Michael Scott | November 16, 2018
2018 Valencia MotoGP Friday News
Photos by Gold & Goose
Pedrosa Becomes MotoGP Legend
Dani Pedrosa’s elevation to official MotoGP Legend status, on the eve of his 295th and last grand prix start, was a star-studded affair, with a galaxy of Spanish compatriots including several fellow world champions past and present paying tribute to the diminutive superstar.
It was a cheerful affair, with FIM president Vito Ippolito and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta flanking Dani on the stage, before presenting him with the medal.
Dani, said Ippolito. “is really an example for the clean way he races”; while Ezpeleta recalled how, as part of the management team of the MoviStar Aktiva talent-spotting series that discovered up the 14-year-old, they had lowered the age limit specifically so that he could be included. “I remember he needed help to get on the bike.”
Pedrosa spoke of how grand prix racing had defined his life. “I grew up here, and learned a lot of things in my life through MotoGP,” he said.
He picked his first 125cc championship in 2003 as the stand-out moment, “when you achieve your dream. You can win a race, but to win a championship … all the emotions come; you have been dreaming of it for all your life. This is what makes you keep going through the tough times.”
He recalled his own doubts when he moved from two triumphant 250 seasons to a 990cc factory Repsol Honda in MotoGP, echoing the general feeling that he was too small for a big bike. “When I got on for the first time the bike was very big, and I knew I wasn’t able to do as well as in the lower class. But I was immediately fast. I knew there would be times I would struggle, like in the rain and at very fast tracks, but I was good overall. I was really surprised. I felt I could cross that border that I didn’t expect.”
Pedrosa admitted he had considered retirement on previous occasions, during some of his many injury spells, especially at the start of 2011, when he was still carrying an injury from the end of 2010, and had two crashes. But he added that his poor results this year had not been a trigger. “The decision came before the results,” he said. “This is a very intense sport, and you need to be at the edge to do it well. Sometimes you struggle, and you have these feelings.”
Dani was never quite able to add a premier-class title to his three in the smaller classes, although three times runner up. “Sometimes I wasn’t there, sometimes the bike wasn’t there, sometimes I was injured, sometimes other riders were faster,” he explained, in trade-mark matter-of-fact style.
With 54 wins and 153 podiums, Pedrosa’s name is up with the best. His greatest record is one win every year for the past 16. Only Giacomo Agostini comes close, with a 13-year stretch.
Rossi Crash Explained
Rossi’s costly crash in Malaysia has been explained. After the race, Rossi said: “I don’t know what happened. I made a mistake, because I crashed.”
Now the Movistar Yamaha team has revealed the sequence of events that saw him hit the deck, after leading for 16 of 20 laps.
Manager Massimo Meregalli, talking to Dorna, said that it had been triggered by a slide that increased the lean angle … and then the footrest touched down, lifted the rear wheel, and he was down.
“Unfortunately the engine stalled, and he wasn’t able to restart quickly,” he added.
Fenati to Return in 2019
Disgraced Italian Romano Fenati has been offered quick redemption, and will be back in grand prix racing next year.
As part of his “fresh start” contrition, however, the 22-year-old is returning to Moto3.
Fenati earned universal opprobrium and made the international press for an incident during the San Marino GP at Misano in September. Enraged at being put off the track by compatriot Stefano Manzi, he leaned across and squeezed his rival’s front brake lever, faithfully recorded on camera.
He was instantly disqualified and his licence suspended for two races, but the punishment escalated over the coming weeks, as he was sacked by his team, dropped from his 2019 role with Forward Racing/MV Agust, then had his licence cancelled for the rest of the year. He said at the time he was giving up racing, and going to go back to school.
Talent will out, however, and less than three months later it has all turned round again, and the same Marinelli team has employed him again.
Fenati has 10 Moto3 wins since 2012, and was championship runner-up in 2017, But he has a reputation for anger-management issues, He was sacked mid-way through 2916 by the VR46 team for his indiscipline in the pits; and officially punished for kicking out at Niklas Ajo, then flicking his kill switch in the practice-start zone, in Argentina the previous year.
Stoner Test Rider for Honda?
Casey Stoner back to Honda? The rumour gathered momentum, after Repsol Honda team manager Alberto Puig avoided a denial, when questioned directly.
It had earlier been confirmed that the Australian double world champion’s “two-plus-one-year” contract as test rider and ambassador with Ducati would not be renewed for next season. This was reported earlier this year, with Stoner staying that since it seemed his advice was being ignored, he was no longer prepared to continue the risky and onerous business of testing.
Ducati team chief Paolo Ciabatti confirmed that the contract had been allowed to lapse “by mutual agreement”, declining to elaborate.
Stoner won his first title with Ducati in 2007, moved to Honda in 2011 and won it again, before retiring after 2012. After that, he tested for HRC, before rejoining Ducati as a tester.
Puig, who was instrumental in bringing Stoner into the championships in 2001, was twice asked if Honda would be seeking his services.
“In the past, Casey was a Honda tester, and a Honda champion, and we have a long personal relationship. We are always open to investigating the possibility.” Many observers interpreted this is: “Yes.”
Pasini Out at MV
Fenati’s return was confirmed with the release of the provisional entry list for next season – along with confirmation of news earlier in the week that Moto2 race winner Dominique Aegerter’s 2019 has been saved.
The Swiss rider has been signed up by Forward Racing, for the very MV Agusta seat that Fenati had lost.
Hopes of a second MV seat for Mattia Pasini, still looking for a ride for next year, have been dashed. The other new Italian machine with a famous name goes to Stefano Manzi, Fenati’s victim. Pasini’s name is not on the list.
New Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion Can Oncu is listed, for the Red Bull KTM Moto3 team. A rule change earlier this year allows him to join the class one year below the minimum age of 16.
The same rule opened the way for him too take a wild card entry at Valencia for the same team, and he made an impressive debut in free practice, placing eighth in the Friday wet.
Gibernau added to MotoE
Former 500cc and MotoGP title contender Sete Gibernau is to make a surprise racing return at the age of 46 – the latest entry to the new-next-year MotoE Cup.
The names were released in the run up to the Valencia GP, with Gibernau the biggest surprise. The absence of former Superbike champion Troy Corser was another. Corser had revealed his interest, and had been expected on the grid.
The 18 riders are a mixture of old and new, including several ex-GP riders of various levels, including Alex de Angelis, former 125 champions Nico Terol and Mike di Meglio, girl GP racer Maria Herrera; Xavier Simeon and Bradley Smith.
The full list is:
Josh Hook (Australia) Alma Pramac Racing
Alex de Angelis (San Marino) Pramac Racing
Maria Herrera (Spain) Angel Nieto Team
Nicolas Terol (Spain) Angel Nieto Team
Xavier Simeon (Belgium) Avintia Esponsorama Racing
Eric Granado (Brazil) Avintia Esponsorama Racing
Randy de Puniet (France) LCR E-Team
Niccolo Canepa (Italy) LCR E-Team
Hector Garzo (Spain) Tech3 E-Racing
Kenny Foray (France) Tech3 E-Racing
Matteo Ferrari (Italy) Gresini MotoE
Lorenzo Savadori (Italy) Gresini MotoE
Jesko Rafrin (Switzerland) Dynavolt Intact GP
Niki Tuuli (Finland) Ajo Motorsport MotoE
Mike di Meglio (France) EG 0,0 Marc VDS
Bradley Smith (Great Britain) One Energy Racing
Sete Gibernau (Spain) Pons Racing
Matteo Casadei (Italy) Sic58 Squadra Corse)
Weather Factors In at Valencia
Foul weather took the blame for a number of crashes and a couple of red flags on the first day of practice at Valencia – with conditions forecast to persist for the weekend. Should they not clear up thereafter, they will also cast a pall over the first tests for the 2019 season, when a number of riders will make their first acquaintance with their new machines.
The first red flag was in MotoGP’s FP1, when heavy rain caused standing water at certain point, and proceedings were put on hold for just over half an hour.
The second was for just over ten minutes in the afternoon. Heavy rain was falling again, but another reason was to give marshals a chance to clear debris off the track, left there after Johann Zarco crashed.
Grip levels, however, were good, said the riders; and better drainage than Silverstone meant that the puddles soon dissipated.
Riders Eager to Test on New Machines
Riders hoping for good weather for their switch to new bikes for the test are led by Jorge Lorenzo, due to change his Ducati colours for Repsol for his first taste of a MotoGP Honda.
New KTM riders also will be getting a first taste: Johann Zarco in the Red Bull factory team; and Tech 3 rider Hafizh Syahrin making the switch from Yamaha, alongside class rookie Miguel Oliveira.
Franco Morbidelli will be trying the Yamaha for the first time after his debut Honda season; rookie Petronas team-mate Fabio Quartararo with him.
Moto2 champion Pecco Bagnaia gets his first taste of the Pramac Ducati GP18 he will ride next year; and current Pramac riders Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller trying their upgraded machines.
And Andrea Iannone will be trying out his new Aprilia.
Over at Suzuki however, it was surprisingly revealed today, it will not be Joan Mir’s first outing on the GSX-RR. The ex-Moto3 champion had a secret outing to Motegi in Japan after the Malaysian GP two weekends ago, for a shakedown. It was as much, revealed team boss Davide Brivio, to get his riding position right as anything else.
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