Riders Ready For The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix!
This weekend we return to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix which is named after the local region. Races that are back to back can be challenging for teams who have lacked confidence at a particular circuit whilst a boost for others. The Championship is a crazy one when you think about it because so many things can change and within a rapid amount of time. If you are standing in the shoes of Andrea Dovizioso, you would think it was a movie script being written and the narrator telling a story about how the season is going to unfold. The Italian rider went from leaving Ducati to leading a World Championship once again. It is quite an incredible rollercoaster ride of emotions, results and no doubt pressure. Undaunted Dovi was happy with the test at Misano on Tuesday which allowed him to tick off two goals and this is the first time the Ducati rider has felt very positive. In amongst focusing on the title, it has been announced that many riders will ride street bikes to test at Portimao in order for them to familiarise with the circuit, layout, corner speeds and be ready for the charge forward. This is a positive step with the MotoGP calendar for those who were not so sure about racing on such a dynamic circuit.
Andrea Dovizioso: "I am satisfied with this day of testing: this morning, we were able to complete our program, working on the details that interested us most. After a difficult weekend like the past one, it would not have made sense to continue testing even in the afternoon, since we will have another three days to be able to work. Compared to the last GP, I feel I can be much more competitive this weekend. Still, we have to keep our feet on the ground: our rivals have also been working to improve and getting a spot on the front rows will be even more important, but in general, I am confident and positive".
As we know in this sport and with the COVID-19 situation being so fluid, it is important to stay healthy, focused and fast. Both Team Suzuki Ecstar riders are aiming to achieve strong results at this weekend’s event. Alex Rins had a crash in practice whilst Joan Mir continues with podium momentum after last weekend’s celebrations. The Japanese manufacturer is really proving themselves especially when it comes to corner exit and entry speed and being smooth with the tyre wear although choice is crucial in order to succeed on any given weekend, Maverick Vinales knows a lot about this.
Joan Mir: “Last weekend I was able to get a podium after a great fight with many riders, and despite not having a great starting position and struggling a bit in the early laps I had really good pace towards the end on used tyres. During the test we looked for solutions to help me with my qualifying and also to perform better on new tyres, and we’re not sure if we found the answers yet, but certainly I felt very good and quick on the bike. I’m excited to get into another race weekend.”
Alex Rins: “My arm is feeling better since last Sunday and I’m keen to come back to the track and have another strong weekend. In the last GP I had good speed and a nice feeling with the bike, but the arm problem held me back a bit. I hope this weekend I can fight for the podium during the whole race and bring home a good result.”
On the other hand, the testing situation at Misano has enabled other riders to rethink their strategies even after success early on and last week. This has to do with Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. The two Yamaha riders cannot afford to lose their eye off the prize and find themselves in a gravel trap, a positive COVID-19 test or crash early on that can shake one’s confidence levels. One teammate made progress and that was Quartararo whilst the other could not attend as a result of not feeling well. Some may say, Morbidelli partied too hard!
Fabio Quartararo: “It’s been a positive test and it feels good to be back on the bike after a tough weekend. I’m really happy with the test because we worked on our pace and on 23 or 24 lap old tyres I was setting some of my fastest laps. We’ve tested many things today and my crew have a lot to look at with the data as well now. It’s all good things to take into the race weekend. In my first run I also tested riding with the standard headset. It's a strange feeling but it was okay. I hope that we use it only for safety, not for communication with the team. I felt great all test though: we know what our weak points are, I think we will improve even more ahead of Friday and I think we will have a good race weekend.”
Franco Morbidelli: “It’s a pity to not have been a part of today’s test, because it would be really useful to test new settings for this weekend and the next races. This morning I didn’t feel well and, together with the team, we decided to rest and be fully ready for the start of this second race at home. We go into this race at Misano fully confident about our possibilities and willing to repeat a great result in front of the Italian fans. We are working really well together as a team and we have to continue in the same way. Last weekend was perfect; with the win and the first row on Saturday. I wish to fight for the same.”
With Honda suffering a great deal as a result of Marc Marquez sitting back with injury and recovery time longer than expected, they are reliant on Takaaki Nakagami, Alex Marquez and Stefan Bradl to bring home points. The odds are not in their favour if you look at the performance levels of the Honda spec package. In addition to this, Bradl has been forced to skip the rest of this weekend’s Grand Prix as a result of “arm pump”. The German rider apparently underwent a small operation to clean a nerve in his right arm although it has not rendered him in a position to ride safely. Bradl will need time to recover and as a result, this weekend there will only be two Honda riders. Talk about a disaster season! Younger brother Marquez has a lot to learn and will be one of the main riders to support this weekend with the Honda package although the expectations can also bring a lot of stress along for the ride as you try to race in the shadows of a multiple World Champion brother. If you want to be in the MotoGP premier class for a long-time, now is the time to step up to the plate.
Alex Marquez: “We improved the setup, and this is really positive, some changes have helped me to be more consistent but also to be faster over one lap. There’s still a gap to close to the top, but I am feeling more positive and ready for the next weekend in Misano. The forecast and everything looks quite similar, so I am excited to see how we have grown since the first race.”
In contrast, Valentino Rossi is really excited about coming back to Misano for a second race. Last weekend was a blessing in disguise with so much VR46 success both in Moto2 and MotoGP. The Doctor has certainly turned his bike and season around with flying colours. This weekend, Rossi does expect more competition and not an easy race. He needs to improve, feel stronger and work hard in order to stay with the front runners. No one thought the VR46 Rider Academy would bring about some serious Championship competition so early on considering Morbidelli won the Moto2 title in 2017 and is now just finding his feet to win. The reality of the situation is that Rossi is breeding some serious talent by utilising his skills sets off track to ensure his younger crew learns the ropes from the master himself. There will be laughs, cries and cheers as he battles again with those learning his ways. This is such a unique situation to be in when it comes to motorsport.
Valentino Rossi: “I am happy that we have another race here in Misano. Last week I was close to the podium, the race was just one lap too long. We did many laps yesterday during the test, and we found something positive that can maybe help us this weekend to be stronger. I want to fight for the podium again, but the level is very high, and the championship is very close. We will do our best.”
So as we turn to the weekend’s events, who knows what will happen because the tarmac and tyres are bound to throw a spanner in the works. Jack Miller could improve, Pecco Bagnaia could win, Vinales may surprise us all with a positive outcome or Mir might bag his first win by staying in line and charging with ferocity. In other rider news, it is sounding more like a Luca Marini and Tito Rabat rider line up for Esponsorama Racing. This would mean that Johann Zarco is going to Pramac MotoGP Team with Bagnaia promoted to the head factory squad alongside Miller. With that said, Enea Bastianini was confirmed by Ducati as signing so it is quite the puzzle as to where each rider is going to be placed. The silly season is far from being over. In good news for Moto2 fans, Remy Gardner has been signed to the KTM Factory alongside stellar manager Aki Ajo, so he is destined for some serious pace in 2021 before eventually we feel stepping up to the MotoGP plate.
With no lack of speed and drama, who do you see on the top step this weekend?
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