Marquez completes perfect Indy weekend, extends title lead

MotoGP News

Date: 19/August/2013

MotoGP rookie sensation Marc Marquez pushed his Championship advantage to 21 points with a perfect weekend at Indianapolis.

The Repsol Honda rider, 20, was quickest in every track session, but had to work hard for his fourth victory of the season after dropping behind title rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa at the start.

Neither could contain the young Spaniard - who won by 3.5s from team-mate Pedrosa to complete a sweep of the three US events, following earlier wins at Texas and Laguna Seca.

“This will be my second country!” smiled Marquez. “I felt so good this weekend. I think this has been my best GP since coming into the premier class.

“In the race, the plan was clear; try to save the tyres in the beginning, and when the fuel comes a little bit down, try to attack and open a gap.

“These 25 points are important because now we go back to Europe, which will be a little bit different because at Brno and Silverstone, Jorge and Yamaha should be stronger.”

However Lorenzo now has significant ground to make up, having slipped 35 points from Marquez. Pedrosa sits second, but nearly one race win behind Marquez.

“We are leading the championship but still remain eight races, so nearly half of the season. Dani and Jorge, they have a lot of experience, so they will manage the situation well.

“I will try to continue in the same way, but it will be difficult because I know that in some circuits I will struggle a little bit more, some circuits less. But anyway, we will try continue along the same lines, with the same concentration.”

The Czech Republic Grand Prix takes place at Brno this weekend.

Cruel injury blow for Ben Spies

MotoGP News

Date: 17/August/2013

After ten months of torment following a serious right shoulder injury in last season’s wet Malaysian race, Ben Spies staged a comeback at his home Indianapolis MotoGP.

The slow healing nature of the injury, and subsequent muscle problems when he tried to return for the start of this season, meant the Texan hadn’t raced since round two.

His comeback in Friday practice at Indianapolis went well, Spies claiming 13^th fastest with a shoulder that finally did what it should.

But his progress was blown apart when he dislocated the other shoulder in a highside fall from his Pramac Ducati on Saturday morning, ruling him out of the remainder of the weekend.

With Indianapolis the first of three events in three weeks, Spies looks set to suffer several more ‘Did Not Starts’

Spies said: “It’s obviously really unfortunate. Just when I was back and starting to feel good, now we have another shoulder injury, but this time on the left.

“Right now I still need to go back to Dallas have some CT scans on my wrist to see if there’s anything broken there, but definitely on my shoulder we have a grade 3 separation.

“Regarding the crash, I was going out on the first lap when I made a mistake and spun the rear tyre and high-sided. I’m just sorry for the team and frustrated for the fans because I was looking forward to being out there.

“We were starting to feel good but now we’re back at square one.”

With Spies watching from the pits, rookie World Championship leader Marc Marquez set a new lap record to claim pole position by over half-a-second from Jorge Lorenzo.

Marquez’s Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa will complete the front row in third. Marquez starts Sunday’s race with a 16 point lead over Pedrosa and 26 point lead over Yamaha’s Lorenzo.

Crutchlow explains Ducati move

MotoGP News

Date: 15/August/2013

Cal Crutchlow has explained why he will be swapping a proven Tech 3 Yamaha for the fickle factory Ducati in MotoGP next season.

The British star, 27, is in the form of his life, claiming four podiums and one pole position so far this year on satellite M1 machinery.

But with Yamaha unable to guarantee a move to its factory team in the near future, Crutchlow has decided to severe his long links with the company for a fresh start - and full factory status - at the troubled Ducati team.

“It was difficult decision to make because I didn't want to leave my Tech 3 team. It wasn't a difficult decision to change manufacturer,” Crutchlow said.

“This is a new challenge for me, it's something different. We've been three years in MotoGP with Yamaha now and also World Supersport and World Superbike. But sometimes it's time for a change.

“The deal that was put on the table in front of me I was happy with, and there's no reason why I shouldn't change.

“I think it's a new motivation for me, as well and obviously it might be a little bit different position-wise, straightaway anyway, but my motivation is to try to bring the bike to the front.”

For a perfect illustration of the size of the challenge ahead, Crutchlow needs to look no further than his former and future team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

The Italian outperformed Crutchlow at Tech 3 last year, claiming six podiums and fourth in the World Championship, then moved to Ducati and is only seventh in the points with a best dry race finish of fifth.

“It seems difficult for Andrea now,” conceded Crutchlow. “He's a strong rider in the championship. He's a good class of rider. He's rode for three different bikes, and it seems Ducati is the most difficult for him at the moment. But things can change, and hopefully it will change before I get there.

“I'm not worried. At the end of the day, it's a motorcycle that people have done very well on in the past and not just one rider. I will give 100 percent and I believe my 100 percent will be good enough. If I didn't think that, I wouldn't be racing a motorcycle.”

After winning the MotoGP title with Casey Stoner in 2007, Ducati’s race wins halted when the Australian moved to Honda at the end of 2010 - with even MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi unable to make an impact with the Desmosedici.

Rossi, now back at Yamaha, had this advice for Crutchlow:

“At the beginning it will be hard because the Ducati is more difficult to bring at the limit compared to the Yamaha. But anyway, I think that Ducati have to work a lot. I think they know they have to raise the level of the bike and it will be interesting to see what happens.”

Until his Ducati debut, at the post season Valencia test, Crutchlow has his sights set on claiming a debut MotoGP victory.

“My priority now is to do the best job I can for Tech 3. I took my first podium in MotoGP with them, and they stood by me after a first tough year. I think if there's anything we can do for the rest of the year, it will be to try and take a win. I don't know where it will be, but I'll definitely be trying.

“I've got nothing to lose. It doesn't matter where I am in the championship, particularly.”

Crutchlow will take the place of Nicky Hayden, whose MotoGP future is unconfirmed.