On Track Off Road No.183

on
More than Europe’s
largest MC store
By Neil Morrison
Rossi wasn’t entirely harmonious.
On Yamaha’s updated
engine, aimed at ironing out the
failures of its predecessor, the
Catalan delivered a resounding
verdict: “this bike can win the
title.” Rossi, on the other hand,
aired caution. “At the moment
it’s a fourth place bike … if
someone ahead retires!” Fundamentally,
they are in agreement
as to where is most in need of
improvement. Both, for example,
agreed on the engine direction
needed for next year. Yet it’s
whether Viñales can maintain
this recent momentum, making
his voice heard over his more
experienced companion, and ignore
Rossi’s attempts at disrupting
his flow that represents the
biggest challenge of his career
to date. If Yamaha finally gets it
right, sparks will fly.
The fight for ducati’s second
seat
The only factory rider on the
grid not in possession of a twoyear
deal, Petrucci knows he
must make good on previous
promise if he wishes to maintain
his current status.
Knowing Pramac’s Jack Miller
and Francesco Bagnaia have
eyes on the seat for 2020,
speculation regarding his position
will be rife should he begin
the year quietly. He acknowledged
as much recently: “Jack
and Pecco want my bike, it’s not
a secret!” Miller’s aim will be
much the same: prove himself
a consistent podium contender.
Equipped with Ducati’s GP19,
he’ll likely have the machinery
to do it. “I believe if we can
do a really good job next year
we should be in line for a factory
seat somewhere,” said the
Australian last November. “Here
at Ducati. If not, we’ll see where
the cards fall.” Then add Bagnaia
into the equation, just 0.1s
off Miller’s best time in only his
second MotoGP test. This has
the potential to escalate.
Bagnaia, Mir to lead the battle
of the rookies
Were it not for the wealth, the
fame and the fact their days consist
of riding the world’s fastest
motorcycles, you’d almost feel
sympathy for a rookie entering
the MotoGP fold.
Marquez raised the expectations
bar considerably in 2013 by winning
the title first time out. Four
years on and Johann Zarco went
as far as leading the first lap of
the first race. So to Bagnaia, Mir,
Oliveira and Quartararo: no pressure.
Granted, the premier class
is closer than it’s ever been. But
for Bagnaia to be so competitive
at his two tests to date (0.6s off
Viñales at Valencia, 0.4s back at
Jerez) indicates he will be challenging
for top sixes before too
long.
Yet with contemporaries as
strong as these, winning the
coveted ‘Rookie of the Year’ title
will be no easy thing. Not least
as Joan Mir has appeared so at
home on Suzuki’s ever-improving
MotoGP machine from the
start (he passed through Jerez’s
fearsome double right T11-12
with elbow down on the first
morning of November’s test).
Team manager Davide Brivio
expects Mir’s progress to be on
a par with Alex Rins’ debut year
in 2017. If, so he’ll be alongside
Bagnaia on the fringes of the top
six.