[Closed] Moto GP 2012

Untill they do away with traction control it will remain less entertaining, oh, and the one make tyre rule, and the small grids...meanwhile casey will run riot.

BSB's looking good for this year.

Honda vs Yamaha (read Stoner vs Lorenzo), Ducati best of the rest (unless they pull a giant, talking, albino bunny out of the hat), satellite teams after that trying not to be outdone by the CRT bikes (assuming they develop at a reasonable pace and their riders are good/mad enough to have a go). Transition year.

It's got the potential to be an interesting season but whether or not it is remains to be seen.

Hopefully Rossi will be back up there at the sharp end but in all honestly I can't see him challenging for the title. He'll no doubt get a few podiums but that'll be about it.

I reckon it's got to be Stoner for the title again this season as Lorenzo just doesn't seem to be at quite the same level. Hopefully him and Spies can put up some kind of challenge to Stoner's dominance as it'll make for a pretty uninteresting season otherwise.

Looking forward to it but I fear the same as you re Stoner. He's head and shoulders above everyone else and it could very quickly become a fight for second.

[url= http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/January/jan3112-sepang-lorenzo-leads-first-session/?id=134735 ]Lorenzo Fastest Day 1[/url]

Casey Stoner did not test after aggravating and old back injury while stretching in the morning.

😆 WTF????? 😯

Wonder if Mrs Stoner was responsible? Lucky boy...... 😆

BSB's looking good for this year.

Oh yes- i cant wait 😀

Hard to see how Hopkins V Hill's drag race over the line in the final round can be topped!! That was most impressive.

If he can put his back out stretching, maybe the rest of the grid will have a chance against him after all 😆

He must be gettig too old for these here sportsbikes, time for him to get something more comfortable like a Pan European!

I reckon it's got to be Stoner for the title again this season as Lorenzo just doesn't seem to be at quite the same level.

I reckon they're pretty equal, so much so that even the slightest advantage is enough to ruin the season.

And rather than get rid of traction control what they need is more teams, a bit more chaos.

Stoner to run away with it if you ask me... the boy is just astounding.

And rather than get rid of traction control what they need is more teams

Traction control ruins the racing. Nothing better than seeing a rider using his skill and feel to manually steer the bike through corners using throttle control alone.

and you still don't think Stoner would run away with it ?

and you still don't think Stoner would run away with it ?

Yes, get rid of the traction control and bring back rat boy - old Gary Macoy and marshmallo tyres

I remember seeing an article in MCN with photos of the riders lean angles pre and post traction control, pre-Tc rossi was streets ahead of everyone else, post-Tc they were all more or less the same...

Times from Speang today - Cal Crutchlow looking good! CRT bikes not even close to Superbike times 😯

1. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2’01.657 (giri 19/30)
2. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 2’02.003 (giri 44/49)
3. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) 2’02.221 (giri 33/26)
4. Ben Spies (Yamaha) 2’02.234 (giri 28/28)
5. Valentino Rossi (Ducati) 2’02.392 (giri 43/37)
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha) 2’02.751 (giri 16/20)
7. Hector Barbera (Ducati) 2’02.773 (giri 24/41)
8. Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Yamaha) 2’02.829 (giri 29/32)
9. Alvaro Baustista (Honda) 2’02.869 (giri 44/45)
10. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) 2’03.151 (giri 25/30)
11. Stefan Bradl (Honda) 2’03.668 (giri 28/44)
12. Karel Abraham (Ducati) 2’03.781 (giri 36/39)
13. Franco Battaini (Ducati) 2’04.869 (20/35)
14. Casey Stoner (Honda) 2’07.163 (giri 1/4)
15. Colin Edwards (Suter-BMW) 2’08.240 (giri 12/20)
16. Jordi Torres (BQR-Kawasaki) 2’10.671 (giri 38/42)
17. Ivan Silva (BQR-Kawasaki) 2’11.267 (giri 12/12)

take away the TC, let them choose thier own tyres and Rossi wins.....

Rossi isn't the rider he was 2 years ago and frankly Stoner is leagues ahead of everyone on a bike that is leagues ahead of all the others.

Take away TC (which I think they should do) and Stoner would still walk it, with Lorenzo close behind. Rossi used to have sets of tyres made for race day from data gathered in practise and qualifying. He also had free reign to do what he wanted on a bike with a similar configuration to the best bike on the grid.

Until Ducati move away from the L-twin (I think there's talk of it) and change the position of it in the frame, the Duke won't be a winning bike. There's a good article on motogpmatters about it, worth reading if you have a spare 15 minutes.

Moto GP as it stands is a bore-fest. I didn't watch a single race to conclusion last year as you already knew the result before the lights went green. Moto2 on the other hand....

If there's any rider who can control a bike on the knife's edge it's Stoner. Rossi is brilliant, but it took putting him on the Ducati for everyone to realise just how good Stoner really is.

Yeah, bring back Gary McCoy - never boring!

[url=

human traction control in action[/url]

I was reading about Stoners qually laps and the technician saying

"According to the datalogging software, Casey actually crashed 3 times in the lap"...

now THAT is riding a bike to it's limits.

If there's any rider who can control a bike on the knife's edge it's Stoner.

take away the TC, let them choose thier own tyres and Rossi wins.....

"According to the datalogging software, Casey actually crashed 3 times in the lap".

I'm not knocking the fact that TC makes it easier to get on the power earlier. Stoner at Donny in the wet was a prime example, he was on full gas about halfway through a corner and all you could hear was the bike stuttering as the TC kicked in - it didn't shut off until halfway along the straight.

But right now, Stoner is the fastest rider by far. Has been for quite a while but lacked consistency. Rossi 5 years ago was untouchable, but that was 5 years ago. IMO Stoner and Lorenzo would both beat him on a regular basis, Lorenzo has already proved this point.

Personally I can't stand Stoner and much prefer Rossi's style of riding and him being a complete legend. But its naive to think that if all variables were the same he'd come out on top.

knifes edge control is done with the throttle

Supposedly Casey uses a lot less traction control than most. The data logging chap was also saying that on consecutive laps Casey's throttle position was exactly the same, not just close, but exactly the same. Best right hand out there apparently.

As for sliding out of corners, can't remember the race but which was that corner last year that had all the commentators wetting themselves when watching Casey come round it sideways? There were some pretty good ones.

And pass of the season I reckon also goes to Casey, the one around the outside over the blind crest at Laguna Seca. The balls! Amazing stuff.

Edit: As for lean angles, I think that's probably got more to do with necessity on the 800's rather than TC. Similar lean angles to the 250s and they don't have TC. Be interesting to see what happens when we go back to 1000s.

Like I said, Stoner is a new class of rider, TC is here to stay and can only get better.....I do miss the old 990 days though.

Lazy,

If you think Stoner being cranked over at 30deg, sliding the rear and up on a 45deg kerbing at Indianapolis is not a spectacle then you're watching with too many Rossi coloured glasses on.

I have no doubt Rossi is still the same rider he was... still just as quick... but ...Stoner is now as quick or IMO quicker.

If you think Stoner being cranked over at 30deg, sliding the rear and up on a 45deg kerbing at Indianapolis is not a spectacle then you're watching with too many Rossi coloured glasses on.

Stoner grew up as a kid racing dirt track ovals and its all about sliding and getting the power on.

.I do miss the old 990 days though.

Well they're back this year with 10cc more!

Will be a fascinating year, can't wait for it to get going. Stoner is undoubtedly the best rider out there at the moment. And one of Rossi's great strengths has always been in developing the bike, and Ducati's 2012 is meant to be a proper back to the drawing board effort. Also expect Lorenzo to be as consistent and as ever, be interesting to see how his buttery smooth style translates to the 1000's.

Should be a cracking one in Moto2 too. Expect Marquez to run away with it though.

Stoner grew up as a kid racing dirt track ovals and its all about sliding and getting the power on.

without more competative bikes none of this matters. waht makes for good racing is lots of comnpetative teams

Should be a cracking one in Moto2 too

TBH, I much preferred most of the Moto2 races last year to MotoGP - 30+ loons with apparently fresh air between their ears prepared to have a go anytime, anywhere, anyhow.....

Moto2 is definitely an improvement over GP. More flamboyant riding, riders concerned with just winning on the day rather than looking towards a championship win. Just all round more exciting.

As TJ says, GP needs more competitive bikes. This year, the CRT's will be bottom of the field. They're at least 3 seconds of the 800 pace and it'll be a couple of years and the move of some decent riders to make them a winning machine.

GP needs more competitive bikes.

Which is why they need to scrap GP's and homologate it with WSB into a master class.

Factories can't afford to run big teams in both.... simple as that...

[i]CRT bikes not even close to Superbike times[/i]

But then in the first year of Moto2 they were slower than WSS.

I didn't use to rate Stoner particularly, but he has matured this last couple of years and is pretty much number one now.

Rossi will never be slow, but he's in his twilight now. Reminds me a bit of Barry Sheene after Roberts' 3rd championship, you wanted him to win, but he just didn't have it anymore (wasn't helped by his 1982 crash).

King Kenny on a bike [that sounded like a race bike] would have creamed the lot of 'em 😉

Even with nobblys on it 🙂

That vid still gives me goosebumps every time I watch it.

To be able to do that having not ridden a bike for a year is just astonishing.

Indeed and at 58

Thanks for posting that video. He's an absolute legend.

Stoner is a vile whinging gimp, Chaz Davies could do him in the 125s 😉

If he wasn't on the Honda he wouldn't be winning. A statement that is obviously not true but I dont like him.

As an aside who do we reckon is the greatest of all time? My vote goes to Freddy Spencer.

Oh and the CRT bikes are very slow 🙁

Its been a good start to teh test for all concerned bar Casey. Pulling his back before even getting his leathers on apparently. He'll be back out tomorrow and at the sharp end no doubt about that.

As for whos best, well there's a combination of 'best' out there at the moment.
Casey is without doubt the bloke who can ride any machine within a inch of its life and get away with it. His throttle control is second to none, even industry experts will confirm that. Does it make him the fastest? Not necessarily.

Rossi is your typical on the brakes man. Can make up more time going into corners than anyone can make coming out of them. He is smooth personified!! Will he win this year...i wouldnt bet against it for a single race but championship wise....still a bridge too far for this year.

Whoregay is just so damn determined. While I'm not his biggest fan, he does bring to the table a slightly different approach to the rest. Not outstanding at any one thing but his whole package means he will be fighting at the sharp end for everything.

Dani, well not much to say. If the little fella can stay healthy all year and gel with the bike a bit more, he has more speed than anyone else out there. on his day no one can come close...he just doesnt have those days very often.

The rest wont even matter this year, Bautista needs to learn how to ride the Honda, Dovi should go well but its a step back to Tech3, Cal will be hit and miss(again), Spies wont be far off but I dont think he's got it in him like the rest of the aliens. And yes, we're back to 4 aliens this year.

RIP Marco MS58 never forget

As an aside who do we reckon is the greatest of all time?

Ago for me

As an aside who do we reckon is the greatest of all time?

Rossi for me.

Rossi - but he needs to win on the Duke or in a car to really cement it.

In a car?? TJ are you on drugs?

Agostini for me too as he has done it on road and track but Rossi and Hailwood are very close behind.

Some great vids people 😀

Moto2 on the other hand....

Any predictions for Moto 2? Go on, place your bets early 😆

greatest of all time?

Always a tough question- statistically (and for pure entertainment) Rossi. But i'd also add Ago, Sheene, Schwantz, Doohan.

Dont forget fast Freddie Spencer- still the only man (correct?) to win 250cc and 500cc in the same season.

Dont knock Stoner too much, yes he should sometimes keep his mouth shut- but what a rider. Last seasons highlights were him sliding around the worlds racetracks. TC or not thats still an impressive sight!

One last thing- anyone else miss Marco Simoncelli as much as me? Who's going to annoy the hell out of Dani Pedrosa this year? 😥

Wondering if anyone will suggest Rossi for greatest of all time? The years at Honda on the best bike, with the best crew and the best tyres, he had it easy. He pretty much played with Gibernau and Biaggi without, by his own admission, having to push that hard to win. If he'd had to fight a bit more then I think his case would be stronger. Now if he could turn Ducatti around and win against the serious opposition he now has in his twilight years, that would really be something.

Edit: as for Stoner and his mouth. Can see why he's labelled a whinger, but at least the stuff he comes out with is more interesting than the usual racing cliches (e.g. "ah yes, we make a great race, we all try very ard and maybe next time we win".)

still the only man (correct?) to win 250cc and 500cc in the same season.

Probably but Ago won the 350 and 500 double championships 5 years in a row

The years at Honda on the best bike, with the best crew and the best tyres, he had it easy

*Great history but seriously under performing at the time.

Pigface - the very best can drive anything - Rossi did test a f1 car and got within a second or two of Schumacher

Hailwood is my other candidate for the greatest - he was fast with anything 2 or 4 wheels.

Rossi - but he needs to win on the Duke or in a car to really cement it.

Rossi was supposedly very quick in an F1 car. Very very few racers have ever made the conversion yet alone succeed.

Difficult to compare as different times. Like in the old days of F1 the drivers would typically take part in several classes on the same race weekend. Freddie's is a standout though as it was not common by that time to compete in two categories and took a huge effort in terms of testing and bike development to keep on top of both classes (think there was a good article on it in MCN sport a couple of years ago now.)

Jota 180 Ago did but without dissing his achievment not the kind of machinery that Spencer did it on?

rossi46 miss Sic very much, he was the future of the sport. The opposite of Stoner Marco just loved racing the joy and fun he brought to the sport was fantastic. 58 will never die.

Schuey was pretty quick on a bike as well if I remember correctly.

Rossi for GOAT, no one else has come close in my book (bar Ago but I still prefer Rossi).

Oh, and I'll stick my neck out and say Pedrobot will never win a Championship. He's just not good enough...

What about JMB won everything in Motox then was doing ok in the 500s before injuring himself out of the sport.

Then went to Yamaha and won the championship in his first year on a bike that was the motoGP's equivalent of a *Williams.

Amazing achievement, but the Yamaha M1 he rode was already a race winner and had a huge amount of work done on it by Yoda and the Yamaha team before Valentino arrived. That first race of 2004 in SA though was a brilliant to watch.

Flange, Schuey was crap on a bike to be honest. All that money and time he had with rider coaching and on track support....didley squat in the IDM. Waste of spunk then claimed to have hurt his neck from yet another crash and decided it wasnt for him.

As for Vales 2004 M1 being a race winner.....err I dont think so. Checa was best in 2003 on a Yam and he was nowhere not even a podium, Barrios got a 3rd but pre 2004 the Yam was nothing.

Yamaha M1 was a two time race winner with Biaggi in 2002.

[url= http://www.crash.net/motogp/results/176374/1/sepang_motogp_test_times_-_wednesday_6pm.html ]Sepang Test Day 2[/url]

Ay oop- Stoners fastest again 😆 Ben Spies is doing well, nice to see.
Vale has to find a second to keep up- thats better than last years 2 second defecit then 😀

Cal outpacing Dovi is interesting.

Definately faster than last year- look, Guy Martin style mutton chops 😆

[img] [/img]

Maybe he's practising playing the flute 😉

looks like it should be an interesting year.

The new previously untested Duke is just over 1 second down on the Honda so that's encouraging.

Plus, there are a good few riders within 1.5 - 2 seconds on a test session. This should mean that on race day and everyone is really up for it anything could happen.

We shall see....

I'm looking forward to it.

[img] [/img]

Impressive- and thats not Casey either, thats lil Dani sliding it at the Sepang test 😀

Thats a great photo 🙂

Much like this one..............

[IMG] [/IMG]

Sic how much do we miss you 😥

Pigface, do we ever 🙁

I think he would of ruffled a few feathers this year ........

i gotta admit i do miss the the stink wheel's i love 2 stroke's. r.i.p super sic he would have been something this year

Much like this one..............

That version is much better 😀

The Moto GP world is much poorer without Sic 🙁

[url= http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/177890/1/jerez_motogp_test_times_-_friday_final.html ]Jerez Test[/url]

Cal Crutchlow is looking good- fifth 😀
Whats going on with the number 46, still slower than Nicky Hayden and dossing around in 9th?

On the plus side, the Duc's at least lokoking good

[img] [/img]

Basically Rossi should have retired this year.

Nice to see Randy going well on the crt*

[url= http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/177936/1/hayden_heads_rain-interrupted_second_day.html ]Jerez Saturday[/url]

Looks like no one could be bothered today 😆 a bit of rain and everyone heads for the coffee machine.
Stoner only did 3 laps FFs- and as for Rossi, he must have really loved that coffee 😉

Basically Rossi should have retired this year.

I was thinking more like last year! Maybe he'll pull his finger out of his a*** once the racing begins.
I think Ducati is a bridge too far (and im not talking about Arnheim)

Is there a site that sums up the changes for this year nicely? Technical changes I mean.

Last year was a bit dull compared to previous years so let's hope its better.

we're back to 4 aliens this year.

Rossi is still the best racer on the planet, but for whatever reason, he's not fast enough to be considered an alien.

p.s. - take away traction control and the entire (small) grid would be in the clinica mobile.