We don't know when it will begin, and, to be honest, as the days pass, we hope that it will begin despite everything... Which means that a doubt is looming on the horizon... does he act? Of the 2020 MotoGP season which, if it were never to take place, would call into question all past agreements. But we're not there. For the moment, fortunately it is a short and intense campaign of around four months which is envisaged for around ten races. A format and rhythm that will be new both for organizations and for the technical management of motorcycles. Avintia team sports director Ruben Xaus is also a former driver and can therefore give his opinion on both aspects. And it deserves our attention…
Reuben Xaus is the sports director of a team Avintia which is economically the weak link in the MotoGP starting grid. Suffice it to say that the current situation confining the paddock to its quarters does not please him much. A complicated situation which he summarizes as follows: “ if the championship does not start, you cannot ask the sponsors to pay. It's a problem especially for private teams, because we are weaker. »
So you have to race and the former WSBK driver Ducati imagine the best possible scenario: “ between July and September, if we start in August, we will do 4 months of competitions, 3 races per month. I would be more than happy to do that, that means 12-14 competitions. » A new format which will have its consequences on the pilots and the motorcycles.
Reuben Xaus begins his analysis on the pilots: “ everyone has lost the rhythm and that puts everyone on the same level. This stoppage is more positive than negative compared to other teams » he judges in relation to his team. “ This year it will not only be important to go fast on the bike but also not to get injured, because MotoGP is dangerous and you can get injured easily. »
Such explosiveness will be a handicap for some, and an advantage for others... So, what about Valentino Rossi ? " Every year that passes you get older, like me. I train, I'm in good shape but when I train then I have to take two days to recover. Twenty years ago I was training three times a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and I didn't even realize it. Valentino's DNA, even though he is in good shape, is similar DNA to mine, he suffers from the same things as me. »
« We certainly shouldn't underestimate him, for me he does things that I can't do, but I'm also sure that with these races in a row he will suffer a lot more. Even last year with two races in a row, he was more tired in the second race. If you do three races a month, for four months, I see it being difficult. I don't know how he's going to take it and I don't know how he trains for such a championship, but it will be a very physical championship »
As a result, the youngest will be competitive: “ youth has an advantage today, because young drivers can do 80 races in a row and not suffer. The risk is to get injured and miss three races because the championship would end. But you can't finish fifth in every race either. Young people will have an advantage if they have few falls because they will be able to maintain their physical condition. Quartararo is one of the best riders, he goes fast and the Yamaha is the easiest to ride. But you have Dovizioso who has experience and a big physique. »
A Dovi who will have a Ducati, a motorcycle which could also draw a technical advantage from this reduced and intense season… “ Perhaps with fewer races, Ducati will be able to limit its engine less. If there are 13 races and the number of engines per regulation stays the same, maybe Ducati can increase the engine speed by 500 rpm, they will go faster. »
In conclusion, Reuben Xaus thus establishes the new balance of power on Sky Sports : " if you have very close races, Márquez is the favorite, with Quartararo. Viñales also went strong, it will also be interesting to assess how the drivers who had a bad experience the previous week will react in the next race. Márquez and Quartararo have always recovered quite quickly, these two are the strongest. Dovizioso can be there because with fewer races the Ducati engine can be more powerful. For me today, the strongest teams are those of Márquez, Ducati and Quartararo because he puts on the gas. » We can’t wait to get started!
