If there is one fact on which all the protagonists of MotoGP agree when taking stock of this mid-season, it is that it has become completely impossible to make predictions. Each Grand Prix is a redistribution of the cards and this instability comes from the tires supplied by the single manufacturer. It is therefore Michelin which will be king this year. A suspense that can delight but also annoys. Especially those who thought they would go head to head like Yamaha and Honda. But now Ducati is asserting itself as the third thief.
After the first races of this 2017 campaign, the skin of the Ducati GP17 was not cheap. Stripped of the fins that had made it take flight, the Desmosedici seemed to be groping and some were already predicting a much worse year than the previous one. Then Mugello followed and Barcelona confirmed, two victories conquered by a Dovizioso master of his art who perfectly placed the reds in the concert of the greats.
We will therefore have to reckon with Ducati and DesmoDovi who stealthily led the championship to find themselves in a good third place with only six points behind the leader. Marc Marquez, before the resumption of hostilities in Brno in early August.
A recovery to be credited to the hard work accomplished by Gigi Dall'Igna. But for Massimo Meregalli from Yamaha, it wasn't just that. For him, Ducati must also thank Michelin… “ At the start of the season they weren't that strong and I never imagined they would be so fast after just two months ».
« They did a good job, but I think the tires also played a crucial role in this progress. They are the only ones currently who use the tires perfectly on their motorcycles. Before, you could make predictions, but this year, you have to wait for the first two free practice sessions of a Grand Prix to find out what your future will hold ».
A lottery which should continue until the end of this season…
