MotoGP Jerez

[garth]

Predictions anyone?

Looks like rain could be forecast.


I'm not expecting miracles from Rossi until later in the season, but I am looking forward to seeing how Crutchlow and Bradl do.
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[AL-]

Hoping Crutchlow goes as well again this time out, maybe even a podium would be great especially considering the last British rider to finish on the podium in MotoGP was Jeremy McWilliams at Donington in 2000

[Shaane]

I think it will be close between Pedrosa and Lorenzo if it's wet. If its dry I'll go for Stoner. Would quite like to see Bradl in the top 4 aswell tbh, he was amazing in Moto2 and I think he's massively talented.
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[Glider]

I'm flying out tomorrow. Hoping Cal can do well in the rain.

[AL-]

[Shaane]

[garth]

[Glider]

I'm all yours Garth.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Vinales
Marcques
Lorenzo

In each class.
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[garth]

Rossi 2nd in a wet FP2, behind Pedrosa.
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[AL-]

Great to see Rossi up there. Can't help but feel that Spies really needs to up his game this year otherwise I can see Dovi getting the seat alongside Lorenzo with Crutchlow and Smith in Tech3

[robbyb]

My Prediction is ...........

Pedrosa
Lorenzo
Rossi
Stoner
Dovi
Bautista
Crutchlow
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Yamaha FZ8

[garth]

Rossi will be in with a fighting chance if it's wet.

Too close to call for the top 3 if it's dry though.

Early days.
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[garth]

[AL-]

[robbyb]

I would like to see him get higher and I do think he will do well this season (I have in my fantasy team)

MY predictions are on it being a wet race
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[rac3r]

FP2 times

[robbieguy2003]

If it's a wet race then it could go anywhere, but I'd be looking towards Vale or Dani.

At the end of FP2 toys and prams went flying on Lorenzos side of the Yamaha garage, they wouldn't let the camera in and after kicking something Lorenzo stormed off, so he's clearly not happy about something.

Casey I was surprised at, even in the wet I thought his time would be better, or he'd throw in a fast at the end, he did try but he couldn't get near it. According to people at the track he was riding very aggressively, standing the bike up immediately out of corners and pinning it. He likes to do the Doohan thing and dominate FP1/2/3/QP and will always do it if he can, so to see him in 4th is odd. Still, they might find something although Casey has never went really well at this track.

Vale was said to be riding 'like vale' which sounds great, it's only happened a few times on a duke. The duke does have some new parts for this weekend, I know their 'major' update is due either next weekend or in the test following, but a few bits here and there have been added. So the difference for Vale is the 'few bits' have not restricted the setup so much and have allowed them to shift something, or it literally is just the fact he likes the rain. This is one of his tracks though, think he's got 8 wins here so it's up there with Mugello for him.

Nicky didn't seem as good, but I'm wondering whether the new bits have allowed Vale to go back to his setup and it's allowed them to go further into an area they were previously exploring?

Cal was a little down but both the tech3 bikes seemed to have something wrong with rear grip, the back just kept spinning up, so maybe they'll get a decent chunk of time with adjustments?

I think the weekend is going to be dominated by weather, I can't see a clear winner in Moto3 although mini Marquez does seem very special. Fenati or Vinales are the best in that class though, I'd be hesistant to say the championship is Vinales just yet.

Moto2 - it's very close, and there isn't much in it with the conditions, and as it's FP2 no one really wants to crash yet.

I'll do GP predictions;

If it's dry; Casey is down because he's not won here, he wants it, but there is a reason he's not won, it's tight and twisty. I think it works better to a European 250cc riding style, Casey is more aggressive and I think it actually slows him here, he cant carve through as easily like he can at certain other tracks. Jorge, simply because the Yam doesn't seem to have Chatter. But the top two will be close, possibly last lap fun.

Jorge
Dani
Casey

If it's Wet; Rossi will come out on top, he wants a win on that thing. Everytime he's had wet weather (bar silverstone) it's been on/off over the weekend and they've never quite ended up with the setup where it needs to be by raceday. He wants a win so I think he'll go for it, he does have more new parts for the next race though so he's not going to want to injure himself. Dani will want the points because he knows he needs to do everything possible to beat Casey, if Casey can't run well Dani has to run well, it's that simple. Jorge seemed to be throwing toys out today, Ben was well down and so were Cal and Dovi, maybe, just maybe Jorge rode the arse out of the bike and still didn't get a good place, so that might be why he's peed off. If they can't get that fixed come Sunday, he'll struggle, but a struggling Jorge is still quick enough for 3rd.

Rossi
Dani
Jorge
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[garth]

Rossi "4 some reason in wet I can brake and enter the corner like I want but don't have same feeling in dry. But we don't understand why."
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[robbieguy2003]

That's a bit worrying isn't it Garth. It's quite an odd problem to have though, maybe the extra speed carried in the dry simply overwhelms the amount of weight over that axle? Maybe the sweet spot is the speed in the wet?

This is all maybe this, maybe that though, I haven't really got a clue lol.
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[rac3r]

I hope Rossi does get a podium at least, even if it is in the wet. It would lift him and the team.

Updates coming next week so something for them to look forward to hopefully
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[Shaane]

Where can I watch FP on tinterwebs team?

Rossi has always been amazing in the wet and we haven't really had many wet races lately. It still doesn't derive the fact that the Ducati doesn't work. I really think they will run out of options soon.
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Previous: 1992 DT125R
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[robbieguy2003]

It'd be nice for the team to get up there, they've all been working hard and not had much luck to be quite honest.

They've already got some new bits on the bike, this came out from one of the mechanics yesterday evening (Alex Briggs);

"All done for the day. Lots of work done. Few new bits & pieces, nothing major tho. Weather talk is basicaly variations of wet 4 the week."

I've not found anywhere on the web for FP, but it's on Eurosport tonight at 10pm if you've access to it. Short of that you could prob download it somewhere but not sure where.

Agree about the wet races, he does seem to be good in the wet, and the recent wet races have been very on/off - i.e. dry two days, wet for one etc.

As for the duke not working, I think it's coming on, but the major component is still that engine, the engine in that 90% 'new' bike is still the old L4 block out of the old 1000cc bike, it has new mounts but the rest is the same, they even welded a new sump on so they could tilt it a little.

I have a feeling the updates will contain a new motor with a better angle, or an L4 with very revised packaging which puts the weight where the guys are asking. And that's it really, it's a case of getting the weight in the right place, if they get that right, the rest will start slotting in quite quickly. As it stands though, it's incomplete at best, but that's prototype racing, some are ahead, but Ducati do seem to be working to close the gap.

Here's hoping they do it!
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[Shaane]

As much as I agree with the majority of what you've said I think they are still quite a distance behind and while they maybe closing the gap on the lead teams atm, the lead teams are only going to improve there bikes throughout the session aswell.

I'd like nothing more than to see Ducati join the fight at the front of the pack but I can't see it in the nearby future.
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Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[robbieguy2003]

I know what you mean, no one is going to stand still. My thoughts are though, that Honda and Yamaha have been developing their bikes for nearly two years, and their design has been based on their successful 800cc designs, obviously their different but they have very similar concepts - engine placement, swingarms, frame design etc.

The Ducati is a complete departure of what they know and what they do, it's very different to what they're used to. But, I do think Honda/Yamaha are trying to eek out the last 1-2% of their bikes, making very minor modifications as they go. Ducati, by comparison still seems to have some major revisions to go, the Estoril test is rumored to be a new chassis revision and swingarm with the added possibility of a new motor. That 'should', if in the right direction close the gap % wise more than the minor adjustments Honda and Yamaha make.

It's only a theory and opinion though, on the flip side, Honda could cure their chatter issue and then blow everything else out of the water? Yamaha could want that first title so they role out something a bit different to give Jorge something more. You're right in the fact that Yamaha and Honda won't stand still, especially as none of them are running away with it, in my opinion the season will be close between Casey and Jorge, Dani as a bit of an outsider maybe, but he needs to stay fit.

I expect Ducati to get stronger as the season progresses, I do think they'll get a few wins, but if the Estoril stuff does work, and that's a big if, that really is where they needed to be at Sepang at the end of January.

I'd prob finish what I'm saying by saying the season at least seems to look more positive than last year!
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03