MotoGP 2013

[Wingnut]

cant help but think that Dani's wee sit up mid corner with MM behind him (athough he probably didn't realise he was so close) upset the planning for a quick last couple of laps from the repsol boys.

This season is looking sweeeeet so far!

[Robert Taylor]

Good points pritch.

Everybody seems to want to moan about how much Cal is bitching about his bike, but yet he is the only rider out there that is running the same machinery as last year. That includes the CRT's and Ducati's. All through the testing he was telling people he wasn't really worried about testing, because he had nothing to test. They could screw around with the settings, and he could work on his riding style................................but he already had the best setup nailed, and the riding practice was good. So he didn't really do any testing this winter, just practice. That is a bit of waste considering that he about .3 behind JL at both Sepang 1 and 2 while the fastest Yamaha test rider was more than 2 seconds adrift.

So,
1.) How often do non-factory bikes win a MotoGP race?
2.) When was the last time that a non-factory bike won the Championship?
3.) Does anyone really think that any of the MotoGP riders will be happy being 3rd - 6th in the championship and say "Oh, well, thats good enough for me, I didn't really want to win anyways."

Therefore,
1.) Cal needs to get a factory bike
2.) He can't buy one
3.) The team can't buy one
4.) He's not going to get a ride in the factory team this year or next.........................

So the only option is to point out that everything he is doing is on a bike from last year, while everyone else is on new bikes. The only hope he has is to embarras Yamaha to the point where they give him a factory bike...............................and that seems to be what he's trying to do right now. Good on him, and I hope he gets it.

He has got a ''factory'' bike, just not the very latest level as the ''A'' team. Has it occured that Yamaha will only have so much capacity and budget, who pays for all of this, in the end event? Its always assumed that the factories have endless capacity and budget, actually they dont and theyve had to rein in a lot of spending, just like the rest of us. The ''A'' team get the first call on the very latest technology from suppliers such as Ohlins, equipment that is not sponsored ( contrary to wideheld assumption ) but is paid for in full at not insubstanial cost, plus a seperate service contract for the use of a technician for the season. Business transactions! This is very much the same terms that Ohlins have with HRC and Im willing to lay money that Danny and Mark get first call on the new stuff before the other supposed full factory Hondas.
Good on Crutchlow for his gutsy riding ability but he has to do all of his talking on the track, the Japanese dont usually take so kindly to ranting and raving in the media. He has to solidly earn the chance of an ''A'' bike and support, just like Lorenzo ( my pick as the very very best ) and Valentino. There are only so many ''A'' places available and economically sustainable, as has always been the case
Hopefully tonight a Yamaha 1, 2 ,3 .........Lorenzo, Rossi, Crutchlow with Ohlins suspended bikes first 10 places at least ( Im biased )

[Brett]

4am start...I thought that the main race start was 7am??

[denill]

4am start...I thought that the main race start was 7am??

Yes, 7am NZ

[carbonhed]

Dovi dicking Rossi on the Duke is fucking funny. Don't imagine his tyres will last but... still fucking funny... particularly when you think that Dovi's a piss poor qualifier usually.

[Geeen]

Does anyone know of a good link I can use to watch the race after I've dropped the kids at school tomorrow?? Thanks heaps

[pritch]

Has it occured that Yamaha will only have so much capacity and budget, who pays for all of this, in the end event?

Well it's not their sponsors 'cause they've got bugger all.

Crutchlow now has his own column with the BBC, he's being generous and gracious. So far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/22042391

[tail_end_charlie]

Not unexpectedly, I'm going with Lorenzo for the win, but I'm also really impressed with Cal and think that he has been showing enough speed and consistency to get a podium at Qatar. Probably Pedrosa for the remaining podium spot. Dovi qualified pretty good, but the weakness of the Ducati lately seems to be how it uses the rear, so I don't think he will be able to maintain his pace over race distance.

Can't wait for the race, little over 8 hrs!!!

[speights_bud]

In Thailand at the moment and the stupid hotel doesn't have fox sport only showing NASCAR on another channel which was advertising the GP on behalf... so paid up for a pass to watch on the tablet/netbook and now it wont work! piece of crap!

[speights_bud]

just found an app for gp but its another $40 or something, but ive already paid

[DidJit]

Oh yes, this is the season we’ve been waiting for.

[Dave-]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

how good was that?!?!

[Oscar]

Incredibile!
Vale è Dio...

[roogazza]

Incredibile!
Vale è Dio...

Nyuck,nyuck,nyuck !!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Incredibile!
Vale è Dio...

Nyuck,nyuck,nyuck !!

Pretty good effort wannit! I must say, I thought early on when he got in hot a few times...that he might be in trouble. But as they say...form is temporary, class is permanent! Gonna be a great season I feel.