MotoGP 2019

If anything, I think Zarco leaving KTM at the same time KTM makes a greater commitment to MotoGP is indicative that the team is not impressed with him.

KTM announces Moto2 exit, MotoGP extension

The Austrian manufacturer had joined MotoGP full-time on an initial five-year deal in 2017, and has now reaffirmed its commitment for another five years past that, after KTM CEO Stefan Pierer and MotoGP promoter Dorna’s chief Carmelo Ezpeleta signed a renewed deal at the Red Bull Ring.

KTM currently fields four entries in MotoGP – two with its works team and two with satellite outfit Tech 3 – and scored a maiden premier-class podium last year with Pol Espargaro at Valencia.

“We made a proactive decision here at our home grand prix to renew our stay in MotoGP and commit to another five years of competition.

“This is part of a wider strategic view and we now have seven years to rise towards the top of the MotoGP class; the same period of time we needed to conquer the Dakar Rally.”

However, alongside the announcement of a MotoGP extension, the manufacturer confirmed it will exit Moto2 as a chassis manufacturer next year.

KTM has had a difficult Moto2 campaign so far this year following a switch to the new Triumph engine package, although in-season development has allowed its MotoGP-bound rider Brad Binder to score at pair of podiums at Assen and the Sachsenring.
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Any word on who gets Zarco’s seat yet?

Makes sense to move Oliviera up with Brad taking the Tech3 ride to settle in... but... Dani’s been testing the RC16.

Syahrin in the spotlight for the rest of the season too I guess.
 
thestaggy said:
Yeah, I think he's been part of the the problem to be honest.

The KTM is not great, but he is 39 points behind his teammate and now 4 points behind Oliveira on the satellite KTM.
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Ag, yeah he just hasn't gelled with the bike hey. He was meteoric on the Tech3 Yamaha so it's not like he's a bad rider. I'm not sure what his working relationship with KTM is like though. Maybe he's a bit of a diva or a problem child and the poor performance is as a result of some behind the scenes acrimony we're not privy to.
 
greg0205 said:
Any word on who gets Zarco’s seat yet?

Makes sense to move Oliviera up with Brad taking the Tech3 ride to settle in... but... Dani’s been testing the RC16.

Syahrin in the spotlight for the rest of the season too I guess.
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Oliveira and Brad have both been confirmed as Tech 3 KTM riders for next season with Syahrin already confirmed out. Not sure what the factory team will do.

Alex Marquez hasn't signed a MotoGP deal yet and interestingly neither have the Petronas Yamaha riders (Quartararo and Morbidelli). Some good, young options for KTM to look at alongside the experienced Pol Espargaro. Jack Miller is also not confirmed for 2020, so he could be another option.
 
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Alex Marquez ends 2020 uncertainty with new Marc VDS Moto2 deal

Moto2 championship leader Alex Marquez will not graduate to MotoGP for at least another year after agreeing to stay with Marc VDS in the intermediate class for 2020.

Marquez, the brother of five-time MotoGP champion Marc, leads the Moto2 standings in his fifth season in the category, and finished second in Austria last weekend after winning five of the previous six races.

The 23-year-old was understood to have been offered a Petronas Sprinta Moto2 ride for 2020, but that deal fell apart - with Yamaha's reluctance to give him one of its satellite bikes in MotoGP for the year after believed to be a major factor.

"I am very happy to be able to announce that next season I will continue with Marc VDS in the Moto2 category," said Marquez.

"I am very grateful for the confidence of the team.

"With its renewed technical structure, a key part of the current success, I will be able to continue for one more year to improve as a rider, raise my riding level and prepare myself to fulfil my dream of making the leap to MotoGP."
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https://www.autosport.com/moto2/news/145372/marquez-ends-20-uncertainty-with-new-marc-vds-deal

So Marquez is a casualty of the lack of available quality rides in MotoGP. He is way ahead of the Moto2 field with the exception of Binder on a comparable bike.
 
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The current saga concerning the Pramac and KTM rides;

- There are rumours that Lorenzo has had reservations regarding his second year with Repsol Honda and may opt out.
- There are senior members at Ducati who are reportedly open to having Lorenzo back upon hearing the aforementioned rumours out of the Lorenzo camp. These rumours have unsettled Miller.
- With both Petrucci and Dovi confirmed as works Ducati riders for 2020 and Bagnaia confirmed at Pramac, Ducati only have one ride left. With the uncertainty over Lorenzo, Ducati have not committed to Jack Miller, who is out of contract with Pramac.
- After the race in Austria, Miller reportedly spoke to both Aki Ajo (head of KTM's junior teams and Miller's former Moto3 boss) and Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti.

Few options for KTM if Lorenzo stays with Honda and Ducati re-sign Miller.
 
Déjà vu? Dovizioso vs Marquez in last lap battles!

We still can’t believe how great the 2019 #AustrianGP was so we thought we would treat you all to some great last lap battles between Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez... but which is the greatest in your opinion?

 
johnstede said:
Déjà vu? Dovizioso vs Marquez in last lap battles!

We still can’t believe how great the 2019 #AustrianGP was so we thought we would treat you all to some great last lap battles between Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez... but which is the greatest in your opinion?

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All so incredible. And each time I've had no finger nails left come the checkered flag. I think though, this year's soap opera in Austria stands out the most, closely followed by the race in the wet at Motegi.

I won't deny that MM93 is the class of the field, but I think Dovi has the better race craft. When that Ducati is on song, he's more than a match for Marquez.
 
Note that the race schedule this weekend at Silverstone is a bit different. All times are SA time

Saturday qualifying is from 15:10 - 15:25 (Q1) with Q2 from 15:35 - 15:50

Sunday race schedule as follows:

Moto 3 starts at 12:00
MotoGP starts at 14:00
Moto2 starts at 15:30
 
Agent_Smith said:
Note that the race schedule this weekend at Silverstone is a bit different. All times are SA time

Saturday qualifying is from 15:10 - 15:25 (Q1) with Q2 from 15:35 - 15:50

Sunday race schedule as follows:

Moto 3 starts at 12:00
MotoGP starts at 14:00
Moto2 starts at 15:30
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Thanks for the info. I wonder why the change in schedule?
 
Agent_Smith said:
All so incredible. And each time I've had no finger nails left come the checkered flag. I think though, this year's soap opera in Austria stands out the most, closely followed by the race in the wet at Motegi.

I won't deny that MM93 is the class of the field, but I think Dovi has the better race craft. When that Ducati is on song, he's more than a match for Marquez.
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Yes, the last race was the best. That Blockpass. Incredible!

Dovi could be more of a challenge in the championship if he just gives 100% in every race. Dovi does have the bike to be in it in every race. I know that tyres also plays a big role in every race. Even Casey Stoner said that the riders does have the bike to compete but the riders are not using the full potential of the bike. Well, I think that Dovi is very close to ride the crap out of that Ducati.
 
Zarco pinpoints cause of him trailing Oliveira

Johann Zarco praised Tech 3 rider Miguel Oliveira for having been more patient in adapting to the KTM MotoGP bike this year, and believes this is the underlying cause behind the Portuguese rider's superior speed.
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"I know what he is doing and he has been able since many races to have constant work and he did it very well," said Zarco.

"He is very fresh in his mind to adapt to this bike and that is why he is doing better than me in the last few races.

"Also speaking with his chief mechanic Guy [Coulon], they are really trying to keep a constant bike to adapt to it and take the time to adapt.

"That is what I didn't do because we are really pushing and trying to change things to open some new doors. Almost it is not the same work. At the moment his work is taking advantage on me."

KTM technical director Sebastian Risse also praised Oliveira and his ability to learn from the strengths of other riders.

"Miguel started kind of as a blank page in MotoGP so he was very open-minded," Risse said.

"[He] just sucks the best from all the riders' riding styles up and tries to develop himself. This is a good confirmation and input."
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Test riders sample "very different" KymiRing track

Bradley Smith labelled Finland’s KymiRing as “very different to anything we’ve seen before”, as all six MotoGP manufacturers’ test riders sampled the track for the first time on Monday.
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In preparation for Finland’s return to the MotoGP calendar for the first time since 1982 next season, the official test riders from all six of the series’ manufacturers have been given two days to evaluate the still under-construction circuit.

Despite the wet weather, Smith (Aprilia), Jonas Folger (Yamaha), Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki), Mika Kallio (KTM), Stefan Bradl (Honda) and Michele Pirro (Ducati) all took to the track during the seven-hour session.
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Smith:

This is a different track, very different to anything we’ve seen before,” said the Aprilia tester. “[It’s] quite tight and twisty and a little bit slow in places, but we also have places like Silverstone where it’s flat out everywhere.

“Sometimes it’s good to have a complete different end of the spectrum. Also we have three different categories [MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3]. It’s not just for MotoGP and I think those smaller bikes will really fit this race track.

“There are a lot of off-camber corners here which makes it difficult for the riders, it’s a technical challenge.”
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Kallio:

"If I need to say something now, I believe there are some corners that we need to change," said Kallio.

"Basically we need to have some kind of gap between the corners. Now the bike is turning to the left or right all the time, and that's not ideal for MotoGP [bikes].

"So we need a little bit longer straights between the corners. That's my opinion."
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Pirro:

''To be honest, it's possible to do better in 2019,'' the Ducati test rider's first comment.

''The thing I like most about riding a MotoGP is using all the power, they could have considered that. Instead, from turn 5 onwards, you practically only use 1st and 2nd gear, and 3rd once, there's also only one usable straight. I carried out a test: I was able to complete one kilometre using only 1st gear.''

''I think you can have fun with a Moto3, but you don't with a MotoGP,''

''This is a track where Marquez will have the advantage, he'll be able to make the difference through the changes in direction and the slow turns
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702733
 
I can see what Pirro is on about in terms of the layout. It does look very left/right left/right towards the latter half of the lap. Bikes down on power but with good edge grip (like the Suzukis) would thrive whereas the Ducatis wouldn't be able to take advantage of their superior horsepower. The Moto3 class should be a riot though!
 
In other news, Sylvan Guintoli has been drafted in to replace the injured Joan Mir at Suzuki for this weekend's British GP.
 
Agent_Smith said:
I can see what Pirro is on about in terms of the layout. It does look very left/right left/right towards the latter half of the lap. Bikes down on power but with good edge grip (like the Suzukis) would thrive whereas the Ducatis wouldn't be able to take advantage of their superior horsepower. The Moto3 class should be a riot though!
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Definitely a fiddly looking track.
 
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