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/1037465
MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 14 / OCTOBER 5-7, 2018 CHANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT / BURIRAM, THAILAND P88 (Leopard Honda), and a classic first podium for rookie Dennis Foggia (SKY VR46 KTM), up from 25th on the grid. And resentment boiling over for front-running Marco Bezzec- chi (Redox Pruestel KTM), who had frequently led and had high hopes of closing the points gap on troubled title leader Jorge Martin. Instead, second Leop- ard Honda rider Enea Bastianini cut inside him for third into the last corner, only to fall under his wheels, taking both out. Martin (Del Conca Honda) was struggling with a left hand that had frozen up because a pre-event massage to the wrist, broken five races before at Brno, 259 to 231, with four races left. Binder (157) reinforced third overall ahead of non-scoring Baldassarri (132) and Marquez (126). Moto3 Put 30 Moto3 rivals into an overheated cake-tin, shake it up for 38 minutes, then see who is on top. And who has fallen out. With long straights keeping the field packed close for the full 22 laps, five or six abreast into the corners, the first race of the day could hardly have been closer. It brought a second win for Del Conca Gresini Honda rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, second place for Lorenzo Dalla Porto KTM) and an on-form Tetsuta Nagashima (Idemitsu Kalex); Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Kalex) was alone ninth; veteran Simone Corsi (Tasca Kalex) 10th after passing and outpacing Xavi Vi- erge (Dynavolt Kalex) and Remy Gardner (Tech3), with American Joe Roberts closing to within less than a second at the end for his second points of the year. Bo Bendsneyder (Tech3) and Niki Tuuli (Petronas Kalex) took the final points, the first for each of them. Among several crashers were Marcel Schrotter and Joan Mir, on the first lap. Bagnaia stretched his advan- tage over Oliveira to 28 points, iii My Own Race: 25 MAVERICK VINALES 3RD MOTOGP "I was stronger than I expected in the race," said Maverick Vinales. "I got stuck behind Cal and fought a little with Valentino, and after that I felt really good. The bike was work- ing well, so I'm very pleased about that. For sure I'm happy to finish so close to the top, to be on the podium, and to be able to recover nearly one second at the end, all under difficult conditions in which we used to suffer. I'm honestly very pleased." 26 DANI PEDROSA DNF MOTOGP "Today's result was a very disappointing one as we had a real chance to fight for the podium," Dani Pedrosa said. "I lost the front when I was pushing hard and getting closer to the front. I hit a bump and couldn't save it. The crucial moment was the start, as first I had an issue with the clutch and soon after that, Miller took the inside into the corner too fast and pushed us both wide so that we lost ground. As we had all been forced to use the hard rear, I struggled to warm the tires up over the first three laps, and I didn't have good grip. It took a while to get into a fast rhythm. The positive thing is that we had a strong race after that, catching the front group. We had a good chance but we didn't make it. Hopefully the next race will be better." 41 ALEIX ESPARGARO 13TH MOTOGP "The soft tire, in my opinion, was the best possible choice today," Aleix Espargaro said. "I discussed it at length yesterday with the team and with the Michelin technicians. There were some doubts on duration and, on the final laps, I actually did prefer to maintain my position without risking. In any case, I think that I achieved as much as was possible today on this track that is definitely one of the most difficult on the calendar for us. Thirteenth place and two points cannot be fully satisfying. We need to improve, and we are well aware of our weak points."