The final meeting of the overseas tour, the Sepang circuit hosts the Malaysian Grand Prix. Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow, Maverick Viñales, Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone were invited to the traditional opening press conference this Thursday.
Marc Marquez has a single victory and two podiums at Sepang in MotoGP. After his fall last weekend at Phillip Island in Australia, the new World Champion hopes to make up for it, “Phillip Island was difficult due to the weather in particular,” confides the Spaniard. “I feel ready today, but we will have to see how the new surface and the new layout behave. It will also be interesting to see how we have progressed since the winter tests where we suffered a lot. » After Phillip Island, Marquez traveled to Jakarta for a press event, “This start of the week has been very busy. Yesterday I spent the day in the hotel because I was sick, but I feel better today. »
Obviously, after the #SepangClash in 2015, a question was asked to the Spaniard about his relationship with Valentino Rossi since then, “Since Sepang, our relationships have obviously changed. Today, they are professional and I maintain the same opinion on this subject. »
For its part, Valentino Rossi does not enter into confrontation and concludes with a laconic response, “I agree with Mark. »
“Sepang is a circuit that is always fantastic,” confides Rossi. “I like it a lot, the track is new with new asphalt, and we will have to stay focused. » The Italian failed behind Crutchlow last Sunday and had to settle for second place, “I wasn't strong enough in the second half of the race. Cal was way too fast and we finished second again. »
The Italian has two races to secure second place on the final podium of the Championship, “A lot of things happen over the weekend. We have the possibility in Sepang and Valencia to win. We have to stay focused and do a good job. »
Note that since Phillip Island, Rossi has used all of its engines (7 including one broken at Mugello during the race), “Usually we use a fresh engine for races and qualifying. The first few miles are better, but after a while it's the same. »
Maverick Vinales reached the podium for the fourth time last weekend at Phillip Island. The Spaniard hopes to shine once again this Sunday, “We will try to do a good qualifying on Saturday and then give everything in the race,” he said. “I would like to start from the first or second row. It's a circuit where I'm usually fast. However, after the cold of Australia, getting here is more physically demanding. »
Rossi, Viñales and Marquez were questioned about displaying messages on the dashboard. On this point, opinions differ, “I don’t think it’s a big difference,” admits Rossi. “If we can have some messages, especially around safety, then that’s good. » For Marquez, “We still need to discuss it. Some are for, others are against. In my opinion, we don't need it. We should only have the safety messages. » For his part, Viñales prefers to ride the bike without it.
Cal Crutchlow is among the only ones who were able to test the new surface as well as the modifications made to the circuit during a Michelin test during the summer, “There were only 2 or 3 motorcycles on the track,” Crutchlow explains. “We know the grip is good once the track is cleaned. I hope the weather stays dry, but it doesn't look like that. After the WorldSBK round, we know that the grip is good, because the riders set much better times than last year. »
“Turn 15 is a strange corner now. The braking point is the same, but we will have to try all possible trajectories. You have to be more patient when exiting to go around again. The F1s come out very wide to avoid camber. I don't think they needed to change it. »
After his second MotoGP victory, many rumors saw more support from HRC for the Briton, “We are happy with what we have. We are not going to ask for more or less, it is not up to us to decide. Our bike is good. »
And compared to Yamaha when he rode under the Tech3 colors, “We had a good bike at Yamaha, the one Jorge had the previous season. At Honda, the package is much closer to that of the factory team. “
Regarding the evolution of the Michelins during the season, Crutchlow explains, “Regarding the rear, I know they can improve, but for the moment, they provide the minimum of security. »
Andrea Dovizioso occupies 7th place in the provisional ranking behind Crutchlow, first driver of an independent team. He finished just off the podium at Phillip Island after his second place at Motegi, “I'm quite happy with the last few races, and we are much closer to fighting for the podium. We try to stay on the same path. The podium is our goal. We don't yet have the bike to fight for victory in every race like Yamaha and Honda, but we are close. »
“It's difficult, but I think it's good to arrive at a track like Sepang. It’s a great track and we can use all the power we have,” adds the Transalpine. “The grip will make the difference and we have to analyze the conditions. If the grip is good then we have our chances. The big straight lines should match the Ducati. »
Andrea Iannone marks his return to competition after his heavy fall in Misano. Victim of a fracture of the T3 vertebra, the Italian missed the races in Aragon, Japan and Australia, “I’m happy to be back in the paddock. It's my world, " confides Iannone. “My physical condition is not that bad, but I am not yet 100% recovered. The doctors told me that the recovery would be long and would take between two to three months. I missed my team and my bike, but it will be a difficult weekend for us. I'll do my best. »
Iannone sets off into unknown lands. This is the first time that he will be back behind the handlebars of his machine after having participated in FP1 in Aragon, “I'm really curious to see what my feeling will be on the bike and to observe how my injury behaves. Staying home was a bad time. When you want to come back and you understand that it's impossible, it's really difficult. »
Photo credit : MotoGP.com
