Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 18 / NOVEMBER 10-12, 2017 RICARDO TORMO CIRCUIT / VALENCIA, SPAIN P88 Rumors that the British GP was to move to Donington Park were put to bed over the weekend, when a revised provisional 2018 calendar confirmed that the race would be staying at Silverstone. It was later confirmed that the circuit had been signed up for the next three years, until 2020. Silverstone had stepped into the breach after Dorna signed a contract with the still non-existent Circuit of Wales; but with the new owners of the rebuilt Donington Park in negotiations with Dorna, there were strong rumors that the bike GP would return there from next year. The good news for Monster Yamaha rider Jonas Folger is that the debili- tating condition that ruled him out of the last four races of the season has now been diagnosed as Gilbert's Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the liver's ability to process toxins. While in itself not too serious or even uncommon, if untreated the situation allows a build-up of toxins in the body, which is what happened to Folger. At first a recurrence of a different condition, the Epstein Barr virus, was suspected, but a statement from the rider suggested that this had been wrong all along. The forthcoming electric-bike series that Dorna plans to introduce in 2019 took a step closer to reality with the announcement that Michelin's long- standing Technical Director Nicolas Goubert is to quit the tire company after 28 years to run the forthcoming FIM Moto-e World Cup. The French engineer, a familiar face in the pad- dock since the late 1980s, spear- headed Michelin's return as control- tire suppliers last year. Goubert will take up his appointment in February next year. Will Valentino Rossi be extending his GP career beyond the end of next year, by when he will have com- pleted a record 23 years? The su- perstar left everyone guessing when asked the question on the eve of the last GP of 2017. "After a few races next year, to see if I am still fast and can be competitive, I will speak with Yamaha, and see," he said. This was one leading question of a growing storm of speculation about 2019, by when all major contracts are up for grabs. Rumors linking Marc Marquez with a move to Red Bull KTM won't go away, with the energy drink giant said to have offered him a blank check to leave Honda. After missing the Malaysian GP following the sudden death of team manager Stefan Kiefer, both Team Kiefer riders Dominique Aegerter and Tarran Mackenzie were back in action at Valencia with news that the team will return next year as the second independent team to switch to KTM. Aegerter has been re- tained, and will be joined by former Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese, rescuing the German's career. In Moto3 next year Makar Yurchen- ko becomes the first-ever rider from Kazakhstan. He takes the place of this year's youngest rider Patrik Pulkkinen, who is out of the series. Suzuki's Alex Rins achieved a career-best fourth at Valencia, less than 15 seconds off the lead. But the team could be relieved that the Spaniard's radically improving end- of-season form did not make it to the podium. Since neither he nor team- mate Andrea Iannone have been in the top three in a disappointing season, the Japanese manufacturer will regain the concessions enjoyed by new or unsuccessful teams, including extra engines, free engine development and unlimited testing. Rossi protégé Nicolo Bulega was the worst injured of several crash- ers on the first day at Valencia. The Italian SKY VR46 Moto3 rider was out of Sunday's race, and through no fault of his own. He suffered a broken ankle after a violent crash, caused when compatriot Nic- colo Antonelli fell under his wheels in FP2. Brad Binder's luckless younger brother Darren Binder was also ruled out of the Moto3 race after suffering left-thumb ligament injuries in a crash in free practice on Saturday morning. The Platinum Bay Real Estate KTM rider has already missed races this year after injuries to the same hand. British Moto2 wild card Jake Dixon was also out, after a heavy crash in the morning. Noth- ing was broken, he said, but a heavy impact on his back left him in severe pain. He rode in morning warm-up, but withdrew from the race. Briefly...