Michael Scott | October 26, 2018
2018 Phillip Island MotoGP Friday News
All photos by Gold & Goose
Lorenzo Slated for Malaysia Next Weekend
Jorge Lorenzo will be back for next weekend’s Malaysian GP, after noted Spanish surgeon Dr Xavier Mir fixed damage ligaments in an operation after he flew home following the Japanese GP.
Lorenzo, already carrying foot injuries from a first-corner fall at Aragon, suffered the left wrist injuries after his factory Ducati apparently seized on the first day of practice at the end of the straight at the Chang circuit for the Thai GP, triggering a spectacular high-side crash.
He attempted to ride at the Japanese race, but pulled out in pain before completing one timed lap in the first free practice.
According to Ducati team boss Paolo Ciabatta, Dr Mir found the previously undiagnosed ligament damage and was able to repair it in a simple surgical procedure.
Although he would not be at full fitness, the doctor had said he would be able to ride at Sepang. “If it proves not possible, [factory tester] Michele Pirro will be there to take over,” he said.
Pirro was not able to step in at Phillip Island, he continued, because he was conducting “a very important test at Valencia”. The vacant seat went to Angel Nieto Ducati team rider Alvaro Bautista. He had a difficult first day, after an electronic glitch sidelined one bike for the whole day, and a crash damaged the other one.
The Spaniard’s seat at the independent team went to Australian Ducati Superbike rider Mike Jones, who filled a similar role in 2016, riding in place of Hector Barbera on the Avintia Ducati in Japan and Australia, while Barbera was substituting for injured factory rider Andrea Iannone. Jones scored a point for 15th in Japan.
Crutchlow Crashes, Exits Australian GP
British independent-team star Cal Crutchlow is out of the Australian GP, and probably also the Sepang round next week, after a high-speed crash at Phillip Island’s notorious Turn One on Friday afternoon.
Crutchlow had just challenged for top spot with a time that was eventually a close fifth-fastest; and was pushing for more when the front slid away at the corner, approached at top speed and taken at close to 200 km/h.
He immediately clutched at his right leg, and was stretchered off.
At the track medical centre, doctors diagnosed “a bimalleolar fracture and anterior tibia part right ankle fracture”, according to an official statement.
Crutchlow was transferred to Melbourne’s Alfred City Hospital for surgery.
The former World Supersport champion and MotoGP race winner had been in a strong run of form after finishing second in the Japanese GP a week ago, and threatening Maverick Vinales for fourth overall in the championship. Now his chances of finishing top independent-team rider are in jeopardy, with Alma Pramac Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci just 15 points behind.
Plethora of Crashes Friday at Phillip Island
Crutchlow was one of a few victims of the spectacular but daunting corner, on a day when the well-loved but challenging track showed its teeth, even without any rain.
Dani Pedrosa also crashed there in the morning session; the Repsol Honda rider escaping injury. In the afternoon Moto2 riders Steven Odendaal and Iker Lecuona also slid off there at high speed, disassembling their bikes but escaping injury.
In the morning also, new World Champion Marc Marquez crashed, losing the front of his Repsol Honda while hardly leaned over, while changing direction in the downhill braking area for the tight Turn Ten hairpin.
Most crashes were in Moto2’s afternoon session. As well as those at Turn One, Jorge Navarro, Sam Lowes, Simone Corsi, Federico Fuligni and Tetsuta Nagashima all tumbled, for a second time that day in the case of Navarro and Lowes. Khairul Idham Pawi also clattered into Australian wild card Bryan Staring, sending him to the medical centre and possibly out for the weekend.
Remy Gardner had a bad start to his home GP, with a spectacular high-side on the fast final corners on the Tech 3 Moto2 bike.
In Moto3, title candidate Marco Bezzecchi had two minor tumbles in the morning; and potential rival Fabio Di Giannantonio was ultimately able to walk away from a massive high-side at the Turn Four hairpin.
Ballington Named MotoGP Legend
Four-times World Champion Kork Ballington became the latest and 28th MotoGP legend at Phillip Island, inducted to the Hall of Fame in a Friday ceremony.
The Zimbabwe-born South African, now resident in Australia, won consecutive double 250/350 titles on a factory Kawasaki in 1978 and 1979. A move to the 500 class on the innovative monocoque-chassis Kawasaki, however, proved less rewarding for the bespectacled rider.
“What an occasion. This is fantastic. I am humbled,” he said. “For starters, I’m honoured, because Randy (Mamola) flew all the way from California to see me. I’m amongst friends, this is my fraternity. To be put alongside the 27 other fantastic riders is an honour and a privilege.”
Mamola was himself awarded Legend status at the Americas GP earlier this year. The list includes luminaries from Giacomo Agostini to Franco Uncini, include greats such as Mick Doohan, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey, Freddie Spencer, Barry Sheen and Casey Stoner, among a roll call of historic heroes.
Dani Pedrosa is to be inducted at the Valencia GP, that will close the former 125 and double 250-champion’s illustrious career.
Oil Spill Delays Friday Start
The start of the Australian GP was delayed by almost two-and-a-half hours, after a Moto3 bike laced more than half the circuit with a liberal dose of oil.
The offending bike was Italian Stefano Nepa’s CIP-Green Power KTM, and the rider was punished for the disruption … suspended from FP2 by the Stewards for irresponsible riding “by not determining the state of your motorcycle prior to restarting after a machine problem”.
Clearing the oil took concerted scrubbing, and covered the track, according to safety official Loris Capirossi, “from Turn Two [Southern Loop] to Turn Eight [Hayshed]”.
Having been red-flagged directly after the 10 am start, it was not until 12:20 that the Moto3 bikes could take to the track again. Their first session was cut from 40 minutes to 30, and subsequent Moto2 and Moto3 sessions also docked by five minutes, and the lunch break abandoned. Only MotoGP ran to full length, finishing their afternoon at 17:05 rather than the scheduled 16:50.
Aprilia Runs Experimental Machine at Phillip Island
Aprilia have brought a single hybrid experimental bike to Phillip Island for top rider Aleix Espargaro, combining old and new in a search for improved rear grip, after a difficult season with just two top-ten finishes, the best sixth at the Aragon GP, compared with seven last year.
Espargaro told press that it was “quite a different bike that arrived from Italy.”
As well as electronic and bodywork differences, the bike had a 2017 chassis. The Spanish rider had requested the return of this chassis after testing it with good results before the end of the European season, but had been denied.
The goal was greater weight transfer. “I was asking for this before, but it has not been easy to assemble,” he continued. The original plan had been to have it for all three flyaway races.
On its first day, he was placed 16th. His best qualifying this year has been twice seventh, in Argentina and the Netherlands; and he has won through to Q2 on only one other occasion.
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