OCTO Pramac Racing’s 2015 MotoGp Season – Francesco Guidotti’s marks
It was the most exciting, fought, engaging and discussed season. The feeling that competitiveness had grown vertically from last year had been strong since winter tests. And the 2015 MotoGP World Championship has mantained expectations with a fantastic duel for the crown ended last GP in Valencia and an exciting bagarre that involved many riders fighting for a place in the most precious and difficoult Top 10 so far.
That’s why it’s time to make an assessment, or better, to grade the 2015 season. To deal with the marks will be our technicians Francesco Guidotti (Team Manager), Daniele Romagnoli (Crew Chief of Danilo Petrucci) and Giacomo Guidotti (Crew Chief of Yonny Hernandez in 2015 and Scott Redding in the 2016 season).
Francesco Guidotti’s Marks
Team – 8
We got a fantastic podium and were able to stay consistently in the Top 10 with at least one of the two riders. That’s why the mark can only be high. We realized since the winter tests that the overall level would be much higher as the competition for the Top 10 would grow so much. In light of this, being able to achieve these results gives us even more satisfaction. The podium in Silverstone makes special this season. I am sure that the harmony between the two working groups and the constant support of Ducati has helped to achieve these results by creating a serene and stimulating atmosphere since the early days.
Danilo Petrucci – 8.5
He has reached soon the competitiveness that would be expected later in the season. He has shown great ability to adapt to the new type of bike and to team work and this allowed him to find great speed both in race pace and in lap time. Surely the determination that led him to MotoGP helped him also in this season in which it was important for him to prove he can compete at the highest levels. Then we can’t forget that he is able to stand before official riders in many GP and in the final standings.
Yonny Hernandez – 6.5
He started great in Qatar where he managed to stay for many laps with the leading group starting from the second row. Then three difficul GP characterized by technical problem (Argentina) and crashes (Austin and Barcelona) have slowed him down in the first part of the season limiting the growth we were expecting from him. Yonny had to handle with a position in the world classification he did not expect to have and this has probably cracked his determination. Then he failed to reply consistently in race the good speed he managed to keep in qualifying where he was often protagonist.
Valencia Test
It’s impossible to give a mark, but the feelings have been very good, both on inside and outside the track. After only one day of testing Scott was feeling like he worked with us for months. The test result is not very indicative because the conditions were not the same for everyone: someone did not use the 2016 electronic, somothers has lapped with the 2015 bike and the new tires have yet to be well understood by the riders. Especially Danilo wanted to understand well the new tires as well as the behavior of the bike that has tested for the first time in Valencia. The new elecrtonic has not impressed him particurarly so he preferred to work with appropriate caution. Scott was very motivated as he was waiting for this change. We have to spend a few more days on the track to have a better idea. Test in Jerez will be already more indicative.