SlowLane

Suzuki return to MotoGP™ with Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales in 2015

motogp.com · Suzuki return to MotoGP? with Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales in 2015

F-C

Brain fade my Marquez for not changing tires. He said that he would ride more conservatively going forward, and he does the dumb-dumb.

SlowLane

Yeah right. Marquez never rides conservatively. Didn't he get a black flag/disqualified for failing to make the required pit stop at Phillip Island last year?

F-C

That's called lack of experience. He risked serious injury for what? Just to win at Aragon? He's championship is already decided, no need to risk it.

By the way, question for riders, since I'm not crazy enough to ride a bike. Why in the world did Marquez hold onto the handle bars when he crashed? Shouldn't he had let go? Seems very dangerous to hold onto a 300lb bike that could become a projectile weapon.

SlowLane

The same argument could be made for the last race at San Marino. He could have backed off of Rossi and maybe even Lorenzo, but he kept pushing it and ended up crashing. Marquez has always ridden aggressively. He doesn't settle for anything but 1st place. That's what makes him fun to watch.

Legend2TL

Low-side crash sometimes riders hang on to avoid getting hit by the bike. High-side there's usually no say in the matter as the bike is violently throw off, and there the bike is flipping and you do not want to be near it.

SlowLane

What a crash fest. Great ride by the Doctor.

F-C

That was a really weird race. People couldn't stay up.

The pre-race piece about the air bag system was quite fascinating.

SlowLane

I watched some of the post-race interviews and they were all complaining about the front tires.

Crutchlow, Pol Espargaro, Marquez and a few other riders used the asymmetrical front tire. Espargaro said that he knew it was a risky choice, but he wasn't fast enough with the other option. They all said that the cold weather ended up causing problems with their front tire.

Rossi, Lorenzo, and most of the other riders went with a soft compound front tire. Lorenzo said that Bridgestone needs to do a better job testing the consistency of their tires.

SlowLane

Excited for the first race this weekend. Nick Harris will probably have a new commentator with him this year. Gregory Haines moved over to World Superbike.

F-C

Can't wait. Suzuki is back. Ducati seems to be strong.

Legend2TL

BBC Sport - Dani Pedrosa says he 'can't continue racing' with arm injury

Friend who races motocross has gotten arm-pump and said it's very painful.



Sad to read, I like Dani. Very low-key, modest rider who challenges and has beaten some of the best MotoGP riders in the world on occasion. Also likes that I've never heard him trash-talk another rider.

F-C

Pedrosa has always shown flashes of brilliance, unfortunately also very injury prone. He could have won a championship with better luck.
I think Honda made a mistake two years ago when they stayed with Pedrosa and jettisoned Dovizioso.

Legend2TL

Dani has had alot of injuries but he's ridden through many of them.
Dovizioso is a good rider but not in Dani's class, when they were teammates Dani outrode him. However Dani is also outclassed by Marc so it's tough competition in MotoGP.

F-C

I agree, a healthy Pedrosa is better than a healthy Dovizioso, but Pedrosa hasn't been healthy in years.

F-C

Marquez over did it again in Argentina. You're a two time world champion, settle down!

Legend2TL

Inside the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP Prototype - Motorcycle USA

Legend2TL

Inside the Honda RC213V MotoGP Prototype - Motorcycle USA

SlowLane

He came back at Rossi too quickly. He does need to learn to slow down once in a while.

I was glad to see Cal Crutchlow on the podium and his teammate Jack Miller as the top open bike. Miller is being eyed as a future Repsol/factory Honda rider.

SlowLane

Anyone watch the FIM CEV Repsol series races on YouTube? It is kind of the like the farm league for Moto GP. Most of the races are in Spain. The first set of races were in Portimao this weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3B...hKHQ5hY3n-f_9w

Legend2TL

Gotta say, I was wrong about Rossi's career. The Doctor has really come back this season with a bike that seems to suit him and Lorenzo really well. Was not expecting him to be leading the championship with two wins.

F-C

Yeah, same here. It's like Rossi has made a complete turnaround. Although Lorenzo won the last race, it feels like Rossi is the top dog at Yamaha right now. It's a long season though, and I still expect Marquez to win the championship.

Legend2TL

Really surprised at the season Marquez is having having crashed out of 3 races so far considering in the past two seasons he rarely crashed. Gotta wonder what the problem is?

SlowLane

Same here. I watched Marquez race in the Moto 3 and 2 classes, and I cannot recall him having such a run of bad luck. Honda had him test a new swing arm after the race in Jerez. He's was complaining about the lack of rear grip and said the bike felt "floaty" when entering corners.

Edward'TLS

This season, the Yamaha machines have improved significantly when compare to the Honda's.

Marquez must have pushed his Honda over the edge in attempting to catch up with the Yamaha's.

Legend2TL

Marquez: ?The first impressions were good?

Maquez tested with a 2014 chassis mated to a 2015 engine, exhaust and swingarm.

F-C

Last corner at Assen. What do you think?

a) Marquez fault for being a little too aggressive.
b) Rossi did a no-no by riding through the chicane without slowing.
c) Racing incident.

I thought fault was 50/50, so racing incident.

Legend2TL

I agree it was a agressive move by Marquez but Rossi going into the gravel and recover by cutting the corner was OK as well. So I go with "c".

Great race, the 2014 Honda chassis with the 2015 motor and rear swing arm seem to suite Marc much better now. Kinda embarrassing for Honda to go backwards with the motorcycle chassis design kinda a black art/science.

Legend2TL

Amazing save in Sunday's Moto3 race!

F-C

That happens quite often. Teams going back to a previous year's bike.

I suppose it might also happen in F1 if not for the fact that new rules make old cars non-compliant in F1.

F-C

Crazy save!

F-C

Looks like Marquez is back. Might be too late for a championship run though.

SlowLane

Marquez definitely looked more comfortable on the Frankenbike. Pedrosa also looked stronger this weekend.

jdw1

I wish we had more competitive American riders. I also wish GP would come to Barbers here in Birmingham. It's a world class track. I've been to several AMA races there.

SlowLane

Agreed. Patrick Jacobsen has been competitive in World Supersport this year.

Legend2TL

, yeah the 2014 chassis with the 2015 motor and swingarm make it look like the old Marc. Pedrosi who's reserved looked very happy on the podium.

SlowLane

Too bad for Loris Baz. His first season of Moto GP could be cut short.

Forward Racing to miss Indianapolis

Both the Moto2™ and MotoGP™ teams to miss the Indianapolis round as Forward Racing refocuses.

In the aftermath of the arrest and the charges against Giovanni Cuzari, director and owner of Forward Racing, the team has focused on limiting the possible consequences of this situation, in order to continue its sport activity and to end the current season, following also the desire of Giovanni.

Unfortunately, the reaction of the sponsors, the main source of income of an independent team, was immediate and resolute. Inevitably some of them canceled the existing contracts and interrupted payments, creating further financial troubles that could jeopardize completely the surviving of the team...

F-C

No Bradl? He's always entertaining.

SlowLane

Supposedly, Bradl is going to terminate his contract with Forward Racing. He may take Melandri's spot on the Aprilia team with Bautista.

Did anyone see Stoner's crash at Suzuka this past weekend? He's lucky the injuries weren't worse.

F-C

That was a bad crash. I wonder if hitting the barriers helped him or hurt him.