Spoiler Alert: results from the 2017 MotoGP season opener at Losail International Circuit in Qatar listed below.Exclusive photos will be uploaded soon…
The season opener of 2017 MotoGP under the floodlights at Losail International Circuit in Qatar was plagued by rain. Saturday qualifying was canceled due to standing rain puddles on the circuit, and reflections from the floodlights, and Sunday’s race was delayed before it was shortened from 22 to 20 laps.Due to the cancellation of Saturday Qatar MotoGP qualifying, the 23-rider grid lined up based on combined free practice results. This provided the man who led all preseason tests, Yamaha newbie Maverick Vinales, the pole ahead of Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Andrea Iannone and the reigning MotoGP Champion, Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez.2017 Qatar MotoGP Results: Yamaha’s Vinales leads RossiThe 22-year-old Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1 pilot Vinales again made the headlines Sunday after winning his first MotoGP victory for Yamaha, and the second of his premier-class career.The Spaniard didn’t have a runaway victory; he fought hard with teammate Valentino Rossi and Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso. Vinales finished 0.461 of a second ahead of “Desmo” Dovi, and 1.928 seconds ahead of Rossi, who impressed after starting in 10th.“I feel incredible and it shows in the results,” Vinales says. “We did a great job during the whole weekend and we started good in the test, then in FP1 we were already feeling really good. The race was difficult, it started to rain and there was a bit of confusion because we didn’t know what to do.“The first laps were very challenging, the track was so slippery and I wanted to take it easy and stay calm. I knew I had a good pace, so I tried to push at the very end of the race. There were many crashes at the front, so I waited for the right moment and finally we took the victory.“The feeling when I crossed the line was incredible. As the first victory with Yamaha, it was even more important than the first MotoGP victory, because there was so much pressure. We were leading all the test, ‘You can do it,’ and finally we did, so I’m happy how I handled the pressure and also that the team worked really good. The electronics were ready and the grip of the tires was really good on the last laps.“The third sector was honestly so crucial, because Andrea [Dovizioso] used the soft tires, so he collected the benefits and could accelerate better all the time and he didn’t waste the tire, so it was hard to beat him, but in sector three I was really strong the whole weekend.“I set my best sector three on the last lap and it was the minimum to take the victory, it’s really great, I’m so happy. I hope for a perfect start in Argentina. The start here was good, but I just went outside of the line and when Zarco came he crashed into me, so I had to pick up the bike and then Marquez and Dovi passed me so it was a bit chaotic on the early laps, but then I was able to concentrate. We have to continue like that and maintain this concentration.”When 2017 Qatar MotoGP began, Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR pilot Andrea Iannone got out front, but was soon passed by the reigning Moto2 Champion Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). The Frenchman held the lead for six laps, followed closely by Marquez, Iannone and Dovizioso.But on lap six, Zarco crashed out, allowing Dovi to take the lead. The Italian Dovizioso was followed closely by Marquez and Iannone, but the Suzuki newbie Iannone crashed out on lap 10. Heading into lap 11, Marquez, Vinales and Rossi began chasing down Dovizioso out front.2017 Qatar MotoGP Results: Yamaha’s Rossi leads Honda’s MarquezBy lap 14, Vinales got out front, and was challenged heavily from Dovizioso and Rossi. Vinales and Dovi traded the lead a few times, but Vinales showed serious corner speed aboard the YZR-M1, beating Dovi’s GP17. Vinales was comfortably in the lead for the final two laps, finishing nearly a half of second ahead of Dovi, and nearly two seconds ahead of Rossi.Marquez finished fourth, followed by teammate Dani Pedrosa and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Esparagaro, which was a historic top-six finish for Aprilia. Rounding out the top 10 were Octo Pramac Racing Ducati’s Scott Redding, Marc VDS Honda’s Jack Miller, Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins, and Zarco’s teammate, Jonas Folger.As for three-time MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo, the new Ducati Team rider finished 11th, over 20 seconds off the pace. He was followed by three Ducati prototype: Reale Avintia Racing’s Loris Baz and Hector Barbera, and Pull&Bear Aspar Team’s Karel Abraham.Besides Zarco and Iannone, three other riders crashed out: Octo Pramac Racing Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci (lap six), Pull&Bear Aspar Team Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista (13th lap) and LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow (16th lap).2017 Qatar MotoGP Results: Ducati’s DoviziosoThough he crashed, Zarco set a new fastest lap time of 1:55.990 on lap four. The Circuit Record, a 1:54.927, set by Lorenzo last year on the Yamaha, remains.With his win, Vinales holds the lead with 25 points after one of 18 rounds, Dovizioso follows with 20 points, Rossi with 16, and Marquez with 13.The 2017 MotoGP Championship breaks for two weeks before heading to Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina.2017 Qatar MotoGP Results: podiumPhoto by Luciano Bianchetto
2017 Qatar MotoGP Results:
Pos.
Points
Num.
Rider
Nation
Team
Bike
Km/h
Time/Gap
1
25
25
Maverick VIÑALES
SPA
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
Yamaha
165.5
38’59.999
2
20
4
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
ITA
Ducati Team
Ducati
165.5
+0.461
3
16
46
Valentino ROSSI
ITA
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
Yamaha
165.4
+1.928
4
13
93
Marc MARQUEZ
SPA
Repsol Honda Team
Honda
165.0
+6.745
5
11
26
Dani PEDROSA
SPA
Repsol Honda Team
Honda
165.0
+7.128
6
10
41
Aleix ESPARGARO
SPA
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
Aprilia
164.9
+7.661
7
9
45
Scott REDDING
GBR
OCTO Pramac Racing
Ducati
164.8
+9.782
8
8
43
Jack MILLER
AUS
EG 0,0 Marc VDS
Honda
164.5
+14.486
9
7
42
Alex RINS
SPA
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR
Suzuki
164.4
+14.788
10
6
94
Jonas FOLGER
GER
Monster Yamaha Tech 3
Yamaha
164.4
+15.069
11
5
99
Jorge LORENZO
SPA
Ducati Team
Ducati
164.0
+20.516
12
4
76
Loris BAZ
FRA
Reale Avintia Racing
Ducati
164.0
+21.255
13
3
8
Hector BARBERA
SPA
Reale Avintia Racing
Ducati
163.5
+28.828
14
2
17
Karel ABRAHAM
CZE
Pull&Bear Aspar Team
Ducati
163.5
+29.123
15
1
53
Tito RABAT
SPA
EG 0,0 Marc VDS
Honda
163.4
+29.470
16
44
Pol ESPARGARO
SPA
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
KTM
163.1
+33.601
17
38
Bradley SMITH
GBR
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
KTM
162.7
+39.704
18
22
Sam LOWES
GBR
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
Aprilia
162.2
+47.131
Not Classified
9
Danilo PETRUCCI
ITA
OCTO Pramac Racing
Ducati
164.2
6 Laps
29
Andrea IANNONE
ITA
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR
Suzuki
164.9
10 Laps
19
Alvaro BAUTISTA
SPA
Pull&Bear Aspar Team
Ducati
164.1
13 Laps
5
Johann ZARCO
FRA
Monster Yamaha Tech 3
Yamaha
164.9
14 Laps
35
Cal CRUTCHLOW
GBR
LCR Honda
Honda
147.5
16 Laps
2017 MotoGP Point Standings (after one of 18 rounds):
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory + Steve ’Stavros’ Parrish
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.
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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.
But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!