The inaugural Grand Prix of India was held at the new Buddh circuit this weekend. Saturday’s Sprint race saw Jorge Martin (Ducati) take a convincing win over second place Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) and third place Marc Marquez (Honda). Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati) started from pole position and was clearly the fastest rider on the track, but could only manage 5th place after being struck by his teammate Luca Marini in the first corner.
In Sunday’s main event, Bezzecchi avoided trouble, quickly took the lead and destroyed his competition with a nearly 9 second margin over 2nd place at the checkered flag. Behind him, Martin and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Points leader Bagnaia crashed out while running in 2nd position (unhurt) and scored no points.
Martin closes to within 13 points of Bagnaia’s championship points total. The series continues next week at the Motegi circuit in Japan.
For full results and points for Saturday’s Sprint race, visit the MotoGP site here.
For full results and points for today’s MotoGP race, visit the MotoGP site here.
I was certain that JM went straight to the pits to get a new chest protector installed before going to the podium. Be interesting to see his dash cam and the mystery zipper.
Or maybe its just shinto happens? Don’t let facts get in the way of a good story.
Defintitely didn’t happen, there were cameras on him the whole time and all he did was get drenched in water as he was completely dehydrated. Also there were no shots showing him ever being without his chest protector. It was completely unlike the Fabio event.
He also fainted in parc ferme (that’s why no paddock interview) and was obviously out of it from before the race finished. Hardly in the state of mind to orchestrate anything.
MM93 crashes then works his way up to 9th.
yes, while running 4th. getting 3rd on sat!
Anyone know why Mir and the Honda are suddenly competitive? Congrats to Bez: total domination!
Either they found a little something, the riders did still crash a lot. Or the nature of the track with its longer corners helped the Honda riders rail better and crash less… early. This track is somewhat similar to the tracks I would lay out. Ice tracks are fragile. So you design a truck with no obvious racing line. The riders use more track and the track wears better.
Same deal, to a certain extent, on this track. I makes for better passing also. Basic rule of thumb is all corners are more than ninty degrees and the fast line is never near the curb, or snow bank. Break either of these two seemily simple rules and you make what is in effect a narrow racing line with few opportunities to pass. The hard part really is to make the inside edge a silly shape that isn’t fast and you can keep the riders well away from it.
Whatever. This track will host a lot of good racing.
New track with no data and challenging conditions (heat, dust, low grip)? Fabio also finished on the podium. I expect we’ll be back to “normal” when they return to a familiar track.
Pecco seems hellbent on making this interesting.
The level of heat everyone in that paddock had to face, especially on top of a heater for x amount of laps was a bit ridiculous. Perhaps they can find a different spot in the year and not go at peak heat season.
Don’t want to see more riders collapse like Martin did. Riders should be having a word with whoevers representing them.
Martin was cool on clozing zipper at such speed and while fighting.
He is lucky to not be DQ’d for unzipping. There was a lot of controversy when FQ did this and I believe in his case it was not intentional (broken zipper). Apparently when FQ dealt with this, the expectation was that he pull into the pits and abandon the race and that his penalty was too lenient.
Would be a bummer for him to lose points over it.
Looks like a decent race track. Lots of good passing opportunities. Quartararo gets the biggest sack on the track award in that last race. Honda seems to be making some progress on their bike. Rossi is turning out to be a heck of a team manager.
Valentino Rossi, the Mooney VR46 Racing Team owner,
Alessio Salucci, Team Director of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team.
The team manager is the former road racer Pablo Nieto.
Yes well, I guess I’m not much of an org chart guy.
My point is that Rossi started a team not very long ago and is already a top notch satellite team. He’s a bit like Kenny Robert’s in that he seems to be able to recruit and train good riders and put them on competitive bikes. His ability to train the riders is a superpower that many of the other satellite teams lack. Over time I think you will find that VR46 riders go to factory teams rather than come from them.
As a rider Rossi brought a lot of interest to the sport with his colorful gear and personality, interest that is fading afer his retirement as a rider I might add. As a team owner he brings new talent. People like to lavish the “greatest of all time” lable on the hero of the day. I don’t recall people ever stamping that lable on Rossi. But he’s not done is he? Greatness and time are subjective. Rossi had a long successful racing career as a rider. He looks positioned to have a long and successful career as a team owner. It all depends on how you measure great and time. Like Kenny Roberts, Rossi is in it for the long haul. Hang in there for another decade or two to see how he does.
May be kind of topic, but wasn’t it Yamaha Agostini that showed Eddie Lawson capabilities.
There are a lot of unsung heroes. I kind of root for Kevin Schwantz. He struggles to bring back AMA Superbike. I think he kind of settled for making it rider centric. Unfortunately it does seem to produce the talent that it did before the crash. Nore does it draw crouds or gain any real noteriety.
But he is a racer and not some kind of PR genius. I applaud his efforts and wish there were more like him. If could just bring back AMA Superbike and someone like him bring back WSB and get the kids to pay attention. Sportbike sales would return. Sportbikes were the only thing that kept the street bike industry anything remotely like honest. Since their demise the industry has been all about ride modes, TFT dashes, and poor engineering in the form of ever increasing weight. The industry has gone from 400ish pound race replicas to 500 plus pound dirt bike looking things.
Watched on YT some race from the past, commented by Barry Sheene there. He said your words about Schwantz.
Besides, superbikes are mostly about Wayne Rainey and his tremendous speed on green Kawasaki at very tricky circuits. May be Freddie Spencer on fast advanced Honda. May be Eddie Lawson. Kenny Roberts, as usual. The idea is those superbikes had nothing in common with MotoGP bikes of that era, but also fast.
Mick, kids are aware of motorcycle racing (especially in Europe). They’re not interested. Sport bike sale’s won’t return, at least not the same bikes that used to be popular. That season has passed.