Author: Ian Dobson

01 Apr 2021

Marquez “worried” about Honda’s MotoGP qualifying form

The LCR rider struggled for form on the RC213V in his rookie season in 2020, only cracking the top 12 on the grid twice across the campaign. The Honda is typically a difficult bike to extract the maximum from during a time attack, but Marquez feels he has made a step forward in this area […]

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01 Apr 2021

Low-rake F1 teams warned of rules impact last year

Szafnauer has blamed the rule tweaks for the team’s loss of competitiveness since the end of last season, when as Racing Point it was a regular podium challenger and took victory in the Sakhir GP. Racing Point followed the Mercedes low-rake concept for its 2020 car and was committed to it for 2021 due to […]

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01 Apr 2021

No clear cause of Qatar MotoGP woes found

The Italian was tagged as one of the favourites to fight for victory in last Sunday’s season-opener, but plummeted from seventh on the grid to 18th come the chequered flag. Sources close to the team confirmed to Autosport that Morbidelli’s issue stemmed from a faulty holeshot device. Morbidelli confirmed on Thursday ahead of the second […]

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01 Apr 2021

Honda to assess more aggressive F1 engine usage in Mercedes fight

While Red Bull-Honda had a clear pace advantage over Mercedes in qualifying at Sakhir last weekend, in the race there was little to separate the two teams. That shift in form opened the door for Mercedes to use an aggressive strategy to help Lewis Hamilton get track position over Max Verstappen, with the Briton holding […]

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01 Apr 2021

MotoGP tightens up track limits for 2021 with pressure sensors

The fundamental rule surrounding track limits has not changed as such for 2021, but the policing has become stricter. Last season, riders could go one wheel off circuit onto the painted run-off area and still keep their lap times, while both wheels off-track resulted in that sector – and ultimately the lap – being cancelled […]

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01 Apr 2021

Mercedes fears F1 car won’t be quick enough at Imola, Portugal

Lewis Hamilton turned the tables on pre-event favourite Max Verstappen with a masterful drive at Sakhir on Sunday, with an aggressive strategy and strong tyre management just being enough to keep his rival at bay. But while Mercedes came out on top this time, it reckons that the characteristics of the Sakhir track tilted things […]

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01 Apr 2021

2021 MotoGP Doha GP – how to watch, session times & more

The new MotoGP season got going under the lights in Qatar last weekend, with Vinales producing an impressive charge to overhaul the fast-starting Ducatis to take the opening win of the year for the factory Yamaha squad. Johann Zarco led the Ducati riders to take second place on his Pramac debut, ahead of the factory […]

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01 Apr 2021

Verstappen ‘would smash’ Hamilton at Mercedes, says Piquet

The Brazilian driver, who won titles in 1981, 1983 and 1987, has no doubts the Dutch driver would come out on top in a side-by-side challenge in equal machinery after seeing their battle at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Piquet also questioned the ability of Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas, saying: “It’s not that Hamilton isn’t… […]

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01 Apr 2021

Aprilia proved pre-season form “not a joke” in Qatar MotoGP

Aprilia is one of only two manufacturers along with KTM who was allowed to start the 2021 MotoGP season with a new engine, with the marque’s RS-GP proving to be a step forward in all areas compared to its predecessor. Espargaro qualified eighth and was able to run in the front group to claim seventh […]

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01 Apr 2021

Red Bull plans Imola development push to improve RB16B

Although Max Verstappen was beaten to victory in the F1 season opener by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, Red Bull thinks the pace it showed throughout the Sakhir event has put it in the frame for a title challenge. While Mercedes fears that Red Bull already has the edge in speed terms, the Milton Keynes-based team is […]

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