Bradley Smith has been making lightning starts for a few races now. Just that he’s not on TV as much.
Bradley Smith has been making lightning starts for a few races now. Just that he’s not on TV as much.
I hear you.
21st to 12th (for example) may be numerically superior, but 10th to 2nd is always going to garner more headlines. Mind you, being Horhay Lorentho will always be more news worthy than being Bradley Smith.
That's not to diss Brad, it's just a statement of fact.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
not mention who he is passing. Jorge passed the upper echelon of riders on the planet on upper echelon bikes to go from 10th to 1st in the opening lap.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
The crowds went nuts. The possibility that he would pull off a third win so soon made you feel like you were in with a good chance of witnessing something historic. Actually it was, just not for Lorenzo.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
I have not seen that stat - but can’t doubt it. I can say that whilst watching it live I kept wondering, does it look this way just to my eye, or will the compression of the TV camera lens make it look even tighter? I literally could not believe my eyes as they repeatedly came around in that tight pack as if it were just the first lap.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
They did say it was the closest finish 1-15 in the history of the sport, something like 16 seconds. Qatar 2018 had that distinction at something like 24 seconds. Dorna and Michelin have done a masterful job of manipulating the show
Joined Jun 2016
642 Posts | 244+
Santa Cruz, Cal
Well, I usually feel pretty good after a bourbon or two. And look for an exhilarating discussion concerning Rossi and such. :boxing:
Why, oh why, should Dovisizo yield to Rossi, when Dovi was in front of Rossi virtually the entire race and was fighting for the lead while Rossi was in fourth to sixth. Rossi had JUST passed Dovi, and Dovi went to pass him right back. It is just Rossi's typical double standard. Rossi should have stayed in third like he wanted Dovi to do. Dovi had more right to second than Rossi. Rossi was only ahead of Dovi the first three laps, lap 21 and crossing the line going into lap 25 because he just passed Dovi. Marquez had more to complain about since he was almost knocked off, and he went much further off course than Rossi.
Okay, I have had my say on this issue. I want to hate on Rossi more, but I just can't bring myself to do it. It's an old-guy-to-older-guy thing. :kissing:
(Edit: I forgot about lap 21 when MM was off course and Rossi took the lead for like two turns.) lol
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My rancour has cooled since Argentina, and for similar reasons. He remains second in the championship, a considerable achievement at 39, and I begin to admire again his continuing will to finish as high as possible if he can’t win, although as you, I and even some partisans have said I am not sure why he thinks Dovi is restricted from having the same attitude, and the immediate re-pass has been pretty much a patented career long Rossi move.
As I have said previously, it was really only a minor whine by a disappointed rider who probably deserved to finish higher imo, and did not involve any attempt to demonise Dovi.
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Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
It’s that attitude that Dovi would have been a little smarter to let him have second that irks my .... Like I said, it’s a sense of entitlement that he may not even realize exists because he has had it for so long. Why wouldn’t it have been smarter for him to surrender 2nd when a bike was on his inside and clearly had the advantage.
Since you’re polluting every thread with this nonsense...
Rossi did not say Dovi should have conceded the position to him. That only exists in your Neanderthal noggin. What he said was that Dovi should have been a bit smarter about it, because both of them lost out. Which is true. Dovi still had a lap to take the place back of he wanted (provided he could). And if he tried, Rossi would have been more than happy to race him for it. I highly doubt he could, because Dovi’s tyres were ...... (His own words) and Rossi of all people would have definitely noticed that. You, sitting in your trailer park most definitely doesn’t know any better.
I, as a racing fan had no problems with any of the moves from that race. Every single person delivered and as a Rossi fan, I am grown up enough to accept the fact that it wasn’t his day. That’s a skill your 14 foot frame could use.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Dovi was a bit overzealous in trying to capture P2 by getting in a battle with one of the greatest late brakers at the wrong corner and running wide as a result to let Vinales and Rins through. Had he been a bit more circumspect in where he chose to make the maneuver he would have been on the podium guaranteed, whether it was P2 or P3. Given his run of bad luck, he could have used the podium finish far more than where he ultimately finished. When you're chasing after a guy who has a rather large points lead already, why make his life easier by making maneuvers that only cost rather than benefit? Either way the only one who won out with that whole thing was Marquez who had already checked out on everyone.
You're a 100% right, fella, but it's a clinical hindsight review. (edited to add that all of our post race ramblings fall in to that category, especially mine).
It may well be that he felt it was the only place he could get past or just good old fashioned his blood was up (the latter of which reinforces your points above).
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I am feeling less anti-Rossi at the moment than I have since Sepang 2015, and I think he is mainly expressing sadness that his finishing position was less than his riding in the race deserved but if Dovi should have conceded the corner in this instance why didn’t Rossi concede the corner in Argentina to a rider a second or more a lap faster with many more laps to go than there were at Assen ahead of whom he had absolutely no chance of staying?.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
He didn’t let Vinales and Rins through. Only Vinales got through at turn one, Rins got Dovi the same place he got most of his passes, 4 turns later in number 5.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
You could say that about a number of riders. The riders who finished ahead of Rossi were all right there the entire race and deserved the positions they ended with. Bottom line is , Rossi threw away a podium because he wouldn’t concede to a rider who had him pinned on the outside. Rossi kept releasing the brakes as did Dovi to counter . Dovi lost one spot, Rossi lost 4.
To be fair to Rossi, Dovi has also been complaining so he isn't the only one. I was disappointed to hear Dovi complain about how aggressive the racing was.
For years I've had Virgin at home, which allowed me to watch the UFC and MotoGP (only sports I really follow) but have been wanting to save a little cash and feeling that the MotoGP was becoming a little processional with MM down to win another championship cancelled my Virgin to just get broadband with TalkTalk.
Imagine then my surprise, joy etc at when Lorenzo started winning races and making .... interesting. Virgin went a fortnight ago but then I read about this amazing race and had to check it out on Youtube. And boy did it deliver. What a belter of an encounter. It reminded me of Philip Island back in 2017 which was my go to example of how exciting MotoGP racing could be when trying to fire up some interest in my girlfriend.
Assen 2018 had so many overtakes and moments of genuine crying out 'what the hell' and 'sweet jesus'. Everything from a breathtaking start by Jorge, to a big scary moment (Jorge & Rossi coming together), to panel bashing, to running wide because racers didn't want to concede and a great finish by Marquez.
I can't help but wish that Jorge had finished higher as some kind of recognition for his part in such an awesome race but I'm a big boy and I know things don't work out like that.
His post race grumbling aside, Rossi did well to be in the thick of it and keep everyone honest and I do like the way MM clearly feeds off these kind of scraps. I can't deny that he is one hell of a motivated, talented fighter.
Either way, you can all thank me for sacking off my BT Sport in the belief it would be a pedestrian year to now having to catch up races on Youtube because they are so interesting!
Imagine then my surprise, joy etc at when Lorenzo started winning races and making .... interesting. Virgin went a fortnight ago but then I read about this amazing race and had to check it out on Youtube. And boy did it deliver. What a belter of an encounter. It reminded me of Philip Island back in 2017 which was my go to example of how exciting MotoGP racing could be when trying to fire up some interest in my girlfriend.
Assen 2018 had so many overtakes and moments of genuine crying out 'what the hell' and 'sweet jesus'. Everything from a breathtaking start by Jorge, to a big scary moment (Jorge & Rossi coming together), to panel bashing, to running wide because racers didn't want to concede and a great finish by Marquez.
I can't help but wish that Jorge had finished higher as some kind of recognition for his part in such an awesome race but I'm a big boy and I know things don't work out like that.
His post race grumbling aside, Rossi did well to be in the thick of it and keep everyone honest and I do like the way MM clearly feeds off these kind of scraps. I can't deny that he is one hell of a motivated, talented fighter.
Either way, you can all thank me for sacking off my BT Sport in the belief it would be a pedestrian year to now having to catch up races on Youtube because they are so interesting!
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
You just gave yourself the answer. If Rossi knew Dovi’s tires were ......, he should have known the only place Dovi had the advantage was on that straight. He ...... up and should have backed off and got him again in the same spot he had made 10 passes and not let the only advantage Dovi had left come into play. Dovi knew this and it was his only chance left to make the move.
