Assen

Well I'm looking forward to the racing even if nobody else is!

Grid is pretty mixed up so going with ideal world scenario of JLo, Marky, Zarco.

Crashy will probably be back on gravel form now that the ink is drying on the new contract.

No idea about tyres - I never appreciated it was such a skull-duggery kind of thing or any of that. Having said that, last race, it seemed like the hard side of the medium was mediumer than something else.

Two weeks seems a very long time.

Miller will be fired up ..... cos he powns assen.

But my heart says Dovi. Cos hes on the Stoner designed and built Duc.

BarryMachine said:

But my heart says Dovi. Cos hes on the Stoner designed and built Duc.

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And he's on a bit of a roll just now!!! Great to see Dovi doing so well - my hubby is a big Dovi fan

I missed FP
Anyone have any shots of Cal's aero fairing?

Furiosa said:

Crashy will probably be back on gravel form now that the ink is drying on the new contract.

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Also now that he realizes that he can throw it down the road so much and still get re-signed. I must admit, I am surprised that Honda didn't go for just a one year deal. 5th in FP2 aint bad though.

So far it looks like Yamaha might be in dominance this weekend with Marc most likely able to manhandle the Honda onto a podium. It would be nice to see him win for the fact that it would compress the points difference in the WC standings.

As for Jack, unless the weather becomes very unpredictable I can't see him on the podium again. I would love to be wrong about this though.

Dr No said:

I missed FP
Anyone have any shots of Cal's aero fairing?

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No photos of it but it was like the old winglets but with it's own little bit of fairing bolted over the top.

Found this

The Burning Barber said:

Also now that he realizes that he can throw it down the road so much and still get re-signed. I must admit, I am surprised that Honda didn't go for just a one year deal. 5th in FP2 aint bad though.

So far it looks like Yamaha might be in dominance this weekend with Marc most likely able to manhandle the Honda onto a podium. It would be nice to see him win for the fact that it would compress the points difference in the WC standings.

As for Jack, unless the weather becomes very unpredictable I can't see him on the podium again. I would love to be wrong about this though.

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I'm surprised they offered 2 years and also that Cal wanted 2 years. Just based on the sort of stuff he's said before.

Great to see Marquez back sliding and squirming!

Folger deserves some glory this weekend - the success of the Tech3 this year has pretty much been hand in hand with Zarco, little mention of Folger.

Great FP sessions yesterday, I thought. Looking forward to today's.

Furiosa said:

Found this

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Clearly Cal was going to come into the pits but at the last minute remembered about a corner that he hadn't crash tested yet :giggle:

Furiosa said:

I'm surprised they offered 2 years and also that Cal wanted 2 years. Just based on the sort of stuff he's said before.

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You should know to take Cal's comments with a pinch of salt. HRC and LCR love the guy because of his tireless work ethic and the onerous constant testing that he performs compensates for the repair bill. He also willingly fulfils his gruelling PR duties - which is highly amusing given the re'cal'citrance that he is renowned for. He's also a very popular figure in the paddock simply because he's genuine - which is a rare commodity in this sport. That alone bizarrely seems to be why he is so disliked on this forum.

What would you prefer? Rossi-esque insincerity and disingenuity? One of these latin PR programmed prescriptive preening primadonnas?

Crutch has a factory machine and accepts that there are more gifted riders on the grid and this is as good as it gets. He may not sound grateful at times but trust me, he takes nothing for granted.

Just watched te replay of Assen 2015. I didn't initially realise, but Rossi was in fact in no position to make the final chicane regardless of the Marquez attempted pass. I restate, Marquez attempted pass, which he 'might' have pulled off, would not have been in question if Rossi had of not premeditated how to cut the last chicane. Rossi pulls well over a second with his 'forced' excusion over the gravel trap. Considering what happened to Gibbernau in 04 when he was 'forced' into a gravel trap, I ask now, who of the Rossi fans still think Lorenzos 15 championship is the result of a championship conspiracy?

From what I see, Rossi did what he knew he himself would have pulled on Gibbernau back in Jezez 04 on Marquez at Assen 15. Marquez in response pulls an absolute materclass at PI a15. I'll say it again, no dirty riding questionable moves at all. Where are you Rossi fans, review Jerez 04 vs PI 15. Why would any genuine fan fan of motoracing call PI 15 into question, other than of course none other than 'Uccio'.

I now understand completely why Assen 15 pissed Marquez off. No Spanish conspiracy, Marquez pulled the equivalent of the much celebrated Rossi 09 move on Loerenzo last lap last corner Catalina move with absolutely no fanfare. In fact incredulously vs Jerez 04 it's called called a last lap 'dirty move' by Marquez.

In light of all this, I actually grow new respect of the Lorenzo 15 championship. Rossi is in top manipulating form. Rewatch Sepang 15. Lorenzo absolutely takes the championship unlike any rider I've ever seen. I can't believe to this day his mental resolve is still under question. I'll rate him equal of Lawson, Stoner, and Rainey right now.

Great qualifying....Rain once again separate the men from the boys....

And showed once again that Ducati made a HUGE mistake by hiring the Spanish princess to ride around for a salary only.....they should fire her just based on today's performance....A million a month to end up in 21st place....nice job JLo.....

MigsAngel said:

Great qualifying....Rain once again separate the men from the boys....

And showed once again that Ducati made a HUGE mistake by hiring the Spanish princess to ride around for a salary only.....they should fire her just based on today's performance....A million a month to end up in 21st place....nice job JLo.....

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The "experts" here will tell you it's the Michelin rain tires that are the problem. They've been specifically formulated to prevent Lorenzo from getting good feel around Assen.

Dovi will probably be leading the championship after tomorrow.

Dani pedrosas q2 time would have put him in last in q1. Lorenzo really looks uncomfortable as well

Zarco really does seem like the real deal at this point, though. I had a lot of doubts earlier in the year about him but he keeps proving me wrong.

I really think Rossi is going to win tomorrow though. It's been too long and this is one of his best tracks. Dovi probably will be winning after tommorow, although weather will definitely shake things up. Is it supposed To be dry tomorrow?

Raining tomorrow or at least its forecast to. If it's mixed conditions my money is on Maq, if it's wet I think it's wide open between a few guys (ie Rossi, Marquez, Dovi, Petrucci, Zarco)

Arrabbiata1 said:

You should know to take Cal's comments with a pinch of salt. HRC and LCR love the guy because of his tireless work ethic and the onerous constant testing that he performs compensates for the repair bill. He also willingly fulfils his gruelling PR duties - which is highly amusing given the re'cal'citrance that he is renowned for. He's also a very popular figure in the paddock simply because he's genuine - which is a rare commodity in this sport. That alone bizarrely seems to be why he is so disliked on this forum.

What would you prefer? Rossi-esque insincerity and disingenuity? One of these latin PR programmed prescriptive preening primadonnas?

Crutch has a factory machine and accepts that there are more gifted riders on the grid and this is as good as it gets. He may not sound grateful at times but trust me, he takes nothing for granted.

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Arrib, couldn't agree more actually and have said a few times here and other places that we want personality, we crave personality that is different from Rossi which seems the norm (and that is not criticism of Rossi) and yet when we get it, it is us that whinge.

Sure he may not say everything we want to hear (my only issue of late being the Pedrosa losing the championship position) but I would rather him say it then we hear PR ........ from the team media guy.

Personally I find it interesting that some of the more 'disliked' riders are those who do speak out and not to the party line, just as we have wanted for so long but then to quote the movies 'we cant handle the truth'

moto vudu said:

The "experts" here will tell you it's the Michelin rain tires that are the problem. They've been specifically formulated to prevent Lorenzo from getting good feel around Assen.

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That is exactly what Dani Pedrosa (who was slower than Lorenzo and a second slower than Rabat) says - the tyres are the issue for him so perhaps some of the 'experts' here have valid points



"Today was a very difficult day because in the rain with the wet tyres I had no grip, especially the rear tyre. When the track was completely wet I had zero grip," Pedrosa confirmed.

"We tried to work with the setting of the bike, we worked with the tyres, the technicians from Michelin and I worked also on the track to try to get temperature in the tyres. Doing laps, doing different riding. But I got just 30-degrees on the rear tyre. So I was completely out of the range of the tyre working.

"I was not in the same situation as the other riders today on the track. I was completely off. I only got some more temperature when the track was drying out. When the track dries and you can ride better with the wet tyre, it means the tyre is too hard. Or I'm too light…

"In FP4 at Le Mans when it was completely raining I had the same problem. I was almost last because I cannot get any temperature in the tyres. Again."

Pedrosa, who weighs just 51kg and often has to hear other riders talk of the advantage he gains in acceleration and less tyre stress, added: "Today I don't think you will hear some riders complaining that I'm too light, and that's why I don't damage the tyres!"

If it's wet like this again on Sunday, will you even be able to finish the race?

"I can finish the race but very slow. You could see how they overtake me today," replied Pedrosa, who was 3.5s off the pole pace of Johann Zarco.

Source - MotoGP News - MotoGP Assen: Pedrosa 'completely out of tyre range'

Realise that this is the MotoGP thread but f*ck Baldasarri's highside was huge in MGP2

Good to see he has escaped that relatively well

Arrabbiata1 said:

You should know to take Cal's comments with a pinch of salt. HRC and LCR love the guy because of his tireless work ethic and the onerous constant testing that he performs compensates for the repair bill. He also willingly fulfils his gruelling PR duties - which is highly amusing given the re'cal'citrance that he is renowned for. He's also a very popular figure in the paddock simply because he's genuine - which is a rare commodity in this sport. That alone bizarrely seems to be why he is so disliked on this forum.

What would you prefer? Rossi-esque insincerity and disingenuity? One of these latin PR programmed prescriptive preening primadonnas?

Crutch has a factory machine and accepts that there are more gifted riders on the grid and this is as good as it gets. He may not sound grateful at times but trust me, he takes nothing for granted.

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With so much money at risk with these multi million dollar contracts, I agree that it feels more rare to see opinions and reactions that don't feel like they have been sugar coated through a PR filter. However, being more opinionated makes one more susceptible to criticism as you can never please everyone. I do prefer a more honest Cal, but just because he is more honest doesn't mean I'm going to like, agree or appreciate everything he says. If those opinions show traits that I don't respect then it only makes it easier to have a laugh when things don't go his way. I don't hate Cal, far from it, but there are probably a few other Motogp riders I would prefer to buy a beer and have a chat with first.

moto vudu said:

The "experts" here will tell you it's the Michelin rain tires that are the problem. They've been specifically formulated to prevent Lorenzo from getting good feel around Assen.

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Well, I know that THIS expert realizes from today that Rossi really sucks unless he is on the best bike. I mean if a 3 time world champion who has BEATEN Rossi, is struggling on the Ducati, what does that tell you? Put Rossi on an Aprilla and when he finishes dead last then talk .....

OneDavid said:

.....
Zarco really does seem like the real deal at this point, though. I had a lot of doubts earlier in the year about him but he keeps proving me wrong....

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He was the "real deal" in Moto2. Just no one paid attention to the two time champ. He should have gone to MotoGP before some of the other dog meat that went instead.

Gaz said:

That is exactly what Dani Pedrosa (who was slower than Lorenzo and a second slower than Rabat) says - the tyres are the issue for him so perhaps some of the 'experts' here have valid points ......

"Today was a very difficult day because in the rain with the wet tyres I had no grip, especially the rear tyre. When the track was completely wet I had zero grip," Pedrosa confirmed.

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OMG, no. You mean someone else hates Michelin besides Lorenzo? It doesn't look like Maverick is too happy, either.

Just because he is the best in the field, in my opinion, Marky-Mark for the win, with my favorite frenchman second, and probably not Lorenzo or Pedrosa for third.