Catalunya Race Thread (Spoilers)

[Jumkie]

also nice to see capi fighting again.



Was marco sulking or did the big H rob some power off him. Very strange imo.

Capi's fight actually made it more impressive for Abraham.





Simoncelli looked broken. He's realizing the politics of the whole thing in the premier class is no joke.

Unlikely IMO given his performance over qualifying and practise and his pole.



Never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Charlie Cox who wrote an article in the sports section of today's Times basically saying that all the recent flak he has received perhaps made him unusually hesitant. With all eyes on him in the race itself was as a result uncharacteristically tentative off the line and into the first corner - by which time he'd been engulfed by half the field. Race Direction throwing its new found weight around again in the 125 race could have exacerbated his apprehension.

That was my thought as well.

 

[Austin]

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

Elias already burned that bridge, remember? He left in a huff and a puff after 2008.

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.

I disagree, and I've been pretty harsh on Hopkins in the past. He's still only 28 and is in better physical condition than he was in when he was 24, and he's also given up the party lifestyle from what I understand. Past that, you look at all the riders advancing from BSB to WSBK and being relatively successful and then see Hopkins turning up to tracks he's never seen before and winning and consistently podiuming, I think that says something. Is he ever going to win a MotoGP world championship? Probably not, but I wouldn't count him out just yet. And I, for one, would like to see him on a competitive GP bike.

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

You can teach a fast rider to quit crashing, you can't teach an average rider to go faster. He was on a mediocre Kawasaki and an underfunded Honda before he stepped on the abomination that is the Ducati. My opinion is that he's never had great equipment or great teams, meaning he's pushing harder than he should to get his results. Just my opinion.

The best thing they could do for racing would be to get pirelli as a tyre supplier; I believe this rather than kers etc has been the major change in F1 in this regard.

Agreed.

 

[mylexicon]

Elias already burned that bridge, remember? He left in a huff and a puff after 2008.

He did, but Luis D'Antin was running the team back then. D'Antin was fired halfway through the season, and while I'm sure Toni probably burned bridges, I wonder if Pramac racing bears any resemblance to the team he rode for in 2008.

 

[Jumkie]

Elias already burned that bridge, remember? He left in a huff and a puff after 2008.

Luis D'Antin.

I disagree, and I've been pretty harsh on Hopkins in the past. He's still only 28 and is in better physical condition than he was in when he was 24, and he's also given up the party lifestyle from what I understand. Past that, you look at all the riders advancing from BSB to WSBK and being relatively successful and then see Hopkins turning up to tracks he's never seen before and winning and consistently podiuming, I think that says something. Is he ever going to win a MotoGP world championship? Probably not, but I wouldn't count him out just yet. And I, for one, would like to see him on a competitive GP bike.

He never got a chance to heal after Assen. And it continued in Wsbk. He rode hurt in AMA. Right now he's rather health, something we havent seen since 07. For all the off-sets Rossi got for the shoulder, John actually got ran over by a bike. John was special, Roberts Jr. spoke to this in his interview a couple of years back. KRjr said the kid was willing to push and the manufacture (Suzuki) was willing to let them. Perhaps that's what Kawasaki saw in Hopper, a kid willing to push beyond the limit. The result was a broken body. Its been a pleasure to watch John in BSB this year. I feel a bit of vindication.

 

[Tom]

Elias already burned that bridge, remember? He left in a huff and a puff after 2008.

I was under the impression he could have gone back to Pramac but downright refused, resulting in the Dorna massaged move of DePuniet to make way

 

[MdubSTYLIE]

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Come get your back rub.

 

[Arrabbiata1]

Its been a pleasure to watch John in BSB this year. I feel a bit of vindication.

Pete?

 

[lil red rocket pilot]

barry your not a member you are a actual forum troll.... you got stupid ... remarks, you talk bollox and truthfully i think your a prick.



you only post if casey is doing well if he aint by the slightest amount you stay away. so please stay and post your bollox whatever possition casey is like the rest of us.

+1

 

[lil red rocket pilot]

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.

Perhaps he didn't want to upset the powers that be at suzuki?

Ive heard that Dening is pushing for two bikes on the grid in the 1000cc's next year because of how disadvantaged they are only getting data from 1 bike on the grid.

Weather it will happen or not we will have to wait & see. I for one really hope they do

 

[Jumkie]

Pete?

Aye it'll be good craic tae meet you all you guys. I married an Orkney lass last year, and moved up here to Craggy Island. Is Jumkie joining us as well?



I'm gutted I'm missing Knockhill this year, I wanted to meet Hopper![and give him a hug.]



Pete

 

[Willski]

[quote name='Jumkie' timestamp='1307373968' post='281406']

Capi's fight actually made it more impressive for Abraham.





Simoncelli looked broken. He's realizing the politics of the whole thing in the premier class is no joke.







Agreed. A different rider completely. Never committed and too tentative.

 

[beefsupreme]

Simoncelli looked broken. He's realizing the politics of the whole thing in the premier class is no joke.

He didn't seem too anguished when he barged through on Hayden.



I think you're reading too much into it -- conditions were iffy and Simoncelli was wise enough not to dump it for the third time this season.

 

[Jumkie]

He didn't seem too anguished when he barged through on Hayden.



I think you're reading too much into it -- conditions were iffy and Simoncelli was wise enough not to dump it for the third time this season.

Hayden is invisible in GP.

 

[beefsupreme]

Hayden is invisible in GP.

Is that a comment about his riding or the way he's been treated by those meanies who keep giving him factory seats?



He'll always have 2006, whatever happens.

 

[Jumkie]

Is that a comment about his riding or the way he's been treated by those meanies who keep giving him factory seats?



He'll always have 2006, whatever happens.

Don't act stupid, I don't have the patience for it. Those factory seats are glorified testing stints. You want to exchange with me come correct.

 

[beefsupreme]

Don't act stupid, I don't have the patience for it. Those factory seats are glorified testing stints. You want to exchange with me come correct.

 

[Jumkie]

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.

You know, I was thinking about this a bit more. I don't think there would be much of a risk, even a good rider needs time to get on with a new bike (except the freak that is Stoner). However, if I had my choice of rider to do a one off at Silverstone, it would be Leon Haslam. If anything, J.Rea, since he's already with Honda.

 

[Jumkie]

Now I understand, no need to post any further pictures of yourself.

 

[Austin]

You know, I was thinking about this a bit more. I don't think there would be much of a risk, even a good rider needs time to get on with a new bike (except the freak that is Stoner). However, if I had my choice of rider to do a one off at Silverstone, it would be Leon Haslam. If anything, J.Rea, since he's already with Honda.

Kropotkin says it's nearly a done deal Aoyama will get Pedrosa's bike while he's away with a test rider, forgotten his name now, stepping in at Gresini.

 

[Jumkie]

Kropotkin says it's nearly a done deal Aoyama will get Pedrosa's bike while he's away with a test rider, forgotten his name now, stepping in at Gresini.

Well go Aoyama!



I'll add, I'm not too keen on peeps turning down one-off rides. I get why Hopkins would, as he's leveraging that Suzuki take him back, as he's the only one ti give them any success to speak of post KRJR. But what would be the excuse for the other guys?