Van der Mark is the only rider on anyone's radar. Jonathan Rea too, but he won't go, unless it's to a top team, and top teams want younger riders.
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Van der Mark is the only rider on anyone's radar. Jonathan Rea too, but he won't go, unless it's to a top team, and top teams want younger riders.
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I'm a little surprised that so many people here still think MM is gonna be a title threat, don't get me wrong I'm a fan of his for sure, but haven't seen much in testing that shows race winning pace, yeah he was quick at PI but that track is pretty unique on the calendar and lots of Lefts suit Marc very well.
He is probably the fastest guy for a "brain left in the garage" 1 lap in GP at the moment, but he needs to ride on a knife edge to really get the best from a bike even pushing 99% doesn't quite compute for him.
I'm sure he will have learned from 2015 after throwing away a solid title challenge trying to win at all costs that 2nd 3rd or lower are still points in the bag.
But maybe his biggest challenge (other than long Italian legs) is gonna be dealing with the fact he no longer has the best bike to rely on, I'm still not sure where Honda sit in the pecking order for 2016 but seems likely the Yam's will at least start the season with the best package, then you have a Trackback:rejuvenated Suzuki effort that might be a threat and with the ever powerful Duc's benefiting more and more from Mr Goatee its hard to tell where Honda stack up. Sure that HRC will get it right eventually, but somehow I don't see any/many early season wins for MM or DP.
Longest post I've written (maybe ever) how do you do it Jum
He is probably the fastest guy for a "brain left in the garage" 1 lap in GP at the moment, but he needs to ride on a knife edge to really get the best from a bike even pushing 99% doesn't quite compute for him.
I'm sure he will have learned from 2015 after throwing away a solid title challenge trying to win at all costs that 2nd 3rd or lower are still points in the bag.
But maybe his biggest challenge (other than long Italian legs) is gonna be dealing with the fact he no longer has the best bike to rely on, I'm still not sure where Honda sit in the pecking order for 2016 but seems likely the Yam's will at least start the season with the best package, then you have a Trackback:rejuvenated Suzuki effort that might be a threat and with the ever powerful Duc's benefiting more and more from Mr Goatee its hard to tell where Honda stack up. Sure that HRC will get it right eventually, but somehow I don't see any/many early season wins for MM or DP.
Longest post I've written (maybe ever) how do you do it Jum
I know that Jack Miller is signed for next year also, but Krops relays rumours that Honda is not happy with his work ethic. Like the other Honda riders, he has been hamstrung by being stuck on the Honda, but his results were not outstanding. However he did outpoint Hayden, a previous world champion, or does that count for nothing these days?
He should be better placed with the standard ecu this year, so for his sake he needs to get a lot closer to the front and not crash. It is hard to like Miller at the best of times, so he needs results if he wants a following. Stoner was outstanding on the LCR Honda in his first year (until they gave him the C tyres).
Miller is nowhere near that. Could Miller be somehow sidelined in 2017 , if he is poor this year?
He should be better placed with the standard ecu this year, so for his sake he needs to get a lot closer to the front and not crash. It is hard to like Miller at the best of times, so he needs results if he wants a following. Stoner was outstanding on the LCR Honda in his first year (until they gave him the C tyres).
Miller is nowhere near that. Could Miller be somehow sidelined in 2017 , if he is poor this year?
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I want Miller to do well (being a fellow compatriot), and I want to like him, but at times I find it hard to as well. I'm not quite sure what it is. Maybe it's a feeling of arrogance before proving himself in the premier class. Granted he is still new (to the class), but I wouldn't be surprised to see his seat up for grabs if he doesn't start showing more progression in his performance.
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Haha,
My question to myself is often 'why do I do it?'
Addiction. Some people smoke crack, me, I'm here writing crap. I'll admit, after the first and last test I felt like HRC are done, out of the title. But after looking at the lap analysis a bit more, I don't think wins are out of the question for Marquez, and the odds remain 1:3 for him. Obviously the big unknown is what tire will Rossi pick for Marquez. (Ya see what I did there?) My biggest concern for Marquez and Lorenzo is that they will push beyond the limit to beat Rossi and hand him points by crashing out. Rossi's strategy will be to ride for points at each round. My hope is that Marquez applies what he said he learned for 2015, that being-- finishing is more important than not!
Where is the RCV pecking order? So far:
1. Factory Yamaha
2. Factory Honda
3. Factory Ducati
4. Factory Suzuki
Ducati & Suzuki may have surprise showings now and then, particularly on tracks that suit them, but the top two factories remain the same imo.
The knife's edge he rode at those two years were a bit deceiving because lucky for him he cheated the consequences and probabilities of crashing. Last year was a more realistic example of what to expect when riding like this. Its why I say, IF he applies what he said he learned, then settling for points will be valuable towards the title when he can compete for the win.
If you study the race simulation stint from the Qatar test, theoretically Marquez would have been in contention for the win against Lorenzo. Another thing we don't know is how the tire will react in the last 5+ laps of a race. Remember Argentina last year? Tire choice at this point may be more than just an educated guess, at this point it's a blind in the wind gamble. Another thing to consider, the ECU used to know .... that would make Nostradamus quiver, not so for the spec ECU. This means race strategy will be much harder to manage over a race distance! One thing that always seems to be true, if there is "good luck" involved, Rossi will be the recipient, so I always go into every race thinking if something can go wrong for others, it will. Expect some wacky .... to happen with 5-8 laps to go.
For me, im going into this season as it being Rossi’s title to lose. That's because my perspective is cynical, factoring in the huge influence he has in seen and unseen pressure points for the series. If all the .... that has changed because of him is ignored, what can I say to convince anyone. If I believed GP was a clean foot race, obviously I would feel Lorenzo is the man to beat, then Marquez. Qatar may be a bit of an anamoly, but Marquez has won every race at Austin. If he loses this year, then I expect the title to be difficult for him. But let me add, HRC will bring out 30 chassis and throw half away before they make it to the track, such are their resources. The factory RCV is definitely experiencing issues now, but HRC will throw everything at the problem. Too bad for them they let the best test rider go, which won't help their cause. But they got more money than god, and will have it all available to fix their bike.
I believe that the rumours were last years news as Krop did expand that Millers work ethics had greatly changed with a change in team or was it team personnel (will allow Krop to answer) and haven't seen anything yet to indicate a regression to Jack's lazy ways.
That said, I am not as impressed as I want to be at this stage of 2016 with his results but am weighing up the apparent fact that the Honda has improved minutely and is yet to come to grips with the tyres/electronics
As for hard to like, nah for me he is easy to like but harder to take seriously and from feedback I see around the net, he is quite well liked for his attitude of fun. One only needed to look at Sepang last year where in practice Rossi decided to play games with Lorenzo at a practice start whilst Jack rode past on the back wheel - comments (positive) galore from Hayden, Crutchlow and numerous fans
Jack is far more likable than is/was Stoner, all he needs is some of Stoner's talent
I was wondering with Rea if they're looking at the bike making a huge difference as it seems to be much better than the other bikes right now. VDM seems like worth taking a risk on though.
Arrabbiata1
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It's certainly the seat of choice - and the same thing was levelled at Sykes a few years ago..mainly by his fellow Brits lining up behind him on the grid. Then again it always is when a talented rider is availed with competitive equipment, although few enjoy the flagrant advantages and exploit the huge inequities that Ago, Fogarty, Rossi did throughout much of their factory career. To a certain extent I'd also add Sheene to that list for a time, the way he coralled the best machinery before he laid a huge turd on Suzuki's doorstep in one of the most miscalculated stunts in the history of the sport bar Ross's departure to Ducati. Unfortunately for Bazza, he the entire series wasn't prepared to capitulate to his whim to get him out of the .... (unlke today) and he never got a competitive ride again.
Watch again the performances that Rea put in whilst on the vastly inferior Blade and maybe consider his 2012 deputisation for Stoner where he acquitted himself admirably on the unfamiliar unforgiving 'stones and the complex RC213v.
Arrabbiata1
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Very true - a bike built around his feedback but don't underestimate the great development work that Rea did at Honda under a negative factory policy and to a certain extent VDM is now reaping the benefits of. The philosophy at Kawasaki and the resources made available means that the team is more conducive to catering for rider preferences.
Also, as I mentioned in the WSB thread, the new pivot point adjustment on the swing arm and headstock for the new '10 is at the riders request...be nice if Chaz had the luxury of a factory that listens to his feedback.
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HRC brought in Alberto Puig to kick him into shape, and impress upon him that nothing is a given. Miller is rumored to enjoy a tipple a little too much, a trait, they say, which runs in the family. I have not witnessed this first hand, it is paddock gossip, so should be taken with several tequilas worth of salt.
Miller dropped a bunch of weight towards the end of the season, and Cristian Gabarrini praised his attitude. Said he realized he had to be more professional, and started working on that. Miller has exceptional talent, but exceptional talent will only get you so far. At this level, you need to back that talent up with a huge pile of hard work. As Valentino Rossi found out when Stoner, Pedrosa, Lorenzo joined the class. Now, Rossi trains just as hard as the others. No more relying on talent to beat riders like Gibernau.
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You guys put this sykes guy way too high. To know his level, one only need to look back to when he & Spies joins WSBK. Both came up from their respective national series as champions at the same time, on the same team. With the BSB having more pedigree over the AMA, all favor the Brit rider over the American. We all know how that worked out. If Ben was not snowballed by yamaha to wreck his career, he would still be kicking sykes ass all over the WSBK calendar. So lets not get too high & mighty on sykes. The cream of the current WSBK riders are both Rea & MVDM. Got to suck to have a guy walk into your house & kick your ass and take the title.
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Though I agree Spies was a great talent in Wsbk and got screwed by GP politics, I have to say I rate Sykes highly. Have you watched Wsbk Thailand?
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Yest I did! Was actually surprised to see he has a set of balls.. I can tell you 2013 was a wasted subscription year for me due to his boring riding style. It was like watching F1. I slept thru most of those races a soon they started.
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Haha, harsh. But I get it. Some riders just rub us wrong. Sykes is cool for me, it's Jrea that rubs me wrong. I tend to give him schtic. Something about his face. Its too bad GP doesn't take supers seriously. GP also has a hard on for boys, don't like to give the men a fair shot. I'd like to see Pol E and VDM on the same bike. See what's what.
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Interestingly, Bradders has put his hat into the ring early and said he is "Almost certain" to leave Tech3 at the end of the season, saying Herve won't renew his contract.
If I were him, I'd be knocking on the door of Suzuki to replace Vinales if he goes, or Espargaro.
MCN are also reporting that Yamaha have told Pol he is out in 2017.
If I were him, I'd be knocking on the door of Suzuki to replace Vinales if he goes, or Espargaro.
MCN are also reporting that Yamaha have told Pol he is out in 2017.
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I look for them both to be out. As has been said, the squad is mostly for factory team prospects. They both have spent enough time there. At least he gave Brad an early notice so he has time to get something else lined up. I also hope Brad can get a factory gig.
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