VOL. 51 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 11, 2014 P41
the riders to decide. Most peo-
ple, and certainly most riders,
think that it is the best solution.
One notable exception is Jorge
Lorenzo. The Movistar Yama-
ha rider has spoken out about
this, suggesting as recently as
the safety commission meeting
at Motegi that if a white flag is
shown, then a pit stop should be
mandatory.
That was how he treated it to-
day. Losing time and ground as
the nerves struck midrace, he–
along with early leader Andrea
Iannone on the Pramac Ducati–
was the first to dive into the pits
to switch to wet tires. The same
gamble at Aragon, where the rain
intensified, had yielded his first
win of the season. This time, the
outcome could hardly have been
more different.
The track dried, his lap times
were 10 seconds slower than
those of the leaders. Soon after-
wards, he pitted to retire.
Jorge was fighting for sec-
ond place overall and only vic-
tory would serve his purpose.
Briefly...
other attempt. Having Lorenzo come
past was pure luck. "Following Jorge
was a small help. For me it was a
good procedure for the rear tire, be-
cause I had good grip. I was lucky
to be in that place, and I am happy
if it makes him a bit nervous. But it
happened 100 times to me," he said.
Nicky Hayden's troublesome wrist
continues to improve, the American
rider said at Valencia, after the three
consecutive flyaway races had left
him in quite considerable pain. "I still
have some problems with the range
of movement," he said. He needed
to use more elbow movement to
open the twist-grip, which in turn lim-
ited his ability to move around on the
bike. He was due for further medical
checks and therapy in the break. "I
hope I will have more movement in it
for next season," he said.
The scale and influence of the Es-
trella Galicia 0,0 squad is to ex-
tend to all three classes next year,
with the increasingly influential Span-
ish sponsors, allied to Repsol, join-
ing forces with the Marc VDS team
a position he held from the first lap to
the last, but there was a more lively
tussle for fourth in the closing stages.
CarXpert Suter's Dominique Ae-
gerter had inherited the position after
first-time front-row starter Franco Mor-
bidelli on the Italtrans Kalex slipped off
after five laps; and the Swiss rider held
it until there were four laps to go.
Now Xavier Simeon on the Federal
Oil Suter took over, only to lose it on
the last lap to Vinales' teammate Luis
Salom. The trio crossed the line within
less than two seconds.
World Supersport champion Sam
Lowes (Speed Up)
was seventh; Tech 3's
Marcel Schrotter won
a four-bike battle for
eighth, from Anthony
West on the QMMF
Speed Up, Gresini
Suter's Lorenzo Baldas-
sarri and Mapfre Suter's
Jordi Torres.
With Rabat on 346,
Kallio and Vinales were
unchanged on 289;
and Luthi made sure of
fourth on 194 to Aegerter's 172.
Thomas Luthi (12) slips past
Tito Rabat (53) for the win.
continued on next page
