| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Do you think it will be any less close with four stroke engines? Who knows, but surely if it ain't broke why fix it? | ||
| Blake |
For this racing enthusiast, it pretty much is broken. I rarely watch (once so far this season) and cannot name a single competitor. Not that an all Honda spec class will fix it. I'd personally prefer a 450cc 4-stroke class open to any and all such machines. Tire specs are okay, but I don't prefer spec racing when it comes to the engine and chassis. | ||
| Crusty |
With all the excitement over the 1125RR, I almost missed that Nicky Hayden qualified 4th at the Sachsenring. That's his best qualifying since switching to a Duck. Hopefully, they'll be able to dial in the bike for him more as the season progresses. I'd really like to see him up on the box again. | ||
| Smoke |
i'm looking for Nicky to take the win at Indianapolis!! i'll be in the stands!! tim | ||
| Crusty |
I'll be there as well. I managed to get front row seats for the Mile! That's going to be one hell of a weekend! | ||
| Smoke |
the mile was a hoot last year! i haven't bought my mile tickets yet. see ya there! tim | ||
| Jaimec |
My tickets for Indy arrived while I was on vacation. One and a half months to go! Did anyone see the last race on Speed? There was one REALLY cool shot of the three front runners doing a hard right to hard left transition. All three bikes had their front wheels lift OFF the tarmac in the transition. Amazing footage! It always astounds me how FEW crashes there are in this series considering how close to the limit these guys go. | ||
| Jaimec |
Did anybody catch the slow-motion shots of the three front runners last Sunday? AMAZING footage. I was astounded during the showing of the hard right-to-hard left transitions taken by Rossi, Lorenzo and Stoner. All three of them had their front wheels LEAVE the tarmac in the transition. They didn't even necessarily touch down pointing in the right direction either! Fascinating stuff to watch: http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2009/Hyper+Slow+Mo tion+at+Sachsenring | ||
| Spike |
Beautiful stuff to watch. Just like watching F1 in super slow mo- it reveals how much is going on that isn't observed by the spectator at race pace. That video is also a great demonstration of countersteering working as a result of steering the bike off line rather than gyroscopic force. | ||
| Jaimec |
With Rossi/Lorenzo over in MotoGP, Ben Spies over in WSBK and now even Josh Hayes in the last two rounds of NAS BIKE, I'd say Yamaha is having an AWESOME year! I understand they're also doing well in BSB, too. | ||
| 46champ |
I have a question for Mr. Trojan. What is your opinion of changing the British round of MotoGP from Donington to Silverstone? I'm sure the facilities will be better but, and I might be wrong, isn't Silverstone kind of a one dimensional track being it was built on an airport? | ||
| Trojan |
I have a question for Mr. Trojan. What is your opinion of changing the British round of MotoGP from Donington to Silverstone? I'm sure the facilities will be better but, and I might be wrong, isn't Silverstone kind of a one dimensional track being it was built on an airport? Donington has been the 'home' of the British GP for many years, but before that it was Silverstone that staged some of the true classic races (Sheene vs Roberts 1979 anyone?). I think there has been a lot of politics surounding the move of MotoGP to Silverstone and F1 to Donington, and only time will tell if the decisions have been right for the sport. WSB and BSB have used Silverstone for a few years and all of the riders love it (except for a mickey mouse chicane installed for BSB). Silverstone is a great fast track for riders but not so much for spectators as it is very flat (ex airfield). However, they are making some big changes to the track to improve the spectator experience and I think that they will be successful. One thing is for sure, the facilities at Silverstone are far better than Donington has ever managed to provide. Maybe I am biased (I used to live in Silverstone village and walk to the circuit at every opportunity) but I think that Silverstone will be a better overall GP venue than Donington has been  | ||
| 46champ |
Thank you for answering it sounds like the motorcycles might get the better end of the deal. | ||
| Trojan |
here is a press release from Silverstone on the work they are doing for next years British MotoGP race. Apparently they have already pre-sold £50,000 worth of tickets! http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresul ts/MotoGP/2009/July/jul2709-silverstone-promise-be tter-motogp-experience/ | ||
| Lastcyclone |
Four Tickets for Sale INDY, three day package Section E Box 2 Row R seats 16 to 19 (covered). All together. Pay what I paid. $107 each. Shipping included. Thanks. (Message edited by lastcyclone on July 29, 2009) | ||
| Jaimec |
Looks like "Silly Season" is starting, based on what I just read on MCN. But everyone is waiting to see what Lorenzo will do for next year. Personally, I think he'd be nuts to leave the Yamaha fold. He's got the best package on the grid and probably the best team mate to push him harder and harder (as Mladin did to Spies in AMA). Of course, if Jorge DOES jump ship, I could see Vale pushing for Colin to return as his teammate leaving a definite seat open on the Tech3 team (Spies, anyone?). Just my thoughts, though. I haven't seen anyone else predict an Edwards return to the factory team. I'll just sit and enjoy the ride. | ||
| Trojan |
Apparently Lorenzo has already agreed terms with Yamaha for 2010 and will make an announcement at Misano that he is staying with the team. Yamaha are under pressure from Yamaha USA and it is pretty certain that one of the Tech 3 bikes is already allocated to either Spies (if he wants it) or Colin Edwards. If Spies joins the team then Edwards will join Toseland in the dole queue. Tech 3 won't have 2 US riders in the team. The second Tech 3 seat is up for grabs, with Toseland, Vermulen and lots of others jostling for position. However, it would appear that Hector Barbera is in line for the ride because he can bring a much needed $1 million in sponsorship with him to the team. Melandri is moving back to Gresini Honda to partner Simoncelli, so that team is settled for next year, and Hayate/Kawasaki have announced that they will not be fielding a team in 2010, so there goes another option for someone  Spies holds the key to most of the top teams getting settled, and now that Honda have lost Lorenzo it wouldn't surprise me to see them make a bid for Spies for the LCR team. Both Pedrosa and Dovizioso ae on a one year contract that ends this year, but I would expect both to stay at HRC. Will Hayden stay at Ducati? He has been outperformed by Kallio this year and Ducati may let Hayden go to make room for Kallio in the factory squad, although other 250 riders are rumoured to be in the frame for the ride too. Interesting times indeed | ||
| 46champ |
Matt we just keep telling you that Nicky isn't going anywhere he is too important to the American market to can yet. Now if he isn't running with the front runners next year at contract time I will probably change my tune. | ||
| Jaimec |
Especially since Nicky is getting dialed into that "unridable" beast. | ||
| Jaimec |
Regarding Spies: If he DOES take the WSBK crown, I can see him wanting to jump to MotoGP. If he doesn't, he may want to stick around for another year... | ||
| Buell2001b |
If spies moves to yamaha tech 3 he will not have a bike that can beat lorenzo or Rossi, why would he wnat to comit suicide. I think the only choice for him if he decides to go motogp would be with Ducati and take Nickys spot. the only bike that can beat the yamaha is the Ducati its been proven. i think this would also help Stoner. Stoner needs a teamate that can keep up with him. Honda seems to have their cards right and yamaha fiat. pedrosa will be healthier next year and he will take more podiums for sure. | ||
| 46champ |
Spies can't move to a factory team because of the rookie rule, he has to race 9 races with a satellite team before he can move to a factory team. Kind of a stupid rule but that is what the powers to be decided on. (Message edited by 46champ on August 06, 2009) | ||
| Trojan |
If spies moves to yamaha tech 3 he will not have a bike that can beat lorenzo or Rossi, why would he wnat to comit suicide. If Spies goes to Tech 3 you can bet your bottom dollar that he will get exactlyt he same machinery as Lorenzo & Rossi, in the same way that Simoncelli is getting teh same as the HRC boys even though he is signed to a satellite Honda team. yamahas problem (if it can be called a rpoblem) is that they have too many top riders for the top team. | ||
| Jaimec |
The only factory team that can sign a rookie is Suzuki, since they don't have a satellite team. Although Ben would be a TERRIFIC boost to their fortunes, he'd still be entering the season with two hands tied behind his back. I'd rather see him on something competitive. Although... if he gets to bring "House" with him, who knows?? It could be Suzuki's version of "Burgess/Rossi." | ||
| Trojan |
Although Ben would be a TERRIFIC boost to their fortunes, he'd still be entering the season with two hands tied behind his back. I'd rather see him on something competitive. No he wouldn't. Although the rules state that a rookie cannot ride for a factory team (except Suzuki) there is nothing against a factory placing a rider in a sataellite team but with full factory machinery and support. That way they effectively get a third 'factory' rider. Edwards has been paid direct by Yamaha since he joined the factory team and that hasn't changed even though he is in the Tech 3 setup now. Spies would also be paid direct by Yamaha if he went to their GP setup, and would undoubtedly get full factory support too, regardless of which team he is in. This is exactly the arrangement that Simoncelli has with HRC/Gresini and you can be assured that he won't get 'second string' equipment compared to Dovi & Pedrosa. The problem that Yamaha have now is that Rossi may not retire for another 2-3 years. If that is the case then they have too many riders and not enough bikes. They are unlikely to get rid of Lorenzo (although he may walk after 2010) and would certainly not sack Rossi under any circumstances, which means that even if they sign Spies he is likely to stay in the Tech 3 garage for 2 seasons at least. Spies best route may actually be to go to Suzuki, as he will be under no pressure to win in the first season and will be able to pick his team in year two Ducati have allegedly been sniffing around Spies too, but if he has any sense at all he won't go down that route! | ||
| Jaimec |
Matt, I was talking about the Suzuki. I KNOW he'd have a shot on a factory SUPPORTED Yamaha. | ||
| Jaimec |
Looks like good news for Nicky Hayden in 2010. Good for him! | ||
| Jaimec |
According to an article on Speed, there is a very good possibility Casey Stoner may be out of the next three races (INCLUDING Indianapolis)... | ||
| Trojan |
Stoner is officially out of the Czech GP, but unofficially it seems he will be out of at least the next three GP's and possibly the rest of the season. Mika Kallio will be promoted to the factory team, so it will be interesting to compare his pace to Haydens on identical bikes. Apparently Michelle Fabrizio is going to ride the Pramac bike vacated by Kallio, which strikes me as a very strange decision as he is in with a shout at the WSB title and won't want to risk getting injured just filling in in MotoGP. I would have thought that Ducati had other options available to them to fill the Pramac seat (Shane Byrne amongst others who are Ducati contracted and with GP experience). | ||
| Jaimec |
Michel has one advantage over Shakey: He's ITALIAN. |
