Team Suzuki Press Office – August 4.
Alex Rins: 4th (+ 4.858)
Sylvain Guintoli: 20th (+ 48.938)
Joan Mir: DNF
• Alex Rins sticks with lead group to finish in a sensible 4th.
• Joan Mir the victim of an unfortunate incident.
• Sylvain Guintoli collects useful data ahead of Monday’s test.
After a warm and bright warm-up session which allowed Team SUZUKI ECSTAR’s riders to finalise their race set-up, a heavy rain shower caused drama just moments before the scheduled race start.
Race Direction made the important decision to delay the start to assess conditions, with the priority being rider safety. After a tense 40 minutes passed, the race began under the ‘quick start’ procedure.
Sadly, the Czech GP ended on Turn 4 of Lap 1 for a very unfortunate Joan Mir. The rookie was on the outside of an incident between another rider and Morbidelli and found himself barreled into the gravel as Morbidelli went down. Joan was very disappointed but luckily uninjured.
Meanwhile, Alex Rins got a great start from his 6th place grid spot, slotting into the lead group of four riders. The Spaniard proceeded to execute a precise and smooth pass on Miller for 3rd place, before setting the fastest lap of the race. Settling into a good rhythm, Alex held onto this podium spot until the final 2 laps of the race when he began to feel himself losing rear grip. Despite trying to fight to hold his position, he had to concede to Miller as a small moment cost him ground. With this 4th place finish, Alex collects useful points and closes the gap to Petrucci in the standings.
Sylvain Guintoli had a quiet race, finishing in 20th place, but nevertheless collecting useful data for the Team in the next tests.
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“It’s a pity for Alex that he couldn’t get the podium today, but it was good for him to finish in the top group and get points after a couple of disappointing results. We’re feeling sorry for Joan because it was not his mistake and he was very unlucky; we hope next week will be better for him. Thanks to Sylvain for the work he’s done this weekend and will do on next Tuesday and Wednesday with further testing.”
Davide Brivio – Team Manager:
“Today’s race was good, it was the type of race we aim for in the sense that Alex was fighting with the top guys and able to stay within the front group. We knew that this race would be tough for tyre management, and that’s the same for everyone, but Alex managed the situation well and it’s nice to take this 4th position. There was nothing Joan could do to avoid the crash, and that’s a real pity for him. We’re looking forward to going to Austria, we hope for easier conditions!”
Alex Rins:
“I was really close to the podium, and it’s a bit of a shame because I was fighting hard all race and trying to close Dovizioso in front of me. But in the last five laps I felt that the grip had dropped, however, but I’m still pleased to get fourth place. Tomorrow we’re testing and we’ll try many things, this should allow me to go to Austria next week feeling fresh and ready to fight again in the top group.”
Sylvain Guintoli:
“I didn’t feel very good during the race and I struggled, but overall the weekend has been good for me. During FP1 and FP3 I was able to show some good pace, and that was pretty exciting for me. I had hoped to perform much better in the race, but it wasn’t possible. I’m ready to work hard with the team in the next days and discover some useful things during the test.”
Joan Mir:
“I was on the outside of Morbidelli coming off the start and when he went down there was nothing I could do to avoid him. This type of incident is always an extra risk when you start towards the back of the grid, and it was a shame that my race ended there. I had a good feeling with my bike during the warm-up in the dry and I was disappointed not to discover how I could convert that pace in the race. But anyway, these things happen, let’s think about Austria next week!”
GP of the Czech Republic – Race Classification:
1. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 39’24.430
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team +2.452
3. Jack MILLER Pramac Racing +3.497
4. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR +4.858
5. Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL +6.007
6. Valentino ROSSI Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP +9.083
7. Fabio QUARTARARO Petronas Yamaha SRT +12.092
8. Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati Team +13.976
9. Takaaki NAKAGAMI LCR Honda IDEMITSU +15.724
10. Maverick VIÑALES Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP +16.558
11. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +18.234
12. Francesco BAGNAIA Pramac Racing +19.738
13. Miguel OLIVEIRA Red Bull KTM Tech 3 +22.539
14. Johann ZARCO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +30.459
15. Stefan BRADL Repsol Honda Team +30.500
16. Tito RABAT Reale Avintia Racing +30.755
17. Andrea IANNONE Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +37.170
18. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +37.343
19. Karel ABRAHAM Reale Avintia Racing +44.296
20. Sylvain GUINTOLI Team SUZUKI ECSTAR +48.938
Not Classified
55 Hafizh SYAHRIN Red Bull KTM Tech 3
21 Franco MORBIDELLI Petronas Yamaha SRT
36 Joan MIR Team SUZUKI ECSTAR
MotoGP Championship Standings:
1. Marc MARQUEZ Honda 210
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati 147
3. Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati 129
4. Alex RINS Suzuki 114
5. Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha 91
6. Valentino ROSSI Yamaha 90
7. Jack MILLER Ducati 86
8. Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda 78
9. Fabio QUARTARARO Yamaha 76
10. Pol ESPARGARO KTM 61
11. Takaaki NAKAGAMI Honda 57
12. Franco MORBIDELLI Yamaha 52
13. Joan MIR Suzuki 39
14. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia 31
15. Andrea IANNONE Aprilia 21
16. Jorge LORENZO Honda 19
17. Johann ZARCO KTM 18
18. Miguel OLIVEIRA KTM 18
19. Tito RABAT Ducati 14
20. Francesco BAGNAIA Ducati 15
21. Stefan BRADL Honda 13
22. Michele PIRRO Ducati 9
23. Sylvain GUINTOLI Suzuki 3
24. Karel ABRAHAM Ducati 3
25. Hafizh SYAHRIN KTM 3
26. Bradley SMITH Aprilia
