1. The wind.
Here we could write ‘The climatology’, but since this is a key we repeat in all Asian GGPP, we mention the wind for a change. A wind which, when blowing at Phillip Island, does so at almost hurricane force. He took Miguel Oliveira off the track in 2019 in the middle of the straight, and this weekend during practice he threw three Moto2 riders into the same corner at the same time. For tomorrow at the time of the race there was no forecast that it would blow hard, but as someone opened a window in Antarctica – this one south of Phillip Island – the pilots had to cling to the streetlights.
2. The rear wheel.
The Australian circuit has the curve that most emphasizes the rear tire in the entire championship, the #12 leading to the finish line. Choosing the “good” option for the race will be the first challenge; the second is to manage it. It will be key to manage especially the left side, where the fastest corner turns. That is, where more time is gained or lost. In practice, the tests conducted by the pilots were a real joke. Deciding what should come out
3. Marc Marquez.
The Catalan rider is a key in each, but more so this time as he starts from the front row of the grid but with poor speed. Especially in the third section of the circuit, which includes a very fast right corner, where today, by the way, he miraculously saved a crash. In that section, Márquez was losing every lap, 3 tenths! relative to the fastest. Because of the pace, Marc shouldn’t be the star tomorrow, Sunday, but it’s clear to all of us that once he gets on a wheel, he’s going to stick like glue. But will it be enough to endure the 27 laps of the race?…Let’s see who dares to bet against him.
4. Aleix’s situation.
He didn’t make much noise during practice but, like Quartararo, he will start tomorrow from the second row of the grid. His speed is not one of the best, but Aleix knows that this race is important for his title chances. Everyone was watching Bagnaia and Quartararo, but Espargaró was there. And he is clear about it and he knows that before him is an ‘all or nothing’.
5. The grid position of Viñales.
The winner of this race in 2018 and almost won in 2019 was the one with the best speed in FP4, the session where riders lap the bikes in race configuration. But Maverick will start from the fourth row of the grid after qualifying only 12th. And considering that he is not exactly a specialist in starts or a good recovery of positions in the first laps… Hopefully tomorrow Viñales will make his reputation bad. Another option is to take advantage of the second half of the race, when the drop in performance becomes a determining factor, to reach the leader of the race. In any case, those exercises are a waste
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
