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Author Message   Jaimec Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2012 - 04:01 pm:        Regarding the ART bikes... When Aprilia first introduced the RSV4 for WSBK, they were accused of essentially building a thinly-disguised MotoGP bike for Biaggi. Now, they are being accused of running a thinly-disguised WSBK bike in MotoGP... Interesting reading: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/aprilia-art /   Trojan Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 - 08:26 am:        Unlike Moto2, though, they AREN'T talking about a spec engine. That would keep it interesting enough for me. Exactly my thoughts. Let the factories build and sell engines to private frame/chassis builders. This would get far more technical innovation than we have seen from the factories in recent years, simply because the chassis builders aren't having to think about selling road bikes. This frees them up to develop and experiment with diferent steering and chassis ideas rather than following the conservative approach followed by the various bike manufacturers for years. The factories will still be able to develop prototype engines derived from or loosely based on production bike motors, but we would have a whole load of interesting bikes on the grid instead of 6 factory machines and 'the rest'. Under an 'all CRT' grid you could conceivably have half a dozen different bikes running the same factory built engines, a bit like F1. Now, they are being accused of running a thinly-disguised WSBK bike in MotoGP... In fact Aprilia are being accused of running a thinly disguised MotoGP bike, thinly disguised adn a WSBK bike, and then thinly disguised again as a MotoGP bike! Which to me sounds like they are being accused of running a MotoGP bike in MotoGP...How dare they, whatever next!   Blake Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 - 10:12 am:        If it isn't spec engines, then it isn't like Moto2 then is it.   Jaimec Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 - 05:24 pm:        No comment needed: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/dani-pedros a-arrested-cheating-yacht-exam/   Crusty Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 - 06:03 pm:        I'm not surprised.   Trojan Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 06:58 am:        If it isn't spec engines, then it isn't like Moto2 then is it. You need to think a little more laterally. No factory bikes, chassis made by various small specialist manufacturers and engines based loosely on production bike motors is as near to Moto2 as you can get without the spec engine (which moto2 was actually not originally planned for). The original plan for Moto2 was to run a spec engine only for the first 1 or 2 seasons, then open it up to any 600cc production based engine, just like the Spanish CEV Moto2 series. However the series has worked so well in the current format, and the racing been so close, that the plans to expand engine suppliers has been shelved at the moment. To be honest, even if they introduced a spec engine into MotoGP it couldn't be less entertaining than it has been for the last few years. I know Stoner has threatened to leave the series if they mess with the format too much , but hey ho Every cloud has a silver lining and all that.   Jaimec Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 07:12 am:        http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresul ts/MotoGP/2012/April/apr0312-pedrosa-vows-to-focus -on-racing-after-arrest/   Jaimec Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 07:14 am:        quote: I know Stoner has threatened to leave the series if they mess with the format too much Yeah right... and wombats will fly. Where else is he going to earn a paycheck like that??   Jaimec Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 09:09 am:        By the way... the wait is FINALLY over! This weekend in Qatar! No more testing... now it COUNTS. Once more rooting for ANYONE BUT HONDA, but I still lean towards Ben and Jorge. Go Yamaha!   Trojan Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 09:37 am:        Once more rooting for ANYONE BUT HONDA, but I still lean towards Ben and Jorge. Go Yamaha! I can't say I'm rooting for anyone in particular, so long as Stoner doesn't win! I'd like to see both Rossi and Hayden do well, likewise Crutchlow and Dovi on the Tech 3 bikes. Most of all I would like to see Randy De Puniet take a few scalps this weekend However the MotoGP race will not detract me from the main event....which of course is Moto2, and of course will be an absolute scorcher and probably make MotoGP look like the Lord Mayors Parade once again marc Marquezx looks to be back up to speed and there are around 10 potential winners that I can think of straight away...yee haaaa! Moto 3 will also be an interesting race to see who can get used to the new 250cc 4 strokes quickest. KTM have looked good all though testing but I think the Hondas may spring some surprises this week. I would like to see Danny Kent back up his impressive testing times with at least a podium finish.   Crusty Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 10:06 am:        Will Quatar be the race where the little rat weasel takes out Stoner? It's going to happen, one of these days. Pic is from the 2009 Indy MotoGP. The T shirts weren't for sale, or I would have bought one.   Xb1125r Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 10:42 am:        Stoner will win the race with or without a ducati. honda got to be upset knowing is not the bike but the rider why they won the title   Jaimec Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 10:48 am:        I think they realized that when they lost Rossi. And they bet on the wrong horse when they signed the "Rat Weasel" and favored him over Hayden who DID manage to beat Rossi and win the title for Honda. They sucked up to Pedrosa and Puig for YEARS and got zippo/zilch/nada out of that deal. As the late Dale Earnhardt said: "Second place is just the first loser."   Bads1 Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 - 12:13 pm:        xb1125r, Yes Stoner is the man to beat as of now. Reason being is they have the complete package. Lorenzo is capable and Yamaha has close the gap with there bike now that its a 1000. The Honda has some bad handling characteristics in area's the Yamaha does not and the Yamaha is a bit more forgiving to ride. The Honda has a little bit on the power edge but not much. Soon as Rossi gets sorted on the Ducati the gap will be closed on Stoner. Do you know why they call him the Doctor ??? I think we'll see podiums from Ducati this year. Rossi can brake on the bike now..... he couldn't before. The ducati's only issue right now is that the bike wants to go wide in corner's. I hope they fix this.   Gaesati Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 02:28 am:        If the "rat weasel" stays upright and uninjured he may surprise you all.   Gaesati Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 02:48 am:        Anthony West back in Moto2? What happened to Damian Cudlin?   Trojan Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 06:11 am:        Anthony West back in Moto2? Anthony West spent most of the winter moaing publicly that he couldn't get a decent ride, and that he didn't think he should have to pay for ride etc etc etc. He was then given the BMW ride at the last minute, and as a mark of his respect and loyalty to the team he dumps them after just one round when he gets what appears to be a better offer (it won't turn out to be, knowing that team!). No wonder nobody wanted him   Blake Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 06:56 am:        Nice analysis Dana! One issue that looms for Stoner is the problem that Honda experienced last test round where they pulled out of an entire day of testing and then on the following/last day avoided running any bike for more than four laps due to concerns of engine failure. It was hilarious to read Lorenzo's post test comment that after four laps the tires just went off. LOL. Was he chastising Honda with that, or was he serious? Maybe both.   Trojan Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 07:56 am:        Stoner has been quoted in recent interviews that he doesn't think their lack of race distance testing will harm Hondas championship chances this year, and that he doesn't think the tyres will be an issue. I really hope he is wrong, because the last thing we need this season is another boring repeat of 2011........I would love to see more people vying for a win, or even the occasional podium, rather than just the usual factory Yamaha/Honda suspects, but unless some outside influences such as tyre wear or poor weather can change the established order I can't see it happening unfortunately I predict that Stoner will moan this weekend about slow/lapped riders getting in his way...and that Lorenzo will win the race in Qatar after Stoner slides off in turn 1   Gaesati Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 08:59 am:        This weekend: 1. Lorenzo 2 Pedrosa 3Spies   Jaimec Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 10:50 am:        Me, I'm hoping Stoner is as successful on the 1000s as he was with the 990s...   Bads1 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 02:27 pm:        Stoner is awesome to watch. I've gotten to 3 GP's to see him and on the Ducati and the 4th we're going again this year. But hes not the champion Rossi was or is. Rossi was the king of head games,very comical that the fans loved his antic's. He also was good at talking if that sounds weird. But all in all??? He wasn't the huge whiner.   Jaimec Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 02:44 pm:        And if ANYONE had a reason to "whine" last year, it was Rossi. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresul ts/MotoGP/2012/April/apr0212-rossi-higly-motivated -for-2012/   Bads1 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 - 06:01 pm:        Looks like Attack performance is going to be in the fray with a CRT bike for the 2 US rounds http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=47774   Xb1125r Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2012 - 03:43 pm:        Kawasaki was done a good job with tis new bike, its keeping up with the ducati. but a rider has to do a lot. In motogp kawasaki did not have a top 3 rider. if you dont have that. you have lost half the battle. they should just focus on WSBK since there they have a great rider compared to the competition.   Bads1 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2012 - 03:47 pm:        kawasaki did not have a top 3 rider. if you dont have that. you have lost half the battle No.... they had neither. But they did have a better bike then Suzuki at least. You seem to be stuck just on a rider.   Jaimec Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2012 - 04:14 pm:        One and two are no surprise... but check out THIRD fastest from the first practice session! http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Apr/120405mgp1 .htm   Bads1 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2012 - 04:18 pm:        Jaimec, Lets hope that this can continue.   Jaimec Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2012 - 05:22 pm:        Nicky seems to be doing better with the bike they built for Rossi...   Blake Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2012 - 05:27 pm:        Qatar MotoGP FP1 1. Casey STONER Repsol Honda 1:56.474 2. Jorge LORENZO Yamaha Factory Racing 1:56.648 -0.174 3. Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Team 1:56.924 -0.450 4. Ben SPIES Yamaha Factory Racing 1:56.982 -0.508 5. Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda 1'57.130 -0.656 6. Cal CRUTCHLOW Monster Tech3 Yamaha 1:57.395 -0.921 7. Alvaro BAUTISTA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.512 -1.038 8. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Monster Tech3 Yamaha 1:57.547 -1.073 9. Hector BARBERA Pramac Racing Team 1:57.912 -1.438 10. Valentino ROSSI Ducati Team 1:57.914 -1.440 11. Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1:57.939 -1.465 12. Stefan BRADL LCR Honda 1:58.934 -2.460 13. Randy DE PUNIET Power Electronics Aspar 1:59.985 -3.511 14. Colin EDWARDS NGM Forward Racing 2:00.044 -3.570 15. Michele PIRRO San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:00.322 -3.848 16. Aleix ESPARGARO Power Electronics Aspar 2:00.720 -4.246 17. Ivan SILVA Avintia Racing 2:01.138 -4.664 18. Mattia PASINI Speed Master Team 2:01.261 -4.787 19. Yonny HERNANDEZ Avintia Racing 2:01.276 -4.802 20. Danilo PETRUCCI CAME Ioda Racing Project 2:01.352 4.878 21. James ELLISON Paul Bird Motorsport 2:03.421 -6.947