MotoGP Japan

[Fleegle]

It looks like Zarco will be crowned Moto2 champion this weekend after Rabat pulls out due to injury

[Steve Bass]

Zarco has been the standout rider this year. Rabat is fantastic but Zarco just keeps getting the job done.
Will he get a shot in the big league??

[DuraAce]

KTM / Tech3 for 2017?

JL looking good in FP1/2. Rossi need to up his game a little. I bet he is doing his rain dance for Sunday.

[FourWheelDrift]

Japan's got a few bums on seats this round, Takahashi (HRC Honda), Nakasuga (Yamaha) and Akiyoshi (AB Cardion Honda), Anthony West is going to be on the AB Cardion Honda chicane at Philip Island.

Big (ish) grid.

FP2

1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 44.731s [Lap 13/15] 299km/h (Top Speed)
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 44.859s +0.128s [19/20] 305km/h
3. Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 45.043s +0.312s [18/19] 308km/h
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 45.059s +0.328s [18/18] 310km/h
5. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 45.250s +0.519s [17/19] 304km/h
6. Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 45.348s +0.617s [15/16] 300km/h
7. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 45.492s +0.761s [14/15] 303km/h
8. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 45.554s +0.823s [19/19] 297km/h
9. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 45.597s +0.866s [18/19] 302km/h
10. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 45.645s +0.914s [17/19] 305km/h
11. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 45.846s +1.115s [16/17] 305km/h
12. Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 46.074s +1.343s [18/20] 300km/h
13. Maverick Viñales ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 46.464s +1.733s [16/17] 299km/h
14. Jack Miller AUS LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 46.477s +1.746s [15/17] 300km/h
15. Yonny Hernandez COL Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 46.563s +1.832s [13/16] 304km/h
16. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 46.648s +1.917s [16/18] 302km/h
17. Stefan Bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 46.649s +1.918s [15/16] 295km/h
18. Takumi Takahashi JPN Team HRC (RC213V) 1m 46.650s +1.919s [5/20] 300km/h
19. Eugene Laverty IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS)* 1m 46.770s +2.039s [15/18] 296km/h
20. Nicky Hayden USA Aspar MotoGP Team (RC213V-RS) 1m 46.827s +2.096s [12/16] 292km/h
21. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 46.934s +2.203s [13/15] 299km/h
22. Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 46.974s +2.243s [19/19] 298km/h
23. Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 47.096s +2.365s [12/14] 298km/h
24. Loris Baz FRA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)* 1m 47.219s +2.488s [10/17] 293km/h
25. Toni Elias SPA Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 1m 47.689s +2.958s [16/18] 300km/h
26. Alex De Angelis RSM E-Motion IodaRacing (ART) 1m 48.572s +3.841s [10/14] 292km/h
27. Kousuke Akiyoshi JPN AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS) 1m 48.769s +4.038s [9/15] 292km/h

[Chipchap]

VR46 almost 9mph down on top speed to Dovi and tem Dukes have the soft tyres for qually too.

A

[Reardy Mister]

Chipchap said:

VR46 almost 9mph down on top speed to Dovi and tem Dukes have the soft tyres for qually too.

A

Both the Tech 3s topping out faster than the factory bikes.

[joema]

Forecast for rain sunday. Fingers crossed it does!

[Superhoop]

If there's a chance of rain on Sunday, JL should probably send someone out for some anti-fog spray and some duck tape for his lid.

[nervous]

Does anyone know if BT are keeping their commentary line up for 2016? Or if they're planning to do a feature wherein you can switch off the commentary but still hear the bikes? I know that some people enjoy hearing someone who is obviously eating describe the exact same things you can see at the same time as you see them, whilst another man flails around in the background shouting 'block pass' every three or four seconds like a nervous affliction or as if it was a company he was being sponsored by that made- let's say tedious juice- but for myself I find I can live without it. To the extent that I'd rather not watch it at all anymore, instead spending more time listening to fingers on blackboards whilst watching grass grow paint dry painted grass blackboards fingers dry. After all, I can both read AND see (which is exactly why the medium of television is so ideal for me) and with the prevalence of information available both prior to and during a race now, I'm not sure I understand the necessity for someone to repeat things to me in a way that mostly confuses both meaning and content.

I know that there will be some of you who feel differently, but A) your opinion is wrong (though bless you for trying) and 2) see A. Likewise, there will be those of you who feel that Greedy et Shouty should be allowed to commentate because 'they are very knowledgeable/ own a helmet' but ask yourself this, does knowing lots about stuff make you a charming, likeable or enjoyable presenter of the subject? For example, I know all the names of the Beatles, but that doesn't mean I can be in the band.

So, anyone know if they're staying for next years? Block pass.

[Fleegle]

I nearly met you once

[nervous]

Yeah. Thank heaven for block passes.

[Fleegle]

nervous said:

Yeah. Thank heaven for block passes.

I still chuckle to myself thinking about that day at Snetterton asking the random bloke on the R1 if he was Nervous

[nervous]

Fleegle said:

I still chuckle to myself thinking about that day at Snetterton asking the random bloke on the R1 if he was Nervous

Did he say 'well, I am now.'?

[Fleegle]

nervous said:

Fleegle said:

I still chuckle to myself thinking about that day at Snetterton asking the random bloke on the R1 if he was Nervous

Did he say 'well, I am now.'?

He did look a little, erm....., uncomfortable

[nervous]

See, now I wish I'd called myself 'Up For Being Molested?'. You might have both got something out of it.

[Fleegle]

nervous said:

See, now I wish I'd called myself 'Up For Being Molested?'. You might have both got something out of it.

I would have got my mate, Ray Pugh, to hunt you out

[nervous]

Way late for that. Why do you think I needed to be helped into my leathers?

[Fleegle]

Back to the GP, Qualifying was one of the most exciting I've seen for a while

Next to nothing between JL and VR, Smith off twice.

If its dry tomorrow I think JL will just edge it. Rain from the start and it will be VR. MM will be strong from the off but I can see him fading in the second half

[Hungrymc]

Fleegle said:

Back to the GP, Qualifying was one of the most exciting I've seen for a while

Next to nothing between JL and VR, Smith off twice.

If its dry tomorrow I think JL will just edge it. Rain from the start and it will be VR. MM will be strong from the off but I can see him fading in the second half

Amazing to see Rossi get so close to George on dry pace. George saying the humidity affected his confidence in the front end.... So I'm quietly hoping for a downpour.

I don't generally go with the MM is going to take one of the contenders out. But the Honda looks evil and he's going to push very, very hard for Hondas home race. I can see it being a nervous first few laps.

Reports are that Alex deA has broken 5 vertebrae and some ribs, and took a major knock to the head, sounds nasty but hope he recovers quickly and fully.

[egor110]

Fleegle said:

Back to the GP, Qualifying was one of the most exciting I've seen for a while

Next to nothing between JL and VR, Smith off twice.

If its dry tomorrow I think JL will just edge it. Rain from the start and it will be VR. MM will be strong from the off but I can see him fading in the second half

I can see him dropping it again, the bike looks so twitchy.

I wonder if the pedrobot will return again this race or we'll have the boring pedrossa.

One things for sure if it pisses down again Lorenzo and rossi wont make the same mistakes a 2nd time.