MotoGP Round 01: Qatar Grand Prix

[Schummy]

It's just hours before the races and I would want to share some thoughts that surely will be smashed during those races. Lol, what's the point of posting here if one doesn't become ridiculously wrong?

First thought is for Rossi. Yesterday Dennis Noyes was was saying we cannot go on more time ignoring the fact that Vale is plainly and painly slow. No more excuses, no more "he is testing new bikes", no more "he has not forget to ride". This qualy he has been grotesque, no more, no less. The point now is, what is happening in VR's mind? Is he recoverable? Has he some chance to become... a contender this season??

Second thought for Pedrosa. Last season he was shattered by Stoner... in a 800cc. He is physically weak so he has trouble with a big bike. I think this is going to be a hard season for him. Don't forget he was considering retirement while recovering from one of his unfortunate injuries...

Last thought for contenders. I think everyone is talking about Stoner and Lorenzo as the true contenders. I agree. At the moment Casey is miles ahead of the others Honda. In Yamaha's , Lorenzo is well ahead of Spies, who has not yet arrived to alien status. I tend to think Crutchlow's excellent qualy is more a fluke than a pattern, but who knows? I expected Dovi to be the main rider in the team. Frankly I don't see Tech3 winning the title, anyway :-) . So it's Lorenzo-Stoner fro me, in that order, with a remote Spies as dark horse. Much of the title will be decided by who has the tech advantage between Yamaha and Honda, I think.

Lol, a final last thought for CRT... I reminds me of the days of F1's turbos vs atmos, they were two categories, really, and FIA gave a "title" for the first atmo :-S . But it was a situation created naturally by the existant rules, not something created by FIA. There are only 12 real MotoGP bikes, and FIM is very worried by that. I understand it is a very bad image on TV, broadcasting the failure of the premium bike category in the world. But CRT is a fake way to solve it, it is more or less like the fake tanks used by Montgomery in the WWII to impress the Germans, except this time we know they are fake ;-). They are about 2 seconds away, and the last riders are... "unimpressive". Perhaps in future races CRT becomes more meaningful, let's see.

[Ultimo]

No Moto3 thread? What a great race. Props to the first two finishers, and an awesome 7 way battle for third.

Excited for the other two races today!

[chunder]

Hilarious, watching the Moto2 race.

Marquez simpkly pulls out and overtakes people before he even gets off the excit of the bend, such is his weight advantage.

Pathetic really, and I imagine the minimum weight wont be brought in of course until he wins the championship.

Joke, total joke.

[ghinzani]

Marquez move was out of order. Agree with Chunder about weight limits.

[Dani Filth]

shame .. cause the race wasn't bad .. but the result was kinda known
you could've read it from the faces of Luthi's pit team 2-3 laps from the end

and a point chunder was making last season .. he should be in MotoGP already . a CRT bike .. a sattelite bike .. something
there is absolutely no point in sticking in Moto2 this year
Melandri moved to 250 even if he didn't win 125

[Dani Filth]

MotoGP was better than i thought it would be.
I must be loosing my mind but I was cheering on Lorenzo, the unlike of him is starting to disappear.
still hate the monster baseball hat .. bleah .

[SALEEN S7R]

Quite a boring Moto GP race today I thought, wasnt really much overtaking throughout the race and the result was decided in the final few laps. Good to see Lorenzo showing that the Repsol Hondas are beatable though, nice too to see Crutchlow beating Dovi in the opening round of the season, makes you wonder what he could be capable of on a factory bike.

[Schummy]

I would agree on weight limits if they used a height handicap in basket or a weight limit in rugby or every limit in athletics . But currently you have to use your physical strength or your physical lightness to ride those bikes in the best way possible.

Weight handicaps/limits have advantages and disadvantages but, certainly the lack of handicaps or limits is not outrageous.

[Truenorth]

Weight limits? A bit tough on we Smoke fans, eh?

Great day's night of racing at Losail.

The Moto1's were awesome! I just loved the look of surprise on that Italian boy's face! 50hp singles - wow!

Moto2 race was coloured by one rider following his "Marquez of Queensbury" fairness rules application. I expect to see quite a few elbows flying in the next event.

Moto3 was awesome. Yes, not much passing, but lots of thinking. Stoner was thinking about the field catching him up. Lorenzo was thinking about riding smart on a strong bike. The Yamahama team's victory celebration was heart-warming. F1 drivers would merely nod and head for their jets. Hayden was thinking about just how many ups and downs he could have in one race.

The CRTs had a great day and are no doubt causing both some head scratching and some wallet waving. I favour uniting MotoGP and WSBK. We don't need a separate series for every two race teams in the world.

[chunder]

Oops True, seems you have your 1's and 3's mixed up there buddy!

Weight limits have been in place on 125's Moto3 for 20 years, so no real issue with them being involved with Moto2. But as I say it wont happen until Marquez wins the title as he is Spanish and the series is designed around him winnin that title.

You have to have something when the bikes all have the same engine and weights. Someone like Redding must suffer at least a 1 or 2 bhp per ton disadvantage over Marquez, and I would suggest he is not that much slower, but the way Marc just pulls out before he even gets a tow just takes the mickey.

Makes the class look unbalanced when noone else can do it, he already has more money, the best bikes, the best chassis (even within Suter) and the best engines.

Does he really need any more advantages?

[tail out]

I agree that Moto2 needs minimum weights, If they are using a control engine then the heavy riders are being penalised. Moto GP was good Ducati dont seem to be gaining headway, Good to see Crutchlow up there and I think on the right day (rain) some of the CRT bikes could upset the slower prototypes.

[frostie]

Yeah I think they should introduce some sort of minimum weight in Moto2. It would do a lot for bringing in even more transparency to the results

[Truenorth]

Not mixed up Chunder - didn't know better! Thanks.



I think we should ride the bike we brought to ride !

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by chunder

Hilarious, watching the Moto2 race.

Marquez simpkly pulls out and overtakes people before he even gets off the excit of the bend, such is his weight advantage.

Pathetic really, and I imagine the minimum weight wont be brought in of course until he wins the championship.

Joke, total joke.

I don't understand why the others aren't making much much louder noises in public about it. It seems so bizarre that weight rules apply in the category below but not Moto2.

Anyway, nice to see Julian Simon score a point in Moto2, also glad to see di Meglio show some pace. I like following these ex-125 champions to see how they do. Good luck to Mr. Terol!

Can I just say, WTF has gone wrong with Jonas Folger? Riding an IODA of all things? How? Why?

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by cg7aa

Can I just say, WTF has gone wrong with Jonas Folger? Riding an IODA of all things? How? Why?

Yes from a winner last year to zero this. I think it may to do with the illness he suffered last summer? Assuming Red Bull have dropped him too. Would love to know why, although Red Bull are a law unto themselves.