Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was crowned an eight-time World Champion as he took victory in the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, but it was far from easy going as rookie sensation Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) once again took the reigning Champion to the wire on race day. The two were locked together on each and every lap, with the final corner deciding it all as Quartararo hit attack mode and dived up the inside, but Marquez kept the better of him. Behind the two, Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) completed the podium.

It was Quartararo who kept the lead from pole as the lights went out, with Marquez on his tail from the off as Viñales lost a place off the line. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) did the opposite and shot through the pack, up from seventh on the grid to muscle his way into P4 straight away – first mission accomplished. Despite the start though, Marquez, Quartararo and Viñales started to pull away, with the number 12 particularly keen to make a move on Marquez. Not long after, however, the front two also started to drop Viñales.

Trying to attack Quartararo early doors, Marquez had run slightly wide and from then on, the reigning Champion seemed more content to sit behind the rookie Frenchman – just as he did at Misano. Sometimes further away, sometimes a little closer…sometimes seeming to fade and then suddenly pulling the pin to move back in, Marquez stalked his prey lap after lap.

Viñales couldn’t stay with the pair, and as they moved on to the final lap it was set in stone as another rookie-reigning Champion duel. And the ball was in the reigning Champion’s court, with Marquez trailing the Frenchman as he had all race. But he struck early, where he’d feinted the move a few laps before, outbraking Quartararo at the end of the back straight. Now, it was all on the rookie. Could he stay with him? Could he attack back?

Throughout the lap the Yamaha was making up the distance on the Honda in the lead, and blasting down towards the final corner it seemed he was close enough. Sure enough, ‘El Diablo’ pulled out, back wheel in the air as he dropped anchor, slamming it up the inside…but Marquez was ready. The number 93 cut back and gassed it towards the line, just able to stay ahead to take the win and a stunning eighth world title, his sixth in the premier class.

Quartararo, meanwhile, was left with another second place – but he was closer than last time, and will surely be closer again…

Viñales completed the podium after another solid but ultimately lonely race, not quite on terms with the duel ahead but nearly ten seconds clear of Dovizioso in fourth, who found race day tougher going in 2019. Second in the Championship, however, seems ever more likely.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) recovered from a tougher qualifying and tougher start to the race to complete the top five, just two tenths off Dovi by the flag. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) took P6 and another solid haul of points despite fading a few positions from the start.

Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) took on Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and won, four tenths ahead of the veteran by the flag, and both leapfrogged second row starter Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team). The Mugello winner came home in a lonely P9.

Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) was the second Honda home as he completed the top ten, ahead of rookie Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing). Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) suffered braking issues and could only manage 12th at Buriram.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was able to take P13 as he comes back from injury, impressive once again and going the distance, with Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) taking P14. Why? The Australian unfortunately hit the kill switch on the grid and had to start from pitlane. Considering that, it was quite a comeback, just edging ahead of Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), who in turn beat Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3).

And so, that’s a wrap on the 2019 Championship fight, although it’s far from the end of the season. Marquez breaks more records and takes home another trophy, and Quartararo takes home yet more experience to keep improving his already impressive armoury. Next up it’s the Twin Ring Motegi…tune in in two weeks, when Marquez could be unleashed…

Marc Marquez: “I am very happy because when you have this big advantage, you need to realise the Championship is very close. But then you need to find extra motivation; an extra motivation was to try to close the Championship in this way. In a nice race with a nice victory. That’s what I did. I mean, Fabio was incredibly fast during the race. I never gave up in the middle of the race, it looked like he was going away but I tried to push. Until the last lap I was pushing, and I never think about the championship – just I was thinking about the race. When I crossed the line, you know, when I arrived…especially with the Repsol Honda Team that they did an amazing job this year. I was very happy dreams come true with all fan club nice celebration.

“Every year is special. First of all because it is not easy to keep the same ambition, same mentality and especially the team always understand the situation and when we had some problems…you never give up, keep calm and this is so important. This is the most difficult thing. For this reason the pressure is there, and you feel it. You are human and you feel it. Of course, the winter was hard, with a big injury on my shoulder. We didn’t start the season in a hundred percent physical condition. But we’ve managed it in a good way and now it’s time to celebrate all this.

“Now it’s time to celebrate, time to enjoy. Of course, these last races our intention, our ambition, our mentality is the same. It’s true that when you win the Championship your body switches off one light. We have five lights, switch off one. But we will try to push, one of the targets is to win the triple crown. Constructors we are there, team championship will be difficult. But we never give up. Now it’s time to celebrate… but start 2020 in Motegi!”

1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) 39’36.223
2 – Fabio Quartararo* (FRA – Yamaha) +0.171
3 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) +1.380*Independent Team rider

Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) absolutely dominated the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, getting to the front early on and then putting the hammer down to pull well clear of the chasing pack. That chasing pack was headed by an all-KTM duel between Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM), with the South African able to hold off the Spaniard at the final corner. Just behind them, Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) came out on top in an almighty scrap with Championship rival Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).

Marquez took the holeshot from pole, with Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) keeping second and Marini immediately making his presence felt as he blasted up into the top three. He was soon the man on the chase behind Marquez too, and the gap between the two started to come down as the Italian pulled the pin. With Marini into the lead by Lap 3, he and Marquez were both also easing away from the group behind, but once Lecuona was through into third he was also able to home in.

As that battle got closer and closer to a reality though, Marini got further and further away. And before long, Marquez had a small queue behind him of Lecuona, Binder, and Fernandez. The number 27 attacked and was denied, Binder would look for a way through on his fellow KTM, and Fernandez was right on the back of them – but still Marquez held firm. By Lap 13 though, Lecuona had made his move and made it stick, with Binder then following him through as well.

That created two duels. The all-KTM fight for second, and the brutal bust up for supremacy between the Championship leader and the man who is now once again his closest challenger. In the first, Binder waited it out and it was only over the line for the last lap that the South African led the way, then left to defend his position and everything going down to the final corner. Lecuona pounced, but the Spaniard then had to perform the save of his career to stay on the bike – and Binder was able to cross the line first.

Behind them, it was Fernandez who beat Marquez at Buriram. The battle was brutal, however, with so much on the line – and the number 40 ultimately coming out on top. For the Championship, he needed to – and he even almost got on terms with Lecuona after the KTM rider’s mammoth moment out of the final corner.

After Fernandez’ crash at Aragon, however, taking P5 just behind his compatriot was still enough for Alex Marquez to extend his lead. It’s now 40 points ahead of number 40 Fernandez after a 0 for Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up)…and Binder is now third, only 44 points back…

Sixth went the way of Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the rookie took his best finish yet and from his first front row, ahead of Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46). Home hero Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), meanwhile, took an impressive ninth on home hero – getting the better of Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) at the final corner, who in turn was only just clear of Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team).

Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team), Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) back from injury and front row starter Nagashima completed the points, with Navarro in P17.

Was Buriram another pivotal race in the title fight? Marquez left with a bigger lead but he also had some serious rivals. What can the likes of Fernandez and Binder do in Japan? Find out in two weeks at the Twin Ring Motegi.

Luca Marini: “It was a very good race with good constant pace, I’m very happy because I finished dominating and it was the first time in my career. It was a really difficult race because I started thinking a lot about so many things, although I was trying to stay as focused as possible because with such a gap it’s so easy to lose concentration and make a mistake. So I tried to set myself a target on race pace and push from the beginning to the last lap. It was really good, the bike worked so well, it was quite easy to ride, it wasn’t such a physical race, and with the hot temperature it was ok. I want to thank the team, they worked really hard with such hot temperatures in the garage, it’s like 50 degrees in there so I think also for them it’s a tough race! And my family, my girlfriend, they watched me in every practice from Italy even with this schedule.”

1 – Luca Marini (ITA – Kalex) 38’40.882
2 – Brad Binder (RSA – KTM) +2.296
3 – Iker Lecuona (SPA – KTM) +2.544

Despite a crash at the end of Q2 – a real rarity – Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) set a new lap record to qualify on pole position for the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, taking pole for the fourth time in his rookie season and becoming the youngest to do so. He also equals Jorge Lorenzo (2008) and Dani Pedrosa (2006) on number of rookie poles, with only Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) ahead of the three. Marquez was another crasher in Q2 in Thailand, however, and starts third, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) splitting the two record breakers to take second on the grid and make it a Yamaha 1-2.After a rain-soaked morning, it was a dry afternoon but the weather had left Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) marooned in Q1 after a tougher Friday and the Italian was on a mission to move through. That he did, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) joining the Mugello winner in the fight for pole.

That fight began with a Marquez vs Viñales vs Quartararo shootout and ultimately, that’s the way it would remain – although two of them would later improve. Early drama came from a crash for Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) at Turn 5, ‘The Doctor’ heading back to the pits for his other machine as the clock ticked down. And Viñales stayed out later than many, the Spaniard enjoying the track pretty much to himself for a couple of laps.

Then it was showtime and the final runs. Quartararo was on top and the rookie was soon back into the red challenging his own new record, but Marquez was on a charge too. As the clock ticked down though, the reining Champion couldn’t do anything about the rookie ahead of him as Quartararo did lower his time once again, and then drama hit for the number 93. He suffered another crash and suddenly slid out of the fight, pole position out of reach on the weekend where he has his first Championship point.

Despite the crash for his key rival, Quartararo was still pushing, and the Frenchman would then end his session in much the same way, although he was similarly straight up on his feet and ok. That just left Viñales to charge for the front and the Misano polesitter did improve, but it was only enough for second as he punted Marquez down a position.

Yamaha’s great weekend at Buriram continued as Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) took fourth to head up the second row, ahead of Petrucci, who put in a stellar performance in Q2 to start as top Ducati. It was close, however, with Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) just in sixth – and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) not far behind either. ‘DesmoDovi’ starts the pivotal PTT Thailand Grand Prix from seventh on the grid, from where he’ll be hoping to launch through the pack quickly and take the challenge to Marquez. The Spaniard’s only rival for the crown must stop Marquez scoring two more points than him on Sunday is the fight is to roll on to Japan.

Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had an impressive Saturday to take P8 on the grid and once again get the better of more veteran teammate Alex Rins, with Rins down in tenth and Valentino Rossi splitting the two Hamamatsu factory machines. The number 46 is another who will be looking for more on Sunday, not able to recover much ground on his second bike after the crash.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took P11 and only completed one run in Q2 to let his injured wrist have a bit of a break, although he’s positive about going the distance on Sunday. Brother Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took P12 to make it all six manufacturers in Q2.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was one surprise name to miss out, and the Brit starts 13th just ahead of teammate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu).

After a serious show of pace from the likes of Quartararo and Viñales on Saturday, Marquez has his work cut out to take the crown on race day in Thailand. Can he do it? Dovizioso will be one a charge to make sure he doesn’t, so tune in for the PTT Thailand Grand Prix from 14:00 (GMT +7) on the 6th October.

1 – Fabio Quartararo* (FRA – Yamaha) 1’29.7192 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) +0.106

3 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) +0.212

*Independent Team rider

Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) has qualified on pole for the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, pulling out all the stops to head the grid for the fifth time this season as the man second overall, Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up), had a tough Saturday at the office outside the top 20. Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) was second fastest as his impressive weekend continued, with reigning Moto3™ World Champion Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) taking third for his first front row start in his rookie season in the intermediate class.Saturday started with torrential conditions, dried out and then threatened again for Moto2™. Under cloudier skies, Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team) set a new lap record in Q1 to head fellow Q2 graduates Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP), but more rain came down and put a spanner in the works for one title challenger.

Second in the Championship, Navarro was one of three riders who slid out, along with Mattia Pasini (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) and Joe Roberts (American Racing KTM), and although all riders were up and ok, it put a dent in their Saturday. Navarro will now start the PTT Thailand Grand Prix from outside the top 20 and will have his work cut out on Sunday.

Once into Q2 and the track dry again, Marquez put himself a cut above mid-session and wasn’t to be caught, despite having earlier crashed in FP3. Nagashima was within a tenth of the man leading the charge for the crown by the time the flag went out, however, and Martin, after a tougher rookie season so far, put in a stellar performance to take third and only a tenth and a half off the man who’s ruled the class this season.

Meanwhile on the second row, he may have been the fastest on Friday but Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) had to settle for fourth on the grid, although he remains in a good position to try and repeat his 2018 rostrum finish at the track. Remy Gardner made it both ONEXOX TKKR SAG teammates inside the top five in P5, with title contender Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) firing in a late lap to complete the second row.

Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) heads up Row 3, the Spaniard getting the better of Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) in eighth as the Swiss veteran prepares for his first Moto2™ race at Chang International Circuit, having been in the premier class last season. Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) took P9. with Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) completing the top ten.

Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) was P11 ahead of Aragon winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who had a tough day at the office, with home hero Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) losing ground on Saturday afternoon. Second quickest on Day 1, the Thai rider will line up in P13 – but expect a serious charge from him.

Marcel Schrötter and Andrea Locatelli complete the fastest fifteen in qualifying, ahead of Lowes, Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up), who is having a difficult Thai GP so far.

That can still all change on Sunday, however, so tune in for the intermediate class race at 12:20 (GMT +7), where Marquez will be pushing to extend his lead, Navarro will be on the fight back and Chantra will be on an absolute charge on home turf.

1 – Alex Marquez (SPA – Kalex) 1’35.2972 – Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN – Kalex) +0.095

3 – Jorge Martin (SPA – KTM) +0.151

Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) will start the PTT Thailand Grand Prix from his maiden pole position as the Italian pulled off a perfect final assault in Q2, pulling a tenth clear of the pack to become the 10th different polesitter since the opening race in Qatar – a record in a single Moto3™ season, equalling 2016. He’s also the first rookie to start from pole in the class since Joan Mir at the 2016 Austrian GP, and will have Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) and Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team) for company on the front row.After an almighty downpour on Saturday morning, the track had dried out by the time the lightweight class headed out for Q1, with the sun back beating down on Buriram. In that first qualifying session it was Vietti who led the way, the Italian topping the session and joined in Q2 by John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Raul Fernandez (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team) and Filip Salač (Redox PrüstelGP). Rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) was one man to lose out, a crash for the Aragon podium finisher seeing him end Q1 in tenth.

With the final 18 then back on track for Q2, the fight for pole was well and truly on. After the first runs it was Championship leader Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) who sat on top, but that would all change in the last frantic dash as the timesheets took another shuffle and first Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), then Arenas and then, finally, Vietti blasted to the top.

Behind the maiden polesitter, Ramirez slotted into second and pushed Arenas down to P3 as the two Spaniards complete the front row, with Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) impressing to head the second row as he continues his bounce back from injury. Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) continued his better pace of late to go fifth fastest, with Canet pushed down to the outside of the second row. For the Championship challenger, however, it remains an impressive result as Canet missed the first Thai Grand Prix last year due to injury.

Friday’s fastest man, Andrea Migno (Mugen Race) heads up the third row ahead of Rodrigo, with Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) team taking ninth. Championship leader Dalla Porta was tenth quickest and will want to make some forward progress on race day, joined on the fourth row by Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46), who took his maiden podium at Buriram last year.

John McPhee (Petronas Yamaha SRT) took P13, just ahead of Raul Fernandez and Makar Yurchenko (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race). The two riders who were 14th and 15th in Q2, Filip Salač and teammate Jakub Kornfeil, both serve grid penalties and will start 27th and 25th respectively.

Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) is another rider who was in Q2 with a penalty to serve and he’ll be penultimate on the grid, with only Riccardo Rossi (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) behind him after the Italian was also given a back of the grid start. Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) takes his six-place grid penalty given at Aragon and starts 26th.

That’s a wrap on Saturday at Chang International Circuit, tune in on Sunday when Moto3™ go racing at 11:00 (GMT +2).

1 – Celestino Vietti (ITA – KTM) 1’42.5992 – Marcos Ramirez (SPA – Honda) +0.118

3 – Albert Arenas (SPA – KTM) +0.152

Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was up to his usual timesheet-topping tricks on Day 1 of the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, leading a Yamaha 1-2-3 but nearly two tenths clear at the top. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was second overall after topping FP1, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completing the top three. But Yamaha’s pace – Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) made it all Iwata machines in the top five on Friday – wasn’t the only headline at Buriram, with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) taking a huge tumble in FP1.

Initially, the number 93 seemed to hold all the cards as action opened in the stifling heat, but towards the end of FP1 the Spaniard had only recently exited pitlane when he suffered a huge crash at Turn 7. From there Marquez headed to the circuit Medical Centre for a first check up before he was taken to Buriram hospital for further examination. Ultimately, the reigning Champion was declared fit and suffered no fractures – even heading back out in the afternoon. He wasn’t quite able to get into the top five, however, ending the day just behind Rossi, in P6.

There was one man who managed to fight off the Yamaha lockout in the top five though: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing). Fresh from the podium at Aragon, the Australian put in another impressive performance to end the first day in fourth, just pipping Rossi by 0.035. Miller was also within three tenths of Quartararo, no mean feat when the Frenchman’s advantage over second is already 0.193, and he makes it an impressive three Independent Team riders in the top four.

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), meanwhile, also shone on Day 1. The Spaniard kept the momentum from his impressive performance at MotorLand to go seventh quickest on Friday and was only a tenth off Rossi – that at a venue he said in the Press Conference would be tougher going. It was tight in the fight for P7, however, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) losing out by just 0.020 as he was shuffled down to eighth.

Team Suzuki Ecstar completed the top ten, with rookie Joan Mir impressing to get the better of his more veteran teammate Alex Rins in Thailand so far – although just 0.008 was the final gap between the two Hamamatsu factory machines. Will Rins turn the tables on Saturday?

That leaves Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), currently only a point behind Rins in the standings, outside the top ten after the opening day, which could be a worry for the Italian come qualifying. The weather has so far played ball, but the forecast remains far from guaranteed and if rain comes down in FP3, the Mugello winner will definitely be heading through Q1. And he could be joined by Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) after the Brit was 13th fastest on Friday.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, took P15 as he returns – and continues to impress – just a couple of weeks after fracturing his wrist.

What will Saturday bring? Rain? Shine? Shocks? Comebacks? Find out who’s heading through to Q2 at 9:55 local time (GMT+7) as FP3 begins, before qualifying from 14:10 for the spectacular PTT Thailand Grand Prix.

1 – Fabio Quartararo* (FRA – Yamaha) 1’30.404
2 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) +0.193
3 – Franco Morbidelli* (ITA – Yamaha) +0.221
4 – Jack Miller* (AUS – Ducati) +0.294
5 – Valentino Rossi (ITA – Yamaha) +0.329*Independent Team rider

Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) was the quickest man out the blocks at Buriram on Day 1 of the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, but it wasn’t by much. A stunning performance from Thai rookie Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) put him second overall by only 0.008, with Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) rounding out a top three split by an infinitesimal 0.013 on Day 1.

Hot but dry, at least barring the typical humidity, Friday was one of the closest opening days of the season as the top 24 were all within a second. With the weather a question mark for much of the event, getting the most from that track time and trying to secure a place in Q2 was high on the agenda – and it’s less than four tenths that cover those who’ll provisionally go through.

Behind the top three it’s still hundredths deciding the timesheets as Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) finished the day just 0.036 behind his teammate; the Australian taking P4 and just ahead of Championship leader Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS). The number 73 was fifth but only 0.077 off Marini.

Sixth belonged to Italian rookie Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), with ‘The Beast’ just getting the better of KTM riders Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) and Aragon GP winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Key title challengers Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) and Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) completed the top ten in P9 and P10 respectively, although Navarro remains just two and a half tenths off the top.

Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team) was P11, ahead of Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), with Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) the last man who currently stands to move through should the weather worsen conditions in FP3 on Saturday morning.

There were a few surprise names further down including Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) in P18, just ahead of Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), who crashed in FP2. Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) returned from injury and was 20th despite an FP1 crash, with Mattia Pasini (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) another faller in the afternoon as he ended the day just behind the German.

Moto2™ FP3 begins at 10:55 local time (GMT+7), before qualifying from 15:05. It’s going to be hot – whether the weather is or not…

1 – Luca Marini (ITA – Kalex) 1’35.956
2 – Somkiat Chantra (THA – Kalex) +0.008
3 – Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN – Kalex) +0.013
4 – Remy Gardner (AUS – Kalex) +0.049
5 – Alex Marquez (SPA – Kalex) +0.077

Andrea Migno (WWR) ends Friday at the PTT Thailand Grand Prix as the fastest man in Moto3™, with the Italian quickest in FP1 by over a quarter of a second and nobody able to better his laptime in the afternoon. The two men who completed the top three also set their fastest laps in FP1: Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who were second and third respectively.

Conditions at Buriram were as scorching as ever on Day 1 and with weather looking likely to change as the weekend goes on, every bit of dry track time was valuable in the fight for a provisional place in Q2. But despite a flurry of activity at the end of FP2 as the majority of the field pushed to improve, the heat and different track conditions leave the overall timesheets a mixture of best efforts from both sessions.

Behind the top three, all from FP1, the next four all set their best efforts in FP2: Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was quickest in the afternoon and fourth overall, with Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46) – who took his first Grand Prix podium at the venue last year -completing the top five. Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) was sixth, and by just 0.006, although the Czech rider is now on damage limitation in practice and qualifying after having been given a 12-place grid penalty for slow sectors in FP1. Makar Yurchenko (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race) was only another 0.004 further back as he impressed to take P7 on Friday.

Eighth overall went the way of Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) as the Spaniard headed up another gaggle of riders who set their best laptimes in FP1. That group comprised Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) in ninth, Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team) in tenth and Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) in P11. Sasaki, however, is another who received a penalty for slow sectors on Friday and his is a back of the grid start.

So where are the Championship leaders? Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) ended the day 12th overall, just ahead of Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) as the Japanese rider separated him from key title rival Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team). After missing the event through injury last season, this is Canet’s first race weekend at Buriram and he was able to at least secure himself a provisional place in Q2 should the weather change in FP3. The Spaniard was P14 and the last of those who could stand to gain from worsening conditions.

John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was a surprise name to miss out as he was 17th, just behind Aragon podium finisher Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia). Meanwhile Celestino Vietto (Sky Racing Team VR46), who currently leads Ogura in the fight for Rookie of the Year, was 20th on Day 1.

Will the weather close in on Saturday at Buriram? When it rains it Thailand, it really rains – so it could prove a serious shake up of the status quo so far. See if the lightweight class have another shot at shuffling the combined standings in FP3 at 9:00 (GMT +7), before qualifying from 12:35.

Ahead of track action at the first of the four upcoming flyaways, the pre-event Press Conference for the PTT Thailand Grand Prix saw reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) joined by his only remaining title challenger, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), as well as Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) to talk shop – with the weather forecast, the Championship and plenty more on the agenda.Marquez spoke first, and the first question was – of course – about his title chances this weekend.

“First of all you try to approach the weekend in the normal way, but you understand it could be a big weekend. But on the other hand we know if it’s not possible here, we’ll have another chance in Motegi, Phillip Island, Malaysia, Valencia… I’ll be the same Marc with same strategy to push from beginning to end, to prepare for Sunday’s race, let’s see. We know that Dovi was very fast here last year and Yamaha wasn’t bad, but the goal is to prepare the weekend well and try to fight for the victory on Sunday.”

And Buriram? “It’s a circuit where the layout looks easy on paper but riding it isn’t so easy and you need to manage everything. Last year from the beginning it was a good layout for me but I was losing on the straights, and this year there we have a more powerful engine so it will be better. But we could struggle in other points so let’s see how we start, with good pace and in good shape, and we also must be ready for all conditions because it looks like it could be a wet race on Sunday.”

Dovizioso took to the mic next, and he began with a quick debrief of MotorLand. “The race in Aragon was good because I felt good before the race, but not that good! I found the rhythm and feeling in the race, lap by lap, and I was riding so smooth and well, and was able to be consistent over the last laps which made the difference for finishing second, so I’m happy about it.”

Then it was on to the 2018 Thai GP…the only time so far the Italian has lost out to Marquez in a last corner duel. But he’s more focused on the dynamics of the race, and how they may differ this season.

“Last year at Buriram it was a strange race and we were a big group, anything could happen with five riders on the last three laps, but I expect this year it will be a different situation. I think everyone’s level changed a bit but let’s see the conditions. You never know each year, and the tyres are a bit different, maybe there will be some rain…but I don’t think it’s good to overthink it, we’ll see on the bike.

“Every time you have to try to understand everything and remember everything from last year, the setup of the power, how the tyre works…but as I said before, the tyres are a bit different, the conditions will be different and that will affect everyone, but for sure you start with the base from last year.”

Then it was time to hear from Rossi. ‘The Doctor’ again began with Aragon, a tougher race than expected, and then talked a little about his positive Thai GP last season.

“I think that the bigger problem for Yamaha in Aragon, because in practice and time attack we weren’t too bad, but unfortunately for the race with our bike we needed to use the hard rear because we were worried about the soft. And unfortunately, the hard rear in Aragon is difficult to predict and unfortunately in the race all Yamahas had some problem with it. But for me it was difficult because after six or seven laps I was in trouble and quite slow, so we’ll try here.

“Last year here was a good weekend, especially Saturday and Sunday, starting from the front row, and the race was very good for us because me and Maverick could stay very close to Marc and Dovi for the race. Unfortunately, at the end I was the last of the group and didn’t get on the podium! But it was a positive weekend.”

It was around Thailand last year when things started to look up for the Iwata marque, too. Does that give the nine-time World Champion even more confidence heading into the flyaways?

“Last year we arrived here and we changed something in the setting of the bike and from this race to the end it was better; we improved our results, so we’ll see this year…a lot of time it’s the same, other times you arrive after a year and everything is different so we need to wait till tomorrow and see what’s happening. And it looks like the forecast is difficult, whereas last year it was three days of hot and sunny weather. Everyone is hoping for a dry race but we’ll see.”

For Quartararo, Aragon was also a little tougher. The French rookie says he had a similar struggle to that of ‘The Doctor’.

“Aragon was different to Misano and I had the same feeling as Valentino, I struggled after seven or eight laps, the grip dropped a lot and I couldn’t stay with the front group. But arriving here I think we arrive quite good, the Yamaha went well here last year fighting for the podium, so I’m really looking forward to starting the weekend.”

This weekend, of course, the rookie is only missing one race weekend of experience on most of the grid – because we’ve only had one Thai GP. But does he use previous races and sessions for reference? You bet.

“Between Aragon and now, I’ve watched last year’s race and practices at least 20 times and played on the game, I know the tracks well even if not racing in MotoGP the previous year! But it’s not an easy track and we’ll try and adapt quickly because we know the forecast will be tricky this weekend.”

Next up was Miller, who trails Quartararo by just six points in the fight for top Independent Team rider. And for him, Aragon was a contender for his best MotoGP™ race of the season – he explained why.

“I’m feeling good leading into this one, especially after Aragon, it was a polar opposite to Misano so was good to bounce back after tough weekend and take a podium was even more special. I got a lot of compliments after that race, even more than other podiums this season. I had to work for it a bit more and I had to ride a bit smarter; when Dovi came through I was able to learn from him a bit.”

So how is he feeling heading into Buriram?

“I think we can have a similar weekend this weekend. Seeing the race from last year, I was just off that front group. I wasn’t able to keep their pace but coming here on the GP19 this year should give us an extra boost, especially on the straights. I am looking forward to it, it should be a good weekend. It is hot, humid and I just came from Australia and it is similar there, so it should be good.”

Speaking of Down Under, how was it to be able to head home for a bit ahead of the race? A definite and appreciated luxury.

“It’s always nice to get home and switch off a bit. The lifestyle is completely different to Europe, it’s nice to get back on the farm and chill out a bit. Same routine and cycling as always, but during the day I get to play on the farm!”

Finally, Aleix Espargaro was in the Press Conference following his impressive result in Aragon, and he’s feeling positive about the future and coming off the back of the result – although he says Buriram will be a tougher prospect.

“Unfortunately not every race is as fun as Aragon was. I think Aragon suits our bike really well and apart from the race I also enjoyed it a lot during the weekend, I was also fast in qualifying, so it was a good race and I hope that we can bring this positive energy here. We know it’s not an easy track for us, but I try to be positive, I’m going to try to do my best, so let’s see what this track brings.”

Talk also turned to the future for Noale factory Aprilia, and there was more positive energy there too.

“The more bikes and competitive riders you have on the track, the easier it gets. At Aprilia we have just two factory bikes on the track every race, so it’s not that easy to improve. Sometimes you need more time and if your teammate struggles, it’s even more difficult, so Andrea is getting better and better and I hope we’ll be much more competitive in the future and we can help Aprilia to better improve the bike.”

That’s about it from Thursday…scroll down, or for more talk and the Social Media Qs, head to motogp.com. And don’t forget to tune in for another scintillating PTT Thailand Grand Prix on Sunday 6th October at 14:00 (GMT +7)!

Top photo L-R: A Espargaro, Quartararo, Dovizioso, Marquez, Rossi, Miller

Another big talking point from Thursday was the news that Valentino Rossi is set to change Crew Chief for 2020, the final year of his current contract, with David Muñoz replacing Silvano Galbusera. The number 46 confirmed it in the Press Conference.“Yes, it’s true. For next year I will change my chief mechanic. After Misano, we spoke together with Silvano because we want to try and do something to be stronger. It was different factors all together, as Silvano also wants to continue working for Yamaha but with less stress and less days out of Italy. Also, at the same time, Yamaha want to make the test team stronger for next year, to improve the work in Europe.

“Sincerely, I didn’t expect it at the beginning, but we spoke and decided that Silvano will go to the test team and I will have another chief mechanic. He is coming from our team in Moto2™. His name is David Muñoz and he worked together with ‘Pecco’ last year and won the Championship, and he’s with Nicolo this year. I am excited and it is a new experience, he doesn’t have any experience with MotoGP. He is very young and has good ideas and, in the end, everyone is happy. Silvano is also happy to stay in the test team, so we will try and see if we can become stronger.”

Pressed a little further, Rossi says he likes the way Muñoz works – although he also noted the loss for his own Sky Racing Team VR46. “His was the first name because I know him very well, I follow the team well. Last year, he did a very good job with Pecco. I liked the way that he managed the end of the season when he had a lot of pressure and Pecco was a little bit nervous of losing the Championship to Oliveira. I liked how he is quiet and the way he managed the situation. I asked him. Unfortunately, it’s something negative for our team because he’s very important for our team, but it’s something to try, so we shall see…”