MotoGP Gossip: Rossi – Petronas SRT Yamaha 2021 deal at Misano?

- Valentino Rossi’s much anticipated 2021 MotoGP deal with the Petronas SRT Yamaha team could be made official at the upcoming Misano rounds of the 2020 season. The deal was all-but-confirmed by the man himself and Yamaha bosses last month, but some weeks have since passed with no formal word from the Iwata manufacturer.

However, Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis says the deal is coming and it is just a matter of finalising legal matters between Yamaha, Petronas and Rossi himself for the deal to be announced, with his home round of Misano expected to be the fitting place to confirm it. (Moto.it)

- Ex-MotoGP rider Anthony West has had his ban from competing extended by another six months to March 2021 for violations committed while already under suspension. The Moto2 race winner was banned from competing back in 2018 when a prohibited substance was found in a sample, his second such drugs-related ban.

However, he’d go on to compete in several rounds of the 2019 Brazilian Superbike Championship, arguing that because the series isn’t FIM sanctioned it isn’t covered by the ban, a justification the governing rebuked in January when it ‘reminded’ him of his violations. As a result of this, his ban has been increased for another six months. (Visordown via FIM)

- Four manufacturers – Honda, KTM, Aprilia and Ducati - will prepare for the upcoming back-to-back races in Misano with a test session. For Honda and Ducati, they will be on track with Stefan Bradl and Michele Pirro, though it’s possible both could be racing there too as deputies for Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia respectively, while KTM will need to make the most of its testing availability after losing its concessions as a result of Miguel Oliveira’s win in Austria. (Speedweek)

- Alpinestars have released data detailing the forces Maverick Vinales suffered when he threw himself off his machine during the Styrian MotoGP following a brake failure on his Yamaha M1. The Spaniard bailed as he realised he wouldn’t slow in time for the Turn 1 right-hander, resulting in a heavy impact on the ground that recorded a 23.45G force rating from his airbag-equipped suit. The readings also confirm the bike was travelling at 218km/h at the time before it went on to hit strike the barrier and catch fire. (MotoGP.com)

#TechTuesday fact: the data from @mvkoficial12's
incident going into Turn One during the Styrian Grand Prix shows that he jumped off his bike at 218km/h and that the impact when he hit the Tarmac was 23.45g; he walked away unharmed #Alpinestars | #AlpinestarsProtects https://t.co/cHEfC99z28 pic.twitter.com/0MtxBKW6f4

— alpinestars (@alpinestars) August 25, 2020