MotoGP: 2016 Round 1 - Qatar (SPOILERS)

I know it's just over a week away, but stuff it I'm excited for the season start!



Length: 3.34 miles/5.4 km
Corners: 6 Left, 10 Right
Longest Straight: 1068m
Race length: 22 Laps/73.5 miles

Results 2015:
1. Rossi (Yamaha)
2. Dovizioso (Ducati)
3. Iannone (Ducati)

Most wins:
Rossi/Stoner: 4

Most Poles:
Stoner: 4

Fastest Laps:
QP: Lorenzo 2008, 1:53.927
Race: Stoner 2008, 1:55.153

Weather is supposed to be dry with a 20% chance of rain on the Sunday. I couldn't work out how to embed weather forecast pics like budiost.

Let the season begin!

Prediction:

Crashing, otherwise;

1. Yamaha
2. Honda
3. Ducati

The track will be sandier than Erin Andrews ....... Rossi on the podium with Ionone and Lolo.

Why is Erin Andrews ...... sandy?

WVMotoGP99 said:

Why is Erin Andrews ...... sandy?

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, pre-$55m Erin Andrews had a sandy ....... It seems the drought is over.

It's a guess but

1 Lorenzo
2 Marquez
3 Rossi
4 ianone
5 Maverick

I am going dark-horse(s)!

1 Yamaha (JL)
2 A Duc
3 A Duc

Yes.. A Double Duccer Podium!!

1) Marquez - Win it or Bin it
2) Rossi - cause he wont be close enough to affected by the last lap fracas
3) Maverick - Will qualify very well and will stick to the leaders long enough to get on podium

JLo - will taken out by MM on the last lap due to MM's desperation to start the year right....and if MM does take JLo out then MM will take himself out giving JLo the win...

Ducati's will be lead by Iannone in 4th followed closely by Redding...

If tyre management is going to be an issue I tip VR's experience to
shine. Definitely a podium.
Top 5 in any order.
Marquez
Vinales
Rossi
Lorenzo
Illanone

46 gets ..... slapped by 25, 93 & 99. Then cry about the Spanish Armada conspiracy.....

Ianonne ............... yes, really
Marquez
Rossi/Vinales

I should add - all depending on the tyres as I feel that they do give Rossi and edge (conspiracy theory hat is on)

1. Lorenzo takes the pole, take the lead from the start to the end.
2. Rossi Struggles with Marques then see Vinales pass by then goes "ahhhh not today, ehhh, you too early, ahhhhhh"
3. Marquez battles with Rossi but settles on 3rd if not crashing. Vinales takes the 3rd in case marques crashes.
4. Ianonne hangs around but falls short.

1st - Lorenzo
2nd - Rossi
3rd - Marquez
4th - Redding
5th - Vinales

I'm going to be boring and sort of copy the race simulation:

1. Lorenzo
2. Marquez
3. Redding
4. Rossi
5. Vinales.

this is the ducati track so my guess is at least 1 would be on the podium. plus it demand tire management (specially the front) too, my guess is lorenzo starts well but falls short at the end:

1.Rossi

2.Ianonne

3.Lorenzo

Gaz said:

Ianonne ............... yes, really
Marquez
Rossi/Vinales

I should add - all depending on the tyres as I feel that they do give Rossi and edge (conspiracy theory hat is on)

Click to expand...

Any particular reason Jorge doesn't podium? Tires?

I honestly have no idea there's just so many variables with the new electronics and tyres. I am going to pick Marquez for a win, I think he can beat the other guys in a battle head to head, I think that he adapts quicker than the other guys and also rides better on worn tyres. Iannone and Lorenzo to be on the podium.

I get the feeling we will see Marquez outsmart Rossi Most times this year when they battle. I think Rossi is too emotionally invested in his 'feud' and Marquez is every bit the racer he is I expect Marquez will be the one thinking clearer. We saw at sepang Rossi pushing so hard to stay in front of Maq he nearly high sided a couple of times(I believe this was why he did what he did to Marquez) I think that this year he will crash doing the same thing and the yellow army will be at their insane best.

Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar
Losail International Circuit, Qatar

LENGTH: 5.4 km / 3.34 miles
CORNERS: 6 left - 10 right
WIDTH: 12 m. / 39.37 ft.
LONGEST STRAIGHT: 1068 m. / 3503.94 ft.
Laps: 22
2/3 of laps: -
Total distance: 118.4 km / 73.5 miles

Weather courtesy of Weather.com


Season Opener Press Conference (Director's Cut)

MODERATOR: Thank you to everyone for joining us today as we get ready to start the 2016 season. Thank you also all of riders who were able to join us today [pause]... this time. Jorge Lorenzo, as the reigning champion why don't we start with you? Can you speak to some of the preparations that you have done during the off season?

JORGE: Yes. Every season, we get harder....

IANNONE: [snickers and pokes Rossi]

JORGE: [pause] Yes, it get harder to the physical. They have the new bike, and so I want to get best out of it. So I train really hard, and now I can do solo flights. So I think I am more ready now.

MODERATOR: I'm sorry, did you say solo flights?

LORENZO: Yes. Is this not the word? I do the ground school, the flying with instructor.

MODERATOR: I don't see how....

LORENZO: I do not have enough hour for full license, but they say since M1 now has so many wings it counts as solo flight hours. So end of season I get my license.

MODERATOR: I see. That's not quite... Ok, then. Do you have any concerns about Sunday's race?



LORENZO: Yes. I think I take the hole shot, then when I get to pit lane I exit and whole field follows me.

ROSSI: [quietly] It just got real!

MODERATOR: [hurriedly] So we'll switch now to Honda factory rider Marc Marquez. Marc you seemed to have been struggling a little early in the test but seemed to have found something that allowed you to stay with Lorenzo.

ROSSI: [quietly] A tow hook?

MODERATOR: [hurriedly] Can you tell us a little, MARC, about that?

MARQUEZ: Yes we have some of the trouble with the electronics. It is new, the one size electronics, and the bike is not good with it yet. We have some troubles, but the team works hard and we find something. I try to stay with Lorenzo and then I am able to so this is good.

MODERATOR: Cal Crutchlow has said that this year's bike is more physical to ride, and in fact finished less than 2 tenths behind you at the end of testing.

MARQUEZ: For sure, is harder. We understanding that there are plenty of changes. First is switch to Michelin. Then we have the new software, is not so good as last year. Then they mandate wings and landing gear....

MODERATOR: I'm sorry, Marc, to interrupt but the wings were not part of the technical updates for this year.

MARQUEZ: If we find something that they help then maybe...

SUPPO: [grabs mike] What Marc means to say is that Honda is investigating appropriate use of technologies already in evidence on other teams. And any decisions from the MotoGP governance concerning wings or ECUs or electronics has had no influence by Honda corporate, Repsol Honda or their subsidiaries.

MODERATOR: Er, okay. On that....

SUPPO: Ever. Just saying. Ever.

MODERATOR: Right. Ever. Moving on the the runner up last year. Valentino you came really close to wrapping up your 10th title but fell just short. How are you feeling going into this season after practice?

ROSSI: Yes, ah, is elephant in room with Marquez but I....

LORENZO: He call you fat.

MARQUEZ: You call me...

ROSSI: What? No, I say... look, is okay. We ride and we see Marquez behind Lorenzo. And Marquez push and Lorenzo push, but Marquez not trying to overtake Lorenzo.

MARQUEZ: I did not give Lorenzo race win!

ROSSI: I am, ah, talking about the practice.

MARQUEZ: Oh.

ROSSI: Yes, I was saying. The tires, they are the new. But in practice we do the good laps. We are close over race distance. So I get close and then I have the chance.

MODERATOR: With new tires and electronics mandated for 2016 there has been a lot of talk about a level playing field to start the season. What's your strategy going into the first race.

ROSSI: Yes, for sure I think it is more even. Now we have to make improvement. I work with my trainer, Chun Li, and, ah, I think for sure we have something for the next race.

MARQUEZ: Chun Li... she is....

MODERATOR: Thank you everyone. Good luck in Qatar.

IANNONE: There are more people here you know.

MODERATOR: [turns off lights]



STATS

Read More At: AyerFleming.com

So Rossi, Marquez and Lorenzo will all be seated next to each other, my question is other than Kropo, will there be any journalists in attendance with the balls to ask the hard questions with follow-ups that won't let Rossi off the hook?

Krops, I'll assume you'll be there, bring your A-game dude. 10 year anni, means you got the tenure to be the 4th Estate. Do us proud.