| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
So... what do you think of the "Sprint Races?" I'm thinking we're going to be seeing a LOT more injuries next year... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I think it is a wise move to up that action in GP. I think they are replacing a FP with the shorter sprint race? I like the short races because tires are much less of an concern, thus everyone is going 100% from lights out. Why do you think injuries would be a concern? If we are comparing to WSBK, there isn't an overwhelming amount of crashing during the Superpole race. | ||
| Jaimec |
Do you really think that someone like Marc Marquez will take it easy in the Sprint race because there aren't as many points on the line? I'm only a LITTLE familiar with the super pole races in WSBK. Does the entire grid participate, or only a percentage of the top finishers from Race 1? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I don't think anyone will take the Sprint race easy. As a matter of fact, it is the opposite because tire life is not a concern generally so everyone goes 100% from the outset. More people tend to be in the mix in the shorter races, although the usual suspects tend to win still (in WSBK). A shorter race with less tire wear issues maybe considered safer for the riders...or course not as safe as the FP it replaces obviously. In WSBK, the entire grid participates in the Superpole race. The top 9 finishers in Superpole race become the top 9 on the grid for Race 2 later that Sunday. I believe the rest of the grid in Race 2 is organized by the original qualification order. | ||
| Jaimec |
And there you have it. More crashes GUARANTEED. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Again, based on what I saw in WSBk--I do not think there is a basis for the drama in MotoGP. Will there be more crashes compared to another FP session--probably. Will there be more crashes compared to a full length race--doubtful. I will say for the spectators this is a huge improvement. The GP divas will have to suck it up. I will also go out on a limb that the sprint race will be the most exciting race of the GP weekend. | ||
| Jaimec |
We'll visit this again in November 2023... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I am assuming this change will happen in this upcoming season? If so, then we should get an idea when the season begins. | ||
| Jaimec |
I figured the complete data wouldn't be available till the END of the season. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
How many of the GP riders are complaining about the sprint race? Is just a few divas or the whole paddock? I always thought racers like to race. | ||
| Jaimec |
Although I've seen several interviews of riders who aren't thrilled about the prospect I've yet to see any looking forward to them. Unscientific, I know... but that's all I've got. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Hopefully it is just an initial reaction to change. Most people, including myself, aren't fond of change. | ||
| Jaimec |
Here ya go: https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1018716/1/motogp -riders-freak-out-over-sprint-races-no-bonus-we-wo n-t-race | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I saw something that said this sprint race was in response to declining attendance and tv ratings for MotoGP. If so, the racers had better be looking at the big picture if they truly are against the extra race. | ||
| Jaimec |
That doesn't make sense... Since beIN Sports lost the broadcasting rights, only the Sunday races are shown on television!! | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I am not sure if/how the Saturday sprint race will be televised, but certainly another race on Saturday will spice up the schedule for the in-person attendees. | ||
| Jaimec |
I would think that would be the point, not at-home television viewers. But everytime I attended the races at Indianapolis, I went for all three days, not just the Sunday race. However, I did note that each year, the Sunday crowd was far larger than the Friday/Saturday crowds. Friday, I could understand as most people are still working on that day. Saturday qualifying to me was just as exciting as the Sunday racing but I guess most people just cared about the final event. Even now, when I attend the MotoAmerica Races, I don't just go for the Sunday race. It's nice to wander around the paddock on Friday and Saturday to meet and chat with the racers and their teams. Of course, with MotoGP and DORNA, you had to PAY for that privilege. We did it one year and decided it wasn't worth it because most of the big names tried to avoid everyone. We did get to chat with Aleix Esparagaro and Herve Poncharal, though. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
You are not the typical fan--nor am I. The race is considered the highlight of the weekend with all the pomp and circumstance. Qualifying is ok, but these days they seem to sit in the pits until the last two minutes and then go out on their qualifying tires for a couple hot laps (alluding to WSBK as I don't think GP has Q-tires anymore). I agree about the entire weekend. We always camp for three days. There is so much more to the weekend that just the races--but the races are undoubtedly the most exciting event(s) of the weekend. | ||
| Jaimec |
MotoGP doesn't have qualifying tires anymore BUT the teams do reserve a set or two of the softest tires available for their hot laps... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
i honestly don't like Q-tires. The lap times produced are outliers in relation to everything else. Riders and bikes have to be adjust to what amounts to a new setup. I just don't get it. I think GP was right in getting rid of the Q-tires. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
 | ||
| Jaimec |
Well this was unexpected: https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/moto2-america n-racing-team-partners-with-onlyfans/ Kinda like back when Playboy sponsored Randy de Puniet and he had a bunny as an umbrella girl... | ||
| 1313 |
Page not found. For a second, I thought you tried to pull an April fools gag, but the word was spread elsewhere: https://www.gpone.com/en/2023/03/15/moto2/onlyfans -makes-american-racing-team-sexy-in-motogp.html | ||
| Jaimec |
Now THAT'S weird! It was there when I posted this. Wonder why they pulled it? Thanks for the alternate news link though. | ||
| Jaimec |
MotoGP is getting more and more like NASCAR... This was only the first race of the season. With that packed calendar the champion will be a SURVIVOR. When do you think it'll sink into MM93's thick skull that he's NOT the invincible 20 year old he used to be and that there's a physical penalty for crashing all the time? The reason Valentino's career lasted as long as it did was because he DIDN'T crash every time he went out on the bike. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Racers are fast when they are young and feel invincible. They can ride the razors edge and get away with it. Older riders don't seem to be able to pull that off for some reason. Not sure why? Slower reflexes? Fear of crashing? Mental and physical scar tissue? MM has had some significant injuries (including brain injury) and hasn't been racing competitively much the last few seasons. Let's not forget that. He is probably realizes if he takes time to get up to speed any chance at the Championship will be gone. | ||
| Jaimec |
https://www.motorcycledaily.com/2023/03/md-opinion -marc-marquez-continues-to-damage-the-honda-brand/ | ||
| Fresnobuell |
The article makes a great point about trying to win on a sub-par machine. In order to even compete, the rider on the sub-par machine MUST ride aggressively and take chances. The Ducati is the best bike in the GP paddock (similar to WSBK). What did they take on Sunday? 4 out the top 5 positions in the race? At least WSBK is a bit more competitive, but they face the same problem. I don't know what the answer is. It seems unfair to slow down a brand because they put the effort and money in to go faster, but at the same time racing is much more exciting when there is parity between the manufacturers. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Not too long ago, I watched the highlights of Rossi-Stoner battle at Laguna Seca. Perfect example of a rider on sub-par machine having to be aggressive and take chances at every opportunity. Roasi basically had to stay in front of Stoner, Period. I think they said Stoner was .6 second a lap faster that weekend than the next guy (presumably Rossi?). What a masterful race by the Dr. **edit--thinking about this race again. The Yamaha probably wasn't a sub-par machine to the Ducati. The Ducati was a rocketship but also had its handling issues IIRC. I think only Stoner had any kind of success on it and used the rear to overcome the handling deficits. So it was more Stoner's brilliance that made the difference at Laguna Seca that year. However, the racecraft Rossi needed to employ to beat him on Sunday is relevant still to the discussion at hand. (Message edited by fresnobuell on March 30, 2023) | ||
| Jaimec |
I think Honda now has the same issue Ducati had during the "Stoner Years." Because one rider of exceptional talent was winning races with their machine, they assumed they had the perfect motorcycle that didn't require much development. It went so far during the Ducati years that they even made Marco Melandri get psychiatric help because Stoner was successful with the machine, therefore the problems Melandri was having MUST be all in his head. Once Dani Pedrosa left the fold, Marquez has been paired with other VERY talented riders that couldn't get their brains wrapped around the bike. Lorenzo threw in the towel, Espagaro welcomed a return to KTM and now Joan Mir is being tasked with attempting to tame the beast. Mir came off of what was called the BEST handling bike on the grid so this has to be an eye opener for him. Rumor has it after one frustrating practice run, Stoner came in and told his Ducati mechanics to "turn all that shit off" (referring to the electronics). After that, his lap times consistently improved. And yes, he was known for riding the Ducati "flat track" style (steering with the rear wheel). Back in MotoAmerica when Jake Gagne was riding the Honda CBR1000, he made the same requests of his mechanics... turn off the electronics! His times also improved, and his team learned a few tricks when he had a couple of wild card appearances in WSBK with Honda. I often wonder how well any of these guys would do on those fire-breathing, 500cc two-strokes of the "good old days." The last person to race one retired in 2021... |
