[Fx14]

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

Bez will be kicking himself now that the PE VR46 team is not close to their 2023 pace. Or maybe its just the first race, let's see how things unfold at Portimao.

The Gresini team apparently seem to have a better understanding of the set-up for Qatar than the other Ducati teams. The previous two years races were won by their then riders (Bastianini and Di Gia).

Each team maybe having certain minor set-up tweaks done which make them better than the other on certain circuits. So, yeah need to wait for a couple of races.

[Porschefire]

GP2: 22 Mar - 24 Mar

Grande Prémio Tissot de Portugal

Autódromo Internacional do Algarve

The Circus moves to Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for the second round of MotoGP 2024. The circuit, known more colloquially as Portimão, after the port city it sits half an hour outside of, is nestled in the beautiful setting of Portugal’s Algarve, with a crowd capacity of 100,000.
The circuit has 15 corners – nine right, six left. The undulation in Portimão is incredible and the front straight will allow the MotoGP riders to really stretch the legs of their machines, before a unique downhill descend into Turn 1.







Previous Winners


2023


2022

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by Porschefire

Autódromo Internacional do Algarve[/u][/b]

Attachment 2583963

Is it just me, or does the layout looks strikingly similar to Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya, in fact I consider this as the better version of that circuit with more elevation changes and that epic hairy final corner which was re-introduced (to CdB) to the layout after that weird final chicane fest was removed

[Porschefire]

News Feed

1) Fermin Aldeguer - Pramac announcement expected

An announcement of Fermin Aldeguer's potential move from Boscoscoscuro's Moto2 team to Campinoti's Pramac team in 2025 is expected this week. This rumour has been circulating in the paddock of some time and this will have a domino effect on Martin/Morbidelli's future in the team. All things point to Martin, as the Spaniard has made it clear that he wants to ride for a factory team in 2025 although, it will also depend on Morbidelli's current season performance for retention within the team.


Source: https://www.gpone.com/en/2024/03/17/...to-be-inflamed

2) Cost-cutting of Ducati salaries puts Jorge Martin future in doubt

Ducati has stated that the Factory rider Francesco Bagnaia's new long-term deal - worth up to €10m if he wins the championship - will not be sanctioned for anybody else as they look to cut costs.

Bagnaia was paid similarly to Martin and Bastianini until this new deal. Fermin Aldeguer's salary, should he arrive in Pramac in 2025 is expected to be around €300,000 and is evidence of how Ducati intends to control spending in 2025 and beyond.


Source: https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10...n-future-doubt

3) No “solution” for new Ducati-VR46 deal yet due to “economic” factor

Ducati and VR46 haven’t yet found common ground on a new contract due to financial reasons.


Source: https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10...conomic-factor

4) BMW looking closely at a possible MotoGP entry

BMW is ‘closely looking’ at entering MotoGP and expanding its motorsport division in the coming years, according to new CEO Markus Flasch. With Flasch taking over from Markus Schramm as the new CEO of the BMW Motorrad division at the end of last year, and MotoGP set to introduce a new ruleset in 2027, the German manufacturer has changed its stance and is no longer ruling out a potential entry into grand prix racing.


Source: https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...ntry/10588551/

5) MotoGP without the Japanese manufacturers!

MotoGP legend Marco Melandri has stated the grim fact that's on everyone's mind but are hoping won't come true - MotoGP without Honda and Yamaha.

Melandri justified his opinion and even anticipated that Chinese manufacturers might eventually debut: ‘Because these are eras, first there were the Italians with [Giacomo] Agostini, then they all disappeared and the Japanese arrived, and now the Europeans are coming back. Then maybe the Chinese will arrive, I don’t know. I have this feeling that they will disappear from the grid. I don’t know how they can be competitive again’.

Speaking of the Chinese manufacturers, Kove entered the Supersport 300 World Championship last year, while this year QJMotor makes its debut in the Supersport World Championship. In the MotoGP paddock, CFMoto is represented as a brand in Moto3 and Moto2, although it does not manufacture the bikes, as is the case with QJMotor, which is a partner of Gresini in Moto2.


Source: https://motorcyclesports.net/marco-m...ntent=cmp-true

6) Fabio Quartararo admits Yamaha is worse than ever

Fabio Quartararo thinks his Yamaha is at its worst-ever compared to rivals.

The 2021 champion was 11th in the 2024 season-opening Qatar MotoGP, with teammate Alex Rins 16th. It was a dramatic reality check after an optimistic winter where Yamaha added key engineering recruits from Ducati, and were given developmental benefits through the new concessions rule.

Asked if his Yamaha is now the worst he has ever experienced, Quartararo was quoted: "Compared to how the level is right now, I would say yes. We improved, so this is something difficult to say. But the level of our bike compared to the others, it's true that we are further than ever. We are further than last year. We have improved a little bit but they are even better and faster than last year. So, the gap between all the European manufacturers and us is even bigger – even to Honda it felt that today we were missing something, and they are also struggling a lot. But I felt we were even worse today."


Source: https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10...aha-worse-ever

[Porschefire]

Originally Posted by Porschefire

News Feed

1) Fermin Aldeguer - Pramac announcement expected

An announcement of Fermin Aldeguer's potential move from Boscoscoscuro's Moto2 team to Campinoti's Pramac team in 2025 is expected this week. This rumour has been circulating in the paddock of some time and this will have a domino effect on Martin/Morbidelli's future in the team. All things point to Martin, as the Spaniard has made it clear that he wants to ride for a factory team in 2025 although, it will also depend on Morbidelli's current season performance for retention within the team.

Attachment 2584204
Source: https://www.gpone.com/en/2024/03/17/...to-be-inflamed

Confirmed! Fermin Aldeguer will ride a Ducati for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Assumption by many is Pramac, but today's announcement did not mention which team the 18-year-old will be riding for.

Source: https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10...gp-ducati-2025

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by Porschefire

Assumption by many is Pramac, but today's announcement did not mention which team the 18-year-old will be riding for.

If he joins Pramac and Acosta replaces JM43 at KTM factory squad, expect fireworks in 2025! I feel for good ol' AF37 who was completely outshined by PA31 in the first race..He needs to get his act together, just like FM21 to retain that seat. Its brutal in MotoGP with the rookie onslaught!

[aravind.anand]

The next big rumour is that Fabio Quartararo is in advanced talks with Aprilia! This to me feels just like how the Marquez & Gresini rumours were getting stronger and stronger until the news broke out. No smoke without fire, eh?

As a Quartararo fan, I am excited with the prospects of what he can do on the Aprilia, which at the moment seems far superior to the M1 he has been struggling with since the second half of 2022.

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by aravind.anand

The next big rumour is that Fabio Quartararo is in advanced talks with Aprilia!

As a Quartararo fan, I am excited with the prospects of what he can do on the Aprilia.

MotoGP fans and the grid needs a motivated Fabio of old who could challenge MM93 at that epic 2019 Thai duel

Wonder where can either AE41/MV12 move if FQ20 moves to Aprilia? MV12 can perhaps move back to Yamaha? Unless he starts getting the better of AE41 this year. 2025 grid is so uncertain!

[Porschefire]

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

If he joins Pramac and Acosta replaces JM43 at KTM factory squad, expect fireworks in 2025! I feel for good ol' AF37 who was completely outshined by PA31 in the first race..He needs to get his act together, just like FM21 to retain that seat. Its brutal in MotoGP with the rookie onslaught!

Originally Posted by aravind.anand

The next big rumour is that Fabio Quartararo is in advanced talks with Aprilia! This to me feels just like how the Marquez & Gresini rumours were getting stronger and stronger until the news broke out. No smoke without fire, eh?

As a Quartararo fan, I am excited with the prospects of what he can do on the Aprilia, which at the moment seems far superior to the M1 he has been struggling with since the second half of 2022.

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

MotoGP fans and the grid needs a motivated Fabio of old who could challenge MM93 at that epic 2019 Thai duel

Wonder where can either AE41/MV12 move if FQ20 moves to Aprilia? MV12 can perhaps move back to Yamaha? Unless he starts getting the better of AE41 this year. 2025 grid is so uncertain!

2024 has just begun and look at us discussing the 2025 silly season! It's hardly surprising though, as the 2025 rider market is crazy with a few shock waves expected for sure.

Here are my few cents -

- Fabio Quartararo needs to move away from Yamaha. Period! He is wasting his golden years trying to sharpen a knife in a gunfight. While KTM are inching closer towards beating Ducati, Aprilia are a couple of lengths behind and they needs a rider of Fabio's stature to challenge Ducati for the throne. FQ - Aprilia will be a good match IMO.

- No one can deny the fact that Aleix Espargaro has made the Aprilia into the motorcycle that it is today. While he is still competitive than many 'others' in the paddock, I expect him to move away on a high note and onto a different challenge in 2025.

- If Yamaha are serious about becoming competitive again, IMO they should 1) sign a young rookie who can bring the much needed energy and perspective to an aging team 2) launch a satellite time to continue development (already in the works) 3) sign Aleix Espargaro as the test and development rider a la Dani Pedrosa at KTM.

- These 6 riders need to start delivering soon or look elsewhere in 2025 - Jack Miller, Augusto Fernandez, Raul Fernandez, Taka Nakagami, Franco Morbidelli and Maverick Vinales.

- Out of the two, Honda seems to be progressing in development. While Luca Marini has the benefit of time to adapt, Joan Mir needs to assess the first half of 2024 closely to determine his future at Honda. It's not fair for the 2020 WC to have another bad year. Should he decide to move, Maverick Vinales could be a potential candidate for the Japanese manufacturer to gain some much needed 'European' expertise.

[Porschefire]

Portugese GP - Practice



- Marc Marquez into Q2 tomorrow. He was constantly setting the fastest lap times and would've surely topped the charts today if not for the late fall in the session. This happens to be the first fall of 2024 for MM93 on the Ducati (second overall).

- While the regulars make it into Q2, it's heartening to see both Yamahas in the mix. Great stuff by Fabio and Alex!

- Rookie, Pedro Acosta just misses out on Q2 and will be hoping to top the Q1 session tomorrow, which should be a good result.

- Diggia, Alex, Aleix and home boy - Miguel Oliveira miss out on Q2 with both the Hondas also struggling in 20th and 22nd.

[ds.raikkonen]

Thriller Miller is back! Let's hope he can make it stick during the Sprint and the race and not fade away.

Marc is slowly chipping away at the GP24 front runners. He is going to bite big time this time round (the final sector being his only nemesis)

Binder is emerging to be the dark horse this season, with that straight line speed shown at Lusail, he will surely be making some passes on the main straight.

Pecco will wake up late in Q2 and stick it on the front row as per

The Beast has woken up, he will be one to watch out for, that lap was epic..what a grid we've got in 2024

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

Wonder where can either AE41/MV12 move if FQ20 moves to Aprilia? MV12 can perhaps move back to Yamaha? Unless he starts getting the better of AE41 this year. 2025 grid is so uncertain!

MV12 to Yamaha would not happen considering what transpired in 2021. May be he would go the superbike way. In my opinion he is over rated.

[Porschefire]

Portuguese GP - Full Qualifying Results



- Enea Bastianini claims pole position and will be joined on the front row by Maverick Vinales and Jorge Martin.

- Francesco Bagnaia will start at the front of row two in fourth, with Jack Miller the top KTM in fifth and Marco Bezzecchi the only rider to use the hard front tyre on his way to a competitive sixth for VR46 Ducati.

- Marc Marquez - fast all weekend and chasing his first front row for Gresini - suffered a nightmare start to qualifying when he lost the front and crashed at just under 200km/h.

- Alex Marquez, having topped Q1 wasn't credited with a flying lap in Q2 after having exceeded track limits.

- In what is one of the many dissappointments for the factory, all four Hondas qualify at the back of the grid.

- Sprint in 3.5hrs!

[Porschefire]

Portuguese GP - Sprint



- Maverick Vinales, defying sickness, taking advantage of the mistake by the race leader Bagnaia and brilliantly holding off the fast charging Martin until the last few laps, wins the Tissot Sprint.

- Martin didn't get off to a good start but quickly made positions to slot himself in second, challenging Vinales for the win. But a mistake in the penultimate lap relegated him to third.

- Marc Marquez on the other hand, took the opportunity to convert his not so great Q2 into a well deserved second place.

- Pecco Bagnaia was riding the perfect race until he ran wide on the straight (possibly due to tailwinds), handing the lead to Vinales and rejoining the race ahead of Miller to finish fourth.

- Rookie, Pedro Acosta finishes an impressive 7th.

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by Porschefire

Portuguese GP - Sprint

- Pecco Bagnaia was riding the perfect race until he ran wide on the straight (possibly due to tailwinds),

Looked like his rear tyre stepped out of line under braking and lost traction while just clipping the paint marks on the edge of the track. It was a champion's ride from him until then.