MotoGrandPrix- Brno 2020

[afm199]

A UK sports writer once made the slightly sexist but reasonably accurate comment that sports are soap operas for men. MotoGP this year seems a great example of this. The first three races haven't produced any close finishes or even multi-lap pass/pass-back-again battles but interest is really high. While the races may have not been exciting they have been eventful with lots of drama.

Look at all the story lines produced in just the last several weeks:

- Marc Marquez's injury and recovery.
- Has HRC finally produced a bike that even Marc Marquez can't ride?
- Did the long layoff contribute to injures for Marc Marquez, Crutchlow, Rins and Bagnaia? How long until they are back and 100% and shaking up the results?
- Rookie sensation Brad Binder!
- KTM's 2020 new platform has produced fast lap times and strong race pace for Binder, Pol Esparago and Oliveira. Is the RC now the easiest bike to ride?
- P. Espargaro jumps ship to HRC just as the KTM makes a huge leap in performance and the RCV remains difficult to ride.
- Is this Quartararo's championship to lose? Will Morbidelli start to equal his teammate's results?
- Has Nakagami or LCR figured something out or is the number of injuries to others making him look good?
- Michelin's new rear tire may or may not favor the inline 4 cylinder bikes.
- Rossi with regular podium pace?
- The condensed season with so many back-to-back races is unforgiving of bad results.
- Will Zarco's redemption last or was it a one-off on a bumpy track with poor grip?
- Can Dovi and Ducati get their mojo back at their best track over the next two weeks?
- Dovi's status at Ducati has been whipsawing back and forth every few days. Will he stay or does Ducati have attractive options that cost much less? Where could he possibly go if Ducati doesn't sign him? Aprilia? Join Petrucci at Tech3 KTM?
- Which Viñales is going to show up each weekend?
- Iannone's suspension could be overturned or extended for years.
- Will Becky find out about Tad's affair with Natasha and can she still keep the family farm while also running the biggest hospital in town? Is her father really lost at sea?


OK, that last one is a soap opera story. Doesn't seem as dramatic as most of the GP stories does it?

:wow:thumbup:thumbup

 

[budman]

Tad boinked Natasha?? :wtf

What lap?? I missed it.

 

[Busy Little Shop]

- Has HRC finally produced a bike that even Marc Marquez can't ride?

HRC produced exactly what Marc wants... a Gp bike with the power and handling
to push the envelope into the unknown lap times... its Michelin front that can't deliver...

 

[Lucky Jones]

HRC produced exactly what Marc wants... a Gp bike with the power and handling
to push the envelope into the unknown lap times....

So... how's that working out for them points wise? :teeth

its Michelin front that can't deliver...

They built a bike for tires that don't exist? I think THAT'S a huge mistake.

As much as I love Honda, you gotta admit they kinda boned themselves this year.

 

[NSR500]

@BLS

Oh, you mean like how Yamaha in the past built a bike to push the envelope into unknown lap times but Michelin couldn’t deliver.
Dovi and Ducati are saying it as well this season. They’ve also built a bike with the power and handling to push the envelope into unknown lap times, but Michelin can’t deliver.

Seems like the plurality believe that HRC have built a motorcycle that only WinOrBin can ride which is why even Simon Crafar is asking Puig questions along that narrative.
Otherwise, Simon would be pestering HRC about Michelin tires instead.

 

[Map8]

Tad boinked Natasha?? :wtf

What lap?? I missed it.

So did Becky.

 

[budman]

Tad a code word for Zarco by chance? :laughing

 

[NSR500]

Watching ATF this snapshot came up and it highlighted to me how while rubbing is racing, people don't have to be a Dirty Frenchie about it like Zarco.

The video was during the laps when Fabio fell back and Rins & Rossi caught him. Fabio was a little wide just like Pol when Rins tries to shoot the gap. The moment Rins saw Fabio tighten up his line, he looks to have backed off a smidge, they made slight contact, and Rins picked it up just a bit.
No harm, no foul... A few turns later and Rins makes a clean pass stick and we know how the story ends.
The 2020 points lead finished behind Rins, but gets to bring the bike home in one piece and everyone is happy.
In contrast, Zarco gives it to Pol with no lube and sends KTM's dream finish of a 1-2 into the gravel.

 

[Smash Allen]

Zarco couldn’t see Pol, he actually leans over unlike Rins

 

[Raider]

I don't understand why people keep saying it's Zarco's fault... Pol was WAYYYYYYY off line, the gap was huge. Pol was the one that tried coming back into line and ran into Zarco.

Here is the sequence from the helicopter...

And remember a few turns before Pol was even farther offline which let Fabio through.... Pol was so offline he was basically entering the pits. What's not to say that Zarco thought he was struggling with the fronts and saw an opportunity...

 

[aminalmutha]

Because Zarco.

 

[NSR500]

Because Zarco.

100% arty

 

[budman]

Yeah.. Pol went wide.. Zarco never got a wheel on him.

We saw Rins in the same spot back out of it. Zarco could have, but did not. However given all that I still think it was not a really bad move. Just did not work out. I was glad he ripped off the amazing wide lap. That was fricking so well done.

Glad he got a podium too.

 

[TTTom]

Whatever KTM is paying Pedrosa as test/development rider is money well spent going from perennial ill-handling shit to winner over one off-season.

 

[DefyInertia]

Could Zarco even see Pol at the point when Pol tightened it up? Surely he could hear him but Pol had to be out of view. Pol gave him the line and then moved back into it. I get that Zarco never had a wheel on him, and that is a major factor, but sure seemed like a racing incident to me and not identical to Rins situation.

Hell yeah his “long lap” was epic.

 

[budman]

I doubt he was looking in the direction of Pol.

Racing incident.. yeah. I get that. I did not think he should have been penalized, but in the end it did not matter luckily.

The announcers were impressed by his long lap as well. So fricking well done. :applause

 

[Sportbiker]

The long lap was precision riding..

During the interview was the first time I've heard MotoGP riders talk about riding on the street casually (at least this bunch). Wonder whether some one actually raced Zarco or Dovi on the street.. Do these guys have the will power to let someone else beat them.. LOL

Colin Edwards talked about how he rode with his friends on the street and he couldn't believe why some one would take so much risk with trees / steel barriers and such..

 

[kelsodeez]

That new thread smell

https://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=545093

 

[afm199]

Regardless of going off line, the rider in front has the right of way. It's the responsibility of the rider behind to pass safely. Zarco was the rider behind, and he did not pass safely.

 

[Busy Little Shop]

@BLS

Oh, you mean like how Yamaha in the past built a bike to push the envelope into unknown lap times but Michelin couldn’t deliver.

You don't push the envelope if engine is down on power it affects top speed
figures. Taking an average of top speeds from five of 2019's MotoGP races puts
the Ducati at the top with a top speed of 211.06 mph. The Honda is just 1.33
mph slower, then it's a bigger drop to the Suzuki at 3.05 mph less. The
Aprilia is 4.4 7 mph down on the Ducati, the Yamaha 4.52 mph, and the KTM 5.22 mph.