After the coronavirus crisis the MotoGP World Championship 2020 is restarted and riders and teams are getting ready for Spanish GP at the “Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto” track. Here is the preview ahead of this week’s Grand Prix.
The Ángel Nieto circuit is nearby the town of Jerez, it was built in 1986 and just a year later its first Grand Prix was organized there. This place is also well-known for its building above the finish line. The circuit is 4.4 km long and 11 m wide. The longest straight is 607 m long and the circuit has 13 corners from which 5 are left and 8 are right. There are some corners with famous names, for example Michelin, Ferrari, Sito Pons, Jorge Martínez “Aspar”, Ángel Nieto, Alex Crivillé, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, there is also Ayrton Senna chicane. When it comes to the overtaking spots, turn number 1 is good for that as riders coming there after the long finish line and they can use the slipstream. Also popular turns for overtaking are corners number 6 and 13.
It should be sunny and very hot during the whole race weekend. The weather forecast predicts that the temperatures will be above 30°C and they can even attack 38°C. This will be very demanding Grand Prix for everybody. Also, if the air is meant to have more than 35°C, then imagine how hot the track will be and what it will mean for the tyres and managing the tyres.
Because of the covid-19 situation there are some restrictions and measures in the MotoGP paddock. First of all, fans are not allowed to be present at the track, the race weekend will be behind closed doors. There is also limited number of teams’ personel, as far as I know there is also limited number of photographers and only official MotoGP journalists can be there. People in the paddock have to observe some rules, they have to wear face masks, keep safety distance of 2 m if possible, wash their hands, use the disinfections. Before going to Jerez everybody had to be tested for coronavirus and they will be tested also probably during the race weekend.
MotoGP
It’s been long time since MotoGP riders were at the track for the last time. It was during the Qatar test in February. At the moment it’s difficult to predict anything because we actually don’t know much about their shape and about how the bikes are. Marc Márquez is the one everybody will watch out. He is defending his World title 2019 and also this years he is the main favourite. His pre-season was a little bit difficult as he had his shoulder operated so it took some time to recover. The fact that the season was postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic could help him as he had more time for the recovery. Last few seasons Andrea Dovizioso was Márquez’s main rival. At the moment it’s difficult to guess how his season will go, especially as he injured his collarbone during motorcross race a few weeks ago. He has been declared fit for the Spanish GP, however it’s questionable how his shape will be, furthermore if the weather will be very hot, it can be really demanding race weekend for him.
Marc Márquez
Maverick Viñales was the fastest one during the Qatar test in February. But then also he had a crash during training, got injured and needed some rest. At the moment everything should be fine. We should count with him for the top positions, last year he was 3rd in Jerez so he is definitely capable to fight against Márquez for victory. We also still should count with his team mate Valentino Rossi. His best years are probably over, but he is still there and we can’t underestimate him. Last time he finished on a podium was at COTA last April, it’s been some time since then so Valentino is definitely eager to add some more podiums. Jerez has been always good track for him, he won 7 times in the past there.
Fabio Quartararo was nice surprise of season 2019 and so the expectations for season 2020 are quite high. So far it looks like he will continue in achieving good results, he was quickest during days 1 and 2 at the Qatar test. His team mate Franco Morbidelli has been doing some steps forward and we should count him as one of the podium contenders. I smell and personally guess that Petronas SRT has huge season ahead of them.
Danilo Petrucci, Andrea Dovizioso’s team mate, made his name immortal as he won in Mugello last year. His pre-season 2020 was not bad but also not amazing. As he is factory Ducati rider, people expect something more from him, he is definitely capable to fight for podiums regularly. Season 2020 is only at its beginning so let’s wait and see what Danilo will show.
Danilo Petrucci
In my opinion Suzuki can be the dark horse of the Championship. Both, Alex Rins and Joan Mir are very talented and great riders, they improve race by race and also in the tests they showed the potential. Even, Jerez is their home track so we can expect they will fight hard to get as good results as possible and I think they can fight for the podium.
There are some other riders who can battle for the podium, namely Cal Crutchlow and Jack Miller. They both are very strong and they definitely can be there racing on the top. It also looks like Aprilia is getting better, Aleix Espargaró does great job within the team and we can only guess where he may end up in the race. For now Bradley Smith is his team mate as Andrea Iannone can’t race due to the doping case and the court will happen later in August.
Both KTM teams also hope for having some improvements and we can expect that especially Pol Espargaró can do some steps forward.
Pol Espargaró
This year there are 3 rookies. Alex Márquez is his brother’s team mate in the Repsol Honda Team. He’s the Moto2 World Champion 2019 so there are probably some expectations about his performance and results. Brad Binder is racing for the Red Bull KTM Factory and he was really impressive at the Qatar pre-season test. He was the best rookie there. He was racing for KTM in the lower categories as well, he knows the team’s structure very well, so he can benefit from it. Also Iker Lecuona races for KTM as he is the Tech 3 rider. He’s the youngest rider in the field and from the three rookies the less experienced one when it comes to circuit racing but he is clearly talented.
Fabio Quartararo holds the All Time Lap Record, last year he did 1:36.880 in the qualification. Best Race Lap is also from last season as Marc Márquez was able to do 1:38.051. The Top Speed is from 2015 when Andrea Iannone on his Ducati rode 295.9 km/h.
Last season Jerez saw completely Spanish podium as Marc Márquez won the race there, Alex Rins finished 2nd and Maverick Viñales was 3rd.
Moto2
The class of Moto2 was lucky enough to race in Qatar so we already were able to see them racing but you know, Qatar race is the first race of the season and so anything can happen. After Qatar race there were some months without racing so it’s really like we start again. However, we have something to rely on. Tetsuta Nagashima arrives in Spain as the Championship leader as he won the race at Losail and so took 25 points. It was his first career victory so it will be interesting to see how he will continue once the season is restarted.
Tetsuta Nagashima
Lorenzo Baldassarri is second in the Championship with 20 points and his fellow countryman Enea Bastianini is third with 16 points. Baldassarri is experienced rider, race winner and he is one of the Championship favourites of the season. Enea Bastianini did very well during his rookie season last year and in my opinion he is the dark horse of this season.
Joe Roberts was nice surprise of the Qatar Grand Prix in March. He started from pole position, fought for the podium but in the end he finished fourth. He started the season very well and it will be interesting to follow where he can end up. Also Remy Gardner did great job in Qatar, he was fifth and we should count with him too that he can be up there fighting for podiums.
The Moto2 category is very strong this year, there isn’t one clear favourite but there is big amount of riders who can fight not only for the podium finishes but also for the victories and so for the World title. Besides the already mentioned riders some other are ready for the fight. Jorge Navarro is still waiting for his first Moto2 victory, Thomas Lüthi is expected to be strong again and there are some other strong rivals like Marcel Schrötter, Xavi Vierge, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Jorge Martín or Marco Bezzecchi. Sam Lowes couldn’t race in Qatar because he was injured but now he is ready to be in the battles on top too. Augusto Fernández is also one of the Championship favourites but he didn’t have good race in Qatar, he had a crash and didn’t finish. With zero points next to his name he hopes to finish high in Jerez. Also Luca Marini didn’t finish the race in Qatar so there is some work ahead of him and he is one of the favourites too.
Jorge Navarro, Remy Gardner
There are also some fast rookies, especially Aron Canet who showed great performance in Qatar. His first Moto2 race and he managed to finish in Top 10. He was the only one rookie able to score points.
The Moto2 All Time Lap Record is being held by Jorge Navarro who did his pole lap in 1:41.182 last year. The Best Race Lap is also from season 2019, Lorenzo Baldassarri did 1:41.539. Federico Fuligni holds the Top Speed record, in 2018 he rode 259.3 km/h in Jerez.
Lorenzo Baldassarri defends the victory from last year, Jorge Navarro finished second in 2019 and Augusto Fernández completed the podium.
Moto3
Also the Moto3 category could race in Qatar so we have a little bit of knowledge about the category. Albert Arenas managed the race very well and took a victory at Losail. So he will start his home Spanish GP as the Championship leader. He is very talented and great rider and he should be the one fighting for podiums regularly. John McPhee is second in the Championship, he did great job in Qatar and also he managed the race very well. He is very experienced rider in this class so we have to count with him and we really shouldn’t underestimate him. Ai Ogura is third in the standings and actually it’s difficult to guess what to expect from him but Moto3 is sometimes very unpredictable category and even in this strange shortened season we really have to expect the unexpected.
Albert Arenas
Tony Arbolino is one of the main title favourites but he didn’t start the season in the best way. In Qatar he had some problems during the race and finished only 15th so he has just 1 point in the Championship. His team mate Filip Salač is very talented rider and he did great ride in Qatar where he finished 8th. We should count also with him and we can expect that Filip will make it on the podium during the season.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo boys should be strong as well, the team has really strong duo in Raul Fernández and Kaito Toba. Also the Leopard Racing has very strong duo as they have Jaume Masia (who was 4th in Qatar) and Dennis Foggia. We have to count with the SIC58 boys too, Tatsuki Suzuki started from pole position in Qatar and then he was 5th in the race. Niccolò Antonelli couldn’t race in Qatar due to his injury but at the moment he should be fine and ready to fight on top as well.
Raul Fernández, Jauma Masia
Similarly to Moto2, there are many riders who can fight for podiums in Moto3 too. Not only the ones mentioned above but I also should say the names of Gabriel Rodrigo, Sergio García, Romano Fenati, Alonso López, Andrea Migno, Celestino Vietti, Ayumu Sasaki, Darryn Binder. There are also many rookies and they seem to be great. At the moment Jeremy Alcoba is leading the Rookie of the year standings but there are 9 rookies this year so anything can happen.
In Jerez in Moto3 Gabriel Rodrigo holds the All Time Lap Record with 1:45.745, he did this lap last year in FP3. The Best Pole record is being held by Jorge Martín who did 1:46.004 in 2017 and the Best Race Lap holds John McPhee from last year, the time is 1:46.365. The Top Speed record is getting older, it’s from 2014 when Alex Márquez went 220 km/h.
Last year it was huge success for the SIC58 Squadra Corse who celebrated their double as Niccolò Antonelli won the race and Tatsuki Suzuki finished 2nd. Celestino Vietti completed the podium.
MotoE
The MotoE Championship starts its season 2020 in Jerez this year. They were meant to start there last year as well but after the fire in the paddock their inaugural season had to be postponed. So it will be their race debut in Jerez this year. However, most of the riders know the track very well as they raced there in the past or at least they tested there.
Matteo Ferrari is the defending Champion and lots of eyes will be on him this season. It looks like Eric Granado will be strong again as well as Mike di Meglio and Xavier Simeon. There are a few new faces in MotoE this year. Dominique Aegerter and Lukas Tulovic are coming from Moto2 and it will be interesting to see how they will manage riding the MotoE bike. So far it looks like especially Dominique Aegerter adapts really well and that he will be fast. Also Jordi Torres is coming and it will be worth to watch him too. Niki Tuuli started very well last year but then he got injured and had to skip the rest of the season. Now he is ready to fight again and he definitely will be one of the title favourites.
Matteo Ferrari
There are some more names to follow, for example Mattia Casadei, Alex de Angelis, we will see what about Alejandro Medina, Alessandro Zaccone and Tommaso Marcon. So far it’s hard to guess or predict something, anyone can surprise.
There was also last time change in the field. Bradley Smith got the chance to race for Aprilia in MotoGP so the WithU Motorsport has replaced him with Jakub Kornfeil.
The schedule
The time schedule of the Spanish Grand Prix is as follows:
Friday 17th July
- 09:00 – 09:40 Moto3 FP1
- 09:55 – 10:40 MotoGP FP1
- 10:55 – 11:35 Moto2 FP1
- 11:50 – 12:20 MotoE FP1
- 13:15 – 13:55 Moto3 FP2
- 14:10 – 14:55 MotoGP FP2
- 15:10 – 15:50 Moto2 FP2
- 16:05 – 16:35 MotoE FP2
Saturday 18th July
- 09:00 – 09:40 Moto3 FP3
- 09:55 – 10:40 MotoGP FP3
- 10:55 – 11:35 Moto2 FP3
- 11:50 – 12:20 MotoE FP3
- 12:35 – 12:50 Moto3 QP1
- 13:00 – 13:15 Moto3 QP2
- 13:30 – 14:00 MotoGP FP4
- 14:10 – 14:25 MotoGP QP1
- 14:35 – 14:50 MotoGP QP2
- 15:10 – 15:25 Moto2 QP1
- 15:35 – 15:50 Moto2 QP2
- 16:05 – 17:00 MotoE EPole
Sunday 19th July
- 08:20 – 08:40 Moto3 WUP
- 08:50 – 09:10 Moto2 WUP
- 09:20 – 09:40 MotoGP WUP
- 10:05 MotoE Race
- 11:00 Moto3 Race
- 12:20 Moto2 Race
- 14:00 MotoGP Race
Photo: MotoGP
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