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/1376983
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 21 MAY 25, 2021 P135 that only two riders were injured badly enough to be ruled out for the weekend—Moto2 rookie Yari Montella, with a fractured wrist, and Moto3's Yuki Kunii (collar- bone). There is still a cost to be con- sidered. Is the Bugatti circuit really fit for purpose? The answer to that needs to be a resounding, "yes," although possibly the camber of the notorious turn three could be looked at. Are the riders good enough? Again, it must be "yes." The road to GP entry is well-controlled, the ability to qualify generally serves the purpose. Then how about the equip- ment? Here it is not so clear. What is certain is a high level of stan- dardization, all aimed at cutting costs. Fresh regs announced last week mean that next year frames and swingarms join engines and electronics on the growing list of items with devel- opment frozen. Most significant is the frozen development of control tires. Where once a variety of rub- ber was available to suit parti- clar tracks, temperatures and weather conditions, the range is now severely limited. Tires, dry or wet, are homologated for the year, and the Le Mans crash list is living proof that in this respect, one size most definitely does not fit all. Especially if the money saved on tire development is spent instead on crash repairs and medical bills. While Mugello will have al- ready happened by the time you read this, here are my thoughts going in, we'll see what hap- pens. Mugello is steeped in Rossi's history. For more than 10 years, from 1997 to 2008, the sinuous swoops belonged to him. He won 10 out of 12 races and every one from 2002, with the arrival of MotoGP four- strokes. This, in the way of history, was quite a long time ago. In the meanwhile, Mugello has also shown Rossi its teeth, inflicting in 2010 his only serious racing injury, when he snapped his leg in a vicious high-side in practice. Given this back story, Valen- tino might arrive at Mugello in a reflective mood. The last 13 races have given him plenty to reflect upon: a string of seven DNFs and not one top-10. Seeing him floundering breathless in a rising tide of youth is not edifying. He has often spoken about how he wants to carry on, as long as he is competitive, but it now seems he is ignoring the writing on the wall. Not only on the wall. This and other columnists have several times said how his continued factory-team incumbency con- demned promising new riders Quartararo and Morbidelli to lesser bikes and blocked other potential recruits. An unpopular view. This year the syndrome remains: Quartararo has leap- frogged him, taking full benefit from a seemingly (finally) im- proved M1. But triple 2020 win- ner and title runner-up Morbidelli is chafing on a two-year-old bike. Valentino's VR46 Academy has done wonders develop- ing new Italian talent. Including Morbidelli. But this achievement is undermined by now holding Morbidelli back. Mugello would be the perfect place for Valentino to reaffirm his god-like status by handing his factory bike to the younger rider, to concentrate on his forthcom- ing new role as MotoGP team owner. CN RACING SHOULD BREAK RECORDS, AND LE MANS ACHIEVED THAT. BUT NOT IN LAP TIMES, HOWEVER, NOR CROWD ATTENDANCE (UNLESS YOU'RE COUNTING "LOWEST-EVER").