MotoGP Brno 2020 Spoilers

"Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com" (exage03040)
08/09/2020 at 18:30 • Filed to: motogp, Motorsports, Motorcycles, 2wheelsgood

MotoGP Brno 2018

The obligatory quick reminder of Marq Marquez out for this Brno and likely the first Austrian Round, due to a second surgery replacing the orignal and damaged plate in his arm.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

A nice weekend for racing at Brno with temperatures getting into 30C (86F) and rather calm winds. The first free practice saw Maverick Viñales loose the front and dump his Yamaha shortly into the session. With others suffering off track excursions.

It culminated in Pecco Bagnaia suffering a serious crash at the end of turn one just past the checker, failing to haul down from 300kph and suffering a fractured tibia. Like Marc, he will likely miss these next 2 rounds. His performance was cut short by technical problem last GP on the Pramac Ducati while in 2nd place. It’s very possible he could have been a podium contender if not winner here. Best wishes on recovery!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

3 of the 4 Yamaha riders parroted the same gripe being a problem with tires and significantly dropping off. However a slightly jovial Valentino Rossi aiming for podium 200 got down to brass tacks explaining the poor condition of the circuit with limited tire traction and significant bumps causing the issues. Yamaha has recently struggled at Brno. Last year was a battle of Honda, Ducati and Suzuki for top spots in damp conditions.

The conditions continued to plague riders in the top class during the rest of the free practices, with various ruined corners and crashes. Just watch a pissed off Fabio, the 2020 championship leader flubbing a corner during FP2

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

And top in practice Franco Morbidelli binning it in FP4

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

Q2 had some big surprises with Johann Zarco clinching pole with 1:55.687 on the Satellite Ducati somehow finding 0.3s. Aleix Espargaró somehow putting the normally noncompetitive Aprilia second row in 4th. Fabio ended up 2nd after crashing the Yamaha on way to the checker.

Qualifying Results

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

Qualifying and racing are very much 2 separate things as evident here with such poor track conditions.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The Ducati of Zarco drops immediately back as the 2 Petronas Yamahas and the Aprilia pounce into the first corner. Apparent was the issue of the Fabios Yamaha in race trim simply not being that quick, with the Aprilia able to briefly hold second place and then drop off while Morbidelli began to slighly pull ahead of both early. However just behind were 2 seriously quick factory KTM. While the Yamahas scooted off for the first half of the race, the KTM seemed to be managing the tires incomprehensibly better. With Zarco’s Ducati also holding on .

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

There wouldn’t be 2 KTM’s for long as Pol Espargaró runs wide following a Q uartararo line and then ends up cutting into the slightly behind Ducati of Zarco on Apex. An unfortunate racing accident with neither rider having visibility of each other.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

While a serious setback for KTM the 33 of Rookie Brad Binder continued with a pace simply not achievable by Morbidelli. Whatever the wizards in the KTM garage had done, this bike still had the tires and was a late race monster. Making the inevitable pass for 1st look easy:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Down in 4th place Fabio continued on the Yamaha with shot tires. He came under attack by Alex Rins on the Suzuki, Valentio Rossi and Miguel Oliveira. All three of which were able to make it past the points leader late in the race. With the final result being:

Brno 2020 MotoGP Results

Congratulations to Brad Binder for securing the top spot as a rookie since Marc Marquez in 2013. This also marks KTMs first ever victory in the top class of MotoGP.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (7)

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
08/10/2020 at 03:25

Nice write up :)

Turns out binder is pretty bloody quick....when he keeps it rubber side down

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
08/10/2020 at 04:12

They mentioned KTM had done quite a bit of testing here and it certainly seemed to come into play with the suspension and electronics to manage the tires.

The tires were a huge part of Yamaha downfall. Fabio’s riding and setup was just murdering his tires. That’s fine for the 1-2 fliers in quali, not for the 21 lap race. I could tell in the interview after FP1 he was not happy with the track. But hey, you want to be world champ? You should know how to get the bike right and deal with the odd shit track, Morbidelli seemed to solve it better. As I mentioned Yamaha has been kind of shit here anyways. Last year they went 6,7,10, out. Fabio’s merely okay here and Maverick is terrible at starting. Yesterday was no exception. I was thinking before FP that Ducati was a likely winner. I really think Pecco might have had a shot had he not screamed into the T1 gravel first outing.

I’m positive it would have been a 1-2 KTM if Pol had been slightly more cautious between Fabio and Johann.

Thanks :) , I might not be around for the next couple though as I go back to work. Watch them retro when I come back.

Fabio is pretty good in Austria. U nless Dovi gets his shit together, but I think he and the Ducati aren’t mingling (or they’re sabotaging him LOL). I kind of hope Marc comes back and smashes it on the 23rd if Fabio wins first race .

pip bip - choose Corrour > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
08/10/2020 at 05:22

well done Binder.

KSUENGINEER > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
08/10/2020 at 08:54

Can we stalk about Zarco’s long lap penalty? That was a big f-you by dragging his knee on the inside of the long lap line, and having his tires barely on the outside, on a visibly dirty section of the track.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > KSUENGINEER
08/10/2020 at 15:27

Rules are rules? Dunno. Perhaps they need rewrite.

In terms of the penalty

Pol thought Johann kamikaze-ed him and would have wanted a drive through but (and the twitter video doesn’t show it because it cuts later in the corner ) he ran quite far wide on entry , much wider than Fabio just in front.

C an see the Ducati really twitch mid corner at the inside, which if it didn’t then perhaps it would have made it far enough for Pol to see the wheel.

Zarco also was kind of pissed it took them that long for them to issue the penalty (I think it was 5 laps after?)

It sucks that it happened, but it’s not the first or the last time these guys late apex leading them make contact with a rider trying to pass on the inside. T hey’re both blind if the wheel isn’t shown.

KSUENGINEER > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
08/10/2020 at 15:35

I like what Zarco did, and personally don’t see an issue with how he rode the penalty. It seemed like a statement to me.

I agree, it was 100% a racing incident. Pol could not see Zarco, and Zarco could not see Pol. If that was a track day, Zarco would derserve to be penalized/chewed out, because you are responsible for the rider in front of you (safe passing and what not). BUT this is racing. There was a substantial opening, h e safely took the line, and he was ridden into. It sucks for Pol, but when he went wide he should have expected him to be there.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > KSUENGINEER
08/10/2020 at 15:43

It was for sure a statement. Gotta keep fighting no matter.

Oh, for some reason with the wording I thought you weren’t happy he did that. It was quite the line , loved seeing the dust all kicked up on the exit too!

MotoGP Brno 2020 *Spoilers*

DISCUSSION (7)

MotoGP Brno 2020 Spoilers