Legend2TL

Sorta, but in 2015 some of his actions even made his old race engineer Burgess question his behavior despite that he still respects Rossi.

Soup :: Burgess: Not The Valentino Rossi I know :: 10-27-2015

I expect Marquez to win 2016 championship after sorting out his flaky crash prone riding from 2015 in the off-season.

TrackDayRdr

I could care a lick for what Burgess says these days. His time has come and gone. I was waiting to see if Rossi would fail after they split ways, but obviously he hasn't, which is ok with me and makes the parting look like another wise move by Rossi.

I admit that Rossi is an old dog playing a young dog's game, but he sure is competitive. If you've been watching long enough, part of his nature is the off-field head gamey BS, which he is a master of. Youtube his antics with Biaggi and Gibernau among others. Master class indeed.

Marquez is a safe bet for championship material again this year. He's the new blood, yet to break a major bone. Once that happens it's all down hill. Rossi survives despite his serious offs, but he's superhuman so far.

Legend2TL

Rossi didn't fail after his split with Burgess, he improved in inter-team rivary with Lorenzo alittle but he hasn't won another championship either. I just found some of his headgames kinda odd (like Burgess) when they got personal and not his typical lightheartedness stuff.

We've already seen Rossi's antics in the past, but last year it clearly failed with Lorenzo (who's only competition for headgames is himself) and Marquez (also pretty resilient).
They're more like Lawson and Doohan and not like Biaggi and Gibernau, which is also why they're MotoGP champions.

Edward'TLS

Let's say I am. What's next ?

TrackDayRdr

Then I have a couple of movies to recommend so you can catch up.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

Do please enlighten me.

Legend2TL

^^

"Faster" (2003) and Fastest (2011), excellent documentaries about MotoGP made by Mark Neale and narrated by Ewan McGregor

TrackDayRdr

Bingo!

SlowLane

Hitting the Apex is available to rent or buy from the iTunes store. It is narrated by Brad Pitt.

Did anyone watch the Moto 3 race in Jerez? Brad Binder had to start from last place (35th), because of a penalty. He ended up winning the race by a few seconds.

Edward'TLS

Agree. Excellent documentaries that focus on the victorious days of Valentino Rossi in MotoGP from seasons 2001 to 2009.

But there is nothing on how Rossi struggled with the Ducati team after he had left Honda/Yamaha, nothing on how Rossi lost his edge from 2010, nothing on how the younger guys such as Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez are displacing Rossi to become the next rising stars, and also nothing on how Rossi got so desperate in winning back the title that, in Sepang 2015, he unsportsmanly forced Marquez to crash and ultimately cost him the championship.

TrackDayRdr

Rubbing is racing. Sepang was Marquez getting back what he usually dishes out.

Legend2TL

Yeah, I like Marquez and he's a very fast and fairly clean rider with low drama. He and Lorenzo are the future, Stoner although very talented has had medical issues which sorta caused him to retire. I also like Pedrosa who can be very quick but crash and injury prone, HRC like him because he's a very talented development rider who can sort out the bike.

Last years drama was sorta crazy due to all the conspiracy theories and Rossi and Márquez colliding 3 times. I actually wanted Rossi to win until Sepang where it looked too obvious to me that Rossi deliberately took Marquez out. I watched it in slow-mo ~10 times from different cameras and came away with the conclusion that Rossi had penty of room in that turn but choose to come into contact. One could argue that Marc set him up but I would have though Rossi could have passed elsewhere (had he already done with him during that race). Rossi lacked the pace that Lorenzo had. The whole penalty thing was also some drama since Dorna (MotoGP commercial rights holder) is a Spanish company.

SlowLane

Pedrosa may move to Yamaha? I didn't think this would happen. I figured if Pedrosa moved at all, it might be to the new KTM team.

Pedrosa to join Rossi at Yamaha, Viñales to remain at Suzuki? | MCN

Dani Pedrosa Rumored to Go to Yamaha

Dani Pedrosa to Yamaha? According to the Italian press, it's a deal ready to go if Vinales stays on his FIVE MILLION Euro pay demands - MoreBikes

F-C

Can't see Pedrosa going to Yamaha. I'm sure Yamaha wants a younger rider like Vinales.

TrackDayRdr

Pedrosa is another rider who's day has come and gone. He should be on a satellite or torpedo-ing Hayden in Wsbk.

F-C

Legend2TL

Kinda wonder if they would want Pedrosa to help further develop the M1, and he's still fast though I doubt he'll ever win the championship.

Kinda amused that his Wiki page even has a injury section

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dani_Pedrosa#Injuries

SlowLane

I agree. It is time to give someone else a chance. I thought a spot on the new KTM team would be a good way for Dani to finish his career. Honda doesn't agree. Dani's contract has been renewed for another 2 years.

HRC renew with Dani Pedrosa until end of 2018

TrackDayRdr

I loved the move Biaggi made at the end of his MotoGP days. Side benefit that he brought eyeballs to Wsbk when it needed them most. I don't see why this is not more popular for the top shelf riders when they are later in their careers.

Legend2TL

Although it's mostly rider in MotoGP, bike development is still important. I'm guessing HRC wanted Dani for the same reason they signed him a couple years back to be a consistent #2 teammate and continuously develop the RC213V.

TrackDayRdr

I would think that if any of these guys were in MotoGP they would want to be competitive, not just test pilots for better riders. I know that's not the case - again Hayden. He had a commemorative Ducati Monster built after him but he never won a race on a Duc.

F-C

After the performance last race, how in the world did Dani get another 2 years with Honda? Boggles the mind.

TrackDayRdr

Same way Crutchlow stays on a bike.

I am looking forward to see what Iannone can do once he has some self-control.

F-C

Dani was always Repsol's favorite.

TrackDayRdr

At least when their other option was an anemic American, demanding, aged Italian, or a whine ass, never-happy Aussie. The Europeans are certainly very nationalistic, and outside of the Italians, the Spaniards are at the top of the food chain and take their moto racing seriously. I'm sure Reposl is much happer having a Spaniard steering their marketing engine.

SlowLane

Dani has always been with Honda, even during his time in the lower classes. His 125cc championship and back-to-back 250cc championship seasons were all on Honda bikes. I cannot think of anyone else on the current grid that hasn't raced with at least one other manufacturer's bike, especially in the lower classes (Aprilia, Derbi, KTM, Suter).

SlowLane

Ducati chose Dovizioso for the next 2 seasons.

Andrea Dovizioso confirmed with Ducati for 2017 and 2018

If other rumors are true, then Vinales will confirm signing a 2 year deal with Yamaha this weekend. Iannone and Alex Rins are potential replacements for Vinales at Suzuki.

TrackDayRdr

Iannone shot himself in the foot this season. He could have been the next Casey Stoner. LoL

Legend2TL

Tier 2 riders gotta wind up somewhere

F-C

Good for Dovi getting renewed by Ducati.

My guess is that Vinales was already locked up by Yamaha, that's why Honda renewed with Pedrosa without any viable alternative.

Legend2TL

I think Pedorsa was picked up because he was able to still be fairly competitive in the last four races of 2015.
I'm guessing the arm pump surgery recovery took awhile which made him have a lackluster mid-season, oh and being Spanish doesn't hurt either with Repsol.
The future is with Marquez, I still think he'll be the 2016 MotoGP champion.

TrackDayRdr

For some reason I can't warm up to Marquez. I loved the racecraft that Rossi exhibited plus his off track Jedi mind tricks that confounded other riders but endeared him to his fans. I also loved Super Sic's fierce track presence boosted by his off track personality. Even Hayden made my must watch list when he was the farm boy dun guud. But Marquez... I don't care if he wins or loses and I'm not sure why that is.

SlowLane

Farm boy won the World SBK race 2 at Sepang last weekend. It was a wet race, but he managed to stay in the lead for all 16 laps. He hadn't won a race in 10 years.

TrackDayRdr

Hayden has always done well in the wet. Probably something to do with being able to slide the rear around dirt track style. That's alright though, a win is a win. Good for him! I'm glad to see he's competitive again. It's been a long time.

My point though is that these guys seem to end up chasing $$ and not the flag, and end up in the "Premier Class" loooong after their chances of finishing in the top 5 have gone past. I would like to think if it were me I would see the forest through the trees and take an opportunity to "step down" to Wsbk where I can be competitive again instead of breathing everyone else's exhaust in MotoGP. Finish on top, so to speak.

SlowLane

I agree. Rea, Davies, Sykes. Those guys aren't slouches. It was nice to see an American on the top podium spot.

Legend2TL

MotoGP: Maverick Vinales to replace Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha - BBC Sport

TrackDayRdr

I like it!

F-C

Good for Vinales. Sad for Suzuki.

TrackDayRdr

Zook should snag Iannone. He's an up and comer.

SlowLane

They already did.

Andrea Iannone joins Suzuki for 2017 and 2018