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/1186100
VOLUME 56 ISSUE 46 NOVEMBER 19, 2019 P61 LUTHI'S RECORD Thomas Luthi was eventually de- feated for second overall in Moto2 by Brad Binder, but the 33-year- old Swiss former 125cc Cham- pion completed the season with another feather in his hat. Second at Valencia was his 65th career po- dium across all classes, but more significantly his 55th in Moto2. This puts him second in the all-time intermediate-class list, outstripping former 250 Championship winners Max Biaggi and Tetsuya Harada, with 53 apiece. The only man left to beat is four-time World Cham- pion Anton Mang with 60. NO KALEX In an ultra-rare event in Moto2, there was not a single Kalex on the front row of the grid—with the Speed Up machines of pole qualifier Jorge Navarro and MV Agusta's Stefano Manzi sandwiching Jorge Martin's KTM. And the race showed variety, with Luthi's second-place the only Kalex in the top four, with Binder's KTM first, then Navarro (third) and Manzi (fourth). MILLER TO THE FACTORY TEAM? Jack Miller to the factory Ducati team? This was another rumor gath- ering strength in the autumnal chill at the final round at Valencia, with a current underperforming team- mate to Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Pettrucci, in line to be dumped. The scene was set for a tussle between Ducati and the factory-backed in- dependent Pramac team, reluctant not only to lose their Australian star rider but also not interested in regaining the services of Petrucci, whom they had already brought up and through to the factory squad. Miller poured cold water on the rumor, however. "When it's a slow week in the press, people come up with all sorts of stories," he said. "But I haven't had any chats with anybody about it. Danilo's going through a rough patch at the mo- ment, but it happens to all of us. He's a quality rider—just look at what he did at Mugello." LORENZO TRIBUTES Tributes poured in in the wake of Jorge Lorenzo's announcement of his retirement on the eve of the Valencia GP, with riders, rac- ing management, and fans alike expressing respect for a giant of modern MotoGP racing. Few more valuable than from former team- mate and long-time rival Valentino Rossi, who said, "we are losing a very important part of our sport. For me personally, he has been one of the best rivals of my career. A lot of times, he impressed me with his speed and concentration. He was always very fast from the moment he arrived in MotoGP." Another long-time rival was Andrea Dovizio- so, who said, "I met him in the European Championship in 2001, and every year we changed class at the same moment. We were always big rivals, and he won a lot, but sometimes it is difficult to stay out in the lead." Alex Rins said, "when I started to watch on TV, he was always my reference. I feel good I could share the track with him." Cal Crutchlow spoke of how, when he and Colin Edwards were teammates riding satellite Yamahas, and Jorge was on a factory bike, they used to simply to ignore his data, because he was in such a realm of his own. Briefly... "It was a difficult weekend. We were trying many different things [preparing for the post-race 2020- bike tests] and working very, very hard," said Marquez. "My goal was to win the race and the team cham- pionship. It was a perfect season. It will be tough to repeat. But now is the time to celebrate." Fabio Quartararo had put the satellite Petronas Yamaha on pole for the sixth time this year, with Marquez and Jack Miller's Pramac Ducati alongside. Miller had predicted he would lead away thanks to the Ducati's holeshot device, though "I'd rather not. I'll leave a gap." As he'd promised, he led into the first corner, but at the second cor-