On the occasion of the first Grand Prix of the season contested under the spotlights, Carlos Pernat analyzed for Gpone.com the main events of this weekend.
According to the Italian manager, “The first thought is that we picked up where we left off, which was a battle between Dovizioso and Marquez until the last corner. We start with the right dose of adrenaline. »
If the victory of the DucatiAndrea Dovizioso was not really a surprise, on the other hand the progress of the Honda Marc Marquez were impressive compared to previous years. “ On the day of the triumph of Dovi and Ducati, I would say that Honda also won because on this circuit, this manufacturer had never done so well, he observes. The new bike showed that Honda is even stronger and Marquez was very happy with his second place which he managed to achieve. »
But Ducati and Honda may not be the only protagonists. “ The Ducati is fabulous, it's a benchmark bike, but I think that if Yamaha fixes its little problems with the electronics, Valentino could well be the third favorite, to go like the phoenix for his 10th title. I repeat, but he once again demonstrated that he was a pilot with a fake ID. »
After this little joke about Rossi's age, Pernat is a little worried about Lorenzo. “ The bad news from Ducati comes from Lorenzo, points to Pernat. In the race he had a problem with the brakes, but neither the tests nor the GP trials went very well. I have the impression that this confusion is dictated by many factors: he realized that Dovizioso has become the boss, sees Petrucci going as fast as him and sometimes even faster, and, finally, the renewal of Marquez at Honda and that of the two Yamaha riders. The future is uncertain and he is suffering mentally from certain things. Where could Jorge go? It is difficult for Ducati to keep him. »
According to Pernat, Lorenzo is not the only one currently in difficulty. “ There were big disappointments for KTM and Aprilia. KTM said they will field 4 bikes next year, I think it would be better if they reversed and stayed with 2 bikes run by Poncharal with Zarco as the rider. At Aprilia, however, the means are lacking. The bike is new but hasn't shown much. »
And what to think of Suzuki? “ Rins for half the race was in the first positions before falling, while Iannone was dissatisfied. I'm convinced the bike has taken a step forward anyway. »
Photos © Michelin
