The Sachsenring was a dreary plain for the Yamaha troops defeated in the open countryside by those of a winged squadron led by Marc Márquez. Rarely have we seen the M1 suffer to this extent from competition and the elements. Jorge Lorenzo had capitulated from the start, Pol Espargaró experienced his first retirement of the year. As for Valentino Rossi, he fought like hell to turn the situation around. In vain.
An eighth place for the Doctor and a thirteenth for Bradley Smith. Without forgetting the last unit rounded up by a Lorenzo lost for three Grands Prix from which he only brought back seven points. So we weren't going far under the awning struck with the three tuning forks. The nine-time winner, however, started from a front row won through skill and pugnacity, the same values which allowed him to play the leading roles at the start of the race. But everything fell apart when it was time to change machines.
A perilous exercise which has rarely succeeded for the man from Tavullia. He also explains why on GP One : " every time it happens, I'm first or second. In these conditions, it is easier to take bets when you are further down the leaderboard. When you're in front, it's more complicated ". And it is true that his companions Dovizioso, Crutchlow or even Barbera will then regret not having anticipated as Márquez who had to rebuild after a complicated start due to a front tire that did not suit him.
That said, Vale doesn't focus too much on this. Because the evil was deeper: “ I was too slow with the intermediate tires. It's true that I could have returned two or three laps earlier. But it wouldn't have changed much. I stopped at the same time as Dovizioso and Crutchlow who finished on the podium. As for me, with my second bike, I had no confidence. They took me ten seconds in one round ».
Is the fault of the intermediaries? Here too, this is not the main thing: “ this choice was made with the whole team because on Friday I was unable to warm up the front slick tire. So we decided on the intermediaries. I don't know if this choice was bad because I think that with the slick it would have been worse. I wouldn't have gained much ". In summary, the Yamaha official finishes: “ I felt good with the tires I had so I didn't stop, and if I had done it earlier I might have finished sixth rather than eighth ».
Which would not have changed the fate of the race or its position in the championship, now delicate with a delay of 59 points on the leader. Márquez. “ I didn't get back to running quickly enough. The M1 is really difficult to drive in these conditions. It's not normal to take 10 seconds like this. This is something we need to work on. ».
To change ideas, Valentino Rossi will familiarize himself with the track of a new Austrian Grand Prix scheduled for the start of the school year on Tuesday. And he needs it: “ the season takes a complicated turn since Mugello. I could have taken 20 or 25 points there and things would then be very different. Perhaps I should also have taken fewer risks in Assen. But that's how it is ».
The blow was severe. There is still half a season to go.
