2018 MotoGP Predictions

[Yetski]

What's the thoughts after the last test, I can't see anything but a great season ahead, with many different winners, as for who will finish top of the pile????
Maybe Dovi's year, bring it on.

[Dakkon]

Well I think Marquez will still be the guy to beat. I was reading an account from Miller on the testing days they have just had, who said a few times he happened to be behind Marquez on track and the way he throws the bike into corners, losing the front and getting it all back together was astonishing.

That said Dovi has set the world record for a MotoGP top speed, so Ducati certainly have straight line pace, will Lorenzo be able to do anything with the pace? Who knows? He seems to have lost his mojo of late.

Cal was running well.

Zarco has a years experience now in MotoGP, so I think he will be very much at the front.

Then of course, you can never discount Rossi, who is saying he will stay racing until 2020.

On paper at least it should be a good season, bring it on.

[Kneedragger95]

Marquez and Dovi first and second, I think it'll be between Pedrosa, Zarco, Rossi and Vinales fighting for the third spot, too hard to call just who it'll be yet though...

I'm really hoping Crutchlow has a strong season, would love to see him get a few podiums, he will need to do a better job of keeping the bike right side up this year though. Strong testing has been promising though

[poo at Paul's]

I predict that tech 3 will show early promise but fall by the wayside as Yam restrict parts and data I light of them being KTM next year.

KTM will be regular top 8 / top 6 at some tracks.
Dovi and George will have a massive fall out after round 6, when Dovi keeps doffing up George and Ducati start to nobble his bike / data a bit.

Cal will have moments of genius, interspersed with lots of gravel trap visits!

Vinales will leave at the end of 2018 to replace Marque who will go to KTM, (or maybe at end 2019!!).

Simeon will surprise...

[Biker's Nemesis]

Marquez to win the championship unless he hurts himself.

fk knows what order the rest will finish in.

[PIGINAWIG]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Marquez to win the championship unless he hurts himself.

fk knows what order the rest will finish in.

This.

[Gavia]

Yep, Marquez for me too. I know there’s little love for Lorenzo, but I expect him to produce a lot more this year and probably be the main rival to Marquez.

The only real rival Marquez has is himself. If he keeps,it upright, then he’ll win the title again, if he crashes a lot then others will push him all the way and possibly pip him. At some point he will injure himself when he crashes.

I’m hoping for a good year and for Vinales to step up to “alien” status.

[hairyben]

poo at Paul's said:

Dovi and George will have a massive fall out after round 6, when Dovi keeps doffing up George and Ducati start to nobble his bike / data a bit.

much as I'd like to say GTFO, Ducatis behaviour is a bit fishy. The mrs was only reminding me last night how she decided at misano she'd like herself a dovi cap - only to discover after checking several of the onsite merch stands there were none onsale at all. Seems small but wtf? Home race, in the championship hunt, every other pilot had merch piled high... But dovi nah forget it mate. Peculiar.

[epom]

PIGINAWIG said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

Marquez to win the championship unless he hurts himself.

fk knows what order the rest will finish in.

This.

Likewise. He can't keep escaping injury can he ? Unless the Honda is really terrible he will still win it.

[Superhoop]

I reckon Dovi will win at Qatar, then be there or thereabouts for the most part of the season - maybe even clinching the tile from MM93

MM93 will continue to look like he is out of control, but stay on the bike by some miracle.. maybe win, maybe 2nd at the end of the year

Rossi will have wins again this year, but not take the title (as much as I'd like to see it happen)..

Vinales will start well and then progressively drop of the pace as he "develops" his own bike, eventually giving in and asking if he can see VR46's settings again..

Completely agree with the comments about Crashloads having moments of genius undispersed with frequent trips to the gravel traps..

Suzuki will win a race this year..

KTM will continue to improve and be semi competitive by the end of the year

JL99 will show promise at Qatar, as the circuit suits the Ducati, but will start spitting his dummy out big style by the end of FP2 in race 3 of the season, and by the end of the year will have a face that looks like he is permanently sucking on a lemon..

[Gavia]

Could you be any more of a cliché if you tried?

Crashloads, dummy spitting, Rossi picking up wins (plural, despite only getting one last year), dig at Vinales etc.

[freddytin]

I'll be putting a few of my well-earned pounds on Pedrosa and Lorenzo. Surely they will give reasonable odds ...No ?

[Superhoop]

Gavia said:

Could you be any more of a cliché if you tried?

Crashloads, dummy spitting, Rossi picking up wins (plural, despite only getting one last year), dig at Vinales etc.

maybe if I tried, however;

Vinales has already had a pop at Rossi saying the bike development is going in the wrong direction and that Rossi doesn't know what he's doing...

I think Cal had the highest number of crashes of any rider last year, so the name is pretty apt really.

Rossi is still competitive - Or certainly was last season.. he was a title contender until he crashed at Le Mans.

And JL99 does have a history of showing his displeasure at things not exactly going his way.. how else would you describe it other than spitting his dummy out ??

[Gavia]

Superhoop said:

maybe if I tried, however;

Vinales has already had a pop at Rossi saying the bike development is going in the wrong direction and that Rossi doesn't know what he's doing...

I think Cal had the highest number of crashes of any rider last year, so the name is pretty apt really.

Rossi is still competitive - Or certainly was last season.. he was a title contender until he crashed at Le Mans.

And JL99 does have a history of showing his displeasure at things not exactly going his way.. how else would you describe it other than spitting his dummy out ??

Vinales may or may not have a point. The M1 wasn’t great after the first half of the season

He’s called Crutchlow, call him that not “crashlow, or god help us Crutchdog, which I have absolutely no idea about how that name came to pass.

Le Mans was the 5th race of an 18 race season. If that was the end of his challenge then he couldn’t have been that competitive

It’s interesting how Lorenzo spits his dummy, Vinales is showing immaturity, whereas Rossi is doing the right thing and challenging the team publically. Hmmmmmm

Personally, I think Rossi should’ve retired a good few years ago, he’s tarnished his reputation with the incident with Marquez a few years back and now he’s here as a marketing tool rather than a true racer. He is a fair way off the others and given that Pedrosa gets dogs abuse formhis performances, I’m baffled why Rossi gets praise for finishing behind him?

I’m hoping Zarco gets some consistency this year, alongside Vinales and that Lorenzo can put a challenge together

[epom]

Crikey

[FourWheelDrift]

Lowes looking good on the Moto2 KTM - http://www.crash.net/motogp/results/891129/1/jerez...

Lorenzo to go up and down the grid like a drunk looking for his next free drink.

Marquez to crash many times but stay on the bike and win, actually that's not a prediction we all know it always happens.

Zarco to win in Qatar.

[macdeb]

freddytin said:

I'll be putting a few of my well-earned pounds on Pedrosa and Lorenzo. Surely they will give reasonable odds ...No ?

No,

[freddytin]

macdeb said:

freddytin said:

I'll be putting a few of my well-earned pounds on Pedrosa and Lorenzo. Surely they will give reasonable odds ...No ?

No,

Titter ye not ....20s and 5s respectively ...Might as well go the whole hog and curse Cal too ..50 /1

Edit to add That's with 888 ..A fool and his money

[podman]

Superhoop said:

I reckon Dovi will win at Qatar, then be there or thereabouts for the most part of the season - maybe even clinching the tile from MM93

MM93 will continue to look like he is out of control, but stay on the bike by some miracle.. maybe win, maybe 2nd at the end of the year

Rossi will have wins again this year, but not take the title (as much as I'd like to see it happen)..

Vinales will start well and then progressively drop of the pace as he "develops" his own bike, eventually giving in and asking if he can see VR46's settings again..

Completely agree with the comments about Crashloads having moments of genius undispersed with frequent trips to the gravel traps..

Suzuki will win a race this year..

..

Pretty much what the "experts" have to say here, worthy listening.

https://soundcloud.com/the-paddock-pass-podcast

Personally, id like to see Dovi or any other than MM win it but as long as the racing is close and interesting, ill be happy.

[macdeb]

podman said:

Personally, id like to see Dovi or any other than MM win it but as long as the racing is close and interesting, ill be happy.

This