What topics were discussed in the interview after this race weekend in Austin? Discover our collection
The third round of the 2023 MotoGP™ World Championship has undoubtedly brought its share of drama at the Circuit of the Americas. Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) kept a cool head to claim a brilliant victory ahead of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™).
There was certainly no shortage of hot topics from the weekend, and you can take a look at the main ones from the weekend below!
“Thanks for the pressure”
Not only is Alex Rins’ COTA victory the first for LCR since Cal Crutchlow at the 2018 Argentine GP, but it also sees Lucio Cecchinello’s team celebrate their 100th podium in the Grand Prix paddock.
“It was amazing, when I was in the LCR workshop this winter, Lucio put a video in the museum and said our team was at 99 podiums, and I said ‘thank you for the pressure!’ . We did it. I am very happy with this victory, but also with the weekend, it was a very good weekend. »
Lucio Cecchinello “like in a dream”
The boss of LCR Honda reacted to this historic day for his team, which celebrates a victory as well as a 100th podium
“If I shave my head, she will change the locks”
After stepping onto the Tissot Sprint podium on Saturday, Alex Rins pulled out the clipper to shave the head of one of his mechanics during the celebrations. After this success on Sunday, two poor “volunteers” from the team were also entitled to the zero ball. However, the 27-year-old was not up to the challenge as he knew he would be in serious trouble once he got home.
“When I woke up this morning my fiancée texted me saying if I shaved my head she would change the locks. We’re getting married in a few months and it’s an unforgettable day, so better not do it! »
Rins euphoric after his COTA success
The 27-year-old driver looks back on his race and his frantic pace to follow Pecco Bagnaia. No. 42 gave LCR its 100th podium
“Toprak needs more time to be fast… we are focused on Franky”
We are still only at the start of the 2023 season, but speculation is already rife as to the identity of Fabio Quartararo’s future teammate in the Yamaha factory team. 2021 Superbike Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu recently did a private test riding the YZR-M1 and he’s rumored the Turk could replace Franco Morbidelli from next season, although he’s not the only one name on the list. During the GP of the Americas, Yamaha Motorsport managing director Lin Jarvis raised the possibility.
“We want to do an additional test at the end of the year, but it all depends on the program. Our main problem is that we only have two bikes, so we have to focus on that to be competitive, and at the end of the day what Toprak needs is more time to be fast, so it’s is difficult for us. That said, for now the focus is on Franco and him being able to maintain the speed he had in Argentina, so we don’t know. We need time to fully understand things and decide what will happen in the future. »
Razgatlioğlu test and future of Morbidelli seen by Jarvis
The Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing is looking at the possibilities for 2024 and assures that a decision will be made before the summer.
Can Morbidelli be replaced by another driver from the current grid?
“Yes, it is possible, but it is too early to tell. At the moment we only wanted to test Toprak, and we saw that he needed more time on the bike. Now we focus on Franky. »
Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) is among the names mentioned by the Japanese manufacturer, and Jarvis praised the current Pramac driver, but did not comment on whether or not to open talks with the Spaniard. However, Yamaha’s managing director spoke about when the decision could be made.
“He is very good, but there are a lot of good drivers on the grid. He’s already proven that in other categories, but that’s just speculation. We focus on Franky, and we will try to help him perform like in Argentina so that he is fast. We’re focused on him right now. »
“I think everyone will think more calmly before the summer break. We haven’t set a date for Morbidelli, but we’ll talk before the summer break. »
“I am very angry, but not at myself”
Defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) fell on Sunday as he was in contention for very big points for the second time in a row, and the Italian did not hide his frustration after the race. Unable to explain the reasons for his fall, the No. 1 admits that there is cause for concern.
“I’m very angry, not at myself, because I’m 100% sure it wasn’t my fault today. In Argentina, I admit that I was a bit on the limit, but today, no. Today something happened, but it wasn’t because of a cold tire or the wind. It’s something you have to understand on the bike. »
“We have to understand that we should perhaps favor a more unstable bike. Maybe I prefer to go a tenth slower, while understanding everything better, because right now it’s very difficult because I feel unbeatable, I feel like I can do everything. Like today, I was going fast but without taking any risks, without splurging, I entered the second corner very quietly, because I knew it was more slippery, and yet I crashed anyway. »
Bagnaia: “I don’t know what happened”
Having made a mistake in the sixth round, the World Champion regrets these 45 points lost during the last two Grands Prix
“In the last six or seven laps, I was just trying to survive”
After posting a career-best performance in MotoGP™ two weeks ago at Termas, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) came back to reality in Texas by finishing sixth. Despite a low-key weekend, the No.72 extended his Championship lead thanks to the crash of Pecco Bagnaia, admitting he was just happy to see the checkered flag after some late-race battles.
“I knew I couldn’t expect to win every time. I maybe attacked two or three laps too early and then struggled with the wear on the front tire. In the last six or seven loops I was just trying to survive, then Miguel [Oliveira] and Maverick [Viñales] passed me and I couldn’t follow them. »
Bezzecchi increases his lead in the Championship
Despite a modest sixth place, the VR46 driver said he was happy that the efforts made by his team had been rewarded.
“They have to fix this, it’s not the first time it’s happened”
In addition, Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing) experienced his first retirement of the season in the race when he crashed on the first lap of the GP of the Americas, leaving the Aprilia rider unhappy and in search of answers.
“I was third in the first corner, then I accelerated and I felt the rear leveler stay low. I did the whole first half of the circuit like that and when I put the throttle in turn 11 with the bike low, I lost the front. I can’t say anything more. Raúl had the same problem today. »
Many drivers on the carpet in Austin
Seven men who made a mistake this Sunday afternoon in the United States look back on the moment when their race changed
“They have to solve this problem, it’s not the first time it’s happened. Last year, it didn’t happen once. We changed that part a bit between the 2022 bike and the 2023 bike. The 2022 still has it, and the 2023, again, we had it in pre-season but not in the first races, except that today yes. Normally this happens when it’s really hot, but yesterday it didn’t happen so it’s not really in control when and how. »
