JAMES TOSELAND’S INSIDER INSIGHTS: 24TH SEPTEMBER 2019

SAN MARINO MISANO

I can’t believe there are only 6 rounds left in this year’s MotoGP season! 
13 rounds have passed and so far this year, it’s been all about the dominance of Marc Marquez and the amazing rookie, Fabio Quartararo!

Moto3.

14 riders didn’t manage to see the chequered flag at the San Marino GP last Sunday! Misano has always been a very technical and difficult track and it took no prisoners this year throughout all three classes. 

It was an amazing finish to the Moto3 race once again and victory went to the young Japanese rider, Tatsuki Suzuki. 

It was an emotional victory because Tatsuki rides for the SIC58 team. The team manager of this team is the father of the late, great Marco Simoncelli and the Misano Circuit is named after Marco also. 

For your rider to win at the circuit your son is named after was a very special moment for Tatsuki and the whole of the MotoGP paddock. 

John McPhee rode a fabulous race. He came from way back in the pack to finish 2nd. 
That’s moved John up to 6th place in the championship and he’s only 5 points behind 5th. John’s consistency has been a massive improving and it’s showing in his championship positioning. There is still a great chance John could finish inside the top 3 of this year’s Moto 3 championship which will be a fantastic achievement. 

Tony Arbolino took the last spot on the podium and continued his strong season. 

With Aron Canet out, Lorenzo Dalla Porta has increased his lead to 22 points at the top of the table. 

Lorenzo has been so consistent this year. Aron and Tony can’t afford any more mistakes because Lorenzo looks very comfortable at the front now and I can’t see him throwing too many points away. 

Let’s see what happens this weekend at Aragon!

Moto 2.

Six hundredths of a second was the difference preventing Triumph taking another lap record in what’s been an incredible first year for the Triumph 765cc-powered Moto2 championship!  

Triumph have clinched 11 lap records from the 13 rounds so far this season but Misano was always going to be a tough one because the lap record has stood since 2015 and is held by a certain Mr Johann Zarco. 

The track surface at Misano is very sensitive to temperature and if the track temperature increases by a degree or two, it can make it impossible to do a fast lap time. 2015 must have been perfect conditions. 

I’m sure Triumph will get it next year!
The man of the moment in Moto-2 though is Augusto Fernandez! Back to back victories at Silverstone and now Misano has shot the young Spanish rider into second place in the championship.

With Alex Marquez’ slip up at Silverstone, Augusto is now only 26 points behind the championship leader.

Alex Marquez came home in 3rd place. It looked like a ‘steady the ship’ ride to me after crashing out at Silverstone. It’s going to be interesting to see how he holds his nerve, protecting that championship lead. 

It was a fabulous ride from the local boy, Fabio Di Giannantonio! He crossed the line in 2nd place and the rookie looks like he’s really getting to grips with his Moto-2 machine now. 

There was a good solid ride from Sam Lowes on his birthday weekend. I hope this is a turning point for Sam and he will be back where he belongs (at the sharp end) for the rest of this season. 

Can Augusto claw even more points back on Alex this coming weekend at their home race in Aragon? I’m sure it won’t be without a fight!

MotoGP.

So, back to the beginning... Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo! What a race! 

Marc played it to perfection. He didn’t make his move until the very last lap. Fabio fought his way back past Marc into turn 4 but once Marc went underneath Fabio into turn 6, it was game over. 

For Marc not to try and pass before the last lap told me a great deal. It showed that Marc didn’t want Fabio to see where he was stronger than him (because he was in places on the track) to make it as difficult to fight back at him on the last lap.

If Marc knew he was faster than Fabio in most places on the track then he would have made the move much earlier and tried to stay in the lead and edge out a gap.  Marc knew that Fabio had the pace to challenge him until the flag and that’s why he waited. 

That was a huge compliment to the young French rider. There aren’t many riders that get that kind of consideration and tactic from Marc as he usually has the pace to pull away. 

That was Marc’s 7th victory of the season and he has not finished lower than second all season! He now has a commanding 93 point lead in the championship and it now looks very likely he’ll be crowned 6 times MotoGP champion at the end of this year. 

That will be 8 world titles across all classes. 

Fabio Quartararo’s second place was amazing and Maverick Vinales rounded up the podium with a solid ride in 3rd.
Home hero Valentino wasn’t far behind in 4th and there was breaking news that the Moto2 lap record holder, Johann Zarco will leave KTM at the end of the year and won’t be racing for the remainder of this season! 

It was another amazing weekend of motorcycle racing at Misano and we don’t have to wait that long until battle commences again this weekend at Aragon.

Enjoy your racing this weekend and I’ll catch up with you all next week! 

JT.