Spanish Grand Prix Preview – Jerez

This weekend we fly to Spain!!!

Opening hours

Friday May 1

Free Trials 1

Moto3                  09pm – 00pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

MotoGP              09pm – 55pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Moto2                  10pm – 55pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Free Trials 2

Moto3                  13pm – 10pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

MotoGP              14pm – 05pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Moto2                  15pm – 05pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Saturday May 2

Free Trials 3

Moto3                  09pm – 00pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

MotoGP              09pm – 55pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Moto2                  10pm – 55pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Qualifications

Moto3                  12pm – 35pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Free Trials 4

MotoGP              13pm – 30pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Qualifications 1

MotoGP              14pm – 10pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Qualifications 2

MotoGP              14pm – 35pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Qualifications

Moto2                  15pm – 05pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Sunday March 29

Warm Up

Moto3                 08pm – 40pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Moto2                 09pm – 10pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

MotoGP              09pm – 40pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Race

Moto3                  11pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Moto2                  12pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

MotoGP              14pm (Sky Sport MotoGP HD)

Direct: SKY Sport MotoGP HD

Deferred: on Saturday Cielo will broadcast the best of the qualifying sessions of the 3 classes, and on Sunday, a summary of Moto 2 and Moto 3, as well as Moto GP.

Circuit

Name: Jerez Circuit

Place: Carretera De Arcos, Jerez De La Frontera, Spain

Construction: Built in 1986 it hosted its first Grand Prix the following year. The Jerez circuit is now one of the most popular tracks of the MotoGP World Championship, the favorite meeting point of a city fanatical about the sport. The circuit is located within a valley in southern Spain, a spectacular setting characterized by optimal weather conditions. The stands on the circuit can accommodate up to 250.000 spectators. The circuit has two alternative routes, one of 4.423 metres, the other of 4.428 metres; both tracks were re-paved in 2005. For this reason the Andalusian circuit is a destination for several MotoGP World Championship teams for test sessions throughout the year. The facilities for the media and industry operators have also recently been modernised, as have the control tower and pits, ensuring the circuit further popularity.

Distance per lap: 4,40 km

Number of curves: 13 (8 on the right and 5 on the left)

Direction of travel: clockwise

Width: 11m

Straight: 607m

Laps: 27

Total distance: 119.4 km

Average speed: 157.8 km/h

Top speed: 295.9 km/h

Last Grand Prix:

Incredible epilogue to the MotoGP class race of the Argentine Grand Prix. Valentino Rossi, after an amazing race, also the result of a risky but proven right choice, that of the extra-hard tyre, won ahead of Andrea Dovizioso, who climbs onto the podium again with the new Ducati GP15 together with Cal Crutchlow. And Marc Marquez you ask? Down after a contact with the Pesaro rider, when he was trying to resist Rossi, who had more thanks to the right choice of tyres. Marquez had chosen the Hard, but with 5/6 laps to go he started to show signs of weakening. A contact that was perhaps avoidable, but the reigning Honda champion's desire not to give up led him not to settle, taking risks that perhaps with hindsight could have been avoided. For Valentino Rossi (on the podium with Argentina's No. 10 shirt, Maradona's so to speak) it is victory number 84 in the Top Class, number 110 in his career. These are frightening numbers and given the start of the season (two wins in three races) they are destined to rise. Applause also goes to Ducati, which once again was a great protagonist with the two Andreas, Dovizioso and Iannone. The first, as mentioned, reached the podium, the other lost it at the last corner to Crutchlow. Rossi now leads the world rankings with 66 points against Dovizioso's 60 and Andrea Iannone's 40. Marquez is only fourth, at 36 points, also behind his compatriot Lorenzo, fourth with 37 points. The next appointment is in Jerez, will it be Spanish revenge or will Italy raise its voice again?

Race report

We have reached the top of the day, the riders of the MotoGP class are about to face the "GP Red Bull de la República Argentina", the third stage of the 2015 world championship, which will be held on the Termas de Rio Hondo track. Yesterday in the 15-minute "Time Attack" the reigning champion Marc Marquez took pole position, putting his Honda ahead of everyone with a time of 1'37.802. The Spaniard will have on his right his Suzuki compatriot Aleix Espargarò and our Andrea Iannone, riding the Ducati GP15. The second row will be opened by the British Cal Crutchlow (Honda), who in qualifying preceded the Yamaha of the two-time Top Class world champion Jorge Lorenzo and the Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso, second in the championship just one point behind Valentino Rossi. The Pesaro native will start from the third row (eighth spot) and will have on his left the amazing Danilo Petrucci, who yesterday performed an extraordinary qualifying with the Pramac Racing Ducati GP14. With them the Suzuki rookie Maverick Vinales. Seventh row for the Aprilia RS-GP of Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, while his team-mate Marco Melandri will start from eighth. QP to forget for the San Marino Alex de Angelis, who closes the lineup with the ART of Iodaracing. All ready, 34° in the air, 36° on the asphalt, 25 laps to go for 120.15 km. The traffic lights go out, the fastest at the start is poleman Marc Marquez, who however is overtaken by Aleix Espargarò's Suzuki at the first corner. Marquez, however, isn't having it and after a couple of attempts he gets back into the lead. Followed by Lorenzo, Crutchlow, Dovizioso, Iannone, Petrucci and Rossi. The first lap ends with Marquez in the lead with Lorenzo chasing and behind the Majorcan Aleix Espargarò, Cal Crutchlow, Andrea Dovizioso, Andrea Iannone, Danilo Petrucci and Valentino Rossi, Marquez started with the hard tire (the one with the red band) immediately looking for the escape, while Rossi passes Petrucci taking seventh place. Cal Crutchlow also has the hard tyre, while the Yamahas of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi have the extra-hard. The second lap sees Marquez again increasing his pass, but Valentino Rossi with the extra-hard tire gets in front of Lorenzo. The Pesaro man attacks and passes the Majorcan, who in the meantime had lost positions against the Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso, Andrea Iannone and Cal Crutchlow. Rossi puts Iannone in his sights, the rider from Vasto passes and shortly after Andrea Dovizioso also passes. The two Ducatis are behind, now the Yamaha rider's target is Marquez, with whom he engages in a long-distance duel. Psychologically, it is the Pesaro rider who has the advantage, given that on paper his extra-hard tire should remain constant until the end of the race. Marquez for his part is riding above the "lines", always sideways, a ride that is currently both spectacular and profitable. Having reached the halfway point of the race it seems that the reigning champion's Honda is suffering, both Rossi and Dovizioso are lapping faster. The Ducati rider is positively surprised by the fact that he is close to Rossi with the new GP15. Iannone is in fourth place, but trailing "Dovi" by almost three seconds. Who is disappointing so far is Jorge Lorenzo. The Majorcan from Yamaha, after the helmet problems in Qatar and the bronchitis in Austin, seems to be raising the white flag, especially towards his team-mate Rossi. If the Pesaro rider is in fact ahead and chasing Marquez, the Majorcan is sixth and very far behind. Rossi is now close to Marquez, with fast laps he has moved to just over a second behind the reigning Honda champion, who seems to be having problems with the tires of his RC213V. Yamaha's choice of extra-hard rubber seems to pay off, with Rossi likely to take victory no. 84 in Top Class, the no. 110 of his career. Five laps to go, Rossi sees the "prey", Marquez is now in his sights, while Dovizioso seems to be "satisfied" with third position. Rossi attacks, but Marquez responds, the two touch and Marquez goes to the ground!! Incredible race epilogue! Three Italians are expected to be on the podium, Rossi, Dovizioso and Iannone, same podium as Qatar. Rossi goes on to win ahead of Dovizioso and Crutchlow, who mocks Iannone right at the last corner.

Latest edition:

2014 edition:

Marc Marquez he never stops and in Spain (Jerez) he wins his fourth consecutive race of 2014! A “cannibal” which not even one Red old "style" he managed to stop, despite a sprint start, complete with a lot of hacking with the Pesaro native. The reigning Honda champion (now in his 100th GP) once took the lead he ran away without leaving his opponents a chance. For him it's about decima victory in the Top Class, the thirty-sixth in the world championship, truly important numbers that are destined to grow dramatically. He climbed onto the podium with him Valentino Rossi, who resisted the attacks of Pedrosa (third), with Lorenzo fourth and therefore off the podium. Fighting race for Dovizioso's Ducati, who finished fifth. Chasing Marquez in the world rankings (who has full points with 100 points) is his team-mate Dani Pedrosa, trailing by 28 points. He catches up with Rossi on the #26 Honda, taking him to 11 points.

Race report

First appointment in the old continent for the MotoGP class riders. The race takes place in Jerez de la Frontera, theater of the “Gran Premio bwin de Espana”, the fourth stage of the 2014 season. Once again on pole we find the reigning champion Marc Marquez, who yesterday in the 15′ “Time Attack” also broke the track record with a time of 1'38.120. The Honda rider will therefore start from the first box on the left of the grid and will have his compatriots next to him Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) e Dani Pedrosa (Honda). Two Italians in the second row, it's about Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), author of the fourth half ed Andrea Dovizioso, sixth with Ducati. In the "midst" of them the Yamaha Open Aleix Espargarò. The other pilots of our house are Andrea Iannone on Ducati (fifth row) and the Ducati tester Michele Pirro (sixth row), while Danilo Petrucci (ART Iodaracing) will not take part in the race after the fracture of his left wrist suffered in the Warm Up. Everything is ready, twenty-seven laps to go for 119.421 km, the traffic lights go out, the fastest is a surprise at the start Andrea Dovizioso, who however was immediately passed by Marquez first and then Rossi. Lorenzo, however, at the start made the bike wheelie twice, losing positions. He attacks Rossi at the end of the straight opposite the pit straight. The Pesaro rider takes the lead, while Dovizioso is followed closely by Pedrosa. The first lap ends, Marquez is in the lead ahead of Rossi and Lorenzo, who has recovered positions. Rossi attacks again, Marquez widens and is also passed by Lorenzo; However, the Honda rider didn't fit in, as he once again moved ahead of his compatriot. The reigning champion isn't having it and attacks Rossi again, regaining the lead of the race. At the second pass #93 is ahead of #46, #99 and #26. The Ducatis are in fifth and eighth place with Dovizioso and Iannone. Meanwhile he falls Karel Abraham, who then gets back in the saddle. He begins to attack Marquez, who after the first skirmishes with Rossi is taking off. His advantage increases lap after lap in an embarrassing way. Behind the fight for second place is a three-way affair with Rossi ahead of Lorenzo and Pedrosa. The Pesaro seems to have more and his advantage over the Majorcan is just under second. Meanwhile he falls Michele Pirro, who was present as a wild card with Ducati LAB. Meanwhile he retreats Cal Crutchlow, who appears to be “cursing” at his motorbike. This appears to be a technical problem. Slipped for Andrea Iannone! The Team Pramac rider loses the front end of his GP14 at the entrance to the hairpin that leads onto the finishing straight. He resumes the track, but returns to the rear. At the halfway point of the race everything seems already written, Marquez is alone in the lead with almost five seconds ahead of Rossi, who in turn precedes Lorenzo by seven tenths, who is in turn closely followed by Rossi. Andrea Dovizioso tries to resist in fifth position, threatened by Aleix Espargarò, riding the Yamaha Open. Behind them there is a battle between Bautista, Smith and Bradl, who are fighting for seventh position. Marquez's monologue continues, with Pedrosa managing to pass Lorenzo, moving into third position. Meanwhile, 3 laps from the end, Iannone returns to the pits. The last lap begins, Marquez goes on to win in front of his fans on a track where he had only won in the CEV. On the podium an excellent Rossi beats Pedrosa. Lorenzo is fourth, while Dovizioso takes home fifth place with his "teeth".

RECORD

Most wins: 6 – Valentino Rossi

Highest number of Pole Positions: 4 – Jorge Lorenzo

Fastest lap: Marc Marquez – 1'38.120 – 162.2 km/h – 2014

Circuit Records: Jorge Lorenzo – 1'39.565 – 159.9 km/h – 2013

Best Pole: Marc Marquez – 1'38.120 – 162.2 km/h – 2014

Top speed: Dani Pedrosa – 295.9 km/h – 2014

Roll of honor for the last 10 editions

Year Moto3 Moto2 MotoGP

2014 Romano Fenati (KTM) Mika Kallio (Kalex) Marc Márquez (Honda)

2013 Maverick Viñales (KTM) Esteve Rabat (Kalex) Daniel Pedrosa (Honda)

2012 Romano Fenati (FTR Honda) Pol Espargaró (Kalex) Casey Stoner (Honda)

Year class 125 Moto2 MotoGP

2011 Nicolás Terol (Aprilia) Andrea Iannone (Suter) Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)

2010 Pol Espargaró (Derbi) Toni Elías (Moriwaki) Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)

Year class 125 class 250 MotoGP

2009 Bradley Smith (Aprilia) Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda) Valentino Rossi (Yamaha)

2008 Simone Corsi (Aprilia) Mika Kallio (KTM) Daniel Pedrosa (Honda)

2007 Gábor Talmácsi (Aprilia) Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) Valentino Rossi (Yamaha)

2006 Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) Loris Capirossi (Ducati)

2005 Marco Simoncelli (Aprilia) Daniel Pedrosa (Honda) Valentino Rossi (Yamaha)

2004 Marco Simoncelli (Aprilia) Roberto Rolfo (Honda) Sete Gibernau (Honda)

Sources: www.motogp.com