Tricky track in Aragon

Aragon is definitely a race track we won’t forget very easily.

Pedrosa in the qualifications

The qualifications were a disaster for Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Rossi just made it to the 2^nd row, Lorenzo ended up on the 3^rd. Marc Marquez took his pole position and team mate Dani Pedrosa managed to take second place on the grid. Andrea Iannone was the rider who completed the 1^st row. The man we misted in the front, Andrea Dovizioso, had a crash and was qualified 10^th. There was small hope it would be a dry race.

Rossi crashed. Rider OK.

Crash Marquez and reason of 13th place

The race started with Pedrosa taking the hole shot.  The Spaniard already showed his style in Aragon, earlier in the Warm Up. Iannone came up and took over the leadership but crashed. Eventually in the front, we found Marquez, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Rossi. Lorenzo was not pleased behind Marquez so he took his chances. As we all know the number 93, it turned out to be a true fight between the two Spanish bulls. When all of this was happening, in the back, Rossi crashed badly when he tried to overtake Pedrosa in the outside of the corner! (rider OK. He was taking to the hospital for a head scan but no problems). Three Spaniards left. Eager to win, Pedrosa challenged Marquez and that was the begin of a fight which turned out to be ended with a crash. Pedrosa was okay and took, as soon as possible, a new bike (who were already set because the white flag warned the teams that the race was transformed into a wet hell). And not much later Marc Marquez, who refused to take a new bike, crashed while taking the turn. Also he was forced to change bikes. And when there were only 5 laps to go, also Dovizioso made contact with the Spanish grid. Lorenzo, who acted very smart by taking a different bike in the first place, already smelled his victory and took it with both hands! The first victory of the season of the Black Mamba! Crutchlow wanted that second place on the podium but it was Aleix Espargaro who crossed the line as second rider. It’s Espargaro his first MotoGP podium place ever. Marquez 13^th and Pedrosa 14^th.

Last second of the race fight between
Crutchlow and A. Espargaro.

the fight between the three Spanish bulls.

The Spanish fans could enjoy an extremely excited and breathtaking race and they will remember this day for a very long time. For the 800^th Grand Prix, this was a really special broadcast!

Action!

The Aragón adventure has started today and riders have explored the race track. For a lot of MotoGP riders, this is a home race and they were numerously encouraged by their local fans. The Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso was evidently in very good condition. Home racers Dani Pedrosa and Marc 

Marquez did 2^nd well on the track and are now discussing which type of tires they will use to show the best of themselves. All eyes are now focused on former winner Valentino who wants to build on the Misano win, two weeks ago. In the FP’s the Yamaha team wasn’t really outstanding, but again, this is just free practice.

Aragón also welcomed Moto3 rider Jack Miller for who was planned to come to MotoGP next season. Miller wants to take the challenge but knows it won’t be easy to keep up with the big guys.

Tomorrow, while the fans are flocking to the stands, these champions will push the limits of their bike and will fight for that Spanish Pole Position and then… Race Day! Remember, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi are, for now, the only two riders who were able to win from Marc Marquez. Will Honda be on top again or is Yamaha strengthened by the victory of The Doctor? Will Ducati agree with 4^th position or will they  crack the other ones off the track?

Merel Reyntjens

He came, saw and won!

Since FP 1, it became clear it wasn’t a Marquez circuit. Because of the weather conditions he didn’t got the chance to really explore the track. It was Valentino Rossi who had the best training results. And no 11^th pole position for Marquez. It was Lorenzo who drove the best lap. 2^nd Iannone, 3^rd Rossi. The two Honda riders took their place in second row, together with Dovizioso.

Then, Sunday afternoon, 21 riders were waiting behind the white lines… waiting for the red light to go out!

With tight nerves they turned open the gas and it was Lorenzo who took the whole shot again! Closely followed by Rossi, the Spaniard was the first who drove into 28 laps of danger, excitement and honour. 2^nd row or not, Marquez already over took three riders and he started hunting the two Yamaha’s. From the moment Marc saw a chance to take over Rossi, he took it with both his hands but Rossi was prepared and pushed the Yamaha to the front, with the Honda on his heels AND AGAIN, Marquez passed Rossi, but the Italian and his clearly improved bike are a too good team, here in San Marino, the circuit of Marco Simoncelli and home race for Rossi! Lorenzo, who wasn’t fully aware of the fight behind him, was, by Rossi, chased into second place. Marquez must have thought of a new victim and took his chance and (after a small conflict with a reluctant Lorenzo) with success!

But we shouldn’t forget the group riders behind them. After like five laps of searching a gangway, Pedrosa finally discovered one and passed with a little aggression Dovizioso and Iannone.

But to go back to the front of the race. Marquez committed another attempt and putted his bike all on his side and crashed. Not very badly but the problem was to get the Honda back in the race, because he refused to start. He eventually came back on track as 20^th and last rider and drove like a mad after the still attainable points.

Between Rossi and Lorenzo, there was an almost three seconds gap and Pedrosa had to deal, during the whole race, only with the problem called Dovizioso. It looked like The Doctor already smelled his victory after 15 laps. Take a look in the Yamaha box and you can see the excitement and joy on their faces.  There was still a battle going on between Pedrosa and Dovizioso. Dovi was sticked to Dani.

And finally, after 12 races of a victory desire, Valentino Rossi, The Doctor of MotoGP AND Italy, won the race at the Misano World circuit of Marco Simoncelli! Lorenzo finished 2^nd, Pedrosa 3^rd.  Marquez ended up 15^th and managed to win 1 point.

I can still hear the screaming crowd: Vale Vale Vale!

What a weekend!

Marquez continues his victories! No three in a row at Silverstone for Lorenzo.

The Qualififications

Lorenzo was one of the first to start. In his track, he was followed by Dovizioso. It seemed Dani Pedrosa, winner of last race, didn’t had the feeling of Brno. He kept shaking his head. His teammate Marquez pushed his bike to the limit, in the turns, where he had to reduce, he cutted them. Lorenzo was “living in his own world” while Rossi started his lap. Eventually, Marquez made his 10^th pole position of the season. Also Dovizioso and his Ducati bike did a very good job. 2^nd . 3^rd Lorenzo. Rossi just made it to the second row we also had a crash of A. Iannone. Rider ok but only qualified tenth.

But all in all they were all satisfied with their place.

You could see that on the many wheelies.

Top 3 (quali) comments:

Dovizioso 2nd in Qualifications
"Happy to start the game at first row"

Lorenzo: “We improved the bike a little.”

Dovizioso: “Happy to start the game at the first row.”

Marquez: “It’s bumpy but I like it” “I knew the lap time was already fast and I stopped to push more.”

Silverstone race. 

After a somewhat nervous Warm Up, the bikes and their riders were waiting on the quenching lights. Lore”nzo took that whole shot with both his hands and drove into the 19 laps during race of Silverstone. He was followed by Marquez. Then came Aleix Espargaro with on his heels Dovizioso, Rossi and Smith. Rossi wasn’t very pleased between Dovizioso and Smith but when he planned to attack, Espargaro (A) was overtaken by Dovizioso and so HE had to deal with Rossi. His respond to Vale’s attempts was a nudge and since then they switched places a couple times. Eventually, The Doctor was able to pass him. And like it wasn’t enough, also Pedrosa over took Espargaro. Because Dovizioso took his turn too wide, Rossi was able to take that 3^rd place. On the straight line, Marquez his Honda was very fast and came really close to Lorenzo his Yamaha, but the corner came too fast to give Marquez a chance. There was a gap between Marquez and Rossi of 1.066 seconds. Also Smith and Iannone were starting to get tired of each other they touched a few times and Iannonen won the fight. 12 laps to go and Lorenzo still had the leadership in his trusted Silverstone. But he couldn’t lose Marquez.

Pedrosa over took Rossi. On the attitude of the bikes you could see the circuit was a little bit bumpy. Rossi his attempts to pass Pedrosa failed until the Honda rider took the outside of the turn and Rossi the inside. And when Rossi does that, there is no possibility of beating him.

Little fact: Marquez drove the fastest lap (2:01.980).

Speaking of which, he finally attacted Lorenzo in the 12^th lap. Lorenzo knew that that was the thing he should have avoid. Lorenzo passed Marquez again, driven by hunger for that victory. The whole race was divided in 8 groups. Marquez didn’t agreed with 2^nd place and tried to take the leadership by passing Lorenzo AGAIN through a small pass through but they touched. And that’s something Lorenzo doesn’t like at all! But he wasn’t able to pass Marquez because he needed to dodging him. Marquez smelled his 11^th victory and no one would stop him. Silverstone was become his. Lorenzo finished 2^nd, Rossi 3^rd and Pedrosa 4^th.

Marquez after 11th victory

 

No Brakes On Marquez

FP3 Moto3

It was Alex Marquez who took the initiative and he had, for a very long time, the best pace. He even puts in a 2'14.825s the fastest lap of the weekend, with his team mate on is heels, but Alex Rins Navarro was a second behind, so that shouldn't be a big problem.

But then you had Viñales, who turned open the gass and improved his time.
When the chequered flag was out, Navarro had over took Marquez and drove the best lap (2:14.273) 2nd Viñales +0.125 and then 3rd Marquez +0.170.
4th Kornfeil, 5th Binder, 6th Miller, 7th Antonelli, 8th Oliveira, 9th Fenati.

Iannone puts the fire seemed to them.

Andrea did a very good job in the qualifications. He surprised everyone when he drove, for a few laps, the best time.

Eventually, he ended up 3^rd after Marquez and Dovizioso.

He was ready to start!

He took a flying start and even took the lead, but not for long because the Yamaha of Lorenzo passed him and took over the leadership.

During the first 5 laps, Andrea actually saw the whole race in front of him and he couldn’t resist it when a small passage appeared between the inside of the corner and Marquez so he took his chances but Marquez choose, on that very moment, a different track so the two riders made some bike contact, two times. Andrea had no chance to pass 93 because the power of the Honda bike and a hunted Marquez were a too good team.

But he had enough to deal with. Behind him, Andrea could hear the growling noise of the Ducati. Dovizioso had found Iannone and was only too happy to switch places.

They were driving like a Siamese twins and fought until the last second.

Eventually, Iannone won the battle and became 5^th, after Marquez, who became 4^th. The winner of that day: Dani Pedrosa. Iannone surprised us all and hopefully we also see him perform so at Silverstone!

 

Pedrosa, ruler of Brno

The Brno qualifications were not a good start for Valentino Rossi, who crashed, not very badly, but he hurted his hand. There was Iannone, who did a very good job. His drove the best time for a copple of laps, but there came, who else could it be, Marc Marquez.

1.       Marquez             2. Dovizioso       3. Iannone          4. Smith               5. Pedrosa          6. Lorenzo          7. Rossi

They were ready to start!

The red lights went out and Lorenzo was the one who took the whole shot, closely followed by Iannone. The man we missed in the front was Marc Marquez. But he had enough to deal with. Rossi by example. Obviously, the doctor had a very good day and a great feeling about the circuit. The crash was completely forgotten. Because all the riders were too busy estimating what Marquez his first move would be, they were very surprised  when Dani Pedrosa was climbing all over them… with only Lorenzo in his sight.

When all of this was happening, the all the battles, there was one man who saw the whole race in front of him an d liked to join it. Andrea Iannone. When Pedrosa drove the fastest lap (1:56.027), he was trying to pass Marquez and they touched each other. Il Dottore noticed the little conflict and turned the throttle wide open. Eventually, Marc stayed behind Rossi and Iannone got back in his earlier position.

But in the meantime, Pedrosa had already took over Lorenzo. Jorge took his turn too wide so Pedrosa had free path and he took the inside of the corner and the leadership!

It seemed that the teammate of the hitherto unsurpassed Marquez was the only one who was able to stop the endless row of victories. No matter what would happen, Pedrosa definitely made it clear that he is “a member of the top”.

After switching places a few times and a little conversation, Rossi made clear to Marquez that he wanted that spot on the podium.

Pedrosa wasn’t aware of the battle between The Doctor and The Baby Alien and drove straight into the last lap.

There was no brake on the Honda rider. Lorenzo wasn’t able to get closer than 0.9 seconds.

Rossi his advance on Marquez was growing every moment. When the finish line was getting closer, Marquez closed the gap between him and Vale a little bit.

But the ruler of Brno was, without any doubt, Dani Pedrosa, who crossed the line as a true winner. His first victory of the season. He beated the current World Champion and two ex-World Champions.

Marquez may not be the winner, the row of victories still goes on for the Repsol Honda Team.

1.       Dani Pedrosa

2.       J. Lorenzo           3. V. Rossi

4.       M. Marquez

4.

5.       A. Iannone

6.       A. Dovizioso

7.       S. Bradl

8.       A. Espargaro

9.       B. Smith

 A. Bautista

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