Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) rode with a purpose Saturday securing pole position for the British Grand Prix. Bezzecchi edged out a flying Jack Miller (KTM Racing) by 0.270 seconds in the session. In unfamiliar fashion Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) returns to the top of the grid after running third fastest 0.412 second behind Bezzecchi. Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia could only reach P4 in the session after crashing out and not being able to return. Luca Marini rounded out the top 5.
Bezzecchi secured pole despite having a crash which ended his session. However, he appeared to escape the crash without major injury and retained pole. The rain played a huge factor in the rider’s ability to be aggressive with lap times. Multiple riders crashed in qualifying making every lap set important.
Full Qualifying Results are below
MotoGP lands in Silverstone this weekend for the British Grand Prix. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) came out swinging after after running sixth fastest in FP1. The lap times dropped dramatically from FP1 to Open Practice with most dropping 2-3 seconds off of their opening lap times. Based on the new qualifying format the top 10 in Open Practice will progress to Q2. In uncharacteristic fashion, championship leader Francesco Bagnaia had no answer for the 1:58.183 lap time set by Espargaro. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) ran second fastest ahead of Brad Binder (KTM Racing) in third.
The top 5 in open practice is a familiar bunch with Binder and Martin still in the running for the MotoGP Championship. Currently Martin sits in seconds place one point ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) at 159 points. Binder is a bit further back at 114 points. Regardless, any rider in the top 5 has a good chance at the title depending on how the season ends. Full open practice results are available below. Qualifying begins tomorrow.
Full Open Practice Results
This Article was not written by Speed Trap Magazine Staff
From GAS GAS Factory Racing….
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will at last welcome back their âcaptainâ as former world champ and multiple MotoGP podium finisher, Pol Espargaro, passed a compulsory fitness test today at Silverstone and will take part in the British Grand Prix â round nine of the series â this weekend.
The MotoGP star is feeling fit and strong and is ready to return to the saddle of the GASGAS RC16 for the first time in competition since the season-opening round in Portugal during March. Pol made decent progress in his recovery from a back injury and is now eager to re-join the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 pitbox and his crew. #44 easily sailed through the medical checks at the historic British circuit that is one of the longest and fastest on the calendar and is pumped to tackle his first MotoGP Sprint on Saturday and Grand Prix dispute âin redâ on Sunday.
Polâs presence and his competitive experience is sure to spread to rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez who has been learning and impressing at the âdeep endâ of MotoGP racing so far. GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will field their original rider roster for just the second time this year when Free Practice gets underway on Friday morning.
Pol Espargaro #44:Â âFinally! Iâm really happy the day has arrived when I can get back in the paddock, see my team and get back on the bike. Iâve missed this part of my life a lot. I know it will not be easy this weekend, in fact, it will be like starting the pre-season again. I will have to listen to my body, understand the new bike and also get familiar with the format this year. I really want to thank everyone at the Pierer Mobility Group and all those who have been behind me and supporting me.â
Current LCR Honda Rider Alex Rins will leave the Honda side for a new MotoGP seat with Monster Energy Yamaha. Rins will race along side Fabio Quartararo in 2024. Franco Morbidelli will be leaving the team at the end of the 2023 season. He is rumored to be making a move to Mooney VR46 Racing but the move has not yet been confirmed. Whether Morbidelli will make a lateral move in MotoGP or potentially join another team out side of the series is yet to be confirmed. We will keep you updated as this story develops.
Notes from Yamaha…
Lin Jarvis Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
âWe are delighted that Alex is joining the Yamaha line-up, and we warmly welcome him to the Yamaha MotoGP group.
âWe expect Alex to be a great asset. He has vast experience as a MotoGP rider and is known to be a natural talent and a multi-time MotoGP class race winner. He already has experience with two other MotoGP manufacturers and has ridden bikes with similar characteristics to the YZR-M1, which should help him adapt quickly to our bike. His win in COTA earlier this year underlines his speed, hunger, and determination to succeed.
âAlex has been away from the MotoGP paddock for a while due to the injury he sustained at Mugello, but we are confident that he should be fully recovered and up to speed for the 2024 season. We are really looking forward to working with him and believe that he will collaborate well with Fabio and enhance the total performance of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.â
Lin Jarvis Continued on the Departing Morbidelli
âFirst and foremost, I want to thank Franky for his hard work and dedication ever since he started with the Factory Team and also long before that when he was a Satellite rider for Yamaha. The Yamaha and Morbidelli partnership led to some great results, including an outstanding vice-champion title in 2020.
âItâs a shame that the last two years didnât play out the way we both wanted and hoped for. We discussed the possibilities to continue our partnership, but ultimately we decided that 2024 would be a moment to make a change, both for Yamaha and for Franky.
âThe team will proceed to fully support Franky in every way we can to close out our time spent together in the best possible way.â
From MotoGP.com….
Following a request from the MotoGP⢠Technical Director, the FIM MotoGP⢠Stewards have confirmed that a tire pressure monitoring system will now be enforced for both the Tissot Sprint and the MotoGP⢠Grand Prix race, starting from the Monster Energy British Grand Prix. All riders use Michelin tires as they are the tire sponsor for the series.
Technical infringements normally result in disqualification from the session or race, but as the system is new to the MotoGP⢠Class and itâs being brought in mid-season, the Stewards have agreed a gradual penalty scale. To make sure the penalties apply to the actual Sprint or Grand Prix race where the tire pressure doesnât comply, they will be time penalties given out after the race.
-1st offense: Warning
-2nd offense: 3-second time penalty
-3rd offense: 6-second time penalty
-4th offense: 12-second time penalty
The penalties will become more strict as the season progresses and teams become more familiar with the rule changes. Tire pressures will be established by Michelin on a round by round basis. The requirement will only be monitored during the Sprint and Grand Prix races during the weekend. There will be a minimum tire pressure in the Moto2⢠and Moto3⢠classes. The rule also applies to the FIM Enel MotoE⢠World Championship. Michelin will likely set different parameters for each class given the differences in pace.
Actions for the British Grand Prix kicks off next weekend. You can find more details here: Monster Energy British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Today it was announced that Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) will replace Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in August. Alex Rins suffered a broken leg and thus Honda needed a substitute. This isn’t the first call Lecuona has received this season. Earlier this year Lecuona filled in for an injured Joan Muir for the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix. He filled in again for Alex Rins at TT Circuit Assen. In both outings Lecuona was nearly in the points. We imagine with a third stent on the bike he might be able to muster the pace to score some points in MotoGP this year.
Lecuona had the following words for WorldSBK.com on his return to MotoGP action, âI wish Alex a speedy recovery; I know how difficult these situations are. In the meantime, I’m happy to jump on the bike, as I want to do my best and help the team. Besides, I like Silverstone’s layout, and we can have fun. I want to thank the Honda family and LCR for the opportunity.â
In a move supported by both the teams and the Grand Prix Commission. The race weekend format will be changed starting with the next race at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. Friday morning’s first practice session will no longer weigh on entry into Q2. It will be a free practice that will have no implications on qualifying. The session will be 45 minutes long followed by a second Practice session in the afternoon which will be used to place riders into Q2.
The format will start the first weekend of August.
Friday
- Free Practice 1 (45 minutes)
- Practice (60 minutes)
Saturday
- Free Practice 2 (30 minutes)
- Qualifying 1 (15 minutes)
- Qualifying 2 (15 minutes)
- Sprint Race
Sunday
Honda have reportedly and unofficially given Marc Marquez the green light to exit his remaining contract obligations if he doesn’t want to stay with the team through the 2024 season. Honda MotoGP boss Alberto Puig stated, “We have a contract, but every person is free to do what they want in life…Honda is not a company that wants to have people who are not happy being at Honda. So, of course we have a contract, but Honda respects Marc a lot. I want to think [he will stay] based on the contract, but I donât have a [magic wand].â
The statement came after speculation that Marquez is looking to exit the team for a rumored moved to KTM. Marquez has loosely attested to his commitment to Honda by stating, “I am in a big moment and I cannot think about this. You cannot decide things about your future when you are in such a condition. During this month and a half I need to rebuild my body and the mental side. I am in one of the worst moments of my career. But Iâm very lucky that I am in one of the best moments in my personal life, with a very good team around me. Everything is stable and this helps a lot.”
Marc Marquez and the Future
Whether or not Marquez will terminate his contract early is unknown but it appears Honda is still willing to work with him despite the recent woes he has face with not being able to finish races. Marquez has crashed multiple times this season leaving the Honda side unable to capitalize on point scoring opportunities for more of the season. Marquez has not yet completed a grand prix in 2023. The latest event was his withdrawal from the Dutch grand Prix. We will continue to report as this story develops.
For more on this story be sure to check out MotoGP.com
Bagnaia Wins Again
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) wins again at TT Assen for the Dutch Grand Prix. Ducati has dominated the top tier of racing this season with early success in MotoGP, WorldSBK and MotoAmerica. That dominance did not stop at TT Assen. Bagnaia won the Dutch Grand Prix by 1.223 seconds ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing). In third was Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) who helped Bezzecchi cut into Jorge Martin’s (Prima Pramac Racing) lead. Bezzecchi is only 1 point behind Jorge Martin going into the next round. Bagnaia further extended his lead in the championship. He sits atop the table with 194 points on the season.
Marc Marquez Woes Continue
Marc Marquez had yet another disappointing weekend. After crashing again early this weekend. After finishing P17 in the Sprint Marquez stated he was experiencing issues with his ribs, “I was suffering a bit more today with the rib, especially in regard to breathing and using the pectoral in the best way. The goal for tomorrow is to finish the race. I also want to apologies to Enea for this morning, it was my mistake.â
Marquez was declared unfit for the Grand Prix. He stated the following, âWe arrived here in a difficult condition and it only worsened as the weekend went on. Last night I suffered a lot trying to sleep, when I woke up the pain was very high and I went straight to the medical center. Checks revealed the break in the rib had shifted so we had to miss the race. Now is the time to rest and recover and come back after the summer break fit and ready to keep working.â
The Clash of the Frenchman
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) crashed this morning taking out fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing). Quaratararo was looking to double his podium finishes on the weekend but his lukc fell short after a poor start wheeling from the launch which dropped him 6 positions. Then the subsequent crash removed all hope for the Frenchman. As reported by Crash.net Quartararo stated, “I crashed and I twisted my elbow, so I have to keep it in a sling for the time being. [The elbow] should not take too long to heal and the foot I will have to check, but normally I will have to make surgery on the toe. I will be in a little bit of pain for a few weeks. I made a mistake at the start.”
“I didnât want to make a normal start, I wanted to make a perfect start and getting too close to perfect, I made a totally bad start! I released the clutch a little bit too fast then I had a wheelie. So I lost a lot of positions and then I just tried to do like in the morning [fastest in warm-up], but I lost the front in turn 7.”
Johann Zarco also commented stating, “…the moment I opened the throttle he lost the front. I was so close to him that I could not avoid the bike and we crashed pretty fast. We both walked away. But it seems he got the injury on the left elbow and still the left foot is painful for him.â
8 riders did not finish the race. Full race results and championship standings are below.
The Dutch Grand Prix Sprint Race at TT Assen concluded this morning which Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) finishing just under 1.3 seconds ahead of the current world championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo). In surprise fashion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) finished 3rd in the sprint which is his best finish of the season. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took 4th and Brad Binder (KTM) rounded out the top 5. Full sprint race results can be found below. Fabio Di Giannantonio was the only rider to not finish the sprint race.
Championship Standings after the sprint race are below