2018 MotoGP

[Klyntonius]

Discounting the lower classes is modern thinking but it used to be accepted as a legit career hence 6* of the inducted Legends weren't premier class champs.

If you take away Biaggi's 250 titles then he doesn't come within a bulls roar of a Hall of Fame rider. He was above average, best of the rest but never was close to contending for a title despite having factory equipment. His best year was his rookie year where he finished 52 points behind Doohan. His next best was his second year when he finished 73 points and fourth behind Criville. His status is elevated in the top class because he and Rossi hated each other.

Just to reiterate, I don't mind either way on Mamola, I just can see both sides. He at least pushed Kenny Snr and Luchinelli in 80 and 81 and was strong in 84 after a late call up. On top of that he's also been an ambassador for the sport for 25 years.

Pedrosa also has been a genuine top level rider, contending on a couple of occasions with over 100 top class podiums to go with his 3 world titles. So I can see him in the conversation.

* This includes Simoncelli which I disagree with. It also includes Kato which I have no problem with.

 

[Klyntonius]

Last night's results from COTA:

1 25 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 158.0 41'52.002
2 20 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 157.7 +3.560
3 16 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 157.5 +6.704
4 13 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 157.4 +9.587
5 11 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 157.1 +13.570
6 10 5 Johann ZARCO FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 157.1 +14.231
7 9 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 156.8 +18.201
8 8 53 Tito RABAT SPA Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 156.2 +28.537
9 7 43 Jack MILLER AUS Alma Pramac Racing Ducati 156.2 +28.671
10 6 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 156.2 +28.875
11 5 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Ducati Team Ducati 156.0 +31.355
12 4 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Alma Pramac Racing Ducati 155.8 +34.993
13 3 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 155.7 +37.264
14 2 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN LCR Honda IDEMITSU Honda 155.5 +39.335
15 1 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Angel Nieto Team Ducati 155.4 +40.887
16 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 155.0 +48.475
17 45 Scott REDDING GBR Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 154.9 +49.995
18 12 Thomas LUTHI SWI EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 154.8 +51.115
19 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR LCR Honda CASTROL Honda 154.5 +59.055
20 10 Xavier SIMEON BEL Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 154.3 +59.747
21 21 Franco MORBIDELLI ITA EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 154.2 +1'00.513
Not Classified
42 Alex RINS SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 156.7 10 Laps
55 Hafizh SYAHRIN MAL Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 156.0 12 Laps
17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Angel Nieto Team Ducati 149.3 12 Laps


Some good battles through the pack but spread out at the front as Marquez did what he does in the U.S. and cleared out. He has now won the last 10 races on American soil...

Ride of the race was Dani Pedrosa who rode with a busted wrist from two weeks ago.

Miller rode well, started 18th and got pipped for 8th by Rabat on the last lap.

If Iannone can make this podium finish a consistent thing then Lorenzo, who was terribly disappointing to finish behind two private Ducati's, might just have to seek a ride elsewhere. Reunite with Aprilia perhaps?

Abraham pulled out with a painful wrist after a very, very fast crash on Saturday. Crutchlow, Rins and Syahrin all crashed out of strong positions unharmed.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Yeah. There's some good points made there.

 

[Klyntonius]

Yeah. There's some good points made there.

Of course there was!

 

[Klyntonius]

Strong rumours circulating today that Zarco has signed a two year deal with KTM. It's an interesting choice, especially if it's over Honda.

In favour of KTM, Zarco gets to be the big dog, the main focus of the team where they develop the bike to suit his needs.
It's a gamble but KTM have a history of succeeding in everything they turn their hand to. And they have the budget to succeed.


And in other news, it turns out Jack Miller race on the weekend with a cracked collarbone and turn rotator cuff from a mountain bike training accident. Not a bad effort!

 

[hey shorty]

Strong rumours circulating today that Zarco has signed a two year deal with KTM. It's an interesting choice, especially if it's over Honda.

In favour of KTM, Zarco gets to be the big dog, the main focus of the team where they develop the bike to suit his needs.
It's a gamble but KTM have a history of succeeding in everything they turn their hand to. And they have the budget to succeed.


And in other news, it turns out Jack Miller race on the weekend with a cracked collarbone and turn rotator cuff from a mountain bike training accident. Not a bad effort!

He needs to find other methods of training, every time he gets on a bike he hurts himself !!!

 

[Klyntonius]

Remy Gardner won't be racing this weekend after busting both legs and an ankle in a motocross training crash.

This comes on the back of fellow Moto2 competitor Dominique Aegerter suffering a cracked pelvis in an enduro training crash on the weekend.

Seems to be more dangerous training than racing!

 

[imadodgyumpire]

What's Luca doing?

 

[Klyntonius]

Racing in Spain last I heard.

 

[Klyntonius]

KTM have their factory riders for the next two years all sorted with Pol Espargaro re-signing and the paddock's worst kept secret in Johann Zarco finally officially announced as joining them next year.

It's a good situation for KTM but will it be for Zarco who turned down both Honda and Suzuki?

 

[Klyntonius]

So with the MotoGP silly season in full swing, I thought it might be fun to see what people think/would like to see in a grid lineup next year. Obviously some spots are filled already but the rest can be filled by what you think will happen or perhaps just by what you’d like to see happen, even if unlikely.

I have a mixture of what I'd like to see and what I think will happen:


Movistar Yamaha: Vinales, Rossi – already done

Avintia Yamaha: Simeon, Baldasarri - Xavier for money, as VR46 academy talent.

Repsol Honda: M.Marquez, Crutchlow – Cal to finally land his coveted Repsol seat, rewarded for his donkey work in development.

LCR Honda: Nakagami, A.Marquez – Alex taken on board under pressure from the Marquez posse.

Ducati Factory: Dovizioso, Petrucci – Danilo rewarded for another strong year, two Italians on the Italian bikes.

Pramac Ducati: Miller, Bagnaia – Jack to get the factory bike, Pecco already signed up.

Angel Nieto Team: Rabat, Vierge – Tito the team leader, Xavi another future young Spanish talent.

Suzuki Ecstar: Rins, Pedrosa – Would be a perfect fit for Dani, he’d win races and help development into a title contender.

Marc VDS Suzuki: Morbidelli, Mir – Two significant young talents, unfortunately Luthi’s MotoGP career short lived.

Red Bull KTM: Zarco, P.Espargaro – all sorted

Tech3 KTM: Syahrin, Oliveira/Binder – Hafizh has shown enough to keep his seat, paired with whichever KTM Moto2 rider finishes higher.

Aprilia: A.Espargaro, Lorenzo – Jorge back with the manufacturer he first won a title with.


Thoughts? What would you like to see?

 

[hey shorty]

Miller has started the year pretty well, I reckon hes half a chance to pinch Petrucci's ride.

 

[Klyntonius]

View attachment 492096


So with the MotoGP silly season in full swing, I thought it might be fun to see what people think/would like to see in a grid lineup next year. Obviously some spots are filled already but the rest can be filled by what you think will happen or perhaps just by what you’d like to see happen, even if unlikely.

I have a mixture of what I'd like to see and what I think will happen:


Movistar Yamaha: Vinales, Rossi – already done

Avintia Yamaha: Simeon, Baldasarri - Xavier for money, as VR46 academy talent.

Repsol Honda: M.Marquez, Crutchlow – Cal to finally land his coveted Repsol seat, rewarded for his donkey work in development.

LCR Honda: Nakagami, A.Marquez – Alex taken on board under pressure from the Marquez posse.

Ducati Factory: Dovizioso, Petrucci – Danilo rewarded for another strong year, two Italians on the Italian bikes.

Pramac Ducati: Miller, Bagnaia – Jack to get the factory bike, Pecco already signed up.

Angel Nieto Team: Rabat, Vierge – Tito the team leader, Xavi another future young Spanish talent.

Suzuki Ecstar: Rins, Pedrosa – Would be a perfect fit for Dani, he’d win races and help development into a title contender.

Marc VDS Suzuki: Morbidelli, Mir – Two significant young talents, unfortunately Luthi’s MotoGP career short lived.

Red Bull KTM: Zarco, P.Espargaro – all sorted

Tech3 KTM: Syahrin, Oliveira/Binder – Hafizh has shown enough to keep his seat, paired with whichever KTM Moto2 rider finishes higher.

Aprilia: A.Espargaro, Lorenzo – Jorge back with the manufacturer he first won a title with.


Thoughts? What would you like to see?

I knew I'd forget someone. Iannone in, Vierge out.

 

[Klyntonius]

Miller has started the year pretty well, I reckon hes half a chance to pinch Petrucci's ride.

Yeah. Apparently the option in Petrucci's contract for a vacant factory seat is at Ducati's discretion. That could crack the door wide open for Jack to take the seat. Big incentive to perform.

 

[Klyntonius]

Miguel Oliveira will make history as the first Portugese rider in MotoGP after signing a deal with Tech3 KTM for the next two years.

 

[Klyntonius]

Jerez qualifying results

Pos.Num.RiderBikeTimeGap 1stPrev.
135Cal CRUTCHLOWHonda1'37.653
226Dani PEDROSAHonda1'37.9120.2590.259
35Johann ZARCOYamaha1'37.9560.3030.044
499Jorge LORENZODucati1'37.9690.3160.013
593Marc MARQUEZHonda1'37.9770.3240.008
642Alex RINSSuzuki1'37.9840.3310.007
729Andrea IANNONESuzuki1'37.9870.3340.003
84Andrea DOVIZIOSODucati1'38.0290.3760.042
99Danilo PETRUCCIDucati1'38.0860.4330.057
1046Valentino ROSSIYamaha1'38.2670.6140.181
1125Maverick VIÑALESYamaha1'38.2810.6280.014
1243Jack MILLERDucati1'38.5220.8690.241
Q1 Results:
Q24Andrea DOVIZIOSODucati1'38.074
Q225Maverick VIÑALESYamaha1'38.3490.2750.275
1341Aleix ESPARGAROAprilia1'38.3890.3150.040
1430Takaaki NAKAGAMIHonda1'38.4810.4070.092
1521Franco MORBIDELLIHonda1'38.5440.4700.063
1644Pol ESPARGAROKTM1'38.5980.5240.054
1753Tito RABATDucati1'38.6100.5360.012
1812Thomas LUTHIHonda1'38.7520.6780.142
1936Mika KALLIOKTM1'38.7590.6850.007
2019Alvaro BAUTISTADucati1'38.8380.7640.079
2138Bradley SMITHKTM1'38.9610.8870.123
2255Hafizh SYAHRINYamaha1'39.1351.0610.174
2317Karel ABRAHAMDucati1'39.1461.0720.011
2410Xavier SIMEONDucati1'39.7081.6340.562
2545Scott REDDINGAprilia1'39.9181.8440.210


That was one helluva session.

Crutchlow sets a new track record time.

Second to eighth is covered by an insane .1 of a second. The top 17 are covered by just under one second.

Marquez and Iannone look to have the best consistent race pace.

 

[Klyntonius]

This Moto3 race is mental.

 

[Klyntonius]

Aron Canet may well a little holiday for that race. Skittling three other riders is generally frowned upon...

Brilliant ride from Phillip Oettl, emulating his father as a GP race winner.

And poor Alfonso Lopez, the 16 year old hometown rookie who crossed the line third but got relegated one spot for exceeding track limits.

 

[NSWCROW]

Go the partridge

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Zarco's grid girl?

******* HELL!

 

[Klyntonius]

Looking forward to this. Not all will make it home...

 

[NSWCROW]

HOLESHOT !!!

 

[NSWCROW]

Jesus Marq

 

[carloss]

lol Crutchlow. 2 crashes after Argentina, what did he say again?

 

[Klyntonius]

Jorge has done very well on the soft front. Dovi is desperate to get through.

I reckon Miller is quicker than Rossi, Petrucci and Iannone but can't yet get passed.