As expected, Zarco is going back to the 2016 chassis.
The 2017, undeniably now, is a dog's breakfast.
The 2017, undeniably now, is a dog's breakfast.
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
Joined Jul 2007
5K Posts | 1K+
unda cheese
Joined Mar 2015
2K Posts | 337+
Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Zarco will leave this year is my prediction. In fact I think KTM might be whispering in Hervé Poncharal's ear. That'd be a 2 fingered salute to the idiots at Yamaha.
He, like Mav's first contact with the 17 chassis at Valencia in 2016, raved about it when he first rode it at Valencia.
It's interesting that both Mav and Zarco both went back on their initial impressions.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Test is over and it appears all the big factories have bought their A Game for 2018. Ducati looks strong with Lorenzo shattering track record and Dovi up toward the front the entire test. Word is they have dramatically improved the one big negative,mid corner turn.Yamaha looks strong BUT, after 2 days of loving life, the phantom rear issue raised its head on day three and they don’t know why. Maybe it just hits the wall when it comes nut cutting time and can’t go to the limits of the other contenders. Suzuki has improved but like Yamaha seem to hit a wall when it comes time to throw down the ultra fast lap. From first glance , Honda appears to be solid until you look at race pace and see no one is close to what Marquez has to offer. Not once in three days did he go for a time attack saying he no longer looks at the pylon and has to see his number up top that he will only push the edge now when it matters. We will see. His race pace is scary. Can’t wait for season, it’s been a long long off season for me as I was rehabbing but one positive is, I wore video pass out, watched every race from the last 15 years, ready for something new.
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Perhaps a stop and go track like Valencia is not the best choice for evaluating a prototype to the fullest extent...
Yeah I got that feeling about Marquez. He started using testing for testing and doesn't give any ..... about who tops the test. If Dani and Cal are near the top though you can bet he's going to be quicker than them when he wants to be.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
I tend to agree - with the proviso that, Honda hasn't (as they're famous for doing) let their people over-engineer the bike in ways that don't translate to a more rideable machine. If Ducati has stepped up their game, with Dovi bursting with confidence and Lorenzo finally having a bike more aligned with with his riding style the odds won't be nearly so good for another Marquez championship. Dovi really made Marquez work hard in 2017. Baring injury or mechanical DNF he will again.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Anyone see the new rule where no longer tire construction be changed after testing starts . It’s a year to late for Vinales but I have preached time and again tha the tires these ....... bikes are built around should never be changed unless there is a safety issue. Forcada said Vinales season fell apart after tire change . He said Mav could do whatever he wanted with the original tire and lost all confidence after the change. Rossi said 1 week before the first race the bike was fine, but he hated the Michelin front. He was told he was the ONLY rider complaining and to duck it up. Two weeks later Michelin is caught basically trying to sneak the harder carcass into Argentina. Riders rebeled saying it reeked of the Saturday night specials and Michelin was not allowed to run the tires until a test and a vote.
Agreed, but keep in mind that Marquez's bike wasn't working for the 1st half of the season.
If his bike works from the get go this year, and if Marquez keeps his win-it-or-bin-it under control he will be a force.
Can't wait to see it all.
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
That was the dynamic between VR and JL too, but JL is unbeatable when everything is perfect.
