THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T. GAMBLERS, HAYMAKERS
OVERAC HIEVERS
&
winner in the class.
On to the Spielberg Circuit in Austria or as everyone Sometimes when solving problems, a break is what calls it, the Red Bull Ring. Red Bull and KTM both hail you need. Step away from the problem, let the brain from Austria and are excellent hosts! With enough Red relax and then figure out the solution to the problem Bull on hand to keep the world awake, the Red Bull Ring is also the foster parent or stepdad to Ducati. from another angle. Although Mugello and Ducati are technically married, Yeah, that works in just about every other field except the Red Bull Ring is at least Ducati's mistress! Ducati MotoGP at the moment. The problem in MotoGP at the is undefeated at the Circuit since MotoGP began moment is Marc Marquez. He's winning everything arriving in 2016. This is a Ducati track! No pressure, in sight and quite frankly making it look too easy. No right, Ducati?! one is coming close to challenging the Champ and MotoGP at the moment, dare I say it, is looking a This was Custer's last stand if Ducati or specifically little like F1 with Lewis Hamilton leading the parade Dovi was to start challenging or have even a snowball's chance in hell of getting to within sniffing with no serious challengers. distance of the championship, they had to win here! Coming out of the holiday, the first track on the docket No pressure, right Ducati?! is the Brno Circuit in the Czech Republic. A circuit that has many lines and is a favorite amongst the The race day started ominously as once disgraced riders. This is a so-called Ducati circuit because of racer Romano "Last Chance at Life" Fenati scored his the long straights and where Ducati can make use of first Moto3 race win of the season. If you remember, their famed horsepower! The problem is that over the Fenati was kicked off of Valentino Rossi's Sky VR46 Winter, Honda worked on improving their horsepower Moto3 Team at Spielberg and was all but done in too, so... So much for that Ducati advantage and motorcycle racing in 2018 when, in a Moto2 race, most importantly, the runner-up in the championship he pulled the brake lever of a rival at full speed! Andrea Dovizioso. He needs a victory in the worst way. Otherwise, the championship could be sewn Some have never forgiven Fenati for that action and up by late September. Things were looking good for deservedly so, but talent sometimes outweighs morals. the Ducatis in practices until the qualifying day! A Romano Fenati is the F word of motorcycle racing. wet track that was quickly drying only to be outdone Speak his name in hushed tones. He is the O.J. again by mother nature, played havoc with the field Simpson of MotoGP! except for one Marc "The Champ" Marquez. After getting into a bit of a squirmish on track with Alex Moto2 was a crash fest that saw KTM rider Brad Rins, Marquez went onto a damp track with slicks and Binder give the hometown folk something to cheer as continued to ride the wheels off of that RCV Honda he literally held off attacks from everyone and gave even during a downpour that saw him take the pole KTM what may be their final victory in Moto2 as the and the souls of every rider on the grid! He was literally company plans to vacate Moto2 next season to focus Jason Voorhees from "Friday the 13th" on two wheels. on MotoGP. Only this time, he couldn't be stopped and went on to be unchallenged on Sunday in an otherwise MotoGP: Marquez looked to be more than motivated lackluster race that saw no real surprises. Dovi tried to after last week's butt whippin' at Brno as this is the only keep Marquez honest, but as Jason Voorhees does, circuit he has not claimed victory. Marquez looked Marquez slaughtered the field with his RCV Honda! hungry, but Dovi had a confident, sly smile that hid something. Like a kid that has a secret, he wants to It was a Marquez sweep as younger brother Alex tell it but he can't, Dovi seemed to brim with quiet won in Moto2, and Aron Canet regained the lead confidence. And why not? He had beaten Marquez in Moto3 by becoming only the second two time before at this same circuit. Ducati was undefeated 30 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019