Who Gets The Repsol Ride?

Segfault said:

Exactly what?
Are you trying to tell us MotoGP bike is like a spaceship which uses fuel for slowing down? I've got news for you.
1. Displacement of MotoGP engine cannot be changed, it is set by rules.
2. Internal combustion engine does not use fuel for engine braking.

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Tho you did not use the quote feature, it does appear you are referencing my post.

Who said anything about "displacement"??? Not me.

Who said anything about using fuel for engine braking??? Again . . . Not me.

Why you feel compelled to introduce these straw man arguments is a mystery.

As has been referenced by Baz, engine braking is largely calibrated electronically, as are, power delivery and numerous other engine characteristics. Cam and flywheel profiles also have huge affects on power delivery. This is why there's been so much controversy over phenomenal amounts of money being funneled into electronics research and ensuing single supplier/unified electronics rule.

p4p1 said:

I would say HRC can get anyone they want tbh. Contracts generally have a buy out clause in them and it’s not like HRC can’t afford to buy out a contract. Zarco is probably the leading man right now but his ok results on the easier to ride 2018 bike do not mean he will do well on the 2019 bike as I’m sure HRC are aware.

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What does the 2019 bike have to do with anything? He would move from the 2018 to the 2020 on the factory team.

p4p1 said:

No disrespect to Alex but realistically he won the title because everyone that had beaten him previously had moved up to MotoGP.

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I personally think he is unlikely to be any better than Jack Miller, as he wasn't when they were racing each other in moto 3, but this would still likely be (EDIT much) better than Jorge was this season or Dani was last season. I take the point the HRC bike might not suit Alex's riding style though.

Keeping his brother happy which will likely involve more than money in the future is likely to be pretty much HRC's major priority though, since it virtually guarantees them the riders' title, and likely will do so for several more years, and if it is true as rumour has it that he is pushing his brother's candidature then this is very likely not an insignificant factor.

It might actually be difficult for AM to be on the same team as his brother, but I doubt that would be their mindset and I am also unsure of AM's prospects elsewhere short or long term.

Mick D said:

What does the 2019 bike have to do with anything? He would move from the 2018 to the 2020 on the factory team.

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Marquez has said that the 2020 bike has the same issues as the 2019 bike.

p4p1 said:

Marquez has said that the 2020 bike has the same issues as the 2019 bike.

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It is still a work in progress. They have until the start of the season to make more changes.

HEY Dicks the subject of the topic is who gets the ride and not who is the most knowledgeable .... of the forum

I would say 1 year contract for Cructhlow at HRC (reward type and at the same time they wont scare a future top prospect that crutchlow retains the seat, they have to factor in the 2021 market)

Alex at LCR 1 year to make Marc happy

There is no downside for honda with the above, keeping marc happy, pre retirement crutchlow last year reward, option bid on Alex

And completely free to market anyone for 2 seats in 2021 (1 at HRC and 1 at LCR)

I think ducati will be willing to offer marc around 40mm but he wont move

darkkakashi said:

HEY Dicks the subject of the topic is who gets the ride and not who is the most knowledgeable .... of the forum

I would say 1 year contract for Cructhlow at HRC (reward type and at the same time they wont scare a future top prospect that crutchlow retains the seat, they have to factor in the 2021 market)

Alex at LCR 1 year to make Marc happy

There is no downside for honda with the above, keeping marc happy, pre retirement crutchlow last year reward, option bid on Alex

And completely free to market anyone for 2 seats in 2021 (1 at HRC and 1 at LCR)

I think ducati will be willing to offer marc around 40mm but he wont move

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Oh whatever would we do without a forum guru like yourself to school us on what to talk about? Maybe you could find time in your busy schedule to teach us the finer points on the social graces too.

Based on the more recent news it would seem that we may well see the Marquez brothers riding for the same team!! I somehow have a bad feeling about that.

Zarco's problem is his temperament and how he deals with adversity. I think any team signing him will have to take this into consideration. They also have to weigh what he will bring to the team against what a young, promising rider could.

Crutchlow seems to get along massively with his current crew. I don't see him moving to the works team when he already rides current spec machinery.

everything I have read today suggests that Alex will get the Repsol ride, and Ducati are now interested in Zarco.

Would a back marker Ducati ride be better then a Moto2 (MarcVDS) ride for Zarco?

Zarco said he would prefer to go to Marc VDS than take the Ducati.

Done deal, it's Alex >https://www.speedweek.com/motogp/news/151977/Sensation-Alex-Marquez-2020-bei-Repsol-Honda.html

evo9 said:

Done deal, it's Alex >https://www.speedweek.com/motogp/news/151977/Sensation-Alex-Marquez-2020-bei-Repsol-Honda.html

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Big mistake - I think.

Keshav said:

Big mistake - I think.

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Not for Honda if it helps them keep MM. He might even be keener on the bike being made more tractable, something he himself doesn’t need.

Otherwise maybe. The bike may not suit Alex, and being smashed by your team-mate is being smashed by your team-mate even if he is your brother.

darkkakashi said:

HEY Dicks the subject of the topic is who gets the ride and not who is the most knowledgeable .... of the forum

I would say 1 year contract for Cructhlow at HRC (reward type and at the same time they wont scare a future top prospect that crutchlow retains the seat, they have to factor in the 2021 market)

Alex at LCR 1 year to make Marc happy

There is no downside for honda with the above, keeping marc happy, pre retirement crutchlow last year reward, option bid on Alex

And completely free to market anyone for 2 seats in 2021 (1 at HRC and 1 at LCR)

I think ducati will be willing to offer marc around 40mm but he wont move

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I basically agree, they will do whatever it takes to keep MM happy, he brings more to their bike than tens of millions of engineering expenditure.

evo9 said:

The bike has lost the front end feel and is now a bit more difficult to turn. Those are the two complaints.

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The 2018 bike was difficult to ride as well, cf the results of other riders in that year in the main, and the stated rationale of hiring Lorenzo being partly to develop the bike to improve tractability.

michaelm said:

Not for Honda if it helps them keep MM. He might even
Be keener on the bike being made more tractable, something he himself doesn’t need.

Otherwise maybe. The bike may not suit Alex, and being smashed by your team-mate is being smashed by your team-mate even if he is your brother.

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No reason to think he'll do anything to help any competitor. Not even his brother.

My guess is he'd stay at HRC until he's got 10 (if that really is the "magic number") and by then, he may be so banged up that his value won't be the same. A lot can change in a few years. In the meantime HRC could have had a better development rider in Zarco - who has IMHO a greater potential to earn points towards the manufacturer championship.

If in fact the magic number is the goal that so many imagine it is, I don't think MM would throw away all he's built at Honda to keep his little brother at his side.

I really think Honda is being being short-sighted.

Keshav said:

No reason to think he'll do anything to help any competitor. Not even his brother.

My guess is he'd stay at HRC until he's got 10 (if that really is the "magic number") and by then, he may be so banged up that his value won't be the same. A lot can change in a few years. In the meantime HRC could have had a better development rider in Zarco - who has IMHO a greater potential to earn points towards the manufacturer championship.

If in fact the magic number is the goal that so many imagine it is, I don't think MM would throw away all he's built at Honda to keep his little brother at his side.

I really think Honda is being being short-sighted.

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I don't doubt there are better riders/riders with more potential than AM, and agree Zarco is likely one if them, but as I have said I think retaining MM is the absolute priority for Honda even at the cost of not winning the manufacturers' title. MM is on the point of breaking Rossi's records as a Honda rider, something hardly inconsequential for Honda particularly I would have thought because he will be supplanting Rossi, and could be their icon when he retires to trump Yamaha and Rossi. Making decisions on the basis of possible future injuries to MM which might cost them MM anyway would hardly seem the soundest of policies given he is currently in his prime and pretty much invincible, and probably capable of riding bikes other than HRC's to world titles.

In fact, it is precisely because AM has been chosen ahead of riders who are very likely better than him that I think pleasing MM was Honda's motive. How it will work out is a different matter, but if I were Honda I would be doing my utmost to please MM as well, and AM has qualified by winning the moto 2 title, and it seems to be pretty much a policy from Dorna/uncle Carmelo that the moto 2 champion should get a premier class ride, to justify that class I guess, not that I agree with said policy.

evo9 said:

Done deal, it's Alex >https://www.speedweek.com/motogp/news/151977/Sensation-Alex-Marquez-2020-bei-Repsol-Honda.html

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Not according the the commentary guys at the race. They said it's still just a rumor. Nothing confirmed. This "news piece" is I suspect just typical irresponsible click-bait like we see every year at this time.

The BT Sport commentators seemed convinced Alex is going to Repsol Honda and that they've heard this from 'high up' people.

If Alex goes to Repsol I wonder how long he'll be satisfied with playing second fiddle riding around collecting team points.