Franco Morbidelli discusses VR46 debut: "There's something truly special here"

"We possess something extraordinary, and it's crucial we leverage it"

Franco Morbidelli is enthusiastic about utilizing his remarkable connection with VR46 as he joins Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP squad for the 2025 season.

The racer from Italy, who became the first world champion for the VR46 Academy in Moto2 2017 and secured a victory in MotoGP in 2020, is transitioning to a new team from Pramac.

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In addition to being in a well-known environment, Morbidelli stands out as one of the select riders who will maintain the same model of motorcycle in 2025.

This year at Pramac, Morbidelli was equipped with the same factory Desmosedici GP24 that his team-mate Jorge Martin used to clinch the championship. However, Morbidelli was unable to participate in any pre-season testing because he suffered from head injuries.

The ex-Yamaha contender who once vied for the championship secured a podium finish in the Sprint at Misano, placed fourth in the Indonesian Grand Prix, and ended up ninth in the overall rankings.

He kicked off his journey with Pertamina VR46, securing a seventh-place finish, trailing by 0.762 seconds, during the Barcelona test on Tuesday.

"Today mattered a lot in terms of familiarizing myself with my colleagues for the upcoming year," noted Morbidelli.

This group also consists of Matteo Flamigni, previously the chief mechanic for Marco Bezzecchi and once an electronic engineer for Rossi.

"Morbidelli expressed, 'Having been acquainted with numerous team members for a long time, it's truly a privilege to collaborate with them.'"

"Since my childhood, I've been a fan of Matteo. He achieved historical milestones alongside Vale as his electronics engineer, and we shared a great connection."

Morbidelli also mentioned, "My respect for everyone in the team, along with our mutual understanding, creates something truly special that we should leverage to its fullest potential.

"It's essential to utilize it as a means of quickly establishing connections and relationships to accomplish our goals."

The launch on Tuesday went quite well initially.

"Morbidelli described the initial day as outstanding. He mentioned that they made several adjustments to the motorcycle to grasp what was occurring, aiming to foster understanding amongst himself and his team.

"This will be the key factor for the upcoming year. The more we understand each other during these challenging moments, the more effectively we will perform and respond during the racing weekends."

"I enjoy the ambiance; it has everything necessary for success. We put in a lot of effort, and I chose not to switch to the soft tire towards the end because it was too chilly to better our lap time. All in all, it was an excellent beginning."

What about the unique leather materials?

"Gorgeous. I'm eager to see more pictures since it was truly delightful."

Fabio di Giannantonio, Morbidelli's teammate, was absent from the test because he recently underwent surgery on his shoulder.

For two decades, Peter has witnessed the ebb and flow of the paddock, including the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He's leading the coverage on Suzuki's withdrawal and the challenges Marc Marquez faces with his injuries.

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Why Honda MotoGP's 'less than optimistic' test outcomes aren't causing Zarco stress

LCR competitor shares thoughts on MotoGP testing in Barcelona

Johann Zarco has remarked that his experience testing the 2025 Honda model during the MotoGP off-season trials in Barcelona didn't yield optimistic results, yet he remains composed and is not overly concerned about the situation.

Honda factory team competitor Joan Mir expressed disappointment over the absence of fresh components at Tuesday's Barcelona trial by the Japanese brand.

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The 2020 global champion mentioned that all the enhancements he attempted for 2025 were ones he had previously experimented with this year, anticipating the addition of newer components.

In the trials, Zarco secured the 10th position out of all participants, completing 65 laps and notably outpacing his fellow HRC competitors. However, he also expressed dissatisfaction with the progression of the motorcycle he was testing.

He started by saying, "We introduced something fresh, alongside a new bicycle, but the outcome wasn't quite favorable."

"Hence, it might be wise to consider alternate paths for February. Personally, transitioning between my race bike and the new model, I focused on adapting my riding technique to maximize the bike's potential."

"Today was great because I focused on brief, high-quality runs which felt amazing. We experimented with various techniques that resulted in positive experiences."

Overall, the day went well, but considering Honda's ambitions for the upcoming year, we need to schedule a discussion to evaluate and decide whether to continue in the direction they chose today or not.

"I believe they will not proceed with it. Generally, from what we've observed in comparison to other motorcycles, the focus is on enhancing our engine."

"It stands as a crucial aspect since our bike isn't the quickest, making it vital to possess significant power for battling on the straights and securing advantageous spots for overtaking maneuvers during braking."

"The vulnerability of our bicycle lies in the control of rear traction."

"We haven't made any progress yet. The grip control could be beneficial for speeding up as well as for the braking section, which is where we're struggling."

Zarco experimented with a new chassis among other updates, but he mentions it detracted from the strengths of the RC213V and failed to enhance its traction, which was a known issue.

However, he isn't rushing to sound the alarm just now since he believes that experimenting with something that failed still benefits Honda.

"He mentioned that it was removing the positive aspects."

"Our shortcomings weren't addressed. This signifies something. Hence, I'm not allowing it to stress me out, as our pace wasn't significantly reduced.

"As we currently lag behind a Ducati in speed, our forthcoming actions need to enhance our lap times."

"For me, it was a beneficial day because we completed numerous productive laps and focused on improving my skills, which gave me a positive sensation."

"The feedback we received from testing various parts of the bike was positive and provided a wealth of crucial information that will be analyzed throughout the winter."

"The project isn't exactly new, but the changes they made weren't beneficial for the users."

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The overlooked standout from the 2024 Barcelona MotoGP trials

Crash.net examines the post-season Barcelona trials in the newest episode of the Crash MotoGP Podcast

Significant alterations were noticeable on the track during the post-season MotoGP test in Barcelona, which took place earlier this week for the 2024 season.

Amidst the widespread attention on Jorge Martin's inaugural run on the Aprilia as the new world champion and Marc Marquez's initial appearance in the factory Ducati team, another racer subtly made a strong impression during his initial outing on a KTM.

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Maverick Vinales has transitioned from Aprilia to join the KTM team at Tech3 for the 2025 season, managing an impressive 12th place finish among the official RS-GPs as he adapted to the RC16.

In this episode of the Crash MotoGP Podcast, the panel delves into Vinales' early reactions to the motorcycle and what insights we can gather from his inaugural run with the KTM.

"Vinales found the engine power captivating right after his move from Aprilia," noted Peter McLaren, the Editor for Crash MotoGP.

"He likely achieved the highest speed during the trial. He also enjoyed the initial bursts of speed, particularly because KTM's starting capability is among the finest in MotoGP, possibly surpassing even that of Ducati."

"He took great pleasure in that experience. Although he had his reservations about the high-speed turns, an area where the Aprilia excelled, he mentioned that it still felt quite satisfactory."

"In the initial stages, during the testing phase, it's crucial to proceed with caution regarding the grip levels. This is particularly important for any manufacturer experiencing a deficiency in grip – a common issue as many are in search of some form of grip or traction improvement."

"It's important to proceed with caution when drawing conclusions from a Tuesday trial, especially after a full day of tire activity on the track. However, Vinales mentioned that his initial reaction was highly favorable."

Jordan Moreland, the social media manager for Crash, commented, "He appeared quite self-assured. It seemed like a perfect match."

Maverick has a unique flair that makes him appear impressive on any motorcycle he rides, whether it was while riding the Suzuki, Yamaha, or Aprilia, he always managed to look stylish.

"I believe he's an excellent addition due to his vast experience. Despite being tagged as unpredictable and it being uncertain how he'll perform from one week to the next."

"However, I mentioned earlier that there will be a weekend next year when he'll be in the thick of the battle, vying for a victory."

In his briefing, Crash Senior Journalist Lewis Duncan described it as "natural."

"It's been a while since Maverick has shown such joy. He was truly satisfied with the motorcycle, appreciating every aspect of it. He views himself as the top contender in starting races within MotoGP, especially based on the data he's observed, and he was thoroughly impressed by KTM's capabilities."

"He's visibly thrilled about the shift to KTM. He had consistently shown a strong desire to test out the bike, and now that he has, it seems he's genuinely eager about the future possibilities."

Clearly, we must approach Maverick's statements with some skepticism as he expressed confusion over the weekend about his performance during the Americas GP. He remains puzzled about why he performed so well there, as well as in Portugal, considering those events as anomalies.

"Is the issue with him or the motorcycle? Considering the performance of Aprilia after that moment before it began to decline, it's challenging to determine. That's the major dilemma facing Maverick."

"He seems overly sensitive to me. It's evident that he excels when conditions are ideal, but once they deviate, his performance significantly declines. This has been particularly noticeable with the KTMs this season."

"When they perform well, they're leading the pack. However, when they struggle, like in the last weekend's qualifying: Acosta advanced to Q2, yet the subsequent KTM ranked 18th."

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Pecco Bagnaia's decisive mistake in the championship race didn't occur in 2024

This year, in the MotoGP championship, Pecco Bagnaia was defeated by Jorge Martin, the same competitor he outpaced in 2023.

In the 2024 MotoGP championship, the battle for the title once again came down to Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, marking the second consecutive year these two competitors faced off for the crown. This time, however, the outcome was different, with Martin clinching the championship over Bagnaia, showcasing significant improvement from his performance the previous year.

At first glance, throughout both 2023 and 2024, Bagnaia and Martin appeared to be on par with each other to such an extent that it seems justifiable for each to have secured one championship title over the two seasons.

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Nonetheless, it could be argued that the confrontations in both years might not have occurred if not for a crucial error made by Bagnaia.

Following the 2023 Catalan Sprint, Bagnaia was at the forefront of the championship, holding a 62-point lead over Martin. He stood out as the sole competitor who could match the speed of the Aprilia team members — Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales — during the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in September. At that stage in the season, he was performing exceptionally well, evidently distinguishing himself as the top contender in the competition.

However, the course of events shifted dramatically when Bagnaia fell at the second turn, and Brad Binder, despite reasonable efforts, could not dodge the Italian as he made his way into the third turn during last year's Catalan Grand Prix.

There's no denying that the accident significantly eased Martin's task of narrowing the distance to Bagnaia in the season's latter stages. Indeed, one could say that if it weren't for that mishap, Martin might not have genuinely been in the running for the championship in 2023.

Indeed, his entry into the title race was a consequence of the incident in turn two that led to Bagnaia's physical setback during the next week's San Marino Grand Prix and affected his confidence in the subsequent Asian races.

Certainly, 2023 had its fair share of unexpected events, but their significance largely stemmed from the crash in Catalunya. This incident not only awarded Martin valuable points but also, crucially, provided him with momentum.

Throughout the remainder of the season, Bagnaia found himself frequently playing catch-up, striving to match Martin's performance — achieving this with varying degrees of success at different times.

In 2023, Bagnaia clinched the title due to both his outstanding performance and the errors committed by Martin.

Consider the incident at the Indonesian Grand Prix, the decision-making regarding tyres at the Australian Grand Prix, and notably, the intense finale in Valencia that culminated in a collision with Marc Marquez.

Certainly, Martin also experienced his share of bad luck, particularly noticeable in his performance at the Qatar Grand Prix, the reasons for which remain largely unclear. However, this did not impact him as significantly as his experiences in Indonesia or Valencia.

Martin's success lies in his ability to recognize and enhance his weak points in 2023, leading to a significant improvement in 2024. Achieving 32 podium finishes out of 40 races is an impressive achievement, despite only securing victories in three Grand Prix events this year.

In the eight races where he didn't make it to the podium, one notable instance was during the Texas Sprint, amidst Ducati's most challenging rear tyre vibration problems of the season. Despite this, he managed to outperform Bagnaia in both races that weekend. Another event saw him just missing the podium with a fourth-place finish in the Barcelona Sprint, a race where Bagnaia did not finish due to a crash. Four incidents of him not placing in the top three — at the Spanish Grand Prix, German Grand Prix, Italian Sprint, and Indonesian Sprint — were due to crashes, interestingly all competitions where Bagnaia emerged victorious. At the San Marino Grand Prix, Martin ended up in 15th place after a bike swap, a race where Bagnaia secured a second-place finish. Lastly, Martin achieved a fourth-place finish in the Japanese Sprint after starting 11th, a result of a crash in Q2.

During the competitions where Martin experienced crashes, he was at the forefront in Spain, Germany, and Indonesia, and was trailing just behind Bagnaia in Italy as the runner-up. At the time he switched to his wet weather motorcycle in San Marino, Martin was positioned just after Bagnaia.

Beyond the previously mentioned races in Texas, Martin consistently challenged for a podium position throughout 2024, frequently achieving that goal.

In 2024, Martin secured a spot on the podium 32 times, with half of those finishes being runner-ups. Bagnaia clinched the victory in nine of those races.

This demonstrates Martin's capacity for calmness, a quality he lacked in 2023 due to his immaturity and self-doubt. These weaknesses caused Martin to falter in places like Indonesia and Australia, though such errors became significantly less frequent by 2024.

In 2023, Martin may have attempted to catch up to Marc Marquez at Aragon; by 2024, Martin understood that Marquez was not the competitor to focus on. In 2023, Martin could have continued striving to outperform Bagnaia in Malaysia; by 2024, Martin accepted that securing second place was satisfactory.

Throughout 2024, numerous examples demonstrated that Martin's ultimate triumph was due to consistently outperforming Bagnaia, who, despite winning nearly four times as many Grand Prix races as Martin, often found himself in the position of the pursuer.

What contributed to Martin's display of remarkable composure? Last year, he strategically navigated his path to securing a world championship.

The key moment unfolded in Catalunya 2023, marked by Bagnaia's accident. This incident unexpectedly thrust Martin into the spotlight for the championship race towards the end, revealing to him firsthand why he wasn't prepared to clinch the title in 2023. It highlighted the aspects he needs to improve on to enhance his prospects for victory in 2024.

Had Martin not remained closely behind Bagnaia towards the end of 2023, he wouldn’t have experienced the intense competition for the championship, thereby missing out on the opportunity to see his response to such stress. This experience was crucial; without it, his off-season advancements wouldn’t have been possible since they were based on insights gained throughout 2023. Entering 2024, he might have retained his quickness, yet lacked the essential mindset that proved critical in securing this year’s championship.

Could that have altered the results of 2024? It's conceivable, though naturally, there's no way to know with certainty.

Ultimately, in 2023, Bagnaia provided Martin with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge needed to secure the championship in 2024. However, it remained Martin's responsibility to correctly understand and apply these insights.

Now, in a peculiar twist, Martin's triumph in 2024 unexpectedly provides Bagnaia, a three-time World Champion, an opportunity to grasp similar teachings.

The factors leading to Bagnaia's failure to secure the championship this year are clear. It wasn't due to Brad Binder's aggressive racing in Jerez, a mechanical problem in Le Mans, or Alex Marquez's oversight in Aragon. The critical setbacks were the front-end crashes in Catalunya, Silverstone, and most notably, Misano.

As time progresses, it will become clear if Bagnaia is capable of achieving similar improvements to Martin during the forthcoming winter season.

In August 2024, Alex became a part of the Crash.net crew after spending two years reporting on consumer and racing motorcycle information for Visordown.

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Aleix Espargaro's initial reaction to the Honda MotoGP motorcycle: 'He found it impressive'

The ex-Aprilia rider experienced his initial rounds on the Honda during the Barcelona trials

Honda's official MotoGP competitors shared their perspective on Aleix Espargaro's first impressions of the RC213V following his trial run at the Barcelona test after the season ended.

Espargaro, who has clinched victory in three grand prix races, concluded his career as a full-time racer at the end of the Solidarity Grand Prix and has since taken up a new position with Honda as a test rider.

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On Tuesday in Barcelona, the Spanish rider took his initial turns on the RC213V and remarkably placed 14th on the leaderboard, surpassing full-time competitor Joan Mir.

Espargaro chose not to communicate with the press, however, Luca Marini disclosed details regarding his discussions with Honda's recently appointed test rider.

"He expressed his excitement about Aleix getting his first experience on the bike right here in Barcelona, considering it might be his most favored track."

"His incredible speed on this circuit and his outstanding performance with Aprilia have significantly contributed to the bike's development. His initial feedback from this track will be particularly beneficial."

"I briefly conversed with him amidst the exam, and I plan to have a more in-depth discussion later. However, the lap times are promising."

"His feedback indicates he's on to something, and from my perspective, all he needs is a bit more time to familiarize himself with the bike since it's quite unique compared to the rest. However, he'll figure out how to contribute to our efforts."

Mir observed that Espargaro identified both the strengths and weaknesses in the Honda that others had noted before, humorously adding that he was "impressed" by the weaknesses.

"Mir mentioned that the individual tested our fundamental model, the basic motorcycle we offer. To my understanding, he didn't experiment with any new features," he added, expressing his dissatisfaction with Honda's failure to introduce new products during the test.

He was taken aback. He plans to discuss it further. Indeed, the points he raised, which consistently come up in praise, include the bike's insufficient torque, its inadequate grip, and its shortfall in power.

"In locations where grievances are less common, his complaints were similarly infrequent. Within the rotating zone, he mentions feeling somewhat comfortable."

"He didn’t have much to criticize about the bike’s fundamental design and its geometry, as those aspects were quite satisfactory. However, he was notably taken aback by our shortcomings in terms of grip, acceleration, and overall top speed."

Honda's team leader, Alberto Puig, commended Espargaro for his "accurate" insights shared with the Honda engineers from the test team.

"He expressed immense joy and astonishment in his conversation with motogp.com, stating, 'We are extremely pleased and quite taken aback."

"It's no shock, given his speed. He was in contention for a top spot on Sunday."

"Indeed, the individual possesses the agility, yet what truly astonished me was his interaction with our engineers: he was direct, accurate, and explicit in his communication, clearly articulating what he perceives as the strengths and weaknesses of the motorcycle."

"This is precisely what we aimed for: someone with experience but also speed, because ultimately, it's about finding the right balance."

"Definitely optimistic, he appears joyful, and I am convinced that his involvement with us and Honda will play a significant role. We're beginning, and it's essential we devise a solid strategy alongside him."

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Alex Rins discloses Yamaha's regret regarding a problem with the 2024 MotoGP motorcycle

"He had an in-depth conversation with the team, during which they expressed their apologies"

Alex Rns disclosed that Yamaha issued an apology to him for failing to address the braking challenges he faced during the 2024 MotoGP season, following the Solidarity Grand Prix.

The racer who has won six grand prix titles had a challenging debut season with Yamaha, only managing to accumulate 31 points and finishing 18th in the rankings.

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Rins encountered a major challenge with the M1, specifically an inability to maintain rear tire grip during braking – an issue he claims Yamaha couldn't resolve.

Following what he termed as "arguably the worst or nearly the worst race of my career" during the Solidarity GP in Barcelona, he mentioned that the Yamaha team management extended an apology for not resolving this issue on his behalf.

"When questioned about the area Yamaha should focus on for enhancements in 2025 following the post-season test, he responded, emphasizing that, in his opinion, Yamaha should prioritize upgrading the braking and entry."

"This year, they couldn't provide me with a competitive bike for this field."

Throughout all the races, I faced difficulties maintaining traction with the rear tire. Ultimately, when you lack rear tire grip, it hampers your ability to decelerate the bike effectively during braking. This issue leads to either veering off course, or, in instances where I managed to halt the bike, it resulted in excessive heat on the front tire, causing it to fail.

Following the race, I had a detailed conversation with both Max Bartolini and Massimo Meregalli, during which they offered their apologies.

"I'm fairly serene knowing they're addressing the issue, yet we must also enhance the engine's performance and the electronics."

Yamaha experienced an active testing session on Tuesday in Barcelona, where both of its main riders were equipped with three M1 motorcycles in their respective pits.

Yamaha planned to evaluate a fresh engine and frame, alongside exploring innovative configuration concepts.

Rins expressed satisfaction with the updated frame, yet he believes he is "not yet prepared to handle this level of performance" due to the new engine's output not aligning with his approach to riding.

"During the preparation phase, we made incremental changes, not exactly to the extent I had hoped for. However, after the race, in discussions with the engineers, they mentioned that the upcoming tests wouldn't result in a drastic transformation. They're anticipating a modest improvement, perhaps in the range of five to 10 percent," he further stated.

"I experimented with a set-up adjustment I hadn't attempted over the Grand Prix weekend, which simplified handling the bike for me."

"Besides, Yamaha introduced several innovations, including a fresh chassis and engine design, which I found quite impressive."

"I managed to maintain a higher speed through the center of the turn. I anticipated a more significant enhancement in the braking aspect, yet the improvement was minimal."

"Concerning the engine, it's accurate to say that it exhibits greater power on the straightaways and when coming out of turns. However, when it comes to my particular way of riding, we're not yet equipped to handle this level of power."

"The bicycle exhibited a high level of aggressiveness, with considerable spinning, necessitating adjustments to the electronic components for this motor."

"Our efforts weren't heavily concentrated on the electronics due to time constraints. Instead, our primary attention was toward developing the new engine and chassis, along with some adjustments to the setup."

"In my opinion, we lacked an additional engine to experiment with a varying setup internally. This could have been the fifth or sixth new engine I've had the opportunity to try out."

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MotoGP titleholder Jorge Martin embroiled in a contentious dispute on Spanish television

Martin entangled in controversy over TV interview contract negotiations

Newly crowned MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin found himself embroiled in a contract disagreement between two Spanish television networks regarding a scheduled interview.

Last weekend, Martin secured his first-ever MotoGP world championship title at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

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In the contemporary period, he is the first racer to secure a championship victory for an independent team, and he is also the third rider to win a MotoGP title for Ducati.

Martin was scheduled to feature on the Spanish television program La Revuelta, broadcast on Television Espanola. This show was launched this year to compete with the established El Hormiguero.

While sitting in the dressing room for La Revuelta, Martin had to call off his appearance because of contractual obligations imposed by El Hormiguero.

The contract dispute seems to revolve around Atresmedia, the network that includes El Hormiguero, having an agreement with Dorna Sports to broadcast certain races for free on La Sexta.

"David Broncano, the host of La Revuelta, mentioned that MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin was supposed to visit today and is currently in the dressing room downstairs."

"Just 30 minutes prior to our departure, he informed us that El Hormiguero had discovered he was on his way."

The organizers have used their influence to ensure that no guests show up here instead of elsewhere. They've applied their usual methods of persuasion, and as a result, Jorge informed us that he is unable to participate in the interview.

"He mentioned that he is unable to participate in the show, as it could lead to certain consequences."

El Hormiguero released a statement regarding the incident, explaining that it was a minor misunderstanding.

"Fourteen days prior to the last MotoGP event, we had made arrangements for Jorge Martin to be featured solely on our show."

"Earlier today, a representative from their team mistakenly altered the appointment that was originally arranged with a different cyclist."

Following the incident, Dorna, the company responsible for organizing the Motorcycle World Championship, reached out to the officials to address the issue.

As reported by Autosport, El Hormiguero identified the contractual dispute following a since-removed tweet from Martin concerning his appearances in La Revuelta.

La Revuelta released a short statement on social media supporting Martin and his team, asserting that they are not responsible for the current situation.

"To eliminate any uncertainty, Jorge Martin and his crew took all necessary steps yesterday to make sure the interview could be aired."

"Their conduct was flawless, and we look forward to having him return so we can celebrate his achievement as a world champion."

Martin posted on Twitter expressing gratitude to the La Revuelta team and the attendees, stating, "I had a fantastic evening! I look forward to returning soon to enjoy it with everyone."

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MotoGP newcomer shares experience of nearly having a "heart attack" prior to initial test run

Somkiat Chantra discusses debut day with LCR Honda

Somkiat Chantra, a newcomer to the LCR Honda MotoGP team, expressed that he was extremely nervous, even joking that he "nearly had a heart attack," before participating in his initial test run on the motorcycle this past Tuesday in Barcelona.

In an unexpected move during the 2024 rider market changes, the two-time Moto2 race victor was chosen by Honda to replace Takaaki Nakagami at LCR.

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On Tuesday, Chantra participated in the post-season test in Barcelona, where he rode the bike for the first time, completing 61 laps and finishing near the bottom of the timing chart.

After completing his initial day riding the Honda, Chantra admitted that he felt quite anxious before starting his first session.

"Undoubtedly, before I hopped on the bike, I felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety, almost as if I was on the verge of a heart attack," he remarked.

"When I hopped onto the bike, I thought, 'Alright, let's figure out how the bike operates and what it's capable of.'"

Chantra aimed to familiarize himself with the Michelin tires and carbon brakes during his initial test, as he had been using Pirelli tires and steel brakes in Moto2 in 2024.

"According to him, today marked his initial experience with the MotoGP bike, as he focused on getting accustomed to the carbon brakes and familiarizing himself with the tires, which are unlike those used in MotoGP."

"My team often advises me to exercise caution on the left side since the tire tends to cool down quickly when driving straight."

"I was attempting to figure out how to handle the tire."

According to the Thai rider, he was taken aback the first time he accelerated the RC213V and then applied the brakes at the straight's end, which truly made him appreciate the speed of a MotoGP motorcycle.

"As I was on the exit lap, I attempted to apply the brakes and the gas more gently," he mentioned.

"When I got to the final corner, I attempted to push a bit harder. Once I was positioned behind the screen, everything seemed fine."

"When I applied the brakes and raised my head, everything happened quickly. With each lap, the situation improved."

In 2024, Chantra will be among the three newcomers advancing to MotoGP. He will join Moto2 world champion Ai Ogura, who will be with Trackhouse, and Fermin Aldeguer, who will compete for Gresini.

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In the 2024 MotoGP championship, it wasn’t a crucial mistake by Pecco Bagnaia that cost him the title. Instead, Bagnaia was defeated this year by Jorge Martin, the very competitor he had triumphed over in 2023.

In the 2024 MotoGP season, the championship showdown once again featured Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. However, unlike the previous year, Martin emerged victorious, surpassing Bagnaia, who was outperformed by Martin's significantly enhanced performance compared to 2023.

At first glance, Bagnaia and Martin were so closely competitive throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons that each claiming a championship over the last two years seems just.

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Nevertheless, it can be argued that the absence of a fight in both years might be attributed to a significant error made by Bagnaia.

Following the 2023 Catalan Sprint, Bagnaia held a 62-point lead over Martin in the championship standings. At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, last September, he was the sole competitor who could even come close to matching the speed of the Aprilia racers — Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales. Up to that moment, Bagnaia was performing at his peak and was undoubtedly the standout racer.

However, everything shifted following Bagnaia's accident at the second turn during last year's Catalan Grand Prix. Brad Binder, who was unable to avoid colliding with the Italian racer as he approached the third turn, played a significant role in the incident.

There is no doubt that if that crash hadn't occurred, Martin would have faced a significantly harder challenge in the latter part of the season trying to catch up to Bagnaia. In reality, one could even suggest that without the crash, Martin might not have been a genuine contender for the 2023 title at all.

He indeed became a contender for the title primarily due to a crash at turn two, which affected Bagnaia's physical condition for the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix and shook his confidence during the subsequent races in Asia.

Certainly, there were numerous other developments and surprises during 2023, yet their significance largely stemmed from the crash in Catalunya. That incident not only awarded Martin points but also provided him with crucial momentum.

From that point to the season's conclusion, Bagnaia often found himself struggling to keep up with Martin. There were instances where he managed to match him, but at other times, he fell short.

It was both Martin's errors during the 2023 season and Bagnaia's exceptional performance that secured the championship for Bagnaia.

Consider the crash that occurred during the Indonesian Grand Prix, the decision-making around tire selection at the Australian Grand Prix, and, naturally, the intense finale in Valencia that resulted in a collision involving Marc Marquez.

Certainly, Martin faced his own setbacks, most notably during his performance at the Qatar Grand Prix, which remains largely unexplained. However, this incident wasn't as detrimental to him as the events in Indonesia or Valencia.

Martin's success in 2024 can be attributed to his ability to identify and address his weaknesses from 2023. Achieving 32 podium finishes out of 40 races is an impressive achievement, despite securing victory in only three Grand Prix events this year.

In the eight races where he failed to secure a podium finish, one was the Texas Sprint. That weekend, Ducati faced significant issues with rear tire vibrations, although he still managed to outperform Bagnaia in both races. Another instance was the Barcelona Sprint, where he came in fourth while Bagnaia crashed. In four races—the Spanish Grand Prix, German Grand Prix, Italian Sprint, and Indonesian Sprint—he suffered crashes, all of which were won by Bagnaia. In the San Marino Grand Prix, Martin finished 15th after changing bikes, while Bagnaia secured second place. Lastly, Martin placed fourth in the Japanese Sprint after qualifying 11th due to a crash in Q2.

During the races where Martin experienced crashes, he was at the forefront in Spain, ahead in Germany, leading in Indonesia, and trailing only behind Bagnaia in Italy. In San Marino, when he switched to his bike suited for rainy conditions, Martin was in second place, just behind Bagnaia.

Apart from the previously mentioned races in Texas, Martin consistently had a strong chance of reaching the podium throughout 2024, and he frequently lived up to that expectation.

In 2024, Martin achieved 32 podium finishes, with half of them being second-place results. Bagnaia clinched victory in nine of those events.

This demonstrates Martin's newfound ability to find stability, a trait he lacked in 2023 when he was more immature and uncertain about his skills. This lack of maturity and confidence resulted in errors such as those in Indonesia and Australia, but these incidents were notably infrequent in 2024.

In 2023, Martin might have attempted to compete with Marc Marquez in Aragon, but by 2024, he understood that Marquez wasn't his main rival. Similarly, in 2023, Martin might have continued pushing hard to surpass Bagnaia in Malaysia, but in 2024, he came to the conclusion that finishing in second place was sufficient.

Throughout 2024, there were numerous occasions like this, which were crucial to Martin's ultimate achievement. Although Bagnaia secured nearly four times the number of Grand Prix victories compared to Martin, he frequently found himself in the position of pursuing Martin.

What enabled Martin to demonstrate such maturity? Just a year ago, he overanalyzed his way out of securing a world championship.

The key moment occurred in Catalunya 2023, marked by Bagnaia's fall. This incident brought Martin into the championship race toward the end of the season, providing him an opportunity to demonstrate that he was not yet prepared to claim the title in 2023. As a result, it highlighted the aspects he needed to improve upon to enhance his prospects for a title win in 2024.

Had Martin not stayed close to Bagnaia in the final phases of 2023, he wouldn't have experienced the stress of the championship race. This pressure was crucial for him to learn and understand his own reactions under such conditions. Without the insights he gained in 2023, he wouldn’t have been able to make the necessary improvements over the winter. Consequently, he would have entered 2024 with plenty of speed but lacking the crucial mindset needed to secure the championship this year.

Could that have altered the results of the 2024 event? It might have, though it's undeniably uncertain to determine definitively.

In 2023, Bagnaia provided Martin with the opportunity to grasp the insights needed for a championship win in 2024. However, it remained Martin's responsibility to correctly understand and apply those insights.

Martin's victory in 2024 unexpectedly provides three-time World Champion Bagnaia with an opportunity to gain similar insights.

There's no mystery about what caused Bagnaia to miss out on the championship this year. It wasn't due to Brad Binder's determination in Jerez, a mechanical problem at Le Mans, or Alex Marquez's oversight in Aragon. The real issue was his loss of control in Catalunya, Silverstone, and particularly at Misano.

It will take time to determine if Bagnaia can achieve similar progress as Martin during the approaching winter season.

In August 2024, Alex became part of the Crash.net team after spending two years reporting on consumer and racing motorcycle news for Visordown.

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Aleix Espargaro shares initial impressions of Honda's MotoGP motorcycle: 'He found it remarkable'

The ex-Aprilia rider completed his initial laps on the Honda during the Barcelona testing session.

Honda's MotoGP riders have shared some of Aleix Espargaro's first impressions of the RC213V, which he tried out during the post-season test in Barcelona.

Espargaro, who has achieved three grand prix victories, ended his career in full-time racing after the Solidarity Grand Prix. He has since taken on a new position with Honda as a test rider.

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On Tuesday in Barcelona, the Spanish rider completed his initial laps on the RC213V, achieving an admirable 14th place on the timing charts, surpassing the full-time racer Joan Mir.

Espargaro chose not to address the press, but Luca Marini was willing to discuss his discussions with Honda's newly appointed test rider.

He expressed his excitement about Aleix testing out the bike for the first time at the Barcelona track, which he considers possibly Aleix's strongest.

"He is incredibly quick on this track and has secured impressive outcomes with Aprilia here. This will significantly aid in the bike's development, particularly with his initial feedback at this location."

"I briefly chatted with him while the test was ongoing, and I plan to have a more in-depth conversation with him later. However, his lap times are impressive."

"His perspective indicates something important, and I believe he simply requires a bit more time to get accustomed to the bike, as it's quite distinct from the rest. However, he will eventually figure out how to assist us."

Mir observed that Espargaro identified both the strengths and weaknesses of the Honda similar to what others have experienced. He humorously mentioned being "impressed" by the shortcomings.

"He tested our basic model, which is the regular bike we offer. As far as I’m aware, he didn’t experiment with any new features," Mir commented, expressing dissatisfaction with Honda's failure to introduce new items in the test.

He found it impressive and plans to discuss it further. Indeed, his observations align with common critiques we often hear: the bike's insufficient torque, lack of grip, and inadequate power.

"In areas where we usually have fewer complaints, he also didn't express much dissatisfaction. Regarding the turning zone, he mentioned that he felt relatively fine."

He didn't have many complaints about the bike itself or its design, as they were quite satisfactory. However, he was notably surprised by the bike's insufficient grip, acceleration, and top speed.

Alberto Puig, the manager of Honda's factory team, commended Espargaro for providing "accurate" input to the engineers on the Honda test team.

He expressed to motogp.com that they were extremely content and pleasantly shocked.

"It's not shocking since he's quick. On Sunday, he was competing for a spot on the podium."

"The individual possesses remarkable speed, but what truly impressed me was how he communicated with our engineers. He was straightforward, precise, and clear in expressing his thoughts on the bike's strengths and weaknesses."

"This is exactly what we needed: someone with experience who is also quick, because ultimately it's important to have a mix of both."

"He seems quite cheerful, and I'm confident that his role with both our team and Honda will be significant. We should kick things off with a solid strategy involving him."

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Alex Rins disclosed that Yamaha has issued an apology concerning a problem with their 2024 MotoGP bike. "I had an in-depth conversation with them, and they expressed their regrets

Alex Rins disclosed that Yamaha issued an apology to him following the Solidarity Grand Prix for not resolving the braking issues he faced during the 2024 MotoGP season.

The racer, who has clinched six grand prix victories in his career, faced a challenging debut year with Yamaha, managing to accumulate only 31 points and finishing 18th in the overall rankings.

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The main challenge Rins encountered with the M1 was insufficient rear grip during braking, a problem that he claims Yamaha was unable to resolve.

Following what he referred to as "one of the worst races of my life, if not the worst," at the Solidarity GP in Barcelona, he mentioned that Yamaha's management apologized for not resolving the issue he faced.

When questioned following the post-season test about which area Yamaha should focus on improving for 2025, he responded that if he had to pick one, it would be the braking and entry.

"This year, they couldn't provide me with a bike that would allow me to compete effectively here."

Throughout all the races, I faced difficulties maintaining traction with the rear tire. Without this grip, the bike couldn't be properly controlled during braking. This lack of control meant I either ended up going wide on turns or, in cases where I managed to stop the bike, the front tire overheated and ended up damaged.

Following the race, I had a detailed conversation with Max Bartolini and Massimo Meregalli, during which they expressed their apologies.

"I am confident they are addressing this issue, but we also need to enhance the engine's power and the electronics."

On Tuesday in Barcelona, Yamaha experienced a hectic day of testing, as each of their factory riders had access to three M1 motorcycles in their respective garages.

Yamaha had several things to evaluate, including a new engine, a redesigned chassis, and some fresh setup concepts.

Rins expressed satisfaction with the updated chassis but mentioned that he feels unprepared for the power generated by the new engine, as it does not align with his riding technique.

"We made incremental adjustments during the setup, not entirely to my preference. However, after discussing with the engineers post-race, they mentioned that the upcoming tests won't lead to dramatic changes. They anticipate perhaps a 5 to 10% improvement, rather than a complete transformation."

"I experimented with a setup adjustment that I hadn't used during the Grand Prix weekend, and it has made handling the bike somewhat easier for me."

In addition to that, Yamaha introduced several updates, including a revamped chassis and a new engine. I found the new chassis to be quite impressive.

"I managed to maintain a higher speed while going through the middle of the turn. I anticipated that the braking performance would be superior, but the enhancement was only minimal."

"The engine indeed offers more power on straightaways and when coming out of corners. However, with my current riding technique, we aren't fully prepared to harness this power."

"The motorcycle exhibited a lot of forceful spinning, indicating that we need to modify the engine's electronic settings."

"Our efforts were not primarily on the electronics due to time constraints. Instead, we concentrated on developing the new engine, the new chassis, and made some adjustments to the setup."

"In my opinion, we lacked an additional engine to experiment with a unique setup. This might have been the fifth or sixth new engine I've tried out."

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Francesco Bagnaia confesses: "I understand the reasons behind my defeat"

Ex-MotoGP titleholder contemplates the loss of his championship

Francesco Bagnaia expresses that he harbors 'no frustrations' over not securing the 2024 MotoGP championship, stating he "understands the reasons for his loss."

In the final race of the 2024 Solidarity Grand Prix season, which took place last weekend in Barcelona, Jorge Martin emerged victorious over the two-time world champion.

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After taking the championship battle to the last event and securing victories in both races at Barcelona, Bagnaia ultimately fell short against Martin by a margin of 10 points.

Ahead of the weekend, the two-time MotoGP world champion conceded that overcoming a 24-point shortfall, after failing to finish eight races throughout the season, was expected to be a significant challenge. He showed sportsmanship in acknowledging his loss to Martin.

After a test session in Barcelona on Tuesday, where Bagnaia finished third with 58 laps completed, he discussed his lack of frustration over his recent loss and explained how he moved past the weekend's events.

"Truly, I don't consider myself someone who gets upset over such matters," he commented, in response to inquiries about whether he was bothered by not securing his third top-tier championship.

"I understand the reasons behind my defeat. I won't try to justify the outcome."

"After the race in Malaysia, given that I came into the final Grand Prix trailing by 24 points, it was hard to envision clinching the victory."

"Jorge performed exceptionally well. This is satisfactory. To be honest, I spent a lot of time walking around Barcelona just yesterday, Monday."

"I just found myself waking up in the field and thought, 'alright, I'll head out for lunch at a beachfront eatery'."

"After that, I spent an hour walking, covering a distance of about 10 kilometers for the entire day, and it was beneficial."

Following the Solidarity Grand Prix on Sunday, Bagnaia shared a photo on his social media channels showing him tearing apart the number one decal that had adorned his Ducati for the past two years.

He stated, "My intention was to take it out on my own without relying on anyone else to do it for me.

"I placed the numeral one on the initial fairing, which meant I had to take off the numeral one from the final fairing of the season.

"Therefore, I believe it was the right decision."

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