Good to see a (mainly) mature discussion.
The performance of the Suzukis and the improvement of the Yamahas bodes so well for 2019 alongside the already strong Hondas and Ducati.
Yamaha and Suzuki need another step, but, unless the past four races were an illusion, we're getting closer to the parity we saw in 2006.
The performance of the Suzukis and the improvement of the Yamahas bodes so well for 2019 alongside the already strong Hondas and Ducati.
Yamaha and Suzuki need another step, but, unless the past four races were an illusion, we're getting closer to the parity we saw in 2006.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
Again .... you are aware that rossi got no points at Sepang arent you?
Sepang was a lesser result for Yam. than PI ..... why are you believing they went better?
fruitcake! Sure, he didn’t do anything stupid, both riders were really pushing hard, and despite it looking as though MM was the more likely to make a mistake it was Rossi who did. A problem when you are racing a 25 year old MM at age 39, he has ridiculous reflexes and is perhaps as good at saving a bike from a semi-lose, or on occasion a near complete lose, as anyone has ever been.
Again .... you are aware that rossi got no points at Sepang arent you?
Sepang was a lesser result for Yam. than PI ..... why are you believing they went better?
I was going to take issue with you, but you have a point actually, even 2nd (the best position Valentino definitely had the pace to achieve), 4th and 5th would have been inferior to the PI result, a win being a win.
I didn’t see the incident for which MM was penalised, but if he broke a rule he broke a rule, Valentino was penalised for a similar infraction in 2015, but as far as race performance/pace in isolation goes Valentino’s 1.3 second lead might not have been achieved had MM not received the grid penalty.
(EDIT Valentino still showed serious pace and left Dovi and Vinales in his wake though, and while I agree with others it is unlikely he can sustain this level of pace for a whole season, still very impressive at this stage in his career to be able to push MM in his prime as he did, and Synn may be correct that further wins are still in prospect for him, although MM may have a say in that.)
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All true, but I say the win aspects purely as without a Valencia win, this will be his first season in grands prix (excluding the Ducati years) across all classes where he has not had a win.
Something I expect will be motivation enough, never mind beating his younger team mate in the standings, even if it is not the top steps as there is a lot at stake.
While I do expect MM to be the likely, Lorenzo will still be riding hurt and Dovi will need to get out in front quick as it is a single line circuit.
As a wildcard - Ianonne.,
Joined Feb 2018
681 Posts | 535+
Italy
It has to be admitted, Rossi would have deserved this one.
Or he would have at least deserved to lose it to Marc in a proper last-few-laps battle.
But .... happens, and the Yamahas really seem to have found their Mojo
Ducati's performance was ignominious, on a track that was always good for them...
Or he would have at least deserved to lose it to Marc in a proper last-few-laps battle.
But .... happens, and the Yamahas really seem to have found their Mojo
Ducati's performance was ignominious, on a track that was always good for them...
I’m not sure if deserved is the right word. I say that only because I’m sure the pressure Marquez was applying by closing the gap is part of the reason why Rossi crashed.
Joined Mar 2015
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Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Joined Feb 2018
681 Posts | 535+
Italy
I think they haven't been able to adapt their set up to the newest Michelin tires that got introduced after Thailand, which are rumored to be a lot more hard than the previous ones (aka more "bridgestone-oriented").
But whatever's the reason, they sucked
Joined Jun 2016
642 Posts | 244+
Santa Cruz, Cal
Why? He was .8 seconds slower than Marquez in qualifying and the closest he ever got was .5 seconds slower. If MM hadn't had the questionable penalty, I doubt Rossi would ever see anything but MM disappearing into the sunset. He crashed all by himself. No one made him crash. Rossi deserves it because a bunch of cheese heads say he should win? MM deserves it for sure, like most winners. Especially since he had to pass a half dozen people to do it.
The only guy that deserved it was Noriyuki Haga, since he worked so hard and always finished second in the championship. Well, maybe not...... If one loses because of a mechanical failure or getting punted off the track, then they might deserve a win that they actually didn't get. Other than that, saying a loser deserves a win, is just an excuse for them not winning.
Joined Mar 2016
103 Posts | 32+
SoCal
Joined Feb 2018
681 Posts | 535+
Italy
Chill pony.
As it's usually rather understandable from my posts, I openly am a Marquez enthusiast and Rossi is one of the least things I'm into
I have no interest in defending him, just shared a thought.I will explain myself better. I think he would have deserved it because he put down a solid rythm, he was riding smooth and consistent for the whole race and he definitely was on a better set bike than he has been all year. And he led the race for 18 laps.
Was the crash his own fault? Yes. Was MM faster? F yes, he was. But at the moment of Rossi's crash he was behind him. Would MM have beaten Rossi, had Rossi not crashed? Very likely.
But this time VR rode well, and was as close as he's been in '18 to MM.
Maybe "would have deserved it" is a bit too gentle as a statement, but you got my point.
I think they haven't been able to adapt their set up to the newest Michelin tires that got introduced after Thailand, which are rumored to be a lot more hard than the previous ones (aka more "bridgestone-oriented").
But whatever's the reason, they sucked
Hmm. That's probably why Yamaha are stronger...
