Andrea Dovizioso (P2): “I started quite well and Valentino didn’t, but we went for the same bit of track and I lost some positions. I decided not to push 100% then and not be crazy, because I saw Marc and Valentino had more speed than me – then after Valentino crashed I tried to push and catch Lorenzo. He didn’t seem 100% after his crash, he wasn’t riding like normal, but he was still so fast. I tried to catch him without pushing too hard and risking too much, and then I decided with five to go that I would overtake him – but he made a mistake. Then I saw on the pit board that Maverick was close and
Sport News
Binder bounces back to top FP3
Another clear blue morning greeted Moto3™ as they headed out for their third practice session of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with less drama for freshly crowned World Champion Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo), after the South African suffered two uncharacteristic crashes on Friday. Stealing P1 on his final effort, the new Champion was only a couple of tenths outside the lap record with a 1:56.651 Source link
Rossi: “On paper we are strong”
Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) has been at the forefront in most races in the ever-changing 2016 season, and looks ahead to the upcoming flyaway stint ready to show those credentials once again. With a good record at the Twin Ring Motegi – the venue to kick off the three back-to-back races near the tail end of the season – the legendary Italian also relishes the chance to race at manufacturer Yamaha’s home venue, in Japan. In good shape and readying for a final stand again Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez, Rossi will be looking to kick off MotoGP™’s 2016 Asian adventure with another victory – his third of the year – as he faces down Marquez in the Championship
Marquez? Rossi? Suzuki? The land of the rising sun awaits…
While compiling some commentary notes ahead of Iannone’s expected return to action in the Far East this weekend, I wondered where he’d be in the standings had he not thrown away so many golden opportunities to score big points. He’s crashed out of five races this year and in three of those he was lying in second place. Had he got to the chequered flag in the position he jumped off in Qatar, Argentina, Le Mans, Barcelona and Silverstone, then he’d have picked up 83-points. It’s all could’ve, would’ve, should’ve, but you feel Iannone would still be in with an outside shout of the title himself had things panned out differently. Source link
Sepang: Resurfaced
Back in May, WorldSBK were the first world championship to get back on track at Sepang International Circuit outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the new track surface getting a thorough test in the Malaysian heat – and the Malaysian rain. Now, MotoGP™ returns to the venue that saw 2015 hit boiling point, to try out the changes for themselves – with work centered around resurfacing, drainage, camber changes and run offs. Source link
Kallio on KTM
MK: “The first laps with the KTM MotoGP™ bike were about one year ago – so the project and the bike are quite new, still. The first laps I did with the bike were last November and after that we’ve been testing a lot – on many different racetracks. We have a lot of experience and information now, about the bike. If I think how I felt when I first tried the bike and how I feel now, I can really say that we did a really good job this year. The development we were looking for we could find. So I think the level of the bike is quite good at the moment, but of course we need to
Moto2™ goes down to the wire: Rins vs Zarco (vs Lowes)
Zarco has five wins, Rins two, but their podium count is the same. The Ajo Motorsport rider went on an incredible winning spree throughout four of the fives races from the Catalan GP onwards, and after his win in the Austrian GP, was 34 points clear at the top of the Championship – but then the dominoes began to fall. Brno saw the Frenchman on pole in the dry, and then struggling on race day in difficult conditions – giving Rins and Lowes an opportunity that neither missed. With Zarco crossing the line in P11, Rins and Lowes laid enough on the line to take necessary risks – but not too many, locking out the podium in P2 and P3