In a MotoGP season where there are already a record number of eight winners, the Aragon deadline this weekend presents itself as an unknown factor. Will a ninth driver be able to materialize before the start of a three-meet Asia-Pacific campaign which will follow this third of the four Spanish meetings of the year? We will see, but what is certain is that the countdown to the world title has begun for Marc Márquez.
The latter is 43 points ahead of Valentino Rossi five deadlines from the goal. A capital that is both appreciable but also fragile. All it would take is one error, one abandonment, one mechanical breakdown to change the situation and disrupt the apparent serenity. Marc Marquez has been placed for a few Grands Prix, but has remained absent from the podium for two races already. He arrives this weekend on a track where pole position has never escaped him since his arrival among the elite in 2013. Certainly, but he has only transformed this good qualification into victory once since during the editions 2014 and 2015 it fell. To better leave victory to Jorge Lorenzo.
The latter is eighteen lengths from his teammate Valentino Rossi and sixty-one points from his compatriot leader overall. It is therefore he who needs to dominate his subject this Sunday after a San Marino Grand Prix where he showed that he had lost none of his verve as long as the track conditions did not upset him. not. However, he will have to reckon with a Valentino Rossi stronger than ever and with whom he had words during the last press conference. A heavy atmosphere at Yamaha that will have to be taken into account more and more as the deadline for Por Fuera's departure to Ducati approaches.
The Doctor, for his part, will stay at Yamaha and will want to defeat this Indian sign which wants Aragon to be a place where he has never achieved success in his career. An absence shared with Austin and the Red Bull Ring. But Spain seems to suit the nine-time title winner this year. The Italian, winner in Jerez and Barcelona, thus has the possibility of scoring a third success in Spain, a feat he has never accomplished in one season.
A magical trio that would make you forget that Dani Pedrosa is the latest winner. The one who is now at the head of fifty-two successes will be keen to demonstrate that his performance at Misano was not just a happy accident resulting from a judicious choice of front tire. For their part, the Ducati will not want to be left out but they will have to deal with a Iannone uncertain due to his state of health. But it was he who wore the red colors high last year with a third time during qualifying and a fourth place in the final. As for the Suzukis, their best result in Aragón is a sixth place, won by both Alvaro Bautista and in 2011 Aleix Espargaró in 2015. What will Maverick Vinales, winner in Great Britain?
It will be recalled that two drivers from Superbike will play freelance. Alex Lowes who will be on his third participation with Tech3 Yamaha. And Nicky Hayden who will replace Jack Miller within the Marc VDS team. Still, we will be in Spain. The Aragón circuit, which hosted its very first Grand Prix in 2010, is the sixth Spanish track to appear on the calendar after Jerez, Catalunya, Jarama, Montjuïc and Valencia. Of the eighteen races contested in Aragón in all categories, thirteen ended with a Spanish success. Four Spaniards have already shone this year in the premier category, which is a great first. A domination that impresses.
MotoGP Championship Ranking :
1 – Marc Márquez (SPA) HONDA 223 points
2 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA 180 points
3 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) YAMAHA 162 points
4- Dani Pedrosa (SPA) HONDA 145 points
5 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) SUZUKI 136 points
