COTA 2014

3719131397847377

The only way they all would have a fighting chance to win is if every rider was on the exact same machine with the exact same tires, and each bike was tuned by the same mechanics. However, MotoGP is a constructor's championship as much as it is a rider's championship, and as such the playing field will never be truly level. 


 


This inequality exists in all sports, not just MotoGP. There have been plenty of great players in the NBA, for example, who never won a world championship because they didn't have the right team around them. The best players in the world, however, tend to get to a position where they can win championships. The same can be said of riders in MotoGP. 


 


Even if MotoGP was to become a spec series tomorrow, there probably wouldn't be all that much change. The middle of the grid would be closer to each other, sure, but at the top of the order the likes of Marquez and Lorenzo would still be pulling away. Tech can be equally distributed, but talent can't, and some riders just have more of it than others. 

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I was hoping Iannone could fight for the podium probably as much if not more than you. I rate him very highly, and I think if on equal footing he could bother Marc here and there (oh I know few would agree with me). Even if his tires had performed adequate, you'll never see him compete with Marquez, though I think Iannone has the talent and more importantly, the hunger, to do so.  So basically you are upset that the tires are holding back certain riders (I know you were bothered to see VR going backwards, but .... him, he's on a top 4 machine, no sympathy from me), but in reality this not the major problem for them.  After all, there is a spec tire in place and ALL the riders get to choose from the same lot (when actually based on their own category, and if anything, Iannone gets the best of that choice given the Ducatis can elect from all of the tire designations).  Anyway, I'm with you on the tire issue, but frankly what is the ultimate message in your position?  Is it that: they should ALL have adequate performing tires  (which the tires at Austin did not provide)?  Because my position is:<u> they should ALL have a fighting chance for a win, period</u>.

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3719141397852241

Your post outweighs your talent.

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3719131397847377

The only way they all would have a fighting chance to win is if every rider was on the exact same machine with the exact same tires, and each bike was tuned by the same mechanics. However, MotoGP is a constructor's championship as much as it is a rider's championship, and as such the playing field will never be truly level. 


 


This inequality exists in all sports, not just MotoGP. There have been plenty of great players in the NBA, for example, who never won a world championship because they didn't have the right team around them. The best players in the world, however, tend to get to a position where they can win championships. The same can be said of riders in MotoGP. 


 


Even if MotoGP was to become a spec series tomorrow, there probably wouldn't be all that much change. The middle of the grid would be closer to each other, sure, but at the top of the order the likes of Marquez and Lorenzo would still be pulling away. Tech can be equally distributed, but talent can't, and some riders just have more of it than others. 

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3719051397754926

Fair, however, jump starts are in fact a decision made by race direction (humans).  That means it is certainly on the whim of the man making the decision.  Have you ever seen what appears like a jump start not penalized?  Its happened.  And the reverse is true, a penalty for which it appeared the jump start was questionable.  When a person has to make a decision to apply the penalty, it becomes arbitrary.  Lorenzo's was an extreme example.  Most are not so spectacularly obvious.  Keep in mind Pov, that the rules governing the start of a race have changed several times.  Do you remember in the 90s when you could roll as long as your back axel didn't cross the grid plain?  Also the procedures have changed, that means they the rules have arbitrarily evolved; I can't remember off hand exactly but I think I also remember them using green lights too.  There were often times it really looked like a jump start had occurred only for Race Direction not to issue a penalty, and vise versa.  


 


 


Ok now you are considering the options with analysis, this is progress.  It doesn't have to be a 5 sec penalty to buffer and deter any "competitive advantage" gained, it could be 10.  Something reasonable where the automatic penalty isn't so severe effectively taking out the rider from the race.  Im saying this for the sake of discussion, that is, some penalties could be rethought.  Honestly, I don't think the jump start penalty is a major issue, but I do think it could be adjusted, on the otherhand, I feel like torpedoes and punting riders is infinitely worse yet seldom if ever penalized.  I don't recall a jump start rider ever creating a melee on the first corner, sounds a bit like the republican voter suppression "reasoning" which claims 'voter fraud' to in-act some obstacle to voters.  But I won't argue the point, though I son't see why you would deduce a jump starter would cause a first turn torpedo any more than a non jump starter.  But since you are citing "safety" consider the safety aspect of a much faster rider faced with navigating a much slower field. 

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Dont know how i missed this, but that is one of the funniest things ive seen lately. Showing an id to prove who you are is a big obstacle huh Maybe for the democratic voter it is. We have had to show id to vote for a long time, for some funny reason, i dont feel like it was an obstacle to reach into my back pocket and pull out my wallet. I dont know, maybe you can explain it to me where it makes sense.

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Not every eligible voter HAS a wallet in his, or her, back pocket. Say hello to the disenfranchised, Pov. You wanting to deny their right to vote 'cause they cannot produce goberment ID?

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We have a process called 'vouching' in Canada. If a registered voter in your riding with ID knows you he can vouch for you. I used it once when I got to the polls and had forgot my wallet... Not everyone collects welfare either. In Canada we tend to believe that everyone should be allowed to vote, so did your forefathers (well except for women and blacks and now apparently the poor and disenfranchised LOL!!)... Its a slippery slope when you start to not allow citizens their right to vote because they cannot produce gubernment paper... how long until the only eligible voters are business owners, or 'professionals'?


 


I bet the gubernment would take an 18 year old kid into the army whether he could produce paper or not...

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3719421398075517

We have a process called 'vouching' in Canada. If a registered voter in your riding with ID knows you he can vouch for you. I used it once when I got to the polls and had forgot my wallet... Not everyone collects welfare either. In Canada we tend to believe that everyone should be allowed to vote, so did your forefathers (well except for women and blacks and now apparently the poor and disenfranchised LOL!!)... Its a slippery slope when you start to not allow citizens their right to vote because they cannot produce gubernment paper... how long until the only eligible voters are business owners, or 'professionals'?


 


I bet the gubernment would take an 18 year old kid into the army whether he could produce paper or not...

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3719541398137903

On a different note from the voting irregularities....


Did you guys see the clips of Jorge losing it over every little thing before the race.? I think the clips were from the official motogp site.


 


Jorge is fussing over a tab on his helmet -swearing that it was something new, just put on. His team/Xlite guy assures him that it has been there forever and that it is on all helmets. Jorge is incredulous.


 


Jorge is starting to look like Biaggi to Marquez's Rossi.  I really like Jorge and called it that he would be a multi world champion.


 


I hope that this turns into another Rossi-Biaggi slug fest.


My money is on Marquez. IF he stays healthy without injuries, he is only getting stronger and faster and Jorge will be hard pressed to keep up.


 


The boy king is dead (Rossi)! Long live the King (Marquez)

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3719541398137903

On a different note from the voting irregularities....


Did you guys see the clips of Jorge losing it over every little thing before the race.? I think the clips were from the official motogp site.


 


Jorge is fussing over a tab on his helmet -swearing that it was something new, just put on. His team/Xlite guy assures him that it has been there forever and that it is on all helmets. Jorge is incredulous.


 


Jorge is starting to look like Biaggi to Marquez's Rossi.  I really like Jorge and called it that he would be a multi world champion.


 


I hope that this turns into another Rossi-Biaggi slug fest.


My money is on Marquez. IF he stays healthy without injuries, he is only getting stronger and faster and Jorge will be hard pressed to keep up.


 


The boy king is dead (Rossi)! Long live the King (Marquez)

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All good points, Pov, but I would quibble with the notion that Jorge was ever the face of MotoGP. He wanted to be, no question, but he just doesn't have the personality for it, and his riding style doesn't inspire excitement in the masses. I think that up until last year (and this year), Rossi was still the face of the sport, despite his eroding skills (the same could be said of Tiger Woods and golf).

 

Marquez is quickly assuming that mantle, however. Look at how much press he's already getting: he's the youngest world champ ever, and the likes of Mat Oxley are writing effusive articles on MM and his incredible, amazing, revolutionary, etc. riding style. Combine that with his happy-go-lucky personality (contrived or not, it's how he's perceived), and "the face of MotoGP" will soon be MM's title to lose .

 

This really is shaping up to be Rossi/Biaggi 2.0. Now we just need to see Jorge elbow Marc into the gravel, and then MM flip him the bird as he overtakes him.

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3719641398177520

All good points, Pov, but I would quibble with the notion that Jorge was ever the face of MotoGP. He wanted to be, no question, but he just doesn't have the personality for it, and his riding style doesn't inspire excitement in the masses. I think that up until last year (and this year), Rossi was still the face of the sport, despite his eroding skills (the same could be said of Tiger Woods and golf).

 

Marquez is quickly assuming that mantle, however. Look at how much press he's already getting: he's the youngest world champ ever, and the likes of Mat Oxley are writing effusive articles on MM and his incredible, amazing, revolutionary, etc. riding style. Combine that with his happy-go-lucky personality (contrived or not, it's how he's perceived), and "the face of MotoGP" will soon be MM's title to lose .

 

This really is shaping up to be Rossi/Biaggi 2.0. Now we just need to see Jorge elbow Marc into the gravel, and then MM flip him the bird as he overtakes him.

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