Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Going to tip Zarco for his first GP win here.
But I do think some of the M1's will be up near the front now that the race is in April versus November.
We won't find out till the 12th whether MM will make his season debut or not at this race. If he does make his debut at Algarve, I'm predicting a top 5 finish for him. Don't see a win, but a podium may be possible.
But I do think some of the M1's will be up near the front now that the race is in April versus November.
We won't find out till the 12th whether MM will make his season debut or not at this race. If he does make his debut at Algarve, I'm predicting a top 5 finish for him. Don't see a win, but a podium may be possible.
No idea who will be up front.
Bunch of Ducatis and Fabio/Mav?
Then both suzukis chasing them up?
Marc no idea.
Bunch of Ducatis and Fabio/Mav?
Then both suzukis chasing them up?
Marc no idea.
Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
https://www.autosport.com/motogp/ne...ar-to-make-motogp-return-at-portimao/6182275/
Well, well..... look who we got here. This should be mighty interesting.
Welcome back Marc!! :superman2:
Well, well..... look who we got here. This should be mighty interesting.
Welcome back Marc!! :superman2:
Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
If he is anything like fit MM may make it less interesting in fairly short order. It is what it is though, and if he is just that good then no one should bemoan the racing not being close. As well as his health how the Honda bike stands against the others is also uncertain, and how it suits him with him having had no involvement for a whole season, although Pol seems to think the bike is at least potentially fast; it seems unlikely MM will have any tire or bike advantage over the field at least to start with.
It will be interesting to see whether the younger riders really have taken a step in his absence as well.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
All evidence points to Marquez riding in damage limitation mode. Issues of arm pump or loss of strength in the bad arm will doubtless hold him back. It was for me really distressing seeing him baby that arm and only riding the latter part of Q2. Was hoping for a miracle come-back. I’d always admired his talent, but didn’t realize till today, that I was properly speaking a fan.
Overall - there’s great energy amongst the top riders. Feels like there’s going to be old-school Moto 2 style battles for the podium positions. Top 8 competitors seem really evenly matched and as yet, no factory shows signs of dominating.
Current iteration of the M1 seems to agree with Quatararro, which to me seems point to a return to 2019 form. If he stays healthy I think he really could have a shot at the championship.
Overall - there’s great energy amongst the top riders. Feels like there’s going to be old-school Moto 2 style battles for the podium positions. Top 8 competitors seem really evenly matched and as yet, no factory shows signs of dominating.
Current iteration of the M1 seems to agree with Quatararro, which to me seems point to a return to 2019 form. If he stays healthy I think he really could have a shot at the championship.
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Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
I'm happy to see that MM completed qualifying. That was an achievement in itself.
Hopefully, he manages to finish the race tomorrow.
FQ did well with MV wondering 'what the hell', but he aught to ponder what the other riders with laps not deleted did differently from him.
Bagnaia seems to have fallen foul to a yellow flag a bit off to the side while riding is serious anger for the ultimate lap time. Pity that the lap didn't count.
Rossi.... :headhurt:
Hopefully, he manages to finish the race tomorrow.
FQ did well with MV wondering 'what the hell', but he aught to ponder what the other riders with laps not deleted did differently from him.
Bagnaia seems to have fallen foul to a yellow flag a bit off to the side while riding is serious anger for the ultimate lap time. Pity that the lap didn't count.
Rossi.... :headhurt:
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Yet more tire-fuckery to tip the scales toward the bigger factories.
“Both factory KTM riders are unhappy with Michelin’s decision to remove last year’s race-winning front tyre from this weekend’s MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix allocation.
Miguel Oliveira dominated last year’s Portimao race from pole position using one of the two hard front tyres Michelin brought for MotoGP’s first visit to the Algarve International Circuit.
“That is a huge handicap, we cannot still understand the decision to take out from the allocation the S tyre.
“Michelin is a little bit in disagreement, they say it was the riders’ opinion. But the fact is we don’t have this tyre anymore.
"It was a tyre that was working okay with 30 degrees track [temperature].
“We come to a track where we reach easily 30 degrees this time of the year, and also we have this tyre at Qatar where we race at night time [when it’s colder], and we don’t have it [the old hard] here.
“So, it’s a contradiction that we have this allocation.
“But we’re here to compete. Everyone has the same tyres available, for sure the tyres are suiting some bikes more than others.
“So, it’s up to us and find something to so a saving job to be able to ride better.””
“Both factory KTM riders are unhappy with Michelin’s decision to remove last year’s race-winning front tyre from this weekend’s MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix allocation.
Miguel Oliveira dominated last year’s Portimao race from pole position using one of the two hard front tyres Michelin brought for MotoGP’s first visit to the Algarve International Circuit.
“That is a huge handicap, we cannot still understand the decision to take out from the allocation the S tyre.
“Michelin is a little bit in disagreement, they say it was the riders’ opinion. But the fact is we don’t have this tyre anymore.
"It was a tyre that was working okay with 30 degrees track [temperature].
“We come to a track where we reach easily 30 degrees this time of the year, and also we have this tyre at Qatar where we race at night time [when it’s colder], and we don’t have it [the old hard] here.
“So, it’s a contradiction that we have this allocation.
“But we’re here to compete. Everyone has the same tyres available, for sure the tyres are suiting some bikes more than others.
“So, it’s up to us and find something to so a saving job to be able to ride better.””
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Incompetence is always among the possibilities when Michelin is involved. But this is repetition of an old story otherwise, Ducati couldn't get tires to suit their non twinspar etc chassis bike once the control tire came in
The other question for me in regard to KTM is why Zarco was nowhere when with them given he was very good on a satellite Yamaha and is now quite excellent on a satellite Ducati. The trellis frame perhaps ?.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Never much been a conspiracy guy, but to discontinue a tire that worked so well . . . it just feels like such a departure from logic that my gut says, it was done with intent. To who’s advantage, I won’t speculate. But if at season’s end Fabio and Johann at 1st and 2nd in the standings, there’ll be some stink-eye focused on Michelin.
I get the objection to the lottery aspect of the yellow flag rule. However, if it's the rule and it's applied across the board, then at least everybody has the same chance to win or lose.
Whereas the tire lotteries seem to be more targeted....then as now.
Zarco.....wasn't the KTM he was riding then much different than the KTM of today? It's been a while since he was on one. Or at least different? And could he be a different rider today? I seem to recall some personal circumstances that might have been trying for him when he was at KTM. Not that I'm really in the know...
Whereas the tire lotteries seem to be more targeted....then as now.
Zarco.....wasn't the KTM he was riding then much different than the KTM of today? It's been a while since he was on one. Or at least different? And could he be a different rider today? I seem to recall some personal circumstances that might have been trying for him when he was at KTM. Not that I'm really in the know...
It is a different type of bike anyway with KTM having stuck with the trellis frame chassis etc. Perhaps there was something going on in his life in the background, but it just seems odd he has been excellent on every other bike including in moto 2 and was so uncompetitive even with other KTM riders for KTM in motogp.
Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
There's 'luck' all over competition.
As long as the rule is consistently enforced like that for track limits, then no problem. It's just a tough break.
Very true, but I think the problem is the combination with current qualifying system. Perhaps the riders should get a banker lap earlier, but maybe as has been suggested here and elsewhere they should re-set and let them have another 2 laps if a yellow flag aborts the fast laps at the end.
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