Wednesday 6th February 2013

PH2: Moto GP - Rossi's return

Rossi's back on Yamaha and looking hungry, which bodes well for the season ahead

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The first official MotoGP test of the year has kicked off in Sepang and it looks like 2013 is shaping up to be a cracker of a season. Not only are some of the rookies already well on the pace, there is the small matter of a nine times world champion with a bit of fire back in his belly...

Expect sparks to fly with teammate Lorenzo

Yep it was all smiles (for now) in the factory Yamaha MotoGP team with Jorge Lorenzo second on the timing sheets and Valentino Rossi fourth in his first proper dry outing on the M1 since splitting from Ducati. As rain cut short day two of the test, Lorenzo was just 0.019 seconds behind pace setter Dani Pedrosa with Rossi 0.489 adrift. However the big story was who was in third.

Dani Pedrosa topping the charts was kind of expected, but Marc Marquez, a class rookie, in third place and just 0.254 seconds behind Dani shows the raw talent the young Spaniard has. Honda has made no secret of the fact it expects Dani to win this year, if he fails it isn't going to take long for Marc to become the golden boy. PH2 reckons there will be a few Spanish dummies spat in the Repsol garage this year...

Team Brit, or Tech 3 as it is also known, is also looking good for 2013 with Cal Crutchlow fifth in the standings and Bradley Smith eighth. That's a solid start for Bradders considering he is also new to MotoGP. But it's not good news for everyone...

Ducati has started 2013 as it finished 2012 - in trouble! Hayden and Dovi are both propping up the bottom of the top 10 with times over 1.5 seconds slower than leaders while Ben Spies is a massive 2.453 seconds off the pace. And to rub salt in his wounds both the Yamaha and Honda test riders are quicker than him...

 

[Pugsey]

Very cool colour schemes.

[Draexin]

Hmm, I did have my doubts as to whether Rossi would be able to keep up with the current "big boys", but seeing him nearly half a second behind Lorenzo (on what is essentially an identical bike) doesn't fill me with confidence..
Sure, Sepang is a very long circuit and he's new to the bike (sort of), but if the Ducati guys are "only" 1.5 seconds behind...

I'll be cheering Vale on as much as the next guy, but if he's gonna dominate the pack remains to be seen imho.

[CliveM]

Despite F1 being more entertaining in recent years, MotoGP is still so much more spectacular to watch as it still has something that the road rider can relate to - whereas how many car drivers have any idea what driving a car with aero is actually like?

[Antj]

i won't be making any assumptions until we see the first race. But love the new Yamaha colour scheme. will be a lot easier for commentators.

[dibblecorse]

Draexin said:

Hmm, I did have my doubts as to whether Rossi would be able to keep up with the current "big boys", but seeing him nearly half a second behind Lorenzo (on what is essentially an identical bike) doesn't fill me with confidence..
Sure, Sepang is a very long circuit and he's new to the bike (sort of), but if the Ducati guys are "only" 1.5 seconds behind...

I'll be cheering Vale on as much as the next guy, but if he's gonna dominate the pack remains to be seen imho.

So you expected him to jump right in at the top of the timing sheets ??? wow ......

[Pugsey]

CliveM said:

Despite F1 being more entertaining in recent years, MotoGP is still so much more spectacular to watch as it still has something that the road rider can relate to - whereas how many car drivers have any idea what driving a car with aero is actually like?

I'm with you re entertainment value. But.............I have a sneaking feeling a lot of people watching F1 secretly think (however wrongly) "I could do that with a bit of practice". Does anyone REALLY think they could emulate the MotoGP guys - even in my dreams I can't!

[Rat_Fink_67]

Antj said:

i won't be making any assumptions until we see the first race. But love the new Yamaha colour scheme. will be a lot easier for commentators.

It's only a "testing" scheme, Yamaha usually launch their true warpaint at Qatar during the opening round press day.

I think for Valentino to be 5 tenths shy is pretty good going really. Yes it's an identical bike to Lorenzo's but let's not forget he's had a year's experience on the latest generation M1, the last time Rossi rode one it was an 800. I imagine Rossi is still getting to grips with being able to push corner entry speed and maintain his line all over again! Dani and Jorge are where I expected them to be, kind of in a class of their own at the front, but what about Marquez?! All those people who were complaining that his team were cheating in Moto2 and his advantage was all down to the bike must be feeling pretty silly now. I don't think he'll contend for the title this season, there'll be too many occasions spent floundering in the gravel for that, but I'm sure he'll win a race or two and at least scare the established elite. It's going to be hard for Cal to get on the podium this year but I think he can manage it; a win might just be a bridge too far barring rain or some sort of mishap at the sharp end. Bradley's start is encouraging too! Whatever happens I just hope there's some good racing this year!

[LiamB]

Love those colour schemes, 'tis a shame they aren't keeping them for racing.

[V8Bart]

Whooo, Cal is in the ruuning and the Doctor is in the house.

Can't wait.

[bakker110]

That is a great start to testing for Rossi, obviously 2 years on the Ducati will have changed his riding style considerably so being that close after 2 testing sessions is promising. Don't forget it's only a test and in race conditions I reckon he'll still be fighting for the lead. In the rain he will certainly be fighting for the win. Now he's got that solid bike beneath him again I reckon he could almost go on to win the Championship.

The start for Marquez is great. He looked so fast in Moto2 I'm not surprised he's up there.

[pcn1]

Looking forward to the new season

Being a Ducati man myself, I really hope the new team structure can make them more competitve in 2013.

[CAPP0]

Draexin said:

Hmm, I did have my doubts as to whether Rossi would be able to keep up with the current "big boys", but seeing him nearly half a second behind Lorenzo (on what is essentially an identical bike) doesn't fill me with confidence..
Sure, Sepang is a very long circuit and he's new to the bike (sort of), but if the Ducati guys are "only" 1.5 seconds behind...

I'll be cheering Vale on as much as the next guy, but if he's gonna dominate the pack remains to be seen imho.

He hasn't ridden the Yamaha for 2 years and strangely enough, moving from the Duc to the Yam is not quite the same as moving from a Corsa to a Fiesta in the multiplex car park grand prix. Contrary to your observation, being 0.5 sec off and 4th OA in his first testing session is a very impressive result and shows the degree of talent he (still) possesses. I don't know how much the M1 has been changed over the winter but you could conversely ask yourself why Lorenzo can only manage to stick half a second on Rossi when it's a bike he's ridden consistently for a number of years.

[RX7]

I seem to remember similar comments to Rossi's lack of speed in testing on the Ducati, oh but his race pace will be better etc etc

.5 of a second a lap is what separated the rest of the aliens from pack last year and the year before.

This doesnt tell the true story anyway, Rossi was only 1000's ahead of Crutchlow, on the tech 3 bike and you can be damn sure Rossi wanted to be up the front, especially ahead of Marquez!

Rose tinted spectacles as ever when Rossi is concerned

Bradley Smith up there in 8th, pretty impressive

[Rat_Fink_67]

RX7 said:

Rose tinted spectacles as ever when Rossi is concerned

I don't think that's the case, if you look back in history, barring 2002 when the 4 strokes first emerged, Rossi has very rarely been top dog in testing anyway, it's just nice to see that the Ducati years didn't demoralise the bloke altogether.

[desmos]

I think Sepang has shown us how important it is to structure you're career once in Motogp. Cal was offered a seat on a factory Ducati yet the Tech3 was a stronger team on a better package, hats off to you sir. I'm sure you're grit will be rewarded!
Its certainly a make or break season for Vale, the days of season domination have long gone, but for the sport I believe this is a good thing.
Having said that bring back the 990's and ditch the rider aids...

[desmos]

...or just another litre of fuel!!

[epom]

Really looking forward to this season as a big Rossi fan, not expecting miracles but maybe a small bit of magic isn't too much to ask for

[philis]

cant help but worry that the 1/2 second gap will remain throughout the season, Yes its his first day on a new bike but same can be said for everybody else. i think if he is going to recapture his form he needs to dominate from day 1 and not be playing catchup.

[dc2rr07]

CAPP0 said:

He hasn't ridden the Yamaha for 2 years and strangely enough, moving from the Duc to the Yam is not quite the same as moving from a Corsa to a Fiesta in the multiplex car park grand prix. Contrary to your observation, being 0.5 sec off and 4th OA in his first testing session is a very impressive result and shows the degree of talent he (still) possesses. I don't know how much the M1 has been changed over the winter but you could conversely ask yourself why Lorenzo can only manage to stick half a second on Rossi when it's a bike he's ridden consistently for a number of years.

+1

April cannot come quick enough

[soad]

Pugsey said:

Very cool colour schemes.

Bike's far too grey for my liking. At least Rossi sports some yellow bits.