal Al Saud, President of the Saudi Arabian Motorsport and Motorcycle Association, he emphasized in an interview with MARCA. The idea is to bring MotoGP to Saudi Arabia as well. This year will be the first F1 Grand Prix, but the future looks most fascinating. We also see a MotoGP on the horizon. “We are building a car city in Qiddiya with more than ten race tracks for rallies, cross-country events, rallycross, motocross and so on. For the best competitions in the world. And of course we would like to organize the MotoGP. These are very exciting races. “

Saudi Arabia wants to expand further after Dakar and Formula E.. It’s not just an idea, it’s something much more specific. In Qiddiya, a circuit is being built as a central part of a leisure city on the outskirts of the capital Riyadh, that “is allowed to host the best races in the world. Formula 1, of course, but also MotoGP or the WEC. ”It won’t be finished before 2023, with Marquez standing right in the middle of the story and who knows whether Valentino Rossi will still be part of the great MotoGP caravan at this point in time. Saudi Arabia, with a population of over 27 million, continues to view sport as a transmedia project that broadens the horizon for everything.

With a length of over seven kilometers (7.8 in the concept layout), Qiddiya will be the longest course in the world, which even surpasses Spa, and that with a special element, as the drivers have an impressive range of cliffs as a backdrop. Marca had the opportunity to examine the track in a simulator. Andrew Mallery, President of Qiddiya’s Automobile and Racing Division, told the Spanish newspaper: “The first sketch of the circuit was drawn by Alex Wurz. The project is 7.8 kilometers long and has two zones: one that is inspired by the Nürburgring, more winding and another, which we call the City Loop, in Monegasque style. “

We now have Formula 1. For the first time in its history, Formula 1 will drive in Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah. Prince Khalid said, “The setting is magical. It’s going to be an urban race, but we want it to be the most fun. ”There are doubts about the spectacular nature of the track because:“ Usually these tests have their limits. Overtaking is generally not easy because of the track, but I can promise that Jeddah will be the fastest and most exciting street circuit ever built in terms of location, panorama and surroundings. It will be something special. “

Alex Rins admitted to hospital in Jerez after a bad accident

Rins was driving through the fast right turn at Turn 11 towards the end of the lap in Jerez in the closing stages of Q2 when he lost the front of his bike and had to look.

Hurled into the gravel at high speed, Rins fell and rolled violently.

A Suzuki spokesman confirmed he was hospitalized for further examinations after initial tests were conducted at the county’s Clinica Mobile.

“Due to the crash he had at the end of the second quarter and the subsequent investigation at Clinica Mobile, Alex Rins is now being taken to Jerez hospital for further tests, including an MRI scan of his right shoulder,” said a brief Explanation.

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Rins’ participation in the Spanish Grand Prix for Sunday’s season opener is questionable, with Suzuki likely to wait until morning before making a decision.

The Spaniard has had a difficult day in Jerez after failing to take direct Q2 positions at the end of FP3.

He also had a clash with Marc Marquez that session trying to improve his final flying lap, despite the Honda rider escaping a penalty after presenting evidence that he was due to the yellow flags for the Tech3’s Iker crash Lecuona slowed down at Turn 2.

Despite surviving the first part of qualifying, Rins suffered a low-speed crash on Turn 2 right at the end of the session.

He qualified his Suzuki from ninth place on the grid.

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Rins’ injury comes just weeks after Andrea Dovizioso questioned the start of the season with a broken collarbone in a motocross accident in Italy.

The Ducati rider said after the test in Jerez on Wednesday that he had “no weird pain” from his shoulder.

Pramac’s Jack Miller fell in the same spot just seconds before Rins, but walked away unharmed.

The Australian later said his crash was due to simply cornering too fast as he tried to improve his fifth place.

MotoGP, the future of Michelin tires is decided at Phillip Island

There’s no point in hiding it, Phillip Island is a bogeyman for all tire suppliers. A route that puts the tires to the test, sometimes a painful one. For this reason, the Michelin technicians do not want to underestimate the Australian race weekend, but rather use it to their advantage.

In a rather unique step, MotoGP riders will take part in a short test over the course of the race weekend to evaluate the new rear tire that the French technicians are developing for 2020.

That being said, drivers are once again faced with the unique features of Phillip Island which, with its 7 left handed and 5 right handed, really overheat the tires. But that’s not all: The often cool climate also requires tires that quickly reach their optimal working temperature.

For this reason, the connections will be used this weekend (soft, medium and hard with asymmetrical construction front and rear) were specially developed for the Australian Trac. There is also a risk of rain In this case, drivers can choose between a soft and medium front tire (symmetrical) and a rear tire (asymmetrical).

As always, Michelin manager Piero Taramasso gives an overview: “After three years as a Michelin Grand Prix, it will seem strange without our name going around the Phillip Island circuit, but that doesn’t mean we’re taking the event lightly. This is still a big race for us as our tires are subjected to extreme tests to achieve the grip, durability, consistency and performance that this track demands. We bring a unique range of connections because here they have very specific duties, not only for everything I mentioned, but they also have to deal with the weather that Phillip Island can bring. We are happy to accept this challenge and look forward to what can be achieved.

“We also have the additional responsibility for an additional stand-alone test for the proposed 2020 rear tire. We have received successful feedback so far, but we have to judge it on a track with high demands like here, Sachsenring or Termas. It was not possible to have a full test at any of these locations so we have a short window of time to test this race weekend for which we are grateful to the drivers, Dorna and IRTA for making this possible. It is a very important test as it marks the next evolution for our tires. “

#goodmorning #haveaniceday♥️♥️

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MotoGP, Michelin tire test planned for Phillip Island

At the Pramac-Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix there is an additional 20-minute tire test session for MotoGP. Class on friday. This takes place from 3:55 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. local time and does not count towards the combined training time.

The session is intended for the official MotoGP tire supplier Michelin the opportunity to test a new slick rear tire on a particularly demanding track for the rear. This latest development has a new construction designed to improve performance on all tracks and has already been tested in the tests in Barcelona, Brno and Misano to be introduced in 2020. The version that Michelin will bring to the Australian Grand Prix is asymmetrical with a harder left side and features the existing compounds specially developed to counter the enormous stresses that Phillip Island tires are subjected to.

Each driver has a rear tire in the new specification available and can choose between a soft and a medium mixture. Drivers are also given an additional front tire of their preferred specification – soft, medium or hard – and are asked to complete at least 11 timed laps. A decision is then made after the 20-minute evaluation session whether the rear tire will be included in next year’s race weekend allocation.

This tire test session may only be carried out in dry conditions and the race management may therefore be asked to change the schedule accordingly.

Sunday, November 28, 2021

MotoGP challenges Michelin Silverstone in the dark: “We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

It’s hard to forget what happened at Silverstone last year when the Grand Prix was canceled because the asphalt couldn’t drain after the rain and the level of safety required for the race couldn’t be guaranteed. The owners of the track had no choice but to completely renew the entire asphalt to avoid a recurring problem.

It was impossible to organize tests before the Grand Prix, however, and that means Michelin will face the Silverstone challenge in the dark. When choosing which tires to bring with them, the French technicians could only rely on the information provided by the company carrying out the work and various information from England.

In these cases the regulations help, which allow MotoGP riders to offer more tires both front and rear, so there are 4 compounds to choose from: one soft, one medium and two different hard ones.

As for their construction, the front tires in medium and hard compounds are symmetrical, while the soft front tires and all rear tires are asymmetrical with a harder right side.

When it rains, which can never be ruled out in England, soft and medium mixtures were chosen. In this case, only the rear tires are asymmetrical.

“What happened at Silverstone last year was a huge disappointment, however the track did a good job and the asphalt has been completely repaved, but that means we get there without knowing how the new asphalt will behave “, Michelin’s manager warned, Piero Taramasso. “ The choice of tires we have chosen is based on data provided to us by the company that laid the asphalt so we have some information on what types of materials were used. “

“It’s always a challenge to go to a place where we haven’t tested, so we have the option of adding four different tire options to the regulations to give riders the opportunity to find the best mix for them . ” and their bikes, “he emphasized.”We are confident and excited to see how the new asphalt will behave. The first indications we have received are good, but we want to check it out ourselves and of course we hope for good weather. But we’re going to England so who knows what’s going to happen. “

MotoGP, Michelin: “Brno is an important test for tires”

There is no better route than Brno to get rid of the rust that has built up during the holidays. The 5,403 meter long Czech track with differences in altitude, where braking is difficult, accelerations are strong and corners are fast, not only tests the drivers, but also all tires.

However, Michelin is certain that its tires will withstand the stresses and strains of the track. Accordance with the provisions, the options for the slicks have 3 mixes (soft, medium and hard) with symmetrical front tires and asymmetrical rear tires (harder on the right, considering that 8 of the 14 corners of the track are correct).

Rain cannot be ruled out. The compounds chosen for the rain tires are soft and medium (with asymmetrical rear tires).

“It’s always good to take a break, but it’s even better when you’re back in racing.” said Piero Taramasso, Head of Michelin. “The Brno circuit is a great test for tires. It’s quite complex and there is a big difference in elevation between the lower and higher parts of the route. It has many challenging sections that require the tires in many different ways, with demanding braking, strong accelerations and a number of different corners that place different loads and loads on the side of the tires. “

“We have a number of slick tires that we know will work well and the compounds we introduced this year will be ideal for this track.”,“ he assured. “We hope for the best weather conditions, but when it rains we know that rain tires work very well here, so we expect a good race, whatever happens.”

Valentino Rossi expected “much more” from the 2020 Yamaha MotoGP test

For the first time in recent years, Yamaha brought the first variant of the bike it will ride the following season to the traditional Brno Summer Test – with Rossi doing most of the ride on the machine, which was mostly fitted with a new engine .

Rossi finished the day four tenths behind Fabio Quartararo from Petronas SRT, who was on the current M1.

Although Rossi was reluctantly asked to comment on the positives and negatives of the new bike, Rossi admitted that he expected a bigger step with the 2020 bike – despite saying he expected more the two-day Misano test at the end of August.

“It was a good day, it was a good test because we worked a lot and found some good things,” he said.

“We also tried the prototype of the new bike, but honestly we don’t have much new [to try].

“It’s a different engine and a different setting of the chassis, but it’s only the first contact and it’s good that we already have it.

“[The new bike has] some good things, some bad. We expected a lot more, but we know – because it’s only the first time – we can have something else at the next test in the second half of the season.

“We tried to have more grip, especially from behind. So we tried different settings because the rest of the bike is the same.

“We found some things better, some things worse, we struggled a little with the wheelie. So we still have a lot to do.”

Teammate Maverick Vinales said after finishing a low 10th in Sunday’s race that he wouldn’t try the new bike as he wanted to focus on fixing the issues that were holding him back in the GP.

But at the end of the session he did a handful of laps on the 2020 bike, was second fastest and only missed the top spot by 0.012 seconds.

With Yamaha already working towards next year, Vinales said the amount of rubber on the track is unclear whether the bike has gained in grip compared to the current M1.

“Well, actually it’s just a step, a small step,” he added.

“I don’t know if it’s right because we tried when there was a lot of grip on the track.

“Usually our bike works pretty well [when it’s grippy]. We have to try when there is no grip.

“I think Misano will be very good to test when it’s hot, very slippery, and we’ll know more realistic things there.”

Alex Rins evaluates shoulder surgery after the MotoGP season

The Suzuki rider was banned from the Spanish GP in July when he sustained a broken and dislocated right shoulder in a qualifying crash – an injury the aftermath of which plagued much of his season.

Rins fell at the start of FP2 on Friday at the Algarve International Circuit and pulled his previously injured shoulder.

“FP2 was a disaster because I had this little fall at the start of the third lap session,” said Rins on Friday.

“F ***, I think it was the first right side fall since the injury and I have a bit of pain in my shoulder but nothing important.

“I struggled with this pain in the right corners throughout FP2.”

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Surprised to be in some pain after the accident, Rins admits that on his way home from Portugal he will stop in Barcelona to see famous MotoGP doctor Xavier Mir to assess whether he needs surgery.

“And as for the surgery, my plans are that after the race I will take the car and go to Andorra, my homeland, but before I stop in Barcelona to see a doctor and see if it is good or not to get the surgery, whether it is necessary or not.

“And then let’s see if it’s necessary, I’ll take it as soon as possible.

“He’s got a good team. He always does all of my surgeries. So if I need an operation, I’ll stay with him.”

Rins finished the race in Portugal on Friday due to his fall on 17th place.

The shoulder strained Suzuki rider has not come at the best moment as he wants to finish the season in second place – something he admitted on Thursday would be a “dream come true”.

Should he achieve that, it will mark Suzuki’s first 1-2 in the drivers’ standings since the 1981 500cc season, when title winner Marco Lucchinelli led teammate Randy Mamola.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

“Strange” crash ended sure-footed victory

Kidneys jumped off the line and led a Suzuki one-two from teammates Joan Mirbefore he loses the front while braking for the left turn at De Bult’s turn 9.

He says the data showed he had a slight wheelie before crashing out of the corner while only braking a little later than the whole weekend, and believes the wind played a role.

“It was a shame because – we check the data – we did a little more wheelie in turn 8 in the curve,” said Rins, who fell 59 points behind the championship lead.

“Then I tried to brake at the same point as in FP4 or in the warm-up and completely lost the front.

“Sure, I think the wind [played a part]because it went before me. After the wheelie, the front was on the floor.

“So this is [not] as a problem, but then I braked in the same place and [I had a] strange crash.

“I braked a little later than normal, but not 10 meters later, just a little. This is MotoGP, you have to brake in the same place, accelerate, pick up the bike, full throttle. “

Rins says that his feeling on the motorcycle before the crash was “better than ever” and is convinced that he would have been there for his second win of the season.

“Yes, that was my strategy,” he added when asked if he wanted to break away from the pack.

“I knew if I was ahead and put pressure on, I would cut the group” [down] because the Ducatis were more on the limit.

“It was a shame because I am convinced that our pace [was good enough] to follow Maverick [Vinales] to fight for victory or second place.

“At least that’s how the result is. We had a good weekend on my side and also for me, which qualified very well.

“He made a few mistakes in the race, but as I said, it was a shame because we got a good result.

“We definitely lost our chance to win. Our rhythm was nice. Now we’ll never know whether I would win or not, whether I beat Maverick or not. “

The ‘devilish’ and early genius of Fabio Quartararo [part 2]

Fabio Quartararo’s success in the Moto2 class was mediocre with just one triumph, but that didn’t stop the current premier class champion from moving out of the category.

In short, in four years the Frenchman has achieved no more than two second places in Moto3 and one triumph and another podium in Moto2, numbers chosen by Petronas SRT and Yamaha to reach the premier class. Petronas SRT’s plan was to hire Jorge Lorenzo, but that was not possible. Then they would have turned to Dani Pedrosa, with the same result. Only then did Quartararo be chosen.

This strange choice becomes evident when you compare the Gaul’s performance to the other rookies who rose with him. Miguel Oliveira had two second places in the world, one in each category, and had 12 wins and 22 podiums in his time in the two pre-MotoGP categories. Joan Mir took 11 wins and another nine podiums, not to forget of course the world title in Moto3 2017. “Pecco” Bagnaia came into MotoGP as Moto2 champion and with ten wins and a further 13 podiums. Also due to the numerical difference, the rider entered MotoGP with some mistrust, after all a Quartararo was only clearly above the other in the FIM CEV.

The confidence of Petronas and Yamaha would not be a disappointment as the Frenchman showed that in MotoGP everyone starts at the same level and struggles to tame the mythical prototypes. And the Frenchman showed signs of evolution at a young age and immediately broke the record for the youngest on pole position in Jerez and dethroned Marc Márquez.

In Catalonia he showed himself to the world with the first podium. In the next race he returned to pole position and the podium, this time third … and again behind Márquez. By the way, the Frenchman was Yamaha’s big star in terms of results until the end of the year, but was always beaten one-on-one by Marc Márquez. 2019 was so important that he finished the rookie year as the second best Yamaha rider in fifth place. The factory gave him an improved bike in 2020, but the 2019 M1 model would have done better. However, Quartararo won three times and started from pole position four times.

Yamaha was convinced and gave him his place on the official team for 2021, where he would replace his greatest idol Valentino Rossi. Quartararo’s performance was nothing short of brilliant. Five wins, another five podium places, five poles, a world title with three laps to go and a lot of regularity were the keys to his first world title in the elite.

And that success was a lesson for those who only look to statistics when betting on a driver whose performance exceeded expectations. And not just from the public, but also from rivals, from Petronas and Yamaha riders, and even from the rider himself, who admitted that he didn’t expect to be so strong in such a short period of time.

This is only Quartararo’s third season in the premier class, but his name is already immortalized in the list of predestined to occupy the Olympus of world motorcycle racing.

MotoGP, Jack Miller: I have fun with the Ducati

When a good beginning leads to a good ending, Miller can only be satisfied. When he climbed aboard Team Pramac’s Ducati, it was as if a spark immediately sparked between the Australian and the red motorcycle. Jack moved forward quickly. “I’m 3 tenths behind my best time on the weekend,” he says happily.

A good first take, we could say.

“I have fun – he continues – I got on my bike and didn’t touch anything, I only concentrated on driving and the lap times were good. I also like the way I work in the garage, everyone is calm, I feel good“.

Miller says he hasn’t asked his compatriot Stoner for advice regarding the Ducati and is happy with what he found.

“I had a good feeling on the straight – he smiles when he thinks about the speed of the Ducati – I was expecting a bike with good traction, but I was really surprised by the front. The Ducati is really stable when braking, I still have to understand the limit. I like how it gets in the corners and think it spins well“.

You don’t often hear this opinion about the Desmosedici, but Jack seems to have found a bike that suits his riding style.

“It’s just different from what I was used to. It’s less bouncy, less wheelies, so I can concentrate on driving … and then I could do great slides with used tires – he jokes Now I just have to get used to the bike, I need more time but I am very happy“.

Moto2, Baldassarri: “On the MV I have to find the victorious Lorenzo again, I know where he is”

Lorenzo Baldassarri needed a change of scenery. After three years with the Pons team, he decided to return home to Forward, with whom he rode from 2015 to 2017. This time, however, he has found a different team and also a new motorcycle, the MV Agusta. It is a legendary emblem that the rider from the Marche proudly wears on his chest and with which he wants to achieve important goals. Lorenzo has to find himself again …

“Today I felt a great emotion, it is an honor for me to drive with such an important brand – he said happily after the unveiling of the new bike in Courmayeur, in the shadow of Mont Blanc – it also coincided with a return to Forward -Team together, which I found has a different face “.

Everyone knows the story of MV Agusta, do you also feel the pressure?

“There is pressure, but it is positive pressure that spurs me on. I always want to do well and with the MV under me I feel an additional boost, we have to convert this pressure into added value.

Last November you were able to test the F2 in Jerez. Was that what you had in mind?

“I had no expectations, I thought it would be a difficult bike and really different from the Kalex. However, once I got into it, as soon as I started pushing, I was able to build that combination between myself and the bike that I thought would take longer. Instead, I felt like it was mine, even if it’s hard to tell in just one day, especially on the wet track. But I ran pretty well, I was able to build confidence after a few laps, even if starting at full throttle isn’t my forte, I usually need time to understand the situation but I’m ready to start.

What has happened to you lately? In 2019 you won three of the first four races, then you got lost …

“I find it difficult to explain myself. I’ve analyzed everything because The most important thing is to learn from mistakes and not find excuses. I had a good season in 2018 and then I amIn 2019 I found a perfect combination between myself and the bike that ruined the introduction of the new rear tire. Then there were a number of things that didn’t help my serenity So I lost myself a bit, I had ups and downs and if you don’t have continuity, you can’t imagine winning a world title. “

You also decided to leave the VR46 Riders Academy …

“I did it because, in my opinion, my trip with them was over. It was time to change and grow, I decided to go my own way ”.

And what happened in 2020?

“It was a great start (2nd place in Qatar, editor’s note). It was a year of ups and downs, so I could have taken advantage of my consistency, but unfortunately this wasn’t the case for several reasons. I talk about the new front tire and some team changes that I thought would help, but they didn’t work. So I went from lightning fast to fast to never fast, not even while warming up “.

How do you react in these moments?

“It’s difficult because at some point you even think about throwing in the towel, but that’s the last thing I think about because I have a great passion for engines and I like to face difficulties. So I always tried to do my best, pulled my head out of the tunnel and made it strong again at the end of the season.

What does this year 2021 mean for you?

“We’re starting from scratch. I have a new project ahead of me and the MV fascinates me a lot, considering that Moto2 seems to have become a Kalex trademark. I feel the urge to do something cool. After a year of going through it all, I’m ready to start ”.

Is the Balda who won races still there?

“Yes sir, I just have to find him again, but I know where he is: I don’t have to look for him (laughs) ”.

What can the Forward team give you and what can you give them?

“The team will be able to give me a lot because they show me that they work hard and have a great desire to get results. I hurry to give 110%, because sometimes 100% is not enough in Moto2. On the other hand, I can contribute my experience and a lot of information ”.

MV Agusta has been waiting for a podium for many years …

“That would be a good first goal, then we’ll see the other goals on the way. We’ll have to see how we start, in the tests it will be important to find a good base and then get good results from there.

Johann Zarco explains the late exit in Q2: “I wanted it to dry out a bit, that wasn’t a bad strategy”

The owner of the tenth time in qualifying yesterday, Johann Zarco wasn’t one of the first to hit the track in Q2 and explained what made him make this decision, which he didn’t think was a bad strategy.

The French commented on his day like this: “No luck. When the dry conditions showed up, it wasn’t completely dry, I had problems and was very surprised at what Pecco [Bagnaia] Did. At the end of FP4, the track was very wet even in the last sector to get more confidence in the speed. So I didn’t want to do too many laps and have a surprise like other drivers and I crashed and I did ‘don’t want to risk too much’.

Then there was qualifying, where the driver didn’t start right away and explained why: “I wanted it to get a little better and that happened when I saw the Q1 drivers and then in Q2 I knew the tires would take some time. ” until they were finished, but here too I wanted the track to be as good as possible and so I waited five minutes in the pits. It wasn’t a very bad strategy because I really needed the last sector to be as dry as possible, I lost a lot with those wet spots.

And then he ended: “I gained confidence in two or three laps, but then I made a little mistake and got slower. In the last one I was lucky enough to have Bagnaia in front of me and followed him, I improved my time, but then I got a mistake, I touched water, hit the curb and fell.

Algarve MotoGP: Quartararo: Winning the World Championship has finally arrived! | MotoGP

Winning the MotoGP World Championship in 2021 begins for Fabio Quartararo to finally come home before the penultimate round of the season this weekend.

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The Frenchman, who moved up from 15th place on the grid to fourth place, took the title after seeing championship rival Francesco Bagnaia fall from the lead.

Without this mistake, the title fight would most likely have rolled out to the second race of the year at Portimao this weekend, but with the pressure now completely gone, Quartararo is back in the mindset of finishing first, as he did when he won the Algarve International Circuit in April.

“It took a while, but winning the MotoGP World Championship in 2021 has finally made its mark,” said Quartararo.

“Now that I don’t have to think about the tables and points all the time, I can go back to the way we thought when we came here earlier this year.

“Our goal is to be first again, like at the start of the championship, because we still have to fight for the team and constructors’ titles.

“We drove a great race on this track at the Portuguese GP. The pace was so fast, so I’m really excited to see what we can achieve this weekend.”

On his way to fourth place in Misano, Quartararo prevailed against his team-mate Franco Morbidelli, who ended up ten places down after qualifying seven.

The Italian’s early pace was impressive but after struggling with his physical condition the Italian quickly fell through the field.

Even so, Morbidelli feels that steps are being taken in front of Portimao, a lap that, given the physical nature, could be challenging.

Morbidelli added: “The Emilia-Romagna GP weekend was overall positive for us. We took a good step to improve the feel of the bike and my pace at the start of the race was good.

“The condition of my knee is improving from week to week, so we are seeing steady progress.

“Portimao could be a challenge though. I don’t know how physically demanding this route will be, especially given the difference in altitude, but I always enjoy riding this route so I’m looking forward to it.”

MotoGP: Honda’s Marc Marquez wins American Grand Prix

Texas, October 4th (IANS) Eight-time world champion and Honda rider Marc Marquez won his second race of the 2021 season with his seventh win at the Grand Prix of the Americas.

French and Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo finished second, while Italian Francesco Bagnaia finished third in Sunday’s 20-lap MotoGP race.

Starting from third on the grid in Texas, Marquez and his Repsol Honda Team RC213V shot forward and led the field from the first corner. From here there was no turning back; In the following 20 laps he set an unsurpassed pace.

From the fifth to the 15th lap, Marquez never drove slower than 2’04.9 to make a gap of over four seconds on Fabio Quartararo. Marquez was unstoppable in Austin on Sunday as he celebrated his seventh win on the track.

Marquez’s second win in 2021 also brings the Repsol Honda Team’s 450th podium in the premier class since 1995. With 98 podium finishes in the legendary Repsol Honda Team colors, Marquez is the second most successful driver in terms of podium finishes for the team behind Dani Pedrosa with 112 top 3 finishes.

“The plan was to do exactly what we did today: start well and fight right into the first corner, take the first few laps a little lightly and then, when the tires wear out a little – then I would start pushing. That’s exactly what I did and I saw how the gap increased with my lap times in 2’04 heights, very consistently and comfortably, ”said Marc Marquez after the victory.

“In the last few laps I was very tired and it wasn’t easy to keep my concentration, but Fabio was way behind and my instincts told me that he wouldn’t risk anything in the fight for the championship. It was a difficult season to understand everything, I really waited for this win because we know we had a good chance here, ”he added.

Friday, November 26, 2021

Jack Miller breaks his right leg; Will Motegi miss MotoGP

Jack Miller

Jack Miller breaks his right shin

The Australian Jack Miller broke his leg last Friday while training on his observed trial motorcycle at his European base in Andorra.

The Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS MotoGP rider put his right foot down to rescue a front end crash at slow speed. This caused him to twist his right leg, which resulted in a fracture of the upper right tibia.

Because of this, Miller will miss the next MotoGP round at Motegi, Japan, which is scheduled for October 15th.

Jack Miller breaks his right leg; Will Motegi miss MotoGP Jack Miller

After the crash, Miller was taken to the Universitari Dexeus hospital in Barcelona, where he had an operation on Saturday morning. A plate and eight screws were placed to stabilize the fracture of the Honda RC213V rider.

Miller is undergoing physical therapy and hopes to return to the Phillip Island Australian Grand Prix in just over two weeks – a home race for Miller.

Miller’s fall follows Valentino Rossi’s training accident. Nine-time world champion Rossi broke his right tibia and fibula and returned to the Aragon race just three 25 days after his broken leg. The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider finished fifth.

Miller will seek the same kind of recreation to come back and do his home race in Australia. Miller’s best result that season was the sixth place he took in Assen and San Marino. He is currently 13th with 56 points. He has a victory under his leather – the 2016 Dutch GP at Assen.

“Of course, I am both disappointed and frustrated to have to sit out the Japanese Grand Prix due to a training injury, especially since it wasn’t even a fall.” Jack Miller says.

“We were doing trials and I put one foot on the ground when I lost traction from the front tire. That would have been the end of the story nine out of ten times, especially at this slow speed, but this time I must have got my foot hanging on something and ended up breaking my right shin near the knee. The injury was stabilized with the plate and screws and I already have some movement, but it is clear that I will not be fit for Motegi. However, I am determined to get back on my bike at Phillip Island and I will now work towards that with the physiotherapist. “

Michael Bartholemy, Team Principal, says: “Jack was extremely unhappy that he had fractured his tibia in such a seemingly harmless incident; it was just bad luck. The timing is also unfortunate as we will be going overseas for three races on so many weekends, but Jack firmly believes he will only miss the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi next weekend. His goal is to get back on his bike for his home race at Phillip Island and the prognosis is good. He will now be working with a physiotherapist to improve mobility in the event of the injury, and we and his doctors will make a decision immediately after the Japanese Grand Prix as to whether he is fit to ride on Phillip Island. “

MotoAmerica, Elias and Mistress like Rins: factory Suzukis for Toni and Josh

What do Alex Rins, Toni Elias and Josh Herrin have in common? The answer is simple: a racing bike from Suzuki. Although these are two different projects dedicated to two very different championships, Both in MotoGP and in MotoAmerica, the commitment of the manufacturer from Hamamatsu is the same, namely direct and official.

The Ecstar Spanier team – like its teammate Joan Mir – will benefit from the research and development of the Japanese racing department, which is constantly designing, constructing, experimenting and testing new parts for the GSX-RR, then passing them on to local testers who refine everything .

This sends the components to the test team, where Sylvain Guintoli, the Frenchman with an excellent racing record, puts them through their paces. The number 50 Michelin-studded Suzuki has everything Rins needs to drive fast, and in Texas came the first well-deserved win. Alex – taking advantage of Marquez’s fall – defeats Rossi’s Yamaha and Miller’s Ducati, with a crouched style that was as strange as it was effective.

All of this also applies to the American superbike: the US Yoshimura base is located in Chino, California, a direct branch of the Japanese branch on American soil. In a huge area, every part received from Suzuki is reviewed, developed, improved and then assembled in a final configuration that is completed by Dunlop tires. A team of Japanese engineers completes the work of art and confirms how “factory” is the structure that is committed to MotoAmerica and the GSX-R machines that run in the American series.

The results? We have already talked about Rins and his sovereign victory at CoTA, and as for Elias and Mistress … well, Toni and Josh also won directly in Texas, beating the Ultra Factory Yamaha ridden by Beaubier and Gerloff. With this, the Suzuki hat trick in Austin was completed under the watchful eye of Kevin Schwantz, who is very familiar with the philosophy of the “samurai bike” from Hamamatsu.

Looking at all the major championships – such as the World SBK – it seems clear that Suzuki is not a company that invests in every category, but where it invests, it wins and plays a prominent role.

Rins increased by “unbelievable” Suzuki speed on used tires

Rins was runner-up on both test days so far, but the Spaniard, who had reliably improved in races last year, drew more attention to his constant speed.

“Hello – yesterday too,” said Rins after running on Thursday. “I am very happy.

“Because of the [Valencia 2018] Racing bike so far we are improving. Of course we improve – we don’t improve a second, but we improve a few tenths that in the end it is very important.

“The bike gives me confidence when I get on it [the corner] faster and I drive a good cornering speed, I try new things myself every lap that I turn.

“The rhythm with 20-25 laps on the tire was incredible.”

Pre-Season MotoGP Reviews:

Rins claims that the GSX-RR’s new spec has improved acceleration – and while braking and top speed remain their weaknesses, Suzuki has made advances on the latter.

This was ensured by “a little more power from the engine”, but also by a new fairing that Rins tried out on the second day, which gave him better grip on the front tire.

But after finishing in the top six for the last seven races of 2018, Rins pointed out that no drastic changes were needed in the off-season.

“We don’t have to try, I don’t know [putting] the rear wheel at the front, the front wheel at the back, “he said.” Just small adjustments that give us more information, more consistency.

While Rins starred in the first two days of testing, his rookie teammate Joan Mir was outside the top 20 on both occasions.

But although he feels “tired” at the end of Thursday, the Moto2 graduate insists that he is satisfied with the way the test has gone so far.

“We worked a lot on the new bike – tried the good things, the bad things, tried a lot of things,” said Mir. “I am very happy about today because we have the path that we have to take and that is really the most important thing.

“For tomorrow, I hope to continue in this line, hopefully time off to see what’s going on.”

Additional reporting from Oriol Puigdemont

Joan Mir, Team Suzuki MotoGP

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