| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Interesting reading: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/honda-vs-ya maha-handling-horsepower-motogp/ | ||
| Trojan |
so,,,,,all Yamaha need is a Honda engine and they have cracked it completely  Until then pretty much every race will be decided at the first corner (Yawn!). Still at least we still have Moto2 | ||
| Jaimec |
Personally I ENJOY seeing Repsol getting their asses handed to them week in and week out by Lorenzo. I hope it continues this way all season (though I'd like to see Rossi up there in the mix too). The "Honda Cup" would be more interesting to me if Dorna released them from the "Spec Engine" requirement. Until then... <yawwwwwwwwwwn...> it's time to go get some drinks and food. | ||
| Trojan |
The manufacturers (led as usual by Honda) are of course responsible for the ridiculous fuel limits and engine limits being imposed on GP bikes these days, which in effect make it too expensive for other smaller manufacturers to try and compete (and which Honda just happen to be master of). It is about time DORNA told the factories again that they do not run racing, as it seems the talking to they got prior to CRT has been largely forgotten now they have agreed to supply a few customer bikes/engines. Dorna/FIM should be dictating the rules to the teams, not the other way around. If we got rid of the engine limits (to a sensible extent at least) and upped the fuel capacity to 24 litres across the grid then there would be plenty of new manufacturers interested in joing the grid I'm sure. As for the 'Honda Cup' in Moto2, I think most people have actually forgotten which engine powers the bikes, so long as the racing is close and spectacular | ||
| Jaimec |
I have noticed (and Suzuki has highlighted the issue) how expensive Dorna's rules to "lower the costs of racing" have made the series. | ||
| Trojan |
The latest rules on payments to teams (or non payments as it turns out) also make it virtually impossible for smaller teams to enter the series now aas well. So much for cost cutting  I think that it the real reason why Suzuki have avoided joining in 2014...they can't afford it! Add in the cost of developing software for the 'spec' electronics, lower fuel limits and 5 engine rule and you can see why Aprilia and BMW have gone cold on the idea of running teams in the near future. | ||
| Jaimec |
Nice write-up of Scott Redding: http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/06/is-scott-re dding-the-next-motogp-star/ | ||
| Trojan |
People tend to forget the experience that Scott Redding has, and that he has already turned some impressive lap times on the Ducati last year in testing (he was allegedly much faster than Iannone on the same bike although no official times were released). I hope the 'firm offer' on the table isn't from Ducati though as it could spell the end of his promising career already. Hopefully he will get the rumoured 2nd Gresini Honda at least. | ||
| Trojan |
Lorenzo out of Dutch GP Jorge crashed heavily in FP2 this afternoon and has been confirmed with a broken left collarbone, which will rule him out of this race and could put an end to his defence of the world championship this year. Now will Cruthlow get the factory Yamaha while Jorge is away? It would make sense to try and limit the points that the Honda guys can gain in Lorenzos absence surely? | ||
| Jaimec |
SH*T!! SH*T!! SH*T!!! This has NOT been a good track for Lorenzo. Two years ago, Simoncelli punted him off the track. Last year, Bautista punted him off the track. Now THIS??? Hope those changes Rossi found during the last two test sessions pan out or this race is just going to SUCK. | ||
| Jaimec |
Somehow, I don't think it'd be that simple. Crutchlow and Lorenzo have COMPLETELY different riding styles and they don't have enough time to adapt it in time for Saturday's race. Better to leave him on a bike with which he is familiar. | ||
| Trojan |
I wasn't thinking for this race, but if Jorge is away for more than one round then it would make sense to give Cal at least a factorr motor in his Tech 3 chassis to try and steal points from Pedrosa/Marquez (althogh Yamaha are already short of engines so it is hard to see who's allocation it could come from). | ||
| Simond |
Giving Crutchlow the factory motor makes more sense. They don't want Cal using Lorenzo's engine allocation - particularly as he has only one untouched engine left. I hope that the accident didn't lunch another engine. Am I right in thinking that they must come up with a replacement rider if he is out for more than two races? | ||
| Jaimec |
That's the question, right? Where would that "Factory Motor" come from? Would Dorna allow them to swap one of Tech3's motors for a Factory one? Nice to think about, but I think it's idle dreaming on our part... | ||
| Simond |
Until they've broken the seal on a new engine they can do what they want with it. So as long as Cal has unused engines Yamaha can give him what they want. I doubt Lorenzo will be out for long anyway unless there are complications. Fingers crossed for a Rossi win this weekend! | ||
| Jaimec |
A Rossi/Crutchlow 1/2 is too much to ask for... or is it? | ||
| Trojan |
It it rains it could be a lottery, and it wouldn't surprise me to see at least one CRT up in the top 6. If Bautista can stay upright and avoid skittling most of the front row maybe we could see a Crutchlow win at last? Marquez of course will be fearless regardless of conditions, so you have to figure him in the top three whatever happens. Rossi still isn't looking too confident in the wet conditions compared to his FP1 performance, but maybe he is just not taking any risks? Ducati could of course get a result if it rains on Saturday. That must be their only chance of a podium though. | ||
| Trojan |
See what I mean about wet conditions..... FP3 was a lottery, with some CRT guys looking for their 15 minutes of fame & glory (although you have to think that none of the top guys were trying too hard and have already posted their times to qualify for Q2). It looks like some of the lower order runners must have risked a soft slick tyre in the final few minutes to post a time that was 6 seconds quicker than the fastest time only 4-5 minutes earlier in the session. 1BAUTISTA A.GO&FUN Honda Gresini1:40.029 2DE PUNIET R.Power Electronics Aspar+0.194 3PIRRO M.Ignite Pramac Racing+5.572 4SILVA I.Avintia Blusens+6.695 5MARQUEZ M.Repsol Honda Team+6.732 6CRUTCHLOW C.Monster Yamaha Tech 3+6.952 7DOVIZIOSO A.Ducati Team+6.985 8HAYDEN N.Ducati Team+6.998 9PEDROSA D.Repsol Honda Team+7.026 10ABRAHAM K.Cardion AB Motoracing +7.753 11HERNANDEZ Y.Paul Bird Motorsport +8.038 12ROSSI V.Yamaha Factory Racing +8.138 None of these times will have any affect on the top 10 for Q2 though, whith the fastest overall times being posted in FP1. | ||
| Trojan |
Wow! what a qualifyig session I won't swpoil if for those that want to watch, but it is worth waitng for.... Latest news on Lorenzo is that he is now flying back to Holland having had his collarbone plated in Spain yesterday afternoon. His intention is apparently to ride in the warm up tomorrow to see how it holds up! hard b*stard !! | ||
| Jaimec |
You must be feeling very proud, Matt! Vale leads the second row, so that's a big improvement. Hopefully Cal and Vale can limit the damage to Jorge's title hopes tomorrow! Jorge should take encouragement from Colin Edwards who came back a week after collar-bone surgery to score his only podium of the season. | ||
| Trojan |
Funny how quickly you can get used to things? Us Brits have endured years of being nowhere in MotoGP (although pretty good in WSB it must be said). Now I find myself slightly disapointed that we ONLY have a pole position and a thrid on the grid in Moto2 with Scott Redding. Only a couple of years ago we would be doing cartwheels at Bradley Smiths 6th grid position! Now he barely rates a mention! Well done chaps, keep a stiff upper lip and the Aspidistra flying The Ducatis look terrible this weekend and I woudl love to have been a fly on the wall at Dovi's debrief How much longer will the head honchos at Audi want to continue being beaten soundly by factory, satellite and now CRT teams? | ||
| Gaesati |
I'm finding the last ten minutes of Q2 more interesting than the racing! | ||
| Jaimec |
Geez, Matt! Lorenzo is an even "Harder Man" than we thought! He's back in Assen and plans on riding the warm up tomorrow with an eye to possibly even participating in the race! Professional motorcycle racers are NOT like you and me. I know I'd still be in bed whimpering like a little baby if that happened to me!! | ||
| V74 |
yes.and what really winds me up is when a professional football (soccer) player gets a broken little toe and can't play for six weeks and chris walker raced with two broken ankles. bike racers are hard and love their job, true professionals. I know some of you call this rider and that rider but I just can't do that, respect to all of them. | ||
| Crusty |
Yeah; that Rossi is all washed up. He should retire and let the real fast riders get the ride with Yamaha. The Doctor is in.  | ||
| Mickeyq |
Who said Rossi is a has been?? After watching Assen this morning--it sure looks like what he was missing was a competitive bike. | ||
| Crusty |
Jorge Lorenzo deserves the Iron Man of the Year award, IMO. | ||
| Jaimec |
Now THAT was a race! Anyone who says that was boring needs a check up from the neck up!! And forget Henry Cavill... the REAL "Man of Steel" is Jorge Lorenzo!! | ||
| Davegess |
Hey where is 1125? I want to here about how washed up Rossi is | ||
| Trojan |
Not just a great race, but three very exciting races from Assen this weekend. Fabulous to see Rossi not only back to winning but looking very comfortable on the bike (did I detect a slight change in riding style towards the Marquez-elbow down style from Vale this week?). Pity that Cal couldn't grab second on the last lap, but he still suffers at the start of races and really needs to address that before he can start to think of winning. Once you lose 10 seconds at the start of the race there is no way you can get that back at this level very often. Lorenzo was just amazing! He looked shattered after the race but even getting on the bike and riding slowly would be beyond me with a broken collar bone! Great Moto3 race and edge of seat stuff in Moto2 Why can't every GP be like this? The internal politics at Tech 3 don't look quite so palettable unfortunately. It looks like Bradley Smith may be forced out in favour of Pol Espagaro even though he has a 'water tight' contract for two years with the team. I hope he has a good legal team because he may just need it before long. If Yamaha are so keen to sign Espagaro on a factory bike (ahead of Cal too!) then they should step up and supply another bike to another team like LCR/Gresini get with Honda. However, we already know that there is very littel honour in racing any longer sadly |
