Valencia Day Two – November 20, 2019

Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) topped the second day of the Valencia test and it was once again a Yamaha 1-2-3, the tuning fork trio at the top within three-tenths.

Viñales was the only rider in the 1m29s – true of Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) at the weekend – and the number 12 narrowly beat the Frenchman’s pole time on Wednesday.

Quartararo was 0.164s in arrears, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) within 0.265s of the top.

Honda’s Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was the only other man within half a second…

Viñales fastest was set on the ‘new’ bike – with a different chassis and new engine – and the Spaniard put in 67 laps on the final day of testing, topping the timesheets with his 56th.

Team-mate Valentino Rossi was once again ninth, and ‘The Doctor’ did 68 laps on Wednesday. He was within 0.968s of the top and suffered a mechanical problem in the afternoon, but got back out.

Massimo Meregalli – Monster Energy Yamaha

“For sure, it has been a positive start to the new ’racing year‘. Yesterday both riders tried the new prototype bike for the very first time and their impressions were quite positive, especially considering the engine, because that‘s where we put the focus on for this test. The new engine is smoother than last year‘s, and we also increased the top speed to a certain extent, allowing us to improve. We didn‘t have any problems during these two days of testing. As a matter a fact, the work on the engine went so well that we also had time to start on improving the chassis set-up at the end of the day. We will spend some time on that next week, because we will go to another track in a few days‘ time. Jerez has a different lay-out and characteristics. We want to try the same specification at that circuit as we have run here, because we can‘t base our verdict on new parts on a one-time performance. This is really important, especially for evaluating the engine. We aim to improve our general package there: chassis, engine, and electronics. This prototype is a completely new bike, with the aim of improving all the areas without losing the positive points Yamaha bikes traditionally have. That‘s still our goal.”

Maverick Vinales – P1

“Today was similar to yesterday. The new chassis works quite well, I‘m happy. I kept working on the engine and it feels like run by run we are making little steps. For sure, we are working very hard, but it‘s not enough yet. We have to keep working, but this test was positive because we brought significant changes and that‘s the most important. Honestly, the grip here in Valencia was fantastic during the test, so if the grip is lower in Jerez, we will know more. At the moment I feel there‘s potential and we have to understand how to realise it. The Jerez track‘s lay-out is totally different. It‘s a good track for a test, because usually if the bike goes well there it goes well everywhere. There we will see how strong we are.”

Valentino Rossi – P10

“It was a positive test, I’m quite happy because we worked well. It was very important for us to try the new bike, the 2020 prototype. It’s good, it’s not so bad. We have a lot of work to do, but we improved. We also had some changes in the team, a new Chief Mechanic, so it is very important to understand the new team dynamic and try to work together. Both the new bike and the personnel change turned out positive and at the end I’m in P9 today. We improved the pace a lot with the used tyre, which is very important.”

Quartararo and Morbidelli, meanwhile, didn’t say much about what they were working on – “some small things” and the Frenchman said it was more a day of riding than testing as yet. For a man only just starting his second season, the 64 laps were doubtlessly useful, however, and Morbidelli added another 52 to the team’s count.

Wilco Zeelenberg – Petrons Yamaha SRT Manager

“It was a little cold but a very positive first test of 2020, with both riders trying out quite a lot of components, chassis parts and aerodynamics. The bottom line is that there were some positives and some negatives, as is the case with every test, but it’s good to see that the Yamahas are at the front. It’s a positive way to start a new season.”

Fabio Quartararo – P2

“We tested a few things today, but we’ll need to try them again to confirm the feedback. The most important thing I was able to do today was just to ride and work on some settings with the bike. We’ve got things to improve with the bike but already it looks like Maverick’s new bike is faster than the current one so Yamaha is working in a good way and I’m looking forward to getting a chance to ride it in Jerez.”

Franco Morbidelli – P3

“I’m happy with the test, because we’ve been able to be fast throughout both days; faster than we were at the race weekend and closer to the top guys. We’ve been trying some new items that have been good for us, just small things. Some of them I’ve really liked and some of them didn’t make a big difference, so it’ll be important now to try to understand the changes. Hopefully, we’ll be able to try the new engine in Jerez, because it’ll be very important to get feedback from it and to understand the strengths of it.”

For Crutchlow it was a mammoth day of work. The Brit headed out on the ‘2020’ bike, suffered a crash but managed to prove Yamaha’s closest competitor on the timesheets and improve his lap-time from the weekend after 73 laps.

Cal Crutchlow – P4

“Obviously, we went a little bit quicker today than yesterday and that was always the aim, to get some more information and to be able to go faster. Overall, we’re pleased, pleased with the amount of laps we did. We did quite a high amount of laps in the short space of time we went out on track because I don’t think anybody went out too early, it was too cold and we have another test in another two or three days’ time. We managed to get 75 laps done in three and a half, four hours and we’re pleased with the progress we made today.”

Speaking of the number 73, Alex Marquez, on the other side of the LCR Honda garage, was the only man to do more laps. The rookie did 79 on his second day as an HRC MotoGP rider, shaving six-tenths off his time from Tuesday.

Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) made some more Honda headlines, however. The number 93 rode around with his brother and premiered the aero seen on Crutchlow yesterday, with the all-black Honda breaking cover bearing a 93 in the afternoon, and he ended the day in seventh after 71 laps.

Marquez also suffered a failed get-away earlier in the day, and his team-mate for the test – in the garage at least – also suffered an issue on Wednesday as Stefan Bradl ground to a halt. Nevertheless the German was able to complete 53 laps by the end of play.

Marc Marquez – P7

“It has been a good test and we have started to understand the 2020 bike, or at least the first version. We tried some things with the engine and the chassis, like always there were some positives and negatives. I did my best time today with the prototype bike, this was a positive. Now in five days we will be back to work in Jerez and I think that this will help us even more to understand the bike. I’m looking forward to it. The goal is to confirm our findings from here and make a further plan.”

Alex Marquez – P23

“I’m quite happy with how the test went, lap by lap we are understanding the bike more and more. I did a lot of laps today so physically I am a little tired because I’m still a bit stiff on the bike but this will improve with more laps. We did a lot on used tyres to improve our pace and learn the behaviour more. Of course, we still need to improve more and work on some things, but I am satisfied with what we have done today and in this test. Now we go to Jerez, I’m looking forward to being on the bike again after really enjoying the bike.”

Team Suzuki Ecstar were fifth and sixth on Wednesday. The new engine previously having been put through its paces by test rider Sylvain Guintoli was a big focus for the Hamamatsu factory as they look for a step forward in terms of outright speed.

Joan Mir was the quickest Suzuki on Day 2. He put in a 1m30.427s and did 61 laps, but teammate Alex Rins was just 0.076s off and did 47 laps. They plan to continue testing the engine at Jerez.

Ken Kawauchi – Suzuki Technical Manager

“Our main priority in this test was to test the engine with the 2020 specification and we did so with both riders. Yesterday we received positive feedback from the riders, with both of them fairly happy with it; today we worked to finalise some electronics and the riders are now around 80% satisfied with it. It’s still too early to say that we have a final decision on the engine but for sure it looks like we are on the right path. In Jerez next week we will focus again on the engine, finding new solutions with the electronics that will hopefully help us with the final decision. Then ready for Sepang, we will develop some more items to complete the 2020 package.”

Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager

“For sure we can say we’re happy with this test. We had the new spec. engines to test, and both Alex and Joan immediately felt more comfortable with it. But we also needed time to work on it, especially with the electronics and setup we improved run after run during these two days. We went through some comparisons of other parts too. Now we head to Jerez where it will be important to carry on this positive job and hopefully confirm a few things. While at the moment we are focused on the engine and electronics, in Sepang we will be able to focus on more general setup, and we should have some new parts in the chassis area.”

Joan Mir – P5

“I feel really happy about these two days here in Valencia. We initially tried the new engine and even yesterday I felt positive with it, so today we have been working on the electronics to find the limits of this new configuration. I did great lap times, very consistent and always towards the top of the timesheets. At the moment we are happy, everything went well here, but we are aware that it’s too early to say 100% that the new engine is the correct way. We need to continue testing, especially with the electronics. In Jerez maybe we’ll get some more upgrades, but in any case we are on the right path.”

Alex Rins – P6

“Today has been another positive day, as we improved our work on the engine and the results are good: I could better my lap times and also be very consistent, which means that the new spec. engine is giving good support. I feel a lot of improvement in top end power, despite the fact that Valencia is not the right track for trying that as it’s so short. So, I’m keen to go to Jerez where we can collect some more info. Of course, it’s important that we found many positives during these two days, and at the moment no negatives. This means that we can focus on finalising the new spec. and see if we can confirm our findings in the next test.”

KTM stole a few headlines on Day 2. For their speed – Pol Espargaro’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) impressive showing and that of Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Iker Lecuona – they also had the new kids on the block, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Lecuona, taking some tips from the veterans. But there were also a few crashes, with each of the three racers all going down. Espargaro first, Lecuona later and Binder even later in the day.

Espargaro’s crash, however, led to his fastest lap as he was then forced to switch bike to another new chassis – and found immediate positives. He was eighth and did 46 laps, Pedrosa 14th after 48 laps and Lecuona just 0.045 off the three-time World Champion by the end of play. Binder did 66 laps on Day 2.

Pol Espargaro – P9

“Overall it has been a good two days, a lot of info for the electronics and for the guys in the factory and the chassis technicians so quite positive. Today we focussed again on chassis and tested an evolution. When I crashed on the bike with yesterday’s frame we jumped straight away on the new one and it was very good. I’m super-happy; to have a second chassis like that right away means we know what we are doing, which is so important. We are ‘touching the button’ and improving our weakest spots. We go to Jerez now and let’s see what’s going on there and whether we can stay at the same level as here in Valencia.”

Brad Binder – P23

“It was a cool two days and completely different to what I expected. From lap one it was like another world. The amount of power on the MotoGP bike is unbelievable. It’s incredible to see Pol’s data and some of the things he is doing is insane. I have a lot to learn. It is mainly just the lines and the way you pick up the bike on the exit of the corners. Working with the new team has been amazing. The guys are awesome and there is no pressure, they are super-chilled. They want me to improve in my own time. I had a little crash there at the end but other than that everything was pretty good today. More speed will come with time and when I find more confidence on the bike.”

Mike Leitner – Red Bull KTM Team Manager

“We are very happy with the test and the position and work we have done. We needed this time on track and with new stuff without the pressure of lap-times. Our four riders went through their respective schedules in a good way. Pol is already working with next year’s bike – the first prototype that Dani used this summer – and Dani himself continued to work with this version. Iker and Brad used the last spec of 2019 to get used to the bike and there are many things to learn. We can see that the speed is coming but they need to get the hang of the power, the tyres and the electronics. We were lucky with two dry days here and hopefully we can carry on in Jerez. Again I want to thank everyone in the factory for all the effort and strong work to bring us to this point. Let’s keep pushing.”

Sebastian Risse – KTM Technical Director

“As with every year it is an exciting time for us as a team and as engineers. We had a lot of new parts here, maybe 30% of what we need to validate before the end of the year and we managed to do it already. We have virtually a new bike, a new package, with different parts to come together. We’ve been working on this with Dani and Pol and there are also options where we have to decide ‘A’ or ‘B’ and see if they work as well as the old one: that’s where we could involve our new riders a little bit but generally we tried to keep them as free as possible to focus on the riding and understanding the bike. Overall it was a really successful test and we are happy with what we have for the new bike. Pol was fast and very consistent. We are still at the point where we have to explore this package, so we have to keep pushing and tuning it. We still have to decide on a lot of parts and we’ll hope to do that in Jerez and the rest in Sepang next year.”

Iker Lecuona – P15

“Now I have two days more on the bike here in Valencia. Overall, it was very nice with the bike and my feeling got a lot better. I improved my lap time a bit compared to the Qualifying on Saturday. I know quite well, that I still need to continue my work, adapt my riding style a lot more. For the next test in Jerez de la Frontera, I want to change some more things regarding lean angle and my body position, on the brakes, I already feel better and also with the electronics, but there’s still a lot to do for us.”

Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager

“A great second day in Valencia with Iker Lecuona. We have been continuing to work in order to improve Iker’s riding style, to improve his skill and knowledge about the bike, mainly working on the tyres, understand the carbon brakes and played with the setting, trying different lines to find out how to extract the maximum of a MotoGP machine. The lap time was a bit faster, but pretty similar. The pace was clearly a lot better. On the data, we could see, that his riding style is a lot better already. So, this is mission accomplished. Now we are heading to Jerez to continue to work hard. We are very happy! On the other side, we were impressed by the amount of work Dani Pedrosa and the whole test team were doing, so we will have these two riders again with us in a few days. Let’s hope the sunshine will follow us and we can continue the good work before the winter break.”

The Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso, meanwhile, was focused on gathering more information on what they tested on Day 1, one big thing of note being a new chassis.

Andrea Dovizioso – P8

“Today it was important to deliberate on several components of the new bike on which we did back-to-back tests, and we were also able to try out a new experimental front tyre brought here by Michelin. The next test at Jerez will be very important for us to be able to give a definitive opinion about the 2020 package, but the first impression is positive”.

Some sensors were spotted on the rear of the Borgo Panigale machine too on Wednesday, and the ‘salad box’ was back.

Danilo Petrucci, however, was not back. The Italian remained sidelined by his bothersome shoulder, although Michele Pirro was once again on track to put the laps in – 40 of them – and Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was all action stations too.

The Aussie explained he’d been doing back to back comparisons with the first version of the 2020 machines because the number 09 was ruled out. Miller was fastest Ducati on day two in 10th, just ahead of Dovizioso, who had gone fastest on the opening day of the test. Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) was 12th, ahead of Pirro.

Jack Miller – P11

“I am very satisfied for these two days of testing and for having finished the season giving a great satisfaction to the team. We have worked hard on some new parts, and today I had the chance to test the 2020 chassis that I will use again in Jerez. The feeling is extremely positive and I can’t wait to get back on track next week for the last two days of testing. Then we will enjoy the well-deserved winter holidays with the whole team.”

For Aprilia, it was another day of track action working with their 2019 machines. Aleix Espargaro was 16th after 43 laps, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini team-mate Andrea Iannone in 19th.

Aleix Espargaro crashed at the final corner, and Iannone ran on at Turn 1 with the RS-GP then catching alight. Test rider Bradley Smith was also on track and did another 32 laps to add to the information-gathering tally.

Aleix Espargaro – P17

“During these two days, unfortunately some of the difficulties we had during the race weekend were confirmed again, beginning with a certain instability at the front that we were unable to fully resolve. We worked primarily on the electronics, we know that the new bike will arrive in Sepang and I can’t wait to try it.”

Andrea Iannone – P20

“We did a lot of work during these two days. We know we need to improve, and we are leaving nothing untried. We had the chance to test various solutions and to retest a few components used during the year. We found some interesting things – developments that will certainly be useful in view of the 2020 season. Of course, problems can happen and that is to be expected when you get close to a few limits.”

Bradley Smith – P21

“Over these two days, Aleix, Andrea and I divided up the work. Right now, it is not about testing drastically new components, but rather collecting data that lets the engineers make the final changes to the 2020 project, in my case, primarily in terms of chassis architecture and ergonomics. We don’t have a lot of days to test before the beginning of the season, so it is important to move forward with our work as much as possible.”

That’s it from Valencia and the first test of 2020 – with Jerez up next as a two-day test takes place on Monday and Tuesday. Who will reign there? Will we see more engines, chassis updates, more aero and even more tech on show? And can Yamaha stay on top?

2020 MotoGP Valencia Combined Times

1. VINALES  Maverick 12 SPA Monster Yamaha 1’29.849
2. QUARTARARO Fabio 20 FRA Petronas Yamaha SRT 0.164
3. MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT 0.265
4. CRUTCHLOW Cal 35 GBR LCR Honda 0.467
5. MIR Joan 36 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar 0.578
6. RINS Alex 42 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar 0.654
7. MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA Repsol Honda Team 0.707
8. DOVIZIOSO Andrea 4 ITA Ducati Team 0.816
9. ESPARGARO Pol 44 SPA Red Bull KTM Factory 0.836
10. ROSSI Valentino 46 ITA Monster Yamaha 0.932
11. MILLER Jack 43 AUS Pramac Racing 1.005
12. RABAT Tito 53 SPA Reale Avintia Racing 1.409
13. PIRRO Michele 51 ITA Ducati Team 1.575
14. PETRUCCI Danilo 9 ITA Ducati Team 1.584
15. PEDROSA Dani 26 SPA KTM Test Team 1.621
16. LECOUNA Iker 27 SPA Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1.666
17. ESPARGARO Aleix 41 SPA Aprilia Racing Gresini 1.677
18. ABRAHAM Karel 17 CZE Reale Avintia Racing 1.748
19. BRADL Stefan 6 GER Repsol Honda Team 1.808
20. IANNONE Andrea 29 ITA Aprilia Racing Gresini 1.825
21. SMITH Bradley 38 GBR Aprilia Racing Test Team 2.241
22. MARQUEZ Alex 73 SPA Repsol Honda Team 2.386
23. BINDER Brad RSA Red Bull KTM Factory 2.518

Valencia MotoGP Lap Records

• Race Lap Record – Marc Marquez (2019) – 1m31.116s
• Fastest Ever Lap – Jorge Lorenzo (2016) – 1m29.401s

Source: MCNews.com.au

Valencia Day One – November 19, 2019

It was a Yamaha 1-2-3 on Day 1 of the Valencia Test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Fabio Quartararo ended the day top of the pile after 82 laps, the fastest of which was two tenths off his pole: a 1:30.163.

Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was second and 0.164 off after 66 laps, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completing the top three but a few more tenths in arrears.

Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Quartararo and Morbidelli tried the carbon swingarm, and Quartararo tried some aero new to him, but not to Yamaha.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders Viñales and Valentino Rossi – who was ninth – had a new chassis, engine and notably different air intake.

Rossi’s new Crew Chief, David Muñoz, was on hand as well as the team enjoyed an addition of a slightly different sort.

Fabio Quartararo – P1

“We tested many things including new wings and a carbon fibre swing-arm, and spent a lot of time doing back-to-back comparisons between the old and new parts. It means that we’ve already got an idea of all the positives and negatives of what we tried, and a plan for tomorrow on where we need to concentrate. I’ve had good confidence and feedback from the bike all day, and it’ll be useful to work on some areas tomorrow to improve the all-round package. When I crashed I was on a time attack lap but with a front tyre that was a bit used and I just braked a little too much – but we were able to make four more laps after the crash to check everything was fine.”

Maverick Viñales – P2

“For me it has been a really good test so far, because I worked a lot on my riding style and on my rhythm, and it seems like we improved. Today the grip level was quite good, so maybe we need to keep in mind that we still need to work on this when there‘s lower grip, but I was feeling really good on the bike today. We were especially working on reducing rear tyre degradation and we worked really well. I had a great rhythm on the last laps of a race distance on one tyre and that‘s key and also important for our work tomorrow. The prototypes are good. I‘m very happy. We are riding the bike in a good way and that‘s the most important. We are trying to save some tyres for tomorrow, because then we will try to create a better set-up. Today we just rode with the hard tyre and I felt great. Tomorrow we know more.”

Franco Morbidelli – P3

“It was a positive day for us because we were able to try a couple of things like new aerodynamics, some chassis components and the carbon fibre swing-arm and try and increase the performance of the bike. Some things were good and some weren’t quite as good, of course, but in the end it was a productive day for us. We were fast as well, which is nice, and it’ll be a case of trying to improve a little bit more and understand the new parts a little better tomorrow. The most important job for tomorrow will be to reconfirm what we tried today and maybe to try some more new parts as well.”

Valentino Rossi – P9

“Today was not so bad. We continue to work on the prototype of the 2020 bike that is a bit different, and the feeling is positive. We also worked a bit on the tyres and the setting, and at the end we found something good. It became better and better towards the end of the day, and I had quite a good pace, so we will try to continue like this tomorrow.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was fourth quickest and only 0.015 off Morbidelli after 58 laps, with the biggest headline from the Borgo Panigale factory proving a new chassis.

Andrea Dovizioso – P4

“I’m pleased because we tested some new stuff and it’s very interesting. Of course we’ll have to do some more tests with everything and also get some feedback on another track, to confirm the positive feeling we had today and then work on the details to try and make more improvements. In any case today went very well and I’m really satisfied”.

Danilo Petrucci also stole some limelight for tougher reasons, with the Italian only putting in 10 laps due to pain in his shoulder exacerbated by his crash during the Grand Prix. Nevertheless, he was 12th overall.

Danilo Petrucci – P12

“Unfortunately I was only able to do a few laps today because my left shoulder, which was already giving me a few problems, was injured a bit more in my crash on Sunday. Even though I tried to rest on Monday, when I got back on the bike today I didn’t have any strength in it so I preferred to stop and see if I can do a few laps tomorrow or if it will be better to postpone everything to next week at Jerez. Despite the fact I only did a few laps, my first impressions of the 2020 bike are certainly positive”.

Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was tenth after an apt 43 laps, trying some new parts but the full package is expected by the Jerez test. Miller also set the fastest speed on day one at 328.9 km/h.  In contrast, pace-setter Quartararo’s Yamaha only registered 318.3 km/h through the speed trap.

Ducati test rider Michele Pirro was on the other side of the Pramac garage, with Francesco Bagnaia remaining sidelined following his crash during the GP weekend.

Honda, meanwhile, were fifth with reigning Champion Marc Marquez. He put in 60 laps although one was cut short as the number 93 crashed, scattering a few parts through the gravel.

Marc Marquez – P5

“I’m happy with how today went overall, we had our first contact with the 2020 bike and started to understand it. I had a strange crash on my out lap from the box but there weren’t any issues on the bike. Tomorrow we will concentrate on some other areas to understand some more things. It will be another busy day but I am looking forward to continuing our work so the team can work on our feedback over winter.”

The biggest news at Honda was a new chassis though, along with the arrival of Alex Marquez. The number 73 was at LCR Honda and had an early crash later replicated by test rider Stefan Bradl at Turn 10. Alex completed 53 laps by the end of the day.

Alex Marquez – P23

“First I want to say thank you to Honda for this opportunity to join them as the Moto2 World Champion. Each lap we were able to improve which is important and I was able to enjoy my time on the bike. I’m very happy, it has been a positive day for me apart from the rookie mistake I made in the first run. My rhythm was quite good, and I know where I need to improve and focus on for tomorrow. The plan for tomorrow is to just make more laps so I can understand the bike better, learn how to manage it more.”

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was 11th and did 69 laps working towards 2020.

Cal Crutchlow – P11

“We had a positive day. First of all, we tried the 2020 prototype bike and, as with everything, you have to set the bike up and make sure it runs properly first of all. I think we did that quite well today. It’s only the first steps towards making sure the bike is working in the correct way, we’ll try some more stuff after having a look at the data tonight. But overall, we’re quite pleased so far. It’s different in quite a lot of areas, although all the bikes in MotoGP have the same DNA so it’s not a massive difference. But what we’re always looking for is small advantages and I feel it’s a little bit stronger in the braking zone at the moment, which is what we were looking for compared to this year’s bike. So that for me is a positive.”

Suzuki locked out sixth and seventh on Day 1 with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) leading team-mate Alex Rins. The former did 63 laps and the latter 76. The Hamamatsu factory had a new engine previously tested by test rider Sylvain Guintoli, and that’s what Alex Rins set his fastest lap with.

Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager

“As always, it’s very good when you have a full day of testing to go through everything. Today the main focus was to check the 2020 engine specification, and the feedback so far has been positive. Now we have to fine tune all the settings, in terms of electronics and the bike in general. We’re interested to compare it again tomorrow, and also to try it on a different circuit, like Jerez next week. Tomorrow we’ll go through a few more things, comparing parts as well as the engine, trying to get some more information and confirm some feelings.”

Joan Mir – P6

“I’m quite happy with how today has gone. We worked on the bike and tried the new engine specification; my first impression is good. Tomorrow we’ll make some adjusts and continue to see what we think. The plan for me is to continue trying the engine and then also some settings such as electronics.”

Alex Rins – P7

“We’re feeling good today. We tried the 2020 specification engine in the morning and then did some comparisons. My initial thought is that the new spec is better in the areas of top speed and traction; at the end these are the aspects we had in our target, but we’ll continue with set-up, settings and comparisons tomorrow and see what we think ahead of Jerez next week.”

KTM were all hands on deck: a new chassis, different engine spec, a new steering damper and work focusing on electronics, fairing, winglets, seats kept them busy. The new chassis – still a tubular steel frame – is aimed at improved adaptability.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was tenth and did 58 laps. New team-mate Brad Binder was also a big addition for the Austrian factory and he put in 70 laps as a new era in his career begins.

Red Bull KTM Tech 3 also had a new kid on the block, although he’s taken part in his first Grand Prix: Iker Lecuona. The Spaniard was impressive once again, despite a crash, and ended the day in 13th after 57 laps.

Iker Lecuona – P13

“Today was my first official day in this team as a MotoGP rider and I’m very happy. I didn’t change the bike, but I was just working on myself and my riding style. For sure, I need to continue to improve, but I’m quite satisfied to finish this first day in 13th position, just 1.482 seconds to the top. I did very consistent laps and decent lap times, so it’s truly ok. Tomorrow I can’t wait to continue to work with my new team and improve myself, I need to ride more and we will see.”

Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager

“It’s the end of day one testing for Iker Lecuona at Red Bull KTM Tech3. We are very happy. We don’t have too much to test on the bike, but a lot with the rider. Iker just moved from Guy Coulon’s to Nicolas Goyon’s crew, so he had to relearn new guys and new methods of working, although they are quite similar and it was very interesting to start working with him without the pressure of a Grand Prix, with more time than a 45 minutes session. What he did today, was very impressive, to be honest, because we have been testing different settings, different tyres and he reacts quite well. You could see that run after run, his riding style is improving, he’s getting more efficient for the MotoGP bike and I would like to say, that tonight we are a happy team. We are very proud and lucky to have Iker with us, so just wait for tomorrow, don’t be carried away, but it was a good first day for the 2020 season. On the other side of the garage, we don’t have too much to say, but we have the honor of Dani Pedrosa using our garage. We have a lot of very exciting technical things under our eyes, we have a very clever and skillful rider there, so this was a very emotional day one for the 2020 season. Thanks Dani, thanks Iker and more tomorrow!”

Dani Pedrosa was on track for KTM too, putting in 52 laps and based in the Tech 3 garage as Miguel Oliveira remains absent through injury.

At Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, there was no big developments revealed as yet, with work focused on improving electronics and engine braking. Andrea Iannone did 54 laps and was 14th, Aleix Espargaro did 45 laps and was 16th. Test rider Bradley Smith was also on track and caused a Red Flag with a crash, rider ok, but he did complete 50 laps for the Noale factory.

2020 MotoGP Valencia Test Times Day One

1. QUARTARARO, Fabio Petronas Yamaha SRT 1:30.163 73 / 82
2. VIÑALES, Maverick Monster Energy Yamaha 1:30.327 0.164
3. MORBIDELLI, Franco Petronas Yamaha SRT 1:30.650 0.487
4. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 1:30.665 0.502
5. MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 1:30.698 0.535
6. MIR, Joan Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:30.811 0.648
7. RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:30.958 0.795
8. ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:30.974 0.811
9. ROSSI, Valentino Monster Energy Yamaha 1:31.012 0.849
10. MILLER, Jack Pramac Racing 1:31.130 0.967
11. CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 1:31.183 1.020
12. PETRUCCI, Danilo Ducati Team 1:31.433 1.270
13. LECUONA, Iker Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1:31.645 1.482
14. IANNONE, Andrea Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.674 1.511
15. RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 1:31.775 1.612
16. ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.815 1.652
17. PEDROSA, Dani Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1:31.863 1.700
18. PIRRO, Michele Pramac Racing 1:32.016 1.853
19. ABRAHAM, Karel Reale Avintia Racing 1:32.034 1.871
20. SMITH, Bradley Aprilia Factory Racing 1:32.090 1.927
21. BINDER, Brad Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:32.645 2.482
22. BRADL, Stefan Repsol Honda Team 1:32.833 2.670
23. MARQUEZ, Alex LCR Honda 1:32.873 2.710

Valencia MotoGP Lap Records

• Race Lap Record – Marc Marquez (2019) – 1m31.116s
• Fastest Ever Lap – Jorge Lorenzo (2016) – 1m29.401s

2020 MotoGP Valencia Top Speeds Day One

1. Jack Miller 328.9
2. Andrea Dovizioso 327.4
3. Joan Mir 325.8
4. Marc Marquez 325.8
5. Stefan Bradl 325.8
6. Danilo Petrucci 324.3
7. Cal Crutchlow 324.3
8. Michele Pirro 322.8
9. Pol Espargaro 321.3
10. Tito Rabat 321.3
11. Alex Rins 321.3
12. Maverick Vinales 321.3
13. Karel Abraham 321.3
14. Alex Marquez 321.3
15. Andrea Iannone 319.8
16. Dani Pedrosa 318.3
17. Iker Lecuona 313.9
18. Fabio Quartararo 318.3
19. Valentino Rossi 318.3
20. Franco Morbidelli 316.8
21. Aleix Espargaro 316.8
22. Bradley Smith 316.8
23. Brad Binder 315.4

Source: MCNews.com.au

Round 19 – Valencia – Rider Quotes

Marc Marquez – P1

“A perfect end to a perfect season with the victory! I put a little extra pressure on myself with the gold helmet, so I needed to be extra smart! We did exactly what we wanted to do and won the Team Championship, taking the Triple Crown in this amazing season. Always the Riders Championship is the first objective, but I was happy to help win the Team Championship, not just for them but also for Jorge who has been a great champion, a hard rival and a great teammate. It will be difficult to improve on this year because we rode in a perfect way.”

Fabio Quartararo – P2

“I knew yesterday that Marc was going to be really strong, but if we couldn’t win then I would have been happy with second – and being the first Yamaha is a nice bonus too. We weren’t so far from the victory, so I can be very proud of the result. It’s an amazing end to the season. In 2018, a lot of people told me that I didn’t deserve a seat in MotoGP and that I wasn’t ready for it – but I think now with seven podiums and six pole positions I can show them they were wrong! I’m so happy with the entire year and it’s something the whole team should be proud of.”

Jack Miller – P3

“To finish on the podium today is an amazing way to wrap up my MotoGP season! We had 5 Podiums this year which is more than I’ve ever had in one season, but today in Valencia would have to be one of the best podiums yet, it was a fast and furious race the entire way! This weekend really caps off what I’ve been pushing so hard to accomplish this year, from the first session to the last putting in the work with the Pramac Racing boys and today we really showed how important that is with this result. Another memorable weekend and year, I can’t thank everyone enough for all the support!”

Andrea Dovizioso – P4

“All in all I’m happy with our speed in the race: our pace was very constant and in the end the gap to Marquez wasn’t very big. I tried to catch Miller for third but he was riding very well and was quicker than me in several places, so he deserved the podium. I’m satisfied with the way we finished the season because both at Sepang and here at Valencia we were fast. We have confirmed a solid second place, unfortunately with a very big gap from Marquez in the standings, but also with a large gap over the third-placed rider, despite two zeros at Barcelona and Silverstone that were not our fault”.

Alex Rins – P5

“For sure, this year has been really good, I was fighting for 3rd in the championship. I tried hard today to take back 3rd in the standings, and I was able to beat Viñales who was my nearest rival for that. I was battling with Dovizioso right up to finish line, but it was very difficult to pass him. Let’s keep working and prepare for the new season!”

Maverick Viñales – P6

“Actually, my main objective was to try to be third in the championship. We did it today, we forgot a bit about being on the podium or winning. My objective was to finish the race well. It was a difficult race, I struggled a lot with the rear grip, which happens sometimes for us and today again, so we have to check that. Today I was very concentrated on finishing close to Rins and trying to get the maximum points. I’m very pleased to be the first Yamaha and to be inside the top 3 again. I can’t wait to test the new bike. We face this new test season with a lot of motivation, a lot of enthusiasm, and that is the most important. We have very important tests coming up here and in Jerez, and I feel great on the bike. So, we need to create a good atmosphere again and keep challenging, because I think with Yamaha we can do a really good job this winter and prepare for next year.”

Joan Mir – P7

“This race was a bit frustrating for me, because I couldn’t find the same feeling as I had during the practices. It was a shame, but I was still able to fight well, and I was close to the Top 5 and close to riders who have won races this year. I thought I had something more to offer in this race, but I’m happy regardless. This rookie year has been really nice, and I’m looking forward to next year already. I’m very excited for the test next week too.”

Valentino Rossi – P8

“More than with the weather we struggled with the grip. This has happened to us before, earlier this year. I didn’t have enough rear grip and after some laps I had to slow down because my tyre lost a lot of performance. In the second half of the season we suffered a lot from this and at the end we were not able to fix it. Today was more or less the same, so we have to work from next Tuesday to start the new season well. We have two important tests here in Valencia and in Jerez before the end of the year. We hope we’ll have good weather and we’ll try to improve. We’ll have some new stuff from Yamaha, and also in the team we’ll have a new Crew Chief. These tests will also be important for us to understand how to work, and we’ll try to return stronger next year.”

Aleix Espargaro – P9

“After a weekend with a lot of crashes, I was very cautious in the race. Finishing this long season well was important and I am pleased that I managed to do that. The track conditions were very treacherous today too. I saw other riders ahead of me crash as soon as they tried to increase the pace. Overall, finishing in the top ten is a good result for me and for the guys on the team who have worked hard all season.”

Pol Espargaro – P10

“It was not a race like we wanted today. We were missing a lot of grip, traction and turning. We have been faster this year than 2017 in the qualifying, even with my ‘highside’ we were faster on one lap and that’s fantastic because we have gained a lot in stopping but we are struggling a lot on the grip side. The year has finished and we took 100 points in the championship, which is not bad, 11th position and it was not a bad season but we need to improve for 2020. We did three good years but next year it should be better, it must be better. We need to fight for that top six-seven in the championship constantly and be more consistent.”

Tito Rabat – P11

“It was a good race in general, we got some points as we finished 11th so I am happy and eager to start working for the 2020 season”.

Mika Kallio – P12

“Yesterday I said I needed to collect some points and we managed to do it but there was some help from other guys crashing in front of me so I’m still not that satisfied with 12th position. I could not feel the grip from the tyres today. I want to say thanks to KTM for letting me ride these six races. It was a nice journey but not as successful as I wanted it to be. Anyway I enjoyed it and we got some points today. The atmosphere was there all the time and that was nice.”

Jorge Lorenzo – P13

“Today was a special day. On the grid I had a very different feeling to all my other races and certainly in the opening laps I was more cautious than other races because the conditions were very difficult and I wanted to finish my last race. I focused mostly on myself in the race and I am pleased to end with some points certainly. It is great to help the Repsol Honda Team win the Teams Championship after an unbelievable season from Marc. I want to say thank you to all of Honda as they have treated me with the utmost respect and professionalism. I wish them all the best for the future.”

Karel Abraham – P14

“It’s good to get these 2 points after suffering some technical problems specially in the first corner, that made my lose a lot of time in the beginning. I lost positions and I had to push to arrive to the top riders. From there on, I made a lonely race, I gave my best but Lorenzo was too far in front and Syahrin was too far behind so it was a difficult race to manage but at least I got two points”.

Hafizh Syahrin – P15

“2019 is done, I’m really, really sorry to my team, especially my crew, because they were pushing so hard, but for me it was very difficult to find the rhythm to be consistent compared to my first year in MotoGP. I can only say I’m sorry, I tried my best! This race was very slow for me. One point is better than nothing in the end, but we were hoping for a lot better race pace. Anyway, thank you to everybody to support me and believe in me and also especially Hervé for giving me this opportunity for two years. I will try to come back stronger, so this is part of my journey now. Hervé built up my experience and my confidence. I just wish all the best to the team! I will miss this family! Thank you very much also to KTM for trusting in me, I’m sorry, that I couldn’t show my best this season.”

Andrea Iannone – DNF

“I am rather happy with the race today. In spite of starting from very far back, I was able to recover a lot of positions and engage in a fun battle with my teammate for the top ten. Compared to yesterday and Friday, we were able to find a good pace, although the front tyre temperature dropped quickly when I was leading the group. In the direction change between turn 9 and 10, I pushed a bit harder to defend my position and I crashed. It’s a pity about the final result, but we had a good race all the way down to the last lap.”

Franco Morbidelli – DNF

“The crash is a pity because I was feeling fast in the race and I was rapidly catching the guys in front of me. Sometimes without someone in front of you to help with the wind, your front tyre temperature can get very cold. I knew it was happening and I had two choices; to stop pushing and drop back, or to push and hope it warmed up again – and unfortunately I reached turn four and crashed like I had just left the pits. I was aiming for the podium as I was hunting down the guys in front, and the positive from the weekend is that we were feeling capable of being in the top three.”

Cal Crutchlow – DNF

“I feel ok. It was disappointing to crash here in the race in the last round in Valencia. Ironically, I felt quite good in the race, but I braked a bit late going into turn one and went into a dirty part of the track. I nearly saved the bike, but didn’t quite manage to and so now we’ll see what tomorrow brings. I’m looking forward to the test, I don’t know what the full testing schedule is yet, but we’ll be trying to improve the bike for next year”.

Johann Zarco – DNF

“I’m ok, I think the injury could have been worse. It was a difficult race. I knew it was going to be a long race, so I thought that with a used tyre maybe I would have the right pace. Thankfully I was around the tenth position which was good. After overtaking Pol Espargaro I tried to get a better pace, I saw (Danilo) Petrucci crash and I don’t know if I lost a bit of focus because a little bit later I also crashed in the corner. I was sliding and thinking it was a shame I’d lost the race, and I didn’t check on the bike and then the bike of (Iker) Lecuona totally took me away. I had big pain on the left ankle and I was scared, but now it’s not so bad as there are no broken bones. We’ll have to do some more tests tomorrow, but it’s ok I think. It’s a shame to finish the season in that way.”

Danilo Petrucci – DNF

“That was really a pity, because it was an important race for the team. Unfortunately, at the start the launch control failed to engage so I lost a lot of positions right away. I was making up places over the next few laps, and my pace was really good, but unfortunately after passing Rossi I crashed without understanding the reason why. I feel bad about ending the championship in this way, but in any case it is still the best season in my career in MotoGP: I know I must still improve in a number of different areas but now I can’t wait for the new season to start”.

Michele Pirro – DNF

“For sure it wasn’t a positive Sunday for us: my race was ruined right from the start when I didn’t feel well. Already on the sighting lap I had a drop in my blood pressure and when I started the race I felt sick, so I decided to return to the pits and pull in. I’m disappointed because my target was to finish in the top 10 and I felt I could have achieved it and maybe do even better. Unfortunately, that’s the way things went, we’ll try again next year”.

Iker Lecuona – DNF

“I feel sorry for the team because I crashed. I didn’t want to finish this weekend like this, as it was amazing! First, it was my first race in MotoGP and second because I was fast all the weekend with the team, that helped me a lot, so thanks for all the good work! I crashed, honestly, I don’t know what happened, because I didn’t brake later or changed the line, but first Petrucci crashed in this corner, then Zarco on the same place and behind it was me. I don’t know what happened, but I’m happy to stay here. I’m just sorry for the team for it! Now we continue working for next year!”

Team Managers

Massimo Meregalli – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

“It was a very challenging race day for us here in Valencia. Maverick and Valentino made the most of a tough GP. It’s difficult to understand why we had a problem with rear tyre grip with both riders, because this didn’t occur in the other cold sessions, including the Warm Up. It‘s a shame, because we had really hoped to end the season on a high note and today‘s results aren‘t very exciting. That said, the effort our riders put in was not in vain: Maverick and the team maintained their third place in the championship rankings. We should also give credit to Fabio, because his second place today helped Yamaha earn second place in the championship standings, the result of a Yamaha-family effort. It‘s quite the achievement, especially considering that Petronas SRT is a new team, Fabio a rookie rider, and Franky new to Yamaha. Despite facing difficulties this season, we have kept our work mentality and fighting spirit high. However, we would have liked to end the season closer to the front in this race, so we can‘t afford to linger during the crucial Valencia Test that starts this Tuesday.”

Wilco Zeelenberg – Petronas SRT Team Manager

“It’s been an incredible season, with seven podiums, Rookie of the Year, Independent Team and Rider – all the items on our wishlist. I’m very proud to say what we’ve achieved, not only with Fabio and Franco but with the entire team. If you look over the year, there were no human error mistakes at a single race and for a rookie team, that’s incredible. We’re over the moon to finish the season with second place in Valencia. Our focus is already on testing, and 2020 will be very interesting!”

Razlan Razali – Petronas SRT Team Principal

“What a weekend it was in Valencia! Unfortunately, it was a disappointing result in Moto3 as we struggled for pace all weekend and both John and Ayumu had tough races. John ended his season fifth in the rider standings and we’re fifth as a team which is the best we’ve achieved in Moto3. Our sights were a little higher, but we have a very strong basis for John and Khairul Idham Pawi for next year. We bid Ayumu a fond farewell, and look forward to seeing him in a new uniform next season. Adam gained more experience in Moto2 and continues to climb a steep learning curve. The last seven races have been invaluable to him and perfect preparation for CEV next year. Beyond that, we’d love to be able to welcome Adam back for a ride in the future. We’re really excited to test with Jake Dixon and Xavi Vierge for the first time later this week. We’re looking forward to some very strong performances from them next season. In MotoGP we’re yet to get the elusive win, but taking second again is a very good result all things considered! It was an unfortunate end to the race for Franco after showing so well throughout the year, but we believe that he can have a very strong season in 2020. We’ve come out of our rookie season with best Independent Team, top Independent Rider, Rookie of the Year and a fantastic fourth in the overall team standings. We also helped Yamaha to take second in the constructors’ award, which is great. 2020 will be a challenging year again, and the target will be to be on the podium every weekend. We all know what we need to do and we’re looking forward to the new challenge starting on Tuesday at the test.”

Ken Kawauchi – Suzuki Technical Manager

“This last race wasn’t bad, and both riders finished in good positions, with Alex fighting for the Top 3 at times. It’s a pity we couldn’t end the season with another podium, but I want to thank both the riders, and the entire team, for all the great results we’ve had together this year. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we have a test, and we’ll be trying the latest version of the engine and we will mostly concentrate on that.”

Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager

“We’re pleased about our results today. Alex was up with the top group and very close to the podium, but it was difficult to get into the Top 3 and he gave the maximum, still managing 5th. It’s another important and strong finish for us. Joan made a lot of progress this year, and that is very exciting for 2020. We’re looking forward to continuing this advancement with him..”

Mike Leitner – Red Bull KTM Team Manager

“It has been a long season but with some highlights for us. Pol’s result of 10th was our tenth top ten finish of the year and eleventh in the championship is good, very good actually, and the first time we managed to get three digits for points. Pol made a great season and the team did a good job all year, even if it was a difficult race today and hard conditions. It is tough to make Q2 and we did it fourteen times: this is an indicator that our package becomes more and more competitive and we are playing more and more in the top ten. We have to say thanks to Mika; he managed to get into the points and did these last six races for us. On the Tech3 side Iker did a great job through all the sessions and not crashing in difficult conditions. He made his first race experience and did good lap-times. It will be an experience he can take into the winter and he will be focussed for next year. Hafizh is leaving so thanks for all his effort he did this year. We wish him all the best in the Moto2 and Brad comes the other way and we’re excited to start our project with him. From Tuesday the new season starts and we are looking forward to it already.”

Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager

“Just one word: what a shame! What a shame, because Iker did a more than perfect weekend until he went on that part of the track, that was greasy or with some oil, where these guys crashed without any warning. I don’t know what to say. It was the end of a perfect weekend, the lap times were unbelievable. He could have almost ended up in the top 10, but anyway, you need to finish a race before talking about results. But what he showed today and the whole weekend is, that Iker is a great talent, he is for sure going to be a very, very strong MotoGP rider in the near future. The good news is, that he’s got a lot of laps under his belt now before we start the proper 2020 testing on Tuesday here in Valencia. Let’s look at what’s going to happen soon. We are now in 2020, it was not an easy year, but I think the journey was interesting together with KTM. One year ago, there was the first touch of the bike and I think we made a lot of progress, which people sometimes don’t really see and realize. We missed Miguel this weekend, although we were happy to have him physically with us. We wish to have him back as soon as possible back with us. I want to say a big thank you to Hafizh Syahrin. It was not an easy season for him, but he was always full of joy, he was a very positive and constructive rider. I wish him the best of luck for 2020! There is also something, that I would like to mention before we finish; apparently from Tuesday we will have Dani Pedrosa on Miguel’s side, because Miguel is not fit to ride and this is something that is going to be very, very interesting and it’s a great honor to have a legend like Dani working with us. I believe we will do a great job and hopefully enjoy a fruitful collaboration. So, thanks to the whole team, thanks to Red Bull, thanks to KTM, thanks to Elf, thanks to Hafizh, Miguel and of course Iker! Try to celebrate and enjoy tonight before we start 2020!”

Piero Taramasso – Michelin

“That has drawn 2019 to a close and what an extraordinary weekend to finish with. The temperatures were so cold here this weekend, the tyres had to work very hard to generate enough heat to give the riders the grip they needed and they did this extremely well. We saw all rear compounds used in today’s race and although only the front medium was used, all three were still a raceable option, so we produced a range to meet the demands of this difficult circuit and the demanding winter conditions we experienced, even though we had to choose the allocation as far back as March! I want to thank all the Michelin team for the hard-work and dedication this season, we have had a very successful season with many new records set – including two today – and are already looking forward to 2020. We now begin preparations for 2020 with a two-day test here at Valencia, before moving to Jerez next week. We still have a lot to evaluate before we make a final decision on the new rear construction for next season, so hopefully we will have some good weather so we can get some valuable data collected. We will also be starting to assess a new construction for the front which we hope to introduce in 2021.  Congratulations to Matteo Ferrari on becoming the inaugural MotoE World Cup Winner, the races have proved very popular and provided exciting racing. It is an honour for Michelin to be involved in the field of sustainable energy racing and we are extremely pleased with the performance the Michelin Slick MotoE have given the riders this year.  Today also saw the last race for Jorge Lorenzo, he provided us with some very high points during his time using Michelin tyres, On behalf of everyone at Michelin, I would like to thank him for his input and dedication and wish him all best in his retirement.”

MotoGP Results / Standings

Source: MCNews.com.au

FIM MotoGP Awards Ceremony brings 2019 to a close

Sunday at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana bid farewell to 2019 with another three awesome races to close out the season, and in the evening the FIM Awards ceremony brought the curtain down on the year – with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) taking centre stage.

Marquez more than most was in the spotlight as he received his MotoGP World Champion trophy after another season of record-breaking and an eighth world title.

The 2019 Awards were hosted by Gavin Emmett and Marina Lorenzo, with Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and FIM President Jorge Viegas in attendance to present the range of awards throughout the evening to all the winners this season.

Youngest ever eight-time World Champion Marquez took top billing as he received his record-breaking MotoGP trophy, along with his brother, Moto2 World Champion Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), and Moto3 World Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) after their incredible seasons.

The top three in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup inaugural year were also honoured, with Cup winner Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE), joined by runner Up Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) and Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing).

The top Independent Team rider title went to Fabio Quartararo (Petonas Yamaha SRT) after another stunning podium for the rookie earlier in the day, and this year’s MotoGP Rookie of the Year award was also presented to the Frenchman.

In Moto2, MB Conveyors Speed Up’s Fabio Di Giannantonio was crowned Rookie of the Year, with Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) taking that honour in Moto3.

The BMW M Award for best qualifier in the MotoGP class went to Marquez for the seventh year in a row, the Repsol Honda Team picked up the MotoGP Team world title trophy, and Honda took the MotoGP Constructor Title in the premier class. Kalex came out on top in Moto2, and Honda in Moto3.

The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup winner Carlos Tatay, Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Champion Sho Nishumura, and British Talent Cup Champion Scott Ogden were also applauded for their seasons, as were the top three in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship: Champion Jeremy Alcoba, Tatay once again and impressive rookie Xavier Artigas – fresh from a first ever Grand Prix podium earlier in the day after a stunning Moto3 race.

Source: MCNews.com.au