RE: MotoGP Assen: PH2
Monday 29th June 2015
Having secured his first pole in what seems like years (well, since last season), Valentino Rossi was the qualifying sensation of Assen. Still right in the championship chase, and with a team mate bang on form, what better time to sort out his traditionally poor qualifying performances? Could he convert it to a win? All the fans hoped so, especially as Lorenzo was way down the order...
Look who's back!Pole position isn't much use unless you get a good start and a brave first corner secured the race lead for Valentino while behind him Lorenzo made it up to third in the opening lap. Rossi, Marquez and then Lorenzo, you couldn't help but feel there would be some fireworks later in the Assen race.
Lorenzo won't have it all his own wayThree laps to go and Rossi was back in the lead and a mistake by Marquez gave him some breathing space. Had he broken Marc? One lap to go and Rossi was leading the way and setting a personal best lap time. But Marc was still there and a proper lunge in the final chicane nearly saw it all end in tears. However a bit of gravel hopping and in the end the only tears were of joy from Rossi fans. What a ride!
MotoGP Assen: PH2
Dutch delight for MotoGP fans after another thrilling race
Look who's back!
With a new chassis underneath him, Marc Marquez was looking more like his old self while Lorenzo appeared to wake up on race day and it wasn't long until the trio broke well clear of the field with Rossi leading the way. Although out of the three, Marc appeared the only one capable of running with Rossi while Lorenzo was a little short of pace.
Having shadowed Rossi all race, Marc Marquez left it until seven laps to go to overtake and take the lead with Lorenzo out of the game. Could Rossi respond? The last few laps certainly promised some much needed excitement in MotoGP. Was Rossi sand bagging?
Lorenzo won't have it all his own way
A strong practice hinted that Sam Lowes could secure an Assen podium and after the first race was red flagged, he settled into the leading group of riders in the shortened race. In the end race winner Zarco and second place Rabat proved too fast, but at least Lowes secured the final podium spot.
Moto3 and another mature ride saw Danny Kent stick with the leaders throughout the whole race and pull off a superb overtake to snatch third. An achievement that was only bettered by Ajo's knee dragging finish as he clung onto his bike and was dragged over the line by its side!
Results
1st: Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)
2nd: Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
3rd: Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)
Moto2:
1st: Zarco (Ajo Motorsport)
2nd: Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS)
3rd: Lowes (Speed Up Racing)
Moto3:
1st: Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
2nd: Quartararo (Estrella Galicia 0,0)
3rd: Kent (Leopard Racing)
Brit watch:
Cal Crutchlow (MotoGP) - 6
Bradley Smith (MotoGP) - 7
Scott Redding (MotoGP) - 13
Eugene Laverty (MotoGP) - DNF
Sam Lowes (Moto2) - 3
John McPhee (Moto3) - 10
Danny Kent (Moto3) - 3
Discussion
"With a new chassis underneath him, Marc Marquez was..."
Actually, it was an old chassis underneath him. That was last year's chassis with this year's engine in it.
Great race!
So much more entertaining than F1 these days. Shame I'm going to lose it when BT start charging an arm and a leg for BT Sport. 
Actually, it was an old chassis underneath him. That was last year's chassis with this year's engine in it.
Great race!
So much more entertaining than F1 these days. Shame I'm going to lose it when BT start charging an arm and a leg for BT Sport. I thought all 3 of the races were brilliant!
Moto3 was a very close race which looked like any of the top 5 could finish in any order.
The Rossi, Marquez battle was really good too, I thought there would be more controversy about Rossi cutting the last corner than there was, but Marc did put himself in a position where Rossi had nowhere else to go.
Moto3 was a very close race which looked like any of the top 5 could finish in any order.
The Rossi, Marquez battle was really good too, I thought there would be more controversy about Rossi cutting the last corner than there was, but Marc did put himself in a position where Rossi had nowhere else to go.
StuB said:
What happened? I turned the TV on yesterday to settle down & watch MotoGP & nothing on? Racing should be on Sundays FFS.
Usually catches me out but the Tivo box saves the day, they have only been racing their on a Saturday since 1925 (World Championships from 1949).MM should count himself lucky if that was F1 that would have been a grid penalty for the next round for forcing someone off the track, anyway as race direction said at no point in the last corners was he ahead of Rossi and as it made no effect to the outcome it was deemed a racing incident, The End.
Mike Webb made some very astute comments about Marc Marquez.
"There are other incidents with Marc in the past, with other riders in all the classes, where our opinion is that the pass had no chance of coming off, that it was deliberate contact or something like that"
Now there are several other riders on bikes capable of competing with the RCV, the shine really has worn off Marquez completely.
Webb's conclusion.
I have to say the end result, race incident, was clear cut. During the entire last chicane maneuver Valentino was always in front. We have a really good helicopter shot that he’s always in front and is therefore entitled to his line. It was the person in front stayed in front. The person in second stayed second. They both left the track and they both regained the track. End of story......
As if Rossi was going to get to FOS without first. The boy has been shown the door again.
"There are other incidents with Marc in the past, with other riders in all the classes, where our opinion is that the pass had no chance of coming off, that it was deliberate contact or something like that"
Now there are several other riders on bikes capable of competing with the RCV, the shine really has worn off Marquez completely.
Webb's conclusion.
I have to say the end result, race incident, was clear cut. During the entire last chicane maneuver Valentino was always in front. We have a really good helicopter shot that he’s always in front and is therefore entitled to his line. It was the person in front stayed in front. The person in second stayed second. They both left the track and they both regained the track. End of story......
As if Rossi was going to get to FOS without first. The boy has been shown the door again.
smilo996 said:
Now there are several other riders on bikes capable of competing with the RCV, the shine really has worn off Marquez completely.
But now, just because he had a bad start and the bike has problems this season [just ask Cal and co], he had some dnfs and 'only' a couple of podiums [and he could have had 2 more but he was just pushing too hard and binned it - as that’s his style and MotoGP is all the better for it!, he is an exciting rider to watch] he now no longer shines...
D200 said:
Yeah, the shine has worn off MM, the whole of MotoGP paddock was duped by this young fraud who only won the title in his rookie year [as a 20 year old] breaking many records. Then retaining the title and breaking even more records.
But now, just because he had a bad start and the bike has problems this season [just ask Cal and co], he had some dnfs and 'only' a couple of podiums [and he could have had 2 more but he was just pushing too hard and binned it - as that’s his style and MotoGP is all the better for it!, he is an exciting rider to watch] he now no longer shines...
I agree with everything you say except the stuff about Cal. Cals very very good, just not great like Rossi, MM, Lorenzo etc. You could put the starship enterprise under cal and he'd still blame the bike.But now, just because he had a bad start and the bike has problems this season [just ask Cal and co], he had some dnfs and 'only' a couple of podiums [and he could have had 2 more but he was just pushing too hard and binned it - as that’s his style and MotoGP is all the better for it!, he is an exciting rider to watch] he now no longer shines...
Yep, Marquez needed to take a look at the tape before yapping about how unfair life is, etc.
That being said... what if there WERE a penalty against him, especially a time penalty. It sure would put Rossi in an interesting spot, eh? Dropping MM from the podium actually hurts Rossi's championship drive while helping Yamaha's!
That being said... what if there WERE a penalty against him, especially a time penalty. It sure would put Rossi in an interesting spot, eh? Dropping MM from the podium actually hurts Rossi's championship drive while helping Yamaha's!
jason61c said:
D200 said:
Yeah, the shine has worn off MM, the whole of MotoGP paddock was duped by this young fraud who only won the title in his rookie year [as a 20 year old] breaking many records. Then retaining the title and breaking even more records.
But now, just because he had a bad start and the bike has problems this season [just ask Cal and co], he had some dnfs and 'only' a couple of podiums [and he could have had 2 more but he was just pushing too hard and binned it - as that’s his style and MotoGP is all the better for it!, he is an exciting rider to watch] he now no longer shines...
I agree with everything you say except the stuff about Cal. Cals very very good, just not great like Rossi, MM, Lorenzo etc. You could put the starship enterprise under cal and he'd still blame the bike.But now, just because he had a bad start and the bike has problems this season [just ask Cal and co], he had some dnfs and 'only' a couple of podiums [and he could have had 2 more but he was just pushing too hard and binned it - as that’s his style and MotoGP is all the better for it!, he is an exciting rider to watch] he now no longer shines...
Re the race: as good as MM is (and I'd say he is comparable to VR in most respects but cant match him in many), he still has some big gaps in his offense. His tactical game is improving but he failed to recognise VR was sand bagging slightly and didn't bury him when he took the lead because he couldn't. He should have learned that 6 laps earlier so that he could reconfigure.
Also, clearing off from the field on a superior bike is one thing. But there are far fewer riders who can hold another top guy behind them and still put in the super quick laps. George and Vale can, Dovi maybe, Pedrosa on a (very) good day. I'm not convinced MM has that yet. I was pleased to see MM get a technical and tactical riding lesson from VR, however I'd love to see him learn and take on VR with a more even skillset. The danger is that losing to VR too often might head-f
k him before he gets properly on song. As good as he is, he is still a work in progress. The real question is his capacity to get better still or become another Pedrosa. Edited by Reardy Mister on Tuesday 30th June 12:11
Edited by Reardy Mister on Tuesday 30th June 12:14
Biker's Nemesis said:
Rossi sandbagging?
Marquez the next Pedrosa? Marquez has already won 2 world titles
Just thought I would say
Steady with the paraphrasing. Rossi said himself he kept some up his sleeve for the last two laps and he passed Marquez virtually at will whilst he was trying to gap him.Marquez the next Pedrosa? Marquez has already won 2 world titles
Just thought I would say
The only comparison I made to Pedrosa is that I felt he has a better ability to lead a race with another top rider behind him, than Marquez. That and the fact he is in danger of becoming another nearly man under the wheels of the Rossi train, at an early age.
Sheesh.
Edited by Reardy Mister on Tuesday 30th June 14:07
Reardy Mister said:
Re the race: as good as MM is (and I'd say he is comparable to VR in most respects but cant match him in many), he still has some big gaps in his offense. His tactical game is improving but he failed to recognise VR was sand bagging slightly and didn't bury him when he took the lead because he couldn't. He should have learned that 6 laps earlier so that he could reconfigure.
Also, clearing off from the field on a superior bike is one thing. But there are far fewer riders who can hold another top guy behind them and still put in the super quick laps. George and Vale can, Dovi maybe, Pedrosa on a (very) good day. I'm not convinced MM has that yet. I was pleased to see MM get a technical and tactical riding lesson from VR, however I'd love to see him learn and take on VR with a more even skillset. The danger is that losing to VR too often might head-fk him before he gets properly on song. As good as he is, he is still a work in progress. The real question is his capacity to get better still or become another Pedrosa.
This. What a ridiculous statement, on so many levels. For a start MM won the MotoGP title in his rookie year, something that even Rossi couldn’t do. Then he broke so many records during the year – plus he was only 20. Then he won another title back to back, again, breaking many more records. At this stage in his career he is better than Rossi. He has done more than Rossi [against higher competition including against Rossi himself – esp if Rossi is considered the GOAT plus vs Lorenzo [who beat Rossi more than Rossi beat him who also has to be considered one of the all-time great talents]. What does MM have to do to make you think he is something other than a ‘work in progress’? Win every motoGP race he ever enters on any bike and win every title from now until 2025? Bonkers beyond belief.Also, clearing off from the field on a superior bike is one thing. But there are far fewer riders who can hold another top guy behind them and still put in the super quick laps. George and Vale can, Dovi maybe, Pedrosa on a (very) good day. I'm not convinced MM has that yet. I was pleased to see MM get a technical and tactical riding lesson from VR, however I'd love to see him learn and take on VR with a more even skillset. The danger is that losing to VR too often might head-f
k him before he gets properly on song. As good as he is, he is still a work in progress. The real question is his capacity to get better still or become another Pedrosa. Edited by Reardy Mister on Tuesday 30th June 12:11
Edited by Reardy Mister on Tuesday 30th June 12:14
D200 said:
This. What a ridiculous statement, on so many levels. For a start MM won the MotoGP title in his rookie year, something that even Rossi couldn’t do. Then he broke so many records during the year – plus he was only 20. Then he won another title back to back, again, breaking many more records. At this stage in his career he is better than Rossi. He has done more than Rossi [against higher competition including against Rossi himself – esp if Rossi is considered the GOAT plus vs Lorenzo [who beat Rossi more than Rossi beat him who also has to be considered one of the all-time great talents]. What does MM have to do to make you think he is something other than a ‘work in progress’? Win every motoGP race he ever enters on any bike and win every title from now until 2025? Bonkers beyond belief.
What is bonkers beyond belief is that you think MM is not a work in progress.MM has immense talent and won the championship during the years when he had BY FAR the best bike in the paddock. Now that the bikes from Yam, HRC, and even Ducati are far more evenly matched, we are starting to see a better picture of how good MM really is as a rider against the other few aliens. No doubt about it - MM is one of the top 3 aliens. But he has been schooled on more than one occasion this season, and he appears to sometimes be his own enemy. One thing is for certain: neither VR nor JL are afraid of him. They know his weaknesses and are exposing him - both on track and even in the paddock.
Biker's Nemesis said:
There's no need for a "sheesh" Sheila.
I have no doubt that Marquez is in danger of becoming a nearly man of any discription.
I do know what you mean but it can't apply to the 22 year old twice moto gp champion
( warm smile smiley)
Ok, I guess it's fair to say that a double WC of the premier class is hardly a nearly man. I have no doubt that Marquez is in danger of becoming a nearly man of any discription.
I do know what you mean but it can't apply to the 22 year old twice moto gp champion
( warm smile smiley)
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say; he shows the early potential to emulate Rossi IF he the Rossi factor doesn't nip him in the psychological bud, now that the bikes are more even.
Any good?
(Warm smiley, cup of tea and a foot rub, but over socks)
spareparts said:
D200 said:
This. What a ridiculous statement, on so many levels. For a start MM won the MotoGP title in his rookie year, something that even Rossi couldn’t do. Then he broke so many records during the year – plus he was only 20. Then he won another title back to back, again, breaking many more records. At this stage in his career he is better than Rossi. He has done more than Rossi [against higher competition including against Rossi himself – esp if Rossi is considered the GOAT plus vs Lorenzo [who beat Rossi more than Rossi beat him who also has to be considered one of the all-time great talents]. What does MM have to do to make you think he is something other than a ‘work in progress’? Win every motoGP race he ever enters on any bike and win every title from now until 2025? Bonkers beyond belief.
What is bonkers beyond belief is that you think MM is not a work in progress.MM has immense talent and won the championship during the years when he had BY FAR the best bike in the paddock. Now that the bikes from Yam, HRC, and even Ducati are far more evenly matched, we are starting to see a better picture of how good MM really is as a rider against the other few aliens. No doubt about it - MM is one of the top 3 aliens. But he has been schooled on more than one occasion this season, and he appears to sometimes be his own enemy. One thing is for certain: neither VR nor JL are afraid of him. They know his weaknesses and are exposing him - both on track and even in the paddock.
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