Jerez MotoGP Friday Round Up: Pedrosa Surprises, Aprilias Dominate, And Why Horsepower Is Not Yamaha's Biggest Problem

By David Emmett | Fri, 28/04/2023 - 23:14

Though it is always a pleasure to have wildcard riders to spice up the grid, you expect them to add a bit of color, and then ride around in the vain hope of a top ten. What you don't expect – at least, not since the demise of the 500s at the beginning of the century – is for a wildcard rider to turn up at a circuit and top the first session of practice immediately. Shades of Norick Abe at Suzuka in 1994.

I had been tipped about Dani Pedrosa by someone who was at the private MotoGP test at Jerez before Austin. Word was he was fast, and looking determined. That tip proved to be golden, the KTM test rider, entered as a wildcard at Jerez, ending the morning session of practice as fastest, and third fastest overall on the first day.

"Very happy and a good day," Pedrosa said in his usual understated way. "Unexpected obviously. Happy for the team and for the fans. It was a surprise, this morning especially. I had a good feeling. It is my first ’36 in this track. I am happy to improve the lap time with my age! It’s nice."

2023 Jerez MotoGP Practice 2 Result: Aprilia Takes 1-2, Bagnaia, Quartararo Out Of Q2

By David Emmett | Fri, 28/04/2023 - 14:11

The factory Aprilia team put in a very strong charge at the end of Practice 2 to grab the top two spots on Friday, Aleix Espargaro pipping teammate Maverick Viñales by just two thousandths of a second to finish first.

Jack Miller was third quickest in the session, finishing ahead of Johann Zarco and Miguel Oliveira, while Alex Marquez was sixth fastest.

2023 Jerez Moto2 Practice 2 Result: Acosta Leads Canet

By David Emmett | Fri, 28/04/2023 - 13:45

Pedro Acosta finished a hot afternoon session of free practice at the top of the Moto2 timesheets. The KTM Ajo rider was nearly a quarter of a second faster than Aron Canet and Sam Lowes, while Lowes' Marc VDS teammate Tony Arbolino was fourth quickest. The rising temperatures meant that nobody in the top 20 improved their times.

Results:

2023 Jerez Moto3 Practice 2 Result: Masia Edges Sasaki And Migno

By David Emmett | Fri, 28/04/2023 - 12:24

Jaume Masia ended the second session of practice for the Moto3 class at the top of the timesheets, the Leopard Honda rider a hundredth of a second faster than Ayumu Sasaki on the Husqvarna. Andrea Migno was less than a tenth behind Masia in third, and just ahead of Kaito Toba and Tatsuki Suzuki.

Times were much slower in the afternoon, Masia seven tenths slower than Deniz Öncü's time set this morning. Only a few riders managed to improve their times.

Results:

2023 Jerez MotoGP Practice 1 Result: Pedrosa Makes A Statement

By David Emmett | Fri, 28/04/2023 - 09:58

Dani Pedrosa has come to Jerez with a point to prove. The KTM test rider used his experience from the test here three weeks ago to set a string of fast laps and take top spot in the first session of practice for the MotoGP class. The MotoGP veteran was seven tenths faster than he was in the test, and a few hundredths of a second faster than the second-best rider at Jerez, Jorge Martin on the Pramac Ducati.

2023 Jerez Moto2 Practice 1 Result: Lowes Holds Off Chantra

By David Emmett | Fri, 28/04/2023 - 09:51

Sam Lowes set the standard in the Moto2 class at Jerez, topping the timesheets in the first session of practice for the Moto2 class. Somkiat Chantra took second spot, just under a quarter of a second behind Lowes. Chantra headed up a close group with Alonso Lopez at the head, and Pedro Acosta and Jake Dixon not far behind.

Result:

Jerez MotoGP Thursday Preview: Finding Your Feet Where History Calls

By David Emmett | Thu, 27/04/2023 - 23:15

They say that the season only really begins when MotoGP returns to Europe and the paddock assembles again in Jerez. The first few races, usually flyaways, present too jumbled a picture to make complete sense of the MotoGP season. With everyone back at a track where they have thousands of laps and petabytes of data, the real strengths and weaknesses come to the fore.

Critics of this idea point to the fact that in 2023, the season started in Europe already, the first round of the season having taken place at Portimão in Portugal. But anyone who has ever been to Portimão (or frankly, seen it on TV) will know that the Portuguese circuit is like nothing else on the calendar, the elevation changes and mixture of slow and fast corners giving it its unique character. Add in Argentina – a fast flowing track that only really get used once a year, and has probably the lowest grip surface of the year – and Austin – the most physically demanding circuit of the year, replete with bumps and sketchy asphalt in places – and you have three races which are a long way from being typical of the season.

Jerez feels like the real start of the season for other reasons as well. A track and event steeped in history, with one of the loudest and most passionate crowds of the year. An ancient Spanish city which exudes motorcycling passion and culture. Great food, great wine, and a warm and welcoming local populace. This is how the start of a MotoGP season is supposed to be.

Busman's Holiday – What MotoGP Can Learn From WorldSBK

By David Emmett | Wed, 26/04/2023 - 17:54

For a long time, I was unable to visit my home round of the WorldSBK series. (As an immigrant, I have either 0, 1, or 2 home rounds, depending on your particular perspective or prejudice.) That was because Dorna had the irritating habit of putting the Dutch round of WorldSBK at Assen on the same weekend as the Austin round of MotoGP. Assen is 90 minutes from my house, so I can visit any time I like, but I don't get a lot of opportunities to head to Texas. So I would get on a plane to the US, and rue another lost opportunity.

Kazakhstan Round Of MotoGP Canceled - MotoGP Now Down To 20 Rounds

By David Emmett | Wed, 26/04/2023 - 12:51

The inaugural Kazakhstan MotoGP round has been canceled. In a press release today, Dorna and the FIM have announced that homologation work is still needed for the circuit to be able to host a MotoGP race.

The press release also mentions "current global operational challenges", which suggests that the logistics of hosting a race in Kazakhstan pose significant problems. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a significant impact on the cost and availability of airfreight, but other factors may also be an issue. Paddock sources told me that, for example, they found it impossible to secure the number of rental cars which are needed for an event the scale of a MotoGP round.

The race will not be replaced, meaning that the calendar is now back down to 20 rounds. There will now be a summer break of 5 weeks between the Dutch TT at Assen, the last round in June, and the British Grand Prix in Silverstone on August 6th.

The press release appears below:

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