MotoGP 2021

[Dadpole]

Canet certainly looked the part in the last race. Moto2 and 3 are packed with talent nowadays. The likes of Vinales must be dreading the tap on the shoulder and "Time to move on old timer".

[Autech]

Gotta say that some of Acostas 'bike control' is more in the 'fuck it, it will hold on' vein than great control.
That last pass at Portimao was a suck it and pray to god move.
That comes from sheer belief that the bike will do what he wants it to do, when he wants it to do it. So fair play to him.
Having the best team in Moto3 or MotoGP entirely, around you helps that. We have been communicating directly with his crew chief Albo about getting Cormac Racing into that team.
Fingers crossed. We will see.
We all gotta remember that Acosta has not come from racing in NZSBK. He has been racing in CEV JWC for two or three years already and also Rookies Cup of course. So even at 16, he is a well honed racing machine.


Yeah that last corner was a hold on and hope for the best moment, was impressed me was some of his moves under the brakes when the bike was stood upright but he was making it turn a bit, good sign that he has feeling in the front. 100% he's in the best team too so for all we know there's someone in the back on a 2 year old KTM that's just waiting for the chance to shine, Acosta has earned his spot there though for sure.

So good to have Cormac there, what a track to debut on too! Even the motogp boys say its tough to learn, looking forward to seeing him at the more traditional motogp tracks.
Good result too for a first throw at the dice with the big boys. Be awesome if a kiwi could make it into the world championship level in a team that good. Simon Crafar been to have a chat with him yet?


Canet certainly looked the part in the last race. Moto2 and 3 are packed with talent nowadays. The likes of Vinales must be dreading the tap on the shoulder and "Time to move on old timer".


Canet was another whiz kid in his early years, as was Vinales.

If Canet gets a few more good results on that speed up then he's almost certainly in for a motogp seat as that's the kind of stuff that gets the motogp teams ears perking up. Only problem is that there aren't enough seats for talented riders to fill...

The riders I see going off current results and that could be shifted at the end of the year are:
Rossi (on him to retire as no team would fire him)
Petrux (he's doing alright actually, but Herve wants young riders and he's always going to be up against his size)
Salvadori (injured apparently so may show some form, that seat is cursed)
Lecuona (Also injured apparently, I think Herve will keep faith in him though)

So that's only 4 potential seats, the Aprilia will almost certainly go to Dovi if he wants it (which I don't see anyone else offering him a ride)
Then you've got 2 riders in Moto2 that Dorna will want in Motogp asap (they're also going well too which helps) Gardener and Roberts

They need to expand the motogp grid, whos got a cool 100mil for me to start one?

[Reckless]

At least he's not rushing back Next GP :)
6 weeks for any bone to properly Heal - TRUST ME my arms in plaster now 2 weeks to go :eek::doh::shit::bleh::no:

The goal for the Pramac Racing rider is to be back on the track at Mugello for the Italian Grand Prix
Tags MotoGP, 2021, GRANDE PRÉMIO 888 DE PORTUGAL, Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Yesterday afternoon Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) underwent extensive surgery by specialists Dr. Xavier Mir, Dr. David Campillo and Dr. Joan Carles Monllau at the Traumatology Department (ICATME) of Dexeus University Hospital in Barcelona.


The Spanish rider had suffered several fractures: to the scaphoid, the first metacarpal of the right hand and the right ankle, which were surgically reduced, while the fractures to the pyramidal bone of the right wrist and the fifth metacarpal of the left hand were reduced and immobilised, without the need for surgery. The fracture to the left tibial plateau was reduced by arthroscopy.

Martin will remain in hospital under observation for the next 72 hours, and will then have to observe a few days of rest before starting rehabilitation, with the aim of returning to the track for the Italian GP at Mugello.

[Dadpole]

And Tito is replacing Martin. It will be interesting to see what he can do on a decent bike. I doubt he can emulate Bautista when he was given the factory bike for a race, but I expect a points position.

[steveyb]

Be awesome if a kiwi could make it into the world championship level in a team that good. Simon Crafar been to have a chat with him yet?


Salvadori (injured apparently so may show some form, that seat is cursed)
Lecuona (Also injured apparently, I think Herve will keep faith in him though)

So that's only 4 potential seats, the Aprilia will almost certainly go to Dovi if he wants it (which I don't see anyone else offering him a ride)
Then you've got 2 riders in Moto2 that Dorna will want in Motogp asap (they're also going well too which helps) Gardener and Roberts

They need to expand the motogp grid, whos got a cool 100mil for me to start one?

Yep. Simon and Webby made a point of coming to find him and Dad, Stacey, to have a chat. So that was great.
Everyone at RBRC is very happy with his performance and improvement. He actually made more improvement in R2 than Alosno did, 2 sec better. (12 sec over the race rather than Alosno's 10 sec). We'll take it!! LOL We are on the radar of the Ajo Motorsports team, so they are keeping a watching brief. On other riders too of course.
Yes, will be good to see how Cmac goes on the more traditional circuits and now he has a taste for the level.
In R2 he was still a little hesitant, was being held up by Somer and had a big highside moment when his rear tyre spun up (Somer behind him told him after the race he could see the smoke coming off it!!). So, he would have been racing with Eddie O'Shea and finished maybe only 45sec behind and in 19th, perhaps. Still, at least he didn't crash. Perrin is in year 2 and crashed in both races. Another note, Eddie and Cormac are the youngest riders in the field, too.

Dovi will slot in for Savadori if he wants it. Savadori is not MotoGP quality. The RS-GP is looking really good so far.

Herve is really unhappy with both Tech3 riders at the moment. His latest interview told the world he is pissed off and not happy. Mind you, the RC16 seems to have not improved much, or even gone half a step backwards. The Yamaha, or at least Fabulous' one, is looking sweet. Vinales' one also, but he is still too up and down eh.

Personally, I would like to see the grid expanded by two, to include a Suzuki satellite team, rather than cut out a team. Having said that, the third Ducati satellite team may be one too many.

[steveyb]

Oh, and this news out the other day.

https://www.mcnews.com.au/fim-minigp-world-series-australia-plans-2022/

They are focussed on using the Ohvale GP-0 and maybe other models, which really rules out having a go at this in NZ.
The bikes are simply too expensive.
We have good circuits and people to do it, but do we have the riders? More doubtful, IMO.

I was keen to approach Dorna/FIM about setting up something here (in partnership with our friends at Race Supplies and Motorcycling Canterbury) but using the Kayo MiniGP150, but I just don't see where the riders would come from.

Let me know if I am being a bit pessimistic there.

[Reckless]

Yep. Simon and Webby made a point of coming to find him and Dad, Stacey, to have a chat. So that was great..

Good news :) Keep the updates coming - great :)

[Reckless]

MotoGP, Rossi: "In 2006 I threw a tenth title away, in 2015 they stole it from me"
Valentino Rossi has not got tired of MotoGP yet, on the contrary he is still waiting with trepidation for every Sunday, every race, even after 26 years of the World Championship, 42 those on his identity card. He’s a case more unique than rare, even if this obstinacy fused with passion often does not spare him from criticism, especially when the results are below his expectations.


And yet the Doctor is still not giving up and, in an interview published today in Gazzetta dello Sport, he explained why.

"My reasoning is very simple and for me it’s strange that some people don’t understand it, maybe my way of thinking is different – were his words - I like the way I feel, the sensation, the adrenaline that makes me win, go onto the podium or just have a good race. I'm fine for a few days. I like that feeling there. I know very well that in the end time will have won, unfortunately that’s the case for everyone, but I try with all my force to make it as difficult as possible. This is the only reason why I still race ”.

Valentino has no regrets, such as that of retiring as a winner.

"What you lose by stopping doing what you like is more than what you gain by quitting when you are at the peak of your career – is his philosophy - And anyway you never know if it's really over: in 2013, when I returned to Yamaha, for everyone I was already finished. Instead, if they hadn't stolen the World Championship from me in 2015, I would have won another one, it would have been the tenth one and it would have extended my winning sporting life by even 6 years. I don't want to finish 12th or 16th, of course, but if I wanted to quit at the top I should have done it a few years ago. But I believe in it and I still want to try ”.


Looking back at his past, however, there is one date that he has not yet come to terms with…

“Valencia 2006. There I threw away a world championship title that I could have won and it would have been 10 anyway, even after the theft in 2015” he recalled.

Apart from a few flaws, Rossi has however been the symbol of motorcycling in recent years and he knows this perfectly well.

"I was the first modern MotoGP rider, I was the first to do many things that have become a lesson for many riders now - he explained - I started very young, but at 20 I was already in 500 and my path was followed by everyone. There are a few things that I have done and that everyone has seen".


The final chapter (for now) of his story is with the Petronas team…

"I don't want to bite the hand that fed me, because I was also fine in the official Yamaha team - he underlined - But in Petronas it is very good, there is a great atmosphere, a lot of young guys, a ‘free-range’ team. In the morning it gives me a lot of pleasure to enter the garage, there are people who give their soul ".

[roogazza]

I'll never forget the first time at Mugello in 2005 . Early in the morning Rossi came out onto the circuit and wheelied over the hump leading to the first turn.
The noise of the Yamaha and a fine morning in the valley, I thought finally I'm here, after dreaming for 40 yrs.
Got a Tatt to mark that day too. Go vale ! :laugh:

[roogazza]

Caught up with the third round, Sunday on Ch 3 .
(note to self, record future rounds on 3 so I can fast forward AD's every 4 minutes),

Great to see the young fellas scapping it out in Moto3, love the draughting and braking duels.
That Acosta fella shows his metal and why he won the Red Bull Series.

No 20 brilliant, No 12 having one of his hiccup days. No 46 !!! c'mon grandad !!!

Hoping Yamaha can continue up front,my wish anyway. :banana: :cool:

[Autech]

Oh, and this news out the other day.

https://www.mcnews.com.au/fim-minigp-world-series-australia-plans-2022/

They are focussed on using the Ohvale GP-0 and maybe other models, which really rules out having a go at this in NZ.
The bikes are simply too expensive.
We have good circuits and people to do it, but do we have the riders? More doubtful, IMO.

I was keen to approach Dorna/FIM about setting up something here (in partnership with our friends at Race Supplies and Motorcycling Canterbury) but using the Kayo MiniGP150, but I just don't see where the riders would come from.

Let me know if I am being a bit pessimistic there.

We got the riders in Buckets/Hyosungs/250s easily, it's whether you could tempt them onto one.
I'd be keen to give one a go but it comes down to cost really, that and do you really want a bunch of old farts on them or young and up n comings?

You should contact the NZ gummant and ask for some moneys, they're happy to pump millions into a boat race, just 1 of those millions would get you your bikes and riders going for a few years.

Ideally I'd be head hunting MotoX talents as they've allowed to start much younger and will already have some serious skills on a bike, plenty of money behind farm kids too.

[roogazza]

Jerez this weekend, although I don't see it till Sunday week ,oh well.

Ps by the way I got a note back from Sky after asking if they we doin WSB this year?
Yes, from the 21 May was the answer.

But Jerez , should be good racing.
Remember that last corner years back when Rossi dived under Gibering ? :lol:

[Reckless]

Jerez this weekend, although I don't see it till Sunday week ,oh well.

Ps by the way I got a note back from Sky after asking if they we doin WSB this year?
Yes, from the 21 May was the answer.

But Jerez , should be good racing.
Remember that last corner years back when Rossi dived under Gibering ? :lol:


I saw some ads for Sky sport only (like spark sport) for $33.99 per month or $400 per year I think ?
No MotoGP by the looks but Superbike, supercars and Indy cars
https://www.skysportnow.co.nz/packages?type=0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsI6wnLvZ7AIVh34rCh3Sgg2qEAAYASAA EgIiJvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&_ga=2.108654658.1711650492.1619686886-1778600765.1618389415#packagesSection


This is a good read on the upcoming VR46 team
https://www.gpone.com/en/2021/04/28/motogp/tebaldi-the-decision-on-the-bike-for-vr46-in-motogp-at-the-le-mans-gp.html

[SaferRides]

I saw some ads for Sky sport only (like spark sport) for $33.99 per month or $400 per year I think ?
No MotoGP by the looks but Superbike, supercars and Indy cars
https://www.skysportnow.co.nz/packages?type=0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsI6wnLvZ7AIVh34rCh3Sgg2qEAAYASAA EgIiJvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&_ga=2.108654658.1711650492.1619686886-1778600765.1618389415#packagesSection
[/url]
I signed up for the free trial recently. Don't even think about it - the live quality is OK but anything delayed looks jerky. It hasn't improved since last time I tried it a couple of years ago, unlike motorsport on Spark.

[iYRe]

MM is P3, anyone want to bet how long it takes for him to podium, then to win.. and become the GOAT? heh.

I reckon maybe 2 more races for him to podium.

[Autech]

Aleix is looking bloody strong on the Aprilia, bike looks to me like its really well rounded, not particularly strong in any area just good everywhere.
Most importantly its good on tyres, I wonder if he will crack a top 4 this weekend?

MM is fast but to me he's not looking like the old MM on right hand corners, just doesn't look bang on so I think it'll be a few more races till he can crack the podium. He'll be aware of this himself so will be unwilling to risk too much with his riding style not quite right. Definitely riding well though.

The dark horse is Binder this weekend imo, if he can stay in Q2 he'll be amongst the front boys who its looking like will consist of the 3 Yamahas (sorry Rossi) a few Suzukis, an aprllia and a couple of Ducatis.

Gunna be an awesome race, looking forward to it :)

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[iYRe]

MM is fast but to me he's not looking like the old MM on right hand corners, just doesn't look bang on so I think it'll be a few more races till he can crack the podium. He'll be aware of this himself so will be unwilling to risk too much with his riding style not quite right. Definitely riding well though.

Yeah I reckon 2-3 I think its just strength and stamina in that arm..

[Reckless]

To early to tell from Practice
Bagnia fast but we don't know if Ducati has the wick turned up and have to turn it back down for fuel although the straights are all 300k so not so much advantage.
Aleix looks good but the real times are yet to come. Good luck to him
They said Dovis times where in the 38's in the test so there is a benchmark
Rossi looks really bad so far.
Miller looks to be struggling
A lot will change as the heat goes up tyres look to be not so much of an issue but time will tell

Only started watching every practice session this year. Boy do you learn a lot more.
There is a lot more info not provided when the focus is more on the race and times from Qually on where I used to start.

There is a lot of talk about two new teams Grissini and VR46 four more bikes on the grid next year whoohooo!

Interesting
On the commentary they said Yamaha have responded to Morbids Yamaha complaints about not having the latest bike.
They said he got what they asked and paid for. If he wanted the latest spec M1 he could have had it.
But the commentators said he cant change now because of the rules. Must be budget I'm guessing.

Qually overnight will be the telling time :)
Breakfast at the Club for the Parker fight then MotoGP Qually :niceone::first:

[pritch]

\
Interesting
On the commentary they said Yamaha have responded to Morbids Yamaha complaints about not having the latest bike.
They said he got what they asked and paid for. If he wanted the latest spec M1 he could have had it.
But the commentators said he cant change now because of the rules. Must be budget I'm guessing.



The problem might be the engine allocations. IIRC all his engines for the year will have been sealed. If those engines don't fit the 2021 frame that'd kill any upgrade right there.

[mulletman]

To early to tell from Practice
Bagnia fast but we don't know if Ducati has the wick turned up and have to turn it back down for fuel although the straights are all 300k so not so much advantage.
Aleix looks good but the real times are yet to come. Good luck to him
They said Dovis times where in the 38's in the test so there is a benchmark
Rossi looks really bad so far.
Miller looks to be struggling
A lot will change as the heat goes up tyres look to be not so much of an issue but time will tell

Only started watching every practice session this year. Boy do you learn a lot more.
There is a lot more info not provided when the focus is more on the race and times from Qually on where I used to start.

There is a lot of talk about two new teams Grissini and VR46 four more bikes on the grid next year whoohooo!

Interesting
On the commentary they said Yamaha have responded to Morbids Yamaha complaints about not having the latest bike.
They said he got what they asked and paid for. If he wanted the latest spec M1 he could have had it.
But the commentators said he cant change now because of the rules. Must be budget I'm guessing.

Qually overnight will be the telling time :)
Breakfast at the Club for the Parker fight then MotoGP Qually :niceone::first:

Its good timing for us this round as FP starts at 19.00

[pritch]

Marquez went down at speed but does not appear to have further damaged the problem arm.

[BMWST?]

maybe 46 and 21 should swap bikes

[onearmedbandit]

Love this sport, 0.09 of a second separating the top 7 in FP3. The part I don 't love is seeing the fear on the faces of the team as a recovering rider takes a high speed tumble.

[Reckless]

Qually over
Good to see morbid come back and really good to see Miller put it together.

Taka did really well. One old Honda in the top 10????
I'm thinking they haven't got that bike right this year it seems unstable everywhere especially the front into corners and a lot of grip issues and head shake on power coming out.
If MM cant ride it there is a real issue. Its a bloody bucking bronco when you push it.
Possibly the MM advantage gone and he is a similar level to the others now the bike is getting questions asked.


Rossi - I'm all for a rider slipping back through the ranks "climb to the top-slip to the back then retire" but its a little sad to see Rossi it the wall this way.
Respect to him for everything his was, is and is still going to be with is new team.

Looking forward to the race I want to see Morbid beat the factory bikes.
Dream finish would be Miller - Morbidelli - Taka then who cares LOL. Going for the outsiders

[mulletman]

Taka did really well. One old Honda in the top 10????


I think i heard the commentators mention he's gone back to an old frame, its working for him

[Reckless]

I think i heard the commentators mention he's gone back to an old frame, its working for him

Yeh they did why I said "OLD HONDA" LOL

MM's was a big crash and the others are scared to push the latest frame as hard. Pol, Alex and Taka also had decent crashes last time out.
Not good for their hopes this year. I hope the riders stay uninjured when it goes, it goes big by the looks.

[steveyb]

Have to agree with the comments regarding the Honda. Did you see the head shake AsparagusP #44 got going under the flying saucer. Shit, I was worried it wasn't going to slow down.

Excellent race for #14 Mac Attack in RBMGRC Jerez #1.
More improvements for Cormac Racing. Improving lap times every session (New PB 0.7s better than QP) and racing in the final group, separated by only 0.3s.
Not far off 19th place. A bit of an error on the last lap, didn't realise it was the last lap. Had the big moves all lined up for the last lap, just was already on the last lap!
Doh! Lesson learned, read your lap board! That is what it is there for!! Mind you, there were plenty of other lapboards to see too! LOL
Nevermind, maybe tomorrow. Race is at a reasonable time, 1.30am.
OK for me, no work to get up for, having been disestablished. I only have to commute to the garage/workshop at the end of the stairs.

Chur!

[onearmedbandit]

Thanks for the updates steveyb!

[iYRe]

If MM cant ride it there is a real issue. Its a bloody bucking bronco when you push it.
Possibly the MM advantage gone and he is a similar level to the others now the bike is getting questions asked.

He was previously able to ride the honda when everyone else said it was wild bull on a rampage. Prob is just the lack of strength in the arm..

[F5 Dave]

Qually over
Good to see morbid come back and really good to see Miller put it together.

Taka did really well. One old Honda in the top 10????
I'm thinking they haven't got that bike right this year it seems unstable everywhere especially the front into corners and a lot of grip issues and head shake on power coming out.
If MM cant ride it there is a real issue. Its a bloody bucking bronco when you push it.
Possibly the MM advantage gone and he is a similar level to the others now the bike is getting questions asked.


Rossi - I'm all for a rider slipping back through the ranks "climb to the top-slip to the back then retire" but its a little sad to see Rossi it the wall this way.
Respect to him for everything his was, is and is still going to be with is new team.

Looking forward to the race I want to see Morbid beat the factory bikes.
Dream finish would be Miller - Morbidelli - Taka then who cares LOL. Going for the outsiders

Ok I'll vote for that result. Or several other options. Hope Taka has some results left.

[mulletman]

Yeh they did why I said "OLD HONDA" LOL

MM's was a big crash and the others are scared to push the latest frame as hard. Pol, Alex and Taka also had decent crashes last time out.
Not good for their hopes this year. I hope the riders stay uninjured when it goes, it goes big by the looks.

Pol and Marc have crashed again this time in warm up , commentators said Honda have tried to load up the front - its not working.

[onearmedbandit]

Damnit no warm up session on Spark.

[onearmedbandit]

What a night of racing. Nail biter in Moto3 with a predictable final corner clash but history made tonight by young Pedro, that kid just appears to be something totally different. Moto2 was equally exciting, seeing Gresini Racing taking an amazing dominate win and a decent battle for 3rd between Remy, Sam and Fernandez the rookie. And wow what a roller coaster ride MotoGP was, looked like Fabio got seriously painful arm pump and faded from first, a few fallers but what an emotional win for Jack Millar! Man the dude was just overwhelmed with emotion. I emailed Spark about the lack of coverage for the warm up sessions and got a response from them at 11pm saying they would see whether their content team can include it.

[Reckless]

Dream finish would be Miller - Morbidelli - Taka then who cares LOL. Going for the outsiders


Not Far off boys :)

I think there is a frenchman going in for arm pump surgery very soon.

Miller what can you say bloody awesome and did he feel it. Taers is not th sort of thing an Aussie or Kiwi does publicly.
Morbidelli rode over the limit whle race but kept it up.

What a great race

[Autech]

Bloody Miller, been putting money on him to win last 3 rounds going off practice pace and previous form and he's been off it (for various reasons to be fair)

This time decided the odds on Binder were too good and that the front tyre allocation would suit him for a surprise push and he falls off and Miller wins.
So I think we've found the culprit behind Millers bad luck, me!

So stoked to see him win finally, he came so close on the Pramac but now he's got the full bike its expected.
He'll use this as a spring board I reckon to more results, if memory serves he's pretty handy at Le Mans.

Unlucky for Fabio but it doesn't take away from Millers win, as all riders have lost results over the years for similar issues. Especially winning at a track no recently Duke rider has won at.

Watched the race live after spending the day at Hampton on my bucket, then had to mend the tow car on the way home so was fohking knackered when I finally got home and wacthed. Saved the podium celebration for this morning when I knew I'd appreciate it best :)

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[steveyb]

Wow! Moto3, 2, GP, what a show!! But I'm biased eh. Nice of Steve and Matt to mention Jacks kiwi roots. Not sure we are attached to him, few would realise he has an NZ passport.

Add Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to the list of Wow!

#14 Big Mac Attack had another fantastic race in Jerez #2.
Starting from 25th, Cormac Racing finished in 18th place! Several riders fell down for sure, but being bike racing, that means they suck!! LOL
Another 0.5s off his best laptime and consistently fast across the race.
Battling in the final group of 4 or 5 riders covered by 0.9s from 15th to 18th.
Cormac was setting up a pass for 16th or 17th, but in the final corners one of the other riders decided to slam into the side of Big Mac, causing him to lose 0.5s or so, killing off that plan.
But another race with fantastic improvements, a lot closer to the lead group and more consistency and another race finish, not in the gravel like several others.
Dad Stacey says that when they tell people that he has been racing for only 2 years he says their eyes open wide and make faces like, WTF???
Most, if not all, of the kids have been racing at this sort of level for their whole lives. And he is the 2nd youngest rider on the grid.
Off to the UK on Monday for British Talent Cup testing (3 days), with Microlise Cresswell racing, and to catch up with Demon Damo and Super Shane-o.
So, so far, so good. Every post is being a learning post and everyone in the Cup is aware of the kid in the kiwi helmet.
Not only that, but the Crew Chief of one Pedro Acosta is also well aware of the kiwi kid and they had a good chat today also!!

[Autech]

I tell ya if they gave points for testing Maverick would be a multiple world champion by now.

Looks like he was working on braking, 101 laps on the bike too that's mad. Butttt, I won't hold my breathe.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/977130/1/jerez-test-leader-vinales-has-best-day-bike#block-load-comments-ajax-load-comments-ajax

Rossi finished the race with exactly the same time as last year which put him on the podium. This year only 17th. It's as Crafar says, he not getting any slower, the young guys are just getting faster n faster

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[iYRe]

Well that sure was a race... I'll take it any time an aussie, kiwi or SA gets on the podium in an event like that

[Reckless]

Jeepers Jacks a character
Maybe the bubbly he was supping had a little effect to.
He's certainly different from the norm.
Some interesting insights into his support group.
Lucky no one excepted his CV for a construction job few week ago :bleh:
After race conference here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXfmemePdBk&t=5s

[iYRe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF74O-oZf3g

MM here, talking to Acosta - Interesting to see how he talks to him, encourages him, asks about his personal life and stuff.. in a totally non dick manner :P

[Reckless]

Quartararo undergoes successful arm pump surgery
The Frenchman has gone under the knife to rectify the problem that cost him victory in Jerez
Tags MotoGP, 2021, Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo has undergone successful arm pump surgery to rectify the problem that cost him victory in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. With 13 laps completed in Jerez, the Frenchman hit issues with his right arm and he proceeded to fall through the field from first to thirteenth, relinquishing his lead of the MotoGP™ World Championship in the process.


Now, the 22-year-old has gone under the knife in order to solve the compartment syndrome issue ahead of his home round at Le Mans from the 14th to the 16th of May. It's the second time in two years he's had said operation, with the first operation coming in May of 2019 following his MotoGP™ debut.

"The operation for the compartment syndrome went very well," said Quartararo following the operation. "I am still feeling a little sleepy from the anesthetic but I am fine. The doctor told me that everything went as expected. The severe pain that I felt during the race in Jerez prevented me from fighting for victory.

"I'm really looking forward to being home and start working on the arm this week so that I can be 100% fit in Le Mans. I am feeling very positive about my recovery. I’m mentally strong and can’t wait to get back on board my M1 as soon as possible."

[steveyb]

Just watched the "What happens during qualifying" clip on MotoGP.com.
Following GASGAS Aspar team at Jerez.
Seems to me that they have no plan in place, whatsoever. That they just wing it completely.
Even down to leaving the box in the final minutes. Leaving it down to luck and the rider to make calls all on his own, even though he is a rookie.
Seems rather crazy to me.
Event the post-session discussions are all ad-hoc with no structure.
Goes to show, even at world champs level, they are just a bunch of blokes with bikes going racing.

[sugilite]

In the mean time, something a lil different - looks fun :yes: New class for Rossi?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E5xpwU-hfc

[F5 Dave]

Truck racing for bikes!

[Reckless]

I bet there has been some major dollars spent on the Baggers LOL

This is a good site and a good report on last season to this season riders position comparison so far.
I can copy and past on my phone but on the computer they have prevented it.
Interesting read poor old Rossi :(
So link here

https://www.gpone.com/en/2021/05/08/motogp/bagnaia-in-heaven-rossi-in-hell-a-comparison-between-2020-and-2021.html

[F5 Dave]

Good article thanks for posting.

[pritch]

It's sad watching Rossi circulate down the field. I seem to recall reading that Rossi's race time this year was virtually the same as last year when he finished third. I just checked that and it's correct. He's going the same speed but everybody else is going faster. It's possible that the announcement of the new SKY VR46 MotoGP team heralds his transistion from rider to manager. Here's hoping.

[SaferRides]

I thought he might do better with Petronas SRT than in the factory team, but they wouldn't let him bring many of his people.

I'm no Rossi fan but it's still sad to watch.

[Autech]

I thought he might do better with Petronas SRT than in the factory team, but they wouldn't let him bring many of his people.

I'm no Rossi fan but it's still sad to watch.He's still fast... Just the other guys are getting faster, that's why saying this guy was better than that guy from different era is bollocks, we can only assess them against who they are up against at the time.

Can't help but think his rear traction issues are down to him not being quite as accurate with the right wrist as the other guys are able to be in the MMM era, the older you are the less able the brain is to learn and adapt apparently, we may be seeing this.

Sad to see but the writing has been on the wall for a while and its not like there's no one talented enough to take that seat in moto2 or motogp (on a worse bike).
Go manage Rossi, seeing him nearly killed last year at Red Bull Ring was a close call too far for me, leave the dangerous shit to the younguns.



Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[onearmedbandit]

Not sad to see for me, he's still out doing what he loves at an age where most people make a noise standing up from their chair.

[Autech]

Not sad to see for me, he's still out doing what he loves at an age where most people make a noise standing up from their chair.Its amazing he's still as fast as he's ever been tbh.
That's some bull shit right there!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[F5 Dave]

All things being equal.
But they aren't, as there will have been electronic, aero and suspension updates since last year one assumes.

[Reckless]

Just off to bed because I'm so bloody snowed under with work drawing plans because I broke my bloody arm over riding like a dickhead last practice a day before the meeting.
So its been 12-14 hours a day and haven't even touched repairing the bloody bike yet bike.

OK so if the discussion on my last post is near at an end here is another thought??

I watched this
https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2021/05/07/all-you-need-to-know-about-motogp-start-devices/371788?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=AllyouneedtoknowaboutMotoGP%E2%84%A2st artdevices&utm_campaign=Traffic&fbclid=IwAR3XMPFoRQ582NJpS1n9hSYLIZHo82S47Q-o_5mk0SxVAZvcr7vatMaxorM

Hopefully you can watch like me as I am not subscribed to Motogp site anymore so this must be free.
Its about start devices
BUT they did mention they push a lever to lower the rear out of corners as well, to get power down and reduce wheelie.

Soooooooo my thought is if they are pushing levers out of corners just when the power is really coming on fast and if its a lot of corners.
Would this have something to do with all the Arm pump issues we are seeing?????????????

[onearmedbandit]

Arm pump has been affecting riders since the 80's though (riders wrist it was sometimes referred to). From reading articles by the likes of Mat Oxley etc it's blamed on the braking and acceleration forces the riders are under as bikes get more and more powerful, in areas like grip, accel and braking. The lever the riders activate would require minimal effort compared to those forces.

[steveyb]

Has the rider silly season started yet?
What the hey, gotta get the ball rolling.
My calls for 2022: Acosta to stay 1 more season in M3 after coming close but not taking title in 2021 (who will? I'm gonna put Migno out there), Masia to go to KTM Moto2, Gardner and Lowes to Tech 3 MotoGP, Petrux and Lecuona out. Lecuona might go back to M2. Fernandez R to stay in M2 to win title in 2022 after either Gardner or Lowes wins it in 2021.
Diggia is already virtually confirmed in MotoGP with Gresini, where does that leave Dovi? If he wants to race, Aprilia would be crazy to not take him and kick Savadori out. LS is simply not up to this level of competition, sadly for him.

Heard it here first.

[pritch]

Rossi’s sponsorship arrangements for his upcoming Moto GP team are causing comment. Mat Oxley’s column on finance in motorcycle GPs in Motor Sport magazine is a good read.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/motorcycles/motogp/dirty-money-in-motogp-its-nothing-new

[Reckless]

Qually was bloody awesome some skill shown thats for sure. Oh that weather :angry:

but some fun to be had

"Caption this"

349114

[pritch]

Weather today currently very wet. The worst of the weekend so far.

[onearmedbandit]

How many will turn 3 claim today I wonder.

[mulletman]

How many will turn 3 claim today I wonder.

Plenty so far, man it looks shit there right now

[mulletman]

How many will turn 3 claim today I wonder.

Lol including out laps ? !

[onearmedbandit]

And turn 14 in the Moto3 race, caught a few out.

[Southern scratcher]

Great to see Jack Miller do it two in a row, even with the double long lap penalty. Should give him a good confidence boost for the rest of the season.
I only recently discovered that both his parents are Kiwis. No wonder he's fast! :laugh:

[iYRe]

Great to see Jack Miller do it two in a row, even with the double long lap penalty. Should give him a good confidence boost for the rest of the season.
I only recently discovered that both his parents are Kiwis. No wonder he's fast! :laugh:

Jack "PharLap" Miller - that's what he needs to be called.

[mulletman]

Jack "PharLap" Miller - that's what he needs to be called.

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[sugilite]

Jack "PharLap" Miller - that's what he needs to be called.

Dont forget his aussie deli girlfriend, Dontakekour Pavalova

[Reckless]

Miller was awesome the most mature and controlled ride I have ever seen from him :headbang:

Morbidelli has put a line in the sand hes to damn good to loose I reckon had the short end of the stick mainly because of the Rossi move

https://www.visordown.com/news/racing/motogp/morbidelli-ready-leave-yamaha-without-factory-spec-m1-deal-2022-motogp

Now Rossi VR46 gossip

One site says its 50/50 Yamaha or Ducati?
And a chat that has Rossi starting very worried and disappointed in himself by the looks

https://www.gpone.com/en/2021/05/14/motogp/rossi-says-its-a-choice-between-yamaha-and-ducati-for-the-vr46-motogp-team.html

The other says VR46 has gone with Ducati and the money attached to each deal.
Some words on Aprilia as well.

https://the-race.com/motogp/vr46-picks-ducati-for-2022-motogp-deal-ducati-keeps-miller/

Interesting stuff

[Dadpole]

All the calls to give the Rossi bike to Morbid seem to ignore the engine rules. I believe that a rider cannot 'give' his engines to another rider. The 2020/21 engine will not fit the 2019 chassis so the prospect is Morbidelli scooting an enginless chassis around the track. Please correct me if I am wrong - is there a way?

[Autech]

All the calls to give the Rossi bike to Morbid seem to ignore the engine rules. I believe that a rider cannot 'give' his engines to another rider. The 2020/21 engine will not fit the 2019 chassis so the prospect is Morbidelli scooting an enginless chassis around the track. Please correct me if I am wrong - is there a way?

Nope, the die is cast on that one, he'll just have to ride the shit out of that thing. If he's really unhappy with it I'll take it off his hands for cheap :D

Great ride by Miller, looked to me Zarco thought he could have won so wasn't happy with 2nd. He blamed the decision on the Medium tyre choice, but I'd guess that Miller would still have been awesome on those tyres being as good as he is in the wet. Zarco is good, but I think Miller is gooderer.

Can't help but think this is the beginning of Millers run, he's been trending up for years after taking the wrong path to get there, now he's got the experience and a few wins under his belt lets see. Dovi was the same, once he got the taste of victory he was going for it.

Marquez probably could have won that race I think, just looked to me the traction control on the Honda wasn't delivering him a torque that he could feel so it whipped up and spat him. Same crash as the moto3 guys were having really. Promising signs from him though

[iYRe]

Marquez probably could have won that race I think, just looked to me the traction control on the Honda wasn't delivering him a torque that he could feel so it whipped up and spat him. Same crash as the moto3 guys were having really. Promising signs from him though

MM shouldnt, I think, be as fast as he is.. the bike is supposedly not that fast and has issues. Just goes to show how much skill and determination the guy has. I also have a feeling he will not do a Rossi and get out while he is on top, because he seems to have got a lot wiser over the years.

[pritch]

Can't help but think this is the beginning of Millers run, he's been trending up for years after taking the wrong path to get there, now he's got the experience and a few wins under his belt lets see. Dovi was the same, once he got the taste of victory he was going for it.


The commentators said that Crutchlow predicted Miller would string victories together after he'd had his first win this season. The more at the sharp end the betterer.

[Dadpole]

I feel for the Aprilia team. A great year up to this race for AE and Savadori was having good weekend and it all ended on the side of the track in a cloud of smoke and tears. A 'technical problem' they say.:weep:

[Autech]

MM shouldnt, I think, be as fast as he is.. the bike is supposedly not that fast and has issues. Just goes to show how much skill and determination the guy has. I also have a feeling he will not do a Rossi and get out while he is on top, because he seems to have got a lot wiser over the years.

The bikes fast, its always been a weapon, just a tricky one to read that needs the very best riders to get the best out of. While Pedrosa was there for the development it wasn't too bad but it seems that MM isn't good for development as he rides like a looney so his data is hard to use. Incidentally Nakagami is apparently using MM as the reference and trying to emulate him, the results in the past few years have been pretty good too.
I don't think MM is doing anything that the bikes not capable of though, he just knows how to get the best from it.

Pol will get on top of it soon I think. What's not helping is the bikes just had 1 full year of fuck all direction and its showing. They really need to grab a 2nd alien to show what's up, it's hard to tell who that alien is though until they get on the Honda and see if they can make something of it. If it hadn't destroyed Jorge's body he'd have eventually started winning on it, it just broke him before he could tame it. If I was Puig I'd be sniffing around at KTM some more to try and lure Binder or Olivera over.


I feel for the Aprilia team. A great year up to this race for AE and Savadori was having good weekend and it all ended on the side of the track in a cloud of smoke and tears. A 'technical problem' they say.:weep:

Yeah first one they've had, wonder if it was something electrical related due to the wet weather? They've been rock solid all year so sucks to see this again.

[Reckless]

This idea or talk about swapping Bikes hasn't got to Rossi yet LOL
He is still aiming at trying for racing MotoGP next year by the article posted 14 hours ago on the MotoGP site.
Decision Summer at the earliest by the looks.

"I will try to be there in 2022" – Rossi on Indonesian GP
Speaking to Indonesian MotoGP™ broadcaster Trans7, The Doctor shed some more light about when his decision on continuing racing will come
Tags MotoGP, 2021, Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT
Understandably, a lot of talk surrounding Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) at the moment is whether he will be racing in MotoGP™ or not in 2022. Speaking to Indonesian MotoGP™ broadcaster Trans7 recently, The Doctor shed some light on when the decision will be made.
“Speaking with Petronas and Yamaha it's more half-season because after nine races we have the summer break and I think I will decide for next year in that period, after nine races,” said Rossi. There was plenty of speculation that an announcement would come as early as Mugello, Round 6 of the season, but any confirmation about Rossi’s future as a rider now seems highly unlikely before the summer.
“I'm happy if I can race also in 2022 and come to Indonesia, but we need to wait for the results and if I can be competitive, so at this moment I cannot promise anything but I will try to be there in 2022,” continued the Italian. The MotoGP™ paddock look set to be heading back to Indonesia in 2022 to race at the brand-new Mandalika International Circuit, with Indonesian fans hoping to watch one of their idols on track in their country.
However, as Rossi says, it depends on his results and ability to be competitive. His best result of the season so far is a P11 at the French GP last time out in the flag-to-flag epic, but the post-GP Official Test in Jerez was positive for Rossi and his side of the Petronas Yamaha SRT garage. Steps were made, so the Grands Prix at Mugello, Catalunya, the Sachsenring and Assen are set to be the deciders.

“[Mandalika] looks like a fast track with some fast corners, which is usually fun, but to understand well we need to try with the bike,” continued Rossi to Trans7. “It will be very demanding because Indonesia is very hot. I raced in Indonesia in '96 and '97 and I remember it is maybe hotter than Malaysia! But the sea is very close, so if it's too hot we'll go into the sea!”
While we may not get a decision about Rossi's future as a rider before the summer, it’s very likely that we will find out what manufacturer – and potentially the rider line-up – his VR46 team will run with in 2022 much sooner. At Le Mans, the 42-year-old admitted it’s now a “50-50” choice between Yamaha and Ducati, and it’s a decision that needs to be made hastily.


I'm still stoked for Miller Kiwi parents he's almost one of us LOL

I saw Pol and MM practicing/following each other and swapping over a lot together in the FP sessions maybe Pol's public spat about them not working together had an effect.
MM has got wiser especially how he has handled Rossi, he also seems different this season call it maturity or fear (not that he has any) he has publicly admitted he is not going to take the extreme risks he previously has and he keeps talking about regaining the mental edge as well as the physical. We haven't seen that talk from him before.
I so love watching his dads reactions in the pits. There is a lot of feeling there and good feeling between the two boys by the looks. Don't forget they are still training Alex up for the top team.

We might find they have gone to far with that Aprilia lets see if it shits itself again.

Binder is struggling with the KTM big time.

Great mix of contenders Carmelo Ezpeleta has the formula is bloody near perfect with the satellite teams up there to.

[James Deuce]

Marquez probably could have won that race I think, just looked to me the traction control on the Honda wasn't delivering him a torque that he could feel so it whipped up and spat him. Same crash as the moto3 guys were having really. Promising signs from him though
Apparently they use much lower rpm while cornering at Le Mans so when a rear tyre goes, it is gone. It's one of the reasons posited for Le Mans being such a crashfest.

[pritch]

I feel for the Aprilia team. A great year up to this race for AE and Savadori was having good weekend and it all ended on the side of the track in a cloud of smoke and tears. A 'technical problem' they say.:weep:

The usual PR excuse is "an electrical problem," as in the piston hit the spark plug, or the conrod came out the side of the case and stopped the alternator rotating. That's a hard sell when there's smoke pouring out though.

[Autech]

Apparently they use much lower rpm while cornering at Le Mans so when a rear tyre goes, it is gone. It's one of the reasons posited for Le Mans being such a crashfest.

Yeah makes sense that it'll be less predicatable at lower RPM as its in the fat of the toruqe, that and there's some science about lower revs and their effect on the rear tyres juju I remember being discussed here or somewhere

[BMWST?]

MM first crash was weird there was no engine involed at all,I wonder if it was a similar thing to the crash he had at Austina coupel of years ago

[F5 Dave]

Yeah.
One minute his hands were full. The next they were empty. :Oops:

That's happened to me before too.
I guess the comparison was inevitable.

[pritch]

Jack Miller has been signed to ride for Ducati in 2022.

[roogazza]

Jack Miller has been signed to ride for Ducati in 2022.

I just realised I would normally be heading off to Mugello tomoro ! A lot of years doing that .
Last Sunday I saw about 10 laps of the GP on ch 3 afternoon sports.
Never much liked wet racing and pit stops etc ..

It's about 5 degrees outside at the mo so the bike can stay where it is. (winter grumbles over !):rolleyes:

[pritch]

Germany has added Britain to their Corona virus "red list" banning all travellers from the UK. With the German GP only a few weeks away on the 20th June, there will be probems for Brit riders and journos as well as fans if the situation persists.

When the Covid Indian variant was noticed Britain closed its borders to travellers from Pakistan and Bangla Desh, but not to passengers from India. Boris was to have trade talks with the Indian PM and presumably he didn't want to miss the associated publicity. So for two and a half weeks he did nothing while some 20,000 passengers arrived in Britain from India, many doubtless carrying the virus.


Some people like to say politics and sport don't mix, but whether we like it or not, it's all connected.

[steveyb]

As far as I am aware, riders and other athletes who are traveling for special events have special documentation and allowance to travel.
Whether this applies in the current case, I am not sure.
But no word from Cormac Racing that anything has changed for them.

[malcy25]

As far as I am aware, riders and other athletes who are traveling for special events have special documentation and allowance to travel.
Whether this applies in the current case, I am not sure.
But no word from Cormac Racing that anything has changed for them.

Looks like he's in Mugello - guess they will only go back to the UK in need.....?

[roogazza]

The main straightaway will be a test for the Yams this weekend.
Ducati ,I think have blown thru the 360kph speed barrier previous lol....:eek5:

Hope the race is dry, wonderful place Mugello and the surrounding countryside.. ?

[steveyb]

Looks like he's in Mugello - guess they will only go back to the UK in need.....?

Couple weeks in Europe to head up to Sachsenring after Mugello, in the mighty Winnebago, then back to Blighty for start of BSB/BTC.

[pritch]

A longish read but a good one.

https://motomatters.com/analysis/2021/05/28/mugello_thursday_round_up_the_peril_and.html

[Reckless]

I ain't no Venales fan but that fucken MM overstepped the mark Q2 :facepalm::bleh::Police:
Being lucky or wise enough to hook onto a fast guy is one thing but shadowing a guy through the pits is bullshit.
I'm wondering if the rules being pushed in Moto3 are only for their class??
Because there are plenty of Q1 and Q2 laps being fucked up by parading riders over the last few FP sessions.
Fabio is one that was furious yesterday coming upon a waiting mob mid his fast lap, now its gone to far with the MV thing I reckon.
Lowers the tone of the sport.

BTW MotoGP Video pass now dropped to 105-99 Euro = $187-00NZD

I read this comment on the GP site about Rossi.
"It’s not his lack of ‘bottle’ or ‘skill’ it’s the electronics. He came from a primitive era where you required mechanical grip and feel. Ever since MotoGP went full in with rider aids he has struggled. If the bikes were primitive he would still win. What he is looking for in terms of feel in the set up no longer exists."

May have hit the nail on the head

[sugilite]

I read this comment on the GP site
"It’s not his lack of ‘bottle’ or ‘skill’ it’s the electronics. He came from a primitive era where you required mechanical grip and feel. Ever since MotoGP went full in with rider aids he has struggled. If the bikes were primitive he would still win. What he is looking for in terms of feel in the set up no longer exists."

May have hit the nail on the head
I'm assuming Rossi, and yeah, that actually makes a lot of sense.

And yeah, look for a rule change soon me thinks regarding hanging around waiting for a tow truck, or even harassing a tow truck through the pits!

[onearmedbandit]

lol Marc is the ICEMAN. That was brutal on Vinales, fucked with his head. Have to admit though, Marc is only getting his own back. For a long time he was the one being hunted for a tow.

[iYRe]

lol Marc is the ICEMAN. That was brutal on Vinales, fucked with his head. Have to admit though, Marc is only getting his own back. For a long time he was the one being hunted for a tow.

MM is the McCaw of MotoGP :P

[pritch]

Vinales again showed mental fragility in Q2. He should have just got on with his job and let Maquez do whatever he wanted. As it was MV was totally psyched out and then blew it so he's way down the grid. It's his own fault really.

When he was a target for the shadowers MM didn't whinge about "caravans". He said if they could stick close enough to him that would put them between him and his rivals for the championship on the grid.

[mulletman]

I read this comment on the GP site about Rossi.
"It’s not his lack of ‘bottle’ or ‘skill’ it’s the electronics. He came from a primitive era where you required mechanical grip and feel. Ever since MotoGP went full in with rider aids he has struggled. If the bikes were primitive he would still win. What he is looking for in terms of feel in the set up no longer exists."

May have hit the nail on the head


Danilo Petrucci reckons the more you use the electronics the slower you go cause they cut in too much , the lesser the better.

[mulletman]

Nice win for Redding....

[F5 Dave]

MM is the McCaw of MotoGP :P
That's the guy who used to play rugby isn't it? Are you trying to claim some dork flailing around in a paddock is in the same league as a proper athlete racing a bike at 300and something kph?

Pah!

[pritch]

I missed the name following the accident this morning but MotoGP has posted that Jason Depasquier has died.

[onearmedbandit]

I missed the name following the accident this morning but MotoGP has posters that Jason Depasquier has died.

Oh fuck my heart sank when I read that. Saw the crash and it was horrible. Damn.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/979329/1/jason-dupasquier-has-died-following-mugello-moto3-injuries

[pritch]

Having watched the big boys play, two main impressions: Race Direction or the stewards or whoever it was should hang their heads in shame after that effort. The consisitency of Quateraro, they showed his lap times at one point and there was a whole string of identical laps, 1.47.06 from memory. Amazing precision.

[Dadpole]

I assume you mean the "back a place" fun. The logic is clear in that each case was decided in the order it happened. Olivera back a place promoting Mir then Mir back a place promoting Olivera. Makes sense in a way. Else Zarco would have been promoted to second. Or Miller sent to his room. Or something....:blink:

[pritch]

I assume you mean the "back a place" fun. The logic is clear in that each case was decided in the order it happened. Olivera back a place promoting Mir then Mir back a place promoting Olivera. Makes sense in a way. Else Zarco would have been promoted to second. Or Miller sent to his room. Or something....:blink:

That's it. Normally it seems they give a warning before they hand out a penalty, but this was the last lap. The transgressions were almost microscopic, it might have looked more professional if they just had a word and wagged a finger after the race, rather than risking an epidemic of heart attacks in the pits.

[Dadpole]

All this season a hit the green during the final lap is an automatic loss of one place. They have sensors to detect any straying so there is no grey area. This was caused a year or two back by someone using the green to get a slingshot on the final corner. Not an offence at the time as riders were allowed a set number of 'Green area' touches in a race.
It is harsh, but they all know the rule. They (offending riders) will argue that it was only a tiny bit on the green and shouldn't count, but that is like only being a tiny bit dead.

[sugilite]

That was a race of attrition!
Well done Fabio, flawless - if he keeps that up, he should be World Champ for 21.
Marc Marquez is making mistakes and I'm starting to think he may never be as dominant force as he once was.
Viñales ratio of brilliant races vs mediocre continues as per other seasons.
Rins has replaced Cal Crutchlow as the series serial crasher. I guess someone had to step off, I mean up to the role :pinch:
Millar took a mature points position - good to see.
Rossi seriously needs to retire, if half the field had not crashed in front of him, he would of been out of the top 20 - at Mugello! Time to start his winning career as a Team Owner me thinks, this is getting beyond sad.
Mir and Binder did well. Mir could still be the dark horse for 21, as much as a current champion can be a dark horse!

[iYRe]

I remember someone like Rainey saying that it can take a year to recover all your responses and stuff after a major surgery, even once you are 100% healed. MM doesnt appear to be 100% - I reckon he's operating at 50% capacity. Maybe he will never recover 100%, but I'd say this year is just training for next year.

I agree about Rossi, time to move on. And FQ - i've always liked that guy, good luck to him

[James Deuce]

Rins Crashes Again

349146

[Autech]

I read this comment on the GP site about Rossi.
"It’s not his lack of ‘bottle’ or ‘skill’ it’s the electronics. He came from a primitive era where you required mechanical grip and feel. Ever since MotoGP went full in with rider aids he has struggled. If the bikes were primitive he would still win. What he is looking for in terms of feel in the set up no longer exists."

May have hit the nail on the head

Yet his results have gone downhill since they made the electronics less sophisticated? I'd say the electronics of 2008 etc were more sophisticated than the MM stuff they have now, which essentially is just a safety net rather than a go faster system like they were in the spec electronics days.

This is what Rossi fans tell themselves to try and make themselves feel better about him getting smoked, lets not forget he's not any slower than he used to be (which is amazing really), the younger guys coming in just can make the difference and get everything out of the bike. He still goes bloody well for his age, but it pains me to see him at the back of the pack. I'd rather him nurturing talent than risking his neck, we damn near lost him at Red Bull ring last year.

Great to see the KTM up there again, though I'll reserve judgement until they have to deal with a softer front tyre allocation. MO and BB really are class, was a shame BB got clattered into as I'd have like to see if he could have made the difference to catch Fabio with his Sunday style. Tech3 boys going better and better too.

As for Fabio, can't help but mention the Lorenzo name again, he really is the next JL, that laptime consistency was inhuman. No one else can ride that Yamaha as good as him, all we need is the other fast Yamaha guy beside him in the factory team and they'll be unstoppable, if a Yamaha can win at Mugello and Qatar with the huge straights then the rest of the field (Ducati's) are in big trouble.

Looks like Bags riding style is improved from last year but he's probably asking the Ducati to do something its not happy doing (turning) so it's a risky strategy that's not going to always pay off. He was possibly distracted by the news received just before the race too.

Rins and Mir were going well again, looked to me that Rins friendship with Miller was getting in the way of him putting a rough move of Miller though, there were a few times there he could have bashed him out of the way but he didn't which left him open to Mir's attack.

Then he crashed again... Can't help but wonder if part of it's down to his riding style? From my amateur racing and couch, the more of you off the bike the more stable it seems, I remember feeling the difference in the bike on the last sweeper at Ruapuna by moving my head a few more cm to the left, so I wonder if the guys that are dragging elbows have the advantage in feeling the front over him? They're not doing it for the fun of it I'm sure so there must be something in it. Rins does look awesome and nostalgic etc, but maybe he might need to change up his style to match the others? A look at Rossi over the years will show how much the riding styles have evolved to suit the machines and tyres.

[pritch]

I remember someone like Rainey saying that it can take a year to recover all your responses and stuff after a major surgery, even once you are 100% healed. MM doesnt appear to be 100% - I reckon he's operating at 50% capacity. Maybe he will never recover 100%, but I'd say this year is just training for next year.


I'm reminded of Freddie Spencer who went from world beater to "Sorry, can't use you" in a tragically short time. He had suffered nerve damage in his arm apparently and there was nothing the surgeons could do. There can't be much bone left in MMs upper arm after all the screw holes, it could take a long time to get the strength back. If ever. He's working on it, but apparently that's given him shoulder problems now. Time will tell. Meantime he needs to keep things shiny side up to avoid further damage.

[iYRe]

Tis true...

In other news, in 2018 he tested an F1 car https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNkBLgc7vuc

It was a 2012 V8, with hard demo tires and still managed 8 secs off the lap record.
Interesting, they chat about braking and gear changes...

[onearmedbandit]

I'm reminded of Freddie Spencer who went from world beater to "Sorry, can't use you" in a tragically short time. He had suffered nerve damage in his arm apparently and there was nothing the surgeons could do. There can't be much bone left in MMs upper arm after all the screw holes, it could take a long time to get the strength back. If ever. He's working on it, but apparently that's given him shoulder problems now. Time will tell. Meantime he needs to keep things shiny side up to avoid further damage.

It's reported that the arm is stronger than ever, it's just the shoulder strength from a lack of riding post injury recovery that is causing his issues. Supposedly the doctors have told him being on track is the best way to sort that.

[F5 Dave]

Wtf was Bastainini doing coming in so fast to grid? Cool cartwheel but he could have maimed Zarco. That sort of accident has several unhappy examples.

Can't imagine the debrief was very cheery.

Any links on explanation?

[Autech]

Wtf was Bastainini doing coming in so fast to grid? Cool cartwheel but he could have maimed Zarco. That sort of accident has several unhappy examples.

Can't imagine the debrief was very cheery.

Any links on explanation?Yeah there was one on Crash. Basically he thought Zarco braked strangely.
I'd say 1 minutes silence before the race probably had him off his game and he's just messed up, not something you expect at that level. Could have been way worse though

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[James Deuce]

Wtf was Bastainini doing coming in so fast to grid? Cool cartwheel but he could have maimed Zarco. That sort of accident has several unhappy examples.

Can't imagine the debrief was very cheery.

Any links on explanation?

Yeah and when is the exclusion from the next race being announced? If having a gnat's todger of tyre on green paint is a penalty, then smacking into another rider on grid form up deserves one.

[James Deuce]

Yeah there was one on Crash. Basically he thought Zarco braked strangely.
I'd say 1 minutes silence before the race probably had him off his game and he's just messed up, not something you expect at that level. Could have been way worse though

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Apprently setting up the Ducati launch device requires the rider to manually compress the forks a certain amount before engaging. He may have been in the middle of that process and distracted on top of that, as you say.

[BMWST?]

MM has got nerve danmage in the shoulder (was that when he was dislocating it. I recko he will come right,he has already shown he can be at the fron when it is not so physically hard(In the rain the other day)

[steveyb]

Rider seat dominos have started falling with KTM first to move (other than the riders with multi-year contracts already).
Signing BB for 3 more years and signing Gardner to Tech 3 team.
I wonder who is out at T3? No mention of that as yet. Petrucci is my guess.
Oliviera will be announced soon too, I should imagine.
I think having VR46 team on Ducati will be a bit stink. Too many Ducatis on grid. Personally would prefer to see them with Aprilia given that Suzuki have ruled it out.

[iYRe]

MM's comments on his crash were interesting:


"Unfortunately we finished the race earlier than we expected and it was the worst thing for me because of course I need laps and kilometres on the bike," Marquez said.

"It's true that I had contact with Brad Binder, we can say it's a racing incident because specifically at that point on the track similar crashes have happened many times before.


"But okay, it can be a racing incident, but if someone was at fault it's me. Because I came into Turn 2, just I didn’t see him, I thought he was further back and when we did the change of direction we made contact and I crashed.

Italian MotoGP: Marquez: Binder racing incident, if someone at fault it's me | MotoGP | News (crash.net) (https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/979445/1/marquez-racing-incident-binder-if-someone-fault-its-me)

[James Deuce]

Rider seat dominos have started falling with KTM first to move (other than the riders with multi-year contracts already).
Signing BB for 3 more years and signing Gardner to Tech 3 team.
I wonder who is out at T3? No mention of that as yet. Petrucci is my guess.
Oliviera will be announced soon too, I should imagine.
I think having VR46 team on Ducati will be a bit stink. Too many Ducatis on grid. Personally would prefer to see them with Aprilia given that Suzuki have ruled it out.

Nah, Iker will go back to Moto2.

[Reckless]

I thought MM was a dangerous rider early on then really started to respect the way he matured
Rossi reckons he deliberately destroyed his 10th tittle run a couple of years back and will never forgive him.
I'm wondering with the lengths he's going to now if there is some truth in that?
With the desperate qually tactics and stupid riding stuffing everyone else's race the only achievement is to make himself look like a dick
Maybe he should concentrate upon himself and his recovery get a sensible head back in the game and forget about hunting placings up the grid with stupid shit.

I'm thinking Pol is regretting his move to Honda not because of the above but it seems a prick of a bike to ride.

I cant see much KTM have done wrong since they joined Moto GP they seemed to have formed their own little academy some very wise heads in that company.

VR46 I agree another two Ducatis would be to much.
Aprilia stepping up this year would def have helped. He has to decide about quitting and which bike would be best for his riders rather than the best for trying to get his 10th championship on.
But we don't have a bloody clue what the other manufacturers really think of him and VR46 in real life.
Interesting times

Fabio looks like his head and his throttle hand is in the best place atm.

[F5 Dave]

It doesn't matter what they think of him. It's about the Brand and if it makes sense to be associated with him. That's a pretty easy choice.
Racers often aren't nice people to be around when they are focused to winning at all costs and these guys are at another level again.

Let's just enjoy it for the pointless magnificent spectacle it is.



. . . and bring back the 2 strokes, obviously.

[steveyb]

Pramac Racing next out of the blocks, announcing Zarco and Martin for 2022.

[steveyb]

Nah, Iker will go back to Moto2.

Maybe to replace Gardner? More likely Acosta will take that spot. But it would be better for his development if he stayed in Moto3 for one more season.
Fernandez R has stated that he will stay in Moto2 and believes at least 2 years in M3 and M2 is best.

[mulletman]

Rins out this weekend

https://www.suzuki-racing.com/motogp/INJURED-ALEX-RINS-OUT-OF-CATALAN-GP--UPDATED.117887.cms

[F5 Dave]

Maybe he should try rowing?

[sugilite]

Maybe he should try rowing?
Definitely farming as he got ploughing down pat.
Seriously though, bloody hell, poor guy. Hope he gets over the mental hurdles of the last few weeks and gets his mojo back - whilst staying in the saddle!

[Dadpole]

Rins should be a real title contender, except the 'Curse of Crutchlow' has descended upon him. Which one of you buggers did it?

[Autech]

Rins should be a real title contender, except the 'Curse of Crutchlow' has descended upon him. Which one of you buggers did it?Seems to me the riders I like the most suffer.
So I'll take partial credit.

Fucking bicycles, dangerous things!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[F5 Dave]

I kinda thought Pol was going to be the next Pol. Um, well he was showing such promising rides on the humble KTM. Buuutt. . .

Goes to show how fickle this tyre vs chassis, suspension, crank dynamics, hair gel, and ECU mixture is.

[steveyb]

One guess as to who spent some time cosying up with Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi in Clinica Mobile last weekend???

Hint: Cormac Buchanan.

Oh, was that too much of a hint?

Little shit.

[Reckless]

One guess as to who spent some time cosying up with Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi in Clinica Mobile last weekend???

Hint: Cormac Buchanan.

Oh, was that too much of a hint?

Little shit.

Good luck to him, Sometimes its not what you know in this world, its who LOL

[sugilite]

While he has since made a correction to his statement - his problem may well be that Yamaha shares his sentiments!
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/979758/1/vinales-motogp-future-i-dont-want-make-mistake-again

[F5 Dave]

You can't help but be impressed by his absolute mastery.


. . . . occasionally.

[steveyb]

While he has since made a correction to his statement - his problem may well be that Yamaha shares his sentiments!
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/979758/1/vinales-motogp-future-i-dont-want-make-mistake-again

Y'know, I reckon only people looking to create a beat up would have interpreted that as meaning anything to do with Yamaha.
When I saw the quotation I only ever thought about his earlier period in M3 when he quit the team during the season. Only to come crawling back?? (If I recall correctly).
Doubtful if he even go to root Paris!! That would have been a shame...... Mmmmmm.....

FP3 Vale!! Vale!!! Vale!!!!

But anyway......

[pritch]

Nice to see a crowd in attendance.

Reports that Rossi has found speed. I hope it's real speed and not just speed that takes him from 20th to 10th.

[Autech]

Fabio is a fucking weapon. Goes to show they knew what they were doing when they let him into moto3 early.
Good shit.

Iker finally got a rocket up his bum too now his seats 100% on the line. If they do drop him I hope they pop him into the Moto2 team at least to give him another chance to move back up, goes to show how important the years in moto2 are.

Olivera looking good for another podium too I think, here's hoping they can disrupt Fabio enough to stop him running away, not looking like it at this stage though.

Looking forward to the race, gunna be epic I reckon

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[Reckless]

Fabio is a fucking weapon. Goes to show they knew what they were doing when they let him into moto3 early.
Good shit.

Iker finally got a rocket up his bum too now his seats 100% on the line. If they do drop him I hope they pop him into the Moto2 team at least to give him another chance to move back up, goes to show how important the years in moto2 are.

Olivera looking good for another podium too I think, here's hoping they can disrupt Fabio enough to stop him running away, not looking like it at this stage though.

Looking forward to the race, gunna be epic I reckon

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Agreed about Fabio he seems really in tune with his bike ATM.

I'm hoping Morbidelli will do well like to see him get some reward :)

Like to see the likable Miller get somewhere but they say tyre wear is an Issue there so maybe Ducati will fade?
Everyone got a laugh about his inter change with MM start of FP3.

Zarco is riding well to deserves a good result.

Good to see MM bullshit in FP3 didn't work out and infact gave Pol the advantage for qually which knocked him out :)
I'm Guessing Pol is regretting his decision to change teams to Honda.

Fabio might run away with it, I think he will ride it the same as last race.
I'm picking Morbid to come good at the end with wildcard Suzuki.
But love to see Miller shove it up them all.

Live tonight whoohooo Moto3 at 9pm MotoGP 10:25

[roogazza]

Go Vale !!!! lol us pensioners need to stick together !

He has had some great rides at MontMello. First saw him there in 2005.....(when Zaus turned an M1 into a ball of metal).

Then there was that great scrap with Horhay (whatever year it was ?) with a last corner move that really was up there for the pass of a century.

Fingers and toes crossed for Valentino. xxxxx

[Autech]

Go Vale !!!! lol us pensioners need to stick together !

He has had some great rides at MontMello. First saw him there in 2005.....(when Zaus turned an M1 into a ball of metal).

Then there was that great scrap with Horhay (whatever year it was ?) with a last corner move that really was up there for the pass of a century.

Fingers and toes crossed for Valentino. xxxxxNawww the old farts sticking together.

He's going better, think he may crack a top 8 tonight

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[BMWST?]

Of course no one has ever triedto follow MM around have they.I think Jack has it right,just go if they can keep up fine.....

[Autech]

Of course no one has ever triedto follow MM around have they.I think Jack has it right,just go if they can keep up fine.....Yup, if it were me I'd be like "Keep up motherfucker", lick the stamp, cross out the return to sender address and send it.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[steveyb]

Quatararo.

Black flag situation?

Black/orange flag situation?

Opinions?

[onearmedbandit]

You'd be black flagged for an undone helmet strap correct? Because in the event of an accident the required safety equipment wouldn't do its job. Watching those last laps, well I'm no praying man but I was hoping to high heaven he did not have a crash because that could've been potentially very horrific.

So if you'd get a black flag for an undone helmet strap, then yes I would agree with a black flag for both the leathers being compromised and the removal of the chest protector.

[sugilite]

Well that did not go according to script!
Oliveira - was pretty much faultless - excellent ride. The commentators mentioned Pedrosa has helped a lot with improving this years ktm woes. Take that honda :bleh:

Zarco - he is so consistent this year, though he must be wondering if he will ever get that first motogp win.

Miller - took another podium, is riding within his limits and looking like a real championship contender at last.

Mir - looked to do the best the bike would let him today. I was relieved to see him finish, I do not recall him being as aggressive in any other race as what he was in the first few laps of this race. He bought out the mongrel, and stayed on. Well done that man.

Viñales - did well, but I still reckon the only component missing is having his head in the game 100%.

Quartararo - clearly having spectators back at motogp got to him, and he wanted to impress the ladies with some manly chest on the final few laps. Seriously though, as shit as it would of been - he was lucky not to get black flagged.

Marc Marquez - he clearly still does not fear crashing. If he gets back to full strength he will be a race winner again for sure - though I'm "guessing" his class dominating days may now be behind him. It must be both frustrating and worrying for honda to wait for the one rider who can do well on their bike to come good.

Rossi - actually was within a 10th of a second off the front runners times for a few laps before throwing it into the kitty litter. Progress? I think so. Still should retire at the end of this year though.

[James Deuce]

Good thing we didn't have to see a Quartararo meat crayon. One of the privileges of being young and immortal. I sincerely hope the stewards get their shit together at some point and dock his points for this round.

[steveyb]

FQ: Agree he should have been flagged, but actually the black/orange would have been more appropriate and he could have pulled off onto a safe spot and done it up. Ditching the chest protector was probably problematic though and a penalty for not having that would have needed to be applied, regardless.

Soooooo, gotta feel for Asparagus P. Y'know, they say timing is everything in life and he is making a pigs ear of his timing. Leaving KTM just as they make the bike right and joining HRC just as the bike is a piece of merda. It really is pretty poor at the moment eh? Honda will come last in the constructors this year as long as AE finishes races.
Imagine what he would be doing now if he had stayed with KTM? OMG, he had a face like an arse that had taken an hour of beating, in his interview.
MM not so much, to be frank, he cares but sort of couldn't care less. He knows he has a job for as long as he wants it, Pol not so much.

Pissed off that Asparagus A dumped it. Really want them to get a result. But as I have pointed out elsewhere, he does not know how to win, or even run at the front. He has never done it before, at any high level. So of course he has no real idea. You only know when you know. And it is not the same as running in 6th place, not at all. I think the RSV-R is capable of podia, but only with a rider who knows what it takes, on board. Cue Dovi?

If I were KTM I would be dumping both Petrux and IL. I think they are failed experiments. DP must have bought money along with him. IL? No idea. I was skeptical about DP on the KTM from the first.

[iYRe]

I've looked but I cant find any explanation as to why FQ took off his shirt.. well definitive anyway... some said airbag went off and he had to ditch the armor, but does anyone know for sure?

[James Deuce]

Soooooo, gotta feel for Asparagus P. Y'know, they say timing is everything in life and he is making a pigs ear of his timing. Leaving KTM just as they make the bike right and joining HRC just as the bike is a piece of merda. It really is pretty poor at the moment eh? Honda will come last in the constructors this year as long as AE finishes races...

Honda will ditch him and it will probably end his career.

[pritch]

Quatararo.

Black flag situation?


Opinions?

If it had happened earlier in the race a black flag, or at least an enforced pit stop. As it was, it occurred very late in the race and the matter was going to resolve itself anyway.

[pritch]

You'd be black flagged for an undone helmet strap correct? Because in the event of an accident the required safety equipment wouldn't do its job. Watching those last laps, well I'm no praying man but I was hoping to high heaven he did not have a crash because that could've been potentially very horrific.

So if you'd get a black flag for an undone helmet strap, then yes I would agree with a black flag for both the leathers being compromised and the removal of the chest protector.

The rules list all the equipment and state they must be fastened.

[BMWST?]

I've looked but I cant find any explanation as to why FQ took off his shirt.. well definitive anyway... some said airbag went off and he had to ditch the armor, but does anyone know for sure?

the first explanation was that his airbag had gone off and he ditched the chest protector so he could breath,then he couldnt get the zip done up.
His own explanation was that the zip just unzipped (the chest protector fell out) and again he couldnt get the zip done up with only one hand.He zipped it back up with two hands on the in lap

[iYRe]

the first explanation was that his airbag had gone off and he ditched the chest protector so he could breath,then he couldnt get the zip done up.
His own explanation was that the zip just unzipped (the chest protector fell out) and again he couldnt get the zip done up with only one hand.He zipped it back up with two hands on the in lap

His explanation seems unlikely.. alpinestars must be rushing to change all their zips now :P

[iYRe]

https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2021/06/06/big-problems-with-no-solutions-hrc-hit-rock-bottom/377901

MM: my intention was to push from the beginning.. to show myself that I still have it, and I am happy with that... testing day tomorrow is more important than today, today we have nothing to lose (loose paraphrase if you dont want to watch it)

ie, I need to prove I can keep up, and I did.. the crash was unfortunate but we have bigger problems.. heh.

[BMWST?]

just goes to show that things must be very finely balanced...within 2 years the yamaha has become one of the best bikes and the Hnda has become the worst.And Honda reliance on the genius of MM has come to bite them hard.That fact was demonstrated very clearly by Lorenzo,and many before him.What now.Honda have the resources but can they change?

[James Deuce]

just goes to show that things must be very finely balanced...within 2 years the yamaha has become one of the best bikes and the Hnda has become the worst.And Honda reliance on the genius of MM has come to bite them hard.That fact was demonstrated very clearly by Lorenzo,and many before him.What now.Honda have the resources but can they change?

They'll change riders before they'll change the habit of building a relatively unrideable engineering marvel. Generally speaking they've built their teams around genius riders who can exploit Honda's engineering decisions, but the cost is usually career-ending injuries for the rider, or dissatisfaction at being treated like a replaceable plug and play unit prompting a defection to a different manufacturer.

[pritch]

just goes to show that things must be very finely balanced...within 2 years the yamaha has become one of the best bikes and the Hnda has become the worst.And Honda reliance on the genius of MM has come to bite them hard.That fact was demonstrated very clearly by Lorenzo,and many before him.What now.Honda have the resources but can they change?

Their current efforts are making Crutchlow look a lot better than we gave him credit for.


For anyone who listens to podcasts, "Rusty's Garage" is worth a visit. I was drawn by his recent interview with Alex Briggs. But he's been going for a while and there's a lot of interviews with mostly Australian motorsport people. Of particular interest to us perhaps: Wayne Gardner, Aaron Slight, Casey Stoner, Graeme Crosby, Steve Parrish, Jonathan Rea, Troy Bayliss and Jerry Burgess.

I've sometimes wondered what GP mechanics were paid. Briggs said that as a bus mechanic he was on AU$30,000pa. He went to MotoX and dropped to $20,000. When Burgess picked him up for MotoGP he was on close to AU$100,000. Twenty nine years ago!

Briggs said he has had offers from GP teams but the travel conditions were not to his liking. He and the others with #46 normally had business class travel to each race. Nobody will pay that now. Apparently the various offers he received expected him to stay in Europe for the duration of the season.

[Autech]

They'll change riders before they'll change the habit of building a realtively unrideable engineering marvel. Generally speaking they've built their teams around genius riders who can exploit Honda's engineering decisions, but the cost is usually career-ending injuries for the rider, or dissatisfaction at being treated like a replaceable plug and play unit prompting a defection to a different manufacturer.

Yup they built it round Dani, who could ride it well but he didn't bounce as well as MM. MM has stopped bouncing as well so now we can see what its really like with him unable to work his magic. Gotta give Taka his credit though, he's riding well.

There's got to be something in Dani leaving too, if his turn around of the KTM is anything to go by and we wind back the clock a few years, it looks to me like they started really struggling when he left. I'm biased though as I'd marry the guy, but it looks about right going off the stats. That's about when CC and co got the most vocal about how unridable it was too. He retired in 2018, so the 2019 would have been the last bike he had any input into:

Races won: 81

2012: Pedrosa 7, Stoner 5 (12 in total)
2013: Márquez 6, Pedrosa 3 (9 in total)
2014: Márquez 13, Pedrosa 1 (14 in total)
2015: Márquez 5, Pedrosa 2 (7 in total)
2016: Márquez 5, Pedrosa 1, Crutchlow 2, Miller 1 (8 in total)
2017: Márquez 6, Pedrosa 2 (8 in total)
2018: Márquez 9, Crutchlow 1 (10 in total)
2019: Márquez 12 (12 in total)

Pol is another ride the wheels off whatever is under him sort too so I'm not convinced he'll help fix it.



Their current efforts are making Crutchlow look a lot better than we gave him credit for.

Yup, the old Crashlow nickname probably wasn't earned.


The race

Fuck yeah Olivera! He's pure class that guy, good mix of talent and brains. Shame Binder got knocked back a bit as he'd have been right in it too. Still, waiting on tyres to confirm if this is a magic fix or not, but bloody impressive they managed to fix the bike so quickly, makes HRC look a bit limp really lol. Was down to my last $10 from my personal $50 betting challenge, so Olivera turned $5 into a handy $90. Thanks to Peco Bagniaia for the betting tip :)

Aleix and the Aprilia. He NEEDS a good rider beside him to compare data with, if they can't land Dovi next year then it'll remain a top 6 bike IMO. Its a hard bike to read as from my couch it doesn't seem to have any strong or weak points, a bit like the Suzuki really just goes about making its laptime. Anyone got any thoughts on its strong and weak points?

Mir, he's gunna bide his time and strike eventually again, I'm seeing not much of a step in the bike though which may cause him some issues vs the others that seem way better. I wonder if they should freeze the engines more often as they've done some magic on the chassis side. Look at the Ducati, finally doesn't look like a Harley vs the Yamaha.

Yamahas... Fabio still is a passionate Frenchman at heart, it's his temperament that worries me with regards to a title challenge, he's got the speed for sure but that was dumb, as was keeping it pinned turn 1, a wise rider would have slotted in behind Miller to be safe... Easy to say from the couch, but these are the best riders in the world not club racers.
Maverick still the hardest guy to read on the grid, ya never know with him eh?
Rossi... Please retire! I hate seeing him like this.
Franko, doing the best on the oldest bike on the grid, would LOVE to see him in blue.

[iYRe]

Yup they built it round Dani, who could ride it well but he didn't bounce as well as MM. MM has stopped bouncing as well so now we can see what its really like with him unable to work his magic. Gotta give Taka his credit though, he's riding well.

MM said he wasnt doing the bike any favours (because his shoulder is weak), and the bike wasnt doing him any - so at least they have a starting point


There's got to be something in Dani leaving too, if his turn around of the KTM is anything to go by and we wind back the clock a few years, it looks to me like they started really struggling when he left. I'm biased though as I'd marry the guy, but it looks about right going off the stats. That's about when CC and co got the most vocal about how unridable it was too. He retired in 2018, so the 2019 would have been the last bike he had any input into
They also didnt have MM input either, for most of a year. Perhaps they had all their eggs in 2 baskets...

[steveyb]

Some rumours doing the rounds that Yamaha may be chasing Fenandez R and VR46 chasing Acosta P.
Both of those moves highly unlikely given the systems in which they currently reside. The systems are proven winners.

My pick is (assuming he does not already have a contract for 2022, I can't find that info, anyone know?) that Olivieras management are hanging out until VR makes his announcement and they they will move, either to stay put or move to Yamaha SRT.

I cannot logically see why KTM would not have already signed him ahead of Binder, unless his management are after an improved deal. Unless Binder took what was on offer immediately of course!

I think, if KTM want to retain him, he would be silly to move.

[Autech]

Some rumours doing the rounds that Yamaha may be chasing Fenandez R and VR46 chasing Acosta P.
Both of those moves highly unlikely given the systems in which they currently reside. The systems are proven winners.

My pick is that Olivieras management are hanging out until VR makes his announcement and they they will move, either to stay put or move to Yamaha SRT.

I cannot logically see why KTM would not have already signed him ahead of Binder, unless his management are after an improved deal. Unless Binder took what was on offer immediately of course!

What it comes down to is that there's still not enough seats for the talent, even with the expanded grid next year.

Personally I'd be highly surprised if Olivera were to leave the crew he's been with so long and so successfully and I'd be amazed if they were to let him go considering the state of Tech3 right now, they don't have anyone ready to shift up. Petronas have the money to pay for him thats for sure, but whether they'd go all out when they already have Franko I'm not sure. That leaves a seat there for someone we may not have thought of for Yamaha, I'm thinking an American or Pom from Moto2.

The change of the teams and grid makes this a bit more difficult to work out next year so I'll list them as best as possible with what I think is going to happen:

KTM:
Binder
Olivera

Tech3:
Petrux
Gardiner

Yamaha:
Quatararo
Vinales

Petronas:
Morbidelli
*Someone from moto2 if Rossi calls it quits, thinking Joe Roberts maybe?*

Suzuki:
Rins
Mir

Ducati:
Miller
Bagniaia

Pramac:
Zarco
Martin

VR46
Marini
Bastanini

Aprilia
Aliex
Dovi

Gresini
Di Gantionionoininoinon
*not sure if anyone is confirmed on this seat*

Honda
Marquez
Pol Spagbolonaise

LCR
Nakagami
Alex Marquez

Feel free to copy and paste to fill in the gaps, I LOVE the silly season :D

[steveyb]

What it comes down to is that there's still not enough seats for the talent, even with the expanded grid next year.

Personally I'd be highly surprised if Olivera were to leave the crew he's been with so long and so successfully and I'd be amazed if they were to let him go considering the state of Tech3 right now, they don't have anyone ready to shift up. Petronas have the money to pay for him thats for sure, but whether they'd go all out when they already have Franko I'm not sure. That leaves a seat there for someone we may not have thought of for Yamaha, I'm thinking an American or Pom from Moto2.

The change of the teams and grid makes this a bit more difficult to work out next year so I'll list them as best as possible with what I think is going to happen:

KTM:
Binder
Olivera

Tech3:
Petrux
Gardiner

Yamaha:
Quatararo
Vinales

Petronas:
Morbidelli
*Someone from moto2 if Rossi calls it quits, thinking Joe Roberts maybe?*

Suzuki:
Rins
Mir

Ducati:
Miller
Bagniaia

Pramac:
Zarco
Martin

VR46
Marini
Bastanini

Aprilia
Aliex
Dovi

Gresini
Di Gantionionoininoinon
*not sure if anyone is confirmed on this seat*

Honda
Marquez
Pol Spagbolonaise

LCR
Nakagami
Alex Marquez

Feel free to copy and paste to fill in the gaps, I LOVE the silly season :D

The two names that are most important in Moto2 I think, are Lowes and Bezzechi. Although Lowes' value might be suffering currently and he tried MotoGP and didn't truely get on with it. But, Aprilia could do a lot worse. Bez will be the most intriguing. Vierge has also staked a bit of a claim, but not a strong one IMO. But, some of the teams are very loyal, others not so much.

[Autech]

The two names that are most important in Moto2 I think, are Lowes and Bezzechi. Although Lowes' value might be suffering currently and he tried MotoGP and didn't truely get on with it. But, Aprilia could do a lot worse. Bez will be the most intriguing. Vierge has also staked a bit of a claim, but not a strong one IMO. But, some of the teams are very loyal, others not so much.

I'd say the names are Lowes and Roberts, purely on what passports they hold though. Dorna will have their fingers in there to help boost viewer numbers. Having no Poms or Yanks in motogp must really bug them.

[F5 Dave]

Their current efforts are making Crutchlow look a lot better than we gave him credit for.


For anyone who listens to podcasts, "Rusty's Garage" is worth a visit. I was drawn by his recent interview with Alex Briggs. But he's been going for a while and there's a lot of interviews with mostly Australian motorsport people. Of particular interest to us perhaps: Wayne Gardner, Aaron Slight, Casey Stoner, Graeme Crosby, Steve Parrish, Jonathan Rea, Troy Bayliss and Jerry Burgess.

I've sometimes wondered what GP mechanics were paid. Briggs said that as a bus mechanic he was on AU$30,000pa. He went to MotoX and dropped to $20,000. When Burgess picked him up for MotoGP he was on close to AU$100,000. Twenty nine years ago!

Briggs said he has had offers from GP teams but the travel conditions were not to his liking. He and the others with #46 normally had business class travel to each race. Nobody will pay that now. Apparently the various offers he received expected him to stay in Europe for the duration of the season.
Mate thanks for the recommendation, couldn't sleep and listened to the first Briggs interview. Interesting stuff. Looking forward to part 2.

[Reckless]

Some rumours doing the rounds that Yamaha may be chasing Fenandez R and VR46 chasing Acosta P.

I was reading tis morning Rossi put the Acosta thing to bed. VR46 are looking at academy riders and nothing with Acosta.

[Autech]

Food for thought.
How long will the Japanese keep Alberto Puig if the results don't start coming their way?

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[BMWST?]

here is a silly season shake up...MM to KTM.He must be looking at them thinkin....hmmmm

[F5 Dave]

The Austrian girls will look better than the Japanese ones (sorry I thought it was 1990) , but the remuneration package (hey its 2021) won't be 1/2 as guilded.

[James Deuce]

here is a silly season shake up...MM to KTM.He must be looking at them thinkin....hmmmm
That would make my day.

[iYRe]

This is kinda cool:


https://www.redbull.com/es-es/projects/alterego/


MM on a real bike vs an esport champ as a virtual MM

[steveyb]

I have been wanting to ask this for a while, so while watching Moto3 FP1, thought I would.

Some of you here might be parents of youngsters, sort of 10-14 years old.

Some of those youngsters might be watching Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP races.

Some of those youngsters might be telling Mum and Dad how they would love to be doing that too.

Some of them may even be taking their first steps towards doing that by getting involved in racing in some fashion.

My questions are: Is this so? Do we actually have any kids in NZ who actually want to become world champion? Do we have any parents who are supporting their kids if they seek higher glories? Do we have any parents who are willing to seek the help they might need? Or are they all going to fall on their faces trying to do it all on their own, as is the Kiwi way?

I ask these questions in the context of Moto Academy NZ being the only real route for a young Kiwi kid onto the Road to MotoGP, but no one is knocking on my door to seek help.

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Asia Talent Cup, Oceania Junior Cup are the only likely routes for a Kiwi Kid to get into the world championships. Even if a Kiwi kid has too much money, they will not have the experience or competition to be successful.

Moto Academy NZ was the first organisation in the world to negotiate a reserved place at Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup selection event and this agreement remains in place.

So, if you and your kid want to become the next Cormac Buchanan, Moto Academy NZ is the only route by which this will happen, out of NZ.

Be very interested in hearing some opinions across the board.

[roogazza]

Sachenring , like this GP . lots of turning left and odd cambers,should suit the Yams ?

Tho Vale slipped off in FP2 leaving him on his second bike and nowhere.....21st place. :shit:

[BMWST?]

And MM and the other HOndas were 123 at one point.MM wasnt chasing a time it seems.

[onearmedbandit]

This will be a real test for him. 10 left hand corners, 3 right hand so that suits him well for his injury, he loves anti clockwise tracks (26 of his 50+ wins have come from ac tracks), and he's the King of Sachsenring.

[iYRe]

yeah MM was top before everyone started doing their time attacks

[pritch]

Well I didn't have an Aprilia on the front row on my GP bingo card.

[iYRe]

https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2021/06/19/can-marc-marquez-defend-his-king-of-the-ring-title/379697

MM: we can not pretend to fight for the victory because we are not there yet, but top 5 is our optimistic and realistic goal"

[Reckless]

Pulling for Miller Just because he is from our part of the world. I thought he was a smart arse but Miller is Miller and thats ok I reckon :)
Fabio just has the feel of that bike.
Bloody Bloody good job Zarco.
Vinales gonna get the boot if he cant get his head right.
Wondering if we will see some desperate risky moves from MM.
Rossi should enjoy the rest of the season as his swansong and the great champion he is.

The best season yet

What we are seeing is most bikes and riders on the pace and chasing tenths.
The ones at the top are the ones able to put all facets together on the day.
The Track, the bike, and the brain.
It is the most competitive season I think I have ever seen. :first::banana::headbang:

Quite a few disadvantaged by slow riding
We are seeing everyone getting desperate like Moto3 because the pack is separated by just a few tenths.
I am starting to feel that it undermines the true essence of racing needing the crutch of a tow for a placing.
Its becoming a joke and sorta bordering on cheating on your real speed.

Idea?????
1. New rule required for qually: all classes (maybe even FP3 session)
Once you cross the pit lane out line till last corner on your last lap if your speed drops you more than 1/4 sec in any two consecutive sectors = you get a penalty.
(unless you have a bike Issue or are rejoining the session after an off)

2. or Have qually like V8 supercars. One warm up/one flying qually lap. Now that would be a show and a 1/2 :)

The track is for race pace only no fuckling around, anything else is dangerous.
I haven't thought 1. entirely through as you will still get everyone waiting in pit lane like moto 3.
But at least you will have consistency and better safety on track.

[steveyb]

Ask and you shall receive:

https://www.motogp.com/en/twitter_update/2021/06/19/fim-motogp-stewards-motogp-rider-23-eneabastianini-has-been-given/379714

[iYRe]

Wondering if we will see some desperate risky moves from MM.

I dont think so..

Yes re. V46.
Yeah I dont mind Miller winning.. I was raised on Gardner and Doohan, so its all good imho. I'll even support SA riders... (probably SA over Oz, but meh)

[eelracing]

I have been wanting to ask this for a while, so while watching Moto3 FP1, thought I would.

Some of you here might be parents of youngsters, sort of 10-14 years old.

Some of those youngsters might be watching Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP races.

Some of those youngsters might be telling Mum and Dad how they would love to be doing that to.


Racing is a mugs game now mate.

I'd be steering a kid towards a sport that does not require mortgaging the family home in a snowball in hells chance of even making it.
Professional cricket,tennis even golf is a better bet for kiwi kids.
Start em training as soon as they're out of nappies and you'll be winter holidaying in the Bahamas every year before they hit 22 years old.

Go racing and you'll be kicking them out of your trailer home in their 40's.

[F5 Dave]

Why on earth would junior get the good stuff when Dads bike needs some new slicks, the shock needs rebuilding and a set of FCRs would fit the bill quite nicely?

[onearmedbandit]

This will be a real test for him. 10 left hand corners, 3 right hand so that suits him well for his injury, he loves anti clockwise tracks (26 of his 50+ wins have come from ac tracks), and he's the King of Sachsenring.

And boy did he pass that test!! Never been so happy to see him win. The emotion was showing in his interview...damn..

[Reckless]

Great nights racing

10/10 to MM perfect race.

King of the ring.
11 out of 11 races wow thats some stat.

[steveyb]

Racing is a mugs game now mate.

I'd be steering a kid towards a sport that does not require mortgaging the family home in a snowball in hells chance of even making it.
Professional cricket,tennis even golf is a better bet for kiwi kids.
Start em training as soon as they're out of nappies and you'll be winter holidaying in the Bahamas every year before they hit 22 years old.

Go racing and you'll be kicking them out of your trailer home in their 40's.

Yep, I see and know what you say.

[iYRe]

That was some ride.. experience and timing for the win.

The guy is a legend. I hadnt heard this till they mentioned it after the race, but MM offered to give back all his salary for the year (25mill Eu).

Just barely holding it together in the interview...

[roogazza]

Racing is a mugs game now mate.

I'd be steering a kid towards a sport that does not require mortgaging the family home in a snowball in hells chance of even making it.
Professional cricket,tennis even golf is a better bet for kiwi kids.
Start em training as soon as they're out of nappies and you'll be winter holidaying in the Bahamas every year before they hit 22 years old.

Go racing and you'll be kicking them out of your trailer home in their 40's.

Agree bud. I started dabbling in Prod Racing from my first race in 1970,even as early as 75 I can remember discussions on this topic. So 50 years ago.
Must admit it was probably easier in those early years and I thought hard and long about an offer from my bud Dave Hissy to buss off to England with him. But I didn't want to do spanners,rather ride myself.

The scene has changed so much since then but I've always believed if you were fast enough then you could make it.
Dave proved this !

But in 2021 and the state of NZ racing for the last 20 yrs !! Nah just too hard.

Attending GP's to watch, I saw some really talented kids and good on them. Used to chat to them all the time in the Hosp tents. (young ones look about 12,so young! )
To be fair I don't follow NZ racing at all these days.
But hey, good luck to anyone who has a go, it's just such an uphill battle..
Buy some golf clubs or a Tennis racket.

[pritch]

But hey, good luck to anyone who has a go, it's just such an uphill battle..


These days sometimes the passport decides who gets the ride. A Kiwi passport won't help. Often it's who can bring the most sponsorship and we just don't have the big international companies that exist overseas. It's not impossible but as you say, it's an uphill struggle.

I guess we should delight in what Courtney Duncan has achieved. Otherwise it could be a long time between drinks..

[roogazza]

These days sometimes the passport decides who gets the ride. A Kiwi passport won't help. Often it's who can bring the most sponsorship and we just don't have the big international companies that exist overseas. It's not impossible but as you say, it's an uphill struggle.

I guess we should delight in what Courtney Duncan has achieved. Otherwise it could be a long time between drinks..

Courtney ? sorry ,is he one of ours ? Honestly I couldn't tell ya who our SuperBike riders are ?

Way back, we used to go by how we went against ours mates that did have a go overseas. That and whether we did some winning here. But the true test is getting there yourself and trying.

I always remember when Hissy came back from Bathurst way back when. I said to him whats it like ?
In his laconic way he said , mate easy, just like the Tukas mate !!!!!!! :rolleyes::laugh:

[onearmedbandit]

Oh she's only 2x world woman's motocross champion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Duncan_(motorcyclist)

[steveyb]

Thanks for the small number of replies regarding getting a young Kiwi onto the world stage.

Sadly, and this is not a personal criticism, but a more general observation, this comment to me, (and I have been hearing it for 20 years or more now), sums up the NZ attitude.

"But hey, good luck to anyone who has a go, it's just such an uphill battle.. "

Everything worth having is an uphill battle. But in NZ we suffer from this "good luck to you" attitude. The world everywhere, not just racing, is very different from when intrepid Kiwis and Aussies took on the world. It is not really possible to do that in that way any longer.

But in other countries when youngsters put their hands up, people say "Good luck to you. How can I help, what do you need?" Here, we don't really get the last bit.

Yes, it does happen and my protoge Cormac Buchanan racing now in Red Bull Rookies Cup and British Talent Cup is an example of how it can happen and how some people do ask the second bit. But just not at the values required to make chasing a dream a less painful journey. No one expects to do it for free, but not feeling the pinch for every tank of traveling fuel would be really nice.

But anyway, it is his dream, so it is down to them to make it work and that is just what they are doing.

His performance so far shows that he (and other Kiwi kids) have the talent and the abilities, if they apply themselves correctly and get into it sufficiently early.

Thinking you can attack the world championships after racing in NZ until you are 16, 17, 18 is simply no longer possible. You need to be facing the best in the world at 14, 15 at a pinch.

Cormac is finding out what the level is right now, but he is only 14 years old, racing against 16/17 year olds with 4, 5, 6 years experience at that high level. And he is in no way disgracing himself. So, we can do it, if we want to.

The passport comment is real enough, to a point. The simple reality is that a good comparison can be made between a Kiwi bike racer and a Spanish rugby player.

The level of competition bike racers have in Spain is similar to that a kiwi kid has playing rugby here. That is why Spain is so well represented in international bike racing currently.

I also believe that kids from NZ realise very early that focusing on one thing is not the be all and end all of life and you can enjoy life here doing lots of things, or nothing for that matter. While in Europe it appears that kids don't see any other paths for themselves so have to give it all from an early age.

Anyway, thanks again.

[steveyb]

While the RSV-GP might still be a gnats whisker off the pace of the best bikes, sadly, as I have commented previously, the weak link is Aleix himself.
I like him a lot, he is a neat guy, but he does not know how to win, or even how to race in the front for a whole race.
Until he does it, he will not know and Aprilia will not win.
The Sachsenring race was their only realistic chance of a win IMO and he was just not up to the job.
IMO, Aprilia need to sign Dovisioso to put the bike in the front, consistently.

[roogazza]

Oh she's only 2x world woman's motocross champion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Duncan_(motorcyclist)

Ooops shows how out of touch I am !!!! (never get near Motocross results !)

Tho way way back have a mate who was NSW Unlimited Motocross Champ (Brian Martin) . Which I think was the for runner of Mr Motocross ????
I've been lucky to know and grow up with some fantastic riders, who we pretty much knew, would do well overseas, and did !

The other kid Cormac , I'll look for next time.

[pritch]

Ooops shows how out of touch I am !!!! (never get near Motocross results !)


I don't follow MotoX either, but Courtney gets on the news sometimes and was the subject of a recent magazine type programme on TV One.

Afterthought:
The magazine programme showed how she crashed shortly after the start of one race, remounted in last place, then rode through the entire field to win. The list of riders who can do that in any class of world championship motorcycle race is not long.

[steveyb]

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/06/22/morbidelli-to-miss-dutchgp/380572

One could be cynical and think, after Sachsenring result, How convenient.
I doubt Franko would be unprofessional and throw in the towel so to speak, but it appears that his knee injury suffered a few weeks back might be worse than anticipated and he has aggravated it or even made it worse.
He will have 6 weeks recovery now, so that should sort him out.

Really interesting to read about the comments from Vinales regarding Yamaha and lack of respect etc. Also interesting to read comments (not from him) suggesting that the consistent weak link in the Yamaha decline (if you want to call it that) is Lin Jarvis. Funny how drivers/riders in F1/MotoGP seem to be disposable/interchangeable commodities, but team managers who preside over schamozzles (Jarvis, Steiner (Haas F1)) seem to be kept on.

One rider who does not have 6 weeks recovery is Cormac Racing Buchanan.
Four weekends in quick succession (a week gap between first three) of racing in British Talent Cup (Oulton Park, Knockhill, Brands Hatch, Thruxton) followed by two weekends in a row at Spielberg Austria (Rookies Cup), then back to UK for BTC at British GP Silverstone , BTC Snetterton then down to Aragon for Rookies Cup finale, then a month off before BTC finale at Donington GP circuit.
He is only missing 2 rounds of BTC (4 races) so it is possible he can win it if the cards fall his way.
Let's wait and see.
TV coverage of BTC/BSB rounds 2,3,4 is on Discovery Quest channel. Might be accessible from here, don't know.

[Dadpole]

RE: Lin Jarvis. It is a bit difficult to point the finger at a team manager when one of his riders is up at the pointy end of the title chase and winning races. The Petronas team management seem to be avoiding flak despite both riders being consistently at the wrong end of the field. Not that I feel the Petronas management should be copping any blame mind you.

[iYRe]

https://www.visordown.com/news/racing/motogp/has-petronas-srt-yamaha-decided-motogp-future-valentino-rossi-him

Seems like PRT are dropping Rossi.. or at least trying to force him to decide what he is doing

[pritch]

Lorenzo has suggested Rossi should give Ducati another whirl as that bike offers more of the feel that he needs. Whether Lorenzo intended that as a cruel joke or seiously is difficult to tell in a tweet.

[Reckless]

Rossi is gone from Petronas I reckon.
Would surprise me if Yamaha is behind this as well. Yamaha just don't want to be seen back stabbing Rossi publicly.

If you look at it from Yamaha's point of view they did very well with PRT training up Fabio.
They prob want to dump Vinales and their feeder team only has one choice in Franco.
He well deserves the chance but there is no one else.
The Rossi saga has put a bung in the hole and he is still hanging them out for a decision.
There comes a time where results start damaging the brand.
They stuffed up the Franco bike choice plus should have had him in the factory team beside Fabio.
With Vinales openly bagging them and Rossi hanging them out to dry, its a major stuff up.
They are just really lucky Fabio has done well in the Yammy this year or they'd be in crap creek.


When you compare that to the KTM ethos night and day difference.
Training up new talent and sticking by Binder. No matter if the bike wins they appear to be a kind and inspirational team.

[F5 Dave]

Having Rossi on the team won't hurt the Brand. It would be nice to get some better positions so a new rider is inevitable.

[iYRe]

Having Rossi on the team won't hurt the Brand. It would be nice to get some better positions so a new rider is inevitable.

I think, in the article they suggest that not getting placing, and keeping Rossi on while he is not really helping isnt helping their brand.. like pro cycliing, its getting the name in the front, even if its only for a lap or 2, that gets visibility, and makes sponsors happy

[roogazza]

I think, in the article they suggest that not getting placing, and keeping Rossi on while he is not really helping isnt helping their brand.. like pro cycliing, its getting the name in the front, even if its only for a lap or 2, that gets visibility, and makes sponsors happy

Here ya go iYRe !!!!! who needs leather riding gear ?????? Bet that smarts ?/
349284

[iYRe]

Here ya go iYRe !!!!! who needs leather riding gear ?????? Bet that smarts ?/
349284
yeah man, you wanna see the zx-14 pages on facebook, filled with squints with extended swingarms doing street drags basically naked..

I always wear gear

[mulletman]

https://www.visordown.com/news/racing/motogp/has-petronas-srt-yamaha-decided-motogp-future-valentino-rossi-him

Seems like PRT are dropping Rossi.. or at least trying to force him to decide what he is doing


Anyone else read further down about Garret Gerloff replacing the injured Franco Mobidelli !!??

God help all the other riders , Gerloff has smacked into quite a few WSBK riders this year through poor bike control and shit decision making at crucial times, he has been penalised for it.

Wonder how come Toprak didnt get the nod as he's been riding bloody well.

[Dadpole]

Gerloff has a US passport and that counts for a lot in MotoGP at present. Not that Gerloff is slow, just that I would have liked to see Toprak get a ride. Neil Hogson at BTSport reckons that his manager (Keenan Sofuoglu) is keen to keep him in WorldSBK because of very lucrative sponsorship deals. EG: Toprak is with Red Bull and Yamaha GP is Monster sponsored.

Filthy lucre has buggered up many a career..............

[pritch]

Maybe Lorenzo knew something. In a three year deal, Team SKY VR46 will field a Ducati satellite team in MotoGP from 2022.

So many questions, none of which were answered in what was a very brief announcement.

[Grumph]

Filthy lucre has buggered up many a career..............


Lack of it has buggered up more......

[iYRe]

https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2021/06/24/unseen-a-win-581-days-in-the-making-the-full-inside-story/380620?dtm_source=link%20&dtm_medium=article&dtm_content=PressConferenceNED&dtm_campaign=traffic

Little bit of behind the scenes of MM's win... quite fascinating.

[roogazza]

I can't help but think Rossi is going to pull the pin..... ???? A good result at Assen would be a nice swan song.

This Doocati deal with VR46 gives him a retirement job . we'll see soon huh ?

[Reckless]

I can't help but think Rossi is going to pull the pin..... ???? A good result at Assen would be a nice swan song.

This Doocati deal with VR46 gives him a retirement job . we'll see soon huh ?

I was reading this morning VR46 main sponsor the Saudi Prince wants to see him in VR46 with is brother for a year or two.
If they are willing to spend money on a gamble or 10th - 20th placings we may see him stay?

[iYRe]

I was reading this morning VR46 main sponsor the Saudi Prince wants to see him in VR46 with is brother for a year or two.
If they are willing to spend money on a gamble or 10th - 20th placings we may see him stay?

Rossi was qioted on motogp.com today saying it would be very difficult for him to be able to ride for vr46, so I dont think it will happen

[steveyb]

I saw mention that Toprak turned down the offer to ride at Assen.
But perhaps the sponsorship clash was an important contributor in that decision.
Speaking of sponsorship, the official name of the salivate Yamaha Team is Petronas Yamaha SRT (Sepang Racing Team), not PRT. I know, pedantic, but there you go, you are stuck with me! LOL.
Speaking more of sponsorship, and the political implications thereof. This new sponsorship picked up by VR46 from Aramco, officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, may cause some friction around the traps.
While no one is perfect, except me of course, the human rights and environmental record of the House of Saud and Aramco are a bit shite.
Scratch the surface and many other companies and sponsors and the like may show records with similar hallmarks, but this one in particular might just speak to the cavalier attitude in bike racing towards sponsors who are not, shall we say, squeeky clean.
I did note the other day, that Malbroro have been induced one way or another, to remove their completely cynical Mission Winnow branding from the F1 cars during European races (only Ferrari?? I forget).

Musical chairs at Snipers Rivacold/Prustel GP teams with Salac moving to Prustel and Surra (VR46 Academy) in at Snipers. That means Salac gets to miss Assen, for his trouble. She's a funny old world this bike racing caper.

Anyway, BSB and BTC on Sky Sport 5 and Eurosport 2 this weekend. Get amongst it, in between Assen MotoGP. Weather in Welly is supposed to be shite this weekend, so why not stay up all night and sleep all day.

[F5 Dave]

Suck on a Rothmans or Benson&Hedgehogs, chew some Skoal or race for Shell advance (read up atrocities in Africa) . Or worse yet slap on some Brut:nono: (purely on the grounds of taste).

[roogazza]

Anyway, BSB and BTC on Sky Sport 5 and Eurosport 2 this weekend. Get amongst it, in between Assen MotoGP. Weather in Welly is supposed to be shite this weekend, so why not stay up all night and sleep all day.

cheers for that, mum just added Skysport for me (must've been good somehow ?)

As for staying up all night and sleeping the days. I have Crohns which is neat ! Controlled by the drug prednizone.....
I was up at 1am, trying my hand at being American sniper.
Bunnies have been digging in my bloody lawn. :yes: :mad:

[steveyb]

Rabbit stew!! Mmmm

Or worse yet slap on some Brut (purely on the grounds of taste). Brut?? You brute.

[F5 Dave]

cheers for that, mum just added Skysport for me (must've been good somehow ?)

As for staying up all night and sleeping the days. I have Crohns which is neat ! Controlled by the drug prednizone.....
I was up at 1am, trying my hand at being American sniper.
Bunnies have been digging in my bloody lawn. :yes: :mad:
Be careful with that shit. A mate, same affliction for like 30 years, was on huooge doses. Got so crazed felt like he was going to top his wife.

[steveyb]

MONUMENTAL highside for Marquez M in FP2. Shit!!! Walked away.

[iYRe]

MONUMENTAL highside for Marquez M in FP2. Shit!!! Walked away.


https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2021/06/25/every-angle-and-reaction-from-marc-marquez-s-lucky-escape/381131

bit sore apparently... new chassis being tested too

[steveyb]

Check it out!!

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/episodes/race-week-s1-e1

[pritch]

https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2021/06/25/every-angle-and-reaction-from-marc-marquez-s-lucky-escape/381131

bit sore apparently... new chassis being tested too

He's sore sure 'nough, but he's lucky he didn't land on the damaged arm.

[merv]

A couple of years ago Honda seemed to have a handle on the spec electronics settings, then Marc had that silly high-side crash when he was dicking around with Fabio in one of the practices, then his big crash and injury last year and now this.

It seems Honda do need to pull finger and figure out what it has done with changes to the bike to make it do these things.

[Autech]

Waaahoooo!

So happy!

https://m.gpone.com/en/2021/06/25/motogp/ktm-announces-that-dani-pedrosa-is-set-to-race-a-grand-prix-this-year.html

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[Reckless]

A couple of years ago Honda seemed to have a handle on the spec electronics settings, then Marc had that silly high-side crash when he was dicking around with Fabio in one of the practices, then his big crash and injury last year and now this.

It seems Honda do need to pull finger and figure out what it has done with changes to the bike to make it do these things.

Interesting VID, He is a lucky boy not to have hip damage he'll be sore.
He was pointing out how they cant find a reason for these sudden "traction let goes" with the Honda and how that really affects the confidence of the rider.
Especially when he wasn't pushing and with the safety net of the electronics. First time I have seem him that worried. I guess injury makes you a bit more weary like age does LMAO.


Waaahoooo!

So happy!

https://m.gpone.com/en/2021/06/25/motogp/ktm-announces-that-dani-pedrosa-is-set-to-race-a-grand-prix-this-year.html

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Yeh me to but I think Danny will find the level is higher than in his day.
Beating Rossi would be a big tick for him :)

[Autech]

Interesting VID, He is a lucky boy not to have hip damage he'll be sore.
He was pointing out how they cant find a reason for these sudden "traction let goes" with the Honda and how that really affects the confidence of the rider.
Especially when he wasn't pushing and with the safety net of the electronics. First time I have seem him that worried. I guess injury makes you a bit more weary like age does LMAO.



Yeh me to but I think Danny will find the level is higher than in his day.
Beating Rossi would be a big tick for him :)Not too worried where Dani finishes tbh, just will be great to see him launch it off the line again.

I did wonder when I saw him at the race weekend the other week if it'd give him a nudge in the direction again, seems that it may have done so.

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[roogazza]

Vinales, is getting a bit of flac , and talk over weekend is a possible move to Aprilia. He'll have to break a two year contract to do that.

He can be brilliant, but then can flounder.

Go #20 , he can ride that Yam !!!!

[Autech]

Vinales, is getting a bit of flac , and talk over weekend is a possible move to Aprilia. He'll have to break a two year contract to do that.

He can be brilliant, but then can flounder.

Go #20 , he can ride that Yam !!!!

Yeah I'm not sure how ditching a winning bike that he can't win on for a top 10 one is going to make his life any better? Does he need to get his arse kicked by Aleix every weekend to finish his career off properly?

He's clearly in a bad place but is really showing his colours at the mo. Immediately after the race he was blaming the clutch for his bad start? Like bro! Then saying he can't overtake as it's not fast enough, meanwhile Fabio is pulling bike lengths on cunts getting it hooked up out of corners...
That's always been a strength of Fabs on that Yamaha and it really was apparent last night how good he was at getting it going on the gas at lean, if Maverick could do the same he'd have something to bring to a battle. Why would they completely change the DNA of their bike to match one rider? Simple fix is to get rid of that rider.

Awesome race though, I love Assen, such an on the limit track, so many guys cutting shapes through that fast section, I'd love to have a run there.

Thoughts:
Zarco - He was never going to make that corner if Rins wasn't there, typical move by him and he fucked Rins race in doing so, legal but rude, I hope Rins serves him next round.
Nakagami - Got flustered, he's almost there I reckon, is riding that bike well you could see how a few rough moves caused his fall back. What's a Alex Marquez?
MM - I think these 5 weeks will do him well, Taka shows the bikes still pretty decent, if they can get some rear traction out of corners they'll be good. With a fit Marquez after a break look out.
KTM - Really expected more of them this weekend, Olivera did well but I expected him to be on the podium.
Iker - Goneskis, that's one too many DNF's when ya seats on the line, tis a shame but it's tough at the top
Mir - Doing his thing again, still definitely a threat for the championship, I just think the Fabio/Factory Yamaha combo is pretty hard to beat at the mo.
Miller - Unlucky, didn't look to be doing anything wrong, just needed to finish to get some points at a tricky track. Tis a shame as he's been going so well this year.
Yamaha - Their start device is working bloody well, no more Ducati trouncings at the start, wonder what Gigi will dream up next to get his boys ahead...
Rossi - Anyone who thinks he's not taking risks in his old age can STFU, he's certainly giving it his all out there

[pritch]

Yeh me to but I think Danny will find the level is higher than in his day.
Beating Rossi would be a big tick for him :)

That's an interesting comment considering that Rossi appears to be as fast as he ever was but everybody else is going faster. Pedro will provide an interesting comparison.

Rossi's effort in Assen should help him make up his mind - if he was still wavering.

[Reckless]

Good race plenty of competition
Pecco did well the first few laps but it was just a matter of time.
Not many would bet on anyone else but Fabio for the championship

Maverick Didn't look good did it.
In fact so bad I was thinking no one else might want the blame game and the bad Vib in their team :mad:
Can't get his head right, copying his team mate settings cause he cant get the bike right, then this ungracious display in front of his team and sponsors.
He got bloody second for goodness sake.
A lot might be considering not to go there even if he is fast when the stars align.

Hard move by Zarco but I cant help admire his weekend from Q1 to best Ducati on the day.
Poor old Rossi has it all wrong I don't want to see him hurt.
Taka was destroyed after the race never seen anyone look so down. Got himself in a muddle and its easy to do.

Easy from the arm chair aye but with all the above going on it makes a crazy old fart having a first go at racing post classic at 63 feel not so bad about falling off 3 years in a row LMAO. :baby:

5 weeks what will we do LOL.

[pritch]

Then saying he can't overtake as it's not fast enough,

That's a valid comment on Vinale's part. The same comment has been made since the days of Rossi and Lorenzo. The Yamaha has the edge on corner speed, but if there is a bike in front of them they can't use that speed advantage, they can only go the same speed in the corner as the bike they are following. Quateraro was stuck behind Bagnaia for a number of laps but once he got in front with a clear run he was off and gone.

[Autech]

That's a valid comment on Vinale's part. The same comment has been made since the days of Rossi and Lorenzo. The Yamaha has the edge on corner speed, but if there is a bike in front of them they can't use that speed advantage, they can only go the same speed in the corner as the bike they are following. Quateraro was stuck behind Bagnaia for a number of laps but once he got in front with a clear run he was off and gone.

Yeah, but say they add more power and it spins up too much and it's still too slow? He's gotta be careful what he wishes for.

[iYRe]

Another quote from MM in the pre-race:

When asked his lowest point: Oct-Nov inside the second surgery, and it kept getting worse, to the point where he wasnt even sure his arm would be a normal arm outside racing.

That's some scary stuff.

I had an issue with my head a few years back and woke up in hospital thinking I had a stroke and I would never ride again.. just about killed me that did.. I feel his pain (in a way)

[Reckless]

Go Miller great stuff

‘Double standards bulls**t’: Miller lashes ‘idiot’ rivals in stunning MotoGP takedown

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/moto-gp/motogp-2021-dutch-qualifying-at-tt-assen-results-grid-jack-miller-furious-as-maverick-vinales-takes-pole/news-story/f0b584b98b31a8fc8a7f26be62b12349

[steveyb]

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/06/28/breaking-vinales-to-split-from-yamaha-at-the-end-of-2021/382207

Vinales and Yamaha end their contract one year early.

Should Aprilia sign him?

IMO, NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

When he was younger, his record was the best of any current era rider, incl Stoner and Rossi, by a margin actually. I recall commenting as much here.
But at this level he does not have the fortitude required to weather the storms week in, week out.
And then to try and ride a bike that is almost there but not quite, in an Italian team (ie chaotic) and try to develop said bike, no way, would be a disaster.
IMO Aleix is also now demonstrating he is a liability to highest level performance for Aprilia too. He simply does not know how to stay in front and fight for those final 10ths.

Interesting stuff.

[Reckless]

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/06/28/breaking-vinales-to-split-from-yamaha-at-the-end-of-2021/382207

Vinales and Yamaha end their contract one year early.

Should Aprilia sign him?

IMO, NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

When he was younger, his record was the best of any current era rider, incl Stoner and Rossi, by a margin actually. I recall commenting as much here.
But at this level he does not have the fortitude required to weather the storms week in, week out.
And then to try and ride a bike that is almost there but not quite, in an Italian team (ie chaotic) and try to develop said bike, no way, would be a disaster.
IMO Aleix is also now demonstrating he is a liability to highest level performance for Aprilia too. He simply does not know how to stay in front and fight for those final 10ths.

Interesting stuff.

Just saw it on MotoGp. Came here to post it your quick LOL

Agree with you Stevey as per my comments above for any team but a team might take him.
I think Dovi would be good for the Aprilia development.

Looks like a spot back in factory team for Rossi then - Just kidding
I hope they do right by Franco. Him and Fabio would be good combo I reckon.
Get a couple of new hot shots in Petronas.

BTW good write up in Kiwi Rider by Mac Attack :)
In the Med center with Rossi and MM :first: bloody hell a lot would deliberately get hurt just to be there :)
Wonder if they where chatting LMAO

[steveyb]

5 weeks what will we do LOL.

BSB on Sky/Eurosport/Discovery!!!

[Autech]

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/06/28/breaking-vinales-to-split-from-yamaha-at-the-end-of-2021/382207

Vinales and Yamaha end their contract one year early.

Should Aprilia sign him?

IMO, NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

When he was younger, his record was the best of any current era rider, incl Stoner and Rossi, by a margin actually. I recall commenting as much here.
But at this level he does not have the fortitude required to weather the storms week in, week out.
And then to try and ride a bike that is almost there but not quite, in an Italian team (ie chaotic) and try to develop said bike, no way, would be a disaster.
IMO Aleix is also now demonstrating he is a liability to highest level performance for Aprilia too. He simply does not know how to stay in front and fight for those final 10ths.

Interesting stuff.Either that or Aleix is at the limit of that bike.
Only way of knowing is to get another good rider beside him.

Funny thing is that Aleix is saying they lack the power to overtake, so if Maverick goes there he's going to much the same bike.
In saying that they'll be a full factory effort next year, so maybe some more coin will head its way.

From my couch watching Aleix cutting shapes on it the bike is a good all rounder, doesn't appear to be stronger in any particular area compared to the other bikes.

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[Reckless]

Dont forget Franco
I reckon Franco will be looking for a Yamaha commitment before Aprilia hired anyone else.
He woudn't want to be left out in the cold and miss out especially after what happened last year with Yamaha.
Even if it was to hedge his bets.

You never know Aprilia could or be having 3 top riders to choose from yet.

Imagine that Franco at Aprilia and Dovi and MV nowhere.

[pritch]

Dont forget Franco
I reckon Franco will be looking for a Yamaha commitment before Aprilia hired anyone else.


Franco and Rossi are besties. He might be candidate for a SKY VR46 Ducati. After Rossi's little brother of course. The team could do worse.

I'm wondering where they're getting all these Ducs from though. Have they been raiding the museum?

[steveyb]

Franco and Rossi are besties. He might be candidate for a SKY VR46 Ducati. After Rossi's little brother of course. The team could do worse.

I'm wondering where they're getting all these Ducs from though. Have they been raiding the museum?

Hand-me downs.

If I read it right, Lenovo Ducati and Pramac Ducati will have GP22's, VR46 will have GP21's and Gresini maybe a mix of GP21s and GP20's.

Bastianini is riding a GP19 is he not? Not sure.

Morbidelli/Marini in VR46 team, would be pretty neat, but I think Jarvis will be duty bound to promote Franco into the factory Yamaha team.

[roogazza]

BSB on Sky/Eurosport/Discovery!!!

copied a bit of BSB the other night and finally saw this young fella Cormac ,is it ?

He was around 17th at the time then jumped off I think?
Can't recall the class he's in, Junior Cup ?

They all look very young and the front runners have the big boy patter off pat. lol.

[Autech]

Not looking forward to having so many Ducatis on the grid tbh, far too fuckin many!

[Reckless]

Great evaluation of the Maverick saga. Maybe Mav should read this himself LMAO :no::msn-wink:

https://motomatters.com/analysis/2021/06/29/maverick_vi_ales_wild_weird_weekend_and.html

[Autech]

Great evaluation of the Maverick saga. Maybe Mav should read this himself LMAO :no::msn-wink:

https://motomatters.com/analysis/2021/06/29/maverick_vi_ales_wild_weird_weekend_and.htmlI've seen it myself many times at club level racing, even SIM racing but its interesting that a guy can get all the way to MotoGP and lack the racecraft to engineer an overtake based off assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the rider/driver in front them relative to his own.

Its amazing really but its a fair assessment by Emmet as he 100% was trying the same move lap in lap out. Now that I think back I was shouting at the TV advising him to give up on it and try something different. Vinales has never been a Sunday man though, he's won many qualifying and practice championships.

I'm guessing Quatararo wised up to Bags and dropped back a bit to hit a corner or 2 faster to slingshot by him, rather than coming across him mid corner, having to slow down then losing out down the straight.

Unfair to compare him to Pedrosa really as in his early career he was winning a lot more and at least had multiple injuries to justify bad results, Vinales doesn't have any such excuses other than an inability to get it going on a Sunday.



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[steveyb]

copied a bit of BSB the other night and finally saw this young fella Cormac ,is it ?

He was around 17th at the time then jumped off I think?
Can't recall the class he's in, Junior Cup ?

They all look very young and the front runners have the big boy patter off pat. lol.

Yep, Cormac Mac Attack Buchanan.
Racing in British Talent Cup. BSB Moto3 class.

The whole weekend was very challenging.

First visit to Oulton Park, second time out with new team and bike (Honda NSF250)
FP1 an important bolt came out of the engine on lap 3, so lost that session.
FP2 was raining and the bike would not start, so only did 3-4 laps. (edit: turned out to be a broken wire).
FP3 went well and finished inside top 10.
QP went well and qualified 4th fastest. So, pretty good all things considered.

R1 was racing well in laps 1-3 when a crash, by others, caused red flag and full restart.
In restart got hemmed in a bit and bumped backwards and then nerfed off the track onto the grass.
Held it all together to come back on in last place. Was making steady progress up to like 15th (of 31 starters) when got nerfed again and both riders went down.
So a bit disappointing, but such is racing.
A bit sore, but no serious injury.

R2, starting 5th (second race grid is determined by R1 laptimes). But bike would not start on the grid (they do the sitting on the grid thing at BSB).
So, rolled off and forced to start warm up lap from pit-lane, and race from last row of grid, meaning starting race from 31st place.
Got good start and was immediately passing riders left, right and centre.
Up to 5th and chasing down 4th with 2-3 laps to go (14 lap races), when a crash bought out another red flag. Race had gone long enough to be declared a result.
So, 5th place, but 4th was almost definite and podium if he had been able to start from rightful position.
3rd best laptime of the race (2 sec faster than QP) and 4th best laptime of the weekend.
Not bad for first time at the track and only 2nd weekend on the new bike and following a bunch of quite big set-backs.
Cormac was pretty pissed off with it all, to be fair. But he is learning the ups and downs and really, took it all in his stride.

Leaves Cormac in 8th position overall after round 1, but not many points behind 4th and a few more behind 2nd and 3rd. 1st is currently the runaway leader, but one DNF and it will be all on (and he crashed a bit last season).

So, a huge number of positive lessons to take away and he very definitely stood out (for grass tracking, crashing, getting taken off the grid and storming through the field).

If anyone wants to help support the battle fund, drop a line via Facebook to Cormac Racing and they will let you know how you can do that.

If he continues this trajectory in BTC, he will be winning races soon.

Next round Knockhill, Scotland June 9-11.

[steveyb]

Great evaluation of the Maverick saga. Maybe Mav should read this himself LMAO :no::msn-wink:

https://motomatters.com/analysis/2021/06/29/maverick_vi_ales_wild_weird_weekend_and.html

Just as I called it eh?
FIAGAT (Fuck I am good at this)

[onearmedbandit]

Cheers for the updates Steve, good to have someone on the inside providing great insight.

[Reckless]

Cheers for the updates Steve, good to have someone on the inside providing great insight.

I second that :) Thanks for taking the time for us :)

[iYRe]

https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2017/08/22/donington-98-when-crafar-beat-doohan/

When Crafar beat Doohan.

Yeah... so... magic.

There was a race once, with Doohan, Rainey, Schwantz and Gardiner in Oz, I think it was Gardiner's last race there, and Doohan won (from memory WG's fairing was coming loose and he was barely hanging on). All I can remember is that the 4 of them were nose to tail, swapping lead for the whole race, it was one of the best races I've seen. Can anyone remember the year and track? I wanna see if I can find it on YT.

[James Deuce]

https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2017/08/22/donington-98-when-crafar-beat-doohan/

When Crafar beat Doohan.

Yeah... so... magic.

There was a race once, with Doohan, Rainey, Schwantz and Gardiner in Oz, I think it was Gardiner's last race there, and Doohan won (from memory WG's fairing was coming loose and he was barely hanging on). All I can remember is that the 4 of them were nose to tail, swapping lead for the whole race, it was one of the best races I've seen. Can anyone remember the year and track? I wanna see if I can find it on YT.

1990 GP @ Phillip Island, I believe. Watched that one live.

[iYRe]

1990 GP @ Phillip Island, I believe. Watched that one live.


awesome, i'll have a gander

[Oscar]

1990 GP @ Phillip Island, I believe. Watched that one live.


I was there.
You can see me and Kev Turley walking around the 500 grid (you can pick Turls coz he has a red Line 7 jacket on).
Paul Treacy asked us what the fuck we were doing there, we said "just lookin'..."

[Oscar]

...and then I remembered I had pics:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Old-favourites/i-RM8xRX4/1/4cd7080f/XL/005-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Old-favourites/i-WQ6Mg7L/1/25eef6cf/XL/004-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Old-favourites/i-NLGTxLD/1/a6fce2e0/XL/010-XL.jpg

Actually these may be 1989...oh shit, it's a long time ago...

[iYRe]

89 is Gardiner's "best win" he said.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpHNS7IbTWM

Cant find the full race from 1990 unfortunately :(

[Autech]

Sometime I'm amazed at how a T-Rexes arms can operate a computer keyboard.

Old farts.

Bet the 2 stroke smoke was very aromatic though :)

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