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They were saying on bt sports that the track was very greasy and the first session would be treated as a track clearing exercise so as to lay rubber down. The times were way slower than last years pace apparently. They doubted many would try hard at all during fp1.
Crutchlow finished last I think [emoji1]
Crutchlow finished last I think [emoji1]
Joined Jul 2015
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Hurricane, WV
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NJ
Very difficult to see where the bikes are at here.
Jack Miller was drifting the bike through turn 6 like Casey Stoner, was quite impressive to see given the low grip conditions.
Can't really tell where the RCV213 is at for MM right now. He went fastest yes with a 1:43, but unsure of where the acceleration is coming out turn 4 onto the back straight. Sector 2 is going to be a huge make or break for him. The Ducati's were at the top of the speed traps with Iannone hitting 325km/h. Everyone else is down by 7-10km/h.
I'm probably in the minority on this, but I'm not convinced the Ducati power advantage is really going to mean .... in the long haul. It's impressive, but it's really all about that cornering speed for them since they were coughing up the time back everywhere else at Losail.
The M1 at Termas de Rio is unknown right now. Lorenzo and Rossi never really pushed right now. We'll see what FP2 brings now that Moto3 and Moto2 will have added further rubber to the tarmac.
MM rides well here, but it's all about the bike setup and if it can give him enough to accelerate out of corners strongly. If he can, watch out.
Jack Miller was drifting the bike through turn 6 like Casey Stoner, was quite impressive to see given the low grip conditions.
Can't really tell where the RCV213 is at for MM right now. He went fastest yes with a 1:43, but unsure of where the acceleration is coming out turn 4 onto the back straight. Sector 2 is going to be a huge make or break for him. The Ducati's were at the top of the speed traps with Iannone hitting 325km/h. Everyone else is down by 7-10km/h.
I'm probably in the minority on this, but I'm not convinced the Ducati power advantage is really going to mean .... in the long haul. It's impressive, but it's really all about that cornering speed for them since they were coughing up the time back everywhere else at Losail.
The M1 at Termas de Rio is unknown right now. Lorenzo and Rossi never really pushed right now. We'll see what FP2 brings now that Moto3 and Moto2 will have added further rubber to the tarmac.
MM rides well here, but it's all about the bike setup and if it can give him enough to accelerate out of corners strongly. If he can, watch out.
Joined May 2009
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I agree at most tracks. The only tracks that will give the higher speed an advantage are high speed tracks with few hard breaking corners. Possibly Sepang. I don't think that top speed will matter down the first straight at Mugello. Its going to be a ..... to stop that bird in time.
Joined Apr 2015
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NJ
A great chassis with less HP will negate a good chassis with HP advantage quite easily nowadays. Yeah MM was down 9km/h to Dovizioso and only 9 hundreths of a second in lap time in FP1, not really a good look for Ducati going easy or not. That hot lap in Q2 at Losail MM didn't get off was faster than anything the GP16 did and I'd rate MM a better rider than either Ducati rider. I have more faith in MM to perform than I do either Duc rider as well.
Right now MM is at the top of the sheets early in FP2.
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