MotoGP – Analysis of the MotoGP season by Jacky Hutteau –

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Analysis of the MotoGP season by Jacky Hutteau

MotoGP - Analysis of the MotoGP season by Jacky Hutteau -

In an interview with Site, Jacky Hutteau, a former private small-displacement rider who hosts the 125 and 250 broadcasts on Eurosport, gives us his analysis of MotoGP news and the performance of French riders..

Three races from the end of the season, the Continental Circus is punctuated by gloomy news: first of all this controversy over the possibility of a single manufacturer for tires, which creates a climate of suspicion and bitterness all over the MotoGP planet.

Then the tragic death of Norick Abe which shook everyone on the bike (read).

Finally this Tuesday, it is another "great man of MotoGP" who officially confirmed his withdrawal from this category to which he has devoted twelve seasons: Carlos Checa joins the Honda Ten Kate fold in WSBK next year (more ‘info soon on Site).

The opportunity to gather the analysis of Jacky Hutteau, former private small-displacement rider who hosts the broadcasts of the 125 and 250 races on Eurosport, on MotoGP news and the performance of French riders.

Present on the Continental Circus for around thirty years, this eternal enthusiast now officiates as an Elf consultant and liaises between the teams on the plateau and the refiner’s research laboratories..

Met during the WSBK final at Magny-Cours, this big fan of Andrea Dovisiozo has agreed to share with Site his perception of the vagaries of this global competition that he loves so much. Interview.

Site: Jacky Hutteau, how do you see this 2007 MotoGP season ?
Jacky Hutteau : It’s a surprise season! Casey Stoner and his Ducati have been dazzling all year long. Casey really surprised everyone, because no one would have bet on him! He had always shown talent in 125, 250 and then MotoGP. But there he was extraordinary !

MNC: What do you think of all these controversies around the championship: the Ducati which goes faster, the tires which distort the situation? ?
J.H : It is true that it is a pity that, for example, Valentino Rossi was not able to fight on equal terms: we have seen him in difficulty on several occasions, either with the motorcycle or with the tires. This tire factor now poses a big dilemma, a problem for the seasons to come. Despite everything, I am one of those who thinks that it is better to give the possibility to various brands to express themselves. We are heading, it seems, towards a single-make competition but I do not believe that this is the real right solution, even if we can see that it works very well in Superbike, Formula 1 and Rally. I still think it’s a shame.

MNC: The sole manufacturer for 2008 in MotoGP: project or confirmed reality ?
J.H : Honestly, I don’t know. This should be confirmed or reversed at the Sepang GP. (Carmelo Ezpeleta, the boss of the Dorna, has in fact left the MotoGP players until this deadline to reflect on his "proposal." Otherwise, the Dorna (promoter), the FIM (International Motorcycle Federation ), IRTA (association of teams) and MSMA (association of manufacturers) will decide during the weekend in Malaysia, Editor’s note).

MNC: The Michelin sporting director recently said that riders who favor the single-make should not complain afterwards about having lower performance tires. In a live chat with Site readers, the Bridgestone spokesperson said "to maintain the interest of the races, there is only one solution: the confrontation with our competitors "(read). In WSBK, we have seen that the times established in Michelin are sometimes very difficult to be beaten by more recent machines in Pirelli. Do you think that this is a deliberately alarmist speech at Michelin, or is it? -this something that we could see in the premier class ?
J.H : It is true that currently, Bridgestone admits that it cannot equip everyone in the best conditions. Now, we also know very well that even in the case of the single manufacturer, there will be differences between the tires supplied to the best teams and those allocated to the satellite teams. Because the development on the performance of the tires will always continue and we will not be able to give the same level of development to everyone. However, in the case of Ducati for example, they may be a little disappointed not to be privileged customers any more, whereas we can consider that they are the masters of the world title of Bridgestone this year..

MNC: Doesn’t this difference between official teams and satellite teams go against the goal of the mono-brand? ?
J.H : Everyone will have the same brand of tires, but in my opinion not everyone will have the same tires !

MNC: At the origin of the debate, the poor performance of French tires: how do you explain this turnaround, after so many years of triumphs in Michelin ?
J.H : Previously, Michelin was all alone at the top level: they were up against Dunlop who was perhaps less dangerous than Bridgestone was. There has been an incredible progression from the Japanese side in recent years, thanks to important work. Bridgestone has thus evolved a lot thanks to their "Teams Tests", in particular with Ducati and Ito who worked enormously and tried many solutions. Michelin was perhaps a little less "courageous", in quotation marks, to work as much on the development side. Finally, the Honda and the Yamaha have been a little behind in front of this dazzling Ducati. But I am convinced that Michelin can come back to the level: the results of the last Grands Prix prove it. In Motegi, in the Bridgestone playground, the first row was 100% Michelin! Why stop the competition of brands, when the technical interest is precisely to oppose them? It’s still much more rewarding for manufacturers to win against an opponent than against yourself! This story of poor performance is unfortunate for some, but it is not all due to the tires … Michelin was a bit unlucky this year, but they were intractable in Jerez, in Germany and in Japan it was very well started, before the strategy of some ruin the performance promised by the tests.

MNC: A word about the French pilots this year?
J.H : In 125, Mike (Di Meglio, NDLR) has been brilliant in Japan and it looks like he’s in very advanced contact with Derbi … I now hope he is going to be consistent and performant throughout the season, because that’s what we expect from him for a number of years. Alexis Masbou had a lot of morale problems. It certainly doesn’t have the best-performing bike, but it’s not the most ridiculous on the grid either. It’s up to him to gain the upper hand, to have the mind to fight and win, because he is able to do so. In 250, Jules Cluzel was quite alone against many people … We hope that he will join the structure of Lucio Cechinello, on the other hand it would be on a Honda at the end of development, in accordance with the desire of the world’s leading manufacturer to only capitalize on 4-stroke … Jules (Cluzel, NDLR) had a courageous season and proved his motivation: he rode with worn tires, in a team lacking in resources and with a lot of difficulties, but he showed that he had determination. I was discussing it with Paolo, his manager, in Japan, who told me that the team could put new tires for the Motegi race, but that in this case, it would not be possible in Australia and Malaysia! Jules has shown his desire to run despite these conditions and I think he has the temperament to grow up. In MotoGP, Sylvain (Guintoli, NDLR) He made some remarkable explosions: at Le Mans, then in Brno where he gave us the best time and finally he blew us away in Japan where he showed himself to his advantage in these difficult track conditions. About Randy (De Puniet, Editor’s note), It is quite unfortunate that he has to leave his status as factory rider at Kawasaki, but he will be well surrounded in the team of Lucio who knows him very well. The fact remains that he finds himself in a private team with a satellite motorcycle, and that it may be more difficult next year … Especially since Honda will focus exclusively on its official RRS, in order to wash the affront of this season !

MNC: Don’t you find it a little surprising that at the end of 2004, all the riders (including Randy) swore by a Honda in Michelin, and that now this combination appears like a purgatory? ?
J.H : Yes, but Honda was really taken aback this year: they were the only ones to make a new 800 cc motorcycle and they were very surprised by the performance of their opponents who had remained on known bases. However, Honda worked a lot to correct the situation, but they not only had to work on official motorcycles, but also on satellite motorcycles. Next year, they will try to put more emphasis on the official machines, certainly a little to the detriment of the satellite motorcycles. Randy will find himself in this case with a factory follow-up which will obviously be much less important than what he has experienced this season. This year he was the first rider at Kawasaki. Maybe it was a little too heavy a load for him, but I’m sure next year he would have been really excellent. Especially since he would have teamed up with John Hopkins and we might have put John as pilot n ° 1 … And there, I think that would have somehow "freed" him and that he could have had an extraordinary season. Because he has developed this ZX RR, he knows it, he knows the team well, he has improved a lot and he has gained confidence. Randy made us this beautiful podium in Japan and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he did another one, or even two, in Australia and Malaysia, circuits where he always goes fast. We can expect a lot from Randy, but the question is, what will the material allow him to do in 2008?…

Thank you Jacky, we will find you this weekend for the Australian GP, ​​to be enjoyed without moderation tomorrow evening on Site with our presentation of the event and to (re) live from Monday thanks to the famous Tour by Tour of J. Arsouille !

Interview by Alexandre BARDIN

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