Neither did Lorenzo but there are some pretty amazing clips of him being shot into outer space. I think in your rookie season you're competing against your machinery not the other riders, and while his machinery is par excellence it's still a monster that must be tamed first and that will probably take the whole year.
Neither did Lorenzo but there are some pretty amazing clips of him being shot into outer space. I think in your rookie season you're competing against your machinery not the other riders, and while his machinery is par excellence it's still a monster that must be tamed first and that will probably take the whole year.
The machine, as delivered from the factory, was capable of being competitive.
In the hands of Repsol HRC it was competitive. It was the first year in GP for LCR. They had no setup data, no development parts, off-the-shelf tyres, 'stock' HRC brakes and Showa suspension and a tiny budget. Fortuna Gresini was the 'official' satellite team with Minolta the token Japanese entry. Cecchinello bought the bike off the shelf on the back of good work in the 250 class and were scraping to be entering races, let alone to be competitive on R&D. Hence the reason Stoner was riding used tyres - they didn't have the budget for fresh tyres for testing, warm-up, qualifying and race-day.
That the bike was competitive was probably as much down to Stoner's balls-out riding as anything else - and the fact the Honda was a rocket in a straight line. There were 5 other well-heeled HRC bikes in the field that he was in the middle of - I would say Tamada and Elias were beaten by talent. Despite being in the mix, LCR was definitely the poor relation when it came to parts and setup. All credit to them that in their rookie year they came 8th ahead of two well-funded and factory-supported efforts.
Used tyres or no, Stoner crashed because he out-rode his equipment. It made for some exciting racing.
The level of electronics available on the HRC almost guarantees he could ride it like a scooter down to the burger bar and still finish up the front.
The mitigation available is functionally indistinguishable to a angel-held safety net around the bike. If he chooses to adjust it to go outside that safety net (which of course he will) anything could happen
Lorenzo had dialled down all the help and paid for it in bruises and abrasions.
He also made some bone-headed moves - like having the wrong map selected for a practice start, which resulted in him hurting his pride...
The safety equipment is there and will protect you. The reason those guys are WCs is because they have the skill to turn a lot of it off and deal with the raw power. I hope Marquez listens to his handlers and gets to grips with the bike without any serious damage.
He hurt himself badly in 2011 - I think he knows what an effect it can have on your stats. On the back of his head injury he has to be considered a little suspect - he needs to treat that head with caution. You can't ride without eyes...
I think 4th on the basis of the following assumptions:
1. Lorenzo doesn't get injured.
2. Pedrosa doesn't get injured.
3. Rossi takes to the Yamaha and doesn't get injured.
4. Marquez doesn't get injured and sit out multiple GPs
1. Lorenzo doesn't get injured.
2. Pedrosa doesn't get injured.
3. Rossi takes to the Yamaha and doesn't get injured.
4. Marquez doesn't get injured and sit out multiple GPs
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Joined Feb 2009
3K Posts | 2+
siebenbürgen süße heimat!
On a related note, I also went out on a limb and offered a bet in Wsbk, which it looks I will surely lose, but everybody was too chickenshit to take me up on it.
wait a minute, foggy memory that i remember a bet i was willing to take up.
are we talking about davies or what was it?
refresh my memory please
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
