JAMES TOSELAND’S INSIDER INSIGHTS: 8TH AUGUST 2019

CZECH AUTOMOTODROM BRNO

The summer break is over and MotoGP is back! 
Brno was one of my favourite circuits and as I watch the action from home, I still get jealous about seeing the guys flying around that amazing track in the Czech Republic. 

Moto 3

The Moto 3 race was the highlight of the day for me. It never fails to give us amazingly close racing all the way to the chequered flag. 

It was a scary start for John McPhee and everyone behind him on the grid as they all tried to avoid him. He had an issue with his launch control activating as he prepared to start the race and the electrical problem then decided to activate his pit lane speed restriction just as he set off. This sets a speed limit of 60kph. So that left John and everyone behind him in a very dangerous situation. John qualified on the front row of the grid so riders at the back of the grid would have been approaching him at around 80mph speed difference. Luckily there was only one rider that collided with him and both walked away without serious injuries. 
After that chaotic start, the race was amazing. 

Tony Arbolino seems to be a consistent name on the podium these days. He’s matured so much this season and he’s now up to 4th in the championship with that 3rd place. 

It’s turning into a bit of a two horse race at this stage of the season. Aron Canet and Lorenzo Dalla Porta have been exchanging the championship lead all season long. It was Aron that came out on top at the Czech circuit and he now has a 3 point advantage over Lorenzo at the top of the table. One slip from either of them and Niccolo Antonelli and Tony Arbolino will be right back in it and we don’t have to wait long for the next battle as it’s this weekend in Austria! 

Moto 2

9 out of 10 is the mark I would give to this Moto 2 race in the Czech Republic. The one mark deduction isn’t because Alex Marquez made it look pretty easy to take his 5th victory of the season, 9 out of 10 represents how many lap records have been smashed by the Triumph powered Moto 2 engine in the opening 10 races of this season! 

There is a lot of undulation at the Brno circuit and the torque of the 765cc engine was pulling those bikes up the hills so strong. A 2 minute 1 second lap around that track was a very competitive Super Bike time only a few years ago! 

There were two fantastic rides from two of the classes rookies on Sunday too. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini rode to their first ever Moto 2 podiums. 

There was an unexpected mistake from championship contender, Thomas Luthi. He crashed out which means Alex Marquez now has a 33 point lead in the championship. 

Can the guys start to claw that back this weekend at the Red Bull Ring?!

MotoGP

I don’t know what Momma Marquez is feeding her two boys this year but it seems to be working! Marc qualified 2.5 seconds faster than second place!!!!! That was Marc’s 58th pole position! Equalling the record of Mick Doohan! It was his 50th premier class victory! Equalling our very own, Mike (The Bike) Hailwood! 

He’s now one of only 4 riders ever to achieve over 50 victories in the premier class! He’s only 26!! Oh and he’s now having to apologise to his Honda bosses for pushing a little too hard if his times are too quick!! I can’t tell you how impressive these stats are when you’re up against the class of field he’s up against! 

Even the power of Andrea Dovizioso and Jack Miller’s Ducatis couldn’t rein him in. Both Andrea and Jack weren’t too far behind but Marc looks so in control of the pace. It’s really difficult to see how anyone will stop him from this point on. He has a 63 point lead now and it looks very much like he’ll be taking his 6th MotoGP title in 7 years! That makes him an 8 time world champion across all classes! 

Will he be breaking even more records in Austria this weekend?! As we’ve seen over the past few years, it’s one of Honda’s biggest challenges. The slow corners onto long straights play into the hands of the Ducatis but on this current form who knows!

Can’t wait!!
JT.