MotoGP 2013

[Mental Trousers]

Just trying to figure out which corner ....http://motogpindy.files.wordpress.co...ota-layout.jpg
is it t17 ?

Nah that's not how the track actually is. The front straight has a rather large hump with a kink in it. Hang on...that's Indy mate not Laguna Seca.

That's COTA in Austin, Texas.

[Mental Trousers]

The best/ballsiest pass I've ever seen in the time I've been watching was Stoner blasting round the outside over Lorenzo at Laguna over the blind hump/kink on the front straight at 260 odd kph. Balls of fucking steel.

When a world champion goes WTF?!?! it's a fucken awesome pass.

[actungbaby]

Some interesting comment from David Emmett ("Kropotkin") on advrider's MotoGP thread, concerning C Stoner's abilities as a test rider.

Q: How do you calculate the "rider with the best feeling for a motorcycle in the world" formula?

Emmett: You talk to a bunch of crew chiefs and listen to what they have to say.

Everyone I have spoken to says his feel was unparalleled. They all have outstanding feel, the best have amazing feel, but Stoner is said to have been the most sensitive to what a bike was doing.

Of course it was thats what senna had thats what spencer had thats why they can ride that bit

quicker its all feel what machine is doing

[actungbaby]

Been an awesome season. Where are the Bautista knockers? He's going alright...and did well to keep the thing upright after the last lap tangle I reckon.

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/latest+videos

He was good on the 2 stroke 250s gave mr big hair do good run didnt he pity he isitnt around

Just for his cool personilty marco.

Seems the showa suspension held him back a tad he goes well at philip island.

Feck wanted dani to win this year not looking good think just lacks that killer streak.

[BMWST?]

about to have moto 2 replayed on Sommet sports,motogp later,just missed moto 3

[Crasherfromwayback]

That's COTA in Austin, Texas.

Sorry yeah. That is actually the track I was meaning but got all confused like!

[DidJit]

Silly season update...

[Bender]

Feck wanted dani to win this year not looking good think just lacks that killer streak.

Motorsport history is littered with people who were great riders/drivers, but who never got to the very top for a variety of reasons including luck. One of the best examples is our own Chris Amon, who had the worst luck ever. If you read about some of the things that broke when he was comfortably leading races - it must have made the guy cry tears of frustration.

Sir Stirling Moss is another - one of the most famous drivers in history, yet never won a driver's WC.

I think Dani is one of those - he's had the title in his grasp a couple of times, only to be injured (collarbone, mostly) and miss races. Now he's missed the opportunity - there's a youngster on the patch that no-one is going to beat. Rossi has already branded Marquez possibly the greatest motorcycle rider of all time. Honda's Mr Nakamoto must be chuckling to himself - how are Yamaha going to counter the package of the fastest bike and a rider who is in a league of his own. (Another Mick Doohan? I reckon so).

(And, scarily, they reckon his younger brother is even faster).

Then, there's the Espargaro brothers. Aleix is wicked fast on the CRT bike and Pol makes the move to Yamaha next season.


Next season is going to be amazing. There are some really exciting new riders coming through. And a huge increase in prototypes with Yamaha leasing engines and all the 2013 prototypes - that's potentially four works bikes, four satellite bikes and five engines in CRT-type frames. Honda is supposed to be bringing out five of its new production racers. Ducati is also supposed to be offering this year's prototypes as well (all the leased 2013 prototypes would carry the spec ECUs). Could be interesting.

[roogazza]

What about this to set the tongues wagging ?
Seems to be all about money, you wouldn't even get me thinking about 'Indy', much less going there.
Lots of comments on this one.

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2013...laguna_ou.html

[steveyb]

If Laguna is kept, Moto2 and Moto3 must go there.
As far as I can recall, they did not go there after California changed the 2-stroke laws (which still allow 2-stroke racebikes by the way) so that 2-strokes can no longer be licenced for road use there (as I understand it).
So the 125's and 250's didn't go.
But now they are all 4-strokes there seems to be no real reason outside of cost and logistics for them to not be there.
I believe that there are too many races in Spain, but hell, even though there is no economy or jobs left in Spain, the spectators still go to races and the circuits still pay the Dorna bills.
But outside of the corkscrew I personally think that Laguna is a dinosaur that offers no real benefit to the series. But Indy is about the same. What about Miller? Not enough facilities or spectators I expect.
Make wonderfull TV pictures though.

[Tony.OK]

If Laguna is kept, Moto2 and Moto3 must go there.
As far as I can recall, they did not go there after California changed the 2-stroke laws (which still allow 2-stroke racebikes by the way) so that 2-strokes can no longer be licenced for road use there (as I understand it).
So the 125's and 250's didn't go.
But now they are all 4-strokes there seems to be no real reason outside of cost and logistics for them to not be there.
I believe that there are too many races in Spain, but hell, even though there is no economy or jobs left in Spain, the spectators still go to races and the circuits still pay the Dorna bills.
But outside of the corkscrew I personally think that Laguna is a dinosaur that offers no real benefit to the series. But Indy is about the same. What about Miller? Not enough facilities or spectators I expect.
Make wonderfull TV pictures though.

I read somewhere a while back that the AMA organisers (or track owners) didn't want all the GP classes as they have their classes there as support races and time is too tight.
Might be different now.

[steveyb]

That may be what they say, but I think it is a cover-up for the state laws.
But in anycase, "We want to run our own classes, not your little bikes"
should mean, "We therefore cannot run a MotoGP event at your little circuit".
Most countries can fill the programme with national classes, why should Laguna get away with it?

[Crasherfromwayback]

, why should Laguna get away with it?

Prob shouldn't. But it's the best GP I've ever been to! Spewing if they drop it before I have a chance to go back.

[Mushu]

Why this huge conspiracy theory about why moto2 and moto3 can't run at laguna, space looked to be an issue to me.
It would be good to see them there maybe they can make some improvements in future years to provide the extra room for the other classes but for now I enjoy watching the racing at laguna, one of the favorites for me (of the courses they're currently using anyway) probably because it's the most familiar course to me, the result of thousands of laps of its digital counterpart on Gran Turismo.

[Mental Trousers]

I always thought it was space in the paddock that was an issue. The National rounds running there plus the MotoGP teams and there's no room for anything else.

Could be wrong though.