All the pieces have now fallen in place for the Aprilia Racing rider line-up after Maverick Viñales’ début astride the RS-GP during the two days of testing on the Misano Adriatico circuit.
The Spanish rider, extremely impressed by the first contact with the Italian team, will be on the track officially from the Aragón GP, scheduled to be held on the weekend of 12 September. He will take a spot on the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini alongside Aleix Espargaró, who just brought the Noale-based manufacturer their first podium in MotoGP at Silverstone.
Maverick Viñales’
Massimo Rivola – Aprilia Racing CEO
“We are extremely proud to be able to announce our plans for the current season and for 2022 with the goal of optimising the contributions of our three riders to the utmost. Alongside our confirmed rider, Aleix, it is our pleasure to welcome a talented athlete like Maverick to the Aprilia Racing team, who demonstrated a great feeling with the team and the bike straight away and who I am confident will be able to give his best as early as the Aragón GP. At the same time, we are also confirming Lorenzo’s role as 2022 test rider. This is a fundamental position that rewards the great efforts he has demonstrated in developing the new RS-GP, whereas he will finish out the 2021 season taking advantage of the wild cards that we’ll decide on together as soon as he is back to 100% fitness.”
Maverick Viñales’
Lorenzo Savadori will therefore be confirmed as test rider for the 2022 season, completing an extremely high level trio with the goal of continuing to improve the young RS-GP project. For the rest of the 2021 season, his presence on the track will not be lacking, taking advantage of the wild cards Aprilia has available. Lorenzo’s work schedule will be formalised as soon as he has recovered fully from the injury suffered during the Styria GP, a fractured right malleolus that required surgery.
Romano Albesiano – Aprilia Racing Technical Director
“The decision to have Maverick on the track from Aragón is a direct result of the tests done in Misano. It was not a given that, after a career spent up to now on a bike with an in-line engine, Maverick would have a good feeling with our V4 straight away. This is why the test on this track, historically not an easy one for our bike, was an important moment of assessment. Therefore, we are satisfied with Maverick’s immediately positive reactions, which demonstrated a good feeling both with the RS-GP and with the team and our work method. His and Aleix’s talent, combined with the experience Lorenzo has gained this season, make us optimistic about the future of our MotoGP project.”
Maverick Vinales heading for two-day Misano Test with Aprilia
Maverick Vinales’ debut on the Aprilia RS-GP will take place on the Italian track at Misano Adriatico.
The first contact between the Spanish rider and the Italian team is scheduled for two days of testing on 31 August – 1 September.
This marks the start of Maverick’s integration into the new structure that will accompany him throughout the 2022 season, a gradual approach to the improved harmony that is essential in such an extraordinary championship as modern MotoGP.
Romano Albesiano – Aprilia Racing Manager
“From a technical point of view, it is always fascinating to listen to the impressions of a rider who is testing your bike for the first time. Especially with a champion like Maverick, who we are pleased to welcome into the Aprilia Racing family. After the great work carried out on the track by the racing department over the last two years, we are adding yet another piece to the path of growth that we are undertaking with encouraging results. Clearly the first approach involves a very practical adaptation phase, in terms of ergonomics and setup, which we know vary for each rider. But I’m sure that Maverick’s talent and speed will come to the fore right away and I can’t wait to start working together”.
Yamaha and Maverick Viñales have mutually decided to advance their separation and end their previous 2021 agreement with immediate effect.
Lin Jarvis – Managing Director – Yamaha Motor Racing
“In Assen Yamaha and Viñales already announced the mutual decision to cut short their original 2021-2022 programme and to finish it at the end of 2021. A commitment was made by both rider and team to continue to the end of the current season, with the team guaranteeing its full support and the rider giving his maximum efforts so that we could finish the project ’in style‘. Regretfully at the Styrian GP the race did not go well or end well and consequently after deep consideration by both parties, the mutual decision was reached that it would be better for both parties if we end the partnership earlier. The early separation will release the rider to be free to follow his chosen future direction and will also permit the team to focus its efforts on the remaining races of the 2021 season with a replacement rider – yet to be determined. I would like to express Yamaha‘s sincere gratitude to Maverick. Yamaha will continue to cherish the good memories and appreciate the work both parties put into the 4.5 years spent together that brought us 8 race victories, 24 podiums, and two third places in the 2017 and 2019 overall rider standings. We wish Maverick all the very best in his future endeavours.”
After the Dutch GP (28 June 2021) it was announced that Yamaha and Maverick Viñales would bring their two-year contract for 2021-2022 to an early closure at the end of the current MotoGP season.
Following recent events at the Styrian GP and after deep consideration by both parties, the mutual decision was reached to separate with immediate effect.
Maverick Vinales
“Following our mutual decision in Assen to part ways a year early, it was also decided to commit to completing the current season with maximum effort from both sides. However, at the Styrian GP the race didn‘t turn out as we had hoped, and regrettably it did not end well. After thorough consideration both parties have agreed it would be best to end the partnership with immediate effect. I am deeply grateful to Yamaha for the great opportunity. I am also thankful for the support they gave me during these 4.5 years of racing and will look back with pride on the results we achieved together. I will always have great respect for Yamaha and wish them the very best.”
Aprilia has confirmed that Maverick Viñales will join the Aprilia Racing factory team for MotoGP season 2022 alongside Aleix Espargaró astride the RS-GP. The Spanish rider has signed an annual contract with an option for renewal.
The signing of Viñales is another step in the Italian team’s growth and development strategy, which comes just in the year of the transition to a factory team. Two events that testify to Aprilia’s desire to continue to grow in the top category of world motorcycling.
Born in 1995, Maverick Viñales made his début in World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing in 2011 astride an Aprilia in the 125 category, taking 4 wins and 5 podiums, making him the best rookie of the season and finishing third overall. After another high-level season, he won the Moto3 World Title in 2013 before moving up to Moto2 the next season. Thanks to the potential demonstrated in the intermediate class, he earned a seat in MotoGP from the 2015 season with Suzuki and on Yamaha from 2017.
In the premier class Viñales has taken 9 wins, 13 pole positions and 28 podium finishes, in addition to two overall third places as his best final placement in the rider standings.
Massimo Rivola – Aprilia Racing CEO
“We are extremely happy to announce that we have signed Maverick Viñales, a very high-level rider and one of the purest talents in the premier category. Our project has now been enriched with the value that Maverick brings – a World Champion who has confirmed his talent as a top rider in MotoGP – at a time of great change, after bringing a completely revamped bike to the track and having consistently established ourselves in the group of protagonists, we are also facing a switch in status as a Factory Team now, in order to take Aprilia to success. We are honoured to be able to make all of our best skills available to Viñales along with our enthusiasm and our passion. I am confident that, like Aleix, he will embrace this extremely high-potential project. The arrival of Maverick in no way distances Lorenzo Savadori from the team, as he will remain an integral part of the Aprilia Racing family.”
Maverick Vinales
So what does this mean for Vinales and Yamaha racing again this season? Well for our money, this reduces the chances of that happening as they will not want to furnish Vinales with any more intelligence in regards to coming changes to the Yamaha YZR-M1 that he can then take knowledge of to Aprilia.
With a passion for racing comes the drive to be the best – and in the case of Maverick Vinales, the passion comes with a bit of drama.
According to reports from MCN and The-Race, Maverick Vinales has just requested an early end to his contract with Yamaha.
Yamaha Racing managing director Lin Jarvis has said in a statement:
“It is with sadness that we will say farewell to Maverick at the end of the year. We are in the middle of our fifth season together, and over the years, we have achieved many highs but also had to manage many lows.”
The news came after a frustrating day for the rider at the Sachsenring German Grand Prix last weekend.
The Spaniard completed his worst round yet, qualifying 21st and finishing the race in last position, with a quote afterward that showed the racer’s frustrations on the matter.
“I always have the same problem, and that is that the rear wheel skids a lot,” Vinales says, frustrated. “I have been saying it since Portimao, and there is no solution. Yes, it is true that we are working, but six races have already passed to find a solution.”….I’m sorry, but with this bike, it’s impossible. When I arrived at Franco [Morbidelli] I overtook quite well. Just in the first try, I overtook him because against a Yamaha, it is much easier, but with the Ducati, it’s so hard.”
Vinales shows his true racer’s spirit with the next admittance:
“I really try to be calm. I try to work; I try to do everything. But the result is the same. And then if you have a Ducati in front of you, the frustration is incredible.”
Understandable when worded like that – and it’s not like Vinales doesn’t have other wins to show.
The rider bagged a pole position and finished second at Assen, just a few days after the unfortunate incident at the Sachsenring.
When it comes to the young rider’s talents, the proof is in the pudding – though the damage is already done for his team.
“After the German GP, which was the most difficult weekend of our partnership, we had important discussions in Assen”, says Jarvis, “and came to the conclusion that it would be in the interest of both parties to go our separate ways in the future.”
Vinales still plans on finishing his remaining time with Yamaha strong, and there is talk of a potential move to Aprilia or Aramco Racing Team VR46 – now signed on with Ducati.
The 2021 Yamaha Racing Team, From Left to Right: Fabio Quartararo, Lin Jarvis, Massimo Meregalli, Maverick Vinales
In the meantime, the importance of his time at Yamaha hasn’t been lost on him.
“This partnership has been very significant to me over the last five years, and it proved a difficult decision to part ways. In these seasons together, we experienced both great achievements and tough times. However,”, Vinales admits, “the underlying feeling is of mutual respect and appreciation. I am fully committed and will strive to achieve the best results for the rest of the season.”
Our hats off to the man, and may his drive to ride continue to guide his instincts – both on and off the track.
Following Maverick Viñales‘ request, Yamaha have agreed to put an early end to their current two-year contract.
Currently in their fifth season together, they mutually decided to go their separate ways after this year.
Both parties are committed to putting in their maximum effort for the remainder of the 2021 MotoGP season and ending the relationship on a high note.
Lin Jarvis – Yamaha Racing MC
“It is with sadness that we will say farewell to Maverick at the end of the year. We are in the middle of our fifth season together and over the years we have achieved many highs but also had to manage many lows. After the German GP, which was the most difficult weekend of our partnership, we had important discussions in Assen and came to the conclusion that it would be in the interest of both parties to go our separate ways in the future. Yamaha will put in their maximum effort – as we always have done – to give full support to Maverick and finish this season in the very best way possible.”
Maverick Vinales
“This partnership has been very significant to me over the last five years, and it proved a difficult decision to part ways. In these seasons together, we experienced both great achievements and tough times. However, the underlying feeling is of mutual respect and appreciation. I am fully committed and will strive to achieve the best results for the rest of the season.”
Maverick Viñales’ (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) stellar weekend at the Motul TT Assen only continued on Saturday, the 2019 winner at the track once again flexing his speed to top the timesheets and this time for pole position – with a new all-time lap record to boot. Just 0.071 kept Top Gun ahead of teammate Fabio Quartararo in a close-fought Yamaha 1-2- at the Cathedral, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the front row via Q1.
Maverick Vinales – P1
“We worked hard since FP1 and there was great grip on the bike, so I could be competitive and fast. Overall, this weekend has been good. I‘m very happy, honestly. The bike is working fantastic. I‘m really happy with all the work we did during the weekend. In the first three practices I was first, and I think that tomorrow we will have a good opportunity to fight for the podium.”
Maverick Vinales
Fabio Quartararo – P2
“I’m not complaining about being in second place. I’m feeling happy. I know that we have the pace to fight for the victory tomorrow, so that is the most important. I got a front row, even though I didn’t have a great feeling with the soft rear tyre all weekend, and I feel like this was a great lap time. For me, I did the best I could on that tyre, and we achieved a great result, but our work in FP4 was more important, because we achieved a really great race pace. I feel good and I feel confident, so I can’t wait for tomorrow, honestly. I’m full of adrenaline, I think we can do super well.”
Fabio Quartararo
Francesco Bagnaia – P3
“I’m thrilled because today we were able to make big steps forward compared to yesterday. Since this morning’s FP3, we have consistently improved our pace, and we have achieved our goal of starting from the front row tomorrow. Quartararo and Viñales are still on another level right now, with incredible race pace, but we’re also working to take another step forward for the race, and I’m sure we’ll be able to do it”.
Francesco Bagnaia
Takaaki Nakagami – P4
“It’s a great result for us and personally I want to say thanks to my team, because it was difficult for a long time and now we’re back in Parc Ferme and it’s a nice feeling. The most important thing this weekend is that we have a good feeling on the bike and the confidence is there. P4 is a great result and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s race. Hopefully I’ll bring home a great result.”
Takaaki Nakagami
Johann Zarco – P5
“I am happy enough. This morning I only just missed out on Q2 and I was a little disappointed. In the afternoon I was able to make the most of the tires, in Q1 as well as in Q2, and I will be starting from the second row which is good.”
Johann Zarco
Miguel Oliveira – P6
“A tough qualifying. We have done a lot of work with the bike and tried a lot of ideas to help me go faster. We found a good compromise for agility and the grip but it’s not easy. We knew this would be a hard track for us but so far it has been quite positive. A second-row position is quite nice, and we have a long race ahead of us tomorrow. We’re looking forward to doing a good job.”
Miguel Oliveira
Alex Rins – P7
“Luckily I’m fine after the crash, it was a small off and my arm didn’t take any more damage. It was a shame because I was aiming for the second row and I was very close to it when I went down, but the sessions have been good today, especially FP3 & FP4, and I’ve enjoyed the feeling with the bike. I’ve tried the different tyre options and worked quite a lot towards tomorrow, but so far we’re still not sure what we’ll use for the race. The Yamahas are very strong, but I think I’m able to fight in the lead group if all goes well.”
Alex Rins
Jack Miller – P8
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take advantage of my last lap with the soft tyre because of the yellow flags, and that will force me to start from the third row tomorrow. This is definitely not a track where I feel particularly comfortable, but I will try to do my best in the race as always. The last sector doesn’t really suit my riding style, but we have a better idea of how to deal with it in the race after the qualifying. Tomorrow it will be important to get a good start to disrupt the pace of the frontrunners in the early stages and thus have a chance to attack in the final laps”.
Jack Miller
Aleix Espargaro – P9
“I wasn’t particularly brilliant in qualifying. I am unable to make the difference with the soft rear, but we are very competitive in terms of pace. I was fast and consistent in both FP3 and FP4. I don’t see a lot of riders wit a better pace, although things could shift in the race tomorrow. Starting from the ninth spot is never simple, but I expect a rather compact group, where it will be possible to battle for an important result. A good start will be fundamental in order to make up some positions straight away, whereas I’ll have to save my energy a bit over race distance. These bikes are rather physical to ride with a lot of load, especially on a track with this type of layout.”
Aleix Espargaro
Joan Mir – P10
“Overall the day has been positive, but I’m a bit disappointed about the qualifying as usual, because that’s the lowest position I’ve been in all weekend and my time in Q2 was better than my time in FP3 where I was Top 5. But it’s like this, and now we need to focus on improving on our qualifying performance because the bike has good potential and this track could be good for us because our race pace is decent. I will need to fight hard tomorrow from this grid position to get myself in a good place and finish as high as possible. I’ve done it before so I know I can do it again, but it’s always tougher and more unpredictable when you have to come through the pack, so it will be difficult.”
Joan Mir
Pol Espargaro – P11
“Today we did not deliver in Qualifying, we should have been on the front two rows at least. I made a mistake with the front tyre, I used the soft front twice and this was not the right things to do. This is what happens when we have such a short pre-season and we aren’t able to make these mistakes during a test, we have to make them during a race weekend and put ourselves in this difficult situation. We have been flying all weekend, but now starting so far back it will be difficult tomorrow. Anyway, let’s see what happens on Sunday.”
Valentino Rossi – P12
“Today was quite positive for us because I have had a good pace from the beginning of this morning and I have felt good with the bike. We have continued to work on the settings, because we don’t feel that they are 100%, but in the end I did a very good lap in FP3 and went straight to Q2. FP4 was also a positive session, as I did some good lap times at the end of it with the hard rear and had good pace. I was hoping to improve my time slightly in Q2 by two or three tenths but, alone on track, I was unable to do so. Now we have to wait to see what the conditions are tomorrow to understand which tyre to use, but I hope it is dry. We will need to get a good start, be strong in the opening laps and stay with the group, hopefully this way we can have a good race.”
Iker Lecuona – P13
“I felt quite strong, especially on my fastest lap. On the first run I made a mistake in sector one and without this I think I could have done a high 1:32 again. The bike was working very well, we have a lot of potential. I’m quite happy, thanks to the team as well, because we all have been working very well this weekend. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Jorge Martín – P14
“It’s been a good day, we worked substantially in FP3 and FP4 on the race-pace and I am satisfied. My physical condition still is not 100% and I lack some experience but I am happy with how we are working and I am seeing improvements day by day.”
Lorenzo Savadori – P15
“Qualifying didn’t go too badly, although we are not as incisive as I’d like to be on the first sector. On the rest of the track, on the other hand, I’m able to be pretty competitive, but with such narrow gaps, we need to get close to perfection. The crash in FP4 was similar in dynamics to the one on the Sachsenring. In fact, we were trying the same change to the bike’s geometry. For the race, we’ll obviously take a step back in this regard, also trying to recover a bit on T1 because we have the potential to finish in the points.”
Álex Márquez – P16
“Second day here and for qualifying we made some good improvements on yesterday. In race pace we’re still missing a bit and it was not the best qualifying, although I gave it my everything. Again, I made a few mistakes and need to improve on the one lap, but we are not bad and are trying step by step to be there. If we can improve the grip tomorrow we can have a good race, I’ll give 100 percent and we’ll have to see what the rain forecast is. In general, I’m quite happy with the bike, we need to improve the rear grip, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow and being aggressive from the beginning.”
Luca Marini – P17
“Overall it has been a good qualifying and we are doing well, we always try to make the most of our potential. We are still working in this direction, we are missing something in the fast parts, all the Ducatis are struggling, and we hope that some of them will find a modification to have more stability. We are growing, I am happy, the level is extremely high, the bikes are constantly evolving, but step by step we are there. I am very happy with the relationship with the team and I feel good.”
Danilo Petrucci – P18
“Unfortunately, I touched the green out of the last corner on what was a really strong lap. A lap later, I missed the chequered flag and another try by just a second. Unluckily this means we have another P18 on the grid, which is not a great place to start. Anyway, we know that we have a good pace and will try to recover as many positions as possible tomorrow.”
Danilo Petrucci
Enea Bastianini – P19
“It has been a difficult day. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as we expected, so we will have to work for tomorrow because there is something wrong and we have to understand why. Tomorrow I will start 19th and I will do my best to get a good result.”
Marc Marquez – P20
“My body was feeling the crash of yesterday and it just made everything more difficult in the end. The morning started well, I felt good in FP3 and FP4 and then in Qualifying the feeling with the first tyre wasn’t so good, but I felt better with the second. I couldn’t finish the lap, this can happen in Qualifying when you are pushing, I lost the front and I fell. I wasn’t really riding how I wanted today. Tomorrow will be difficult; 20th is not our place at all. Starting this far back will be tricky but we will do what we can and learn as much as possible. I also have to thank Honda for their fast work, after yesterday they brought a solution to our Traction Control concerns today and it has helped – this is Honda.”
Marc Marquez
Brad Binder – P21
“A really difficult FP4 and qualifying, even if we did do a lot of laps and worked hard to find our way. I had an issue with the softer tire and some stability after a few laps but when we put in the harder tire the feeling was quite OK. In qualifying I couldn’t even complete one good lap and that’s why we’re 21st. It will have to be a hell of a fightback tomorrow.”
Garrett Gerloff – P22
“I’m a little frustrated because I think I could have put my sectors together better across one lap and I didn’t do that, but it’s not too bad. Every time I go out I’m trying to learn something new and get used to the bike more. The team has been amazing, we’ve been making really good progress every time I’m out on track and the bike is feeling even more comfortable than it did. In the beginning it was very different from what I was expecting but we’re working in a good way. It would have been nice to be higher on the grid, but I’m doing the best that I can. My goal was to keep improving and so far I’ve done that. Tomorrow I’m hoping I can ride with someone and see their lines, learn some things and maybe make a couple of passes – that would be really good.”
Garrett Gerloff
Q1 Notes
Q1 had some big names including the aforementioned Bagnaia, Sachsenring winner and eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and second in the standings Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing). It was a chaotic session at times but Bagnaia kept it pinned to move through, pipped late on by Zarco after the Frenchman had some issues early on. The two Borgo Panigale machines proved the graduating duo though, denying Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) by a tenth.
Marc Marquez crashed out of the session, rider ok, with only half a minute left on the clock as he lost the chance to move to Q2. Consequently, the number 93 suffered his worst qualifying ever in the premier class as he gets ready to start from 20th, and has another surprisingly tough day at the the office alongside him: Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
Q2 Notes
Free Practice 1, 2, and 3 pacesetter Viñales set the initial time to beat, a 1:32.413, but it was beaten on Quartararo’s first fast lap by 0.077. However, El Diablo’s next flying lap was nothing short of stunning: through Sector 3, Quartararo was over three tenths faster than his own time and was on course to set the first-ever sub-1:32 lap time at the Cathedral of Speed. Sure enough, hecrossed the line to lay down Assen’s fastest-ever two-wheel lap – a 1:31.922.
At the end of the first runs, the number 20 was a stunning 0.491 clear of Viñales in second place, with three tenths then separating third-place Zarco from ninth-fastest Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar). It would take an almighty effort to beat Quartararo’s time, but that’s exactly what Viñales was about to pull out the hat. His first lap went astray after a moment at Turn 9, but his sixth lap of the session saw Viñales set a blockbuster 1:31.814 to beat his teammate by 0.071, a scorcher from Top Gun.
Bagnaia then shot up to P3 before Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hit back, but Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) decided it was his turn to sit on the provisional front row and the Japanese rider took over in third.
As the end of the session approached, all eyes turned to Quartararo. Up by nearly two tenths in Sector 1, the Frenchman was 0.135 under at the end of Sector 2. A small mistake at Turn 10 cost the number 20 time, however, and crossing the line, he couldn’t improve… leaving Viñales unthreatened at the top as the number 12 took pole for the first time in 2021. Bagnaia then shot into third, demoting Nakagami right at the flag.
The Grid
Viñales, Quartararo and Bagnaia lock out the top, with Nakagami leading Row 2 in P4 after his best qualifying of the season. He’s joined on the second row by Zarco and Oliveira. Rins suffered a late crash at Turn 8 but is unhurt and will start from P8 as the leading Suzuki, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) on the third row in 8th and 9th respectively. Just over three tenths covers Bagnaia to Aleix Espargaro.
Reigning World Champion Joan Mir’s (Team Suzuki Ecstar) qualifying struggles continue as the Spaniard starts P10, but the number 36 has very good race pace. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) is the second fastest Honda rider in P11, and the Spaniard sits just 0.089 ahead of 12th place Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) after the Doctor made it through to Q2.
MotoGP Assen Combined Qualifying
Pos
Rider
Bike
Q
Time/Gap
1
Maverick VIÑALES
YAMAHA
Q2
1m31.814
2
Fabio QUARTARARO
YAMAHA
Q2
+0.071
3
Francesco BAGNAIA
DUCATI
Q2
+0.302
4
Takaaki NAKAGAMI
HONDA
Q2
+0.500
5
Johann ZARCO
DUCATI
Q2
+0.580
6
Miguel OLIVEIRA
KTM
Q2
+0.636
7
Alex RINS
SUZUKI
Q2
+0.783
8
Jack MILLER
DUCATI
Q2
+0.795
9
Aleix ESPARGARO
APRILIA
Q2
+0.852
10
Joan MIR
SUZUKI
Q2
+0.934
11
Pol ESPARGARO
HONDA
Q2
+1.016
12
Valentino ROSSI
YAMAHA
Q2
+1.105
13
Iker LECUONA
KTM
Q1
(*) 0.183
14
Jorge MARTIN
DUCATI
Q1
(*) 0.309
15
Lorenzo SAVADORI
APRILIA
Q1
(*) 0.717
16
Alex MARQUEZ
HONDA
Q1
(*) 0.747
17
Luca MARINI
DUCATI
Q1
(*) 0.780
18
Danilo PETRUCCI
KTM
Q1
(*) 0.837
19
Enea BASTIANINI
DUCATI
Q1
(*) 0.863
20
Marc MARQUEZ
HONDA
Q1
(*) 0.936
21
Brad BINDER
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.056
22
Garrett GERLOFF
YAMAHA
Q1
(*) 1.198
2021 MotoGP Standings
Pos
Rider
Bike
Points
1
Fabio QUARTARARO
Yamaha
131
2
Johann ZARCO
Ducati
109
3
Jack MILLER
Ducati
100
4
Francesco BAGNAIA
Ducati
99
5
Joan MIR
Suzuki
85
6
Maverick VIÑALES
Yamaha
75
7
Miguel OLIVEIRA
KTM
74
8
Brad BINDER
KTM
56
9
Aleix ESPARGARO
Aprilia
53
10
Marc MARQUEZ
Honda
41
11
Franco MORBIDELLI
Yamaha
40
12
Pol ESPARGARO
Honda
35
13
Takaaki NAKAGAMI
Honda
34
14
Alex RINS
Suzuki
28
15
Enea BASTIANINI
Ducati
26
16
Alex MARQUEZ
Honda
25
17
Jorge MARTIN
Ducati
23
18
Danilo PETRUCCI
KTM
23
19
Valentino ROSSI
Yamaha
17
20
Luca MARINI
Ducati
14
21
Iker LECUONA
KTM
13
22
Stefan BRADL
Honda
11
23
Lorenzo SAVADORI
Aprilia
4
24
Michele PIRRO
Ducati
3
25
Tito RABAT
Ducati
1
Moto2
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took his fourth pole of his rookie Moto2 season at the Motul TT Assen, the Spaniard edging out teammate Remy Gardner in another Red Bull KTM Ajo 1-2. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) took third, the Brit back on the front row as he looks to gain back some ground.
Moto2 Assen Combined Qualifying Times
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time/Gap
1
Raul FERNANDEZ
KALEX
Q2
1m36.356
2
Remy GARDNER
KALEX
Q2
+0.186
3
Sam LOWES
KALEX
Q2
+0.330
4
Aron CANET
BOSCOSCURO
Q2
+0.409
5
Hector GARZO
KALEX
Q2
+0.446
6
Ai OGURA
KALEX
Q2
+0.448
7
Jorge NAVARRO
BOSCOSCURO
Q2
+0.460
8
Augusto FERNANDEZ
KALEX
Q2
+0.528
9
Lorenzo DALLA PORTA
KALEX
Q2
+0.595
10
Tony ARBOLINO
KALEX
Q2
+0.651
11
Celestino VIETTI
KALEX
Q2
+0.667
12
Thomas LUTHI
KALEX
Q2
+0.723
13
Bo BENDSNEYDER
KALEX
Q2
+0.762
14
Marcel SCHROTTER
KALEX
Q2
+0.791
15
Fabio DI GIANNANTONI
KALEX
Q2
+0.874
16
Albert ARENAS
BOSCOSCURO
Q2
+0.879
17
Marco BEZZECCHI
KALEX
Q2
+0.893
18
Somkiat CHANTRA
KALEX
Q2
+1.017
19
Joe ROBERTS
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.266
20
Marcos RAMIREZ
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.279
21
Simone CORSI
MV AGUSTA
Q1
(*) 0.288
22
Jake DIXON
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.396
23
Stefano MANZI
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.406
24
Xavi VIERGE
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.461
25
Cameron BEAUBIER
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.486
26
Nicolò BULEGA
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.506
27
Alonso LOPEZ
BOSCOSCURO
Q1
(*) 0.524
28
Barry BALTUS
NTS
Q1
(*) 1.151
29
Manuel GONZALEZ
MV AGUSTA
Q1
(*) 1.366
30
Hafizh SYAHRIN
NTS
Q1
(*) 1.740
Moto2 Championship Points Standing
Pos
Rider
Bike
Points
1
Remy GARDNER
Kalex
164
2
Raul FERNANDEZ
Kalex
128
3
Marco BEZZECCHI
Kalex
117
4
Sam LOWES
Kalex
86
5
Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO
Kalex
73
6
Marcel SCHROTTER
Kalex
59
7
Aron CANET
Boscoscuro
55
8
Joe ROBERTS
Kalex
50
9
Xavi VIERGE
Kalex
42
10
Ai OGURA
Kalex
39
11
Bo BENDSNEYDER
Kalex
38
12
Augusto FERNANDEZ
Kalex
34
13
Jorge NAVARRO
Boscoscuro
33
14
Tony ARBOLINO
Kalex
30
15
Cameron BEAUBIER
Kalex
26
16
Albert ARENAS
Boscoscuro
18
17
Stefano MANZI
Kalex
17
18
Celestino VIETTI
Kalex
16
19
Marcos RAMIREZ
Kalex
16
20
Jake DIXON
Kalex
11
21
Hector GARZO
Kalex
11
22
Somkiat CHANTRA
Kalex
11
23
Nicolò BULEGA
Kalex
10
24
Hafizh SYAHRIN
NTS
8
25
Simone CORSI
MV Agusta
7
26
Lorenzo DALLA PORTA
Kalex
6
27
Alonso LOPEZ
Kalex
4
28
Fermín ALDEGUER
Boscoscuro
4
29
Lorenzo BALDASSARRI
MV Agusta
3
30
Barry BALTUS
NTS
2
31
Thomas LUTHI
Kalex
2
32
Yari MONTELLA
Boscoscuro
0
33
Tommaso MARCON
MV Agusta
0
34
Miquel PONS
MV Agusta
0
35
Fraser ROGERS
NTS
0
36
Taiga HADA
NTS
0
37
Piotr BIESIEKIRSKI
Kalex
0
38
Keminth KUBO
Kalex
0
Moto3
Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) took his maiden pole position at the Motul TT Assen, the Spaniard mastering the track on his first try as he makes his racing debut at the Drenthe venue this weekend. His new lap record, a 1:41.194, gives him two tenths in hand ahead of Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), with Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) completing the front row.
Some drama hit for Moto3 ahead of qualifying too, with Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) involved in a multi-rider incident in FP3 and subsequently taken to Groningen hospital for a check up, alongside BOE Owlride’s Stefano Nepa and Riccardo Rossi, who were also involved – as was Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP).
Acosta was declared unfit for upper back and chest trauma on Saturday as a precaution, which ruled him out of Q2. If he is able to start on Sunday, he will line up 18th.
Moto3 Assen Combined Qualifying Times
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time/Gap
1
Jeremy ALCOBA
HONDA
Q2
1m41.194
2
Romano FENATI
HUSQVARNA
Q2
+0.212
3
Dennis FOGGIA
HONDA
Q2
+0.278
4
Sergio GARCIA
GASGAS
Q2
+0.279
5
Kaito TOBA
KTM
Q2
+0.285
6
Gabriel RODRIGO
HONDA
Q2
+0.340
7
Niccolò ANTONELLI
KTM
Q2
+0.473
8
Darryn BINDER
HONDA
Q2
+0.561
9
Xavier ARTIGAS
HONDA
Q2
+0.684
10
Jaume MASIA
KTM
Q2
+0.809
11
John MCPHEE
HONDA
Q2
+0.849
12
Tatsuki SUZUKI
HONDA
Q2
+0.862
13
Izan GUEVARA
GASGAS
Q2
+1.000
14
Lorenzo FELLON
HONDA
Q2
+1.194
15
Deniz ÖNCÜ
KTM
Q2
+1.198
16
Elia BARTOLINI
KTM
Q2
+1.332
17
Andrea MIGNO
HONDA
Q2
+1.345
18
Pedro ACOSTA
KTM
FP1
+0.609
19
Joel KELSO
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.009
20
Yuki KUNII
HONDA
Q1
(*) 1.079
21
Adrian FERNANDEZ
HUSQVARNA
Q1
(*) 1.230
22
Ryusei YAMANAKA
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.254
23
Takuma MATSUYAMA
HONDA
Q1
(*) 1.326
24
Andi Farid IZDIHAR
HONDA
Q1
(*) 2.388
25
Stefano NEPA
KTM
FP1
0.738
26
Riccardo ROSSI
KTM
FP3
1.002
27
Alberto SURRA
HONDA
FP1
1.862
Moto3 Championship Points Standings
Pos
Rider
Bike
Points
1
Pedro ACOSTA
KTM
145
2
Sergio GARCIA
GASGAS
90
3
Jaume MASIA
KTM
72
4
Niccolò ANTONELLI
KTM
65
5
Romano FENATI
Husqvarna
64
6
Dennis FOGGIA
Honda
61
7
Darryn BINDER
Honda
60
8
Andrea MIGNO
Honda
58
9
Ayumu SASAKI
KTM
57
10
Jeremy ALCOBA
Honda
52
11
Gabriel RODRIGO
Honda
51
12
Kaito TOBA
KTM
49
13
Filip SALAC
Honda
35
14
Izan GUEVARA
GASGAS
32
15
Ryusei YAMANAKA
KTM
28
16
John MCPHEE
Honda
27
17
Jason DUPASQUIER
KTM
27
18
Tatsuki SUZUKI
Honda
26
19
Deniz ÖNCÜ
KTM
24
20
Xavier ARTIGAS
Honda
23
21
Riccardo ROSSI
KTM
16
22
Carlos TATAY
KTM
14
23
Stefano NEPA
KTM
14
24
Adrian FERNANDEZ
Husqvarna
10
25
Elia BARTOLINI
KTM
7
26
Yuki KUNII
Honda
7
27
Maximilian KOFLER
KTM
3
28
Andi Farid IZDIHAR
Honda
2
29
Daniel HOLGADO
KTM
1
30
Lorenzo FELLON
Honda
0
31
Joel KELSO
KTM
0
32
Takuma MATSUYAMA
Honda
0
MotoE
Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) remains unbeaten in FIM Enel MotoE World Cup E-Pole this season after the Brazilian was fastest once again in Round 4. It was close, however, with Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) just 0.074 off Granado’s best of a 1:43.114. Points leader and Free Practice pacesetter Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) completes the front row, with the session concluding right as rain began at the TT Circuit Assen and the Italian the last one out.
Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) was the first rider to set a sub-1:44 lap, a 1:43.968 putting him a sizeable 0.736 faster than the competition up to that point. Corentin Perolari (Tech3 E-Racing) cut Casadei’s advantage to 0.294 to go second, before Barcelona winner Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) then lit up his Energica Ego Corsa’s rear wheel on the exit of Turn 5 – a mistake that cost the Spaniard, whose lap would then get chalked off again after exiting pitlane too late anyway.
Rookie Fermin Aldeguer (Openbank Aspar Team) then went fastest overall with a 1:43.923, a new benchmark for the following riders to try and better. And that’s exactly what Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE) did as the 2019 World Cup winner beat Aldeguer’s time by 0.047 to sit on provisional pole, but the Italian would immediately get shoved down to P2.
By whom? Reigning World Cup winner Jordi Torres (HP Pons 40) – smoking his rear tyre out of Turn 11 – moved the goalposts in a big way as he went 0.398 clear at the summit to set a new benchmark. Tulovic was up for the challenge though and despite a rear-end twitch at Turn 5, the German rider took over at the top after an impressive 1:43.188. Second in the standings Dominque Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) was next up, but the Swiss rider will be looking for more on Sunday after slotting himself into third at the time, leaving just two riders left to set a lap: Granado and Zaccone.
Granado was up first, the second fastest man on the combined times, and the Brazilian recovered from a bit of a moment to nevertheless take provisional pole by 0.074 and deny Tulovic for sure. Could Zaccone take over at the top? All eyes panned to the Italian, who was a tenth and a half down in Sector 1, but he’d pulled it back by the end of Sector 3 to be heading into the final split 0.121 up. With the rain flag out but Race Direction judging the conditions to not yet be affecting track conditions, the lap was able to be finished but, crossing the line, the Italian couldn’t hold his advantage and instead slotted into third.
That leaves Granado on pole ahead of Tulovic and Zaccone, pushing Torres down to fourth at the head of the second row. He’s joined by Aegerter and Ferrari, who were fifth and sixth respectively.
Seventh place Aldeguer and eighth fastest Casadei are the only other riders to get within a second of polesitter Granado at Assen, with Corentin Perolari and Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) completing the top 10.
Ex Rossi crew chief moves from test team to lead Maverick’s garage
Following the Italian GP, Esteban García Amoedo, crew chief for Maverick Vinales, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP mutually agreed to end their working relationship with immediate effect.
Silvano Galbusera will take over the role of Crew Chief for Maverick Viñales for the remainder of the 2021 MotoGP season.
Galbusera was the man hand picked by Valentino Rossi to replace Jeremy Burgess when he parted ways with the Australian crew chief.
Valentino Rossi and Jeremy Burgess – 2014 – After Burgess had been replaced by Silvano Galbusera and had retired – Image by AJRN
The performance of Vinales seems to run hot and cold and this is perhaps seen as a circuit breaker to try and break that cycle and get Maverick back on track, every weekend, every session. That said, when Galbusera was Rossi’s crew chief in the team, Maverick was generally faster than the #46 across most recent seasons.
Vinales, more often than not out-performed Valentino Rossi when they were team-mates but the Spaniard has been consistently beaten for race pace by Fabio Quartararo ever since the young rookie got on a Yamaha in MotoGP. That has continued this year when the Frenchman joined Monster Yamaha as team-mate to Vinales.
Lorenzo was to have been working with Galbusera to lead Yamaha’s MotoGP testing programme but that didn’t go anywhere, thus Cal Crutchlow was in that role with Galbusera for this season. But now Galbusera has been moved back to the main game to head Vinales’ crew.
Vinales has had proven crew chiefs in Ramon Forcada, followed by Garcia and will now have a third man in his hot seat to try and turn things around. Arguably, Vinales had his best results in MotoGP when working with Forcada, who now works with Franco Morbidelli. Esteban Garcia though had helped Vinales to his Moto3 Title back in 2013.
Massimo Meregalli – Monster Yamaha Team Director
“Esteban joined our team in 2019. He and Maverick had already worked together before in 2013 and won the Moto3 World Championship that year. We are very grateful to Esteban for his dedication and passion during our time spent together, which led to eleven podiums for Maverick, including four wins, three second places, and four third places. Saying ’Goodbye‘ to one of our crew members is always a sad occasion, but it was a mutual decision based on what‘s best for both parties. We wish Esteban all the best for the future.”
Maverick Vinales is being given every chance by Yamaha to up his race game.
It was a Yamaha 1-2-3 overall at Aragon overnight headed by Maverick Vinales, with Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) a couple of tenths down and team-mate Franco Morbidelli locking out the top three… the last man within half a second after a slightly ominous day from the Iwata marque. It was a tougher day for Ducati, as all Borgo Panigale machines remain outside the top ten and provisional entry to Q2.
FP1
Viñales started as he meant to go on as he topped a very cool FP1, with the session getting underway half an hour later due to low track temperatures. Once the sun had warmed MotorLand Aragon through a little more though, the Spaniard set a 1:49.866 to lead a Yamaha trio at the top and was the first man to set a sub-1:50 lap time with 15 minutes of the session left.
Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo completed the top three, with Morbidelli less than a tenth off Viñales and Quartararo another two in arrears. Both crashed on Friday morning, however, Morbidelli first taking a tumble at Turn 14 and Quartararo doing the same at the end of the session at Turn 8. Both riders were up and ok.
Fabio Quartararo went down in FP1
Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) also crashed in the session, going down at Turn 2 just before the halfway point, but the number 73 bounced back to end FP1 in a mighty fourth. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completed the top five, around half a second off the top.
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completed the top ten.
Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) also crashed, the Frenchman going down at Turn 14, and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) crashed at Turn 2.
Some big names ended up a little down the order in FP1: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was P12, and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was in 17th by the flag.
FP2
The heat had risen to a more optimal 24 degrees as the MotoGP™ riders headed out for a crucial FP2, and sure enough, some riders immediately went faster. The Ducatis struggled to get a competitive lap time in FP1 but Dovizioso, his teammate Danilo Petrucci, Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and Johann Zarco all went quicker than they did on Friday morning with just six minutes of the session played.
However, the Yamaha trio of Quartararo, Morbidelli and Viñales were all faster than the latter’s FP1 time and the goalposts had moved again. Morbidelli was then the first rider to go sub-1:49 this weekend, a 1:48.992 the Italian’s effort in the opening stages, with Yamaha leading the way from Alex Marquez as the rookie showed more great pace early on in the afternoon. Dovizioso too, the Italian in P5 with 15 minutes gone. Meanwhile, after catching out Zarco and Morbidelli in FP1, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed unhurt at Turn 14 – the front of his KTM washing away.
Mir then took over at the top, two consecutive fastest laps of the session putting the Spaniard three tenths clear of Morbidelli, before Viñales cut the gap to 0.140 with just over 20 minutes to go. Nakagami was then into the top two as less than two tenths split the leading four, with Quartararo down to P6 behind fifth fastest Alex Rins.
Everything would change again in the final stages of the session, however, with time attack mode engaged. Despite MotoGP™ FP3 kicking off half an hour later (10:25) on Saturday morning to allow the temperature to rise a little, it will still likely be cool and the last ten minutes of FP2 were therefore even more vital as riders eyed a place in Q2.
Quartararo shot first as he slammed in a 1:48.406 to take over at the top by 0.282, before going even faster again to see his advantage climb to 0.478 seconds. What did the competition have in response?
Viñales got close to get within 0.094, with Aleix Espargaro impressing to go P3 thereafter. It wasn’t over though, as Viñales then absolutely obliterated Quartararo’s time. The number 12 set a blistering 1:47.771 to move nearly half a second clear as Morbidelli got back up to P3, the FP1 pacesetters back at the top. On his final flying lap, Quartararo also improved but the Frenchman ultimately couldn’t get within two tenths of Viñales, so it was the latter who took opening day honours in Aragon. All three Yamahas on circuit – the absent Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) watching on from home after his positive COVID-19 test – made it an ominous first day of action.
By the end of the shuffle, it was Joan Mir closest on the chase. With one-lap pace traditionally a tougher challenge for the Hamamatsu factory, his speed will be encouraging and could set us up for a stunner on Sunday. Just behind him, Cal Crutchlow set his personal best time in his final run to move up to P5, the Brit once again impressing despite his ongoing recovery.
Aleix Espargaro ends FP2 and Day 1 in sixth overall as the Aprilia rider showed off some characteristic impressive pace at MotorLand, but it was a close run thing against younger brother Pol Espargaro as the KTM rider was forced to settle for seventh by just less than a tenth. That was impressive in itself too though, with the number 44 having suffered from injury at the track over the last two seasons and having experienced a little less track time than some.
A late lap to move back up into the top ten sees Alex Marquez end FP2 and Friday in eighth after his stunning fourth in FP1, the rookie fresh from a maiden podium, and it couldn’t really have been closer with Nakagami as the Japanese rider was forced down to P9 by just 0.001. Alex Rins completes the top ten, another good sign for Suzuki and a solid day for the truly, really local rider.
That leaves some names looking for a lot more in FP3, not least of all Championship challenger Dovizioso. The number 04 ends Friday in P13 despite a better start to FP2, and he was leapfrogged by Zarco in P11 and Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Racing) in P12. Behind Dovizioso comes Miller and behind him Petrucci, with Ducatis locking out P11 to P15, and Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) down in P19. The mission is a clear one for FP3.
Zarco suffered a second crash of the day as well, this time at Turn 2, with Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) also taking a tumble; the German at Turn 12.
Friday MotoGP Rider Reflections
Maverick Vinales – P1
“First of all, I want to say I‘m sorry for Vale that he can‘t be here. I wish him a quick recovery. Today was good. I’m quite happy because I think we did good lap times. Even if the track is not at its best, our lap times are pretty fast. The bike is working well from the first laps. We know this track is good for us, because it has a lot of flowing corners. We just needed to improve in a few corners and we did that today, which makes me very happy. Today it was also windy here, and usually the Yamaha is very stable even then. Our race pace is quite good. We still need some more time to understand the tyres, but I can do a 1’48s-rhythm, which is good. I hope tomorrow the temperatures will be a bit higher. Especially this morning the conditions were very tricky. It was so difficult to stay on the bike. We will use tomorrow’s sessions to try to be more consistent. I want to try to improve my riding style, because it’s still not perfect at the entire track, but I can make another step in FP3. Anyway, today we did a good job. Overall the feeling is very positive. Now we will focus on tomorrow.”
Maverick Viñales
Fabio Quartararo – P2
“It was not an easy day, but it was quite positive: we had a strange crash in FP1, I’m still not completely sure why it happened, but FP2 was great. Tomorrow it looks like we will need to do some laps with the soft rear tyre; I think it could be a good option for the race because the rhythm is good, but not great. In general though, it was a positive day. I’m so happy that in the afternoon we had a great feeling with the front tyre, because it wasn’t there in the morning. I think tomorrow afternoon it will be important to not lose this rhythm, but also to make sure we are prepared for the race as well.”
Fabio Quartararo
Franco Morbidelli – P3
“It was a positive day for us and we have started the weekend well, in fact all Yamahas were on top! This morning the conditions were tricky, the temperatures were low and the wind was blowing quite a lot. We seem to suffer a bit less than others in these conditions though. I made a mistake this morning: I had a slow lap because of a yellow flag, then I started to push again too quickly and I crashed. Although we have a good lap time from today, I will still try to push tomorrow. I think we can improve because the weather forecast says the conditions should be slightly better and there will be more rubber on the track.”
Franco Morbidelli
Joan Mir – P4
“I’m happy and feeling positive with what I’ve done today, the team and I have started in a good way and we’re working from a good base so I feel great. My potential is really good but we need to do a bit more work and improve further, as well as assessing the tyre choice again. Today wasn’t easy for anyone with the conditions, but we’re hoping that with warmer temperatures tomorrow the feeling will get even better.”
Joan Mir
Cal Crutchlow – P5
“It was really cold here in Aragon today. Obviously, we had a delay to the first session which I think was the right decision given the Grand Prix bikes and the Michelin tyres characteristics. It seems very difficult to get heat into them which we know from experience over the years, so the race direction did a good job. Once the sessions got underway I felt quite good, I was comfortable enough and quite confident with the bike, although it was shaking a lot moving around and we need to improve that area for tomorrow. We’re a long way off the lap times of a normal race weekend because of the temperature, but it was a good day for the team and we look forward to tomorrow now.”
Cal Crutchlow
Aleix Espargaro – P6
“This morning was the only time in my MotoGP career I’ve been worried, seeing the asphalt temperature. With this bike and the power we have available, it is really difficult and I thought delaying FP1 was definitely the right thing to do. In the afternoon, things more or less got back to normal and I was able to go fast, but I’m not sure that my time will guarantee pre-qualifying for Q2. Knowing the riders, I’m sure that at the end of FP3 tomorrow, everyone will try a time attack and the standings will change. In any case, I am optimistic. On this track, the Aprilia RS-GP expresses itself extremely well.”
Aleix Espargaro
Alex Marquez – P8
“I felt good today on track, it’s a circuit I really like, and I normally feel very comfortable here with my riding style. The Honda is also quite good here. I had a rookie crash in the morning but in the afternoon, we managed everything quite well and we tried some different options for the front. Tomorrow morning, even with the delay, I think it will be tricky to improve our lap time with the expected temperature, so I was working a lot in FP2 to put myself in a strong position to fight for Q2. I did a good last lap and I am pleased with how it went but you never know in MotoGP! Let’s see what happens in FP3 tomorrow.”
Alex Marquez
Takaaki Nakagami – P9
“Today the conditions were a bit tricky, especially in FP1 when it was very cold. In FP2 it was slightly better conditions, but the track temperature was very low and there were strong winds. We are inside the top 10 and overall it was not a bad start, but we need to check the data to see where we can improve and understand in which sector we are losing most time. But my general feeling on the bike was quite nice and the pace was good, so tomorrow we need to work out our race tyre option because with a soft compound on the rear we had good grip but we don’t know if it will work for race distance, so we’ll check that in FP4.”
Takaaki Nakagami
Alex Rins – P10
“My target today was to be inside the Top 10, and I managed to do that but only just. I made a few mistakes when trying to set my fastest laps, but I know I have good pace so I feel confident about tomorrow. This morning it was really cold and it was quite tough. I rode very cautiously to try and stay safe and learn how to manage it. I think tomorrow will be a little easier and I’m looking forward to it.”
Alex Rins
Johann Zarco – P11
“I am disappointed with today because I have had two crashes due to the cold. Angry, because the objective this afternoon was to be among the top ten, because I think that tomorrow in FP3 we will not be able to lower today’s times. In Q1 we will do our best to get a good lap and fight for the front lines of the grid.”
Johann Zarco
Tito Rabat – P12
“It has been a very positive day, both in the morning and in the afternoon.Let’s hope that tomorrow we can improve a little, even if it is cold, since the forecasts say that it will be less windy.”
Andrea Dovizioso – P13
“It was a pretty difficult day because of the cold weather and the strong wind. With our bikes, we struggle a bit to warm up the tyres with these cold temperatures. This morning we weren’t able to do much during the first session, while in the afternoon, we started our work ahead of Sunday’s race. Tomorrow the wind should calm down, and so we hope to be able to make good use of the time available to make further steps forward.”
Andrea Dovizioso
Jack Miller – P14
“Not the best way to start, I did some good laps, but we struggled with the wind and this morning it was very cold. Tomorrow the weather conditions should be better and we will certainly have more chances to do well.”
Jack Miller
Danilo Petrucci – P15
“The conditions today were particularly difficult due to the low temperatures and the wind. The feeling with the bike is good, but we still have to find the right setup for this weekend. Temperatures should be similar tomorrow, but the wind should stop, and that could help us. We don’t have much time, but all in all, we are close to the firsts, so I am confident that we can improve on tomorrow.”
Danilo Petrucci
Iker Lecuona – P16
“Finally, I’m really happy. I went down this morning with used tyres in the cold temperatures. It was very difficult and I’m sorry for my team. At the same time, I have to say a huge thank you to them because they managed to repair the bike amazingly. This afternoon, I used the medium front and felt comfortable, but I found out that I prefer the soft. This is quite impressive, because it was the first time, I felt truly good on them, I liked the feeling, improved a lot. The top 5 are really fast, but behind everyone is within half a second, so the gap is very small. Thanks to the team for their fantastic job! I’m really happy and can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Iker Lecuona
Miguel Oliveira – P17
“The conditions have been tough today. In the morning, we rode, but with some difficulties to warm up the front tyre – I think as everyone else. In the afternoon, we knew it could be very close to Qualifying session, because we don’t know the conditions for tomorrow morning’s FP3. At the end, we made two time attacks and still, I think we have a lot to improve on the bike. Hopefully we can still have some time to work on it tomorrow morning and then we still have the chance to go directly to Q2 in FP3. We continue to work, see where we can improve and do our best.”
Miguel Oliveira
Bradley Smith – P18
“Conditions today, especially in FP1, were rather difficult. With such low temperatures and with the added factor of the wind, nothing seems to work as it should. Things improve in the afternoon, but the difference between the two sessions is enormous. It will be something to discuss, since we’ll most likely find similar conditions for the upcoming races as well.”
Bradley Smith
Pecco Bagnaia – P19
“We weren’t expecting to be so far behind in a track that usually Ducati is very competitive. With this cold condition of the track I couldn’t warm up the tires and this was the reason why I was very slowly. During FP2 I felt better with the bike with Medium tires and in only 3 laps I improved my chrono.”
Pecco Bagnaia
Stefan Bradl – P20
“Well today was a little bit tricky, first in the morning it was very cold which stopped us doing some of the things we had planned. In the afternoon, the conditions were better but I had a very strange crash. I need to look at the data to understand what happened better, I am physically OK though which is the most important. Let’s see what tomorrow brings, hopefully the conditions will improve, and we can get through what we need to in FP3 and FP4. There’s some work to do, but I am confident we can do it. There were three Hondas in the top ten, so the bike is working well here.”
Stefan Bradl
Friday MotoGP Combined Practice Times
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time/Gap
1
M.Viñales
YAMAHA
1m47.771
2
F.Quartararo
YAMAHA
+0.249
3
F.Morbidelli
YAMAHA
+0.447
4
J.Mir
SUZUKI
+0.730
5
C.Crutchlow
HONDA
+0.827
6
A.Espargaro
APRILIA
+0.899
7
P.Espargaro
KTM
+0.975
8
A.Marquez
HONDA
+1.052
9
T.Nakagami
HONDA
+1.053
10
A.Rins
SUZUKI
+1.068
11
J.Zarco
DUCATI
+1.135
12
T.Rabat
DUCATI
+1.232
13
A.Dovizioso
DUCATI
+1.244
14
J.Miller
DUCATI
+1.255
15
D.Petrucci
DUCATI
+1.336
16
I.Lecuona
KTM
+1.394
17
M.Oliveira
KTM
+1.437
18
B.Smith
APRILIA
+1.487
19
F.Bagnaia
DUCATI
+1.717
20
S.Bradl
HONDA
+2.320
21
B.Binder
KTM
+2.473
Moto2
MB Conveyors Speed Up’s Fabio Di Giannantonio took Moto2™ top spot on Friday at the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon, the pace upped in FP2 as the Italian set a 1:52.748 to fend off second fastest Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) by just 0.045. FP1 pacesetter Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) finished P3 on the combined standings, although the Le Mans winner’s afternoon was slightly marred by a Turn 7 crash – rider ok.
FP1
Sam Lowes finished FP1 in charge, the British rider’s 1:53.391 enough to fend off Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) by 0.052 seconds. The gap had been up to eight tenths earlier in the session, but the German was able to cut that down and so was third fastest Di Giannantonio. The Italian was within 0.058 of Lowes in a tight top three.
Championship leader Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) set his personal best time on his final lap to leap up to P4, 0.189 off Lowes, with Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) completing the top five. Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing), despite an earlier run off, ended the session in sixth.
Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) started his weekend in P7, the last man within half a second of the top. Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) put in a solid showing to take eighth, ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who completed the top ten.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed at Turn 2 and he was the only faller in the session. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) suffered a bike problem at Turn 9.
FP2
The afternoon saw the top times tumble in Moto2, but not for everyone in the field – unlike Moto3 and MotoGP. Di Giannantonio reigned by the end of play, the Italian pipping compatriot Marco Bezzecchi to the top by half a tenth after a late lunge. Before that, it was Bezzecchi vs Lowes for the fastest lap, the Brit holding it for most of the session before the Italian hit back. But ‘Diggia’ hit back last of all.
It was a great day for Edgar Pons (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) as the reigning European Moto2 Champion finished P4, the Spaniard 15th after FP1 but improving his time by over a second to leap up the timesheets in the afternoon to sit 0.031 ahead of Championship leader Marini in the session and overall. Thankfully for Marini, there seem to be few effects from his huge Le Mans crash seven days ago and he’s right in the hunt to make amends in Aragon.
Just behind Marini, in the session and the standings, came Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team). ‘Bestia’ produced a superhuman save at Turn 2 in FP2 and finished the opening day in P6, climbing from a P11 finish in FP1. Marcos Ramirez’ (Tennor American Racing) early FP2 time sees the rookie place P7 after finishing FP1 in P22, beating Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) by just 0.001, with Martin and Roberts rounding out the top 10 in FP2 and overall.
Jorge Navarro is 11th by virtue of his FP2 time, with Schrötter P12 on the combined timesheets and the first man not to have improved – the German’s FP1 time quick enough to put him on the list of provisional Q2 entrants. Garzo was 13th quickest overall, with Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) rounding out those who stand to move through to Q2 as it stands.
Friday Moto2 Combined Practice Times
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time/Gap
1
F.Di Giannanto
SPEED UP
1m52.748
2
M.Bezzecchi
KALEX
+0.045
3
S.Lowes
KALEX
+0.106
4
E.Pons
KALEX
+0.269
5
L.Marini
KALEX
+0.300
6
E.Bastianini
KALEX
+0.392
7
M.Ramirez
KALEX
+0.505
8
R.Gardner
KALEX
+0.506
9
J.Martin
KALEX
+0.577
10
J.Roberts
KALEX
+0.586
11
J.Navarro
SPEED UP
+0.596
12
M.Schrotter
KALEX
+0.695
13
H.Garzo
KALEX
+0.769
14
J.Dixon
KALEX
+0.790
15
T.Nagashima
KALEX
+1.027
16
B.Bendsneyde
NTS
+1.053
17
S.Manzi
MV AGUSTA
+1.056
18
T.Luthi
KALEX
+1.157
19
S.Chantra
KALEX
+1.183
20
A.Fernandez
KALEX
+1.193
21
X.Vierge
KALEX
+1.251
22
N.Bulega
KALEX
+1.419
23
L.Baldassarri
KALEX
+1.438
24
S.Corsi
MV AGUSTA
+1.564
25
H.Syahrin
SPEED UP
+1.730
26
L.Dalla Porta
KALEX
+1.771
27
X.Cardelus
SPEED UP
+2.704
28
A.Izdihar
KALEX
+2.794
29
P.Biesiekirski
NTS
+3.274
30
K.Daniel
KALEX
+3.496
Moto3
The recent Friday form man was up to his old tricks at the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon. With a half second advantage by the end of the day, it’s Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on top once again, with Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) in second. After a more muted morning session, Championship leader Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3) completed the top three as he moved up the timesheets in the afternoon.
There was also another key headline on Friday: Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) will be forced to sit the weekend out. The Italian must undertake a mandatory period of self-isolation after he was found to have been on a flight with a positive case of Covid-19. He has tested negative, but the self-isolation is a requirement of health authorities regardless – sidelining a Championship challenger for the weekend.
FP1
Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) started the day on top as the South African beat winner last time out, Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46), to the top by three tenths. Binder struck late to deny the Italian too, setting his lap as the flag flew to bring FP1 to an end.
Vietti was the only rider within half a second of Binder’s 1:59.813 despite losing out late on. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was 0.503 in arrears and third quickest.
Fernandez was fourth fastest in the morning, another half a tenth adrift of McPhee, with SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Niccolo Antonelli closing out the session in fifth. It was a strong showing for the Husqvarna duo of Alonso Lopez and Romano Fenati as the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team sat first and second in the early stages too, both bouncing back from their disaster/bad luck combo at Le Mans and eventually ending the session in sixth and ninth, respectively.
Second in the Championship Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) was seventh, starting off the weekend with a positive move up the timesheets after two tougher GPs, and points leader Albert Arenas was down in 13th. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was eighth, with rookie Yuki Kunii (Honda Team Asia) impressing to complete the top ten behind Fenati.
There were three incidents in the session: Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) had a technical problem early on at Turn 7, Ryusei Yamanaka (Estrella Galicia 0,0) crashed at Turn 2 ten minutes later, and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) went down at Turn 14.
FP2
With temperatures having risen significantly after a cold morning, the entire field were able to improve in the afternoon, ensuring the combined timesheets mirror those of FP2. Antonelli was the first man under the two minute barrier – something only Binder managed in the morning – but laptimes would drop from there on out. Fernandez was the man on the move, setting four fastest laps in a row in the latter part of the session.
Fenati maintained his form to end the day in second and Arenas was a key improver as he moved up to become the quickest Championship challenger overall, the Spaniard setting his quickest lap of the day on his final lap of the day. FP1’s fastest man Darryn Binder completes the top four, ahead of Suzuki by less than a tenth, with Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) within a tenth of the Japanese rider in turn as he moved up to end the day in sixth.
Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) ends Friday in P7 as he beat Ogura to it by just 0.011, but the Japanese rider continued his move forward after a couple of more difficult Grands Prix, well within the provisional Q2 entrants on Day 1. Vietti ends Friday in P9, with Alonso Lopez completing the top ten.
The final four on for provisional graduation to Q2 are Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3), Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) – the sole crasher in the afternoon session, rider ok – and Antonelli… leaving John McPhee needing to move forward in FP3.
“We did an amazing job this weekend, and we prepared really well for this race. Pecco was very fast, and I was pushing a lot throughout and trying to save a bit of tyre for the last ten laps. Then I started to push at the end, and I thought I was catching up with Pecco. But after he made a mistake, I just focused on keeping the bike with both wheels on the ground, trying to not crash and take the maximum amount of points. It‘s fantastic! I‘m very happy, because my mentality is exactly the same as it was last weekend and during the last races, but we just found a set-up that‘s a bit better for when we ride with 20 litres at the beginning of the race. I actually made a mistake in Turn 4. I was pushing a lot in the beginning, trying to open the gap. But when we were with only two riders, it was good. I want to say ’Thank you‘ to all the people who are supporting me at home. They know we‘ve had some tough times in our team, but it seems like we‘ve passed it, right now we have some good luck, and that‘s what counts. I‘m very happy and appreciate all the work from the team, and we need to continue like that, pushing very hard, because we have a lot more potential.”
Maverick Vinales
Joan Mir – P2
“It feels so nice to be here on the podium again! I know I need to improve my qualifying results, and that’s something we’ve been trying to work on, but I’m so glad that I was able to fight through for the podium despite starting 11th. I just kept trying to close the gap and stay focused, and it paid off. I’m so happy and I really hope I can enjoy another good result next weekend in Barcelona!”
Joan Mir
Pol Espargaro – P3
“We knew we were taking a gamble with the rear tire but I wanted to really enjoy the race. I also knew we’d have to deal with some drop-off in performance but that came much earlier than we expected. I was very fast at the beginning – with a bike I love – and I kept pushing and keeping Maverick close for some time. In the end I wanted to keep the others behind me and defend my position: that big effort paid off. With Fabio’s penalty we were able to do it…that’s why I never give up.”
Pol Espargaro and Fabio Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo – P4
“I’m really happy about my race, because it is important to finish in third position after all the weekends that we struggled. I received the long lap penalty, but I didn’t receive any messages about track limit warnings on my dashboard so I was a bit surprised by it. I know I had three times where I went over track limits, but the last two ones I didn’t know where they happened at the time. It is disappointing and frustrating to have this penalty, but I am looking forward to Barcelona. Overall I’m happy with my race because I had a good pace and, although it was difficult for us to overtake, I was fighting until the end to be on the podium. Also the start was much better and I feel like we have improved it a lot. Let’s see what we can do in Barcelona next weekend.”
Pol Espargaro and Fabio Quartararo
Miguel Oliveira – P5
“I’m happy about the race. We started far behind and we could manage to gain a few positions and also benefit from a couple of crashes. Our potential was there, we had a very good pace, I felt good with the bike and I made no mistakes, so I kept concentrated all the race. We managed to come out with a top 5, which was our goal from the beginning, plus scoring important points for the championship and now we go to Barcelona, can clean our minds now and have fun also there. I think we can have another good weekend!”
Miguel Oliveira and Danilo Petrucci
Takaaki Nakagami – P6
“I’m pretty happy to finish P6 again, inside the top six which from P12 on the starting grid was really tough, especially at the beginning of the race when there was a big group and I was struggling with my feeling with the front tyre as the tyre performance is not the best behind some bikes. But I was quite strong in sector three and I overtook some riders in sector four and my lap times were quite consistent until the end. We made another P6 so I’m happy and I want to say a big thanks to my team, because yesterday we had two crashes and they prepared my bike overnight and I really appreciate all their effort, this was a big team effort. Also a big thanks to all my sponsors and the team as they did a great job over these two weekends.”
Takaaki Nakagami
Alex Marquez – P7
“Last Sunday, and especially after the test, we managed to make some improvements. We were able to carry these improvements into this weekend and all weekend I have felt very strong. Throughout the weekend we had constant steps. In the race I started well and was aggressive early, which I am happy with. In the first laps I felt good and I was able to keep Dovi behind me for the race. Three laps from the end I had a big moment which allowed Nakagami to get through. Even with this I am pleased as I think we certainly had the pace for the top ten. I want to say thanks to the Repsol Honda Team for their hard work, we are coming stronger and now I am looking forward to Catalunya.”
Alex Marquez
Andrea Dovizioso – P8
“It was a complicated race. Unfortunately, when you start from the back, there is always the risk of wasting time, especially in the first laps. After the start there was a bit of confusion: at Turn 8 two riders fell in front of me and I had to brake, leaving room for two other opponents who overtook me. After a few laps, I finally found my rhythm, and I just thought about trying to stay constant. I felt better than last week, but I didn’t have a great pace and being so far behind, I couldn’t do any strategy. In the end, today we scored some points, and for now, we are still leading the standings, but of course, we cannot be satisfied with today’s result.”
Andrea Dovizioso and Takaaki Nakagami
Franco Morbidelli – P9
“I’m still trying to recover from my stomach bug, I have been feeling very sick. I have to say thanks to my dietician who has been able to give me the right foods to have enough energy for this race. Over the weekend I have been getting better, but I will go home and get checked just to see if there is something to aid recovery further. I hope to be at 100% in Barcelona. Despite this, I think we had the chance to be on the podium this weekend, but unfortunately another rider on the first lap took me out. I lost a lot of time there and I had a small issue with the bike, but I was able to make a good recovery. I’m happy though as I wasn’t expecting to finish ninth, so thanks to the team as well because they have done an unbelievable job with very little input from me this weekend. We now aim to arrive in Barcelona well prepared and ready to attack.”
Bradley Smith and Franco Morbidelli
Danilo Petrucci – P10
“It was another tough race. Right from the start, I didn’t find the same feeling I had in the practices. I started well, but I didn’t have confidence on the front, and I couldn’t stop the bike. Too bad because I felt I could have a good race today. I am happy with the progress we have been able to make compared to the previous races, but it is clear that we are still missing something. Fortunately, next week we will be back on track in Barcelona, where we will try to redeem ourselves.”
Danilo Petrucci
Johann Zarco – P11
“One race more finished, although it has been a difficult situation to handle. The choice of the rear tire was crucial, we chose an option thinking that it would give us some advantage from the second half of the race but this has not been the case. The pace has been very constant but a bit slow compared to the Top-10. Looking forward to Barcelona to continue improving.”
Johann Zarco
Alex Rins – P12
“Today was very difficult for us, I was struggling to stop the bike and also to maintain speed on corner entry. I felt this much more in the race than during the practices or qualifying. We have a few days before we’re back on track in Catalunya, so we’ll try to find the solution. I’m motivated to find the problem, and also to go to a new track, especially one that I like very much where I’ve had good results in the past.”
Alex Rins
Bradley Smith – P13
“The final result is okay, but I’m a bit disappointed with the wide gap behind the leader. The first stage of the race wasn’t bad and I was able to stay with the group. But today we started with an entirely different setting and I didn’t know what to expect, so the last 10 laps were rather difficult. These have been two peculiar weeks for us, with a lot of different sensations. I’ll take the good from the first 16 laps, done at a good pace, and we’ll have to start from them to tackle a vastly different track like Barcelona.”
Pecco Bagnaia – DNF
“It’s a pity , we were very fast, I had a good gap from Maverick, I wasn’t at my limit, I felt that all was perfect with my bike. I managed the tires for the last laps because I know that Maverick is very fast in the last part of the race. At the corner six I crashed and I didn’t know the why. We studied the data and we saw that I didn’t do anything wrong, the lines were the same and the inclination too. We think that I touched something strange like in that corner, we don’t know what it was, but there was something that dropped me. I was very sure while I rode, I managed the race lap by lap and I didn’t need to be aggressive with the tires. I’m looking forward to be in Barcelona in one week because we want to bounce back.”
Pecco Bagnaia
Jack Miller – DNF
“I’am very sad because I had started well and we could have had a good race, we had all the right conditions to make it. Unfortunately it was nobody’s fault, it was a very unlucky day because a tear-off entered the air box. I’am also sorry for the team that had worked very hard and well. We will come back to Barcelona even stronger.”
Jack Miller
Valentino Rossi – DNF
“For sure, it’s a shame that I made a mistake on the second lap. There was a bit of confusion in that moment, because all riders were close together. Unfortunately, I lost the front in Turn 4. It’s a pity because we lose some points. After the mistake I continued. I did some other laps to try to understand the rhythm, because we changed the setting of the bike a bit this weekend. It’s a shame, but this is the way it is. On the bright side, we have another race next week in Barcelona. That is a very good track, I like it a lot. The asphalt and grip level will be very different there. We hope that we will be competitive again. The championship is still long, so anything can happen.”
Valentino Rossi
Brad Binder – DNF
“I felt really, really good today. I made a decent start but then lost the front into Turn 11 and had a big head shake of the bike. I was thinking ‘that was close’ but then tucked the front going into Turn 13. I was a little bit wild. I tried to restart but then crashed again. So, not a great race but I’m happy because I had such a good feeling with the bike, and we’ve worked hard to get to that. Unfortunately we go home with nothing today but we’ll try again in Barcelona. We’ll need to learn quickly there and if I take one thing from this weekend then it’s that a good qualification makes life so much easier! We’ll try for that again next weekend.”
Iker Lecuona – DNF
“I need to say sorry to the team. I finally had a very good Qualifying and a very strong pace in the race. I overtook some riders and had the speed to fight for the top 6, following Miguel was great. I didn’t make any mistakes until three laps to go but finally did a big one and lost the front. I was three seconds ahead of the guys behind me. It’s frustrating for me because I could have taken my best position. Sorry to the team, let’s move on to the next race.”
Tito Rabat – DNF
“From today’s crash we will look on the bright side as always. Our fastest race lap was only one tenth slower than my teammate’s. The track conditions today were very strange and we still had a 1.33 pace. The crash was the result of trying to follow the group in front, as I was forcing it closed from the front and I crashed. Now we have our sights set on next week’s home race.”
Aleix Espargaro – DNF
“First of all, I want to apologise to Morbidelli, because my crash cost him a lot of positions, and to my team, since, considering our performance as compared to the others, we could have finished much better. I knew that I would have to go all-in on the first laps. My pace was very good but, starting from so far back, I had to risk. Difficulty overtaking is our weak point and that makes it hard to recuperate. It’s a pity because I was able to get into the top 10 anyway and I was really feeling good. This crash was not what we needed.”
MotoGP Team Managers
Massimo Meregalli – Monster Yamaha Team Director
“I‘m really happy. I think this win is well deserved, both by Maverick and the team. Maverick’s effort was fantastic. Yesterday he got pole, and today he finished the job. He had an aggressive start and kept a very high rhythm, pushing Bagnaia to make a mistake. It‘s a great confidence boost for the next race. These 25 points are a testimony to the hard work the team did on Saturday during FP3 and are very useful for the championship. Maverick made a huge step in the standings and is close to the top. Of course, there are also mixed feelings. It‘s a great shame to see Valentino‘s chance for a podium end so early on, especially because it was his home race, and he was feeling very competitive. It‘s a pity, but these things happen in racing. On the bright side, we have another race weekend coming up. The entire team is determined to keep the progress going in Barcelona.”
Maverick Vinales
Ken Kawauchi – Suzuki Technical Manager
“It was a good race for Joan, but not so good for Alex. It was great that Joan was able to get second position today and I want to say thank you to him, to all the team and for our people working from home for this result. Alex couldn’t show 100% of his potential in this second race at Misano, but we’ll check all the data and see what we can do in Barcelona next week.”
Team Suzuki excited to watch Mir cross the line for second place
Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager
“What a race from Joan! Once again he did a great job, he started a bit far back but he kept his head down and kept fighting throughout the race, and he was rewarded for his efforts with this podium. He did some fantastic over-takes to get this second place and we’re really happy for him. Alex couldn’t use his full potential, or the potential of the bike, today and he struggled a lot during the race. We need to try and understand what happened but we’ll go to Barcelona feeling positive and ready to fight again.”
Davide Brivio and Joan Mir
Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager
“Finally, we had a very positive day today at Misano for the Gran Premio Tissot dell’Emilia Romagna e della Riviera di Rimini. Although the Qualifying was again not what we were expecting, clearly, we knew our race pace was strong and we just hoped for a good start and eventually half way through the first lap, Miguel was in a strong position and we recovered quite a lot. Iker was ahead of him, so we were really pleased. From that moment, we kept our heads down, both Miguel and Iker had a great race. Iker was leading the first half race and Miguel passed him. We were pleased, because Iker could follow Miguel and try to rest a bit. Eventually, Miguel crossed the line in fifth position, which is a great result. We are first KTM in the championship, which is a big pride for us, but we can’t be 100 percent happy, because Iker was right behind him, having a three seconds advantage on the guy following him and less than three laps to the finish, he made a mistake and crashed, which is very unfortunate. It would have been a great team result, fifth and sixth, best result by far for Iker this year. Anyway, the poor Iker is devastated and is so angry with himself. I don’t want to add anything. He did a great weekend and a beautiful race until two laps to the end. Let’s take the positives, they were fifth and sixth with three laps to go, Miguel gets the 11 points for the fifth position, KTM is on the podium today with Pol (Espargaro) and we are closing the gap always. It doesn’t matter how the track is. Thank you to all the guys inside the Red Bull KTM Tech3 garage, thanks to all the guys working in Mattighofen to push and develop the KTM RC16. Just a few days and we are in Barcelona for the next race, so let’s keep our heads down, take a rest and let’s keep the positive vibes, that are inside the team at the moment.”
Red Bull KTM Tech3 duo
Mike Leitner – Red Bull KTM Race Manager
“In general we’re super-happy with the results because a podium was hard to achieve here and especially with the competitiveness of the MotoGP class. We had a really good test on Tuesday and found some technical solutions for the Grand Prix but we had some hard sessions in practice with a few crashes and a front tire that was on the limit. It was important to improve our grid position and it was great to get up to 4th and 6th. Pol did a great race with the soft tire and deserved that 3rd place. We were sorry for Brad: he had been great all weekend but it was a rookie mistake and he’ll learn from that. Both Miguel and Iker did really well also, just a shame Iker could not confirm that 6th place but he again showed his potential. Now we’ll go to Barcelona and focus for the next GP.”
Razlan Razali – Petronas SRT Team Principal
“Not the kind of results we expected after a great Misano last time. We are disappointed but there are positives. Clearly we are disappointed with the penalty that was given to Fabio, but it is what it is. We have to accept the fourth position and that we are still second in the championship. Franco recovered well after the lap one incident to finish ninth, and move to fifth in the championship. We are happy with this, we just need to do better next weekend and maintain consistency. There are still seven races to go, in which we can fight for the championship.
Piero Taramasso – Michelin
“Another busy weekend and another record-breaking one. It has been a great weekend for the performance of all the tyres across both MotoGP and MotoE. We had a test here on Tuesday and the Grand Prix riders were able to work on the set-up in readiness for this weekend and it showed that they took things to another level and found even more grip from their tyres. We set records across every sector in the two disciplines and witnessed exciting and unpredictable racing all weekend. The MotoGP riders are still learning to interpret the new rear construction tyre and how to get the maximum performance from it and this is also leading to them having many options when it comes to race day, which is something we aim to achieve – to give a choice to all riders and manufacturers. Six winners in seven races shows that we are providing tyres that different riders can win on and we have had three different manufacturers winning and I am sure it won’t be long before we get another new winner from a different marque, which again highlights the diversity that the Michelin tyres provide. This has been a very successful weekend, but we now have to go directly to Spain and start all over again.”
