MAVERICK VINALES AFTER GERMAN GP WOES: “I NEED SUPPORT FROM TEAM BUT ALL I GET IS CRITICISM”

Vinales admits to a lack of support amid his current injury-induced performance slump

Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Maverick Vinales says he needs greater support from KTM and Tech3 as he continues to battle his way back from injury, but feels he is only getting criticised for his lack of speed.

The Spaniard hit a new low at the German Grand Prix last weekend, where he was reduced to being the slowest rider in the entire field. After ending up a distant 19th in qualifying, more than a second off the ultimate pace, he finished dead last in the sprint, more than eight seconds behind Johann Zarco’s stand-in Cal Crutchlow.

Sunday turned out to be equally dreadful and, after running at the very rear of the pack for much of the race, he pulled into the pits with four laps remaining, saying his lack of fitness made it impossible to finish the race.

The Sachsenring weekend suggested that Vinales’ recovery isn’t linear, after previous weekends showed clear signs of progress from the collarbone fracture he sustained exactly a year ago in Germany.

Vinales admitted the current situation has been particularly difficult because he feels he is not getting the backing he needs from those around him.

“Right now, I need some support from the team, but all I get is criticism,” he said on Sunday. “It's really hard to keep going, because sometimes they're happy to see me, but other times it's like I'm a stranger.”

Vinales went under the knife at the end of April, with doctors removing a screw that had become loose after being inserted during the operation on his shoulder following a crash he sustained last year. 

While he has shown flashes of pace since then, he has yet to prove to KTM that he can rediscover his old form and deserves another contract for 2027 and beyond. 

Vinales said the prolonged recovery process is becoming increasingly difficult for him, and he is eager to return to competitiveness after being blighted by injury woes over the last 12 months.

“I don’t have any strength on the bike; I couldn’t help but slide out at every turn,” he said.

“I don’t even know if it’s fixable. I’ve considered putting myself in the hands of Marc Marquez’s doctors.

“I expected to be doing much better, but it’s true that the doctor who operated on me told me I won’t be fully recovered until Indonesia. That’s no good for me. I don’t know what to do. I guess I’ll spend the summer in Austria (at Red Bull Performance Centre), training.”

- Rachit Thukral and Gerald Dirnbeck

MARCO BEZZECCHI OUT OF GERMANY GP, NEEDS SURGERY AFTER BIG CRASH

Marco Bezzecchi will miss the German Grand Prix following a huge crash in qualifying

Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Sachsenring MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

Aprilia has announced that Marco Bezzecchi will miss the remainder of the MotoGP German Grand Prix following a huge crash in qualifying.

The erstwhile championship leader lost the rear of his Aprilia going through Turn 7 in the early stages of Q2.

When it gripped again, he was flung over his bike’s handlebars and bounced violently through the gravel.

Though he was able to walk away from the crash under his own steam, he was seen clutching his left arm when he got back to the paddock.

He was transferred to the circuit medical centre by ambulance shortly afterwards, where a displaced collarbone fracture was detected.

Marco Bezzecchi will require surgery on the injury.

“Following the crash, Marco Bezzecchi was taken to the circuit medical centre where, under the supervision of MotoGP Medical Director Dr. Angel Charte, he underwent an X-ray examination which revealed a complete and displaced fracture of the left clavicle,” Aprilia said in a statement.

“The type of fracture requires surgical intervention for optimal recovery, and it will be performed by Dr. Giuseppe Porcellini in Italy.

“Marco Bezzecchi is planning to return to Italy as soon as possible. We will keep you updated.”

Marco Bezzecchi's season goes from bad to worse

Bezzecchi was due to start from eighth on the grid, ahead of Aprilia team-mate Jorge Martin. 

It marks his second big accident in as many rounds, following a fast crash during the Dutch Grand Prix. 

With Bezzecchi withdrawing from the rest of the Germany weekend, it will bring his tally of non-scores in main races to four in a row, and marks his second scoreless event in three. 

His crash out of the Dutch Grand Prix lost him the championship lead, dropping him seven points behind Martin. Currently, Martin is unlikely to fight for victory in either race, but the likes of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez could overhaul Bezzecchi in the points. 

Bezzecchi's season has quickly turned hellish since his dominant start to the campaign, in which he won the first three grands prix and added a fourth to his tally in Italy. 

Since then, he was involved in a Turn 1 pile-up triggered by Martin in Hungary, crashed out of the sprint at Brno and was subsequently banned from the main race for striking a marshal, before falling out of the Dutch Grand Prix. 

Bezzecchi now has three weeks within which to have the surgery and recover in time to compete at the British Grand Prix at the start of August. 

- Lewis Duncan

LIQUI MOLY GRAND PRIX OF GERMANY 🇩🇪 | MOTOGP

 

YAMAHA CONFIRMS FABIO QUARTERARO EXIT FOR 2027 MOTOGP

Yamaha has confirmed that both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins will move on from the factory team at the end of the 2026 MotoGP season.

Fabio Quartararo at the Dutch MotoGP. Credit: Gold and Goose.

Yamaha has taken a major step towards revealing its 2027 MotoGP line-up, after confirming the exits of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins. 

The decision not to re-sign Rins comes as no surprise, as the former Suzuki and Honda rider has often struggled with the M1 since joining the factory team in 2024, albeit aboard machinery that at times was the least competitive on the grid.

However, Quartararo managed to outperform the capabilities of the M1 on several occasions, although he too, struggled to be competitive on a consistent basis.

Fabio Quartararo riding the Yamaha M1. Credit: Gold and Goose.

But with Quartararo being Yamaha’s most recent world champion, keeping the Frenchman has often been a major target for the Japanese manufacturer. That said, it became very clear at the start of this season that a new contract agreement between both sides was unlikely.

Quartararo has been heavily linked with a switch to Honda, which is expected to be confirmed soon, while Aprilia’s Jorge Martin will replace the 2021 MotoGP champion at the factory Yamaha squad.

Fabio Quartararo in Assen. Credit: Gold and Goose.

Paolo Pavesio, Managing Director at Yamaha Motor Racing, said this about losing both riders in 2027: 

"Fabio [Quartararo] and Alex [Rins have both played an important role in Yamaha's MotoGP project, and we are very grateful for their efforts, dedication, and collaboration over the years.

"Fabio's journey with Yamaha spans eight years, during which we have shared both great successes and difficult moments. Together, we have grown, celebrated achievements that have shaped our story, and faced challenges that have strengthened us. Beyond the results, it is this journey that defines our relationship, and in the end, Fabio will always remain one of the true legends of Yamaha MotoGP.

"Since joining Yamaha in 2024, Alex has brought valuable experience, meaningful insight, and unwavering commitment, playing an important role in the YZR-M1 project's development. While saying goodbye is never easy after years together, we remain fully focused on working as a team to achieve the best possible results until the end of the season."

Yamaha could be one of three manufacturers that has an all-new factory team line-up next season, with Honda and KTM expected to bring in two new riders each.

- Robert Jones

"SIMPLY TOO FAST" - APRILIA VERDICT ON MARCO BEZZECCHI'S ASSEN MOTOGP CRASH

Aprilia believes Marco Bezzecchi's frightening Assen MotoGP crash was simply the result of carrying too much speed through Turn 15.

Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Assen MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

“Simply too fast".

That was Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola's verdict when asked about the cause of Marco Bezzecchi's frightening Assen MotoGP crash.

Bezzecchi lost control through the ultra-fast Turn 15 left-hander on lap two of the grand prix while holding fourth.

The Italian cartwheeled through the gravel but was fortunately seen sitting upright and talking to marshals afterwards.

Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Assen MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

The accident went on to cost Bezzecchi the world championship lead to team-mate Jorge Martin, who completed an Aprilia podium sweep behind Trackhouse riders Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez.

“I honestly think the Aprilia was not strong just in Turn 15, in all the very fast parts of the circuit, the Aprilia normally shows something special,” Rivola added.

Rivola said: “We are just waiting for the very latest news. Luckily, it doesn't seem like anything to worry about."

Aprilia duly confirmed that CT scans and radiological examinations found no injuries, and that Bezzecchi will travel back home tonight.

Massimo Rivola, Aprilia.

© Gold and Goose

Sunday marked Bezzecchi's fourth non-score in the last six races.

Before Assen, he was taken out by Martin in Hungary, then crashed in the Brno Sprint before being suspended from the grand prix.

Bezzecchi, who has led the world championship since COTA, now trails Martin by nine points.

- Peter McLaren

DUCATI STATEMENT REVEALS HINT INTO PEDRO ACOSTA MOTOGP SIGNING

Ducati calls Pedro Acosta “one of the most talented riders in MotoGP” after confirming the KTM rider’s signature

Pedro Acosta, 2026 Czech MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

Ducati admits that signing Pedro Acosta was a target “for some time” after finally confirming the KTM rider for the 2027 MotoGP season. 

Acosta has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Italian manufacturer, where he will replace the outgoing Francesco Bagnaia, who is expected to join Aprilia Racing. 

Ducati announced Bagnaia’s departure on Wednesday morning, before confirming the news that had been expected since the opening few races of 2026.

Pedro Acosta, Francesco Bagnaia, 2025 Japanese MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

Acosta will line-up alongside Marc Marquez, who himself committed his future to Ducati with a new two-year deal of his own on Monday.

Acosta and Marquez will form one of the most talented rider pairings the sport has ever seen, and it will be the most high-profile since Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha. 

Ducati was known to be a big admirer of Acosta in previous years, so it’s therefore no surprise that the Bologna-based company pushed hard to sign the Spaniard when it did. 

Signing Acosta comes at a particularly interesting time, with MotoGP set to transition into the new 850cc era in 2027. 

Alongside Marquez, Acosta will no doubt be expected to lead Ducati over the next two years by challenging for race wins and the title.

Pedro Acosta, 2026 Czech MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

However, it’s also clear that Ducati sees Acosta as the long-term future of their MotoGP project given he is only 22 years of age.

Speaking about the signing of Acosta, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said: “Pedro is undoubtedly one of the most talented young riders in the MotoGP paddock. 

“At just 22 years old, he is the kind of rider with whom a new and exciting chapter can be written. 

“We have always liked him and have been following him for some time, both for what he has achieved on track and for his direct and easy-going personality, which we are sure will make Ducatisti fall in love with him once he is dressed in red. 

“We believe that, alongside Marc, he represents the ideal complement for a team that - building on its history and on the results achieved in recent years - wants to continue playing a leading role in the future and remain a source of admiration, respect and support for Ducati fans all around the world”.

- Robert Jones

MARC MARQUEZ WINS THE CZECH MOTOGP GRAND PRIX 2026

 

MOTOGP STANDINGS

 

'IT LOOKS STUPID' - APRILIA BOSS CRITICAL OF JORGE MARTIN AFTER TURN ONE MOTOGP PILE-UP

Massimo Rivola has put the blame on Jorge Martin for the turn one crash at the Hungary MotoGP.

Jorge Martin after turn one crash, 2026 MotoGP Hungarian Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose

The Hungary MotoGP race was blown apart for Aprilia at the first corner thanks to a mistake by one of its own riders, Massimo Rivola says.

Marco Bezzecchi had seemingly done what he did in the Sprint, moving up from sixth on the grid to third at the first corner. But then Jorge Martin lost control in braking and Bezzecchi – as well as Fermin Aldeguer, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Raul Fernandez – were taken down with the 2024 MotoGP champion.

Ordinarily a team manager would find a justification for the crash that does not involve blaming their own riders. Aprilia Racing CEO, though, was clear that the crash was Martin’s mistake.

Martin falls at Turn 1, 2026 Hungarian MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

“My first thought is always for the riders, I'm sorry,” Rivola told Sky Sport Italy after the race in Hungary.

"Martin's mistake should never happen, especially when safety is at stake and you're so aggressively approaching the first turn. 

“It was a strange mistake, not one of enthusiasm. He made a bad braking mistake, but he didn't brake too late. 

“He applied more power with the bike leaning slightly, in a part of the track where there's less grip. But it's a mistake a world champion shouldn't make.”

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing, 2026 Hungary MotoGP

© Gold and Goose

The crash brought about memories of Martin’s crash at turn one at Motegi last year, where he also took out Bezzecchi. But Rivola says the two incidents are different.

“I think the [outcome] is similar but the mistake is quite different,” he said.

“Last year he overbraked and it was another reaction. This time it was, I don't want to say a small mistake, but he didn't behave with the front brake as he should have done in that part of the track at corner one. 

“That is quite different from Japan. A smaller mistake but the same [outcome]. For us, even worse.”

Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi, Turn 1 crash, 2026 Hungarian MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose

Rivola also feels that the design of the first corner is perhaps not the thing to blame for the crash, given that the first corner at Barcelona was also blamed for a turn one incident only a few races ago.

Instead, Rivola thinks the way to avoid crashes like this is for the riders to approach the first corner more cautiously.

“If we go to Barcelona, we say that it's too dangerous at the first corner,” said Rivola.

“When you are on Sunday, you know very well the track layout, the grip condition. I think that at the first corner, everybody should take it a bit more easy. 

“Then, the fact that we are also unlucky that when we crash, we have another Aprilia or even two in the middle, it looks also stupid. 

“But the point is that when you know that the conditions are bad, you take it more easy.”

- Alex Whitworth

MOTOGP MANUFACTURERS' TOP SPEED | ITALIAN GRAND PRIX 🇮🇹

 

FORMER F1 BOSS ROSS BRAWN GETS MOTOGP ROLE

Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsports, FOM

Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images

Brawn will strengthen the Pramac leadership as an advisor to team director Paolo Campinoti

The Pramac Racing MotoGP team has announced it has signed Ross Brawn onto its board of directors.

In this role, Brawn will act as a strategic advisor to owner and team director Paolo Campinoti, bringing extensive experience from the Formula 1 world championship.

Brawn’s career in motorsport has spanned more than four decades, during which he has contributed to a total of 22 world titles – 11 apiece in the constructors’ and drivers’ standings. He left the Mercedes team in 2013, before taking on a management role within the F1 entity from 2017 to 2022.

“His appointment reflects a shared competitive trajectory and an approach that aligns with Pramac Racing’s position in MotoGP.

“This addition further strengthens the company’s organizational structure, which continues its development in the premier category of motorcycle racing,” the team explained in a statement.

“I am very proud to welcome Ross to Pramac Racing,” said Campinoti. “Beyond his extraordinary career and achievements in Formula 1, Ross is a person with whom I have shared a friendship and a relationship of great respect for many years. I believe that his vision, knowledge and winning mentality will contribute in a valuable way to the continued growth and development of Pramac Racing.”

Ross Brown, Paolo Campinoti, Pramac Racing
Photo: Pramac Racing 

“I am pleased to join the board of directors of Pramac Racing Limited as a non-executive member,” Brawn added. “Motorsport has always been about people, teamwork and continuous improvement, and I look forward to supporting Paolo and the team, as well as contributing my experience wherever it may be useful.

“Pramac has built an impressive organization with great spirit and ambition, and I am excited to be part of its future.”

- Germán Garcia Casanova

MOTOGP CRASH | JOHANN ZARCO MOTOGP CTASH | CATALONIA GRAND PRIX 2026

 

LCR BOSS PROVIDES JOHANN ZARCO UPDATE AFTER CATALONIA TURN 1 INCIDENT

LCR MotoGP boss gives Johann Zarco update after scary Turn 1 crash

Johann Zarco crashes at the 2026 Catalan MotoGP
© Gold and Goose

LCR MotoGP team boss, Lucio Cecchinello, says Johann Zarco has pain “in the femur area” after a scary incident during Sunday’s Catalan Grand Prix.

The race was red-flagged on lap 12 of 24 for a terrifying collision involving Pedro Acosta, whose KTM encountered an issue, and Gresini’s Alex Marquez on the back straight between Turns 9 and 10.

Alex Marquez was taken to hospital for checks, while the race was restarted again.

On this restart, Johann Zarco collided with Luca Marini and Pecco Bagnaia at Turn 1 at the start, and got tangled up with one of the bikes.

A red flag was flow again while Zarco received medical attention, with the Frenchman taken to hospital for further checks.

Replays of the second Red Flag crash 🚩

All riders conscious 🙌#MotoGP | #CatalanGP | Live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/1KQt78sk8j

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 17, 2026

2026 Catalan MotoGP incident
© Gold and Goose

Speaking to TNT Sport, Cecchinello offered an update on Zarco’s condition.

“Well, at the moment, he’s been taken to the local hospital,” he said.

“They will perform an MRI and scan to check exactly what he has.

“He has pain in the left leg. He has pain around the knee.

“But, fortunately, he has no concussion, he has no injuries in the upper part of the body, in the feet, in the ankle.

“Looks like he has pain, just in the femur area. I really hope there will be no bad news coming.”

Zarco had been having a strong weekend up to that point, qualifying fifth and finishing there in the sprint.

Prior to the first red flag, Zarco was inside the top six.

“Look, I was commenting that it was a perfect weekend for us: fifth in Friday practice, fifth in qualifying, fifth in the sprint, sixth with 2.8s after half a race,” Cecchinello added.

“It was really, really a pity that our weekend ended like this.”

Zarco suffered bruising on his foot from hitting debris when Marquez and Acosta collided, but was cleared to restart.

The FIM stewards' document notes that Zarco is due to face a hearing on the incident, but will only do so once he is available. 

- Lewis Duncan

ALEX MARQUEZ HUGE CRASH AT CATALONIA GRAND PRIX | MOTOGP

 

ALEX MARQUEZ INJURIES |

 

Alex has suffered a small C7 vertebrae fracture along with a broken right collarbone. The injury will be surgically treated using a plate to stabilize the shoulder area.

Alex is scheduled to have surgery today at the General Hospital of Catalonia.

Other medical evaluations will be done next week to monitor the progress of recovery.

A major blow after such a dramatic weekend...

Wishing Alex a speedy recovery and a stronger comeback.

#ForcaAlexMarquez 

JORGE MARTIN CALLS FOR BARCELONA SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AFTER “DANGEROUS” MOTOGP CRASH

Jorge Martin suffered a concussion after an unusual crash at Turn 12 during opening practice in Barcelona on Friday

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Jorge Martin believes the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya needs to extend the run-off area at Turn 12 after a crash during Catalan Grand Prix practice left him with a concussion.

The 2024 MotoGP champion lost the front-end of his Aprilia into the right-hander, with the bike smashing into the air fence before bouncing back into the gravel. With limited run-off available to slow him down, Martin hit the front fairing and was visibly shaken after getting back to his feet.

The Spaniard had to visit the medical centre for check-ups, with MotoGP’s official doctor later revealing that he was “slightly concussed” and also suffered bruising to his left forearm.

Martin was eventually cleared to take part in practice starts at the end of the session, but the incident renewed concerns about rider safety at what Martin described as a dangerous part of the circuit.

The 28-year-old said the crash immediately reminded him of the fatal accident that claimed the life of Moto2 rider Luis Salmon at the same corner in 2016.

“I think that it's really dangerous to crash there," he said. "I don't really like to say it, but it reminds me a lot about Luis Salom. When I was crashing, I thought about him straight away.

“Luckily, the bike turned so I went into the fairing and not the handlebars or other pieces. For sure, it's a place where they need to improve because it's really dangerous.”

Martin explained that he was trying to warm-up the tyre when he made a mistake at Turn 12 and hit the ground.

“I had more lean angle and more brake than the lap before,” he said. “But I was relaxed, I wasn't pushing. 

“But we struggled a lot to put temperature into the front in the morning. The evening was very good, we could go with the medium, but the morning was tough to put temperature and that's why you couldn't even push. And if you don't push, you don't warm up, and then it never stops.

“The problem is more on the left for sure, but it happened also on the right. So we have to be really careful. At that point I wanted to be behind Fabio [di Giannantonio] just to warm up the tyre and then I crashed.”

Martin also went down at Turn 2 towards the end of the main practice session on Friday afternoon, leaving him 17th on the timesheets and forcing him to go through Q1 for the first time this season.

While both team-mate Marco Bezzecchi and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez earned a direct passage into Q2, Martin struggled for pace throughout the hour-long session, despite having finished second in first practice.

Martin insisted that there were no lingering effects from his Turn 12 crash when he took to the track in the afternoon session.

Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
1 / 1
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

“I'm good,” he said.  “I feel lucky that nothing happened in the morning because I think it was a dangerous and a really scary crash.

“But I was fine to ride in the evening and physically, I feel great. In the second run I didn't feel anything about the first crash.

“For sure, after the evening crash, [there is] again some pain in other places, but we'll check later.”

- Rachit Thukral & Germán Garcia Casanova

APRILIA MAKES HISTORY | LE MANS 2026

 

MARC MARQUEZ UNDERGOES DOUBLE SURGERY AFTER NASTY FRENCH GP CRASH

Two surgeries in quick succession for Marquez, who is now heading home to continue rehabilitation 

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Ducati Corse

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez underwent two successful operations on Sunday morning after flying back to Madrid during the French Grand Prix weekend.

The factory Ducati rider was forced to withdraw from the remainder of the Le Mans round after breaking his foot in a nasty highside in the sprint race.

Marquez returned to Spain on Saturday night before heading to a hospital in the morning for double surgery.

The first procedure addressed the fifth metatarsal on his right foot, which he broke when he hit the ground on the penultimate lap of the sprint.

The second operation was aimed at recovering two screws that had become dislodged from their positions when he was hit by Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi at last October’s Indonesian Grand Prix. 

This corrective action had originally been scheduled for the week after the Catalan Grand Prix, with doctors having identified the issue after Marquez reported pain in the wake of a tough race at Jerez. However, he had not disclosed this planned surgery to the public prior to Saturday’s crash.

The nine-time world champion will now return home to continue his rehabilitation. He has already been ruled out from next week’s Barcelona race, and his participation in the Italian Grand Prix on 31 May remains subject to his recovery.

“Marc Marquez is currently recovering at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid, where he underwent successful double surgery this morning,” Ducati said in a statement.

"The medical team, led by Dr. Samuel Antuna alongside colleagues Dr. Ignacio Roger de Ona, Dr. Andres Maldonado, Dr. Jorge de las Heras, Dr. Raul Barco and Dr. Juan de Miguel, successfully stabilised the fracture in the fifth metatarsal of the rider’s right foot. This injury was sustained yesterday as a consequence of the highside crash in the final stages of the sprint race at the French Grand Prix.

Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images 
Message of support for Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

"Simultaneously, Marquez underwent a second, pre-planned surgical procedure to fix a past injury in his right shoulder. This previous trauma had become painful again following the violent crash at last year’s Indonesian Grand Prix. The doctors removed two screws and a bone fragment from a previous Latarjet (December 2019) surgery that has shifted compressing the radial nerve.

"As previously announced, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider will not participate in next week's Catalan GP. He will remain in the hospital overnight and he will back home tomorrow to begin the rehabilitation. The progress over the upcoming weeks will determine the time for his return to competitions.”

Following his withdrawal from Sunday’s Le Mans race, Marquez has slipped to seventh in the standings, 71 behind championship leader Bezzecchi.

- Rachit Thukral

FOTI: "KUDOS TO BASSANI - EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT HE DID ON THE DUCATI BACK IN THE DAY"

“Axel is a fast rider; this is a crucial moment for Bulega. I don’t want to think about an alliance between manufacturers that would further penalize Ducati.”

In the Superbike paddock, there’s a lot of talk about the potential of this Ducati, which is stealing the show. At Balaton, the Red machine delivered yet another dominant performance, and there’s really not much more to say about it.

In the post-race interview, we caught up with Serafino Foti, who gave us his take on Ducati’s current situation in this Championship. Bulega is dominating, and there seem to be no rivals to challenge him.

“Nicolò has set a new record for wins, reaching 16, and I think that’s truly extraordinary,” he told us. “Iker is also doing really well; in fact, he’s delivering top-level performances. There are still a few things to iron out, but we’re very happy.”

The question is how much margin Niccolò still has on this bike. 

“I don’t think it’s that much, because on Sunday we saw some incredibly close races. Niccolò said so himself; in fact, he pushed to the limit and gave it his all. It’s impressive when we compare it to Toprak’s race last year, when he won by a wide margin, beating Niccolò by about 10 seconds. But this year the race was 18 seconds faster—that’s almost a second per lap. All of this is thanks to the tyres and the work of our technicians. Ducati has a strong presence on the grid, but our guys are truly obsessive about their work. And, in my opinion, we also have the best riders in the Superbike Championship.

Do you think Bulega is ready for the big leap?

“Nicolò will test the MotoGP bike. We’re at a crucial moment in his career. As for MotoGP, since I’m not directly involved, I’m keeping an eye on things from the sidelines; in fact, I listen to what he tells me and what’s coming out of the paddock. But it’s clear that, at this point, he deserves a chance, given that he’s reached an incredible level. Bulega is no longer the rider everyone remembers from five years ago, when he was in Moto2. Today he’s matured, he’s grown, and he’s at a higher level, with truly significant potential.”

Why does he deserve a chance? 

“Because he’s fast. Regardless of the team or the bike, he’s a rider who deserves a chance, also because he’s only 26 and can do well in MotoGP too.”

Regarding the regulations, Axel Bassani told us that Ducati shouldn’t be penalized or limited, because if a manufacturer is performing well, it’s only fair that they bring their full potential to the track. 

“That speaks to his credit, and we’re pleased about it. It’s true, we’ve homologated a new bike, but behind that is a lot of work and a major investment by the company. It’s not Ducati’s fault that they’ve built an extraordinary production bike, given that the production bike is already incredible.”

So you agree with him…

“I believe the others need to roll up their sleeves too, just as we did in the past. Let’s remember that Kawasaki won six consecutive world championships. BMW is competitive today, even though I’m sorry about Oliveira’s injury. In my opinion, Bassani said the right thing: instead of penalizing those who are fast, we need to work on improving ourselves.”

Do you think we’ll see him back on a Ducati?

“As for his future, I’m sorry to see a rider like him struggling after a good start to the season. Bassani is fast, and I’m convinced he’ll bounce back soon. We all know what he’s done in the past on a Ducati.”

Given the current situation, do you fear some sort of alliance among manufacturers to further penalize Ducati? 

“There is a set of rules agreed upon by all manufacturers, and we abide by them. I believe in cycles: we see it in MotoGP too, with Ducati in the lead, then Aprilia, while in SBK it’s Kawasaki and BMW. There are times when you win and others when you struggle. When the tough times come for us, we won’t think about penalizing the winners, but about working to improve our bike.”

ESTRELLA GALICIA O.O | GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN