For this thirteenth meeting of the 2016 season, it is on the land of Valentino Rossi that the MotoGP paddock meets. The San Marino Grand Prix officially kicked off with the traditional press conference. Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow, Maverick Vinales, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso were the guests present.
4 winning manufacturers, a first since 2007
Leader in the provisional ranking, Marquez won the last edition of the Grand Prix in difficult conditions where rain disrupted hostilities. At the foot of the podium at Silverstone, the Spaniard is 50 points ahead of his rival, Rossi. “ Silverstone wasn't the best race for us, but we only lost three points,” says Marquez. “ The fight was fun and good against Valentino and Cal, but I suffered a lot up front."
« This weekend the weather looks good, but the track is much narrower than the previous ones. Michelin brought a new tire and we will see what our level is. » Regarding the end of the Championship, Marquez explains: “ The approach will remain the same, I will give 100% and if I am not able to win, I will limit the damage on the number of points."
Red, the main threat of Marquez, lives only a few kilometers from the circuit. He trains every evening on the Misano track aboard an original R1. It is undoubtedly his Grand Prix and he will seek to regain victory, the third of the season, “ This one is special for me during the season,” confides the Italian. “ It's always a great weekend and I can't wait to get started. For different reasons, it is an area of Italy where many pilots were born and raised. You can feel the passion for motorcycling. This is the first track on which I rode a big motorcycle and the memory is unforgettable."
« It looks like we're finally going to have a good weekend weather-wise. This will give us more time for adjustments and to understand the tires."
His teammate, Lorenzo, is 64 points behind in the provisional classification, but the San Marino route has often smiled on the Mallorcan in the past, “ This circuit has been good for me in the past. I have always been fast. We will see how we will get out of this bad period. We don't know what's happening this year. The weather looks good this weekend."
The new front tire brought by Michelin offers a more rigid structure which should improve the stability suffered Lorenzo for a few races.
Casa Particular in Viñales made history at Silverstone by winning his first MotoGP victory. He thus moved into sixth position in the ranking of the youngest winners in MotoGP behind Marquez, Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Stoner and Miller, recent winner at Assen. He is also the first rider to win in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP, “ No time to celebrate! » he said. “ The race was really good and I hope I can bring some positives this weekend. It's not just my victory, it's also that of the team who did an excellent job. Now we have less pressure and more motivation."
Upon his arrival in Misano, the Suzuki rider occupies 4th position in the provisional ranking ahead of Pedrosa (+5 points) and behind Lorenzo (-21 points).
66 points is the number of points scored by Crutchlow over the last four races more than the rest of the grid. The Briton, who will start his 100th Grand Prix at Misano, tested a new chassis at the request of HRC at Silverstone, “ I didn't know it was my 100th GP, will I get a gift ? » jokes the Briton. “ I have a good feeling on the bike and with the team, but it's not such a simple Championship. We have to be realistic, I think that in Misano it will be more difficult for uss. "
Note that this is the same chassis as Pedrosa had used in Barcelona, but refused after its first use. For now, Crutchlow confides that it is still too early to know the real benefits.
Victim of bad luck since the start of the season, Dovizioso seeks redemption in Misano and returns to the podium after his second place in Austria, “ It's an important race for us,” explains the Ducati rider. “ I ran for the first time in 2000 here. We completed a positive test two weeks ago, but we didn't have the new tire and it will be important to understand that."
A story of numbers
A few minutes before the press conference, Carmelo Ezpeleta (CEO Dorna) and Paolo Simoncelli (Marco's father) held a ceremony during which number #58 was officially removed from allocation. From now on, it is forbidden to use the Italian's number. Among the other retired numbers, there is also that of Kevin Schwantz (#34), Loris Capirossi (#65), Daijiro Kato (# 74) and Shoya Tomizawa (#48).
Many, including Red, are against this withdrawal, “ I only like the idea that #46 can be removed. I preferred that a young driver could ride with it in the future. " To note that Nicholas Bulega, reigning Junior Moto3 World Champion and SKY VR46 team rider, wore the #46 last year.
Misano until 2020 (at least) and rumors
The promoters of the San Marino Grand Prix and Dorna have concluded a new agreement to host the event on the Marco Simoncelli World Circuit until 2020. After work, the circuit returned to the program of the World Championship of Grands Prix in 2007 and became a major event for Rossi fans.
Misano is the central location for negotiations for the following season. In Moto2 and Moto3, many places are still to be filled. WhileEnea Bastianini concluded with the Monlau team of Emilio Alzamora in place of Jorge Navarro who will join the Gresini team in Moto2, George Martin will leave the Aspar and Mahindra team to join Gresini on Honda.
This evening, by chance, we saw Niccolo Antonelli enter the KTM Ajo truck with Aki Ajo and Uccio. The signing of the Italian is therefore imminent, as we announced at Silverstone.
Aspar thus finds itself with only one driver confirmed for 2017 with Lorenzo Dalla Porta (who replaces Romano Fenati in the SKY VR46 team until the end of the season). Aspar has a list of several drivers including Makar Yurchenko, defector from the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the Junior Moto3 World Cup. The Russian will be financially supported by Kazakhstan. On the other hand, we noticed the father of Maria Herrera get into the Mahindra truck.
fenati also interested the Indian firm, but the Italian would be more interested in the Ongetta offer alongside Jules Danilo. If the Frenchman wishes to stay in the Honda team, other discussions cannot be ruled out, notably with Leopard Racing to ride alongside Mir on Honda.
Among other transfers, the BT group (British Telecom) is seeking to become more involved in Grand Prix like SKY or Movistar. John McPhee would be the rider of choice on Honda.
During the ceremony in tribute to Marco Simoncelli, Carmelo Ezpeleta formalized the arrival of Paolo Simoncelli's team in the Grand Prix. This could be linked to the rumors of the disappearance of Team Italia. Likewise, Alberto Puig (who is in charge of the Asia Talent Cup) should set up a Grand Prix team in 2017.
In Moto2, Suter, which no longer has a chassis in 2016 since the disappearance of the JPMotos team in the middle of the season, would, according to our information, have 4 orders for the 2017 season. It would seem that Dominique Aegerter (injury package in Misano) is interested. To note that Mattia Pasini tested the Swiss chassis at Misano a few weeks ago and that it would be exceptional. VR46 side, Stefano manzi would be in advanced discussions to become teammate of Francis Bagnaia in the SKY VR46 Moto2 team.
