MotoGP: Rossi misses inspecting the track on Thursdays

May 24, 2021

Drivers used to start grands prix by taking a lap of the circuit on the eve of the first free practice session, whether it was a new track or familiar with it, identifying details and possible changes.

This custom has been gradually lost in recent years. The pilots liked to take a scooter to do this reconnaissance lap and quickly move from one point to another.

Everything changed in 2016, after an accident between Fabio Spiranelli and Tatsuki Suzuki at the Sepang Circuit. From then on, the use of scooters was prohibited and the pilots had to go around on foot or by bicycle.

More and more pilots are forgoing this inspection due to the activities they must participate in on Thursday. Valentino Rossi regrets the loss of this custom: “I really like to go for a ride on Thursday, but I liked doing it better when it was possible on a scooter “, explained the Italian at the last Grand Prix. “I used to go with my coach – before with [Luca] Cadalora and later with [Idalio] Gavira – and you could better understand the curbs and the trajectories.”

“Unfortunately now scooters are banned and we have to do it on foot. On Thursdays I usually don’t have enough time because I have a technical meeting, I have to talk to the press… And the track is not always open on Thursday, there is a window of an hour and a half or two, and it’s often impossible for me.

The #46 , however, tries to do it when he has the opportunity: “I miss it a lot. On a scooter it was easier because you can do two laps in 20 minutes. If you have to walk, you lose an hour and on Thursdays I am always very busy. Sometimes I do it, when I have time I do it, it’s important.”

Joan Mir also tries to maintain the tradition, but if he knows that the circuit has not changed, he dedicates himself to something else.

“Normally on Thursdays we walk with the team [around the circuit], not on all the tracks, because at Le Mans they haven’t been resurfaced,” said the world champion. “It’s the same as the previous year, the potholes are in the same place and everything is the same. It’s useful, on some circuits more than others, if there’s new asphalt, but if you don’t, you notice it right away with the bike, like this that you don’t have to go around a lot to do it. But it’s important to do it.”

Jack Miller sometimes doesn’t have time to do this recognition either, but he was able to do it at Jerez and Le Mans, where he won a few days later.

“I’m trying to do a lap around the track, but this year it’s quite difficult,” admits the Ducati rider. “In Jerez the guys had a lot of work before the weekend, changing the engine and other things. And [in Le Mans] I didn’t ride, the weather was shit [on Thursday] so I got on my electric scooter . I was able to give one lap, I also did it in Jerez because the guys were busy. I like to at least get an idea”.