2019 MotoGP/WSBK/Motorcycle Racing Thread

[Carbon_6]

And once again the "Dovi & Marc Show" produces another classic duel.

It looked like for all the world to see that after qualifying, Marquez would finally rack up a win at the Red Bull Ring, only for Dovizioso to defy the odds with that last lap, last corner dive that he timed to perfection. It was clear if only for a split second that Marquez wanted to get back underneath Dovizioso to get the better exit onto the start/finish straight, but Dovizioso blocked that move perfectly even if, in his own words: "it was crazy".

Incredible stuff from the pair from start to finish!

And seeing Tardozzi in the thick of the Ducati camp losing it (in a good way) was priceless.

 

[Whitestar]

Heheh, that Tardozzi celebration was almost as epic as the Dovi move.
Had to rewind a couple of times when I saw it on TV. Really made me laugh.

 

[Carbon_6]

Some KTM-related news leaving the Austrian GP:

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Johann Zarco is leaving the factory team after 2019, with both parties mutually agreeing not to see out the original 2-year deal. My guess is even though he's down for riding at Tech 3 in 2020, Miguel Oliveira will make the jump to replace Zarco. Which of course would leave an empty seat alongside Binder... In theory, they could keep Hafizh Syahrin, but he's struggled with the KTM as much as Zarco has. There are few top Moto2 riders available, most of them already having been signed for 2020, with a view to the MotoGP contracts which will open up a year later.


As for the factory itself, they've signed a new 5-year extension to their MotoGP contract (taking them to 2026), but it's come at the cost of their Moto2 entry from 2020. They've struggled so far in the category whilst spending a vast amount of resources trying to fix their chassis, which has suffered problems with chatter since the switch from Honda to Triumph engines. The choice has been made instead to divert that investment into expanding their presence in Moto3, as well as further advancing the development of the RC16 project.

The immediate impact is that the Ajo team will no longer run KTMs in Moto2 from 2020. However, Ajo will continue to race (with Jorge Martin and Iker Lecuona), though which chassis they'll use is yet to be determined. They'll also continue to have strong links to the KTM factory, acting as the prime conduit for talent into MotoGP. How it affects Tech 3 as well is currently unclear.

KTM will continue as a chassis supplier in Moto3, and expand the Ajo team from one rider to two again. But there will also be another team under the Husqvarna name, building a brand new bike which is likely to take the KTM Moto3 chassis as its starting point.



EDIT: Turns out Tech 3 are pulling out of Moto2 all together and will join the works KTM team in Moto3. Could well be that they're the new Husqvarna team...

 

[Carbon_6]

Just 0.013 across the line under the sun at Silverstone – the 4th closest finish in MotoGP history.

The opening lap was quite scary though: Quartararo had a seemingly benign, yet heavy high-side coming out of Copse right in front of Dovizioso who had nowhere to go, riding over and launching off the stricken Yamaha and landing really hard, blacking out as a result. The Ducati's fuel tank/line was damaged on impact, causing the bike to burst into flame, luckily well away from both riders. They were able to walk away with help from the marshals, but were later taken to the nearby hospital in Coventry for further check ups.

Quartararo seems to be OK for Misano, but even with a 3-week gap in-between races, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dovizioso doesn't make an appearance. He did take a big hit to the head.

EDIT: Good to see this. 👍

 

[05XR8]

What a start by Rossi!

Edit: What a finish!

 

[John Wells]

Wayne Rainy rides a motorbike.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/9...urdRbTMc4zocVs6gJ5Zg4C0F_XcgtDOPvJ2cq4EpzeOO8