“We’re working in accordance with the current conditions, to be able to do it in the near future. I hope that from now to July the measures don’t get any worse, but get better. The plan right now, as it stands, is that those outside of Europe would have to come to Europe at least 14 days before the Grand Prix and stay in Europe. Then, all the teams, including the Europeans, will have to do a test before leaving their countries, no later than 4 days before they arrive at the first Grand Prix, which will be in Spain.
And the selection we have for our loyal fans is a cracker. From Marco Melandri vs Emilio Alzamora in that 1999 125cc Argentina classic, to Nicky Hayden’s emotional Valencia GP in 2006 and the mouth-wateringly tense 2015 final showdown – motogp.com have you covered! So don’t wait around, immerse yourself into your sofa, grab a drink and get your dose of MotoGP™ action with some of the greatest names in motorcycle racing claiming World Championship titles – FREE for seven days!
After an electronic meeting this morning between Juan Antonio Marín, Vice President of the Regional Government of Andalusia; Mamen Sánchez Díaz, Mayor of Jerez de la Frontera; and Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports; the three parties have agreed to make a proposal to the Spanish government to organise two FIM MotoGP™ World Championship Grands Prix at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto on the weekends of the 19th and 26th of July, respectively.
“About 10 days ago, if you had asked me if we could run in July, I would have replied that you were a sweet dreamer. Today, it is something that is no longer impossible. We studied different scenarios, even one of a blank season, which we had always seen as something unimaginable. At the peak of the epidemic, we certainly thought about it, without ever naming it… And then, as often, when you hit the bottom a little, you bounce back. Far be it from me to exaggerate triumphalism, but today we see that containment has paid off, although the situation is still far from clear.
“Because, without Suzuki, when I raced I had Yoshimura Suzuki contract in 85, then I had a Suzuki America contract for 86 & 87, halfway through 87, we’re doing pretty good in races and I’m thinking “hey, where’s my contract? Cause if not, I’m gonna start talking to some other teams.” And they said, “what do you mean? We’ve been told end of last year that your contract is with Japan next year.” – “Really? Japanese championship?” Y’know, I knew that little about it, so without factory involvement and them seeing you do something somewhere and making them realise ‘that’s the person we want to take onto the World Championship’, and try and conquer the world – without Suzuki doing that, there’s no way my family and I could have accomplished that on our own.”
“We used to race, the classic example, when we raced at Assen the race would finish on the Saturday afternoon, we’d go to their hospitality unit, have dinner and whatever and then as riders, we’d all stay in our motorhomes that night – long after the paddock had cleared. It was too late to go anywhere so we’d pick somebody’s motorhome and we’d go sit outside and have some beers! We’d have a bit of back and forth a bit about the race but at the end of it all, you’d see Lawson, myself, Rainey, Doohan and Gardner sitting down, having a drink together and ending up at a dinner somewhere… Jerez, the classic example, that restaurant outside the front gate, all the teams went there in 89 after Lawson won and there was the biggest food fight that we all got in trouble for!”
Rossi and factory Yamaha teammate Maverick Viñales head-up a stellar cast of riders who are supporting Racing Colours Against The Virus, with other riders helping including LCR Castrol Honda’s Cal Crutchlow, Petronas Yamaha SRT duo Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo, Moto2™ stars Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP40), Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing) and Bo Bendsneyder (NTS RW Racing GP), plus Moto3™ front-runners Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea has also decided to promote the cause, as has Formula 1’s Antonio Giovinazzi.
The Honda NSR500V was introduced in 1996 to take advantage of the lower weight limit for twin-cylinder machines and to be sold as a viable privateer team bike.
van den Goorbergh’s Honda NSR500V
However for the first year it was run solely as a factory entry. As with the Aprilia V-twin, its advantages of better handling and higher cornering speed weren’t quite enough to overcome the V4 bikes’ superior acceleration.
The better handling and weight couldn’t overcome the V4 advantage on the NSR500V
The twin would see good success in privateer hands
Tadayuki Okada placed his twin on pole for its first race, in Malaysia, and went on to score six top five placings, including a second at Phillip Island. He finished the the 1996 season in seventh place.
Honda NRS500V
Honda NRS500V
Honda NRS500V
Only 20 NSR500Vs were built from 1995 to 2000, with a further two being provided for the Shell Advance team in 2001. Unlike the NSR500 the 500V was sold, not leased to the privateer teams.
The NSR500V was sold to teams, where the NSR500 was only leased
Honda NRS500V
This is Jurgen van den Goorbergh’s 2000 bike with 2001 engine
This is one of Jurgen van den Goorbergh’s 2000 bikes and is fitted with a TSR frame and swingarm, together with works Nissin forks and front brakes. It has chassis number 001 (of the three run by the team). Van den Goorbergh won Best Privateer for 2000, finishing in 13th place for the season.
Nissin provided the brakes and forks
Honda NRS500V
Honda NRS500V
The bike was fitted with the uprated 2001 motor for the following season (which featured new crankcases and transmission) and raced by Haruchika Aoki – who also won that year’s Best Privateer award.
Honda NRS500V
Honda NRS500V
Output was 148 hp compared to the standard producing 135hp at 10,250rpm, while weight was a svelte 103 kg.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales has finally tasted Virtual MotoGP glory after capitalising on late crashes by Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia and Repsol Honda’s Alex Marquez in Sunday’s Red Bull Virtual Grand Prix of Spain. The Spaniard was beaten by both Marquez and Bagnaia at Mugello and then by Bagnaia in an epic last-lap scrap at the Red Bull Ring, but it was third time lucky in Jerez as he beat both to clinch victory.
The event was in aid of the official charity of MotoGP, Two Wheels for Life, raising funds for their campaign to fight Covid-19.
Red Bull Virtual GP of Spain
As the lights went out, breath was bated as the opening corner approached and once again it was nothing short of chaos as six riders went down, including poleman Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and eventual race winner Viñales. In the early stages at the front, Bagnaia and Alex Marquez were looking to escape and making themselves some space, but then Marquez crashed out after contact with the Italian in the final sector and it was game back on.
Red Bull Virtual GP of Spain
Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Iker Lecuona found himself in second after he managed to stay clear of the carnage in front of him, but his chances of finishing on the podium evaporated on Lap 3 when he crashed at the penultimate corner. In an incident that also saw Quartararo caught up, suddenly Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was then promoted to second and had a debut Virtual rostrum finish in his sights… but it was far from over.
Red Bull Virtual GP of Spain
The reigning World Champion was put under all sorts of pressure by both Viñales and Alex Marquez after the pair had rediscovered their form following earlier crashes, and both swooped through on the number 93 after a mistake at Turn 2. The trio were split by nothing on Lap 5, but the gaps would quickly grow as Alex Marquez edged clear of Viñales for second and the number 12 did the same to Marc Marquez.
Red Bull Virtual GP of Spain
Behind, Quartararo and Lecuona came together again as the Frenchman couldn’t seem to stop crashing; the same issue that cost him in the opening two Virtual MotoGP races, but there were a few mistakes up and down the board still to come. At half race distance, Viñales ran wide, allowing Marc Marquez back through for third, but the number 93 didn’t hold the final podium place for long, crashing out just moments later.
Alex Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia engaged in battle
With just three laps remaining, Alex Marquez then crashed out of second at Turn 2, only for the leader Bagnaia to then suddenly crash as well, the Italian at the penultimate corner, allowing Viñales to go from third to first in the space of a lap. The Spaniard coped with the pressure in the closing stages and remained cool, calm and collected to take the chequered flag for his first ever virtual victory, particularly sweet after just missing out on his previous two attempts. Alex Marquez ultimately finished second, with Bagnaia dropping down to third but all three once again showing their impressive virtual skills.
Red Bull Virtual GP of Spain
Marc Marquez ended up fourth, despite slowing up on the final two laps to have a fight and some fun with Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci, coming out on top as the Italian eventually crashed out during that self-made scrap. Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins, a big victim of the Turn 1 drama, pounced on Petrucci’s error to take the final top five spot ahead of the Italian in sixth.
Petrucci and Marquez
Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Miguel Oliveira came across the line in seventh, ahead of Quartararo, although the Frenchman can take some solace from setting the fastest lap. Lecuona took ninth, ahead of Aprilia’s test rider Lorenzo Savadori in tenth on his virtual debut for Aprila Racing Team Gresini. Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) took eleventh, and he was also deemed the likely culprit for the Turn 1 chaos – but had no regrets about trying.
Maverick Viñales – P1
“The race has been quite exciting, because I battled a lot. I crashed two times, so I didn‘t expect to win that race, but I kept a good rhythm and I did many fast laps in a row. For me it was really good that I was able to keep my concentration until I crossed the finish line. But anyway I would have been happy, because this race is for a charity event, Two Wheels for Life, and I hope this helped them raise a good amount of money to help people in Africa battle Covid-19. I want to thank Yamaha and all the staff because the bike was fantastic. On a serious note, a sincere thanks to all the fans who are watching us race virtually. It‘s helping us and motivating us to do things that make these challenging times easier, so we can all do better and be happier.”
Alex Marquez – P2
“Another difficult race! The crash really wasn’t good and I’m confident that without it I could have won, it’s a shame but the second place moves us to the top of the points. It was really fun though, I really enjoy putting on a show for the fans and it’s also nice to have some jokes with the other riders. Next time we aim to go one better!”
Marc Marquez – P4
“A pretty similar race to the Red Bull Ring, avoiding crashes and trying to take the podium. Congratulations to Alex for another podium, he has impressed a lot in these opening races. I feel myself getting better but still there’s those three or four guys who maybe have another step over me. A bit more time on the PlayStation should help me to make another step. I hope everyone who watched enjoyed, stay safe everyone!”
Viñales had previously finished P3 and P2 respectively at Mugello and the Red Bull Ring, but the Spaniard managed to go one better on home soil. And the Yamaha star managed to claim the win despite crashing at the first corner in an incident with Reale Avintia Racing’s Tito Rabat. However, Viñales was back up to P5 at the end of the first lap as subsequent crashes for Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) allowed Viñales into the podium positions.
