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/827115
MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 5 / MAY 15-17, 2017 BUGATTI CIRCUIT / LE MANS, FRANCE P116 RBA KTM. Jules Danilo (Rivacold Honda) was seventh, then Andrea Migno (SKY VR46 KTM) ahead of Bo Bend- sneyder and former champion and one-race wild card Danny Kent (both Red Bull KTM). Mahindra's Albert Arenas had been running fourth in the first at- tempt, and was in the top 10 when he crashed out. Nico Antonelli was one of a further three to crash out, the Italian remounting then falling again, having also been involved in the first-race crash. Mir's lead is now a yawning 34 points, 99 to Fenati's 65, then Canet (63), Martin (59) and McPhee (53). CN MOTOGP 1. Maverick Vinales (Yam) 2. Johann Zarco (Yam) 3. Dani Pedrosa (Hon) 4. Andrea Dovizioso (Duc) 5. Cal Crutchlow (Hon) MOTO2 1. Franco Morbidelli (Kal) 2. Francesco Bagnaia (Kal) 3. Thomas Luthi (Kal) 4. Alex Marquiez (Kal) 5. Mattia Pasini (Kal) MOTO3 1. Joan Mir (Hon) 2. Aron Canet (Hon) 3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Hon) 4. Marcos Ramirez (KTM) 5. Juanfran Guevara (KTM) France's new hero Johann Zarco—garnering more noise from the crowd than even Rossi—will stay with the Mon- ster Yamaha Tech 3 team next year, after an early signature to renew his contract. Both he and teammate Jonas Folger are on a one-plus-one renew- able contract, with negotia- tions about renewal scheduled for July. But, according to team owner Herve Poncharal, "after Jerez, both of us said: 'Why wait until July?' Now he can go on with this season with less pressure and a lighter brain." Calls for a harder front tire have been heeded. From the next round at Mugello, Michelin will be introducing a stiffer construction front tire as the spec tire. After back-to-back tests at Jerez, according to a state- ment from Michelin, "all riders and teams were consulted by Dorna and Michelin and a majority decision was taken to introduce the stiffer construc- tion…available in soft, medium and hard compounds." The voting was 20 for and only three against. The fully resurfaced Le Mans circuit won praise for im- proved grip in both wet and dry conditions from all riders, but still claimed several victims over the two days of practice and qualifying. The first was Moto3 rider Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA KTM), who re-broke the right collarbone that he smashed before the Qatar GP at the end of Friday's FP2 session, and was out of the race. The next eliminated was Garage Plus Kalex rider Iker Lecuona, innocent victim when Jerez Moto2 winner Alex Marquez crashed right in front of him. Spaniard Lecuona also re-broke his collarbone, a repeat of an injury sustained in pre-season testing. Alex Marquez was also injured in the FP3 crash, with a hairline fracture to one foot, but was able to return to qualify sixth in the afternoon. There were two high-profile comebacks at Le Mans, and one interesting newcomer. The returnees were former World Superbike Champion Sylvain Guintoli and ex-Moto3 cham- pion Danny Kent, the new boy Tarran Mackenzie, British Supersport champion. Guintoli is subbing for the still-injured Alex Rins on the factory Ecstar Suzuki, and has been asked to make himself available for the next two GPs, just in case. Kent was a wild card riding for his long-ago Red Bull Ajo team in Moto3, having walked out on his Kiefer team Moto2 ride midway through the COTA GP, round three. Mackenzie is the son of former 500 GP racer and ex-British champion Niall, and was making his first ac- quaintance with a Moto2 bike, as Kent's full-time replace- ment at Kiefer. So far so good, qualifying 29th out of 31, but he crashed out of the race. Briefly...