I reckon that race summed up perfectly this season. Marquez is going to win the championship unless he does something stupid. Pedrosa and Lorenzo's faces said it all. They know he is quicker than them on a level playing field. The kid is just the fastest and he has the new style - elbow on the deck - whereas Pedders and Jorge have the old neat style. Marquez is more ragged, but when it works out, that style is better for winning races. Lorenzo knows that there was nothing he could do about it, that he rode a great race with his typical precision, but it wasn't enough. He didn't even blame any part of his bike or tyres, and neither did Pedrosa. And Pedrosa looks a smidgeon faster than Jorge, as he did at the end of last season. Last time Jorge and Rossi were in the same garage, Jorge was faster. It's just that now, he is even faster. Rossi will never get back on terms with the top 3 - his winning ways are done (except for lucky fluke conditions). Cal isn't far off, but he is probably fourth when things go well. He is more inconsistent than the other 3, perhaps closer to the edge. I can't see him sneaking a win unless he is very lucky or someone crashes out. Bautista has come on, but he's not going to trouble the top 3. So the only chance for Ducati is to develop a bike that is somehow clearly better than the Honda and the Yam. It could happen, but it's not going to be easy. But for them to win, they will need a bike advantage, because I don't think they are likely to have a rider advantage in the near future. The crying shame is that Stoner isn't around to give Marquez a run for his money. His style is closer. Sad to say, but you really need 3 Repsol Hondas with him on one of them. Great race though.
last season the yamaha was faster and more stable into/ around the bends with the honda slightly more powerful but unstable. whatever changes they have made make the honda clearly better everywhere imho now.. better turn, faster straight line, faster pickup coming out of turns. better on its tyres.
Even to the Aliens, MM is an alien.. he is in a league of his own.. the way he just smashes trackrecords and every record he encounters and is in a postion to smah tells so much. And in racing, how sits there and then strikes out like a frog eats a fly. and when it doesn't work out the first time he just does it another time and then makes sure he's got a gap just big enough is unseen.. how he has relegated JL and DP to almost 'second tier' status is outerwordly... Even if the honda has the edge now, it still is MM that makes the difference... and that at 20 he'll have to brake something badly not to shread VR 's record and MM being around is a very good reason for CS not to come back... it looks looks like MM reigns supreme in his very first season... as to CC : again : a local flash of brilliance and then ... sorry, not good enough.. and Glid : your inventory of "to do" is corrrect . It is just that that is impossible. as it is impossible to outmake H&Y at the level they are. And you will def not do it when the best you can get as riders is also 'just not alien' level...
Ducati did manage to make a world class bike with the super-fast 800, but I can't see that happening a second time - unless they have friends in high places... The limits on testing time and engines have pretty much guaranteed that no-one can answer the threat from Marquez, so this season is done and dusted, but it does sound like Yamaha have a new gearbox to fight back with - only they can't use it yet. God alone knows what Ducati are able to do before next season. Cal has definitely shot his career in the foot by signing for them. I thought the race itself was pretty good. Shame about Cal, but he had to take the risk. Bautista's looking pretty good, as he did on the Suzuki previously, it'd be interesting to see what he could do at a top team. Can't see anyone touching Marquez though.
There is much criticism of MotoGP compared to say BSB but for me seeing MM, DP and JL dicing on the edge was more satisfying than the mayhem of BSB. Today it was a superb display of skill, bravery and commitment.
Moto 3----watch it! MM is in another league ad is what is being bread thru Moto 2 now; loose and relaxed style with lots of entry speed, but although mid corner is slower bangs it out as quick as anyone. Fast in, fast out anyone?! I reckon Redding would do really well in MGP, as well as Cal tbh, as this is the way to ride a MGP bike nowadays, not wheels inline...until they chnage the rules on tyres or something which affects it!
The Desmo's are embarrassing tbh, only just in front of the CRT bikes, i suspect that Ducati will just hang in there until the changing rules for the prototype bikes slow down the Honda & Yam so much that they come back down to the Ducati's level. Cal took the only option available, it won't make the bike a winner though.
Moto2 IMO is a far better spectacle of bike racing and how set up and rider ability can shine through on the day. i just don't see how Motogp can get back to that due to such a huge gulf in the various bikes, I personally think they should scrap it and go to a spec engine etc just like moto2. the factories can then go and support WSBK and concentrate on bikes the general public can relate to. it won't make Motogp more boring, probably more exciting as it'll still have the best riders but will mean that you follow them instead of the manufacturer and at least it'll keep the field together. Failing that make it a 2 race day each based over half the laps, again the only way it'll stay remotely close.
Scrap the one tyre manufacturer rule and it would once again be more open. Tyres might compensate for some machine deficiencies. It's easy to forget the Doohan years were he won every race until Criville used him for a tow and sneaked a couple - that was dull. Then the period of Rossi domination was also quite dull. At least at the moment there a a handful of potential winners. Moto 2 is superb but it has a different vibe to Moto GP and I still think that there is a place for the latter. To be fair, if the Dukes were really competitive the whole thing would be much closer and more fun. Or if Suzuki returned with a competitive bike - that would also do it. Manufacturers should also be able to have as many bikes on the grid as they like - that might also increase numbers.
I guess that's the problem, with all the rules restricting the bikes it makes it very boring, hence why if they're going to continue that route they may as well scrap it and go spec engine etc either that or open it up, relax some rules on testing and tyres and let it run. as it stands I find it pretty dull, you can admire the skill in some respects but ultimately the races are flat, lifeless precessional rubbish. Moto2 you have racing and fairing bashing every lap, just imagine if it were 1000cc and the current crop on board. In moto2 you have practically 12 or so riders that can win or podium today I'm off to Cadwell to watch BSB and although I have an idea I really couldn't say who'll win, which is what makes it great. However in Motogp 9 times from 10 it'll be MM, JL or DP in some order. Hardly worth watching every lap
I would never have dreamed of calling for a control engine before moto2 came along, but from the first corner of the first moto2 race you could see they'd hit upon a magic formula. However I still don't think that's right for the premier class, I'd rather there were no control measures at all - the control tyre rule has never worked in motogp since it's inception, god knows why they're still persevering with it. The problem with motogp is there are too many rules, and that makes the bikes too similar in design. Honda and Yamaha have reached the pinnacle of design within those rules, and it would take an incredible stroke of luck/genius for anyone else to come up with a bike to match them. What it needs is for the rule book to be thinned out. What do we need? A minimum weight - let's say 160kg; maximum number of gears - 6; maximum tank size - whatever it is now; and maybe a few other safety related rules. With a limited fuel range in place I can't see any reason not to allow forced induction, 2-strokes, wankels, diesels or whatever, and with economy high on the radar I'm surprised aerodynamics aren't higher on the agenda. But none of this matters... What the series needs is money. The smaller teams need to earn decent prize money in order to compete, and the riders need to earn money simply to be attracted to the series. There are plenty of maverick engineers and gifted riders out there, but they cannot afford to even consider motogp as an outlet. That is what needs to change.
