MotoGP 2020

[ecko_nzed]

Agreed, it's an exciting product. Even when it became clear this season that Marquez was going dominate, it was still exciting racing. The man knows how to make things entertaining.

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[Autech]

Its only testing, but can't help thinking Honda might be in the shit with their chassis this year. MM being older and not at 100% vs a much improved field...
Hmmm...
Time will tell but here's hoping someone ends his dominance, no doubt it will be a different rider beating him when he doesn't win again like last year so he's still in with a good shot

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[Brett]

Its only testing, but can't help thinking Honda might be in the shit with their chassis this year. MM being older and not at 100% vs a much improved field...
Hmmm...
Time will tell but here's hoping someone ends his dominance, no doubt it will be a different rider beating him when he doesn't win again like last year so he's still in with a good shot

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MM is a talented, tough little mother fucker, however I wouldn't be surprised if 2018/2019 was seen as him peaking. I suspect he is going to suffer more with that shoulder and, given the way Marc simply cannot ride without pushing the limits, he will still crash. At some point, he will aggravate the shoulder(s) further and they will be a constant niggle. But hey - you can never underestimate MM. My pick would be FQ for first championship title this year, although the heart obviously wishes for #10 for VR46.

Regardless, can't wait for the season to commence. Going to Austin this year for the Texas round, so a new track to experience which will be cool.

[pritch]

MM is a talented, tough little mother fucker, however I wouldn't be surprised if 2018/2019 was seen as him peaking. I suspect he is going to suffer more with that shoulder

It was an injury not unlike that which ended the career of Freddie Spencer IIRC. I wish 93 well.

[Autech]

MM is a talented, tough little mother fucker, however I wouldn't be surprised if 2018/2019 was seen as him peaking. I suspect he is going to suffer more with that shoulder and, given the way Marc simply cannot ride without pushing the limits, he will still crash. At some point, he will aggravate the shoulder(s) further and they will be a constant niggle. But hey - you can never underestimate MM. My pick would be FQ for first championship title this year, although the heart obviously wishes for #10 for VR46.

Regardless, can't wait for the season to commence. Going to Austin this year for the Texas round, so a new track to experience which will be cool.

We also can't overlook the value that Pedrosa had in aiding the development of the bike, this years bike will be the first he had absolutely no influence over. So without his input and sensitivity will the bike lose some of its direction? Not having any other top riders on board it won't help there either, Honda need a 2nd alien, lets see how Alex goes. Otherwise they'll need to try and lure one of the KTM boys with some decent coin.
A fully fit MM might be able to beat a field of riders if he has the engine to do so, but if they other teams have made a step on the engine front he'll lose the weapon he used to great effect last year. He'll maybe not be able to just shadow the Suzukis and Yamahas then get them at the end but will have to risk more on the front end of a bike which has lost it's edge in that area.

Austin should be a laugh, I'm actually planning a trip where I'll be very near there so maybe I should try and match the dates? Hmmm.... Hadn't thought of that!

[Reckless]

Young fella's rising to the top old fella's just hanging on, the way I see it.

Top 10 Day 2:
1. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – 1:54.038
2. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.162
3. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.226
4. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.443
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) + 0.482
6. Johann Zarco (Reale Avintia Racing) + 0.527
7. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.574
8. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) + 0.624
9. Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.702
10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.721

[jato]

Zarco ... The cat could well be amongst the Ducati pigeons this year. Only testing of course but he might be on bounce back from sad times.

[pritch]

Just saw most of "After the Flag". I'm not sure if it's still available, I can't get it now.

The young dudes are looking good. Even Binder on the KTM has some famous names astern. Honda are having problems. Crutchlow has been outspoken about lack of front end feel and pushing the front end, as he would. Marquez, normally very diplomatic, has joined the chorus. In the final session when everybody else was out trying for a fast lap, MM was riding Nakagami's '19 bike with different aero packages. Honda, at this stage, don't know whether it's the frame, the engine, or the aero package that's the problem.

Honda engineers are quoted as saying they like being given a problem, it gives them something to work on. They should be happy then, but I wouldn't bet they don't fix the problem by Qatar.

[SaferRides]

I thought Honda might struggle, although last off season was possibly even worse in terms of available riders.

Qatar is a weird track. The last rider to win at Qatar and go on to win the championship was Marquez in 2014.

[pritch]

Qatar is a weird track. The last rider to win at Qatar and go on to win the championship was Marquez in 2014.

There is a long straight? That might suit Ducati who have squeezed a little more top speed out of their engine.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/...mpaign=Traffic

[SaferRides]

There is a long straight? That might suit Ducati who have squeezed a little more top speed out of their engine.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/...mpaign=Traffic

There is indeed. 1068 m according to Wikipedia.

[Autech]

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/93...-comments-ajax

MM has found a way by the looks, he usually doesn't talk shit so that's the Honda question mostly answered.
If he can salvage some decent results until his shoulder is healed and a different rider takes their turn winning each time then he'll be fine.

Hoping Miller can score some wins this year, he's developing bloody well by the looks

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[SaferRides]

Interesting. I am starting to think Honda need a better test rider than Bradl. Just look at the quality of some of the test riders in the other teams.

By rights, Honda should have signed Dani but Puig fucked up any chance of that happening.

[Autech]

Interesting. I am starting to think Honda need a better test rider than Bradl. Just look at the quality of some of the test riders in the other teams.

By rights, Honda should have signed Dani but Puig fucked up any chance of that happening.

That's cause Puig is a bell end.
Glad Dani fucked off though, a competitive KTM is just around the corner and the more bikes in the mix, the better

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[pritch]

Mat Oxley, just back from Sepang, posted some photos of the new track at Lombock, Indonesia. He remarked simply, "Interesting."

Very interesting when you consider it is scheduled to host a MotoGP round next year.