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Phillip Island Test 2017

As has been said I also don't think there is any desire from MM/HRC to dominate testing by a second a lap in terms of fastest lap. HRC have been there and done that and ended up having their bike hobbled for the forthcoming season. They don't even need to have the fastest one lap pace in any case, just a bike which is competitive and without major flaws and MM will win on it anyway.

Exactly how I feel.

I stated last season that I felt if Marquez gets a good bike --doesn't have to be a worldbeater, just not terribly difficult to ride-- he will win 2017 and the following couple of years IMO. He won on the worst/second worst bike Honda has made since the 800cc era, so that bodes poorly for the rest of the riders and teams should he get a more forgiving bike.
 
Vinales hits out at Marquez for following him on long run

Maverick Vinales has hit out at MotoGP rival Marc Marquez for following him during a long run on the third and final day of testing at Phillip Island.

Yamaha rider Vinales continued his remarkable pre-season form by topping the timesheets on Friday, 0.294s up on Honda man Marquez.

But Vinales had his programme interrupted when he aborted a race simulation after five laps, as his team informed him that he had Marquez following in his wheeltracks.

Speaking to media afterwards, the Spaniard was in a combative mood, saying he “didn’t understand” why Marquez felt the need to follow him.

“I knew it,” Vinales said when asked about the incident. “They were telling me I had him behind me and I didn't want to stop.

“The next day I do a long run it will be my turn to bother him.”

He added: “I really didn't understand it, because you are doing your job, your long run, and then being unable to push... I'm not going to carry him.

“It's hard to keep on pushing when you have him behind and you know he can study what you do. So I had to abort the long run, which was a shame because I was doing mid-1m29s all the time.

“But I'm happy. I think he did a great job too this weekend. It appears that we are both a step ahead of the rest and it will be fun.”

Vinales ended the Phillip Island test nearly a second up on Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi, and said he was satisfied with both his short and long-run pace, despite the run-in with Marquez.

“Even though I was tired in the second run, I kept running in the 1m29s for over half the race [distance],” he said.

“I'm close to Marc [over a long run], and on a single lap I did several mid-1m28s, so I'm happy.”

From his point of view, Marquez said observing Vinales on track was "interesting", and said he feels the Yamaha rider will be "tough to beat".

“Today was one run that I went out and saw that he [Vinales] passed and then was some laps,” he said. "Immediately I was able to recover this gap and then I followed him two laps and it was interesting, always, to see different bikes.

“Also I saw some Ducatis and some bikes you feel are strong. Also Suzuki was interesting to follow because it looks really good.

“Yamaha, like last year, they have a really competitive bike, all package is really good. It will be tough to beat them.”
 
Long run lap averages

This chart makes interesting reading for me in terms of the average laptimes produced during a longer run (10 or more consecutive laps) throughout the test ........ may be a small sign.

Look at the average for MM during his long run and the gap.

pi%20laptimes-XL.jpg



On a different note, Miller within less than a second on average whilst using a generation or two older engine may augur well for him, not forgetting he also kept it rubber side down all test as well
 
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A few more pics

These are reduced size , if anyone wants full size, just let me know or work it out through the image.

Mav
pi%20mv%201-XL.png


Maniac Joe.
pi%20ai%201-XL.png


Rins - do not have in any other size
pi%20rins-XL.jpg
 
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This chart makes interesting reading for me in terms of the average laptimes produced during a longer run (10 or more consecutive laps) throughout the test ........ may be a small sign.

Look at the average for MM during his long run and the gap.

pi%20laptimes-XL.jpg



On a different note, Miller within less than a second on average whilst using a generation or two older engine may augur well for him, not forgetting he also kept it rubber side down all test as well

I'm rather surprised with Rins, I honestly wasn't really expecting much from him this season and figured he would be fumbling around for most of it getting his head around the power and speed of the GP class. Whether or not his race craft can match his pace is still yet to be seen, but defiantly good to see him comfortable on the bike.
 
I'm rather surprised with Rins, I honestly wasn't really expecting much from him this season and figured he would be fumbling around for most of it getting his head around the power and speed of the GP class. Whether or not his race craft can match his pace is still yet to be seen, but defiantly good to see him comfortable on the bike.

I guess I'm not surprised. He always struck me as capable, aggressive and mentally grounded. With the well revived Suzuki effort behind him - I expect he'll be very much in the mix.
 
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I guess I'm not surprised. He always struck me as capable, aggressive and mentally grounded. With the well revived Suzuki effort behind him - I expect he'll be very much in the mix.

I think Rins showed us down the stretch last season that he was mentally weak when the pressure was on to deliver results to try and put himself in contention for the Moto2 title. Not to say he won't have any success in GP, but I'm not yet convinced with him. He is going to have to really strengthen up his mental game if he is going to have any kind of success out there in GP. Going to be interesting to see how he handles the pressure at Losail.
 
Also it needs to be noted that Rins crashed in the Japanese GP Moto3 race in 2013 when he was on pole, and was 5 points out of the championship lead heading into the race. Finishing on the podium would have put him in the points lead, and the same finish at Valencia would have given him the title. He has blown multiple opportunities to seize control of the championship battle in Moto 3 and then Moto 2...hence my lack of conviction with his ability to get the job done in GP now.
 
Also it needs to be noted that Rins crashed in the Japanese GP Moto3 race in 2013 when he was on pole, and was 5 points out of the championship lead heading into the race. Finishing on the podium would have put him in the points lead, and the same finish at Valencia would have given him the title. He has blown multiple opportunities to seize control of the championship battle in Moto 3 and then Moto 2...hence my lack of conviction with his ability to get the job done in GP now.

Everybody crashes. ....... remember Rossi at Valencia 2006? He had the championship in his back pocket. He could have easily cruised to the win - and yet he suffered an apparent brain fart and threw it away. Love him or hate him - nobody would say he was mentally weak - especially then. Morally deficient maybe. But his race-craft was strong. I don't predict that Rins will be a contender in his first season, but I strongly believe he'll make a much better showing than Espargaro did.
 
The presenters for Sepang this year were awful. I barely bothered to watch after last year's awful stream. I obviously didn't miss anything from your account, and the others I've read to date. I guess in fairness, coming up with things to say for as long as each day's test was, has to be challenging since there's no video to provide color about...and staring at timing screens for 8 hours has to get old by hour 2.

Nothing to say and hours of droning on....Sounds like they've been reading your posts during the broadcast
 
Nothing to say and hours of droning on....Sounds like they've been reading your posts during the broadcast

Always pissy and continually lashing out a everyone, never on topic and repeatedly offending people with socially inappropriate comments. Sounds like you might be Trump's speechwriter.
 
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Everybody crashes. ....... remember Rossi at Valencia 2006? He had the championship in his back pocket. He could have easily cruised to the win - and yet he suffered an apparent brain fart and threw it away. Love him or hate him - nobody would say he was mentally weak - especially then. Morally deficient maybe. But his race-craft was strong. I don't predict that Rins will be a contender in his first season, but I strongly believe he'll make a much better showing than Espargaro did.

Rins is making a consistent habit of taking himself out through unforced errors. Certainly it can be corrected, but the Moto 2 stuff last season was painful to watch due to the self-inflicted nature of it all. I'm not sure if I am willing to commit to him making a much better showing than Espargaro did last season. I feel it will all come down to what kind of pressure he starts feeling from Iannone. If Iannone somehow figures out a way to not crash (doubtful) and put up consistent high finishing results, that could cause Rins to start overriding to try and match Iannone.
 
Always pissy and continually lashing out a everyone, never on topic and repeatedly offending people with socially inappropriate comments. Sounds like you might be Trump's speechwriter.

JKD is another worthless member who has nothing of value to say. His only interest here is to act as a colossal troll.
 
Always pissy and continually lashing out a everyone, never on topic and repeatedly offending people with socially inappropriate comments. Sounds like you might be Trump's speechwriter.

Im often down with gangbangs too.


What was the topic anyway? Rins mental toughness? I'll defer to the expertise of Michael M, and Gaz on that one. Strangely though, neither of them has questioned jerpes assertion about Rins mental state. They've always been so quick to defend others that have been accused of such. Maybe their expertise only applies to the mental makeup of Aussies
 
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Im often down with gangbangs too. '

That explains a lot actually JKD, but each their own I suppose

BTW, would that have been room 2 at the blue oyster?



What was the topic anyway? Rins mental toughness? I'll defer to the expertise of Michael M, and Gaz on that one. Strangely though, neither of them has questioned jerpes assertion about Rins mental state. They've always been so quick to defend others that have been accused of such. Maybe their expertise only applies to the mental makeup of Aussies

Sunday morning over here man so have better things to do than get involved in a pissing contest between you two but will say outright that as I have done with claims of JL (not just Aussies, do keep up dear boy), mental toughness is not an issue for top flight athletes as they are all mentally tough (funnily enough, sometimes this toughness may also be a weakness in that it prohibits thought outside of their box/circle).

With Rins, I reserve judgement as I have not seen a lot of Moto2 over the last few years but as I have said many times before and will say it again for the kindergarten class ........... how one performs in another class is often irrelevant as sometimes they gel brilliantly with a category/bike/combination of all in such a manner that they become something else ..........

See JKD, I prefer not to comment on things that I just have not enough knowledge of on which to comment, thus Rins is in that category, just as would AMA racing be if someone asked.

Would you like that in another colour or is that crayon ok? :p



The topic was actually the PI test but as seems the way, we have taken a sidetrack as the pissing continues (just be careful not to splash your own shoes man, the smell lingers)
 
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Always pissy and continually lashing out a everyone, never on topic and repeatedly offending people with socially inappropriate comments. Sounds like you might be Trump's speechwriter.


Did you just create an 'alternative fact' with this suggestion? :)
 
That explains a lot actually JKD, but each their own I suppose

BTW, would that have been room 2 at the blue oyster?





Sunday morning over here man so have better things to do than get involved in a pissing contest between you two but will say outright that as I have done with claims of JL (not just Aussies, do keep up dear boy), mental toughness is not an issue for top flight athletes as they are all mentally tough (funnily enough, sometimes this toughness may also be a weakness in that it prohibits thought outside of their box/circle).

With Rins, I reserve judgement as I have not seen a lot of Moto2 over the last few years but as I have said many times before and will say it again for the kindergarten class ........... how one performs in another class is often irrelevant as sometimes they gel brilliantly with a category/bike/combination of all in such a manner that they become something else ..........

See JKD, I prefer not to comment on things that I just have not enough knowledge of on which to comment, thus Rins is in that category, just as would AMA racing be if someone asked.

Would you like that in another colour or is that crayon ok? :p



The topic was actually the PI test but as seems the way, we have taken a sidetrack as the pissing continues (just be careful not to splash your own shoes man, the smell lingers)

Your not arguing with me. I did not assert that Rins was mentally weak. That was Jerpes.
I find it interesting that you claim to know the mental makeup of one particular rider but not another, given that in reality none of us knows jack .... about any of them outside of their livery and lap times. I suggest you watch Superbowl 51 before you start making blanket statements about all professional athletes mental prowess. To make it easy for you, go ahead and fast foward to 6 minutes into the 3rd quarter. Let me know what you think about the mental toughness of the team that was leading by 25 points with 23 minutes to play.
Maybe you can add Rins to your instagram and facebook along with that other guy you so heartily follow. Let us know what you come up with. I'm very curious to know if he is mentally weak.
 
Your not arguing with me. I did not assert that Rins was mentally weak. That was Jerpes.
I find it interesting that you claim to know the mental makeup of one particular rider but not another, given that in reality none of us knows jack .... about any of them outside of their livery and lap times. I suggest you watch Superbowl 51 before you start making blanket statements about all professional athletes mental prowess. To make it easy for you, go ahead and fast foward to 6 minutes into the 3rd quarter. Let me know what you think about the mental toughness of the team that was leading by 25 points with 23 minutes to play.
Maybe you can add Rins to your instagram and facebook along with that other guy you so heartily follow. Let us know what you come up with. I'm very curious to know if he is mentally weak.

I am not arguing with you ...... I am responding to your suggestion thus I direct to you.

I have never stated to know the makeup of any rider JKD, despite your suggestion but by all means, believe that which you will in your own world and mind as I will not question.

BTW once again however I suggest that you revisit (even if it does not suit your style) for I have defended a number of riders from the usual mental commentary not just the one for whom you seem to have a man crush (or perhaps that should be crutch) and have been very strong in 2016 defending JL from just such usal ........ assertions of some..

Superbowl ......... that is some US sport isn't it and it means as much to be as do the bowel movements of the average gerbil ....... nothing, no interest at all so why would I want to watch a highlight reel of Lady Gaga doing her Simpsons impression?

You now seemingly have a fascination with Rins so perhaps it is you that should add him to the various social media forum as I gather you use them and perhaps you could ask him yourself as for me, he is in the top flight of his chosen sport - enough said.

Oh, and BTW I actually follow no rider (on social media sites) so have NFI as to what each gets up to (although I do try to keep up with Toby Price's recovery) but what I do is keep an ear to the ground with friends (yes I know, hard to believe but I do have some) and enjoy life without the need to be a keyboard warrior of sorts.
 
Im often down with gangbangs too.


What was the topic anyway? Rins mental toughness? I'll defer to the expertise of Michael M, and Gaz on that one. Strangely though, neither of them has questioned jerpes assertion about Rins mental state. They've always been so quick to defend others that have been accused of such. Maybe their expertise only applies to the mental makeup of Aussies

I haven't agreed with it either. I perhaps may have been waiting to see how he goes when the racing starts or he has a season under his belt (let alone 2 world championships) to make any evaluation of him at all, including his mental toughness, given he is a rookie and this is only testing, in which mental toughness if it does have any influence in general is presumably less important, unless you want to call Casey Stoner incredibly mentally tough, since he still excels at testing not having raced for 4 seasons.

I do agree if that was your point that calls on Rins being uncompetitive on the basis of early testing times were premature, since he showed decent pace later in the PI test, comparable with Iannone (EDIT better actually, although Iannone reputedly never did a run on a soft tyre) who is a dry race winner on a bike other than a Honda or Yamaha.

Btw, I have defended you against personal attacks particularly those in regard to your family/family situation based on off-forum knowledge, but if you wish not to be called on doing nothing except take pots-shots at other posters you could perhaps consider making posts which are other than pot-shots at other posters.
 
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