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/990347
IN THE WIND P46 cast doubt over his continued tenure, but we should know within two weeks, according to team manager Alberto Puig. "We said at the beginning of the year we would make a decision by the Catalunya GP," he said. If not Dani, then who? One name mentioned is multi- WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea, who told press recently that he was considering "an attractive offer" to move to MotoGP. Morbidelli is still considered a strong candidate, in spite of strong rumors linking him with the new Yamaha team. Moto2 rider Alex Marquez is an- other possibility to join his brother, although he has not achieved the same level of success in the middle class after winning a close Moto3 title. Michael Scott PIRRO'S MONSTER CRASH M arc Marquez has a rival for the "fastest-ever" MotoGP crash, after Ducati test rider Michele Pirro (31) had a terrifying up-and-over at the same place, the end of Mug- ello's notoriously rapid straight during Friday practice for the Italian MotoGP. More importantly, both of them survived relatively unscathed, in spite of falling at well over 210 mph—a tribute to modern safety equipment, as well as to that other important ingredient of safety. Luck. The fastest spot of the season is not actually quite straight, and more dauntingly runs over a blind brow at its end, where the front wheel lifts, further encouraged by a little bump. As it lands, riders have to hit the brakes to drop from around 215 mph to around 60 for the first corner. Wildcard Pirro, vastly experienced at Ducati's test circuit, had led much of the morning session, ending up a close second. In the afternoon, run- ning fast on his sixth timed lap, Pirro's trajectory triggered a major front-end shake over the bump, which had the effect of spreading the brake pads. Ducati's investigations showed that when he grabbed the brakes on landing, the lever went back to the bar. So he grabbed another handful, and locked the front at close to top speed. The bike nose-dived violently, and he was flung high, far and fast over the handlebars, landing very heavily still on the asphalt. The 31-year-old wildcard was instantly knocked out, and there were worried frowns in pit lane, the session immediately red flagged, as he was treat- ed trackside behind screens. But he had regained consciousness by the time he was taken away by ambulance. Later, he was taken to hospital for a precautionary CT scan because of being knocked out, but he had escaped any injury worse than a dislocated shoulder. Marquez crashed in the same place in 2013, measured at 209.4 mph, and for a similar reason— though he bailed off the bike rather than getting thrown, and was back to race on Sunday. Michael Scott