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Pernat: Rossi is no longer enough, Yamaha must work

Valentino hasn't won since Barcelona, the M1 is behind. Sepang asphalt to be redone before the 2017 tests

Pernat: Rossi is no longer enough, Yamaha must work

Before talking about Andrea Dovizioso's fantastic with win the Ducati in Malaysia, we need to highlight the problem creating by resurfacing the entire track.

The work was obviously not carried out perfectly, or there were some unforeseen difficulties because, between the asphalt and the supporting layer, it seems that there is not cavity to drain the water in case of rain, meaning that damps returns to the surface and the track remains wet, with puddles of water that present a risk to rider safety.

An incredible error that absolutely must be resolved with a new surfacing that eliminates the issue. And this should be done before the winter tests scheduled to take place in early February.
The consequence at Sepang was that we saw more than ten crashes in Moto3 caused by the damp patches, despite the fact that it hadn't rained for several hours. Luckily it then rained heavily, effectively solving what could have been a serious problem for the MotoGP bikes, given their power.

That issue aside, Sunday was undoubtedly all about Ducati, that scored its second win of the season, following a first in Austria with Andrea Iannone. This time it was Andrea Dovizioso to score the victory, having worked for four years to develop the bike without ever reaching the top step of the podium, until now.

Andrea Dovizioso is a rider known for his ability to develop the bikes entrusted to him, a champion that any engineer would like to have on his team.
Andrea is able to manage races like few others. Five laps from the end he implemented his strategy with great lucidity. This talent of his can at times before a defect though, as winning a Grand Prix sometimes requires that touch of madness that allows you to beat the competition.

Andrea is 30 years of age and started riding mini bikes as a youngster, battling it out against Marco Simoncelli, his number one rival at the time, before winning the 125 championship with Honda in 2004. In the 250cc class he was unable to secure the title, and then moved to the reigning class, where he rode the Honda and Yamaha, winning just one race in 2009, at a wet Donington, the rain being a speciality of his.

So essentially a rider well suited to developing the Ducati, considering his experience with other manufacturers, to be flanked by a rider with that touch of madness that he does not possess. It is probably for this reason that the Italian manufacturer has hired Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo. The result is a team with a varied and competitive line-up.

He cried in his helmet on the final lap, thinking about all the effort and all the crashes that have gone in to developing a bike as tough and physical as the Ducati. The Sepang Grand Prix also put an end to the duel between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, with the Doctor mathematically securing second place in the championship.

At this point, Yamaha needs to work hard from a technical point of view, considering that it hasn't won a race since Barcelona earlier this year. Ten GPs in which the Japanese manufacturer has failed to reach the top step of the rostrum: a negative record that has rarely been seen in the history of the manufacturer's racing career.

Valentino Rossi won't always be able to provide a patch, and neither is new arrival Maverick Vinales likely to be able to do so.

 

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