Already title sponsor of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi, the international lubricants specialist announced at the end of last year that the event held at Assen would also sport its colours in 2015. Since then efforts have been stepped up even more: in a recent press conference, President of the Management Board, Mr Hervé Amelot, disclosed that new agreements of the same type had been signed for the Grand Prix of Valencia, as of 2015, and Argentina from 2016!
The TT Circuit at Assen is the only site to have organised a world championship Grand Prix every year since 1949. Located in the north of the Netherlands, popular success is guaranteed. Motul rolled out original operations for the eighth round of the season. For instance, a Facebook contest led to the selection of the Motul TT Assen Super Fan. Entered by his son, winner Gerard Fenneman attended the event for the 47th time. His present? A weekend in the shoes of a real VIP, enjoying a private visit of the paddock with team Tech3, a lap around the circuit in the safety car and access to the starting grid and the pits to watch the race. To crown it all, Gerard presented a trophy on the Moto3 podium, a once in a life time experience!
On Friday and Saturday morning, 1000 motorcyclists among those who had parked their machine on the circuit motorcycle parking zone benefited from the Motul MC Care Pit Stop. Their headlights, screens and visors were cleaned gratuitously with Motul MC Care products and they also received a product from the range and goodies.
On the track, the teams partnered technically by Motul more than enlivened the show. The two Monster Yamaha Tech3 riders did particularly well. Pol Espargaro left 5th and arrived 5th, but between these two phases of the race, what a battle! The young Spaniard crossed the arrival line first of a lead pack of four riders separated by less than 4 tenths of a second. Among this foursome, Bradley Smith gave a fine 7th place to Tech3. At Suzuki MotoGP, Aleix Espargaro, Pol's big brother, and his team-mate Maverick Viñales, both entered the Top 10. A certain frustration dominated however, as Aleix, in pole position on the Catalunya Circuit, qualified again on the first line. The road-holding of Suzukis is excellent, but they are slightly lacking in power on acceleration.
At Forward Racing, the two riders experienced opposite luck. Loris Baz won for the second consecutive time in Open category, while Stefan Bradl broke a scaphoid and has just been operated in Germany. Last, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, back at the highest level this year, placed its riders 17th and 19th.
Standings
01// Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 163 pts
02// Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, 153 pts
03// Andrea Iannone, Ducatti, 107 pts
06// Bradley Smith, Yamaha Tech 3, 77 pts - MOTUL
08// Pol Espargaro, Yamaha Tech 3, 56 pts - MOTUL
09// Maverick Viñales, Suzuki, 52 pts - MOTUL
12// Aleix Espargaro, Suzuki, 38 pts - MOTUL
16// Loris Baz, Athina Forward Racing, 14 pts - MOTUL
21// Alvaro Bautista, Aprilia, 11 pts - MOTUL
23// Stefan Bradl, Athina Forward Racing, 9 pts - MOTUL
