Pedrosa Wins Massively Controversial Malaysian Grand Prix

Photo: Repsol Honda

After a week of contraversal comments from 9 time Valentino Rossi, saying Marquez was purposely messing with him and Iannone, slowing him down to give Lorenzo and advantage. It was nothing compared to the crazy, shocking, never before seen drama today.

After Pedrosa and Lorenzo got away well and eased ahead of Marquez and Rossi, we got to see another phenomenal battle between Vale and Marc. For 3 laps they swapped positions on nearly every single corner, most probably their most intense battle yet. Some of Marc’s moves were getting a little too hard, it could be fair to say. And eventually, you could argue it got too personal for Rossi. He dived underneath Marquez at turn 14 to attempt another overtake, but started to ride wide, into the path of Marquez, then looked at him, and used his knee to push Marc wide. Marc then crashed, losing the front. 

At this point it cannot be said for sure what the final result will be, and if Rossi did it on purpose. Personally, I’ve never seen anything like it before. We’ve all seen Rossi overtake and collide with another rider in the process, but this was visibly different. 

Dani Pedrosa took his second win in a row, followed by Jorge Lorenzo. Both have not scene the incident enough to have a final opinion, although Jorge feels Rossi needs a big penalty, having told BT Sport. Dani and Jorge both said this race was one of the hottest and most physical races they’ve ever ridden in.  

 
Further down the field, Brits Bradley Smith and Cal Crutchlow finished a cracking 4th and 5th! Although with the drama of this race, it might be a little overshadowed.
The Championship now goes down to the wire, and will be decided in a fortnights time in Valencia.
   
    
    
 These are stills from Dorna TV’s footage of the Race. This is on BTSport’s MotoGP Twitter Feed.

Race Results:

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 40m 37.691s 

2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 40m 41.303s 

3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 40m 51.415s 

4. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 41m 1.686s 

5. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 41m 6.412s 

6. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 41m 14.063s 

7. Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 41m 16.981s 

8. Maverick Viñales ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 41m 17.127s 

9. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 41m 20.153s 

10. Stefan Bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 41m 22.292s 

11. Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 41m 25.381s 

12. Yonny Hernandez COL Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 41m 29.803s 

13. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 41m 30.051s 

14. Toni Elias SPA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 41m 31.310s 

15. Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 41m 31.322s 

16. Nicky Hayden USA Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS) 41m 39.122s 

17. Jack Miller AUS LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)* 41m 40.519s 

18. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 41m 42.766s 

19. Eugene Laverty IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS)* 41m 47.568s 

20. Anthony West AUS AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS) 42m 2.440s 

Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) DNF 

Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) DNF 

Loris Baz FRA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)* DNF 

Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) DNF 

Damian Cudlin AUS E-Motion IodaRacing (ART) DNF 

Oliveira wins, takes the Championship battle to Valencia, Kent 7th

Photo: crash.net

After a year of ice cool riding, and many wins, Danny Kent arrived in Japan, missed his chance becoming champion, and then again in Australia. But in Malaysia, Danny only needed to finish in the top 5 to guarantee title success. But again he was penalised in qualifying for cruising around and slowing up, and had to start from 9th, and was 16th at the end of the first lap. The front group was home to your typical front runners, Oliveira who could stop Kent winning the title, Binder, Navarro, Bagnaia, Fenati, Antonelli and Kornfeil.

After a brilliant fight through the pack, Danny joined the group he’d been scrapping with all year. With one lap left, Kent was in 5th, after Bagnaia had crashed out. And unbelievably Danny got beaten by the lot of them, with Antonelli passing him back, and Kornfeil slipstreaming him down the back straight.

With Oliveira managing to take a classy, controlled win, albeit with the help of his South African teammate Brad Binder, appearing to be covering anyone trying to take him on the last few corners. 

This incredible championship now goes down to the last race in Valencia, a fortnight away.

Race Results:

1. Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) 40m 33.277s 

2. Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) 40m 33.366s 

3. Jorge Navarro SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 (Honda) 40m 33.550s 

4. Niccolò Antonelli ITA Ongetta-Rivacold (Honda) 40m 33.582s 

5. Romano Fenati ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 (KTM) 40m 33.693s 

6. Jakub Kornfeil CZE Drive M7 SIC (KTM) 40m 33.807s 

7. Danny Kent GBR Leopard Racing (Honda) 40m 33.867s 

8. Enea Bastianini ITA Gresini Racing Team Moto3 (Honda) 40m 37.281s 

9. Alexis Masbou FRA SAXOPRINT RTG (Honda) 40m 40.267s 

10. John Mcphee GBR SAXOPRINT RTG (Honda) 40m 43.307s 

11. Jules Danilo FRA Ongetta-Rivacold (Honda) 40m 49.405s 

12. Jorge Martin SPA MAPFRE Team MAHINDRA (Mahindra) 40m 52.272s 

13. Stefano Manzi ITA San Carlo Team Italia (Mahindra) 40m 52.276s 

14. Isaac Viñales SPA RBA Racing Team (KTM) 40m 52.406s 

15. Philipp Oettl GER Schedl GP Racing (KTM) 40m 52.430s 

16. Lorenzo Dalla Porta ITA Husqvarna Factory Laglisse (Husqvarna) 40m 52.869s 

17. Francesco Bagnaia ITA MAPFRE Team MAHINDRA (Mahindra) 41m 5.330s 

18. Maria Herrera SPA Husqvarna Factory Laglisse (Husqvarna) 41m 6.159s 

19. Livio Loi BEL RW Racing GP (Honda) 41m 6.201s 

20. Juanfran Guevara SPA MAPFRE Team MAHINDRA (Mahindra) 41m 6.584s 

21. Tatsuki Suzuki JPN CIP (Mahindra) 41m 7.730s 

22. Remy Gardner AUS CIP (Mahindra) 41m 28.982s 

23. Ana Carrasco SPA RBA Racing Team (KTM) 41m 30.839s 

24. Andrea Migno ITA SKY Racing Team VR46 (KTM) 42m 19.567s 

25. Gabriel Rodrigo ARG RBA Racing Team (KTM) +1 lap 

Karel Hanika CZE Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) DNF 

Manuel Pagliani ITA San Carlo Team Italia (Mahindra) DNF 

Efren Vazquez SPA Leopard Racing (Honda) DNF 

Hiroki Ono JPN Leopard Racing (Honda) DNF 

Zulfahmi Khairuddin MAL Drive M7 SIC (KTM) DNF 

Darryn Binder RSA Outox Reset Drink Team (Mahindra) DNF 

Marc Marquez holds off Rossi to take 12th win of the season in Sepang

The Sepang International Circuit has always been more of a Honda circuit than a Yamaha, especially over a single lap, and this was proven as Marquez and Pedrosa lined up first and second on the grid, one whole second quicker than Rossi in qualifying. However it was Lorenzo that took the early lead in the race as Marquez got a horrible start due to some fair elbow barging from Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo.

Dani Pedrosa crashed at the last corner after just two laps, a massive shame considering his impressive pace all weekend. He was unhurt, remounted only to crash again for good later on, a very rare occurrence given his talent. Aleix Espargaro and Alvaro Bautista collided too, and retired, both riders were ok.
In the early stages it was the trio of Jorge, Valentino, and Marquez who led the way, and Rossi looked extremely strong in second. Further back Cal Crutchlow retired from the race due to a mechanical failure.

With 11 laps left, Rossi finally made his move on Lorenzo to the delight of the Malaysian crowd, and Marquez too went passed. The newly crowned 2014 World Champion then overtook Rossi, but couldn’t pull away. Rossi stalked him for a few laps, had a think about passing him into some corners, but never got through. Lorenzo was running on his own now really, about a second further back, waiting to pick any pieces up.

Andrea Dovizioso and Stefan Bradl were the lonely ones in 4th and 5th, followed by Tech 3 Yamaha pair Smith and Espargaro. But with 4 laps to go, Dovizioso was seen to sit up and let Smith and Bradl through, with possible issues with his Factory Ducati.

With 3 laps left, Rossi finally looked like he was beaten as Marquez built his lead up to nearly two laps. Rossi fell back so far it looked as if even Lorenzo would catch him for second, but it wasn’t to be. Marc Marquez took a brilliant win in Sepang with Rossi and Lorenzo joining him on the podium. Smith caught Bradl and looked as if he could pip him for fourth, but Stefan just held on as Bradley went too wide on the very last corner.

Marc’s twelfth win of the season equals the win tally in a single season to that of Mick Doohan, who also rode a Repsol Honda. Marquez has the chance to beat it in a fortnights time.

The last race of the year will take place in Valencia, I shall be there to interview riders, team personnel, write practice, qualifying, and race reports.

Thanks to my friend, Cormac Ryan Meenan, for letting me use his photograph. A link to his incredible, exclusive variety of MotoGP Photographs is at the bottom of this article.

Sepang MotoGP Race Results:

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 40m 45.523s
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 40m 47.968s
3. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 40m 49.031s
4. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 41m 6.757s
5. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 41m 7.806s
6. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 41m 20.191s
7. Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) 41m 23.958s
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici) 41m 34.362s
9. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici) 41m 36.315s
10. Scott Redding GBR Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R)* 41m 44.611s
11. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) 42m 1.472s
12. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART) 42m 3.489s
13. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Avintia)* 42m 13.296s
14. Broc Parkes AUS Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)* 42m 29.767s
Alex De Angelis RSM NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) DNF
Danilo Petrucci ITA IodaRacing Project (ART) DNF
Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) DNF
Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R) DNF
Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) DNF
Cal Crutchlow GBR Ducati Team (Desmosedici) DNF
Aleix Espargaro ESP NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) DNF
Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V)

Get yourselves to Valencia!

The last race of the season will be at Valencia in Spain and is regarded to be the party Grand Prix of the year! As far as I know, most of Pole Position Travel’s packages for it are nearly sold out. But click here, give them a call, and see if you can become a part of this amazing racing event!

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My Sepang MotoGP Test 1 Review

After finally seeing some track action after a winter break, we got to see a teaser of what we might see this year. We have seen great improvement from Ducati, which is something we all wanted to see and hear. And lovely surprises from Aleix Espargaro and his FTR Yamaha.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez completed a clean sweep of the time sheets over the 3 days, smashing Casey Stoner’s two year record on Thursday. Marc was the only one to do a proper race simulation of 20 laps, and set his fast lap in the morning. He is being heralded by other top riders as the man to beat, and it’s naturally giving rivals more incentive to push harder, and to get closer before the first race. Keep in mind that fast lap time attempts in the morning are much easier to achieve than midday and afternoon, especially in Sepang where the heat and humidity is quite savage. Teammate Dani Pedrosa it’s fair to say, played a smart game, and spent Thursday riding over 60 laps on two sets of tyres, getting used to the feel of used tyres again.

Smashing news for Valentino Rossi fans, not only did he achieve the 2nd fastest time of the 3 days, but more than that, he said he already feels more comfortable than last year. However, the new Bridgestone tyres brought in this year are perhaps not suiting Yamaha as much as they’d hoped. As Bradley Smith told MotoGP.com, the Yamaha for two years was designed around these tyres, and when all of a sudden a new one comes along, things change. This has given them another challenge, on top of the other new one…20 litres of fuel limit. This new rule meant the need of slight redevelopment, and a side effect giving the new Yamaha an aggressive acceleration characteristic that Jorge Lorenzo didn’t feel very comfortable with. And therefore it sees the 2010 and 2012 MotoGP World Champion down in fourth overall. He made some improvement over the 3 days, and feels more confident than Tuesday and Wednesday. Still it’s just testing and nobody really knows when a rider is actually pushing for a fast lap time.

The Satellite, Factory categorised teams of Gresini Honda, LCR Honda and Monster Tech 3 Yamaha made steady progress over the 3 days. LCR’s Stefan Bradl was the fastest of them, posting the 3rd quickest time on Wednesday and 5th quickest today. He will be expected to challenge for the podium regularly this year, heading his third season with the team. Alvaro Bautista didn’t get much chance to go for raw speed today, completing 63 laps, another rider experimenting on used tyres. The Monster boys of Smith and Espargaro had mixed goals to achieve in Malaysia. Bradley completed over 180 laps over 3 days of testing, getting well acquainted with the new tyres, working on braking, and another guy not really focussing on attacking the time sheets. His new teammate Pol spent 3 days getting more used to a heavier bike, greater power and finding the MotoGP racing lines. Now although a lot of people are going to say Pol went faster than Bradley on day 3, remember that Bradley rode longer runs and played the long game. Still, Pol set the 7th fastest time which is very admirable, considering the established names he’s ahead of.

What must be recognised as the talk of the paddock and social media sites, and deservedly so, is the performance of Aleix Espargaro and the FTR Yamaha M1. Setting lap times within the top 7 throughout the 3 days, and being one of only 4 people to set a time under two minutes today. His incredible lap of 1:59.998 (0.465 off Marquez) is a testament to the great skills of this rider, and Yamaha’s obvious ability to supply a top notch engine, frame, swing arm, chassis, etc. Not to mention FTR’s contribution which is the Fairing/air intakes, and without going into too much detail, things we don’t always see, or think even think of, like sub frames and pivot fittings. This bike DOES NOT have electronics to the level of the factory bikes, it’s uses the Spec ECU, remember that. Aleix said his tyres went off after 12 laps, so race runs will be needed. Teammate Colin Edwards didn’t get much track time on the first day and has not adapted to the bike as quickly as Aleix. Hopefully we will see him closer to Espargaro at Sepang Test 2.

Onto Ducati, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard so much positive news from them. Cal Crutchlow, Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone all said that the front end feel has improved and that understeer is much less of an issue. Dovizioso posted a lap time within 1 second of Marquez’s new Sepang track record, 7th quickest today, and even told MotoGP.com he was surprised with such an improvement. Again, these 3 riders said the same about other issues, for example the rear of the bike. Unwanted slides and general instability feelings from the rear end of the bike under acceleration, plague the machine still. Cal said that Andrea’s fast lap was in the morning and if he had attempted a fast lap at that time, he too could have been higher on the leaderboard.

Honda has some work to do with their Production RCV, without a doubt. Nicky Hayden, Hiroshi Aoyama and Brit Scott Redding all said that although the bike matches the FTR Yamaha at top end speed, it is being left behind coming out of slow corners. This is a difference which is magnified on such a long circuit and it meant the lap times from the top were 2 seconds slower or more. It’s discovered that perhaps the bike does not suit the control ECU supplied by Dorna, as well as the FTR Yamaha. Scott and Nicky said they are taking some sections flat out and not getting some of the power they are trying to feed through. Nakamoto who overlooks HRC, said that throughout the year the Production bikes will get upgrades…at an extra cost to the teams.

For the rest of the field, nothing much changed, as riders and teams must still be getting used to working again. Suzuki’s Randy de Puniet made time sheet improvements in the final day, while newcomers to the class Broc Parkes and Mike di Meglio continued to find their feet with the faster machinery the Premier Class of motorcycle racing boasts.

Testing for the lower classes is currently taking place in Almeria, and the next test for MotoGP will again be in Sepang, later this month.

My Sepang MotoGP Test One Preview

After two and a half months, finally we have some MotoGP track action to talk about from tomorrow! Riders are getting excited, posting pictures of themselves sitting in first class on flights, new test helmets and prepping their leathers and putting stickers on their bikes. All can be seen on their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. It’s about time, and yes, I wish I was going too.

Briton Scott Redding is now practically back at full fitness, and cannot wait to get on his Production Honda, and this time, ride it as hard as he wants. Gresini recently had their official Team Launch last week, and I haven’t seen Scott so happy since he won the British Grand Prix last year. His job in the next 3 days will be to get used to the control ECU, Bridgestone Tyres, Carbon Brakes, and to find a good base setting. However, Spaniard Pol Espargaro who beat Scott to the Moto2 title, was fully fit for the Valencia test in November and was within a second of the fastest time. He will continue his fast adaption to the M1. Himself and his teammate Bradley Smith have closer-to-the-factory-bike package this year, so starting tomorrow we will see how close the can get.

Bradley set the second fastest time on the final day of the Valencia test, and has been full of optimism ever since. His run of good form at the end of last year has lead me to think that he genuinely could score a podium or two this year, maybe more. I think the presence of his knew teammate who he was raced against since 2007 will bring the best out in him. So keep an eye out for Bradley tomorrow.

Andrea Iannone posted a picture on his Twitter of the new Ducati. It has a skinnier tail end, aggressive looking front end with a smaller air intake, making the bike look meaner than ever. For the sake of himself, Cal and Andrea lets hope they grab as much track time as possible at Sepang, as they are weighing up a switch to the Open Class for all their bikes, not just just Yonny Hernandez. Some say, it’s already going to happen. Let’s see.

NGM Forward Racing now have their second test with new machinery, after impressing in Valencia with their FTR M1. One thing I’m curious about is the top speed difference between the bike and the Factory M1, as Sepang boasts two massive straights, and the aero package of both bikes is different. Also the track is a lot longer than Valencia, so the lap time gap could be greater. To see another direct comparison with the Honda production is something essential to look for too.

Although the Suzuki Team won’t compete this year (perhaps a wild card or two) they will attend the test with Randy de Puniet to continue the development of their gorgeous sounding 1000cc prototype.

And of course, the big factory fight will be interesting, as Repsol Honda and Yamaha Factory Racing both have their riders fully fit heading into this test, so at least we won’t have to take into account riders injuries when seeing lap times. Enjoy the test, keep in mind when seeing lap times, it’s just testing! Although it usually reveals more about what will happen, than F1 testing does. I will be chatting on my Facebook and Twitter pages over the 3 days, and Reviewing the test when it’s over.

Teammate Comparison #4. Camier & Petrucci

The Ioda Racing Project is the only team left in the Premier Class that will run the nimble ART Aprilia. In a way, this is a shame, especially when you look at how successful the ART was given it was a CRT machine. Now that Honda sell a lower spec RCV to Gresini, Aspar and Cardion AB, also with Yamaha leasing engines to NGM Forward Racing, the Ioda Team will definitely have their work cut out to hang onto the pace of these teams. Ioda is the only team that will NOT be attending the first of two Sepang Tests.
This year, the team have two riders who have both come from the World Superbike paddock. Danilo Petrucci, who has been with the team since 2012 when they ran their own chassis with an Aprilia RSV4 engine, but for the last 6 Grand Prix they switched to the Suter BMW. World Superbike star Leon Camier has joined the team, replacing Czech Lukas Pesek.

Petrucci, who was runner up in the World Superstock Championship in 2011, has now competed in two full seasons of Grand Prix racing. His best finish being 8th in Valencia 2012, in damp conditions. Unquestionably outperforming Pesek throughout 2013, there really isn’t much more Danilo could do with the bike he had. It’s fair to say there were other CRT machines out there that were stronger in terms of speed, and development, for example the FTR Kawasaki’s had twice as many riders there to give feedback. For me, Danilo is one of the most underrated riders on the Grid and now rides a competitive bike, he will have a great chance to show us all what he’s capable of.

Briton Camier, first came to my attention when he won the British Supersport Championship in 2005. An instant front runner as soon as he moved to British Superbikes in 2007, the Brit broke his leg in an awful crash at the mountain section, riding at Cadwell Park. He overcame that crash well, and in 2009 he won the British Superbike Championship on the Airwaves Yamaha R1, dominating the proceedings on Yamaha’s new machine. After being signed by the Factory Aprilia Team in World Superbikes for 2010, he showed reasonable promise of great things to come at some races, but the Aprilia was a small bike, and Leon is quite a tall chap. Not only that, his teammate throughout those seasons was 4 time 250cc World Champion Max Biaggi, so Leon naturally learnt a lot. He left the FIXI Crescent Suzuki Team at the end of last year, and took a total of 8 podiums from 2010, three 2nd places and five 3rd place Finishes.

So then, Leon and Danilo could well be a dark horses pushing the mid field machines hard this season. Leon given his experience on the Aprilia World Superbike, the bike will naturally be a different beast but the engine is similar and the ART and as I have said before handles beautifully, like the Superbike. And Danilo with experience racing the same riders for two seasons, and now knows the tracks well. Petrucci will no doubt be relishing this challenge of a new bike and new teammate. However, the two won’t be on track til late February which is the second Sepang visit, until then we will just have to wait and see!