On a sunny Sunday afternoon in Northamptonshire the MotoGP titans delivered a spectacle of exceptional talent, matured race craft and dramatic entertainment.
We couldn’t have asked for more.
As I was driving back home and thinking back on the weekend happenings I started to mull over one subject that had followed me over the weekend. The grand prix started with the news that Thomas Luthi had signed his contract with Marc VDS and that at the age of 30 he was getting his first opportunity in MotoGP. It was funny because I had asked him only a couple races back after he had closed the gap on the Moto2 championship with his victory in Brno whether he still had MotoGP aspirations and he had played down the subject clearly now looking back with a secret smile.
It’s no secret that the manufacturers in recent years have shown a preference to finding younger talent and catapulting them through the ranks. I had also chatted on Sunday with Jonathan Rea about it, having established himself now so well within the World Superbike history books, is MotoGP still in his foresights and whilst he mentioned it would only really be a case of moving if the right opportunity came around, he also added that he was the wrong side of 20.
Tom Luthi with Marc VDS Team Manager, Michael Bartholemy
I guess it hadn’t really been something I had questioned before, it had sort of made sense, sure you’re going to go with the younger talented guy because you’ll hopefully be able to develop him quickly and then get more winning years out of him with any luck. It was only really this year when I started working with the Speedway Grand Prix series and 47 year old Greg Hancock was coming in as reigning world champion that age became a more considered topic to me.
So you can imagine my thoughts as the wily ole fox Valentino Rossi who on his 300th premiere class appearance controlled the race at the front so masterfully for all but three laps and then it was none other than Andrea Dovizioso who took over. The man that has had to wait for his tenth season in his MotoGP to lead the world championship and now he’s done it twice in one year not to mention his fourth win of the season out of a career totaling six.
Apparently, it’s a pretty good time to be the other side of thirty…fine wine and all of that! I just wonder whether we would ever see a reversal of the factories preference, perhaps unlikely but if that was to be the case, which riders would you like to see be given an opportunity in MotoGP?
OCTO BRITISH GRAND PRIX
|
Pos.
|
Points
|
Num.
|
Rider
|
Nation
|
Team
|
Bike
|
Km/h
|
Time/Gap
|
|
1
|
25
|
4
|
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
|
ITA
|
Ducati Team
|
Ducati
|
173.7
|
40'45.496
|
|
2
|
20
|
25
|
Maverick VIÑALES
|
SPA
|
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
|
Yamaha
|
173.6
|
+0.114
|
|
3
|
16
|
46
|
Valentino ROSSI
|
ITA
|
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
|
Yamaha
|
173.6
|
+0.749
|
|
4
|
13
|
35
|
Cal CRUTCHLOW
|
GBR
|
LCR Honda
|
Honda
|
173.5
|
+1.679
|
|
5
|
11
|
99
|
Jorge LORENZO
|
SPA
|
Ducati Team
|
Ducati
|
173.4
|
+3.508
|
|
6
|
10
|
5
|
Johann ZARCO
|
FRA
|
Monster Yamaha Tech 3
|
Yamaha
|
173.2
|
+7.001
|
|
7
|
9
|
26
|
Dani PEDROSA
|
SPA
|
Repsol Honda Team
|
Honda
|
172.9
|
+10.944
|
|
8
|
8
|
45
|
Scott REDDING
|
GBR
|
OCTO Pramac Racing
|
Ducati
|
172.7
|
+13.627
|
|
9
|
7
|
42
|
Alex RINS
|
SPA
|
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR
|
Suzuki
|
172.6
|
+15.661
|
|
10
|
6
|
19
|
Alvaro BAUTISTA
|
SPA
|
Pull&Bear Aspar Team
|
Ducati
|
171.9
|
+25.279
|
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING
Who is Amy?
Amy is one of MotoGP’s official roving reporters hunting down the riders, their managers, crew chiefs and paddock personalities at every Grand Prix. This season she'll be filling BikeSocial readers in on the story lines in between the racing lines.
Amy is all about two wheels coming from three years covering the MXGP championship before embarking on her third season in MotoGP, she'll also be the pit lane reporter at selected Speedway Grand Prix this year.
You can follow her 2017 season on Instagram at @amylouisedargan and Twitter @amylouisedargan
