MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 15 / NOVEMBER 20-22, 2020
AUTÓDROMO INTERNACIONAL DO ALGARVE / PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL
P54
FIM STEWARDS
QUESTIONED
Not for the first time in 2020, a deci-
sion of the FIM Stewards was called
into question. Johann Zarco's engine
went pop at the end of FP4 as he
rounded turn 14. The Frenchman im-
mediately pulled off to the track's out-
side. But he then inexplicably rode
across the track and into pit lane
while aware the engine was smok-
ing and dropping oil. No penalty was
handed out, leaving Aleix Espargaro
to express his dismay via Twitter.
"Once again, good job of race direc-
tion by not putting any sanction to a
MotoGP rider after crossing the track
with broke engine smoking oil...
Incredible," he wrote.
PORTIMAO MOTOGP
"LIKE MOTOCROSS"
There were rave reviews of the 2.8-
mile Algarve International Circuit
from riders in all three classes on the
first day of the grand prix paddock's
inaugural visit. "It's an unbelievable
track," said new MotoGP World
Champion Joan Mir. "I don't under-
stand why we don't come here every
year," said Moto2 race winner Jorge
Martin. The TV footage was filled
with incredible slow-motion replays
of riders descending from turn eight
and eleven. Five of the track's 15
turns are blind. The secret to attack-
ing these turns is to treat the track
like a motocross venue. "It is kind of
like a motocross rider when he hits
the jump," said home hero Miguel
Oliveira. "When you are facing the
jump, you don't see the end but you
kind of point the bike to one direction
and if everything goes well you end
up where you are supposed to land.
In this case you point the bike where
you want and hope you exit where
you want to be."
CAL VERSUS JORGE
As he nears the end of his career
as a full-time MotoGP rider, Cal
Crutchlow managed to land a few
verbal blows on Jorge Lorenzo, the
man he is replacing as Yamaha's
test rider in 2021. Lorenzo had de-
scribed Yamaha's decision to move
the Briton to lead its European test
Briefly...
Another inglorious
race for Valentino
Rossi. A 12th place
as The Doctor signs
off from factory
Yamaha duties.
