Racetrackmasters

Valentino Rossi has rejected a report claiming he is in talks to sell his VR46 team to Saudi Arabian Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud. VR46 is linked to the Prince though an apparent sponsorship deal with the predominantly state-owned Aramco petrochemical company, a deal about which there remains some scepticism. However, a report from Italy’s Il Sole 24 Ore earlier this week claimed that Rossi was also negotiating to sell the team altogether, with a figure of EUR 150 million suggested. That was put to the retiring champion by Italian media at this weekend’s Michelin Grand Prix of Styria, where he denied the rumour. “It is absolutely not true that we want to sell VR46 to the Saudis,” said Rossi after Friday practice at the Red Bull Ring. “This is just made-up news; we don’t even think about it. “We like it, we have our whole world there and it’s something that I have no idea how it came out.” Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media, the holding company owned by the Prince which announced the Aramco sponsorship in April, advised last weekend that it would be holding a press conference in coming days. That press conference, which would cover a wide range of activities but have “special emphasis” on the VR46 partnership, is yet to take place. “As for Tanal, I don’t know much about this press conference,” said Rossi. “Our lawyers and accountants are working in VR46, who are trying to do everything. “But maybe I’m not the right man to talk about these things, because I know up to a point.” Exactly what the relationship between Aramco and VR46 is remains unknown, given the company has reportedly denied knowledge of any agreement.

Francesco Bagnaia topped third practice for the MotoGP Styrian Grand Prix, as Yamaha duo Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Vinales almost came to blows. Perfect conditions for FP3 meant combined order lap time improvements came immediately, Pramac rookie Jorge Martin making the biggest jump on his Ducati early on. Martin fired in a 1m23.834s to, an improvement of well over a second from his Friday best, to go second overall and move into the lead of the individual session timesheet. After 10 minutes of the 45-minute session, all but four riders had improved on the combined order, with Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales taking over top spot with a 1m23.781s moments later. This lap stood as the benchmark for around the next 10 minutes before world champion Joan Mir, using Suzuki’s new ride height adjuster, moved ahead with a 1m23.599s having one out on a fresh soft tyre early. Both Mir and Alex Rins have one of the new ride height device each this weekend. Another 10 minutes passed before top spot changed hands again, this time Marc Marquez on his Honda doing the honours with a 1m23.513s. But it was a short-lived stint for the Spaniard, as Yamaha-mounted compatriot Vinales returned to the top of the order with a 1m23.475s. Vinales found more time on his following effort with a 1m23.375s to extend his advantage over Marquez to a slender 0.138 seconds. Teammate and championship leader Fabio Quartararo was nudged out of the top 10 as the session reached its final five minutes having had a difficult session on his M1. Quartararo struggled on a number of occasions to get his bike stopped into the Turn 3 right-hander, the Frenchman visibly becoming frustrated with his plight. On one occasion Quartararo almost clattered into Vinales, leaving the latter fuming as the pair entered pitlane in the closing stages of the session. With just under three minutes to go Quartararo leaped up to second with a 1m23.416s, but had that lap cancelled for a track limits violation, dumping him back to 15th. His following effort of 1m23.142s returned him to top spot and safely secured him a place in Q2 in qualifying. But it was the Ducati of Bagnaia who would end the session fastest of all with a last-gasp 1m23.114s, the Italian heading Quartararo and Vinales at the chequered flag. Jorge Martin was fourth fastest to get his first Q2 appearance since Germany – though the Spaniard did have an embarrassing low-speed tumble at Turn 1 at the end of the session. Mir completed the top five on his updated Suzuki ahead of Pramac’s Johann Zarco and the leading Honda of Marc Marquez, while Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, Ducati’s Jack Miller and Friday pacesetter Takaaki Nakagami on the LCR Honda secured the final Q2 places. Pol Espargaro on the sister factory Honda was denied a Q2 place by just 0.017s, while wildcard Dani Pedrosa was the leading KTM in 12th in a difficult session for the Austrian marque on home soil. Brad Binder was the next best KTM in 15th, trailing LCR’s Alex Marquez and Suzuki’s Alex Rins, while last year’s Styria winner Miguel Oliveira was 16th as he battled through a wrist injury. Trailing them came Tech 3 KTM duo Iker Lecuon and Danilo Petrucci, while Petronas SRT duo Valentino Rossi in 19th and Cal Crutchlow in 23rd will also face Q1. Avintia’s Luca Marini was the only other crasher in FP3, the rookie 21st as a result behind teammate Enea Bastianini and a head of Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori. STYRIAN MOTOGP, AUSTRIA – FREE PRACTICE (3) RESULTS POS RIDER NAT TEAM TIME/DIFF LAP MAX 1 Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Team (GP21) 1’23.114s 23/23 318k 2 Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.028s 23/24 310k 3 Maverick Viñales SPA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.148s 21/21 311k 4 Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati (GP21)* +0.180s 20/20 317k 5 Joan Mir SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +0.273s 22/23 309k 6 Johann Zarco FRA Pramac Ducati (GP21) +0.373s 20/22 316k 7 Marc Marquez SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +0.399s 16/21 315k 8 Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) +0.480s 16/19 311k 9 Jack MILLER AUS Ducati Team (GP21) +0.617s 23/23 315k 10 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V) +0.626s 20/22 313k 11 Pol Espargaro SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +0.643s 20/21 319k 12 Dani Pedrosa SPA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.644s 21/23 313k 13 Alex Rins SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +0.652s 19/24 309k 14 Alex Marquez SPA LCR Honda (RC213V) +0.675s 23/24 316k 15 Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.685s 22/22 313k 16 Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.821s 20/22 310k 17 Iker Lecuona SPA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +1.045s 19/21 309k 18 Danilo Petrucci ITA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +1.228s 19/21 308k 19 Valentino Rossi ITA Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +1.267s 21/21 306k 20 Enea Bastianini ITA Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +1.270s 20/22 314k 21 Luca Marini ITA Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +1.289s 18/18 311k 22 Lorenzo Salvadori ITA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* +1.323s 22/23 310k 23 Cal Crutchlow GBR Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +1.530s 18/21 305k

Raul Fernandez confirmed as a 2022 Tech3 KTM rider alongside Remy Gardner, meaning no room for current riders Danilo Petrucci and Iker Lecuona. It’s been officially confirmed that Moto2 rookie star Raul Fernandez will move to MotoGP alongside current Ajo team-mate Remy Gardner at Tech3 KTM next season. The young Spaniard’s deal means both of Tech3’s current riders, Danilo Petrucci and Iker Lecuona, are not only out of the team but almost certainly out of MotoGP at the end of this season. When Moto2 title leader Gardner’s MotoGP deal was confirmed in early June, Fernandez seemed likely to spend another season in the intermediate class. However, by the summer break, Fernandez had equalled Gardner’s tally of three race wins, alongside six podiums and four pole positions from nine rounds and has decided to join the likes of Joan Mir in spending just a single year in the Moto2 class. A mistake at Sachsenring means Fernandez starts the second half of the Moto2 season in Austria this weekend needing to overhaul a 31-point deficit to Gardner, before both step-up to the four-time MotoGP race winning RC16. “Honestly, I’m really pleased with this opportunity from KTM, as much for this year as for the next. I’ve been learning a lot and enjoying Moto2 and was able to get into a position where I have this chance to enter MotoGP and for which I’m very grateful: it’s the dream of any rider to arrive to this class,” Fernandez said. “Right now, the most important thing is to keep focusing on this season and giving all I have up until the last race to try and fight for the championship. If it doesn’t work out then fine, everything happens for a reason, and you have to look towards the positives. I’ve been a rookie this year and I want to close the chapter and then start again for 2022 where I’ll be looking to find a good feeling on the bike and, above all, aiming to enjoy myself.” Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director added: “We all know that Raul is an outstanding talent. His jump from Moto3 to Moto2 had some question marks but he showed repeatedly that he is an excellent rider on the bigger bike, which was our original thought and hope because he was quite tall for Moto3. Going to MotoGP so quickly wasn’t part of the initial plan but he has demonstrated that he has the potential.” “I think it’s going to be a very exciting 2022 season with the two of the brightest talents of the Moto2 category moving to the premier class,” said Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal. ” Even though it will be their rookie season, I’m quite sure they will quickly learn and after a few races show their potential in the MotoGP as well. “Raul has had an unbelievable first part of his rookie Moto2 season, something that has not been achieved in a long time. “Although we are very pleased with this announcement we know we still have half a season to go with our current riders, Danilo Petrucci and Iker Lecuona, which I want to thank for their dedication and their never-ending constructive attitude, and, we clearly wish them well and best of luck for the future.” The all-new Tech3 line-up comes at the expense of Lecuona and Petrucci, who until recently had seemed to be battling for the remaining ride. Petrucci arguably had the strongest case for a renewal. Being new to the team and bike this season meant that the double Ducati race winner (like Pol Espargaro and class rookies Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini) was worst hit by the scrapping of the usual winter testing programme due to the Covid restrictions. Apart from a general lack of familiarity with the RC16, it also meant Petrucci has struggled with top speed due to an aerodynamics package that appears not suited to his size.

Aprilia rider Lorenzo Savadori tops his first ever MotoGP session during a rain affected Styrian FP2. A rain affected free practice two for the Styrian MotoGP produced an unlikely name at the top of the leaderboard, as Aprilia’ Lorenzo Savadori was fastest from Johann Zarco. The Italian took over from Zarco with under five minutes to go and was able to hold on despite late efforts from the Pramac man, Joan Mir and Marc Marquez. While many of the riders chose to stay in pit lane during the first few minutes, Tech 3 KTM riders Iker Lecuona and Danilo Petrucci were first to venture out, before second placed in the championship Zarco followed suit. After just five minutes on track, Lecuona crashed at turn one – his second of the day. However, the Spaniard quickly re-joined before going fastest from Pol Espargaro and team-mate Petrucci. As the rain eased up, tricky condition specialists Jack Miller and Marc Marquez went second and third. That was until Marquez went a full second clear of Lecuona two laps later. With 17 minutes remaining, Lecuona and Mir then got within half a second of Marquez, while Zarco moved up to fourth place. Zarco then went to the top of the leaderboard inside the final ten minutes as a dry line began to appear. However, the Frenchman was then up seeded by fellow Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia. The Italian only led for a matter of seconds before Savadori put in an impressive lap with just under five minutes to go – good enough to go one second clear of Bagnaia. Miller was unsurprisingly the first rider to try slick tyres but conditions didn’t improve enough for the Australian to go faster, as he ultimately finished the session 13th. Championship leader Fabio Quartararo struggled to get close to the top ten throughout the session and eventually finished 15th. Zarco, Mir and Marquez all had red sectors during their final laps, but Savadori’s time of 1:31.304s was good enough to see him hold on. Alex Marquez and Valentino Rossi both found turn four tricky to manage as they ran through the gravel trap, while Brad Binder also ran off track at turn three late on. STYRIAN MOTOGP, AUSTRIA – FREE PRACTICE (2) RESULTS POS RIDER NAT TEAM TIME/DIFF LAP MAX 1 Lorenzo Savadori ITA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1’31.304s 15/19 299k 2 Johann Zarco FRA Pramac Ducati (GP21) +0.154s 21/21 304k 3 Joan Mir SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +0.262s 18/18 303k 4 Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Team (GP21) +0.878s 21/21 309k 5 Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) +0.927s 12/12 299k 6 Alex Rins SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +1.007s 18/18 303k 7 Alex Marquez SPA LCR Honda (RC213V) +1.141s 16/16 305k 8 Iker Lecuona SPA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +1.239s 18/20 300k 9 Maverick Vinales SPA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +1.381s 10/13 299k 10 Marc Marquez SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +1.537s 11/14 303k 11 Enea Bastianini ITA Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +1.720s 21/21 303k 12 Luca Marini ITA Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +1.848s 16/18 301k 13 Pol Espargaro SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +2.111s 10/16 308k 14 Jack Miller AUS Ducati Team (GP21) +2.149s 9/14 305k 15 Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +2.194s 16/18 298k 16 Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +2.285s 19/19 304k 17 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V) +2.354s 14/15 302k 18 Danilo Petrucci ITA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +2.380s 11/15 296k 19 Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati (GP21)* +2.602s 20/20 308k 20 Cal Crutchlow GBR Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +2.650s 18/19 298k 21 Dani Pedrosa SPA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +2.650s 15/17 296k 22 Valentino Rossi ITA Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +3.278s 15/20 298k   Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM (RC16) No Time    

Takaaki Nakagami topped his first free practice session of the 2021 MotoGP season at the Red Bull Ring, while Miguel Oliveira suffered a big highside at turn three. Joan Mir was the early pace setter as he led a Monster Energy Yamaha 2-3 of Maverick VInales and Fabio Quartararo. The order remained largely the same throughout the second runs, except when Marc Marquez jumped from tenth to second on used medium tyres. Fellow Honda rider Nakagami was next to significantly improve as he went fastest with 14 minutes remaining, however, the Japanese rider’s time was deleted for exceeding track limits. But with just a few minutes left, Nakagami improved again – this time kept his lap – which eventually saw him pip Mir with his final lap. Behind Espargaro was Alex Rins in fourth, while Pol Espargaro jumped up the order to fifth with his final attempt – one spot ahead of team-mate Marquez. Vinales and Quartararo were two riders not to set a time attack and instead focused on used tyre performance. The pair finished seventh and eighth respectively. The top Ducati was Johann Zarco who finished ninth just ahead of factory rider Jack Miller. Iker Lecuona suffered an early crash at turn three in what’s expected to be the Spaniard’s last season in MotoGP. Dani Pedrosa enjoyed an impressive return to competitive action as he finished 11th quickest – top KTM. Pedrosa’s first session back wasn’t without issues though, as the 35 year-old pulled off the Spielberg circuit with an apparent mechanical problem with 18 minutes to go. More drama followed for the home manufacturer as one of the pre-weekend favorites Oliveira suffered a big highside on the exit of turn three moments later. Worryingly, the Portuguese rider seemed dazed after hitting his head and right shoulder. Oliveira returned to pit lane on the back of a scooter, but did not reappear for the final few minutes. STYRIAN MOTOGP, AUSTRIA – FREE PRACTICE (1) RESULTS POS RIDER NAT TEAM TIME/DIFF LAP MAX 1 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V) 1’23.805s 22/22 312k 2 Joan Mir SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +0.076s 21/22 310k 3 Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) +0.378s 20/22 309k 4 Alex Rins SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) +0.416s 22/23 308k 5 Pol Espargaro SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +0.449s 22/22 316k 6 Marc Marquez SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +0.670s 14/24 314k 7 Maverick Vinales SPA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.687s 19/25 310k 8 Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.775s 7/26 308k 9 Johann Zarco FRA Pramac Ducati (GP21) +0.775s 22/22 315k 10 Jack Miller AUS Ducati Team (GP21) +1.022s 21/21 316k 11 Dani Pedrosa SPA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +1.045s 20/21 308k 12 Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Team (GP21) +1.110s 20/26 313k 13 Alex Marquez SPA LCR Honda (RC213V) +1.154s 8/23 313k 14 Luca Marini ITA Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +1.402s 20/22 309k 15 Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM (RC16) +1.433s 12/14 311k 16 Valentino Rossi ITA Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +1.459s 15/22 308k 17 Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati (GP21)* +1.511s 22/22 316k 18 Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +1.512s 13/22 313k 19 Danilo Petrucci ITA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +1.604s 8/20 304k 20 Iker Lecuona SPA KTM Tech3 (RC16) +1.694s 19/20 309k 21 Enea Bastianini ITA Avintia Ducati (GP19)* +1.780s 9/21 313k 22 Lorenzo Salvadori ITA Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* +1.988s 18/21 306k 23 Cal Crutchlow GBR Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) +2.285s 12/20 307k

Valentino Rossi announced he will retire from grand prix racing at the close of the 2021 season after an illustrious 26-year career racing in the world championship. In an “exceptional press conference” called on the eve of the Styrian Grand Prix in Austria, the Italian confirmed he would hang up his racing leathers over the summer break despite having the offer to ride in his own VR46 team in 2022, aboard Ducati machinery. Now 42 years old, Rossi has been undergoing his worst season to date after switching from Yamaha’s factory team to the Petronas SRT Yamaha squad. He sits 19th in the World Championship after nine races, with a best result of a single 10th place. His intention at the beginning of 2021 was to continue racing motorcycles next year, he explained. But recent struggles were enough to convince him it was time to stop. “I wanted to continue when I start the championship,” he said. “But I needed to understand if I was fast enough. During the season our results were less than what I expect. Race by race I started to think.” From here, Rossi will switch disciplines and series. The nine-time World Champion had always harbored ambitions to race on four wheels (and came close to joining Ferrari in Formula 1 at the close of 2005). In 2022, he will take on the challenge of racing cars full time. “I love to race with the cars, just a little less than the motorcycle,” he said. “I would like to race the cars. I feel that I am a rider or driver all life long. Just [I will] change motorcycles for cars, not at the same level, but I think I will race anyway.” Rossi has fielded questions regarding his future all year long. But he insisted he was more comfortable with the idea of retiring now than any time in the past. “Sincerely two years ago and last year I was not ready to stop with MotoGP. But now I’m okay. I’m quiet. I’m not happy for sure. Anyway, if I make another year, next year I’d be not happy in the same moment because I want to race for the next 20!” Since Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud stated his desire for Rossi to join half-brother Luca Marini in the Saudi-backed VR46 Ducati MotoGP squad next year, speculation mounted on whether he would continue in the colors of his own team. “I had an official offer from my team,” Rossi admitted. “I think deeply about continuing because I [would] like to race in my team, to have my bikes in Tavullia (Rossi’s hometown). We have a great Moto2 and Moto3 team with a lot of people I know for a long time. It (would be) very fascinating to race with my team. At the end I decide not. It’s a good project if you have two or three years. But if you think you have just one season. Maybe it’s more of a risk than a good thing.” Rossi joined the World Championship as a 16-year old in 1996 and has since racked up 423 GP starts over 25 and a half seasons, the most in history. On what he will miss most from life as a MotoGP rider, Rossi explained, “I will miss a lot the athlete life. To wake up every morning and train with the target, to try to win. I like a lot this life. Number one, I will miss riding the MotoGP bike. It’s always a great emotion. Also, to work with my team, starting from Thursday and trying to fix all the small details to be stronger. “After I will miss a lot of Sunday morning, two hours before the race, it’s something where you don’t feel comfortable, you are scared but it’s an emotion because you know the race starts. This is something that will be hard to fix.” For most of his premier class career, Rossi transcended the sport. His charm, charisma and outstanding racing ability was a heady mix that captivated audiences around the world and raised MotoGP to a major sport in his native Italy. His on-track antics and famous celebrations catapulted his profile to be among the most famous sportsmen in the world. Along with the nine world championships, 115 grand prix race wins, 199 premier class podiums, and 65 pole positions, Rossi considered another aspect of his career to be the standout achievement. “A lot of people followed motorcycles because of me,” he said. “This is the most important thing I did in my career. I entertained a lot of people on Sunday afternoon and a lot of people enjoyed for one or two hours during the Sunday when they don’t think about anything, just enjoy my races.”