Ducati Monster Forum

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130823a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130823a.htm)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130823b.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130823b.htm)

Jorge looking good so far. Will it be another MM Show this weekend??  [popcorn] [Dolph]

interesting perspective about the potential for Sunday here -> http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2013/08/22/looking_forward_looking_back_what_we_lea.html (http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2013/08/22/looking_forward_looking_back_what_we_lea.html)

Marc will win this one also.

You have to give the kid a lot of credit.  He rode like a d-bag in Moto 2.  But came to GP and he's completely changed.  He will sit patiently behind Dani until he's comfortable with the track, then pass him and then pass Jorge.  He's much calmer, calculating and patient in GP.

 

...because you have to be.

Yes but usually it takes a rider a season or two to catch on.   

The kid is an anomaly.

You could throw a blanket over the top 6 at the end of yesterday's free practice!

http://www.cyclenews.com/61/22209/Racing-Article/MotoGP--Stefan-Bradl-On-Top-In-Czech-Republic.aspx (http://www.cyclenews.com/61/22209/Racing-Article/MotoGP--Stefan-Bradl-On-Top-In-Czech-Republic.aspx)

Third FP...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130824a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130824a.htm)

Pole results.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130824b.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130824b.htm)

Crutchlow!!  [thumbsup]

Guess Cal got over his beef and issues with the factory fuel tank.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130823-351.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130823-351.htm)

Results.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130825motogprace.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130825motogprace.htm)

Good race for 1-3 at the end.

Nice jack rabbitt start by Jorge but it was only a matter of time before MM and Pedrobot ran him down. Still good race in the last 10 laps. Nice battle between Vale and Bautista too. Poor Cal. Guess he'll blame the fuel tank again. ;D

Yam needs to give Jorge just a bit more bike.  MM is a stud though and Pedro's stepchild career marches on unfortunately.  I'd love to see him win a championship, but a career of 2nd place might be his destiny.

Pedrobot is the MotoGP racing equivalent of the Tour de France's Raymond Poulidor... take that for an old obscure cycling reference! [laugh] He will go down as being the eternal bridesmaid. Forever 2nd or 3rd in the championship. The rise of MM will be his undoing on HRC/Repsol. Never been a fan of Dani but I do respect his racing ability. At times.

Seems as if, in the last 10+ laps, Jorge was running wider than the Hondas in turns. You can really see it on the passes that Marc and Dani made on him. It wasn't like they stuffed him and pushed him out. He just ran wide and left the door open while the Hondas were loving that tight inside line. The passes were going to happen anyway but he just made them a gift. Liked the way he battled to retake the lead for a short while after the MM pass. Good stuff. [thumbsup] [wine]

Good race.  [thumbsup]

MM is a bad ass!  [bow_down]

Unless he gets injured, I don't see anyone beating MM for the championship. We're getting to the point where Pedro dominated last season, so presumably they're Honda tracks. Problem for Pedro is that MM is faster than him.

93, 93, 93!!!!

So much for Brno being a Yammyhammer track. Guess it was until the Hondas put it in first gear.

You're right. Whose going to beat this kid now? I can see him winning at least half of the remaining races. Probably more. Having tires go off or mechanical problems seem to be his only concern in his stroll to the championship.

And he is not acting like a win it or bin it crasher. He's very patient and calculating. Pretty amazing for a 20 year old hot shoe.

I missed some fairing bashing this race between Nicky and Dovi. ;D Bet the boss told them to knock it off. Any guesses on where Nicky goes next year? [popcorn] Someone should start a thread.  

Tires go off? He doesn't need tires. He'll ride on rims.

They said possibly NGM Forward which would see him on an M1 based machine.  Yammy supplies engine, swingarm, frame, and they supply suspension/radiator/body and maybe electronics I would guess.  They can also use more fuel, so Jarvis said that they might actually be faster on the straights.

I'd love to see that pairing if Edwards stays.

Lorenzo looked completly broken in his post-race interview.  MM took Lorenzo's "Hammer" and smacked him in the face with it.

Like Earl said, Nicky wants to have fun. It's not all about the paycheck. Can you say Crutchlow? [roll] So I too would like to see The Kid team up with CEII. That would be a fun paddock to hang around. Hopefully that equipment change will help. Still not factory bling but how much of that is available anyway.

I think Ducati will miss Hayden. Cal is no where in the same league as Hayden when it comes to PR. His personality and for all I know his work habits fail in comparison. Better on the track. Probably. But it's hard to tell with Nicky having that two wheeled albatros around his neck. It will interesting to see if Crutchlow's big paycheck translates into podiums for him and Ducati.   

Nicky isn't all about the money because he's already received the big paycheck in his career. Cal hasn't yet, so of course the money matters more. Like Kenny Roberts Sr. said...a world championship and a dime won't buy you a cup of coffee! These guys (i.e. Cal) gotta take the money while it's available. Plus...a factory ride is the only one where a championship is possible. If Ducati figures it out...

There's also talk of Nicky going to LCR on a Honda customer bike paid for by American Honda...

according to the Eurosport guys.

I think Lorenzo has come to the realization that barring massive misfortune in the Repsol squad, his title defense is crushed.

I think Pedrosa has realized that between Lorenzo and Marquez, his chances of winning a Championship are essentially zero.

I hope so. That would be a good outcome.

Pedrobot's title chances? Probably less than zero. MM will see to that all by himself.

Not throwing rocks at Crutchlow... OK, well sort of. Money matters in pro sports. Obviously. Their career, like a NFL or MLB player, could end tomorrow with an injury. Cal wants the big paycheck, then great. Seek it out. I just still think no matter where Nicky goes they will be thrilled to have him. And Ducati will wonder what to do with Crutchlow. Of course they had to deal with Stoner's moodiness too. He wasn't exactly an Olympic PR champion either.

How much longer will Rossi stick around? Did he sign a one or two year contract? And is Marquez the new Rossi? [popcorn]

I think he signed a 2 year deal, so thru next season...and it's starting to look that way.

Rossi hybrid maybe.  [bow_down]

Love seeing him beat Lorenzo!


 

"Break up the Hondas!"  ;D

Marquez has a long way to go to prove himself any where near to the caliber of Rossi.  He could be a one hit wonder like Nicky.

Even comparing those two could be the best joke I've heard in a while.

 :D

We need Casey back in this championship.

 [laugh] ok maybe Nicky was a bad choice to get my point across but MM is going to have to be tested year after year and then we'll see if he's worthy of a comparison to Rossi.

I have a feeling the way the Hondas are battling that they're going to wipe each other out towards the end of the season  [popcorn]

Longevity remains to be seen ofcourse, but comparisons are still valid.

Both won a 125 and 250 (or 600) championship.

Rossi's rookie MotoGP season he had 0 poles, 2 wins, and finished 2nd. Marquez has already had 4 poles and 5 wins (4 in a row, which I believe is the most ever by a rookie) and there are still 7 races left. Granted, you're comparing the 2-stroke 500s to the 4-stroke 1000s with electronc aids...but regardless, MM is on a tear.

We can only compare apples to apples right now, which means that we're only basing our comments on what he has done so far, not what he can potentially become. For all we know one of someone in Moto3 might turn out to be the next GOAT. We can't even rule out one of the guys on a CRT. Up to this point he is having the second best rookie season ever. If he wins the championship, he will cement the top notch. If he follows this up with 6 more championships in MotoGP, then you can finally compare him to Rossi.

I'm a big Rossi fan, but unless Yamaha finds a bunch more speed real soon, MM's going to ride the faster bike to the titles for a long time to come...

Carlos and I fully agree on something.  :o

Seriously though, the kid is good...DAMNED good. But let's see where things stand in 6 more years.
My biggest question mark at this point is what happens when (not if...definitely when) Yamaha puts together a package that can run neck and neck with the Honda...and what *if* Ducati does finally start producing a bike that can regularly battle for the podium.
Too many scenarios that can still play out before I am willing to say that he is the next GOAT.
Look at what happened to Freddie Spencer...the kid was battling with a seasoned veteran in Kenny Roberts and took the title one year and the following year, Honda changed the bike and effectively ruined his next season for him. Granted, bike development has changed drastically, but in this day and age, a weak electronics package can take several races to sort out effectively having the same effect as a full revamp of the bikes of yesteryear.

I think if the other bikes get competetive (which I already think Yamah is), you'll see more Moto2 action from MM  [clap]

Are you suggesting MM will go back to Moto2? Guess I'm not getting the post.

I missed the "-like" on the Moto2

I don't know if that will happen.  Marc did what he needed to in Moto2 in order to win.  And he's doing what he needs to in Motogp to win.  Motogp needs a little more patience, more tire management and a smile at the end of the race letting everyone know how excited you are that you won.

But a little elbow-to-elbow might make things a little interesting. 

Speaking of tire management, did Jorge overdo the start of the race and cook his tires? 

^ no shib, just like the last race he cooked those as well. But yet MM seems like he rides the beans off those tires and he stays out in front. Yamaha needs to do some homework  [coffee]

Didn't you see the photo from Turn 1 Laguna Seca? Marquez has figured out how to ride without the tires actually ever touching the pavement. Saves a lot on wear.

It seems no one is listening. The kid doesn't need tires. Dorna might need to take them away to make races more even.  ;D

Roger that. Figured it was just my natural ability to not understand things. ;D