MOTO GP 2012

Sids Not

frostie500 wrote: »

Just after looking through some of my shots from today and came across this one of Bautista and Dovi

How cool would that be...two up racing.........:D

Infoanon

excollier wrote: »

Excellent performance from Scott Redding in Moto 2, and a stunning ride from Cal Crutchlow from the back of the grid to 6th, with painful injuries. The left ankle does all the work. If only he had managed to qualify.....who knows, a podium?

Great Moto 2 & Moto 3 race - Marquez and Redding was not for the faint hearted - while the battle for 4th in Moto 3 was stunning.

Moto GP was good as well - just a pity that the camera work was so bad - would have loved to see Cal battling through the field, the 2 Aspars at play, Dovi passing Spies 'live' etc

Had to laugh at Cal afterwards saying that they told the medics one or two lies this morning so that he could ride - outstanding performance - Bautista has also stepped in a gear - he was no slouch in 250s

Roll on Assen

thomashood10

Fair play to Cal, irrespective of the injury, powering through a field of CRTs and then nipping a factory Ducati is some feat.

Hate to say it but not a good day for Ducati

Frank Bullitt

Ducati are in serious trouble, Rossi even more so, Hayden looked sharp enough at the start of the race but it fell away then mid way.

No idea how they will fix it, the past few seasons have turned into test sessions for them and still to no avail.

frostie500

Here's a few pictures from the Moto2 and MotoGP races from the weekend....

I actually really like this one....how many riders can you spot!

Please Kill Me

Excellent pics Frostie! Love the one with Marquez and Redding, and the second last one with Lorenzo - you can see the rear tyre compressing with the acceleration! Kudos!!

h3000

Coo pics Frostie. Did I see you writing for crash.net now?

frostie500

h3000 wrote: »

Coo pics Frostie. Did I see you writing for crash.net now?

Yeah, I started writing for them at Valencia last year for whatever races I go to during the year. Nice to have some money coming in to offset the costs of the races!

h3000

frostie500 wrote: »

Yeah, I started writing for them at Valencia last year for whatever races I go to during the year. Nice to have some money coming in to offset the costs of the races!

Excellent, well done.

Autosport

Some brilliant photos there, love the close ups

h3000

So it looks like the rookie rule is to be axed for 2013 which would allow Marc Marquez to jump straight on a Repsol Honda. You'd swear Honda had a bit of pull or something . It was a bit of a silly rule anyway tbh.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/181003/1/ezpeleta_explains_motogp_rookie_rule_change_of_heart.html

Infoanon

h3000 wrote: »

So it looks like the rookie rule is to be axed for 2013 which would allow Marc Marquez to jump straight on a Repsol Honda. You'd swear Honda had a bit of pull or something . It was a bit of a silly rule anyway tbh.

With only 12 prototypes on the grid (are marquees limited to 4 bikes under the new rules ?) and Hondas' desire to see Marquez in Moto GP something had to give.
Apparently the other teams are in agreement with the rule being abandoned ?
Reality was rule or no rule, Marquez was going to have a works Honda next year,the Repsol sponsorship complicated things with the LCR/Gresini options.
Btw despite Repsols' comments to the contrary, I can see Pedrosa and Marquez as team mates next season

frostie500

Im gonna nail my mast to the (very) early silly season wall and look at how I see the grid lining up next year.....

---

The MotoGP season silly is in full swing at the minute with the majority of riders out of contract at the end of the season.

Even so there looks set to be fluidity in the rider market with little changes taking place throughout the grid. The news that Casey Stoner will retire has rightly dominated the headlines in recent months and it will obviously play a crucial role in what pans out over the course of the next six months.

Jorge Lorenzo’s Silverstone announcement of extending his stay at Yamaha by a further two years was as much an indication in his confidence with the YZR-M1 as it was an implication of his lack of confidence in Honda rectifying the chatter issues that are present in the RCV213.

With Stoner out of the equation Lorenzo was the hottest ticket in town but having spent five seasons on the Yamaha he has moulded the bike to his requirements and is riding superbly. For Yamaha the deal made perfect sense.

Lorenzo is well placed to dominate the sport for the coming years and having joined Yamaha in 2008 as a 250cc champion his basic wage was quite low compared to his rivals.

Even when Valentino Rossi left the team at the end of 2010 Lorenzo’s contract, while much improved, was not in the ball park of Rossi’s. Yamaha has availed of a cheap contract for five year’s with Lorenzo and the Spaniard has comprehensively outperformed his pay scale.
With the Spaniard also a tireless marketing worker it is clear the value that he offers Yamaha at the minute. His new deal will offer him much improved wages and should reflect his position as the leading rider on the MotoGP grid.

With so many riders out of contract there are few certainties within the paddock for 2013 but with the rookie rule looking set to be abolished it is now all but certain that Marc Marquez will sign with the Repsol Honda team as Stoner’s replacement.

The former 125cc champion has not been as dominant as expected in Moto2 this year but his talent in unquestionable and having raced with Repsol support in recent years there is now nothing standing in his way of continuing that alliance.

How well he adapts to racing in premier class remains to be seen but he can take heart from his likely teammate, Dani Pedrosa. The pair will form one of the smallest tandems of riders ever in the premier class but it has not stopped Pedrosa from being a perennial contender.

Injuries have held him back but there is no doubt that he can still be a champion. With Marquez coming on board at Repsol Pedrosa will know that he has only one or two years in which to clinch the crown before the team lose patience with him.

If Stoner had remained in the class it is likely that Pedrosa would have been the odd man out and forced to look elsewhere for his ride. As it is he will now be the focus of development work for improving the ill handling RCV and as shown in the past he is a very proficient test rider.


With the Repsol Honda’s line-ups all but certain to be confirmed in the coming weeks the focus will shift towards who Yamaha look to pair with Lorenzo.

Dovi to be in demand for 2013

Ben Spies form in 2012 has been abysmal and there is little reason to contemplate a scenario where the Texan remains in a factory ride at present. He needs to sharply improve his form if he is to even begin justifying being involved in the conversation.

With Andrea Dovizioso having stood on the rostrum as a satellite rider and having past experience riding for a factory squad the Italian is well placed to jump to the factory seat.

Dovizioso brings with him an established record as a leading rider but one that will not be able to maintain his form over the full season.

With Yamaha set to pay Lorenzo big-bucks in 2013 they are expecting for the Spaniard to win the title. If they can pair him with an affordable Dovizioso it makes a lot of sense for the manufacturer.

Dovizioso is unlikely to take points off Lorenzo at more than a handful of races but his speed will allow him to consistently finish on the podium, as he did last year. In doing so he is likely to take points away from the likes of Pedrosa and allow Lorenzo to have races where he can easily outscore his expected championship rival.

Having two lead riders did not work for Yamaha with Lorenzo and Rossi. The infighting within the squad was immense and it is unlikely that Lin Jarvis would be willing to take such a risk again in the future.

Tech3 won't honour Smith contract

If Dovizioso does move to the factory Yamaha squad it leaves a space available with Tech3. The team announced last year that Bradley Smith would be racing for them in the premier class from 2013 onwards but with the Englishman struggling in Moto2 the question has to be asked as to whether Tech3 will honour the contract or not.

Lin Jarvis is an intelligent man and with the Tech3 ride now one of the most prized on the grid it is of little value to have a midfield Moto2 runner on the bike.

Smith is a talented rider but his time in Moto2 has made some things abundantly clear. He is not capable of racing at his best in a tightly contested race. On a clear track he is immensely fast but when racing in a pack he all too frequently falls to the pace of the group and is unable to move through the pack.

With Cal Crutchlow racing so well there is also little commercial reason to promote Smith from the Moto2 team. England and the UK is a valuable market for MotoGP but having both riders from the region offers little value to the sponsors of Tech3 and in that instance there is little reason to replace Crutchlow.

He has outperformed expectations this year and shown himself to be a genuine leading runner in the class. Losing him to another factory would be a mistake for Yamaha and while he would not be on a factory bike there are little options that would give Crutchlow a more competitive ride in 2013.

The only factory that would be willing to hire Crutchlow would be Ducati but with Bologna having proved a graveyard of racers in recent years there is little value for Cal to risk moving to the squad.

Ducati key to rider market

Ducati will confirm Nicky Hayden in the near future with the American having ridden very well for the factory and playing a key role in their attempts to conquer the American market.

The other side of the Ducati garage however has ever increasing question marks hanging over it.

Rossi has endured a miserable two seasons with the team and it is now only in the wet that fans catch a glimpse of his talents. Once the track surface dries Rossi is a midfield runner unable to cure the chronic handling issues affecting the Ducati.

Having joined the team under the mantra that he would rectify the handling problems and make the Ducati rideable for everyone he now looks more and more impatient and simply wants to win races again.

With it perfectly clear that he cannot do so on a Ducati the nine times world champion faces a difficult decision. Does he, for the first time in his career, admit defeat and look to move to a team that can supply him with a more competitive bike or does he remain at Ducati?

With Ducati and Rossi having tried numerous solutions to the problems that have besieged the factory in the last two years-including dropping the carbon chassis and no longer having the chassis as a stressed member of the chassis-it is clear that neither party is able to solve the problems.

Maybe five years ago Rossi would have been inclined to stay with the team and try and solve the problems but he has clearly realised that his time at the top is nearing an end and he needs to be on a bike that will allow him to win races.

The only likely thing that would keep Rossi at Ducati is money. The Italian firm is the only team that has the resources and willingness to pay Rossi the kind of wage that he has grown accustomed to.

For Ducati it is crucial that they win races with Rossi otherwise their two year relationship will be remembered as far more than an on track failure. It will also be remembered as having one of the biggest knock on effects for a factory with the new superbike, the Panigale, having also suffered as a result of their tenure together.

The bike has sold well but its reputation took a battering with the decision not to use it in World Superbikes this season.

With Carlos Checa continuing to race the 1198 it is clear that the Spaniard, and the Althea team, no longer had the confidence to try and develop the bike. Using numerous features derived from the MotoGP bike it was clear that Checa felt that he would also be unable to do justice to the theory behind the machine.

Althea’s decision showed a lack of confidence in racing a bike that had the engine as a stressed member of the chassis, it is possible that this is a decision not directly related to Rossi’s failure aboard the MotoGP bike, but with Carlos not regarded as a development rider it would be of little surprise if he thought he would be unable to solve the problems.

Superbikes are made to “race on Sunday and sell on Monday” but the factories inability to race the Panigale has to have had a negative impact on their reputation and sales. If Rossi leaves it is likely that this reputation would fall even further.

As a result Ducati are motivated to retain the Italian and give him a bike that he can win races but over two year’s it seems quite clear that Rossi has lost confidence in the team’s ability to get the job done.

His wet weather riding shows that he can still compete at the front but only if he has a bike to match his talent.

Single bike factory supported team for Vale?

What bike could that be? It seems that only a Honda or Yamaha would fit the bill. With Rossi having firmly burnt his bridges with both factories and left them in a cloud of acrimony there is little chance of a reunion with the factory team but both Japanese manufacturers would be foolish to underestimate the value that having Valentino race a “factory supported” bike would offer.

He is still the biggest draw in the sport and the only rider who has transcended MotoGP in decades. With his next contract likely to be his last having him finish his career aboard one of your bikes would leave a lasting impression.

It is similar to Yamaha’s current MotoGP ambassador, Giacomo Agostini. Ago spent only three years on Yamaha machinery yet for many current fans it is easily forgotten that he raced the majority of his career aboard the MV Augusta. Finishing his career on a Yamaha left a much greater impression over the last fourty years.

With both manufacturers unwilling to hire him to their factory team they might be inclined to lease machinery to a single bike team featuring Rossi. That way the positive publicity of Rossi can still be had without the complication of having him as one of their riders.

With rumours having abounded that Rossi’s ever present companion, Alessio “Uccio” Salucci, was to form a Moto2 team in the past it is clear that Rossi has toyed with the idea of team management in the past. Would he be willing to do so again?

Necessity may force his hand in the coming months and a team may need to be formed. It would also allow Rossi to retain the services of his crew of mechanics and perhaps offer some of them a more prominent role within teams than would be possible within a factory squad.

If Rossi did set up his own squad it is clear that they would have little issue raising the necessary funding for a single bike entry, or indeed a two bike team. The Italian was crucial to FIAT sponsorship at the factory Yamaha squad and companies would line up at the door to be related to the nine times world champion.

The Miller group, who own the Peroni brand, would be a potential sponsor and one that would renew a relationship seen in Rossi’s debut 500cc season 12 years ago. Other possible link ups would be to renew the FIAT connection as well the potential for Alitalia to sponsor the Italian superstar. The airliner is currently the sponsor of the Aprilia WSBK team and clearly understands the value of motorsport sponsorship.

Finance should not be an issue and with Rossi able to use the team as a launch pad to his next career as a team manager the idea could be very appealing to him. While a single bike entry is the most likely scenario with the potential for large sponsorship deals it is clear that Valentino might be able to field a two bike team with a young Italian like Andrea Iannone a potential teammate.

The Moto2 rider's speed is not in question and while Moto2 hasn’t allowed him to consistently race at the front he has clearly displayed the speed needed to race in the premier class and he would be sought after in the premier class.
With LCR Honda having a firm contract for Stefan Bradl and Bautista firmly ensconced at Gresini it is clear that for Rossi there is little alternative to Ducati or creating a new team.

Tech3 as potential landing spot for Spies?

The second Tech3 ride alongside Cal Crutchlow, should the Englishman decide to remain with the team, will obviously be the most sought after ride in the field.

The Yamaha is clearly the best bike at the minute and the satellite bike has been very quick this year so they will have a paddock full of suitors and should be able to pick and choose their rider.

With Tech3 having run Ben Spies in his rookie campaign, 2010, prior to his move to the factory squad they are very aware of his talent. Having claimed a pole position at Indy as a rookie he impressed immensely racing for the French team and they would view a team of Spies and Crutchlow as a very positive pairing.

It would show just how much progress the team has made in recent year and is now firmly established as one of the best in the paddock.

It would be ironic that in the same season that the so-called “Ben Spies” rookie rule is rescinded that he would lose his race seat with a factory team to return to a satellite squad but it might be the best option for the American to rebuild his reputation with the only other alternative being to race for Ducati.

Espargaro's reputation continues to grow

If however the team decide to look elsewhere a move for Pol Espargaro would also be wise. Next season Yamaha will look enviously at Honda with Marc Marquez on a factory ride but the progress of Espargaro this season will have made the Pons rider a highly sought after commodity.

His speed this year has been on-par with Marquez and his race craft is as good as any up and coming racer. Having battled Marquez closely for the 125cc title it is likely that a similar scenario will unfold this year in the intermediate class.

Many people view Espargaro as an aggressive racer who leaves something to be desired tactically but anyone who has paid attention to him knows that he has a fierce determination mated with an n innate understanding of how a race is developing.

A prime example of this maturity was seen two years ago at Aragon. In the 125cc race Espargaro was battling with Marquez on the last lap and let his compatriot past so that he could be in a position to slipstream Marquez into the final corner. It was a classic example of rider knowing the track and understanding what position he needed to be in to win the race. Such maturity has been regularly seen this year and it is clear he is now one of the most rounded racers in the intermediate class.

If Yamaha do not sign Espargaro it might be a decision that they rue for years to come but it might also put the Spaniard into a position where he is on Ducati’s radar as a potential Rossi replacement.

They will see echoes of Casey Stoner in Espargaro and will look at him as a potential smart and hard charging racer capable of turning around the fortunes of their MotoGP entry.

For Espargaro however it would be a huge risk to sign for the team. The Ducati has long been viewed as a bike that only Stoner can win aboard and with so many world class racers having struggled aboard the bike it is clear that a move to the team is one fraught with risk.

If Espargaro is in any doubts about the dangers he should remember the likes of Marco Melandri, Mika Kallio and Toni Elias all having seen their reputations torn to shreds by the ill handling bike why would a highly sought after Espargaro risk moving to the team?

The struggles of Rossi have made the second Ducati seat alongside Nicky Hayden an unattractive proposition for most of the paddock.

With the ride being so unattractive to riders as a result of Rossi’s failures it is possible that the team might need to hire a “stop-gap” rider until they can prove their competitiveness.

If that situation does arise the team could do far worse than hire Hector Barbera. The Spaniard is no world-beater but he understands the bike well and would at least allow the team to have two riders, Hayden and Barbera, who are able to ride aggressively and at least ride the bike closer to the limit than we have seen from Rossi.

Barbera has consistently been able to match Rossi even though he is racing only a satellite bike so he has certainly earned the right to race for the factory but his chances of racing for the team will hinge on riders such as Espargaro declining the offers of the Bologna factory.

Is there value in running a satellite Ducati?

Even at a satellite level it is unclear how attractive using the Ducati is for teams. Aspar felt that the cost of running the MotoGP machine was too great for the level of return provided for their investment and instead are running a CRT bike.

Will Pramac Cardion be willing to continue using the bike? The value of leasing the bike in comparison to racing the CRT bike is debatable. For sponsors does finishing 11th instead of 12th really make a tremendous difference?

The cache of saying that you are racing a prototype bike only takes a team so far and with sponsorship proving ever more troublesome to raise there are serious question marks as to whether both teams should continue to use their current machinery.

Regardless of machinery it is unlikely that Pramac will look to move on from Hector Barbera if the Spaniard is not hunted by the factory Ducati squad. He has impressed the team greatly over the last year and they would have little reason to look elsewhere for a racer if it is not required. If however Barbera leaves the team would look to hire an Italian and Mattia Passini, with knowledge of CRT bikes, would be one rider on the team’s radar.

Such an eventuality would be dependant on the Speed Master squad not retaining Passini but with Iannone racing for the team in Moto2 and probably eager to move into the premier class they would view him as a more attractive proposition.

The Cardion team was created by Karel Abraham’s father and the Czech rider is assured a seat with the team. He has not proved out of his depth in MotoGP and impressed on occasion but it is clear that there is little value of running the Ducati for them and a move to CRT would be a much more cost effective solution.

Where the CRT pieces will fall....

It has been reported that there will be 24 bikes on the grid but it seems difficult to imagine a scenario where we will see more than eleven MotoGP bikes on the grid. Those bikes are four Yamaha’s, four Honda’s, the two satellite Ducati’s and a possible single bike team for Rossi.

This would leave 13 CRT bikes on the grid with Pramac and Cardion no longer running a prototype.

The cost savings would allow both to expand their teams to run a second bike while still costing less than they currently spend in leasing a satellite bike. If one of these teams is likely to expand it is arguably Cardion. The team are ambitious and there are some talented Czech riders that would allow the Brno circuit to gain ever more publicity in the Czech Republic.

If they expand Cardion would obviously look to have a second Czech rider on the grid and they could look at Jakub Smrz as a potential rider for a CRT bike. He has done exceptionally well to rebuild his reputation in WSBK but a potential return to MotoGP might be enough to attract him back to the GP fold. If not Smrz then the team would look for another rider from the region.

Elsewhere within the CRT ranks Aspar will retain Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro with the duo having impressed aboard the ART bike.

Forward Racing’s decision on riders will be made by Colin Edwards. He has made clear his feelings on the CRT bike but if he decides that he wants to race on the team will retain him. Otherwise they will promote Alex de Angelis from their Moto2 squad.

Avintia has one of the paddocks biggest teams and with Ivan Silva having struggled aboard the bike while Yonny Hernandez has impressed they will look to replace the Spaniard. Promoting Julian Simon would be an interesting move with the Moto2 racer once again showing the form that made him so exciting en route to a 125cc title.

At Ioda there is little doubt that the team will retain Danniele Petrucci. The Italian has been one of the most pleasant surprises this year with a series of superb performances seeing him overcome the slowest bike on the straights.

Paul Bird has confirmed that the team will expand to a second bike next year with another British rider. This should secure James Ellison’s place on the grid and expect to see a Superbike rider join him in the garage.

The team tested Shane Byrne last month but the British Superbike champion will be however 36 years old next season so he might not be an automatic choice.

The biggest problem facing the CRT teams is that talented riders from other series, such as WSBK and BSB, know that they will be racing at the back of the field instead of winning races but with the likes of de Puniet showing the talent level in the CRT “class” it is clear that the challenge in the lower reaches of the GP field is much greater than can be faced elsewhere.

Mattia Passini has done well aboard the Speed Master bike but for next season the team might look to bring Iannone into the premier class. The move would allow him to spend a year racing with little pressure and expectation for a team that he is clearly comfortable racing for.

The silly season is designed to make people look foolish for making predications but at this early stage I am willing to risk looking foolish and saying that this is how the grid will line up for the opening race of the year in Qatar…..

Factory Yamaha Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso
Repsol Honda Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez
Tech3 Cal Crutchlow and Ben Spies
LCR Stefan Bradl
Gresini Alvaro Bautista
Ducati Nicky Hayden and Hector Barbera
Valentino Rossi Racing (Yamaha) Valentino Rossi
Aspar Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro
Aventia Jonny Hernandez and Julian Simon
Gresini Michele Pirro
Speed Master Andrea Iannone
Paul Bird James Ellison and Shane Byrne
Ioda Danniele Petrucci
Forward Racing Alex de Angelis
Pramac
Cardion Karel Abraham and Jakub Smrz

h3000

Hey Frostie500, is there any word of Suzuki reentering MotoGP in 2013?

frostie500

h3000 wrote: »

Hey Frostie500, is there any word of Suzuki reentering MotoGP in 2013?

From what I've heard 2013 isnt on the cards but 2014 looks pretty certain to see them return, with some recent rumours that BMW are also going to join the series.

On an another note David Emmet from motomatters.com has reported that Honda are developing a production-racer. It's likely that most people will say that it's a stepping stone between the CRT bikes and prototypes but it's more likely that it is simply a less advanced prototype-electronics, gearbox and engine etc-but it would be much more in keeping with the ethos of GP racing rather than having street engines on the track etc.

thomashood10

Dunno, I think Rossi back on a Yamaha could be a marketing wet dream.

frostie500

thomashood10 wrote: »

Dunno, I think Rossi back on a Yamaha could be a marketing wet dream.

Not on a factory bike though. If Yamaha can still get the positive publicity of Rossi in a single bike team it makes far more sense than having him and Lorenzo at each other's throats again. And don't forget Rossi didn't leave the team on a good note. It wasnt as bad as when he left Honda but it hardly on the best of terms

Infoanon

Would agree with a lot of the rider line ups - I thought Cal was in with a chance of the works Yamaha but I have read comments that Cal has upset the higher brass of Yamaha with some of his comments at Silverstone last week.

What did Cal say ??

ZX7R

From what i have read on some of the unoffical sights ,is that yamaha bosses were not happy that he lied about his injuries so he could race.

Infoanon

ZX7R wrote: »

From what i have read on some of the unoffical sights ,is that yamaha bosses were not happy that he lied about his injuries so he could race.

I heard Cal saying that he did not tell the medics the truth BUT I think Doctors are a bit cleverer then that ?! - it makes a good story but.....

Apparently they made Cal jump up and down on his broken ankle - a similar test is used in F1 - and he passed it so he was allowed to race.

frostie500

Infoanon wrote: »

I heard Cal saying that he did not tell the medics the truth BUT I think Doctors are a bit cleverer then that ?! - it makes a good story but.....

Apparently they made Cal jump up and down on his broken ankle - a similar test is used in F1 - and he passed it so he was allowed to race.

I saw Cal that morning and he looked to be in absolute bits but he showed that he was fit enough to race, and race really well. Racers arent like us "normal" folk, they consistently race through the pain. If Yamaha were so concerned about him racing injured why did they never complain about Rossi climbing onto the bike while using crutches?

ZX7R

frostie500 wrote: »

I saw Cal that morning and he looked to be in absolute bits but he showed that he was fit enough to race, and race really well. Racers arent like us "normal" folk, they consistently race through the pain. If Yamaha were so concerned about him racing injured why did they never complain about Rossi climbing onto the bike while using crutches?

Could it be the fact he said, he lied to the doctors on live t.v
True they are super human when you see the injuries and pain they race through not like soccer players ect...

frostie500

ZX7R wrote: »

Could it be the fact he said, he lied to the doctors on live t.v
True they are super human when you see the injuries and pain they race through not like soccer players ect...

I'd say that there's more to this than we'll find out. But I'll see if I can dig up anything over at Assen, Ill only be there for the raceday though

Monkeybonkers

Game on again! Some great battles throughout the field. Great on board shot of Crutchlow overtaking Hayden and a good fight between Spies and Dovi at the end.

Johny 8

yep great race... where will Rossi and Cal end up next year?!???

Sids Not

Moto 3 race was the best race in any class i've seen this year..well done Danny Kent.....
Bautista....:mad:....spoiled a potentially great race...

Infoanon

Incredible Moto 3 race - 4 different leaders on the last lap ? - fairly rough riding by Cortese.

Great Moto 2 race as well - Crazy Joe and Marquez do battle !

Moto GP - pity that Cal could not pass the 3 Dukes for an age.

Bautista has been given a start from the back of the grid penalty for next week - Yes it was his error BUT it was a racing incident and Jorge / Rossi and co have all done similar and have not been penalised.......

Stoners move on Dani - stunning !

frostie500

Infoanon wrote: »

Incredible Moto 3 race - 4 different leaders on the last lap ? - fairly rough riding by Cortese.

After the race Casey was pretty scathing of Cortese's riding

All in all though a great days racing in all three classes.

frostie500

I only got to the race this weekend but here's a couple of photos from today....

Sids Not

frostie500 wrote: »

After the race Casey was pretty scathing of Cortese's ridingQUOTE]

At least he didnt try to head-butt him off the bike a la scumbag Sofuoglu...:mad:

Hotblack Desiato

Really think the most impressive riding of the year so far has been from Dovi - the BBC naturally hype up Cal and he's done well (and ballsy ride at Silverstone, but was lucky to get away with f**king up badly at the British GP for the second year in a row) but for me Dovi has been the most improved rider this year and will certainly be on a factory bike next year.

h3000

ninja900 wrote: »

Really think the most impressive riding of the year so far has been from Dovi - the BBC naturally hype up Cal and he's done well (and ballsy ride at Silverstone, but was lucky to get away with f**king up badly at the British GP for the second year in a row) but for me Dovi has been the most improved rider this year and will certainly be on a factory bike next year.

Big Dovi fan myself, I think he will only get quicker too.


The last 10 minutes of Sachsenringn QP was the most exciting bit of MotoGP I've seen in a while.

Please Kill Me

h3000 wrote: »

The last 10 minutes of Sachsenringn QP was the most exciting bit of MotoGP I've seen in a while.

Some GREAT racing, especially from 4th back to 10th. Some great moves.

As for Dovi, I reckon if Spies doesn't pull his head out of his ass, Dovi will get his seat.

Hotblack Desiato

Definite hints on BBC today that Ducati have offered Crutchlow a factory ride for next year. Redding was talking about possibly getting on a satelite Ducati. He's good enough imho.

frostie500

ninja900 wrote: »

Definite hints on BBC today that Ducati have offered Crutchlow a factory ride for next year. Redding was talking about possibly getting on a satelite Ducati. He's good enough imho.

Im not sure that they have offered Crutchlow a deal yet. They will have to wait for Vale to formally announce his intentions for next year first. But from listening to Cal it seems that he knows he wont win a title on a satallite bike and that moving to a factory represents his only hope of doing so. Even so I just dont think Ducati is a good move. It's such a difficult bike to ride but with Dovi taking four podiums so far this year he will get the factory Yamaha ride so Cal would have been on the Tech 3 for another two years....

Tough decision for him but its looking very likely that he'll be at Ducati. If he has a firm offer it shows that Rossi wont be on the bike next year in my view

h3000

Did you hear much about this Frostie?

Rossi hinting at a better future at Ducati after meeting Audi boss.

Story from motogp.com. Link in quote wrote:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/Rossi+hints+at+his+future+with+Ducati+under+Audi+ownership

A visit from Rupert Stadler, chairman of Audi AG, which recently took over Ducati, lifted the spirits of Valentino Rossi after a hard-fought race at the Sachsenring


The Sachsenring race proved tough for Valentino Rossi and 6th position might still be far below the Doctor's usual standards, but apart from a slight improvement in overall performance, the Italian had some good reasons to remain optimistic.

In Germany, Rossi got the chance to meet Rupert Stadler, chairman of the Audi AG board, to discuss the German carmaker’s plans to back the Ducati Team after buying the Italian manufacturer as announced in April.

In an interview with MotoGP Italian broadcaster RTI, the Ducati team rider explained: "I spoke directly with the boss of Audi and they have a strong intent about supporting Ducati in the future to regain its competitive edge. It's a very ambitious project and I'm happy about it."

"And they're counting on me" added Rossi when prompted about how his own future fitted with those plans, hinting at the idea of taking his association with Ducati beyond the 2012 season.

Rossi also stated that Ducati doesn't need to scrap its current MotoGP project and build a brand new bike in order to be back at the front of the MotoGP pack: "It's much more clever to try and improve gradually the bike we have at the moment, because starting from scratch would mean spending too much time on setting up a new machine. We have to focus on the positives of our bike and improve on the negatives: me and my crew gave some clear indications over the past few months and we need to work in this direction."

frostie500

h3000 wrote: »

Did you hear much about this Frostie?

Rossi hinting at a better future at Ducati after meeting Audi boss.

I wasn't over at the Sachsenring race, but I will be down at Mugello to chase it up.

What I'd imagine happened is that Vale has seen that his options for a ride next year have dwindled and he now has been left few options other than staying at Ducati so he's trying to rebuild any relationships that he might have damaged over the last few months.

Hotblack Desiato

So, possibly Rossi and Crutchlow at Ducati next year then? Where does Hayden go though.

frostie500

ninja900 wrote: »

So, possibly Rossi and Crutchlow at Ducati next year then? Where does Hayden go though.

If that happens he'll be left high and dry without a prototype ride so would probably end up in World Superbikes

h3000

So Dani Pedrosa and Marc Márquez have been officially named as the Honda riders for 2013 and 2014. They will be a quick pair.

motogp.com - link in quote wrote:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/pedrosa+and+marquez+to+race+together+in+Repsol+Honda

Pedrosa, who currently lies 2nd in the World Championship as the season reaches the halfway point, will extend his contract with Honda with whom he has raced with his debut in the World Championship in 2001. Dani is a three time World Champion (2003 in 125cc, 2004 and 2005 in 250cc) and made his debut in MotoGP in 2006, claiming the Rookie of the Year title and fifth position in the Championship. He has been runner up twice and has also finished third in the premier class on two occasions. After celebrating his maiden win of the 2012 season last weekend in Germany, Dani has shown he is certainly one of the contenders for the title in the premier class this year.

Marc Márquez, born on 17th of February 1993, will make his debut in MotoGP with the Honda factory team at just 20 years old. Already recognised as one of the biggest young talents in the World Championship, Marc has signed for two years with HRC. He was 125cc World Champion in 2010, runner up on his debut year in Moto2 class and is currently leading the Moto2 World Championship by 43 points.

Dani Pedrosa


"I'm very happy to be able to announce my renewal with the Repsol Honda Team for the next two years. It's been a very long relationship with Honda and I had a strong desire to stay here. The fight for the Championship this year is still open and the next two seasons will be very interesting for me. My whole career has been linked to Honda, since I entered into the World Championship in 125cc, then in 250cc and since 2006 in MotoGP. I'm perhaps one of the riders with the longest history with Honda, which makes me feel very proud. I want to thank HRC once again for their support; I'm sure that we have great things to do together.”

Marc Márquez


“To reach MotoGP next season with Repsol Honda is a dream come true and I want to thank HRC for their confidence in me. I am very proud to be a part of the big Honda family for the future and I don’t want to forget all the people have helped me since I began to ride motorbikes. Now my focus is on Moto2 where my team and I are working very hard and we are excited to achieve our goal, which is to win the World Championship in 2012.”

Shuhei Nakamoto - HRC Executive Vice President


"We are very pleased to renew our contract with Dani and welcome Marc to the Repsol Honda Team. Dani is enjoying a very strong season and currently fighting with Casey and Lorenzo for the Championship, we are very pleased with his performance. Marc has already proved how fast he is in 125cc and Moto2, and we believe that, giving him the right time to adapt to the new class, he will also be able to show this in MotoGP in the future.”

Press release courtesy of Honda Racing Corporation.

Yikert

I was on hols but watched Assen in the pub in Tenerife, great crack and to sit with a local crowd who are mad into it ( including the girls ). Great racing from all classes recently. Could Rossi win on the Tech 3 do u think?

h3000

Yikert wrote: »

Could Rossi win on the Tech 3 do u think?

Races - Yes
Championship - I wouldn't think so.

Saying that I don't think we will see him on a Tech3 either.

I have no real reason behind this but I could see the below next year.

Honda - Pedrosa & Márquez (Done deal)
Yamaha - Lorenzo & Dovi
Ducati - Rossi & Crutchlow
Tech3 - Spies & Hayden (Depends how tight Bradley Smiths contract to race with Tech3 is)

^^^It's all very unlikely though

frostie500

h3000 wrote: »

Races - Yes
Championship - I wouldn't think so.

Saying that I don't think we will see him on a Tech3 either.

I have no real reason behind this but I could see the below next year.

Honda - Pedrosa & Márquez (Done deal)
Yamaha - Lorenzo & Dovi
Ducati - Rossi & Crutchlow
Tech3 - Spies & Hayden (Depends how tight Bradley Smiths contract to race with Tech3 is)

^^^It's all very unlikely though

No chance Smith gets an M1 next year so there'll defintely be one available spot at Tech 3. You'd presume that Dovi and Spies will change seats next year. I wouldnt be surprised to see Spies hold onto a factory supported ride with Tech 3 though.
I cant see Rossi going to Tech 3 unless he has a factory ride so he'll run out of options and be forced to stay at Ducati. I thought at one stage he might look to set up his own single bike team but that isnt going to happen so it'll be him and Cal at Ducati. I think Nicky will be left high and dry and will go to WSBK (where he could be the first MotoGP/WSBK champion)

Infoanon

h3000 wrote: »

Honda - Pedrosa & Márquez (Done deal)
Yamaha - Lorenzo & Dovi
Ducati - Rossi & Crutchlow
Tech3 - Spies & Hayden (Depends how tight Bradley Smiths contract to race with Tech3 is)

^^^It's all very unlikely though

Not that unlikely ! Bradleys' deal for motogp is dependent on Moto2 results according to reports and I don't expect Bradley to be in Moto GP next year. Yamaha USA will have a big say in where Spies goes - unless theres a big improvement its probably Tech 3.
Of course its all dependent on if Cal signs with Ducati - an announcement is possible as early as this weekend according to reports

Yikert

Yeah, Spies blows hot and cold while Dovi is having a great consistent year. I was surprised when the Dukes werent so good in the wet last time out.

Infoanon

frostie500 wrote: »

I thought at one stage he might look to set up his own single bike team but that isnt going to happen so it'll be him and Cal at Ducati. I think Nicky will be left high and dry and will go to WSBK (where he could be the first MotoGP/WSBK champion)

Story doing the rounds today that a Philip Morris backed Factory Spec Ducati Rossi team maybe on the cards again. The Pramac team may not be paricipating next season (I assume thats where the VDS story is also coming from) thus freeing up a Ducati (limited to 4 entries).

No smoke without fire ??

ZX7R

Another story doing a round is that Audi have a new bike engine that they want to use in the ducati they reckon it will suit rossi stile of riding,seemly they also want to go into the bike market against b.m.w. They reckon that since the credit crunch there is a bigger demand for motorbikes and they want a peace of that market

Hotblack Desiato

Audi don't have a bike engine, no more than Ducati have a car engine, or Scania have a model plane engine, where does this crap come out of???

Hard to see a Marlboro backed satellite team when they can't get their logos onto the bikes.

A Rossi team is possible (remember when he wasn't on a Honda works bike, he was on 'Doohan team'?) but it all depends - neither Honda nor Yamaha would be happy to see him competing on similar machinery to their factory riders. He'll stay with Ducati for next year anyway.

h3000

frostie500 wrote: »

No chance Smith gets an M1 next year so there'll defintely be one available spot at Tech 3. You'd presume that Dovi and Spies will change seats next year. I wouldnt be surprised to see Spies hold onto a factory supported ride with Tech 3 though.
I cant see Rossi going to Tech 3 unless he has a factory ride so he'll run out of options and be forced to stay at Ducati. I thought at one stage he might look to set up his own single bike team but that isnt going to happen so it'll be him and Cal at Ducati. I think Nicky will be left high and dry and will go to WSBK (where he could be the first MotoGP/WSBK champion)

So you think Smith will be told forget about the ride? It’s probably the correct decision. He hasn't been riding too well this year.
I'd hate to see Nicky go I think he would do quite well on a Tech3.

Infoanon wrote: »

Not that unlikely !

Ah it’s possible alright. I just normally have very bad luck predicting things . We will probably see a Rossi Stoner Ducati team next year knowing my luck;);) .

Infoanon wrote: »

Story doing the rounds today that a Philip Morris backed Factory Spec Ducati Rossi team maybe on the cards again. The Pramac team may not be paricipating next season (I assume thats where the VDS story is also coming from) thus freeing up a Ducati (limited to 4 entries).

No smoke without fire ??

I'd be a little suprised if Rossi set up his own team for 2013 but I'd be shocked if he done it with a Ducati.

ZX7R wrote: »

Another story doing a round is that Audi have a new bike engine that they want to use in the ducati they reckon it will suit rossi stile of riding,seemly they also want to go into the bike market against b.m.w. They reckon that since the credit crunch there is a bigger demand for motorbikes and they want a peace of that market

Really? Sounds a bit odd to be honest.

Ducati apparently have a new engine for Laguna Seca which they reckon will suit Rossi much better. But I think the problems are a bit more than the engine.

Infoanon

ninja900 wrote: »

?

Hard to see a Marlboro backed satellite team when they can't get their logos onto the bikes.

They finance Ducati and Ferrari.....

Btw the Ducati engine is apparently the only strong point on the bike