MotoGP
- Thread starter edgelett
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FTR London
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Immediately thought of Catalunya 2006 which pretty much ended Capirossi's title bid. Humorously, the ambulance bearing the hapless Gibernau to hospital was involved in a road accident which hurled him off the stretcher. I mean - you have to laugh. Anyway, the improtant thing was that Pecco emerged unscathed, thank God.
Was particularly interested in Binder since he's made the brave decision to opt for the hard front which Michelin had declared inoperable due to the uncharacteristically low track temperature. Unfortunately, the bike sustained damage from the Bagnaia highside and he was forced to retire.
Crap news that the Beast is set to miss Italy, India and Japan following the first turn incident.
Hilarious that Zarco is relishing the prospect of riding the Honda next year.
Meanwhile, rumours abound that Marc is set to join his brother by taking di Giannantonio's seat next year. I was convinced it would be KTM.
Great to see Aleix take the double after last year. This is his backyard to be fair.
Shout out for Jake Dixon, Moto 2...great ride, brilliant result.
Not too fond of Misano since it stopped 'going left' which always favoured US riders and Aussies (remember Ben Bostrum in WSB?). Bit of a go-kart circuit though and once again, favours Ducati massively.
FTR London
Well-known member
All rather forgettable. Bezzecchi and Bagnaia did well to podium twice despite carrying injuries, whilst Martin was unassailable all weekend. Enjoyed watching Binder in the sprint race although disappointed that he crashed out in the main race at Curva del Carro on lap eight - although he remounted and finished in the points. Shout out to Dani Pedrosa for a very respectable wild card showing at the age of 37.
As expected, all hard front/medium rear with the exception of the Hondas who had no choice other than to run the soft rear. Seventh place for Marc which is his best Sunday finish of the season. I think Bradl was running the 2024 prototype chassis. More shite luck for Miller in 14th position, colliding with Pirro. With Acosta now confirmed as moving up next season and Brad Binder signing a new contract, he's been nervously looking over his shoulder for some time now. Mir's season is now beyond farcical.
As expected, all hard front/medium rear with the exception of the Hondas who had no choice other than to run the soft rear. Seventh place for Marc which is his best Sunday finish of the season. I think Bradl was running the 2024 prototype chassis. More shite luck for Miller in 14th position, colliding with Pirro. With Acosta now confirmed as moving up next season and Brad Binder signing a new contract, he's been nervously looking over his shoulder for some time now. Mir's season is now beyond farcical.
FTR London
Well-known member
Talking of Pedrosa...
FTR London
Well-known member
What are those orange bikes with Repsol down the side? Don't recall seeing them before. Good to see Quartararo up there too. Next year will be completely different of course since Ducati will have base data gleaned from eight bikes as opposed to Yamaha's two.
First podium for Marc in the sprint race since Portimão. Shame to see Marini out in the first corner. Dominant from Martin.
Emphatic ride from Bez. Martin's medium tyre gamble didn't work but managed to salvage a strong second after Pecco's mistake. Weird front enders all weekend, but Bagnaia went so early meant that he was asking too much. Reminded me some of his offs last year. 37 point gap now down to 13. Martin's leathers came undone - not to the extend of Fabio three years ago at Barcelona. Zipped it up to avoid a penalty possibly cost him an eighth. Great to see Mir in contention and battling with Binder. Incredible finish between Martin and Quartararo after the mistake by the former. How aggressive was that move by Jorge to immediately take back second? The heat exhaustion at the end was scary. These guys are suited up and sweating on the grid for fifteen minutes before the race, immediately losing fluids, and electrolytes - sodium, potassium, magnesium A 5% fluid loss is thought to equate to a 30% performance loss, which probably explains Martin running wide at the end. He was gone, there was nothing less - incredible that he was immediately able to respond to Fabio. Thank God they shortened the race from 24 laps to 21 due to the humidity. 34 degrees but with the relative humidity felt like 42.
What a great circuit though. Stunning venue. Beautifully cambered/banked reminds me of Old Assen. Turn 8-9 is wonderful. Surprised it took so long to get here given the domestic market for bikes. They certainly seem to love the sport. One of Hermann Tilke's best designs since the wonderful Istanbul Park.
What is concerning is the amount of near misses caused in the draft. With the longest straight now being at this circuit, the ride height devices and the aero mean that it's very difficult to judge braking at the end of straights - for that reason, you don't see it in World Superbike. Here at Buddh, it is hard braking directly into a first gear corner. It's so easy for riders to be drawn in as we saw Bez do at Hangar straight this year.
Apparently Marc is at HRC towers this week prior to Motegi, to speak to the big bosses in person.
Moto 2 - Literal pile up at turn one which took out Chantra, (who has pace this weekend), Ramirez, Hada and Vietti and Alcoba that caused it. Shit move. Red flag so two thirds race distance. Superb awareness from Dixon in the restart to avoid a collision with Lopez in turn one - the incident allowed Acosta and Arbolino to check out though. Lopez then took hm out in a dreadful move which he has previous form for. No further action from the stewards. Bizarre. Great battle between Roberts and Garcia for third.
Moto3 - Incredible final lap battle between Toba, Sasaki and Veijer for second. Masia took the win to lead the championship from Toba in second place.
First podium for Marc in the sprint race since Portimão. Shame to see Marini out in the first corner. Dominant from Martin.
Emphatic ride from Bez. Martin's medium tyre gamble didn't work but managed to salvage a strong second after Pecco's mistake. Weird front enders all weekend, but Bagnaia went so early meant that he was asking too much. Reminded me some of his offs last year. 37 point gap now down to 13. Martin's leathers came undone - not to the extend of Fabio three years ago at Barcelona. Zipped it up to avoid a penalty possibly cost him an eighth. Great to see Mir in contention and battling with Binder. Incredible finish between Martin and Quartararo after the mistake by the former. How aggressive was that move by Jorge to immediately take back second? The heat exhaustion at the end was scary. These guys are suited up and sweating on the grid for fifteen minutes before the race, immediately losing fluids, and electrolytes - sodium, potassium, magnesium A 5% fluid loss is thought to equate to a 30% performance loss, which probably explains Martin running wide at the end. He was gone, there was nothing less - incredible that he was immediately able to respond to Fabio. Thank God they shortened the race from 24 laps to 21 due to the humidity. 34 degrees but with the relative humidity felt like 42.
What a great circuit though. Stunning venue. Beautifully cambered/banked reminds me of Old Assen. Turn 8-9 is wonderful. Surprised it took so long to get here given the domestic market for bikes. They certainly seem to love the sport. One of Hermann Tilke's best designs since the wonderful Istanbul Park.
What is concerning is the amount of near misses caused in the draft. With the longest straight now being at this circuit, the ride height devices and the aero mean that it's very difficult to judge braking at the end of straights - for that reason, you don't see it in World Superbike. Here at Buddh, it is hard braking directly into a first gear corner. It's so easy for riders to be drawn in as we saw Bez do at Hangar straight this year.
Apparently Marc is at HRC towers this week prior to Motegi, to speak to the big bosses in person.
Moto 2 - Literal pile up at turn one which took out Chantra, (who has pace this weekend), Ramirez, Hada and Vietti and Alcoba that caused it. Shit move. Red flag so two thirds race distance. Superb awareness from Dixon in the restart to avoid a collision with Lopez in turn one - the incident allowed Acosta and Arbolino to check out though. Lopez then took hm out in a dreadful move which he has previous form for. No further action from the stewards. Bizarre. Great battle between Roberts and Garcia for third.
Moto3 - Incredible final lap battle between Toba, Sasaki and Veijer for second. Masia took the win to lead the championship from Toba in second place.
The Lopez Dixon clash was a dubious move! No further action from the stewards is very strange! Great track though
I liked it when WSB went to go to Laguna Seca really good track and racing plus it gives the chance of wildcard rider to show up the regulars.
edgelett
Well-known member
no to indianapolis.
yes to Laguna Seca.
FTR London
Well-known member
Agree. So many fond memories of Laguna set in one of my favourite places on the planet. Wonderful, wonderful circuit amid a stunning setting. Road America, Barber or Miller would be great too. With Joe Roberts heading back stateside hard to see where the next American great white hope is going to come from or the impetus to stage another American round. I went to the inaugural race at COTA in 2013 and just found myself wishing I was in Monterey/Big Sur instead. Austin is a great city though.
Motegi next, which I'm not overly fond of. I do wish that we could return to Suzuka - particularly since many of the safety issues have been resolved. It has been 20 years now since the tragic death of Daijiro Kato, which was a complete freak of an accident.
cadcap
New member
I attended the GP at Laguna Seca in '88 and did a stint with California Superbike school...very exciting thru the corkscrew first time at speed!! Went back in '06 to watch my former race rival Nickey Hayden win on his way to the championship. Love Laguna Seca but Indy is much closer to home and IRP was my home track for many years. The GP at Indy included a night at the Indy Mile, where in '75 I saw King Kenny Roberts decimate the field from last place on a TZ750 flat tracker!!! The last GP I attended at Indy saw Roberts return to the dirt on the same bike to do a few exhibition laps ...What a showman!!! Yep, Love the racing scene that still surrounds Indy.
The picture of me leading Nickey and Tommy Hayden @ Putnam Park in the early '90s during a WERA Formula Clubman race was signed by Nickey, Tommy and Earl Hayden in a "private" autograph event @ Laguna Seca in '06.
The picture of me leading Nickey and Tommy Hayden @ Putnam Park in the early '90s during a WERA Formula Clubman race was signed by Nickey, Tommy and Earl Hayden in a "private" autograph event @ Laguna Seca in '06.
FTR London
Well-known member
That's outstanding. Thanks for sharing Would love to hear some of your racing anecdotes.
I was there in 2006 too - the year that the corkscrew melted, Chris Vermeulen's fuel vaporised and they were dispensing free water in the 100 degree heat.
I was there in 2006 too - the year that the corkscrew melted, Chris Vermeulen's fuel vaporised and they were dispensing free water in the 100 degree heat.
FTR London
Well-known member
Sprint: Bez was clearly suffering after his huge 130mph off in the morning. Incredible that he got onto his spare bike and qualified fourth. Crutchlow only five seconds behind Quartarato and Morbidelli - this after a long lap penalty, on the 'laboratory bike'. Fifth sprint race victory for Martin this season. Only eight points behind on Saturday.
As the grid lined up it looked like a certainty for the first white flag race of the year. Treacherous conditions to start a race so not surprised to see most of the grid head for pit lane after the first lap. Incredibly exciting though. Martin leading the race and the championship ran wide and somewhat recklessly rejoined. Pulled the pin and risked everything to regain his place and start opening the gap. Incredible save from Miller locking the front into T.11. KTM are closing in fast on Ducati, but it still doesn't look adequately dialled in in the wet. Looks twitchy in these conditions - and a disappointing early exit for Binder. In these conditions you put your mortgage on the latter, Olivera, Miller and Zarco. Martin, not a wet weather rider by any means, looked so comfortable though. The Ducatis are so good these days, we don't notice the wet weather specialists so much. Not very often that you see Marc signal for a red flag. The standing water was horrendous.
Harsh on Zarco not to be allowed to take his place in the 12 lap restart. Correctly abandoned anyway - right decision, more than 50% of the race was completed. Third double of the year for Martin and the gap in the championship down to three points.
Moto 2: More fuckwittery from Canet. Arbolino stricken by front tyre issues. Pretty predictable win for the Idamitsu Honda Japan riders Chantra from Ogura. Chantra just put another 20,000 on the attendance at Thailand in a few week's time! Acosta maintains his lead over Arbolino.
Moto 3: Fancied Sasaki here, but Masia broke away to lead the championship by six points.
As the grid lined up it looked like a certainty for the first white flag race of the year. Treacherous conditions to start a race so not surprised to see most of the grid head for pit lane after the first lap. Incredibly exciting though. Martin leading the race and the championship ran wide and somewhat recklessly rejoined. Pulled the pin and risked everything to regain his place and start opening the gap. Incredible save from Miller locking the front into T.11. KTM are closing in fast on Ducati, but it still doesn't look adequately dialled in in the wet. Looks twitchy in these conditions - and a disappointing early exit for Binder. In these conditions you put your mortgage on the latter, Olivera, Miller and Zarco. Martin, not a wet weather rider by any means, looked so comfortable though. The Ducatis are so good these days, we don't notice the wet weather specialists so much. Not very often that you see Marc signal for a red flag. The standing water was horrendous.
Harsh on Zarco not to be allowed to take his place in the 12 lap restart. Correctly abandoned anyway - right decision, more than 50% of the race was completed. Third double of the year for Martin and the gap in the championship down to three points.
Moto 2: More fuckwittery from Canet. Arbolino stricken by front tyre issues. Pretty predictable win for the Idamitsu Honda Japan riders Chantra from Ogura. Chantra just put another 20,000 on the attendance at Thailand in a few week's time! Acosta maintains his lead over Arbolino.
Moto 3: Fancied Sasaki here, but Masia broke away to lead the championship by six points.
FTR London
Well-known member
Worst kept secret in recent paddock history.
edgelett
Well-known member
of course - but it's been officially announced at MotoGP.com now.
Now we just wait for the inevitable 'and he's joining his brother at Gresini' announcement