intro and some venting

Hello everyone I've been a motogp fanatic for 2 years now and I'm dieing for some motogp conversation, so I don't know why I didn't come here sooner. But anyways I'll start venting right away: why do racers like hoffman, cardoso keep getting their contracts renewed to ride in motogp when we have great young riders that could fill those spots and add to the competition. Also checa and collin need to exit motogp as well, send them to AMA or WSB so help with ratings in those two series. Also, is anyone going to the laguna seca race this July? any info on where i should get my seats, parking, other info that i need to know or wierd info. I'm going by myself because i have NO friends that like racing.

cheers!

Nick

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nickgp @ Jun 5 2006, 12:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hello everyone I've been a motogp fanatic for 2 years now and I'm dieing for some motogp conversation, so I don't know why I didn't come here sooner. But anyways I'll start venting right away: why do racers like hoffman, cardoso keep getting their contracts renewed to ride in motogp when we have great young riders that could fill those spots and add to the competition. Also checa and collin need to exit motogp as well, send them to AMA or WSB so help with ratings in those two series. Also, is anyone going to the laguna seca race this July? any info on where i should get my seats, parking, other info that i need to know or wierd info. I'm going by myself because i have NO friends that like racing.

cheers!

Nick
Hey Nick welcome aboard
I'm sure someone will be able to help with laguna info, maybe Ooost?
I think he went there last year.

Hi nick welcome to the forum!

I am sure that their teams have good reasons for keeping the riders that you've mentioned. May be they are still serving up whatever profits that the team could generate from them, may be not in terms of skills but with experience and professional behavior towards the sport.

It could be a lot fof things.

Welcome aboard!!Enjoy and have fun!

Hoffman and Cardoso aren't very good riders, but that bike is crap. They've got old unreliable Ducatis with Dunlop tires. Not even Rossi would win a race with that.

So promising young riders aren't really interested in being backmarkers in MotoGP if they can be winning in a lower category (250cc or WSBK).

2nd, Hoffman is German and Dorna is desperate to get the attention of a huge market like Germany.
D'antín (team manager) has always liked Cardoso (for some unkown reason) so Cardoso has always been in his team (MotoGP, 500cc or Spanish SBK)

If Hofmann and Cardoso etc. had the best bike underneath them they would do A LOT better! Look at Chris Vermuelen, in WBK he was one of the top riders there, if not the best, now look at him.

As far as your rider query goes Teo is spot on (as usual).

As far as Laguna goes, I've been three times so I can offer up as much advice as I can and ask if you need to know anything else. I purchased seats once but I wouldn't do it again, they only have them in the final turn and turn 4 areas and you only see very little sections of track. I've always brought a light weight chair with me and walked around the track and watched from every area. Obviously, you have to go to the corkscrew. Turn 6 is cool, turn 2, turn 5 and the whole backside of the course. For race day I suggest arriving VERY early and setting up a chair in the turn 2 section and don't leave. You see them cross the start/finish line and watch them all the way to turn 6 and then you see them come down around Rainey curve until they get to the last corner or two. It's the best viewing of the entire track.

To my knowledge you won't be able to drive to the track this year, very limited amounts of parking passes were sold. They are setting up parking areas at shuttle locations thorughout the Monterey, Salinas and Carmel areas. You can check out the Laguna Seca or MST (Monterey Salinas Transit) websites for more shuttle info. Leave as early as possible on Sunday. That's probably good advice for each day you're there as I've heard people who left around 10 AM on Friday and Saturday didn't arrive until around noon time. Last year I caught the 7 AM bus and even then it took an hour to get into the track (generally the bus gets you there in about 15 minutes depending on your starting point) and had to sit on the very end of the gravel trap of turn 2.

I recommend getting out to Cannery Row on Friday and/or Saturday night. It's where all the bikers go for dinner and to hang out. Be careful though as loads of police go there to keep things in hand. Really a cool experience.

If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask and I will help you with whatever I can.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Jun 5 2006, 02:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As far as your rider query goes Teo is spot on (as usual).

As far as Laguna goes, I've been three times so I can offer up as much advice as I can and ask if you need to know anything else. I purchased seats once but I wouldn't do it again, they only have them in the final turn and turn 4 areas and you only see very little sections of track. I've always brought a light weight chair with me and walked around the track and watched from every area. Obviously, you have to go to the corkscrew. Turn 6 is cool, turn 2, turn 5 and the whole backside of the course. For race day I suggest arriving VERY early and setting up a chair in the turn 2 section and don't leave. You see them cross the start/finish line and watch them all the way to turn 6 and then you see them come down around Rainey curve until they get to the last corner or two. It's the best viewing of the entire track.

To my knowledge you won't be able to drive to the track this year, very limited amounts of parking passes were sold. They are setting up parking areas at shuttle locations thorughout the Monterey, Salinas and Carmel areas. You can check out the Laguna Seca or MST (Monterey Salinas Transit) websites for more shuttle info. Leave as early as possible on Sunday. That's probably good advice for each day you're there as I've heard people who left around 10 AM on Friday and Saturday didn't arrive until around noon time. Last year I caught the 7 AM bus and even then it took an hour to get into the track (generally the bus gets you there in about 15 minutes depending on your starting point) and had to sit on the very end of the gravel trap of turn 2.

I recommend getting out to Cannery Row on Friday and/or Saturday night. It's where all the bikers go for dinner and to hang out. Be careful though as loads of police go there to keep things in hand. Really a cool experience.

If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask and I will help you with whatever I can.

Thanks a lot!
I'm sure I will have more questions soon.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Jun 6 2006, 01:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>D'antín (team manager) has always liked Cardoso (for some unkown reason) so Cardoso has always been in his team (MotoGP, 500cc or Spanish SBK)

I found out why. Michael Smith calls him moneybags and says he was put on the team for that reason and not for any obvious talent. I think he might be putting personal money into the team for his spot. That`s sad, MotoGP turning into F1, with rides going to rich boys with no skill but a lot of cash.
As for Hoffmann, he`s slow but he`s got a good head on his shoulders and experience on a factory team, he`s a good developer and if D`antin need anything (other than money) it`s a faster bike.
Checa is a good rider too, perhaps a bit slow now, maybe getting a bit long in the tooth, but he was riding his heart out at the end of last year and got some good results, and his preseason test times had the Dunlop guys remembering the glory days of more than a decade ago.
And Colin Edwards is still getting podiums and last year finished 4th. His consistency is legendary. I think Yamaha need some fresh blood but Colin is definately one of the best.

Cardoso doesn't bring the sponsor, D'antin is sponsored by PRAMAC which is an Italian company (with ties to Honda), I doubt they requested Cardoso as a rider for their team.

What does it matter, they're only there to help improve the Dunlops.

I doubt their relationship with Dunlop will extend into 2007. d'Antin are talking about going to court over tire issues. It was discovered at Mugello that Tech 3 Yamaha had a tire available to them that was not available to d'Antin Ducati. Luis d'Antin said if equality between the two Dunlop supplied teams is not achieved then legal action will be taken. I don't know what d'Antin will be rolling on in 2007 but I doubt they will be Dunlops.

I don't blame Cardoso, Ellison or Checa or any of the other back markers. It must say something that the bottom guys all belong to the same teams. (D'antin Pramac, Tech 3, Konica Minolta). As someone pointed out, Checa was a regular visiter to the top ten last year, this year he's nowhere. In my opinion it is almost solely the fault of their respective bikes. Without a good bike the rider could be brilliant but nobody would know. Look at Rossi this year, his bike fails, he can't do .... about it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (IsraeliRacer @ Jun 6 2006, 08:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't blame Cardoso, Ellison or Checa or any of the other back markers. It must say something that the bottom guys all belong to the same teams. (D'antin Pramac, Tech 3, Konica Minolta). As someone pointed out, Checa was a regular visiter to the top ten last year, this year he's nowhere. In my opinion it is almost solely the fault of their respective bikes. Without a good bike the rider could be brilliant but nobody would know. Look at Rossi this year, his bike fails, he can't do .... about it.
The mouth of God has spoken. Exactly what i'd say, if you put top guys such as Rossi on a very slow and unreliable bike he would not do as well as he would on a Yamaha.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Alex @ Jun 6 2006, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The mouth of God has spoken. Exactly what i'd say, if you put top guys such as Rossi on a very slow and unreliable bike he would not do as well as he would on a Yamaha.

I suppose you meant to say: "do as well as he did on last years Yamaha"?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Jun 5 2006, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>D'antín (team manager) has always liked Cardoso (for some unkown reason)
he's cheap!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Alex @ Jun 5 2006, 09:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If Hofmann and Cardoso etc. had the best bike underneath them they would do A LOT better!
but they would still be back marker's...... they suck..... face it.

welcome nickgp!

I was under the impression moneybags was putting PERSONAL money into the team, not bringing wthe sponsor. I know it`s hard to belive but Michael Scott said it! He`s a clued in guy. I dunno what to belive, other than Cardoso is crap

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jun 7 2006, 09:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>but they would still be back marker's...... they suck..... face it.

I`d have to agree. Ellison`s not fast, Cardoso makes Ellison look fast, Hoffman was due to be axed (Although DePuniet was a stupid choice) But I feel kinda sorry for Checa. He could run with the fast guys last year on the factory Duke, and if it weren`t for Biaggi having ... with the Camel Executives, then those executives deciding Rossi was better looking, they`d still be giving Pons money, and Checa would be on a Michelin RCV.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Alex @ Jun 6 2006, 12:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If Hofmann and Cardoso etc. had the best bike underneath them they would do A LOT better! Look at Chris Vermuelen, in WBK he was one of the top riders there, if not the best, now look at him.

leave Vermeulen outta this, he's in a different category .... he actually is a good rider.

The Suzuki has improved indefinatley ... it actually is somewhat competitive this year. I dont want to sound conceited on Vermuelen's behalf.... but he musta helped a bit with that The fact that it actually is running upfront has boosted the riders confidence and HOpkins is starting to show his talent too .... haha its ooonnnnn!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jun 7 2006, 05:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>if it weren`t for Biaggi having ... with the Camel Executives, then those executives deciding Rossi was better looking, they`d still be giving Pons money, and Checa would be on a Michelin RCV.

BAHA

If CV ever does reach the front runners, it probably wont be on the Suzuki without some improvement in the 800, and it won`t be for a few years. True, he`s one of the best SBKers in the world, but it takes them a while to adapt, and even when they do, they very rarely have the ability to keep up with the really fast guys. Hayden`s obviuosly an exception, but even he has trouble taking race wins.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jun 7 2006, 02:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I feel kinda sorry for Checa. He could run with the fast guys last year on the factory Duke, and if it weren`t for Biaggi having ... with the Camel Executives, then those executives deciding Rossi was better looking, they`d still be giving Pons money, and Checa would be on a Michelin RCV.
And for the half a day when he tested the Pons Honda before he crashed out (what else is new?) he looked fairly impressive. And I hate to rub this in Richo, but if Pons Honda kept Camel they would have kept Stoner and it's very possible Checa could have made him look foolish. I know how much you would have enjoyed that.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Katt @ Jun 7 2006, 02:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>leave Vermeulen outta this, he's in a different category .... he actually is a good rider.

The Suzuki has improved indefinatley ... it actually is somewhat competitive this year. I dont want to sound conceited on Vermuelen's behalf.... but he musta helped a bit with that The fact that it actually is running upfront has boosted the riders confidence and HOpkins is starting to show his talent too .... haha its ooonnnnn!
BAHA
Vermeulen is a good rider but he made a mistake, the right play was sticking with Honda and waiting his turn. I won't say Vermeulen had no part in the improvement of the GSV-R but I believe it was marginal. I don't think Hopkins had much to do with it either. Suzuki had KRJR, a technically very intelligent and sound rider, as their lead rider for years and the GSV-R never accomplished anything. I don't think Hopkins and Vermeulen discovered something that Roberts didn't. I think the fact of the matter is Suzuki finally threw some more money at their MotoGP project. I'm sure they did listen to Vermeulen and Hopkins' feedback but I think the majority of their improvement comes from a larger effort from the factory.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jun 7 2006, 02:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If CV ever does reach the front runners, it probably wont be on the Suzuki without some improvement in the 800, and it won`t be for a few years. True, he`s one of the best SBKers in the world, but it takes them a while to adapt, and even when they do, they very rarely have the ability to keep up with the really fast guys. Hayden`s obviuosly an exception, but even he has trouble taking race wins.
You're exactly right about it taking time for him to adjust, Hayden was midway through his third year before he got his breakthrough win and now he still hasn't quite figured out being a regular challenger for the win. Although he is close. As far as Suzuki goes, you never know. Judging by the most recent change in rules, Suzuki is in trouble. But then again, they have more backing from their factory than in recent memory. It's very possible they could do it right this time and be a player. At the same token it's also possible that Ducati, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda get it wrong. Well, Honda won't get it wrong because they're Honda but the rest all have the same chance of being successful as Suzuki does.