In this MotoGP season which is coming to an end, there is an issue that goes unnoticed. This is the internal championship which takes place within the Pramac team to have a GP17 next season. Between Redding and Petrucci, the war is open and it doesn't matter if Barberá or Laverty are ahead of them in the general standings with GP14.2s...
Merit therefore has its limits at Ducati which also looks at its money. In the case of Pramac, it is Petrucci who leads the debates sixteen steps ahead of Redding the day after Malaysia. However, in the standings, it is the Briton who is ahead of the Italian by one point. Certainly, but the duel at Pramac only opened from Brno.
This being explained, Redding is condemned to a tour de force in Valencia to overcome the 16 lengths that separate him from his partner and the GP17. Possible, but complicated. So difficult in fact that the Englishman no longer believes in it: “ I think the game is over » he blurted out crash.net after his fifteenth place at Sepang while Petrucci finished tenth, and the duo quite far from the GP14.2 Avintia. “ I'll try again in Valencia but it won't happen because if we have a normal race, I won't catch up with Petrucci ».
The GP17 in play is that of a Dovizioso this year, but she will have to do without the fins. Which will also be the case for the GP16 with which Redding seems to be resigned. Now, Ducatis seem to be like good wine, getting better with time… “ It won't be a bad situation to have a GP16 with official support. But we will be blocked in terms of development and that is what is handicapping over a season ».
Still, the question of a GP14.2 performing well in front of the better-equipped Pramac drivers remains unresolved. Especially since the Sepang performance where Barbera et Baz registered in the top 5: “ I lacked grip on the rear wheel, it felt like the tire was way too hard. I was picked up by Márquez after his fall and I saw that he was driving incredibly, he was taking crazy angles. I said to myself 'do the same thing, follow him' and immediately I almost lost the front while the rear wanted to eject me. I was helpless ».
