MotoGP 2015

[Erelyes]

Hasn't really looked like winning? Wonder what championships you have been watching?

Let's look at the stats for his Motogp seasons.
2006 - fifth
2007 - second on 242 points (1 ahead of Rossi, 125 behind Stoner). Didn't miss a race.
2008 - third. Even if he had won the single race missed he'd have still been third.
2009 - third. Didn't miss a race.
2010 - second on 245 points (12 ahead of Rossi, 138 behind Lozenge). Missed three races. Even if he'd won all them he'd have been second.
2011 - fourth
2012 - second on 332 points (78 ahead of Stoner, 18 behind Lozenge). Close, although Dani didn't miss a race - Stoner missed three due to ankle surgery.
2013 - third. Both him and Lozenge missed one race (Germany), where MM won. Arguably his closest chance. That said - if he'd not been injured, Lozenge still missed Germany, Pedro beat MM, AND MM finished third (who would finish second?) he'd have tied the championship on points. A lot of ifs.
2014 - fourth

Let's face it, the excuses don't really wash
'blame it on the bike' - OK, maybe if the bike is terrible, even the best rider won't win. But often the best rider is the one who can work with the bike, surpassing its 'disadvantages' and turning them into strengths. Often a 'bad bike' is just one that the rider hasn't figured out. Can one really argue that the Honda was bad enough from '06 to '14 that Dani couldn't make it work?
'injuries' - as shown above, several times he's been injured, he would have lost it even if he got to go straight to Go and collect $200 on those races. Injuries are part of the game and anyone in the game for as long as he has been will expect them. Plenty of other champs have dealt with injuries.

The overall theme seems to be that there was always someone else there who was able to work the magic and come up with the goods. And even if Dani had had the fortune to win one (or two) of the above championships he'd have won them by a slim margin, the kind that can be argued about all day. Not the crushing, 100+ margin victories that Stoner, Rossi, Lorenzo, have enjoyed.

[Doppleganger]

Quote :And when Marquez isn't winning or is off pace Dani has the ability to stay on the bike and run for the win keeping Repsol Honda all over the camera... Makes sense to me. Lets face it who would Honda put on the bike from the Honda steed? Miller, Crutchlow, Redding?

Johnny Rea

[James Deuce]

Johnny Rea

Yeah, nah.

[pritch]

Johnny Rea

Was listening to an interview with him and he says he is too old. Even so, never say never.

The interview may be accessed here: http://www.motopodcast.com/

[Shaun Harris]

Was listening to an interview with him and he says he is too old. Even so, never say never.

He is being realistic. He is To old for HRC and Motogp factory team unfortunately for him and us

[Autech]

Johnny Rea

I would have to agree as a Rea fan, that mofo rides bikes well!

[pritch]

Apparently Danny Kent is in talks with Pramac about riding for them next year. His other obvious option would be Leopard Racing in Moto2.
The MotoGP ride must have a lot of appeal though.

[James Deuce]

Apparently Danny Kent is in talks with Pramac about riding for them next year. His other obvious option would be Leopard Racing in Moto2.
The MotoGP ride must have a lot of appeal though.

The more guys who step directly from Moto3 to MotoGP, the more pointless Moto2 looks though. I wouldn't be surprised to see Dorna slap a rules amendment demanding a season in Moto2 before stepping up to MotoGP, in the near future.

[Mental Trousers]

Guys going from Moto3 straight to MotoGP would probably encourage a shake up of Moto2. The Moto2 riders, teams, sponsors and Dorna think it's wonderful. At the moment it's really only a large section of the fans who aren't loving it.

It's a bit of a dead end class as it doesn't prepare the riders for MotoGP at all. Moving from Moto3 they have to adapt to a totally different type of riding, one which doesn't translate to MotoGP at all.

Moving the class to a 500cc twin could mean smaller, lighter bikes that are closer to the type of bikes in both Moto3 and MotoGP.

[pritch]

The more guys who step directly from Moto3 to MotoGP, the more pointless Moto2 looks though. I wouldn't be surprised to see Dorna slap a rules amendment demanding a season in Moto2 before stepping up to MotoGP, in the near future.

Danny Kent has already done time in Moto2, he went back to Moto3. A good move it would seem.
I saw a comment this morning that said promising riders can just get swallowed up in Moto2 because it is not as even as everybody thinks. There was no explanation.

[pritch]

I was reading Mat Oxley's latest article in Motorsport magazine, at the following link for those who haven't read it: http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...who-honda-was/

In the article he mentions Scot Bob McIntyre, a mechanic by trade. Back in the day Bob Mac was considered the greatest rider never to win a world title. When riding for Gilera he recorded the first ever 100mph lap of the Isle of Man in 1957. Most of his career though was spent on outclassed British machinery.

The general opinion at the time was that the AJS 7R engine had a slight edge over the 350 Manx Norton but that the 500 Manx was slightly better than the Matchless G50 engine. In those days it was common for riders to be jumping from one bike to another to compete in multiple races, so to minimise the differences between bikes McIntyre designed and built two bikes identical in all respects except the engines: a 350 AJS and a 500 Norton.

The frame details being concealed by the fairing, the main visual difference between his bikes and anybody else's was the oversized oil tanks he had fitted in an effort to enhance reliability.

In his article Oxley mentions that McIntyre died following a crash on a Honda. That's not how I remembered it, so I checked Wikipedia which states he died following a crash on a Norton. Neither my scrap book from the time, nor Bob Mac's book mention the make of bike. My memory isn't what it was – if it ever was – but I recall that he was riding a Royal Enfield 700 Constellation in a production race when the Enfield threw a rod.

I sent Oxley a message mentioning the confusion and he replied, “Yeah, sorry got it wrong”.
OK, so that rules out the Honda but still leaves two contenders and for now that's where it rests, although I may do some looking with a view to correcting the Wikipedia entry if it's wrong.

While thinking about this I was looking at McIntyre's book, particularly the final chapter where he considered the future. At the time of writing, 1962, he was concerned for the 500cc class. The 50cc class had just been introduced bringing the number of classes to six including sidecars. Mcintyre was concerned that while the British were selling 500s there was no development being done in the class and he worried that the 500s would be discontinued. He was hopeful though that if the 500s could hang on a few years policies may change and engine sizes increase again.

He mentions his “pipe dream” of starting a company to manufacture competitive racing machines for sale to the public. Four cylinder 250s and 350s, and an eight cylinder 500. He felt that with the Italians having already done the development work he could get these to the market for 600 pounds.

Sadly he died that same year so we never got to see if he could have turned his dream into reality.

[roogazza]

MotoGP, Crutchlow: Honda raises downward ...

Sunday, 09 August 2015 16:00 by Matteo Aglio - MotoGP
Cal Crutchlow - GPOne.comCal Crutchlow is playing at the moment the most important role of pawn on the chessboard of the market for MotoGP next year. With all the doors of the official teams barred (also at Tech3 already full) the way ahead for him are not many though. The UK currently has a contract with LCR for 2016, but the team has an option in his favor to renegotiate the agreement if it can not field two bikes next season .

And 'what seems to happen because the team does not yet know if CWM Cecchinello will be on its hulls until the end of the year (a decision will be made in the coming weeks, otherwise Brno will be the last GP in the colors of the British financial) and surely the streets of share in the future.

This is why the clause against Cal will be invoked and the UK is preparing the ground for negotiation. In recent months, he had offered unsuccessfully to Tech 3, then went to knock on the door of Ducati. A Ducati with Pramac have opened a window - an Englishwoman interested - but offend also a very low figure for the engagement.

A return of Crutchlow in red, after chasing the dream Honda for all of last season, is possible but Ducati not want to make false papers to get him back. For its part, also Lucio Cecchinello wants to keep Cal, but renegotiating the contract itself, of course downward.

" If next year I had to field only a motorcycle, I would do it at the top and entrusting it to a pilot experience. Crutchlow is definitely an option, because we have built a good relationship with him this year , "says the manager.

Negotiations have already begun and the will is not to get them too long. For its part Ducati is at the window, because no hurry to close, let alone going to raise a possible offer of Honda. The probability and then hang on the side of Japan at the time and the move to Cal seems more geared towards a rise than anything else.

The words of Cecchinello also cool the track that leads to Zarco, French is on everyone's lips but the interest in him seems to be pretty cool.

Miller remains that if LCR could not put on track the second bike, will be entrusted to the team Aspar . The Spanish team will have to decide the other pilot. Both Nicky Hayden Eugene Laverty did not shine this season on the Honda Open. Interest in the US is reduced to a minimum, the British could have a second chance, but its prices are certainly high.

We conclude the roundup with Scott Redding, who has disappointed on the RC213V rider Factory. For him it is likely still a renewal , the last chance to show his t

Translated , but you can get whats going on.

[James Deuce]

Danny Kent has already done time in Moto2, he went back to Moto3. A good move it would seem.

Indeed. I was aware of that too, but it makes two points.

The competitiveness of Moto2 sharpens your ability hunt for a championship rather than just a race.

The MotoGP teams are looking at Moto3 rather more closely than Moto2.

[Shaun Harris]

The MotoGP teams are looking at Moto3 rather more closely than Moto2.

What makes you say the above James?"

[BMWST?]

Let's look at the stats for his Motogp seasons.
2006 - fifth
2007 - second on 242 points (1 ahead of Rossi, 125 behind Stoner). Didn't miss a race.
2008 - third. Even if he had won the single race missed he'd have still been third.
2009 - third. Didn't miss a race.
2010 - second on 245 points (12 ahead of Rossi, 138 behind Lozenge). Missed three races. Even if he'd won all them he'd have been second.
2011 - fourth
2012 - second on 332 points (78 ahead of Stoner, 18 behind Lozenge). Close, although Dani didn't miss a race - Stoner missed three due to ankle surgery.
2013 - third. Both him and Lozenge missed one race (Germany), where MM won. Arguably his closest chance. That said - if he'd not been injured, Lozenge still missed Germany, Pedro beat MM, AND MM finished third (who would finish second?) he'd have tied the championship on points. A lot of ifs.
2014 - fourth
.

If this is suppose to be a reason NOT to sign Dani,you are doing it wrong.I agree that dani probably isnt going to win a championship,but heck as a number two rider he is perfect.Just say you have signed Marquez,or Lorenzo or Rossi.Who do you sign as your number two.Dani.You dont want a teammate who will beat you every other race if you want to win a championship,you want a guy who will amost always come third or fourth.Every now and then he beats the pants of everyone,including your number 1 rider,but for most of the year he is stealing points of your main mans rival