Rennie Scaysbrook | October 25, 2020
Sunday
MotoGP
Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) didn’t put a foot wrong on Sunday afternoon to claim his second victory of 2020 at the Gran Premio Liqui Moly de Teruel. It was a classy ride from the Italian as he led Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins over the line by two seconds, with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) picking up another third at MotorLand to extend his Championship lead. Pole man Takaaki Nakagami crashed out of the lead on the first lap.
Morbidelli was masterful at Aragon, taking the win over Rins.
Morbidelli’s win is the first from a non-Spaniard at Aragon since Casey Stoner in 2011.
In the standings, Mir leads on 137 points to Quartararo’s 123 with Vinales third on 118.
2020 Teruel MotoGP Results
| 1 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
|
| 2 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 2.205 |
| 3 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 5.376 |
| 4 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+ 10.229 |
| 5 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 12.915 |
| 6 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 12.953 |
| 7 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 14.262 |
| 8 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 14.720 |
| 9 |
Iker Lecuona |
(KTM) |
+17.177 |
| 10 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Duc) |
+ 19.519 |
Moto2
For the first time since Phil Read in 1971, a British rider has won three intermediate class World Championship races in a row. Dominant Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was in a league of his own at the Teruel GP to take his third win in a row, seeing the number 22 take the title lead heading into the final three races. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Lightech Speed Up) finishes second, 8.4 seconds behind Lowes, with Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) relinquishing his title lead despite a second MotorLand podium.
Lowes (22) was in charge from start to finish and now leads the Moto2 championship.
In the series, Lowes leads on 178 from Bastianini on 171 with Marini third on 155.
2020 Teruel Moto2 Results
| 1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
|
| 2 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Spe) |
+ 8.425 |
| 3 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Kal) |
+10.871 |
| 4 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 12.657 |
| 5 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Spe) |
+ 13.006 |
| 6 |
Jorge Martin |
(Kal) |
+ 14.766 |
| 7 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 16.905 |
| 8 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 17.027 |
| 9 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(Kal) |
+ 21.888 |
| 10 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 22.951 |
Moto3
After becoming the 100th different Grand Prix winner for Honda last weekend, Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) handed the Japanese manufacturer their 800th Grand Prix win with a pitch-perfect performance at the Gran Premio Liqui Moly de Teruel. The Spaniard grabbed the win at the penultimate corner to cross the line ahead of Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) as the Japanese rider secures his maiden Moto3™ rostrum. Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) bags his first podium of 2020 with a P3 as Championship leader Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3) gets shuffled back to P4 on the last lap – but he extends his title lead.
Masia (5) took the win in the dog fight to the line in Moto3.
Arenas leads the series on 157 from Ogura’s 138 and Vietti’s 137. Masia sits fourth on 133.
2020 Teruel Moto3 Results
| 1 |
Jaume Masia |
(Hon) |
|
| 2 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 0.051 |
| 3 |
Kaito Toba |
(KTM) |
+ 0.152 |
| 4 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+ 0.296 |
| 5 |
Celestino Vietti |
(KTM) |
+ 0.331 |
| 6 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.372 |
| 7 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.583 |
| 8 |
Darryn Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.772 |
| 9 |
Ai Ogura |
(Hon) |
+ 0.955 |
| 10 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Hon) |
+ 2.259 |
Saturday News
Dismal Ducati
Sitting fourth, 15th points back of the title lead coming into the Teruel Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso still harbored realistic goals of winning a maiden MotoGP World Championship. But those hopes are all but lost after a disastrous weekend in which all Ducatis have struggled at the Motorland Aragon Circuit.
Pramac’s Jack Miller was the fastest 2020-spec Desmosedici in qualifying in 14th, while factory runners Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci lagged in 17th and 19th places.
It’s looking pretty bleak at Ducati right now.
Asked where the Ducatis were losing time, Dovizioso quipped, “I think it’s more difficult to explain where we gain! But this is a track where the turning of the bike is pretty important, and the way you have to ride with this tyre, where on the maximum angle you don’t have a lot of grip, you have to wait to open on angle, because the characteristic of the new tyre become bigger. But the bad thing is that the competitors improve from last week, but not us.”
With a double-header at the tight, twisty Valencia track coming up, Ducati’s chances of winning a second rider’s championship appear to be over.
Race Direction ‘Go Nuclear’ on Moto3
Race Direction and the FIM Stewards decided to toughen up the consequences of irresponsible riding in the Moto3 class. The decision came after 17 riders were punished because of touring during qualifying for the previous GP.
Prior to this announcement, riders were forced to sit out a set amount of time in certain Free Practice sessions. Repeat offenders had to sit out longer spells of more crucial sessions, like missing the final 25 minutes of FP3. Yet this weekend there were six fourth time offenders. The Stewards concluded these punishments were lacking in severity.
Moto3 riders are getting hammered by race direction for irresponsible riding.
They also determined previous misdemeanors only punished practice or, potentially, a qualifying position. The new penalties will now have a direct effect on the race. First time offenders now will be forced to complete a Long Lap Penalty in the race, while riders who repeat the offense must complete a double Long Lap Penalty. Third time offender? Then it’s a pit lane start and Long Lap Penalty. Fourth time? A pit lane ride through is coming your way. More frequent than a fifth time will result in disqualification from the event.
The first riders to fall victim to these new penalties were Barry Baltus, Alonso Lopez and Kharil Idham Pawi, who have been given a Long Lap Penalty for Sunday’s race.
Estrella Galicia 0,0 pulls Moto3 team
The news that Sky Racing VR46 will withdraw its Moto3 squad from the junior category next year was a blow to the class. Now confirmation has arrived that Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda will do the same, leaving another glaring hole in the 2021 Moto3 grid.
There’ll be no more Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 team next year, which is big trouble for the class.
Overseen by Emilio Alzamora, personal manager of the Marquez brothers, the Catalan outfit and title sponsor Estrella Galicia, a Spanish beer giant, were reported to have been dismayed at its current rider Sergio Garcia opting to leave the team for the Aspar KTM Moto3 squad. Garcia was a rider the team brought through from the junior levels of the national championship.
During its nine year stay in the class, the team established itself as one of the most professional structures in the category. Along with winning the Moto3 title with Alex Marquez in 2014, it fostered the likes of Alex Rins, Fabio Quartararo, Miguel Oliveira and Enea Bastianini.
It scored 18 wins, 67 podiums and 23 pole positions in that time.
Saturday
Takaaki Nakagami knocked the MotoGP field out of the park with a superlative performance in qualifying for the 2020 Teruel MotoGP at Motorland Aragon, securing his first ever MotoGP pole position.
Nakagami was absolutely brilliant on Saturday at Aragon 2.
The Japanese rider, who recently announced a two-year contract directly with the Honda Racing Corporation, was in charge throughout the Q2 session and banked a 1:46.882 on his final flying lap. For much of the session, Nakagami was three tenths clear of the field, however, Franco Morbidelli closed the gap to just 0.063 seconds at the close of play for second on the grid for Petronas Yamaha.
Third went to Aragon GP winner Alex Rins, with Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and Ducati’s Johann Zarco rounding out the top five.
2020 Teruel MotoGP—Qualifying
| 1 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
1:46.882 |
| 2 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.063 |
| 3 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.273 |
| 4 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.359 |
| 5 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.415 |
| 6 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.444 |
| 7 |
Cal Crutchlow |
(Hon) |
+ 0.495 |
| 8 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.627 |
| 9 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+ 0.637 |
| 10 |
Alex Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.721 |
Moto2
Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) remains the man to beat at MotorLand Aragon after yet another lap record-breaking session at Aragon. In Q2, the British rider was untouchable as he set a 1:51.296 to take pole position, eventually beating Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up) by over two tenths. Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) completes the front row as Championship leader Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) claims P6.
Lowes is looking red hot in Moto2 with another pole.
2020 Teruel Moto2—Qualifying
| 1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
1:51.296 |
| 2 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Spe) |
+ 0.216 |
| 3 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.415 |
| 4 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Spe) |
+ 0.424 |
| 5 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.425 |
| 6 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.480 |
| 7 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 0.484 |
| 8 |
Hector Garzo |
(Kal) |
+ 0.535 |
| 9 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.543 |
| 10 |
Bo Bendsneyder |
(NTS) |
+ 0.650 |
Moto3
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez was once again unstoppable over one lap around MotorLand Aragon as he stormed to his second Moto3 pole position in seven days. The Spaniard’s final flying lap was only a tenth adrift of the fastest-ever lightweight class lap around the Alcaniz circuit with the returning Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) a quarter of a second back in second and Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) 0.345 seconds adrift in third.
Another pole position for Fernandez in Moto3.
2020 Teruel Moto3—Qualifying
| 1 |
Raul Fernandez |
(KTM) |
1:57.199 |
| 2 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Hon) |
+ 0.231 |
| 3 |
Celestino Vietti |
(KTM) |
+ 0.345 |
| 4 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+ 0.362 |
| 5 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+ 0.477 |
| 6 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 0.510 |
| 7 |
Jaume Masia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.612 |
| 8 |
Kaito Toba |
(KTM) |
+ 0.623 |
| 9 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.638 |
| 10 |
Ai Ogura |
(Hon) |
+ 0.650 |
Friday News
Marquez’s recovery ´slower than thought’
On Friday Honda was moved to provide an update on the recovery of the reigning world Champion after a story in Spanish sports daily El Mundo Deportivo emerged this week claiming the 27-year old may require a third operation on the upper right arm he initially broke in July’s Spanish Grand Prix.
There’s still a ways to go for Marquez.
Speaking to Spanish TV, Repsol Honda Team Boss Alberto Puig said, “(Marc) Marquez is on the mend. He’s trying to get well again. (The recovery) is slower than we thought, but the idea is to try to get the bone to heal well and that he can continue to recover. The truth is that it’s going slowly, but he is moving forward. Right now, there is no reason to think about anything else, let’s hope. Obviously, I am not a fortune teller, but in theory we should think that it will go well. He’ll most likely continue to recover little by little.”
The chances of the #93 returning to racing action in November get slimmer with the passing of each week.
Nakagami to get his hands on latest Honda
Takaaki Nakagami is to be rewarded for his sterling efforts this season by HRC as the 28-year old signed a two-year contract with Honda to stay in the LCR team for 2021.
Crucially, the Japanese rider will have the same spec-bike as Repsol riders Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro when the season eventually kicks off. Nakagami has always been competing with year-old RC213Vs since joining MotoGP in 2018.
Nakagami’s recent performances have netted him the same bike as Marc Marquez for the next two years.
“Another two years fixed for the future,” he said on Thursday. “Now I can focus on the last four races. For next season, I can say I will ride the latest bike. I mean four bikes exactly the same. So this is good news for me because the last three years I rode the previous [year’s] bike.”
His performances on Friday led current championship leader Joan Mir to state Nakagami, who sits 29 points back in the championship, is a very real threat for the title.
Covid-19 paranoia
Racing in a time of a global pandemic is a risky business. At the Teruel GP Moto3 rider Riccardo Rossi became the latest paddock figure confirmed to catch the Covid-19 virus. He’ll miss the weekend’s action as a result.
The news that the Teruel province, where the Motorland Aragon Circuit is located, will go into strict lockdown on the Monday after the race is yet another reminder of the severity of the situation, especially in Spain, a country that had a number of more than 20,000 new infections on Thursday.
Riccardo Rossi is the latest rider to bite the Covid-19 dust.
The news is leaving many riders nervous about their health and the chances of finishing the championship. “I’m really worried about that honestly, because it’s something that is difficult to control,” said MotoGP title leader Joan Mir. “After this race, I will go home (to Andorra) like normal, but then at home it will be difficult, I don’t want to go out. Itwill be crucial for us to not miss any races.”
Rival Fabio Quartararo agrees. “I’m more nervous when I’m home than at the races, because even if you stay at home, you train at home, you do everything at home, until you get your negative test, you are not calm. So after this race until Valencia, I will be at home.”
Friday
Friday action ended at Motorland Aragon for the 2020 Teruel MotoGP with Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu LCR Honda) topping the overall combined times from FP1 and FP2.
With a new two-year HRC contract in his back pocket, Nakagami was flying on Friday at Aragon.
The Japanese rider led the majority of the session and eventually clocked a 1:47.782, heading Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and LCR teammate Cal Crutchlow.
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha), looking to improve on his disastrous race at Aragon last weekend where he scored zero points after a front tire issue, was fourth on Friday. Quartararo’s title rival Joan Mir (Ecstar Suzuki) was fifth, one place up on FP1 pacesetter Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda).
2020 Teruel MotoGP Results—Friday Combined
| 1 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
1:47.782 |
| 2 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.175 |
| 3 |
Cal Crutchlow |
(Hon) |
+ 0.329 |
| 4 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.382 |
| 5 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.400 |
| 6 |
Alex Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.402 |
| 7 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.408 |
| 8 |
Iker Lecuona |
(KTM) |
+ 0.578 |
| 9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.644 |
| 10 |
Pol Espargaro |
(KTM) |
+ 0.657 |
Moto2
After EG 0,0 Marc VDS teammate Augusto Fernandez topped the times in FP1, Sam Lowes took turn to be the rider to beat as the Aragon GP winner ended Friday on top of the pile on combined times. The man second in the championship is 0.058 ahead of Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up) thanks to a 1:51.920 in the afternoon session, Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) rounds out the top three.
Lowes is really hitting his stride right now and took the top spot in Moto2 on Friday.
2020 Teruel Moto2 Results—Friday Combined
| 1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
1:51.920 |
| 2 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Spe) |
+0.058 |
| 3 |
Hector Garzo |
(Kal) |
+0.260 |
| 4 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Spe) |
+0.289 |
| 5 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+0.290 |
| 6 |
Jorge Martin |
(KTM) |
+0.415 |
| 7 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+0.419 |
| 8 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+0.428 |
| 9 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Kal) |
+0.581 |
| 10 |
Edgar Pons |
(Kal) |
+0.614 |
Moto3
Jeremy Alcoba (Kommerling Gresini Moto3) was quickest in FP2, but it was only good enough for second overall in the combined times as Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) took top spot following the conclusion of Moto3’s Friday action.
Masia topped Friday in Moto3.
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kommerling Gresini Moto3) were second and third fastest in the session, but neither could crack the top three as Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) finished third thanks to a good showing in FP1. Rodrigo’s hopes of improving his time ended earlier than hoped as he went flying into the gravel at Turn 12 after clipping the back of Nicolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) on his final time attack.
2020 Teruel Moto3 Results—Friday Combined
| 1 |
Jaume Masia |
(Hon) |
1:58.076 |
| 2 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(Hon) |
+ 0.004 |
| 3 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.136 |
| 4 |
Raul Fernandez |
(KTM) |
+ 0.144 |
| 5 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+ 0.192 |
| 6 |
Darryn Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.197 |
| 7 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.203 |
| 8 |
Ai Ogura |
(Hon) |
+ 0.256 |
| 9 |
Albert Arenas |
(KTM) |
+ 0.443 |
| 10 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.550 |
Click here for all the latest MotoGP news.
