MotoGP 2016

[Reckless]

MotoGP Qatar: Rossi, Lorenzo: ‘What you f**king want?’

UPDATE: The obvious friction between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo continued when asked about 2017 contracts.

Lorenzo commented that Rossi's decision to re-sign was easier since he had no other options. Rossi responded to rumours that Lorenzo may leave Yamaha for Ducati by saying 'changing bikes takes balls, so he will remain'.

Just hours after re-signing for Movistar Yamaha, Valentino Rossi found himself tangling with team-mate and reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo.

The pair crossed paths during final practice for this weekend's Qatar season-opener, Rossi immediately gesturing his frustration to Lorenzo at being held up. The arm-waving then continued at the end of the session, as they lined-up to do a practice start.

“He exited from the pit without looking at the track and when he arrived at the first corner he tried to slow down, but he was on the line,” Rossi explained. “The problem is that I say 'why?' and I expect 'sorry', but he [look] to me like 'what you f**king want?'

“Then when we try the practice start I go to him again, but anyway...”

Speaking in the earlier press conference, Lorenzo - who is yet to accept his new Yamaha contract offer - said he was confused as to why Rossi appeared so agitated by the incident:

"In my opinion he had no reason to complain. Everyone knows when you exit the pits you cannot stop [completely] to let them past. The only thing you can do is stay on the white line. I cannot be in the gravel. What can I do? If he is still angry with me I don't know the reason, you have to ask him."

Rossi held up by team-mate Lorenzo in FP4... #QatarGP #MotoGP @ValeYellow46 pic.twitter.com/rrD638MQG7

— Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) March 19, 2016

But Rossi still clearly remembers when the roles were reversed at Misano last season.

“The problem is that this situation happened exactly the same in Misano qualifying, where I did the same mistake. He was very angry with me after and in the end they gave me one [penalty] point. But they don't give to him one point.

“I don't go to Race Direction to say 'one point', but I saw [race director] Mike Webb here [in the paddock] so I said, 'why one point to me and not to him!' I don't know why, but it is not a big problem.”

That penalty point went on to have major implications for Rossi's 2015 title hopes since, when he later received three penalty points for the incident with Marc Marquez at Sepang, it triggered a back of the grid start for the Valencia finale.

“Anyway, I am already f**ked [about] last year! Unfortunately, it won't change the situation,” Rossi laughed.

Rossi and Lorenzo continue their 'discussion' at end of FP4 #QatarGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/RYKP2Cqh11

— Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) March 19, 2016

While Lorenzo went on to claim pole position for Sunday's race, Rossi qualified in fifth place, albeit just 0.272s slower.

“Top five is not so bad. I can do better because it is slow close, but anyway I'm happy because from the second row if you have good pace you can have a good race,” Rossi said.

“But like during practice a lot of riders have a good pace, so will be hard. But I think today Marquez demonstrated that he is a little bit faster. He has a better pace. So if I look just at FP4 he is the faster, but also Lorenzo for sure and I hope me, Vinales, the Ducatis so it will be interesting.”

Reflecting on the surprise early announcement of his new two-year Yamaha deal, the Italian star added: “I spoke with Yamaha after the test. They said they are very happy if I continue. In my mind I want to continue. The contract was more-or-less ready and so we said 'why wait!'”

Rossi, who won last year's Qatar race and went on to lead the points until the final round in Valencia, said he is 90% certain it will be his last MotoGP contract.

While Rossi - who believes Marquez assisted Lorenzo last year - says his relationship with the Honda rider will never be the same, The Doctor had claimed there would be no problem continuing to work with Lorenzo to improve the Yamaha.

Story by crash.net

[pritch]

The wind beneath my wings...

Wings are banned in Moto2 with immediate effect.
Wings are banned in Moto3 from 2017.
No ban announced on wings in MotoGP.

The lack of a ruling on MotoGP apparently relates to an agreement between the factories and Dorna to have a period of stability following the current crop of changes to tyres, electronics, fuel, etc.


And this is very nice:

http://ontrackoffroad.com/magazine/otor-126-march-22nd/


Then there's this:

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...motogp-secret/

[Autech]

The wind beneath my wings...

Wings are banned in Moto2 with immediate effect.
Wings are banned in Moto3 from 2017.
No ban announced on wings in MotoGP.

Going to have to ban Redbull as a sponsor I guess.

Finally got around to watching the Moto2 and 3 races last night.

How mad was the jump starts in Moto2?

Danny Kent has settled in well I think. Likewise Olivera, can't help thinking he would have been better to stick in Moto3 for another year and grab himself a world championship, no one remember who's comes 2nd...
I'm picking Alex Rins to win the title this year, fucking tops rider.

Moto3 was the usual swapping and changes, Brad Binder can't seem to get the combo right to win eh? I never noticed Karel Hannika anywhere on the grid, did he get dropped for costing too much in crash repairs?

[Badjelly]

Lorenzo commented that Rossi's decision to re-sign was easier since he had no other options. Rossi responded to rumours that Lorenzo may leave Yamaha for Ducati by saying 'changing bikes takes balls, so he will remain'.

Woo hoo!

[Dadpole]

Hanika was there - and did not crash...

Moto3 was all I expected. Brilliant racing, but I did not expect Antonelli to burgle it like that. Herrera picked up a point too
Moto2 was a balls-up. A lot of good riders in there too.
MotoGP was interesting. I think we should throw the aliens into a Moto3 race. I would pay good money to watch that.

[Warr]

....

Finally got around to watching the Moto2 and 3 races last night.

How mad was the jump starts in Moto2?
.............

Same here .. In your opinion !! did you think there was anything out of sorts with the start sequence of Moto2 ?
I just felt the red hold was short compared to the other races .. But confusion reigned for sure !
And why did only 2 lights of the 3 on the tree light.

[Reckless]

And why did only 2 lights of the 3 on the tree light.

And why the hell have only one row of lights?? Even Hampton has a bank of lights??

Here is a copy and paste of Mike Webbs explanation of MCN

MotoGP race director explains Moto2 jump start issues
Published: Yesterday 13:32
MotoGP race director explains Moto2 jump start issues
MotoGP race director Mike Webb has explained the failures that led to inconsistent penalties for the horde of Moto2 riders deemed to have jumped the start in yesterday’s opening race of the season in Qatar.

There was outcry when one group of riders – including title favourites Sam Lowes, Alex Rins and Johann Zarco – were issued with ride-though penalties and others, including Franco Morbidelli, who finished second on track, were instead issued with a 20 second penalty.

But speaking to MCN via email this morning, Webb has held his hands up and admitted that the inconsistency in punishments was the result of a technical failure.

“We had a technical issue with the jump start camera recording and playback system. Some images would not display correctly, however we were able to identify 6 jump starts and these riders were informed immediately and made ride through penalties.

“When we had the system running correctly again we identified 2 more jump starts (Morbidelli and Cortese), but this took some time. The rules say that a ride through penalty must be communicated to the rider before the end of the 4th lap, and when a ride through is not possible, the standard time penalty of 20 seconds is applied.

“We are aware that 20 seconds does not accurately reflect the ride through time at every circuit, so we are asking the GP Commission to look at this rule.”

However, the Kiwi also stressed that other issues with the start – namely a concern by some riders that the lights had worked improperly and that some riders had gained no advantage from their movement – were inaccurate upon investigation.

“We heard the comments about lights flickering, but a check of the video shows nothing unusual, and I was unable to get them to misbehave when I tested them later. We also checked the length of time they were on and it was exactly 3 seconds - which is right where it should be (the rule is 2 - 5 seconds).

“A jump start is defined is moving forward at the moment the red lights go out, it’s a matter of fact and there's no decision on whether an advantage has been gained or not. There is a judgment on advantage in the case of a rider who moves a little while the red lights are on but stops again and is stationary when the red lights go out.

“In this case we look to see if they have moved a long way, ie. what position they are in when they do actually start. All of the jump starts penalised in Qatar were that standard ‘matter of fact’ moving forward when the red lights go out.”

[pritch]

Spy shot of Stoner testing the Desmosedici at Losail this week.









With acknowledgements to Sofa Racer.

[pritch]

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...l-to-winglets/

[Autech]

Gawd imagine the front wheel lightening at over 300kmph as you are about to get on the stompers! Fuck that!


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[roogazza]

Gawd imagine the front wheel lightening at over 300kmph as you are about to get on the stompers! Fuck that!

Yeah, considering your speed limit in Chch is 30kph whats with that ??

[Autech]

Yeah, considering your speed limit in Chch is 30kph whats with that ??

I ignore that... Lol.

I will try to get 300kmph on the straight on my bucket next weekend. Anyone got a spare 200hp to help?


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[Tazz]

I ignore that... Lol.

I will try to get 300kmph on the straight on my bucket next weekend. Anyone got a spare 200hp to help?


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[Brett]

Yeah he's a fucking Goober eh. A very fast one. Didn't you do Valencia last year? Pics!!!!

Yeah I did...it was F%&KING EPIC. Best race that I have been to hands down. Definitely need to dig out some picks...been head down bum up with work since unfortunately...don't think that I have even downloaded the pics yet. Probably going to do either Sepang or Philip Island this year.

[carbonhed]

Yeah I did...it was F%&KING EPIC. Best race that I have been to hands down.

I thought it was a great race too. Unbelievable tension and the outcome of the race and the whole championship up in the air to the very end. More overtakes would have been cool but my nails were chewed down to the quick.

Definitely pics!