MOTOGP
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 5/MAY 17, 2015
CIRCUIT BUGATTI/LE MANS, FRANCE
P90
YAMAHA, DUCATI PROGRESS
Fresh from the first tests of the
season, most but not all had words of
encouragement on arrival at Le Mans.
On the upside, both Yamaha rid-
ers, and more especially Ducati—who
had eschewed the Jerez test for two
private days at Mugello.
Not so happy: Marc Marquez, still
seeking the solution to wayward cor-
ner entry on his Honda.
Very bleak: Andrea Iannone, who
had two big crashes at Mugello tests,
and dislocated his left shoulder with
only days to the race.
Both Yamaha and Ducati are riding
high.
For Valentino Rossi, Yamaha had
only brought some small details to
the test, "but all improved the perfor-
mance." More importantly, he and his
crew had been able to use the time to
refine settings. The bike turned better,
and he could pick it up earlier on the
exit, "which is better for the tires." The
value showed in the race, when an
educated guess on a further setting
change worked out right.
Jorge Lorenzo spoke of improved
balance, and not only under braking.
"My bike is complete," he said. The
improvement under braking meant
they were not giving away to Honda on
corner entry, "but we have preserved
our advantage of corner speed."
Ducati's new GP15, starting from
scratch compared with the Yamaha
M1, arrived at a high level, but still has
The battle of the
race was between
Marquez (93) and
the injured Andrea
Iannone (29) for
fourth, which
ultimately went to
the Spaniard.
