MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
BBC coverage
Eurosport is just better. Full stop. But then again the BBC is showing bikes to the mainstream masses (if they tune in that is).....
Ben's Pies/ Peas is fastest in first practice, he likes Assen dosen't he 😀 , Cal second fastest. Let's see what the weekend brings. Pies/Peas to win again (at Assen i mean)?
Hmmmmmmm, i'm not convinced yet....
[url= http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/181364/1/minor_motogp_rule_changes_announced_at_assen.html ]Minor Rule Changes[/url] announced at Assen today.
Nothing too outrageous. The Rookie rule has now been officially abolished- that means Marc Marquez can now ride Casey Stoners bike next year 💡
Spaniards in charge of Moto GP or is it just Honda?
Have you just seen the Moto3 race from Assen?
Amazing!! Some of the best racing I have seen for a longtime. Danny Kent battling the big names.
Watch the replay if you can.
Moto 3 is just bonkers isnt it that race today was crazy it took 15 mins to work out the podiu.
Oh dear
Moto 3 race was a cracker,best race in a long time,the "teamates" reminded me of Pedrosa & Hayden at Estoril! Moto 2 entertaining as always. Moto GP boring & processional as usual.
They also got a dry race day,which is a bonus..
Moto 3 was AWESOME....Danny should take Sandro out the back of the garage and give him a proper shoeing though.
Race Direction has punished Bautista with a back of the grid start at next weekends GP
Agree Moto2 and 3 are where the excitement is now, Moto GP is boring. Get Rossi onto something competitive and lets have some edge of the seat racing again
There was talk of MotoGP becoming prototype frames with Honda engines a la Moto2. Would mean much closer racing.
There was talk of MotoGP becoming prototype frames with Honda engines a la Moto2. Would mean much closer racing.
Can't see Yamaha and Ducati being too interested in that
Just watched the Moto 3 race - OMG, that was fantastic 🙂
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01ks8gc/MotoGP_2012_Assen_Moto2_and_Moto3/
Casey has just worked out no one likes him...
“[The fall is] disappointing for sure, but for me the most disappointing thing about it was the marshals," he said."I've seen them pick up loads of different riders and get going and there was nothing wrong with my bike, but there was no way they were going to help me.
“Yet again, German marshals have kept me from getting a decent result.”
Stoner whinge whinge whinge bleat moan 😆 didnt see the race I am on my hols but did read crashnet story about him whinging.
Replays of the crash seem to show the clutch lever being torn off. I know it's possible to ride a bike without a clutch, but he'd never have been quick to get that bike up, running and to the finish line. I think it's perfectly arguable that if the same had happened to Rossi for example, help would have been rapid. Classic bit of moany Stonerism on Crash.net! I'll miss his spectacular riding, but not his personality 😆
No suprise but announced today Repsol Honda have kept Pedrosa and signed Marquez until 2014.
Spies to get dumped Dovi moves up ? Cal to Ducati ?
[i]Cal to Ducati ?
[/i]
Hope not, he's fine with Poncheral (or how ever you spell it), the guy loves a 'trier' - and Cal is a 'trier'.
Cal won't be moving away from Yamaha. They seem to think very highly of him and he's paying back their faith in him this season.
I can't see how the Pedrobot keeps his ride at Repsol, he won't be winning the championship this year or any other as far as i can see.
Spies will stay with the factory Yamaha (not that I think he deserves it on this seasons form) and as Bradley Smith is supposedly signed to ride MotoGP with Tech3, I think Cal will have to go to Ducati and be Rossi's team mate.
Spies will stay with the factory Yamaha (not that I think he deserves it on this seasons form) and as Bradley Smith is supposedly signed to ride MotoGP with Tech3, I think Cal will have to go to Ducati and be Rossi's team mate.
Cal and Vale at Ducati is pretty much a dead cert according to MCN this week. Cal's brave, I'll give him that!!
Cal is good friends with Stoner.Casey knows how to make the ducati work and would love to see Vale embarrased by his team mate.Maybe he'll spill the beans to Cal? :0)
Oh I do hope so! 🙂
Have just come back from holidays- with no internet connection for two weeks 🙁
Anyway, being in the back of beyond in Norfolk among the fishes (caught some nice Pike) was a lovely way to spend a fortnight 😉
No telly either so i missed all the racing- but now im up to speed having caught up on I Player/ You Tube etc...
Looks like business as usual in GP- Lorenzo was unlucky getting skittled by Bautista, but Stoner falling off on his own ❓ guess that's karma for you 😆
World Superbikes was good- Marco Melandri is going well at the mo, hope he can catch Biaggi as the Emperor is miles in front.
would love to see Vale embarrased by his team mate
Isn't that already happening this season? Rossi may be ahead in the championship but Hayden regularly shows him up in qualifying and often in the race....
Maybe the 46 will get his mojo back soon. Pray for rain every race 😆
Rossi happy to struggle on with Ducati as futher down the line Audi could give him the option into 4 wheel motorsport of some description. ❓
I'm not sure on that. I believe Rossi will be on another bike next season in a private team who he can bring his own sponsors to. Yamaha may be his best bet as he knows them inside out but will be get any "factory bits" for it as without them he will struggle. If he goes for a customer Honda he's got learn all about it and get it dialled in plus Honda customer bikes are a long way off their factory bikes.
Rossi fans didn't want him go to Ducati and vice versa, Ducati fans didn't want Rossi as the Italian press tells that story. I'd be very surprised if Rossi stays but you never know, maybe him and Cal working together.
Audi will benefit from the tie in with Ducati as they will take some Ducati technology regarding the Desmo design onto their cars - mark my words.
[url= http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/MotoGP+riders+react+to+Mrquez+signing ]It's all official then.....[/url]
Honda changing the rules???
Who'd have thought it 😆
[i]Honda changing the rules???
[/i]
Well, it was a stupid rule to start with - almost like the US and their college stars into the main game rules (sorry forget the right phrase).
Ben Spies has announced that he will be leaving the Factory Yamaha MotoGP team at the end of this season.The Texan, who won his first MotoGP race last year, has endured a torrid first half of 2012 and sits just tenth in the world championship with a best finish of fourth. Team-mate Jorge Lorenzo leads the standings with five wins and three second places from the opening nine rounds.
But Spies looked to have a strong chance of remaining alongside Lorenzo next season - until he made a surprise announcement, in the run-up to his home US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca this weekend, via an email to SuperbikePlanet.com:
"I have chosen to leave Yamaha after this season for a litany of reasons. I will explain more when I feel it is appropriate. I'm discussing my situation with my sponsors and they are behind me. There are a few people at Yamaha who I hate to leave. And they know who they are. I wish Yamaha the best. I won't make any further comments until the offical announcement comes out."
So does this mean Dovi to the factory team leaving Smith to take his place.
Spies where does he go?
So does this mean Dovi to the factory team leaving Smith to take his place.
Well, rumour has it that Rossi is staying at Ducati but this has slowed Cruchlow signing for them. I'm still wondering if he might just nick the Yamaha ride even though Dovi has had better results. He'll be cheaper, see, and Lorenzo will have a fairly hefty pay packet
According to [url= http://www.crash.net/ ]http://www.crash.net/[/url]
Spies remaining tight lipped and Rossi says money is not his main concern next year and he will decide during the break after Laguna. I still think its a choice between getting back on something that works for him or staying put for a while and then using the Audi connection to get into 4 wheel motorsport.
Can't see Rossi going to 4 wheel motorsport. Not just yet and if he ever does it will be to Rallying. Audi could get back into rallying- id love to see a new Audi Quattro!
I can actually see him starting his own team using a factory bike of some sort, as has already been said he will need factory parts for this to be worthwhile....
Nicky just signed for another year with Ducati
Aye so that is Cal out of the running for Ducati. Tech 3 a British squad with Cal and Smith.
Intrigued what Spies is going to do, if the diesels can poach Melandri who IMO is class then could he be going back?
[i]Intrigued what Spies is going to do, if the diesels can poach Melandri who IMO is class then could he be going back? [/i]
Mate, they all ride diesels these days.
Spies will probably go back to AMA though.
But some are very quick diesels 🙂
I was wondering about AMA as well but never heard him say he was sick of Europe.
New Yamaha video out...
Note the 2009 Vale Yamaha poster on wall @ 2.50 😉
Stoner whinge bleat moan "I couldnt get a clear lap the CRT's were in the way wah wah wah wah" 😉
Jorge for the win in LS, wish the 2 and 3 boys were there, the thought of the 2 boys going through the corkscrew 😯
Fair play Cry Baby Stoner did the job there. Credit where credit is due. Such an amazing track.
[url= http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/August/aug0312-lorenzo-briefed-on-rossi-return/ ]Wonder If There's Any Truth To This?[/url] -it's in MCN, wonder if it's just rumours? 😉
I think he is going to leave Ducati and I think Yamaha in way or another is going to be where he ends up. Cal to Ducati ??? Honda may struggle next year, Dani and Marquez not the most stable of team mates 😆
Hope so...be good to see him win again.
[url= http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/182714/1/date_set_for_rossi_to_yamaha_announcement.html ]Looking like it[/url]
A rematch of Rossi V's Lorenzo is great, a shame Stoner can't be there to make it a three way battle (won't miss the moaning though).
Cal to Ducati? Actually i hope not, the Duc is a career destroyer- unless of course Cal can make it work like Nicky Hayden has.
Bradley Smith to Tech 3???
And when he gets pummelled by George then the legend of the GOAT will finally be destroyed 😥
When you think of the name Michael Schumacher now, what do you think of? 7 time world champ or slightly past it,trying too hard,getting schooled by the new faster generation.
Vale should have fought and stayed....or walked away.
Bradley is a done deal, Dovi is the big loser here, I hope he gets a good Honda deal on a satellite team.
When you think of the name Michael Schumacher now, what do you think of?
Actually i still think of him as the German Shunt (remember the Aussie GP when he shoehorned our Damon Hill off the track?) and i do still think of him as a 7 time world champ.....
Schuey is a racer and it's something he just can't give up. And if he's still good enough to even sit in an F1 car, then why shouldn't he?
Not sure J Lo will pummell him, it will be interesting to see. Im looking forward to Bradl V's Marquez on big bikes though 😀
Not quite the same situation as MS....either way be interesting to watch
Dovi is the big loser here, I hope he gets a good Honda deal on a satellite team
Yes- hopefully Gresini will stop faffing about with CRT and give him a second GP bike.
Rossi to Yamaha, Dovizioso to Ducati and Cal to stay at Tech 3, or ride a factory Ducati in a one-man satellite team. That just leaves Gresini, who may or may not stick with Bautista.
Ducati getting desperate and call in the man from Yam...
Masao Furusawa, who oversaw the technical transformation of Yamaha's MotoGP project during Valentino Rossi's time at the team, has confirmed that he was recently “asked to help Ducati”.Furusawa was put in charge of Yamaha's struggling MotoGP project in 2003, when the M1 took just a single podium. Furusawa went on to celebrate four MotoGP riders' titles with Rossi, plus a fifth for Jorge Lorenzo by the time he retired at the end of 2010, when Rossi moved to Ducati.
The Italian team's contact with Furusawa appears to have been one final effort to try and convince Rossi to stay for 2013. Rossi, who has rarely been comfortable with the handling of the Ducati, is widely expected to return to Yamaha next year with an official announcement imminent
The Dr is leaving the house - official. Oh dear the Dr hasn't been able to cure the Ducati and is leaving with his tail between his legs to a bike he knows can win. Mmmmmmm shame he failed to do what Casey did and win a world title on it. I am a Rossi fan and I must admit it was sort of the marriage made in heaven but it failed miserably and so lets hope next season things change.
For Burgess and Rossi not to have made the Ducati work better it would suggest that the bike is inherently flawed and needs to be totally redesigned, either that or Ducati aren't doing as asked.
Comparing the bike when Stoner was riding several years ago and this season isn't really a fair comparison as everybody has moved one technologically.
It'd be great to see Rossi winning again or at least showing how good he is, with a last season with a few wins and some good racing (like Chili in WSB for example)
Moto GP needs this as it has been getting duller for sure, with Moto2 being so much more interesting racing wise, I'm even fininding F1 as interesting or more so than the GP
Wouldn't it be hysterical if Cal got on the Dukr and kept putting it in the top 6? 🙂
Maybe Cal and Bradders @ Tech3 then
From Crash.net...
Andrea Dovizioso is tipped to take the place of fellow Italian Valentino Rossi at the factory Ducati MotoGP team next season.It was officially confirmed on Friday that seven time MotoGP champion Rossi will return to Yamaha in 2013, having taken just two podiums from 27 starts on the Desmosedici.
According to the Italian media, including GPone.com and SportMediaset.it, Dovizioso has agreed a two-year deal to take over The Doctor's Ducati.
I dont think the Duc would suit Cal- he's ridden Jap bikes all through his career. Hope Dovi makes a go of it, he has soooo much talent and he put's a great race together.
I want to see him at the front with the others...
I'm with the above, having watched the way Cal rode the Yamaha he seems to carry lots of corner speed, which is something that you can't do on the Ducati, because of its vague front end.
Dovi is the better fit.
[url=http:// http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/August/aug1512-stoner-slams-rossi-yamaha-return/ ]Oh dear, he just had to open his gob didn't he?[/url]
[url http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/August/aug1512-stoner-slams-rossi-yamaha-return/ ]Oh dear, he just had to open his gob......[/url]
He does make some valid points though. Besides he probably doesn't care now, off to pastures new.
Hope Dovi makes a go of it, he has soooo much talent and he put's a great race together.
I want to see him at the front with the others...Thats funny, he's had a factory Honda ride for years & has hardly won anything.
Ducati have a solid rider and an ex champion in Hayden.
Dovi had is chance to prove himself on a factor bike, at possible the biggest team. He won one race i think a wet race at donington.
I think ducati should take a punt on one of the agressive Moto2 riders, maybe Redding (although i think he'll probably end up on a satalite ducati next year)
[url= http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/182932/1/stoner_crashes_heavily_in_indy_qualifying.html ]cor Blimey that's a big off[/url]
He was 1.5 seconds a lap quicker than Lorenzo in practice so was really flying. He has got something to moan about now 😉
Hayden out now 🙁
Lots of crashes which is a bit of a worry
[i]Lots of crashes which is a bit of a worry [/i]
Its not wendyball :-), or to quote Max - 'not ballroom dancing'
No its not wendyball but crashes often lead to injuries and don't want those. Moto 3 and Moto 2 could be a bit scary 😯
[url= http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/182937/1/nicky_hayden_out_of_indianapolis_motogp.html ]Official medical comments for nicky hayden[/url]
Unlucky- that was a strange crash really, just looked a bit loose to start with....
Now official then...
Yamaha Tech 3's Dovizioso, 26, will join team-mate Nicky Hayden at Ducati until 2014 after seven-time MotoGP world champion Rossi opted to switch back to Yamaha next season."The agreement reached with Andrea Dovizioso confirms the company's primary interest in racing, which is an active and strategic part of Ducati's DNA and heritage," said President Gabriele Del Torchio in a statement.
"It is with great pleasure that I welcome Andrea, as we marshal our best efforts in confronting the MotoGP World Championship."
Cal is a bit pissesd off according to MCN
Justifiably so, they've behaved very badly indeed.
Luckily, he behaved with dignity and Herve seems to still want him in the team
Probably for the best, TBH.
No one would want him after a couple of years flinging Ducatis into the gravel.
He's better off staying with Tech 3 and proving his consistency next year.
I feel a bit sorry for Ben Spies. Luckily for him, he's purty.
I think it's better for Cal, he can be team captain and not have Dovi holding him up in the races
Better to be best sattelite than worst factory!
Rusty, yes indeed. I agree. Wait for Rossi or Jorge to leave and like up for a works Yamaha
Either way, Crutchlow needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. He's already jepordised his Yamaha ride by speaking out of turn, now he's saying "Ducati lied to me".... that (for better or worse) has kicked himself out of any short term future Ducati ride....
There's only so many factories you can pi55 off before there are no bikes left to ride.
I love Cal as a rider, but he needs to start showing some decorum and common sense.
Trouble with MotoGP is there are only four bikes available that really offer a good chance of winning.
If you're not on one, then your options are - get on a decent satellite bike and ride well enough to get a full works bike (Gresini/Tech3); get paid loads of money with no chance of winning (Factory Ducati); get paid a little bit with no chance of winning (Satellite Ducati) or ride round on a mobile chicane in the form of a pimped up superbike with dodgy electronics wondering why the hell you don't go to WSB and at least do some proper racing (CRT).
2013? With Stoner and Spies gone it's even less competitive. Hopefully Rossi vs Lorenzo will be a good enough showdown to disguise the fact that MotoGP has become incredibly dull in recent times. How many last lap battles have there been? How many times have three or more riders fought for the lead? Much as I hate to say it, F1 has been more exciting. 😮
Casey Stoner is back in Australia having ankle surgery and thus missing Brno, effectively throwing in the championship towel.
Anyone else see him staying in Australia and calling it a day early?
[i]Anyone else see him staying in Australia and calling it a day early? [/i]
Yep, and I pretty much predicted it on Page 6.