MotoGP 2015

[pritch]

There is also something showing up at 6 am on saturday morning...more qualifying?

Who knows? I took a best guess and set the box to record. The information SKY offer is not very clear but I'm not as concerned as I otherwise might have been, I have a plan B, I can watch in bed on the iPad.

[Badjelly]

If you go to the SKY TV Guide on the web and search "Moto GP" - with a space - you will find what they have. Whatever that is, I'm still working it out. A search for "MotoGP" - no space - will give a "no results" answer.

How stupid is that? Stupid for not being able to spell MotoGP correctly and stupider for having such a fussy, lame search engine. But the bit I really hate is the way they move the bike racing to the pop-up channels, that we second-class Vodafone cable subscribers can't see.

[Oscar]

I think it clashes with the Indian cricket league, so isn't being shown 'till next Thursday....

As long as it don't clash with the Darts...

[Reckless]

DP's out for this one

Off Moto GP or is that MotoGP LMAO

Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa will miss the Spanish GP in Jerez to allow him to recover from his arm-pump surgery, and will return at Le Mans.
Pedrosa underwent surgery for his arm-pump problem after the Qatar GP, missing the races Austin and Argentina. In the operation, performed on the 3rd April, doctors completely removed the layer of fascia – the casing around the muscle that gives it form and shape – which was causing problems for Dani. After three weeks of recovery Dani is feeling an improvement but together with doctors has decided to rest until Le Mans – on 17th May – to give his arm more time to heal. Hiroshi Aoyama will replace Dani for the third race in a row.

Dani Pedrosa:
“I really hoped to return in Jerez, but after riding a supermotard bike yesterday, we decided it’s not the best option. By competing in an entire race weekend we risk damaging the arm further and slowing down the healing process and the last thing I want to do is create a bigger problem. I’m missing my team and can’t wait to come back in Le Mans. Thank you all for all your kind messages, they give me strength in these tough times.”

[denill]

But Marc Will Be Back:

[Erelyes]

Aoyama again? 5 points from 2 races so far, let's hope he can point the thing into the top 10 this time.

[Mental Trousers]

Aoyama again? 5 points from 2 races so far, let's hope he can point the thing into the top 10 this time.

His job is to put an HRC bike on the start grid so they fulfill their contractual obligations with Dorna and then to finish without breaking the bike (getting taken out at the last corner wasn't his fault) or using an engine. They're not going to risk an all important engine on one off results.

[Oscar]

His job is to put an HRC bike on the start grid so they fulfill their contractual obligations with Dorna and then to finish without breaking the bike (getting taken out at the last corner wasn't his fault) or using an engine. They're not going to risk an all important engine on one off results.

Yeah, I bet that thing's got all the performance settings dialled in at "nana".

[Erelyes]

Yeah, I bet that thing's got all the performance settings dialled in at "nana".

Perhaps. Still, Aoyama set top speed during the COTA race. I wonder how much of it is tuning, how much of it is Aoyama riding under his ability to make sure it's bought home, and how much of it is Aoyama just not being as fast as most of the grid.

No argument that he's not supposed to break anything, but surely he also has scoring points for the team as a secondary objective. Repsol Honda currently have 51 pts, Ducati 100, Movistar Yamaha 103... Or is the manufacturer's more important than the team's?

So, if (perish the thought) one of the factory Yamaha / Ducati riders did themselves a mischief, who would fill in for them?

[Reckless]

So, if (perish the thought) one of the factory Yamaha / Ducati riders did themselves a mischief, who would fill in for them?

Stoner of coarse

[McWild]

Perhaps. Still, Aoyama set top speed during the COTA race. I wonder how much of it is tuning, how much of it is Aoyama riding under his ability to make sure it's bought home, and how much of it is Aoyama just not being as fast as most of the grid.

No argument that he's not supposed to break anything, but surely he also has scoring points for the team as a secondary objective. Repsol Honda currently have 51 pts, Ducati 100, Movistar Yamaha 103... Or is the manufacturer's more important than the team's?

So, if (perish the thought) one of the factory Yamaha / Ducati riders did themselves a mischief, who would fill in for them?

Nakasuga for Yamaha. Pirro for Ducati. Both of them test riders with a proven ability to get the bike home, and presumably give good testing feedback.

If HRC have chosen AoH to develop and ride their $XX,XXX,XXX motorcycle it's probably for a good reason. To venture a guess I'd say it's because he's fluent in Japanese and gives the HRC Japan workforce invaluable feedback about how their crazy long term experiment in making a bike go fast is going. Just as Nakasuga (JAP) tests for Yamaha (JAP) and Pirro (ITA) tests for Ducati (ITA). Sure Honda uses Stoner on a rare occasion and Suzuki used RdP for a little bit. But the guys doing the legwork aren't necessarily the most famous or most naturally talented.

Also I think manufacturer's is usually more important, for example look at the boosts they've suddenly given Crutchlow and Redding, and gave to Simoncelli and to Bradl.

[speights_bud]

I would have thought that getting a rider up there to block other manufacturers riders from getting points would also be on the cards.

If Stoner could manage to keep a few points from Lorenzo that wouldn't be a bad thing for Honda would it? Unless the satellite guys would be put at a disadvantage points wise

[Danger Dave]

Is the engine allocation in MotoGP per bike or per rider? as i know in WSBK that if a substitute rider competes in at least 3 events then they get their own allocation of engines that doesn't eat into the main riders allocation.

[carbonhed]

I like the look of Rins in Moto2.

[Danger Dave]

Is the engine allocation in MotoGP per bike or per rider? as i know in WSBK that if a substitute rider competes in at least 3 events then they get their own allocation of engines that doesn't eat into the main riders allocation.

Just answered my own question haha

Rule 2.4.3.3 1 C
Should a rider be replaced for any reason, the replacement rider
will be deemed to be the original rider for purposes of engine
allocation