MOTOGP 2023 SEASON

[R L Winger]

MARC MARQUEZ TOLD HE CAN LEAVE REPSOL HONDA A YEAR AHEAD OF HIS CONTRACT EXPIRY 

Honda MotoGP head Alberto Puig has told Marc Marquez that he is free to leave his contract a year early at the end of the 2023 season.

Marquez has a four-year deal with the team that is due to run until the end of the 2024 season, his team has announced that he will not take part in the Dutch Grand Prix after a succession of crashes at the last GP in Germany.

 

The six-time MotoGP champion was able to take part in yesterday’s sprint race at the track in Assen, but after an accident in qualifying with Enea Bastianini, he started in 17th and was unable to improve upon that.

 

Puig later suggested that the team’s talismanic rider will be free to leave despite the four-year deal he signed in 2020.

“We have a contract, but every person is free to do what they want in life,” said Puig. “And Honda is not a company that wants to have people who are not happy being at Honda.

“So, of course we have a contract, but Honda respects Marc a lot. I want to think [he will stay] based on the contract, but I don’t have a [magic wand].”

 

Marquez was similarly non-committal about his future, saying: “So now I am in a big moment and I cannot think about this.

“You cannot decide things about your future when you are in such a condition. During this month and a half I need to rebuild my body and the mental side.

“I am in one of the worst moments of my career. But I’m very lucky that I am in one of the best moments in my personal life, with a very good team around me. Everything is stable and this helps a lot.

 

“So now I need to think, to breathe, to speak with my people… and then I need to ride the bike again.

“I’ll try to start at Silverstone with the same commitment as in Portimao [the season opener]. Obviously there will be a different approach, but the same commitment.”

 

 

 

[R L Winger]

FRANCESCO BAGNIA STORMS TO FOUTH VICTORY OF THE SEASON IN ASSEN

 

Francesco Bagnaia stormed to victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen and heads into the summer break with a 35-point advantage in the MotoGP Championship table.

The Ducati rider took the lead on Lap 3 and gradually extended it to around one second to claim his fourth win of the season.

 

"It wasn't easy because the riders behind me were pushing a lot and I tried to open up a gap," Bagnaia said after the race. "I just managed that in the last laps and I finally allowed myself to breathe because I was on the limit.

 

"I love this track, I love this crowd and it's fantastic to be here."

Pole sitter Marco Bezzechi took the chequered flag in second while Brad Binder lost out on a podium in controversial circumstances.

History repeated itself for the South African who crossed the line in third, but, for the second time in twenty four hours, was demoted a position due to exceeding track limits. Aleix Espargaro found some great pace late in the race and inherited the spot on the rostrum.

 

Binder had a magnificent start and took the holeshot into Turn 1. Bagnaia claimed the lead on the third lap, but Binder continued to shadow the Ducati with Bezzecchi close behind him as the top three riders pulled away from the field.

When Bagnaia gradually edged away, Bezzecchi made a move for second stick to try hunt down his compatriot. Although he was unable to close the gap, he completed a very positive weekend in second. "I'm very happy," the Italian said.

"I had contact with some riders at the start and lost time and when I was behind Brad, he was very strong on the brakes. It took me many laps to pass him and then Pecco was already too far away.

"I'm happy anyway because this weekend we worked in the best way we can and the fans were amazing, I love this place!"

 

Meanwhile, Espargaro, despite having suffered damage to his Aprilia's aero in a collision at the start, was running some fantastic pace and closed in on Binder. Behind him, Jorge Martin also got ever faster as the race progressed and was within punching distance in the final stages.

Binder held on to second on the last lap while Espargaro crossed the line less than a hundredth of a second ahead of Martin. This proved crucial when Binder received his penalty and the podium position went to the Aprilia rider.

 

"In the right corners I had a strange feeling; there was a lot of shaking and it was difficult to stay on the bike," Espargaro admitted post race. "It was not possible for me to overtake Brad, but I wanted to stay behind him and push him into a mistake."

Temperatures were at the hottest they had been all weekend and many riders fell victim to the track conditions. Among them were Jack Miller, who crashed out going into Turn 1 on the second lap, and Fabio Quartararo who lost the front at Turn 7 and wiped out his compatriot Johann Zarco.

 

RIDER OF THE DAY ALEIX ESPARGARO

(APRILIA RACING)

 

Not many would have tipped the Spaniard for a podium finish today. He might have benefited from Binder's penalty to make the rostrum, but Espargaro's late race pace and tenacity earned him the success.

Starting from sixth, Espargaro made contact with Luca Marini at lights out and suffered some damage to his Aprilia's aero. Nevertheless, he pushed on, running in fourth throughout the race, and was on the pace in the closing stages.

The 33-year old moved up one position to eighth in the championship standings.

 

 

[Futtocks]

How the mighty are fallen - it wasn't that long ago that the only people who could beat the Hondas were outstanding talents like Rossi or Stoner. I hope it doesn't mean HRC are no longer committed to MotoGP.

[R L Winger]

On 26/06/2023 at 18:55, Futtocks said:

How the mighty are fallen - it wasn't that long ago that the only people who could beat the Hondas were outstanding talents like Rossi or Stoner. I hope it doesn't mean HRC are no longer committed to MotoGP.

If things don't improve after this summer break, I think Honda should sit out a couple seasons when all current contracts with riders expire and develop a very competitive fast bike that handles fantastic, then come back to MotoGP with a great team of riders.

Edited July 6, 2023 by R L Winger

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

Crutchlow is gone now right? 

Is there any up and coming Moto 1 drivers from the UK to look out for? 

[R L Winger]

Crutchlow has retired, his last gig was a test rider for Yamaha that expired at the end of 2022. Jake Dixon is about the only other British rider showing any promise, he raced in MotoGP in 2021, but now rides in the Moto2 class for Gas Gas (owned by KTM) that has a 3 cylinder 765cc Triumph engine fitted (as do all Moto2 bikes). He has had wins and pole positions in Moto2, so one day he might get a 2nd crack at MotoGP but at 27 years old the clock is ticking.

[Futtocks]

It is always a struggle for British riders, when so many of the sport's major sponsors are keener on riders from countries where they have a commercial presence.

Back in the tobacco days, Lucky Strike (USA) and Gauloises (France) backed Suzuki and Yamaha, while Repsol (Honda) wasn't marketed in the UK either. Nowadays, the sponsors have changed, but the situation's similar.

A young Brit prepared to relocate to Spain and make a name for himself in the championship there would have the best chance of being offered a decent ride.

[R L Winger]

On 07/07/2023 at 19:41, Futtocks said:

It is always a struggle for British riders, when so many of the sport's major sponsors are keener on riders from countries where they have a commercial presence.

Back in the tobacco days, Lucky Strike (USA) and Gauloises (France) backed Suzuki and Yamaha, while Repsol (Honda) wasn't marketed in the UK either. Nowadays, the sponsors have changed, but the situation's similar.

A young Brit prepared to relocate to Spain and make a name for himself in the championship there would have the best chance of being offered a decent ride.

It does seem Spain has the sport tied up, so many young riders come through the Spanish Academy, 2 Aussie riders being Jack Miller and former Moto2 World Champion and 1 year participant in MotoGP last year Remy Gardner. 

[Futtocks]

On 15/08/2023 at 04:40, R L Winger said:

It does seem Spain has the sport tied up, so many young riders come through the Spanish Academy, 2 Aussie riders being Jack Miller and former Moto2 World Champion and 1 year participant in MotoGP last year Remy Gardner. 

Someoneone calculated, a couple of seasons ago, that over 70% of all MotoGP/Moto2/Moto3 riders have competed in the Spanish championship to some extent.

Meanwhile, here in Catalunya, the main race has been restarted, after a turn 1 pile-up, then championship leader Pecco Bagnaia high-siding in the middle of the pack and having his legs run over. All the crashed riders have been reported as being conscious, which is a relief.

Edited September 3, 2023 by Futtocks

[Futtocks]

 

[Futtocks]

For reference, Bagnaia was in the second crash in this sequence.

 

[Futtocks]

The final MotoGP round of the year is going to be shown by ITV (as well as the usual BT Sport) tomorrow, starting at 10:15am on ITV4 for build-up and the Moto3 race, before switching to ITV1 for the Moto2 and MotoGP races.