When I posted my Misano MotoGP preview earlier this week, I said it’s going to be a Rossi/Marquez/Ducati showdown for the San Marino Grand Prix, round 13 of 19 in the 2018 MotoGP Championship.During Friday’s initial two shakedowns of the San Marino GP, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez had nothing on the Ducati Team duo of Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo.
When the day was complete, Dovizioso led both practice sessions, claiming a best time 1:32.198 around the 2.63-mile circuit containing 16 corners. To put this time into perspective, the Best Lap at Misano (across all sessions) is a 1:31.868, which was set by Jorge Lorenzo in 2016 (then factory Yamaha).Ducati’s Dovizioso“I’m pleased I manage to set the quickest time in both of today’s sessions, but I didn’t have a perfect feeling with the bike during free practice,” Andrea Dovizioso says.“The track conditions were very different to what we encountered during the test here three weeks ago: there isn’t the same amount of grip, the tires wear out in a different way and our set-up is not the same. However, we’re fast and we hope that the weather conditions tomorrow will allow us to work some more on the bike because we have to improve for the race.”Dovizioso, who has never won at Misano, was followed closely by teammate Lorenzo. The Spaniard, who claimed three-consecutive wins at Misano from 2011-2013 (Yamaha), trailed Dovi by 0.160 of a second.Third fastest was LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow (-0.187), who was followed by Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Vinales (-0.213).As for Marquez, he would finish fifth – 0.339 of a second behind Dovizioso. Marquez did remain super consistent throughout his sessions, something that can pay off big time during Sunday’s 27-lap GP.“I’m very happy today because we worked really well here starting with a good setup since the beginning and made a little step in the afternoon also,” points leader and four-time MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez said.“The other guys did a test two weeks ago so we just tried an be very precise in every step of our work and we’re already happy with our pace. I feel good with the bike; I can ride well. We didn’t put on a new tire in the end because our target is mainly working for the race, like always. We’ll see tomorrow how things go; it seems like many riders are quite strong but we’re very equal already.”Rossi, who is second in points, 59 points behind Marquez, was more than a half-second off he pace, the YZR-M1 pilot finishing eight, just behind Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins in seventh, and Alama Pramac Racing Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci in sixth.Rounding out the top 10 in the second MotoGP free practice were Marc VDS Honda’s Franco Morbidelli and Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Johann Zarco.Overall the other Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR pilot Andrea Iannone was a top-10 finisher due to his FP1 time; he suffered a crash during the second 45-minute free practice session, but walked away unharmed.The top 14 were within a second of each other.Stay clicked to Ultimate Motorcycling Saturday morning for qualifying results.For TV times, visit 2018 MotoGP USA TV Schedule.
Our first segment introduces you to the new Arch 1s. This latest, slightly more sporting American V-twin, adds to the original KRGT1 coming from the boutique manufacturer based in Hawthorne, Southern California. Senior Editor Nic de Sena rode through Malibu with Gard Hollinger, who co-founded Arch Motorcycle with his friend, Keanu Reeves. The 1s is a unique ride for sure, and Nic explains what makes the bike really stand out.
For the entertaining story behind Arch Motorcycle from Gard Hollinger himself, you must listen to his podcast episode on Motos & Friends HERE
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The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—visit your local dealer or suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with multiple Emmy award-winning writer, Producer, Director, and actor, Thom Beers. the former Chairman & CEO of Fremantle Media North America, responsible for American Idol and America’s Got Talent.
Thom’s fertile imagination led to most of the really big reality TV shows such as ‘Deadliest Catch’ (now in its 17th season!), and many others. Of course for us in the motorcycle world, you’ll be interested to hear the genesis and story of how he started the first real fabrication reality show ‘Monster Garage’, that showcased Jesse James, and then how that led to ‘Biker Build Off’ and the ‘Zombie Choppers’ movie.
You’d imagine that most of Thom’s time is spent sitting behind a desk and on his phone. Not so. His intense stories of capturing much of the content for these shows make for some hair-raising listening.