| Author | Message | ||
     Britchri10 |
For those if you with Internet connections (That should be all y'all) MotoGP of the Americas qualifying is showing live in Coolsportz.com @ 1330 today. It's a NZ channel that I watch rugby on. Just search for coolsportz. FWIW: I don't follow the bike racing too much so this may not be what you guys are watching! Chris C | ||
| Jaimec |
I have the DVR set to record from Speed. They're broadcasting the qualifying tonight. I'm afraid Crutchlow is right, though... this is going to be a Honda romp. Unless Pedrosa, Marquez or Bradl make a mistake, it's going to be Marquez, Pedrosa, Bradl, 1-2-3. Fortunately, it's just ONE race in a long season. | ||
| Bads1 |
Jaime, Even though Marques is fastest now. That is a long fast track and Bridgestone is saying that it will be very hard on tires. Sooo that leads me to believe that the Marques may not know well enough to conserve on his tires like the senior factory riders. This is after all one of the learning curves that Marques still has to learn from track to track. | ||
| Smoke |
qualifying on now! tim | ||
| Jaimec |
Looks like Bradl may not be in the mix, but all Lorenzo can do is hope the Repsol riders screw up. Maybe Dani can repeat his famous "move" on Mark as he did on Nicky in 2006? | ||
| Crusty |
 ZZZzzzz... | ||
| Gaesati |
Congrats to crutchlow and dovizioso. Those two guys are really great competitors! | ||
| Jaimec |
It's hard not to like Marquez... he always seems so HAPPY. Damn, what was the name of that dour dude who used to share the garage with Pedrosa again? You gotta feel for Dani. First he was brought to MotoGP because HRC was convinced HE was the man who would beat Rossi. Didn't matter that it was his TEAM MATE who did, he was still the #1 in the Repsol garage. Of course, he beat Rossi in a couple of races, but Rossi had his number and had no problems beating him. Then along came "What's-his-name" and in his first year on the Repsol cleared off and got Honda its first championship since Nicky (Dani's "other" team mate). In the remaining years, the other Spaniard that HRC passed on was picked up by Yamaha and he immediately set the world on fire (as Marquez is doing now). And now, he's been beaten twice by a 20-year old kid on his first two races on the SAME bike!! Dani may truly be the best, most talented rider to NEVER win the World Championship. | ||
| Trojan |
Marquez really is something very special, and I think we are in for a few years of his dominance. How he manages to control the bike at the angles he gets to is amazing adn although he looks like he is almost out of control most of the time he seems quite comfortable with that! Lorenzo is the only one who is anywhere near to being able to beat him this year. Good race by Cal. That was the best he could have hoped for under the circumstances, and probably all year to come! Bradl must be looking over his shoulder already waiting for someone to take his coveted HRC factory bike from under him. Rumours are already about that HRC are not happy with his performance (Or Bautuista's for that matter). There are plenty of riders who know that this would be their only chance of a factory bike for the forseable future (Crutchlow included) so I think he needs to up his game considerably and very soon. | ||
| Xb1125r |
whats his name is Stoner,lol The one that won with Ducati unlike the complainer whas his name? lol what a great race, Rossi almost got beat by Dovi, that would have been awesome. next time. so looks like the spanish riders are going to dominate this season. I feel bad for Spies, finishing 13th getting beat by a CRT bike!! | ||
| Bads1 |
Trojan he is special but its two races in and this race everyone kinda struggled. We'll have to see where this goes. It was also very clear that the wrong tire choice was made on Pedrosa's bike. He had nothing for him. Would he have won...... I'm unsure. | ||
| Trojan |
Trojan he is special but its two races in and this race everyone kinda struggled Do you really think he is a flash in the pan and won't figure in most of the races this year? He may only be in his second MotoGP race, but having dominated 125 and Moto2 (despite not winning in 2011 due to injury only) and then arriving in MotoGP to a factory team and at or near the front in every test so far, you can't write him off. Pedrosa actually said his tyres were fine (as were everyone else that chose the soft rear), and Marquez had problems with front grip towards the end (as did others). The difference between the soft and hard rear tyre at this track seems to have been pretty negligible. Pedrosa said he actually slowed because his left arm siezed up and he lacked the strength to hussle the bike through the twists and turns of the first sector. 'Rossi almost got beat by Dovi' Which race did you watch then? Dovi was never in danger of beating Rossi this week even though they were close at the start and Rossi had a bad race by his standards. Rossi suffered all weekend with being unable to find a decent setup and had a damaged front disc all race (in addition to front grip issues). Remember this is a track with a huge back straight where Ducati should (in theory) be really good, and were consistently fastest through the speed trap all weekend. I don't think Dovi will get closer than this to the Yamahas all year, and the distance between him and Rossi was never going to be that close even with Rossi having problems. The rest of the Ducatis were as awful as ever, so dream on  | ||
| Jaimec |
This is really Pedrosa's "Make or break" year as well. He's been with Honda longer than anyone, and has yet to "produce" for them. Cal may even have a shot at Dani's seat, if not Bradl's. | ||
| Jaimec |
From Reg Kittrelle's Facebook page, doing what he can at CoTA to "Free Kevin!"  | ||
| Jaimec |
Bautista is being hampered by running Showa parts, whereas the rest of the Hondas are running Ohlins. I think Pedrosa was the first (a few years ago) to complain about the Showa parts, so HRC switched over to Ohlins (same as Yamaha and Ducati). Since Honda owns Showa, they must be TRYING to get competitive with Ohlins (I may be wrong, but isn't Ohlins owned by Yamaha?) so they can switch back. Must be a bitter pill to swallow that they can't win without a competitor's parts on their bikes... | ||
| Bads1 |
Trojan, No I do not think hes a flash in the pan. I think you may be putting words in my mouth though. At the test it was clear that Repsol bikes were doing quite well where Yamaha struggled. Yamaha also left the test early because the next test was more important. I do however do not look at this race as tell all. Its a long season. (Message edited by bads1 on April 23, 2013) | ||
| Trojan |
I agree absolutely about Pedrosa being on shaky ground at HRC. They even stated last year that they would not have 2 Spanish riders in their team (although this was before Stoner jumped ship), which reads to me that Marquez/Stoner was their preferred lineup. They also made a big bid for Jorge Lorenzo to replace Dani this year. So Pedrosa was very much 3rd choice for Honda this year and is there almost by default because of his strong links with Repsol (and aggressive management) rather than any choice by HRC. Honda maybe looking to another young rider for next year though (existing contracts permitting), so poor old Cal may not be on their radar at all unfortunately. Honda like Pol Esparago (as do Yamaha) and Tom Luthi already so maybe they will be looking at Moto2 for a Pedrosa replacement of they can't have Lorenzo? Then of course there is Aleix Esparago, who is doing great things on the CRT bike and really should be on a prototype by now. The problem that all the other riders now have is that HRC and Yamaha have riders on multi year contracts, so there is little liklihood of a space appearing in either leading team next year. UNless the new 'over the counter' Honda/Yamaha is more competitive than teh CRT bikes I can't see where good upcoming riders will go to next year. As for Marquez, I really just can't see a chink in his armour yet, and we now move onto tracks that he knows as well as anyone else (probably more than some on Spanish circuits), so he won't have any weaknesses except youthful exuberence. The Honda is certainly the best overall package on the track right now, and only Lorenzo's brilliance is keeping Yamaha in the fight at the moment. | ||
| Xb1125r |
ohlins is sweedish,lol next thing you are going to say is the repsol oil they use is owned by honda | ||
| Xb1125r |
I feel bad for Rossi, he should have retired as champ, now he is heading the same road as edwards. He left Yamaha becuase of Lorenzo and then he comes back to the same house with the tail between his legs. | ||
| Simond |
Pedrosa may be on shaky ground but who is there to challenge him? Certainly not Bradl on effectively the same bike. The Espargaro brothers would seem the best choice but I don't see either of them being instantly faster than Dani. It's easy to forget the speed of Pedrosa when he first arrived in MotoGP - not to mention his speed in the second half of 2012. Marquez looks incredible - I just hope that he doesn't suffer the same injury problems that plagued Pedrosa once he got onto the big bikes. Crutchlow still seems to be improving - it would be tragic if he doesn't get onto a factory bike soon. I can't imagine Rossi wanting to stick around if he is consistently outperformed by Cal. Neil Spalding's comments about the possibility of a seamless shifter on the factory Yamahas rather like that on the Hondas were interesting - particularly with regard to the effect on fuel consumption. | ||
| Jaimec |
Hey XB, you REALLY ought to do a little research before proving your ignorance OVER AND OVER here. Although Ohlins at one time was owned 50% by Yamaha, they bought back a majority of their shares but Yamaha still owns 5% of the company. http://www.ohlins.com/about-the-company/our-histor y/ Unlike you, I don't pull things out of my ass. | ||
| Xb1125r |
Jaime take a chill pill you should know that 5% is penuts | ||
| Bads1 |
The Honda is certainly the best overall package on the track right now, and only Lorenzo's brilliance is keeping Yamaha in the fight at the moment. Wow Matt you can say that just through the second round and the second round was n a track that nobody knew well and even Bridgstone said it was uncharted territory?? Marquez is surely a factor but theres many tracks yet and some the Yamaha benefit from. | ||
| Trojan |
Until Yamaha get the improved gearbox (although some - including Neil Spalding- think they already have it on the factory bikes) they are losing a couple of tenths per lap everywhere they go against the Hondas, so they have to be ridden harder and better to beat them. So far Jorge has been able to do this, although the second half of last season showed how Honda have improved. It remains to be seen if Yamaha can gain an advantage at other tracks, but I doubt it now. Honda have no issues to bother them right now so their bike looks almost perfect. Marques looks like he can just ride around problems anyway! It is now Yamaha's turn to play catchup and they need more power and a better gearbox to do it. having the best rider isn't enough. Funny how the Rossi haters come out after one poor race (by his standards). Where were you after Qatar? | ||
| Jaimec |
As a Yamaha spokesman said during the preseason: "A seamless gear box can make a difference of a tenth of a second per lap. The right rider makes a difference of a second a lap." Yamaha now has the right riders (except for maybe Bradley Smith). The rest will come. | ||
| Xb1125r |
Trojan if I remember right Honda was chasing Yamaha in Qatar. you guys sound like the 2 english commentators from MOtogp. some tracks are going to be suited better for Yamahas and some for honda. The fact is that there are some gifted riders out there like Marquez and Lorenzo that no matter what they ride they will make it work and not complain like little girls. Stoner did it with Ducati and Honda and he would have done it if he went to yamaha. | ||
| Xb1125r |
have you guys noticed how the MotoGP commentators get a woody when Crutchlow is in the top ten,lol | ||
| Trojan |
When has he not been in the top ten since he started in MotoGP? You really need to do some research  Stoner did it with Ducati and Honda and he would have done it if he went to yamaha. You are right...Stoner whined like a little girl whereever he went Now all is sweetness and light since he has gone. I'm surer he would find some reason to complain about Marquez too. (Message edited by trojan on April 24, 2013) | ||
| Xb1125r |
everytime he crashes,lol Stoner just got it done, even Dovi is doing better then Rossi on th Ducati. | ||
| Jaimec |
Good article on Cal Crutchlow: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/trackside-t uesday-cal-crutchlow-cota/ |
