Turning on the winning-mode

Last Sunday, all eyes were pointed at the great American country, more specifically at Austin. The tension rose with the fact that Marquez wanted his revenge for Qatar and with Rossi who desires to hold his leaders position. And then our Ducati team… will they be as dangerous as they were two weeks ago? Will Lorenzo manage to take his first victory, even with his bronchitis? We did missed someone on the grid. Dani Pedrosa is recovering from his surgery after having troubles with his arm pump. Take care Dani!

But that didn’t hold the Honda team back from having a good start. Marquez took the pole position and broke the record lap. Dovizioso was qualified 2^nd and Lorenzo filled in the first row. Rossi had to start form 4^th pace on the grid.

There was a delayed start. (delayed for 40min)

It was Dovizioso who took the hole shot and the 21-laps during fight for honor had started. For some riders, the first round wasn’t exactly according to the plan. Scott Redding drove like a mad man into the trickiest turn of the circuit, crashed and took Pol Espargaro with him.

It didn’t took long before Marquez found his way to the front of the group. It wasn’t easy to lose the rapid Dovizioso, but slowly, thanks to a fight between the two Italians, Rossi and Dovi, he was able to escape. Rossi felt the coming danger called Smith and pushed his Yamaha with perfection through the sliding corners and eventually overtook Dovi. But it was too late.The only thing Rossi saw was a shrinking Spanish butt.

Up to the next goal: keeping the two Ducati’s behind him. But another enemy showed up. His front tire was used up. The same problem for Marquez, but because of a 3.5s gap, he was pretty save.

Rossi had to take his corners very wide so Dovizioso had time to come back and when it came to speed, the Ducati was unstoppable. 

And eventually, Marquez won his first victory of the season. Dovizioso took the 2^nd step on the podium and Rossi completed the top 3 and remains leader. Lorenzo had a better 2^nd half and was able to gain 4^th place. Iannone became 5^th. Aoyama, who took the place of Pedrosa, ended up 11^th. There was a crash of Hernandez and a defect bike of Abraham.

Has Marc Marquez found the taste of winning back and should the other riders be scared again? Anyway, the Baby Alien can now celebrate his third consecutive win from pole position at the #AmericasGP 

Merel Reyntjens

Vale claims first victory, Ducati back in the game!

There and back again!

From the moment the decision for all categories  had been made in Valencia, die-hards were already counting until the start of NEXT season.

It all started with #136DaysUntilQatar

Jenny

Emma Oakley

People shared photos and showed their talent by making drawings of our favourite champs. 

For many of us this was a long winter without the sound of roaring engines and no shining masterpieces on the asphalt.

But now the waiting is over. The riders are prepared, the bikes are improved and even more breathtaking than ever known. 

Karolina93

Back to Qatar. Tons of questions. Will Marquez start his season with the first victory or is Lorenzo eager to prove that Qatar is HIS track? Will Rossi be able to attack the Spanish bulls?

And Ducati, a team who had already the needed skills and talent, came back with a new work of art. The Ducati had been improved like it never had before. The fear for the two red Italians, Dovizioso and Iannone, was growing. And rightly so!

Ducati took the pole position with Dovizioso. Pedrosa managed to take 2^nd pace on the grid and Marquez completed the first row.

Lorenzo started from second row and Rossi… well he had to be satisfied with the third row.

Hole shot for Dovi and a hectic start for Marquez. He made a mistake in the first turn and had to chase the group from behind followed by a sequence of spectacular overtakes.

The top speed of the Ducati was incredible. 356km/h. No match for the Yamaha’s of Lorenzo and Rossi.

While Marquez was flying all over the riders, Pedrosa had a fight with himself. He pushed his bike as far as possible and tried to keep his team mate, Marquez, behind him, but he failed. Because of the pain in his arm, Dani was unable to get the best out of it. 

Lorenzo lost control over Rossi and Dovizioso, who looked like two robots on a circuit. Also Iannone was riding one of the best races of his career and pushed the Spaniard to the 4^th place.

Rossi knew he had to get rid of DesmoDovi and his rapid bike. And he did!

Valentino Rossi, The Doctor, claimed the first victory of the season with Dovizioso 2^nd and Iannone 3^rd. It took a while, but finally we had a complete Italian podium. Lorenzo 4^th, Marquez 5^th and Pedrosa 6^th.

 Merel Reyntjens

(Another) World Record for Marquez

Moto3

It was Jack Miller who claimed the day victory, but Alex Marquez won the World Championship in Moto3 class!

Miller was behind Marquez with 11 points and that was not enough for him to prevent that Marquez took the title.

MotoGP, Valencia, España

Qualifications

They went very good for Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi. He managed to take the Pole and it’s his 50^th of his career in premier class. It’s the first time since Le Mans in 2010 that he takes the front pace on the starting grid.

Also for Andrea Iannone, the qualifications were a success. He claimed 2^nd position. Honda rider Dani Pedrosa completed the front. Then, the rider who just missed the first row and started from 4^th position, Jorge Lorenzo, was followed by Marc Marquez. Marquez crashed in turn 4 and wasn’t able to claim another pole position.

The race started with Iannone taking the hole shot, closely followed by Rossi. Marquez, who had a flying start, came back and settled in 3^rd position. Pedrosa missed his start a bit and was sandwiched between Crutchlow and Dovizioso.  The white flag showed that it was officially a wet race.

Iannone had made a small gap to avoid the hunting breath of The Doctor. Not any attempt of Rossi worked out well.

In the back, Pedrosa was still trapped by Crutchlow and Dovizioso but had found a small pass through and headed to the front with Marquez in his sight.

Speaking of which, the Spaniard planned an attack on Iannone but the Italian fought hard for his position, eventually, he had no choice than to let Marquez pass. Rossi took his chances and overtook the Ducati. Pedrosa did the same. Iannone had chosen soft tires and had to go to the wall

Together with Lorenzo, he changed his bike for the coming rain cloud. And that was the biggest mistake for both of them, because the cloud passed the track without any rain.

It was impossible to move on so both riders left the race. 

In the front, Marquez was almost disappeared but Rossi kept on fighting. He had to because Pedrosa was closing the gap between him and Yamaha.

The crowd went crazy when Marquez took his 13^th victory of the season and another world record! The most victories in one season in premier class. Rossi claimed 2^nd place and Pedrosa took 3^rd place.

Marquez broke so many records this year that that must be a world record of its own!

See you next year guys J

Closing the season with Valencia in our sight!

We’re coming to the end of the season, with only Valencia in our sight!

MotoGP

We already know the World Champion in premier class. Marc Marquez broke uncountable records this year and deserved the title. The Spaniard is only 21 years old but can already give his rivals Goosebumps when they hear the Honda hunting their tracks!

Marquez wins his 2nd World Title in
premier class after driving a dynamic and
excited season!

I think we all agree that this was a fantastic season for Valentino Rossi. With his two wins and many steps on the podium,  the Italian obviously made clear that on skill, talent and style, there is no age limit. He is without any doubt the most constant rider of the group.

Rossi has no age, no limits on his skill,
talent and style. The Doctor was fantastic, just fantastic.
Up to next year!

Dani Pedrosa was the one who broke the Victory Series of his team mate Marquez. Dani had an incredible good season but how more the end came near, bad luck overcame the Spaniard and he crashed a lot. But he was always up for a fight. This Spanish bull can surprise you every season, again and again. Dani, don’t worry: There is always next year, right?

Pedrosa, ruler of Brno, showed us this year he
still fights for that title!

Every time, this man pushes the limits of his bike further and further. The loyal Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo managed to take first place two times and we always found him standing on the podium and make his fans proud. Eager for a victory, he can make the entire stand hold their breath and scream their longs out when he entered a fight. He still haves to liquidate a fight with team mate Valentino Rossi, for second stand in the World Championship!

The Black Mamba was found in every battle. This man
had enough with 7th pace on the grid to win the spectacular
Grand Prix in Aragon!

And then we have THE outsider of the season: Andrea Dovizioso. This is the man of not only the qualifications, but also one of the few men who was able to get very close to the four tenors and fighted for any position of proud. He gave Ducati all the honour it deserves! Maybe not a lot of podiums, but definitely a lot of respect!

With his uncountable paces in first row,
Ducati has a rider to be proud of!

And further…

We also know the World Champ of Moto2. Tito Rabat claimed the title by driving a fantastic and spectacular year. But for Moto3, the Gr  and Prix at Valencia will be the key to that World Title. The fight between leader Alex Marquez and Jack Miller is still going on and it will be very close. Miller lies 11 points behind Marquez.

Rabat was fantastic and he gave us an excited and wonderful
Moto2 season

Since the beginning, this man hunted the title.
Motorcycling is definitely in the blood of a Marquez!

So, will Marc Marquez claim his 13^th and create a new record or will Yamaha take its 5^th win of the season. Will Valencia be a race track perfect for outsiders like Dovizioso and Iannone. And the biggest question of all: 

Who will win the huge Moto3 battle?

#MillerVsMarquez

Fighting for the Title, this man showed so much talent that they
decided that Jack can show his skills in premier class!

The four tenors compete for the win!

Qualifications

GP in Sepang, Malaysia

They went very good for the Repsol Honda team mates Marc Marquez, in pole position, and Dani Pedrosa, 2^nd pace on the grid. It was the Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) who filled in the first row. The second row started with Stefan Bradl (LRC Honda MotoGP) ,continued with Andrea Dovizioso ( Ducati Team) and ended with Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha). It seemed this was going to be a Honda race.

And not to forget, Andrea Iannone did NOT started today. He turned back home to Italy.

Race Day

Pedrosa crashed while only drove
one lap.

With a temperature of 38 degrees, the riders turned open their gas and drove into the 20 laps during race and it was Pedrosa who took the hole shot! World champion Marquez and Lorenzo had a small touch and so they missed the start a bit. 

But already in the first lap, Pedrosa crashed while taking turn 15. Lorenzo, who came back from behind very quick, took over the leadership.

Rossi holds his second position in
Championship

But his rival and team mate Valentino Rossi was hunting the Spaniard as he wanted to hold his second place in the World Championship. The Italian was able to push his bike over Lorenzo and drove first.

When this was happening, Marquez came back to the front, behind Rossi, after taking his corners really precisely and driving the fastest lap. Lorenzo began to lose ground and the gap grew to more than 3 seconds between him and Marquez, who headed to the front and over took Rossi.

When there were only a few laps left, Marquez had built a sufficient gap to be sure of his place.

He came across the line like a true winner and claimed his 12^th of the season!

Rossi became 2^nd, after driving a fantastic race and he holded his second stand in the Championship. Lorenzo managed to take the 3th step on the podium.

Marquez claimes 12th victory of the season!

Pedrosa, who crashed in the beginning, took a second chance but crashed again and left the track. Also Aleix Espargaro crashed while touching Bautista.

Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso had to deal with mechanical problems.

With his 12 victories, Marc Marquez is now equalling Mick Doohan’s record of most premier class victories in a single season.

More than 80,000 people could enjoy this magnificent and spectacular Grand Prix in Sepang!

The Baby Alien did it again!

The Doctor did it again!

Qualifications

Phillip Island, Australia.

It was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)  who took his 12^th pole position of the season (1’28.408). The Spaniard was followed by Ducati rider Cal Crutchlow, who surprised friend and enemy with 2^nd pace on the grid. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)  completed the first row with 0.008s behind the Ducati. The second best Brit, Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3), managed to take 4^th place and he was followed by Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), 0.19s behind the Marquez. Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) filled in the second row.

The man we missed in the Q2, Valentino Rossi, had to start from 8^th position.

The red lights went out and the gas turned open! The riders stormed to that first corner but it was Lorenzo who took the hole shot and took the lead. World Champion or not, Marquez, as we know, feels the best in the front and took without any problems position number one.

Behind him, it turned out to be a stretched fight between two Yamaha riders Lorenzo and Rossi. They lost sight of Marquez. Behind them, Crutchlow finally managed to lose the brothers Espargaro, Smith and Bradl and headed to the front. There was a crash from Iannone by touching Pedrosa and he damaged the Honda so Pedrosa had no choice but to leave the track.

Marquez crashed while there were still 10 laps to go.

In the meantime, Crutchlow had a four seconds gap behind him and five seconds between him and the still fighting Yamaha’s but it was Valentino Rossi who won the team battle and with Lorenzo breath in his neck, he looked for Marquez.

But Marquez crashed in the straight line of the turn and slided with his belly over the grid. The bike was incapable to move on so Marquez felt out of the race. 

Crutchlow crashed in the last lap,
Lorenzo had mechanical problems.
Both riders did very well!

Rossi had now first position and there was a mechanical problem for Lorenzo, who lost seconds on his rival and team mate. And another crash! Bradl crashed while he tried to overtake Aleix Espargaro and also he damaged the bike of his rival. Espargaro out as well. Crutchlow had over took Lorenzo but he crashed in the final lap so Lorenzo was back in second position! 

Rossi never saw any of that because he won the Grand Prix at Australia and his second victory of the season! He has now the second place in the World Championship! Second man: Jorge Lorenzo. Bradley Smith, who drove a good race, came across the line as third best rider.

Lorenzo admitted that this was his luckiest second place ever (because of his mechanical problems and the many crashes). Smith is very happy with his 3^rd place and thanked his team for always believing in him.

And again we could hear the Italian anthem! The Doctor did it again!

Riders who left the race:

-          Karel Abraham (crashed first lap)

-          Andrea Iannone (crashed while overtaking)

-          Dani Pedrosa (damaged bike by Iannone)

-          Marc Marquez (crashed while driving 1^st place)

-          Parkel

-          Aleix Espargaro (damaged bike by Bradl)

-          Stefan Bradl (same like Iannone)

-          Cal Crutchlow (crashed final lap)

World Championship top five

-          Marc Marquez (World Champion)    312p

-          Valentino Rossi                                255p

-          Jorge Lorenzo                                  247p

-          Dani Pedrosa                                   230p

-      Andrea Dovizioso                            166p

Grand Prix at Motegi, Japan.

The man of the qualifications: Andrea Dovizioso. Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi drove the second best lap time while Dani Pedrosa completed the first row. His team mate Marc Marquez started fourth from the grid. Lorenzo was qualified fifth, right between Marquez and Iannone.

The red light went out and the 24 laps during race had begon. It was Rossi who took the hole shot. There was already a crash from Carl Crutchlow who putted too much power in the turn.
Lorenzo made clear to Rossi that he wouldn't claime a victory without a fight.
In the mean time, with the chance for that second world title in the back of his head, Marquez striked back and over took Iannone. It didn't go eassily, but also Rossi had to give his second position to the Spanish bull. But the gap between Lorenzo and Marquez had grown to more than 1 second.
And than Dani Pedrosa came up, who was finnaly able to let Iannone far behind him.
The stress rised and Marquez knew that he must hold on his second position and stay in front of Rossi to claime his second world title of MotoGP. And he did! Two victories had celebrated in Japan: Lorenzo his wonderful Grand Prix victory, his second in a row and of course... Marc Marquez became MotoGP's youngest rider who putted 2 world titles on his name and four in a row in his career!
Greeted by the Samourai, Marc thanked his fans and went crazy because of the big happiness.
An young, supported, motivated and dynamic talent is what MotoGP needs... and they found someone!