PEDROSA & MARQUEZ TAKE FIRST & THIRD FOR HONDA AT LE MANS
. By Bikeland Staff
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC213V) scored a
masterful victory in treacherous conditions at Le
Mans this afternoon to take the World
Championship lead from team-mate Marc Marquez
(Repsol Honda RC213V) who finished a brilliant
third in his first wet-weather MotoGP race.
The fourth round of the 2013 campaign started on
a soaking track, which slowly dried as the race
went on to reveal narrow dry lines here and
there, making the task of machine control on worn
rain tyres extremely tricky. Pedrosa and Marquez
were the masters of the conditions, Pedrosa
dominating the race after a tussle with early
leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), while Marquez
fought back brilliantly after completing the
first lap in eighth place. The Spanish pair now
hold first and second positions in the points chase.
Pedrosa started from the second row and was up to
third at the end of the first lap. He was quickly
up to speed, passing reigning World Champion
Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) on lap three and then
attacking Dovizioso for the lead two laps later
at the Garage Vert right-hander. Pedrosa quickly
built a 1.3 second advantage but ran very wide at
the La Chapelle hairpin on lap eight, which put
Dovizioso back in front. The Spaniard was ahead
again four laps later, then the Italian took over
once more at half-distance. Next time round
Pedrosa grabbed the lead at the Musee left-hander and that was that.
The second half of the race was all his own, his
advantage growing to seven seconds at one point.
In the final laps he eased his pace to cross the
finish line 4.8 seconds ahead of Cal Crutchlow
(Yamaha) who had got the better of Dovizioso in
the final laps. It was Pedrosa’s second
successive win, following his similarly dominant
performance at sunny Jerez two weeks ago. The
result was also Pedrosa’s 24th premier-class
victory, which puts him one win behind 1993 500 World Champion Kevin Schwantz.
Marquez’s race was equally impressive. The
20-year-old started from pole position but lost
several places at the start and then took his
time to get the hang of riding a MotoGP bike in
the wet, making a few mistakes at the same time.
And yet remarkably it only took him eight laps to
learn to race a MotoGP bike in the rain – on laps
eight, nine and ten he was the fastest man on
track but he was still in tenth place. During the
final two thirds of the 28 laps he moved forward
at a remarkable rate, taking the final podium
place from Dovizioso with two laps to go. The
result maintained Marquez’s 100 per cent podium
record from his first four races as a MotoGP rookie.
Alvaro Bautista (Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini
RC213V) rode a good race to finish sixth, behind
the Ducatis of Dovizioso and Nick Hayden. Despite
not getting the best of starts he ran a good pace
in the early stages and was happy enough with the
end result, considering he’s never like the Le Mans circuit.
Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda RC213V) came home in
tenth place after sliding off at the Dunlop
chicane on lap 18. He had been running in sixth
place when he went down. The young German quickly
remounted, rejoining the track in 11th position.
Australian MotoGP rookie Bryan Staring (GO&FUN
Honda Gresini FTR Honda) was one of the early
fallers, sliding off his CBR100RR-powered CRT bike on the second lap.
Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex) won
the Honda-powered Moto2 race to become the first
non-Spanish winner in any MotoGP class so far
this year. The Briton started from pole position
but made a slow start, ending the first lap down
in eighth. He fought back brilliantly from there,
passing several rivals to take the lead from
local Johann Zarco (Came Ioda Racing Project
Suter) on lap nine. The race was red flagged when
rain began to fall in the final laps. Results
were taken from the 22nd of the scheduled 26 laps.
Cool and tricky conditions contributed to the
numerous crashes, most importantly three falls at
the Musee left-hander. On lap three Takaaki
Nakagami (Italtrans Racing Team Kalex) grabbed
the lead from Pol Espargaro (Tuenti HP40 Pons
Kalex) who then slid off at Musee, followed
immediately by his team-mate Esteve Rabat (Tuenti
HP 40 Pons Kalex). Four laps later Nakagami
crashed at the same corner, gifting the lead to Zarco.
Redding stayed out front from lap nine onwards
but he was always under pressure from the group
of riders immediately behind him. First it was
Zarco who was his closest challenger and later it
was team-mate Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing Team
Kalex) who came through to finish second after a difficult first few laps.
Xavier Simeon (Desguaces La Torre Maptaq Kalex)
took his first Grand Prix podium in third place,
just 1.234 seconds down on Redding, having got
the better of Zarco and Dominique Aegerter
(Technomag carXpert Suter) who finished fourth, just ahead of Zarco.
Mattia Pasini (NGM Mobile Racing Speed Up)
finished sixth, his best result of the year, just
ahead of another local, Mike Di Meglio (JiR Moto2
Motobi). Julian Simon (Italtrans Racing Team
Kalex), Anthony West (QMMF Racing Team Speed Up)
and Alex De Angelis ((NGM Mobile Forward Racing
Speed Up) completed the top ten.
Redding’s first Moto2 win – he won the British
125 GP in 2008 – moves him into the World
Championship lead, 24 points ahead of Spanish GP winner Rabat.
The Moto3 race – first of the day – got underway
on a partially damp track and was won by World
Championship leader Maverick Vinales (KTM).
Romano Fenati (San Carlo Team Italia FTR Honda)
was Honda’s top finisher, the Italian crossing
the finish line in seventh place after a
thrilling battle with several other Honda riders.
Fenati was chased over the line by Brad Binder
(Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda), Alexis Masbou
(Ongetta-Rivacold FTR Honda) and Isaac Vinales
(Bimbo Ongetta-Centro Seta FTR Honda); the four
riders covered by just over two
seconds. Team-mates John McPhee (Caretta
Technology-RTG FTR Honda) and Jack Miller
(Caretta Technology – RTG FTR Honda) were next in
11th and 12th. Binder’s result puts him an
impressive fifth in the World Championship standings.
The MotoGP 2013 World Championship continues with
the Italian Grand Prix – one of the sport’s
favourite events – at Mugello on June 2.
Honda MotoGP rider quotes
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: race winner
“I’m very happy because I have earned an
important victory. I’ve been trying to win at
this circuit for many years in MotoGP and it has
always been a tough track for me. Today, the
moment finally arrived, when I least expected it,
and it is immensely satisfying. Conditions here
are usually against me, because it is cold and I
don’t like riding in these temperatures, but
today I got the best out of myself. The bike was
also good, above all on the opening laps when the
track was very wet. I made a few mistakes but I
was able to recover from them, maintain the
advantage and win the race. I’d like to thank all
my team and also my supporters!”
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda: 3rd
“This podium almost counts as a win as it was my
first wet race in MotoGP and I wasn’t expecting
to finish in the top three. Also, bearing in mind
that I had dropped quite far back from the front,
third place and 16 points is an important
achievement for the World Championship. We can
say that this was a very good weekend; we had a
good setting for the dry, but when it rained it
was up to me to learn from the mistakes that I
made at the start of the race. I need to improve,
because I was finding it hard to ride with water
on the track. It will be difficult to maintain
our performance at Mugello, but we will go there
and try 100 per cent. I congratulate Dani on a
great race and victory and I’d like to thank the whole team!”
Alvaro Bautista, Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini: 6th
“That was a particularly difficult race because
the conditions were so different to how they’d
been for practice. I also didn’t get a great
start and that was a shame because looking at the
lap times it cost me the chance to fight at the
front. When the track started to dry the bike was
cutting the power on the straight and I was
losing time but sixth place is a positive result
if not a great one because we’ve improved on last
year and I don’t like this track. Overall we have
made progress here and I feel better with the
electronics and suspension in the wet. I am
satisfied with the result and I want to thank the
team and the sponsors. This is a nice boost
before we go to their home race at Mugello.”
Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda MotoGP: 10th
“My start was pretty good and I think that our
pace was not so bad because we were able to race
with the top group. Then during the race I could
not see properly and had to open the visor many
times. So for me it was a bit tough to do the
perfect line and I crashed because I touched the
white line. After that I was lucky because I was
able to keep riding with acceptable lap times.
Actually we are back up to speed but we had some
bad luck in the race. In any case we are fast in
the dry and in the wet so I am looking forward to
Mugello which is one of my favourite race tracks.”
Bryan Staring, GO&FUN Honda Gresini: DNF
“I made a rookie mistake and ruined the
opportunity to get some valuable experience in
the wet on this bike, so I am really angry with
myself right now. I needed to ride a steady race
and instead we’ve ended up with nothing to show.
I want to apologise to the team because their
efforts this weekend deserved a better result. I
will try to make it up to them at Mugello in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Moto2 rider quotes
Scott Redding, Marc VDS Racing Team: 1st
“It’s an amazing feeling to have taken the win
today, in what were very difficult conditions.
It’s a fitting reward for the team, who have all
worked so hard for this win and, to them, I have
to say a big thank you. I also owe a lot to [team
owner] Marc van der Straten for his support, so
it was great that we had the chance to stand
together on the top step of the podium today. The
win also puts me back on the top of the
championship standings, but this time with a bit
more of an advantage, so I’m happy with that. Now
we go to Mugello, where I’ll definitely be looking for more of the same!”
Mika Kallio, Marc VDS Racing Team: 2nd
“We went with a slightly different setting today
and that, combined with the weather conditions,
meant I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in the
race. But the plan was the same as Jerez; to make
up as many places in the first few laps by being
aggressive and, once again, it worked. I got held
up by Domi Aegerter and Xavier Simeon at one
point, as both are difficult to pass, but I
pushed through into second because there was a
good chance the rain would bring out the red
flag, which is exactly what happened. It’s a good
result for me and it was good for the team to
have two riders on the podium today. Now we need
to focus on Mugello, and making sure we have the
bike set-up right for the first practice session.”
Xavier Simeon, Desguaces La Torre Maptaq: 3rd
“I feel very happy with this podium, after a few
difficult years. This year we have a good package
– good team and bike – and every race we try to
go better. We made another step forward this
weekend, which is great. The race was difficult.
I could follow the general pace, but when Scott
passed me he was a little faster. Then Mika
passed me and I was trying to take him again when
the red flags came out. Thank you my team – they are doing an incredible job.”
Honda Moto3 Rider quotes
Romano Fenati, San Carlo Team Italia: 7th
“It was a good race. Unfortunately because I went
wide, while trying to pass McPhee who was slower,
I rushed things a little too much. After that I
was able to come back, and the feeling on the
bike was good. I’m happy with the bike and the
work done with the team. Now we head to Mugello,
where we’ll try our best to go back on the podium.”
Brad Binder, Ambrogio Racing: 8th
“It was tricky at the beginning with the dodgy
conditions, so I was trying to find my feet. In
the middle of the race I kept getting held up. It
was only in the last few laps that I got through
the group – I kept getting blocked. My last two
laps were my fastest laps and they were the first
laps I got when I wasn’t blocked. Without all
that, I feel I could have done better.”
Alexis Masbou, Ongetta-Rivacold: 9th
“That was a really difficult race, especially
because during the early laps when the track was
still damp in a lot of places. I am a little
upset because we chose the soft tyre which cost
us the chance of a good result. Anyway, I rode a
good race, not so bad. The last few laps were
also difficult because sometimes when I shifted
the bike wouldn’t change gear, which lost me time.”
RESULTS
MOTOGP
RACE: (28 laps = 117.18 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME / KM/H / GAP
1 / Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / HONDA / 49'17.707 / 142.6 /
2 / Cal CRUTCHLOW / GBR / Monster Yamaha Tech 3 /
YAMAHA / 49'22.570 / 142.3 / 4.863
3 / Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / HONDA / 49'24.656 / 142.2 / 6.949
4 / Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / DUCATI / 49'27.794 / 142.1 / 10.087
5 / Nicky HAYDEN / USA / Ducati Team / DUCATI / 49'36.178 / 141.7 / 18.471
6 / Alvaro BAUTISTA / SPA / GO&FUN Honda Gresini
/ HONDA / 49'41.268 / 141.4 / 23.561
7 / Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Yamaha Factory Racing /
YAMAHA / 49'45.668 / 141.2 / 27.961
8 / Michele PIRRO / ITA / Ignite Pramac Racing /
DUCATI / 49'58.482 / 140.6 / 40.775
9 / Bradley SMITH / GBR / Monster Yamaha Tech 3 /
YAMAHA / 49'59.114 / 140.6 / 41.407
10 / Stefan BRADL / GER / LCR Honda MotoGP /
HONDA / 50'18.702 / 139.7 / 1'00.995
11 / Andrea IANNONE / ITA / Energy T.I. Pramac
Racing / DUCATI / 50'22.817 / 139.5 / 1'05.110
12 / Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Yamaha Factory
Racing / YAMAHA / 50'34.075 / 139 / 1'16.368
13 / Aleix ESPARGARO / SPA / Power Electronics
Aspar / ART / 50'41.907 / 138.6 / 1'24.200
14 / Danilo PETRUCCI / ITA / Came IodaRacing
Project / IODA-SUTER / 50'43.433 / 138.6 / 1'25.726
15 / Karel ABRAHAM / CZE / Cardion AB Motoracing
/ ART / 50'49.818 / 138.3 / 1'32.111
Pole Position: Marc MARQUEZ 1'33.187 161.6 Km/h
Fastest Lap: Dani PEDROSA 1'43.597 145.4 Km/h Lap 15
Circuit Record Lap: Dani PEDROSA 1'33.617 160.9 Km/h 2011
Circuit Best Lap: Dani PEDROSA 1'32.647 162.6 Km/h 2008
MOTO2
RACE: (22 laps = 92.07 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME / KM/H / GAP
1 / Scott REDDING / GBR / Marc VDS Racing Team / KALEX / 36'43.583 / 150.4 /
2 / Mika KALLIO / FIN / Marc VDS Racing Team / KALEX / 36'44.673 / 150.3 / 1.09
3 / Xavier SIMEON / BEL / Desguaces La Torre
Maptaq / KALEX / 36'44.817 / 150.3 / 1.234
4 / Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / Technomag carXpert
/ SUTER / 36'45.284 / 150.2 / 1.701
5 / Johann ZARCO / FRA / Came Iodaracing Project
/ SUTER / 36'45.442 / 150.2 / 1.859
6 / Mattia PASINI / ITA / NGM Mobile Racing /
SPEED UP / 36'55.855 / 149.5 / 12.272
7 / Mike DI MEGLIO / FRA / JiR Moto2 / MOTOBI / 36'55.961 / 149.5 / 12.378
8 / Julian SIMON / SPA / Italtrans Racing Team /
KALEX / 37'13.295 / 148.4 / 29.712
9 / Anthony WEST / AUS / QMMF Racing Team / SPEED
UP / 37'14.062 / 148.3 / 30.479
10 / Alex DE ANGELIS / RSM / NGM Mobile Forward
Racing / SPEED UP / 37'14.818 / 148.3 / 31.235
11 / Randy KRUMMENACHE / SWI / Technomag carXpert
/ SUTER / 37'15.118 / 148.2 / 31.535
12 / Simone CORSI / ITA / NGM Mobile Racing /
SPEED UP / 37'15.258 / 148.2 / 31.675
13 / Sandro CORTESE / GER / Dynavolt Intact GP /
KALEX / 37'15.500 / 148.2 / 31.917
14 / Marcel SCHROTTER / GER / Desguaces La Torre
SAG / KALEX / 37'19.361 / 148 / 35.778
15 / Louis ROSSI / FRA / Tech 3 / TECH 3 / 37'28.628 / 147.4 / 45.045
Pole Position: Takaaki NAKAGAMI 1'38.508 152.9 Km/h
Fastest Lap: Scott REDDING 1'39.117 152.0 Km/h Lap 19
Circuit Record Lap: Marc MARQUEZ 1'38.533 152.9 Km/h2010
Circuit Best Lap: Marc MARQUEZ 1'37.710 154.1 Km/h 2012
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS TILL DATE:
1 REDDING 76, 2 RABAT 52, 3 KALLIO 47, 4 AEGERTER 47, 5 ESPARGARO 41,
6 TEROL 38, 7 SIMEON 35, 8 NAKAGAMI 29, 9 ZARCO 28, 10 DE ANGELIS 22,
11 WEST 20, 12 PASINI 18, 13 SIMON 18, 14 TORRES 16, 15 CORSI 15.
MOTO3
RACE: (24 laps = 100.44 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME / KM/H / GAP
1 / Maverick VIÑALES / SPA / Team Calvo / KTM / 42'05.448 / 143.1 /
2 / Alex RINS / SPA / Estrella Galicia 0,0 / KTM / 42'06.712 / 143.1 / 1.264
3 / Luis SALOM / SPA / Red Bull KTM Ajo / KTM / 42'06.835 / 143 / 1.387
4 / Jonas FOLGER / GER / Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3
/ KALEX KTM / 42'20.041 / 142.3 / 14.593
5 / Alex MARQUEZ / SPA / Estrella Galicia 0,0 / KTM / 42'43.397 / 141 / 37.949
6 / Jakub KORNFEIL / CZE / Redox RW Racing GP /
KALEX KTM / 42'45.743 / 140.9 / 40.295
7 / Romano FENATI / ITA / San Carlo Team Italia /
FTR HONDA / 42'48.773 / 140.7 / 43.325
8 / Brad BINDER / RSA / Ambrogio Racing / SUTER
HONDA / 42'48.985 / 140.7 / 43.537
9 / Alexis MASBOU / FRA / Ongetta-Rivacold / FTR
HONDA / 42'50.959 / 140.6 / 45.511
10 / Isaac VIÑALES / SPA / Ongetta-Centro Seta /
FTR HONDA / 42'51.122 / 140.6 / 45.674
11 / John McPHEE / GBR / Caretta Technology - RTG
/ FTR HONDA / 42'56.900 / 140.3 / 51.452
12 / Jack MILLER / AUS / Caretta Technology - RTG
/ FTR HONDA / 42'57.040 / 140.3 / 51.592
13 / Arthur SISSIS / AUS / Red Bull KTM Ajo / KTM / 43'04.161 / 139.9 / 58.713
14 / Alessandro TONUCCI / ITA / La Fonte
Tascaracing / FTR HONDA / 43'04.418 / 139.9 / 58.97
15 / Philipp OETTL / GER / Tec Interwetten Moto3
Racing / KALEX KTM / 43'23.475 / 138.8 / 1'18.027
Pole Position: Maverick VIÑALES 1'43.696 145.2 Km/h
Fastest Lap (New record): Maverick VIÑALES 1'43.916 144.9 Km/h Lap 24
Old Circuit Record Lap: Jakub KORNFEIL 2'01.056 124.4 Km/h2012
Circuit Best Lap: Maverick VIÑALES 1'43.696 145.2 Km/h 2013