- Mabdelle Feghali
- MotoGP
Jorge Lorenzo is the most successful rider in the premier class at Misano arrives back on the Adriatic.
When Lorenzo first arrived at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in 2007, he won the 2007 250cc race from pole.
That win kickstarted an incredible eight year span of firsts and seconds at the track, including a trio of MotoGP victories in 2011, 2012 and 2013 – taking Lorenzo equal with Valentino Rossi, who will be missing this year's event, as the most successful riders at the track in the premier class since racing returned there.
The good reading continues, too, because last time out at Silverstone, the ‘Spartan’ was only 3.5 seconds off the win – the closest margin yet – which works out as only 0.175 seconds a lap. Closer and closer as Lorenzo gets to grips with life in red, Misano - with his glittering record at the circuit - is the perfect track for man and machine to tackle next.
"The Silverstone race had many positive aspects. I finished the closest I’ve ever been from the winner this season and Andrea won and became leader of the championship, so the atmosphere in the team is very good." Said the Majorcan
"The aim at Misano will be to confirm the upswing we’ve shown in the last few races, where I’ve accumulated more experience and confidence with the bike."
"The test we did here was very positive and will be useful in order to have a good starting base right from the first day." He surmuised
"In addition Misano is one of my favourite circuits, I’ve won here several times in MotoGP and I’m convinced we can get a good result."
"For sure the Ducati fans will give us an extra gear with their support from the grandstand and I can’t wait to race for the first time with Ducati at Misano." Concluded Lorenzo
Lorenzo is now seventh in the championship standing with 90 points, and 93 points behind the leader his tem-mate Andrea Dovizioso.
source: motogp.com
Tito Rabat will be moving to race for the Reale Avintia Racing team in MotoGP next season, with the 2014 Moto2 World Champion confirmed at the squad ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix.
Rabat’s World Championship debut was in Valencia 2005, riding for Raul Romero’s team. In 2006, he secured a seat for the whole season and in 2009, Rabat returned once again to the Blusens BQR team of Romero.
In two years, he achieved two podiums and finished the season in the top six. In 2011 he made his debut in Moto2 with the team and took his first podium finish in Indianapolis.
Rabat took the Moto2 World Championship with Marc VDS in 2014, and moved up to MotoGP with the EG 0,0 Marc VDS squad in 2016.
A regular points scorer, Rabat now has ambitions to move forward in 2018 and he will race a Ducati Desmosedici GP17.
"I’m very happy to sign with Reale Avintia Racing and to race with Ducati in 2018. Now I have a new opportunity to demonstrate that I can be fast and competitive in MotoGP." Said the Spanish rider
"I’ll be racing in a team that I know since my childhood and with a bike that I think will suit my size and my style to perfection."
"This is a great opportunity and I’ll make the best of it. I will fight and give it all to be successful. I want to say thank you to Ducati and Reale Avintia Racing for trusting in me." Concluded Rabat
Raúl Romero, CEO Esponsorama added: “Tito is like a son for me. He rode his first race for me in the Spanish Championship and he made his debut in the World Championship with my team."
"During his career, he raced in several teams, but always comes back home. After 125cc and Moto2, this is the third time Tito returns to our team and this time is in the MotoGP class."
"I’m convinced that this will be the pinnacle in his career and that we’ll achieve great results together with Ducati. Tito is a hard worker and this was his secret to become Moto2 World Champion."
"Next season he will ride a Desmosedici GP17, a bike that is on top of the classification with Dovizioso and that has been extremely competitive this year."
After the stunning racing we saw under the beautiful weather at Silverstone two weeks ago, Andrea Dovizioso heads to Misano as the championship leader, after a victory at the British circuit saw him rise to the top as his closest rival, Marc Marquez, suffered an engine failure.
When it looked to be Valentino Rossi's victory, Dovizioso fought to the top to take the title of "winner of the most GP races this season", wtith four wins tucked firmly under his belt.
But Rossi has suffered a blow - no, not engine like his Repsol rival Marquez, but a broken leg which will see him sit out his home round at Misano this weekend. With Rossi out, Maverick Viñales will be flying the factory Yamaha flag solo and all eyes will fall to Dovizioso to take a home victory.
In the last ten years, Dovizioso's best finish at Misano has been fourth with a smattering of top ten finishes. Last year, he finished as the top Ducati in sixth place but 'DesmoDovi' has something behind him this year that he didn't before - a championship lead. An overall lead is sure to boost Dovi's confidence as he heads into his home round and with his recent form, he cannot be ruled out at Misano this weekend.
Marc Marquez will be looking to make amends, and with a nine point deficit on Dovizioso he will need to act fast. Marquez ended Honda's winning drought at the track in 2015, the first since 2010, and is the second most successful rider at Misano since MotoGP returned to the circuit behind Jorge Lorenzo. On paper Marquez looks great here but whether he can add to his impressive CV is another question, especially with the grid looking stronger than it ever has.
Viñales is slowly creeping up on the Spaniard, with only four points separating second and third. Dani Pedrosa is the only other likely title contender even though he sits nine points behind Rossi overall. Rossi's hopes of a tenth title are now just a dot on the horizon of the 2018 season.
Pedrosa won at Misano last year, with a 2.8s gap over Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo a further 1.5s behind. Even though Lorenzo has had a tough time adjusting and performing with the Ducati, he's creeping up slowly. A fifth place finish at Silverstone with only 3.5s between him and the race winner is nothing but a confidence boost - something Lorenzo so desperately needs.
So what can we expect from the Italian GP? Drama, action and not as much yellow as we usually see.
Don't forget Moto2 and Moto3 either. With Italian Franco Morbidelli grasping onto the championship lead, he'll be working harder than ever in front of his home crowd to extend his point difference and take a victory for his crowd. His fellow Italians, Mattia Pasini and Francesco Bagnaia are looking stronger by the race, and they too will be pushing to experience victory in front of the Italian fans.
In Moto3, it is two Spaniards leading the way. Joan Mir is looking pretty set to take the title, but championships aren't won in September. He has a healthy 62 point lead over Aron Canet, but never rule out the feisty Italian Romano Fenati who is just two points behind Canet in the standings.
All the action from the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli begins tomorrow morning at 8am (UK).