Luca Marini finished Saturday’s race in 12th position. The Italian driver picked up 4 points for the championship after failing to score in the Indonesian GP.

This Sunday, the Mooney VR46 Racing Team driver revealed in a debrief his opinion on the decision made by the race directors to cancel the Australian GP Sprint race.

– ‘I think it’s always difficult to make these decisions. Sometimes it’s better to stay on the side of safety, if you look at the trees, the flags and the wind now it’s crazy. All the drivers know that it’s very risky to brake in the first corner in these conditions because you reach 340 km/h and braking is very complicated, the wind pushes you off the track, it was the best decision. In the morning we were still able to drive, I don’t know if the spray from the other drivers was critical because I was alone at the Warm-up, but the problem for me was the temperature in the front tire, it was very low and we had no grip at all, it just got worse with every lap I did.

Asked if the aerodynamics made it more dangerous to ride in the wind, Marini replied: “I don’t know, for me it’s always dangerous and difficult to ride in these conditions. When I was in Moto2 we did the practice session and it was crazy. They canceled the MotoGP session and we didn’t have aerodynamic wings in Moto2 and it was still very dangerous, it was impossible to ride. I don’t think it’s an aerodynamic issue, if it’s not safe to ride we shouldn’t do it, if there are no conditions we should stay safe.

O conteúdo ‘I don’t think it’s an aerodynamic issue, if it’s not safe to ride we shouldn’t do it’ – Luca Marini aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

With the cancellation of the MotoGP Australian GP sprint race, the riders missed an opportunity to score points. However, for Marco Bezzecchi, the decision was a relief, allowing him to ride less and get more rest as he continues to recover from a recent collarbone fracture.

The Italian rider acknowledged that the altered and shortened weekend was better for his physical condition: ‘I’m very sorry to say this, but for me it was a big luck. It’s a shame because I love this track, I love the people here, and for sure they wanted to have a good show. But for my physical condition is much better. Riding on wet is already less stress, but to not ride is even less stress. I expected to suffer less here, but I suffered a lot. So, to recover one day more is good for me’.

When asked if he has been experiencing daily improvements in his physical condition, Bezzecchi confirmed, although he pointed out that he still has some pain: ‘I have to say that the bone is getting better day by day. I have a lot less pain compared to Indonesia – in Indonesia it was really painful. When I was forcing with the arm I felt the bone giving me pain. Now the bone is better, but the fatigue that I had during the weekend in Indonesia and here is creating me some problems. Also the cold was though here because I had like a constant pain through all the day, with the same intensity, every time, with the cold. It was though, but now we go to a very hot place, for me is better’.

O conteúdo ‘Cancelling the sprint race was a big luck for me’ – Marco Bezzecchi aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The strong and gusty wind prevented the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix sprint race from taking place. In Marco Bezzecchi’s view, the decision was the right one, even though he was prepared in case the cancellation didn’t occur.

The Italian rider assured he would be ready to race, but he stressed that the conditions were too difficult to start: ‘Well, if the conditions were OK, for sure I was here to race. But to be honest when we were almost finishing the warm-up it was already critical with the wind. It was going worst and worst. Apart from the wind, the water was not too much, the track had a good grip, so the conditions were not too critical. The problem was only the wind, that was very strong, and with the wings and everything is always difficult – but also without the wings, because in Moto2 they complain a lot about the wind. I was ready, of course, but if they made this decision was because of the safety and I think it was the right one’.

Regarding the process that led to cancel the race, Bezzecchi said: ‘After the warm-up, Loris [Capirossi, safety advisor] came to my box to ask me a feedback. I think they went to everyone. But the conditions were changing minute by minute, so also for them was not easy I think. But they asked everyone and then they saw Moto3 was not too critical, but it was already difficult. The problem is when the bike is bigger, it becomes even worse. So, then after I didn’t speak anymore with them and Pablo [Nieto, team manager] was updating me every time. But in the meanwhile I put my leather on because I had to be ready in any case. And when I arrived to the box, as soon as I passed the door, they said the race has been cancelled’.

O conteúdo ‘In the end of the warm-up it was already critical with the wind’ – Marco Bezzecchi aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Marco Bezzecchi finished Saturday’s race in 6th position. The Italian rider was unable to win points over his direct rivals in the fight for the championship, finishing behind Jorge Martín in 5th and Francesco Bagnaia in 2nd.

The Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider revealed that he thought he could do better during the race, despite his physical limitations.

– ‘I thought I could do more, but at the start of the weekend I struggled physically and the bike isn’t at its best either. When the bike isn’t good, physically it’s worse to ride, I didn’t expect better but I wanted to do more. In the end I managed to overtake Marc, Alex, Aleix and Jack and finished 6th, not bad, but I wanted more. At the beginning it was difficult to lean the bike in fast corners, I pushed the front tire too hard, but in the end I was still quite fast and finished 6th.

Regarding his choice of tires, Bezzecchi compared himself to his rivals on the track and spoke about how he felt physically during the race, explaining: ‘ I found out after the race that Martín chose the soft tire on the rear. I was more afraid of the front tire because of the cold on the track, but at the rear I was sure everyone was going to put the medium one on, at least it was impossible for me to finish the race with a soft one. So we didn’t know his choice, but I was impressed. Mandalika was very painful, it was pure pain and I suffered a lot, but the bike was much better and did everything I wanted to do even though I was suffering physically and the circuit wasn’t very demanding. Here I still had pain, less than in Indonesia, but physically I suffered more in my arm, shoulder and neck because this circuit is physically more demanding’.

O conteúdo “I thought I could do more, but at the start of the weekend I struggled physically and with the bike” – Marco Bezzecchi aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Marco Bezzecchi has already been in the fight for the championship lead, but in the last rounds, with some bad luck in the mix, the Mooney VR46 rider was out of contention for the leadership of the world championship.

Arriving in Australia, the #72 expected that the physical limitations would make a dent in his progress from day one, saying that the change from the long race to tomorrow can be a help:

– It wasn’t bad, but I expected a bit better here to be honest. The pain is less, but still hurts from last week and here with the changes of direction, at high speeds, with the heavy bike and my style, part of the body is more tired than I expected, but overall I knew that, so I can’t complain. (…) In terms of physical condition, for me it’s better because I have one less day of riding in my body. For sure it will be difficult for the tyres, but anyway, I prefer to suffer less in the physical aspect.

Bezzecchi was still pleased with his pace, naturally expecting improvements for tomorrow, both in the grip of the track and in his riding and Ducati set-up:

– I’m quite happy with today. It looks like the KTM’s at the moment are a bit stronger, but usually when the grip is low and they have good grip on the exit (of the corner) … Maybe tomorrow the track will improve, and we’ll be able to get closer. Normally it’s like that, but for sure they will also improve, but anyway for me, I have to adjust some things on the bike, but also on the riding. It’s a combination, always. I was quite fast, my pace was good, so I can’t complain.

O conteúdo ‘I expected a bit better here to be honest’ – Marco Bezzecchi aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The start of the first free practice session for the MotoGP Australian GP had a somewhat turbulent moment for Luca Marini in the opening minutes.

Exiting turn 12 onto the main straight, the rider from the Mooney VR46 Racing Team experienced a violent slide of the rear of his Ducati but managed to regain control by lifting the bike after the turn.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) was following behind, and it was a close call as the situation could have resulted in a potentially serious crash between the two, as you can watch in the video below.

O conteúdo Video: Scare for Luca Marini and Francesco Bagnaia; crash narrowly avoided aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Marco Bezzecchi fractured his collarbone approximately two weeks ago. After competing in the Indonesian MotoGP Grand Prix with pain, he faces the Australian Grand Prix this weekend in a better condition.

In a press conference, the Italian rider admitted that he had gone through tough days due to the injury but assured that he is feeling better now, even though he expects to have a challenging time until the end of the season:

– The last week was though for me because I took the risk to race in Mandalika, but fortunately everything went well. On Monday I felt very bad after the race to be honest, but fortunately I came straight here and I was able to work with our physiotherapist immediately and now the shoulder looks a little bit better. I expect to suffer anyway because you know, this is still very fresh, and pushing on it every weekend will not be easy until the end of the championship. But anyway, I think it’s a little bit better compared to the beginning of Indonesia.

Regarding the recovery process in the past few days, Bezzecchi stated: ‘Yeah, the pain was a lot, especially during the GP. Because already after the sprint, the stress on the shoulder was a lot but during the big race it was even more. All my neck muscles, but my arm, my chest and everything was very painful. And as I came here, I tried with my physio just to make many treatments trying to improve the situation and I think it’s a little bit better now’.

O conteúdo Marco Bezzecchi still expects to ‘suffer’ in Australia due to injured collarbone aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

In his return after an injury, Luca Marini retired from the main race of the MotoGP Indonesian GP, but until that point, he had an encouraging round, including his first career pole position.

The Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider now faces the Australian GP, aware that the challenges will be different but also optimistic about his chances of delivering a strong performance:

– As a rider, but also as a spectator, the Phillip Island race is magical! Always a wonderful weekend, both from a purely sporting and non-sporting point of view. I’m arriving with this spirit: it won’t be easy, compared to Indonesia everything changes, the tyres, the layout, the temperatures, but I’m sure the Ducati will be competitive as usual. Let’s recover all the energy we can and see you on Friday morning on track to have fun.

O conteúdo ‘Compared to Indonesia everything changes, but Ducati will be competitive as usual’ – Luca Marini aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Marco Bezzecchi arrived at the MotoGP Indonesian GP just a few days after fracturing his collarbone. Nevertheless, he managed to finish in the top five in both races and is now heading to the Australian GP.

The Italian rider from the Mooney VR46 Racing Team believes he may have an easier time at Phillip Island, expecting fewer physical difficulties due to the characteristics of the circuit:

– I can only be happy and satisfied with the weekend we leave behind. We achieved two excellent results despite the injury. On paper, here at Phillip Island, things should be better. The track is fast, but there are no hard brakings, the point where, on a physical level, I suffer the most. Let’s keep working, do our best to recover for the race. The track is one of my absolute favorite and last year I was really fast with a very solid race.

O conteúdo ‘There are no hard brakings in Australia, the point where I suffer the most physically’ – Marco Bezzecchi aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

With Ducati already crowned as constructors’ champions, the MotoGP team’s championship title is still up for grabs, and the Mooney VR46 Racing Team closed in on the top spot at the Indonesian GP.

The Italian team accumulated 15 more points than the leading Prima Pramac in Mandalika, reducing the gap to 63 points. Ducati is in third place, 98 points behind the leaders and with a 46-point lead over Red Bull KTM.

Aprilia, in fifth place, is now just four points behind the team immediately ahead. Further down the standings, Repsol Honda remains last, in 11th place, four points behind GasGas Tech3.

As for the constructors, Ducati had already clinched the title after the Indonesian sprint race, ending the GP with a 244-point lead over KTM. Aprilia is in third place, 261 points behind. Yamaha has moved up to fourth place, leaving Honda in last, trailing by three points.

Standings for the constructors and team championships:

O conteúdo VR46 closer to Pramac in the fight for the team’s championship aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.