| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Both Laguna and Indianapolis have contracts signed for 2013 That was definitely mentioned in the article with Dorna, but they were adamant that there would only be two US rounds next year. Maybe they don't think the Texas round will actually happen, but that isn't the impression it gave and the gist was that either Indy or Laguna will lose their spot, regardless of contracts. However things can and certainly will change again before the ink dries on next years calendar and rules structure, so don't hold your breath  FP1 times just in: 1LORENZO J.Yamaha Factory Racing1:35.106 2PEDROSA D.Repsol Honda Team+0.020 3STONER C.Repsol Honda Team+0.075 4SPIES B.Yamaha Factory Racing+0.449 5HAYDEN N.Ducati Team+0.735 6BAUTISTA A.San Carlo Honda Gresini+0.761 7BARBERA H.Pramac Racing Team+0.864 8DOVIZIOSO A.Monster Yamaha Tech 3+0.889 9CRUTCHLOW C.Monster Yamaha Tech 3+0.925 10ROSSI V.Ducati Team+0.978 11BRADL S.LCR Honda MotoGP+1.631 12DE PUNIET R.Power Electronics Aspar+2.081 13ESPARGARO A.Power Electronics Aspar+2.259 Usual suspects at the front once again, but for a change there is less than a second between 1st and 10th (so far). | ||
| Svh |
Matt- Have you heard this being talked about in the media over there at all? "Don Carmelo dropped a few tips on the future of Valentino Rossi to Italian media while trying to spray some fire-retardant foam on his nightmare inferno of the last two seasons because Rossi has been nowhere near the top step of the podium. "I am calm," Ezpeleta said. "Valentino next year will be riding a competitive bike, but I (can't) tell you what it is. It is still too early to talk about. In 2013, we will see Rossi fight for the win... again." Unless Ezpeleta has been listening to Norman Vincent Peale audio tapes on overdrive lately, it's presumed he wasn't referring to Rossi staying on a Ducati next season. It's widely believed The Doctor will return to Honda in 2013 on a factory bike fielded by a satellite team, possibly a new, trick outfit run by Rossi." That was a news item on a website most here don't care for. I know in the past that Carmelo has spewed off things before he should and also has spewed inaccuracies as well. | ||
| Trojan |
I have read it a few times, but unlike the conclusion reached by 'that' web site everyone else over here still thinks there is more than a fair chance he will be on a Ducati next year. The pure logistics, rule bending and hullaballoo that would have to occur to get Rossi on a factory Honda in a satellite (Gresini) team would seem to put the dampers on that, and I can't see him being welcomed back into either the Yamaha or Factory Honda garages either. However there are all sorts of rumours and I suspect we won't know the answer until at least the Czech round at Brno or even later. Gresini would have to sack Bautista as well as most of their established crew & sponsors just to accomodate Rossifor one year, and this is the same argument they used against taking Marquez into their team and in favour of getting the rookie rule binned. I would be very surprised if Rossi can get a 3rd factory Honda (in addition to the 2 satellite bikes and 2 factory bikes Honda are contracted to supply) simply because they are very likely to rubber stamp the ruling that says factories can only supply 4 bikes each for next year. Giving Rossi a bike would break this rule before the ink was dry! This seems to leave only one viable option for Vale next year, and that is to stay where he is (unless Honda or Yamaha do the unthinkable and put him in the factory team of course!). I could be wrong, and often am..... | ||
| Davegess |
so don't hold your breath, if Texas happens, and I have my doubts we will have 3 rounds in the USA or Dorna will be paying a very large cash settlement to someone to give up a date. | ||
| Bads1 |
If we were to lose a US round I'm betting it would be Indy if Texas comes to into play. Laguna brings in more fans for sure. I've been to both and Laguna is a much better place as a whole. I'm going to Indy this year I hope its better then last. | ||
| Jaimec |
I prefer Indy. By the way, if you put the same crowd that packs the stands in Laguna Seca in Indianapolis... the place would look deserted. Indy is also a heckuva lot more convenient for me. I did Laguna in 2005 and it was fun, but what a pain in the neck it was getting in and out of that place! | ||
| Trojan |
I prefer Indy. By the way, if you put the same crowd that packs the stands in Laguna Seca in Indianapolis... the place would look deserted. Silverstone is the same. There were more people at Silverstone this year than at any time when the event was staged at Donington park, yet it looked strangely empty. Since they spent a fortune upgrading Silverstone facilities for F1 they have installed so many grandstand seats that 100,000 at the Bike GP looked like a club race crowd  It isn't helpd by the ciruit being so long/spread out and the grandstands spread all around the track rather then located just at the start finish straight like some tracks. Oh well, plenty of capacity for next year  BTW if anyone has seen the FP3 times they are upside down! The session was rain affected and Stoner high sided big time, so some times are slower than they should be. Crutchlow was asked if he had a chance of winning based on the FP2 times yesterday, and he was quite dismissive. He said that Lorenzo will run away with the race, and that while everyone else was setting their fast times on soft tyres Lorenzo was just as quick (or quicker) on the hard race tyre and strung a whole load of laps in 1.35. I think it could be Yamahas weekend again... | ||
| Trojan |
Looked like a strange qualifying session, with riders spending a long time between runs in the garage. I suspect there was some rain but haven't read the official reports yet. However it would seem that the Honda tyre problem can't be that bad, seeing as they topped the session with both factory bikes.......although I think the race distance will still favour the Yamahas. Whatever mods Ducati have brought with them to Assen doesn't seem to have amde any difference to their woeful performance, and if it doesn't rain tomorrow their chances of a top 5 finish are very slim indeed Good session (or good timing) by Stefan Bradl to get 4th on what is definitely an inferior machine to the Repsol and Gresini factory spec bikes. 1STONER C.Repsol Honda Team1:33.713 2PEDROSA D.Repsol Honda Team+0.115 3LORENZO J.Yamaha Factory Racing+0.288 4BRADL S.LCR Honda MotoGP+0.322 5CRUTCHLOW C.Monster Yamaha Tech 3+0.773 6SPIES B.Yamaha Factory Racing+0.931 7DOVIZIOSO A.Monster Yamaha Tech 3+0.985 8BAUTISTA A.San Carlo Honda Gresini+1.009 9HAYDEN N.Ducati Team+1.038 10ROSSI V.Ducati Team+1.344 11BARBERA H.Pramac Racing Team+1.576 12DE PUNIET R.Power Electronics Aspar+2.117 13ESPARGARO A.Power Electronics Aspar+2.294 | ||
| Bads1 |
Jamie, I was at Laguna in 2007. The count was 143,000. 2006 was 145,000. If you look up Indy even for day 3 the numbers aren't really any better. I had zero problems getting out at Laguna on any day. The track difficulty is greater so the racing is more interesting. You can walk and see many more corners. The Foooooood.... man it aint brats and corn on the cob. They had great food. Laguna has much more to offer even for the tourists after the race. | ||
| Jaimec |
Bads1: Those are the totals for all three days combined. The capacity for a single day at Laguna is something around 65,000 if I recall correctly. If you put 65,000 people in the stands at Indianapolis, the place will look deserted. THAT'S what I meant. And what's up with Bridgestone this year? Are they using the last set of tires Michelin produced for MotoGP before dropping out of the series??? | ||
| Jaimec |
By the way, if Stoner wins the championship by 25 points or less, he owes Bautista a freakin' CAR!!!!!!!!  (Message edited by jaimec on July 02, 2012) | ||
| Trojan |
What an anticlimax Bautista managed to knobble the two riders int he race that I was interested in following. Lorenzo should in theory have walked away with that race and Crutchlow was fast enough to have beaten his team mate onto the podium. However good old Alvaro had brain fade and spoiled what could have been a good race. As it was we had to put up with another Honda procession and the only action was provided once more by Cal having to carve his way from the back of the field again. Thankfully Moto3 was brilliant, and Moto2 beter than MotoGP yet again (although not exactly a classic either). Roll on next week...... By the way, Bautista not only cost Lorenzo 25 points this week, but potentially a lot more points later in the year. Lorenzo was on a brand new engine on Saturday, and it was completely ruined by the crash. he now only had 2 new engines for the remainder of the season, and admits that it will be virtually impossible to run the rest of the year without having to take an engine penalty and start from pit lane at least once. It would be a poor way to decide a world championship and they should give him one of Buatistas engine allowance at the very least. | ||
| Jaimec |
Oh WONDERFUL. Stoner owes Bautista a brand new Bugatti!! | ||
| Jaimec |
You know, I can't help but think that Honda is falling all over themselves apologizing for the incident in public, but in the inner recesses of their corporate offices they're all rubbing their hands together with glee... | ||
| Gaesati |
Don't worry, guys, Stoner got knocked off by Rossi last year and still won the the title. I'm quite sure Lorenzo can emulate him. Lorenzo's bike seems to be as quick and much more rideable than the the Hondas i.e. except for Spies' unaccountable failure to perform all the Yamahas seem to be performing better than the Hondas. | ||
| Firstbuell |
Interesting tidbit in the Eurosport Moto2 FP2 coverage: supposedly, one Moto2 Wildcard entry costs 12.5K Euros (~$15,300), which covers your engine, fuel, and tires for the weekend. separately, entrant provides the chassis, crew, rider, etc. | ||
| Firstbuell |
really up on yer intrawebz skills? this off BARF: ".....I've a friend overseas who sometimes makes me copies of racing stuff - he came through and got me a copy of this! Highly recomended. Its not just WSBK either. There is coverage of MotoGP. Specifically the Chili 500cc win with lots of footage I've never seen before. Including a troll face Lawson with both arms raised mock cheering for the victory. There is some TT stuff. I never knew the details of Mike Hailwood's wins there after his retirement from bike racing. Now I get it why he is so respected. And lots of good stories. Foggy and Whitam kinda dominate, and for sure there is a pro England bias, but neither is annoying. A+ movie....." If the last of your seven proxies is UK, you might be able to watch it here: http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?...nruledtheworld (Message edited by firstbuell on July 07, 2012) | ||
| Firstbuell |
utube has a trailer or 2 [mebbe more, dunno yet] http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd ed&v=qCgUxeRnLDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd ed&v=--rqbzgGF1U | ||
| Trojan |
Don't worry, guys, Stoner got knocked off by Rossi last year and still won the the title. I'm quite sure Lorenzo can emulate him. Prophetic words indeed Only this time Stoner had nobody to blame but himself, although he tried to shift blame onto corner workers once again for refusing to restart his bike and to Dorna for the engine rules (missing the point that Honda had been responsible for the 6 engine rule more than anyone else!). This even things out in the championship but still leaves Lorenzo with an engine shortage for the rest of the year. As for the rest of the race.........Spies (and all those between 4th and 8th) must be smiling being gifted two places when Stoner and Crutchlow threw away good positions, but surely his place at Yamaha must be open to Dovi by now, despite Lin Jarvis's announcements that he thinks he will resign Ben for next year (because Yamaha want a US rider and not two Europeans). If that happens maybe Ben will quit his Twitter criticism of Marquez getting a ride just because of his passport. Ben at least should remember that it was Yamaha USA that was instrumental in getting him the ride in MotoGP in the first place, and his passport will be responsible for keeping him at Yamaha more than results this year, so the passport argument goes both ways Cruthlow looks 99% certain to go to Ducati next year and Rossi had high level talks with Audi at Sachsenring that pretty much means he will stay too.. No word on Hayden, though a return to WSB for Ducati would be my favourite scenario | ||
| Gaesati |
Hayden deserves a fully supported wsbk ducati ride on sheer grit. Plus Ducati will be struggling to match the Aprilia, BMW juggernauts next year. I think Lorenzo will win this year going away because his team is the best bike and rider combination. I would be willing to predict 2013 will be Lorenzo also. Outside the championship the individual races are quite interesting because there seems to be three intense sub-races developing amongst the non-crt teams. group 1 :Stoner Pedrosa and Lorenzo group 2: Spies, Dovizioso and Crutchlow group 3: Barbera, Hayden and Rossi Bradl and Bautista are both rapidly improving and are halfway between group 2 and group 3 At the moment I find it more interesting than the aggressive antics of Marquez in moto2 | ||
| Trojan |
At the moment I find it more interesting than the aggressive antics of Marquez in moto2 Ah but next year Marquezx will have to try and work his bully boy tactics on the big boys. I think he will get a talking to and a warning to keep his behaviour at least semi house trained by at least one rider before the season even gets underway I must admit that the mid field and CRT battles are much more entertaining than most of the front runners in MotoGP at the moment, but to me it still can't match Moto2 for sheer spectator excitement his year. Maybe next year when some of the Moto2 boys move up (Redding, Smith, Iannone, Luthi in addition to Marquez + maybe De Angelis to take over from Colin Edwards) MotoGP will become just a bit more exciting | ||
| Bads1 |
Audi can't fix the problem with the Ducati but it sounds like Financially they are going to fix it. Meaning Ducati will get the help it needs to get back in the game. Question is does Rossi really have the patience or time left in his career?? | ||
| Davegess |
Superbike Planet says Hayden is getting canned by Ducati and Rossi is staying around; seems that it is his fault that Rossi is slower than him;( | ||
| Jaimec |
Matt, how can he return to a series he was never in??
I know nearly everybody here hates Superbike Planet, but that was a DAMNED good article that needs to be fully understood by everyone who follows MotoGP. http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jul/120707feat .htm | ||
| Doerman |
I understood it. It is not just Ducati that has a delusional management. When listening to this interview (Carmelo Ezpeleta), it is clear that MotoGP leadership has their collective head up you know where. CRT bikes: Ezpeleate: Doing what in needs to do for us Reality: It is workig so poorly that there are two rankings in MotoGP. Factory and CRT Venues in US - 2013 Ezpeleta: Still up in the air Reality: Three US venues have contracts for 2013 EMC Ezpeleta: We have plans for ECU Reality: Factory teams and the public will never approve. This is a prototype series The Dorna management should be changed from middle to the top as well. Just as with Ducati, these guys can not fix their previous mistakes either. They have done one great thing.. Moto2. But MotoGP can not just be a Moto2 with bigger engine. (Message edited by doerman on July 09, 2012) | ||
| Simond |
I'd much rather see Hayden fighting at the front of WSB than spending another year on an uncompetitive bike in MotoGP. Considering his background and style he would have to be a serious contender for the title. MotoGP and WSB Champion would be quite an achievement - a first too? From Ducati's point of view - repeating the same actions and expecting a different outcome is surely the definition of stupidity. However, the suggestion that Crutchlow's style is more like Stoner's and would suit the Ducati sounds like grasping at straws to me. You could say the same about Hayden if it weren't for the fact that he has been flogging that dead horse (the Ducati that is!) for four years now. I'm sure Crutchlow's expected move to Ducati has more to do with options drying up at Yamaha. Who knows? He could be moving at just the right time..... but somehow I doubt it. Maybe he thinks that even if the bike is no good he could gain credit by outperforming the other Ducatis - particularly if he suspects that this is Rossi's last gasp. | ||
| Trojan |
Superbike Planet says Hayden is getting canned by Ducati and Rossi is staying around; seems that it is his fault that Rossi is slower than him;( That is simply not true. The fact is that Rossi is ahead of Hayden in points and race results, Outgunning Rossi in qualifying scores no points at all. It is the Sunday result that detrmines results and contracts. If Ducati have to place their future in the hands of one rider then surely Rossi is the much better prospect judged on past performance, media attention, sponsor attraction and many other factors that are taken into account by teams when signing riders. Nicky, as good as he is, has had his era in MotoGP. Matt, how can he return to a series he was never in?? My apologies, I meant return to riding a Superbike, not specifically just WSB. With Ducati likely to run a factory Panigale next year his input could be very important and would bring a major name into WSB alongside the other MotoGP refugees. I'm sure Crutchlow's expected move to Ducati has more to do with options drying up at Yamaha. Who knows? He could be moving at just the right time..... but somehow I doubt it. Cal knows that he will never win a world championship riding a satellite bike, so he needs to look outside of the Yamaha fold to find a factory ride. Unfortunately Ducati is the only option (albeit with a very nice pay packet!) and the risk could be justified if they manage to get the bike working properly. With Audi holding teh purse strings and Rossi likely to remain in the team for another year at least, this could be the best move he could possibly make. Unfortunately it could also be the worst Crutchlow isn't scared of a challenge though, so why not go for it | ||
| Sidepipe79 |
For Crutchlow there are two outcomes from Ducati. 1. Win Championship. 2. Get rich trying. | ||
| Davegess |
Matt, I have to agree that Rossi stays with Ducati if he wants to based on how big he is. Hayden cannot begin to compare as a fan favorite, a sponsor magnet, or any other measure EXCEPT current racing performance. He and Rossi are dead even this year, each "winning" (if 6th is winning) 4 races. Rossi's second in France is what gives him a very slight edge in points. In terms of average place they are dead even with an average finish of 6.625. Of course Ducati is looking at it from a marketing perspective, Rossi in 6th gets more attention than Hayden in 6th. Heck Hayden would have to be on the podium every week to get more attention than Rossi in 6th Ducati needs to shake up the managers not the riders. They have two of the best development guys in the business and are getting nowhere. Can the boss! | ||
| Gaesati |
The third option for Crutchlow: 3. Become psychologically broken like Melandri after his stint with Ducati. |
