MotoGP Discussion (SPOILERS!)

[loudbeard]

Liberty Media has acquired MotoGP with Dorna holding onto 14% of the share and Carmelo remains as CEO.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/68707565

[union]

Liberty Media has acquired MotoGP with Dorna holding onto 14% of the share and Carmelo remains as CEO.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/68707565

Saw this. First thing I thought was this cant be good. They pretty much ruined F1 for me. If they follow the same format with the bikes this will be the end of the prototype era. THe thing I loved about F1 was the differences in the cars. Now they have the rules locked down so much all the teams end up with almost the same design. I really hope they don't do this with the bikes.

[JettaJayGLS]

Prediction (before any one turns a practice lap): Marc is going to win Sunday.

[marshdrummer]

Prediction (before any one turns a practice lap): Marc is going to win Sunday.

I agree...

Marquez
Binder
Bagnia
ACOSTA!!!! (not really, but would be cool)

[MUZ720]

Sprint

Martin
Marquez (Mark)
Bagina

Race

Bagnia
Martin
Marquez (mark)

Unless they all crash then
Rins (cause that's what he does.)
Acosta
Quartararo

[jeantarrou]

Not sure if it's been mentioned already but Max (old HBO Max) has the UK TNT broadcast live. The stream isn't super clean, buffers a bit depending on which device I'm using...

[union]

I predicting Marc will have some odd technical issue.

[FriskyDingo]

Think that's the same feed TruTV broadcasts, looks like they have the sprint Sat 2:30, are NOT showing live sunday , replays of both sprint & race Monday evening at 6pm...

[Kenn157]

I want PAco for everything!

[gixxer72]

Awesome to see Maverick dominating. Great sprint for MM and Martin, FBag struggling this round, Honda absolutely choking….interesting early season so far.

[MUZ720]

I Like Mavrick, He is blazing fast when he is happy. But he fails to deal with issues very well and doesn't like getting pushed around at the start, but out front he's tough to beat.
Starting from pole will be key if he gets a clean one and has a clear track ahead of him the rest of the field will be fighting for second. If he gets caught mid pack, he will struggle.

[gixxer72]

I Like Mavrick, He is blazing fast when he is happy. But he fails to deal with issues very well and doesn't like getting pushed around at the start, but out front he's tough to beat.
Starting from pole will be key if he gets a clean one and has a clear track ahead of him the rest of the field will be fighting for second. If he gets caught mid pack, he will struggle.

Oops…not much struggle!! You never know what you’re going to get with vinales (I did not disagree with your prediction yesterday)

That was one hell of a race!!! The series needs more of that, hopefully we get it.

[union]

Big bikes was the best race this weekend by far. Bummed for Marc crashing out of the lead. Wonder how much the aero loss on the first lap contributed to it. Acosta looked fucking awesome. What a stud for 3 races with the big boys. Happy for MV. Figured after he had a bad start he would have just faded as he has done in the past. I really hope this year keeps delivering.

[Paul_E_D]

Best race at cota that I can remember. Was awesome to be there. Maverick was so genuinely elated on his podiums. You could feel it.

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[MUZ720]

Mavrick surprise me normally he fads with a start like that, great ride by him. He was 9th or 10th at one point, if he stays happy the rest of the field could be in trouble going forward. And the Kid will win soon!

[loudbeard]

Awesome ride by Mav. When he got bumped back to 11th I thought he would quit on it. It would be awesome to see him break through his previous ceiling.

Pedro is very reminiscent of Zarco on the Tech 3 Yamaha….but better. Definitely not going to be long before he gets his first win.

All in, one of the best big bike races I’ve seen in a long time.

[Rada]

The Big Bike Race was epic. Paco is unreal. The tight racing up front was wild. I was holding my breath most of the race.

[OreoGaborio]

I think Honda hitting rock bottom was easily the most shocking thing for this round, much more-so than Mav's dominance. We all know the Honda's been approaching "turd" status for a while now, but wowww.... Seeing riders the caliber of Zarco, Mir, Marini, and yes, even Nakagami at the VERY BACK OF THE GRID had to have absolutely GUTTED the people and fans of HRC. Talk about a nut punch, holy shit.

But yeah, Mav was incredible. And good for him. Yes, he was a huge Diva at Yama, leading to his premature departure. He lost his composure and acted unprofessionally but we have only a little insight on what was going on between he and Yamaha near the end... only whispers, and they weren't pretty... so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, the past is the past and that's behind us. At Aprilia, he's transformed into the rider he always had the potential to be, the potential that we saw in his early days at Yamaha. And I'm happy to see that he's finding his stride and adding to the growing list of riders that can win on any given weekend.

PAco... holy shit! I know it's only three races into the season and still probably too early to say this, but I'm really glad he's living up to the hype. I look back to his Moto3 days, like when he won that race starting from Pit Lane & everyone gushing over him, of course I thought it was incredible, but I also had my doubts... but he's continued strong and I'm glad he's shaking up the old guard in the GP class. He's certainly making things interesting, isn't he? And he seems like such a likable guy, too.

Anyone see the awards ceremony two years back when he walked out on stage to accept his award as a very clearly drunk 17 year old, and get discretely ushered offstage by the KTM boss (?) before any chance at an acceptance speech?

[jim v]

Obvs a great win for Vinales. He's shown similar ability in the past, he won his first race on a Yamaha and we thought he might challenge MM but it all eventually fell apart. Can he stay focused and committed to winning this time? If so he can be a championship contender. We'll see

[JettaJayGLS]

What an absolutely amazing weekend for Maverick. I'm really happy for him and Aprilia.
I think some credit needs to go to Aprilia too. Aleix had good results even though he openly admits that COTA is not a good track for him.

Mavericks pace was so blistering vs everyone else that I think it could easily make-up for any of his other shortcomings. I hope I'm wrong and he turned a corner and can continue reproducing results, but this isn't the first time Maverick has shown a weekend of brilliance followed by lackluster performances.

But we can't forget that COTA is not a good gauge for the rest of the circuits. I mean, a Honda won last year. Yes, Bagnaia crashed out but he beat every other Ducati straight up.

[Paul_E_D]

What an absolutely amazing weekend for Maverick. I'm really happy for him and Aprilia.
I think some credit needs to go to Aprilia too. Aleix had good results even though he openly admits that COTA is not a good track for him.

Mavericks pace was so blistering vs everyone else that I think it could easily make-up for any of his other shortcomings. I hope I'm wrong and he turned a corner and can continue reproducing results, but this isn't the first time Maverick has shown a weekend of brilliance followed by lackluster performances.

But we can't forget that COTA is not a good gauge for the rest of the circuits. I mean, a Honda won last year. Yes, Bagnaia crashed out but he beat every other Ducati straight up.

I will say having ridden cota yesterday that it is a peculiar track. The esses are super physical and the bike needs to turn, the tight corners are super stop and go requiring a more stable bike that can turn while bottoming, and the double apexers are awkward and tough to get right. Hp is everything though and I can see why the field normally gets split up . This year was the first close battle we have seen.

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[JettaJayGLS]

I will say having ridden cota yesterday that it is a peculiar track. The esses are super physical and the bike needs to turn, the tight corners are super stop and go requiring a more stable bike that can turn while bottoming, and the double apexers are awkward and tough to get right. Hp is everything though and I can see why the field normally gets split up . This year was the first close battle we have seen.

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I'm pretty sure I noticed bikes bottoming on the brakes, releasing, then re-braking and making the corner.
What that said to me was that it was the planned, fastest way around the track. Don't stiffen the front to prevent bottoming in 1 or 2 corners, just let it happen and figure out how to ride around it.
Not a mistake or miscalculation.

Crazy track indeed. Was a bummer to not have Simon Crafar there commentating.

[OreoGaborio]

Was a bummer to not have Simon Crafar there commentating.

Yeah I noticed that. Just googled it and apparently he just said "Travel Difficulties"?

[loudbeard]

Yeah I noticed that. Just googled it and apparently he just said "Travel Difficulties"?

Yes. It’s temporary work visa stuff. Dorna employs its commentators as contractors, so does not support them in obtaining visas apparently. A ball or two was dropped here.