Marc's maturity

You can't deny, this year Marquez is going great. He's grown the little Spanish rider and he understood the importance to get points. The only mistake committed was in Le Mans were after the crash restarted immediately, getting few but essential points.

This is the first time in his career to complete 8 GP getting always points and without retreats. Maybe less spectacular, but wiser. It's a drastic change for him who already after the disappointing start of last year confessed he understood the importance to get points always. Last year he collected 6 retreats, most of them due to the bad 2015 frame by Honda who compromised the front feeling for the riders.

Assen weekend has been tough for Honda (and not only), likewise the beginning of the season and Marquez his putting is soul, as also Jorge admitted.

The rode perfectly, thinking just to the goal and not to the riders in the front, so at the end the mistake was committed by the possible problem of that day, Rossi. Then if we think about the bad race by Lorenzo, who got points though, that second place sounds like a victory to him and a lethal defeat for Yamaha.

Sachsenring will be next round where Marc won in the last 2 years. We can quietly think about him as front-runner. 

Assen 2016 - After race analysis

Assen is a nice GP because surprises, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way, but surprises always. This race amazed, starting from the splitting of the event in 2 parts due to the bad weather and the high number of crashes.

The protagonists:

- The Ducatis in general have been really competitive in both the situations (dry/wet)

- Jack Miller, for somebody a new name, usually present in the last positions. There is a reason because is not easy to see him in the first rows, without discussing his skills: he skipped the Moto2 class to go directly in MotoGP. This is his second year and he wants to show his skills which actually did winning in Assen in very bad conditions with a private Honda. He's 21, great in battles, who overtakes also when is not possible. A little Australian rider we often will hear about, I'm sure of it.

- Marc Marquez started with some problem which he fixed in the second half of the race. He arrived 2nd defending, he didn't risk and got a lot of points going to +24. Now he can breath better.

- Scott Redding is fast since the beginning and brings the Pramac Ducati team on the podium after stealing the position to a strong Pol Espargaro. Especially in the first part of the race he was incredibly fast compare to the others, going in the leading group togheter with Rossi. The most impressive of the weekend in my opinion.

- Danilo Petrucci is the other rider by Pramac Ducati team and gave us a nice battle with the leading group Rossi-Dovizioso. Clean, fast like he already did in Silverstone last year in similar conditions. Onfortunately the bike betrayed him in the second part of the race due to a technical problem. A very sad end for a day which looked for a moment almost perfect to the team. 

- Andrea Dovizioso perfect in race 1, has a good pace and defends his position until race 2 when decides to gain distance from the follower loosing the front end and crashing disastrously in the Dutch gravel. The Ducati Factory Team has to settle with the comeback of the teammate Iannone from last concluding in 5th without crashing anyone.

- Valentino Rossi starts well and stay together with Hernandez and Dovizioso getting gap from the others. He struggle a bit and concludes 3rd in race 1 to restart on the grid from there. In race 2 the follower becomes Marquez who is not too far and scare. Trying to get more gap, he loses the front end and crashes. A serious unforgivable mistake to avoid. With the engine fail of Mugello and the crash in Austin, Marquez has never been so far in the championship, at +42. Marc is reachable only in case of his own mistake, however when you hope in the blunder of the opponent, then you played badly and Rossi did it.

- Yonni Hernandez, with the softer compound, overtakes everybody leading the group from far away. Really exiting moments for the Ducati Aspar Team which finish before the end of race 1, with his crash. A big petty.

The other Honda rider Dani Pedrosa gets only 4 points. After a good comeback he crashed in race 2 restarting and concluding 12th.
Delusion by Lorenzo which has no felling with the front and fortunately gets 6 points concluding 10th after everybody in front of him crashed.

Assen 2016 - Qualifying

As previewed, the rain played a crucial rule in these sessions. Indeed the time laps are very high compare to last year, when it was dry. Spotted wet situation in all the track created trouble to understand and choose the proper setup and strategy.

Ducati has been competitive as expected and got 2 of the firsts 3 positions.

Dovizioso has been effective also because the presence of Valentino in front of him, a good reference during the time lap. Redding has already shown his potential and maybe he was looking for the ideal moment to do it again.

Rossi has been strong since the beginning of the weekend and got the perfect strategy for the qualifying. He is the best located on the grid compare to the other championship leaders.

Marquez made a miracle again: despite the huge quantity of technical problems by Honda, he got the forth position.

Pol Espargaro has been fast all the weekend and we might keep focus on him about the race.

Who failed:

Iannone has to start from last position anyway and it's better to improve that time lap or he will have troubles to go back in first positions.

Pedrosa really no... He had even to make the Q1 without qualify to enter in Q2. It will be particularly difficult for him.

Lorenzo didn't impress, he don't like the wet and Assen in general. Most of all I think he got the wrong strategy for qualifying.

Vinales is still looking for the best setup, which Espargaro seems to have found.

We wish these riders can find what they're looking for during the warmup, the last opportunity before race.

Assen 2015 qualifying results

It's always preferable having the qualifying results of last year to compare and have an idea about the possible scenario. Probably the time laps will be higher since the new Michelin tires. So far they have been +0.5 up to 1 full second more than the last year. However there is also a small possibility of improvement since the French company brought new sets of tires particularly comfortable for the riders.

The meteorologic variable is crucial and we cannot still have a sure idea about the weekend forecast, especially there in Netherlands. 

We can notice the small differences between the lap time of each rider, even 10 riders in less than half second.
Lorenzo is looking for a good result since the last GP, even if in the last 2 years he didn't get it here.
Marquez is quite confident also because admitted a series of favorite tracks for him is finally coming.
Rossi has been the last winner and got 9 victories so far. Despite he didn't got many fast laps in qualifying, here is particularly fast.
Vinales will be surely a protagonist taking in consideration Suzuki likes this circuit and it got the second place last year with Espargaro.
Ducati will be definitely present in race and in qualifying, be ready for that.

Next update after qualifying, if no surprise.

The motorcycling university

This is the real name of the Assen circuit in Netherlands. It is quite flat especially, but plenty of pitfalls which require very high skills.

The first thing which made different this track from the others was the totally absence of the curbs. Despite what people think, they give a "comfortable" sensation to the riders, technically and physiologically.

We can deduct that the totally absence of them gave no possibility of mistake, a mistake that if committed was paid hardly.

I've spoke with the past for a reason: nowadays the situation is another. The layout of the circuit was entirely redesigned for political and safety reasons.

The most compromised part is the initial one which has nothing to do with the 2005 version. The most traumatic change was the installment of huge and wide curbs, depriving the main characteristic of the track.

As you can see, the modifications are substantial and in many parts. The total length passed from 6Km to 4.5Km. There is also a variation realized in 2009-2010 after the second straight where it was changed the geometry of the curve removing the braking part and making it faster

Being a conformist, it's hard for me to say I like this new Assen. Thereby I listened other opinions, from experts of the sector, and the track seemed to have still the essence was designed for.

I'll take in consideration only the fact that Assen still gives us beautiful and epic battles, something that other currently circuits envy.

Some preview about Ducati

It has been a really difficult start for the Red team this 2016 season. It's a really big petty because since Stoner got the title in 2007, they had not so many results. Definitely too much zeros and mistakes instead.

From a technical point of view Ducati improved a lot, compare to the terrible seasons had with Rossi, probably also because they have more resources right now thankful the new owner Audi. This 2016 seemed to be the moment they were looking for from a long time, but as we know the facts happen despite the theories.

In the last years the Red team has been particularly strong on the wet and in the "cold" dry. In the Assen GP we could have both of them.
Michelin developed a competitive rain tyre, based on the lasts opinions by the riders in the tests.

In the last GPs in Assen Ducati got:
- in 2015 the 4th place with Iannone with +20 second from the leader Rossi;
- in 2014 the 2nd place with Dovizioso with +6.7 from the leader Marquez.

Well, from these data we can expect a good weekend for the Red team and surely we wish for them. We also kindly ask to Iannone to ride smartly, limiting errors and mistakes this time.

Who's right?

When I saw the "contact" between Marquez and Rossi in Assen 2015 for the first time on live, I immediately thought about an exaggerate move by Valentino. After a deep analysis I think I reached a reasonable point.

The camera in the run-off fools giving the idea that Rossi resisted from external after the overtaking. 

The camera from the helicopter says there was no overtaking at all.

Let's study the thing from on-board.

From Rossi: He braked in the right point, defending well, finding the right line and clean, but then, when he was ready to open the throttle and so the bending was particularly high, the front tyre of Marquez touched his arm and instinctively he raised  the bike cutting the chicane.

From Marquez: He braked lightly late and he found a little space where to get in. He succeeded in a surgical inserting between Rossi and the curb, but his speed was a bit high. He touched Valentino when was still braking and indeed went wide soon after.

In my opinion without the presence of Valentino he probably would go in the gravel. It was a great move if it would be the last corner of Jerez, where both of them dared a overtaking like that. There, in Assen, it wasn't the proper place where to try it.

My question for Marquez after his complaining is: Which would be the alternative scenario? Rossi crashed in the gravel?

Lorenzo's issues in Catalunya

Before been beaten and crashing in the gravel, Jorge was having serious technical problems on his bike. They were quite visible because usually when he starts in the front, he is able to get gap immediately.
That time was not possible due to graining problem to the front tyre.

It's a quite common and known phenomena in the racing world, but it's not a good thing. It happens when the tyre is excessively stressed once not properly warmed. In this way the tread will rip, deforming itself and will compromise the grip and the fluidity during the bending. The worst part is located on the edge.

The human factor is determining in this case, so it's better to analyze the riding style of the Spanish. Time ago Jorge was defined "the computer" by the teammate Rossi and indeed he is known in the class to have the particular skill to push hard since the beginning. Based on the previous analysis, we notice his style is not the proper one for these tires. It takes more time to reach the ideal temperature (it seems something the other riders understood). Of course there is also the possibility he didn't warm properly during the warm-up lap, but it's always matter of human mistake. 

I think he learnt the lesson and he will be more competitive for the Assen GP, which actually he doesn't love.

By the way it's correct to remember the huge problems all the riders had since the beginning of the season with the Michelin, more susceptible than the previous Bridgestone. However they improved a lot and are getting closer to the time laps of the last year. We have also to remember that changed the diameter of the rims, going from 16.5 to 17 inches. This forced the French company to work on the geometry of the profile, creating of course side effects not wanted.

Suzuki test and some 2017 preview

Before the Suzuka 8 hours event, the team well thought to spend one day for tests in Motegi circuit, proposing to the Moto2 world champion 2015 Johann Zarco to be the rider of their GSX-RR MotoGP bike. This will be a good occasion to get other important data for the Suzuki team and a good occasion also for the French rider to get experience, even if he will ride another kind of motorcycle for that event. 

Class 1990, Zarco got an easy victory last year in Moto2 class for the first time with the Ajo Motorsport team. He is fast, good in overtaking and battles and to choose in the right moment.

Probably we'll see him next year in MotoGP, but strangely in a completely different team.

Herve Poncharal, boss of the Yamaha Tech-3 team, has still to replace the two currently riders are working with him (Smith and Espargaro). Both of them will move in the brand new KTM factory team. Jonas Folger will be the official substitute of Bradley Smith.

One of the favorites for the second seat should be Zarco together with Alex Rins. The options are two for a reason: In case Suzuki will make a better offer to Alex, then they'll use the B plan.

Suzuki has no intention to keep Aleix Espargaro by the look of things.

This should be the possible situation for the next season:

Suzuki factory team: Andrea Iannone - Alex Rins

Yamaha factory team: Valentino Rossi - Maverick Vinales

Ducati factory team: Jorge Lorenzo - Andrea Dovizioso

Honda factory team: Marc Maquez - Dani Pedrosa

KTM factory team: Bradley Smith - Pol Espargaro

Aprilia factory team: Sam Lowes - ____

Yamaha Tech-3 team: Jonas Folger - Alex Rins/Johann Zarco

Podrosa's disappointment

I would define him the best teammate to have, who gets always points and who contains the mistakes. He arrived in MotoGP in 2006 and he always has been a faithful Honda rider, grown with this team since his debut in 2001 in 125cc class.

Despite his ironclad fidelity, recently, expressed his opinion on his teammate. Most of the directions taken by the team were leaded by him. By the way this is comprehensible: perhaps you could possibly have a rider like Marquez every 50 years. He has the skill to manage and keep the limit like other very few riders and I'm sure I'm not the only one to think in this way.
Marc decided many parts of the bike making comfortable for him but compromising the feelings and the results of the other Honda riders (Dani says). Actually the presence of these riders in the firsts 10 positions is missing so far from a while, I would say also because the other teams made huge steps ahead (like Ducati).
However for Dani this way is not professional because the decisions usually have to be taken for the team and not for your own preferences. Thereby we are speaking about abuse of power and I gather he is more disappointed by Marc instead of Honda.

Pedrosa has never been protagonist of scandals, never spoken awkward words or unfairly. He has been a teammate to envy and desire, super correct so far.
To speak in that way something must be happened from inside. We have also to take in consideration that this bike chosen by Marquez is really uncomfortable for him, so all this is making him surely nervous.

From a physical point of view Dani is the ideal rider for this kind of bikes, indeed Honda developed mainly on him until the arrive of Marc. 2012 has been the best season for him when he almost got the title (at the end got by Lorenzo). He was betrayed by his fragile body and his shoulder. That cursed shoulder took a very long time to heal properly. 

The Suzuki Team

Since when they came back last year was already clear they weren't joking. The Suzuki Team is investing a lot in this idea with people like the team manager Davide Brivio, ex Yamaha Team Manager, which has a lot of experience and well known in the field. Let's take a look to the fantastic riders they got:

Aleix Espargaro is finally in a factory team after showing his potential in CRT category. He has been the best of the category for 3 years in row (2012-2013-2014).

Last year got a pole in Valencia with this team after 8 years of fasting and other important results. Unfortunately this year he's having problem due to the new Michelin tires, too unpredictable and difficult to understand. But he has the talent and I'm sure he will do it.

Maverick Vinales, the most auspicious of the young riders in the category with already 16 victories, 41 podiums and 92 races disputed at only 21. He has still a lot to improve starting from a very good point.

This year he's getting unexpected good results, having battles in firsts positions with other factory team and going better than his competitive teammate. It's the opposite of last year. Then he feels really good these tires.

The frame is the best of the category: it gives agility and handling that other factory teams dream. Initially the engine had low performances at high RPM, but they must have changed something (probably in the electronic) in the last GP, because Vinales lost nothing in the straights.

My suspect is that the power increasing gave traction issues, indeed the team brought a brand new frame after race on Monday tests, to improve the grip on the rear tyre, already  fixed and approved for Assen GP then.

Let's get ready, it's coming...

The wings

Ducati has been the first to promote this new style. It also famous for many other innovations in the sector. It started back in the years of Stoner, even if smaller and not so invasive, then it took them back and proposed them again in the lasts years. A technology which has been developed by the other team either right now.

For me to find a technical advantage is very difficult. The reason why the Red Team decided to use them is surely the classic problem the V4 engines got: low weight on the front tire. This problem causes handling  and stability lacks making the corners.

However to work properly the wings need air pressure and due to lower speeds in the corners this is almost absent or minimum. The problem it's not totally solved then and the advantages are not sure. 

Also they brought turbulence in the wakes at high speed as collateral effect (perhaps wanted). Pedrosa was the first to speak about this at the beginning of the season, accusing lacks of stability on the straights following the Ducatis.

The disadvantages are more serious. For containing weights, the wings are in carbon fiber. On Ducati they are built directly on the hulls as unique piece, on Yamaha instead they are riveted on the windshield.

When the carbon fiber is thin is also comparable to a knife if broken. Ducati got thicker ones transforming them in "hummers". This is clear to Loris Capirossi, ex rider and safety responsible, who touched them by hand confirming my hypothesis. The wings are too strong from a structural point of view, so in alternative they go to break something else weaker (for instance riders).

Compromising safety for minimum increase of performances and calling it "development" is wrong in my opinion. More useless if I think that hardly somebody will use these on stock motorcycles, also because they are ugly. Propose rejected with no mercy.

The picture took from Marquez's motorcycle tail in Argentina will explain better what I've written in this post.

Rossi's ranch

The scheduled day program wasn't stuffed enough and so The Doctor got another of his ideas. Since we have a small number of Italian riders, he decided to teach to young talented ones. Only he and Gresini are working with that scope so far.

The track he built is located on the Emilia-Romagna hills, close to his town Tavullia. It remembers the classic american dirty flat tracks where even Sir Kenny Roberts learnt.

Inside there are 4 tracks, a whole lap is 2.5km long and it takes 2.10 seconds to complete (depending on the weather conditions).

Beaten sand has been used here and it's maintained wet by a special truck which keeps the surface slippery and insidious. Ideal place to make a "thicker skin", where to learn taming the powerfull Yamaha single cylinder engines. The Japanese company provides the vehicle to him for the training indeed.

Also, Yamaha will bring 5 young asian riders there to study the tricks of this job next year.

The motorcycles are Yamaha YZ450F equipped with dual purpose tires and dedicated rims and setup. The only real differences are the presence of the front brake, usual not used on flat track and the seat position.

The Yamaha XS650 flat track of Sir Kenny Roberts

Probably they must have because, I have to say, there is nothing flat on Tavullia hills.

They learn from The Doctor, and he does from them (he confesses), even if they don't realize it, because we remember it's never too late to learn.

Appointment at the ranch every Saturday with no event scheduled.

Pol's professionalism

The youngest of the Espargaro brothers has been a protagonist during last weekend in Barcelona especially out the track.

He's been beaten by his friend's Luis Salom episode, indeed he reacted to some comments by the Yamaha Factory team riders.

Actually to criticize and to accuse a committee to encourage a team (Honda in this case) instead of another is not a that great idea, especially if you were not present. Rather it makes the situation more unstable than what it already is.

The reason why Valentino and Jorge decided to don't go there is easy to guess, since they are not in good relationship between each other.

However Pol doesn't accept this baseness for a such important event, because the MotoGP riders are the only responsible to choose how to proceed for everybody, Moto3 and Moto2 riders included.

That day the options were to cancel the GP event or to modify the track.

- The Honda hairpin

The turn n.°10, called 9 from the Yamaha riders, have been discussed since when Marquez crashed because too high speed in 2015 during the race, trying to lean over the gravel. When he had the occasion to explain he said was the only way to avoid the wall due to the short runoff.

This has been enough to convince Pol (and also the other riders) to modify that curve and to pass straight away to the F1 configuration, even if this meant to encourage indirectly Honda.

At the end of the race, Pol remembered his dear friend with a last moving gesture in the point where he passed away.

KTM test in Brno

It's a really particular bike with different characteristics from the other GP bikes. First of all the frame is tubular. Neither Ducati, which always prefers this kind on his road bikes, chose it. It's a very flexible solution for race purpose.

The aluminium die casting type is commonly used and the best compromise if we look at the other teams, but might not.

The suspensions are by White Power (faithful KTM partner) instead Ohlins, much tested and known. The engine is a 90° V4 with 270hp, not credible by the way.

The V4 is also adopted by Ducati, Suzuki and Honda. There are different ideas on this matter, but the essences are the dimensions and the power delivery. Compare the classic 4 cylinders in line, the V4 permits to use a tighter frame and a shorter swingarm.

The power delivery is more similar to a twin-cylinders engine giving more torque, but saving the max power, just to give you an idea about it.

The two test riders Mika Kallio and Karel Abraham improved the handling of the bike working on the frame and the swing-arm, but there is still a lot of job to do on electronics. Very good conditions of weather and asphalt are required for this and proper tires either.

Randy De Puniet will be the new tester with Kallio in Spain. The riders for season 2017 will be Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith, currently in Tech-3.

Catalunya 2016 - Test results

Michelin brought a new front tyre and 3 different rear tires. Why 3? Several riders accuse traction problems, probably due to also the new Magneti Marelli electronic (the same for everybody). It seems tricky making work the two things together.

Marquez expected something better, so not that much improvement for him. Honda is the one which accuses more the traction issue. It's enough to remember the overtaking by Lorenzo in the last corner in Mugello.

Lorenzo is satisfied and feels confident on the bike. The new frame and the new fork set allow to push a bit harder improving the lap time, even if he made +0.2 on the qualifying lap time. Approved the new Assen configuration then.

Rossi Is satisfied also by the new Yamaha setup. The rear tyre in particular works better. Eleventh position for him.

Iannone's case

Too many mistakes this year. He wants to show his potential, something normal and understandable, but this makes him a bad calculator not able to wait the right moment.

The disaster in Argentina is still fresh in Ducati, a crazy overtaking on his teammate Dovizioso (a gentleman in that circumstance) which causes the crash for both of them in the last lap of that long weekend. It could be a great booty having both the Ducati on the podium, but his desire to show his skills overtook the intellect.
The commission punished him with less one point on the driving license and the retreat of 3 posistions on the grid in Austin

He say that Lorenzo was too slow and actually his manager Carlo Pernat says this results from telemetry.

However I believe Jorge was totally avoidable, even during the late braking.

Few laps before we had the same with Vinales who changed his line avoiding Valentino and going wide in the same corner.

"If he had been patient, he would pass Jorge anyway because was faster" said Pernat. Patience, a thing required to be a professional rider to be concentrated.

Since he was recidivist, the commission had not been clement with him, removing other 2 points to his licence and making him start from the last position in the next GP.

I remember that after what happened last year with Rossi and the dubious decision of the race direction, the new rule cancelled the middle penalties like starting from last position and opted for the disqualification for the next event after 10 points penalty.

So my question is: why not in this case?

Catalunya 2016 - The handshake

After a spectacular race, we had a beautiful gesture from Valentino who went to the young phenomenon Honda rider who made the battle really hard for him, shaking his hand. "Good race" they say to each other. The ideal moment for the truce after months of rancor, the ideal weekend, a gesture of respect that will be never forget by the fans which were expecting this from a long time, me included.

The riders's negative feelings are mirrored on the fans, so it would always better to avoid things like weird silences, insults or exaggerate reactions.

The past, the one which hurts, is gone, not settable, but the show must go on, clarifying on track what is not clear. We still have 11 races with next round on the 26th of this months in Assen, where the two riders gave us a wonderful duel ended with "THE CONTACT" and Rossi's victory.

Catalunya 2016 - After race analysis

I always prefer to make the analysis with cold blood to limit my emotions, reason why I write now, after I've slept 8 hours.

The protagonists of the race are:

ROSSI - Even if he made a perfect start from the second row, he has been overtaken very easily by the Ducatis, and not only him. By the way, with patience, he remained focused and he went back to the firsts positions.
A real cold blood race and an unfinished business to fix with Marquez who has been overtaken by him. Marc remained glued to his back studying him for many laps. Time laps fixed on 1.46 for both for the whole race. 
Rossi was clearly superior on the first chicane of the track where he was able to take a couple of meters which he lost in the final part, the new one.
Valentino won psychologically, his best skill. Zero mistake and tachycardia until the end.
The championship gets more interesting, winning in Spaniards's home, again. -22 points

MARQUEZ - After a careful start and an analysis on Lorenzo for few laps, he has been overtaken by Rossi and he figure out that, on that day, Valentino is the one to beat. Both of them overtook Lorenzo and get distance from the rest of the riders in a beautiful waltz together which they will play for all the race. 
He took a risk in the last chicane, loosing the pedal. He study Rossi, wait the lasts laps and he overtake him several times, but the tires are getting worse and the front closes. He goes wide and loses precious tenths. He will figure out that for that day, it's fine like that. He defends concluding 2 seconds from the Doctor.
During the interview he'll say his riding have been influenced by the message from the box (LORENZO OUT), making him think about the championship. From what i remember, he never ridden thinking about that but about the rider in front of him. Indeed he took the risks anyway. Good for the championship +10 on Lorenzo and +22 on Rossi

LORENZO - He gives the idea to go away and win, like use to be, but something goes wrong: the confidence with the bike is not getting better compare to the others and starts to lose positions. First his team mate, then Marquez, then Vinales, Pedrosa and to finish Iannone who hits him without mercy. 0 points and lots of bitter let him run away some insult and gesture. -10 points for him

VINALES - You cannot make a poor figure in your home and Maverick knows this. He goes very fast from the beginning, the agility of the Suzuki is superior and he reaches Lorenzo and Pedrosa, giving us a wonderful battle with them. However the inexperience is visible and the overtaking are dirty, he goes wide several times loosing time from the leading group. Fine enough, he concludes 4°. The Suzuki is coming...

PEDROSA - He is back! He starts immediately fine. He has to manage the tires because compare to the others he opted for a medium compound for the rear one and the temperature for the track is not the ideal for that option. Unfortunately the Vinales's enthusiasm makes him lose tenth. He concludes 3° at 4 seconds from his teammate. -43 points

IANNONE - Too bad... An entire weekend thrown away, not new for him. He starts well, very well and jumps in the front of the grid and after few laps the target becomes Lorenzo. It didn't pass a moment and , at turn 9, Iannone brakes too late (first mistake), thinks it's the good moment to pass (second mistake), brings the Ducati at the internal line (fatal) beating the rear tyre of the Spanish rider. His reputation is going down race after race and at this part of the season could be better arrive at least at the end, since all the zeros collected so far.

Catalunya 2016 - Atmosphere before race

The discussions go on and Pol Espargaro attacks Rossi, saying he is guilty to speak unfairly. To be honest I predicted this because speaking of conspiracy now makes the situation worse than what it already is.
I was expecting this from Jorge, not from Valentino. Maybe it's a Yamaha strategy...

Catalunya 2016 - Warmup

It seems Yamaha did it! Good race to everybody

Catalunya 2016 - Weather and temperatures

The forecasts say we'll have low possibility of rain, but more important than this are the temperature of the asphalt to choose the right tyre. Indeed on Friday we had 116.6°F, on Saturday 98.6°F and today for warmup we have 84.2°F. They are quite low which could help Honda and theoretically Ducati.
I hope Yamaha finds out a solution for that front tyre which gives a lot of troubles.

Catalunya 2016 - Qualifying

The differences between FP2 and qualifying is clear. I'll take the fastest riders from Yamaha and Honda as references.

Before we had Lorenzo with the best lap time 1,41,7 and Marquez in 9° with +0.7
Now the situation is flipped with Marc in pole with 1.43.589 and Jorge in 2° with +0.467
The difference between the best laps before modification and after modifications is almost 2 seconds.

The two Hondas seem to accuse less problems than the others, indeed even Pedrosa got a good position. Dani, Barbera, Vinales and Rossi got pratically the same lap time. I'm surprised by Barbera who made better than the factory team with his Ducati Avintia 2014.

Of course we had some discussions, especially from the two Yamaha riders. Valentino said: "It seems that somebody designed the track for himself". Indeed both of them don't understand the reason why was changed also the turn n.10, called 9 from them. which has nothing to do with Salom's crash.

However this is F1 configuration, already explained in the post before, already fixed and tested, despite what Valentino thinks.

For the moment Marquez seems the front-runner...

Catalunya 2016 - Salom's crash and consequences

Watch the crash

It's always sad when a rider leaves us, specially when he's 24. Based on opinion of different people, Rossi and Davide Brivio (team manager Suzuki) included, it seems Luis had a technical issue, since he crashed at full speed, without using the brakes. Different misfortunes all together.

- The escape zone

The firsts discussions came about the asphalted escape zone, built essentially for the 4 wheels vehicles. The advantage of this solution is to avoid that a rider went wide in the corner and overtaking the white line, brings dirt on the track coming back, compromising the safety. Another advantage is the possibility to preserve the vehicle and to continue the race. Besides it seems it facilitates the overtakes since the drivers can dare more.

I think if a rider or a driver goes wide in a corner it's because he made a mistake, so he has to pay for that, breaking the vehicle if necessary. Asphalted escape zones are for GOkart tracks, where children drive, not drivers fighting for a world championship.

The gravel is safer because brakes the vehicle and the rider. Of course a better solution for motorcycles even if most of the times it obligates to retire due to serious damages to the vehicle.

However, in that particular point of the circuit, the space seems to be not enough for any solution. It's unthinkable that nobody took in consideration in all these years this last point.

- The variations

The commission of this year made a bit of confusion since the beginning of the season with their organization and their decisions. Indeed they give us another surprise: change a track during free practices and with the championship started, giving setting problems to all the teams in all the categories. 

It would be more smart make the variations at the end of the championship, instead to extend the free practices and switching to F1 configuration.

Rossi said: "It seems somebody designed the track for himself". I think he is wrong because the F1 configuration is fixed due to the possible plot between the escape zones, visible in the pic. Try to think if somebody goes wide in the same time in the old turn n.10 and in the new turn n.14

The conditions are the same for everybody, like it uses to be, but I'm upset by the commission which has deliberately crippled a fabulous track at started championship.

I don't remember any precedent.

Presentation

Coming from Bologna (city of engines and passion for motor sport) I decided to open this blog to comment and share facts about the MotoGP class, which I deeply love.
My target will be being as impartial as possible, even if, for obvious reasons, being Italian, you could easily guess my preferences...

I'll personally translate directly from Italian comments from the riders and technicians to give the opportunity to everybody to have all the information necessary (also because some of them have some problem with the language).

I'll get different points of view from different parts, i'll remember past events or race decisions to have feedback with the present.

We share a passion between each other, so I have to remember that education and civilization are widely appreciated. Insulting doesn't involve to change the opinion and it's not that mature tho, in no way.

Have fun!!!