At the heart of the paddock for years, the sporting director of LCR Honda returned, as after each Grand Prix, to the main themes of the weekend to Motorcycling.
The Valencia Grand Prix was hectic and it is difficult to cover all the subjects. However, the main thing was the intermittent showers which fell on the circuit. Oscar Haro, the sporting director of LCR Honda, wanted to pay tribute to the unfortunate public who struggled for three days against the rain: “We have the best audience in the world. I'm not saying that because we were in Spain, on the contrary, we heard all the languages spoken: German, English, Italian... People come from all over the world to attend the last race of the year. It didn't stop raining and it was crazy. I went out to see the Moto3 and Moto2 starts and the stands were transformed into waterfalls. People were there with their umbrellas and their raincoats. It was mind-blowing. Everything was hard: traffic jams, rain, cold... So hats off! Along with the drivers, they are the heroes of the weekend. »
Another important event was KTM's first podium and Pol Espargaró in MotoGP: “Both KTM and Red Bull had an incredible weekend. They won in Moto3, Moto2 and took their first podium in MotoGP. This is the reward for Pol Espargaró's consistency and everything he has endured. He was seriously injured. This year he cried with pain and helplessness and he deserves it. He is the rider who most deserves to ride with KTM on a MotoGP podium. He wrote history. »
This Grand Prix also marked the retirement of Dani Pedrosa who will now serve as a test rider at KTM. A choice that Haro does not appreciate: “I would have remained an ambassador for the brand, also trying the development bike. Going to another manufacturer like KTM is not very good, in my opinion. I've been criticized for saying this but it's my opinion, and everyone has their own. After a factory has given you so much, so much, so much, the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP project, it's not good to go to someone else who is in direct competition and who is starting to become dangerous as we saw with the first podium. I understand that a driver needs new motivations but there is something politically incorrect about going to the competition. »
The Grand Prix finished, the first test of the 2019 pre-season started two days later on the Valencia circuit, and most eyes were inevitably on Jorge Lorenzo who rode the Honda for the first time : “The Tuesday test was very complicated. We went out late and then it started to rain, although it was very short. Jorge is very happy with the bike, it has some good things compared to the Ducati, but also some things that are a little less good. I can't say more because it was a private conversation, but I saw him happy. He would like to start looking for the bike's weak point, but he can't yet because his wrist is hurting. He therefore limited himself to discovering a motorcycle that he liked. The track conditions were complicated and he did not want to take the risk of falling and getting hurt again. He will work hard this winter to achieve one hundred percent at the Malaysian test so that he can complete his knowledge of the machine. I think he will be really competitive from the Jerez Grand Prix onwards. The first two or three races won't be easy because he won't have had much time to train. »
Finally, Óscar Haro returned to the successes of the VR46 Riders Academy which ends 2018 with Franco Morbidelli best MotoGP rookie, Francesco Bagnaia Moto2 World Champion and Marco Bezzecchi third in the Moto3 Championship. Also added are Luca Marini's first victory in Moto2 and the first podiums of Dennis Foggia and Celestino Vietti Ramus in Moto3. These pilots therefore have bright days ahead of them: “Valentino Rossi and the VR46 Riders Academy are doing excellent work and this has completely ridiculed the Italian federation which nevertheless receives money from the government to support riders. Never has a project as important as Rossi's been implemented. He educates them and teaches them English, how to deal with the media, diets, the importance of sleeping hours and how to be focused for nine months. They are reaping the fruits of their labor. »
