MotoGP Rnd 3: Jerez (Yup...thar be spoilers here laddies.)

[ZLTFUL]

Looks like a Yamaha track this... Or maybe Honda...

[Drunken Monkey]

That's the sort of bold prognostication that keeps me coming back here 

[Buckethead]

 

[gm2]

lorenzo in fp1, barely
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/May/130503a.htm

lorenzo in fp2.. then cal
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/May/130403b.htm

[koko64]

Go Crusty Cal!

[ZLTFUL]

Is Badley Smith really that bad? (No...that wasn't a Freudian slip.)

[Jester]

Is Badley Smith really that bad? (No...that wasn't a Freudian slip.)

Smith is garbage and I hope they buy him out of his contract for next year.  Its a waste of a great bike that should have someone capable of getting results. 

This will be Cal's chance to prove he can fight all race and not crash/run off as he always does when the racing is tight.  I'll believe it when I see it.

[gm2]

This will be Cal's chance to prove he can fight all race and not crash/run off as he always does when the racing is tight.  I'll believe it when I see it.

did you watch the first 2 races?

[duccarlos]

did you watch the first 2 races?

I believe that's exactly why he made the comments. He always seems to be tight up there with the lead pack and then he makes a mistake.

[ducpainter]

I believe that's exactly why he made the comments. He always seems to be tight up there with the lead pack and then he makes a mistake.

That can happen when you have to ride past the bikes capabilities.

You guys seem to forget the guy is on last years chassis, and probably electronics, and still at the sharp end.

[gm2]

That can happen when you have to ride past the bikes capabilities.

You guys seem to forget the guy is on last years chassis, and probably electronics, and still at the sharp end.

i was gonna say that   

[gm2]

Is Badley Smith really that bad? (No...that wasn't a Freudian slip.)

http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2013/05/03/2013_jerez_motogp_friday_round_up_yamaha.html

The difference between the bikes was explained in some detail by Bradley Smith, who spent some time explaining to reporters just where he is struggling with the Yamaha. "I'm used to pushing 100% on 125s and Moto2 bikes, to try to squeeze everything out of it," Smith explained. When he tried to do the same on the Yamaha, he said, he just ended up making mistakes and going slower. The trick was to be as smooth as possible in the transitions, and to use the power of the bike to help slow the bike into corners. "Lorenzo is rolling off before me, but he's still getting to the apex faster than I am," Smith said, perplexed. "When I try to do that, it feels like I'm out for a Sunday ride to the shops." Corner entry was where speed was to be gained, by keeping the wheels in line. That is the diametrical opposite of a Moto2 bike, Smith said, where you used the clutch and rear tire to help slow the bike and get it turned. A lack of electronics on a Moto2 machine meant that subtlety was lost on corner entry, but this was precisely what was needed with the Yamaha. "It's like a 250 horsepower 125," Smith explained, where being smooth and keeping the wheels in line was all that counted.
 

[gm2]

fp3 cal
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/May/130504a.htm

QP: george, pedro, marc, cal, rossi, bautista, hayden.  several crashes.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/May/130504qua.htm

[Jester]

did you watch the first 2 races?

Yep.  Race one he got into a battle and ran off track.  There was no late race battling at COTA and he was fine.  Go back to last year and see him crash or run off multiple times when faced with late race battles.  I really don't care what bike he's on, I'm simply pointing out that he's historically mistake prone with faced with hard late race battles.  Whenever he strings off 3-4 races where he battles and doesn't screw up, I'll expect him to podium.  Right now I expect him to crash. 

[Drunken Monkey]

Looks like a Yamaha track this... Or maybe Honda...

Yamaha -> Honda -> Honda -> Yamaha

Looks like you were right