MotoGP: News and Discussion Thread
#401
Impressive ride by Rossi.
It is nice to see JLo starting to gel with the Ducati and the Aprilia bring right up there with the front runners for a change. More bikes at the front battling for podiums / wins is a good thing.
Mir docked 6 places for excessive swerving causing a danger to other riders in Moto3. If it really was a danger, that penalty is too small. Six starting spots in Moto3 is nothing because you can go form 6th to 1st or 1st to 6th on one straightaway.
It is nice to see JLo starting to gel with the Ducati and the Aprilia bring right up there with the front runners for a change. More bikes at the front battling for podiums / wins is a good thing.
Mir docked 6 places for excessive swerving causing a danger to other riders in Moto3. If it really was a danger, that penalty is too small. Six starting spots in Moto3 is nothing because you can go form 6th to 1st or 1st to 6th on one straightaway.
#402
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Maybe, maybe not. Aragon is one of Lorenzo's favorite circuits, so the performance might be more unique. Motegi should suit the Ducatis more, so if he can still maintain the pace next race, then maybe...
#403
Phillip Island was the best race of the season. That was a great battle.
#404
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
It was wild. One of the craziest races ever. I wonder how many position changes there were for just the top 4 in the whole race.
#405
The 2015 MotoGP race at Phillip Island was a four-way dust up which saw Marc Márquez, Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Iannone, and Valentino Rossi pass each other a grand total of 52 times in 27 laps. The 2017 race saw seven riders slug it out over the same distance, passing and repassing each other a total of 73 times. Blink, and you missed a change of the lead. But you had to blink, just to catch your breath. It is a good job the
https://motomatters.com/analysis/2017/10/24/2017_phillip_island_motogp_round_up_a.html
Freddie Spencer has some post-race thoughts on YouTube:
#406
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
That's crazy. You can probably count on one hand the number of position changes in Formula One for the whole year, especially if you discount changes due to pit stops.
Anyone trying to build a future motorcycle race course should duplicate the Philip Island formula.
Anyone trying to build a future motorcycle race course should duplicate the Philip Island formula.
#407
Looks like MotoGP announcer Nick Harris is retiring after this season.
MotoGP's Tribute to Nick Harris - Cycle News
MotoGP's Tribute to Nick Harris - Cycle News
#408
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Looks like MotoGP announcer Nick Harris is retiring after this season.
MotoGP's Tribute to Nick Harris - Cycle News
MotoGP's Tribute to Nick Harris - Cycle News
#409
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
How in the world did Marques stay on after essentially crashing? Is there anything he can't do? Never seen anything like it.
#410
6G TLX-S
^^^^^
This is what makes of a legend in MotoGP. Despite still with much fanfare, Rossi has gone beyond his time, and should move over for this bright, young lad.
This is what makes of a legend in MotoGP. Despite still with much fanfare, Rossi has gone beyond his time, and should move over for this bright, young lad.
#411
Marquez won the BMW M award for the 5th year in a row. Now he has an M4 CS to go along with his M6 coupe, M4 coupe, M6 convertible, and M2 coupe.
MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez Wins BMW M4 CS at BMW M Awards - News18
#412
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Zarco should definitely get a factory ride.
I wonder if Dovi will get a pay increase. I'm going to guess that he gets paid much less then his teammate.
I wonder if Dovi will get a pay increase. I'm going to guess that he gets paid much less then his teammate.
#413
Folger is out for next season. I hope his health improves. The first article lists some possible replacements for the 2nd Tech 3 bike. Winter testing starts next week.
https://motomatters.com/news/2018/01...acing_for.html
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...llness-996760/
https://motomatters.com/news/2018/01...acing_for.html
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...llness-996760/
#414
AZ Community Team
Motorcycling-Spanish ace Marquez signs new two-year deal with Honda
#415
AZ Community Team
#416
Tech 3 is parting ways with Yamaha after this season. With Zarco beating both factory riders, last season had to be uncomfortable for Tech 3 at times. Tech 3 might become KTM's satellite team in 2019.
https://motomatters.com/news/2018/02...part_ways.html
#417
AZ Community Team
I would like to see Marquez on a Ducati or KTM at some point in the future.
Tech 3 is parting ways with Yamaha after this season. With Zarco beating both factory riders, last season had to be uncomfortable for Tech 3 at times. Tech 3 might become KTM's satellite team in 2019.
https://motomatters.com/news/2018/02...part_ways.html
Tech 3 is parting ways with Yamaha after this season. With Zarco beating both factory riders, last season had to be uncomfortable for Tech 3 at times. Tech 3 might become KTM's satellite team in 2019.
https://motomatters.com/news/2018/02...part_ways.html
#418
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I don't see Marques leaving as well. He seems very happy.
I think the wildcard might be with his brother. Could another manufacturer temp him to move if they also signed his brother?
I think the wildcard might be with his brother. Could another manufacturer temp him to move if they also signed his brother?
#419
Doohan was with Honda for about 10 years in 500cc? I think Pedrosa has been with Honda longer.
Marquez is only 25. If, like Rossi, he races into his late thirties then he would be with Honda for nearly 20 years. I think that at some point Marquez might be interested in a new challenge and want to be champion on more than one manufacturer's bike.
Marquez is only 25. If, like Rossi, he races into his late thirties then he would be with Honda for nearly 20 years. I think that at some point Marquez might be interested in a new challenge and want to be champion on more than one manufacturer's bike.
#420
AZ Community Team
At this point I can see Marquez breaking Giacomo Agostini record of 8 top-tier championships and races.
#421
AZ Community Team
Good race to start the season with, watched the highlights this morning will watch the rest later this evening
#422
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
It was another great race. The Ducatis still have the best top end speed. But what a great finish. It should be another closely fought season.
#423
Honda seems to have done a better job during the most recent off-season. Qatar isn't typically a track that suits them, but both Marquez and Crutchlow were much improved compared to last year. Both of them seem to be crashing less often in practice and testing so far this year.
Will Dani be back with Repsol next year? I am sure other teams are also interested in Zarco for 2019.
Rumours are flying around fast Frenchman Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) as the rookie sensation turned MotoGP™ frontrunner looks at options for his future. One of those is centered on Repsol Honda, with Speedweek mooting the Frenchman as a replacement for Dani Pedrosa.
Asked whether he would be scared of sharing a team with now six-time World Champion Marc Marquez, Zarco weighed in.
“Why would I be scared? It would be nice to be Marc’s teammate," Zarco is reported as saying. "Repsol Honda is a kind of dream team. Since I watched MotoGP as a kid on TV, even though I didn’t watch a lot, I remember Mick Doohan, then Rossi…now Marquez. It was always good to watch this team.”...
MotoGP?
Will Dani be back with Repsol next year? I am sure other teams are also interested in Zarco for 2019.
Rumours are flying around fast Frenchman Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) as the rookie sensation turned MotoGP™ frontrunner looks at options for his future. One of those is centered on Repsol Honda, with Speedweek mooting the Frenchman as a replacement for Dani Pedrosa.
Asked whether he would be scared of sharing a team with now six-time World Champion Marc Marquez, Zarco weighed in.
“Why would I be scared? It would be nice to be Marc’s teammate," Zarco is reported as saying. "Repsol Honda is a kind of dream team. Since I watched MotoGP as a kid on TV, even though I didn’t watch a lot, I remember Mick Doohan, then Rossi…now Marquez. It was always good to watch this team.”...
MotoGP?
#424
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Zarco is definitely gone from Tech 3 next year. A shame that Yamaha is being petty and taking their toy away from Tech 3.
#425
AZ Community Team
MotoGP: Repsol Honda duo race carbon swing arm
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport...bon-swing-arm/
Knew Ducati had been using them but didn't know it was 2009 when they started.
Knew Ducati had been using them but didn't know it was 2009 when they started.
#426
Last weekend's race was crazy,
Poor Dani. Looks like his incident with Zarco resulted in a broken wrist. He is going to miss at least one race. Pedrosa undergoes surgery
The Suzuki would probably be a better fit for Lorenzo's riding style. Looks like he might throw in the towel and leave Ducati? Lorenzo-heading-for-suzuki
Poor Dani. Looks like his incident with Zarco resulted in a broken wrist. He is going to miss at least one race. Pedrosa undergoes surgery
The Suzuki would probably be a better fit for Lorenzo's riding style. Looks like he might throw in the towel and leave Ducati? Lorenzo-heading-for-suzuki
#427
Rooting for Acura
iTrader: (1)
Last weekend's race was crazy,
Poor Dani. Looks like his incident with Zarco resulted in a broken wrist. He is going to miss at least one race. Pedrosa undergoes surgery
The Suzuki would probably be a better fit for Lorenzo's riding style. Looks like he might throw in the towel and leave Ducati? Lorenzo-heading-for-suzuki
Poor Dani. Looks like his incident with Zarco resulted in a broken wrist. He is going to miss at least one race. Pedrosa undergoes surgery
The Suzuki would probably be a better fit for Lorenzo's riding style. Looks like he might throw in the towel and leave Ducati? Lorenzo-heading-for-suzuki
#429
AZ Community Team
I watched Marquez and Rossi come together, definitely Marquez's fault. He owned up to it and went to the Yamaha pits to apologize.
Overambitious move in the wet for someone of his caliper, but Rossi's hyperbole is typical Rossi drama.
If Lorenzo leaves Ducati, won't be a big thing for either. He won't be the first talented rider to not fit into the Ducati team/bike.
Hayden and Rossi couldn't find success there, I give alot of credit to Stoner for making it work for him.
Overambitious move in the wet for someone of his caliper, but Rossi's hyperbole is typical Rossi drama.
If Lorenzo leaves Ducati, won't be a big thing for either. He won't be the first talented rider to not fit into the Ducati team/bike.
Hayden and Rossi couldn't find success there, I give alot of credit to Stoner for making it work for him.
#430
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I missed the race and forgot to DVR it. Doesn't look like they will have a replay. That's the frustrating thing about beIN, as they never let you access previous races online.
#431
AZ Community Team
Andrea Dovizioso rejects Ducati's first new contract offer in MotoGP
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/andrea-...155800668.html
Ducati is getting quite a bargain with Dovizioso, his 46 points in three races compared to Lorenzo's 6
Dovizioso's current deal is understood to be worth under €2million, compared to the €12-million salary of his championship-winning team-mate Jorge Lorenzo - who has come nowhere near matching the Italian's frontrunning form.
#432
Ducati cannot afford to lose Dovi, although I am not sure where else he would go?
Lorenzo is a lost cause. Tito Rabat and Jack Miller look better and this is their first season on the Ducati.
Lorenzo is a lost cause. Tito Rabat and Jack Miller look better and this is their first season on the Ducati.
#433
Rooting for Acura
iTrader: (1)
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...-2019-1029476/
Johann Zarco is set to join the KTM MotoGP team from the 2019 season, Motorsport.com has learned.
The Frenchman has been linked to a KTM move since last year, although Honda and Suzuki are both known to have also been interested in securing Zarco's services for next season.It's understood the Tech 3 Yamaha rider reached a verbal agreement during last weekend's Austin round with KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer and Thomas Uberall, who acts as Motorsports Manager for the Austrian marque's title sponsor Red Bull.The deal, when formalised, will commit Zarco to the KTM works team until the end of the 2020 season. Pol Espargaro is expected to be retained, with Bradley Smith losing his seat. Zarco had been the centre of speculation during the season opener in Qatar, where he expressed interest in joining a Honda "dream team" with reigning world champion Marc Marquez, who recently concluded a new contract with the Repsol-backed outfit.However, the prospect of sharing a garage with Marquez is believed to have put Zarco off such a move, with one well-placed source telling Motorsport.com: "Being Marc's teammate is not easy to accept."
#434
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Lorenzo is probably gone from Ducati. Just give his paycheck to Dovi, problem solved.
Zarco would be perfect at Yamaha. Too bad Yamaha resigned Rossi.
Zarco would be perfect at Yamaha. Too bad Yamaha resigned Rossi.
#435
Rooting for Acura
iTrader: (1)
I totally agree. Rossi's best days have passed. Movistar missed out on their own worthy satellite rider. Makes me wonder if they like Vinales better than Zarco. Either way, this is good news for KTM but probably not the best move for Zarco.
Last edited by knight rider; 04-29-2018 at 02:12 PM.
#436
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Yamaha essentially forced Zarco out by withholding their bike Tech 3 next year. Sad
#438
AZ Community Team
^ +1, also hate to see a bunch of riders go down as well. Hopefully no injuries, Dani Pedrosa's fall didn't look good.
#439
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Dovi gets two year contract with Ducati. This is good for the sport.
#440
This season is starting to look like 2014 when Marquez ran away with the title.
If you didn't watch the Moto 3 race, then go to Youtube and search for "kornfeil le mans". Jakub Kornfeil ended up using Bastianini's bike as a ramp and managed to land safely. Here is one of the videos.
If you didn't watch the Moto 3 race, then go to Youtube and search for "kornfeil le mans". Jakub Kornfeil ended up using Bastianini's bike as a ramp and managed to land safely. Here is one of the videos.