Silly season 2013

[Tourn46]

shoulder ... Dr Costa misdiagnosis ... leg

Excuses...

That's got to be up there with some of my posts

The question is, who on the grid in 2013 even has the potential to beat Lorenzo? I can't look past Pedrosa and Rossi as being the only 2... at this moment in time I see Lorenzo pretty much odds on for 2013 and 2014, but Rossi and Pedrosa are in my opinion the best bet of picking up the left overs until we see Marquez settled in nicely o a Factory bike in MotoGP.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Rossi at Gresini with a factor spec Honda, but I personally think he will stay at Ducati.

[ieism]

Will Yamaha still be without a real sponsor next year again? Lorenzo has every chanche to win this year, and almost certainly will win next year with Casey gone. How can they not have a sponsor.

Before Stoner came to Honda, Repsol could not have been happy with their return on investment. With Stoner gone, will they wait and pray that Pedrosa gets better somehow?

Is a Repsol Yamaha team a bad idea at all, Jorge is spanish and I haven't seen any big oilsponsor stickers on his bike recently?

Red Bull to sponsor a HRC team with Dovi and Dani? Dovi was a Red bull man before he went to the dark side right?

[Hanuman]

Putting your eggs in one basket doesn't seem the wisest choice, plus it provides a succession plan and it seems wiser to have as many strong riders on your own team than let them be on a rival's.

I agree, but not all situations are the same.

Why did Honda sign Stoner : probably because they agreed with me that Pedrosa is very good, but no exact match to Lorenzo. And something (possibly) better was available.

Is there something better available next year (and in which you don't need to swallow your pride) ? I don't thinck so. Rossi -allthough still very good one could/should presume, is on his way down curve. 2 years ago he was equal to Jorge, now I'm not so sure anymore. Next year, there won't be 4 aliens, not 3, not 2 but probably only 1.5 (that half being Pedrosa).

In think we're in furious agreement here, JanBros. It was more a general thought on team strategy, with an example from '89. Your assessment on the aliens (only having 1.5 left) is also something I agree on (and 'processional' racing aside, I feel fortunate to have seen them... )
But then again, we're only 5 rounds in, so let's hope there's a change in the usual play.

[dave_m]

I think that there is a better chance of Rossi on a Honda (in Gresini or LCR colors, probably the former) than a Yamaha. Honda need him more.

Honda "need" him?
Or does he "need" them?

This goes for Yamaha or Honda, but I'd say Rossi needs them more than they need him, although I do think he could help either factory.

• At Yamaha he'd bring some endorsements and probably win a couple extra races, although the chances of a scenario where Rossi could win the title on the Yamaha but Lorenzo would not are rather small.
• At Honda the endorsements wouldn't be as important, but he could probably help them avoid a repeat of the 2008-2010 years when Honda wins were pretty uncommon. I'd see Rossi as a little more likely to win a championship on the Honda than Pedrosa, but Lorenzo would still be the clear favorite.

As far what Rossi needs, his chances for podiums and race wins are probably similar on the Honda or Yamaha, meaning much, much better than Ducati. Even if he only returned to his 2010 form after breaking his leg, that's a massive step above anything he's been able to accomplish at Ducati. So to sum up, he could help Yamaha and Honda, but I think it's clear he would gain much more out of going back to them.

I'm wondering if it's even the right move for Ducati to keep Rossi, unless they can get it right. I don't think the combination can work, and every time they race and Rossi points out the bike is good for 7th place at best, and the Ducati bikes are the last prototypes in lap time sheet again, it all adds up to them looking horribly lost. Bautista / Spies in 2013?

[lennyzrx]

I just can't see Spies or many other riders heading to Ducati. Nick and Casey must hold the record for stay'n around that camp?

I really sould follow moto2 closer. there may be a rider or 2 I missed. Sponsership and big $$ play more of a role now than talent.

I kinda think the CRT's will close the gap a little, not enough to challenge 2nd tier factory squads though.

I think Val could put a Honda or Yammi on the box, maybe not the top step. I figure him and Dani about equall nowadays. Maybe a couple notches to Val for racecraft and being stronger at the end.

I guess we will see a good deal of contracts for top seats worked out in the next 2 rounds. Like I said earlier I would'nt count Cal out on the other factory Yammi, nor would I on a Honda if a Yammi deal can't be reached.

Anyway ya cut it we will have plenty to talk about shortly, that's for sure!

[Squidpuppet]

However it is of massive importance to either rider if the other has a 0.1 second a lap advantage. So for Tech3 I can understand their decision not to spend the dollars. For Dovi it was only smart if Carls supporters were not able to scrounge up the money to equip Carl. However, Carl now has his mitts on the upgraded stoppers so Dovi's advantage is nullified. Dovi out of pocket with no gain in the championship, Carl's supporters out of pocket just to get him back where he was (on equal equipment) and Tech3 in no different a position in regard to where they are going to sit at the end of the year on the championship ladder.

When did Fogarty sign for Tech3?

[tom]

When did Fogarty sign for Tech3?

Wow! I always thought he was Carl :lol took me a while to work out what the Foggy connection was. Cal... so there you go hey :blush

[Gar]

He's referring to Carl Cutchlow I believe.

[Gustav O]

Azi Farni ‏@AziFarni
Lorenzo re contract "it was difficult to make the decision cos I had an offer from Honda. but my heart said Yamaha"

Matthew Birt ‏@birtymotogp
Lorenzo just said taking decision to stay with yamaha was very tough because he had a good offer from Honda. Said he was ruled by his heart

[dave_m]

Azi Farni ‏@AziFarni
Lorenzo re contract "it was difficult to make the decision cos I had an offer from Honda. but my heart said Yamaha"

Matthew Birt ‏@birtymotogp
Lorenzo just said taking decision to stay with yamaha was very tough because he had a good offer from Honda. Said he was ruled by his heart

That can't be a good sign for Pedrosa, Honda offering Lorenzo a contract after they've said a couple times they don't want two Spanish riders on the same team. Marquez is Spanish too from what I remember, so if the rookie rule is dropped we'll see how serious they are about that.

[Squidpuppet]

I wonder what the offer was?

I think the Yamaha engine AND chassis suit his smooth style better anyway. I'm sure he could figure out how to ride the Honda, but he just seems a more natural fit with the Yamaha.

[TwoStroke Institute]

Lorenzo would ride any bike tha same way. I don't think Pedrosa is or should be worried, he's on a good bike in a good team.

[Squidpuppet]

Lorenzo would ride any bike tha same way

What if the bike doesnt like to be ridden that way though. e.g. Ducati?

[TwoStroke Institute]

Lorenzo is good enough to adapt

[CIN]

Lorenzo is good enough to adapt

And you know that how exactly? He has only driven one bike in moto gp...

People predicting how a rider meshes with a bike is just a guess and no one can say what will happen.
I see Dovi riding the Yamaha better than he did the all conquering Honda last year.
Stoner has ridden the Ducati best and is slightly faster than Pedrosa on the Honda. Both bikes having their strength in engine power and corner exit. I would have liked him to try a Yamaha which is the opposite.
Rossi went well with the Honda and very well with the Yamaha. He is a disaster on the Ducati, a bike that has a weak front end.
I would also like to see Pedrosa on a Ducati. I bet he would be good on it. His strength is corner exit...

[TwoStroke Institute]

Lorenzo is good enough to adapt

And you know that how exactly? He has only driven one bike in moto gp...

People predicting how a rider meshes with a bike is just a guess and no one can say what will happen.
I see Dovi riding the Yamaha better than he did the all conquering Honda last year.

Results. Lorenzo did some amazing things wen he was in 125's. Dovi finished 3rd last year, and was second at Silverstone last year, he looks to be slightly behind where he was last year. He has always rode well, just we notice it more because of is non factory ride.

[CIN]

Lorenzo is good enough to adapt

And you know that how exactly? He has only driven one bike in moto gp...

People predicting how a rider meshes with a bike is just a guess and no one can say what will happen.
I see Dovi riding the Yamaha better than he did the all conquering Honda last year.

Results. Lorenzo did some amazing things wen he was in 125's. Dovi finished 3rd last year, and was second at Silverstone last year, he looks to be slightly behind where he was last year. He has always rode well, just we notice it more because of is non factory ride.

Rossi did some amazing things in 125 and 250 but look how he is doing with Ducati. Stoner the exact opposite.
As for Dovi. It is my opinion that he is riding better now. He was always very smooth and good at corner entry and these seem to be the best points of the Yamaha. Considering that he is on a customer bike, I think he is doing a bit better than last year. Just my opinion though.

[wilzilla]

Bautista just went up in HRCs shopping list?

[Gar]

I doubt it - had it not rained with 15 minutes to go I doubt that he would have remained on top.

[dave_m]

Bautista just went up in HRCs shopping list?

If he translates the lucky pole into a podium, then yes. If Nicky or Dovi finishes ahead of him after qualifying 7th and 8th, then no.

[Faster1]

Bautista just went up in HRCs shopping list?

If he translates the lucky pole into a podium, then yes. If Nicky or Dovi finishes ahead of him after qualifying 7th and 8th, then no.

Pa - lease ,,
IMO - both Dovi and Nicky are on way better bikes than Alvaro,, (If you ride the Duc like Stoner, then it's a within 5 seconds of the race winner, even today)
second- I'm on record from waaaaay back that Bautista above all non aliens ,,, is an alien waiting for THE bike that won't restrict him.
third - is exactly that... he was/is never on a bike that anyone else (including ____________ {insert your favorite rider}) would/could ever win on.a Suzuki or "b" parts Honda. IMO - he is only behind Stoner as far as raw speed. Alvaro is currently on a bike that can not, podium in the dry, regardless of who is on it. Without attrition or DNF's ,, even Stoner couldn't win on it.. It is simply; a second parts,,, second to Yamaha Satilites,,, second rate bike. Bautista won't win or podium, And that should in no way take away from his potential as a top tier racer. Honda could choose no better than him for a 1 year stint on the #1 bike on the grid than Alvaro Bautista.

[dave_m]

IMO - both Dovi and Nicky are on way better bikes than Alvaro

Um, lolwut? I'm not saying the Honda satellite bike should be on the podium regularly, but it's clearly a better package than any Ducati and roughly equal to the Tech3 bikes. I'm not down on Bautista either, I think the Honda->Yamaha transition may have been a little easier for Dovi, and it's Crutchlow's second year on the Yamaha, so they started the season a little quicker than he did. That said, I'd be surprised if he isn't able to race with them the rest of the year, but I don't know that it'll be seen as the bike's fault if he's behind both Tech3 riders all year.

[The Scribe]

If I heard it correctly, Ezpeleta just told spanish TV that they are to get rid of the rookie rule for next year (it still has to be voted in the next GP Comission at Assen). I guess that means Marquez to HRC. WIll they keep Pedrosa, or will they go for Rossi?

[Gustav O]

If I heard it correctly, Ezpeleta just told spanish TV that they are to get rid of the rookie rule for next year (it still has to be voted in the next GP Comission at Assen). I guess that means Marquez to HRC. WIll they keep Pedrosa, or will they go for Rossi?

I think they will keep Pedrosa for next year and see where Marquez eveolves. Rossi to stay at Ducati or get a ride at Gresini?

[corinthian]

If I heard it correctly, Ezpeleta just told spanish TV that they are to get rid of the rookie rule for next year (it still has to be voted in the next GP Comission at Assen). I guess that means Marquez to HRC. WIll they keep Pedrosa, or will they go for Rossi?

I think they will keep Pedrosa for next year and see where Marquez eveolves. Rossi to stay at Ducati or get a ride at Gresini?

I thought they had made it clear that they wouldn't have a factory team with two Spaniards. My guess is that now Dani needs to set pen to paper ASAP and will be the next rider to sign.