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Race, race, repeat: the reigning Champion returns to face his rivals for the crown
How do you solve a ‘problem’ like Quartararo? No one was quite sure in Jerez but add a new track, a dash of Marquez and stir…
It’s been quite the start to the 2020 premier class season and a clean sweep for Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) so far, with the Frenchman on a maximum of 50/50 as we return to race in the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky. His two races in Jerez were pitch perfect and within tenths of each other, his gap at the front comfortable – at least in terms of margin – and he’s most definitely the man to beat as we arrive at Brno. The man who held that moniker on the way into Jerez, however, will now be back.
A damaged humerus in a dramatic Spanish GP put the first two chances of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) scoring problems in 2020, despite a superhuman effort in some sessions of the Andalusian GP to return and fight for some. But two weeks later, Marquez’s impressive ability to ride a motorcycle at a competitive point just days after the deal indicates that the protective champion can take care of more than that in the Czech Republic. What can he do now? And what are you looking to do?
It’s likely unrealistic – although many have been wrong before – to expect Marquez to fight for the win just yet, but it’s most definitely realistic to start looking at the long game. The season remains extensive despite the delays and cancellations obliged by the Covid-19 pandemic and there’s definitely time. The question just remains as to whose side it’s on.
Looking at the last few Czech GPs, the man third overall – Dovizioso – should allow himself a spring in his step on the return to Brno. A win in 2018 and second place last year speak well of his chances, and something that may well be crucial to the likes of ‘Undaunted Dovi’ is the familiar territory we’re returning to. Although everyone knows Jerez, no one knew Jerez in the 40 degree heat of July. Everyone knows Brno in August.
For Marquez on the return, it is also smart news, as is the fact that Dovizioso leads expectations, as it was Yamaha who bit the first in Jerez. The fights opposite each other only took time from the Protector Champion, and Yamaha’s last win on the track in 2015, when the strength of the verification motif Jorge Lorenzo made a special flaglight. On the one hand, five years are long but on the other, there were 4 in Jerez since Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) won Yamaha’s last victory thereArray … and Quartararo shot him with something that seemed easy, twice in a succession that actually quickly got up. Add that to the fact that five of the six podium posts in Jerez were occupied through machines with the Iwata brand, and Yamaha finished 1-2-3 at Brno’s control last year, which was the last time we were on the way to the site. He also hoped they would threaten race day in 2019, so he said he had driven from the start. But what about their used engines so far? And a maximum speed deficit sensitive to some?
But enough with the first 3 and number 93, because there are still some names in the hat in a strangely competitive 2020: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) has serious speed and will have to unleash it after a twist of fate last time, and his teammate Francesco Bagnaia seemed to be in position for a first podium of the Andalusian GP before seeing him ripped off by a technical problem. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has had a similar history. Rossi returns to the box and knows a lot about Brno … and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) had a typhoon in an Andalusian GP to remain honest as ‘Doctor’, completing the race in fourth place overall.
What about KTM? The Austrian factory showed impressive speed in Jerez on both race weekends, and although there was bad luck and disorder for them on Sunday, Pol Espargaró (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is fifth overall. And his rookie teammate, Brad Binder, had an amazing pace. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) as well. So what can you do with Brno? Leading back-to-back GPs at the Red Bull Ring just after it, they will need a few more problems in the Czech Republic, and verify their speed.
On the return of Marquez, there are also two other drivers who suffer the pain barrier, although both controlled the entire Andalusian GP. The winner of the 2016 Czech GP Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), with more time recanopia for his scaphoid, will have to be able to travel the distance a little better, and Alex Rins of the Suzuki Ecstar team, with a dislocated shoulder annoyed by a small fracture, will also aim to take a step forward. The Spaniard took a tenth difficult position last time, but after Suzuki’s incredible pre-season, he will have to recover some floor and score as temporarily as possible. However, the clever news for the Hamamatsu factory in the race at this time in Jerez was Joan Mir, with the number 36 colliding at the season opening behind him to take fifth place and praise his speed. He will also be even more interested in conquering Brno, as the Czech track was the scene of his massive crash trials last season that drove him away for two races.
Finally, there’s also the fight for Rookie of the Year to keep an eye on. Quartararo has Independent Team rider standings sewn up so far, but the Rookie fight is closer than the points would have us believe. Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) put in an impressive ride to eighth in the Andalucia GP and has avoided mistakes on race day, but Brad Binder – he of the aforementioned stunning pace – will be looking to fight back after losing out on a bigger points haul, and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) will want in. Brno is a good track for Alex Marquez though, so the Spaniard will be keen to keep that nice nine-point cushion accrued on home turf…
The fast, undulating turns cross the wooded hills that the Automotodrom Brno calls home, and are in a position to host the FIM MotoGP World Championship ™. Tune in to the first of a triple box office hit from race weekends as we head east from Jerez to the Moravian Hills. Can Marquez start catching up? Or have Quartararo’s tastes been bolted into one position?
And remember … now 12 first races of elegance remain in 2020, with the newly added European Grand Prix.
MotoGP™ Championship Standings
1 Fabio Quartararo – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 50
2 Maverick Vials – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 40
3 Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati – 26
4 Takaaki Nakagami – LCR Honda Idemitsu – Honda – 19
5 Pol Espargaro – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM – 19
Will Bastianini and Marini overhaul Nagashima in Brno?
Any of the top seven in the Championship on the way into Brno could leave Czechia in the lead. But the Italians appear to be coming…
Three races, three winners is the simplest way to write the story of Moto2™ so far in 2020.
Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took the lead in Qatar before having to settle for the understudy at the time, Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) bouncing to claim the winning moment of the season. He was then given even closer, with a clash at the Andalusian GP that seemed to put Japanese driving force on the back foot, and a new winner emerging on the first step, for the first time in middle elegance. The newcomer to the block of victory Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), and that means we head to Brno with only five problems separating the 3. 50, 48, forty-five most sensitive: Nagashima, Bastianini, Marini. With 75 more in play in the next 3 weekends.
Last year, Bastianini was third and won his first podium in Moto2 ™ in the Czech Republic. That’s a good omen for him. However, Marini was fifth and climbed a podium in 2018, which is also a good omen for Array … and Nagashima for last season, which was a forged ending for him at the time. But do the effects beyond even give us a clue in a new 2020 look, with Triumph as official engine supplier and so many others on a new shape roll?
The MBs Speed Up couple of Jorge Navarro and Fabio Di Giannantonio are waiting for you. The Spaniard had an unusual uphill and down to start the season and was right next to the podium last year, and “Diggia” was there for the first time on Moto2 ™. Tom Lathi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) expects the records to also count for something, as the Swiss veteran is the guy in the box who has already won a Moto2 race on the track. He and his teammate, Marcel Schrutter, will expect more, as they had a harder start by 2020 than expected. Speed has been on the agenda, but Sundays have been a difficult war and reversing the trend now would really change things.
Aron Canet (Openbank Aspar Team Moto2), however, is also the winner of the grand prix on the circuit, but did so in Moto3 ™. So far, Moto2 rookie ™ has been one of the most productive performances of the season, quietly accumulating, or not so quietly, impressive problems and finishes. Canet is fourth overall after his first 3 runs of intermediate elegance, which is a record for writing in itself, but in reality, is a first podium just a matter of time? Add to that the good fortune of Speed Up last season in the Czech Republic …
However, it will not be easy to make this leap. Sam Lowes (EG 0.0 Marc VDS), having missed Qatar due to injury, returned to Jerez and took two quarters. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) unleashed his speed in trouble despite an injury, Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on pole and podium, Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) is still in this harvester in the classification … what about Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing)? The American is a star of the series in Qatar before going through a more difficult time in Andalusia, however, his most productive result before Losail this year was tenth in Brno. In the rain, even on your Moto2 deyet ™. And it’s a track he likes since he competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup…
Another weekend, another track, and another 25 points on the table. Any one of seven could leave Czechia on top of the pile, but the momentum certainly seems to be dancing to the beat of Il Canto degli Italiani for the moment. Can Nagashima strike back? Or are we to enjoy a fourth different winner in the fourth race of the season? Find out on Sunday the 9th of August at 12:20 (GMT +2) local time.
Moto2™ Championship Standings
1 Tetsuta Nagashima – Red Bull KTM Garlic – Kalex – 50
2 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – 48
3 Luca Marini – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 45
4 Aron Canet – Openbank Aspar Team Moto2 – Speed Up – 30
5 Lorenzo Baldassarri – Flexbox HP 40 – Kalex – 28
Can you take down Sands in the Czech Republic?
The Championship leader crashed out in the Andalucia GP and the standings tightened up.
Will Brno bring agitation?
Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) was on the roll of rolls to start the season. Winning in Qatar and coming back to racing after four months to pick up exactly where he left off, the Spaniard had started to require the Jaws music to accompany his well-thought out tactics in the latter stages of a Moto3™ race. But then disaster truck in the Andalucia GP and he crashed out, leaving his rivals with a big chance to hit back. For two of them certainly, it was a chance they were able to take.
A Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corsica), who is now a moment after his very good victory last time, the Japanese driving force is being hunted as a serious threat. He said he was surprised to take the pole because he was running towards the speed of Sunday, and on Sunday more than because it was worth it, as he took command of the organization earlier and seemed the favorite of lighting fixtures. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) also stood up after an accident at the Spanish GP, and all 3 are now covered with only 10 points. Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) could not win floor after being unlucky, however, it remains in the harvester and in Brno, it is everyone’s game.
For McPhee, the Czech Republic has fond memories, as it is the place of his first Grand Prix victory. Suzuki also had intelligent speed on the site, and Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) on the podium last year. Ogura in the six most sensible – as a rookie – and Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power), who broke in from the back of the grid to take fourth place in the Andalusian GP, in the ten most sensitive in 2019. The tastes of Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Gabriel Rodrigo (K-mmerling Gresini Moto3) and Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) have also forged finishes on the track, adding more and more names to the hat for which you will fight, which will actually result. some other vintage Moto3 battle ™ in Brno.
Albert Arenas remains the leader of the championship and probably the favorite in 2020 despite this accident. But the cast of characters looking to bite and reach the most sensible is considerable, and we’ll soon find out who will leave the driver’s seat. Moto3 Race ™ Sunday at 11:00 (GMT -2).
Moto3™ Championship Standings
1 Albert Arenas – Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3 – KTM – 50
2 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda – 44
3 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda – 40
4 Ai Ogura – Honda Team Asia – Honda – 36
5 Gabriel Rodrigo – Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 – Honda – 30
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