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Cormac Shoots Phillip Island: MotoGP Bikes At The End Of The World

By David Emmett |

 
Phillip Island, Finis Terrae

 
It's a physical track, Phillip Island. Brad Binder crests Lukey Heights and plunges down to MG

 
Marco Bezzecchi does the same thing. Note the butt cheek is on the wrong side of the bike already

 
Luca Marini is already sticking his right leg out, ready to start braking for MG

 
Jack Miller shows the other half of that corner, braking ready to turn in at MG

 
Raul Fernandez ran without wings in the wet. Phillip Island is the only track where teams are allowed to remove wings, because of the winds

 
Friday was wet. So wet that FP1 was canceled

 
That left a lot of time for standing around talking to the media...

 
Or hanging in your garage talking to your crew

 
Wet weather means clear visors. Johann Zarco pulls a very serious face, for a very serious business

 
How did Marc Marquez manage when his rear span up at the start? He had already practiced just that...

 
Luca Marini, hard on the brakes, forcing himself back with arms and left leg, right leg dangling for balance into MG

 
Fabio Di Giannantonio had a pretty good weekend, benefiting from a week off to allow his shoulder to recover a little

 
Normally, stoppies are cool. But stoppies to engage the holeshot device are frustrating. Augusto Fernandez demonstrates how it's done

 
On Thursday, there was a parade of bikes to and at the track. Mick Doohan led the way on a special Honda RC213V-S, flanked by Joan Mir and Jack Miller

 
Quite the ride out

 
Fabio Quartararo in the wet. Clear visor, extra thick knee slider, eyes on the next corner

 
Jorge Martin finished second to Marc Marquez. But he finished ahead of Pecco Bagnaia, and that was what mattered

 
Johann Zarco ran revised tail wings, with no horizontal element

 
They really are drag bikes at the start. Maverick Viñales' Aprilia is one ofthe lowest slung.

 
It took Marc Marquez a while to get onto Jorge Martin's tail, but once there, he hunted him

 
Joan Mir about to wrestle his bike from right to left

 
Fabio Di Giannantonio wins the Looking Fierce Through A Clear Visor title at Phillip Island

 
Marco Bezzecchi's weekend was ruined in a massive crash with Maverick Viñales in the sprint race. But he showed some of his old speed.

 
King of the Island

 
Keep accelerating until you can taste the ocean

 
Enea Bastianini demonstrates just how extreme body position has become. Right elbow dropped, arm tucked in, head down at tank level, left arm stretched across the tank, butt off the seat. 
Note just how extreme the angle of his right wrist is as he gets on the gas

 
Five bikes, one corner. It must be Phillip Island

 
Jorge Martin is in the groove. And consequently, very hard to beat

 
Red flag in the morning, wildlife on the track warning

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PhotoPage
CormacGP
MotoGP
Phillip Island, Australia
Aprilia
Ducati
GasGas
Honda
KTM
Yamaha
Augusto Fernandez
Brad Binder
Enea Bastianini
Fabio Di Giannantonio
Fabio Quartararo
Francesco Bagnaia
Jack Miller
Joan Mir
Johann Zarco
Luca Marini
Marc Marquez
Marco Bezzecchi
Maverick Viñales
Raul Fernandez

I wish we had more pictures of Raul Fernandez bike

Obv these guys are at the top of the sport but Enea's right arm position looks all wrong..... screwdriver grip!

It's a shame we are so focused on MOTOGP sometimes, for in the process we have failed to properly note the rise of a generational talent, David Alonso, the exceptional new champion of Moto3. At Phillip Island this past week he tied legend Valentino Rossi's record for most Moto3 wins in a season with three races to go, while putting on a master class of race craft that had him beat the field by nearly 3 seconds in a race where there was more passing than all of MotoGP this year. And on top of that, he seems to have the charisma of Valentino as well. What say you David?

I have neglected Moto2, Moto3, and WorldSBK this year. There are too many races for me to have time to write about everything now, especially with the sprint races. 

After the season is over, I will look back at some of the interesting things I haven't had time for this year. David Alonso in Moto3, Toprak Razgatlioglu in WorldSBK, what happened to Sergio Garcia in Moto2.

The expansion of the calendar and the addition of sprint races now leave almost no time to even think. As much as the sprint race adds to the series, it imposes a massive burden on everyone involved, and that means we lose a lot too.

Next year, I will have to take a different approach. That's a topic for the off season too.

I understand the emphasis on MotoGP - it's what the vast majority of the public wants to know about. Giving the other races a lower focus is understandable, considering how much news and info there is just regarding MotoGP. But I do look forward to your thoughts on the other series you mentioned. I've been really wondering what happened with Sergio Garcia - he went off so hard at the Misano races. And it would be great to hear your thoughts on David Alonso.

Dave, I think you are doing great given your depth and breadth of MotoGP coverage. (Do I want to get more World Supersport and BSB coverage? Yes! And more TT/roads. And some National series coverage. And talent cups!). Please don't get spread thinly, the thick juicy center will always be GP.

And, perhaps there are collaborators of yours that are up for adding some colorful deeper focus pieces on the others, beyond race coverage? Steve has proffered a few re WSBK, loved them. Perhaps share with your "posse" a wish for some explorational articles? What would THEY love to write up for here?

For a Motomatters shirt, I would do one on the changing Supersport/Supertwins/Supersport 300 bikes. I may have by now actually. Can I just have a shirt? I will give you $30 for it too!

;)

Don't change a thing Krop. Uhm, shirts avail excluded.

David, we all fully understand your time dilemma and at the same time marvel at your ability to produce the quality writing and analysis we enjoy each week. As you note, a different approach may be in order, but don't be too hard on yourself. The time available decides all matters and we will patiently await your decision. And, if I may be allowed a suggestion, a rider of the week nomination by you and the Mutterers, where all MotoGP and Superbike categories are included, might make for a very interesting discussion.

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Comments

I wish we had more pictures of Raul Fernandez bike

Obv these guys are at the top of the sport but Enea's right arm position looks all wrong..... screwdriver grip!

It's a shame we are so focused on MOTOGP sometimes, for in the process we have failed to properly note the rise of a generational talent, David Alonso, the exceptional new champion of Moto3. At Phillip Island this past week he tied legend Valentino Rossi's record for most Moto3 wins in a season with three races to go, while putting on a master class of race craft that had him beat the field by nearly 3 seconds in a race where there was more passing than all of MotoGP this year. And on top of that, he seems to have the charisma of Valentino as well. What say you David?

I have neglected Moto2, Moto3, and WorldSBK this year. There are too many races for me to have time to write about everything now, especially with the sprint races. 

After the season is over, I will look back at some of the interesting things I haven't had time for this year. David Alonso in Moto3, Toprak Razgatlioglu in WorldSBK, what happened to Sergio Garcia in Moto2.

The expansion of the calendar and the addition of sprint races now leave almost no time to even think. As much as the sprint race adds to the series, it imposes a massive burden on everyone involved, and that means we lose a lot too.

Next year, I will have to take a different approach. That's a topic for the off season too.

I understand the emphasis on MotoGP - it's what the vast majority of the public wants to know about. Giving the other races a lower focus is understandable, considering how much news and info there is just regarding MotoGP. But I do look forward to your thoughts on the other series you mentioned. I've been really wondering what happened with Sergio Garcia - he went off so hard at the Misano races. And it would be great to hear your thoughts on David Alonso.

Dave, I think you are doing great given your depth and breadth of MotoGP coverage. (Do I want to get more World Supersport and BSB coverage? Yes! And more TT/roads. And some National series coverage. And talent cups!). Please don't get spread thinly, the thick juicy center will always be GP.

And, perhaps there are collaborators of yours that are up for adding some colorful deeper focus pieces on the others, beyond race coverage? Steve has proffered a few re WSBK, loved them. Perhaps share with your "posse" a wish for some explorational articles? What would THEY love to write up for here?

For a Motomatters shirt, I would do one on the changing Supersport/Supertwins/Supersport 300 bikes. I may have by now actually. Can I just have a shirt? I will give you $30 for it too!

;)

Don't change a thing Krop. Uhm, shirts avail excluded.

David, we all fully understand your time dilemma and at the same time marvel at your ability to produce the quality writing and analysis we enjoy each week. As you note, a different approach may be in order, but don't be too hard on yourself. The time available decides all matters and we will patiently await your decision. And, if I may be allowed a suggestion, a rider of the week nomination by you and the Mutterers, where all MotoGP and Superbike categories are included, might make for a very interesting discussion.