The three-day MotoGP test in Qatar has finally concluded with some very interesting results from the entire grid. One thing is for sure is that Yamaha has got it locked down when it comes to putting down some incredible lap times, particularly Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) who was the fastest out of all the three days.
Fabio Quartararo dan Franco Morbidelli bersama-sama pasukan Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (SRT) mendedahkan livery baharu bagi musim 2020, semalam.
Bagaimanapun, rata-rata telah pun mula membayangkan pelumba muda Perancis itu mengenakan racing suit dan jentera Factory Yamaha tahun depan.
Quartararo disahkan menjadi gandingan baharu Maverick Vinales di Yamaha bermula 2021 sekaligus menggantikan Valentino Rossi.
Namun, dia menafikan statusnya selaku pengganti lagenda MotoGP itu.
“Saya bukan menggantikan Valentino (Rossi). Pertamanya, saya belum lagi bersama pasukan itu dan dia masih belum bersara.
“Tetapi saya rasa, saya telah melakukan tugas yang baik untuk mendapat tempat tersebut, tidak lebih dari itu,” jelasnya.
Quartararo bakal membuktikan kemampuan sebenarnya musim ini apabila diberikan jentera YZR-M1 dengan spesifikasi factory di ujian pra-musim Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC) yang membuka tirai hari ini.
(SUMBER: GPOne)
Yesterday was filled with MotoGP livery unveilings, including the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP factory squad. Both Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi uncovered the 2020 Yamaha YZR-M1 carrying more or less similar graphics from 2019 but with more emphasis on their main sponsor, Monster Energy. (more…)
Getting a good start of a MotoGP is crucial for any rider, no matter the track and Yamaha was one of the leading factories that have suffered during the 2019 season. After witnessing the success of the holeshot device used by Ducati on their Desmosedici GP19, Yamaha is looking to deploy their very own version before the winter test session at Sepang International Circuit (SIC). (more…)
Valentino Rossi will go to Formula 1 while Lewis Hamilton will take his MotoGP seat.
The swap will happen at Valencia circuit on 9th December. Rossi will drive Hamilton’s Mercedes AMG PETRONAS car. Hamilton on the other hand, will ride Rossi’s Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1. The deal was probably pushed through by both men’s sponsor Monster Energy.
Hamilton had expressed his wish to ride a MotoGP bike earlier in the year, but it was Repsol Honda who responded with the message “Bring it on, Bro” in a tweet. But it didn’t happen, as expected, as the Repsol riders are sponsored by Monster Energy’s biggest rival Red Bull.
It won’t be the first time Hamilton rides a motorcycle, although it’s his first time on a MotoGP bike. He had ridden the GYTR Yamaha YZF-R1M with PATA Yamaha WorldSBK riders Michael van Der Mark and Alex Lowes at Jerez. He tweeted “Valentino Rossi I need to come to the ranch ASAP.”
As for Rossi, it’s not the first time he’s behind the steering wheel of a four-wheeler, either. He competes in the Monza Rally annually and has won it seven times up to last year. He had also tested in Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari Formula 1 car many years ago. He impressed the multiple champion so much that Schumacher offered him a spot as a driver.
We can’t wait to see the upcoming event!
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi says that Yamaha will be crazy if they do not hold on to MotoGP rookie sensation Fabio Quartararo from 2021 and beyond.
Speaking to autosport.com, Rossi says that Yamaha will “pull out all the stops” to make that happen. He added that it is very important that the factory retains Quartararo for the long term. It would mean a promotion to the full factory team in 2021, at the expense of either Rossi or Maverick Vinalez.
“I expected that he can be very fast, because he was always very fast from when he was young, but nobody expected like this,” said Rossi.
He added that that the Frenchman did something special and everybody would want him to ride for them.
“At 21 (years old) for sure Yamaha will want want Quartararo, if not it’s crazy.”
Quartararo has been the revelation of the 2019 season. His current form flies in the face of one-time critics who thought that it was a foolhardy for the PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team principal Dato’ Razlan Razali to have picked him over “other better riders.”
The French rider had not achieved much success in Moto2, except for a single win in Catalunya last year. His PETRONAS Yamaha SRT teammate Franco Morbidelli was the 2018 Moto2 champion, finishing way ahead in the championship.
However, he seemed to have found something which clicked in the satellite Yamaha and often finishing ahead of the factory riders. To date, he has scored four pole positions, finished on the podium five times and set two fastest laps.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP outfit boss Lin Jarvis dropped the bombshell during an interview with Motorsport.com. According to him, Valentino Rossi does not represent Yamaha’s future.
Rossi’s contract with the factory team ends in 2020. While Rossi is still very much revered by his fans and grudgingly respected by some of his peers, 2019 has proven to be the lowest point in his career. He had collected only 8 points from the last four races, with 3 non-finishes. He is currently behind his teammate Maverick Vinalez in the championship standings.
On the other hand, rookie sensation and satellite Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo has exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Jarvis said that Rossi had given Yamaha four championships in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009 before switching to Ducati in 2009. That had complicated things upon his return to Yamaha.
“He (Rossi) is now in a different stage in his life and career. With all due respect, I feel that Rossi does not represent Yamaha’s future in MotoGP,” said Jarvis.
However, the team boss was quick to add that the option is open for Rossi to continue from 2021 onwards. The decision will made after bilateral discussions.
At the moment, the 10thtitle still eludes Rossi.
Maverick Vinalez (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) won at the Dutch MotoGP 2019 round to end Yamaha’s year-long drought of race wins.
Vinalez had battled all race long with the youngest back-to-back pole sitter Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Sepang Racing Team) and World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda). The trio traded places on and on until Quartararo had to slow down due to incessant speed wobbles. Both Vinalez and Marquez passed him without hesitation, to set up a two-bike battle in the closing laps.
Vinalez finally prevailed from Lap 18 to end the race 5 seconds ahead of Marquez. The latter seemingly slowing down to settle for 2nd position to protect his lead in the championship. Indeed, he revealed in the post-race interview that his goal was to finish ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati), Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) and Danilo Petrucci (Dovizioso’s teammate).
Quartararo made it home in 3rd for his second podium finish in his first season. He had battled through arm pump to stay ahead of Andrea Dovizioso.
His teammate Franco Morbidelli pushed up the field to pass Petrucci on the final lap to finish 5th.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) fought back against Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) to grab 6th.
Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Gresini Aprilia) rounded off the top 10.
It was another nightmare race for Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) who crashed together with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) at high speed. Nakagami was stretchered off the track side.
Marc Marquez had predicted a strong race, if not a victory, but one of the Yamahas after witnessing their pace throughout the weekend. As in the previous race at Catalunya, the Yamahas demonstrated higher midcorner speeds and ease of being flicked side-to-side, fitting the twisting format of the Assen track well. Suzuki also had this advantage but Alex Rins crashed out from the lead on Lap 3.
It was Marquez’s remarkable skills to put the Honda in 2nd place. The next closest Honda of Cal Crutchlow was way back in 6th.
The Ducatis couldn’t take advantage of their towering engine power and straightline speed at the Cathedral of Speed. As Dovizioso remarked earlier this season, the Ducati Desmosedici GP19 still has trouble with keeping its line in midcorner, thereby hampering the riders from applying the throttle earlier.
Marquez currently leads the championship with a substantial 44 points clear of Dovizioso in second. Indeed, the cameras caught a despondent-looking Dovizioso sipping his drink in his paddock after the race.
What about Quartararo’s speed wobbles/tank slapper? As pointed out by our veteran journalist friend, both the Yamahas and Suzukis suffered the same problem down the back straight due to the strong crosswind. The two manufacturers’ bikes are set up for quick-steering hence have less stability, compared to the Honda RC213V, Ducati Desmosedici and KTM RC16.
The next round is at Sachsenring, Germany.
The 2019 MotoGP season could not have started with a more exciting qualifying session as the battle between Yamaha, Ducati, and Honda took place in the qualifying session earlier today. Under the floodlights of the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) took the first pole position of the season on board the new 2019 Yamaha YZR-M1. (more…)
The MotoGP 2019 Pre-Season test kicked off at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday. The action continues today with Maverick Vinalez of Monster Energy Yamaha factory teaming claiming the fastest time.
Repsol Honda rider and defending world champion Marc Marquez secured the fastest time on the first day, allaying fears of his recovering shoulder. He put in only 29 before stopping to allow his shoulder to rest, leaving his time of 1m 59.621s on the board for the night.
But how things can change in less than 24 hours in MotoGP.
Valentino Rossi (Monster Yamaha) started out the day fastest before being toppled by Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnows Ducati) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda).
Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) then took over from Dovizioso. Rins had placed his Suzuki as second fastest yesterday. Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller improved on his times and also went ahead of Dovizioso.
However, a late charge by Vinalez put him right on top for the day. He was the only rider to lap under the 1m59s mark, with 1m 58.897s. That’s still just 0.067 second to Repsol Honda rider Jorge Lorenzo’s unofficial Sepang record of 1m 58.830s he set during the 2018 Winter Test on a Ducati.
Judging by today’s times, a few riders may well dip under 1m 58s tomorrow if the weather holds. That’s because the top 19 riders were covered by just 1 second!
As for Marquez, he could go no faster than 1m 59.790 with the new engine. The time relegated him to 8th. His new teammate Jorge Lorenzo is also missing from the test as he nurses his broken scaphoid.
Apart from Johann Zarco who finished 11thbest, the other KTM riders languished in the lower positions as they try to tame and sort out the RC16 wild beast.
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