Rennie Scaysbrook | August 9, 2020
Sunday News
Binder and KTM reach for the stars
“It’s absolutely incredible to think where we are right now.” Binder wasn’t lying. In their fourth season as premier class competitors, KTM has not just won for the first time, but it did so in dry conditions, at a track lacking grip. Without Pol Espargaro’s crash, it could have been a 1-2 and Miguel Oliveira’s form shows the RC16 is a very complete motorcycle.
The performance here was aided by a recent private test by test rider Dani Pedrosa at this track. Even still, the KTM is now a leading bike. “We have a very good feeling with the front tyre and this helps us with stopping and braking and means we can attack somewhere,” said Espargaro. Oliveira agreed. “Having quite low grip I think it gave us an advantage that we can play with, which is hard braking, spending not so much time on the angle, so we don’t abuse the tyres so much,” he said.
Morbidelli improvement
A lesser rider would have cowered when witnessing the astonishing rise of Quartararo. But Morbidelli – 10th overall in 2019 – has shown himself to be capable of podium finishes on two occasions now. This second place was richly deserved and the Italian put his recent improvement down to greater experience with Yamaha’s M1 and greater dedication off track.
“I know I look like a serious guy but I clearly do have a Brazilian side when I’m home, especially. I have to control that sometimes. I needed to control that this winter. I said to myself, ‘less party, more training.’ That’s what I did.”
Team Manager Wilco Zeelenberg also noted, “I’m impressed by him because last year he got smoked by Fabio many times and he never moaned. He only works hard on himself. As a sportsman that’s the maximum you can give.
“At the end of last year, he had already changed his style and his rhythm in the races was better. He understood last year what he needed to do to ride the Yamaha better. Then in the winter he basically continued. He prepared himself better because he trained harder. But especially mentally, he knew he had to improve his smoothness with the Yamaha – to not push too hard in braking. Also to get the base setting right and focus on his riding.”
Ducati fumes at Zarco penalty
Perhaps it was the frustration of witnessing its factory riders finishing so low down. But Ducati Sporting Director had a few choice words for the FIM Stewards on Sunday evening after Zarco was handed a long lap penalty for contact with Espargaro’s KTM.
“It was a totally wrong decision by Race Direction in our opinion,” said Ciabatti. “Pol made a mistake, because he knew obviously – it was the first corner after the riders cross the start and finish line, and the riders see the pit board. So he knew that Zarco was zero seconds behind him. And he made a mistake. When a rider goes wide and has to come back to the normal line, he should look, because he’s not alone on track, and he saw the pit board for sure. So we cannot understand what was a mistake from Zarco. He was on his line, he was inside, and he could not brake because he was leaning a lot, and Espargaro came back from being wide and went into him.”
Ciabatti was partly enraged as the long lap penalty cost Zarco second place. And he’s right. The Frenchman lost 1.8s when he took the penalty lane. At the flag he was just 1.2s back of Morbidelli.
Zarco Zooms as other Ducatis trail
It was rare to see Dovizioso and Miller unable to explain the difference in performance between Ducati’s GP20 and GP19 at Brno. Ducati’s 2020 machine just doesn’t appear to work in the hands of the factory riders and Miller as the different characteristics of Michelin’s 2020 rear slick have forced a change in riding style. They can no longer use the Ducati’s strengths.
The results tell their own story. Zarco, aboard the GP19, qualified on pole and finished third. Meanwhile, the best GP20 qualified eighth and finished ninth. “At the moment I’m scratching my head,” said the Miller. “It’s a factor with this rear tyre that there’s shaking absolutely everywhere. You exit from Turn 2 and all the way to Turn 3, the thing’s fucking doing fishies [fishtailing] all the way up the straight. It seems like this is affecting our bike maybe a little bit more than last year.”
Dovizioso said, “I was always the best in the braking because in the way I ride the bike is really good. In this moment when I compare Pecco in Jerez and today the two laps I really watched with Zarco, I was losing a lot on the braking. This is unacceptable.” Could it be that it takes a rider with a smoother style (and limited experience of the Desmosedici on the previous Michelin rear slick) to be fast aboard the 2020 Ducati this year?
COVID Scare
There were worried faces at the track on Saturday when it was confirmed MotoGP had detected its first case of COVID-19 in the paddock. Over 5,500 tests have been performed since the fortnight before the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. This was the first positive result.
The person was immediately isolated and persons in secondary contact with the individual were tested straight away. Thankfully each one came back with negative results – a relief as the series heads to Austria amid rising infections numbers in many counties across Europe.
MotoGP Race
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) created history as the first South African winner and the first KTM winner of the premier class when he took victory in the 2020 Czech Republic MotoGP at Brno today. Binder took the win by over five seconds from fellow podium debutant, Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha), with pole-sitter Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing Ducati) taking his first Ducati podium in third.
Binder’s win came after storming through from seventh on the grid, disposing of Red Bull KTM teammate Pol Espargaro, Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, Zarco, and Petronas Sprinta teammates Fabio Quartararo and finally long-time leader Morbidelli with nine laps remaining.
Zarco and Pol Espargaro controversially touched at turn one after Espargaro ran wide, the result being Espargaro tumbling through the gravel trap, ruining any chance of a double dry weather podium for KTM.
Zarco was thus handed a long lap penalty, remarkably not losing one place in doing so. He came under intense pressure on the final lap from Suzuki’s Alex Rins as his rear tire went to shreds, but managed to nurse the Ducati home for third place.
Rins, still carrying the shoulder injuries from his crash in qualifying for round one came home for a valiant fourth ahead of Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha). Miguel Oliveira (Tech3 Red Bull KTM) took a career-best sixth, with Quartararo fading with tire problems to finish seventh.
Rounding out the top 10 was Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), Jack Miller (Pramac Racing Ducati) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).
It was a shocking round for title contenders Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha), who finished 11th and 14th, respectively.
The fourth round of the championship is in one weeks’ time at the Red Bull Ring in Austrian where Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder will be treated like a hero. His win hoists him to fifth in the series standings on 28 points. Quartararo still leads on 59 to Vinales’ 42 and Morbidelli now sits third on 31, tied with Dovizioso.
2020 Czech Republic MotoGP Results—MotoGP Race
1 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
|
2 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 5.266 |
3 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 6.470 |
4 |
Alex Rins |
(Duc) |
+ 6.609 |
5 |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 7.517 |
6 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 7.969 |
7 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 11.827 |
8 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 12.862 |
9 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 15.013 |
10 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 15.087 |
Moto2
Italtrans Racing Team’s Enea Bastianini produced perfection again in order to claim his second lights-to-flag victory in as many Moto2 races at the Czech Republic MotoGP.
The Italian was placed under pressure throughout the race by EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes but the Briton eventually had to settle for second, his first trip to a Grand Prix podium since Aragon 2016, and they were joined on the podium by Tennor American Racing’s Joe Roberts, a career-first top three finish for the Californian after setting pole positon in qualifying.
In the world standings, Bastianini takes command on 73 points to Marini’s 58 and Nagashima’s 55. Roberts hoists himself to eighth on 29 points.
2020 Czech Republic Moto2 Results—Moto2 Race
1 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Kal) |
|
2 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.423 |
3 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 5.948 |
4 |
Luca Marini |
(Kal) |
+ 8.797 |
5 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 9.392 |
6 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 10.306 |
7 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Spe) |
+ 10.575 |
8 |
Jorge Martin |
(Kal) |
+ 11.366 |
9 |
Hafizh Syahrin |
(Kal) |
+ 12.875 |
10 |
Aron Canet |
(Spe) |
+ 14.266 |
Moto3
Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) produced a superb ride at the Czech Republic Grand Prix to claim his maiden Moto3 victory. The Italian led over half the race to eventually fend of Championship leader Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team) by two tenths, with second in the Championship Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) finishing an important third.
Albert Arenas leads the standings on 70 points from Ogura on 52 and McPhee on 51.
2020 Czech Republic Moto3 Results—Moto3 Race
1 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
|
2 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+ 0.205 |
3 |
Ai Ogura |
(Hon) |
+ 0.251 |
4 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(Hon) |
+ 0.381 |
5 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.509 |
6 |
Raul Fernandez |
(KTM) |
+ 0.808 |
7 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(Hon) |
+ 0.889 |
8 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Hon) |
+ 1.647 |
9 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 1.648 |
10 |
Stefano Nepa |
(KTM) |
+ 8.815 |
Saturday news
Roberts Revived!
There was rarely a smile in the American Racing Team box during either race weekend at Jerez. But after a pair of 17th places in the past two races, Californian Joe Roberts struck back at Brno to claim a stunning second pole position in four outings.
The raised expectations after his strong showing in Qatar had weighed him down, he admitted. But having spent days in the hills outside Barcelona at the house of friend and fellow Moto2 competitor Edgar Pons before flying to the Czech Republic, Roberts had a chance ride trials bikes, unwind and shed some weight. He arrived here 3 kilos lighter.
“I was hitting my head against the wall the whole two weekends,” he said of Jerez. “I just didn’t have a good feeling with the front. If the thing is trying to close or send me down the road I just don’t feel great. (Here) They put the bike exactly the same as Qatar. I think my riding style suits these fast and flowing tracks really well.”
Dovizioso Daunted
It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Marc Marquez’s absence should have opened the door to an Andrea Dovizioso title charge. But the continued impasse regarding his contract for 2021 hasn’t helped. The Italian admitted it is affecting him and the strained atmosphere in the garage.
“The next races it will be important for the championship because we’re at a good track for us and the result always affects the future,” he said on Thursday.
But his issues from preseason and Jerez persisted here. The 34-year old was desperate on Saturday as he crawled to 18th place in qualifying. He is yet to adapt his bike and riding style to the 2020 rear Michelin tire construction.
“I’m not riding in a good way like in the past,” he admitted. “In the past I was able to brake hard, control the slide until the middle of the corner and pick up bike. I could be a bit long and come back to the middle of the corner and pick up the bike… I’m not able to do that.” It appears the new rear rubber favors the smoother riders and machines, and the added edge grip doesn’t allow Ducati’s riders to slide into turns as they once did.
Espargaro first victim of yellow flag change
Before 2020, Pol Espargaro and KTM would have celebrated a sixth place finish in qualifying. But the Catalan was the first high-profile victim of the new rulings on yellow flags.
From the Andalusian Grand Prix, riders fast lap times will be canceled in free practice/qualifying if they pass through a sector where a yellow flag is displayed. The younger Espargaro had just placed second overall only to see his best effort scrubbed off. Cal Crutchlow’s earlier crash meant the warning flags were out.
“I’m pissed off,” he said. Espargaro’s ire lay in the fact he felt it wasn’t visible enough. If Espargaro had seen the yellow flags, he would have known the lap was lost and not only slowed down – for safety reasons and to save his tires – but then tried again on what would have been the final lap of the session.
“There is a yellow flag, which we all need to respect, but they need to do good work as well. They cannot show a yellow flag in-between two corners where I cannot see,” Espargaro said. “I had two laps to push and I cancelled my last one because I felt good. I had one more bullet but I did not push [for another lap] because I did not see the yellow flag. They did a bad job.”
Saturday
The 2020 Czech Republic MotoGP qualifying session threw up a huge surprise as Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing Ducati) blitzed the field to take his first pole position as a Ducati rider.
The Frenchman put in a 1:55.687 to finish a relatively long way in front of countryman and championship leader, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha), by 0.303 seconds.
Quartararo was challenging for the top spot on his final lap of Q2 but crashed at the penultimate corner, walking away unhurt.
Third for Q2 went to Franco Morbidelli on the second Petronas machine, 0.303 seconds from Zarco.
Fourth went to a very happy Aleix Espargaro, giving his Aprilia team their best ever MotoGP qualifying result. Espargaro was looking good for a front-row spot, occupying second for much of the session by sticking in a fast lap behind Quartararo, but was eventually shuffled to fourth in the final time attacks.
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales will complete the top five.
Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro on course for a best-ever KTM qualifying position of second, sticking his lap time in with two minutes of Q2 remaining. However, his lap time was canceled after Cal Crutchlow crashed out and the subsequent yellow flag rule meant Espargaro’s time was erased. He’ll start from sixth.
2020 Czech Republic MotoGP Results—MotoGP Q2
1 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
1:55.687 |
2 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.303 |
3 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.311 |
4 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Yam) |
+ 0.387 |
5 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.444 |
6 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+ 0.455 |
7 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.612 |
8 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Duc) |
+ 0.767 |
9 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.825 |
10 |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 0.828 |
Moto2
Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing Kalex) got back on form after two dismal rounds at Brno by taking his Moto2 second pole position in four races.
The American was able to edge out Free Practice pacesetter Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) at the in the Czech Republic, with round three winner Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) lining up on the outside of the front row in P3.
2020 Czech Republic Moto2 Results—Moto2 Q2
1 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
2:01.692 |
2 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.130 |
3 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.189 |
4 |
Hafizh Syahrin |
(Kal) |
+ 0.453 |
5 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.486 |
6 |
Jorge Martin |
(Kal) |
+ 0.597 |
7 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 0.653 |
8 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.673 |
9 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Spe) |
+ 0.684 |
10 |
Luca Marini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.802 |
Moto3
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez was the main man to benefit from some Moto3 game playing at Brno as the Spaniard’s only flying lap of the session was good enough for him to clinch a debut pole position.
He’ll be joined on the front row by Kömmerling Gresini Moto3’s Gabriel Rodrigo and SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Tatsuki Suzuki, who lost his perfect pole record in 2020 in the Czech Republic.
2020 Czech Republic Moto3 Results—Moto3 Q2
1 |
Raul Fernandez |
(KTM) |
2:08.372 |
2 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+ 0.211 |
3 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.336 |
4 |
Ai Ogura |
(Hon) |
+ 0.401 |
5 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.429 |
6 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(Hon) |
+ 0.492 |
7 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+ 0.597 |
8 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Hon) |
+ 0.689 |
9 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.833 |
10 |
Yuki Kunii |
(Hon) |
+ 1.042 |
2020 Czech Republic MotoGP—Friday News
Marquez’s window of opportunity
The sensational news Marc Marquez was absent from Brno came as a shock. But the reason for undergoing a second operation on Monday afternoon after breaking the titanium plate holding his right humerus together was even more bizarre.
“He woke up a little bit earlier than me and I was sleeping,” explained brother Alex. “He was only trying to go for a walk with the dogs, to walk a bit and relax, and opening a French window and broke the arm. He woke me up and also the physio, who was at home for the recovery. After that, they went directly to the hospital. A strange situation but it can happen.”
Strange indeed. It’s believed Marquez is willing to skip this weekend, and the upcoming doubleheader in Austria to recover fitness before back-to-back races at Misano in September.
While under fire for allowing his rider to risk riding at Jerez four days after his first operation, Repsol Honda team boss Alberto Puig went on the offensive, suggesting the doctors could have informed him on the possibility of this particular outcome. “The doctors were ok [for him] to do return to Jerez (for round three) and they never informed us that the plate could have broken. If we had this info, probably he wouldn’t have gone and Honda would not have given him the chance to ride.”
Brno surface slammed
2008 was the last occasion the 3.3-mile Brno circuit was resurfaced. On Friday riders found a circuit severely lacking in grip. Not just that; the track’s notorious bumps had worsened, with turns ten and 13 catching a host of names out in all three classes.
Aleix Espargaro was the most outspoken rider on the topic: “For me it’s unacceptable to race here,” he said. “It’s very far from being at the level of MotoGP. It’s a disaster this tarmac. Corner 13 is unbelievable. I’m braking in the middle of the straight and in the corner you are 10 degrees less than in a normal corner. I wouldn’t say I was riding in the wet. But in two or three places I was closer to a wet feeling than a dry one”.
Several riders believe the series can’t return here until a new track surface is put down. But Valentino Rossi foresees obstacles to that happening. “To resurface everything you need a lot of money, so we speak about millions of Euros. And I understand because now there are no fans, the circuit does not work a lot so… For sure I will speak again in the safety commission and we try to push.”
Bagnaia the latest to be KO’d
This really is turning into a war of attrition. Francesco Bagnaia, the revelation of Jerez, became the fourth MotoGP rider in three rounds to suffer a season-altering fracture. The Italian crashed at turn one at the close of FP1, fracturing the top of his right tibia when tumbling through the gravel.
“Tomorrow morning I will return to Italy to be operated on as soon as possible,” he wrote on Twitter. “Fortunately, the fracture did not involve the knee ligaments so recovery times will be faster.” The 2018 Moto2 World Champion will miss the first outing in Austria but aims to be back in less than a fortnight’s time for the second Austrian encounter. Michele Pirro will fill in next weekend.
Friday
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) drew first blood at Brno to go fastest overall for the 2020 Czech Republic MotoGP round, topping the combined Friday times with a 1:56.502.
The Frenchman, the winner of both round one and two of the 2020 season at Jerez, edged out Petronas Yamaha teammate Franco Morbidelli by a scant 0.007 seconds, with Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider Miguel Oliveira putting in a storming lap to take third on the combined FP1 and FP2 times, 0.048 seconds from Quartararo.
It was a bruising encounter for a few of MotoGP’s top stars, with Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) crashing in FP1, along with previous round sensation Pecco Bagnaia (Pramac Ducati). The Italian suffered a fast get-off at turn one towards the end of FP1, suffering a knee injury that has ruled him out of any further action this weekend at Brno.
Fourth on combined times was an ecstatic Johann Zarco, the Frenchman clearly back to front-running pace at a track he relishes. It was here in 2019 Zarco scored his best qualifying of third on the Red Bull KTM in an otherwise dismal season.
Fifth on combined FP1 and FP2 rimes went to Vinales, with teammate Valentino Rossi down in 12th.
2020 Czech Republic MotoGP Results—Friday Combined
1 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
1:56.502 |
2 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.007 |
3 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.048 |
4 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.081 |
5 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.166 |
6 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.374 |
7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.539 |
8 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+ 0.557 |
9 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.571 |
10 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.607 |
Moto2
Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS Kalex) topped the combined Friday sessions at Brno for the Moto2 class. The British rider was second in FP2 behind Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) but keeps top spot, with the Andalucia GP winner sitting second on the combined standings. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) sits third on the timesheets, three tenths off Lowes’ best lap.
Joe Roberts (American Racing Kalex) was back on the kind of form he showed at Qatar’s round one after a dismal two rounds at Jerez. The American finished fourth on combined times at Brno, the scene of his Grand Prix debut back in 2017. He headed Jorge Navarro (Speed Up) in fifth overall.
2020 Czech Republic Moto2 Results—Friday Combined
1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
2:02.480 |
2 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.209 |
3 |
Luca Marini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.319 |
4 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 0.336 |
5 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Spe) |
+ 0.343 |
6 |
Tetsuta Nagashima |
(Kal) |
+ 0.409 |
7 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Spe) |
+ 0.450 |
8 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.530 |
9 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.657 |
10 |
Stefano Manzi |
(MVA) |
+ 0.659 |
Moto3
Kömmerling Gresini Moto3’s Gabriel Rodrigo remained at the top of the Moto3 timesheets as the opening day at Brno came to a close for the lightweight class. The Argentinian’s FP1 lap was four-tenths of a second quicker than the fastest lap seen in FP2, courtesy of Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez, as only two riders inside the vital top 14 able to improve from this morning.
Rodrigo topped Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Toba’s teammate Raul Fernandez on the combined Friday times.
2020 Czech Republic Moto3 Results—Friday Combined
1 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
2:08.612 |
2 |
Kaito Toba |
(KTM) |
+ 0.106 |
3 |
Raul Fernandez |
(KTM) |
+ 0.227 |
4 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.511 |
5 |
Jaume Masia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.752 |
6 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 0.817 |
7 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Hon) |
+ 0.850 |
8 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+ 0.925 |
9 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.954 |
10 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.963 |
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