It is finally over, the summer break for MotoGP has come to an end and the engines have roared through the corners of Automotodrom Brno. However, no one was quite expecting what unfolded at the kick off of the second part of the season. Now everyone is beginning to wonder, will the championship be decided by tactics or by fast riding?
MotoGP Is Back! Are You Ready?
Before the summer break started, the championship was closer than it has ever been before. The heir apparent to a MotoGP Championship dynasty—Marc Marquez—was leading the championship from new comer—and challenger to the empire—Maverick Viñales. These two youngsters were tightly followed by Andrea Dovizioso—a long time racers who has yet to win a championship—and the legendary Valentino Rossi. Perpetual championship bridesmaid Dani Pedrosa has been at the back of this parade, but last year’s champion, Jorge Lorenzo, has been a no show in the championship as he continues to struggle with adapting to the Ducati.
This is the layout of perhaps the tightest MotoGP championship the sport has ever seen, and the titanic rumble continued at Brno. The weekend got off to a rough start with sporadic weather conditions. On race day, there were on and off showers, so race direction called the race a wet race, and this is where the trouble began.
Every racer came out on rain tires, but as the race went on, it became apparent that the track was far too dry for these fragile tires. However, Marc Marquez seemed to realize this before anyone else. He pitted on lap three and switched over to normal racing slicks. That’s when chaos broke out as other racers began to realize it.
Slowly pitlane filled up as racers began to convert to regular tires. Andre Iannone lost the front while in the pits as he tried to avoid the sudden exit of Aleix Espargaro after he had switched to slick tires. The bike/tire swap madness all came to a head on track as Marquez ran away from everyone. Capitalizing on his speedy bike swap to a dry weather tire, Marquez finished in first with a 20 second lead! Many wonder if this was all part of Honda’s plan since they were the only motorcycle to go out on soft rain tires while the rest of the field went out on medium. After a hard fight, Dani Pedrosa managed second, and Maverick Viñales rounded out the podium by finishing third.
From the attorneys who ride at the Metier Law Firm—keep the fast riding where it belongs, on the racetrack.