Tight at the top as MotoGP hits Europe
MotoGP returns to Europe this weekend at Jerez, the Spanish circuit renamed to Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto in honour of the MotoGP great who sadly passed away last year.
The 4,423m layout has not only been renamed, but it has also undergone a complete resurface. Although it is one of four races held in Spain, it is the only one given the title of Spanish Grand Prix and this highly charged event always attracts a huge crowd which fills the hillsides surrounding the track.
With the stunning stadium section always packed to the rafters and the final ‘Jorge Lorenzo’ corner sure to provide some fireworks, everything is perfectly placed to go down to the wire as five riders arrive at the track within eight points.
After his sixth straight Americas GP win, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) comes into the Spanish GP off the back of a big statement in the title fight and only one point off the lead – but now it’s back to Europe and the Circuito de Jerez. With only one win in Andalucia, in 2014, it’s a track that the number 93 often picks out as one he finds tougher – will that be true this season?
The man he’s chasing down in the standings is currently Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). After winning the opening race of the season and then taking two solid top six finishes, ‘DesmoDovi’ is back on top. He came fifth last year at Jerez, but was a good haul of points below where he is at this point in 2018. A good omen? Consistency is the Italian’s calling card. His teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, was top Ducati in 2017, however – taking his first podium in red…
And what of Marquez’ teammate Dani Pedrosa? After breaking his wrist in the Argentina GP, the three-time World Champion put in a stunning ride in Texas to – somehow – come home seventh on one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar.
Now he’s had a good few more days to recover, can he replicate that superhuman performance? Pedrosa is the most recent winner at the track, decimating the field in 2017, so he can’t be counted out from a challenge despite his injury.
Last year leaves some other questions to be answered, too. Movistar Yamaha MotoGP duo Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi had a tougher weekend suffering with grip in 2017 – but it seems so far that big progress has been made for the Iwata marque.
The year before that, too, it was Rossi who was uncatchable on Sunday – the third in a row of four men on pole who have gone on to win. Rossi has a little ground to make up in the points, but Viñales could even take the lead in Jerez – only a handful off the top. It will be a big weekend for Yamaha, but as a stock take or another incredible challenge at the front?
Challenging at the front was the modus operandi for Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in Texas as the ‘Maniac’ was the only man able to get close to Marquez in practice and then on race day, so he’ll be guns blazing in Andalucia – and so will his teammate Alex Rins, racing on home turf and keen to claw back some ground in that duel.
Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) is wanting more too after a P6 in Texas and he impressed in Jerez last season as a rookie – as well as being equal on points at the moment with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol). Crutchlow was leader on the road to COTA before a crash out, but remains up there in the higher echelons as the two men take the challenge to the factory riders.
Johann Zarco – P5 on points – 38
“We’re back to Europe with the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, a track, that I think everybody likes and I enjoy it, too. I’ve got some great memories from last year and I want an even better souvenir this year. I feel the bike well and after Texas I needed some time to get along with the jetlag, which was quite difficult this time. It took me two days to have the full energy during the day back, but now I feel ready enough and I’m just happy to be back on my bike. I’ll try to push the Yamaha in the right way to fight for the victory, if we are able to do so. Let’s trust in the victory and the podium and wait and see what happens.”
Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager
“After three very demanding fly-away races and the three pre-season tests, it’s good to be heading back to Europe, but the task ahead is no less difficult. We are going to another track that has been resurfaced, so we have no real data as to how it will perform during a race weekend, but we have been able to gather information from tests that have been conducted there, so we are able to bring a range of tyres which we believe will be ideally suited to the new surface and give all riders the best opportunity to make the optimum choice to suit their style and bikes. Jerez is always a great event and this year will have added significance, as it will see the 400th victory for Michelin in Grands Prix, this is a fantastic achievement and we are determined to put on a good show, so that this can be commemorated in style.”
Gran Premio Red Bull de Espana
Jerez MotoGP 2018 Schedule – AEST
- Friday
- Moto3 FP1 – 17:00
- MotoGP FP2 – 17:55
- Moto2 FP1 – 18:55
- Moto3 FP2 – 21:10
- MotoGP FP2 – 22:05
- Moto2 FP2 – 23:05
- Saturday
- Moto3 FP3 – 17:00
- MotoGP FP3 – 17:55
- Moto2 FP3 – 18:55
- Moto3 QP – 20:35
- MotoGP FP4 – 21:30
- MotoGP Q1 – 22:10
- MotoGP Q2 – 22:35
- Moto2 QP – 23:05
- Sunday
- Moto3 WUP – 16:40
- Moto2 WUP – 17:10
- MotoGP WUP – 17:40
- Moto3 Race – 19:00
- Moto2 Race – 20:20
- MotoGP Race – 22:00
MotoGP Championship Standings following COTA
- Andrea DOVIZIOSO – ITA 46
- Marc MARQUEZ – SPA 45
- Maverick VIÑALES – SPA 41
- Cal CRUTCHLOW – GBR 38
- Johann ZARCO – FRA 38
- Andrea IANNONE – ITA 31
- Valentino ROSSI – ITA 29
- Jack MILLER – AUS 26
- Tito RABAT – SPA 22
- Danilo PETRUCCI – ITA 21
- Dani PEDROSA – SPA 18
- Alex RINS – SPA 16
- Hafizh SYAHRIN – MAL 9
- Pol ESPARGARO – SPA 8
- Aleix ESPARGARO – SPA 6
- Jorge LORENZO – SPA 6
- Franco MORBIDELLI – ITA 6
- Takaaki NAKAGAMI – JPN 5
- Scott REDDING – GBR 4
- Alvaro BAUTISTA – SPA 4
- Karel ABRAHAM – CZE 1
Moto2
Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) took his second win of the season last time out at the Circuit of the Americas, but it was far from easy. Getting past Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) took some doing, and now we could be ready for Round 2 at Jerez – where Bagnaia took his first Moto2 podium, and Marquez took his first Moto2 win.
Bagnaia did it as a rookie last season, and he’ll have that extra bounce in his step to add to his race wins and the fact he’s leading the Championship. But he won’t have the crowd behind him, with Marquez now racing on home turf for the first time this season.
In 2017, too, Jerez was his first big statement of the year. Taking off from pole and uncatchably fast throughout the weekend and race, Marquez dominated the venue for his first win. Bagnaia arrives with good memories, but Marquez’s are even better.
Another rider coming to Jerez with good memories is 2016 Moto3 World Champion Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo). His first ever win, in Moto3, was at Jerez – riding from the back of the field through to catch and pass the leaders. The South African disappeared once he’d hit the front, too, in one of the most impressive performances in recent history.
So far this season fellow Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Miguel Oliveira has taken the spoils, but could that change at Jerez? It could be a good battle, with Oliveira already on podium form this season – and taking a rostrum finish last year in the Spanish GP.
Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team), the Argentina GP winner, wasn’t far off that podium last year, however, and Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP), the man he dueled at Termas de Rio Hondo, will want to get back in the fight at the front – and on home turf.
One confirmed absentee, however, will be Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing), as the Swiss rider has been sidelined for the Spanish GP following a crash in training. He’ll be hoping to be back on track as soon as possible and was one of the riders who rode through the pack in Texas after a first corner incident – along with Joan Mir (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS). Mir came from outside the top 20 to fourth – could he be a dark horse for the podium in Jerez?
Remy Gardner injured
Following an incident while training on a Motocross bike, Tech3 Racing team rider Remy Gardner sustained several injuries and is currently on his way to the Dexeus Clinica in Barcelona in order to get the best treatment by Doctor Mir and his team of specialists. The Australian, who had an excellent start into the season will not be able to compete at Jerez de la Frontera this weekend.
Hector Garzo will take over his Mistral 610 for the Spanish Grand Prix. The 19-year old Spanish rider is competing in the FIM CEV Repsol in 2018 aboard the Mistral 610 and already showed great potential with the Tech3 Racing team last season, when stepping in for Xavi Vierge at the German GP.
Hector Garzo
“I’m really happy to have another opportunity with the Tech3 Racing team, although it’s a pity to have to take over the place of Remy. I wish him a very fast recovery! I will give my best for my second GP. I aim to improve step by step, learn as much as possible during the weekend and as it is the Spanish Grand Prix for sure, I will give it all.”
Hervé Poncharal – Tech3 Team Manager
“It’s very disappointing news that we received today from Wayne Gardner informing us, that Remy apparently broke his two legs and one ankle, which means of course he won’t be in Jerez. Unfortunately, it is what it is and he isn’t the first one with an accident in training. Every year, race by race, MotoGP Championship riders are getting injured while training. It’s a shame, but this is life. We are proud to announce that Hector Garzo, who is riding the Mistral 610 in the CEV Moto2 Championship, who also replaced Xavi Vierge last year, when he was out due to injury at the Sachsenring, will be back in the Tech3 Racing team, this time replacing Remy Gardner, so we are happy to see him again and we hope he will be as impressive as he was for his first outing in the Moto2 World Championship. We will do everything we can to make him feel comfortable without too much pressure. He knows Jerez, he’s from Spain and hopefully he can make us forget the disappointment of Remy’s absence.”
Moto2 World Championship Standings
- Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) KALEX – 57 points
- Mattia Pasini (ITA) KALEX – 47 points
- Alex Marquez (SPA) KALEX – 47 points
- Miguel Oliveira (POR) KTM – 43 points
- Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) KALEX – 39 points
Moto3
Following his stunning win at the Circuit of the Americas, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) now returns to his first home race of the year leading the Championship. With two wins from three so far, it’s looking good for the Spaniard – but compatriot Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) is hot on his tail, and wants exactly the same thing: home glory, something he took in 2017.
So can either of the two take victory in Jerez? The men trying to stand in their way on track will likely be the same as those next up in the standings: Argentina GP winner Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) and Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing).
For the Italian trio, the stage matters not – it’s just about the race. And an added curve ball? ‘Diggia’ has been getting close to a win, but is yet to take that maiden victory…is that as big an incentive to push as the promise of home glory?
Moto3 is never protagonised by such a small group, however. Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team Moto3) and Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) have all shown big flashes of pace and had some top results, and riders like Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing), who has leapt up the timesheets this season, add another challenge to the grid for those who want that 25 points.
The fight for Rookie of the Year is another to consider. The rider currently leading that charge is Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0), and Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai), Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46), Kazuki Masaki (RBA BOE Skull Rider) and Makar Yurchenko (CIP – Green Power) will want to start scoring bigger as soon as possible. Their ace card? Familiar territory, with all having raced at Jerez before.
Moto3 World Championship Standing
- Jorge Martín (SPA) HONDA – 55 points
- Aron Canet (SPA) HONDA – 48 points
- Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) KTM – 43 points
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) HONDA – 37 points
- Enea Bastianini (ITA) HONDA – 33 points
