2021 MotoGP Discussion (Spoilers)

[loudbeard]

So will Aprilia! What a stupid move on their part.

It will be a self-fulfilling prophecy...

[union]

Total speculation but I wonder had Marquez not crashed if he would have gotten close enough to Binder for Binder's 3 second penalty to have made a difference.

Such a strange race haha

He might have but it would have been straight garbage if Binder "lost" the win due to that. I would like to think any rider that benefited from that would have realized the same and would have at least acknowledged it on the podium.

[BMMCBR]

He might have but it would have been straight garbage if Binder "lost" the win due to that. I would like to think any rider that benefited from that would have realized the same and would have at least acknowledged it on the podium.

Definitely. My stomach dropped the second I saw that on the ticker. Thankfully no one was close enough

[loudbeard]

I was actually surprised to see MM93 pit in, he has a history of trying to stay out in mixed conditions. Plus, not too many laps to go; the calculus says he probably wins if he stays out....I guess we know that now that BB pulled it off.

[union]

Maverick Viñales to race with Aprilia in 2022
The Noale factory have confirmed the Spaniard will join Aleix Espargaro in their ranks next season
Aprilia Racing have confirmed that Maverick Viñales will race for them in 2022, as the Spaniard gets set to line up alongside compatriot Aleix Espargaro next season. Viñales has signed an annual contract with an option for renewal.

If Yamaha is smart they will sit him for the rest of the season now. Don't want him bringing info on stuff they are testing over to Aprilia.

Unless Aprilia makes some big steps in the next year or two I think we are in for a Vinales repeat and his decent into a definite 2nd tier rider.

[JettaJayGLS]

I too was rooting for the evil MM93. Kerry threw a foam brick at the TV every time he passed someone. I thought we were set up for an exciting finish BEFORE the rain fell. After it started, all bets were off! Binder's gamble was EPIC.

I'm team Kerry.

He has more or less proved he has no sportsmanship. Maybe it is the cyclist in me speaking. Maybe its the fact that I was a club racer. But sportsmanship is important to me.
He is ruthless. He doesn't apologize. He plays mind games. He does anything he can as long as there are no technical consequences. I can see why some people could look up to this, I just don't.
It wasn't as big of a deal when he was off the front, but now that he is doing it all for mid-pack finishes, it really stands out.

I dunno what is going on with Marc. Is he still recovering? Is the bike REALLY that bad. Is it just nerves? He lost his ability to save it off his elbow, now he crashes like the rest. To me, that is the difference now. To me, that is how he walked away with championships.

I don't understand why he can't do it with the bike he has. Even with his injury, I would think he would still be able to do it on lefts. I think its a mental thing. I thought he was a machine, but maybe not.

[isaac_]

I'm team Kerry.

He has more or less proved he has no sportsmanship. Maybe it is the cyclist in me speaking. Maybe its the fact that I was a club racer. But sportsmanship is important to me.
He is ruthless. He doesn't apologize. He plays mind games. He does anything he can as long as there are no technical consequences. I can see why some people could look up to this, I just don't.
It wasn't as big of a deal when he was off the front, but now that he is doing it all for mid-pack finishes, it really stands out.

I dunno what is going on with Marc. Is he still recovering? Is the bike REALLY that bad. Is it just nerves? He lost his ability to save it off his elbow, now he crashes like the rest. To me, that is the difference now. To me, that is how he walked away with championships.

I don't understand why he can't do it with the bike he has. Even with his injury, I would think he would still be able to do it on lefts. I think its a mental thing. I thought he was a machine, but maybe not.

I thought I read somewhere he went back to 2020 (2019?) settings because he didn't like the direction they took the bike? Possible I'm making things up.

[gixxer72]

I'm team Kerry.

He has more or less proved he has no sportsmanship. Maybe it is the cyclist in me speaking. Maybe its the fact that I was a club racer. But sportsmanship is important to me.
He is ruthless. He doesn't apologize. He plays mind games. He does anything he can as long as there are no technical consequences. I can see why some people could look up to this, I just don't.
It wasn't as big of a deal when he was off the front, but now that he is doing it all for mid-pack finishes, it really stands out.

I dunno what is going on with Marc. Is he still recovering? Is the bike REALLY that bad. Is it just nerves? He lost his ability to save it off his elbow, now he crashes like the rest. To me, that is the difference now. To me, that is how he walked away with championships.

I don't understand why he can't do it with the bike he has. Even with his injury, I would think he would still be able to do it on lefts. I think its a mental thing. I thought he was a machine, but maybe not.

Is it lingering/permanent nerve or muscle damage maybe? He’s had high level surgeons, rehab, training, etc and coming back from a (badly) broken arm seems to be taking forever. Especially for a young, elite athlete.

I was impressed by how quick he was last round, and I like some degree of ruthlessness (but not recklessness). Something about the guy just bugs me a bit.

[JettaJayGLS]

Is it lingering/permanent nerve or muscle damage maybe? He’s had high level surgeons, rehab, training, etc and coming back from a (badly) broken arm seems to be taking forever. Especially for a young, elite athlete.

I was impressed by how quick he was last round, and I like some degree of ruthlessness (but not recklessness). Something about the guy just bugs me a bit.

Could definitely be a lingering injury or that he's not fully fit. I feel like announcers/journalists go back and forth between he is fully fit and isn't. No one really knows but Marc and his Doctors. Something about Marc has always bugged me a bit, too. I'll never deny his talent and outright speed. I just am not the biggest MM fan.

Oh, and there was one slow-mo of Fabio from this past weekend that was astonishing. Steering with the rear to not exceed track limits at full goddamn lean. I'll try to find it.
I know these guys steer with the rear all the time, but this just seemed different and so flippin' precise.

[MUZ720]

Could definitely be a lingering injury or that he's not fully fit. I feel like announcers/journalists go back and forth between he is fully fit and isn't. No one really knows but Marc and his Doctors. Something about Marc has always bugged me a bit, too. I'll never deny his talent and outright speed. I just am not the biggest MM fan.

Oh, and there was one slow-mo of Fabio from this past weekend that was astonishing. Steering with the rear to not exceed track limits at full goddamn lean. I'll try to find it.
I know these guys steer with the rear all the time, but this just seemed different and so flippin' precise.

If he's doing this before races he's not 100% https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/for...BingNewsSearch plus the bike is a big Question mark?

[jimmycapp]

Yamaha and Maverick Vinales officially agree to terminate their MotoGP partnership with immediate effect.

Maverick Vinales will not see out the remainder of 2021 with Yamaha after he and the Japanese manufacturer agreed to end their partnership early.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/98...mediate-effect

[MUZ720]

Yamaha and Maverick Vinales officially agree to terminate their MotoGP partnership with immediate effect.

Maverick Vinales will not see out the remainder of 2021 with Yamaha after he and the Japanese manufacturer agreed to end their partnership early.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/98...mediate-effect

He tossed a plum ride? For what? Not on the inside of this so we can only guess? From the outside he comes across as a head case! Talent in spades. Fast when the stars align but jeees louse's crazy crap when they don't! Good luck with Aprilia.

[oVTo]

Crutchlow is riding the other Yamaha at Silverstone.

[gixxer72]

Crutchlow is riding the other Yamaha at Silverstone.

Bummer.

[union]

Crutchlow is riding the other Yamaha at Silverstone.

Well for a few laps at least.

[JettaJayGLS]

I'm a big Aleix fan....but does he really make enough money in motoGP to live his lifestyle with private jets (or he's just very fiscally irresponsible?). Is there family money? With 2 brothers in MotoGP, I assume he comes from some sort of tycoon family?
What about the Marquez family?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CS9Xt7HN..._web_copy_link

[Paul_E_D]

I'm a big Aleix fan....but does he really make enough money in motoGP to live his lifestyle with private jets (or he's just very fiscally irresponsible?). Is there family money? With 2 brothers in MotoGP, I assume he comes from some sort of tycoon family?
What about the Marquez family?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CS9Xt7HN..._web_copy_link

I don't know, I mean, he can definitely write it off.

[JettaJayGLS]

The more I think of it, I guess it isn't that far fetched....COVID times, wanting to bring family, a reasonable assumption that Aprilia would at least fly him business class, etc.

But assuming this chart is right, just seems a little strange. Especially when his endorsements aren't all that impressive.

https://www.sportekz.com/motogp/riders-salaries/

[jimmycapp]

Could be Aprilia reducing risk of him testing positive and having to miss a race or two.

[Paul_E_D]

He makes less than Bradley Smith??? :headscratch:

[JettaJayGLS]

Here is another...numbers are all over the place. Makes sense, not sure why anything would be disclosed.

https://deshibiker.com/article/motogp-riders-salaries/

[gixxer72]

When will Maverick start racing an Aprilia, next round? New engine coming for them next month...

And Dovi, does he strike a deal and start racing the Yamaha this season? Interesting times.

[union]

When will Maverick start racing an Aprilia, next round? New engine coming for them next month...

And Dovi, does he strike a deal and start racing the Yamaha this season? Interesting times.

The testing is about to start.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/...aprilia/387377

Wonder if he will feel like he made a mistake after riding that bike. I'm starting to think hes a guy that can ride a bike but can't help it develop along. The Suzuki was ok when he left but it was ok when he started. The Yamaha just went kind of sideways with him. Franco showed that last year riding the old bike. No team he has left has really been better off due to him. Then you have guys like Lorenzo where he has seemed to be great at bringing a bike to the top that many people could ride. Yamaha was already good when he started but it continued to be good. Ducati made some nice improvements. He really only had that one nightmare year at Honda which seems to happen to everyone except Marc.

[Paul_E_D]

The testing is about to start.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/...aprilia/387377

Wonder if he will feel like he made a mistake after riding that bike. I'm starting to think hes a guy that can ride a bike but can't help it develop along. The Suzuki was ok when he left but it was ok when he started. The Yamaha just went kind of sideways with him. Franco showed that last year riding the old bike. No team he has left has really been better off due to him. Then you have guys like Lorenzo where he has seemed to be great at bringing a bike to the top that many people could ride. Yamaha was already good when he started but it continued to be good. Ducati made some nice improvements. He really only had that one nightmare year at Honda which seems to happen to everyone except Marc.

I agree. The Aprilia/Mav relationship will not improve the Aprilia or Maverick's career. But I will be watching and would love it if we were surprised.

[JettaJayGLS]

I was just listening to the press conference for Silverstone....Sounds like Dovizioso to Yamaha for rest of season?! For real?