Michael Scott | October 28, 2017
Joan Mir: one World Title but zero poles this season – until today. (Courtesy MotoGP)
Marquez Makes Another Incredible Save
Marquez made a convincing bid to regain ‘Save of the Year’ title at Sepang, with a remarkable recovery from a front-wheel slide during FP4.
Filmed from all angles in breath-taking detail, the footage shows Marquez losing the front wheel at full lean in Turn 1.
To all intents and purposes, he has crashed. But in increasingly familiar style, and even though his left foot is off the footpeg, he picks the bike up again on his right knee and elbow.
With the bike all but horizontal, the sliding front paints a clear black line until it grips again, and flicks him back up into the seat. And off he goes to complete the lap.
So far, the best save this year was accomplished by Loris Baz at Austin in Texas. But there was an element of pure luck to that. Marquez has now done this so often that – in the words of great classic golfer Gary Player – “the more I practice, the luckier I get.”
Climate controlled flights for Michelin Tires?
Do Michelin tyres travel business class? In air-conditioned comfort? The question brought laughter from technical boss Nicolas Goubert, but he admitted it was not a million miles from the truth – though in fact it is cold that can damage the compounds rather than excessive heat.
“You have to be careful with the tyres, especially hot-weather tyres like for Malaysia, that you don’t expose them to very low temperatures,” said Goubert. “And in a ‘plane it can be very cold, so you have to be careful.”
Moment of Silence for Team Owner
The paddock assembled for another minute of silence on Saturday, in a year with too many sad events having to be commemorated, in memory of team boss Stefan Kiefer. The German, part-owner and manager of the Moto2 squad Kiefer Racing, died suddenly in Malaysia on Thursday night. The team, with riders Dominique Aegerter and Tarran Mackenzie, withdrew from the race. Kiefer Racing won the Moto2 World Championship in 2011 with rider Stefan Bradl.
MotoGP Dress Code?
Journalists and photographers bringing Malaysia’s holiday atmosphere to work with them were given a sharp rap on the knuckles by Dorna on Saturday, along with a threat that media facilities could be cut if the warning was disregarded.
The particular target was “flip flops (sandals) or sports shorts” in pit lane, “as it gives a poor image of the sport and of the professional media, and is evidently not safe.
“We don’t demand ,,, long pants, we evidently understand how hot it is, but please bear in mind that you are often on TV, so use your common sense.”
Access passes were “privileges granted for professional reasons. As such, we expect all media personnel to be act and be dressed professionally.
“Improper or unprofessional behaviour on Circuit premises will not only be counted negatively on your future accreditation requests, but it will also lead to further limitations in working spaces and privileges (not just for you, but for everyone). Please don’t let your behaviour affect the whole body of Media workers.”
No more British Talent Team
Further to yesterday’s confirmation that this year’s Dorna-backed British Talent Team will not continue next year, and that rider John McPhee will join the CIP Moto3 Team next year, Dorna outlined how the revised programme will operate next year, concentrating on riders in the CEV Junior World Championship, as well as continuing to back McPhee.
The statement explained that “the British Talent Program will expand to support more young British riders in other championships.” New national champion Tom Booth-Amos would be run in the CEV series next year, with continued support for Charlie Nesbitt in the same series.
Chassis, Not Leg, Kept Rossi from Battling for Title
Yamaha’s various chassis problems this year were more of a drawback for Rossi’s title hopes than his double leg fracture, the multi-champion told media in Malaysia on Saturday.
Even if he hadn’t broken his leg, missing his home Misano GP before a heroic return barely three weeks later, he could not have fought for the title, he said.
With handling problems both in the dry, losing pace towards the end of races, and more acutely in the wet, Rossi and team-mate Maverick Vinales were at a costly disadvantage, he explained.
When asked what his position would be without the injury, he replied: “For me, not a lot better, because we have too many problems during this season. Even before Silverstone [before the injury] I said I was not strong enough for the championship.”
Yamaha had brought a series of different chassis during the year, with riders switching to a version of the 2018 chassis at Silverstone, but after Vinales won the first two races, the team-mates have only claimed one more victory apiece. At the same time, class rookie Johann Zarco has been successful in both wet and dry conditions using a 2016 Yamaha.
