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/1545630
VOLUME ISSUE JUNE , P71 Behind, Bezzecchi was a disap- pointing fourth, with Martin lead- ing home a fun four-way fight for fifth with Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati), Marc and Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM) following. MotoGP Race Again, Bezzecchi was caught napping early on, with Martin leading Ogura and Fernandez getting the jump ahead. Then his worst nightmare, as Marc passed him for fourth at turn 11, with Bagnaia also vying for a move through. It was hard to know where to look. Ogura's attempted turn-one pass on Fernandez starting lap two backfired, with both run - ning wide. Suddenly, Marc was second, with Fernandez, Bezzec- chi and Bagnaia also passing the Japanese rider. Martin couldn't believe his luck. Suddenly his lead stood at 1.4 seconds. Seeing his teammate escape, Bezzecchi got impatient. Fling - ing it left through ultra-fast Ramshoek to line up Marc at the GT Chicane, his front tucked. The Italian was thrown through the gravel at sickening speed and taken to the hospital but reported no major injuries. Fernandez took next to no time to reel Martin back in, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) now joining the fight for third. Quickly, all three remaining Aprilias were in the podium places thanks to Ogura's quick-fire moves on the factory Ducatis. Only 2.4 seconds separated him and the lead duo. Fastest times on laps eight and 15 brought Ogura back into the victory fight, only for his REACTION TO 850CC TEST Monday after Brno was the first chance for a selection of MotoGP riders to try the new 850cc machines for the first time with Pirelli tires. Marc Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer lined up for Ducati while Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez tried Aprilia's new machine. Pedro Acosta was on duty for KTM. Most riders were limited in what they could say. But Yamaha's test rider Augusto Fernandez said, "More because you're using it without the devices and everything, that feels more like a real bike, a motorbike, back to riding the bike yourself, not behind the bike and getting stuck on the devices." HOLESHOT BAN FROM ASSEN CONFIRMED The Grand Prix Commission has banned holeshot devices from the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in a bid to improve first- corner safety. After two practice starts without the devices in Brno, the field had two more start sessions to prepare in Assen before Saturday's Sprint. Most riders were positive. "I like this type of start because it is a little bit slower, but you can understand the braking into turn one. For me, it's a big change, because it is very easy to make a wheelie; on the other hand, I think it will be important for the safety," said Joan Mir. But Marc Marquez sounded a note of concern: "I did four starts, and two of those I arrived in the first corner and the wheel didn't touch the ground. It's easy [in practice] because you just roll the gas [gently], but with all the bikes [in a real start], let's see who will roll the gas to touch the front tire. The brake point is more natural [without disengaging the front device], but from the start to the brake point, something can happen very easily. I just hope everybody keeps control." Briefly... Di Giannantonio (49) nerfs Marc Marquez (93) aside going into the chicane. Marquez ran through the gravel trap, and Di Giannantonio had to drop a place for not losing enough time in the skirmish. (Below) Sunday was a shocker for both Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Pedro Acosta (37). It was a mechanical for new father Bagnaia that stopped him, and carpal-tunnel syndrome for Acosta ended his race.