VOL. 52 ISSUE 32 AUGUST 11, 2015 P77
partner Pol Espargaro.
Petrucci would lose more
places by the end of the race,
while Espargaro was soon get-
ting close attention from CWM
Honda's Cal Crutchlow. He'd
qualified fourth, but was caught
Monster Yamaha's Bradley
Smith, just over two tenths be-
hind after another strong race.
He had outpaced not only fast
qualifier, Pramac Ducati's Danilo
Petrucci in the early laps, but
also his teammate and 8-Hours
Briefly...
they would be back in both MotoGP
and Moto2 for the next round at Brno.
Stefan Bradl has been replaced by
Claudio Corti, to ride alongside Loris
Baz in the premier class; while both
Simone Corsi and Lorenzo Baldas-
sarri return in Moto2. The official
statement suggests but does not
confirm that they will complete the
season, saying that they will be back
"in both categories from the Czech
Republic GP." Meanwhile, team
owner Giovanni Cuzari languishes
in a Swiss prison, where he is ac-
cused of tax fraud and money laun-
dering. One possibility is that if they
can survive the season, the team will
be able to sell their MotoGP slot to
a new team, with rumors suggesting
that either the Ajo team and rider Jo-
hann Zarco or even the successful
Leopard Racing Moto3 squad might
be contemplating a move up.
Veteran Nicky Hayden has been
linked with a possible move to World
Superbikes. "I still enjoy riding these
bikes," the 34-year-old 2006 World
Champion said.
Moto2 star Sam Lowes is a ma-
jor target, with his pick of Moto2
teams, but favored also for a move
to MotoGP. Although expectations
he might join Aprilia have been un-
dermined by Stefan Bradl joining the
Italian team.
Fellow-Briton Danny Kent is expect-
ed to move back to Moto2, along
with his Leopard Racing team, to be
replaced in Moto3 by blazing rookie
Fabio Quartararo.
