2017 MotoGP

[Dicknose]

Ok let's get the new season started!
Teams have done their launches and we are into the first testing.
Damn, who is the quickest, a Ducati test rider, some guy called Casey.
Scary that he is still that good and amazing to think how interesting it might have been the last few years if he stayed and rode against Marquez. Pity he couldn't handle the downsides to the sport, the media, the general bullshit, he really seems like he should have been a 70s/80s rider before before it became so over the top. Yes he is a whiny bitch, but damn he could (can!) ride.

So who is your money on?
Wil Marquez continue? Rossi show his experience? Lorenzo master the Ducati? Or maybe someone else, Dovi, Cructhlow or Vinales show some consistency?

Bring it on!

[Kchrpm]

Forza Ducati, looking forward to this year's Desmosedici model.

[Freude am Fahren]

I just hope KTM isn't a complete embarrassment. At the front, I'm still a Yamaha fan. I'd love to see Maverick come out guns ablaze and be in the title fight.

[Rare White Ape]

A KTM placed ahead of Lorenzo in yesterday's testing at Sepang, so that's promising.

[Freude am Fahren]

Oh, that's another thing. I'd love to see Lorenzo fail on an epic level :D

[Blerpa]

Oh, that's another thing. I'd love to see Lorenzo fail on an epic level :D

That.
Many times.

[Rare White Ape]

George placed 8th today. Viñales 2nd, Rossi 4th. Iannone was 1st on his Suzuki.

[Reynard]

Tech3 all the way, basically a dream rider line-up for me this season.

[Godson]

Anyone going to Austin? I'll be at Ducati island volunteering and I'll be there all weekend.

I hope Dovi does good. Last year he got shafted by getting hit damn near every race.

[Alan P]

Dovi, Vinales and Marquez will hopefully all challenge. Now that the Audi/Volkswagen investment is really starting to flow into Ducati they should be able to develop as well as Honda and Yamaha do.

[Freude am Fahren]

Ducati's got an interesting new front fairing. It's being dubbed the "Hammerhead" (I wonder how you say that in Italian)

http://www.racer.com/images/2017/March_1/Misc/Andrea_Dovizioso_2.jpg

http://www.drivespark.com/img/2017/03/x13-1489390919-ducati-hammerhead-fairing3.jpg.pagespeed.ic.cdlNbI3Tl_.jpg

[Godson]

Ducati's got an interesting new front fairing. It's being dubbed the "Hammerhead" (I wonder how you say that in Italian)

http://www.racer.com/images/2017/March_1/Misc/Andrea_Dovizioso_2.jpg

http://www.drivespark.com/img/2017/03/x13-1489390919-ducati-hammerhead-fairing3.jpg.pagespeed.ic.cdlNbI3Tl_.jpg

Simple, "fucking ugly"

[Kchrpm]

Hammerhead in Italian is "Martello."

[Blerpa]

If you mean the Hammerhead Shark... well, that's Squalo Martello o Squalo Testa a Martello.
Hammer = Martello, Head = Testa.

And that thing is ugly as fuck.

[Freude am Fahren]

Tastafuglio

[Blerpa]

Tastafuglio

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Tom Servo]

I was going to start watching MotoGP this year, then I just found out that when my cable company got bought out, the new one moved the channel to their most expensive "get every single channel" package. Meh.

[Reynard]

Well if you just want to watch MotoGP exclusively, get a web subscription. If you want beIN Sports so you can watch MotoGP, WSBK, Motoamerica & The World Rallycross Championship, then get Directv as it's only a $14/mo extra (with a bunch of other stick & ball networks I never watch as well).

As for the Duc fairing, best of the bunch as far as I'm concerned. These are supposed to be prototype race bikes after all. As it is now, they barely look different then a superbike and I'm sure the casual fan wouldn't be able to tell the difference... unless they were very keen on spotting headlamp decals. ;)

[Drachen596]

So thats how they're going to try and get around their wings being outlawed.

[Blerpa]

As for the Duc fairing, best of the bunch as far as I'm concerned. These are supposed to be prototype race bikes after all. As it is now, they barely look different then a superbike and I'm sure the casual fan wouldn't be able to tell the difference... unless they were very keen on spotting headlamp decals. ;)

That's Superbike's fault (polemic by me, mind). I hope Dorna moves its arse and makes WSBK what should it be: Superstock.

[Godson]

While it is ugly as fuck, I love the fact that Ducati is like "Rules, I'll follow your rules, and make you second guess your verbiage."

Also, fuck Honda.

[Blerpa]

Also, fuck Honda.

Always.

[Blerpa]

Lorenzo who?

[Godson]

LOL, excellent race. Only way it could have finished better for me, is if Dovi could have held on. I think his tire option was a bit too soft to really contend in the last laps. Evidence was his straight away speed as the laps went on.

[Dicknose]

Luckily I got up for the race, as I set my recording for only 40 mins longer than scheduled!
What an interesting start to a season.
Great to see new(ish) guys at the front.
And seems from some of the comments above about a certain Ducati rider that wishes can come true!
Rossi still shows he can be there or abouts no matter where he qualifies.
Aprilia - well done!

Other than the delayed start, it was a great start to a new season.

[Alan P]

My usual source doesn't have anything from this weekend up for download. :( Glad there's someone new at the front. All we need to do now is get Pedrosa out of Honda and convince Rossi to retire and let the young guns battle it out.

[Rare White Ape]

Lorenzo who?

The guy, if you'll remember, who's most notable act last night was running into Rossi at turn 1 :lol:

[M4FFU]

Super Scott, and that Aprilia. Awesome.
And never write the Dr off. ;)
Can't help but heel, like, 0.0000000000000000000000001% sorry for George.
Crashlow, as expected, KTMs woeful, SLOWes just as much. Tech3 boys looked mint, and the season ahead is going to be class.
Moto2/3 was decent, too. So happy racing is back!

[Godson]

Crashlow was bitching about not having a say one tires and that's why he crashed. Fucker, you crashed twice in one lap. Also, bitching about not having a good bike, had you not stuck the Ducati big heads out on the chopping blocks for your comments, you could have had your good bike.

I can't stand the British bitch.

[Freude am Fahren]

It kinda looked like his second crash might have been a mechanical as a result of his first. But anyway...

KTM :(

That Frenchman looked good out there in the front until he binned it. I would have liked to see how long he could keep ahead.

Seeing Lorenzo suck was nice.

[Rare White Ape]

I think it was at least five laps between Crutchlow's gravel trap visits.

[Reynard]

Great start to the season! Results were to be expected I suppose but I'd say the road to arrive at them wasn't.

Well, after all the waiting around for hours on Saturday only to ultimately have quali cancelled, then after another hour+ long wait on Sunday for the race to get started... I can best describe the start of the 2017 MotoGP season to be, for me at least, the longest cock tease ever only to end up with premature ejaculation. :lol:

Makes sense if you're paying attention to who my favorite riders are. ;)

[Reynard]

Not to be out done by Mr. Alonso.

Hamilton keen to enter MotoGP race one day (http://www.crash.net/f1/news/244591/1/hamilton-keen-to-enter-motogp-race-one-day.html)

Ummm, ok. Sounds like a delicious schadenfreude recipe to me!

[Rare White Ape]

Anyone here fluent in Spanish dummy spitting?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcBPS6SIiYM

[Godson]

Anyone going to COSTA?

[Reynard]

Not this year I'm afraid. I went in '13 &'14. I love the circuit just don't expect great racing. ;) I would recommend watching the start of the Moto3 or Moto2 race from outside T9 but I would say generally the best place to watch from is the grandstands between T15-T16. There you have full view of the Hockenheim like stadium section and there's a nice diamond vision screen to watch.

Top tip, both times I went we just had general admission tickets. The place never sells out, in fact the crowds are declining every year I believe... but try to make friends with a ticket checker at that grandstand I spoke of (any of them really) early on during the weekend. We did that both times and on Sunday, right at the start of the MotoGP race, they would let us into the grandstands. :cool: Also be ready for the weather to turn on dime.

Have a great time!

[Godson]

Fuck Lorenzo. Hayden was better.

[Rare White Ape]

http://scontent.fbne3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/17991149_638479829685998_7082579213182793898_n.jpg ?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=960711477f234fe608186fecbd35807a&oe=59870515

[Freude am Fahren]

KTM has switched from a "screamer" V4 to a "big bang" V4 like everyone else running the V4. All of a sudden they are up in 15th and 16th on the grid this weekend, just over a second off the pace, rather than last, 2+ seconds off. :up: Hopefully they're figuring some stuff out.

Also, Crutchlow did well, qualifying in third, only to be stung by something on the cool-down lap :lol:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_JR-guXcAAZN6j.jpg

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_KDSsnXUAAHVdn.jpg:large

Alex Marquez getting sideways on his way to taking pole today. #Moto2 #MotoGP #JerezGP2 pic.twitter.com/TnLTIwCvAY

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_NA1NLXUAAO05R.jpg:large

Iannone putting the Suzuki on it's nose during qualifying #MotoGP #JerezGP pic.twitter.com/s2xF8lUn56

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_OxiS7WAAID53E.jpg:large

Vinales and Dovizioso fighting to keep the front under control exiting T1 #MotoGP #JerezGP pic.twitter.com/XsmwtwuZRe

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_POlO4WsAABxE2.jpg:large

My favourite image of Rossi and Vinales together in the first half of the race #MotoGP #JerezGP pic.twitter.com/0rLlSegbvh

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_PPlyWXYAM0x9t.jpg:large

Lorenzo on his way to his first Ducati podium in front of the Spanish crowd #MotoGP #JerezGP pic.twitter.com/GCzKQB7mli

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_Nod8GXUAQWCN6.jpg:large

Safe to say the safety car isn't look too safe this morning in Jerez... 😶 pic.twitter.com/JRkU2yuedJ

[Rare White Ape]

Fooooooooook :eek:

[Blerpa]

Only 1000$ penalty for Miller's shenanigans against Bautista after T1 accident. Too lenient.

[XHawkeye]

Nicky Hayden was in (pedal) bike crash and is in critical condition.

http://www.eurosport.com/superbikes/nicky-hayden-in-serious-condition-in-hospital-after-being-hit-by-car_sto6169474/story.shtml

[Godson]

Hate to be bearer of bad news, but he won't ride again if he survives this. He will be lucky to function like a normal human being, honestly.

[Rare White Ape]

Fuck.

[Freude am Fahren]

:(


“Nicky Hayden’s clinical condition remains extremely critical.The young man, who is still in the intensive care unit of Cesena’s Bufalini hospital, has suffered a serious polytrauma with subsequent serious cerebral damage. "

[Blerpa]

:( it's terrible.

[Reynard]

Crazy thing is yesterday morning early at work over coffee, I'm telling a co-worker who's not really into motorsports the Michael Schumacher story and not 20 minutes later I read the news about Nicky. Life is full of all kinds of cruel twists of fate, not that I need remind anyone... sigh. Regardless, Lace up your shoes boys! (https://www.superbikeplanet.com/lace-shoes-boys/)

[XHawkeye]

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/nicky-hayden-earl-hayden-decries-fake-news/

[Reynard]

Jack Miller... wow, what a lucky son of a bitch.

But what I really wanted to say was if you have the means, you should watch the MotoGP Q1 session from today. It's extremely entertaining. :cool:

[Rare White Ape]

Oh my God. MotoGP Le Mans was a bit too exciting for this old man to handle.

I need a good lie down.

[Freude am Fahren]

That was quite spectacular at the end there. I couldn't believe Rossi just collapsed like that. You don't see that often.

And this French dude is seriously impressive. He seems like championship material.

I caught a replay of Millers incident. What happened, stuck throttle or whiskey throttle after a moment? Looked like the bike just took off on him.

And then there was the Moto 3 race :eek:

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--czaHTZzc--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/nqsmtrfquyajumlplya9.gif

Amazing there weren't any serious injuries. A few guys looked pretty sore, but I think everyone was able to start again (if they had a bike to do so). I'm guessing the Moto 3 bikes are really light, good thing, a few got hit.

And towards the end of that gif, you can see that last light colored bike go flying right at one rider that managed the just barely duck under it. Incredible.

[Rare White Ape]

When Miller crashed in practice, he'd momentarily lost the front at T2 just before the Dunlop chicane. Upon gathering it up again, the steering was turned hard to the right, and that's where it shot him.

Motorbike physics.

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, it just looked like to me that it also accelerated hard, even wheelieing a bit right after he started to gather it back.

[Godson]

That race was so unreal.

Loved every second of it.


Now if bitch face Lorenzo could get a decent starting position he might be able to beat dovi... Or crutchlow

[Blerpa]

http://www.gazzetta.it/Moto/moto-GP/18-05-2017/motomondiale-piange-morto-nicky-hayden-200384911052.shtml

I'm so sorry. :( R.I.P.

[Dicknose]

For all the dangers of motorcycles he was killed on a bicycle.
I wasnt a fan, but did appreciate that he was a nice guy in a sport that has it's fair share of idiots.

[Blerpa]

Unfortunately there's a video that seemingly shows he burned a stop and collided with the car.
So he was at fault.
But, doesn't matter... poor guy.

[Godson]

This one hurts.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAct8PDXcAAiHoS.jpg:large

[Alan P]

:( such a nice guy both off and on track. :(

[Rare White Ape]

It sucks to lose a guy like him. Pretty shit week, I think.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAc4_Y5XsAAlzx3.jpg

Mat Oxley writes about Nicky Hayden 1981-2017 - http://ow.ly/4lTy30bWx7X


Nicky Hayden wasn’t your usual MotoGP star. From the moment he walked into the MotoGP paddock at Suzuka in the spring of 2003 to the moment he left in November 2015, he was unfailingly polite, humble and charming.

There was nothing alpha-male about him, at least nothing you could see from the outside. But the heart and emotion he put into racing was something else.....

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAf3SPkWAAAI-xr.jpg

Motorcycling has lost one of its fastest, gentlest racers. Rest in peace. @matoxley remembers Nicky. http://bit.ly/2rLa17q


When my first child was born in 2007 he sought me out in the Valencia paddock to give me an Earl’s Racing baby-grow. I’ve been doing this job for 30 years and no other rider has done anything like that. I was gobsmacked.

Nicky did struggle in the seasons after he won the 2006 title. The 990cc RC211V was the bike for him: big gobs of horsepower and not a lot of electronics, so he could fling the bike sideways and ride it with the torque. The 800s that followed were not his kind of bikes. They were all revs, corner speed and electronics; which didn’t work with his technique, derived in American dirt track.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAgpdZtXkAAC4aa.jpg

Freddie Spencer: ‘I’ll never forget that moment when I shook Mr Ikenoya’s hand, because I believed in Nicky’ http://bit.ly/2rLW2hK pic.twitter.com/ccUk7M3xrX

[IMOA]

I was always really impressed with the way Nicky handled his time at Ducati. Never complaining, never whinging, clearly struggling on a bike that was seriously difficult to ride and he just put his head down and worked his arse off and never stopped until the day he finshed. I have a huge amount of respect for someone who can go through that while maintaining a genuinely friendly, approachable and down to earth personality. RIP Nicky, one of the really good guys in motorsport.

[Reynard]

Yep indeed. While he was never one of my personal favorite riders, he always cracked me up and I respected him tremendously and yeah, this one hurts. Regardless, for those of you that only know Nick from his time in international racing, here is one of my favorite races of his from our superbike national championship at the time.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwdDjnNSaNk

This was unfortunately from my second owned VCR which had this thing in it's later life where all the recordings I made with it seemed fine until it finally died and upon getting a replacement found that they all had tracking errors which never showed up when playing the tapes back on the original offending device and the replacement has no way of adjusting for it. Anyway what I mean to say is sorry for the quality but it's worth it.

[Reynard]

And this French dude is seriously impressive. He seems like championship material.


If you have access to it, you should watch last years Moto2 race from Mugello. That'll get you pumped up for the next round. :cool: Actually all three classes at Mugello last year are worth watching again to be honest but at least the Moto2 race.

[Freude am Fahren]

That's excellent.

Anyway, ever notice how many brothers/fathers/etc. are in Motorcycle racing? Bostrom, Hayden, Dunlop, Lowes, Marquez, Roberts, Espargaro, Laverty, etc.

[Blerpa]

Put there the Rossi family too: Graziano, Valentino and Luca Marini...

[Cam]

Great race. Thanks for posting, Reynard. I always watched the AMA Superbike races when they were on back then. Always great racing.

[Freude am Fahren]

Damn, didn't realize he was engaged :(

[XHawkeye]

https://motomatters.com/news/2017/05/25/valentino_rossi_suffers_chest_and.html


Valentino Rossi has suffered chest and abdominal injuries after crashing an MX bike while training. The Italian had been practicing at the Cross Park Cavallara (link is external), near Pesaro, and is reported to have crashed his motocross bike, according to Italian website GPOne.com (link is external).

The crash was severe enough to cause chest and abdominal trauma, according to reports, though other Italian sources (link is external) speak of closed injuries, rather than open wounds. Rossi was taken to the emergency room at Rimini hospital, and is currently being kept at the hospital for observation.

[Blerpa]

He is fine and probably will race at Mugello, it seems.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAvy5dnXkAAHhYq.jpg

From @matoxley's 'The Fast Stuff' book, Nicky Hayden in conversation in 2003: http://bit.ly/2rX1gY3 pic.twitter.com/dLB5BtTlxb

[Freude am Fahren]

Is Ducati running three bikes this weekend? I thought teams were limited to 2?

[Blerpa]

Is Ducati running three bikes this weekend? I thought teams were limited to 2?

No.
They can use wildcards and add riders at their heart content.
Thank fuck they can.

[Reynard]

I guess there would be two ways of looking at it. Either wild card rules trump manufacturer rules in the sporting regs or it's just a matter of if Carmelo fancies it good or not. ;)

From the 2017 rule book (http://www.motorsport-total.com/motorrad/MotoGP-Reglement-2017.pdf)
1.11.6 MotoGP wild cards:
There may be a maximum of two wild card entries.
Wild cards may be proposed by an FMN, the FIM, the MSMA or Dorna.
Wild card riders must be holders of an FIM “one event Grand Prix” licence
issued on behalf of any FMN.
Applications may be submitted to the FIM, on the official entry form issued
by the FIM, at any time prior to the event.
Entries, as received by the FIM, will be submitted to the Grand Prix
Commission who will decide which, if any, of the entries will be accepted.
FIM World Championship Grand Prix Regulations
23 update 17 January 2017
Accepted entries may be required to pay to IRTA a fee to cover the costs
of tyres provided by the official supplier for their use at the event. If after
acceptance and payment a rider withdraws their entry, only 50% of the IRTA
fee will be refundable. A full refund may be applied in the following cases:
a) the withdrawal is solely and verifiably due to rider injury,
b) the withdrawal is due to the rider being taken as a substitute rider for
a contracted team for that event,
c) another rider is appointed to take over the accepted wild card entry.
No financial compensation or reimbursement of expenses will be paid to
wild card riders.
Wild card entries are not subject to the IRTA insurance requirements.
Insurance of the wild card riders is the responsibility of their FMN.
When a wild card licence is confirmed and issued, the cost of this licence
will not be reimbursed to the rider who withdraws its participation to the
race.

which is then soon followed by this;

1.11.10 MotoGP Class Manufacturers
In the MotoGP class, Motorcycle Manufacturers are permitted to participate
with a maximum of two entries in their own team. Those Manufacturers
may also lease motorcycles and equipment to Independent teams.

If you didn't see it, FP3 was quite amazing this morning. Qualifying... excellent. First 3 laps tomorrow should be crazy :cool:

[Rare White Ape]

Wildcards are usually local riders to the country of the event or to the manufacturer. It's pretty common; the Motegi race last year had both the factory Honda and Yamaha test riders on the grid alongside their own team.

[Freude am Fahren]

neat :)

Just a little rant, since this is probably the most relevant thread. US cable channel Velocity has been broadcasting the TT for a few years now. It's just the ITV coverage, with some added ins and outs with a Velocity mic flag basically. I'm watching day one of coverage right now, and realized that they are no longer also broadcasting the rest of the Road Races like they have in the past :(. I think it's now on MAVTV, which Dish doesn't cover, nor do most providers.

Anyway, looking forward to the GP tomorrow. Should be interesting as usual.

[Reynard]

Sorry man, you're mistaken. They're shown on CBSSN, same as last season. ;)

[Freude am Fahren]

Oh, weird, I just assumed it was the same as the TT. Excellent.

My DVR for some reason no longer will record "Auto Racing" or "Motorcycle Racing" on any channels for some reason, so it's been a pain going through and funding MotoGP, WSBK, MotoAmerica, World Challenge, etc. each week.

Northwest 200 airs June 14th on CBS SN :)

[Godson]

About fucking time!!!!

[dodint]

I have my DVR set to record "Auto Racing." I've missed every single Trans Am event thus far (Novi, they ARE broadcasting it, right?) but manage to catch every Lucas Oil play-in-the-dirt event. Go figure.

[Freude am Fahren]

Fucking Lucas Oil.

[Dicknose]

Hinted spoilers for German GP...

Another great race and what a championship.
The top 4 places shuffled, well 2nd stayed put but the others all moved around. I guess with it being so close and the points split for a win that it can change quickly. Throw in a podium for someone who was 10th in the championship and it all changes so quick.

So it's now the summer break and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season. So good to have new faces at the front. We did well last season, but this year there are new guys regularly at the front, heck it's been a while since anyone other than the regular faces lead the championship. Vinales has been great and Dovisioso has finally found something (after 50 seasons!)
And the races have been good, lead changes, people fighting thru late, others fading. Far more interesting than "that other world championship"

[Reynard]

For sure. I just came here to simply say, I wished that this season would never end. :D

[Rare White Ape]

The last two races have been blindingly good.

[Rare White Ape]

Jack Miller looks like he'll be moving away from HRC next year. Most likely candidate is Pramac Ducati. Miller doesn't want to sign directly with Marc VDS without HRC support, so he's on the market.

I said it back when Miller made the jump from Moto3 to swim with the big fish MotoGP; he'll never have another chance to win a championship if he doesn't stay in the feeder classes for a few more years. My prediction might be coming true.

[Blerpa]

Morbidelli is going to be in MotoGP with VDS on Honda in 2018, already done deal.
Paired with Miller or someone new? That is yet to be unveiled.

[Reynard]

yeah... so uhhhh, how does "the hammerhead" look to you guys now compared with what you actually got? :assclown:

[Freude am Fahren]

Oh my god, the damn announcers talking about Marquez & Honda's "master plan" or whatever. Total nonsense. If it was such a master plan, why did he lose a half dozen positions before switching. If anything, he was lucky. He only came in when he did because he was dropping like a stone, and luckily the weather suited that. If he had started on the medium wets, he'd probably have come in with everyone else. If Honda had thought it would be a dry race, they'd have brought him in on lap 1 or just started on slicks.

[Rare White Ape]

That "master plan" was not much of a surprise if you've been watching MotoGP since ohhhhhh 2012, and especially in the last few years. Every time the track dries out the early stoppers usually make big gains. It shouldn't be lost on anyone, especially Yamaha.

Rossi could've won the championship in 2015 if he pitted two laps earlier at Misano. He did it again at Assen last year and again last weekend.

*shakes fist*

[Godson]

I prefer to cheer for a team that can't get out of its own way...

[Dicknose]

It has pretty much always been first in, best dressed. Can't remember anyone holding on for possible rain and it coming.
We have had times where the series leader has just followed his rivals, don't care if I don't win, just don't want to do anything different to my rivals, certainly not anything with bigger risk.

I was amazed that there wasn't at least one rider at the back of the grid rolling a dice on slicks at the start. It wasn't like it was raining when they formed up. Heck even if you swap bikes and start from pit lane, that doesn't hurt you when you are at the back.

[Godson]

Conditions must have been wet enough nobody had the temptation.

[Dicknose]

"What a race!"
Damn I love motogp.

[Freude am Fahren]

Crazy finish.

[Godson]

Fucking excellent race.

[Rare White Ape]

Go Dovi! That was awesome.

[Reynard]

Indeed... 'tis the season that just keeps on giving. :cool:

Did anyone see Romano losing his shit after Moto3 qualifying? I couldn't help but giggle as it was this event last year when he got the boot.

[Godson]

Had anyone else been following Dear George on Facebook?

Comedic gold

[Rare White Ape]

Yes.

I know the guy that writes it!

[Freude am Fahren]

And it looks like the season just got a bit less exciting :(

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/rossi-hospitalised-after-motocross-crash-947520/

[Rare White Ape]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Fuck

[Dicknose]

Not good.
Hope he does get back soon, healing doesn't get easier as you get older.

[Blerpa]

ROSSI.

[Freude am Fahren]

My dumbass DVR (which refuses to do automatic scheduled recording for "Motorcycle Racing" or "Auto Racing") decided to delete the scheduled qualifying recording when I set it up to record the race on Sunday.

[Dicknose]

Amazing effort by Rossi, recovery gets harder as you get older!
Danni had a great ride, just needed a better start.
Also good to see Lorenzo shine again. Not a fan, but he should be near the front more often.

Do these guys know how to do a bad race? Can't remember the last time it was a boring procession.

[M4FFU]

Dani did what Dani does. Starts badly, comes good at the end, doesn't quite make it.

And I don't think Lorezno 'shone,' really. It's a him track, it's a track with a big straight, he was always going to do ok, and he did ok. It was like 2009 for a few laps, but I'm not putting him in the 'wow - look at him go' unless he wins of the remaining races.

Marc, otoh - is a demon, possessed. Amazing and terrifying to watch.

[Dicknose]

It is a Ducati track, I guess it's more about how often Jorge has been ahead of Dovi this season - not often. When he is he usually bins it!
Was good to see him up the front and looking like the number one in the team.

[Cam]

Thanks to Cuda and his connections, I have been commissioned to do a caricature of several of MotoGP's commentators, mainly, one that will be retiring at the end of the season. If you follow MotoGP closely, you will probably know who I am talking about. Very cool opportunity. Thanks, Cuda! :D

[Kchrpm]

:up: :up: :up: :up:

[dodint]

Do us proud!

[M4FFU]

Talk of painting, but not that the last two races (for the entire GP, 2, and 3) have been utterly amazing?!

[Cam]

I don't watch a lot of motorsports anymore.

[Cam]

Who gives a shit about art, anyway, amirite?

Please do not share this. It will not be found on this little corner of the internet with a cursory search. The client loves it. It will be presented to the subject(s) at the last race of the season.

2673

[Reynard]

If you were going to meet Nick, I'd have something I'd want you to tell him for me. Something to do with knowing the difference between one's face & ass... but I digress. ;)

Nice work Cam!

[Rare White Ape]

Oh that’s a great pic!

It’ll be sad to hear him go, he’s got a great voice.

[Fiat500]

Nice job, Cam! :up:

The season has been great so far, and now the title remains undecided until Valencia.

Marquez does things on his bike that he shouldn't be able to get away with, just giving the finger to the laws of physics.
He is fantastic to watch, but I just can't bring myself to root for him.
First of all, he is punchable. And that tongue? Competing with Vettel's finger for least favourite racer body part.
Worse than that though was the trolling and shit during the race in Malaysia 2015.

So yeah.

Rooting for Dovi now, what a transformation he's gone through this year. I guess it helps not having Iannone on your team...

[M4FFU]

Would take something extra-ordinary for MM93 not to get this one, but yes, if there's someone that does deserve it, it's Dovi. It's had a fantastic season as a number 2 ( ;) ) rider and shown his team mate who's boss.

It's nice to see the KTM's coming up the grid, the Suzuki's mixing it with the other teams, and George getting to grips with the Duke; what with all the seat swapping next year, it should be even more interesting.

Cam - I take stress just how good the MGP has been this year. If anythings worth giving your time to follow, it's this.

[Dicknose]

All comes down to the last race.
Ok not close enough for a “winner takes it all”, but enough pressure that Marquez needs to ride well. I have a feeling he won’t go all out for the win, probably happy to settle for back of lead pack and maybe 5th. What does he need, 5 points and 11th place?

Cant wait, but then will be upset it’s 6 months to the next season

[Rare White Ape]

This season has been great since race #1, and through mid-season when there were four legitimate contenders for the title. I was saddened to see the hero of planet earth and one true GOAT Rossi fall back without a win so far this season, but there’s always next year (as we Rossi fans have said every year since 2008).

And out of all that, you wanna know what I’ve enjoyed seeing the most? It’s seeing Lorenzo floundering like a hopeless wannabe all season. He’s finally looking good for a win on the Ducati (imagine if he won in Malaysia - the only race they wouldn’t want him to win) and I look forward to him scrapping it out among the front runners next year, but it’s been an enjoyable time seeing his ego outweighing his talent for a few months.

[Godson]

Totally cheering for Dovi, I have a hat signed by him.

He's a super cool dude in person too.

Dovi MUST win to have a chance, and MM93 needs 5 points, or 11th for overall if dovi does win Valencia.

How crazy would it be if someone went Senna on either in the first corner to mix it up?

[XHawkeye]

We said 2016 would take some beating but 2017 DELIVERED an absolute classic #MotoGP season! What a ride. Bring on 2018! (https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/929753893894082560) <--- Open for video

[Dicknose]

Lorenzo kept up his reputation as a teammate no one wants!

[Godson]

Dear George



Get fucked.

[Dicknose]

He didn’t see that message, flash it on his dash, put I on his pit board... “get fucked”

Pity is, he is good enough that people let him get away with this. While I’m not a fan or team orders, it’s a no brainer, last race of season, team mate right behind you, clearly quicker in a couple of spots, just let him past. Maybe let him tow you for a while.
Will be interesting next year to see if he is still the number two rider in terms of results. Actually I’d really love to see Miller beat him. Not out of the question on a bike that seems very sensitive to rider style.

[Dicknose]

Season summary...
Marc shows he is the best rider there. Yes he is on a good machine, but it’s not a dominant machine, certainly not at some tracks. A few mistakes kept the championship interesting.
Dovi- wow! Really who would have picked at the start of the year (or even a couple of races in) that he would be fighting for the title at the last round. The guy has spent several years as a 2nd tier rider but something clicked and he really stepped up. Was great to watch.
George - not sure if he wanted to jump to Ducati to show Rossi and the world that he could handle a manufacturer change and still be winning races, how did that work out? At least continued with attitude form!
Rossi - not the force he was, but still smiles and gets on with it. When he has a good day he is still kicking guys who were in nappies when he started. Time to stop must be getting close, but it’s still a pleasure to millions to see him out there.
Vinales - great season, but it was a bit of a shooting star, flashed in with brilliance before fading. Hopefully learnt a lot and will be back stronger next year.
Zarco - great rookie year, feels like one of the best in a while. Again another with promise to fulfill next year.

Sad the season is over, now start the wait till next year.
Will Marc do it again, will Dovi stay at the pointy end, is it Rossi final season?
Stay tuned!

[Freude am Fahren]

Zarco really made the factory boys look not so good.

[Reynard]

and that was somewhat continued these last 3 days as well. ;) You might be very happy come 2019 though as may well be riding a bright orange bike then.

[Godson]

Hopefully he will rid ducati of the cunt

[Freude am Fahren]

That reminds me, I was pretty impressed with KTM. They started out struggling pretty bad, but made some big changes, and started making incremental gains right up until the end of the season. They seemed to at least catch up to the back of the manufacturer pack with Suzuki.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPJUklxXUAA9gD4.jpg

#MM93 and his 'save' in Valencia 😱
👉He braked 30 metres late ⚓️
👉He took the turn at 153 km/h 🚀
👉 The front tyre slid over 50 metres🏂
👉64º angle 📐📏
And he didn’t fall! 🤤 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 #Big6

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8q9_lrUwAAMvtf.jpg

#DidYouKnow @micksdoohan is the last rider to win the title without scoring points in the opening race of the season (retired on lap 15 in the 1998 Japanese GP)