Good Racing in MOTOGP?

I guess the title says it all. Will we see good, close racing this year (at the front)? I only left two options obviously, so if you think half the races yes and half the races no then your ...... Rossi seems to think the racing this year will be good and close. I tend to lean on that side of the aisle as well. We are going to get those boring runaway races as well, but I think more often than not we are going to see some pretty good battles. The reasons being

1. Talent - There is a lot of talent on the grid. other riders are getting closer to the top 4.
2. 800's are developed - The advatages of a factory bike are less dramatic
3. More experience - mostly Hayden coming to terms with the bike, not to mention Dovi doing some very impressive times
4. Talented rookie pool as well - I don't expect them to be up there most of the weeks but I can see where a couple races might go where they are at the sharp end. Minus Spies of course who I see as the closest to the top 4.

So there you have it. I think that we are going to see some of the closest racing we have seen in the last 3 years. Hopefully some epic racing. What I fear is that we will see epic racing then the class will change again. Leaving another 2-3 years for satelite bikes to squander and factories to get it wrong. I don't think they are going to dust off the 990's, go racing, and start up where 2006 left off.

Yes - but the question should be whether we see consistently good racing, and the answer to that is no. This formula and the current rules and regulations are simply not conducive to it for a multitude reasons already detailed in great extent on this forum.

We have a long wait before we are treated to another 2006.

I do think Spies really will prove to be something special though, and the expectation is thoroughly deserved. Expect a better showing from Dovi as well.

We've only seen consistent good racing at the front during the 2006 season when Honda had a great bike and they handed out 5 or 6 examples to factory and non-factory riders alike in order to beat Rossi. Bridgestone were finally coming into their own which led to some Bridgestone surprises at Jerez, Brno, and Valencia.

The 800cc is too complicated. The bikes have very narrow tolerances for maximum performance and only a few people are capable of extracting 10/10ths from the bikes.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a few intra-brand battles like we saw during 2009 at Catalunya, Sachsenring, and Brno; but I'm not expecting to see the front runners battling to the line. Hopefully, I will be pleasantly surprised.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Apr 7 2010, 08:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yes - but the question should be whether we see consistently good racing, and the answer to that is no. This formula and the current rules and regulations are simply not conducive to it for a multitude reasons already detailed in great extent on this forum.

We have a long wait before we are treated to another 2006.

I do think Spies really will prove to be something special though, and the expectation is thoroughly deserved. Expect a better showing from Dovi as well.

I`m with this answer and expecting better things of Nicky ,Dov and Dani.Maybe a tall order!

Couldn't say it better than Arrabb and Drill, really. More developed motorcycles which should provide a touch of parity to satellite teams, improvement from Dovi and Hayden and the introduction of Spies. It won't be 2006, but it will be better than what we've been treated to.

I voted no and dont really care. Its prototype racing [somewhat] and historically that type of racing creates something that is dominant. Unlike most fans, i have no problem with dominance as long as its come by honestly. I have WSBK for close racing.

At the font, No

Middle of the pack, Yes

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rootsman @ Apr 7 2010, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>At the font, No

Middle of the pack, Yes


Yup - couldn't agree more - at the front a fight for place 1 through 4. I'm expecting a lot from Ben. And further back there will be some good fighting: Edwards, Hayden, Capi, Dani, the non factory Ducs...................

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ptk50 @ Apr 7 2010, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yup - couldn't agree more - at the front a fight for place 1 through 4. I'm expecting a lot from Ben. And further back there will be some good fighting: Edwards, Hayden, Capi, Dani, the non factory Ducs...................

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Apr 7 2010, 02:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yes - but the question should be whether we see consistently good racing, and the answer to that is no. This formula and the current rules and regulations are simply not conducive to it for a multitude reasons already detailed in great extent on this forum.

We have a long wait before we are treated to another 2003-2006 .

I do think Spies really will prove to be something special though, and the expectation is thoroughly deserved. Expect a better showing from Dovi as well.

fixed for ya

I think that's what we hope and promiss ourselves, in begin of every racing season, but this time it could become a reality, only because of the 6 bikes a year.

Other than that, this is a year like anyother before, with a few exiting and top races and mostly less exiting races.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rossiofsky @ Apr 7 2010, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think that's what we hope and promiss ourselves, in begin of every racing season, but this time it could become a reality, only because of the 6 bikes a year.

Good point, the engine rule could bring the bikes closer together, even if the zukes need to statr from the rear

Rossi tends to think there is going to be some really close racing this year. Hopefully he's not jsut saying that to get his fans excited and sell more crap from his store

06-Malaysia, great battle......


This is very hard to call, so many variables. All I can say is I'm hopeful it will be more like four to six years ago

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Apr 8 2010, 01:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Good point, the engine rule could bring the bikes closer together, even if the zukes need to statr from the rear

Rossi tends to think there is going to be some really close racing this year. Hopefully he's not jsut saying that to get his fans excited and sell more crap from his store


Rossi like all the other top racer's say a lot of things that imo it's only pr talks.
of cource he knows and has reasons to think so, but he can never be sure about it. he says this to make Dorna, and all the fans happy for looking forward to this season.

I,m sure all of rider's love winning races and the championship more than they care for the quality of the races.

Hope not! I want to see stand out runaway performances ....... always the best to watch.

Yep might have to start watching F1

it'll be just fine...

Its been getting better every year since the 800cc rule change so i don't see why it shouldn't be good.

I think we'll have some good races even at the front, there are possibly more guys there than ever in 800cc era so there is some potential for good battles.

I do kinda wish that there was the possibility for the viewer to choose to follow either the front or the midpack (or even backpack) racing himself. Anyone think that kind of thing could be implemented one day?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wander @ Apr 8 2010, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think we'll have some good races even at the front, there are possibly more guys there than ever in 800cc era so there is some potential for good battles.

I do kinda wish that there was the possibility for the viewer to choose to follow either the front or the midpack (or even backpack) racing himself. Anyone think that kind of thing could be implemented one day?
KRsnr highlighted the lack of coverage of the entire field and that the producers simply tended to stay with the front runners, which not only ignored mid pack battles, but also meant that sponsors of uncompetitive teams were being deterred due to a lack of coverage compounding the problem of revenue for non factory squads. This was amended, and in recent years there has been much more emphasis on even the back runners, although obviously the priority stays at the sharp end of the filed. As for a multi screen set up, providing even a rider cam or garage view option, this would probably be trialed on-line initially. It would be very difficult to introduce this across a range of global TV networks in the same way that the generic Dorna graphics and pictures are used.

Thinking about it, don't you just hate that when the on track action is ruined at some pivotal point because the producer cuts to the garage? It can be cleverly done, and even shown after the event as was the case when Rossi dived under Lorenzo at Catalunya this year, or the immediate reaction in Repsol Honda when Dani took out Nicky at Estoril in '06. A multi screen or split screen option could mean that you could incorporate images from the relevant garage when their protagonist has just crossed the line by a country mile - and laugh as Uccio or even better Adriana juice their panties.