MotoGP: Looking ahead to the European GP
MotoGP heads to Valencia circuit this weekend for the European GP, what can we expect?
MotoGP goes to Valencia this weekend, the place where the MotoGP season normally ends, however this time, we have three rounds left with a doubleheader at Valencia before the season finale at Portimao.
Joan Mir currently leads the MotoGP title standings, 14 points ahead of Frenchman Fabio Quartararo who has three race wins to his name so far, whereas Mir has 0 wins, this is partly due to issues he has had in qualifying meaning he cannot get the race starts he needs to be able to shoot for race wins as he finds himself having to work his way up the grid before he can start to fight, therefore, Valencia will be a place where Mir will look to take his first premier class victory, if he can qualify well, the victory is well and truly in reach.
The straight at Valencia is good news for Mir as the Suzuki has historically not been as fast down the straight as other bikes such as the Honda or the Ducati’s, the same can be said for the Yamaha which has massively struggled this season in a straight line with acceleration and top speed problems, this means that we can expect more of a fight from the Yamaha men with Franco Morbidelli also coming into the mix as a title contender following his race win at Aragon.
Yamaha have always gone well at Valencia with Quartararo and Vinales both confirming they are looking forward to racing at the track given it holds strengths which will assist Yamaha. Ducati will be looking to improve on a dismal two weeks at Aragon whereby they struggled to score points with the GP20, Johann Zarco was able to save the day in the Teruel round with a P5 finish on the GP19 and Dovizioso pretty much saying the title fight is over for him.
Speaking of Dovizioso, if the rumours are true, he will be announced as a Yamaha test rider for the 2021 season, replacing Jorge Lorenzo in the job as he looks to move over to Aprilia to sort their overpriced hunk of metal out and turn it into a race-winning machine.
Alex Rins is on a huge run of form with back-to-back podiums in the last two races, he will be looking to continue this trend and get himself into the top 5 of the MotoGP championship standings to join teammate Mir, currently, there are no team orders with 75 points up for grabs with three races to go, meaning Mir still needs to outscore in the three races Fabio Quartararo to take the MotoGP title, but this weekends European Grand Prix is a little early, but if Mir takes 25 points and Quartararo 0, Mir can win the title the weekend after.
Valentino Rossi may also make a return to racing after missing the Aragon doubleheader due to a positive COVID-19 test, he will be tested again this week, if he is able to test negative, he can race.
Featured image – www.motogp.com
