MotoGP 2016

[Dadpole]

Just watched Moto3 qualifying. I think we will have another classic race. Looks like slipstreaming will be the order of the day.

[mulletman]

Apparently MM dislocated his shoulder. he popped it back and had it strapped but it might be bloody sore tomorrow.

Turns out that he also received a blow to the head. He was taken to hospital by ambulance for a check but says he hopes to be ready for qualifying.

Well it didnt slow him up too much...but yeah race day and 28 hard out laps i think a top 5 - 6 would be an ok result,

Dukes looking waaay good with the Suzukis hanging in there.

[pritch]

Rossi was saying he didn't think he could stay with the Ducati riders on the straights. So naturally he splits the two factory Ducs on the front row.

[mulletman]

Shit that was a fairly tense Q2 session with the Yamahas almost snatching pole..

MM had another one of his miracle front end saves , now thats gonna hurt more for tommoro.

[Berries]

What sky chanel is the GP on? All I can find is the fucking Olympics, and I hate that shit.

Try channel 81.

[Drew]

Great qualifying session. I really thought Lorenzo had done enough.

[pritch]

Romano Fenati can be brilliant on his day but it would seem that everything has to be in his favour for it to be his day. A major hiccough now though, he has been suspended from the SKY VR-46 team for disciplinary reasons following 'repeated' behaviour offences involving team members.

That could turn out to be a wake up call - or the end of a promising career.

[malcy25]

Just watched it a couple of times. Wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of electronic/mechanical/setup whoopsie there. Or is it just that michelins are still shit?

Nah, just DP's inability to get tyres to stay warm. Not specifically anything he does, just he's so light. His tyres were coming back colder than when he went out after the early cold sessions which were 9 degrees ambient temp.

[malcy25]

Someone asked a while back about which way Iannone "swings". This should answer it

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image.../stria/1/2.htm

[puddytat]

Well Im going to take a punt.....
Rossi
Dovi
Vinales....
Lorenzo
Crutchlow
Joe.....as much as I like the guy, to keep it together for the race ?...yeah nah.

[roogazza]

Rossi was saying he didn't think he could stay with the Ducati riders on the straights. So naturally he splits the two factory Ducs on the front row.

Great stuff, lets see what #46 can do with 28 laps.

[speights_bud]

Someone asked a while back about which way Iannone "swings". This should answer it

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image.../stria/1/2.htm

I'm not sure if that really helps at all... 'gal pal' is that hot chick mate coz you swing the other way, or is it girlfriend but not official/journo trying to be funny?

Not that I really give a crap either way.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Might have to eat my own words there. The Yamaha boys did great to get up to speed. And that Old Dog will be sniffing round big time. Hats off to them. MM dislocates a shoulder and comes back well. Tough cunt.

[steveyb]

Someone asked a while back about which way Iannone "swings". This should answer it

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image.../stria/1/2.htm

Remind me again why I live in this godforsaken Klingon outpost????

[steveyb]

Apparently Lorenzo is still wrestling with his demons as is Pedrosa. One of the pundits, can't remember who, said that they both have similar but different problems. Neither can get heat into the tyres; Pedrosa's problems stem from his riding style, Lorenzo's are more set-up related.

At the test the air temperature was in the 30s the track temp mid 40s. The morning temps Friday were half that. The track is among hills, quite scenic but the weather can be fickle.

Ii is noted that Rossi when posting his customary practice photos does not refer to the track by the official title, "Redbull Ring". I guess it'd be surprising if any of the Monster sponsored riders did.

It could be confusing but Crutchlow's helmet is pink this time out, in honour of his new daughter Willow.

The Michelin front does not heat up as fast or as well as the Bridgestone did.
The Yamaha is longer and 'better' balanced than the Honda and Ducati, therefore does not put the same weight onto the front end.
Therefore a balanced rider like George who uses smooth fast lines is struggling to heat the front and therefore has reduced grip and feel and the tyre will be feeling like it is washing out all the time, at least when the track is cool.
Dani is having the same problems he has had his whole MotoGP career, the same as Toni Elias. Their extreme small size causes issues weighting the tyres sufficiently and they have insufficient mass to climb onto the front of the bike to help. Bridgestone (or was it Michelin??) made special tyres for Elias back when he was doing well. When the control tyres came in he simply drifted away. Dani is having the same issues and the bike is not helping.