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Post by René on Nov 16, 2018 13:02:48 GMT
Back in Spain for the last race and all the riders will want to end the season on a high. For some it will be goodbye as they will change teams like Jorge Lorenzo and others will even change championship like Scott Redding (who is not sad to leave the MotoGP scene he said) or completely stop with the competition like Dani Pedrosa. Hopefully they can all end the season with a good result. For the win expect the usual suspects; champion Marc Márquez was already fastest in the first morning practice.  |
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Post by charleselan on Nov 16, 2018 15:44:42 GMT
Always a good finalé at Valencia, even if it is yet another Spanish round.
Scott isn't sad to be leaving as you mention René, he hates what the MotoGP Paddock has become and contrary to what some idiots on other sites are saying it isn't sour grapes on his part. He is a genuine lad, and maybe not well steered at times but genuine he is, and honest.
Dani Pedrosa will also be missed as he was a quality rider but like Scott, on the other end of the spectrum regarding to size, they were at huge disadvantages within the current rules etc. He will be great as a development rider for KTM however.
I think Marquez will be hard to beat, but would love to see Rins on the Suzuki get a first, that would be cool; or maybe Zarco could sign off his Tech3 role in style.
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Post by chrisb on Nov 18, 2018 8:39:16 GMT
am currently watching the M2 warm-up in the pouring rain, this is going to be fun!
qualifying was interesting, soured slightly by the sychophantic rantings of Marquez's fan club president Mr Day, we know Marque is good if not brilliant, but I do not need reminding every other second, groan...
M3 was brilliant in qualifying and really does bode well for today, go John go -
It is any wonder that Spain has so many champions/ riders/ rounds and the UK so few? Scott may not be sad to leave the corporate imagery of MotoGP I am though, a real personality who won races, he made a bad move leaving VDS and in my opinion never quite fulfilled that awesome talent, welcome to BSB Scott, I look forward to seeing you at Donington, although John Steve Day in a moment he wasn't mentioning Marquez did make a strange link, so you never know, what he was saying was that if any Ducati rider in MotoGP and WSB were unavailable for any reason Scott would be a shoe-in, so this may not be the last time we see Scott in Europe. Scott did an interview with Autosport which included all the expletives and was quite funny, I will also miss Smithy, although one I never quite knew how good or not he was, he will be missed.
I am going for the Maverick, but with the weather as it is I do think an unusual result could be on the cards and maybe Zarco may well do it,
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Post by charleselan on Nov 18, 2018 18:07:32 GMT
I have never witnessed so many crashes in one race weekend as this one. We get used to Marquez chucking it down the road every GP weekend at some time or other, apparently he has to go over the limit, to find the limit. I seem to recall when a great rider found the limit, by feel not by crashing. The same has been true of F1 drivers over more recent times, with Schumacher being a notable proponent of the technique. JYS once offered that Michael had more crashes in a race weekend than he had in one season, and that was no doubt being charitable.
According to pundits and writers these days, crashing to find the limit on MotoGP bikes is a sign of greatness, Hmmm! One poor deluded soul on the MS Forum actually went as far as to state that the reason Marquez did not hurt himself when he crashed was because he is so talented; I had to pick myself up off the floor after reading that little bit of undiluted genius. Obviously he has not come across the other term for crash, and that is accident; which means quite simply no human has control of an accident, or its outcome.
Anyway great win by Dovi, and another superb ride by Alex Rans on the Suzuki, plus an amazing third by Pol Espargaro on the KTM, the Austrian manufacturers first MotoGP podium. Can't wait to see the tests next week when we see what is in store for 2019.
Finally good to see such a decent piece on Scott by BTSport, very complimentary about him and what he brings to the MotoGP paddock. Also a few comments by pundits that he may well be back in the future, I wonder however; Scott will love BSB and its atmosphere and rider camaraderie, he has a great future there.
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Post by robmarsh on Nov 19, 2018 7:01:23 GMT
Which commentary team uses Simon Crafar as their pit commentator? Well whoever they are the lead commentator is a rude ahole. He seems to think Marquez walks on water which he clearly did yesterday after he couldn't ride on the stuff. Anyway his co-commentator was about to say something interesting and complimentary about Scott Redding's chances in the second start when this bugger just cut him off. It was done so rudely and sharply that I got the distinct impression this guy doesn't like Scott or want anybody to talk about him. Did anybody else notice this?
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Post by chrisb on Nov 19, 2018 8:32:54 GMT
yes I do Rob, frequently, Steve Day is an unofficial sycophantic president of the Marquez fan club, in every single event be it M3 or whatever we hear just how brilliant Marquez is, prompting me and a number of others I understand to write to Dorna who employs this numpty in protest, he is an insult to all previous commentators, the guy who does the BSB on Eurosport is brilliant and shows how a commentator is professional, unbiased and informative and when he gets excitable it is wonderfully managed by the great James Whitham in that dulcet Yorkshire accent who calms him down. I am going to contact Dorna again and ask for an alternative commentator as I have also noted that some of the more informed contributors on MS are saying the same as we are. He is a pain - Matt Burke is much better but still falls into the trap of adulation and I am with JC on this one.
A lot of more modern fans cite Michael and Marquez as the GOAT, well sorry, they wouldn't have survived longer than one weekend in any other era using their tactics, so no, definitely not. I cannot get used to this style of riding/driving and guess I never will.
It's not just Scott, Rob, Mr Day seems to have a problem with all the British riders bar Cal, John McPhee drove a brilliant qualifying and a pretty good race, but all I heard were less than complimentary comments, Alex Lowes was really quick in warm-up but sadly crashed out, again a sarcastic comment, as for Scott, Mr Day does seem to have a problem with him, in truth this is his first year as lead commentator - I just keep hoping he goes to BT and we get Mat with someone else.
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Post by chrisb on Nov 19, 2018 8:42:43 GMT
what a race! so sad for so many riders, so pleased for Dovi, Alex and Pol, but also Pirro and at last Dani finished, Really wanted Rossi to be up there but these things happen, but what a day for KTM, winner in M3, sadly beating Scott's record but what an awesome ride, also congratulations to John McPhee and to Martine great rides. M2 was strange but what wonderful rides this looks great for next year. So two KTM victories and then a podium in the last race for 2018 - can't wait to see Zarco on it, a nice tribute from Smithy to Pol, that was nice, it will be a shame not to see him in the paddock next year.
I thought Scott rode well and deserved his points on that machine, I do feel he will thrive in the less corporate environment of BSB - which is a growing concern for me at MotoGP level when the manufacturers start getting too PR orientated we lose the beauty of the racing, as I say I have Donington penciled in for next year to watch Scott and it should be good.
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Post by charleselan on Nov 19, 2018 12:57:56 GMT
Fortunately I have not had to endure this Day character, motormouth Heuwen is bad enough at times on the BTSport coverage but he is somewhat brought into place by Neil Hodgson who I do like. Now they have had time to work together they have a good rapport and the humour isn't bad either although not up to Jack and James from the Eurosport BSB coverage.
I have a feeling Chris that your displeasure will fall on deaf ears at DORNA as they probably wish to have Day taking every opportunity in making Marquez a "god". Am in agreement with you also, in that MotoGP is becoming more and more commercially obsessed and getting far too like F1 for its own good. The preponderance of Spanish riders in all classes is to me distasteful, and worryingly nationalistic.
Even when the UK ruled the waves in F1 there were always a huge variety of different nationalities racing in the premier class, and equally important there was only one British GP. Am I the only one to see this unhealthy situation. Interestingly Superbikes isn't so overly populated by the Spaniards, unless they are discarded riders from MotoGP. Yes! There are quite a few British riders in WSB but nothing like in the MotoGP/2/3 classes.
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Post by René on Nov 19, 2018 13:30:31 GMT
Never seen such a crazy MotoGP race before! Stopped counting the crashes halfway through the race but what a masterful victory for Dovi. Also all the other guys who finished the race did a fantastic job. Great entertainment
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Post by charleselan on Nov 19, 2018 16:01:58 GMT
Just to add something more to my previous post, hope not a rant  . There is much talk of a minimum weight limit for MotoGP at some time in the future, which cannot come soon enough for me. Any normal sized guy is being severely handicapped with the rules as they now are. In the past Mat Oxley has spoken of it by means of strength issues, in that bigger guys are better placed in being able to manoeuvre the bike around, and smaller guys being disadvantaged. However I have never seen it this way myself, and during the course of the weekend the guys on BTSport were quite adamant that the bigger guys like Scott; Rossi and Petrucci are severely handicapped when accelerating out pf corners. The very light guys like Dani Pedrosa also loose out in that they cannot get heat into the tyres, whereas someone like Scott has the opposite effect and overheats his due to his weight. I cannot believe that something hasn't been done about this sooner, but maybe there are alternative reasons behind this that DORNA favour. On the matter of crashing to find the limit; you do not see the guys who race on the roads like the IOM TT doing this do you, I wonder why! |
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Post by chrisb on Nov 19, 2018 17:14:46 GMT
yea with you John, it seems ridiculous and the arguments in Mat's column would be hilarious if they weren't written in earnest, which makes it even sadder. Geoff Duke wasn't a big guy and John Surtees wasn't that big either, and perhaps the quickest of them all Fast Freddie certainly wasn't a big chap. It was the same on F1 for a time and you had skeletal tall drivers who just couldn't compete and now in MotoGP, so hopefully some sense may occur here.
I agree John, I do have concerns as to where this series is going, however last time MotoGP was in trouble - remember the 'B' class>?' WSB proved enormously popular, so maybe history might repeat itself, provided of course WSB do something about its electronic packages
on a hat-trick here John!! in any other era this would have been fatal, which, despite the fact off bike Marquez comes across really well and I have so much respect for his journey to the top and I do quite like him I will never rate him as high as some others.
Testing starts tomorrow, it is on Dorna's thing so I will be interested to see just how some of the new drivers and bikes get on. Especially Iannone but it will be a sadder place sans GB stars.
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Post by charleselan on Nov 19, 2018 17:34:49 GMT
Really looking forward to the testing this week, but it won't be the same without my cousin sadly. At least Bradley has some wild cards next year, however i do not think he should be in anyway rejoicing as he will then see what Scott had to put up with, as will Iannone which will be interesting to observe.
With DORNA owning the WSBK rights I do not see that ever being allowed to rival MotoGP, like it did back in Foggie's day, they will carefully see to that. All I can say is thank goodness that they do not have any influence what so ever over BSB. WSBK should be taken over by JP and his crew, it would then be run correctly and as you mention get rid of those flaming electronics. I have a feeling that those MotoGP prima madonnas would have a serious issue if they came to BSB, and have to ride without any electronic help.
Personally I cannot see the point of having all these electronics on road bikes, for goodness sake the road rider rides for pleasure in the majority of cases and very few, unless they are mentally deranged need to ride a road bike with all that stuff on the road.
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Post by chrisb on Nov 20, 2018 8:43:33 GMT
testing starts in 1/2 an hour John and it will be interesting to watch, yes, quite right, it won't be the same without Scott but I am getting the feeling he may be better off at the moment in BSB. Really hope he does well there. For Iannone going from the sweet handling Suzi to the evil Aprilla will be interesting to watch, I wonder how guarded his comments may be.
A lot of MotoGP rookies, some I am yet to be convinced have done anywhere near enough to warrant a seat but, time will tell. So looking forward to this. But I wish them all very well
WSBK when it was the same as national championships worked, and that for me is where it needs to go, if that does happen then it will accelerate [boom boom] in popularity and I don't think Dorna can do much about that, once it starts rolling. so as I think you are right John Dorna will not let that happen. But, I can see MotoGP maybe trailing off in popularity, all series of motorsports have their ups and downs and when Valle stops I do think there will be a lull.
On the road John, having never ridden a bike with electronic gadgetry as yet I don't know, I do use the sports and something called the chequered flag modes in the car, which is quite good fun, but as a friend of mine constantly reminded me, the throttle goes two ways, so when I look at replacing the current bike next year it will have three engine modes, I think they are 'rain', sports and normal I will see. But I suspect the sports mode may well become the 'norm' for me....
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Post by charleselan on Nov 20, 2018 14:10:51 GMT
testing starts in 1/2 an hour John and it will be interesting to watch, yes, quite right, it won't be the same without Scott but I am getting the feeling he may be better off at the moment in BSB. Really hope he does well there. For Iannone going from the sweet handling Suzi to the evil Aprilla will be interesting to watch, I wonder how guarded his comments may be. A lot of MotoGP rookies, some I am yet to be convinced have done anywhere near enough to warrant a seat but, time will tell. So looking forward to this. But I wish them all very well WSBK when it was the same as national championships worked, and that for me is where it needs to go, if that does happen then it will accelerate [boom boom] in popularity and I don't think Dorna can do much about that, once it starts rolling. so as I think you are right John Dorna will not let that happen. But, I can see MotoGP maybe trailing off in popularity, all series of motorsports have their ups and downs and when Valle stops I do think there will be a lull. On the road John, having never ridden a bike with electronic gadgetry as yet I don't know, I do use the sports and something called the chequered flag modes in the car, which is quite good fun, but as a friend of mine constantly reminded me, the throttle goes two ways, so when I look at replacing the current bike next year it will have three engine modes, I think they are 'rain', sports and normal I will see. But I suspect the sports mode may well become the 'norm' for me.... Chris, I have just tuned into an excellent Free Stream of the BTSport transmission of the Valencia testing, in full HD and crystal clear on my big iMac screen. However it has been ruined by the commentary team, the blighters are using the DORNA lot with that fool Day. I have now remembered that I have had the displeasure in hearing him elsewhere in the past, the idiot cannot even speak properly, as my dear grandmother would have said his annunciation is very poor. He sounds like am adolescent, or someone currently in vogue at the BBC; hate his voice. Cheers John |
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Post by Carl on Nov 20, 2018 17:18:50 GMT
There's hope for the future 
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. There is much talk of a minimum weight limit for MotoGP at some time in the future, which cannot come soon enough for me. Any normal sized guy is being severely handicapped with the rules as they now are. In the past Mat Oxley has spoken of it by means of strength issues, in that bigger guys are better placed in being able to manoeuvre the bike around, and smaller guys being disadvantaged. However I have never seen it this way myself, and during the course of the weekend the guys on BTSport were quite adamant that the bigger guys like Scott; Rossi and Petrucci are severely handicapped when accelerating out pf corners.
