Czech Grand Prix - Brno

[René]

After two races on the Jerez circuit we’re now on the legendary circuit of Brno. Marc Márquez is not present this weekend after a second surgery and it remains to be seen if he will make it for the Austrian double header. Not good news for Marc but it does make for an exciting and open championship.

Fabio Quartararo is full of confidence after winning the first two races but Brno should be a track that suits the Ducatis much better. And Yamaha had some reliability issues in Jerez so let’s see if they can keep up at this power track. It will also be interesting to see what KTM and Suzuki can do here.

[charleselan]

Brilliant picture of the great Phil Read on the MV Augusta leading I believe Teppi Länsivouri on a Suzuki. Phil seldom gets ranked as a great, probably due to the fact that he isn't averse to ruffling a few feathers. Still around and still superb on a bike in his 80's.

The old Brno was one hell of a place and pretty fearsome especially on a motorcycle.

Could be a Ducati weekend as it is more suited to that type of track but I am not discounting Fabio again.

[chrisb]

I am going for Bagnaia, or hopefully Zarco, but I am wondering if Ducati have jumped too soon with Jack and I am no longer convinced by Dovi, but Bagnaia is starting to look the real deal,

whatever happens it will be interesting, especially sans Marquez, the Suzi's could be good here, and Fabio and the Mav are singing, should be a good race,

Phil Read is one of those characters whose desire to win marred his reputation, there was a wonderful interview with him when Mike the Bike beat him at the TT in 1978 [?] I think, and how that felt for him, but of course he will be forever condemmed for his actions with Bill Ivy

[charleselan]

Two Frenchmen, one and two on the grid for the very first time. What a lap by Johan Zarco on the year old Ducati, brilliant pole. He even push Fabio so hard that he crashed trying to beat him, fantastic, he just needs to have a good race now.

Chris you were right when you said elsewhere that Johan might be a factor, just maybe he is itching to get that factory Ducati next year.

Alex Marquez yet again totally underwhelming, if that lad was anything but Spanish he would not be anywhere near a MotoGP ride in my opinion.

Best laugh of the day the interview with Puig, talking about how Marc Marquez broke the repair plate in his broken arm. Apparently he did it opening a French Window. Yeh! Right! Could possibly be all the weight lifting he was doing with that fractured arm could it. Neil Hodgson even opined that he might even have been doing some Motocross riding and did it then. Whatever complete clown and a team boss who would fit in well with some political parties around the globe with spin like that.

[chrisb]

Vive La belle France!!

I think the paddock has been reminded that Zarco is a winner - what a fantastic sight that was, with Fabio and a well timed apology from Zarco's team,

tyres will be the deciding factor today, he who looks after their tyres the best will win,

AM is just not in his brother's league, Stefan is a better bet than AM and firstly how he got the ride was dubious to say the least and just was well Honda realised their mistake and are farming him out next year but at the cost of a winner, oh doesn't it pay to be in with the right crowd, as for Mr Puig, he just sounds like a party political broadcast on behalf of:

I do think Morbidelli is probably the favourite this afternoon and wouldn't that be a hoot

[charleselan]

Stunning debut win for Brad Binder and also KTM, always knew that lad was a star from back in his Moto3 days. The first of many for both Brad and KTM I feel.

An excellent ride by Morbidelli as well although one could see Brad reeling him in at some stage.

Delighted for Johan Zarco after a quality ride on a private year old Ducati. The disgraceful decision to penalise him for that coming together with Espargaro was enough to make me nearly smash my monitor. Disgrace isn't really a strong enough word. Espargaro made a mistake and overshot the corner and then tried to pull back across a guy already on the racing line and who had no vision of him cutting across.

Johan's ride around the "long lap" however was the stuff of legend, sheer brilliance. Interesting to see all of the factory Ducati staff among the Avintia team celebrating the ride afterwards, as well as the top men remonstrating with officials about the penalty, Zarco is a Ducati factory man.

Very good rides by Sam Lowes and Jo Roberts in Moto2, the young American has always impressed me and maybe he will be the next in MotoGP, he has the talent no doubt.

[robmarsh]

Charles you mentioned Phil Read and how superb he still is on a bike. I never followed him so can't comment but I remember about ten years back, at a race meeting at Zwartkops in SA, Jim Redman was there and well into his 70's. It was a retro meeting so had all the bikes from Jim's era. The whole pack set off as one on a warm up and Jim made sure he was first into the first corner. I thought that was so special.

[chrisb]

Goed Geddoen Brad, you know this guy is the real deal, we really are seeing the start of the new generation taking over, which is really good for the sport, terrible race for the Mav and Fab but Johan!! glad you see it the same way I did John, I was furious and the world turned blue for a few minutes, he is a racer, he saw a gap, Pol as usual overrode and got emotional and tried to close a gap that didn't exist to someone who was looking ahead not sideways, not impressed by the penalty but very impressed by the flair Johan used, he is class, but very impressed by team Ducati, they were incensed and angry, Dovi? think your negotiations may need a re-think?

Moto2 was very good, so pleased for the top 3 - disapointed in M3 with John 'only' getting 5th, after starting 18th, tongue in cheeck should have done better

[robmarsh]

Yeop chuffed for Brad Binder. I may have to subscribe to BT sport as Sky Sport doesn't cover Moto GP

[chrisb]

Rob, I've not watched the BT coverage so don't know what it is like - or in fact who are the commentators, I get MotoGP direct, whose coverage is excellent but whose commentary is rather biased towards Marquez, to put it mildly, even when he is not there they effuse endlessly about him, and they annoyed me yesterday by supporting the penalty of Johan, although I note amongst others Casey Stoner has come out in favour of Johan and blaming Pol, something I agree with, but it isn't cheap - but there again what is? 

[robmarsh]

Thanks Chris I will look at that. I think DSTV in SA used to get it direct from Moto GP because the commentators seemed to be on simpering terms with Mark Marquez though Simon Crafar was ok.

[charleselan]

Casey Stoner does not mince his words, and great to hear him comment on that incident Chris. I was firmly in the belief that P. Espargaro was at fault from the very onset of the coming together. His histrionics afterwards were a typical reaction from that individual, who seems to make a habit of that kind of reaction.

I am still seething about the penalty and I bet Ducati are as well, the top man from Ducati was at the forefront in confronting the steward straight after the issue of the penalty, he was not happy.

Brad Binders win was a real highlight for me and just illustrates how good the by is, he and Miguel Oliveira are going to be formidable team next year at KTM. South Africa have waited a long time to get a win in the premier class, such a shame that Korky Ballington never got the chance. Kork was one of my all time favourites and a great double 250cc & 350cc World Champion.

I watch the BTSport coverage through a "special" streaming service and it is sort of like S*YF1 in format. I tolerate Keith Heuwen as lead commentator as he should know what he is talking about as he was a good racer himself back in the day, but to quote some friends of mine he is too much of a "G*b Sh*te" with his Londonesque twang. Neil Hodgson is good as the expert ex racer as he is very knowledgeable and has a wicked sense of humour, and his northern accent comes across very well in my opinion.

However that being said the best MotoGP team were Toby Moody and Julian Ryder who really worked well together, great to see Jools back in the booth at last weekends WSB Eurosport coverage along with Greg Haines who I am liking more and more. As you say Chris, Jack Burnacle is just the best along with James Whitham; James Hayden is also very good making a great overall team.     

[charleselan]

Aug 9, 2020 17:15:57 GMT robmarsh said:

Charles you mentioned Phil Read and how superb he still is on a bike. I never followed him so can't comment but I remember about ten years back, at a race meeting at Zwartkops in SA, Jim Redman was there and well into his 70's. It was a retro meeting so had all the bikes from Jim's era. The whole pack set off as one on a warm up and Jim made sure he was first into the first corner. I thought that was so special.

Rob,

Jim Redman was still racing classic machines until quite recently and indecently quickly as well. Jim was a great rider in his peak years with Honda. I took a portrait photo of him one year at the Goodwood Festival some years ago, he just stood and posed for me which was a bit special, I must look the picture out.

JC

[chrisb]

I like Simon Crafar as he has been there and is insightful and respectful, but I took exception to his comments about the incident during and after the race, but I note that he was big enough to admit he was wrong later on, my respect for him grows as he also apologised to Johan, that was class, Pol's reaction just reminds me of a few 'stars' whose petulance comes forth when things happen, I did always think he was an accident waiting to happen, wonder what he feels now with the Honda ride next year?

I have just read Mat Oxley's first reviews on MS, excellent as ever, and asked him of his take of this incident, but what I don't want to do is take anything away from Brad or Morbidelli they really were class and it won't be long before he wins a race, so looking forward to Austria, especially as Mat talks of why the new tyres affect Honda and Ducati so much, or is it in the head?

[Carl]

Aug 10, 2020 11:03:17 GMT charleselan said:

Casey Stoner does not mince his words, and great to hear him comment on that incident Chris. I was firmly in the belief that P. Espargaro was at fault from the very onset of the coming together. His histrionics afterwards were a typical reaction from that individual, who seems to make a habit of that kind of reaction.

I am still seething about the penalty and I bet Ducati are as well, the top man from Ducati was at the forefront in confronting the steward straight after the issue of the penalty, he was not happy.
 

I saw the incident on a highlight film and have to wonder how the steward couldn't see as clearly as Casey Stoner and all of us.  Espargaro's histrionics and the bad call remind me of how Lewis Hamilton cried bloody murder so many times ("He hit me!  He hit me!!) and as often as not got his way.