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MotoGP-Motegi

KUCIAR666

Registered User
SUZUKI HEADS HOME FOR THE JAPANESE GP


Team SUZUKI ECSTAR is in Japan this weekend for the first of the three back-to-back MotoGP? races away from Europe.

The Japanese GP at Twin Ring Motegi Circuit is expected to be a poignant one in Suzuki Motor Corporation?s home country and will allow many of the factory?s engineers, technicians and developers to see with their own eyes the results of their efforts.

The circuit is considered favourable by both riders Maverick Vi?ales and Aleix Espargar?, who will receive enthusiastic support from the local Suzuki fans and Vi?ales arrives in Japan full of enthusiasm after the positives from recent races; the Japanese GP will also be the young Spaniard?s 100th race in the World Championship. At the previous round in Aragon, Spain, he proved to be consistently-fast and capable of running with the fastest, having led the race for many laps and finally ending just a step off the podium. He also has a further incentive to perform well after his crash in last year?s race and wants to put in a positive performance for all the passionate Suzuki technicians from Suzuki?s Hamamatsu factory attending this the weekend.

Espargar? has undergone a strong training regime in preparation for the three fly-aways and is approaching the Japanese GP with full concentration and determination. Although his path to competitiveness has been hard recently, the weekend in Aragon proved that he can still be competitive and find good efficiency.

The GP of Japan will be raced on the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, a modern facility located among the vast natural beauty of the northern Kanto district. It consists of a 2.4 km (1.5 mile) oval ? meant to introduce American motorsport culture to the country ? and a 4.8 km (2.9 mile) road course, where the MotoGP? race will take place, over a total distance of 24 laps (115.2 km - 71.5 miles.) The track the riders will be racing on takes in six left-hand corners and eight right-hand ones.

Maverick Vi?ales:

?My feeling for Motegi is very good, we are going to have a lot of support from fans and also the people coming to the race from the Suzuki factory. From my side I feel very confident, we are growing race after race and now we are aware that we can be competitive for the top positions in any race. It?s a good feeling, because it allows us to work with less pressure and keep the focus on our method. The machine has grown, but also our understanding of the electronics and the set-ups allow us to be more competitive. For sure in Motegi we will also take advantage to collect more information and transfer directly to the Japanese developers, it?s going to be a reward for their efforts but also a big injection of enthusiasm for them to push even further. Last year the rain complicated our weekend, so I?m happy that now we have different solutions to be competitive in the wet conditions.?

Aleix Espargaro:

?Racing as a Factory rider for a Japanese brand means that when it?s time to go to Motegi the emotion increases a lot. The warmth from our Company will be a further push for a positive weekend; recently I haven?t been as competitive as I would have liked because I can?t understand how to exploit the front tyre yet. My team is doing a great job, the machine has grown a lot, but I still miss that something in my riding style that could allow me to get closer to the top. I?ve made a strong preparation for this race, as it will also be the first of a three-in-a-row series that will be very demanding physically and mentally, and my determination is at the top, I would really like to get an outstanding result with Suzuki before the end of the season, as a reward for all the effort we have made so far.?
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Yamaha Jets to Japan for Motegi Round


Having secured a solid double podium in Arag?n a little less than three weeks ago, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo shape up for the triple-header overseas, starting at the home of Yamaha with the Grand Prix of Japan.

Rossi thoroughly enjoyed the close racing in Arag?n and expects to continue his podium streak at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit as one of the key protagonists. The Italian has been successful at this track numerous times before. In the premier class he has been victorious in 2001 and 2008, scored second place in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2015, and secured third place in 2010 and 2014. This weekend he has made it his mission to fight with the front-runners again to bridge the 52-point gap to the championship leader.

After closing the Arag?n weekend strongly, teammate Lorenzo is also eager to get back into action at the Japanese track and he will aim for another top result this weekend. Over the last seven years, the Spaniard has climbed the Motegi podium seven times, winning the Japanese Grand Prix in 2009, 2013 and 2014, finishing in second place in 2011 and 2012, and securing third place in 2006 and 2015. This year he hopes to add another win to his tally and close the 14-point gap to his teammate.

The Twin Ring Motegi circuit was built in 1997 and two years later it was first visited by the MotoGP championship for the first time. The 4.8 km-long circuit instantly became one of the most exciting events on the calendar for motorsports fans thanks to thrilling racing action made possible by its stop-start character, tight hairpins and slight elevation changes over six left and eight right corners. Motegi was added to the MotoGP calendar in 2000 as the Pacific Grand Prix until it replaced the Suzuka Circuit as the host of the Japanese Grand Prix in 2004.

Massimo Meregalli - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

"We are now starting the last part of the season with the first of the three races overseas before the final round in Valencia. The team is looking forward to visit Motegi, it's a very special Grand Prix as it is Yamaha's home race. Motegi is a fast track with a stop-start nature. Vale and Jorge have both done very well here in the past, so we expect to be fighting for the victory again this weekend. As always we aim to fully prepare the set-up of the YZR-M1 on Friday so we will be ready for the battle on Sunday. The three fly-away races are always challenging for the team, we will be pushing non-stop these upcoming three weeks and we can't wait to get started."


Valentino Rossi
Championship: 2nd, 196 points


"I love the three overseas races, these circuits are fantastic. On paper we are strong with the Yamaha, so I hope to fight for the victory. I'm especially happy to go to Japan because it is the home of Yamaha and I will do my best to make it a good Grand Prix. I like the track and the atmosphere. I'm in good shape and I'm ready for the three races in a row!"


Jorge Lorenzo
Championship: 3rd, 182 points


"We now kick off the most different part of the season and maybe the most exciting because we face three races in a row and they are all overseas, so physically and mentally it asks a lot from you. On the other hand it is a nice adventure every time we go there. First on the list is Motegi and this track gives me great memories. I love Japan and I like a lot this circuit because of the people and for Yamaha and the other Japanese manufacturers this Grand Prix is so important. This is the real home race! The end of the championship is still quite far away so we need to continue to ride in the best way possible, be competitive and try to win again. It would be fantastic to do that at Yamaha's home Grand Prix!"

Motivated Tech3 duo head east for Motegi showdown

Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith confidently look on to the forthcoming Japanese Grand Prix where they will aim to kick-start the triple flyaway races in a positive manner. The pair will battle at the legendary Twin Ring Motegi circuit, which has produced many memorable duels over the years and they will seek to ride to success at Yamaha's home GP in the round 15 fight.

Pol Espargaro will continue his quest to reclaim the top independent position in the World Championship by finishing as closely as possible to the factory MotoGP riders in front of his loyal Japanese fans. The young Spaniard, who currently sits in joint 8th in the standings, returns to Japan full of optimism, after winning the Suzuka 8 Hours event for the second year in succession in July.

Meanwhile, Bradley Smith will get back in the saddle of his YZR-M1 after sitting out the past three MotoGP races due to a knee injury that he sustained in August. However, after a heroic recovery in such a short space of time, the Briton will aim to meet the chequered flag in a solid position in the 24 lap Motul Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday in order to begin the final races of the 2016 season positively


Pol Espargar?
Championship: 9th, 96 points


"As always, I am excited about going to Japan and I fully intend to score a strong result to repay Yamaha on their home soil. The Japanese fans are special to me and I have had many good times in the country, such as the two victories in the Suzuka 8 Hours event for the Factory Yamaha Racing Team and also sealing the 2013 Moto2 World Championship after winning the GP that year. Therefore, the race in Motegi always has a special place in my heart and this year I will give my all again. We have had a bit of an up and down time recently, but with two weeks off after the Aragon GP, which I finished in 8th, I feel fully prepared and confident. The Motegi circuit is a demanding one, especially with regards to braking, but the Tech3 team and I will get straight to work and I am sure that we can have a solid opening day, which will set me up for a strong result at the end of the weekend."


Bradley Smith
Championship: 18th, 42 points


"I am excited about jumping back on my YZR-M1 and even though I know it will be a challenging race, I am determined and I will do my very best. It will be the first time that I can ride a MotoGP bike after seven weeks and even though I am almost fit, it will take me a bit of time to fully adjust to being back on the Yamaha. This will be the initial goal of the weekend, but I am confident that I can quickly get up to speed again. Japan is a special place, with it being the home of Yamaha and also the country where I won the Suzuka 8 Hours event last year. Plus, the fans are fantastic and really supportive which will motivate me even further. However, I know this weekend will be physically demanding due to the stop and go nature of the circuit, plus, there are a lot of hard braking corners but I am certain that we can start the flyaway races positively before we head to Phillip Island."
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Petrux ends up 8th the first day of free practices. Scott did not find the feeling (16?)
Following the late-summer break, the MotoGP returns back on track with the first day of activity of the triple-header. The Friday practices at the Motegi circuit, finish with a precious eighth place of Danilo Petrucci, who immediately found a good feeling in one of the most difficult tracks for him. Scott Redding experienced some difficulties and he will need to improve in order to fight for Q2 tomorrow morning.

Since morning, Petrux started well using the same set of tires for the whole session. In the afternoon, with the track heated by a bright sun, the performance of the rider from Terni improved soon. In the first run, he set the time of 1'46.172, that allowed him to stay longer at the top. In time attack, with the soft tire, he found traffic on the track and he was not able to lower his time. Howewer, he ended up with a convincing eighth position.

Scott was not able able to find the right feeling, especially with grip in corner speed. After an intense set up in the afternoon, the British rider managed to lower by 6 thents of a second his Fp1 time, but he was unable to go under the wall of 1'47. His fastest lap-time (1'47.072) did not allow him to get closer to the Top 10 (16th place).

16th - Scott Redding
1?47.072


"It was not a good Friday. We struggled with the set up mainly because there was no grip in corner speed. I have not found any particular differences between the hard and the soft tire. The situation is a bit difficult at the moment. We will have to work hard to try to find the right pace. I do not say that in the last three races we have lost our way, but we were unable to make progress. There is a lot of work to do but I am sure we can find the right solution to fight for Q2."

8th - Danilo Petrucci
1?46.172


"I am satisfied because this circuit has never been one of my favorite. That is why I did not expect to be so fast from the beginning. We did not make many changes compared to Aragon and I quickly found a good feeling. I am sorry for the time attack. We had a small problem before the last run, but especially, I found traffic on the track that did not allow me to set a better time. It will be hard to stay among the officials tomorrow, but we will try."
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
VI?ALES & ESPARGAR? ON THE PACE AT MOTEGI



Maverick Vi?ales ? 3rd
Aleix Espargar? ? 6th

Team SUZUKI ECSTAR?s Maverick Vi?ales and Aleix Espargar? both made strong starts to the Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Twin Ring Motegi today with third and sixth fastest times respectively.

Following the morning?s opening practice session, both GSX-RR riders shaved more-than a second from their lap-times in this afternoon?s FP2, Vi?ales securing third position with a time of 1?45.248 and Espargar? sixth on 1?45.513.

Both riders have found positive feelings in this first day of MotoGP? practice, highlighting the improvements made since last year; and the improved performance of the GSX-RR allowed them to put their names consistently in the highest places of the classification, showing that the machine more adaptable to the tricky stop-and-go layout of the Motegi circuit.

Davide Brivio ? Team Manager:

?We started with the right feet at this emotional home GP with both riders among the fastest in both sessions. Maverick did many fast laps, finding himself in the leading position in many sectors several times, and finally ended in third place, but showing a good pace already. Aleix made many improvements as well, finally finding himself comfortable on the bike. He worked on the set-up to find a better confidence with the front, and has already done some work for the race. It?s important for us to make such a start, although we still have room for improvement and so we will continue working for tomorrow.?

Maverick Vi?ales:

I feel very good, today we have worked very hard with the tyres to prepare for the race and the results are positive. We still need to work on the rear to find a good set-up that could allow me to save the tyre until the end of the race. My team did a very good job, I can feel the improvements we have done throughout the season in being more effective in the adaptation of set-up and electronics between the sessions, our learning and adaptation process is getting faster and faster, allowing me to make big steps. For tomorrow we will work to find an even better feeling with the rear, improving acceleration, focusing on the electronics configuration, and then try a good time attack which is a thing we didn?t focus on today.?

Aleix Espargar?:

?I?m satisfied with the day as my feeling is good, this is not a track I?ve felt fast on in the past but today I got a positive outcome. Already in the morning I felt confident and in the afternoon I could improve even more, we are working very hard and this is paying back. Also I?m expecting to be even faster tomorrow, today I had to work a lot on the lines as the track had some tricky conditions in some points; it?s a learning process that gave me some hints already but still leaves me room for improvement.?



MOTUL GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN FP2:

1 Jorge LORENZO - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - 1'45.151
2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO - Ducati Team - 1'45.204 + 0.053
3 Maverick VI?ALES - Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 1'45.248 + 0.097
4 Marc MARQUEZ - Repsol Honda Team - 1'45.303 + 0.152
5 Cal CRUTCHLOW - LCR Honda - 1'45.501 + 0.350
6 Aleix ESPARGARO - Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 1'45.513 + 0.362
7 Valentino ROSSI - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - 1'45.532 + 0.381
8 Danilo PETRUCCI - OCTO Pramac Yakhnich - 1'46.172 +1.021
9 Dani PEDROSA - Repsol Honda Team - 1'46.227 + 1.076
10 Pol ESPARGARO - Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - 1'46.245 + 1.094
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Yamaha Tops Free Practice Time Sheets at Twin Ring Motegi


Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi shaped up for an intense battle at the Twin Ring Motegi track today, in preparation for Sunday's Grand Prix of Japan. The teammates took first and seventh place respectively in the combined free practice times.

Lorenzo was quick to find a solid pace around the Japanese track during the sunny morning practice. He rode his YZR-M1 to second early on in FP1 and spent the majority of the session working on a good dry set-up before posting a best lap of 1'46.181s for third place on his third stint, 0.395s from the front.

The afternoon saw more of the same smooth riding from the Mallorcan. He set the provisional fastest time of 1'46.111s early on in the second 45-minute session. He continued his form as the pace quickened and was the fourth rider dropping into the 1'45s with a 1'45.911s for provisional third place, which he further improved at the very end of the session, dropping a 1.45.151s to wrap up the day at the top of the time sheets with a 0.053s margin to his closest rival.

Teammate Rossi was also on the pace right from the word go. The nine-time World Champion made the most of the first free practice session and put in a total of 20 laps to find a solid race set-up that suits Motegi's stop-start nature. The Italian held second place for a large part of the session and rode a best lap of 1'46.222s, just 0.463s off the front, for fourth place.

The Doctor lost a little bit of time at the start of the afternoon session due to a loose dummy tank, but he was soon back on his way to continue the search for the perfect balance of his bike. Throughout the session he worked through a couple of set-up changes and tried various tyres specs and improved his time to a 1'45.684s for provisional first place in the final stages, to ultimately finish the day in seventh position with a best lap of 1'45.532s, 0.381s behind his teammate.

Similar to last year, Yamaha's usual rider line-up is joined by Katsuyuki Nakasuga, four-time consecutive premier JSB1000 class (All Japan Road Race Championship) winner, who also won the Suzuka 8-Hour race two years in a row in 2015 and 2016. He finished his first day as a wildcard for the Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing Team, riding his YZR-M1 to 17th place in the combined free practice times, with a 1'47.135s best lap.

Massimo Meregalli - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director
"Today we made a positive start to the weekend in the first two practice sessions. Right away both Jorge and Valentino found a solid starting point in the morning session and had a good pace. In the afternoon, we spent most of the session testing different tyres specifications, both front and rear. It was very important to do it, but this slowed the development of the set-up down a bit. Despite this Jorge has been able to make good use of the fresh soft rear tyre during his last stint, setting the fastest lap of the day. Valentino suffered from a lack of grip at the beginning of the session. When he put in a new soft rear tyre he had difficulties in stopping the bike, especially in the hard braking sections that are quite fundamental here. There's still a lot of time to further improve the setting on both sides of the garage and we are quite confident that we can make another step tomorrow."
Jorge Lorenzo
1st / 1'45.151 / 35 laps


"It's been quite a positive day. This afternoon the conditions dropped a lot in terms of the temperature and that's why some riders crashed, because it was quite tricky and you need to be very careful with the temperature of the tyre. We were able to improve a lot on the last set of tyres and improved the bike a little bit also in the corners. The bike is working quite well and I'm in good shape, so I'm very motivated to make it a good race."
Valentino Rossi
7th / 1'45.532 / 41 laps


"It was a mixed day, because this morning wasn't so bad and I was quite fast, but this afternoon was a difficult practice. We tried the harder tyres, but both the front and the rear didn't give very good grip so I lost some feeling. At the end we put the softer tyre back in and I improved my lap time, but it wasn't enough because I'm not very happy with the setting and the balance of the bike. It is very difficult to stop in braking, so we have to work and try to recover. About the tyres, the feeling is not so bad. The lap times are also not so far from last year's, but this afternoon we unfortunately had a lot of crashes and also some injuries for Pedrosa. This is because in the afternoon it looks like the temperature drops down very quickly and after that it becomes dangerous. Good luck to Pedrosa and for us tomorrow, we will try to modify the balance and we try to be strong."
Confident Espargaro commences Motegi showdown - Smith makes brave comeback

Monster Yamaha Tech3 team rider Pol Espargaro kicked off the all-important Japanese GP weekend by finishing the opening day in 10th. The Spaniard jumped into gear in the morning as he began adjusting his Yamaha YZR-M1 for Sunday's race, which will be the 18th Grand Prix to take place at the legendary Twin Ring Motegi circuit. After completing 16 laps, his best time left him in 11th. Then, in FP2, Espargaro carried on his efforts, but he unfortunately fell at turn nine, although he luckily escaped without any injuries. However, the 25-year-old effectively only had 15 minutes of track action due to the fall as he sat out the remainder of the session after the impact and as a result, he completed only nine laps. Yet, he impressively set his personal best on his fifth lap whilst using a hard rear compound, which saw him conclude the session in 10th and just over a second from the leading time. Tomorrow, the 2013 Moto2 World Champion who seized the title at Motegi, will look to make a solid start in FP3 and then qualify strongly at Yamaha's home race.

On the other side of the Tech3 team pit box, Bradley Smith courageously eased back into riding his Yamaha YZR-M1 as he made his first MotoGP appearance since sustaining a knee injury in August, which forced him to sit out the previous three Grand Prix's. The main target was to complete as much distance as possible and become accustomed to his MotoGP bike again whilst also building up to race fitness as he rode 13 laps in FP1. In the afternoon, he bravely continued his work and after covering an additional 15 laps, he cut 2.518 seconds from his best time in FP1. The Briton will now rest overnight before returning to the track tomorrow morning for FP3.

Pol Espargaro
10th / 1'46.245 / 25 laps


"Overall, today was a solid start to the weekend. This morning's result wasn't incredible but I believe that we still had a good session. In FP2, I went out with the hard rear compound and felt comfortable straight away and so I was posting strong lap times which put me inside the top six. Yet, not long into the session I unfortunately made a slight mistake and lost the front in the ninth corner. This was a pity because we only have one M1 with the chassis that I like a lot so when I went out on my second bike, the feeling was completely different. Therefore, we decided that it was better to wait for tomorrow's morning session to continue our setup work. Nevertheless, it is positive to end the day inside the top 10. Now we will try to analyse today's data and maybe we can learn something from Valentino and Jorge, plus with a good rest, I am sure that I'll be back stronger tomorrow."
Bradley Smith
21st / 1'48.897 / 28 laps


"First and foremost, I have to say that it was quite emotional to ride my bike again this morning because these last seven weeks haven't been easy but I finally reached my goal of returning to the track. Many friends, family and physiotherapists have spent a lot of time and effort to help me get fit enough to race again and the only ambition in these past fifty days was to compete in the last four Grand Prix's with Tech3, so it is great to finally get back to where I need to be. Of course, today has been challenging because my knee is obviously not perfect, however, we made a good step forward from this morning to this afternoon, which has given me a confidence boost. I hope that with a bit of rest, we can achieve more tomorrow. I must give big thanks to the Tech3 team, because the guys have been very patient, plus they modified the bike to suit my needs. Most importantly, the team worked in a fantastic way to keep me calm so I can enjoy my experience back in Japan."
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
ESPARGAR? & SUZUKI ON MOTEGI SECOND ROW

Aleix Espargar? and Maverick Vi?ales will start tomorrow?s Motul Grand Prix of Japan from the second and third rows following today?s final MotoGP? qualifying.

Both GSX-RR riders qualified directly through to the final Q2 from this morning?s FP3 with Espargar? fifth and Vi?ales sixth and in the all-important final qualifying secured sixth and seventh positions.

Espargar??s positive day started in the morning with a solid FP3 in the top positions and a consistent and fast pace in FP4. The improvements done on his GSX-RR proved to be effective as the Spaniard could find a confident feeling with the machine, especially with the rear-end. This helped also in qualifying when Espargar? posted a 1'44.494 lap-time that gave him the second row.

Vi?ales? second day in Motegi was a little more complicated. The morning session saw him make some progress, as well as the consistency test done in FP4, but he couldn?t be as effective as he wanted in qualifying, ending the session below his expectations. His race is expected to be an aggressive one, trying to be very fast at the start.

Davide Brivio ? Team Manager:

?This qualifying left us the sensation that we could have done better. Aleix has made a solid progression during all the sessions and ended FP4 with an excellent time with worn tyres, so he could have aimed for an even better position. Maverick couldn't find a proper feeling as we couldn?t finalise the best set-up for him and he couldn?t exploit all the potential. However, we find ourselves on the second and third rows, this makes things a little harder for us, but if Aleix can manage to keep the good pace he showed in FP4 - and we find a way to put Maverick in the condition to exploit all his potential - it could become a positive race for the both of them. We have to work hard tonight to prepare for the race and find further improvements.?

Aleix Espargar?:

?I?m happy for the whole weekend in general, to be honest I was expecting a little better for the chrono, I hoped to fight for the first row, but I made a little mistake in sector one and this affected my fast-lap attempt. But, while the pole was slower than last year, from my side I improved my last year?s time by nearly half a second and this makes me very happy. The pace in FP4 was very good, even a couple of tenths better than what we expected, so I?m happy. We have already decided the rear tyre, while we still have some doubts about the front one, we will have to check some other solutions tomorrow and then take our decision. Also the brake management will be crucial for the race; this circuit has some very hard braking, this means that the brakes get hot very quickly and for me this is an issue. I?m a heavy rider, so this problem is more evident to me than to other riders, meaning that I will need to manage the brake temperature trying to have a clear line in front of me so to allow much air to intake and cool down the braking system.?

Maverick Vi?ales:

?This qualifying didn?t end how I was expecting and being seventh is a lot below our potential. We made some good improvements in the morning session, and also the pace is very good, but then in qualifying we decided to apply a set-up that proved not to be as improved as we wanted. This didn?t allow me to find a perfect feeling and resulted in a not-so positive position. Seventh place is not that bad, but makes the race a little harder. I feel very confident on this track and I?m sure we can find improvements before tomorrow, the strategy will be pretty easy; get a perfect jump at the start and try to recover as soon as possible, because the pace is consistent and fast.?

MOTUL GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN Q2 RESULT:


1 Valentino ROSSI - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - 1'43.954
2 Marc MARQUEZ - Repsol Honda Team - 1'44.134 + 0.180
3 Jorge LORENZO - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - 1'44.221 + 0.267
4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO - Ducati Team - 1'44.294 + 0.340
5 Cal CRUTCHLOW - LCR Honda - 1'44.402 + 0.448
6 Aleix ESPARGARO - Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 1'44.494 + 0.540
7 Maverick VI?ALES - Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 1'44.539 + 0.585
8 Hector BARBERA - Ducati Team - 1'44.980 + 1.026
9 Pol ESPARGARO - Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - 1'45.232 + 1.278
10 Danilo PETRUCCI - OCTO Pramac Yakhnich - 1'45.782 + 1.828
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Heroic Double Front Row for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP at Twin Ring Motegi


Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo delighted the Japanese crowd when they secured first and third place respectively for tomorrow's Grand Prix of Japan in a gutsy display of determination.Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo delighted the Japanese crowd when they secured first and third place respectively for tomorrow's Grand Prix of Japan in a gutsy display of determination.

Rossi took his time at the start of the qualifying session and left the pits shortly before his teammate, hoping to find some clear track for his qualifying efforts. Once he found a good rhythm, he immediately made his mark with his first flying lap securing provisional third place. He bettered his time on his second flying lap of 1'44.736 before being pushed back one place by his teammate. The Doctor continued to improve his time by five-thousands' of a second on his next attempt, but as the pace quickened, he returned to the pit box for a quick stop, holding fifth place, with more than five minutes on the clock.

A quick minute later the nine-time World Champion returned to the track. Having dropped to sixth place, he gritted his teeth and put on the heat once more when he rode a fastest second, third and fourth sector towards the end of the session to drop a 1'43.954s for pole. With just enough time for one more lap, his name again flashed up in red in the first two sectors, but he was unable to further his advantage. Yet his earlier fastest lap remained unchallenged, giving the Italian his 64th pole position of his Grand Prix racing career, with a 0.180s margin over his closest rival.

Lorenzo gave a superhuman performance after a challenging start to the second day at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. The Mallorcan suffered a big highside at the end of the FP3 session in turn 2 and had to visit the Medical Center before being helicoptered to the Dokkyo Hospital in Utsunomiya City for a CT scan. He was declared fit to continue his quest for a top result at the Japanese Grand Prix when he returned to the circuit, in time to fight back hard in FP4 and secure third place.

The current World Champion's efforts were equally impressive in the Q2 session. Being the last rider to start the 15-minute qualifying heat, Lorenzo made sure to leave pit lane with enough space between him and the rest of the field. After a cautious start, his second flying lap saw him post a 1'44.399s lap, moving him up from tenth to second position before he headed back to the pit lane with a little less than seven minutes of the session remaining.

Lorenzo was soon back out on the track and, now in third place, he was ready to put the hammer down once more. Unable to further improve his time on his fifth hot lap, he was pushed down to fourth place as his teammate took over at the top of the time sheets, but he didn't give up. He dropped a stunning last lap of 1'44.221s, 0.267s from pole, to start tomorrow's race on the first row from third place on the grid.

Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing Team wildcard rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga also had a good day at the track. He continued to make progress and positioned his YZR-M1 in 16th place on the grid for tomorrow's race.

Massimo Meregalli - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director
"After the difficulties we bumped into during all the previous sessions, trying settings and Jorge's crash, we couldn't have expected to get both riders on the front row, especially to be on pole here at our main competitor's home track. During the FP4 session we have been able to improve Vale's setup quite significantly. The bike became more easy to ride thanks to a better handling and he was able to start riding as he wanted. He delivered a stunning performance to set the fastest time today, even more so considering that he is not feeling a 100% fit. Jorge's third place is also a truly heroic performance when you take into account that we weren't sure if he was going to be able to ride this afternoon. The team has done an amazing job today to overcome the difficulties we faced and a double front row is a great starting place for tomorrow's race."
Valentino Rossi
"It's my third pole position of the year. I'm very happy because this year in qualifying I'm strong. We were struggling during this weekend to find the right balance and I'm also not a 100% fit, I'm suffering physically, I'm not feeling fantastic. In FP4 we improved the balance of the bike a lot and I did a very good lap and great braking in turn 11 and that was good. Starting from pole is always important and now we wait for tomorrow."
Jorge Lorenzo
"I feel much better than a few hours ago. The painkillers and the adrenaline of riding my bike have improved my feelings. I was scared to get injured, especially for the left leg where I had the biggest impact. It was a big crash, but I was able to make it back for qualifying and we did great, especially on the first lap time in my second stint, I didn't do so much on the second try. Rossi's lap time was incredible and also Marquez's time. It wasn't possible to make it a pole position, but it was much better than we expected when I arrived back at the track."
Espargaro to start Motegi showdown from 3rd row – Smith courageously qualifies on the 5th

Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team rider Pol Espargaro will begin his quest to finish as the top independent rider in tomorrow's Japanese GP by bolting from the third row of the grid. The young Spaniard immediately launched into action in this morning's all important FP3 practice, as he continued his setup work whilst carrying on the positive momentum from yesterday. After pushing non-stop in the 45-minute shootout, his fastest time left him 9th in the combined practice standings and therefore, able to pass directly through to Q2. Here, Espargaro built up his pace and eventually sped to a personal best of 1'45.232, which he set in the final moments of the thrilling session. This lap saw him qualify in 9th position and just over a second back from the reigning MotoGP World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo. Now, the 25-year-old aims to undertake a rocket start tomorrow and then force his way through the pack to clinch a notable result at Yamaha's Home GP.

On the other side of the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team pit box, the recovering Bradley Smith, who is handicapped by an injury to his right knee, bravely qualified on the 5th row of the grid for the round 15 battle. The young Briton got straight to work this morning and he courageously completed 17 laps as he grew stronger with every run. He set his quickest time at the end of the practice and the performance left him in 20th overall, having improved by nearly four seconds from his personal best lap of the opening session. Later today, in qualifying one, the 25-year-old produced a heroic display as he rode at an impressive pace, despite the limitation with his knee, and he posted his personal best on his last lap out of 4. This time sealed 15th position and now Smith optimistically awaits the race where he will give his all in order to finish the Japanese Grand Prix.

Pol Espargar?
"Overall, I have to be satisfied about qualifying on the third row today, as this session is the one that I have been struggling with the most in the last few races. For example, in Aragon, we were fast for the entire weekend but I ended up on the fourth row by the end of QP2. Therefore, ninth is nothing to be too excited about, but at least it gives us the chance to stay with the top guys at the beginning of the race. The main aim in the opening stage of the GP will be to stay in front of as many Ducatis as possible, because I'm convinced that it will be very tricky to pass them later on, due to their advantage with acceleration. In terms of tyre choices, we have a clear idea about what to use, and fortunately for us, our rhythm over race distance should be better than a single lap performance. We tried a completely different setup in FP4, however, I felt that it wasn't as beneficial as we expected, so we opted for another direction for qualifying and it took me a few laps to adapt to this new setting. Nevertheless, during the second run, I felt a lot better and I believe we will continue to work with this option in tomorrow's warm up so that we can put ourselves in the best possible position for the 24 lap battle."
Bradley Smith
"We have to be more than pleased with today's qualifying position because 15th is far beyond what we could expect when considering my injury. The team did an excellent job and together, we made some subtle changes to the bike which meant that step by step, my knee felt more comfortable in each session. Of course, qualifying is only a short distance and tomorrow will be much harder with the race being 24 laps, but today's result is fantastic and now I just need to try and rest up as much as possible. For me, the tyre choice is quite clear for both ends of the bike and we have focused a lot on the rear grip, which is very important here because of the big acceleration. We will see what tomorrow brings but I've given myself a good opportunity by qualifying in 15th and the main objective is to get through the 24 laps."
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Octo Pramac Yakhnich ends up #JapaneseGP with a double Top 10:
Petrux 8th, 9th Scott

A precious Sunday for Octo Pramac Yakhnich team who takes good points thanks to good races of Danilo Petrucci and Scott Redding at the Motegi circuit, where Marc Marquez has became World MotoGP Champion for the third time, also exploiting Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo?s crashes .

Danilo made a good start managing to gain one position at the first corner. Between the seventh and the tenth lap he fought hard with Bautista, then did well to keep the concentration and defend his position from Scott Redding attack, finishing in eighth place.

Redding was not brilliant at the start as he lost three positions in the first corner but reacted immediately recovering the Top 10 on lap 8. From mid-race on, the British rider tried to chase his teammate remaining in its wake until the end but could not find the ideal conditions for an attack. For Scott a good ninth place finish.

9th - Scott Redding

Unfortunately my race pace was not so good at the beginning and this has a little penalized me. Then I found a good rhythm and I started to reduce the gap. I had some problems especially in braking and I was not able to get close enough to groped an attack to Danilo. But I'm happy because I made a lot of experience after the last difficult races, working on maps, improving the feeling with the tires. In the end it was a good weekend.

8th - Danilo Petrucci

It is a good result although frankly I expected to do better in the race because during the weekend the pace was better. I had problems with the front, I could not brake how I wanted. At first I tried to stay with Barbera and Espargaro but I was not fast enough. Now we move to Australia and there is no time to think. Phillip Island is a totally different track we will have to work a lot to change the set up. I can not wait to get back on track.
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
VI?ALES THIRD WITH WISE RIDING & ESPARGAR? FOURTH

Maverick Vi?ales ? 3rd
Aleix Espargar? ? 4th

Team SUZUKI ECSTAR?s Maverick Vi?ales raced to a podium position in today?s Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi as team-mate Aleix Espargar? scored his best result of the season in fourth.

The positive results arrived in a very special weekend for Suzuki; in 1962, 54 years ago on October 14th, Ernst Degner won the very first World Championship title for the manufacturer, at the GP of Argentina on an RM62 machine.

Riding in his 100th GP, Vi?ales jumped from seventh place and decided for a conservative strategy in the race. Being consistently on the pace ? which was improved by his team for this morning?s warm up ? he preserved the tyres for the first half of the race, before attacking his team-mate and getting to the final third place.

Fourth place was a good reward also for the positive weekend Espargar? has had in Japan. His performance improved session-by-session and he could be competitive among the top riders for the most of the race, giving-up his aggressiveness only towards the end of the race when he settled for his best result of the season.

Ken Kawauchi ? Technical Manager:

?It was good to have a podium here because Japan is our home GP and we could show our performance in front of our colleagues from the factory and all fans. Until yesterday Maverick has been struggling with the setting, for this I couldn?t expect such a great result, although we could deliver some improvements already this morning. Aleix did a very good job during this weekend so we were expecting a good result, finally he couldn't get the podium but the weekend overall is very positive for us. All the team is happy, we want to improve more for Phillip Island because that will be a more favourable track for us and we will try to get more podiums until the end of the season.?

Maverick Vi?ales:

?I?m very happy for this podium because it?s the result of two main points; first of all, the team managed to make good improvements since yesterday, delivering me a machine with which I felt more comfortable than yesterday. This means we have a lot of potential to express, still. Second thing, is that I managed to make a very wise race; the jump was not as good as I wanted, but then I decided to stay calm and not to waste the tyre in order to keep some performance for the end of the race. This allowed me to be consistent and keep my performance until the end and getting third. It was also a nice battle with Aleix, when finally I managed to overtake him it was too late to go and catch up for the second place, but this podium is very emotional, being here in front of all our fans and colleagues from the Suzuki factory.?

Aleix Espargar?:

?I?m disappointed for the final result because I was expecting a little more, but at the end of the day the whole weekend has been very positive. We did a great job, and finally we are seeing the improvements I was waiting for. It was the first time in the season I managed to stay very close to the head of the race and fight for the podium, so it?s a pity I couldn?t get up there, I tried all I could but finally I had to settle in fourth. It is my best result of the season and I?m proud of it. I?m happy that the next race will be immediately next weekend, we keep the focus and we?ll try to continue this positive period we?re having.?


MOTUL GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN RESULT:

1 Marc MARQUEZ - Repsol Honda Team - 42'34.610
2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO - Ducati Team - 42'37.602 + 2.992
3 Maverick VI?ALES - Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 42'38.714 + 4.104
4 Aleix ESPARGARO - Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 42'39.336 + 4.726
5 Cal CRUTCHLOW - LCR Honda - 42'49.659 + 15.049
6 Pol ESPARGARO - Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - 42'54.264 + 19.654
7 Alvaro BAUTISTA - Aprilia Racing Team Gresini - 42'57.642 + 23.032
8 Danilo PETRUCCI - OCTO Pramac Yakhnich - 43'03.165 + 28.555
9 Scott REDDING - OCTO Pramac Yakhnich - 43'03.412 + 28.802
10 Stefan BRADL - Aprilia Racing Team Gresini - 43'06.940 + 32.330
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Encounters Dramatic End to Motegi Race

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team were unlucky to see both riders crash out of a promising second place at the Twin Ring Motegi track after heroic efforts of the two teammates. Jorge Lorenzo was riding impressively at the start of the 24-lap sprint and was defending his position until a crash at turn nine meant the end of his challenge. Earlier on in the race, pole-setter Rossi also suffered an unfortunate premature halt to his strong pursuit of the lead in turn ten.

Lorenzo had a good start to the 24-lap race when he launched from third on the grid to arrive at the first corner in second place, passing his teammate. He immediately also overtook Marc Marquez in turn two, who had snatched the holeshot into turn one, to take over the lead.

With a feisty fight ensuing between Rossi and Marquez, Lorenzo put his head down to increase his advantage to over 0.6s, but the two chasing riders were not out of the race yet. The first attack came from Marquez on lap three. Lorenzo spurred on his Yamaha to prevent his compatriot from clearing off at the front and was followed closely by the Doctor. Lorenzo had to let his teammate pass on lap six but regained the position when Rossi crashed out of the race.

With Marquez too far ahead, Lorenzo focused his attention on defending his second place from Andrea Dovizioso, who arrived at the back of his Yamaha with five laps to go, but the Mallorcan's quest for a podium ended when he crashed out of the race in turn nine.

Rossi had a good start from pole, but had to let Marquez and Lorenzo pass going into turn one. What followed was a flurry of activity on the first lap as the Italian scrapped with Marquez and Aleix Espargar?. Completing the first lap in third place, Rossi refused to give up and cleverly bided his time whilst following Lorenzo and Marquez, to take second from his teammate five laps later. He was chasing the victory and kicked up the pace a nudge until he lost the front end in turn ten on lap seven, ending his race prematurely.

Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing Team wildcard rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga made his experience count and rode a confident race, securing a strong eleventh place aboard the YZR-M1, earning himself five championship points.

After today's unexpected race results, Rossi and Lorenzo hold second and third place respectively in the championship with 196 and 182 points. Yamaha holds second place with 288 points in the Constructors' classification, 28 points from first, and Movistar Yamaha MotoGP is also chasing the Teams' title in second place with 378 points in the rankings.

Massimo Meregalli - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

"It is a disappointing end to an otherwise strong weekend from our team. After yesterday's qualifying results we were really confident that we would be able to get a good result, but unfortunately this was a race day to forget. Jorge and Valentino gave a solid performance today, especially since both were not feeling a 100% after Jorge's extreme highside yesterday and with Vale suffering a severe cold. Nevertheless, they fought their way to the front in the early laps and they definitely didn't make it easy for Marquez in the first stage of the race. It was unfortunate that Valentino's and Jorge's crash ended our race early. Congratulations to Marc for securing the Riders Title."


Jorge Lorenzo
DNF / -5 laps. Championship: 3rd / 182 points


"I'm very disappointed, because I made a mistake. I tried to push too much when the bike was not working well with the tyres. In Arag?n we made a good decision with the tyres and this time it was the opposite. We chose the wrong front tyre, with the soft I think I would have made a better race, because my front tyre on the first laps was vibrating and closing. I didn't have a good feeling, that's why I couldn't keep up with the pace of Marquez. Finally, because Dovizioso was coming, I pushed more than before in that corner and the front tyre didn't give me any support or feedback and I crashed. It's a pity, because I think we had the potential to fight for the victory with the right front tyre, but it was impossible today and we lost a great opportunity to be second in the championship. I want to congratulate Marquez because he didn't have an advantage from his bike this year and he was the most consistent rider, so he deserves this championship."


Valentino Rossi
DNF / -18 laps. Championship: 2nd / 196 points


"First of all, I would like to say that I'm OK, fortunately no problems. On the other hand it's a shame because I was quite strong and I had a good pace. Unfortunately my start was not fantastic and I lost a position to Marquez and Lorenzo. After that, Marquez was a bit faster than me to overtake Lorenzo, I lost a bit more time behind him, but the pace was good. I was able to push a lot to try and catch Marquez but unfortunately I lost the front. Sincerely, I felt nothing like going into the corner too wide or too deep, but I lost the front and logically I made a mistake."

Espargaro finishes as leading Yamaha in Motegi - Heroic Smith seizes points

Pol Espargaro delivered a strong performance in front of 52,000 passionate fans at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit to seize 6th in his 50th MotoGP race with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team. The Spaniard sped away from the rear of the third row of the grid when the event began and after navigating his way around the stop and go track on the first lap, he crossed the line in 8th, having improved on his qualifying position by one place. From here, the 25-year-old quickly set into a strong rhythm, which saw him open up a gap to the pursuing riders as he tried to hunt down Cal Crutchlow in front of him. At the midpoint of the 24 lap sprint, the 2013 Moto2 World Champion was up to 7th as he maintained his consistency whilst he pushed on as the distance counted down. After producing a tireless effort right until the end of the demanding race, Espargaro met the chequered flag in 6th which marks a solid conclusion to the round 15 battle.

On the other side of the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team pit box, Bradley Smith bravely rode to 13th at the Japanese Grand Prix, despite not having full race fitness due to his injured right knee. The young Briton, who was making his first MotoGP appearance since damaging his knee in August, began the 24 lap contest from the fifth row of the grid. When the lights went out, he lunged forward but was shuffled back to 18th by the close of the opening lap. However, Smith focused and quickly set into a consistent rhythm, which saw him move back into the points with a third of the total distance having been completed. He dug deep and at the half way point, he was running in 14th as he continued to lap at a notable pace. Eventually, the 25-year-old crossed the finish line in 13th, which marks an impressive result when considering his condition, at Yamaha's Home Grand Prix. Now, Smith confidently eyes up the Australian Grand Prix, which will take place in a week's time.

Pol Espargaro
6th / +19.654 / 24 laps. Championship: 8th / 106 points


"It has been a tough day and it is important that we could take 10 points from this race, especially as it was a tricky GP but I am still a bit disappointed because we were not as competitive as we possibly could have been this weekend. I didn't feel really comfortable in any of the practice sessions so I always knew it was going to be a long event. However, my start was good and I was able to stay in front of the Ducatis which I think was the key to our result. After the beginning, I couldn't stay with the group who were ahead of me and I ran almost the entire Grand Prix on my own. Yet, with the crashes in front, we managed to finish in 6th, so we have to be happy about leaving Motegi with some crucial points for the independent rider fight in the Championship standings. Now, I'm really looking forward to Australia as the Phillip Island track is one that I really enjoy riding at and I have a lot of good memories there."

Bradley Smith
13th / +53.783 / 24 laps. Championship: 17th / 45 points


"No doubt, today has been a very hard day for me but it is definitely nice to get some points as a reward for the effort. In the last seven weeks I've had to watch the rest of the MotoGP world go racing, whilst I've been at home, so it is a good feeling to be back on the grid and getting myself involved, therefore I can't be disappointed about a 13th place finish as I didn't even know if I was going to be able to complete the GP a few days ago. To be honest, I forgot how long the races are in terms of distance, but riding out there for 24 laps at the absolute maximum was really demanding today and doing it without making any mistakes is probably the hardest challenge for me at the moment. I want to say a big thank you to the whole team because they have done a fantastic job over the weekend in preparing a great bike, as well as taking a lot of care, even if I wasn't able to work as closely as usual with them, because the physiotherapy took a lot of time away. Moreover, I also want to thank Yamaha for all their assistance during my stay in Japan. Being away from home meant that I truly needed a helping hand and they have been very supportive so I'm really grateful for that."
 
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