Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1005110
IN THE WIND P30 SACHSENRING UNDER THE AXE M any MotoGP riders have complained that the tiny Sachsenring track, squeezed into an industrial estate outside Chem- nitz (formerly Karl Marx Stadt) in the former East Germany, is too tight for MotoGP. But threats that this might be the last time out at the compact venue left riders disappointed at the pre-event press conference. Serial Sachsenring winner Marc Marquez (who has won every class he's raced there since 2010) laughed that, "it will be bad for me," but added more seriously, "I think we need one race in Germany, because there are many fans here and it is also important for the manufacturers." Valentino Rossi praised the track's unique character. "It is very particular. Different from all the rest." Cal Crutchlow told press that the track was "horrible," but fun to ride, and often produced good races. The threat follows major losses at last year's event, in spite of continued capacity crowds. ADAC, the German federation, has a contract with Dorna to run a GP until 2021, but negotiations with the Sachsenring, frequently troublesome, have failed, and the federation announced in the week before this year's race that they were seeking another venue. One possibility might be the Hockenheimring, which Rossi criticized as "more of a car track," or the Nurburgring. It was a good track for bikes, said Rossi, "but the weather is often bad there." Michael Scott Despite being one of the most popular races on the calendar in terms of spectator numbers, the Sachsenring might still be struck from the MotoGP calendar. THE MOTOGP GRID SETTLED T he 2019 grid is all but settled. The retirement of Dani Pedrosa has opened the way to the forthcoming confirmation of Franco Morbidelli and the strongly rumoured surprise signing of Fabio Quartararo to the new Petronas Yamaha team. Ink is not yet on paper, according to both riders, and there were still at least two other riders vying for a place in the satellite Yamaha team. But it seems the die is cast in Quartararo's favor. This will add a second Frenchman to the grid, alongside Johann Zarco. The other rookies will be Portugal's Miguel Oliveira, in the newly KTM- equipped Tech3 squad, and Joan Mir, joining Suzuki. British riders Bradley Smith (KTM) and Scott Redding (Aprilia), on the other hand, will pay the price and leave the premier class. Ditto Czech rider Karel Abraham, and former 250 champion Alvaro Bautista, a strong candidate for the Petronas Yamaha ride, but now looking for a place in WorldSBK. There may also be a place at the Avintia Ducati team for Abraham or Bau- tista, in place of the currently under-performing Belgian Xavier Simeon. Michael Scott In a surprise twist, Fabio Quartararo looks like he will join the big time as teammate to Franco Morbidelli on the new Petronas Yamaha team.