Ducati Monster Forum

Let's get this party started.....

Pedrosa wins. MM takes Rossi out after having a throttle issue at the start. Jorge crashes on lap 2, rejoins and finishes 9th...  ;)

In all seriousness I hope everyone races cleanly and we can go back to talking about what a great season it was and how good 2016 and 2017 will be.

Pedrosa has some momentum, and will be on more or less home soil, last race of the year, so going for it.

Hoping for no shenanigans!

Pedrosa takes the win, JLo bins it due to cold tires, all eyes on MM and Rossi

I'm waiting until the results of the appeal before I tune up the crystal ball. ;D

All I know is that Dorna is run by a bunch of assholes if they put Jorghey, Rossi and MM in that press conference on Thursday without telling them to behave like adults.

Last thing we need is another "conspiracy theory/it's not fair because it's Rossi" pregnant dogfest. Get your big boy pants on, go out there and battle for the championship.

And I hope all 3 of them crash and Dani laps the whole field.

I don't think JLO, Rossi or MM deserve to be in the press conference.
They've done enough damage with the airtime they've gotten already.

I think it should be Nakamoto, Jarvis, and Ezpeleta up there, but no chairs and no table, just standing in their underpants, with Ronda Rousey grilling each one of them with a bullhorn on how they could possibly have managed to miss the impending trainwreck.

And then they should bring Mike Webb in, and have those three knuckleheads get down on their knees and apologize to him for throwing a nuclear grenade in his lap.

And then they should have Pedrosa carried in by a dozen supermodels, and those same three should beg him for forgiveness for their negligence allowing his victory to be overshadowed by the actions of spoiled children.

I'm glad you weren't my father. :-*

So am I.  :-*

 [popcorn]


Let's get to sunday already and then to april immediately after.

I see Rossi doing a Capirossi on J Lo for the win! Loses his points for the race but wins the championship. Like their soccer team, they love to cheat. ;D

1. Pedro flag to flag.
2. MM, a slightly chilled out version after a good talking to
3. JLo, tries to push, but can't focus due to the pressure...goes conservative.
4. Iannone
5. Rossi
6. Dovi

Rossi wins the WC. JLo whines about it.

Mm
Jlo
Rossi
Pedro
Ianonne

Mm needs to prove he is faster than everyone. Jlo cant handle the mm style and secure placing so backs off. Pedro cant maintain pace for this many weeks. Rossi has to be top italian for the press.

MM
Jorghey
Dani
Iannone
Smith
Rossi

MM will have something to prove. Jorghey is not dumb, he's in it to win it. Dani won't be able to keep up with the pace and let's Jorghey ride his ride. Rossi passes Crusty for 6th, but just doesn't have enough laps to catch Smith after riding valiant race just to miss out.

In my heart:

1. Who cares
2. Who cares
3. Jlo
.
.
6th. Rossi

In reality:

What everyone else is saying here.

With the possibility of MM binning it trying to prove something and creating more drama as he "must have binned it to help Jlo".

ALL OF YOU REPROBATES TO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE!

NOW!

https://motomatters.com/news/2015/11/02/carmelo_ezpeleta_and_vito_ippolito_to_ad.html

Makes Dorna and the FIM look even worse...IMO.

There's no way they can bring this 'under control' at this point.

I think it's over...at least on the track. Off the track relationships will never be the same though.

Seems weird to cancel the press conference though.

'Under Control' will depend on the sort of encouragement that's offered by Carmelo and Vito in said meeting.

I suspect the encouragement will be plainly worded, and the rewards for behavior will be crystal clear.

Will the unwritten rule get some ink?

no freaking way.


+1 If you don't want them airing their dirty laundry, just don't invite any of them. Bring Iannone, Smith and Crusty. That would be an amusing press conference.

I suspect that a gag order will be issued in the meeting.

Like "Anybody speaking anything remotely related to events in PI and Sepang may need to look for alternative employment."

Rossi may be the only one to say something then.
His ego is big enough to say no one tells me what to do.

And he is at the end of his career anyway.

By going around the Fim he is already showing he thinks the rules do not apply to him.

They don't work for Dorna...just saying...and for sanctions to be brought for speaking out would make them look even worse.

His appeal is well within the rules.

There's a significant portion of the grid that has a spot in MotoGP because that's what Carmelo wants.
Not to pick on Karel, but he's an easy example, he's not in MotoGP on merit.

I'm sure Carmelo is nine kinds of pissed.
He likes all of the press, and some of the inter-rider controversy, yes.
But the legitimacy of the title has been compromised.
And Rossi has rejected Carmelo's reality, and is inserting his own, via the press and the CAS.
He's not going to like that, at all.
Rossi has left a steaming pile on Carmelo's porch.

That's why Carmelo gets the big bucks...

and while Rossi is not motogp, the sea of yellow at every track around the globe does not go unnoticed by Carmelo and Vito.

They know on which side their bread is buttered, and when the sea of yellow disappears so does a shit ton of revenue.

+11tybizillion

Rossi is MotoGP. His fans span generations, from guys that saw him start in the 90s to little kids that just started watching. This fact does not escape neither Carmelo nor Vito. They must be dreading his retirement, but also sweating this little altercation since they know that fans pay to watch Rossi win championships not to lose to a douchebag like Jorghey.

It also doesn't hurt that daddy owns CardionAB and the Brno race track...

Of course he wants him in GP...

Carmelo gets the big bucks. ;)

Especially since I'm sure that they were betting that MM was going to succeed Rossi as the fan champion. But this new drama is going to carry on for a while with Rossi fans... I mean, look at Hayden/Dani. That incident has followed Dani around for years and this one is way worse. Going to make it harder to switch the fan base over to the successor.

They can only hope that 50% of Rossi fans will stick around post-Rossi era. What I mean by that is that at least 50% pay for tickets and concessions and not just watch it on TV.

I think GP will be fine after VR leaves.

I do too...

I think the ledgers will reflect his leaving for a while though.

Moto racing will be fine. In the short term, his leaving will hurt the bottom line.

Agreed.

The Sepang incident has indirect consequences for this.  Before, MM was the heir to VR: he had VR's happy, gregarious personality coupled with VR's wild and superhuman riding style and his hyper-competitiveness.  With MM going to VR's ranch and a general sense of mentorship (real or imagined, the public view was that they had some connection), MotoGP has a nice transition lining up from the VR Era to the MM Era, where similarities between the two riders favored VR fans to convert to MM fans as the elder master retired. 

Sepang changed that.  Now, fewer VR fans will likely adopt MM as their favorite rider when VR retires.  The transition will be choppier, I think, with an hiccup on the bottom line.

I think I said that.

El grande douche strikes again

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/03/lorenzo-s-intervention-in-rossi-s-appeal-denied/188806 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/03/lorenzo-s-intervention-in-rossi-s-appeal-denied/188806)

The wall is definitely going up in the Yamaha garage now

Exactly this.

And I was ready to root for MM once Rossi was out and I probably still will but there will be that bit of meh in the back of my mind now. Now I just want Dani to get that win now.

More and more reasons why I can't ever seem to root for him. The only time I had a glimmer of it was when he raced at Assen with that broken collarbone.  After that the douche factor went right back up.

Man, this moron got the Golden Ticket at Sepang, and instead of keeping his mouth shut and doing his job, he's just decided to throw that ticket on the ground, $4!+ on it, and light it on fire in front of the whole world.

I hope Yamaha drops him and he spends the rest of his career in purgatory on a customer Honda...

I used prettier words.


The wall was going up next year, now I'm wondering if it will be up in Valencia. These guys have not liked each other for a long time, which makes me wonder how Yamaha expected them to be "teammates". It was easier when Rossi was coming off the Duc and he was trying to come to grips with the bike after 2 years of hell. I presume that Yamaha just assumed that Rossi was not going to be as consistent. Now they're stuck with these 2 going at each other's throats.

It's just another example of VR being someone's buddy until they become a threat.

JLo and VR got along fine his 1st 2 years back at Yamaha because VR was out of the title chase. Same goes for MM. Now he's not getting along with either. Shocking!

You silver tongued devil...

I was just checking to see if I was missing something. :P

Rossi opened the door when he left the compound and filed the appeal with the CAS.

I don't blame JLo for filing, he'd have been a fool not to.

It does show that You'reghey is worried about the result if Rossi starts from his actual qualy position.

Most definitely

I see it as more like when you get divorced.

You don't *have* to hire a lawyer, but most of the time it's a really good idea.

I can get behind that kind of logic if MM filed. JLo wasn't involved in the incident, and he's VR's freaking TEAMMATE. I'm surprised the Yamaha bosses didn't step in, but that's assuming they knew his lawyers were doing it. Just reinforces he's a sniveling little shit weasel.

You could look at it that way...

but just like in divorce...

when you have a lawyer there's two make the beast with two backsers that are stealing something from you instead of one. ;)

He's only his teammate in the sense they both ride for the same manufacturer. They're fighting for the same title though. Racing isn't like other sports as far as teammates go.

Yamaha has already secured the manufacturer's championship. That's all they care about at this point.

Maybe he's not so bad...

http://youtu.be/_-9LUjN9yqQ (http://youtu.be/_-9LUjN9yqQ)

A few yrs old.

http://youtu.be/vLQYi7dFHY4 (http://youtu.be/vLQYi7dFHY4)

Slum what is a slum  ;)

That was 6 minutes of awkward.

He's still a douche.

 [clap]

Couldn't have said it any better

Cas decision keeps rossi at the back wtf

They had no grounds to reverse the punishment. Rossi purposely (by his own admission) pushed MM off the line. MM crashed, regardless of whether Rossi kicked him or not, because of the move. If they would have given him 2 points, it would have had no consequences and forcing someone to crash should have some consequences.

At least now Rossi can focus 100% on getting his race pace perfected. No need to worry about getting the one perfect lap for qualifying.

Well looks like I'll be cheering for Dani P to win and hold back JLo, I have no clue what MM will do

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/05/suppo-we-don-t-want-to-put-more-fuel-on-the-fire/188897

Hrc is apparently staffed completely by people at least as twattish as jlo, the shitty level is over 9k

I'd only disagree that MM crashed because he refused to give ground and initiated contact with Rossi.

Going wide was simply the precipitate.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/05/permanent-bureau-address-motogp-riders/188903 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/05/permanent-bureau-address-motogp-riders/188903)


Again, the crash would not have happened if not for Rossi pushing him wide.

I still maintain bs on this, mm made a willful decision to initiate contact, in yacht racing the starboard boat has right-of-way in general, however only an idiot rams a leward boat and protests for the win while the vessel sinks, mm made a shit decision and vr is footing the bill

It was always a hail mary play anyway... had big doubts if it would actually go through.

In some ways, it's better with the penalty. The uproar if the penalty was reversed would have just made this whole mess start back up.

Plus, Rossi still has a chance if Dani/MM manage to get ahead of JLo.  I think Rossi can easily pull off a 6th place finish.

With all the bad blood I would be extremely surprised if MM passed JLo, seriously why would he

That's definitely a possibility, gotta see where everyone qualifies

Yacht racing?!! WTF

You ain't kiddin'. I like the BMX guy, though. 'I wanted to be a spaceman.' Looks like you succeeded, bro.

Because he hates Jlo just a smidge less than he hates Rossi?

He'd pass JLo for the same reason he passed him in PI, he wants to win the race.

I'd say because pics like this exist:

(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/mhanis-colt/Gross.jpg)

cribbed from our Sepang thread

TBH, I think MM is actually in a bit of a hard place if JLo is anywhere in front of him the whole race. There will be accusations of letting JLo go if that happens... especially if JLo passes him and MM doesnt push JLo as hard as he pushed Rossi. Imo, to salvage his pride and rep, MM needs to beat JLo soundly if it came down to a duel. Then he can turn around and say he was just racing Rossi and not messing with the championship.

https://youtu.be/7khQNR7s1Ho

There is a (tenuous) connection to MotoGP though!

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/popular/dani-pedrosa-arrested-cheating-yacht-exam/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/popular/dani-pedrosa-arrested-cheating-yacht-exam/)


 ;D

Wait, did HRC just hold a press conference to say they have a secret, and they want to tell everyone, but they're going to wait until after the race to say anything because they don't want to add fuel to the fire...?

That's some Jedi level trolling douchebaggery, right there...

So if Rossi went wide because he lost the front Marquez would have crashed?

C'mon...share what you're smoking. :-*

Meeting between the Permanent Bureau and riders has occurred.

As I suspected, Carmelo was pretty plain with his 'encouragement'.

And it seems there was a gag order as well, Ezpeleta told them to only talk about Valencia.

Rossi said he regretted running Marc wide, and JLo apologized for the 'thumbs down' incident.
Beyond that, they had no comments on Sepang.

Official Meeting transcript and press interaction here:
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/224896/1/permanent-bureau-sport-must-prevail-on-sunday.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/224896/1/permanent-bureau-sport-must-prevail-on-sunday.html)
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/224901/1/rossi-i-regret-pushing-marquez-wide.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/224901/1/rossi-i-regret-pushing-marquez-wide.html)
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/224898/1/lorenzo-sorry-for-rossi-rostrum-gesture.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/224898/1/lorenzo-sorry-for-rossi-rostrum-gesture.html)

C'mon people...it isn't hard to understand.

MM crashed because he was pushed wide intentionally by VR. Sure he could have run off track and probably avoided the crash. But again, he would have been run off track intentionally.

The underlined word is the key here.

The guy with the inside line DOES NOT have the right to intentionally run someone off track. Period. In any racing.

Sure, it happens as part of racing...i.e., running wide and forcing someone off track, or losing the front and crashing someone out. That is a racing incident, and it happens all of the time. Rossi wasn't penalized for when he took Stoner out on the Honda a few years back for this reason. It was a racing incident. It happens.

There also is a gray area...a rider can "accidentally" run wide and push someone off track...i.e., "grass them". Not really allowed, but about impossible to prove if the rider appears to be racing.

What VR did is unacceptable. He SAT UP, SLOWED DOWN, and LOOKED at MM while he ran him wide. He deserved what he got as far as the penalty goes. Face it, he let his emotions get the better of him, and made a very bad decision.

This doesn't excuse MM's riding, which was overly aggressive (but clean) given the circumstances.

I'm also still cheering for VR to win the WC...but c'mon, take the yellow tinted glasses off!

I think what the yellow-tinted tribe is saying is that MM could have easily avoided crashing if he slowed down and stood up the bike like Rossi.  That doesn't excuse Rossi because, as you stressed, he intentionally ran a rider wide, which is a punishable offense regardless of whether MM crashed as a result or not.  The crash only made the incident worse.

Yes yacht racing because the Americas cup has just as much split second decision making and tension as motogp and this would be insanity in yacht racing.

Now all of a sudden the underlined word is that rossi forced him wide, before the underlined word was that rossi caused the crash, that mm had no other choice but to go down and on that I call bs, no excuse, and that's what's sour about the whole decision, if mm hadnt crashed like a doof then rossi would not be penalized as harshly and we would still have a valid battle for the championship.

And there's no way you can convince any reasonable person that crashing was mm's only choice, the sequence happened so freaking slow my mom could've braked and tucked around the back side of vr.

You're right, MM likely could have avoided the crash. It's especially easy to see his other options from the couch.  ;)

Rossi still caused the crash though. Not directly with the so-called "kick", but by putting MM in that situation to begin with. I agree that if MM would have stayed up the penalty would have been less harsh...likely 2 points on his license instead of 3. But he crashed.

Rossi brought the penalty on himself by broadcasting it the way he did. No way Dorna could let that stand as a precedent for the future.

Couch racing is the only racing for me.  I'm also a helluva couch politician and couch quarterback as well.  Like, Abe Lincoln and Joe Montana good.  ;D

I also still think we have a valid battle for the championship. JLo spotted VR a bunch of points early on in the season...VR was kind enough to spot JLo a few starting positions for the last race of the season.  ;D

Did you VR fans think the championship was potentially spoiled in 2006 when Pedrobot took out Hayden and gave VR a chance for the title in Valencia? I'll bet if VR had won that year, there wouldn't be a single VR fan that though the WC was tainted by the actions of Pedrosa.

It's racing...weird stuff happens. Both VR and JLo both deserve to win. We'll see who actually does. If MM and/or Pedro beats JLo (very likely) and VR wins by finishing 6th, then what? Is the WC tainted because MM and Pedrobot should have just let them both go by?

[laugh]

We all couch race because we wish we were race direction,

I don't care who wins...and my glasses are clear. We see it differently is all.

Marquez did not have to crash because Rossi pushed him wide J.

I understand what you're saying, but he brought it on himself.

Fair point.  I always marvel at how upset people are with a player who blew it in the last 2 minutes of an NBA game.  C'mon people, the game is 48 minutes long.  The missed layup at 1:20 counts as much as the missed layup at 47:20.

MotoGP season is 18 races.  No one wins a championship in one race.  JLo or Rossi, whoever it is will have earned it.  I just hope it's not JLo.

You ain't the boss of me!!!

(http://c3.likes-media.com/img/1adeb1406a0c3da9ff62558f736ad55f.600x)

I'm all for being a diehard fan. If you're a true fan you will root for your team even if they suck. And you celebrate when they win.

The difference between a true fan and a fanboy is the amount of delusion. I reeeeeeeaaaaally want Rossi to win the championship, but you have to be delusional watching Rossi slow down and look back at a guy as he's pushing him off the track and still blame the guy for the situation. If you still question it, get someone that has never really watch motorcycle racing and show them the video of the battle prior to the event and the actual event. They will look at it and say that Rossi is a douche. Rossi make the beast with two backsed up. Accepting this does not make you less of a Rossi fan.

They both deserved what they got IMO.

that's why I am a DUCATI fan . .. no matter who is ON the bike, well, except when vr was I was a following the other guy

 :D

The incident was slow enough, why didn't MM tuck inside of Rossi and motor off?

I think I've reached my limit.

MM was being a douche.

Rossi made a bad decision and is now paying for it.

Just shut up and race!




(Wine talking now) I don't think Rossi intended for him to crash. If he did there would have been some sort of hand gesture, one finger salute or an Italian hand wave. But I would have loved to have snee Rossi come around the next lap, park his bike in the gravel and the two of them go at it punch per punch with their helmets on

Because he was so pissed off at the moment that he decided that ramming was the better option.  Oooops.  Wrong choice.

He didn't ram him, he did the old classic lean on him tactic, but he lost to the old master.

Really, it's just the conflict of generational change. Happens everywhere in different spheres.

FP1:

1.   Marc Marquez   ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)   1m 31.250s [Lap 17/20]   328km/h (Top Speed)
2.   Jorge Lorenzo   ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)   1m 31.434s +0.184s   [10/17]   321km/h
3.   Dani Pedrosa   ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)   1m 31.553s +0.303s   [10/19]   331km/h
4.   Andrea Dovizioso   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15)   1m 31.642s +0.392s   [17/17]   329km/h
5.   Valentino Rossi   ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)   1m 31.665s +0.415s   [21/21]   318km/h
6.   Pol Espargaro   ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)   1m 31.892s +0.642s   [17/20]   322km/h
7.   Andrea Iannone   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15)   1m 32.192s +0.942s   [19/20]   332km/h
8.   Cal Crutchlow   GBR LCR Honda (RC213V)   1m 32.260s +1.010s   [18/19]   321km/h
9.   Aleix Espargaro   ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)   1m 32.359s +1.109s   [5/19]   317km/h
10.   Yonny Hernandez   COL Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)   1m 32.412s +1.162s   [16/18]   325km/h
11.   Stefan Bradl   GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)   1m 32.514s +1.264s   [15/19]   316km/h
12.   Danilo Petrucci   ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)   1m 32.574s +1.324s   [18/21]   321km/h
13.   Michele Pirro   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15)   1m 32.724s +1.474s   [16/19]   328km/h
14.   Alvaro Bautista   ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)   1m 32.725s +1.475s   [16/18]   315km/h
15.   Mike Di Meglio   FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open)   1m 32.797s +1.547s   [14/17]   316km/h
16.   Maverick Viñales   ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)*   1m 32.801s +1.551s   [9/16]   316km/h
17.   Bradley Smith   GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)   1m 32.841s +1.591s   [19/21]   321km/h
18.   Hector Barbera   ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open)   1m 32.927s +1.677s   [13/15]   321km/h
19.   Nicky Hayden   USA Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS)   1m 32.978s +1.728s   [17/19]   311km/h
20.   Jack Miller   AUS LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)*   1m 33.049s +1.799s   [14/19]   317km/h
21.   Eugene Laverty   IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS)*   1m 33.097s +1.847s   [17/22]   311km/h
22.   Scott Redding   GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)   1m 33.143s +1.893s   [17/19]   319km/h
23.   Loris Baz   FRA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)*   1m 33.211s +1.961s   [15/18]   309km/h
24.   Toni Elias   SPA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)   1m 33.657s +2.407s   [21/21]   318km/h
25.   Anthony West   AUS AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS)   1m 33.837s +2.587s   [18/20]   312km/h
26.   Broc Parkes   AUS E-Motion IodaRacing (ART)   1m 35.290s +4.040s   [15/17]   304km/h

Big save by MM at one point

FP2:

1.   Jorge Lorenzo   ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)   1m 31.111s [Lap 13/19]   318km/h (Top Speed)
2.   Dani Pedrosa   ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)   1m 31.377s +0.266s   [19/21]   326km/h
3.   Andrea Iannone   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15)   1m 31.444s +0.333s   [20/22]   330km/h
4.   Valentino Rossi   ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)   1m 31.475s +0.364s   [18/20]   318km/h
5.   Marc Marquez   ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)   1m 31.481s +0.370s   [16/20]   323km/h
6.   Danilo Petrucci   ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)   1m 31.575s +0.464s   [17/19]   321km/h
7.   Pol Espargaro   ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)   1m 31.674s +0.563s   [11/17]   320km/h
8.   Aleix Espargaro   ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)   1m 31.678s +0.567s   [16/18]   315km/h
9.   Cal Crutchlow   GBR LCR Honda (RC213V)   1m 31.803s +0.692s   [18/19]   321km/h
10.   Maverick Viñales   ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)*   1m 31.986s +0.875s   [13/19]   318km/h
11.   Hector Barbera   ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open)   1m 32.044s +0.933s   [12/16]   323km/h
12.   Michele Pirro   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15)   1m 32.399s +1.288s   [14/16]   328km/h
13.   Yonny Hernandez   COL Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)   1m 32.464s +1.353s   [16/18]   324km/h
14.   Andrea Dovizioso   ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15)   1m 32.494s +1.383s   [18/18]   330km/h
15.   Bradley Smith   GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)   1m 32.508s +1.397s   [21/22]   321km/h
16.   Nicky Hayden   USA Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS)   1m 32.595s +1.484s   [15/18]   314km/h
17.   Loris Baz   FRA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)*   1m 32.597s +1.486s   [14/16]   312km/h
18.   Jack Miller   AUS LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)*   1m 32.599s +1.488s   [18/21]   317km/h
19.   Stefan Bradl   GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)   1m 32.842s +1.731s   [15/20]   314km/h
20.   Alvaro Bautista   ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)   1m 32.945s +1.834s   [17/20]   314km/h
21.   Scott Redding   GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)   1m 33.238s +2.127s   [8/19]   316km/h
22.   Mike Di Meglio   FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open)   1m 33.268s +2.157s   [16/18]   317km/h
23.   Toni Elias   SPA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)   1m 33.411s +2.300s   [16/18]   317km/h
24.   Eugene Laverty   IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS)*   1m 33.415s +2.304s   [18/20]   315km/h
25.   Anthony West   AUS AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS)   1m 33.838s +2.727s   [19/20]   312km/h
26.   Broc Parkes   AUS E-Motion IodaRacing (ART)   1m 34.839s +3.728s   [7/15]   302km/h

Can we start a new thread with no more "he went wide" or "he should've backed off"?

Lets shift the practice posts to a new thread Valencia Grand Finale no pregnant dogging

I was hoping VR had a shot at winning the championship from the back, but it's not going to happen if they qualify like this.

Why bother?

Let's just shift the focus of the conversation.

It's what I was hoping to do with the FP postings  [thumbsup]

My boy Maverick in 10th today.  8)

Watching now. Jorghey's douchy perfection looking strong, but look at Demented Andrew!! I really hope he can end the season on the podium.

Your boy crashed in the first lap of FP1. It's great to see him putting it together after to take 10th. I hope he makes it to Q2 directly!

Maverick has REALLY impressed me this year. Curious to see how the whole package reacts to the new engine, though. That thing is on rails right now, but more power could wake some gremilins...

Focus on race pace?

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/a-change-of-focus-for-rossi/189192 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/a-change-of-focus-for-rossi/189192)

Psycho Andy is in the mix and has top speed numbers after Diminutive Danny.

How do the Ducs fare with tyre wear at Valencia?

Hondas are saying that they are having tire overheating problems like this did in PI. Will be interesting if they have to manage their pace like they did there too. The Yams are saying that the tires work great for them though... hopefully the hondas will slow down JLo long enough for Rossi to catch up.

Here's an interesting hypothetical...

Let's say that Rossi, Jorghey and MM are running around in Q2. Rossi could potentially screw up a flying lap. Would he do it to MM, who he seems to not like right now, or his rival? I would offer a tow to MM or anyone else that can potentially force Jorghey back.

I remember Nate  pondering that same thing a while back, and it seemed nobody knew whether or not Rossi will even be allowed on track during a qualifying session. Has that been answered yet?

Emmett answered that in his twitter feed:

David Emmett ‏@motomatters  12h12 hours ago
Getting a lot of questions about Rossi's qualifying position and his grid penalty. Firstly, Rossi will get to be in Q2 if he's in the top 10

David Emmett ‏@motomatters  12h12 hours ago
Secondly, this is a grid penalty, imposed on the grid. If Rossi gets pole, his pole goes in the record books. He will also be in QP presser

David Emmett ‏@motomatters  12h12 hours ago
Rossi could use Q2 as an extra set up session. But he may want to make a point. Better to try to worry Lorenzo.

So he'll be in QP and wherever he places in there will stand in the record books. As for the strategy... I'd say he'll be using it as a extra FP but more than willing to tow anyone that's riding in a color that's not blue.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/lorenzo-i-feel-strong/189162 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/lorenzo-i-feel-strong/189162)

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/rossi-when-i-m-riding-i-m-more-relaxed/189157 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/rossi-when-i-m-riding-i-m-more-relaxed/189157)

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/marquez-i-got-back-to-enjoying-myself-riding/189159 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/marquez-i-got-back-to-enjoying-myself-riding/189159)

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/pedrosa-it-s-not-been-a-great-start-to-the-gp/189153 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/pedrosa-it-s-not-been-a-great-start-to-the-gp/189153)

Thanks [roll]  Must be Saturday

Vinales and Suzuki have been a great story this season....
Really hope they get a reliable boost in HP next season.

Just wish KTM were starting in 2016, to see how they will go, and how Aprilia goes with a seamless box, and their real engine...

^^^ One page back.

FP 3

1 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Ducati Team Ducati 334.2 1'30.925 
2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 323.8 1'30.988 0.063 / 0.063
3 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 327.1 1'31.034 0.109 / 0.046
4 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 321.5 1'31.134 0.209 / 0.100
5 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 320.8 1'31.146 0.221 / 0.012
6 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 329.5 1'31.163 0.238 / 0.017
7 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 324.6 1'31.164 0.239 / 0.001
8 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 328.9 1'31.347 0.422 / 0.183
9 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR LCR Honda Honda 323.3 1'31.367 0.442 / 0.020
10 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Octo Pramac Racing Ducati 325.2 1'31.523 0.598 / 0.156
11 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 316.2 1'31.606 0.681 / 0.083
12 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Avintia Racing Ducati 322.2 1'31.695 0.770 / 0.089
13 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 320.4 1'31.824 0.899 / 0.129
14 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Octo Pramac Racing Ducati 323.5 1'32.033 1.108 / 0.209
15 6 Stefan BRADL GER Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 318.1 1'32.102 1.177 / 0.069
16 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 318.0 1'32.104 1.179 / 0.002
17 51 Michele PIRRO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 328.4 1'32.106 1.181 / 0.002
18 43 Jack MILLER AUS LCR Honda Honda 317.8 1'32.227 1.302 / 0.121
19 45 Scott REDDING GBR EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 319.7 1'32.405 1.480 / 0.178
20 76 Loris BAZ FRA Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 315.2 1'32.431 1.506 / 0.026
21 63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Avintia Racing Ducati 319.1 1'32.450 1.525 / 0.019
22 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Aspar MotoGP Team Honda 311.5 1'32.556 1.631 / 0.106
23 50 Eugene LAVERTY IRL Aspar MotoGP Team Honda 318.1 1'32.763 1.838 / 0.207
24 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 320.7 1'32.933 2.008 / 0.170
25 13 Anthony WEST AUS AB Motoracing Honda 315.2 1'33.330 2.405 / 0.397
26 23 Broc PARKES AUS E-Motion IodaRacing Team ART 302.2 1'34.139 3.214 / 0.809

FP 4

1 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 323.7 1'31.203 
2 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 327.1 1'31.347 0.144 / 0.144
3 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 326.3 1'31.388 0.185 / 0.041
4 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 321.4 1'31.436 0.233 / 0.048
5 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Ducati Team Ducati 333.6 1'31.746 0.543 / 0.310
6 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 324.7 1'31.772 0.569 / 0.026
7 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Octo Pramac Racing Ducati 320.7 1'31.944 0.741 / 0.172
8 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR LCR Honda Honda 322.5 1'32.035 0.832 / 0.091
9 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 316.6 1'32.129 0.926 / 0.094
10 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 316.6 1'32.293 1.090 / 0.164
11 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 320.9 1'32.311 1.108 / 0.018
12 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Avintia Racing Ducati 320.7 1'32.353 1.150 / 0.042
13 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 326.0 1'32.433 1.230 / 0.080
14 45 Scott REDDING GBR EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 320.5 1'32.539 1.336 / 0.106
15 51 Michele PIRRO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 326.6 1'32.696 1.493 / 0.157
16 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Octo Pramac Racing Ducati 322.0 1'32.742 1.539 / 0.046
17 6 Stefan BRADL GER Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 319.1 1'32.877 1.674 / 0.135
18 43 Jack MILLER AUS LCR Honda Honda 319.4 1'32.995 1.792 / 0.118
19 76 Loris BAZ FRA Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 310.4 1'33.125 1.922 / 0.130
20 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 312.2 1'33.169 1.966 / 0.044
21 50 Eugene LAVERTY IRL Aspar MotoGP Team Honda 314.2 1'33.197 1.994 / 0.028
22 63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Avintia Racing Ducati 318.1 1'33.255 2.052 / 0.058
23 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Aspar MotoGP Team Honda 312.7 1'33.306 2.103 / 0.051
24 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 317.6 1'33.484 2.281 / 0.178
25 13 Anthony WEST AUS AB Motoracing Honda 311.1 1'33.979 2.776 / 0.495
26 23 Broc PARKES AUS E-Motion IodaRacing Team ART 302.9 1'34.664 3.461 / 0.685

If Rossi wasn't on the back row this would have been an incredible start for the championship hype. Still pretty nuts but that penalty is looming over the results

Does Iannone have the fastest lap time? !

J-lo is going to do everything he can to get out in front of everyone.  But will Iannone be his fogging helmet?

I want to see Iannone on the top step!

It's a long race.  Will the ducks extra fuel make a difference?  Can Ducati hold it together for more than 4 laps?

I  hope J-lo and Rossi crash in the warmup lap.  Calling Casey Stoner........

All I can hope for is that everyone guns it off the line and give JLo a peek of the front tire to make him nervous

Q2

1   99   Jorge LORENZO     SPA   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP   Yamaha   320.9   1'30.011   
2   93   Marc MARQUEZ     SPA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   322.1   1'30.499   0.488 / 0.488
3   26   Dani PEDROSA           SPA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   323.1   1'30.516   0.505 / 0.017
4   41   Aleix ESPARGARO   SPA   Team SUZUKI ECSTAR   Suzuki   312.5   1'30.917   0.906 / 0.401
5   35   Cal CRUTCHLOW   GBR   LCR Honda   Honda   319.4   1'30.948   0.937 / 0.031
6   38   Bradley SMITH           GBR   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   Yamaha   322.0   1'31.012   1.001 / 0.064
7   29   Andrea IANNONE   ITA   Ducati Team   Ducati   329.8   1'31.056   1.045 / 0.044
8   44   Pol ESPARGARO     SPA   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   Yamaha   321.5   1'31.080   1.069 / 0.024
9   4   Andrea DOVIZIOSO   ITA   Ducati Team   Ducati   327.2   1'31.245   1.234 / 0.165
10   9   Danilo PETRUCCI   ITA   Octo Pramac Racing   Ducati   323.0   1'31.292   1.281 / 0.047
11   25   Maverick VIÑALES   SPA   Team SUZUKI ECSTAR   Suzuki   317.4   1'31.340   1.329 / 0.048
12   46   Valentino ROSSI    ITA   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP   Yamaha   319.1   1'31.471   1.460 / 0.131


Rossi crashed out.  Lorenzo was dominant.

I want to congratulate Nicky on a solid MotoGP career as this will be his final race.  [clap] I hope he does well in WSBK on the Ducati.

#69

I hadn't heard he's back on a Duc  [thumbsup] Very cool!

Last I heard Nicky was still under contract to Honda.  He'll be riding for Pata Honda along with Michael van der Mark.

My bad.  [thumbsup]

JLo puts in a blinder lap that looks like he's tootling home from the market with a dozen eggs.

Unfortunately for Rossi regardless of the past 2 races, Jorge does not look like he's leaving anything to chance. I doubt the Hondas have the pace to keep up with the douchey one.

They certainly didn't in qualy.

And we know he can do that 15 times more in the race.  Just hope for rain to keep things interesting.

JLo looking tough for sure!

I wanted to throw things at the wall when I saw Jlo got pole  [bang]

On the bright side....
We may get more coverage of VR coming through..

Wonder if JLo pit board will only be where VR is.

He'll be running an onboard camera if you're watching on the MotoGP site

no luck for the forecast shows 71 degrees and sunny, unless somebody knows how to shift el nino to spain

 [thumbsdown] JLo wins, MM cockblocks Dani P for 2nd, Rossi a lonely 4th

Hrc is the worst kind of people, jlo has one hell of a knack for running away with a race when he's on his best game

A real pressure test, that was.
A brave ride through the field by VR, and a great win under pressure from J Lo.

(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12196105_912127138856828_4853489919099963188_n.jpg?oh=f0fcb5308121d36c032264eac227d8ef&oe=56C4D615)

MM is a make the beast with two backsing dick!

Let me quantify my last statement. MM spent the whole race behind Jorghey, not one attack. Dani had the pace at the end to at least try to a move. MM fought back and bad them both lose time. make the beast with two backs you MM!

Notice that this would not make a difference in the championship. Jorghey would have fought tooth and nail for 2nd, but Dani had a chance to win and his "teammate" ruined it.

And poor Perturbed Joseph. He destroyed his bike, but I sure love to watch his race!

So my personal dream championship would have Dani finally winning, Iannone a close 2nd and whomever else is on the other Ducati in third.

,,,and once again the motogp feed freezes.

make the beast with two backs you Carmelo.

$#@!$#@  [bang] [bang] [bang]

But yes... I'm kinda shocked the MM didnt make a single move on JLo the whole race... like not even a nibble.  But the second that Dani got close he attacked like a pit bull.

Not one front tire was shown to JLo  [thumbsdown]

Soooo maybe rossi was right about mm

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2015/11/08/rossi-it-was-unbelievable/189602 (http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2015/11/08/rossi-it-was-unbelievable/189602)
He still believes so.

Ive read hundreds of comments on motogp social media pages...I saw 2 supporting lorenzo. This is one of those asterisk seasons imo.

Dorna and the FIM still have a PR nightmare to contain.

I'm still breaking their balls over the feed freezing. ;D

It won't make any difference, but it's fun.

Finally, I can catch up on some 'murder she wrote' tapes now.

Great ride by JLo. I was worried that he'd play it conservative, but he didn't. He went out and set a brutal pace. Good on him! He deserves the championship as much as VR if he would have won.

Nice ride by Dani too. I think he had a win in him, but...

Couple things obvious to me:

1. Very nice ride by VR, but he didn't have the pace of the top 3. When he finally got into 4th the gap to Dani in 3rd was about 11 seconds. By race end the gap was over 15 seconds, despite VR having perfectly clear track. 4th was all he was going to get today most likely, regardless of start position. Not really a surprise honestly.

2. MM was blocking for JLo at the end. He had the pace to pass when JLo dropped into the 32s. Dani had pace to pass them too, and MM made it clear he wasn't going to let that happen without a massive fight. I think Dani just thought screw it...end of the season and a podium is better than a crash. Wouldn't change anything anyway.

3. Rossi is a sore loser. Regardless of #2...just shut up. You started this whole shit storm by being a sore loser at PI.

I still don't buy VR's conspiracy theory about PI. I think MM was just racing in PI. All bets were off after VR's accusations though, and then his actions during the race in Sepang sealed it. MM wasn't going to do anything to help VR, like pass JLo this race or let Dani do it easily.  It doesn't matter what we think...MM thinks VR hit his brake and caused the crash in Sepang. Right or wrong, that's his perspective and that's what matters. I don't think JLo was an active participant, rather an affected bystander.

Sad way to get through the last 2 races of what was a great season IMO.

Next season should be great though...can't wait to see how the Michelins work and affect the bikes/riders! Go Dani!!

There was a quick Italian rumor about Rossi going to WSBK. MotoGP would lose a lot of viewers and attendees. I think Rossi has 1 more year with yamaha, wonder if he could take their wsbk ride under that contract? With hayden and rossi in wsbk I certainly would prefer that over motogp after the joke ending to this season.

Again we're on the same page except for one thing. I believe Rossi realized that he was never going to catch the top 3 and decided to settle for 4th. If he would have been anywhere close to the front, he might have fought for 3rd. I agree with everything else.

Dorna and FIM would love that.

They own both series, and that scenario would calm the storm. Ain't gonna happen.

Rossi may be a sore loser, but he's not going to let this go. Next year will indeed be interesting, and if I was Marc I'd be watching my back.

Rossi will never go to WSBK. He'll never follow Biaggi's lead. He will make a ton of money at Yamaha and retire, but will make it a mission to make both Jorghey and MM's lifes a living hell.

He's worth around $120mil as of now.

...at least Marc's.

I doubt Jorghey will escape his wrath.

Next year will defiantly be interesting because it's going to be an all out war with no friends/teammates/secret pacts or agendas. Every man for himself including Dani P, it's gonna be one huge royal rumble and if the Ducati's step up thats even more action.

I'm sure he's pissed at You'reghey but if it were me I'd be pissed more about what he said in the post race press conference. You should watch it because it illustrates perfectly how he believes that the championship was his from the beginning of the year because he led more laps, was faster in parctice, and the races he lost were just bad luck.

The races he lost were because he's not the best racer IMO. He's just the fastest rider. That doesn't always translate to points.

It would have been interesting to see how he would have reacted to Dani and Marc going by, if Marc would have let that happen. I don't think he had anything for them.

I think there'll be lots off off track excursions. ;D

Walls in yamaha and honda garages.

All racers think the races they lost were due to outside factors!  ;D

I stopped watching F1 because the drivers are douchebags IMO.

After this season I may have to switch to speedway. ;)

I may take back what I said before about Rossi planning this whole debacle.

I'm seriously beginning to think Rossi's lost his mind.

Maybe...

but answer this.

When was the last time you saw Marquez within a couple of tenths of another rider and not make a passing attempt?

You mean like he did in PI?  ;)

VR has lost it IMO. His comments about JLo not earning the championship on the track are as low as it gets.

MM has been make the beast with two backsing with Rossi since Sepang, but this is all Rossi's doing. Go back to our reactions after PI. We here never even mentioned MM doing anything but race. It wasn't until Rossi's press conference that anyone even mentioned this conspiracy that all of a sudden a bunch of fanboys jumped on. Don'the get me wrong, MM make the beast with two backsed with Rossi in Sepang and made sure that Jorghey won Valencia, but it was all Rossi's fault for the comments and then the pushing him off.

When was the last time that the entire field got told by Ezpeleta and Ippolito to not make the beast with two backs with the championship by riding stupid?

What happened today?

Rossi hasn't lost it anymore than Lorenzo has based on his comments in the press conference.

Huge egos wrapped in leather don't make for best friends.
When the sanctioning body and the promoters call the shots it just make the beast with two backsing tv...not racing. More like NASCAR.

So why didn't Marquez say that he would have tried a pass, but he was afraid of repercussions by Dorna and FIM if it messed with George rather than say he was at his maximum?

He clearly wasn't. If he was he wouldn't have been able to re-pass Dani with ease when Dani was riding close to a half second a lap faster.

No question that MM was blocking for Jorghey. Again, Rossi should have STFU in Sepang. It simply blew up in his face.

This ^

Exactly

Anyone else notice how quickly Petrucci got out of Rossi's way?

They're homeboys, but that doesn't count as 'aaa helping'  :D

Yeah, I saw that.  Favorable view would be that he looked back and that was right when Rossi made his move, so just a moment of carelessness that allowed Rossi by.  Less favorable is that it was italians stick up for italians.  I think probably the latter.

That was a long look. He let him pass, but whatever.

Yeah, I'm w/e about the Petrucchi pass because it would have happened eventually anyway and Rossi still would have wound up in 4th.

I wonder how MM rep is going to recover from this... there will just be too many questions asked. If he tried at least once or twice and then was rebuffed I would have thought he was trying. But to sit on Jlo's tail the whole race and never show ever a single wheel... that's pretty hard not to say that he was messing with the championship. Especially with how agrgressive he was with Dani and how quickly he caught back up to JLo.

This season went from incredible to a huge asterisk season.

And I agree with DP... MM's going to get messed with every chance Rossi can next season. Hell, if he has the pace I could see Rossi staying in for another contract just to mess with MM.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/08/nakamoto-this-is-not-the-atmosphere-we-wanted/189712 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/08/nakamoto-this-is-not-the-atmosphere-we-wanted/189712)

It will work both ways. Plenty of payback to go around.

MM has as much prerogative to make the beast with two backs up VR by helping J Lo as VR has entitlement to demand help from him or anyone else to beat J Lo. All pretty ugly really.

It will also be split down national lines, so Spain Vs Italy. Riders will be shit scared of helping their mate if he's from the other country at risk of incurring the wrath of their countrymen.

Should be a good, if not spiteful season next year.

I can't believe I have to pull for Dani Pedrosa now. THAT'S how disappointing this situation is. MM and JLo are scum. Rossi should've kept his mouth shut, and whether or not he was right on, or he made it the truth by his comments, we see where it got him. I hope he destroys JLo next year like he did Biaggi and Gibbers.

From now on, one prayer a night will be towards God Karma.

Would HRC not like the atmosphere so much as to not re-sign Marquez?  No.  Bunch of cry babies.  Throw Honda on the bone pile as well.  

Never really gave a rats arse about the manufacturers - just wanted great racing, no matter the make - but Honda pissing and moaning every chance they get after not winning the manufacturers championship this year has been stupefying.  How many titles do they have already; a bazillion?  

Idiots.

The sport would greatly benefit from NO pre or post race interviews.  With anybody.  Except maybe the Bridgestone guy.  Oh, wait…

MM is an asshole. Someone from Honda should have a long conversation with him for what he did to Dani.  His own teammate.  :(

I see the pass block on Dani as fair... that is the sort of aggressive riding that we've come to expect from MM and protecting your position is your right as a rider. How shady MM was with Jlo is what annoys me.

And Jlo's comments about the help he got from his fellow spanish riders also annoys the hell outta me. Basically recognizing that he got the position handed to him.

I thought Livio said the goal in Valencia was to have a Honda 1...2 finish.

They had that chance.

Just sayin' kids.

Mm got marching orders from hrc they're bent from losing the manufacturer title, positively furious at the thought of vr making an even 10 and that sits just fine with mm's thoughts on be so he drinks the koolaid and continues to worship at the altar of hrc

That was a decision that probably came with a caveat that vr could not be in position to keep the championship if pedrobot and mm moved to the front

 [laugh]

to add further fuel to the already month long bonfire what was with MM and the shades  8)? He was hiding his eyes from being read much like stoners who wear habit hiders. Just an observation

Gil...

are you saying Marc is a lying sack of shit?

well  [roll]

Lol I just read the hrc response and vr interview, I think they're becoming wary of the monster they've been poking with a stick ever since they lost the manufacturer title this year

Wow, you guys are going crazy with theories! I don't think it was anything more that MM doing what he could to not help VR. I don't think he gives a crap about JLo or anyone else.

Rossi tried a game with the press for whatever reason, and he miscalculated MM's reaction...severely.

Hard to say next year. VR may want to mess with MM, but he has to catch him first. We'll have to see what kind of bike Yamaha and HRC put under them.

I've lost a bit of respect for both of them. Like I said...go Dani!

Must point out a couple things.

Some of you folks need to take off the tinfoil hats, or at least loosen 'em up a little.  [laugh]

All the riders had just received a plainly worded lecture from Ezpeleta and Ippolito.
If you haven't read the transcript, you should.
Bad behavior would not be tolerated.

Also, there was obviously (to me, anyway) words that did not appear on the transcript, as all riders were unwilling to discuss Sepang Shenanigans immediately after the lecture.
I suspect that the off the record warning was more or less "If you make the beast with two backs this up, your nutsack will be on a stick."

Granted, MM's *usual* MO is to attack at the first opportunity.
In light of:
A) The lecture
B) His occasional flashes of logical thinking during a race
C) The scenario of MM putting a hard pass on JLo that ends up with JLo on the floor, and the WC handed to Rossi on a solid gold platter, *in* *Spain*, is so obviously a collossally bad plan.
I don't find it at all odd that MM didn't hammer on him nonstop.

The Hondas suffered more than the Yamahas as the temperature increased, JLo qualified ~0.5 seconds ahead of #2 qualifier MM.
Sunday was hotter than Saturday.

If this race had played out exactly like this, in the middle of the season, there would be no talk of MM and Pedro aiding JLo.
"They just didn't have the pace".

Enlightening reading:
https://motomatters.com/analysis/2015/11/09/2015_valencia_sunday_motogp_round_up_how.html

No one is saying Pedro helped JLo. Hell, he was faster than both MM and JLo from lap 21 until he attempted the pass on MM.

There's also a big difference between MM helping JLo, and him doing what he could to not help VR. I've never implies or believe that MM wants to help JLo.

As usual...good article by Emmett. Like he said, we'll never know for sure.

You got a link to that transcript?

I don't find it odd that he didn't hammer on him all race long. I do find it odd that he never showed him a wheel lecture or not.

Italians helping Italians, Spaniards helping Spaniards, HECK, who would have thought that possible???

Jorge rode a cracker of a race to deny Rossi the dream narrative. And so it goes...

Racing is full of heartbreak!

Those who worship at the altar of Rossi may forever claim that Rossi was denied the championship.

I reckon Jorge deserved it.

No altar at my house.

David Emmett does bring up the point, it seems to me, that is totally obvious; can Rossi remain in the sport?  (I'm a Rossi fan, BTW)

The histrionics between VR and MM, VR and J'Lo, VR and Carmelo Ezpeleta of DORNA, VR and the FIM have wrecked what was one of the best MotoGP seasons in recent memory.  But all of those same people will be around next season so can we then expect more of the same inane NASCAR-style *drama* ?  

Rossi is not bigger than the sport, and there's a finite limit to old age and treachery.

All of this has helped Rossi in a larger way, though I don't think it was part of any master plan.  I base this on the hunch that JLo was going to win the championship regardless.  Here's what I mean:

- After PI, Rossi was +11 pts over JLo.
- If Rossi doesn't say anything, the whole Sepang incident with MM doesn't happen.  Rossi finishes 4th, not 3rd.  Now +4 going into Valencia, but with no penalty.
- Rossi is not the greatest qualifier so let's say he starts on 2nd row.  He just isn't faster than JLo in perfect, dry, warm weather.  It would need to be JLo 3rd and VR 4th for Rossi to win (by 1 pt), which doesn't seem likely.  Not impossible, but unlikely.
- So JLo wins championship, and no one questions it.

Instead, with the MM controversy, JLo's championship has an asterisk next to it, and a meaningful number of MotoGP fans (even some non-yellow) question the validity of the championship.  Rossi is now the holder of 9.5 championships, vs just 9 without all the hoola.

Here's the issue with that logic, there is no asterisk! There's nothing in the history books that says that Jorghey did not win the championship. Rossi's ego is just as inflated as any of the others. At Ducati, he had a built in excuse, the bike was shit. The first year back at Yamaha he could say that he was getting used to the bike. He has no excuse this year. He was beat by his teammate on the same bike. He doesn't want to admit that he's not the fastest rider in the same garage. He needs to find a scapegoat and that attitude is very unfortunate for the sport. We as fans need Rossi to be his charming self. I prefer he be a disruptive figure, as in winning enough to make life a living hell for the others, rather than watch his self destruct and taking MotoGP with him.

I'm just thinking about how crazy it was in 2015 when Rossi and MM went into the final corner together... in 2016, I'm not sure if both of them will make it out of there.

That said, Dani for WC in 2016. But I still wouldnt mind a Rossi win.

I wasn't suggesting there will literally be an asterisk, only one in the minds of some fans.  But, yeah, I agree with the above comments.



Dani's fan club went from 12 guys in Sabadell to 120,000 worldwide.  Did you know Dani Pedrosa is an anagram for Adored Spain?  It's also an anagram for Roadside Nap, but I have no idea how to interpret that.  In any case, Dani 2016!  [thumbsup]

The only people that think there should be an asterisks are the hardcore VR fans. JLo beat him in almost every category this season, except consistency. It's just part of racing. The fact is, JLo was on a charge starting with race #4, and he only let up a couple times.

VR always has an excuse when he doesn't win. His excuses are often valid, but he doesn't ever just get beat. 2006 - mechanical issues; 2007 - tires; 2010 - injury; 2011 & 2012 - Ducati; 2013 - Yamaha not suited to him anymore; 2014 - Honda a better bike

He didn't have a built in excuse this season. He had finished every race, was having a great season, and the Yamaha was clearly the best bike. So he fabricated one after PI. It then apparently came true for the next 2 races.

SofaRacer tweet:

How unwritten rules work :
Sepang - He shouldn't interfere, it's wrong.
Valencia - He didn't interfere, it's wrong.
(same people)


https://motomatters.com/press_release/2015/11/05/press_release_statement_from_the_permane.html

I think the thing that he did wrong in Valencia is what he didn't do...which was race aggressively like he always does.

I agree no one had Lorenzo's pace in Valencia. There's no question about that, but that never stopped Marquez from trying a sketchy move before.

Ezpeleta's statement was a whole bunch of nothing unless, as you suggest, there was more said in between the lines behind closed doors. I doubt that would stop Marquez anyway, although you're right...if he made Lorenzo crash out he would have had to take sanctuary in Italy.

I agree, Rossi is cracking under the weight of his waning ability to pull off another championship and should have just shut up because he's making himself look weaker, and I doubt he would have won the title regardless...but...

I really can't make all the events of the last several weeks 'add up'. Something stinks.

+ :D

Agreed, all the shit that was coming out of Rossi's mouth sure does stink. He should have known better.

When you've been the hero of the category forever, it's hard to accept that you've passed your peak.

That's why Rossi cracked. As said above, Jorge was simply better over the season. Rossi needed an excuse other than the truth that he simply wasn't fast enough.

If Rossi had won more, none of us would be having this conversation.

I predict a very hungry MM and DP next season. We know of course that HRC will come out swinging. Will Rossi be even close next season? I doubt it.

Well, that was a clear warning. A very thinly veiled threat. No way MM was going to determine the championship with a move gone wrong. He was on his best behaviour.
You can imagine what was said in private.

Secondly, after being falsely accused by Rossi, he would have had motivation to help J Lo.

Rossi triggered all this. He must be kicking himself now.

I just hope all the protagonists in this stop talking about it. Then we can all move on. Unfortunately i expect more histrionics.

Was still a very enjoyable season to watch all up. Some great racing and different winners in different styles. MM was not as dominant as i thought he would be. I thought he could pretty much ride anything and be quickest. Anything except the 2015 honda.

Next year should be a hoot with Suzuki and their new engine and Maverick in season 2.

I don't believe MM was playing safe because of the talking down. I am convinced that he simply wasn't going to do anything to help Rossi. MM can't be faulted for that considering that Rossi is not his teammate and, even worse, has spent the last 3 weeks attacking him.

But, MM not pushing Jlo hard might have let JLo win. So for that alone he must be held responsible for anything and everything wrong this season.  ;D

There is simply no excuse for letting the Douche ever have a chance to extend his unbroken line of douche comments made on the podium.

This thread could have ended with this. ;D

Dennis Noyes:

https://motomatters.com/analysis/2015/11/09/2015_valencia_sunday_motogp_round_up_how.html#comment-71500

We often try and brush away unpleasantness in this sport by just saying "That's racing."

And, at the end of the day (and the dawn of the next) that's about the most conclusive thing we can say.

That is racing in its most bitter, most hateful, least heroic guise.

Pretty much sums it up.

Yep.

My tin foil hat thoughts......(and possible late night alcohol related musings)  [shot]

Rossi's giant ego did not like a race in which he finished 4th being called the race of the Century.
Ego also does not like that this season was quite likely to be held up one of the great seasons and he knew that he was not going to be able to beat Lorenzo for the title after his lack of pace in the last few races by the end of PI and also the return to some form of the Hondas. So to tarnish the PI race, the season and Marquez (who may well eclipse his feats) is a way to make all of this not as good as his races/seasons etc.

All part of his cunning plan to make everyone else to be douches. Everyone took the bait and jumped in head first. Unfortunately for him, he lost his cool and forced MM wide and had a few too many looks back. That made a lot of people start to question what was going on. He still achieved the tarnishing of the season and his team mate.

Lots of us are questioning MM's motivation and actions. Which is what Rossi wanted.....

End of tin foil hat thoughts........

I will reiterate that I really hope next year we go back to the scheduled programming of fantastic racing. There will be moments where we ask what the? There always is, some of it can be always attributed to "Ambition far outweighing talent" style racing incidents.....

This will be the longest off season and not in a good way. Without these jokers having their "parents", aka Dorna and the factories, checking every time someone puts a mic in front of them, we are sure to hear even more bs. I really hope that the magic unibrow comes up with something spectacular. I would rather have someone I actually like to root for next year. Dani or Iannone would suit me just fine.

Superb article, and sums it up perfectly for me.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/race/motogp-race/what-really-happened-in-valencia/ (http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/race/motogp-race/what-really-happened-in-valencia/)

The line about them being assassins is fantastic. Interesting, that in a anonymous poll even the pros were split on what happened in Valencia.

Geez, now I can't use that link I copied.  [laugh]

It wasn't quite perfect. I will never like Jorghey. I don't like his robot style on or off the track. He has all the bad qualities I see in Dani plus the additional douchebag gene that makes him unbearable. He's batshit fast when he hits the front, but has no heart for a good battle. I simply will never respect the guy, not even if he decided to stop and perform mouth-to-mouth on the bird that Demented Joseph took out in PI.

Let it go bro.  :D

I really liked that article because he let the impartial reporter mask drop and flat out say he was a Rossi fan. I really appreciate impartial reporting but sometimes it's just nice to hear them fanboy out.

Not going to happen.

 ;D

http://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/schwantz-rossi-was-in-trouble-even-without-grid-penalty/ (http://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/schwantz-rossi-was-in-trouble-even-without-grid-penalty/)

Love the text message.  ;D