MotoGP: News and Discussion Thread
#361
AZ Community Team
^ +1, impressive rider with amazing stats and icon no doubt, but his 2015 antics made him look like a jerk as well.
#362
Instructor
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Do any of you guys race or know racers? I do. They are all cocky jerks, even the ones I like. Name a top racer that hasn't had a jerky stretch when things weren't going their way. Maybe SuperSic? It is easier to name the ones who have had famous temper tantrums or rolling bad attitudes when they weren't performing.
#363
AZ Community Team
Do any of you guys race or know racers? I do. They are all cocky jerks, even the ones I like. Name a top racer that hasn't had a jerky stretch when things weren't going their way. Maybe SuperSic? It is easier to name the ones who have had famous temper tantrums or rolling bad attitudes when they weren't performing.
As for MotoGP, Pedrosa is a great example of a introverted racer which most who know him have positive attributes about his personality.
Not every rider is a Carl Fogerty or Max Biaggi, some are quite pleasant.
My SCCA instructor friend spent a afternoon racing against Doug Polan (2 time WSB chanpion who was retired) around a private dirt flat track about a decade ago in Maryland.
Said he was very down to earth, nice guy.
#364
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Or a Gibernau
Or a Lorenzo kicking his Ducati over
Or a bitchy Schwantz
Or a Mad Max Biaggi
Or always angry Matt Mladin
Or a "lactose intolerant" Casey Stoner
Probably was, but at that point his racing days were well behind him and the heat was off. I'm talking about these guys at the tip of their own spears.
#365
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I get that racers need to have a certain ego or aggressiveness to succeed, but that's different to being a plain jerk. His attitude towards Gibernau is what pushed me away from him back in 2004. I don't get why he has to play so many mind games or politics when he is so gifted.
To his credit, he made up with Sete a few years back.
To his credit, he made up with Sete a few years back.
#366
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I get that racers need to have a certain ego or aggressiveness to succeed, but that's different to being a plain jerk. His attitude towards Gibernau is what pushed me away from him back in 2004. I don't get why he has to play so many mind games or politics when he is so gifted.
#367
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Like I said, I get that, but it turns people off. At least it does for me.
#369
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
lemmings!
#370
Hitting the Apex is available on Amazon Prime now. It came out in 2015.
They're planning to keep Rossi around after he retires. Supposedly, Dorna will create at least one slot for a Rossi managed Moto GP team no matter how many bikes are on the grid. He already has VR46 teams in Moto 2 and 3.
They're planning to keep Rossi around after he retires. Supposedly, Dorna will create at least one slot for a Rossi managed Moto GP team no matter how many bikes are on the grid. He already has VR46 teams in Moto 2 and 3.
#371
AZ Community Team
It was a racing accident in his first MotoGP season and if Honda HRC woulda thought different I extremely doubt they would have signed Dani multiple times to another 11 seasons with Repsol Honda factory team.
Stoner is a fairly sensitive Aussie from what I've seen and read.
Hellva rider esspecially when he won the championship for Ducati.
Adding to the fairly normal/nice category are Gardner, Doohan (although he seemed to get into a bit of trouble post retirement), Hailwood, Marquez, Pedrosa,...
IIRC though Lawson was aggressive on track but friendly off it as well.
Not everyone is a ego-manic jerk in racing.
Neither you nor I know for sure if he was a jerk in his racing days. My friend said he was the equivalent to Rick Mears in being laid back and low-key.
Last edited by Legend2TL; 05-11-2017 at 08:08 PM.
#372
AZ Community Team
+1, I get the whole marketing and media campaign from Rossi and it's part of the entertainment.
I'd prefer the sporting side when it translates into results, he hasn't won a championship since 2009.
Marquez and Jorge has won three championships each since 2009.
#373
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Can't believe that Marquez crashed out. That's his 4th crash this year? Seems like he's riding on the limit too much.
At least Rossi also took himself off at the end.
At least Rossi also took himself off at the end.
#374
Michelin is bringing another harder option front tire to Mugello. Rossi, Marquez, and others have been complaining about a lack of feeling from the current version. Maybe there will be fewer crashes.
MotoGP to revert to late-2016 Michelin front tyre from Mugello - MotoGP - Autosport
#375
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Great win by Dovi in Mugello. That Ducati has some power in it.
Dovi's win highlights even more the disappearance of Lorenzo.
Dovi's win highlights even more the disappearance of Lorenzo.
#376
#377
Personally the season is going great with lots of different winners. I think Michelin is doing a great job with the tires if the goal is entertaining races and not knowing certain bikes will be the ones in the top 3 every week.
I hope the Aprilias and KTM can keep improving. I hope Honda can find their way back to the front. I hope Ducati can take this momentum and keep running up front. I hope Zarco, Folger, Pertux and Cructhlow can keep showing that non-factory teams can be competitive if conditions are right.
The Moto2 and Moto3 races were excellent. I want more! Well, the next race is only a few days away now!
I hope the Aprilias and KTM can keep improving. I hope Honda can find their way back to the front. I hope Ducati can take this momentum and keep running up front. I hope Zarco, Folger, Pertux and Cructhlow can keep showing that non-factory teams can be competitive if conditions are right.
The Moto2 and Moto3 races were excellent. I want more! Well, the next race is only a few days away now!
#378
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
What a weird season. Yamaha looked good a one point, then Honda, now Ducati. I don't think there are any clear favorites anymore.
#379
AZ Community Team
^ +1, really enjoyable in some ways, confusing in others. The tire situation does seem to be playing a big role this year. Marquez crashed four times in practice last weekend.
In the twilight of his career, I'm enjoying seeing Pedrosa have a competitive year with being on pole last weekend and within a 4 points of Marquez.
Also good to see old (Rossi, Pedrosa), , new (Zarco, Maverick), and midcareer riders (Marquez, Lorenzo, Dovizioso) in the top,
It's good for the sport and fans, Dorna/FIM have done a good job.
In the twilight of his career, I'm enjoying seeing Pedrosa have a competitive year with being on pole last weekend and within a 4 points of Marquez.
Also good to see old (Rossi, Pedrosa), , new (Zarco, Maverick), and midcareer riders (Marquez, Lorenzo, Dovizioso) in the top,
It's good for the sport and fans, Dorna/FIM have done a good job.
Last edited by Legend2TL; 06-15-2017 at 08:22 AM.
#380
I wonder how much longer Suzuki is going to keep Iannone around. I bet they regret choosing him and letting Zarco slip away.
#381
This is definitely an interesting season. A lot will depend on the weather. If it stays hot and/or slippery look for the Ducs to do well, but don't count Yamaha and Rossi out. He has proven himself to be quite adaptable over the years. Vinales could certainly still take the title. It appears he may have learned when it isn't your day to just take the points available. Also you can never discount Marquez's speed or Danny's consistency. Throw a Crashlow, Zarco and Folger into the mix and it gets more fun. Add rain and who knows what will happen as we saw last year.
Whatever happens it should be fun!
Whatever happens it should be fun!
#383
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Who'd have thought that Marquez would be leading at the halfway point after the first few races. What a wild and unpredictable season so far.
Thoughts at the halfway point:
Thoughts at the halfway point:
- On average, Marquez appears to be the most consistent at finding speed. As long as he doesn't take himself out, he should be the favorite.
- Dovizioso taming the Ducati is the biggest surprise to me this year. Stepping up big time.
- Lorenzo, the mystery disappearance man. His form is shocking when you compare him with Dovizioso.
- Rossi and Pedrosa seemed to have found some new life this year. Still too inconsistent though.
- Vinales is slowly disappearing from contention. Loss of confidence?
#384
AZ Community Team
^ +1 agree with those thoughts with the slight exception, that I think Maverick is just going through a mid-season slump of bad luck and circumstances.
#385
I am not surprised by Lorenzo's struggles. Ducati picked the wrong rider. If they really wanted to win the championship, then they should have gone after Marquez.
Dovi is doing well. I hope he stays in contention for the championship.
The Tech 3 rookies are impressive so far. Folger was really pushing Marquez in the last race.
Dovi is doing well. I hope he stays in contention for the championship.
The Tech 3 rookies are impressive so far. Folger was really pushing Marquez in the last race.
#386
6G TLX-S
The Ducati bikes are simply not as good as the Honda's and the Yamaha's, no matter who is sitting on top of them.
#387
AZ Community Team
^ The rare exception is 2007, Stoner won 10 out of 18 races and the motoGP championship, he was runner up the following year. It showed me what a great rider Casey is.
Other than that bright period, it's been pretty dark over at Ducatti.
Other than that bright period, it's been pretty dark over at Ducatti.
#388
AZ Community Team
What a classic finish to today's race, fair and epic battle.
1st race I've watched live all years.
1st race I've watched live all years.
#389
I thought Marquez would end up in the gravel. It was a great battle with Dovi.
#390
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Great battle between Dovi and Marquez. An instant classic.
How in the world is Marquez able to stay on that bike? His bike was sliding in almost every heavy breaking zone.
How in the world is Marquez able to stay on that bike? His bike was sliding in almost every heavy breaking zone.
#391
6G TLX-S
^^^^^
Marquez is highly talented in motorbike racing. This is what makes him the multiple-year MotoGP champion.
Marquez is highly talented in motorbike racing. This is what makes him the multiple-year MotoGP champion.
#392
AZ Community Team
Not as exciting as last race but Dovizioso is tearing up the tracks.
He's really come into his own this season as he has totally out-shown Lorenzo, beating him in 11 of 12 races so far this year.
He's really come into his own this season as he has totally out-shown Lorenzo, beating him in 11 of 12 races so far this year.
#393
Tough luck for Marquez. When was the last time a Honda engine failed?
It will be funny if Dovi wins the championship. Lorenzo is the one getting paid tons of money. Dovi should renegotiate his contract.
It will be funny if Dovi wins the championship. Lorenzo is the one getting paid tons of money. Dovi should renegotiate his contract.
#394
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Rossi breaks his leg after a motocross event. Injury appears serious and he is going for surgery.
#395
Moderator
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...431098e3da8bc3
It is felt that the increased forces generated by this year’s faster breed of F1 cars means they are having even more of an effect on the track surfaces, causing rippling in braking zones, and effectively pushing the asphalt across the surface in fast corners where they are generating the most downforce.
“With the downforce of these Formula 1 cars … Spielberg was a joke,” Crutchlow said.
“You can’t imagine, even on the straight the thing was vibrating and bouncing.
“It was worse than last year, and on a lot of the off-camber corners it was a lot worse, so it means the tarmac’s been pushed because of the cars.
“They’ve resurfaced a couple of corners here [Silverstone] and they were a lot better, so how about we resurface the whole track? It’d be a lot easier for all of us.
“The problem is that wherever we share a track with F1, the tracks are bumpy within a year [of being resurfaced], so I understand the concerns of the organisers.”
Factory Honda riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa said they will continue to ask for the circuit to be resurfaced, with Marquez saying he made the same requests last year.
“We have more bumps compared to last year, it’s a bumpy track, and again we will ask to re-asphalt all the circuit because it’s one of the worst on the calendar,” he said.
“Silverstone is a great track but for the future, I remember last year asking, if we continue here, to resurface because it’s really bumpy.”
Pedrosa added: “We have the problem that we race with Formula 1 also [on some tracks]. It’s necessary to resurface, we were discussing that.
“But we don’t know how long it will last with a good surface, because we still share the track with Formula 1.”
Valentino Rossi said that patching up certain parts of the circuit causes its own problems, as the joins between various surfaces can be troublesome to ride over.
“For me Silverstone is not a lot worse than last year,” he said.
“The cars of Formula 1 damage the track but also here you have a lot of different asphalt and the cut [between the surfaces] is in the middle of the corner, so for that reason it is more difficult.
“You need to have an easy bike on the bumps but at the same time with high performance, and to find that balance is not easy.”
CAL Crutchlow has sympathy for circuits that host Formula 1 and MotoGP races, following complaints from riders about the condition of the Silverstone track surface.
MotoGP riders have been pushing for certain circuits to be resurfaced to make them smoother to ride on, with F1 tracks including Austin, Barcelona, the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone among those in the firing line.It is felt that the increased forces generated by this year’s faster breed of F1 cars means they are having even more of an effect on the track surfaces, causing rippling in braking zones, and effectively pushing the asphalt across the surface in fast corners where they are generating the most downforce.
“With the downforce of these Formula 1 cars … Spielberg was a joke,” Crutchlow said.
“You can’t imagine, even on the straight the thing was vibrating and bouncing.
“It was worse than last year, and on a lot of the off-camber corners it was a lot worse, so it means the tarmac’s been pushed because of the cars.
“They’ve resurfaced a couple of corners here [Silverstone] and they were a lot better, so how about we resurface the whole track? It’d be a lot easier for all of us.
“The problem is that wherever we share a track with F1, the tracks are bumpy within a year [of being resurfaced], so I understand the concerns of the organisers.”
Factory Honda riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa said they will continue to ask for the circuit to be resurfaced, with Marquez saying he made the same requests last year.
“We have more bumps compared to last year, it’s a bumpy track, and again we will ask to re-asphalt all the circuit because it’s one of the worst on the calendar,” he said.
“Silverstone is a great track but for the future, I remember last year asking, if we continue here, to resurface because it’s really bumpy.”
Pedrosa added: “We have the problem that we race with Formula 1 also [on some tracks]. It’s necessary to resurface, we were discussing that.
“But we don’t know how long it will last with a good surface, because we still share the track with Formula 1.”
Valentino Rossi said that patching up certain parts of the circuit causes its own problems, as the joins between various surfaces can be troublesome to ride over.
“For me Silverstone is not a lot worse than last year,” he said.
“The cars of Formula 1 damage the track but also here you have a lot of different asphalt and the cut [between the surfaces] is in the middle of the corner, so for that reason it is more difficult.
“You need to have an easy bike on the bumps but at the same time with high performance, and to find that balance is not easy.”
#396
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
A lesser man would have settled for the points in that wet Misano race. That's why Marquez will win the championship this year.
#397
AZ Community Team
^
#398
I think Marquez has crashed 20 times this season, although only 2 were in races. Twenty crashes are probably more than he had all last season and there are still 5 races to go. Marquez's ability to shake off all of those crashes and not let them affect his confidence is very impressive. I agree that he is the strongest contender. That said, his penchant for crashing gives Dovi and Vinales a shot at the title.
#399
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I think Marquez has crashed 20 times this season, although only 2 were in races. Twenty crashes are probably more than he had all last season and there are still 5 races to go. Marquez's ability to shake off all of those crashes and not let them affect his confidence is very impressive. I agree that he is the strongest contender. That said, his penchant for crashing gives Dovi and Vinales a shot at the title.
I don't think Vinales is a factor anymore this year. It's like he's lost that confidence he had at the beginning. It's a two rider fight between Marquez and Dovi.
#400
AZ Community Team
Rossi finished 5th today at Aragon
I was definitely impressed, just 24 days after breaking his leg in two places.