Photography by Gold & Goose
It’s the final weekend of the 2014 MotoGP season and aptly it was Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez ending the opening day of practice atop the timing charts. Marquez clocked a 1:31.454 aboard the factory Honda RC213V to lead FP2 on Friday at Valencia. Marquez had gone even faster in the morning practice, also topping that session with a 1:31.296.
Marquez has experienced dramatic Valencia races in the past two years, after clinching the MotoGP title there last year with a third place finish – in his maiden premier class season – and in 2012 with his emphatic victory from last place on the grid to first in Moto2. However, these remain his only podiums at the track.
Marquez commented, “The past month has been a whirlwind and winning the Championship in Japan seems like a long time ago now. After Malaysia we attended an event with Honda and Alpinestars in Thailand on the way home and then had a few days to relax in Spain and do some training before leaving for Milan to visit the EICMA show. It was a really good event with many people there, I really appreciate all the kind words from everyone I met.”
“Now we head to Valencia for the final race of an incredible season. It’s always nice to race in front of the home fans and this year it will be much more relaxed. I will be able to enjoy it without any pressure.”
It’s a great time to be a Marquez. Marc’s younger brother Alex is poised to win the Moto3 title this weekend.
The other big story was the return of Suzuki to MotoGP for the first time in three years.
Marquez clocked his best lap in FP2 on his final lap. With wind kicking up it was a mixed session with about half the riders (including Marquez) unable to improve on their FP1 times.
Following Marquez in FP2 were the Open team riders Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) and Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing Yamaha) who both ran soft-option tires.
American Colin Edwards is on hand for the season finale, but he did not ride. Nicky Hayden finished FP2 in 20th on the Drive M7 Aspar Honda with a time of 1:33.434.
The debut of Suzuki got off to somewhat of an inauspicious start when Randy de Puniet’s still-in-development Suzuki GSX-RR went up in smoke late in the session. De Puniet ended FP2 in 18th with a 1:32.799. The Frenchman’s presence as a wild card, overseen by the experience and expertise of Davide Brivio, marks the first time Suzuki is on the grid since 2011.
“This is a big moment for us because we have been testing for so long,” commented Brivio. “We have been waiting for this. It is only a wild card appearance and it is the last race of the year but I’m happy to be going to Valencia and I think it is a reward for Randy for the big job he has done on this project.
“It is the end of our preparation and I’m excited,” continued the Italian, who has directed Suzuki’s MotoGP regeneration for over a year. “This is where the new adventure really starts. I’m aware we have a big job to do, and during the weekend we will take a lot of notes for the work we need to do through the winter. This is our first comparison with our competitors and you can only ever really see where you are through a race situation so it’s an important meeting.”
Suzuki celebrated its six Rider World Championship titles – and seven Constructor’s titles – in a 24-year spell from 1976 to 2000, with winners such as Barry Sheene, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jnr in the saddle.
MotoGP Free Practice 2 from Valencia – Nov. 7, 2014
1 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 327.5 1’31.454
2 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 326.8 1’31.558
3 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA NGM Forward Racing Forward Yamaha 319.1 1’31.565
4 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 325.2 1’31.568
5 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Ducati Team Ducati 327.4 1’31.731
6 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 329.5 1’31.895
7 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 326.8 1’31.935
8 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 327.8 1’32.013
9 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 324.1 1’32.024
10 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 323.0 1’32.049
11 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Avintia Racing Ducati 325.4 1’32.194
12 51 Michele PIRRO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 324.6 1’32.267
13 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 331.1 1’32.486
14 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM NGM Forward Racing Forward Yamaha 320.5 1’32.562
15 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Ducati 322.5 1’32.689
16 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Honda 314.6 1’32.725
17 45 Scott REDDING GBR GO&FUN Honda Gresini Honda 309.9 1’32.771
18 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 312.5 1’32.799
19 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA GO&FUN Honda Gresini Honda 327.5 1’32.860
20 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Drive M7 Aspar Honda 310.6 1’33.434
21 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Drive M7 Aspar Honda 324.1 1’33.436
22 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Octo IodaRacing Team ART 309.1 1’33.504
23 70 Michael LAVERTY GBR Paul Bird Motorsport PBM 311.0 1’33.737
24 23 Broc PARKES AUS Paul Bird Motorsport PBM 308.6 1’34.106
25 63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Avintia Racing Avintia 305.6 1’34.988
