Losail 2017 - After race analysis

Despite the bad jokes by the weather and the delayed start (this deserves to be analysed apart), this season started in a great way.

Let's begin from the podium protagonists where we find 2 Factory Yamaha in first and third position.
After a chalky start, Vinales lost the contact with the first row but then he unlocked himself and he recovered the distance arriving even to the far away Dovizioso's tail. Indeed Dovi was in first position and had several seconds of gap which gave the impression to run away from the others. Despite that, the wonderful ride by Maverick and the stunning top speed by Ducati created a well balanced duel lasted several laps. I was not expecting Dovizioso to win it and he didn't indeed even if he made a beautiful race.

Less fortune for the teammates of this two guys. Before the race Vinales said to have the impression that Valentino was "playing hide and seek" during FP sessions and part of it looked reasonable after race, especially if we think he had even the possibility to reach the two in front. Then at few laps to go, unfortunately, he had some issue with the right side of the tires. Wisely he changed the pace preserving the situation and concluding third with no risk.

Disappointing Lorenzo who lost no minute to blame (little sportingly) how lucky the protagonists have been due to the track conditions. We know he doesn't like the wet, but he got 5 point anyway concluding 11th.

For few instants we saw Zarco first and he was surprisingly able to get some distance from the followers, even if at the end he crashed in the gravel loosing the front. He'll be soon on the podium, I'm sure of it. He is a great rider.

Phenomenon Marquez has been strangely absent from the podium who by the way reached the fourth place. Due to his lack of performances the last laps, his teammate arrived very close to him.

My congratulations to Espargaro who brought the poor Aprilia in 6th after few exchanges with Pedrosa in the middle of the race. It's true, few riders crashed in front of him, but it's enough to look at his teammate Lowes to conclude he made a great job.

I'm willing to see a less clumsy Iannone and a more competitive Rins: Suzuki deserves better results. By the way I have to say he made a great battle with Marquez. Moreover I suspect he crashed to avoid Marc in a sector where he was particularly slow. I would define it a risk of the trade.

KTM, no way...

Losail 2017 - Initial thoughts

There are already several differences compare to last year. In 2016 the qualifying results had Lorenzo leading the group with 1.55.3: this means that the average pace improved about 1 second and we are still in free practices!
Theoretically when the rhythm increase, it means the braking spaces decrease and also the possibilities to overtake, but this is not necessarily the rule. 

The weather then changed the conditions of the track compromising the feeling of the riders.

I was really surprised by Iannone who made the same time lap by the very strong and persistent Vinales in FP3, despite is lacking of top speed and despite the very long straight. Less good for Marquez, suspiciously I would say, who has been slower even than his teammate Pedrosa, but it's too early to jump to conclusions. 

Rossi has definitely some problem, like the rear shock sensor or the electronic throttle failure, which compromised his time lap more than once. The Doctor summarized all of it in a very bad job during the winter tests, which could possibly be but which makes him the latest of the Yamahas for 3 times in a row and his personal team the only one with this issue. 

Tech3 should be proud of the results so far. Zarco is frightfully fast and competitive and I believe he will be annoying for the front riders during the race. Despite his teammate Folger has been very fast too, I don't think he will be one of the protagonists due to his lack of determination. Of course I hope to be wrong on this.

A disappointing Lorenzo has been not able to qualify himself for the Q2 where his teammate Dovizioso and Redding (on GP16) did it. The high to speed by Ducati is very important here in Qatar, but is not enough and it's necessary to work better on handling.

Below the 10 riders deck qualified in Q2:

1. Maverick Vinales Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 
2. Andrea Iannone      Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 
3. Marc Marquez         Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 
4. Johann Zarco Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)
5. Andrea Dovizioso    Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 
6. Scott Redding Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 
7. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 
8. Jonas Folger       Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 
9. Cal Crutchlow         LCR Honda (RC213V) 
10. Valentino Rossi Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 

Losail 2017 - Pre-championship tests

The tests have been characterized by the new aerodynamic quirks by almost everybody

As it turns out, Yamaha started the new fashion for not-dangerous wings. Probably Ducati brought the  absurdest, the "hummer-style" windshield. Despite all the controversies, everything seems to be in good standing and in line with the regulation, for them and the others too.

Speaking about serious stuff, we can assume that Vinales and Marquez are the front-runners of this year from these tests. Personally, I believe that in this particular GP Ducati will be very competitive, as it always has been. However, I don't think they are perfectly ready to fight for the championship. Who knows, maybe they invent something in these days.

Vinales's crew seems to be quicker and more efficient than Rossi's one. By the way the Doctor seems to be confident and positive for the race. Indeed the 8 tents of gap are inline with his standard.

The gaps are generally very small and by this we can expect great battles from the beginning, supposing that Michelin made his job properly since last year the number of overtakes decreased, even though the bikes could go faster.

Almost there...