With fireworks, confetti and drummers leading the way, the parade parted the crowds through the streets on its way to the Main Stage – with Marquez on the top deck celebrating with team members, family and his fan club. Once there, the number 93 talked to the crowd about the year, the Championship and the incredible support he’s had once again from the Marquez-mad town. Source link
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Bagnaia quickest, Mir fastest rookie at Jerez
Bagnaia, 2017 Rookie of the Year, went top – with Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) taking second as Kalex made it a 1-2 on the timesheets. KTM, winner of the final three races of the year, took third with Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – who also tested a new chassis. Luca Marini, moving to partner Bagnaia at Sky Racing Team VR46, was fourth fastest as the second KTM of Brad Binder closed out the top five. Isaac Viñales (SAG Team) was P6, ahead of Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team), Lorenzo Baldassarri on his new Pons HP 40 machine and Fabio Quartararo on the Speed Up for the first time. Source link
Viñales: “I feel more potential on the 2017 M1”
"It was the same bike as the weekend,” explained Viñales, after topping the timesheets on Day 1 at the Valencia test following a very tough weekend and straighaway answering the question on everyone's lips. “I felt much better - pushing the bike and from the first lap in the morning I felt great. During the whole day, even with 27 laps on the tyre, I could do low 31s. So we enjoyed today a lot, after a disaster weekend I was enjoying riding again. I felt strong again. We tried some things, with positives and negatives, but the laptime was there all the time. I think we did a good job, riding with the race setup and a full tank,
Goodbye 2017: FIM Awards Ceremony closes the MotoGP™ season
Following another three stunning races on Sunday at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, the FIM Awards ceremony brought the incredible 2017 season to a close – with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) taking top billing, with Marquez receiving his MotoGP™ World Champion trophy after taking the title earlier in the day in a dramatic final race. Source link
MM93: “I’m trying to keep it ‘Marquez style’!”
“It’s good,” affirms the Repsol Honda rider. “It’s good to start the weekend with a good feeling with the bike, we did a lot of work for the race, with the tyres. We did a lot of laps to understand th bike balance. At the moment I’m trying to keep my style, Marquez style, and forget about the others. I didn’t care if someone was following me, I was working for my race and for my points.” On the crash, the number 93 laughed it off: “I had a small crash in the last lap of FP2, we can say it’s a normal crash or a standard crash!” Source link
Lorenzo on life in red: “I’m still far from my limit”
“A world title for Ducati is something very special,” says the Majorcan, “And I want this to happen. Obviously, if I can, on my side. But if I can’t, it’s good that Dovi does it.” And Lorenzo says that yes, rivalry in the box is always important – but that his focus is on the best for Ducati: “He is my teammate, he is the first one that you have to beat or you want to beat because he has the same bike as you, but also we are in a team. Okay, it’s an individual sport but finally you want the best for Ducati.” Source link
2018 British Talent Cup calendar announced
As the inaugural British Talent Cup appears ever closer on the horizon, the provisional calendar* provides a first look at the dates and events that will host the Cup's first season. Beginning with testing in Valencia in March and then moving onto British shores for the season opener at Donington Park alongside the British Superbike Championship, the calendar takes in BSB, WorldSBK and MotoGP™ events in the UK and the Netherlands before the field return once more to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo alongside MotoGP™ for the season finale. Source link