+1, lost all respect from me after that move. So obvious too, once you watched the various video's feeds (Rossi's bike front looking rearward, Marc's bike rear looking forward).

 

Seems like even the Italian press isn't buying Rossi's claim of innocence. I still can't comprehend how Rossi wasn't excluded from the results for deliberately knocking a competitor off his bike. Lorenzo is probably right, Rossi gets special dispensation because of his popularity. We've seen this before, with his infamous last corner crash into Sete Gibernau.

 

It started during the Thursday press conference with Rossi accusing Marquez of helping Lorenzo. I thought it was a joke, but he continued complaining to the Italian press.

Rossi should get 0 points from the last race. Same as the rider he caused to crash out. I hope he does decide to boycott the last race and stays home.

 

He's just playing mind games again with both Lorenzo and FIM. He's probably thinking that Dorna will lobby for him to avoid a no-show.

 

MotoGP chiefs summon riders over Marquez/Rossi clash controversy - MotoGP news - AUTOSPORT.com

 

What's he going to say? Please be nice to everyone?

 

Valencia FP2:

Pos Rider Team Bike Gap Laps
1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Yamaha 1m31.111s 19
2 Daniel Pedrosa Honda Honda 0.266s 21
3 Andrea Iannone Ducati Ducati 0.333s 22
4 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Yamaha 0.364s 20
5 Marc Marquez Honda Honda 0.370s 20
6 Danilo Petrucci Pramac Racing Ducati 0.464s 19
7 Pol Espargaro Tech 3 Yamaha 0.563s 17
8 Aleix Espargaro Suzuki Suzuki 0.567s 18
9 Cal Crutchlow LCR Honda 0.692s 19
10 Maverick Vinales Suzuki Suzuki 0.875s 19
11 Hector Barbera Avintia Racing Ducati 0.933s 16
12 Michele Pirro Ducati Ducati 1.288s 16
13 Yonny Hernandez Pramac Racing Ducati 1.353s 18
14 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Ducati 1.383s 18
15 Bradley Smith Tech 3 Yamaha 1.397s 22
16 Nicky Hayden Aspar Honda 1.484s 18
17 Loris Baz Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 1.486s 16
18 Jack Miller LCR Honda 1.488s 21
19 Stefan Bradl Aprilia Gresini Aprilia 1.731s 20
20 Alvaro Bautista Aprilia Gresini Aprilia 1.834s 20
21 Scott Redding Marc VDS Honda 2.127s 19
22 Mike Di Meglio Avintia Racing Ducati 2.157s 18
23 Toni Elias Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 2.300s 18
24 Eugene Laverty Aspar Honda 2.304s 20
25 Anthony West AB Motoracing Honda 2.727s 20
26 Broc Parkes IodaRacing Project ART/Aprilia 3.728s 15


The most hyped MotoGP race ever?

 

Not a Jorge fan, but glad he won the championship over Rossi.

BBC Sport - MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo beats Valentino Rossi to win third title

 

Same here. Rossi won the world championship...for whining this year.


Anyway, unless Honda screws up the bike, I'd expect Marquez to win the championship next year.

 

Me three. Lorenzo won more races and consistently qualified on the front row.

Rossi's post-race interview was sad to watch. He accused Marquez of being Lorenzo's helper.

Rossi: ?It was unbelievable?

Nakamoto: "This is not the atmosphere we wanted"

 

These Changes Are Why You Have To Start Watching MotoGP

 

Good information. Did not know about these changes.

 

Free practice for Qatar starts tomorrow.

I watched the first couple of World Superbike events. Nicky Hayden is doing pretty well so far.

 

Is it back on? Awesome.

 

Lots of changes per Legend2TL's post #171, but the same result. Factory Yamaha and Honda bikes in the top 5 spots with a factory Ducati mixed in.

Lorenzo looks really strong. Marquez did better than I anticipated.

 

Looks like this season will be exciting, with Ducati joining in the
mundane Honda/Yamaha 2-way fights.

 

I didn't make much of the results from the first race, with the exception of what we already know. The Ducatis are fast in a straight line. Losail is a fast track (lots of straight or nearly straight lines). It'll be interesting to see what happens on some of the tighter tracks, and when all the riders and bikes get "dialed in". I'm just glad Marquez stayed on his bike and got on the podium Still rooting for him this year. By far the most exciting rider to watch IMO.

 

So all the big to do about the common ECU didn't do much to change the running order.

 

Lorenzo on edge of Ducati move?

British weekly newspaper, MCN, have revealed details about Jorge Lorenzo’s rumoured move to Ducati. While they say there is no official deal signed, it’s a “verbally done deal and there will be an official announcement of the tie up between the three-time MotoGP champion and the Italian manufacturer when the championship returns to Europe’. MCN are not the first to speculate about a move by Lorenzo, Giacomo Agostini discussed details of the move in late March.

Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati’s Sporting Director, is quoted in the article as having said “We’ve made no secret about it – we know both Marquez and Lorenzo have contracts are expiring at the end of the season. We’ve been talking to the riders.”

When asked about his future plans during the pre-race press conference, Lorenzo remained cagey on his plans, “I want to keep it private with my people and make a decision in the coming weeks.”

 

Wow. That would be a mega change. What is Yamaha going to do if that happens?

Still upset that I missed Argentina. Not used to it being on beIN.

 

If you watched the Argentina race, then you'd know why Ducati is keen to pick up at least one new rider. Dovizioso and Iannone passed Rossi and were running in 2nd and 3rd respectively on the last lap. Iannone went into the last turn too fast, lost control, and slid right into Dovi taking them both out. Dovi ended up pushing his bike across the finish line to end up in 13th place, but at least he picked up a few points.

I expect Yamaha and maybe even Repsol Honda to go after Maverick Vinales if they lose one of the 4 aliens. KTM signed Bradley Smith as one of their two riders for 2017 - 2018, so there will be an open spot on Tech 3 Yamaha team.

 

Yeah, I saw the highlight (lowlight?) with the Ducati carsh. Crazy.

 

Hmm.... What does that say about Lorenzo's and Rossi's relationship. That'd be an awesome battle to watch though. I don't think Marquez would or should consider it.

 

The moment Yamaha signed Rossi for another 2-year extension, is the last straw for Lorenzo to make his mind up leaving the Yamaha team, because given the Rossi/Lorenzo/Marquez drama last season, there is no way for them to work together cooperatively in the same team.

 

Could be Lorenso is also playing them, Yamaha knows he's the younger and better rider.

Ducati's main issue since returning to MotoGP has been consistency where even Stoner and Rossi were not able to develop the team into a formidable factory team.

 

Analysis: Why Lorenzo is taking Ducati's offer seriously

 

Rossi pushing to have own team in MotoGP next year

Source: Autoblog

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is pushing hard to have his own team in MotoGP next year, according to Motorsport.com columnist Ernest Riveras.

Three MotoGP licenses become available next year, to increase the grid to 24, two of which are guaranteed for the new KTM works team.

The final license has become hot property, with an extra entry for Honda satellite team LCR and a return to the top class for Sito Pons' squad all on the table.

However, during his Movistar TV commentary in FP4, Riveras revealed that Rossi is chasing the entry for his own team.

Rossi himself has renewed his riding contract with the works Yamaha team for 2017-18.

It is understood that Rossi – in a team-owner capacity – wishes to enter either a Yamaha M1, with factory support, or a third KTM – the manufacturer that supplies his Moto3 team.

With Rossi moving towards the end of his MotoGP career, the 37-year-old Italian remains the lynchpin of the sport.

His Sky Racing Team VR46, currently competing in Moto3, is considered to be his main opportunity to continue his association with motorbike racing when he hangs up his helmet.

He launched Team VR46 in the Moto3 class in 2014, guiding the career of Italy's Romano Fenati during the past two seasons, and also running Andrea Migno and Nicolo Bulega this season.

It would be more likely that Rossi's team would run an experienced MotoGP rider to begin with, as this would come too soon for his VR46 Academy roster.

Rossi said of his squad at the start of the year: "The team was created just over a year ago and we still need to improve in many areas, but we have already done well."

Previously, Rossi has denied interest in bringing his team to MotoGP, telling Gazzetta dello Sport in March: "MotoGP is another story. It doesn't interest us much.

"In Moto2 and Moto3, you can have satisfactions – then it's hard."

His team is managed on a day-to-day basis by Pablo Nieto.

 

Interesting. Rossi's VR46 Academy has at least a couple of riders in Moto 2, Morbidelli and Marini, but they are on separate teams with different owners. I figured he would start a Moto 2 team first. I'd like to see Sito Pons get the spot if he wants it.

 

Lorenzo to leave Yamaha after 2016 MotoGP season for Ducati ? MotorSportsTalk

 

He wants to be a multi-manufacture title winner. Good Luck!

 

"Rossi signed a new two-year deal with Yamaha last month, and said that he doubted Lorenzo would have the guts to leave the Japanese marque and join Ducati as he did back in 2011."

"Lorenzo’s arrival at Ducati also means either Andrea Iannone or Andrea Dovizioso will be left without a ride for 2017."

I'm guessing Iannone...

Either way, with those changes I'm already looking forward to 2017.

 

Mega change for next year. Can't wait to see how this plays out. Who's going to get the open Yamaha seat now?

 

It's good for Ducati that they have the choice between Dovi and Iannone. Iannone seems like the up and comer, but Dovi has history there and wouldn't be doing too poorly if he wasn't torpedo'd a couple of times. Iannone probably sunk his own chances by taking Dovi out when they both could have been on the podium.

 

Where'd Rossi pull that out from? Otherwise, Jerez was kind of boring.

 

I agree. I feel bad for Dovizios. Cudos to Marquez for running a smart race, however boring it was. I do like that the Suzukis are giving the Ducatis a run for the money this year.

 

When is Aprilia going to make something of themselves?

Yeah...back to the old days. The real race is for 4th to 10th position.

 

Haven't watched it yet, but seems Rossi rode a great race to hold off Lorenzo. Despite all his whining and head games, the old man still has it.

 

The whining and head games are what make Rossi popular.

 

^^^^^

So that's why Rossi kicked up the drama with Marquez/Lorenzo at the end of last season, in order to maintain popularity even when he wouldn't be getting the MotoGP crown.

 

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