amcn.com.au 113
Main: Although the Catalunya circuit had been resurfaced since last year, many riders found it difficult and fell
in large numbers over the weekend 1. Pedrosa, now confirmed to be in his last season on a factory Honda, could
not keep the privateer Honda of Cal Crutchlow at bay 2. The master and his adoring fans 3. Aleix Espargaro
crashed and his abandoned bike almost took out teammate Scott Redding 4. Marquez could not match
Lorenzo’s relentlessly fast and consistent lapping 5. Karel Abraham, we’re pretty sure that’s not how to do it...
Silly Seasonill SeasonDone deals
There were a rash of
rider-contract
announcements in the 10
days preceding the Catalan
Grand Prix, the most
surprising of which was
that five-time world champ
Jorge Lorenzo is headed
for Repsol Honda to ride
alongside Marc Marquez.
As expected, Suzuki
confirmed it has made
a contract with Joan
Mir, to replace Andrea
Iannone. Iannone in turn
was confirmed to be joining
Aprilia, alongside Aleix
Espargaro.
Danilo Petrucci will
take Lorenzo’s place in the
official Ducati team for an
all-Italian line-up, and it
has been confirmed that
Jack Miller will head the
Pramac team, riding a 2019
factory bike, alongside
rookie Pecco Bagnaia.
Hafizh Syahrin, this year
as a replacement Tech 3
rider, was signed to stay
with the team, alongside
Miguel Oliveira, when
the French squad switches
from Yamaha to KTM.
Dani Pedrosa’s 13-year
tenure with the factory
Repsol Honda team will
come to an end with the
final race this year.
And Moto3 championship
favourite Jorge Martin
will move up to Moto2
next year, with a two-year
contract with KTM’s official
Ajo team.④
③
① ②
from 11th, moving up five
places to sixth on lap one, and
headed the pursuit as Iannone
continued to drop back.
Danilo Petrucci (Alma
Pramac Ducati) was pushing
hard, and was ahead once on
lap eight, by which time Cal
Crutchlow (Castrol Honda)
had caught up.
With seven laps left, the
Briton found a way past
Pedrosa’s factory Honda,
taking fourth four seconds
behind Rossi, but barely two-
tenths clear of Pedrosa.
By then Petrucci had faded,
while the usual slow-starting
Maverick Vinales (Movistar
Yamaha) had found his
rhythm in the latter laps and
was clear in sixth at the f lag,
having passed and outpaced
Johann Zarco (Monster
Ya ma ha), w it h Pet r ucci
dropping to eighth.
There had been a good
battle behind, with Jack
Miller (Alma Pramac Ducati)
and Rabat shadowing the
Yamahas, along with Hafizh
Syahrin (Monster Yamaha),
having a strong run until he
crashed.By then Miller had dropped
back, soon to retire, fuel
pump issues causing a second
successive non-finish.
Iannone had dropped
behind, and at the end gave
way also to A lvaro Bautista
(Angel Nieto Ducati).
Trailing in were Pol
Espargaro (Red Bull KTM),
Scott Redding (Aprilia) and,
miles behind, Karel Abraham
(Angel Nieto Ducati) and
Morbidelli.
Marquez now has 115
points, well clear of Rossi 88.
Lorenzo is on 66.⑤