MotoGP: News and Discussion Thread
#441
Moderator
^ Saw that earlier this week
#442
AZ Community Team
Valentino Rossi's WAGs - the ladies linked with MotoGP legend over the years
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/pics/spo...sportgalleries
Rossi has dated some very attractive women over the years
Rossi has dated some very attractive women over the years
#443
AZ Community Team
Very impressive ride by Lorenzo, seemed like the Jorge of couple years ago is back.
#444
I really liked the Lamborghini yellow and black livery that the Pramac team ran this weekend.
#445
Repsol finally made it official. Pedrosa will not be back next season.
HRC and Dani Pedrosa to end partnership at the end of 2018
The rumors regarding Lorenzo continue, with some saying that he will take Pedrosa's place at Repsol instead of moving to a satellite Yamaha.
Lorenzo to partner with Marquez in 2019
HRC and Dani Pedrosa to end partnership at the end of 2018
The rumors regarding Lorenzo continue, with some saying that he will take Pedrosa's place at Repsol instead of moving to a satellite Yamaha.
Lorenzo to partner with Marquez in 2019
#446
AZ Community Team
^ I was gonna write that I doubt Pedrosa was not coming back next year, there have been feint flashes this season but overall results are disappointing. I expect him to retire then move to a lesser team.
Can't see Lorenzo partnering with Marquez, personalities are too far apart.
Can't see Lorenzo partnering with Marquez, personalities are too far apart.
#447
Lorenzo moving to the factory Honda team is surprising. It could be two more challenging years if he is unable to adapt to the Honda. I don't think Lorenzo gets along with anyone. Dani was a good teammate for Marquez.
#448
Rooting for Acura
iTrader: (1)
I think Dani would have made a great #2 guy for any team. He's a is consistent rider, competitive, doesn't step on toes, doesn't talk much, and just an all around nice guy. A guy that you're always happy to see on the podium. As for Marquez and Lorenzo, I think we as fans are in for a treat next year. Unlike Pedrosa, Lorenzo will seriously battle Marquez. I remember the 2016? season, where Rossi accused Marquez of not being as aggressive with Lorenzo as he was with him because Jorge is also a Spaniard. I think Marc and Jorge have always had mutual respect for each other. We'll see how that respect plays out when they are on the same team.
#449
AZ Community Team
I think Dani would have made a great #2 guy for any team. He's a is consistent rider, competitive, doesn't step on toes, doesn't talk much, and just an all around nice guy. A guy that you're always happy to see on the podium. As for Marquez and Lorenzo, I think we as fans are in for a treat next year. Unlike Pedrosa, Lorenzo will seriously battle Marquez. I remember the 2016? season, where Rossi accused Marquez of not being as aggressive with Lorenzo as he was with him because Jorge is also a Spaniard. I think Marc and Jorge have always had mutual respect for each other. We'll see how that respect plays out when they are on the same team.
I can see Repsol/Honda giving him a big send off if he retires. With the exception of 2016 and his rookie 2006 year he has always finished in the top 4 MotoGP championship positions.
#450
Dani won a 125cc and back-to-back 250cc titles riding Honda bikes in the lower classes. I wouldn't mind seeing him switch to another manufacturer and stick around for another season or two. Given his history of injuries and recent struggles maybe it is time to retire.
Lorenzo to Repsol should be interesting. I am glad the grid is shaking up a bit.
Lorenzo to Repsol should be interesting. I am glad the grid is shaking up a bit.
#451
AZ Community Team
Marc Marquez compares F1 and MotoGP
#452
AZ Community Team
Triple MotoGP champion Lorenzo agrees two-year Honda MotoGP deal
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/triple-...145821517.html
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...mmate-1044706/
Surprised me, never imagined Lorenzo and Marquez together at the same teram
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...mmate-1044706/
Surprised me, never imagined Lorenzo and Marquez together at the same teram
#453
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Wow, did not see that coming. Will definitely increase the anticipation next year.
#454
AZ Community Team
Never saw "Hitting The Apex" before, almost finished. What a excellent documentary, I've seen Faster but the sequels.
#455
I was wrong. Maybe Lorenzo isn't a lost cause on the Ducati. Pole position and another dominant win. It will be interesting to see if he can continue this form. Anyone else notice how Lorenzo completely ignores the Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali, in Parc Ferme?
Pedrosa held a press conference last week and was supposed to announce his future plans. It ended up being a waste of time, because he was unable to say anything. I am assuming that means he wants to continue racing. I hope he gets the Yamaha satellite bike that everyone thought Lorenzo was moving to.
Pedrosa held a press conference last week and was supposed to announce his future plans. It ended up being a waste of time, because he was unable to say anything. I am assuming that means he wants to continue racing. I hope he gets the Yamaha satellite bike that everyone thought Lorenzo was moving to.
#456
AZ Community Team
Jorge Lorenzo: Valentino Rossi's Ducati more complicated than mine
#457
AZ Community Team
OMG, what an amazing race in Assen.
The amount of lead change, and reordering of the first 5-6 riders was stunning.
More action in the last dozen laps of one MotoGP race then the last few years of F1 car racing.
The amount of lead change, and reordering of the first 5-6 riders was stunning.
More action in the last dozen laps of one MotoGP race then the last few years of F1 car racing.
#459
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Dani to retire at the end of the year. World champion twice in 250cc and once in 125cc. He could have been world champion in MotoGP if not for all the injuries he got over the years.
#460
AZ Community Team
^ I was expecting that, his race pace and motivation has been off most of the year.
Couldn't see him going to a lesser team, Repsol/Honda will probably do a big sendoff for Dani.
Couldn't see him going to a lesser team, Repsol/Honda will probably do a big sendoff for Dani.
#461
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
beIN sports is out at Verizon and Comcast.
Warning for anyone planning to watch on cable this weekend.
#462
AZ Community Team
^ saw the notice on Verizon FiOS
#463
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
beIN is back on Verizon!
#464
AZ Community Team
And Lorenzo is proving me wrong again
He's come on very strong in the last six races
He's come on very strong in the last six races
#465
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Yeah. What's up with Lorenzo? He was completely lost for years, and now that he's figured out the Ducati, he's leaving for Honda. If the Ducatis were stronger at the beginning of the season, the championship would have been more interesting.
And what's going on with Yamaha?
And what's going on with Yamaha?
#466
AZ Community Team
The motor seems more powerful than Honda now which given Honda's resources is pretty impressive.
https://www.cycleworld.com/jorge-lor...gp-bike#page-2
Yamaha's problems are hard to define, they've talked about hooking up the rear end traction out of turns.
https://www.autosport.com/motogp/new...-too-important
#467
Lorenzo says Ducati’s new fuel tank shape, which he debuted at Mugello, was vital to allow him greater control of his GP18 without tiring during the race while also making “the biggest change of my riding style from practice to the race”. “I feel better than ever with this bike as physically I have more energy to keep a more constant pace for more laps with the modification of the fuel tank,” Lorenzo said. “I was very worried about the front tyre because maybe some bikes would destroy the front tyre less.
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89...victory-charge
Supposedly, Lorenzo had been complaining about stamina and asking for changes since preseason, but Ducati ignored him.
Here is an interesting article about Pedrosa and how his size impacted his career. I didn't realize how little he is, 5'2'' and 112 lbs.
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/o...-uphill-career
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89...victory-charge
Supposedly, Lorenzo had been complaining about stamina and asking for changes since preseason, but Ducati ignored him.
Here is an interesting article about Pedrosa and how his size impacted his career. I didn't realize how little he is, 5'2'' and 112 lbs.
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/o...-uphill-career
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Legend2TL (08-15-2018)
#468
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Lorenzo says Ducati’s new fuel tank shape, which he debuted at Mugello, was vital to allow him greater control of his GP18 without tiring during the race while also making “the biggest change of my riding style from practice to the race”. “I feel better than ever with this bike as physically I have more energy to keep a more constant pace for more laps with the modification of the fuel tank,” Lorenzo said. “I was very worried about the front tyre because maybe some bikes would destroy the front tyre less.
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89...victory-charge
Supposedly, Lorenzo had been complaining about stamina and asking for changes since preseason, but Ducati ignored him.
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89...victory-charge
Supposedly, Lorenzo had been complaining about stamina and asking for changes since preseason, but Ducati ignored him.
He always suffered in the second half of races. Just assumed that he was destroying his tires.
#469
AZ Community Team
Retiring Honda rider Dani Pedrosa can't explain 2018 MotoGP form
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/retirin...105219801.html
I can see Dani being a Honda test rider in 2019, the engineers and tech value his input
I can see Dani being a Honda test rider in 2019, the engineers and tech value his input
#470
Moderator
Moto2
https://jalopnik.com/heres-how-to-ru...ove-1828918892
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media...og9yqxplrp.mp4
https://jalopnik.com/heres-how-to-ru...ove-1828918892
Have you ever wondered how to destroy a career you’ve dedicated your whole life to building in a matter of a few seconds of hot-headed rage? Moto2 rider Romano Fenati is here to show you how.
Fenati and rival Stefano Manzi had been spending quite some time duking it out at Misano, fighting for twelfth place. After making contact, both riders ran off track and ended up losing enough positions to drop them out of the points.
Tensions are understandably high, and if there’s one thing that can really get your blood boiling, it’s feeling like someone else’s stupid move just cost you a good finishing position. But many drivers wait until after the race to air their grievances. Fenati decided to take matters into his own hands on the track.
Despite running off the track, the two riders had stuck together and kept battling. On the back straight, Fenati slipped up next to Manzi and reached over to press Manzi’s brake lever.
Yeah. That is most definitely a very shitty move.
Manzi was thrown off balance, regained control of his bike, and then ended up crashing at Turn 10. Fenati was immediately black-flagged. According to Autosport, Fenati has also been disqualified from the race.
In addition to that, Fenati has been handed the whopping punishment of... a two-race penalty.
For those of you following MotoGP, you probably know the name ‘Romano Fenati’, and probably not for particularly savory reasons. His temper has seen him kicking out at fellow riders in Moto3, as well as getting dropped by Valentino Rossi’s Sky VR46 program for bad behavior.
A race disqualification and penalty seem like a pretty simple slap on the wrist for a move that could have easily put a competitor in danger, but I have a feeling this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Fenati’s punishment. Even the media pundits and drivers were calling for his team to drop him completely. With a record of mishaps like Fenati has acquired, it’s hard to see him sticking around for much longer.
Fenati and rival Stefano Manzi had been spending quite some time duking it out at Misano, fighting for twelfth place. After making contact, both riders ran off track and ended up losing enough positions to drop them out of the points.
Tensions are understandably high, and if there’s one thing that can really get your blood boiling, it’s feeling like someone else’s stupid move just cost you a good finishing position. But many drivers wait until after the race to air their grievances. Fenati decided to take matters into his own hands on the track.
Despite running off the track, the two riders had stuck together and kept battling. On the back straight, Fenati slipped up next to Manzi and reached over to press Manzi’s brake lever.
Yeah. That is most definitely a very shitty move.
Manzi was thrown off balance, regained control of his bike, and then ended up crashing at Turn 10. Fenati was immediately black-flagged. According to Autosport, Fenati has also been disqualified from the race.
In addition to that, Fenati has been handed the whopping punishment of... a two-race penalty.
For those of you following MotoGP, you probably know the name ‘Romano Fenati’, and probably not for particularly savory reasons. His temper has seen him kicking out at fellow riders in Moto3, as well as getting dropped by Valentino Rossi’s Sky VR46 program for bad behavior.
A race disqualification and penalty seem like a pretty simple slap on the wrist for a move that could have easily put a competitor in danger, but I have a feeling this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Fenati’s punishment. Even the media pundits and drivers were calling for his team to drop him completely. With a record of mishaps like Fenati has acquired, it’s hard to see him sticking around for much longer.
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media...og9yqxplrp.mp4
#471
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
This should be an immediate lifetime ban. He should be hit with attempted murder charges.
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kurtatx (09-10-2018)
#472
Azine Jabroni
#473
Moderator
And, he gone
https://jalopnik.com/moto2-racer-who...ets-1828934336
https://jalopnik.com/moto2-racer-who...ets-1828934336
In the most “Well, duh” news you’ll read this week, Moto2 rider Romano Fenati got dumped by his current team and, most likely, the team he planned to run for in 2019 after grabbing another rider’s brake lever while racing. As it turns out, deliberately putting the safety of others in jeopardy has repercussions. Imagine that!
The incident happened at the MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix in Italy this weekend, where Stefano Manzi and Fenati raced for position in the second-tier Moto2 race. They both eventually ran off track, but kept right next to each other—until Fenati got ahold of of Manzi’s brake lever. Manzi lost control of his bike and later crashed, while officials gave Fenati a black flag and a two-race suspension.
It seemed like a light punishment for doing what Fenati did, but his race teams later stepped in to pick up where the officials left off. Fenati’s current race team, Marinelli Snipers, announced Monday that it’s ending his contract immediately “for his unsporting, dangerous and damaging conduct for the image of all.”
Here’s the rest of the statement from the team’s Facebook page, and pardon the somewhat clunky English:
Not only will Fenati not have a ride with his former team when his suspension is up, but he seems to ruined his Moto2 deal for 2019, too. Fenati planned to race for MV Agusta in 2019, but its president, Giovanni Castiglioni,
that he’ll do everything he can to stop that from happening.
Here’s what Castiglioni’s post said, verbatim:
Fenati, who Reuters reports kicked out at another rider during a Moto3 warm up in 2015, has had a bit of time to think about his actions and get canned from his racing commitments, so he’s naturally very sorry for all of it. Fenati posted a statement on Monday in Italian, saying, translated via Google Chrome, that he apologizes “to the whole sports world” for what happened.
The statement said with a clear mind, Fenati “wish[es] it had been just a bad dream.” I bet Manzi does too. Fenati said he “made a disgraceful gesture,” and that he was “not a man.” He said he shouldn’t have reacted, and that he understands the resentment toward him after he, uh, put someone in danger.
From the statement, as translated to English online:
Fenati, who Reuters reports kicked out at another rider during a Moto3 warm up in 2015, has had a bit of time to think about his actions and get canned from his racing commitments, so he’s naturally very sorry for all of it. Fenati posted a statement on Monday in Italian, saying, translated via Google Chrome, that he apologizes “to the whole sports world” for what happened.
The statement said with a clear mind, Fenati “wish[es] it had been just a bad dream.” I bet Manzi does too. Fenati said he “made a disgraceful gesture,” and that he was “not a man.” He said he shouldn’t have reacted, and that he understands the resentment toward him after he, uh, put someone in danger.
From the statement, as translated to English online:
Fenati said he’s never put someone else’s life in jeopardy, and that he’s instead always been one to point out “that there are dangerous pilots, on the track, for driving style.” Here’s the rest of the statement, again translated:
Fenati will have time to reflect, too, since it doesn’t look like he’ll have a bike to ride in Moto2 for at least a little while.
Update: Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. ET: Fenati is out at MV Agusta, according to Autosport. He was also reported to the Rimini Public Prosecutor’s Office by a consumer-rights group to be investigated for attempted murder.
The incident happened at the MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix in Italy this weekend, where Stefano Manzi and Fenati raced for position in the second-tier Moto2 race. They both eventually ran off track, but kept right next to each other—until Fenati got ahold of of Manzi’s brake lever. Manzi lost control of his bike and later crashed, while officials gave Fenati a black flag and a two-race suspension.
It seemed like a light punishment for doing what Fenati did, but his race teams later stepped in to pick up where the officials left off. Fenati’s current race team, Marinelli Snipers, announced Monday that it’s ending his contract immediately “for his unsporting, dangerous and damaging conduct for the image of all.”
Here’s the rest of the statement from the team’s Facebook page, and pardon the somewhat clunky English:
With extreme regret, we have to note that his irresponsible act endangered the life of another rider and can’t be apologized in no way [sic]. The rider, from this moment, will not participate anymore to a race with the Marinelli Snipers team. The team, Marinelli Cucine, Rivacold and all the other sponsors and the people that always supported him, apologized with all the World Championship fans.
Here’s what Castiglioni’s post said, verbatim:
This has been the worse [sic] and saddest thing I ever seen in a bike race. True sportsmen would never act this way. If I would be Dorna I would ban him from world racing.
Regarding his contract for a future position as rider of MV Agusta Moto 2 , I will oppose myself in every way to stop it . It won’t happen , he doesn’t represent our company true values [x-shaped sword emojis]
Regarding his contract for a future position as rider of MV Agusta Moto 2 , I will oppose myself in every way to stop it . It won’t happen , he doesn’t represent our company true values [x-shaped sword emojis]
The statement said with a clear mind, Fenati “wish[es] it had been just a bad dream.” I bet Manzi does too. Fenati said he “made a disgraceful gesture,” and that he was “not a man.” He said he shouldn’t have reacted, and that he understands the resentment toward him after he, uh, put someone in danger.
From the statement, as translated to English online:
Fenati, who Reuters reports kicked out at another rider during a Moto3 warm up in 2015, has had a bit of time to think about his actions and get canned from his racing commitments, so he’s naturally very sorry for all of it. Fenati posted a statement on Monday in Italian, saying, translated via Google Chrome, that he apologizes “to the whole sports world” for what happened.
The statement said with a clear mind, Fenati “wish[es] it had been just a bad dream.” I bet Manzi does too. Fenati said he “made a disgraceful gesture,” and that he was “not a man.” He said he shouldn’t have reacted, and that he understands the resentment toward him after he, uh, put someone in danger.
From the statement, as translated to English online:
A man would finish the race and then go into Race Direction to try and get justice for the previous episodes. [...]
I want to apologize to everyone who believed in me and all those who felt hurt by my action.
An image of me and of sport has come out, everything, horrible.
I’m not like that, who knows me well knows!
I want to apologize to everyone who believed in me and all those who felt hurt by my action.
An image of me and of sport has come out, everything, horrible.
I’m not like that, who knows me well knows!
It’s true, unfortunately I have an impulsive character, but my intention was certainly not to hurt a pilot like me but I wanted to make him understand that what he was doing was dangerous and that I could have made some mistakes as well as he he had just made them to me!
I do not want to justify myself, I know that my gesture is not justifiable, I just want to apologize to everyone.
Now I will have time to reflect and clear my ideas.
I do not want to justify myself, I know that my gesture is not justifiable, I just want to apologize to everyone.
Now I will have time to reflect and clear my ideas.
Update: Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. ET: Fenati is out at MV Agusta, according to Autosport. He was also reported to the Rimini Public Prosecutor’s Office by a consumer-rights group to be investigated for attempted murder.
#474
Moderator
A pretty egregious act, IMO. Can the FIA blanket ban him from all FIA-sanctioned motorsport? IMO, no place for someone that would do something like that; though he may have blackballed himself from any potential team.
#475
AZ Community Team
pretty dangerous move, never seen or heard anything so blatantly obvious and visibly evident before.
#476
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Well, it's the FIM that would potentially ban him, not the FIA. The only person I can recall ever getting the permanent ban in motorsports is Flavio Briatore for fixing the race.
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00TL-P3.2 (09-11-2018)
#477
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
#478
Moderator
Definitely not the type you want to be competing against.
#479
Moderator
To add a bit of awesome after the last few posts:
Amazing that they can push so hard & even touch at speed without going down.
Amazing that they can push so hard & even touch at speed without going down.
#480
There are some articles about the Fenati incident on MotoMatters.
https://motomatters.com/analysis/201...no_fenati.html
https://motomatters.com/news/2018/09...ati_loses.html
More was to come on Tuesday. First, the Italian motorcycle federation FMI revoked Fenati's racing license for all sporting activities in Italy. This also renders him ineligible to compete in any international or world championship events, as international racing licenses are also issued by the national federation, which in Fenati's case is the FMI. He has been invited to a hearing on 14th September, at which he will have the right to representation by a lawyer.
Then, the FIM, the international motorcycling federation, summoned Fenati to the FIM headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to explain his actions. In a press release, shown below, FIM president Vito Ippolito summoned Fenati to the FIM to here his side of the story, before considering further action against the Italian.
This seems outside of the normal course of events for disciplinary proceedings. Fenati could be referred directly to the FIM's highest court the International Disciplinary Court (CDI). If issued a penalty by the CDI, Fenati would have two more avenues for appeal.
It may not come to that. Today, Fenati told the Italian paper Il Resto Del Carlino that he intended to withdraw from racing, at least for the foreseeable future. He would complete his studies, and perhaps go and work in his grandmother's hardware store. He accepted his error - "I did the stupidest thing of my life" he told Il Resto Del Carlino - but insisted his intention had not been to harm Stefano Manzi.
Fenati had received death threats since the incident, he said. The press coverage of the incident had been overwhelming, even making the evening news in countries in which motorcycle racing is a niche sport. That coverage, and the outrage generated in online echo chambers, had whipped up some individuals so far as to make threats against Fenati's life.
https://motomatters.com/analysis/201...no_fenati.html
https://motomatters.com/news/2018/09...ati_loses.html
More was to come on Tuesday. First, the Italian motorcycle federation FMI revoked Fenati's racing license for all sporting activities in Italy. This also renders him ineligible to compete in any international or world championship events, as international racing licenses are also issued by the national federation, which in Fenati's case is the FMI. He has been invited to a hearing on 14th September, at which he will have the right to representation by a lawyer.
Then, the FIM, the international motorcycling federation, summoned Fenati to the FIM headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to explain his actions. In a press release, shown below, FIM president Vito Ippolito summoned Fenati to the FIM to here his side of the story, before considering further action against the Italian.
This seems outside of the normal course of events for disciplinary proceedings. Fenati could be referred directly to the FIM's highest court the International Disciplinary Court (CDI). If issued a penalty by the CDI, Fenati would have two more avenues for appeal.
It may not come to that. Today, Fenati told the Italian paper Il Resto Del Carlino that he intended to withdraw from racing, at least for the foreseeable future. He would complete his studies, and perhaps go and work in his grandmother's hardware store. He accepted his error - "I did the stupidest thing of my life" he told Il Resto Del Carlino - but insisted his intention had not been to harm Stefano Manzi.
Fenati had received death threats since the incident, he said. The press coverage of the incident had been overwhelming, even making the evening news in countries in which motorcycle racing is a niche sport. That coverage, and the outrage generated in online echo chambers, had whipped up some individuals so far as to make threats against Fenati's life.