Catalunya Race Thread (Spoilers)

[Austin]

Also, did anyone else hear the comments during the Eurosport broadcast about potential replacements for Elias? The question of who would be a better option than Elias, and is available, was raised. They then mentioned how Bradley Smith had turned down an offer from Tech 3 to ride Edwards' bike. Then, what was said next dumbfounded me. According to Toby and Jules, John Hopkins turned down the Edwards ride and an approach to ride one of the Repsol Hondas.



Maybe he figured it's too big of a risk to be given the best bike on the grid for only one weekend. I mean, if you're given that bike and you don't come home within the top seven or eight, then there goes any chance of landing a full-time ride. And we all should know how difficult and time consuming it is to adapt to one of these bikes. That said, I thought for someone who is desperate to get back to grand prix, he'd have bitten Honda's hand off for a chance at a Repsol.

 

[BarryMachine]

I don't follow, Barry. Would you care to elaborate?

Meaning Randy was way better on the LCR than on the Pramac. At one stage last year he was looking super impressive for a satellite rider.

 

[Austin]

Meaning Randy was way better on the LCR than on the Pramac. At one stage last year he was looking super impressive for a satellite rider.

Wholeheartedly agree. I think de Puniet is one of the most underrated riders in the field. I'd really like to see him on a Tech 3 or Gresini bike.

 

[mylexicon]

Well turn them down. They all complain about too many electronics but they still run them. The opposite is true for Stoner. It is well documented that he runs the least electronics out of everyone and look at his results. Ducati have been spending up big on putting all the electronics back in on the Ducati because Rossi is demanding them. I don't think these guys have the skill anymore to ride with out them. Look who is winning and look at what he does with his, everyone in the paddock just about has sat down and analysed what Stoner does - Rossi, JB, Hayden, Capirossi, Pedrosa, Dovi ..... yet they are all still running with the electronics on full bore and then turn around and whinge that there are too many electronics in MotoGP.



Everyone is saying the Honda is the best bike. Well maybe because Stoner is riding it rather than the electronics.

The riders can get rid of TC and play around with maps and settings until their hearts are content, but they are never going to get away from the fuel computer. MotoGP is about hypermiling so if the rider is comfortable with the electronic settings, more speed will probably not be extracted. Mechanical innovations add speed.



Honda does have the least electronic interference, but the lack of electronic interference is not due to Casey Stoner. According to Niel Spalding, the main benefit of the new clutch and gearbox is that it reduces the need for engine braking which saves fuel. The riders are not afforded the privilege of fighting with one another on relatively equal terms unless the heavens open up. Casey is clearly the best rider, but I suspect his runaway victories this season are the result of the bike, much like Lorenzo's runaway victories last year.



All of us try desperately to pretend that MotoGP is not F1, but races like this confront all of us with our wishful thinking. You can't turn the electronics off. The riders are not as important as the mechanical innovations that save fuel. The sport is only entertaining when injury, controversy or poor weather intervene. Maybe the 1000s will make a difference, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[BarryMachine]

LOL



EVERYONE is riding with electronics do you realise how unsettled these bikes would be without?....



stoner was using electronics on the ducati last season, if you remember stoner was given an upgrade to the electronics, he said in a after practice interview and said could ride much faster with it so i dont know where you got ......



"ducati have been putting all the electronics back on the bike" seriously wtf?



no one really knows who is riding with or less electronics its pure speculation.



please dont turn into someone as delusional as barry.

Oh come on! we've been over that. Rossi is known for requiring a bike made mild with electronics. It was the first thing they did to the Ducati when he got there.



Are you now saying Rossi uses no electronic aids again

Rossi is good at "spin" ( not the same as the spin Stoner is good at ), thats spin to suck his fans in. All Rossi's talk of liking no electronics is so hypocritical it is ridiculous. He has been the most dependent rider on electronics ever.

 

[BarryMachine]

so odd the Sic was so out of sink for the race. Anyone think Honda had anything to do with it?

I do think it was out of sync slightly.



I think though all the hype over his very obscure one off fast quali lap was more out of sync with reality.



I did expect a 3rd fro him though and I think Honda would have loved a second from him ....... for the WC points for Stoner ....... so no



its just Simo .......... and you have to remember so far Simo has got 2 DNF's and two fifth's ......... and now an extra race finish .........



so why are folk saying Simo is great? ......... I think he is the current italian media stand in golden boy.



Other riders have occasionally pulled off one off poles .......... riders with better overall results ..... why all the hype about Simo?

 

[michaelm]

I wondered how long you guys were going to start saying its boring.



I would like to back MR MD up.



Yes i am a Rossi Fan, i also like edwards, cal, JT52 (when he was in) Pedders, stoner gives a good race and Jorge. I've found the last 3 years maybe have become some what boring for everyday people to watch. Its ok having your favourite riders going off and constantly being a postcode away from 3,4,5 placing. But this is no fun. The best races for me are for the ones where the 1,2,3,4,5 postitions have all been closley finished and i would personally would like this to happen 90% of the time, its shows a riders skill and will power to win. Being a postcode away from the next rider just proves mental endurance to be out there on your own that long.



I found todays race was again won by the 2 out front riders almost from get go and then the little battle for a few laps.



Why has this sport started to become almost predictable just like F1! iS IT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDS AND RIDERS ON THE GRID????



Or something else, like talent not able to come through the ranks so quick to give the front runners a good run year on year. Would the racing become more exciting if there was more riders on the grid.



Or how about one or two racers in the year being handcaps???!!!

As rossi himself has said, it is the nature of the formula and technology , and of the current tyres, which remain fairly consistent till the end of the races. The relative speed of the riders is apparent from early in the races, then nothing changes, unlike in rossi's heyday (which I am not saying won't return, the heyday rather than the nature of the racing then though) when his ability both to preserve tyres and ride better on worn tyres allowed him to come through at the end of races. The fuel economy thing also makes for "one-line "racing, since one particular line is usually more fuel efficient . They probably won't change the fuel limit though, both because it is a de facto limit on hosrepower/top speed and what the factory teams use to justify racing as r&d.

 

[mylexicon]

Also, did anyone else hear the comments during the Eurosport broadcast about potential replacements for Elias? The question of who would be a better option than Elias, and is available, was raised. They then mentioned how Bradley Smith had turned down an offer from Tech 3 to ride Edwards' bike. Then, what was said next dumbfounded me. According to Toby and Jules, John Hopkins turned down the Edwards ride and an approach to ride one of the Repsol Hondas.

Just switch DePuniet and Elias. Elias will reduce the repair bill and DePuniet can ride a Honda.



If the rumors about Hopper are true, I think he has taken this loyalty thing too far. I know that his career plummeted after he left Denning behind, but shunning a Tech 3 ride or a Repsol ride is quite a big risk. Suzuki thought Spies wasn't good enough which basically guaranteed the rise of his star when he landed at Yamaha Italia and won the WSBK title. Bradley and Crutchlow can get away with it b/c Dorna wants Brits, but Hopper is persona non-grata to Dorna other than his abilities as a replacement rider.

 

[Jumkie]

Also, did anyone else hear the comments during the Eurosport broadcast about potential replacements for Elias? The question of who would be a better option than Elias, and is available, was raised. They then mentioned how Bradley Smith had turned down an offer from Tech 3 to ride Edwards' bike. Then, what was said next dumbfounded me. According to Toby and Jules, John Hopkins turned down the Edwards ride and an approach to ride one of the Repsol Hondas.



Maybe he figured it's too big of a risk to be given the best bike on the grid for only one weekend. I mean, if you're given that bike and you don't come home within the top seven or eight, then there goes any chance of landing a full-time ride. And we all should know how difficult and time consuming it is to adapt to one of these bikes. That said, I thought for someone who is desperate to get back to grand prix, he'd have bitten Honda's hand off for a chance at a Repsol.

If true, I wouldn't be surprised because it would be a one off right? Not something they'd offer on a consistent basis. But either way, I'd do it. But then again, we are not them. John Hopkins probably thought this would be a slap in the face of Suzuki, who have taken him from a dismal AMA return to a front running respectable BSB run. So I could understand. But Bradley Smith, what does he have to lose. Hes already in the GP series. Tech 3 is decent. And he's not in a points chance for the title in M2.

 

[BarryMachine]

Just switch DePuniet and Elias. Elias will reduce the repair bill and DePuniet can ride a Honda.



If the rumors about Hopper are true, I think he has taken this loyalty thing too far. I know that his career plummeted after he left Denning behind, but shunning a Tech 3 ride or a Repsol ride is quite a big risk. Suzuki thought Spies wasn't good enough which basically guaranteed the rise of his star when he landed at Yamaha Italia and won the WSBK title. Bradley and Crutchlow can get away with it b/c Dorna wants Brits, but Hopper is persona non-grata to Dorna other than his abilities as a replacement rider.

Now that would be an interesting concept ..... just for the fun of it .......... hire Hopper as the unbiased stand in rider for the whole pack .......... wouldn't that give some interesting data on the cross brand comparo .....

 

[eltoro]

Also, did anyone else hear the comments during the Eurosport broadcast about potential replacements for Elias? The question of who would be a better option than Elias, and is available, was raised. They then mentioned how Bradley Smith had turned down an offer from Tech 3 to ride Edwards' bike. Then, what was said next dumbfounded me. According to Toby and Jules, John Hopkins turned down the Edwards ride and an approach to ride one of the Repsol Hondas.



Maybe he figured it's too big of a risk to be given the best bike on the grid for only one weekend. I mean, if you're given that bike and you don't come home within the top seven or eight, then there goes any chance of landing a full-time ride. And we all should know how difficult and time consuming it is to adapt to one of these bikes. That said, I thought for someone who is desperate to get back to grand prix, he'd have bitten Honda's hand off for a chance at a Repsol.

It is a risk and I think you make a good point, frankly practice and qualifying aren't enough to fully acclimate for the race. It's better to be offered a contract for a full year than be a replacement rider for a few rounds (though even if given a contract, that doesn't mean the rider is guaranteed that duration depending their performance) Also unlike Formula 1, there really isn't reserve riders in MotoGP, so there isn't anyone who can jump on the bike immediately and feel confident because they are somewhat familiar with it.



Although I may get ripped by some people for this opinion, but I think Hopper's time as a MotoGP rider has passed. The guy's body is just wracked from all the injuries he has accumulated. Even if he was given the Repsol ride for a round or two I wouldn't see him finishing above lower to mid-pack (barring accidents and such). The number of other talented riders just wouldn't allow much of a performance by him.

 

[eltoro]

double post

 

[Jumkie]

so odd the Sic was so out of sink for the race. Anyone think Honda had anything to do with it?

No, but I think Race Direction did. They got him by the balls. He puts on an aggressive pass on Hayden then remembers the scolding he got, and lets up on his buddy Rossi. Or even he is scared of being taken out by Rossi...it did start to sprinkle.

 

[eltoro]

Just switch DePuniet and Elias. Elias will reduce the repair bill and DePuniet can ride a Honda.

When the Pramac rides were open before the season, I think it was reported Elias did not want to go back to the Pramac squad after his prior experience with them. So Dorna quietly moved De Puniet from LCR to Pramac to ensure the Moto2 champion received a ride in the premier class. It's not because of Dorna wanting to comply with Elias' personal preference, but that it would've looked bad to have the champion from the newly revised class not get promoted to MotoGP.

 

[Gaz]

Wholeheartedly agree. I think de Puniet is one of the most underrated riders in the field. I'd really like to see him on a Tech 3 or Gresini bike.

Could not agree more.



I am a big fan of RdP (and not just because of Lauren

)and do wholeheartedly feel that the guy has more than enough ability, skill and kahunas to be in the top half of the field, but sadly has not really produced so much with the exception of 2010.



To me it would be a very good interesting exercise to see RdP on the Ducati with the settings of CS as I see them as similar 'grab it and ride it' type of riders.











Gaz

 

[povol]

What a blind biased comment.

They are now on asymmetrical tyres & the conditions are completely different to last year.

Anyone using times from last season or any past season to justify their argument is absolutely kidding themselves & mate you are absolutely kidding yourself.

Rossi finished 5th on Merit. get over it.

Exactly! Thats like saying Crutchlow was better on the Yamaha WSBK than Spies, because because there were instances where his lap times were better in 2010 than Spies in 2009.When you have a set of tech regs and an army of engineers, things tend to advance in a hurry, in this case, performance. Like you said, tires change, conditions change and most of all, the bikes change. A perfect example is Stoner in 2007, he won it all on a very fast bike. The following years, the bike actually got faster, but he wasnt winning 10 races a year. The Honda is a very competent bike in the right hands, they just happen to have the best rider in the world riding it, that is the difference. I believe Stoner could take the Yamaha and get similar results. At this point, Stoner will be the favorite to win every race. He has dominated the season, and not for Rossi, would have a very nice points lead considering his past rain prowess.

 

[ScottP]

Why do all you guys always babble on about irrelevance??? Talk about Stoner hes the main man and how great and good he’s going…and if VR didn’t bring him down then Stoner would be leading he WC by a long shot!!!



And yes Barry VR is a ..... and you can see his results on the duck since he started to ride it…what??? 9 times WC??? That was because he was always on the best bikes and now the shoe is on the other foot and look where Stoner is…VR doesn’t even come close to Stoner not even if Stoner would get on the Duke and ride it now he would still be way faster then VR!!!

 

[levigarrett]

Wholeheartedly agree. I think de Puniet is one of the most underrated riders in the field. I'd really like to see him on a Tech 3 or Gresini bike.

YES! I agree! RdP is getting screwed riding that terrible machine......it's sad. He gives it everything he's got and instead of results, he's probably doing more harm to his career than good. Ask Kallio and Melandri what a stint on the Ducati will lead to...

 

[levigarrett]

Double...

 

[JohnnyKnockdown]

YES! I agree! RdP is getting screwed riding that terrible machine......it's sad. He gives it everything he's got and instead of results, he's probably doing more harm to his career than good. Ask Kallio and Melandri what a stint on the Ducati will lead to...

I dont understand the clamor for RDP. Are we forgetting that he crashes almost every week no matter what he is riding