Le Mans in the wet is never a cheerful place. This time it’s positively maudlin. The whole paddock is literally and figuratively under a cloud, anxiously waiting for information on Nicky and hoping against hope that it can be good news.
Dorna set the tone by abandoning the idea of jokey social media questions at the press conference which started with the moderator, Nick Harris, inviting Valentino Rossi to offer a few words about Nicky. He played the elder statesman perfectly.
There are a few issues, some news on front tyres, the new surface, Zarco’s contract extension, but frankly no-one is bothered right now.
