MotoGP 2019

[Drew]

Testing often shows skewed results. Teams will do some really weird shit to get data.

[BMWST?]

Could be.

Honda have run a third factory bike on occasions, currently Crutchlow has one. Yamaha though have consistently refused to supply a third factory rider, in recent years at least. Things may change with the SkyVR46 MotoGP team somewhere just over the horizon. It's hard to imagine them not running Yamaha but...

I hope Yamaha can pull a rabbit out of their hat, we might get a hint over the next few days?

maybe splitting hairs ,i dont think they have refused to supply one,its just that Tech 3 couldnt afford them

[SaferRides]

maybe splitting hairs ,i dont think they have refused to supply one,its just that Tech 3 couldnt afford them

My understanding is that Tech3 wanted more factory support but Yamaha wasn't interested. That's why Tech3 changed to KTM.

Looks like Petronas have a bit more leverage, could well be $$$. Morbidelli is very happy with his new bike, so it will be interesting to see how they go in 2019.

[Reckless]

Yup, parallel development. It's been done before.

Kinda implies that Yamaha is still struggling.

Petronas are getting a 2019 bike because the 18 is shit and Yamaha don't want it out there struggling round and Yamaha being bad mouthed by the riders even indirectly.
I'd be telling them to shove the deal if it was last years Yamaha.
They are hoping the 19 bike will solve some/all of the Issues I reckon? Time will tell

[pritch]

maybe splitting hairs ,i dont think they have refused to supply one,its just that Tech 3 couldnt afford them

Can't remember who it was for, but I do seem to recall a suggestion, or request, that a third rider receive a factory bike but the reply was to the effect that Yamaha only do two.

[george formby]

Petronas are getting a 2019 bike because the 18 is shit and Yamaha don't want it out there struggling round and Yamaha being bad mouthed by the riders even indirectly.
I'd be telling them to shove the deal if it was last years Yamaha.
They are hoping the 19 bike will solve some/all of the Issues I reckon? Time will tell

Indeed. I hope they are back in to the thick of it this year.

[WALRUS]

New factory Yamaha livery for 2k19... Looks like now that Tech3 has moved to Red Bull, Yammie can fully embrace having Monster in big letters everywhere!

[Mental Trousers]

I must have missed this, but Petronas are getting the 2019 R1, not a year old bike like Tech3 did.

Interesting, that would be a big departure.

It's the only way there was ever going to be a 3rd or even 4th factory bike on the grid. Tech 3 were never seen as a team to test stuff for the factory, they were more of a customer who got the old, worn out stuff.

Isn't it only Morbidelli getting full spec bike?

its all about the money.If teh 3 fronted up with the $$$$ they (maybe)could have had up tp date bikes too.But it may also be the fact that Yamaha think that more input may be beneficial,but they need to be working of the same platform for that to be relevant

Money was only part of it. Changing the relationship between the factory and Tech 3 was required, which needed a lot more than just money.

[SaferRides]

New factory Yamaha livery for 2k19... Looks like now that Tech3 has moved to Red Bull, Yammie can fully embrace having Monster in big letters everywhere!

Doesn't look like a Yamaha - should be blue. Rossi and Mac now look like Tech3 riders.

I should admit that I still don't like the Repsol Hondas ...

[WALRUS]

Yamaha hasn't always been blue. They were Red and White for many, many, many years. Yellow and black for many more. I'm glad to see there's going to be a bit of difference this year, it was starting to be a bit "rinse and repeat" livery wise for the last few years.

That being said, I'm pretty sure Repsol Honda still look exactly the same? It's a big anniversary for them, you'd think they'd at least break out a Doohan/Criville design or something, you know?

[pritch]

That being said, I'm pretty sure Repsol Honda still look exactly the same? It's a big anniversary for them, you'd think they'd at least break out a Doohan/Criville design or something, you know?

Repsol should be OK, but if any of the other sponsors were HB, Rothmans, Lucky Strike or Camel etc, that could create a problem.

[WALRUS]

Fair call, I reckon if they did this sort of thing, that'd be sweet! Maybe just for the first round or the Motegi round or sumfink.



Like when after several years, the factory/Ten Kate Honda team in WSBK went back to a Castrol livery (also when Crutchlow changed to Castrol).. So good!

[george formby]

I reckon Yamaha would clean up if they went back to the yellow and black livery. Dunno why, but I love it.

Just sayin, as you were.

[SaferRides]

Isn't it only Morbidelli getting full spec bike?

From crash.net

Both Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo will now have 2019 bikes. However, Morbidelli's A spec will get updates just two-four races after the factory team, with a delay of around six or seven races for rookie Quartararo.
Crash.net understands that the main difference for Quartararo's (cheaper) B spec bike is that he will have only five engine changes per season, instead of the seven changes allowed.
That means Quartararo will have less RPM than the other three Yamaha riders in order to lengthen the life of his engines.

[carbonhed]

From crash.net

Both Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo will now have 2019 bikes. However, Morbidelli's A spec will get updates just two-four races after the factory team, with a delay of around six or seven races for rookie Quartararo.
Crash.net understands that the main difference for Quartararo's (cheaper) B spec bike is that he will have only five engine changes per season, instead of the seven changes allowed.
That means Quartararo will have less RPM than the other three Yamaha riders in order to lengthen the life of his engines.

Cool. Thanks for that.