2022 MotoGP season

[chrisb]

thanks Rene, we have tales of exceptional qualifying, with a rookie on a guess what Ducati taking pole, the whole thing was a bit farcical, with threats of thunderstorms, rain and bravery and major disappointment - with big news being broken that the 2nd Yamaha team will be racing Aprilla's next year and there is likely to be only 2 inline 4's on the grid next year.

However, what is crystal clear is what a terrible direction MotoGP has and is taking with aerodynamics, which may sound familiar to you F1 fans, one sincerely hopes the rid us of all these winglets and shot devices etc are removed and sense restored

[René]

Catalan Grand Prix - Barcelona

Aleix Espargaro is flying at the Circuit de Catalunya. A new lap record in FP3 and fastest in Qualifying to secure pole position for tomorrow’s race. Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia in second and defending champion and points leader Fabio Quartararo in third. 

[chrisb]

fascinating qualifying, to say the least, Pecco is doing it again, as is Aleix, most frustrating award goes yet again to Maverick who was fastest in warm up this morning but only qualified 8th. arghhh best news is that Franky Morbidelli looks so much like the champion we know he is, so so pleased for him and at least the works Yamaha team looks set for next year. Which can't be said for almost everyone else

missing is Marc Marquez having a career saving operation in America in his hope that it will allow him to race again, as you may know I am hardly a fan of Marc's but I do wish him well - other people allegedly moving teams include Jack Miller and Olivera - the biggest movement I hope for is that they restrict the aero packages, the lowering of bikes etc - MotoGP really has taken a very poor turn and just hope it corrects itself

talking of aerodynamics, spotted at this years TT are front wings on several bikes, mmmm not good, but my word the TT, off to a tragic and sad start and one can only hope there are no more tragedies. The TT is on! for the first time in a few years and it is just breathtaking, having been at the bottom of Bray Hill the speed these machines come down there is just beyond one's ability to comprehend, if memory served me I resembled a gold fish [maybe something a bit larger]  with regular gulps of air, and having ridden the course how they do this is just - well when I can find the words to describe the feelings you experience when a bike hurls past you at nearly 200 mph on street, inches from kerbs and lamp posts it is just - arrrrrrwww - amazing, phew, I get the sweats just thinking of it, anyway first big won goes to big Pete Hickman on his BMW but the most amazing ride was a man starting his 100th race there, John McGuinness who finished 6th at 50,

third big bike event is near you Rene, the 24 hour race at Spa, these events are also gathering more attention and prestige, now that is one place I would dearly like to have a ride around, both old and new

[René]

Jun 5, 2022 8:45:06 GMT chrisb said:

third big bike event is near you Rene, the 24 hour race at Spa, these events are also gathering more attention and prestige, now that is one place I would dearly like to have a ride around, both old and new

Chris, I never went to see a bike race at Spa I have to admit. Must go next year.

[chrisb]

The MotoGP was something else, an incredible ride by Fabio who won with supreme brilliance, but the first corner incident was so nearly terribly tragic so so relieved it wasn't - dreadful to see Naka's head bounce off the rear wheel of Pecca's bike sending the Ducati off and poor Alex Rins also a victim of this breaking his wrist, my heart goes to Aleix, who got his laps wrong and finished prematurely only to realise his mistake and lose a hard worked for 2nd place to slip back to 5th. a puzzling race on many levels, a great start by Jean and Luca and a spread out field with Maverick doing better than usual which was good to see and something for the South African's to cheer was Darryn Binder's fine race an his good result, whereas his disillusioned looking team mate retired - good ride by Remy

another tragedy mars the TT

trying to find out the results of the 24 hour race and yup it would be something very very special to see either WSB or MotoGP at Spa again, that really would sort out a few riders

[René]

German Grand Prix - Sachsenring

Francesco Bagnaia is flying again to set another new lap record to top FP3. Four Ducatis in the top 6 but also a very good lap by Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilla. Unfortunately Suzuki’s Alex Rins has withdrawn from the Grand Prix due to the wrist injury he sustained in a crash in Barcelona.

[chrisb]

watched the race on Wednesday and my word, Vive La France, with what was a brilliant victory for Fabio and a great 2nd for Johan and an excellent 3rd for Jack, it was noticeable that this was Maverick's best race until he had a problem with this wretched low drag thingy - which whilst being clever really imo have any place on the MotoGP series. but Pecca is having a torrid time - but as as as Ducati are doing Honda is doing far worse with Stefan Bradl being its only finisher in 16th, It is beginning to look like there will be at least 3 new Honda riders next year

and off to the Cathedral of speed Assen this weekend - my word guess who won there last year, although I think the forecast is a bit iffy who would bet agin Fabio

[René]

Dutch Grand Prix - TT Assen

The MotoGP circus has arrived at the Temple of speed! Jack Miller was fastest in a rain-lashed FP1 and Francesco Bagnaia fastest in a drying FP2, both on Ducati.

[René]

Francesco Bagnaia takes pole for the Ducth Grand Prix at Assen with a new lap record!

Defending champion Fabio Quartararo will start 2nd.

1 Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati, 1'31.504
2 Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha, 1'31.620, 0.116
3 Jorge Martin, Ducati, 1'31.708, 0.204
4 Marco Bezzecchi, Ducati, 1'31.796, 0.292
5 Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, 1'31.868, 0.364
6 Jack Miller, Ducati, 1'32.124, 0.620

[René]

Wow, that was some fantastic racing in Assen today! Certainly the Moto2 race was very close and spectacular. Local hero Bo Bendsneyder rode the race of his life finishing 5th and equaling his best finish ever to the delight of the crowd. Great stuff. 


Bo Bendsneyder

In MotoGP it was a deserved win for Francesco Bagnaia who was the fastest man all weekend. Fabio Quartararo’s move on Aleix Espargaro was a bit over optimistic and ended in a crash but Aleix was able to continue and finished an impressive 4th with a stunning last-corner overtake on Binder and Miller on the final lap! Definitely the pass of the year!

The second place finish for Marco Bezzecchi made for an overall feel good atmosphere after the race. 

[chrisb]

well, what a race at the Cathedral! another circuit I have been so fortunate to visit in the past and it is well worthy of its name, and what a series of races, for us Brits bittersweet,

John McPhee who showed his real class on Moto3 and then slid out on the last corner, I could have cried, before that Scott Ogden, surely a front runner next year got bitten on his eyeball by a mossie, so awful that - also crashed out, but Josh is starting I hope to get to grips with the world of Moto3 and is showing signs of optimism

oh Sam Lowes, got really done on the 1st corner by someone else's ambitions and you just knew this would not end happily and sadly it didn't but the good news was Jake with a podium finish - clever riding and fast and the good news for Moto2 is that we have another Brit doing a couple of guest rides, Rory Skinner will be joining the Moto2 grid for the British GP and another one, so really looking forward to that

MotoGP.. aww Fabio, awful attempted overtake, brilliant ride by Aleix and also by Maverick, who is starting to feel at home at Aprilla who are looking like the team most able to challenge either the Ducati or Fabio.

talking of which, we have a French rider on a Japanese bike showing the way - well normally anyway- and two Italian teams and an Austrian Team doing very well, but aside from Fabio, Yamaha are having a dreadful time, Honda even worse and Suzuki are just crashing out- this is just bizarre for my thinking, all the brilliance the Japanese manufacturers have brought struggling, it just doesn't make sense, mind you when they do get their act together this will take the paddock off

[René]

British Grand Prix - Silverstone

As the F1 circus embarks on a well-deserved vacation, the MotoGP boys gear up for the second half of the season.

Johann Zarco fastest in FP1 and defending champion Fabio Quartararo fastest in FP2. But all eyes were on the Ducati's new aero bits and pieces. F1 on two wheels?

[charleselan]

Johann continues his brilliant form and is on pole, everything crossed for him to finally win a MOTOGP race, a happy Maverick second as well which was good to see. Horrible crash for Aleix who was high sided at cover 100mph but no bones broken thank goodness but badly knocked around, brave man carried on qualifying though. After so much promise jake Dixon looked on for pole in Moto2 but dropped it however recovered well and could be on for a result torrow, heaven be praised if he wins.

Rory Skinner as a debutant wild card impressed a lot of people, the boy had huge talent and will go far. After dominating practice yesterday John McPhee but it all turned to stone today. Not trying to be over patriotic here, as i am not, but good to see other nations get a look in the two nation series get a look in.

[René]

Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring

A slightly revised Red Bull Ring with a new chicane at Turn 2 to slow the riders down following the accident last year involving Zarco and Morbidelli.

A damp FP1 saw Jack Miller topping the times in front of Johann Zarco and Joan Mir.

[chrisb]

a rather exciting qualifying session saw the Beast taking his first pole position, surely persuading his bosses of a place in the factory team next year, Bastiania is very good and must be a scare for Pecco -

The revised circuit is drawing mixed responses and I am a bit concerned about the first time the bikes enter the chicane - wondering how many will come out, the bigger news seems to be about what and who is happening next year - a lot of seats changing because of the terrible decision by Suzuki - why they didn't farm that team out was always a mystery to me - it's a great bike and it would have been a far more enjoyable choice to expand to 4 bikes instead of no bikes for 2023. This has caused a lot of changes elsewhere including Alex Rins moving to Honda and Alex Marquez heading to Ducati - why that guy maintains a seat in the premier division is not clear, when it is clear that there are some real superstars in Moto2 who are being denied a seat. The big news is that MotoGP not content to follow F1 with aerodynamics, they now have fins at the back of bike - I am surprised that they haven't put full rear wings on - but they are now talking about doing a sprint race on a saturday instead of practice 4, again a mixed reaction, it is acknowledged that MotoGP are losing fans, nothing to do with Rossi's retirement or Marquez's absence - the two riders with the biggest following, but frustratingly they are not looking at the aero packages, or Ducati's engine superiority or that we have lost a major manufacturer, but no news about anyone else being interested in joining MotoGP,