MotoGP - Laguna Seca ***SPOILER***

Now that Bridgstone is the only tire supplier in F1 they seem to have turned their attention and resources to MotoGP and it shows. The Doctor can only do so much (he was the front runner on Michelins). Sad to see Nicky's race spoiled so soon (don't know whose fault it was). Great race from Melandri! Really deserved that.

 

I don't follow MotoGP, but when I flipped on the TV yesterday the channel was showing that behind-the-rider shot with the lean angles.

Oh my god. 70 degree lean angles? Passing and real racing and balls-out running. Why haven't I heard about this stuff before?

Gotta find the schedule, get it on the DVR.

Now, I turn the thread back to the folks who actually know the sport.

 

You should really watch it. It has everything that F1 lacks. Just rename the Ducatis into Ferraris!
(the Yamahas are sponsored by Fiat by the way. How weird is that?)

 

I think he had another race the same day... I suppose that was the reason.

Two different races in the same day, just like in the old times.

 

I am pretty sure I heard that Ducati signed Malendri to ride for them next year along side Stoner.

It looked like Rossi drove a strong race but just could not get on the podium

Here is a pic of Rossi at the top of the corkscrew:
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I heard the British Eurosport commentators talk about a bike movie or documentary. They said that in the movie the riders were interviewed inside a car. Same movie?

 

Hi Tillman, MotoGP has some of the "show" of F1 and is really exciting to watch. In the rain, they coming into the pits and jump on a different bike with rain tires. The bikes are purpose built, so no chance of finding one in a shop to buy. The big teams are Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki. The other teams purchase equipment from other constructors. As far as I know, no rules governing the bike design or parts hanging off of it. I think the limitations are engine size, total weight and the amount of fuel put in. I was told that the tires are special and can not be purchased in stores, they are supplied by Dunlop, Bridgestone and Michelin. This year Ducati has the strongest bike and just pulls away from everyone on the straights.

 

Thanks Dan, here is one more a split second later:
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John Hopkins was run into by Nicky on the first lap. Nicky came straight into him, and frankly shows that Nicky wasn't paying attention. it's interesting to note, that the only other rider on the track running the same lap times as Stoner was Hopper, too bad he was two laps down.

If you were there you could hear the difference in the sound that the Ducks made, versus the balance of the field. It wasn't just the tires, the Ducks clearly had quite a bit more power. The only bikes that were even close were the Suzukis. Too bad that John is moving to Kawasaki next year (Suzuki declined to exercise their right of first refusal his demand for 5M Euros but Kawasaki paid it to him, guess he decided that he'd take the money over a competitive bike).

I'd watch for Ben Spies next year, rumour is that he's going to take Hooper's place if they don't sign Caparossi (Yosh wanted to keep Ben another year, but if Japan wants him,that's what will happen). Ben just signed with out team, so we'll see where that leads.

Art

 

I would be glad to give them to you. I will zip the images tonight when I return home and post a link.

 

where does that leave hopper? he is probably one of THE fastest guys in moto gp but does not have the ride. i would say that if hopper was on honda power, he would leave nikki for dead at each instance and would be seriously in the points race behind stoner...he is that fast.

art, as you point out, there is no package as strong as the duke...they have significantly more motor than anyone.

i cannot figure out how spies could get a ride over hopper w/ exception that spies is the all american "marketing" boy. he is not as naturally fast as hopkins.

pcb

 

Read the post. Hopper left Suzuki because they wouldn't meet his price. Suzuki had the opportunity to sign him, they just had to match Kawaski's offer, and chose not to. Ben will do well.

I think, and it's just my opinion, is that John left Suzuki because of the money, and the feeling that he can't beat the best, so he'd take the money rather than the championship. I know him, used to represent him, and I think that I may have something with that thought, but who knows what is going through his head.

I think that once Michelin and Yamaha get their act together, it will be Rossi again, but given the superiority of the Bridgestones and the HP advantage of Ducati (estimated at 30HP over the competition), no one is going to beat Stoner. When Yamaha catches up, then watch for Rossi again.

Art

 

These pics are not cropped, each is 8 to 10 megs they should fill any desktop

http://www.tonycricelli.com/360/images.zip

 

sad to see the doc not winning..the michelins are not performing on this track..top 3 are all on bridgestone

but i would like to see rossi on ducati same as like schumi driving ferrari

 

Have a look at these images of Rossi at the top of the cork screw:

http://tonycricelli.com/360/images2.zip

They should be over 3000x3000 pixels. So you can crop/zoom to fit your desktop