Rennie Scaysbrook | July 19, 2020
2020 Spanish MotoGP Results—Sunday
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Sprinta SRT Yamaha) claimed a maiden MotoGP victory at the 2020 Spanish MotoGP, taking the gold ahead of Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team).
Quartararo rode smooth as glass to take a maiden MotoGP race victory, but there was huge drama behind him.
However, it was the drama surrounding Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) that was the talking point of the race.
After qualifying in third, Marquez made his way to the front early in the race but pulled another one of his miraculous saves, this one at Turn Four on lap five. The World Champion lost the front in the fast left hander, saved the Repsol Honda on his knee at over 120 mph and careered into the gravel, keeping the machine upright and eventually rejoining in 16th place.
What followed was a demonstration of Marquez’s towering skill, as he disposed of most the MotoGP pack by lapping consistently quicker than anyone else in what must be regarded as one of his best ever rides. Marquez eventually fought his way back up to third and was challenging Maverick Vinales for second when he suffered a huge highside on the exit of Turn Three. Marquez suffered a broken right humerus (the bone between the elbow and the shoulder) in the crash, putting his title defense chances in serious jeopardy. No recovery time has yet been determined by Repsol Honda.
After Marquez’s earlier excursion into the gravel trap, Vinales resumed the lead but was suffering issues with his soft front tire compound. He was eventually overhauled by Quartararo and had his hands full with Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati). Vinales kept Miller at bay and eventually found a way to work with the soft front, hanging on for second behind Quartararo, who had built up a 4.6 second lead by the flag.
Andrea Dovizioso got the better of Miller in the closing stages for a maiden Spanish MotoGP podium, two weeks after breaking his collarbone. Miller and Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli rounded out the top five.
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM) had an excellent race, taking sixth and within the scrap for the final place on the podium until the end.
Valentino Rossi was an early retirement with a mechanical issue on his Monster Energy Yamaha. Joan Mir and Aleix Espargaro crashed out. Rookie Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) started well and was in the top 10 in the opening stages of the race before running off and dropping to the back of the field. He recovered to 13th at the flag, at times running as the fastest man on track.
In the standings, Quartararo leads on 25 points from Vinales with 20 and Dovizioso third on 16.
Round two of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship is at the same venue in one week’s time.
2020 Spanish MotoGP Results—Sunday
| 1 |
Fabio Quartararo |
Yam |
|
| 2 |
Maverick Vinales |
Yam |
+ 4.603 |
| 3 |
Andrea Dovizioso |
Duc |
+ 5.946 |
| 4 |
Jack Miller |
Duc |
+ 6.668 |
| 5 |
Franco Morbidelli |
Yam |
+ 6.844 |
| 6 |
Pol Espargaro |
KTM |
+ 6.938 |
| 7 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
Duc |
+ 13.027 |
| 8 |
Miguel Oliveira |
KTM |
+ 13.441 |
| 9 |
Danilo Petrucci |
Duc |
+ 19.651 |
| 10 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
Hon |
+ 21.553 |
Moto2
Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Kalex) rode a clinical race at Jerez for the 2020 Spanish Moto2 race victory. The Italian came home ahead of round one winner Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex) and his teammate Jorge Martin.
Marino controlled the race to open his 2020 win account at Jerez.
Pole position holder Jorge Martin (Inde Aspar Team Moto2 Kalex) ent down at the first corner after coming into contact with Marco Bezzecchi (Sky VR46 Kalex), who would aslo crash out at half distance.
Marini hit the front with 20 laps to go, disposing Jorge Martin and building a 1.2 second lead by the flag.
Martin got the better of Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS Kalex) with class rookie Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team Moto2) completing the top five.
America Joe Roberts didn’t have the race he was hoping for after his round one heroics, taking 17th on his American Racing Kalex.
2020 Spanish Moto2 Results—Sunday
| 1 |
Luca Marini |
Kal |
|
| 2 |
Tetsuta Nagashima |
Kal |
+ 1.271 |
| 3 |
Jorge Martin |
Kal |
+ 4.838 |
| 4 |
Sam Lowes |
Kal |
+ 6.200 |
| 5 |
Aron Canet |
Kal |
+ 10.794 |
| 6 |
Hafizh Syahrin |
Kal |
+ 15.578 |
| 7 |
Remy Gardner |
Kal |
+ 17.426 |
| 8 |
Lorenzo Baldassarri |
Kal |
+ 19.416 |
| 9 |
Enea Bastianini |
Kal |
+ 19.505 |
| 10 |
Xavi Vierge |
Kal |
+ 19.590 |
Moto3
Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3 Honda) took his second straight victory in the 2020 Moto3 World Championship after getting the better of a hectic final lap between himself, Honda Team Asia rider Ai Ogura, Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team Honda) and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Honda).
Arena (75) came ut on top of another hectic Moto3 race.
McPhee went for the lunge on the final corner, briefly hitting the lead but the knock-on effect between saw Arbolino and Celestino Vieti (Sky VR46 KTM) saw McPhee punted off his Honda coming onto the front straight, handing the win to Arenas.
Only 0.986 seconds covered the first nine places at Jerez, with the lead group at one stage spanning 12 riders.
2020 Spanish Moto3 Results—Sunday
| 1 |
Albert Arenas |
KTM |
|
| 2 |
Ai Ogura |
Hon |
+ 0.340 |
| 3 |
Tony Arbolino |
Hon |
+ 0.369 |
| 4 |
Andrea Migno |
KTM |
+ 0.546 |
| 5 |
Celestino Vietti |
KTM |
+ 0.634 |
| 6 |
Raul Fernandez |
KTM |
+ 0.682 |
| 7 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
KTM |
+ 0.753 |
| 8 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
Hon |
+ 0.881 |
| 9 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
Hon |
+ 0.986 |
| 10 |
Jaume Masia |
Hon |
+ 3.646 |
MotoE
Granado made light work of the MotoE field at Jerez. After qualifying on pole, he led away for a 3.044-second victory ahead of Ferrari, Aegerter, and Lukas Tulovic, the three only covered by half a second at the flag. Mattia Casadei completed the top five.
Granado was in control for the majority of the race.
2020 Spanish MotoE Results—Sunday
| 1 |
Eric Granado |
Ene |
|
| 2 |
Matteo Ferrari |
Ene |
+3.044 |
| 3 |
Dominique Aegerter |
Ene |
+3.299 |
| 4 |
Lukas Tulovic |
Ene |
+3.517 |
| 5 |
Mattia Casadei |
Ene |
+4.082 |
| 6 |
Jordi Torres |
Ene |
+4.245 |
| 7 |
Alejandro Medina |
Ene |
+4.906 |
| 8 |
Xavier Simeon |
Ene |
+5.475 |
| 9 |
Josh Hook |
Ene |
+5.795 |
| 10 |
Mike Di Meglio |
Ene |
+8.484 |
2020 Spanish MotoGP Results—Saturday
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Sprinta SRT Yamaha) has taken pole position for the 2020 Spanish MotoGP at Jerez, putting in an all-time lap record on the final lap of Q2 to steal the top spot from Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez.
Quartararo put in a storming lap right at the end of the session to grand the first MotoGP pole of the year.
Quartararo uncorked a stunning 1:36.705s lap right at the flag in sweltering 130°F track temperatures, deposing Vinales who had earlier leapfrogged Marquez in the standings.
Fourth and first Ducati went to an ecstatic Pecco Bagnaia (Pramac Ducati). The MotoGP sophomore was briefly sitting in pole position before the final time attack runs, eventually demoted to the head of row two.
Bagnaia headed teammate Jack Miller, who crashed out at high speed on his final lap while looking on course for a front row spot at the Alex Criville Corner. Miller’s crash was quickly followed by that of Suzuki’s Alex Rins, who went down hard and dislocated his right shoulder, rendering the Spaniard unfit to race on Sunday and doing his title chances a world of hurt.
Sixth went to LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow.
After graduating from Q1, Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) takes seventh on the grid as the leading KTM rider—the Spaniard finishing 0.788 from pole. Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso had to settle for eighth after a crash at Turn Two, with Rins qualifying on the outside of the third row but a non-starter tomorrow.
Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli took 10th on the grid ahead of Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha), with Suzuki’s Joan Mir a disappointed 12th after looking strong in the earlier Friday and Saturday practice sessions.
2020 Spanish MotoGP Results—Saturday Q2
| 1 |
Fabio Quartararo |
Yam |
1:36.705 |
| 2 |
Maverick Viñales |
Yam |
+ 0.139 |
| 3 |
Marc Marquez |
Hon |
+ 0.157 |
| 4 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
Duc |
+ 0.250 |
| 5 |
Jack Miller |
Duc |
+ 0.748 |
| 6 |
Cal Crutchlow |
Hon |
+ 0.749 |
| 7 |
Pol Espargaro |
KTM |
+ 0.788 |
| 8 |
Andrea Dovizioso |
Duc |
+ 0.830 |
| 9 |
Alex Rins |
Suz |
+ 0.931 |
| 10 |
Franco Morbidelli |
Yam |
+ 0.969 |
Moto2
Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Kalex) took his maiden Moto2 pole position for his home race at Jerez, the Spaniard set a 1:47.384 on his second flying lap to eventually beat Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) to pole position by 0.181 seconds.
Martin took a maiden Moto2 pole at Jerez.
On his return from injury, Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) claimed third and a front row start in Jerez.
American Joe Roberts didn’t have the qualifying he wanted, finishing 16th in Q2 on his American Racing Kalex.
2020 Spanish Moto2 Results—Saturday Q2
| 1 |
Jorge Martin |
Kal |
1:41.384 |
| 2 |
Jorge Navarro |
Spe |
+ 0.181 |
| 3 |
Sam Lowes |
Kal |
+ 0.300 |
| 4 |
Luca Marini |
Kal |
+ 0.323 |
| 5 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
Kal |
+ 0.338 |
| 6 |
Aron Canet |
Kal |
+ 0.466 |
| 7 |
Marcel Schrötter |
Kal |
+ 0.485 |
| 8 |
Tetsuta Nagashima |
Kal |
+ 0.505 |
| 9 |
Xavi Vierge |
Kal |
+ 0.595 |
| 10 |
Lorenzo Baldassarri |
Kal |
+ 0.626 |
Moto3
Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corsa Honda) broke the lap record to take his second pole position of 2020 after claiming pole at round one at Qatar four months earlier.
Suzuki was in a class of his own in Moto3 qualifying.
The Japanese headed John McPhee after the Scot tucked in behind the SIC58 man on his flying lap and took benefit of the tow to go second with just seconds remaining. However, SKY Racing Team VR46’s Andrea Migno dug deep with the chequered flag out to split the Japanese rider and the Scotsman on the front of the grid meaning Sunday’s front row for the Spanish Grand Prix will read Suzuki, Migno, McPhee.
2020 Spanish Moto3 Results—Saturday Q2
| 1 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
Hon |
1:45.465 |
| 2 |
Andrea Migno |
KTM |
+ 0.195 |
| 3 |
John McPhee |
Hon |
+ 0.307 |
| 4 |
Raul Fernandez |
Hon |
+ 0.501 |
| 5 |
Celestino Vietti |
KTM |
+ 0.611 |
| 6 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
Hon |
+ 0.626 |
| 7 |
Albert Arenas |
KTM |
+ 0.696 |
| 8 |
Romano Fenati |
Huq |
+ 0.773 |
| 9 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
Hon |
+ 0.800 |
| 10 |
Tony Arbolino |
Hon |
+ 0.877 |
MotoE
No one has been able to stop Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) so far at Jerez and the Brazilian was unbeatable in E-Pole, too. Granado set a 1:48.620 on his only flying lap to beat Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) by 0.191, with Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) 0.256 off E-Pole in third.
Granado did the business in MotoE qualifying.
2020 Spanish MotoE Results—Saturday Q2
| 1 |
Eric Granado |
Ene |
1:48.620 |
| 2 |
Lukas Tulovic |
Ene |
+0.191 |
| 3 |
Dominique Aegerter |
Ene |
+0.256 |
| 4 |
Matteo Ferrari |
Ene |
+0.325 |
| 5 |
Alejandro Medina |
Ene |
+0.376 |
| 6 |
Xavier Simeon |
Ene |
+0.450 |
| 7 |
Alex De Angelis |
Ene |
+0.511 |
| 8 |
Jordi Torres |
Ene |
+0.673 |
| 9 |
Niki Tuuli |
Ene |
+0.752 |
| 10 |
Mattia Casadei |
Ene |
+0.754 |
2020 Spanish MotoGP Saturday News
Rins’ title hopes already hanging by a thread
The first race has yet to get underway and one of the title favorites was already contemplating what could have been. Alex Rins was chasing a place on the front row in the final minute of Q2 when he lost the front at the fearsomely fast turn eleven.
2020 has already gone pearshaped for Alex Rins.
“I tried to recover but couldn’t so I entered the gravel trap at high speed and decided to drop the bike to avoid arriving at the barriers,” he explained. Problem was the Spaniard was traveling at close to 100mph when he dismounted. An ugly roll through the gravel followed, with one somersault dislocating his right shoulder and fracturing the top of his humerus bone. After being sedated at the track, the 24-year old’s injuries were confirmed at the Jerez hospital.
While retaining the hope of competing on Sunday, the chances of Rins being anywhere near full fitness for any of the first five races are slim.
A tale of two yellows
Yellow flags were the talk of the day on Saturday. Firstly because Marc Marquez avoided a grid-place penalty after clearly holding up Rins in FP3. The reigning champ had slowed when navigating a way through turns four and five, much to Rins’ annoyance.
Marquez was given the benefit of the doubt.
But the reigning champ was pardoned on account of yellow flags being shown at turn two due to Iker Lecuona’s fall. “There was a double yellow flag on turn two and was some marshals and some rider in the middle. So I slowed down. For that reason I didn’t look behind because I didn’t expect that somebody was pushing on that situation.”
Then there was the small matter of Quartararo’s pole lap, set in the final moments. The Frenchman broke the outright circuit record despite Jack Miller and Rins lying in the gravel as he rounded turn eleven. “When you see a yellow flag you don’t go as fast as normal. I was not really at a hundred percent on the limit in this corner but my lap was really good.”
The lack of action from the FIM stewards didn’t impress Aprilia’s Bradley Smith. “I do not agree with the fact that there were riders improving their lap time on the last lap, especially with waved yellow flags and two riders down at turn eleven, two bikes inside the gravel (trap) and maybe up to five or six marshals there. That’s dangerous! I have question marks over who actually deserves to be on pole position today.”
Rossi’s woes explained
As Quartararo and Maverick Viñales lit up qualifying, there was continued consternation for fellow Yamaha man Valentino Rossi. Despite improvements overnight improvements that allowed him to qualify eleventh, the 41-year old’s race pace was lousy as he finished FP4 17th.
Rossi was far from happy on Saturday.
There was an admission on Friday that “we are always in trouble with the temperature of the rear tire and the grip of the rear tire.” So on Saturday Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s head of two-wheel motorsport, had opined Rossi’s issues aboard the M1 stemmed from his body position on the bike. “He leans off the bike less than the other riders. For this reason he stresses the edge of the tire more and tire temperature rises.”
But Rossi offered a rebuke on Saturday evening. His issues could be explained, he said, by the ever softening constructions of Michelins tires. “If you look at the images I am a lot out of the bike because we worked a lot under this point of view and with the Bridgestone tires we were also more out of the bike than now. So now with the Michelin you cannot stay too much outside. But (Andrea) Dovizioso is another rider that is completely on the bike, but he doesn’t finish the tires.
“The problem is not that. Usually in my career I always prefer hard tyres at the front and rear. Now the Michelin tyres are very soft, very soft casing and very soft rubber, and for me it’s not easy Also because I am more tall, maybe the tallest, for sure more than the average.”
2020 Spanish MotoGP Results—Friday
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) took the fastest overall time on Day One of the 2020 Spanish MotoGP at Jerez, leading Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow on combined FP1 and FP2 times.
Marquez went to the top spot on Friday for the 2020 Spanish MotoGP.
Marquez topped the FP1 standings with Franco Morbidelli taking top honors in FP2, however, with track temperatures soaring from 98°F to 129°F between FP1 and FP2, the times from FP2 were nearly a second slower than FP1.
Marquez and his teammate brother Alex both suffered crashes in turn eight and two, respectively, with both riders unhurt.
It was a trying day for pre-race favorite Fabio Quartararo, who missed the first 20 minutes of FP1 as a penalty for training with a modified Yamaha YZF-R1M at Paul Ricard two weeks ago. The Frenchman went second fastest in FP2 behind Morbidelli to end up a disappointed 15th overall on combined times.
It was an excellent day for the KTM factory, with Pol Espargaro eighth, Iker Lecuona in ninth, and rookie Brad Binder in 10th on combined times. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) continued to gain speed as he recovers from a broken collarbone suffered in a motocross crash to take an encouraging fourth overall ahead of Suzuki’s Joan Mir.
2020 Spanish MotoGP Results—Friday Overall (FP1 and FP2)
| 1 |
Marc Marquez |
Hon |
1:37.350 |
| 2 |
Maverick Viñales |
Yam |
+ 0.024 |
| 3 |
Cal Crutchlow |
Hon |
+ 0.088 |
| 4 |
Andrea Dovizioso |
Duc |
+ 0.121 |
| 5 |
Joan Mir |
Suz |
+ 0.131 |
| 6 |
Jack Miller |
Duc |
+ 0.137 |
| 7 |
Alex Rins |
Suz |
+ 0.219 |
| 8 |
Pol Espargaro |
KTM |
+ 0.362 |
| 9 |
Iker Lecuona |
KTM |
+ 0.364 |
| 10 |
Brad Binder |
KTM |
+ 0.573 |
Moto2
Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Kalex) took the top spot in the Moto2 category, heading teammate Speed Up rider Jorge Navarro and Marco Bezzecchi.
Marini started the season off right with top spot on Friday in Moto2.
The Italian took the top spot in both FP1 and FP2 sessions, his best lap being a 1:41.410, with Qatar winner Tetsuta Nagashima fourth for Red Bull KTM and Marcel Schrotter aiming to make up for a disastrous 2019 season by going fifth fastest overall on day one.
America’s Joe Roberts finished the day ninth overall, 0.472s behind Marini.
2020 Spanish Moto2 Results—Friday Overall (FP1 and FP2)
| 1 |
Luca Marini |
Kal |
1:41.410 |
| 2 |
Jorge Navarro |
Spe |
+ 0.048 |
| 3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
Kal |
+ 0.315 |
| 4 |
Tetsuta Nagashima |
Kal |
+ 0.326 |
| 5 |
Marcel Schrotter |
Kal |
+ 0.342 |
Moto3
Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 Honda) dominated the opening day of the Moto3 championship, finishing a massive 0.430s ahead of Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Raul Fernandez, with John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda) third on combined times, 0.439s off the Argentinian.
Rodrigo smashed them on Friday on Moto3.
Andrea Migno (Sky VR46 KTM) was fourth ahead of Rodrigo’s teammate Jeremy Alcoba in fifth.
2020 Spanish Moto3 Results—Friday Overall (FP1 and FP2)
| 1 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
Hon |
1:45.663 |
| 2 |
Raul Fernandez |
KTM |
+ 0.430 |
| 3 |
John McPhee |
Hon |
+ 0.439 |
| 4 |
Andrea Migno |
KTM |
+ 0.502 |
| 5 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
Hon |
+ 0.526 |
2020 Spanish MotoGP Friday News
MotoGP in the time of COVID-19
From a television set, the MotoGP experience in the times of COVID-19 doesn’t differ drastically to before: full grids, close sessions, manned garages… Only the odd glance at empty grandstands around sections of the track indicate we are still living through a worldwide pandemic that has changed our way of living.
But the experience inside the paddock differs greatly. Due to fears of crowds gathering outside the circuit, hoping to catch a glance of their heroes, police guard the circuit to ensure the public doesn’t get close. Each individual was tested prior to the race weekend. Medical results must be shown upon arrival in the paddock. Only after they have been shown and temperatures have been taken is the individual allowed to enter.
No people, no fans, but MotoGP action nonetheless.
On-site personnel has been reduced by more than half and once inside the paddock, movements and interactions are restricted to the media center. An eerie quiet hangs over the paddock that normally houses thousands of fans. So much so riders can stroll between their motorhome and garage in peace. Rossi noted, “it’s very quiet! Don’t have many people! It’s unbelievable for me because I can walk in the paddock for the first time since 1997!”
But the Sunday experience is sure to be greatly affected. As Jack Miller noted, “On the out lap you see the crowds in the grandstand and you go, ‘Holy…!’ Normally after the race you give them a wave so it’s going to be kind of depressing. If you finish the race, have something to celebrate, then there’s no one to celebrate it with. It’s like a ghost town out there!”
Dovizioso’s rapid return explained
Just over three weeks ago, the prognosis was bleak: Andrea Dovizioso had fractured his left collarbone in a motocross event in his native Italy. The prospect of facing 25 laps at Jerez, a circuit that has rarely been kind to both the Italian and his Ducati Desmosedici in the past, in the middle of summer was a daunting one before the accident occurred.
Quick intervention made Dovi’s return possible.
Now his title chances were under threat before he had even turned a wheel.
But the three-time MotoGP runner-up set about the recovery with his usual intelligence and zeal. He was operated on soon after the fall, with a metal plate attached to the collarbone by six screws. “I called my doctor straight away and he prepared the operation for the same night,” he explained. “To make the surgery immediately is very good for the bone.”
“The people around me — my trainer, surgeon, and my physio — all know each other very well ad they know me so that helped to make sure we all worked together. The day after the surgery I could move my arm and they knew whether it was good to push or to stop moving my shoulder. If I had taken a week to move this it would have meant that I would lose a lot of muscle in the shoulder.
“I had been working so hard for three months that these three weeks haven’t hurt me. I have a plate on the bone but it’s not a problem. I removed the stitches on Friday and I drove a go-kart to make sure everything was working as planned. (On Wednesday) I had it all confirmed and I know it won’t affect my weekend.”
The injury caused him quite a bit of discomfort on Wednesday, but a day of rest on Thursday allowed him to attack free practice with vigor. “Today the feeling was much better. My body, my collarbone, I forgot my situation,” he said on Friday.
Rossi’s deal oh so close, but…
One would be forgiven for thinking the enforced Italian lockdown would have offered Valentino Rossi a glimpse of retired life. Could the lack of airports, irksome fans or photographers’ lenses persuade the 41-year old that life at home wouldn’t be that bad?
Rossi will saddle up once again next year, it seems…
It appears not. On Wednesday the nine-time World Champion claimed there is a “99%” chance he will continue with Petronas SRT Yamaha in 2021, meaning he will be racing by the time he hits 42 years of age. In truth, Rossi had concluded he wanted to keep challenging for wins and podiums as early as June. So what’s the hold up?
The two parties (Rossi and Petronas SRT Yamaha) have yet to agree on the personnel of what will be Rossi’s team. It’s understood the Italian is hopeful of brining as many as 20 faces with him from the factory team to the satellite outfit, just as he did when moving from Honda to Yamaha (at the end of 2003) and from Yamaha to Ducati (at the end of 2010).
Petronas management isn’t so keen on this approach, however. Team Director Johan Stigefelt and Team Manager Wilco Zeelenberg smartly recruited experienced personnel in 2018, which went some way to explaining the squads immediate success last year. Rossi’s stay won’t be a long one, and a number of his technicians may retire when he does. For a figure that has eyes on a long stay in MotoGP, this kind of swap doesn’t interest Petronas management.
“We have made an agreement on the matter with him,” confirmed Team Principle Razlan Razali in a post on Facebook. “Although there is a problem between us and Valentino Rossi, which is more or less technical and in terms of the technical staff that he wants to bring or he has an agreement with what we have prepared for him next year.”
Rossi seems unmoved by the delay and believes an agreement will be finalized soon. “This situation (COVID-19) changed the plan,” he said on Thursday. “I have to take my decision without racing. I speak a lot with Yamaha, I want to continue. It’ll be a big effort. I want to be part of the game next year. I’ve agreed with Yamaha and spoken with Petronas. Everything is fixed. I didn’t sign the contract because we have to build the team. I think a lot of people will move from one team to the other but we will fix as soon as possible.”
Just how many move with him remains to be seen.
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