MOTOGP

[fazed]

first time I've seen Marquez in the pits looking anxious and thoughtful after the race.  Some terrific work on the Ducs to improve the handling by an order of magnitude plus thee Suzukis showing promise and the Hondas seemingly not as all conquering as before.  That was one of the best races I've seen in years.......Vintage season coming up??

[unfazed]

Not a Spaniard to be seen on the podium, when last did that happen?  :eek

[HarryHornby]

That was awesome, Rossi is a god!  Great to see Dovi having a great race, I've always liked him as a ride.


Our aim is to get to qualifying at Silverstone this year, I have to see Rossi ride in the flesh.  Can't afford the race prices though.  Qualifying kids always go free :-)

[midden]

It's going to be built in the middle of nowhere though so it's going to be very difficult for people not familiar with the area to find.


For £300m they could have found a better site for it.

Like they'd spend £300m and not paint arrows on the sheep to guide the traffic. Even the Welsh aren't that thick 

[Gnasher]

As for the Ducati's, they run in "open" rule class, so they can use soft tyres in qualifying,thus they got 4 bikes in the top six or something like that,
Then in the race they are allowed to use two litres more fuel , so their bikes can be cranked up more than "factory" rule class.So more top end speed than Honda and Yam.

Not quite matey it's called the "Ducati Compromise"  Suzuki have much the same.
[color=rgb(0, 0, 0)][size=1em]A manufacturer with an entry under the factory option that has not achieved a win in dry conditions in the previous year (Ducati) will initially have :-

- 12 engines per rider per season with no design freeze
- 24 liters of fuel
- Same tires allocation (addition of an extra soft compound rear) as Open Class.
- Unlimited testing.
- Success Penalty[/size][/color]
[size=1em]
Subject to results, a series of success penalties will apply, and in 2014 this means for Ducati:[/size]
[size=1em]
Fuel allocation will be reduced to 22 liters if the combined results of Ducati riders (Dovizioso, Crutchlow and Iannone) reach one race win, two second places or three third-place finishes.
Three race wins by any combination of riders will also mean the loss of the extra soft tire option.[/size][size=1em]
So Ducati is a factory entry — and able to use its own ECU software — but with the advantages of the open class until it triggers the success penalties. [/size]These changes mean that the lower-budget independent teams will not be overpowered by a factory bike in a class that was designed to build competitive opportunity for privateers.

[size=1em]They've just lost the 24 litres and are now on 22 and they way their going and the others are not they could be quite quickly back to a full factory or they could start going backwards! [/size]

[size=1em]Oh and Pedrosa has just [/size]announced he's pulling out due to arm pump,[size=1em] it's going to be a year to remember.......bring it on! [/size]

[size=1em]Next year it's one set of rules for everyone![/size]

[ChristoT]

Erm... Crutchlow's on a Honda...  :lol :lol :lol

[slimwilly]

Erm... Crutchlow's on a Honda...  :lol :lol :lol

Yes but he's still in 4014


and repeating what i wrote (confirming) .


Ducati are able to cheat in qualifying by using a SOFTer  tyre, thats how they got to the front of the start grid.

[Gnasher]

Ducati are able to cheat in qualifying by using a SOFTer  tyre, thats how they got to the front of the start grid.

In my opinion there's has always been too much hype as to where a rider is on pole and mostly now days it's about attracting more TV coverage.

Qualifying was traditionally about sorting out those who had no chance of running with the pack, when was the last time someone didn't qualify in GP that wasn't due to mechanical failure!  Yes they need to sort out the grid slower at the back etc.  That said fast riders/bikes even if they start from pit lane will still hit the top 5 within a few laps even win, Mr Marquez has done it a few times and he was at the back within the 1st lap of Sundays race still finished 4th.

All but a few were running medium tyres for the race, again I think there's too much emphasis on which compound tyre, and it gives the riders an excuse.  Superbike uses control tyres as does many other races series these days you still get big differences in performance, lap times and finishing places.

So in my opinion it matters not where they start on the grid so much, if the rider is good and the bike is well set up and fast.  Ducati are not cheating they just have a very fast bike and a very good rider in Dovizioso, now what will be the fun part is can they keep on top as there success penalties kick in?  But without doubt Honda and Yamaha will be more than a little worried as I think Ducati have more up their sleeve     

[bri h]

with the exception of casey stoner yamaha/honda have been the only bikes in the mix for years. the new rules giving other manufacturers a chance are working, looks like being the best most competetive season for a long time. Rossi proved that rider input counts bring it on

[Gnasher]

Interestingly I've been doing a little digging about Ducati's fuel consumption. 


Apparently they are very, very good on fuel and have never come close to using 24 or 22 in fact I'm lead to believe not even 20lts which is the factory entries limit.  Even at the fuel hungry circuits they are better than Yamaha and Honda who are limited to 20lts they have definitely got stuff up their sleeve  [size=78%]            [/size]

[slimwilly]

Yes it is going to be close,


In the last five years Ducati have claimed most top speeds on track,


The Yamaha's are fast, the fact is Marquez made NO impact on the top four after he made that mistake, he finished 7 seconds from Rossi, so are the Honda's faster than Yamaha ???? we ask

[unfazed]

According to MotoGP.com the highest speeds recoded were in this order

Marquez    350.5 kph
Pedrosa      348.6
Crutchlow  346.5
Doviziozo    346.2

with Rossi 13th at 341.7

http://resources.motogp.com/files/result...1_9b1c9216

[Gnasher]

The next race should be very interesting, Yamaha and Honda are going to come out fighting Marquez isn't going to just role over neither will Lorenzo.  This is just what was needed the possibility that it's not going to be just Honda with Yamaha at their heels potentially it's wide open 8) 8)

[unfazed]

Roll on Austin,  :woot At least we have BSB to prevent withdrawal symptoms  this weekend

[Skippernick]

Funny i remember all this hype after the first race last year and then it turned into a dull procession, fairly safe bet it'll happen again.
Remember Marquez cocked up if he hadn't it would of been a race to be the first loser!

[Gnasher]

Funny i remember all this hype after the first race last year and then it turned into a dull procession

It's possible but I doubt it.  This year we have for the fist time in a good few years some real contenders in the mix other than just Honda and Yamaha.  Obviously Ducati but lets not forget Suzuki who like Ducati have the same Compromise entry they can keep developing the engine have more fuel etc which will allow them to close the gap and get them on level pegging.

Lets also not forget Mr Padrosa bowing out who's going to replace him I wonder?
 
I really hope it doesn't or is will just turn into the F1 progression which is boring as hell these days.   

[Phil]

That was one of the best races for many years.

Ducati are on 22l of fuel from now on but it seems they haven't been using more than that anyway.  It was a stunning debut for the new bike considering the others have been testing theirs for a while and Ducati have only had their top riders on it for a few days.
They are still going to be helped out in qualifying by the softer option tyre.

I read on motogp.com Pedrosa is being replaced by Aoyama for 2 races whilst he recovers from surgery on his arm. Hopefully that will cure his arm pump, but he has had surgery for that already. Finger crossed.

I doubt Marquez will be giving everyone a head start like that again.

Last year Rossi had a good Qatar race, then finished 8th and 4th in the next 2.

Cant wait for the next one.

[brooker81]

Latest Race

MotoGP 2015 GP05 - FRANCE Le Mans - Race

[slimwilly]

Bloody good race,, Yamaha's and Ducati's are above the Honda's at the moment  :eek,,who would of thought I would be writing that a year ago,,,Honda have been kicked in the balls,,,i think Marquez was using a new swingarm,,not any better then

Lorenzo got away lucky,,unstoppable,,
Rossi,still a class act,,got through all that traffic and got within 2 seconds of Lorenzo.

I am at the next one in Mugello,,,,cant wait for all that noise and actual visable speed,sliding,ten times more action when you are there.

[fazed]

Went to mugello a few years ago (VR on  2 stroke honda then!!)  Brilliant circuit fast with close racing and Italy obviously has good vino and pasta.  Andrea Iannone rode his heart out duelling with MM in Le Mans with a duff shoulder - he may be even better  when he's riding at home and an improved shoulder - Looks like you'll have a great time - I'm envious!!