Category: Moto GP

1. TEAM GRESINI OUTSIDE THE POINTS IN FRENCH SPRINT RACE

   Posted on 4:00pm Saturday 13th May 2023

   It was a Saturday with no glory for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez who could not finish higher than 12^th and 15^th, respectively, in the first encounter at Le Mans.
   
   The two standard bearers of Gresini Racing had opposite type of performances: the Italian rider had a not-so-good start from row five but put together a solid performance pace-wise. On the other hand, the Spaniard #73 was among the protagonists at the start of the race and in the battle for the points before a coming together with the fellow Spanish rider Espargaró.
   
   With six laps left, the #41 was a bit too hot entering turn ten and ended up pushing Marquez wide (the contact was clearly visible on the front-right wing) and in the back of the pack. He finished 15^th with something to complain about.

   12^th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49

   “We had a good pace and it wasn’t a bad race. The real potential is the second group. Too bad to lose so much at the start… we need to work on it. I still struggle with the front-end, I always feel at the limit and it’s hard for me to overtake. With clear track ahead I have a great pace so it would be good to get a better start tomorrow and be able to attack a bit more.”

   15^th - ALEX MARQUEZ #73

   “Too bad for that coming together, but these things happen. Truthfully speaking I think I paid the price for a conflictive situation between Espargaró and Bezzecchi. In any case we lost vital points, even if they were just a few and that’s not good. The feeling with the bike has improved so we start back from here and tomorrow we’ll try to fine tune and try again, maybe with a bit more luck".

    

2. LE MANS TO HOST THE FIFTH ROUND OF THE MOTOGP SEASON

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 8th May 2023

   With Jerez de la Frontera being a distant memory, it is already time for France and for the iconic Bugatti circuit, where Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio will continue on their championship quest with a few more arrows in their quivers after the encouraging tests in Andalucía.   
    
   Le Mans is a favourite track for both the Spaniard (maiden podium in MotoGP in 2020, one win and one podium in Moto2 in 2019 and 2018, respectively) and the Italian (third in 2017 in Moto3) but also a win at the finish line in 2018 with penalty received after the flag).
    
   The two standard bearers of Gresini Racing in MotoGP will be on track starting from Friday at 10:00 (FP1) with the sprint race and the full encounter respectively on Saturday at 15:00 and Sunday at 14:00. 

   ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (10^th in the standings – 41 points)
   “It’s a very different circuit compared to the one we raced until now, it usually has plenty of grip and that means it could be a good track for us. I got my first MotoGP podium there and I normally do well here. I want to find back the right feeling after the ‘negative’ round at Jerez with an eye to the changeable weather. It could be a good circuit with many stop&go.”
    
   FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (15^th in the standings – 17 points)
   “Le Mans is a circuit where braking is extremely important and the precision when you enter cornering. In the Jerez test we worked on these aspects, and we can be a little bit readier. The idea is to get a strong start already from Friday and play our cards right with an already optimal setup, or close to that. We want to race with the leaders and learn more from them.”

3. ChatGPT Vs ALEX MARQUEZ

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 4th May 2023

   We asked the AI to do an interview (questions and answers) with Alex Marquez, then we compared the created answers (Alex GPT) with the real ones (Alex). Here is the result!
    
   ChatGPT: It is all about motorcycles in the family with you and your friend Marc Márquez. What do you think about the comparison with him and how were you able to develop your MotoGP career?
    
   Alex Marquez GPT: My brother was of huge inspiration for me, and I always tried to learn from him. But I’m also aware that we’re two different people and with different personalities. So, my MotoGP career is about developing my riding style and race craft. I’ve always focused on doing my best and improve in each race.
    
   Alex Marquez: Comparing myself to him has surely had an impact over the years because we did the same path; I was able to manage this parallelism until a time comes when it’s clear that you need to do a sort of separation… Each rider has different careers and paths, so I learned to look at myself only and to improve race after race.

   2. ChatGPT: How do you prepare physically and mentally for a MotoGP race? Do you have any training routine you follow?   Alex Marquez GPT: Physical and mental preparations are very important for every MotoGP rider. I would like to focus on cardio training and strength in order to be in good fitness form. I also work with my team to develop a race strategy and to be ready for any situation that could happen in the race. Regarding mental preparation, I try to stay calm and focused for the whole race, even when there are difficult situations. Generally speaking, I try to keep a balance between physical and mental training to give my best on track.   Alex Marquez: I’ve been following the same routine for many years now, even though some exercises have changed through time. From the mental side, I try to have my dear ones near, stay calm and be happy. I don’t have a mental coach.    3. ChatGPT: How would you describe your riding style compared to other MotoGP riders?   Alex Marquez GPT: I think my riding style is very smooth and controlled. I like to concentrate on precision and make sure to be comfortable and under control on the bike. Surely it is important to have the necessary speed to compete in MotoGP, but precision is what makes the difference for me.   Alex Marquez: Precise, smooth and also aggressive at times.   4. ChatGPT: What do you do to stay calm and focused while on the grid, waiting for the race to start? Do you have any ritual or special technique?   Alex Marquez GPT: I like to have a calm and relaxed approach on the starting grid. I like to listen to music and concentrate on my racing strategy. I don’t have any specific ritual, but I like to take a few minutes to take a deep breath and visualise my race before the start.   Alex Marquez: I always try to visualise a whole lap in my head, including gear shifting, how I will approach it, the start and where I could have room for overtaking. But most of all I try to isolate myself from all the people on the grid.   5. ChatGPT: We know competition in MotoGP is very intense. How do you manage the passion and competition during the season?   Alex Marquez GPT: Pressure is part of racing in MotoGP, but I believe it is very important to keep it under control. I like to focus on my race and my strategy, and not on what other riders are doing. I also like to take some time to relax away from the track and enjoy my free time.   Alex Marquez: Since my beginnings, the Spanish championship was already a very professional championship, so you get to the world championship with a good base. Things change quite a lot in the jump from Moto2 to MotoGP and that’s when you need to organise yourself well, to make sure that pressure doesn’t take the focus away from what really matters – being fast on the bike.   6. ChatGPT: What piece of advice would you give to someone who wishes to start working in the motorcycling world and become a professional rider?   Alex Marquez GPT: My advice is to work hard, be consistent and never give up. Motorcycle racing is a very demanding sport, both physically and mentally, it requires plenty of commitment and dedication in order to become a professional rider. It is also important to have a good team around you that can help you develop and improve in each race.   Alex Marquez: If this is your dream, you have to fight for it in order to fulfil it. You have to do it without thinking too much.   7. ChatGPT: What was your most memorable race or win in the world championship so far and why? Is there a race you would like to win in the future?   Alex Marquez GPT: My first MotoGP race was special for me, because it represented the pinnacle of many years of hard work and dedication. Winning the Moto2 championship in 2019 was also a very emotional moment for me. Regarding the races I’d like to win in the future, I would surely like to win at home at the Catalan GP and also at the Spanish Grand Prix. These are two very important races for me and I hope I can with both of them at some point in my MotoGP career.   Alex Marquez: The most special race was in Valencia 2014 when I was battling for the Moto3 title and there was a lot of tension with my opponent. And I dream about winning a MotoGP race!

   Gresini Racing

4. AN ENCOURAGING TEST AT JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 2nd May 2023

   The Andalusian trip draws to a close with an excellent Monday for Team Gresini MotoGP with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez hard at work for the whole day of official testing at Jerez de la Frontera. 
    
   The Italian #49 has done some evaluations in terms of ergonomics and front-end feeling and managed to find some important solutions for the continuation of the season; Alex Marquez kept working on finding the best feeling with his Desmosedici machine #73, while trying some modifications to the setting as well.
    
   Both riders completed plenty of laps with very similar lap times: Diggia was the quicker of the two with the fourth-fastest lap-time of the day, 0.2secs ahead of his teammate who rounded out the top ten. The next event will take place at Le Mans in less than two weeks. 

   4^th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’36.963s, 63 laps)
   “An excellent day: we had a very dense programme and we managed to complete everything and with excellent results. We now need to see how these solutions perform in different conditions, as during the test the track has a lot of grip. We’re growing and my feeling with the bike improves, especially on the front-end.”
    
   10^th - ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (1’37.189s, 77 laps)
   “We opted to work on the race pace, choosing the medium compound at the rear in order to focus on setup and cornering, which we kind of lacked yesterday on the track. We gathered some good data ahead of Le Mans and I think we’ll get there better prepared and with more options.”

5. CIRCUITO DE JEREZ - SATURDAY

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 30th Apr 2023

   AFTER A FANTASTIC POLE POSITION, ALEIX IS UNABLE TO REAP WHAT HE HAD HOPED IN THE SPRINT RACE

   THE MIXED CONDITIONS COMPROMISE MAVERICK’S QUALIFIERS, SEVENTH IN THE RACE

   After their show of strength yesterday, with two Aprilias in the lead, Saturday in Jerez de La Frontera also had the Italian bikes confirming their extremely competitive status. In qualifying, a few drops of rain added to the already high tension, forcing teams and riders to make vastly different strategic choices.

   Aleix, opting to stay out on the track with slicks for the entire session, did a perfect lap right in the finale, earning a well-deserved pole position. It was a different story for Maverick, who boxed to put on new tyres  but was then unable to find a lap consistent with the pace he had demonstrated during practice. 

   Starting from the tenth spot on the grid, Maverick recovered ground all the way to seventh place, also doing the fourth fastest lap time – proof that he did have the speed that would have earned him a better result.

   For pole man Aleix, on the other hand, Saturday ended on a bitter note. After a good start, he stayed in the leading group for quite a while as he prepared his attack, despite the significant difficulty overtaking on the Spanish track. However, a crash during the fifth lap put an end to the Aprilia rider’s hopes. 

   Aleix
   “A shame to have finished Saturday that way after taking pole position. To be honest, I started well in both starts but the KTMs have something more than us in that area. Then the riders who had started with the soft rear had a bit more grip, although the pace wasn’t high at all. But we know that here in Jerez, if you’re up front you are able to defend your position. I was thinking about an attack when I was behind Martin, but I struggled with the front and in the end I crashed. With this new format, we have a chance at redemption tomorrow, where there are important points up for grabs.”

   Maverick
   “I can’t help but to be pleased. The truth is that in the conditions this morning during qualifying, I did not have a good feeling at all and I was unable to achieve one hundred percent. Then, in the race, starting from the rear you have to battle, overtake, you’re under attack – sometimes rather aggressively – and everything is more complicated. The fact of the matter is that when I had open track ahead, I was able to maintain the same pace as the leaders and that’s what is frustrating because I don’t think this position is a proper reflection of our potential.”