IN
THE
WIND
AND MARQUEZ
IS DQd
T
he most scandalous outcome of the tire debacle at Phillip Island was the disqualification of Marc Marquez, after his team had misunderstood the hastily written and then revised
regulations issued after morning warm-up.
These commanded at least one bikechange. Unless there was a change in the
Marc Marquez was disqualified from the Australian Grand
weather, "this means that the rider must change Prix after pitting a lap too late to change bikes.
machine only at the end of lap nine or lap 10."
A rider pitting earlier would have to make another about this, try to forget, and go to Motegi."
His teammate Dani Pedrosa was more vocal.
machine change for the end, it explained. The pen"Before the start, the rules were being changed
alty for pitting too late was not mentioned.
It turned out to be a black flag, and disqualifica- every five minutes. It was difficult to adapt without
making any mistakes. Everything was going so fast
tion of the World Champion elect.
Marquez was furious as he called into the pit, and it was confusing for riders and mechanics. It
and his crew disconsolate. But he was smiling and wasn't obvious which was lap nine and which was
philosophical after the race, as he explained the lap 10."
Significantly, his side of the pit read it right, and
mistake in his team's strategy. They had interpreted
the ruling wrongly, thinking that pitting after lap 10 he was the first to pit for an athletic leap onto his
was permitted. However, as Race Director Mike second bike.
So who was at fault? It had been a team deciWebb explained, this meant exceeding the allowsion. Said Livio Suppo: "I am the team principal.
ance, by completing lap 11 in pit lane.
"It was a big confusion," said the rider. "We learn It's me."
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
P24
HAYDEN TO
ASPAR/HONDA
I
t's finally settled, and finally official. Nicky
Hayden is to join the Spanish Aspar team
next year, to ride one of the new production Hondas in the 2014 MotoGP World
Championship. The rushed deal was finally decided the day after the Malaysian GP,
after original plans had been thrown into
turmoil by Ducati's poaching of Aprilia's
top race engineer Gigi Dall'Igna.
The 2006 World Champion won that
title and his previous AMA Superbike title
continued on page 26
Nicky Hayden will
be on an Aspar
Honda in the 2014
MotoGP World
Championship.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
Michael Scott
