Offseason tests – Jerez tests: Viñales, Quartararo and Marquez ready for the Spanish GP –

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Jerez tests: Viñales, Quartararo and Marquez ready for the Spanish GP

Offseason tests - Jerez tests: Viñales, Quartararo and Marquez ready for the Spanish GP -

Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo did not miss the MotoGP recovery during tests in Jerez (Spain): the two Yamaha riders follow each other one tenth ahead of Marc Marquez on his Honda ! Johann Zarco, 7th at 0.720 seconds, is the second Ducati rider of this shortened day because of a mechanical problem on an Aprilia. Explanations.

The MotoGP riders have finally taken back control of their prototype during a day of testing in Andalusia. Objective: to regain their marks before the planned – finally !!! – this weekend in Jerez! Another avowed goal of this test: to lay a good foundation for a successful first Grand Prix of the year in the premier category…

  • MNC of July 15:
  • MNC Live : 
  • MNC special file : 

On this point, the Yamaha are once again making a strong impression and confirming their competitiveness this winter: Viñales and Quartararo finish neck and neck below the 1’38 mark, which they are the only ones to have crossed. Marquez, 3rd at + 0.228 sec, remained "stuck" in 1’38.021 on his official RC213V.

The reigning world champion is however satisfied with his performance, mainly because he was able to line up the laps without suffering from his operated shoulder this fall. The confinement will have been favorable to the Spaniard, who readily admits that the first races initially planned before the Covid-19 would have been very difficult for him.

Marquez relieved

The n ° 93 is also relieved to have been able to push his motorcycle more than during the winter, when his injury forced him to ride on the defensive: in other words, Marc Marquez and his Honda are still ready to make the "headlines. "! Note that his time is also faster than his fastest race lap achieved during the 2019 Spanish GP in 1’38.051…

  • MNC of July 13, 2020 : 

The other riders of the winged marque don’t share exactly the same mindset: second Honda RCV rider Cal Crutchlow is just 14th at 1.262 seconds ahead of teammate Takaaki Nakagami. Alex Marquez – first MotoGP factory rider – appears in an anonymous 19th position, between Miguel Oliveira’s KTM and Tito Rabat’s Ducati. 

Rossi far behind the clock, but close to a contract

Another notable underperformance: that of Valentino Rossi, distant 16th on the clock at 1.509 sec (!) From his teammate on the same bike! The genius of the Alpages is the last Yamaha rider in the standings, far behind his probable future team-mate: Franco Morbidelli (10th).

"It is 99% sure that I will race with Petronas in 2021, even if I have not yet signed", confirms the nine-time world champion about next season.

Valentino Rossi, 41, will take the place of the young prodigy Fabio Quartararo who succeeds him within the official Yamaha team. No.46 confirmed that a draft one-year contract with option for a second year is being negotiated with the Malaysian structure, all with direct support from Yamaha.

  • MNC of July 13 : Rossi at Petronas-SRT in 2021: suspense ends Monday ?

"We have a few details to settle concerning the team and the people who will work for me", explains Rossi, whose words echo Razlan Razali. 

Aprilia always in search of reliability

This day of testing in Jerez was also marked by high-speed crashes of Alex Marquez and Danilo Petrucci in turn 11, who found himself smeared with engine oil by the Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro….

If the RS-GP has undoubtedly improved this winter – largely thanks to its new V4 – reliability still seems to be its Achilles heel … Hopefully these recurring problems will be resolved by Sunday, under the eye interested in who is strongly expected to succeed Andrea Iannone next year !

Happy Birthday Johann Zarco !

Johann Zarco for his part hoisted his Ducati-Avintia to 7th place, beaten by a tenth by Francesco Bagnaia on his Desmosedici Pramac. A promising start for the Frenchman, who is celebrating his 30th birthday this Thursday, July 16, within his new Spanish team. Likely that the former KTM rider expressed the wish to obtain a factory Ducati next year by blowing out his candles !

The two private riders finished far ahead of the official Ducatis: Petrucci finished last as he was transferred to the mobile clinic with a slight head trauma and neck pain following his fall on the RS-GP oil, while Andrea Dovizioso appeared embarrassed by his injured shoulder in motocross … To be continued on MNC: stay tuned !

MotoGP test results and standings in Jerez 

  1. VIÑALES, Maverick Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1: 37.793 
  2. QUARTARARO, Fabio Petronas Yamaha SRT 1: 37.911 0.118
  3. MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 1: 38.021 0.228  
  4. RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1: 38.317 0.524
  5. MIR, Joan Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1: 38.380 0.587
  6. BAGNAIA, Francesco Pramac Racing 1: 38.417 0.624
  7. ZARCO, Johann Reale Avintia Racing 1: 38.513 0.720 
  8. ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1: 38.549 0.756 
  9. ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1: 38.592 0.799
  10. MORBIDELLI, Franco Petronas Yamaha SRT 1: 38.646 0.853
  11. MILLER, Jack Pramac Racing 1: 38.676 0.883
  12. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 1: 38.779 0.986
  13. BINDER, Brad Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1: 39.016 1.223
  14. CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 1: 39.055 1.262
  15. NAKAGAMI, Takaaki LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1: 39.063 1.270
  16. ROSSI, Valentino Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1: 39.302 1.509
  17. LECUONA, Iker Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1: 39.349 1.556  
  18. OLIVEIRA, Miguel Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1: 39.364 1.571
  19. MARQUEZ, Alex Repsol Honda Team 1: 39.378 1.585
  20. RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 1: 39.407 1.614
  21. SMITH, Bradley Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1: 39.456 1.663
  22.  PETRUCCI, Danilo Ducati Team 1: 40.362 2.569

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