MotoGP 2017

[speights_bud]

There has been quite a bit of rain and the new track surface takes forever to dry out. Odd considering the Malayan temperatures?

From my limited experience in Thailand we found it was near impossible to dry towels etc outside. I guess the air just had too much humidity in it already. Even though it was 36-39deg.

[speights_bud]

Rossi gets a blister and the Honda has a new pipe, presumably on the new engine.

[pritch]

Honda has a new pipe, presumably on the new engine.

It was reported that Honda were testing both long and short exhausts. Presumably that's the long version.

Final times from testing, pick your own surprises, but Bautista suprised a lot of people.

1 25 Maverick Viñales Yamaha M1 1:59.368
2 93 Marc Marquez Honda RC213V 1:59.506 0.138 0.138
3 4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati GP17 1:59.553 0.185 0.047
4 26 Dani Pedrosa Honda RC213V 1:59.578 0.210 0.025
5 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha M1 1:59.589 0.221 0.011
6 19 Alvaro Bautista Ducati GP16 1:59.628 0.260 0.039
7 27 Casey Stoner Ducati GP17 1:59.639 0.271 0.011
8 35 Cal Crutchlow Honda RC213V 1:59.728 0.360 0.089
9 99 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati GP17 1:59.766 0.398 0.038
10 5 Johann Zarco Yamaha M1 1:59.772 0.404 0.006
11 29 Andrea Iannone Suzuki GSX-RR 2:00.045 0.677 0.273
12 42 Alex Rins Suzuki GSX-RR 2:00.057 0.689 0.012
13 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia RS-GP 2:00.108 0.740 0.051
14 9 Danilo Petrucci Ducati GP17 2:00.310 0.942 0.202
15 94 Jonas Folger Yamaha M1 2:00.312 0.944 0.002
16 43 Jack Miller Honda RC213V 2:00.439 1.071 0.127
17 17 Karel Abraham Ducati GP15 2:00.445 1.077 0.006
18 8 Hector Barbera Ducati GP16 2:00.537 1.169 0.092
19 45 Scott Redding Ducati GP16 2:00.645 1.277 0.108
20 76 Loris Baz Ducati GP15 2:00.873 1.505 0.228
21 38 Bradley Smith KTM RC16 2:01.338 1.970 0.465
22 22 Sam Lowes Aprilia RS-GP 2:01.341 1.973 0.003
23 44 Pol Espargaro KTM RC16 2:01.506 2.138 0.165
24 21 Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha M1 2:01.658 2.290 0.152
25 12 Takuya Tsuda Suzuki GSX-RR 2:02.769 3.401 1.111

[EJK]

Nice to see Zarco up with the big boys. Looking forward to see some back flips this season!

[Reckless]

Top 10 within 1/2 a second, pretty much 4 manufacturers, looks good for the season

[george formby]

Top 10 within 1/2 a second, pretty much 4 manufacturers, looks good for the season

Yup, it looks very exciting. Fingers crossed nobody does a runner through the season.

[pritch]

From my limited experience in Thailand we found it was near impossible to dry towels etc outside. I guess the air just had too much humidity in it already. Even though it was 36-39deg.

Nothing so technical, it's thought to be the new seal. Sandblasting or such will hopefully cure the problem? Or so I read...

[husaberg]

Anyone posted this
The Ducati lunch box
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/op...versus-marquez

[Dave-]

Anyone posted this
The Ducati lunch box
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/op...versus-marquez

Fuck I hope it's an exhaust driven gyro, that'd be way too cool for school.

[pritch]

He's had another go at it since then.
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/op...ter-jounce-box

[husaberg]

Fuck I hope it's an exhaust driven gyro, that'd be way too cool for school.

He's had another go at it since then.
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/op...ter-jounce-box

Great stuff.
It would be funny if it was just an oversize telemetry device.
As i recall all the intial equipemnt Team Roberts and others used in the 90's did not actually work fast enough to actually measure the chatter.
Others have aleivied it with bits of lead straped in unusual places.
Historically Michelin tires suffered more from chatter due to their stiffer construction.
but this might also allow the lighter riders more oportuntities to keep their tires up to temp as i guess they should have a greater air pressure window.

[pritch]

This is a good article. I might have to bookmark the site.

There is an interesting comment below, that only the riders at the sharp end can afford a spotter/coach because the team doesn't cover the cost. All of the expenses are met by the rider. Eugene laverty was fortunate in having a brother qualified and available. Of course if a rider wins the championship and attributes his success to a spotter, however unlikely that is, then every team would want one.

http://pecinogp.com/trackside-what-t...n-doesnt-show/

[Crasherfromwayback]

This is a good article. I might have to bookmark the site.

There is an interesting comment below, that only the riders at the sharp end can afford a spotter/coach because the team doesn't cover the cost. All of the expenses are met by the rider. Eugene laverty was fortunate in having a brother qualified and available. Of course if a rider wins the championship and attributes his success to a spotter, however unlikely that is, then every team would want one.

http://pecinogp.com/trackside-what-t...n-doesnt-show/

Good read cheers. Can't wait for the action to start!

[pritch]

Good read cheers. Can't wait for the action to start!

Testing at Phillip Island later this week. It's not the real thing but...

[Drew]

So Whitetrash and Choppa met the Suzuki GP riders this weekend been. Rins is a good cunt they reckon...Iannone however, was just a cunt.

That pissed me off a bit, now I'm back to supporting Rossi again.