Thursday, May 19, 2022
MCNews
  • NEWSLatest
  • REVIEWS
  • LATEST BIKES
  • RACING
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • PRODUCTS
  • 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
  • PRODUCTS
  • 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 battle of Brno | Tense, Taut and Terrific

Boris Mihailovic by Boris Mihailovic
August 8, 2018
in MotoGP, Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare

Boris on the battle of Brno

Brno, the stunning, up-down-round-and-round Adrenaline Factory (as it would like to be known), nestled in the woods behind Karel Abraham’s family home…oops, the woods of the Czech Republic, I mean, was tension incarnate.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Start
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

I have been lying down and being fanned by a slave girl since Sunday night, such was my state by race’s end.
 It was not the cage match that Assen was. We’re not going to see a race like that for a while, I reckon. But it was as tension-filled as a circus tightrope.

And it delivered two quite astonishing things.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Start
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

The first was seeing Rossi hare off the start to lead into Turn One.

When was the last time the Doctor led into Turn One off the start? From second on the grid?

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Dovi
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

The second was seeing Jorge Lorenzo actually race his Ducati. And I mean really race. Like the multiple world champion that he is.

There had been yet further ergonomic adjustments to the Mamba’s fuel tank. His factory Ducati – already one of the ugliest, bitsa-looking bikes on the grid, was made even more exotic by these changes, and allowed Jorge to rest his arms with still greater comfort. Apparently.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Lorenzo
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

It certainly seemed to work. For the entire length of the race Lorenzo was always in contention for the top step of the podium. And had him and Marquez not engaged in the duel towards the end of the race, Dovizioso might well not have won.

As surprising as it was for me to see Lorenzo banging handlebars like a Moto3 racer, I cannot imagine how Marquez and Dovizioso felt to suddenly have the Mamba cutting them up.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin DoviEveryone, including me, has told themselves Lorenzo cannot actually race bikes when there are more bikes involved than the one he is on. He excels in getting out the front and becoming a human metronome, cutting lap after identical lap, wearing his pursuers down and relishing the clear track ahead. But when it comes to swapping paint, and the ruthless cut and thrust of battle…well, he’s just not into that.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Lorenzo
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

He was into it, of course, once upon a time. But he was younger then. As Oliver Wendell Holmes Jnr observed back in 1884, “In our youth our hearts were touched with fire”. Lorenzo’s as much as anyone’s.

I think the fire might be touching his heart again, judging from his performance. And he was literally glowing after the race. I guess the Adrenaline Factory worked overtime on him that day.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Dovi
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

Even the Old Guy had some fire going. Rossi briefly led during laps nine and 10, but as always, the ongoing tyre-eating problem the Yamaha’s seem to have consigned him to battle for fourth with Cal Crutchlow.

Crutchlow ever so briefly hauled himself into contention at the pointy end. The reason he could do this was that in a bid to conserve their tyres the front runners ran consistent 1:57s for most of the race.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Rear
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

The race commentators had predicted 56s. Practice and Qualifying had reinforced that view. Race pace was going to be in the 56s.

But race pace was in the 57s. So of course Crutchlow was able to get to somewhere near the fast blokes.

Then as the race began to reach its climax in the final four laps, 56s began to appear at the front. First by Lorenzo, and then by Dovi – who despite being challenged several times by both Lorenzo and Marquez, rode a superb, controlled and decisive race.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Dovi
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

Petrucci and Zarco, sixth and seventh respectively, struggled to keep up with the crew at the front, though Zarco (who since his crash at Le Mans just hasn’t been a player) is making noises about feeling better about things.

Dani finished behind them, still mildly lamenting how uncomfortable he is on the bike. He’s just too polite and professional to tell people what he really thinks, and I am hoping he will write a tell-all when he finally retires.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Dovi
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

The rest of the field just seemed to be treading water around the elevationally exciting Brno, and the cameras stayed firmly clapped onto the front runners.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Crutchlow Rossi
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

So much so that we didn’t even see when Rossi broke Crutchlow’s heart on the last corner, relegating the Englishman to fifth, while the usual suspects strung themselves out behind the leaders in a race that had everything – the tension-building processional grind, spectacular passing (by Jorge no less!), and a bit of a crashfest on the first lap from the luckless Vinales, who got tangled up with Bradl, Smith and a lot of Karel Abraham’s dad’s gravel. Redding also trowelled it a few laps later, but everyone seems pretty used to that by now so I’m not sure anyone really noticed.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Dovi Marquez Lorenzo
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno

What everyone did notice was Lorenzo.

Oh, and the fact that both he and Dovi pasted Marquez.

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Dovi Lorenzo ParcFerme
Ducati celebrate their historic 1-2 at Brno

The next race is in Austria.

You remember Austria, don’t you?

Ducati certainly remembers Austria with great fondness.


MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno – MotoGP Results

1 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 4 ITA 25 Ducati Team Ducati 41’07.728
2 LORENZO Jorge 99 SPA 20 Ducati Team Ducati 0.178
3 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA 16 Repsol Honda Team Honda 0.368
4 ROSSI Valentino 46 ITA 13 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 2.902
5 CRUTCHLOW Cal 35 GBR 11 LCR Honda Honda 2.958
6 PETRUCCI Danilo 9 ITA 10 Alma Pramac Racing Ducati 3.768
7 ZARCO Johann 5 FRA 9 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 6.159
8 PEDROSA Dani 26 SPA 8 Repsol Honda Team Honda 7.479
9 BAUTISTA Alvaro 19 SPA 7 Angel Nieto Team Ducati 7.575
10 IANNONE Andrea 29 ITA 6 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 8.326
11 RINS Alex 42 SPA 5 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 8.653
12 MILLER Jack 43 AUS 4 Alma Pramac Racing Ducati 16.549
13 MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA 3 EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 19.603
14 SYAHRIN Hafizh 55 MAL 2 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 21.381
15 ESPARGARO Aleix 41 SPA 1 Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 23.159
16 LUTHI Tom 12 SWI 0 EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 27.673
17 NAKAGAMI Takaaki 30 JPN 0 LCR Honda Honda 28.311
18 ABRAHAM Karel 17 CZE 0 Angel Nieto Team Ducati 41.172
19 GUINTOLI Sylvain 50 FRA 0 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 42.411
20 SIMEON Xavier 10 BEL 0 Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 50.941

MotoGP Brno Rnd Michelin Podium Dovi Lorenzo Marquez
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno – MotoGP Results
1 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 4 ITA 25 Ducati Team Ducati 41’07.728
2 LORENZO Jorge 99 SPA 20 Ducati Team Ducati 0.178
3 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA 16 Repsol Honda Team Honda 0.368

MotoGP Brno Rnd Results MotoGP
MotoGP 2018 – Round 10 – Brno – MotoGP Results

MotoGP World Championship Points

1 Marc MARQUEZ Honda SPA 181
2 Valentino ROSSI Yamaha ITA 132
3 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati ITA 113
4 Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha SPA 109
5 Jorge LORENZO Ducati SPA 105
6 Johann ZARCO Yamaha FRA 97
7 Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati ITA 94
8 Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda GBR 90
9 Andrea IANNONE Suzuki ITA 81
10 Jack MILLER Ducati AUS 61
11 Alex RINS Suzuki SPA 58
12 Dani PEDROSA Honda SPA 57
13 Alvaro BAUTISTA Ducati SPA 51
14 Pol ESPARGARO KTM SPA 32
15 Tito RABAT Ducati SPA 30
16 Hafizh SYAHRIN Yamaha MAL 24
17 Franco MORBIDELLI Honda ITA 22
18 Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia SPA 17
19 Bradley SMITH KTM GBR 13
20 Scott REDDING Aprilia GBR 12
21 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Honda JPN 10
22 Mika KALLIO KTM FIN 6
23 Karel ABRAHAM Ducati CZE

RelatedPosts

Ducati #WeRideAsOne unites riders around the world

Boris regales, and revels in, the unique delights of the French GP

May 17, 2022
MotoGP Riders & Team Managers reflect on Jerez & look towards testing today

Relive the Spanish Grand Prix with Boris

May 4, 2022
Tags: BorisBoris MihailovicBrno MotoGP
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

Royal Enfield EOFY Sale Now On

Royal Enfield EOFY Sale Now On

May 18, 2022
Massive MX1 round up from ProMX Round Three in Wodonga

ProMX Images – Wodonga ProMX Images Gallery F

May 18, 2022
Moto News Weekly | Price awarded OAM | Hard Enduro | SX | AFT

Recall Round-Up: Triumph Speed Triples | BMW K 1600 | Indians

May 18, 2022
Royale Motorcycles - No. 55 GT Production Café Racer

Busted Knuckles Build Off People’s Choice winner announced

May 18, 2022
Load More

SOCIALS

  • 7.2k Followers

SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS

INCASE YOU MISSED

The Beast bests all comers at Le Mans on Friday | Quotes | Images

Ducati 1-2 on the grid for Le Mans after crazy qualifying session

May 15, 2022
Seeley cleans up in the wet on Thursday at North West 200

Seeley cleans up in the wet on Thursday at North West 200

May 13, 2022
Factory only 2023 Sherco Enduro range arrives this July

Factory only 2023 Sherco Enduro range arrives this July

May 12, 2022

GET LATEST NEWS IN YOUR INBOX

MCNews

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.

© 2022 MCNews

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • ALL NEWS
    • ALL NEWS CONDENSED
    • POPULAR ARTICLES
    • BMW News
    • Honda News
    • Husqvarna News
    • KTM News
    • Suzuki News
    • Yamaha News
    • Triumph News
    • CFMOTO News
    • Ducati News
    • Moto Guzzi News
    • Royal Enfield News
    • Kawasaki News
    • Aprilia News
    • Harley News
    • Indian News
    • MV Agusta News
    • Benelli News
    • GASGAS News
    • BETA News
    • Norton News
    • Victory News
    • EBR News
    • Rieju 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
    • CFMOTO Reviews
    • Ducati Reviews
    • Kawasaki Reviews
    • Husqvarna Reviews
    • Aprilia Reviews
    • Benelli Reviews
    • BETA 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
    • Rieju Reviews
  • NEW PRODUCTS
  • LATEST BIKES
    • ALL LATEST BIKES NEWS
    • BMW
    • Honda
    • Husqvarna
    • KTM
    • Suzuki
    • Yamaha
    • Triumph
    • CFMOTO
    • Ducati
    • Moto Guzzi
    • Royal Enfield
    • Kawasaki
    • Aprilia
    • Harley
    • Indian
    • MV Agusta
    • Benelli
    • GAS GAS
    • BETA
    • Norton
    • Victory
    • E-Bike
    • Scooters
    • LAMS
    • Rieju
  • 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
      • MiniGP
    • DIRT
      • Supercross
      • AMA MX
      • Australian Pro MX
      • MXGP
      • Enduro / Rally
      • Dirt / Flat Track
      • Speedway
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • GALLERY
  • LATEST COMMENTS
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT US
  • COMMUNITY FORUM

© 2022 MCNews