why is the once dominant aprilia looking very average compared to the derbi?" Same basic engine,
different pipe and tune!spladers..
Because the Derbis you are talking about are being ridden by much better riders.
I think he should move up anyway. So far at least he seems to look the complete package, i can't imagine he would develop too much more if he stays. Bring on the next challenge
Quite some dramatic crashes in today's race", especially near the end where one bike ended up on top of a tyre wall.
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Bradley's season finally done. Weird crash that - I want to blame the bumps but probably pushing too hard.
Marquez reminded me of Doohan at PI mnus the smoking slider.
Marquez reminded me of Doohan at PI mnus the smoking slider.
Marquez was a (as we say in Holland) bermtoerist
unno how to say in english
Think he went sight-seeing or something?
Iwema just came back home to unpack his suitecase,only to pack again for the trip to Misano.
Really hope his lugage doesn´t get lost,like last week.
unno how to say in english
Think he went sight-seeing or something?
Iwema just came back home to unpack his suitecase,only to pack again for the trip to Misano.
Really hope his lugage doesn´t get lost,like last week.
Well Marquez has done the hard work and the championship battle doesn't look that close anymore, its hard to see anyone else taking it. Terrol has to be hoping for some rain in the last two races. Marquez has been brilliant this year, i think the most convincingly superior 125 rider for a while. Espargaro and Terrol are hanging on but the rest are just a level below
Joined Oct 2006
445 Posts | 43+
Adelaide, Australia
Yeah, Marquez only has to finish the races upright (such is his speed this season, that means he'll finish on the podium, and likely the top step, at that), and the championship is his. If you add the 25 points he probably would have scored at Aragon, then it wouldn't be close at all. He's barely made a mistake all year, aside from Indianapolis and the practice crash at Brno.
Terrol or Espargaro might have had a better chance had they not kept taking points off of each other.
What do you make of Terrol's tactics in the closing laps of several races this year? He's let Marquez and Espargaro through on a few occasions... and then watched them gap him easily and win comfortably!
yeh that really confuses me when he does that. I suppose hes not comfortable leading the way when someone is on his ... like that. But he lets them through and they peace out on him. I bet he's gotten a talkin to by his team about that.
As for Marquez, I agree hes done the right things to win. 9 victories, minimal errors, he just needs podiums and i think he will be ok
Puzzling, especially that he did it more than once. But in each case the rider he has let through has been sufficiently fast enough to clear away from him, so i'd say in the end it makes little difference. I guess you could say its safer to have them ahead and not get scrappy (especially with Espargaro) but he couldn't know they were that much quicker so i honestly don't get it.
Joined Oct 2006
445 Posts | 43+
Adelaide, Australia
When it happened with Espargaro at Jerez at the beginning of the season, I just thought it was a tactical move that back-fired. But when tried it at Misano with Marquez, the coverage I was watching cut to a shot of Juan Martinez and Gino Borsoi in the pits; Martinez was laughing about it, but Bosoi looked worried! And then he did it again at Aragon???
But as you say, given the other riders had the speed I guess it didn't matter much anyway.
I've heard a story that Barry Sheene and Angel Nieto were playing games like this once at Assen, and both came to a complete stop!
When it happened with Espargaro at Jerez at the beginning of the season, I just thought it was a tactical move that back-fired. But when tried it at Misano with Marquez, the coverage I was watching cut to a shot of Juan Martinez and Gino Borsoi in the pits; Martinez was laughing about it, but Bosoi looked worried! And then he did it again at Aragon???I thought Terrol was supposed to be the one with more racecraft and experience...
But as you say, given the other riders had the speed I guess it didn't matter much anyway.
I've heard a story that Barry Sheene and Angel Nieto were playing games like this once at Assen, and both came to a complete stop!
Yeh true about the speed issue, but i feel like he loses that momentum when he does that...I think it doesnt work for him and he should really stop.
I also saw Martinez laughing about it, i remember the commentators being like well he looks confident. And then terol lost...
Joined Oct 2006
445 Posts | 43+
Adelaide, Australia
Well, looks like Terrol is getting the rain you said he would hope for, Tom. His team mate seems stronger in the wet at this stage, though. Do you think Smith will ride for the team, if the race pans out that way? I imagine that if he wants to replace Di Meglio in Aspar's Moto2 outfit, he will!
Well everything that could have helped Terrol this weekend did. But it wasn't enough, Marquez is too damn good. What an incredible race.
Joined Oct 2006
445 Posts | 43+
Adelaide, Australia
Yes, yes, and yes.
I thought starting from 11th or 17th was supposed to be a handicap! Being 3rd/4th into the first turn each time was amazing. But Marquez was so lucky he could ride the bike back to the pits after that crash. I think Espagaro had to gamble with the wet weather tyres in the 2nd race; he clearly didn't have the pace in the dry during the first one.
Next week will still be tense, though. Marquez only has to finish the race, basically, but Terrol has nothing to lose. A Terrol 1st or 2nd and a Marquez DNF...
I agree about Espargaro, he wasn't going to gain enough (if anything) doing the same as the others so he may as well have taken the risks for the potentially bigger gains. As for next week, i don't think it'll be an issue if it's dry. Marquez has won 4 in a row and has to finsih 8th, he can easily find his way into a couple of seconds of empty tarmac and just go round (probably on the podium). If it's wet, then serious tension
Yehh exciting stuff. Marquez really should be champion...10 wins and a ride like that. Can't believe he kept his cool I was almost positive that he was going to make a mistake trying to catch up from the back of the grid. How the hell did he make that start? 16th to 5th by the first turn. Amazing
Just watched it again, really was ubelievable and brilliant. Marquez has made this season his and it will feel so cruel if he doesn't get the title, i think everyone would agree he deserves it and that he's got the potential to be big (maybe not physically) in the future. I'm not sure how many of you watch the Eurosport feed, but based on Toby Moody's reaction to the events i'd be very surprised if his next column wasn't about Marquez
