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/697689
ROAD RACE FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8 / JUNE 26, 2016 TT CIRCUIT ASSEN / ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS P62 round in Catalunya, finishing 15th to get the team's first points of the year. The next weekend, he won the CEV national championship race at the same track, and was seconded into the Tasca team again for Assen. Former factory Mahindra Moto3 rider Webb was drafted in to the Platinum Bay Mahindra squad along- side Darren Binder, taking the place of the under-performing Czech, former Rookies Cup Champion Karel Hanika. Webb has been out of GP racing for two years, and his immediate last outing was a sharp contrast—on a BMW Superbike at the Isle of Man TT. Post-Catalunya tests failed to bring relief to troubled Honda MotoGP riders, with both factory Repsol team riders rejecting a new chassis, with Marquez saying, "we expected more." The current chassis was modified, however, allowing more changes in ride height. Acceleration remains a weak point, but at least he has moved on from two bogey circuits, Mugello and Catalunya. Ya- maha also brought a chassis varia- tion to the Catalunya tests, with both Rossi and Lorenzo continuing to try it at Assen. Rossi put it away after the first day, but Lorenzo continued to try it until he had a high-speed crash on it on Saturday morning. Wing play continued at Assen, but it will be for the last time. A GP Commission meeting on Saturday decreed that MotoGP is to follow the smaller classes, with aerodynamic aids banned from the end of this season. The decision came in the absence of any counter-proposal from the MSMA manufacturers' as- sociation, with its members deeply divided on the issue. This was to the dismay mainly of Ducati, which has led the way in the sprouting wars; while at this race stubby strakes and canards were still coming and going on various bikes—with Crutchlow try- ing some of the biggest yet seen on a Honda, in search of more stability in the fast changes of direction. The effect of wings is slight, according to riders, but does play a small part in reducing wheelies and improv- ing front-end stability, but there have been safety concerns, most forcibly expressed by non-Ducati riders without wings. Several riders, notably Bradley Smith and Dani Pedrosa, have spoken of danger- ous high-speed buffeting behind a winged bike. Apart from the obvious unsettling effect, this can spread the brake pads, requiring an unex- pected extra handful when applied. Pedrosa added concerns about contact. Other aspects of racing safety were under constant review, "then we put these kind of knives on the bikes." Marquez cited a difficulty in overtaking—ala F1. "When you are in the slipstream you don't have the down force, so you wheelie more, and it is hard to pass..." MotoGP 1. Jack Miller (Hon) 2. Marc Marquez (Hon) 3. Scott Redding (Duc) 4. Pol Epargaro (Yam) 5. Andrea Iannone (Duc) Moto2 1. Takaaki Nakagami (Kal) 2. Johann Zarco (Kal) 3. Franco Morbidelli (Kal) 4. Sam Lowes (Kal) 5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kal) Moto3 1. Francesco Bagnaia (Mah) 2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Hon) 3. Andrea Migno (KTM) 4. Romano Fenati (KTM) 5. Niccolo Antonelli (Hon) Briefly... Looks like Cal Crutchlow isn't going anywhere.