MotoGP Discussion (SPOILERS!)

[Paul_E_D]

Also great points, I'd guess its a mix of both. I think the problem now is that the commentary and podcasts make it seem like they're not listening to Pecco and go back closer to GP24, but they also may have already gone as far back as the rules let them go.

I guess I wouldn't mind if the bike gets a little worse and the playing field gets even.

Podcasters and press are notoriously band wagonny. One person says something and it becomes gospel. What is sure is that they really don't have a clue what's going on inside the team. For me, it's something you can see in their body language, and in the words they say. Pecco's reign occurred when Marc was absent. It's over. He's cooked.

Alex, he's just in a good spot. I don't think he will be AS strong over the long haul. The cracks are starting to show.

[FriskyDingo]

Prinicipals...
Marc Marquez rejects Elon Musk’s multimillion dollar MotoGP sponsorship
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/oth...3949a11e&ei=18

MotoGP legend Marc Marquez has reportedly rejected a huge sponsorship deal from Elon Musk-owned Tesla Motors. The electric car brand is one of the leading manufacturers of EVs, and they wanted to make the world zero carbon. Marc Marquez is the biggest star in MotoGP, and sponsoring him would help Tesla reach a wider audience.

But MotoGP is the pinnacle of bike racing, which uses fossil fuels. Marc has also expressed his concerns about the long-term environmental sustainability of electric vehicles. The Spanish rider has concerns about the disposal of harmful battery waste from EVs. So, endorsing Tesla on his shirt will contradict his personal values, which he believes are actually true. Marc Marquez has a habit of speaking from the heart, just like F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

He always stays committed to his words, and in Tesla’s case, he is a bit more confused. Marquez is said to have stated that “I race to inspire, not to confuse. If I wear your logo (Tesla), I’m endorsing a narrative I’m not fully convinced by.” Marquez is on his way to reach glory to clinch his seventh MotoGP world title this year. He leads the championship battle against his brother, Alex Marquez and teammate Francesco Bagnaia. Rejecting Tesla’s multimillion-dollar deal is not new for Marquez, as he always states that he doesn't race for money.

He prioritises principles over money, and one of the great examples is his rejection of the multi-million dollar contract from Monster Energy after moving into the Ducati Factory Team. The American energy drink manufacturer's direct rival is Red Bull, which sponsored Marquez since his junior days. After switching to the Ducati racing team, he had to leave his sponsor, because Monster Energy is the official energy drink sponsor for the Italian racing team.

Out of respect to Red Bull, he refused to keep the Monster Energy logo on his Ducati shirt, even though he accepted the logo to be kept on his Ducati GP25 bike. Many praise Marc Marquez for keeping his stand because we still don't have complete clarity regarding EVs’ future and environmental impacts. And MotoGP bikes are high-speed racing machines that burn fossil fuel at a very high rate. We can understand why Marc Marquez took this stand.

[MUZ720]

I like MM even more now!

[OreoGaborio]

I'd like him more if the refusal was about Elon's ethics or lack thereof and his ties to Fascism, not about the argument that EV's are more harmful than fossil fuels...

Disclaimer: YES! I KNOW THEY'RE HARMFUL! ALL TRANSPORTATION IS HARMFUL!

[MUZ720]

My thought on his reason for not accepting the offer was very PC. He may not like him for other issues as well he just chose to use the EV route.

[JettaJayGLS]

I just appreciate him being a free thinker and not jumping to conclusions for money. Deep down, that view point is probably in line with most of the world, but we all tend to jump on a specific end of the spectrum.

But, also, deep down, I think this is one of Marc's diabolical chess game and he is 7 steps ahead to some grand scheme. This is just his opening.
Also...Ducati is owned by Audi. How the hell is he going to take on a different car mfg. sponsor that is now in the VAG.

[MUZ720]

Weather is iffy tomorrow for the sprit is Jack going to be the hero! Yamaha has upped the game 3 in Q2, Go Blue!! and Zarco cant be ruled out if the weather craps out!

[jim v]

Yamaha really has improved the M1 -

Quartararo's 2024 Brit MGP Friday best time - 1'59.273
his 2025 Brit MGP Friday best time - 1'57.342

almost 2 seconds!

[MUZ720]

A Cracker of a race in Moto2.

[union]

A Cracker of a race in Moto2.

It was but the big race was crazier. Hoping for a good Moto3 race now.

[FriskyDingo]

well that was a crazy entertaining race

That was some wild back & forth mid pack racing......... and a horrible result for Quatararo & Yamaha....

What's the deal with the seeming JUMP from Yamaha & Honda past few weeks? the tracks? conditions? Tires? lack of "confidence" from crashes at Duc? or just finally "found" the recipe to compete with the Ducs?

I know Zarcos rain win was unique, but back on the podium again this week..

[union]

well that was a crazy entertaining race

That was some wild back & forth mid pack racing......... and a horrible result for Quatararo & Yamaha....

What's the deal with the seeming JUMP from Yamaha & Honda past few weeks? the tracks? conditions? Tires? lack of "confidence" from crashes at Duc? or just finally "found" the recipe to compete with the Ducs?

I know Zarcos rain win was unique, but back on the podium again this week..

Honda and Yamaha have unlimited testing I believe.The result sucks for Quatararo but it is probably for the best. I don't know what the deal is this time but I think if he won Yamaha might lose some of the concessions. Has Honda lost some or did the weather play a part?

Ducati seems a bit lost. They have one guy that can really ride the new bike and it is the same guy that made Honda look good for years. Marc is a problem for any manufacturer. His level seems so much above everyone else that he can mask the issues the bike has with his ability. Pecco is pretty much no where and that is his bike. That bike was built for him. We can argue that third in the championship is good but from where he was it is not. It is a bad result for a two time champion on what is supposed to be the best factory bike that was built with him in mind.

I don't know what to think about Honda yet. Zarco is a hot/cold rider and can not be depended on for steady results. Mir and Marini are not factory material. I will argue that the only reason Mir has the 2020 championship is because Marquez was out that year. He has really done nothing since except for DNF a shitton of races. Marini is pretty much there because of his brother. Now I say this knowing that these two are far better riders then most of the people on this planet. Honda needs better riders to move forward. The best thing they could do now is to get Dani back to work on the bike. Aleix is a benefit to them but he can only do so much.

[Rada]

Wild race day.
As a hardcore FQ20 fan I am over the moon and gutted at the same time.. Looks like Yamaha finally got the bike under him... It still seems a bit busy so there might be more???

I agree that MM is not the greatest for developement. The dude can ride a motorsickle better than anyone.

I know the rules are the rules but I'm not real keen on those lads picking up off the ground and getting to start new like nothing happened..
Just seems wrong to me.

Zarco has found some serious confidence in himself and the bike. I like it for the old dude.

Jack "Mehoff" Miller put in another great ride.. Even if he fades late, he makes it interesting in the begining.. He's the closest thing to Colin Edwards level sound bites we have now..


Congrats to Aprilia and Bez for getting it done!!!! Good for them..


Moto 2 was baller.. Might have to watch it again..

[FriskyDingo]

.....I know the rules are the rules but I'm not real keen on those lads picking up off the ground and getting to start new like nothing happened.. Just seems wrong to me. ..

Not sure i've seen that before, very lame, not a fan of that rule at all..

[union]

Wild race day.
As a hardcore FQ20 fan I am over the moon and gutted at the same time.. Looks like Yamaha finally got the bike under him... It still seems a bit busy so there might be more???

I agree that MM is not the greatest for developement. The dude can ride a motorsickle better than anyone.

I know the rules are the rules but I'm not real keen on those lads picking up off the ground and getting to start new like nothing happened..
Just seems wrong to me.

Zarco has found some serious confidence in himself and the bike. I like it for the old dude.

Jack "Mehoff" Miller put in another great ride.. Even if he fades late, he makes it interesting in the begining.. He's the closest thing to Colin Edwards level sound bites we have now..


Congrats to Aprilia and Bez for getting it done!!!! Good for them..


Moto 2 was baller.. Might have to watch it again..

Not sure i've seen that before, very lame, not a fan of that rule at all..

Less then 3 laps completed its a full restart? I thought you had to get your bike back to the garage under its own power in like 5 min to be able to do that. Out of the four that went down I think Marc was the only one to do that. I kind of like it because the starts are so crazy. Maybe it just needs to be changed a bit. Something like I suggested above if that is not already the case and then maybe if you are the cause of the red flag either start at the back or not be able to start at all. The bike swap is a little weird too. I don't want anyone out there with an unsafe machine but I am not so sure you should be able to just move to a new bike either.

I'm pretty sure this is something that has been done in LRRS when I raced as well so it is not unique to MotoGP.

[Rada]

Luca Marini AKA MotoGP Smutty had a bad off in testing for the Suzuka race.. Pretty effed up.

"Suffering from a dislocated left hip, damage to the ligaments in his left knee, fractures in the sternum and left collarbone and a right-sided pneumothorax, Marini was transferred to local hospital and stabilised," Honda said.
"Marini will remain under observation in Japan until he is deemed fit to travel."

That does not sound like a fun time... Yikes

[Paul_E_D]

MOTO2!!!! If you haven't watched it, DO IT. Poor Aaron Canet. No one will give that guy a quarter. I think he may win it all on consistency this year though.

[MUZ720]

Suffering from a dislocated left hip, damage to the ligaments in his left knee, fractures in the sternum and left collarbone and a right-sided pneumothorax, Marini was transferred to local hospital and stabilised," Honda said.
"Marini will remain under observation in Japan until he is deemed fit to travel

Ugh. That sucks.

[MUZ720]

MOTO2!!!!

Differently the best race of the year.

[union]

What a mess at Aprilia. I think if I were a team manager I would probably think hard before signing Martin. He has barely ridden the bike and only at full health. Seems like he just gave up on the team.I'd also be concerned considering what the other former Ducati riders have done. They get on a different bike and they seem average at best. Even Pecco seems average this year on the new bike. Was the 24 Ducati just that good that anyone could ride it to success. It is showing that again with Alex and Frankie. The only person that has got better with the 25 is Marc. As a manager maybe now I'm thinking the reason Martin looked so good last year was because of the bike.

[OreoGaborio]

So I had to look up the latest on Jorge..... Here's the official statement that was released 4 hours ago and i'm still a little confused. He said he decided to exercise his right to release himself because the "decision date" had arrived, but then he talks about extending the decision date as if it were still a possibility.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2025/...-martin/750919

[jim v]

Silly season news/predictions from MotoMatters https://motomatters.com
Was definitely not expecting all this -

....In November last year, the 2026 MotoGP rider market looked pretty clear. There might be a few minor shifts, but much would stay the same as 2025, we thought. Now, everything is up in the air, with seats opening up left right and center. Though I am certain that Toprak Razgatlioglu will be racing for Pramac Yamaha next year, believe there is a very strong chance that Jorge Martin is on a Honda in 2026, while Jack Miller is likely to be racing a Honda in WorldSBK, beyond that, anything is possible....

[MUZ720]

Martin should honor the rest of his contract with Aprilia. Hès getting paid while he recovers and (he could be done for the season). So, Aprilia has gotten nothing out of him except medical bills and crashed bikes. Looks to me like Martins buddy Aleix Eapargaro is helping him move to Honda. He burned his bridge with KTM. Doubt Ducati will take him back if he walks from Aprilia. Doesn't leave many Options for future rides if Honda doesn't workout. Now Aprilia has won a race with Bezzecchi the bike looks to be improving. Hence why I think he's hedging his bet here a little. Man up and stay.

[Paul_E_D]

Martin should honor the rest of his contract with Aprilia. Hès getting paid while he recovers and (he could be done for the season). So, Aprilia has gotten nothing out of him except medical bills and crashed bikes. Looks to me like Martins buddy Aleix Eapargaro is helping him move to Honda. He burned his bridge with KTM. Doubt Ducati will take him back if he walks from Aprilia. Doesn't leave many Options for future rides if Honda doesn't workout. Now Aprilia has won a race with Bezzecchi the bike looks to be improving. Hence why I think he's hedging his bet here a little. Man up and stay.

I agree. I now think he was the problem in the Ducati situation. He has a chip on his shoulder. He better get some results soon or no one will want such a prima Donna

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[Rada]

Martin seems to be carrying a flame thrower where ever he goes... At the rate he is going he would be lucky to get a ride on one of the Harleys...


I really hope Jack can spend another season on the PramaYama... But that is just my bromance..