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MotoGP, Capirossi: careful Viñales, Rossi will be a fox in the race

"Ducati will show something new in Qatar, this year I will try the MotoGP bikes from all the brands and with Vale's Yamaha there will be a surprise"

MotoGP: Capirossi: careful Viñales, Rossi will be a fox in the race

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At the Sky presentation programme, Loris Capirossi could not be absent. For him, 2017 is a special season because he will be the Dorna delegate within race direction. Besides this new experience, Capirex revealed the latest news for this season.

New year, new experience. Is that an accurate assumption?

“As many know, I am the Dorna delegate within race direction. I want to contribute to the work that has been ongoing for some time now. Obviously, everything I did in the past still remains, in other words, the role on the safety commission and Dorna-Michelin rider relations.”

What news will there be in terms of safety?

We work continuously with Franco Uncini. We are trying to improve the tracks, among other things, standardising the colours of the kerbs. Obviously, every track will have its own colour scheme, but the double kerb will be the same on every track from next year.” 

In this 2017 season, the external winglets disappear.

“As we all know, the new rules prohibit aerodynamic appendages, initially used by Ducati. Recently we have seen double fairings that cover the external winglets. Two changes are allowed during the year. A new fairing in Qatar and another during the season.”

For Ducati it seems to be no small obstacle.

“That’s what we have read. I think that it is an important change, particularly for Ducati and Yamaha, given the fact that they struggled at the beginning. Only Ducati has not yet experimented with something new in that direction, but I expect something different within the week and especially at the end of the month.”

In Australia the double fairings received failing marks. The circuit’s fault?

“It is a particular track, not extremely fast, where, among other things, the riders find the right conditions. Maybe at Phillip Island the aerodynamic spoilers did not make a difference, whereas on other circuits it may be a different story.”

Last year the weather proved to be no small problem in October. Are you evaluating some changes to the calendar?

“We are thinking about a date change. Unfortunately, holding a GP at the beginning of the year, we risk clashing with Formula 1 and SBK, but the goal is always to satisfy the riders. I can guarantee that we are evaluating a different period of the year, although at Phillip Island, the weather is always a question mark.”

Back to the present. The first race will be at the end of the month. Who will be the favourite?

Lorenzo will begin strong already from the first race in Qatar because Losail is a favourable track for the Ducati and he has also proven to be fast there in the past. But let’s not forget about Dovizioso. In recent seasons he has always been in the battle for victory.”

In these tests he struggled, though.

“True. For Jorge the Ducati is a more aggressive bike, unlike a Yamaha that can be defined as a ‘street bike’. He certainly did not show his true potential in these tests.”

On several occasions we have heard that Rossi has suffered physically. Do you think he is tired?

“I don’t think so. Vale is a calm rider who does not need to try for the fast time straight away. He prefers to prepare the bike for the race. His age has nothing to do with it. To tell the truth, I don’t know where he finds all the motivation at 38 years old. Valentino is very young and he is a fighter. Maybe something could happen between the two brawlers (Viñales and Marquez) and like the fox he is, he would exploit that in the race.”

What is the starting grid for this 2017 season?

“Marquez on the pole. This time Marc has a more competitive bike than last year. Then Viñales and Rossi. In any case, there are other fast riders. Iannone could be a wild card; Ducati will want to do well with Lorenzo and Dovizioso. At the beginning, however, I see Dovi as being faster than Jorge.”

In Australia, Troy Bayliss said that no one rides the Ducati like Stoner.

“I think that Casey was born to ride the Ducati. He has a particular feeling with it. He is fast, in fact, very fast. In any case, the fact remains that it is not ready for a race.”

Are you still an important member of the staff at Sky?  

Yes. This season I will try all the MotoGP bikes of all the brands. The last time was with the SIC Honda. At Mugello I’ll be on the Ducati, at Brno Suzuki, in Austria KTM, at Misano Aprilia, at Motegi Honda and I’ll have a surprise for you on Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha.”

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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