MotoGP 2012

[Crasherfromwayback]

I assume you mean this one? http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jan/120130d17.htm

Does look pretty rough but as the article states "And a chassis doesn't need to reflect in order to work well."

Hope it goes better than it looks!

Aye!

And hell yeah. The whole bike looks like I built it.

[nudemetalz]

Aye!

And hell yeah. The whole bike looks like I built it.

It may not need to shine to work but at the end of the day, this is THE sales advertisement for Ducati and needs to look sharp.

[DidJit]

This looks horn...

Even though the RC213V is the machine to beat I think I prefer the M1 standalone looks-wise.

... needs to look sharp.

Looks very prototype. Eh, Crasher?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Even though the RC213V is the machine to beat I think I prefer the M1 standalone looks-wise.



Looks very prototype. Eh, Crasher?

I used to prefer the M1, but now the Honda does it for me.

And for sure...the Ducati looks like a prototype of days gone by. Long gone by.

[Reckless]

TIMES!

We need lap times now

[nudemetalz]

I used to prefer the M1, but now the Honda does it for me.

And for sure...the Ducati looks like a prototype of days gone by. Long gone by.

NONE of them hold a candle to this beauty !!

[slowpoke]

You mean like when Lorenzo forgot to turn on his traction control that time and arsed off his 800. Throttle control? What's throttle control?
When the telemetry comes on they're basically full throttle while still cranked over.....
I don't recall the YZR, NSR and RGV500's having traction control.......

(I await the thrown beer cans at me...)

No beer cans. Aprilia had sorted traction control for their 2 stroke 250 GP bikes so you can guarantee the same would find it's way on to a modern version of the 500 GP bikes. Plus wheelie and launch control etc etc, the electronic cat is well and truly out of the bag. And it's an expensive cat: whatever the bike is worth to lease/buy the same would go towards running/maintaining/maximising the electronics

Credit where credit is due, you don't just slam the thing on it's side and twist the grip off the r/h clip on, there's a lot more skill required than you think. The riders need the tyre spinning to get around as quick as possible so balancing spin when cornering vs traction when accelerating is a dark art balancing act accomplished by sensors, gyro's, engineers, and riders which is why it's a team sport, but also why it's so expensive.

Edit: the pic of the Duc is from Rossi's phone camera vs a cheesey Honda press release (anytime Stoner and Pedrosa are smiling in each other's company you know something is going on). Be interesting to see what Ducati roll out at the test.

[montsta56]

NONE of them hold a candle to this beauty !!

I always thought the 97 nsr500 was the best looking bike ever

[Crasherfromwayback]

I always thought the 97 nsr500 was the best looking bike ever

Best of the Honda Smokers for sure!

[Badjelly]

TIMES!

We need lap times now

To record a lap time, first someone must complete a lap.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/176...t_to_2012.html

[yod]

To record a lap time, first someone must complete a lap.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/176...t_to_2012.html

UPDATE: Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa was the first rider on track at 11:15am.

by my calculations that was about 7 minutes ago, let's see how he goes...

[Reckless]

According to some facebook feeds they are only allowed 4 tyres so no one wants to go out and scrub the track and waiste their tyres lol
Damp out their to I understand.

Your probably all subscribed to Moto GP and NZSB but for those that arn't here a re few pics of the bikes

Rossi duc, Colin Edwards bike, Nick Haydnes and the Yamaha's

I think the black carbon fibre coverup strip is the theme this year lol

[Crasherfromwayback]

I think the black carbon fibre coverup strip is the theme this year lol

They tend to do that every year until they get underway 'proper' mate.

[Reckless]

They tend to do that every year until they get underway 'proper' mate.

yeh why I called it the "coverup strip"

Last few updates

So the 2012 MotoGP season has finally started with Dani Pedrosa and Honda test rider Akiyoshi first out on track (40 mins ago)

Casey Stoner Valentino Rossi are out on track now , Akiyoshi taking out Casey and Dani's other bikes, performing a shake down..

Ivan Silva is the first CRT bike on track with the BQR-FTR Kawasaki

(15 mins ago)

Bloody exciting really Cant wait to see if Yamaha can keep up with Honda and if Ducati has nailed it??
Although its very early days yet?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Stoner FTW!!!