Sunday, January 24, 2021
MCNews
  • NEWSLatest
  • REVIEWS
  • LATEST BIKES
  • RACING
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • MEDIA
    • GALLERY
  • MORE
    • POPULAR ARTICLES
    • MCNEWS COMMENTS
    • MAIN FORUM
    • CONTACT US
    • ABOUT US
No Result
View All Result
MCNews
  • NEWSLatest
  • REVIEWS
  • LATEST BIKES
  • RACING
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • MEDIA
    • GALLERY
  • MORE
    • POPULAR ARTICLES
    • MCNEWS COMMENTS
    • MAIN FORUM
    • CONTACT US
    • ABOUT US
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
MCNews

Boris on the Misano GP | Dovi bores Lorenzo into the gravel

Boris Mihailovic by Boris Mihailovic
September 10, 2018
in MotoGP, Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing
Home Motorcycle News Motorcycle Racing MotoGP
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare

MotoGP 2018

Round 13 – Misano

With Boris Mihailovic

There was an understandably sour taste in the beer-flavoured mouths of British MotoGP fans after the Silverstone Round was cancelled.

But it was indisputably the correct call by Race Direction, especially seeing as Rabat will take some time learning to walk again after fielding Morbidelli’s bike with his legs.

MotoGP Silverstone Cancelled F
Silverstone MotoGP 2018

You just can’t race bikes on a circuit that won’t drain its standing water, no matter how many beers the spectators have drunk or how long they’ve sat waiting in the rain.

So when the circus arrived in Misano, the championship points table was unchanged, and the clowns who’d resurfaced Silverstone were threatening journos like Mat Oxley with legal action for calling them out on their shoddy workmanship.

MotoGP Misano Vinales GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

What was also unchanged was the open hostility Rossi carries for Marquez. Social media was ablaze with sniffling outrage when Rossi refused to shake Marquez’s hand during a pre-race press conference.

MotoGP Misano Pre Conf

Of course, this incident was entirely confected by a journo who wondered, in a dumb question, if Rossi would extend the hand of sportsmanship to Marquez. Marquez, the eternal ingénue playing for the cameras, duly extended his hand.

Rossi, not remotely interested in playing for those same cameras, crossed his arms and refused the handshake, saying that he does not need to shake hands with the young Spaniard and that things were “OK” between them as far as he was concerned.

MotoGP Misano Rossi GP AN
Valentino Rossi – MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

Cue shrieks of “bad sportsmanship” from the peanut gallery. Heh. I tend not to shake hands with people I dislike, and I would view it as an act of rank hypocrisy if I did. If I don’t like you, I sure as shit ain’t shaking your hand – sportsmanship be damned.

How quickly we forget both the history these two have and how Rossi is unlikely to be manipulated by a journo looking to score some kind of point.

MotoGP Misano ParcFerme GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

Of course, because he hates being ignored and he’s walking with a swagger again, Lorenzo added his two-cents to the issue and declared them both to be “children”, as if he had always had the moral high ground in past handbag battles.

Jorge was still strutting after Qualifying, having blazed his way to pole on a track where Ducatis don’t normally sail well.

MotoGP Misano Lorenzo GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

Surprisingly, Jack Miller had also qualified well, and found himself in second, followed by a hopeful Vinales, Dovizioso, Marquez, Crutchlow and a grim-mouthed Rossi back in seventh.

It seemed like Yamaha had found “something” between Silverstone and Misano. Vinales was at the pointy end, and Rossi was not all that far back – less than half a second from Lorenzo. But as the temperatures went up on race day, it would take a lot more than Misano’s traditional sea of yellow to will The Doctor onto his home podium.

MotoGP Misano GPstart GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

The Yamahas just don’t work well in the heat. It’s been that way all season, prompting an unimaginable apology from the factory to its riders a few weeks ago.

The race start was all Lorenzo. If he’s on pole, he’s almost impossible to beat to the first turn. Jack was on his tail and Marquez in hot pursuit. But Dovizioso was in hotter pursuit and was in second by the start of Lap Two. So hot was this pursuit, Jack Miller excused himself into the gravel before Lap Two, and the great chess-game began.

MotoGP Misano Dovi GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

Clearly inspired by Lorenzo’s recent declaration that he was “boring”, Andrea Dovzioso bored his way into the lead, and set about leaving his team-mate and Marquez in his wake. It was a stunning demonstration of how to control a race from the front – and one that Lorenzo himself had done on many occasions.

But it is processional to watch, and the nature of Misano – a track of two halves; the first half tight and technical, the second a crazed speed-fest – does throw up races like these.

MotoGP Misano Marquez GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

So as Dovi eked his lead out to almost two seconds, Marquez and Lorenzo felt it was time to see whose pee was landing higher up the tree. It was about halfway through the race and Jorge was very full of berries.

Marquez slammed past him in Turn 14, George slammed back two corners later, rinse and repeat. This, of course, allowed Crutchlow, riding a lonely fourth, to creep a little closer and for his heart to glow with hope.

MotoGP Misano Crutchlow GP AN Cover
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

Nine laps from the end, Lorenzo once again passed Marquez, but was unable to shake him as the leading three came up on the hapless Christoff Ponsson, Rabat’s replacement, and the first rider I’ve seen lapped in MotoGP for quite a while.

The last four laps saw Marc and Jorge creep up on Dovi, reducing his lead to 1.3 seconds. But that was it. Dovi saw his pit board and began to re-apply himself, as his team-mate helpfully ploughed himself off the track two laps from the end, gifting Marquez with second and Crutchlow with third.

MotoGP Misano Crutchlow GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

A wild-eyed Rins came home in fourth, 14 seconds behind the winner, and trailed by Vinales, Pedrosa and Rossi – all very processional and well-mannered.

This has changed the complexion of the championship table. Marquez’s lead appears to be insurmountable at this stage of the season. Dovizioso is 67 points behind and only three points ahead of Rossi. While Lorenzo’s recent return to form puts him in a threatening fourth with 130 points.

MotoGP Misano Dovi GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN

Aragon is next, and I’m pretty sure Lorenzo will be feral with intent. As will his “boring” team-mate. And who knows? Yamaha may even find a little something else, because while the Doctor may not win his tenth title this year, he does so like making the Spaniards look ordinary at home. But that young Marquez is so very far from ordinary.

MotoGP Misano Marquez GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN
2018 MotoGP Misano Race Results
Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1  Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 42’05.426
2  Marc Marquez Honda 2.822
3  Cal Crutchlow Honda 7.269
4  Alex Rins Suzuki 14.687
5  Maverick Viñales Yamaha 16.016
6  Dani Pedrosa Honda 17.408
7  Valentino Rossi Yamaha 19.086
8  Andrea Iannone Suzuki 21.804
9  Alvaro Bautista Ducati 23.919
10  Johann Zarco Yamaha 27.559
11  Danilo Petrucci Ducati 30.698
12  Franco Morbidelli Honda 32.941
13  Takaaki Nakagami Honda 33.461
14  Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 35.686
15  Michele Pirro Ducati 35.812
16  Bradley Smith KTM 46.500
17  Jorge Lorenzo Ducati 46.614
18  Jack Miller Ducati 50.593
19  Hafizh Syahrin Yamaha 55.168
20  Karel Abraham Ducati 1’02.255
21  Scott Redding Aprilia 1’09.475
22  Thomas Luthi Honda 1’12.608
23  Christophe Ponsson Ducati 1 Lap
Ret  Stefan Bradl Honda 10 Laps
Ret  Pol Espargaro KTM 10 Laps
Ret Xaier Simeon Ducati 25 Laps
MotoGP Misano GPpod GP AN
MotoGP 2018 Misano – Image by AJRN
MotoGP Championship Standings
Pos Driver Team Points
1. Marquez Marc Repsol Honda Team 221
2. Dovizioso Andrea Ducati Team 154
3. Rossi Valentino Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 151
4. Lorenzo Jorge Ducati Team 130
5. Vinales Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 124
6. Crutchlow Cal LCR Honda 119
7. Zarco Johann Monster Yamaha Tech 3 110
8. Petrucci Danilo Alma Pramac Racing 110
9. Iannone Andrea Team Suzuki Ecstar 92
10. Rins Alex Team Suzuki Ecstar 79
11. Pedrosa Dani Repsol Honda Team 76
12. Bautista Alvaro Angel Nieto Team 64
13. Miller Jack Alma Pramac Racing 61
14. Rabat Tito Reale Avintia Racing 35
15. Espargaro Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 32
16. Morbidelli Franco Marc VDS Racing Team 26
17. Syahrin Hafizh Monster Yamaha Tech 3 24
18. Espargaro Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 19
19. Smith Bradley Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 15
20. Nakagami Takaaki LCR Honda 14
21. Redding Scott Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 12
22. Kallio Mika Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 6
23. Abraham Karel Angel Nieto Team 4
24. Pirro Michele Ducati Team 1
25. Luthi Thomas Marc VDS Racing Team 0
26. Bradl Stefan Honda Racing Corporation 0
27. Simeon Xavier Reale Avintia Racing 0
28. Guintoli Sylvain Pata Yamaha Official WSBK Team 0
29. Ponsson Christophe Ponsson C. 0
Tags: Andrea DoviziosoBoris MihailovicBoris MotoGPJorge LorenzoMarc MarquezMisano MotoGPMoto2Moto3Valentino Rossi
Previous Post

Beaubier wins his third MotoAmerica Superbike title

Next Post

2019 Honda CRF motocrossers land in dealers

Boris Mihailovic

Boris Mihailovic

Boris is a writer who has contributed to many magazines and websites over the years, edited a couple of those things as well, and written a few books. But his most important contribution is pissing people off. He feels this is his calling in life and something he takes seriously. He also enjoys whiskey, whisky and the way girls dance on tables. And riding motorcycles. He's pretty keen on that, too.

Related Articles

Valentino Rossi bids farewell to Yamaha Factory Racing

Valentino Rossi bids farewell to Yamaha Factory Racing

November 23, 2020
Albert Arenas is the 2020 Moto3 World Champion

Albert Arenas is the 2020 Moto3 World Champion

November 23, 2020
Misano II Friday wrap | Quotes | Results | All classes

Rossi to Petronas SRT deal finally ratified

September 27, 2020
Snetterton British Superbike wrap up

MotoGP | Boris reflects on Styrian stunner

August 25, 2020
MotoGP Le Mans 2014 Gallery B

Marc Marquez out for ‘two to three months’

August 23, 2020
Boris Book WisdomOfTheRoadGods

Take a ride with Boris for Father’s Day

August 21, 2020
Load More
Next Post
Honda CRFR

2019 Honda CRF motocrossers land in dealers

MotoGP Misano Crutchlow GP AN Cover

2018 Misano MotoGP Images | Gallery A

Suzuki RM ZL Action

Suzuki unveil 2019 RM-Z250 | New engine & chassis

SOCIALS

  • 20.1k Fans
  • 6.6k Followers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Yet another motorcycle museum goes up in flames

Yet another motorcycle museum goes up in flames

January 19, 2021
Full wrap up from AMA Supercross Round Two

2020 North Brisbane Cup category winners declared

January 17, 2021
Jason O’Halloran wins dramatic opening race at Brands

British Superbike updates 2021 schedule

January 19, 2021
Jett Lawrence breaks through with AMA Supercross victory

Jett Lawrence breaks through with AMA Supercross victory

January 20, 2021
Brook leads Jack Miller as North Brisbane Cup gets underway

Brook leads Jack Miller as North Brisbane Cup gets underway

January 16, 2021
Yet another motorcycle museum goes up in flames

Yet another motorcycle museum goes up in flames

Is this the BMW R 18 Darth Vader would ride?

Is this the BMW R 18 Darth Vader would ride?

Husqvarna 701 Enduro LR Review

Husqvarna 701 Enduro LR Review

Suzuki’s position on new ATV safety standards

Suzuki’s position on new ATV safety standards

Full wrap up from AMA Supercross Round Two

2020 North Brisbane Cup category winners declared

Losail is lit by floodlights, ensuring a unique round and environment for top class racing

Changes already being made to 2021 MotoGP Calendar

January 23, 2021
Not this one

Round Two AMA Supercross Images | Gallery B

January 22, 2021
Not this one

Moto Guzzi celebrates centenary with anniversary models

January 22, 2021
W.A. travel restrictions uncertainty forces A4DE cancellation

W.A. travel restrictions uncertainty forces A4DE cancellation

January 22, 2021
Damon Rees dominates New Zealand Superbikes Round 2

Damon Rees dominates New Zealand Superbikes Round 2

January 22, 2021

SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS

INCASE YOU MISSED

  • All
  • Bike Reviews
  • Motorcycle Racing
  • Latest Bikes
  • Features
  • Motorcycle Gallery
  • Touring
Friday wrap from Wakefield Park ASBK finale | Herfoss on pole

Mike Jones and Oli Bayliss form two-pronged attack on Australian Superbike

January 13, 2021
Full wrap up from AMA Supercross Round Two

2020 North Brisbane Cup category winners declared

January 17, 2021
Is this the BMW R 18 Darth Vader would ride?

Is this the BMW R 18 Darth Vader would ride?

January 19, 2021
Motorcycle News, Sport and Reviews

MCNEWS.COM.AU is a specialist on-line resource that provides motorcycle news for motorcyclists. MCNews covers all areas of interest for the motorcycling public including news, reviews and comprehensive racing coverage.

© 2021 MCNews

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • ALL NEWS
    • ALL NEWS CONDENSED
    • BMW News
    • Honda News
    • Husqvarna News
    • KTM News
    • Suzuki News
    • Yamaha News
    • Triumph News
    • Ducati News
    • Moto Guzzi News
    • Royal Enfield News
    • Kawasaki News
    • Aprilia News
    • Harley News
    • Indian News
    • MV Agusta News
    • Benelli News
    • Gas Gas News
    • BETA News
    • Norton News
    • Victory News
    • EBR News
    • E-Bike News
    • Scooter News
    • LAMS News
    • ATV / SSV News
  • REVIEWS
    • All Bike Reviews
    • LAMS Reviews
    • KTM Reviews
    • Honda Reviews
    • Yamaha Reviews
    • Triumph Reviews
    • BMW Reviews
    • Suzuki Reviews
    • Ducati Reviews
    • Kawasaki Reviews
    • Husqvarna Reviews
    • Aprilia Reviews
    • Benelli Reviews
    • BETA Reviews
    • CFMoto Reviews
    • E-Bike Reviews
    • EBR Reviews
    • Gas Gas Reviews
    • Harley Reviews
    • Indian Reviews
    • Kymco Reviews
    • Moto Guzzi Reviews
    • MV Agusta Reviews
    • Norton Reviews
    • Royal Enfield Reviews
    • Scooter Reviews
    • Sherco Reviews
    • Victory Reviews
  • LATEST BIKES
    • ALL LATEST BIKES NEWS
    • BMW
    • Honda
    • Husqvarna
    • KTM
    • Suzuki
    • Yamaha
    • Triumph
    • Ducati
    • Moto Guzzi
    • Royal Enfield
    • Kawasaki
    • Aprilia
    • Harley
    • Indian
    • MV Agusta
    • Benelli
    • Gas Gas
    • BETA
    • Norton
    • Victory
    • E-Bike
    • Scooters
    • LAMS
  • RACING
    • ALL RACING
    • ROAD
      • MotoGP
      • WSBK
      • ASBK
      • BSB
      • Real Road / TT
      • Historic Road Racing
      • Japan / Asian Road Racing
      • Endurance Road Racing
      • American Road Racing
      • NZ Road Racing
      • Supermoto
    • DIRT
      • Supercross
      • AMA MX
      • Australian MX
      • MXGP
      • Enduro / Rally
      • Dirt / Flat Track
      • Speedway
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • GALLERY
  • LATEST COMMENTS
  • POPULAR ARTICLES
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT US
  • COMMUNITY FORUM

© 2021 MCNews