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I'm getting quite excited for next year with all the teams/drivers now confirmed.
https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/marquez-to-get-2025-factory-ducati-motogp-seat-martin-to-quit-manufacturer/10619188/
New to watching, keep hearing people talk about tomorrow's race being a "flag to flag" and to me that just sounds like any race since there's a green starting flag and checkered finish flag. What am I misunderstanding?
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Good for Marquez. Better late than never. He might have a shot this year.
www.crash.net
“Raul had an error code on his dash just before he started,” explained team manager Wilco Zeelenberg. “After two or three seconds the bike came back [to normal], but at that point you need to leave the grid as soon as possible.
mototiming.live
https://mototiming.live/results/2024/QAT/MotoGP/FP1 https://mototiming.live/results/2024/QAT/MotoGP/FP2
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testing testing 1 2 3... Some huge changes for this year so I'm getting excited!
www.motogp.com
It’s back-to-back titles for the Italian as a drama-filled Valencia GP unfolds, with Martin and the #93 crashing together early into the race
Hello, this is my new adchievement : I removed the blur overlay when I hover on MotoGP video player !!! I hate it !!! This is (part of) my Tampermonkey script (I have other mods for other sites so I used a if...): ``` // ==UserScript== // @name Ber // @namespace Violentmonkey Scripts // @match *://*/* // @grant none // @version 1.0 // @author - // @description 17/02/2023 09:31:14 // ==/UserScript== (function() { 'use strict'; if ( document.location.host.indexOf("motogp.com") !== -1 ) { document.getElementsByClassName("vjs-background").item(0).remove(); } }); ```
Came here excited to join a discussion about those last few laps and….no threads posted? ****SPOILERS**** The battle between Pramac Ducati, KTM and factory Duc was an old school nail biter…loved it! Not gonna post the finishers just in case but if you didn't watch it, do it!
it breaks my heart to see FabioDG hit such a run of form right as he loses his ride. Also super happy for >!Zarco!<, he deserved it!
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The YZR-M1 has regularly occupied the bottom part of the MotoGP speed traps in recent years, with its lack of grunt contributing to its slide down the order. Having won the title in 2021 with Fabio Quartararo and finished runner-up in the standings in 2022 with the Frenchman having scored three victories, it has scored just two rostrums in 2023. Last week's Misano test was seen as an important moment for Yamaha in both getting its 2024 season off on the right foot and also starting the process of convincing Quartararo to commit to the marque beyond next season. But after testing the first version of the 2024 engine – which has been developed with the help of famed Formula 1 engineer Luca Marmorini – Quartararo was less than impressed, telling the media that he "expected much more". This was at odds with Meregalli's comments to motogp.com after the test as he said the engine performance matched its expectations. This clash of views was touched on by Quartararo again on Thursday at the Indian Grand Prix in an interview with DAZN, who doubled down and said the test was "a disappointment". Speaking on the world feed on Friday during FP2 in India, Meregalli says the reason for the differing opinions was a "lack of communication" from Yamaha in conveying its expectations for the test.
motorcyclesports.net
The MotoGP riders are required to pay income tax in India due to their participation in the Grand Prix held there. This news might not be surprising given the various challenges faced in India related to the organization of the Grand Prix. Despite the issues, the race at the Buddh Circuit has gone ahead, albeit with some delays in certain training sessions. The tax issue became known in July when MotoGP’s factory teams were asked to share the contracts of their factory riders, such as Marc Márquez, Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia, Aleix Espargaró, Brad Binder, and other official riders of each brand with the promoter and local authorities. This is because they are required to pay 1/20 of their annual salary as tax in India. To provide a clearer picture: if Marc Márquez earns between 15 to 18 million at HRC Honda, 1/20 of that amount, which is exactly 750,000 euros, needs to be taxed at 20.80% in India. This means he would owe around 36,057 euros in taxes. Similarly, riders earning an annual salary of 500,000 euros would need to pay 20.80% of 25,000 euros, which amounts to 1,201 euros, to the Indian government for their participation in the GP. Many MotoGP riders, including Pol and Aleix Espargaró, Brad Binder, Alex Rins, Augusto Fernández, Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Viñales, Joan Mir, and Jack Miller, have their tax residence in Andorra, where they only pay 10% of their income as tax. These riders, unaware of the tax requirement in India, refused to pay the tax as it would be the first time they’d be taxed outside their country of origin or tax residence just for participating in a Grand Prix in a foreign country. As a result, the manufacturers themselves, including Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM, have covered these tax costs. Interestingly, Ducati was the last to make the payment, doing so just before the GP for its factory riders Bagnaia, Pirro, Martin, and Zarco. Private teams in the premier class, such as GASGAS Tech3, LCR-Honda, and Prima Pramac, don’t need to worry as their riders are directly under contract with the factories of KTM, Honda, and Ducati Corse, which have already made the necessary tax payments. As for teams and manufacturers in the Moto3 and Moto2 categories, they are compensated by Dorna and IRTA for participating in the GP and don’t have to give up a portion of their annual income. This agreement was made by Dorna with Indian authorities. However, KTM, Husqvarna, or GASGAS in the Moto3 and Moto2 categories have presented and paid the taxes for all riders under their contract.
www.the-race.com
Honda MotoGP riders Marc Marquez and Joan Mir have offered vastly different views on the prospect of racing the 2024 prototype bike their employer debuted earlier this month. An early 2024-spec RC213V chassis - for now without a new engine to go along with it - was raced by Honda tester Stefan Bradl in the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano a fortnight ago, before being trialled by all of Honda's full-time riders (apart from the still-injured and Yamaha-bound Alex Rins) in the post-race test. The initial reactions were lukewarm, particularly from Marquez and LCR's Takaaki Nakagami, but Mir did at least float the idea of having the prototype for the rest of the 2023 season already as effectively an extended test for 2024. This is allowed by the regulations, given the new chassis still fits the current engine (which is the season-homologated bit) - but Mir's enthusiasm is not necessarily shared by his peers. And it means that, though Mir and Marquez are at odds over the best course of action for the rest of 2023, they are also both clearly not particularly satisfied - for different reasons. Mir wanted it in India The 2020 champion Mir, who's joined Honda from Suzuki this year and has had an utterly miserable time on the RC213V so far, reiterated in India that the prototype bike was "a little bit better" - a "first step in the correct direction", though still "not where we want to be". And in that context, Mir struggled to hide his disappointment that the prototype wasn't made available for him to race this weekend at the Buddh venue - and expressed hope it could be available for Honda's home race at Motegi. "We didn't receive the bike here. Honestly, I expected it but we don't have it. We will make the weekend as the previous ones. So we will struggle, that's it," Mir said matter-of-factly. He indicated he had specifically made the request but "they [Honda] said they had some trouble on the transport to Japan because they wanted first to send it to Japan, then here. Well... well, it is like it is". Mir said he had seen a gain in terms of used-tyre pace and that it was "a shame" not to be able to further verify this here. "For my height and everything, I was able to be more comfortable," he said of the prototype, which offered a different riding position.
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The 2021 world champion was left disappointed with Yamaha’s 2024 engine prototype at the Misano test last week, noting that he “expected much better”. “I tested it and the feeling was… I expected much better from this test, but we have to stay positive and try to analyse what happened to improve for [the] Valencia test,” Quartararo said at the time. “I need to test it more, but like I said I expected better. “The feeling is different, but I think I expected more power and [it] was a little bit difficult to say something positive about this engine.” These comments were in stark contrast to Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli’s, who told motogp.com: “We could get what we expected before we started riding. “We had some targets to reach. Anyway, the new engine is slightly faster, as we expected, consistently. It looks like it’s also easier to ride.” Quartararo’s best speed during the San Marino GP weekend was 298.3km/h in the sprint, while his top speed in the test was 295km/h (though the former was likely set with use of a tow). Speaking to DAZN on Thursday prior to this weekend’s Indian Grand Prix, Quartararo stood by his comments about the test being “a disappointment”. Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing Photo by: Srinivasa Krishnan He also feels the rider’s comments must be taken more seriously and notes that Yamaha has to become more “aligned” if it hopes to transform its fortunes in 2024. “At the Misano test we saw the team manager's comments and mine, which were black and white, totally different,” he began. “I can clearly say that the test it was a disappointment and that it was not up to the standard I expected. “We didn't take a step forward, not at all. But if the team manager says it's better, you have to listen to him.”
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Mir tested the prototype RC213V chassis at Misano after the San Marino Grand Prix earlier this month and described the new bike as a step in the right direction, even as he felt it failed to deliver the kind of performance gains he wants for 2024. Following the test session, Mir didn't rule out the possibility of racing the 2024 Honda in the final part of the season but stopped short of revealing where the prototype could make its debut. Speaking at the Buddh International Circuit on Thursday, Mir revealed that he had held talks with Honda about racing the RC213V as early as this weekend's India round. However, apparent logistical issues with shipping the bike from Misano to Asia prevented the marque from giving its 2024 prototype an early debut in India and will now hopefully do so in Japan. "We didn't receive the bike here," he said. "Honestly, I expected it but we don't have it. We will make the weekend as the previous one, so we will struggle, that's it. "They said they had some trouble on the transport to Japan because they wanted first to ship to Japan, then here [to India]. "It's a shame we don't have it here, but I hope to have it in Japan to be able to make more laps to understand. "If it's the right direction it will be very, very helpful for Honda. "I think it makes sense [to race the new bike], if you're allowed to go with that prototype because we know the potential of this bike, I know I can hope. "So it means if I feel better, we can get some important information to say, 'In that area we improved a lot and there we are not so good'.
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This weekend is supposed to mark the inaugural MotoGP round in India at the former Formula 1 venue Buddh International Circuit. The event has already faced numerous bouts of uncertainty, as requested track works were only recently finished, and the homologation process has yet to be finalised. Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro told Motorsport.com recently that the riders are standing united on the subject of track safety and are due to inspect it themselves on Thursday, before voting on whether to race or not. Most of the paddock was meant to fly to India today (Tuesday 19 September), but many have been turned away from flights having not received the necessary visa. The factory Honda squad and both its riders, including eight-time world champion Marquez, are among this list. Marquez posted on his social media: "Flight delayed due to lack of visa for India, so we're going to pedal for a little while," referring to a picture of himself on his mountain bike. He now hopes to be able to board a flight to India on Wednesday, assuming his visa arrives.
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Takaaki Nakagami, Team LCR Honda Nakagami made his MotoGP debut with LCR in 2018 and has remained with the outfit ever since. His side of the LCR garage, which is backed by Idemitsu, has been set up specifically for a Japanese rider, which has offered him job security. His position had become a bit more uncertain over the past two seasons as Japanese young gun Ai Ogura, who races in Moto2 currently with Honda Team Asia, has been repeatedly linked to an LCR move. Ogura elected to stay in Moto2 for 2023 and will continue in the class next season, after signing a deal to join the new MT Helmets squad – which will step up from Moto3 to take Pons Racing’s grid slots. Throughout Honda’s miserable 2023, Nakagami has been its most consistent rider, scoring 35 points. In recent weeks, Nakagami’s future with Honda and LCR looked more assure, with the squad announcing on Tuesday morning that it will continue together for 2024. "I'm proud to count on Nakagami for another year,” team boss Lucio Cecchinello said. “He's a fast rider who can get good results, and alongside HRC, we believe it's time to keep pushing, as he's one of the most experienced guys with this bike. “We will give our best to fight for the positions we aim for.”
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Hungary on the horizon for #MotoGP! 🇭🇺🙌 Dorna Sports and the Hungarian Mobility Development Agency are working together on the homologation of the Hungaroring and the new Balaton Park Circuit
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India is scheduled to host its first-ever MotoGP round this weekend at the Buddh International Circuit which was built to host the Formula 1 race between 2011 and 2013, when it was dropped from the calendar. Concerns about track safety have been brought up in recent months, as the venue required an upgrade to extend the run-off areas and to carry out a partial resurfacing. The most concerning parts of the circuit are walls which are placed just three metres from the asphalt itself, with the Turn 3 barriers one of the biggest safety issues despite it being one of the slowest corners of the track. In recent weeks, Espargaro had expressed concerns about the level of safety at the circuit, which was yet to be homologated by FIM as of last week. Espargaro says riders are facing the weekend more united than before following a number of meetings to discuss, among other topics, setting a minimum base salary for MotoGP riders. And the Aprilia rider suggested they are all on the same page on safety concerns ahead of the Indian GP. "In India, all the riders together are going to walk the track before we get on the bike to understand the situation," he said.
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To close up a grey area in the rule book over tyre pressures, after numerous teams were found last year to have been running under the recommended minimum set by Michelin, MotoGP introduced a stricter enforcement on the matter for 2023. From the British GP, the rule was officially mandated, whereby riders must run at the minimum front (1.88 bar) and rear (1.7 bar) pressures for at least 50% of a grand prix and 30% of a sprint. The rule was ostensibly brought in as a safety measure on the advice from Michelin, though riders have criticised it. This is largely down to the fact front tyres lose grip and braking performance once they go above 2.0 bar of pressure. While this is dangerous in itself, it has also meant overtaking has become a lot harder as well as more aggressive, as riders try to make up ground as early as possible in races to avoid any pressure issues. This was one of the elements blamed by riders after last week’s San Marino Grand Prix for leading to boring racing.
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Morbidelli, a member of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy, will ride one of the satellite squad’s Desmosedici GP24s next season, replacing Honda-bound Johann Zarco. The Italian will partner Jorge Martin, who has a pre-existing contract to remain at Pramac. Pramac team boss Paolo Campinoti commented: "I am very happy that Franco is joining our family for 2024. I have a very good relationship with him, who has proved to be a champion on many occasions. "I am sure that in our team he will find the right conditions to come back and fight for the positions he deserves." Morbidelli, the 2017 Moto2 champion, had been linked with a move to the Ducati camp for some time as it became increasingly clear he would not retain his Yamaha ride, which eventually went to Alex Rins. Initially it was thought the 28-year-old could join the VR46 team owing to his long-standing links with Rossi, but Marco Bezzecchi’s reluctance to leave the squad meant that the opportunity came up for Morbidelli to join Pramac.
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Last weekend’s Misano round featured the exact same top four in both the sprint and the grand prix, with Jorge Martin leading Marco Bezzecchi, Francesco Bagnaia and wildcard Dani Pedrosa. Across both races, there was one overtake between the top three, when VR46’s Bezzecchi passed Bagnaia for second – though his move in the sprint was a result of the factory Ducati rider running wide. This led to criticism from several riders over the lack of spectacle currently enveloping MotoGP, which has been blamed numerous times this season on increased aerodynamic development, ride height devices and the controversial tyre pressure rules. Marc Marquez, who was involved in a last-lap dice with Fabio Quartararo in 2019 that saw six overtakes for the lead on that one tour, has long been critical of the current ruleset. When asked if Misano’s races were now the norm in MotoGP, Marquez – who was seventh in the grand prix - responded: “Of course, but it’s not new. If it’s a big circuit with long straights, then with slipstreams it’s possible to overtake more. “But in this circuit, it’s two things: you overtake like [Brad] Binder [in the sprint], where all the overtakes were on the limit, but were very good and was impressive to watch because it’s so difficult. “So, you overtake in that way or it’s impossible to overtake. For example, last three laps, I was riding in 1m33.0s and [Luca] Marini was coming in 1m32s lows.