Moto GP - Grand Prix of Qatar - With Spoliers

[Rawwr]

I highly doubt Stoner will come back for a full season, though possibly wouldn't rule out one or two races whilst Dani tries to figure out what's best for him. It would be such a sad end for Pedrosa's career if his arm rules him out of competition.

[LoonR1]

egor110 said:

Rea?

I know he's charging away in wsbk but if hrc offered the seat for the year?

Or maybe crutchlow would swop teams?

Rea's a Kawasaki rider now.

[cirian75]

Dani's bike

It'll be Stoner.

[Hungrymc]

Would be very cool to see Stoner back.

But Remembering why he quit I can't really see him wanting to put himself under that pressure and attracting all the media attention? You never know and we can hope.

Still reveling in what a brilliant race it was.

[Johno]

It'll go to the test rider, Stoner has repeatedly said he won't return to the MGP paddock and I don't believe he ever will as a factory rider.

Honda will definitely want someone who will mount a podium challenge though, so then you have to look at alternative options.

Rea is signed to Kawasaki, Honda won't buy him out of that with the depth of talent in the GP classes.

[cirian75]

To ride Dani's bike in this order


Hiroshi Aoyama

Stoner

Cal

Sylvain Guintoli

Leon Camier

[Hungrymc]

MM93 really didn't have the pace today which is a huge surprise, he was 1.9 seconds behind rossi after lap 1 (and his off) and finished 7 seconds behind. Now, he had to get through traffic, but then Rossi sat in 3rd and 4th waiting to make his move and not pushng too hard after comming through from 10th and taking 4 seconds out of the leaders to catch them.

Finally, Rossi put 6 or 7 laps in which were faster than Marc's fastest lap.

Is a shame Marc wasn't at the front as it would have mixed it up even more, but I'm not sure he could have beaten Vale.

[Tim85]

I thought Marc did have the pace. He was closing them in by tenths at a time. Not enough to close the gap that had opened out whilst he battled through but if he didn't run himself wide at the beginning he'd of been fighting at the very front. He didn't have the pace to romp away but I'd argue he did have the pace for a win.

[macdeb]

em177 said:

I've read loads of moaning last year about bt. For the first time I have it and have to say I think we all need to stop complaining. You get ever single session live, trackside and grid reporters and Julian commentating. Admitedly I'd rather have Toby with him but overall we should be thankful for the effort they are putting in imo.

I'm surprised by it, the best yet.

Rossi, what a bloke

[IainT]

egor110 said:

Exactly , that long start/finish really helped ducati.

Still great to see the team happy after the last few nightmare seasons and the riders really positive.

The Yam seemed to have a big advantage in Rossis hands around the medium-fast corners. Hard to tell where the Hondas are on that. Ducati a monster in a straight line.

Started watching Motogp when Rossi and Sete were trading paint and still love it when Rossi does well.

Moto3 was epic too.

[egor110]

IainT said:

The Yam seemed to have a big advantage in Rossis hands around the medium-fast corners. Hard to tell where the Hondas are on that. Ducati a monster in a straight line.

Started watching Motogp when Rossi and Sete were trading paint and still love it when Rossi does well.

Moto3 was epic too.

Be interesting to see if rossi's moto3 team keep fenati?

He's not coming up with the results and there are a lot of other Italian riders around ie. bastianini

[IainT]

egor110 said:

Be interesting to see if rossi's moto3 team keep fenati?

He's not coming up with the results and there are a lot of other Italian riders around ie. bastianini

Yeah, hadn't really had that on my radar until mentioned in commentary. Some amasing talent in that series - utterly fearless too! The 15-year old lad, Quartararo impressed me a lot.

[bakerstreet]

I don't think Stoner will come back. Cal is all ready on a factory bike and to be honest, I can't see him moving over to the Repsol squad. I'd be amazed if he even gets second year on the bike hes on now.

It will probably go to a test rider.

People made so much fuss about Dani when he moved up and were expecting great things when he came up against Rossi on track. Turned out to be an anti climax. Rossi just sailed by him on the brakes. Its pretty much the same now.

Saying that, he is one of the 'aliens' and part of me will be sad to see him leave the sport.

[r1flyguy1]

MotoGP, what a race

Prefer these very close fought battles shows up the true talent of these riders

[Hungrymc]

Tim85 said:

I thought Marc did have the pace. He was closing them in by tenths at a time. Not enough to close the gap that had opened out whilst he battled through but if he didn't run himself wide at the beginning he'd of been fighting at the very front. He didn't have the pace to romp away but I'd argue he did have the pace for a win.

That was the impression I had while watching the race too. But Marc's best lap was a 1,55.6 on lap 11.
Rossi put in 8 laps quicker than that after having an iffy first lap himself .... They were 1.8 secs apart at the end of the first lap, 7 seconds by the flag.... Rossi really had the best pace in the field (had the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fastest laps), which I'd never have expected before the race.

However, I'm pretty sure that Marc will back and will be angry in a couple of weeks... Can't wait !

[Fats25]

3DP said:

Superb eh? I was there at Donington for his 1st ever premiere class win in 2000 on the 500 NSR. Can't believe 15 years on he is still winning in that fashion!

We were with a girl we met from Dubai, and she was also there for that race 15 years ago, and there last night. I enjoy MotoGP, but as you know am more into my football, and golf. However that race last night was the best live sport I have ever seen.

[joema]

It's not going to be anyone from the lower classes. They've missed the boat on all the testing needed I reckon.

Can still wish for a stoner return though! He has tested that bike so I reckon he will get up to speed easier than anyone else.

[egor110]

Fats25 said:

3DP said:

Superb eh? I was there at Donington for his 1st ever premiere class win in 2000 on the 500 NSR. Can't believe 15 years on he is still winning in that fashion!

We were with a girl we met from Dubai, and she was also there for that race 15 years ago, and there last night. I enjoy MotoGP, but as you know am more into my football, and golf. However that race last night was the best live sport I have ever seen.

Make sure you watch the Italian moto gp.

If it ends up being the same result the rossi fans will go absolutely mental

[egor110]

graphene said:

cirian75 said:

To ride Dani's bike in this order
...

Hiroshi Aoyama - up there

Stoner - can't see him doing more than a couple of standin races, or a PI wildcard, at most

Cal - if LCR really have no money, then they may drop the contract at easy price

Sylvain Guintoli - doubt it

Leon Camier - would the team want to start configuring for someone so much bigger than Pedrosa?

Contracts permitting, I think Baustista would be the best person to plonk on Pedrosa's Honda for the rest of the season.

Melandri?

He's having a mare on the aprilia , yet it could be the gamble of the year for hrc.

[bass gt3]

Honda will want someone capable of putting the bike on the podium. It's the constructors championship they're concerned with.
Out of the current Moto GP paddock who is capable of utilising the bike?? It really needs an Alien to get the best from it.
Cal?? LCR might be in sponsor trouble but I don't think he's up to the job.
Camier? Just too big
Rea? Gone to Kawasaki and looking good for the Championship.
Stoner? Don't think he'll jump back into the fire although he's got the skills to do the bike justice.

Other than going for a new lad, an up and comer is there really an obvious replacement for Dani?
As for Dani, he might have been the perennial bridesmaid but he did exactly what HRC expected by getting pounts for the factory and being consistent. He may of never achieved his personal goal of the riders championship hut he was an almost perfect factory rider. Shame to see him go out like this if it goes that way.