Category: Moto GP

1. LE MANS - RACE

   Posted on 8:00pm Sunday 14th May 2023

   THE APRILIAS ARE SUPER COMPETITIVE IN LE MANS, HINDERED BY THE EVENTS OF AN EXTREMELY HEATED RACE

   MAVERICK ENDS UP IN THE GRAVEL IN A DUEL WITH BAGNAIA AFTER DEMONSTRATING THE POTENTIAL TO AIM FOR VICTORY

   ALEIX LOSES EIGHT POSITIONS IN THE OPENING BATTLE, COMES BACK AND FINISHES IN AN OUTSTANDING FIFTH PLACE

   AND NOW IT’S OFF TO MISANO FOR APRILIA ALL STARS!

   This press release must find a way to convey how the Le Mans race leaves Aprilia Racing both with feelings of great disappointment and great strength in view of the upcoming events, beginning from the next round in Mugello.

   In the French race, Maverick Viñales ended up in the gravel after contact with Bagnaia as he was completing a manoeuvre to overtake the Ducati rider but not before he had the time, in almost four laps, to show that he was fast enough today to be in the running for the win. At that moment, Maverick was moving up toward the race lead after a good start from the second row, demonstrating speed and clean riding, fully supported by an RS-GP in grand form.

   Things went a bit better for Aleix Espargaró who, also off the line well from the eleventh spot on the grid, had already moved into sixth place when he dropped down no fewer than ten positions during a battle that included contact among several riders on the first lap. From there, he rode a brilliant comeback race to finish fifth, just behind the riders who were battling for the podium.

   The next event for all the Aprilia riders and enthusiasts is set for 27 May at the Misano circuit for Aprilia All Stars. This is the huge Aprilia celebration starring the riders and bikes which have written motorcycling history. The RS-GP machines will be on the track with Espargaró, Viñales, Oliveira, Fernandez, and Savadori (who finished with an outstanding twelfth place today for the RNF satellite team). And with them will be Aprilia World Champions Max Biaggi and Loris Capirossi, plus many other riders and friends of the Aprilia brand from the sport and entertainment world. Entry is free of charge and the paddock will be livened up by music and events for the entire day on Saturday, 27 May.

   Aleix
   "The first thing I did today was apologise to the team for the mistake in qualifying, which did not make things easy in the two races. I started well today and then there was the usual chaos so I lost time trying to avoid it and found myself rather far back. I recovered and I had a great pace. Toward the end, I would have been able to have a go with Augusto but it wasn’t worth the risk of ruining his great race too. The good thing is that the RS-GP continues to be fast on every track and that is the most important thing. Now we’ll recharge and get ready for the upcoming races."

   Maverick
   "I’m angry, not so much about what happened but because of the lost opportunity. I felt really strong today and I’m sure I would have been battling for the win. It was one of those races where, as a rider, you just feel like you have a little something more. Bagnaia and I are two professional riders. It was an unfortunate contact and the adrenaline of the moment had us heated up, but the one thing that is clear is that we riders – all of us – need to settle down and be an example for the young people. The regret remains but no controversy. It happened and we’ll keep looking forward as early as Mugello. Here in Le Mans we demonstrated once again that we are extremely fast and we improved a lot of things this weekend."

2. UNLUCKY MARQUEZ, TOP8 FOR DIGGIA

   Posted on 3:00pm Sunday 14th May 2023

   The French GP’s traditional full Sunday race at Le Mans was an elimination game, with only 14 riders able to make it to the finish line. Alex Marquez is among those who left the battle early on as he was the unlucky co-protagonist of a dangerous coming together with Marini, who was trying a desperate save after losing control of his Ducati machine. The collision was inevitable and led to a bitter, early end to the Spaniard’s weekend. 
    
   It was a completely different Sunday for Fabio Di Giannantonio as today’s eighth place equals his so-far best result in MotoGP (Sachsenring 2022), with the Italia who has been constantly in the top ten in the last four GPs.

   DNF – ALEX MARQUEZ #73
   “I’m leaving Le Mans with very positive feelings with the bike. I approached the first turns well; I was aggressive but still between the boundaries. Then I was able to get in touch with the leading group and the idea was to wait a little bit, but it didn’t go as I had hoped. Marini made a mistake and crashed, Bezzecchi behind him was able to avoid him, but there was nothing I could do. I am perfectly fine, which is something, but we surely have been missing a bit of luck in this early season.”
    
   8^th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49
   “I’m very happy. We had a weekend in which we kept improving and today the feeling with the bike was excellent. We fought, I had what it takes to play my cards right and I was able to battle with Quartararo for almost the whole race. The feeling keeps improving and we’re on the right track. I expect a further step forward at Mugello.”

    

   

    

    

    

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3. TEAM GRESINI OUTSIDE THE POINTS IN FRENCH SPRINT RACE

   Posted on 4:00pm Saturday 13th May 2023

   It was a Saturday with no glory for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez who could not finish higher than 12^th and 15^th, respectively, in the first encounter at Le Mans.
   
   The two standard bearers of Gresini Racing had opposite type of performances: the Italian rider had a not-so-good start from row five but put together a solid performance pace-wise. On the other hand, the Spaniard #73 was among the protagonists at the start of the race and in the battle for the points before a coming together with the fellow Spanish rider Espargaró.
   
   With six laps left, the #41 was a bit too hot entering turn ten and ended up pushing Marquez wide (the contact was clearly visible on the front-right wing) and in the back of the pack. He finished 15^th with something to complain about.

   12^th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49

   “We had a good pace and it wasn’t a bad race. The real potential is the second group. Too bad to lose so much at the start… we need to work on it. I still struggle with the front-end, I always feel at the limit and it’s hard for me to overtake. With clear track ahead I have a great pace so it would be good to get a better start tomorrow and be able to attack a bit more.”

   15^th - ALEX MARQUEZ #73

   “Too bad for that coming together, but these things happen. Truthfully speaking I think I paid the price for a conflictive situation between Espargaró and Bezzecchi. In any case we lost vital points, even if they were just a few and that’s not good. The feeling with the bike has improved so we start back from here and tomorrow we’ll try to fine tune and try again, maybe with a bit more luck".

    

4. LE MANS TO HOST THE FIFTH ROUND OF THE MOTOGP SEASON

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 8th May 2023

   With Jerez de la Frontera being a distant memory, it is already time for France and for the iconic Bugatti circuit, where Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio will continue on their championship quest with a few more arrows in their quivers after the encouraging tests in Andalucía.   
    
   Le Mans is a favourite track for both the Spaniard (maiden podium in MotoGP in 2020, one win and one podium in Moto2 in 2019 and 2018, respectively) and the Italian (third in 2017 in Moto3) but also a win at the finish line in 2018 with penalty received after the flag).
    
   The two standard bearers of Gresini Racing in MotoGP will be on track starting from Friday at 10:00 (FP1) with the sprint race and the full encounter respectively on Saturday at 15:00 and Sunday at 14:00. 

   ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (10^th in the standings – 41 points)
   “It’s a very different circuit compared to the one we raced until now, it usually has plenty of grip and that means it could be a good track for us. I got my first MotoGP podium there and I normally do well here. I want to find back the right feeling after the ‘negative’ round at Jerez with an eye to the changeable weather. It could be a good circuit with many stop&go.”
    
   FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (15^th in the standings – 17 points)
   “Le Mans is a circuit where braking is extremely important and the precision when you enter cornering. In the Jerez test we worked on these aspects, and we can be a little bit readier. The idea is to get a strong start already from Friday and play our cards right with an already optimal setup, or close to that. We want to race with the leaders and learn more from them.”

5. ChatGPT Vs ALEX MARQUEZ

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 4th May 2023

   We asked the AI to do an interview (questions and answers) with Alex Marquez, then we compared the created answers (Alex GPT) with the real ones (Alex). Here is the result!
    
   ChatGPT: It is all about motorcycles in the family with you and your friend Marc Márquez. What do you think about the comparison with him and how were you able to develop your MotoGP career?
    
   Alex Marquez GPT: My brother was of huge inspiration for me, and I always tried to learn from him. But I’m also aware that we’re two different people and with different personalities. So, my MotoGP career is about developing my riding style and race craft. I’ve always focused on doing my best and improve in each race.
    
   Alex Marquez: Comparing myself to him has surely had an impact over the years because we did the same path; I was able to manage this parallelism until a time comes when it’s clear that you need to do a sort of separation… Each rider has different careers and paths, so I learned to look at myself only and to improve race after race.

   2. ChatGPT: How do you prepare physically and mentally for a MotoGP race? Do you have any training routine you follow?   Alex Marquez GPT: Physical and mental preparations are very important for every MotoGP rider. I would like to focus on cardio training and strength in order to be in good fitness form. I also work with my team to develop a race strategy and to be ready for any situation that could happen in the race. Regarding mental preparation, I try to stay calm and focused for the whole race, even when there are difficult situations. Generally speaking, I try to keep a balance between physical and mental training to give my best on track.   Alex Marquez: I’ve been following the same routine for many years now, even though some exercises have changed through time. From the mental side, I try to have my dear ones near, stay calm and be happy. I don’t have a mental coach.    3. ChatGPT: How would you describe your riding style compared to other MotoGP riders?   Alex Marquez GPT: I think my riding style is very smooth and controlled. I like to concentrate on precision and make sure to be comfortable and under control on the bike. Surely it is important to have the necessary speed to compete in MotoGP, but precision is what makes the difference for me.   Alex Marquez: Precise, smooth and also aggressive at times.   4. ChatGPT: What do you do to stay calm and focused while on the grid, waiting for the race to start? Do you have any ritual or special technique?   Alex Marquez GPT: I like to have a calm and relaxed approach on the starting grid. I like to listen to music and concentrate on my racing strategy. I don’t have any specific ritual, but I like to take a few minutes to take a deep breath and visualise my race before the start.   Alex Marquez: I always try to visualise a whole lap in my head, including gear shifting, how I will approach it, the start and where I could have room for overtaking. But most of all I try to isolate myself from all the people on the grid.   5. ChatGPT: We know competition in MotoGP is very intense. How do you manage the passion and competition during the season?   Alex Marquez GPT: Pressure is part of racing in MotoGP, but I believe it is very important to keep it under control. I like to focus on my race and my strategy, and not on what other riders are doing. I also like to take some time to relax away from the track and enjoy my free time.   Alex Marquez: Since my beginnings, the Spanish championship was already a very professional championship, so you get to the world championship with a good base. Things change quite a lot in the jump from Moto2 to MotoGP and that’s when you need to organise yourself well, to make sure that pressure doesn’t take the focus away from what really matters – being fast on the bike.   6. ChatGPT: What piece of advice would you give to someone who wishes to start working in the motorcycling world and become a professional rider?   Alex Marquez GPT: My advice is to work hard, be consistent and never give up. Motorcycle racing is a very demanding sport, both physically and mentally, it requires plenty of commitment and dedication in order to become a professional rider. It is also important to have a good team around you that can help you develop and improve in each race.   Alex Marquez: If this is your dream, you have to fight for it in order to fulfil it. You have to do it without thinking too much.   7. ChatGPT: What was your most memorable race or win in the world championship so far and why? Is there a race you would like to win in the future?   Alex Marquez GPT: My first MotoGP race was special for me, because it represented the pinnacle of many years of hard work and dedication. Winning the Moto2 championship in 2019 was also a very emotional moment for me. Regarding the races I’d like to win in the future, I would surely like to win at home at the Catalan GP and also at the Spanish Grand Prix. These are two very important races for me and I hope I can with both of them at some point in my MotoGP career.   Alex Marquez: The most special race was in Valencia 2014 when I was battling for the Moto3 title and there was a lot of tension with my opponent. And I dream about winning a MotoGP race!

   Gresini Racing