MotoGP 2015

[Shaun Harris]

I certainly hope it is. Be great to see.

Shit yes, 3 and neally 4 brands hard at it again. New Team boss has done bloody good work with all his team members obviously.

[Reckless]

Off the GP Site

NO Soft tyre according to MM.

Impressive, brand new bike and all


The reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez comments on the blistering pace of the Ducati GP15 in Qatar.
The big talking point from the first two days of the final preseason test at the Losail International Circuit has been the exhilarating performance of the new Ducati GP15, which has topped the timesheet’s on both days.

The Italian factory team currently have access to the “softer” tyre option available to Open class teams or any manufacturer who has not achieved a race win in dry conditions since the 2013 season, of which Ducati fall into the latter category.

So far Ducati haven’t actually used the softer option tyre during the Qatar test, and Marquez thinks he knows why, as he said jokingly: “I believe they’re (Ducati) not using the extra-soft tyre to avoid creating a scare, because their lap-times would quickly drop by one second!”

Ducati would be immediately stripped of this concession should they achieve 3 race wins during this season, something that Marquez thinks will have a big impact on the championship: “At the end of day, it's clear that our rivals are the Yamaha riders and Dani (Pedrosa), they are our rivals for the championship. At some specific point, the Ducati will be there at the front but they have this “handicap” of losing some of their advantages if they get good results, so yeah, I know who my rivals are and who I have to keep a close eye on.”

So do they not show their hand till racing starts because know how fast they are, take the 3 wins the concession gives them, then go for the championship
Impressive effort but this non level playing field might well screw the season if the Duc is really as fast out the box as its hinting to be.
Maybe Ducati will use the spec tyre and have a go on the same as the others or just use it for qualifying, if they do this all season do they loose the concession, that would be bullshit.
To not use the soft tyre at all and win, would be really really impressive

EDIT: just found this, Hard tyre only

Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone once again were prominent at the top of the timesheet’s on the 2nd day of testing in Qatar.
From his eighteenth lap onwards, Dovizioso, who was constantly up at the front throughout today’s session, also experimented with a fairing that sported two aerodynamic carbon winglets, and it was on this GP15 “with wings” that he set his best time of the day in 1'54.907 on lap 33, guaranteeing him the top slot.

His team-mate Iannone also lapped at a good pace throughout and he set his best time on lap 16 in 1'55.104, finishing the day in third place just 0.013s of a second from Marquez.

Andrea Dovizioso:
“I am very pleased with my time today: we worked really well and we only used the hard tyre, just like yesterday. I am also happy from the point of view of our speed because we are able to be very competitive both with used tyres and with new ones. We still have to improve certain aspects, like stability under braking, and in the first part of acceleration the bike still moves a bit too much, but as for our lap speed we are at a good point. Now we’re working on fine-tuning and on race distance, because on this track the drop in tyre performance is very significant.”

Andrea Iannone:
“I am very happy with the way today went, for sure it was a positive session because I improved my best time by a little bit but above all we concentrated on race pace to try and improve this aspect, which for us until the end of last year was a bit critical. We obtained a lot of useful indications, especially from the point of view of the electronics and tomorrow we will also try and do an entire simulation over race distance.”

[roogazza]

Calvin Crutchless might have been a bit quick to leave the ship ?
Although Iannone and Dovi are better prospects for Ducati I'm thinking.
But the first race isn't far off now,then we'll get an idea of where its all going and who's doing it.

[pritch]

Final day of testing cancelled. Rain stopped play. Some newer members of the GP circus having learnt the difference between rarely and never.

If the track is wet the reflections from the many lights make it impossible for the riders to see where they are going. This to the extent that Bridgestone didn't even take wets to Qatar. There was just no point.

For many teams this was to be the day for testing over race distance, guess they get to do that for real soon enough?

Am anxiously awaiting an announcement from SKY, time is getting short.

[denill]

Am anxiously awaiting an announcement from SKY, time is getting short.

http://motogp.co.nz/?p=1085#comment-5753

SkyTV are still in negotiation with Dorna so the more people get on the phone saying they want this the better!

Call them now on: 0800759759

[roogazza]

http://motogp.co.nz/?p=1085#comment-5753

SkyTV are still in negotiation with Dorna so the more people get on the phone saying they want this the better!

Call them now on: 0800759759

Done, again ! still talking they say.

[pritch]

They have a notice that discussions are continuing but I sent them an email anyway, just so it gets added to whatever numbers they keep - if any.

[carbonhed]

Hope the GP15 can deliver the goods next weekend. Which is the first time I've ever rooted for Ducati.

[steveyb]

Funny how we easily forget.
If Gibernau had not taken out Capirossi at Barcelona in 2005(??? shit I forget the years), he would have (probably) won the championship at a canter.

[george formby]

Couple of quick questions... I'm thinking of splurging on a MotoGP.com subscription for my G/F's birthday pressie. Fed up with a bit of sporadic racing and 2am vigils. Is the racing on demand, watch it whenever we want, and can the site be accessed on multiple devices and isp's?
This season could be a humdinger.
Cheers, as you were.

[ecko_nzed]

Is the racing on demand, watch it whenever we want? Yes, you can watch live our they normally have the full race available within a couple of hours. They have a no spoilers site so the result remains a surprise (assuming social media doesn't ruin it for you)

and can the site be accessed on multiple devices and isp's? Yes.

[george formby]

Is the racing on demand, watch it whenever we want? Yes, you can watch live our they normally have the full race available within a couple of hours. They have a no spoilers site so the result remains a surprise (assuming social media doesn't ruin it for you)

and can the site be accessed on multiple devices and isp's? Yes.

Cheers. Just needed to make sure we can pop round to my mates & watch it on his huuuuuge telly.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Funny how we easily forget.
If Gibernau had not taken out Capirossi at Barcelona in 2005(??? shit I forget the years), he would have (probably) won the championship at a canter.

Big crash that one. Yesterday the Ducati's were paying $31 & $41.00 respectively at the TAB. Def worth a cheeky dabble.

[pritch]

Couple of quick questions... I'm thinking of splurging on a MotoGP.com subscription for my G/F's birthday pressie. Fed up with a bit of sporadic racing and 2am vigils. Is the racing on demand, watch it whenever we want, and can the site be accessed on multiple devices and isp's?
This season could be a humdinger.
Cheers, as you were.

Not sure of what you mean by multiple ISPs. You will log in to the site with a password, if you use the same device all the time it will let you access the site automatically. If not, you will just have to log in with your details. As long as the guy with the big TV has a decent connection speed all should be well.

Should you decide to set a bookmark, do so on the "No spoiler" page. Otherwise stay away from their site - and this one - until you have watched the race.

You don't need a big TV, I have watched the races on the laptop; it's fine, and if I wake up in the middle of the night while a race is on I'll use the iPad.

[george formby]

Not sure of what you mean by multiple ISPs. You will log in to the site with a password, if you use the same device all the time it will let you access the site automatically. If not, you will just have to log in with your details. As long as the guy with the big TV has a decent connection speed all should be well.

Should you decide to set a bookmark, do so on the "No spoiler" page. Otherwise stay away from their site - and this one - until you have watched the race.

You don't need a big TV, I have watched the races on the laptop; it's fine, and if I wake up in the middle of the night while a race is on I'll use the iPad.

Guess I meant IP address.
I've already been bitten once with the spoiler and it shall not happen again..

Looks like it's a go then. No more falling asleep waiting for the main event to kick off. Shame the G/F's birthday is in May, I'm sure she will understand.
Cheers.