MotoGP Quatar 2014 < ¡ Spoilers ! >

[duccarlos]

The Yamaha always loses out to the Honda when it comes to late braking and shooting out of the corner. The Yamaha can carry more corner speed. Some of the late braking advantage might also be due to the fact that both Pedrosa and MM are tiny. This discussion leads into Yamaha vs Honda tracks.

[Triple J]

Nice 

Just a thought ----so, looking at VR and MM side-by-side, I was struck by the obvious difference in their physical size (not that we didn't know this beforehand) and, therefore, weight, which was discussed here several years ago.

Rossi will always be at a 'slight' disadvantage to the other three aliens because his bike has to drag along an additional 25-30 pounds while accelerating, and then fight those same pounds while braking.  And, at 35, he's more apt to simply get tired/have less energy towards the end of a race.

So, if he has success this year it will be despite these subtle handicaps and, perhaps, a corollary testament to his skills.

Maybe...it can also be argued that the smaller riders have to work harder to control the bike than larger riders. MM has an extremely physical riding style compared to Rossi.

IMO, Rossi's only disadvantage right now is age. Even that is slight. There is a lot to be said for experience and race craft in moto racing.

[Grampa]

age only in that crashes create mental scars, that and the fact that you don't bounce back wash after was like the young'ns do.

[koko64]

It looks like there's a chance of a larger pool of winners, or at least podium finishers. For all the stuffing around the rules may have just landed right.

I know he reckons things have improved (and discounting the $$), but I wonder if Cal wishes he was on the Yamaha?

[lazylightnin717]

With Gigi in house shaking things up and MotoGP moving to the spec ECU in the future, it seems to me that Ducati is getting a head start on developing the bike around that. Hopefully he is happy enough with that.

I'd take the money, learn to ride different than ol' Jorgey and race. Ducati has to do something this year with the Marlboro deal on the line. If they don't, I can't wait to hear what Cal has to say about it.

[TACstrat]

I don't understand why Crutchlow is trying to change his riding style at the same time Ducati is trying to change the bike. Seems to me, one of the two has to be held constant so the other can be improved effectively. ... but what do I know?

[duccarlos]

Even if they're saying that the bike is going through a complete overhaul, they still have the same engineers so it's not like the Duc will become the Honda in a few months. For him to be competitive, he will need to adapt.

[DRKWNG]

Hoping for a return to "epic battles" again.  Was it the 2006 or 2007 Barcelona race that was just nuts?

Are you thinking of Catalunya, 2009, where Rossi and J-lo were trading spots on the last lap?

[HotIce]

 

[The Don]

That was a long time ago in a land far far away, Lorenzo is far wiser these days

[MadDuck]

Are you thinking of Catalunya, 2009, where Rossi and J-lo were trading spots on the last lap?

Nope.  This one I think.

[ducpainter]

Nope.  This one I think.

can;t find anything shorter than an hour? 

[MadDuck]

can;t find anything shorter than an hour? 

Hey............... it was a good race through & through.......... 

[duccarlos]

I just jumped to the last 5 laps. That was a good race. I miss those days. Imagine Casey having to ride against MM. I think that Casey coming back would motivate Vale to fight even harder, since he really like MM, but doesn't share the same feeling for Stoner.

[HotIce]

can;t find anything shorter than an hour? 

The link I posed covers the topic final 6m ... if you can handle crazy Italian commentators