2009 MotoGP Round 12 -Indianapolis (Race Spoilers)

[Cider]

That's a name I haven't heard in a while.  If Herb and Strati were there it would be like old times (I never met them either).

[Triple J]

Even if he didn't let him pass, or actually force him to pass by slowing a tad...it didn't seem like he fought the pass. He would have been content to follow him for a while, learn a bit, then attack later with only a few laps remaining. That seems like what he always does...unless the other rider is just plain faster and is at risk of getting away (Stoner at Laguna last year)...then he'll battle the whole race.

That's just what I thought anyway.  

[tufty]

Does anyone else think Rossi crashed cause he was pushing to keep up with Lorenzo? Trying too hard to strike back right away.

+1, IMO he didn't look comfortable all weekend. When you are actually standing 20' away you pick up way more nuances than the watching TV. Pedrosa and Lorenzo were by far the more smoother and composed. (and quickest on the throttle).

Watching that Duc in real life... wow!! It bucks and kicks like a crazy thing, way more unsettled than any other bike out there. Major kudos to anyone who can ride it well.

Btw, anyone still claiming that FIAT-Yamaha and Tech 3 are running the exact same bikes, you're crazy! They don't even sound the same and the FIAT bikes definitely spin up quicker.

[gm2]

Btw, anyone still claiming that FIAT-Yamaha and Tech 3 are running the exact same bikes, you're crazy! They don't even sound the same and the FIAT bikes definitely spin up quicker.

colin has been openly complaining about being down on power since the engine limits came into effect and they de-tuned his engine

[tufty]

colin has been openly complaining about being down on power since the engine limits came into effect and they de-tuned his engine

Heh, I know. I was standing 10' from him on Friday when he called the engine a nail. Oh and went on call JT's crew chief a "f**king asshole"... fun times. I have video of all, maybe i'll get around to posting.

Seeing the riders in person and watching them on the track paints a whole different picture. I felt bad for JT standing next to Colin having to explain why his crew chief wanted to switch riders and then saying that he'd only had 18 months worth of a chance at GP's. It really isn't fair considering some riders have years of mediocrity and still get contracts.

JT is definitely one of the smoother riders out there though and his race craft is second to none. If I were Dorna, I'd have to think twice about kicking him out and alienating Brit fans again.

[DanTheMan]

I just think he f-uped, got passed, tried to stay with him and crashed. No strategiery about it.

[Jester]

They did a video with Tech-3 on motogp.com a while back.  One of their segments where they explain the motorcycle.  They flat out said the bike runs a different engine and is down on power.  There is no mystery about it.  They put it straight out there as a fact.

[derby]

Even if he didn't let him pass, or actually force him to pass by slowing a tad...it didn't seem like he fought the pass. He would have been content to follow him for a while, learn a bit, then attack later with only a few laps remaining. That seems like what he always does...unless the other rider is just plain faster and is at risk of getting away (Stoner at Laguna last year)...then he'll battle the whole race.

That's just what I thought anyway.  

if you can't gap the field, it doesn't make too much sense to lead from the front*. especially if there's only two riders in the mix.

jorge had already "felt out" his ability to pass, so he was already thinking about whether he had what it took to gap rossi.

dropping back to second to try and  "push" the leader into a mistake/wearing out his tires is a good strategy.

* unless, like in the ama, there are points (a point, really) given for leading the most laps.

[Desmostro]

I just think he f-uped, got passed, tried to stay with him and crashed. No strategiery about it.

+1 a rare f-up moment. Rear wheel was off the ground. He may have found a little dust, but... not like there was gravel out there; maybe a bump. Who knows.

Everyone was complaining about the huge bumps. Still the ol' Brickyard.
Why don't they fix that shiet?
Why do they run the circuit backwards with decreasing radii?

[Jester]

Why do they run the circuit backwards with decreasing radii?

Running it the "right"( F1 ) way has some corners opening up towards the wall and its simply a safety issue on the bikes.

[ZLTFUL]

+1 a rare f-up moment. Rear wheel was off the ground. He may have found a little dust, but... not like there was gravel out there; maybe a bump. Who knows.

I have pictures of the corner he went down in. I will get them edited for size and posted up in the next few days...this definitely wasn't a little dust but more like the sand buildup you see at the edge of your favorite canyon road. There is a definitive color difference where the race line is and where the dirt and dust buildup was.

[gm2]

I have pictures of the corner he went down in. I will get them edited for size and posted up in the next few days...this definitely wasn't a little dust but more like the sand buildup you see at the edge of your favorite canyon road. There is a definitive color difference where the race line is and where the dirt and dust buildup was.

looking at the way he went down i don't doubt that at all

[DanTheMan]

looking at the way he went down i don't doubt that at all

+1 the line looks the same as lorenzo's. The only spot he went off the line was into T1.

[Pakhan]

I know this is highly unlikely but,

Rossi is at 212
Lorenzo is at 187

If Lorenzo gets 1st and Rossi gets 2nd for all 5 remaining races then they both end with 312.  Am I wrong?  Tie? 

[Spidey]

I think that's right.  IIRC, then it comes down to who has the most wins.  In your scenario, Lorenzo would take it.

The big thing is whether Pedrosa can get between them or whether Rossi has a mechanical and/or crash.  Then again, its pretty unlikely that the Yamahas are gonna be split by Pedrosa.  They're either both going to be ahead of him or both behind.