MotoGP 2024

Guest paddock passes are electronic this year. Unfortunately, the teams don't have extra parking pass for lot A for me and I would never ask. Happy to get paddock pass. Parking really doesn't matter since I borrow a motorcycle and trams have gotten better at moving people around the track. Looking forward to some great racing and it will be interesting to see the reactions to King of Baggers racing from the europeans.

How long does it take for Liberty Media to cancel the grid girls?

 

I fear we may see the end of this kind of pricing when Liberty assumes ownership.

 

Everything is wanting to be in ur phone as the COTA App......but as I do not lock my iPhone (for a lot of reasons, as a rider), the Wallet feature will not work.

I understand the "wave ur device" Entry mentality, especially during Covid, but the demise of Hard Passes is a sad thing to me.
It was the problem I had at COTA three years ago as when you are in a saturated phone environment, counting on Internet access for anything goes sideways!

On a bike you should be fine.
As I understand it Ducati Island is back and the Ducati Party Friday at Lustre Pearl Rainy Street is a ticket on EventBrite...no walk ins!!

 

I don't have access to a Ducati but usually stop in to see Vito at Ducati Austin. They always end up with some interesting bikes. Stay with friends in Austin or Georgetown. Usually don't go downtown until Sunday night. Probably not go to Hand Built show either. It has been weak.

 

This weekend race at COTA broadcast is Saturday Sprint on TruTV, but Sunday race on TBS.

 

Hope this link works
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/dhtklszcqnno44vkhkboc/ANxuGwRfJiDlAiT4oUwm35I?rlkey=13oap856t5pmy6yy864zx6dn2&dl=0

 

HBO Max is running all the practices, other classes, & both races live. I have practice 1 on now.

Sent from the X-31 Space Modulator using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

Texas.
Yes the Spriny ran on TruTV as scheduled on Sat.
No the Race did not run at the cable TV provider DVR scheduled (at least for me) time and channel.
BUT...
The Race appears to be re-broadcast on Monday, April 15 at 17:00 Pacific time on TruTV.

As for the Sprint, and perhaps this season, it seems we have a close set who are above the rest of the competitors
Including M. Mar on a rabid comeback to win.
Pedro is the surprise.
Mav, Bag, and perhaps a couple more.

The KTM and Appilla, and even GasGas are as capable motorcycles as Ducati.
The Honda and Yamaha I don't understand why those two brands are not up to the technology if the others.
In other words, we have equal and close competition for podiums, all is good for race action spectators I suppose.

So no Texas Sprint spoiler, other than on my broadcast they had Kevin Schwanz interviewed and commenting for a bit.
In USA, April 15 is tax day. Happy tax day everyone

 

My TBS channel DVR schedule for the race was incorrect, too. I'll watch the full race today.

 

GasGas is basically a rebranded KTM, so no surprise it's as good as a KTM... Acosta, being a rookie, is more surprising though. Ducati does not seem as out of reach as during previous years, and Bagnaia may find it difficult to keep his title.

 

The Big Screens at my new place didn't have full Guide capability, .need clock set up!
I told them to hire a teenager!!

I guess if I can get to Brickhouse by 4PM local Tx time!!
They are smashing the coverage into a real Dogs dinner at this point.

I won the Art Car Weekend (not in Austin) and my Tax Consultants wife passed away on Saturday...awkward!

 

Texas... I love this sport.

I thought a great race.

Spoilers:

Jeez, M Mar keeps crashing. I love that the "old man" is still competitive, but he icontinues crashing out.
Pedro, a future champion, I enjoy his bike control.
All the other top 10, great racing.
The track:
I enjoyed watching the rear suspension compression from all the bumps.
The track ripples also made some interesting braking bike movements.
The start lap at turn one was great to view from multiple cameras, because, of the traffic jam and lines/ routes taken.
And Bag, looks like he is having a challenging year, maybe the '24 Duc is not so good (yet), or maybe last year's champagne is affecting his riding LOL.
I recall the broadcasters saying that a difference to F1 is that the machine is not necessarily the winning factor, it is the rider/ driver...I agree, Moto GP is full of action with unpredictable winners.
Mav is on a roll, all his experience is evident this year...go Batman... looking forward to DC comics becoming a sponsor LOL.

And where is Val Rossi this year? Did he sell his interest in VR46 team?
Additionally, I am missing "technology reports" this year.
I would love some insights on the rear suspension "action" I mentioned above and the '24 Duc changes from '23.

Further, am I correct, that Liberty bought MotoGP?
If so, I sure hope they do not get rid of our grid Umbrella Girls.
I mean, even my local amateur track riders utilized UGs... a tradition!

TruTV USA schedule is unpredictable.
The next race, a Sprint and Race, as I recall, is scheduled April 27 and 28, 2024.
But keep an eye out for replays if recording

Have a great week everyone.

 

PSA: Save 20% on MotoGP video pass with code "BACK20" until May 12th

 

HBO Max has all the practices, qualifying, Moto2, Moto3, & MotoGPcoming up.

Sent from the X-31 Space Modulator using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

Jezez.
What a Sprint and Race.
Upsets, action, worth watching both.

No spoiler, so it is difficult to write a post here.

Sprint Rain and wet patches.
I know wet patches and in my case early morning dew on the surface causing an invisible and hazard.
Quat, what a ride, no spoliers.
The race was dry.
I mention the old man M Marq, but I realize old is 31 years old.
Bag, he's still got it, especially his pass during the first lap.
And Val Rossi showed up at the track
The race was full of action for all the main names.

In the race - maybe a spoiler - the track record was broken by one rider, then broken by another in closing laps.
The bike had a lot of movement, suspension, tires, and wheelies so that added an enjoyable aspect to me.
The engine cutting power during wheelies did not seem to be so noticeable in relation to keeping a position.
The 2023 vs 2024 Ducati seem like equal machines, with the '24 perhaps having slightly more power.

Following the race day, testing occurs with all the brands said to be bringing major components to test.

Again, what a Sprint and Race

Next race France - LeMans - May 12, 2024

 

Yep, unpredictable, exciting, element of danger, fantastic racing for many different positions. You know, everything F1 doesn't have. How long until it gets ruined by the new owners???

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Great two races, sprint and main. Loris Capirossi is the Jerez track supervisor? Haven't seen him forever. Nice to see them bring up the old names a lot. They showed Doohan and Criville battling. They compared Marquez to a combination of Rainey and Schwantz, and said that made him dangerous. ha ha.

Joe Roberts did well for USA in Moto2 with P2 podium. Interesting main sponsor he has.

TruTV actually recorded it correctly, though not live in my time zone.

 

France
Well, big negative to TV scheduling.... Comcast/Xfinity in San Francisco Bayarea.
Sprint - recorded proper Sat May 11
Race - did not record Sun May 12
Can't seem to find a schedule change for a re-broadcast.

No spoilers, yet it is good for me to see M Mar "on it" and not crashing
Sprint is worth watching.

 

The race was also interesting - now, can Bagnaia come back and challenge Jorge Martin for the title ? or could a non-Ducati driver (Aprilia or KTM/Gas-Gas) be a serious contender ?
There are still lots of races, and there is certainly competition.

 

Spain - Catalunya (sp)
Sprint and race worth watch.
No spoilers from me

Of note "they" call this a low grip track.
From the racing, ya, seems true.

 

Mugello
(Italy)
Sprint and race were not exciting to me.
The field was not as "tight" as usual.
Still, there was great riding skill, some outstanding passes, great starts, just "ho-hum" races.
Factory Ducati changed colors to blue for the Race from red for the Sprint.

Of note is the championship points shuffled a bit, so # 1 is still up for grabs, after both the Sprint and Race.

No other spoilers

The next race (w/ Sprint) in 3 weeks.
Assen
(Dutch/ North Eastern Netherlands).

Assen is said to be flat and high grip.
I recall that Assen had crowns (rises in the middle) on the surface, making a challenge, so maybe flat refers to no hills and dips.
Sadly, I always think of Mick Doohan's horrific injury there.

PS In Moto 2, I noticed Joe Roberts' main sponsor is Only Fans
Yes, save the Umbrella Girls.

 

Summer break is over.
So Silverstone was on Aug 04 with a Sprint Aug 03 2024.
Both good and worth watching.
Special paint jobs to celebrate 75 years of GP.

In contention, a championship for 4 riders.

Of interest was riding style to save the side grip of the rear tire for side grip use late in the race.
Also of interest was the right leg angling while turning left....never noticed that one before.
Riding these 300 hp bikes is demanding and all body positions and other style tricks are unique....wish I could still "do it".
I especially enjoy the ease of stoppies, with those front brakes just another world from street systems.
Although, besides the front tire choice of compound, those front brake "strength" may be a reason for all the front tire losses of grip...perhaps?

I posted to try to get this thread active again; I am not a Post Whore LOL.

 

I'm enjoying this season very much. And I'm also following Moto3 closely with a fellow Dutchman doing not too bad

 

After the (first) Misano week-end, the championship is again very undecided ...

 

Within a few months, Ducati General Manager Dall'Ignia has allowed Marc Marquez to take over the team strategy.
Refugee from Honda, Marc Marquez' career was rescued when he was offered a Ducati at Gresini, a satelite team.
During 2024, Marquez convinced Dall'Ignia to take him in the factory team for 2024, at the expense of Bastianini, but also to refuse championship leader Jorge Martin access to the well deserved factory bike he was promised for next year (he rides for Pramac, another satelite team). And the boss agreed !!
In disgust Pramac will switch to Yamaha in 2024, after several years with Ducati.
With Ducati dominating, Marc Marquez has managed to eliminate 2 rivals and block a satelite team.
This better pay off for Dall'Ignia next year !!!