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Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
New season, new riders moving up from the other classes and a few seat changes.

Jorge Lorenzo to Ducati, Maverick Vinales to Yamaha

**All pictures are of the current test riders, there is no Casey Stoner**

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini - We swear we're actually in the race

Sam Lowes - listen to the annoucers fellate me cause I'm British.
Aleix Espargaro

Avintia Racing - We also swear we're actually racing, please believe us.
Hector Barbera
Loris Baz

Ducati Team - We hope we bought a championship.

With Casey Stoner doing the testing, someone that doesn't mind a loose and wild bike, then handing
it over to Jorge who really likes the bikes sortedought to be interesting.
Andrea Dovizioso - Has a faster new teammate that they hope won't spear him as often.
Jorge Lorenzo - Still in Rossi's shadow by attempting to win a title for two different manufacturers.

LCR Honda - We're contenders, we won a race last year.
Cal Crutchlow - The rest of the field are pussies, and I took a gamble on tires and won.

Marc VDS Racing Team - We swear we'll get better and not bring shame to our lower class teams.
Jack Miller
Tito Rabat

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - Place holder for people waiting to get onto the Movistar team.
Johann Zarco - Won last year's Moto2, let's see how he does on the bigger bikes.
Jonas Folger

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - Rossi's old but not out, Maverick, please don't piss off Rossi.

Maverick Viñales - The new blood and won a race on a Suzuki last year.
Valentino Rossi - Getting old but still able to feed the fire and attempt to start a new soap opera feud.

OCTO Pramac Yakhnich - We're going for some between last and 8th, please.
Danilo Petrucci
Scott Redding

Pull & Bear Aspar Team - We want to beat the other also rans.
Karel Abraham - Back in the GP after some injuries and a stint in the WSBK, and now on a team not owned by his dad.
Alvaro Bautista

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - We really want to try this road racing thing, we hope our steel trellis frames do the job.

Bradley Smith
Pol Espargaro

Repsol Honda Team - We hope to hell our bike is still ridable during the racce now we have spec ECU and no winglets.

Dani Pedrosa
Marc Marquez

Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - Iannone, please dear god don't spear Alex Rins, please!

Andrea Iannone
Alex Rins

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 21:30 on Jan 28, 2017

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Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Not that it means too much, but here's the first official test of the year from Sepang:
pre:
Pos Rider 	        Team                        Fastest lap  Lead. Gap  Laps
1   STONER, Casey       Ducati Test Team            1:59.680                25 / 32 	
2   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea   Ducati Team                 1:59.797     0.117      23 / 29 	
3   VIÑALES, Maverick   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      2:00.129     0.449      34 / 54 	
4   BAUTISTA, Alvaro    Pull&Bear Aspar Team        2:00.134     0.454      37 / 53 	
5   IANNONE, Andrea     Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          2:00.489     0.809      22 / 44 	
6   CRUTCHLOW, Cal      LCR Honda                   2:00.569     0.889      27 / 44 	
7   FOLGER, Jonas       Monster Yamaha Tech 3       2:00.643     0.963      23 / 40 	
8   ROSSI, Valentino    Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      2:00.694     1.014      20 / 27 	
9   MARQUEZ, Marc       Repsol Honda Team           2:00.738     1.058      25 / 56 	
10  BARBERA, Hector     Avintia Racing              2:00.743     1.063      24 / 38 	
11  PETRUCCI, Danilo    OCTO Pramac Yakhnich        2:00.850     1.170      27 / 34 	
12  REDDING, Scott      OCTO Pramac Yakhnich        2:00.853     1.173      28 / 44 	
13  PEDROSA, Dani       Repsol Honda Team           2:00.970     1.290      25 / 44 	
14  ZARCO, Johann       Monster Yamaha Tech 3       2:01.224     1.544      46 / 69 	
15  ESPARGARO, Aleix    Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2:01.272     1.592      23 / 36 	
16  ESPARGARO, Pol      Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2:01.338     1.658      45 / 58 	
17  LORENZO, Jorge      Ducati Team                 2:01.349     1.669      40 / 45 	
18  BAZ, Loris          Avintia Racing              2:01.352     1.672      47 / 48 	
19  TSUDA, Takuya       Suzuki Test Team            2:01.812     2.132      28 / 79 	
20  RINS, Alex          Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          2:01.890     2.210      49 / 52 	
21  ABRAHAM, Karel      Pull&Bear Aspar Team        2:01.926     2.246      40 / 45 	
22  MILLER, Jack        Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        2:01.943     2.263      49 / 51 	
23  NOZANE, Kohta       Yamaha Factory Racing       2:02.187     2.507      33 / 36 	
24  NAKASUGA, Katsuyuki Yamaha Factory Racing       2:02.291     2.611      24 / 45 	
25  RABAT, Tito         Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        2:02.315     2.635      22 / 37 	
26  LOWES, Sam          Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2:02.943     3.263      33 / 50 	
27  SMITH, Bradley      Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2:03.033     3.353      47 / 49 	
NC  PIRRO, Michele      Ducati Test Team 				

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

EX250 Type R posted:

That roster makes it look like its gonna be a good year for racing

A number of them are test riders only:
1 STONER, Casey Ducati Test Team 1:59.680 25 / 32
19 TSUDA, Takuya Suzuki Test Team 2:01.812 2.132 28 / 79
23 NOZANE, Kohta Yamaha Factory Racing 2:02.187 2.507 33 / 36
24 NAKASUGA, Katsuyuki Yamaha Factory Racing 2:02.291 2.611 24 / 45
NC PIRRO, Michele Ducati Test Team

That's the list of test riders. Yhink what you wil of him and how he handles the press and his fans, but drat Casey Stoner is fast.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
The first test started dry and near the end of the day it started raining. Rossi reported he had a migraine and didn't start riding until some time in the afternoon. Overnight there was a torrential downpour that flooded portions of the track. In the morning for test two, even though there was no real amount of standing water, the water was in the new surface of the porous track. Jorge Lorenzo went out first and you could see huge plumes of water spraying in his wake. Lorenzo's first few laps were 2.50/2.48/2.49 before he came in. None of the other riders even went out until a few hours later when the track started drying more.

Here's the results second test:

pre:
Pos  Rider              Team 	                    Fastest lap  Lead. Gap  Laps
1   IANNONE, Andrea     Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:59.452                38 / 40 	
2   VIÑALES, Maverick   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:59.858     0.406      51 / 51 	
3   BAUTISTA, Alvaro    Pull&Bear Aspar Team        2:00.218     0.766      46 / 49 	
4   ROSSI, Valentino    Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      2:00.254     0.802      51 / 54 	
5   ZARCO, Johann       Monster Yamaha Tech 3       2:00.343     0.891      49 / 50 	
6   BARBERA, Hector     Avintia Racing              2:00.352     0.900      26 / 33 	
7   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea   Ducati Team                 2:00.441     0.989      33 / 42 	
8   LORENZO, Jorge      Ducati Team                 2:00.484     1.032      65 / 66 	
9   FOLGER, Jonas       Monster Yamaha Tech 3       2:00.495     1.043      43 / 43 	
10  MARQUEZ, Marc       Repsol Honda Team           2:00.531     1.079      27 / 33 	
11  ESPARGARO, Aleix    Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2:00.609     1.157      29 / 36 	
12  CRUTCHLOW, Cal      LCR Honda                   2:00.691     1.239      39 / 44 	
13  RINS, Alex          Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          2:00.876     1.424      36 / 36 	
14  PEDROSA, Dani       Repsol Honda Team           2:00.886     1.434      38 / 44 	
15  REDDING, Scott      Octo Pramac Racing          2:00.972     1.520      35 / 36 	
16  ABRAHAM, Karel      Pull&Bear Aspar Team        2:00.981     1.529      43 / 44 	
17  PETRUCCI, Danilo    Octo Pramac Racing          2:01.124     1.672      15 / 20 	
18  BAZ, Loris          Avintia Racing              2:01.227     1.775      29 / 30 	
19  PIRRO, Michele      Ducati Test Team            2:01.382     1.930      37 / 45 	
20  ESPARGARO, Pol      Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2:01.525     2.073      36 / 37 	
21  MILLER, Jack        Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        2:01.556     2.104      24 / 56 	
22  LOWES, Sam          Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2:02.058     2.606      45 / 47 	
23  RABAT, Tito         Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        2:02.189     2.737      24 / 30 	
24  TSUDA, Takuya       Suzuki Test Team            2:02.267     2.815      52 / 54 	
25  SMITH, Bradley      Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2:02.516     3.064      30 / 32 	
26  NAKASUGA, Katsuyuki Yamaha Factory Racing       2:02.893     3.441      26 / 36 	
27  NOZANE, Kohta       Yamaha Factory Racing       2:03.052     3.600      33 / 34 	
NC  STONER, Casey       Ducati Test Team 
During the interviews Maverick praised the bike to no end and Rossi was surprised how easily he could get along with the bike even though he wasn't feeling well. Jorge expressed concern about learning the bike and said he was not feeling the most comfortable even though he went well before in Valencia. Lorenzo further expressed his acknowledgement that bike is fast "right out of the box" and was amazed at Casey Stoner's time. Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro both praised KTM for putting together a good package and both seemed to express their liking of the newer 2017 chassis over the 2016, stating the turn in on corners felt much better.

Unfortunately I did not watch the rest of the coverage.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
As the Rev mentioned, Spain is still on top:

pre:
Pos Rider                Team                         Fastest lap  Lead. Gap  Laps
1   VIÑALES, Maverick    Movistar Yamaha MotoGP       1:59.368                40 / 72 	
2   MARQUEZ, Marc        Repsol Honda Team            1:59.506     0.138      18 / 85 	
3   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea    Ducati Team                  1:59.553     0.185       9 / 56 	
4   PEDROSA, Dani        Repsol Honda Team            1:59.578     0.210      64 / 67 	
5   ROSSI, Valentino     Movistar Yamaha MotoGP       1:59.589     0.221      50 / 62 	
6   BAUTISTA, Alvaro     Pull&Bear Aspar Team         1:59.628     0.260      10 / 64 	
7   STONER, Casey        Ducati Test Team             1:59.639     0.271       8 / 46 	
8   CRUTCHLOW, Cal       LCR Honda                    1:59.728     0.360      67 / 71 	
9   LORENZO, Jorge       Ducati Team                  1:59.767     0.399      29 / 66 	
10  ZARCO, Johann        Monster Yamaha Tech 3        1:59.772     0.404      42 / 45 	
11  IANNONE, Andrea      Team SUZUKI ECSTAR           2:00.045     0.677      45 / 49 	
12  RINS, Alex           Team SUZUKI ECSTAR           2:00.057     0.689      58 / 60 	
13  ESPARGARO, Aleix     Aprilia Racing Team Gresini  2:00.108     0.740      21 / 53 	
14  PETRUCCI, Danilo     Octo Pramac Racing           2:00.310     0.942      51 / 53 	
15  FOLGER, Jonas        Monster Yamaha Tech 3        2:00.312     0.944      25 / 54 	
16  MILLER, Jack         Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS         2:00.439     1.071       9 / 70 	
17  ABRAHAM, Karel       Pull&Bear Aspar Team         2:00.445     1.077      11 / 38 	
18  BARBERA, Hector      Reale Esponsorama Racing     2:00.537     1.169      15 / 50 	
19  REDDING, Scott       Octo Pramac Racing           2:00.645     1.277      55 / 74 	
20  BAZ, Loris           Reale Esponsorama Racing     2:00.873     1.505      32 / 58 	
21  SMITH, Bradley       Red Bull KTM Factory Racing  2:01.338     1.970      61 / 62 	
22  LOWES, Sam           Aprilia Racing Team Gresini  2:01.341     1.973       7 / 43 	
23  ESPARGARO, Pol       Red Bull KTM Factory Racing  2:01.506     2.138      14 / 67 	
24  NAKASUGA, Katsuyuki  Yamaha Factory Racing        2:01.658     2.290      28 / 30 	
25  TSUDA, Takuya        Suzuki Test Team             2:02.769     3.401      59 / 68 	
NC  NOZANE, Kohta        Yamaha Factory Racing 					
NC  PIRRO, Michele       Ducati Test Team 					
NC  RABAT, Tito          Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS 					
Times are getting faster, though interesting you need to go to tenth place for someone to be more than a half second off the leader. If you go to a full second off, that's down to 15th place.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

Gay Nudist Dad posted:

Heartening to see Dani caught up so close to the top. Here's hoping that stays, I'd love to see him reliably in the top 5 again. And Lorenzo seems off to a pretty fast start on the Ducati.


I'll be at COTA this year for my first-ever MotoGP race. I'll be at turn 15. I have almost no idea what to expect with regards to seeing this sort of thing in person.


Has anyone ever moved into GP having not been a top performer in the lower classes and been a race winner? Or a more-than-a-fluke podium finisher?

Congrats on the seats, bring a hat, sunscreen, and ear plugs.

In the "Modern Era" there hasn't been anyone that's not been a consistent top 5 that has done really well in the MotoGP class. Plenty of others the have gone the other direction to age, or injury (I still lament the career that Ben Spies could have had.) Heck even being a top performer at the Moto3 level doesn't guarantee performance at Moto2, case in point Alex Marquez, a Moto3 Champion.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

Slavvy posted:

Don't know why I hadn't noticed this thread!


Ben Spies had like the perfect vortex of everything going wrong. George for a teammate, check. Testing parts on what seemed to be the least reliable yamaha ever, check. Horrible injuries, check. Being american in the post-rossi era, check.

Also Danny Kent going to moto2 was...pretty underwhelming.

I think part of the problem (which dorna are taking steps to remedy) is the electronics on moto2 bikes are extremely crude. This plus the totally different handling dynamics to GP mean that most of the rookies aren't adequately prepared for the bigger bikes and it's a crapshoot as to who will turn out to mesh with the GP bikes and who won't. It also helps to land on something other than a honda, see: Rabat. Hopefully the triumph bikes bring them closer into line with GP. But then they'll complain that moto3's tiptoing corner speed style is too far divorced from the power and crazyness of the two bigger classes

Spies had to have the least amount of luck ever. Snapping the rear suspension on the way into the corkscrew at Leguna Seca etc. and getting spat off the bike every few races does not make for a long career.

Danny Kent is another one, completely dominated the Moto3 class to be completely lackluster in Moto2. I hope the changes they want to introduce make the racing a little more exciting. Though I hope they leave Moto3 alone. For a while there, there were enough riders doing well that it was anyone's guess who was going to come out on top. As the season progresses it's nice to see the teams and riders that can stay the most consistent.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Testing is in Australia this week. This time around it's just the factory racers and no test riders. We're seeing some close times, I'm hoping the lead gaps aren't too different when they go racing for the top 10:

pre:
Pos Rider              Team 	                   Fastest lap Lead. Gap Laps
1   MARQUEZ, Marc      Repsol Honda Team           1:29.497              53 / 68 	
2   ROSSI, Valentino   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:29.683    0.186     76 / 77 	
3   IANNONE, Andrea    Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:29.926    0.429     68 / 70 	
4   VIÑALES, Maverick  Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:29.989    0.492     26 / 64 	
5   CRUTCHLOW, Cal     LCR Honda                   1:30.065    0.568     61 / 61 	
6   PETRUCCI, Danilo   Octo Pramac Racing          1:30.262    0.765     87 / 87 	
7   PEDROSA, Dani      Repsol Honda Team           1:30.281    0.784     13 / 55 	
8   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea  Ducati Team                 1:30.410    0.913     16 / 64 	
9   MILLER, Jack       Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:30.426    0.929     80 / 82 	
10  FOLGER, Jonas      Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:30.578    1.081     30 / 62 	
11  LORENZO, Jorge     Ducati Team                 1:30.631    1.134     33 / 61 	
12  BAUTISTA, Alvaro   Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:30.770    1.273     24 / 68 	
13  BARBERA, Hector    Reale Esponsorama Racing    1:30.771    1.274      7 / 51 	
14  ESPARGARO, Aleix   Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:30.802    1.305     26 / 28 	
15  ZARCO, Johann      Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:30.867    1.370     77 / 80 	
16  ABRAHAM, Karel     Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:31.179    1.682     17 / 61 	
17  ESPARGARO, Pol     Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:31.200    1.703     54 / 59 	
18  BAZ, Loris         Reale Esponsorama Racing    1:31.249    1.752     56 / 60 	
19  RINS, Alex         Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:31.432    1.935     66 / 66 	
20  REDDING, Scott     Octo Pramac Racing          1:31.755    2.258     33 / 59 	
21  LOWES, Sam         Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:32.307    2.810     15 / 35 	
22  SMITH, Bradley     Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:32.690    3.193     43 / 57

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Day 2 of testing in Australia:

pre:
Pos Rider              Team                        Fastest lap Lead.  Laps
1   VIÑALES, Maverick  Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:28.847           21 / 80 	
2   MARQUEZ, Marc      Repsol Honda Team           1:29.309    0.462  20 / 107 	
3   CRUTCHLOW, Cal     LCR Honda                   1:29.325    0.478  28 / 80 	
4   BAUTISTA, Alvaro   Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:29.411    0.564  42 / 86 	
5   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea  Ducati Team                 1:29.483    0.636  32 / 55 	
6   ESPARGARO, Aleix   Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:29.501    0.654  18 / 69 	
7   FOLGER, Jonas      Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:29.664    0.817  29 / 65 	
8   ROSSI, Valentino   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:29.674    0.827  18 / 70 	
9   RINS, Alex         Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:29.802    0.955  68 / 80 	
10  MILLER, Jack       Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:29.838    0.991  36 / 83 	
11  ZARCO, Johann      Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:29.880    1.033  84 / 88 	
12  IANNONE, Andrea    Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:29.947    1.100  19 / 72 	
13  ABRAHAM, Karel     Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:30.142    1.295  20 / 73 	
14  PETRUCCI, Danilo   Octo Pramac Racing          1:30.150    1.303  64 / 65 	
15  LORENZO, Jorge     Ducati Team                 1:30.197    1.350  32 / 64 	
16  PEDROSA, Dani      Repsol Honda Team           1:30.245    1.398  38 / 40 	
17  BARBERA, Hector    Reale Esponsorama Racing    1:30.352    1.505  18 / 62 	
18  REDDING, Scott     Octo Pramac Racing          1:30.435    1.588  83 / 90 	
19  ESPARGARO, Pol     Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:30.645    1.798  24 / 59 	
20  BAZ, Loris         Reale Esponsorama Racing    1:30.852    2.005  34 / 53 	
21  LOWES, Sam         Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:30.895    2.048  34 / 64 	
22  SMITH, Bradley     Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:31.704    2.857  35 / 81 	

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Day3 of testing, Rossi is going the wrong way, Jorge is finally getting some speed on, and Maverick is tops for the second day in a row.
I wonder if Rossi is still sick, He didn't pull nearly as many laps as he usually does.
pre:
Pos Rider              Team                        Fastest lap Lead. Gap  Laps
1   VIÑALES, Maverick  Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:28.549               13 / 101 	
2   MARQUEZ, Marc      Repsol Honda Team           1:28.843    0.294      14 / 96 	
3   PEDROSA, Dani      Repsol Honda Team           1:29.033    0.484      61 / 65 	
4   FOLGER, Jonas      Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:29.042    0.493      12 / 63 	
5   CRUTCHLOW, Cal     LCR Honda                   1:29.101    0.552      72 / 85 	
6   RINS, Alex         Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:29.103    0.554      60 / 66 	
7   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea  Ducati Team                 1:29.248    0.699       9 / 73 	
8   LORENZO, Jorge     Ducati Team                 1:29.342    0.793      61 / 75 	
9   MILLER, Jack       Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:29.358    0.809      18 / 93 	
10  ESPARGARO, Aleix   Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:29.361    0.812      61 / 65 	
11  ROSSI, Valentino   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:29.470    0.921      13 / 52 	
12  IANNONE, Andrea    Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:29.547    0.998      63 / 77 	
13  PETRUCCI, Danilo   Octo Pramac Racing          1:29.615    1.066      50 / 57 	
14  ZARCO, Johann      Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:29.670    1.121      10 / 87 	
15  BARBERA, Hector    Reale Esponsorama Racing    1:29.791    1.242      82 / 83 	
16  ESPARGARO, Pol     Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:29.857    1.308      62 / 62 	
17  BAZ, Loris         Reale Esponsorama Racing    1:29.977    1.428      64 / 71 	
18  SMITH, Bradley     Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:29.978    1.429      73 / 73 	
19  BAUTISTA, Alvaro   Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:29.984    1.435       7 / 74 	
20  REDDING, Scott     Octo Pramac Racing          1:30.005    1.456      47 / 74 	
21  LOWES, Sam         Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:30.200    1.651      29 / 57 	
22  ABRAHAM, Karel     Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:30.452    1.903      24 / 61

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

KTM now has a factory team in every class. They've been doing well in Moto3, I know GP and Moto2 are new classes for them, but I hope they do well.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
WSBK opens in Australia this weekend:

Practice1:


Practice2:

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
WSBK Race 1 in Australia completed. Not a bad race, good to see Marco Melandri and Alex Lowes fight for first a few laps.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

Slavvy posted:

So how the gently caress does the new grid setup work if you dnf? Previously melandri would've started from the front row again and have a chance to make amends. Now what? Does he start from last?

The winner from Race 1 will start the next race from ninth position whilst the fourth position finisher will start from Pole.

quote:

Following the enthralling opening race fans were treated to at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, we will now see Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) start from pole position as race winner Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), will fight through the pack from ninth.

Rea’s stunning heroics to take the victory on Saturday now means fans will be treated to seeing him fighting through the pack; aiming to quickly be up with Lowes, Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team), who will start on the front row.

Row two will consist of Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team), Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), who crossed the line on Saturday in ninth. The updates to the rules for race two also means it gives riders who had a disappointing Superpole performance such as Laverty, the opportunity to redeem their starting position for the second race.

From 10th position down, results will be determined on Superpole lap, times which puts Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in tenth position despite crashing out on the seventh lap.


TL;DR Marco Melandri Starts 10th based on the qualifying (I mean "SuperPole") lap time, behind all of the winners from yesterday.

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 21:47 on Feb 25, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

Slavvy posted:

Right. So rae wins the race and his reward is starting in ninth. Melandri DNF's and his reward is starting immediately behind rae.

I understand what they're trying to do, this is just a loving retarded way of doing it that nobody really thought through. I thought dorna were spanish, not italian.

Anything so it's not another Kawasaki/British 1/2 in the championship this year.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
WSBK Race 2:





WSSP Race:


Anthony West comes in 3rd in the WSSP race using a borrowed engine and a slapped together chassis. Take a look at the WSSP finish 1st/2nd gap.

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 07:17 on Feb 26, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Final test xsession before the season begins. Qatar Day 1 MotoGP:

pre:
Pos Rider             Team                        Fastest lap Lead.Gap  Laps
1   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team                 1:54.819              26 / 36 	
2   VIÑALES, Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:55.179    0.360     49 / 60 	
3   CRUTCHLOW, Cal    LCR Honda                   1:55.420    0.601     28 / 28 	
4   ABRAHAM, Karel    Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:55.613    0.794     42 / 42 	
5   LORENZO, Jorge    Ducati Team                 1:55.616    0.797     27 / 46 	
6   FOLGER, Jonas     Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:55.640    0.821     27 / 37 	
7   ROSSI, Valentino  Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:55.679    0.860     43 / 48 	
8   PEDROSA, Dani     Repsol Honda Team           1:55.692    0.873     21 / 38 	
9   ZARCO, Johann     Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:55.705    0.886     45 / 54 	
10  IANNONE, Andrea   Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:55.751    0.932     30 / 41 	
11  PETRUCCI, Danilo  Octo Pramac Racing          1:55.830    1.011     33 / 41 	
12  MARQUEZ, Marc     Repsol Honda Team           1:55.899    1.080     16 / 39 	
13  ESPARGARO, Aleix  Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:55.916    1.097     32 / 43 	
14  MILLER, Jack      Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:56.017    1.198     49 / 59 	
15  REDDING, Scott    Octo Pramac Racing          1:56.085    1.266     23 / 37 	
16  BAUTISTA, Alvaro  Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:56.116    1.297     31 / 43 	
17  BAZ, Loris        Reale Avintia Racing        1:56.193    1.374     25 / 31 	
18  RINS, Alex        Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:56.589    1.770     41 / 48 	
19  ESPARGARO, Pol    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:56.665    1.846     44 / 46 	
20  LOWES, Sam        Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:57.090    2.271     24 / 38 	
21  RABAT, Tito       Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:57.455    2.636     36 / 46 	
22  KALLIO, Mika      Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:58.039    3.220     32 / 32 	
23  SMITH, Bradley    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:58.755    3.936     35 / 46 	
Marquez crashed the new aero package from Honda and ended in 12th. Rossi was "unhappy" with the front end feel and they were chewing up front tires, he ended in 7th. Good to see some "also ran" names and teams near the top still. Then again, it's still testing.

This weekend is the Thailand round of WSBK.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

BitcoinRockefeller posted:

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/840616729474662400
Ducati possibly 1 step ahead with aero again hope it looks better when they paint it.

Actually if you watch the tests all of the major manufacturers have what I'll call "inboard winglets". They aren't allowed to hang them off the bike anymore but anywhere there's room to make for a loop or air hole in the fairing, they're shoving bits of aero. Most of them aren't as overt as the Ducati. Though the bike Marquez wrecked had bolt on boxes that looked like the "hammerhead" Ducati.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
MotoGP Qatar testing day2

pre:
Pos Rider             Team                        Fastest lap 	Lead.Gap Laps
1   VIÑALES, Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:54.455               44 / 49 	
2   ROSSI, Valentino  Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:54.732 	0.277    37 / 37 	
3   FOLGER, Jonas     Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:54.917 	0.462    28 / 41 	
4   CRUTCHLOW, Cal    LCR Honda                   1:55.032 	0.577    43 / 46 	
5   ESPARGARO, Aleix  Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:55.121 	0.666    29 / 34 	
6   MARQUEZ, Marc     Repsol Honda Team           1:55.196 	0.741    10 / 50 	
7   BAUTISTA, Alvaro  Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:55.245 	0.790    44 / 48 	
8   LORENZO, Jorge    Ducati Team                 1:55.344 	0.889    10 / 53 	
9   REDDING, Scott    Octo Pramac Racing          1:55.353 	0.898    43 / 43 	
10  ZARCO, Johann     Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:55.354 	0.899    31 / 45 	
11  ABRAHAM, Karel    Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:55.420 	0.965    46 / 46 	
12  IANNONE, Andrea   Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:55.545 	1.090    48 / 48 	
13  DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team                 1:55.583 	1.128    35 / 42 	
14  PETRUCCI, Danilo  Octo Pramac Racing          1:55.680 	1.225    31 / 33 	
15  BAZ, Loris        Reale Avintia Racing        1:55.808 	1.353    42 / 42 	
16  PEDROSA, Dani     Repsol Honda Team           1:55.875 	1.420    23 / 48 	
17  RINS, Alex        Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:56.110 	1.655    37 / 43 	
18  RABAT, Tito       Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:56.214 	1.759    40 / 48 	
19  MILLER, Jack      Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:56.251 	1.796    28 / 59 	
20  LOWES, Sam        Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:56.276 	1.821    24 / 35 	
21  ESPARGARO, Pol    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:56.648 	2.193    37 / 43 	
22  SMITH, Bradley    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:57.267 	2.812    52 / 55 	
23  KALLIO, Mika      Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:57.688 	3.233    32 / 42 	
Rossi must have found a setting that worked.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
WSBK Thailand race this weekend. Johnny Rea does the double. During Race 2, Chaz Davies Crashed out and got back up but was almost 20 seconds behind the next rider that had been in last place. A few laps later the Milwaukee Aprilia of Lorenzo Savadori let go and it flicked him off on a wicked high side in the last corner. Luckily for Davies The crash brought out a red flag. This gave Ducati some time to replace a few parts and Davies to start at least close to the field to get some points. Davies finishes out in 6th thanks to the restart, Rea wins, Sykes second, Melandri third.

Michael Van Der Mark on the Yamaha Developed an oil leak during the first few laps of race two. During the mad scramble after the red flag, Yamaha tried to fix the leak and could not and was left out of the restart.

I'm pretty impressed by Marco Melandri. He's just a bit off the pace, but for having not ridden in the upper classes for an entire year, he's fighting near the top. Let's see how long it lasts.



Skreemer fucked around with this message at 15:53 on Mar 12, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Final day of testing in Qatar:
Slight perspective, last year's pole setting lap by Jorge Lorenzo:
Pole Lap: Jorge LORENZO 1'54.543 169.0Km/h

pre:
Pos Rider             Team                        Fastest lap  Lead. Gap  Laps
1   VIÑALES, Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:54.330                33 / 60 	
2   DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team                 1:54.401     0.071      27 / 43 	
3   PEDROSA, Dani     Repsol Honda Team           1:54.469     0.139      46 / 50 	
4   LORENZO, Jorge    Ducati Team                 1:54.519     0.189      29 / 53 	
5   BAUTISTA, Alvaro  Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:54.714     0.384      46 / 65 	
6   REDDING, Scott    Octo Pramac Racing          1:54.750     0.420      58 / 62 	
7   FOLGER, Jonas     Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:54.807     0.477      45 / 53 	
8   CRUTCHLOW, Cal    LCR Honda                   1:54.821     0.491      64 / 70 	
9   ZARCO, Johann     Monster Yamaha Tech 3       1:54.900     0.570      46 / 52 	
10  MARQUEZ, Marc     Repsol Honda Team           1:54.990     0.660      12 / 47 	
11  ROSSI, Valentino  Movistar Yamaha MotoGP      1:55.185     0.855      40 / 54 	
12  IANNONE, Andrea   Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:55.284     0.954      52 / 54 	
13  ABRAHAM, Karel    Pull&Bear Aspar Team        1:55.333     1.003      39 / 39 	
14  RINS, Alex        Team SUZUKI ECSTAR          1:55.362     1.032      43 / 64 	
15  ESPARGARO, Aleix  Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:55.451     1.121      24 / 33 	
16  MILLER, Jack      Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:55.455     1.125      62 / 69 	
17  BAZ, Loris        Reale Avintia Racing        1:55.539     1.209      30 / 36 	
18  PETRUCCI, Danilo  Octo Pramac Racing          1:55.556     1.226      27 / 44 	
19  LOWES, Sam        Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:56.167     1.837      35 / 36 	
20  RABAT, Tito       Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS        1:56.294     1.964      48 / 52 	
21  SMITH, Bradley    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:56.351     2.021      42 / 56 	
22  ESPARGARO, Pol    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:56.471     2.141      21 / 51 	
23  KALLIO, Mika      Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:56.891     2.561      40 / 45 
The season starts on March 26th.

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 16:02 on Mar 13, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

algebra testes posted:

I kept meaning to watch the super-bikes but the headlines after race 1 were pretty much "Rea dominates: Same expected Race 2" so I didn't.


It's been said that the KTMs are running Moto2 times, which was harsh but fair after day one. Now they're not so hilariously off the pace anymore.

Davies was starting to put up a fight at the end of last year and looked fast in testing. I was hoping for a better fight at the front of the pack. Rea on that Kawasaki is drat near untouchable though. It's the first time in a while since someone has won the first 4 races on the bounce.Hell even tghe inverted field with Rea being pushed to ninth on the second race for winning the first hasn't stopped him.

KTM, except for one test session, has not been under 2 seconds from the leaders. They are going to have to figure something out.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
For those that follow all the classes in MotoGP, Moto3 has Romano Fenati back. I wonder if getting fired from his previous team while in the points hunt for the championship and sitting out most of last season has calmed him down at all. The press release on his firing last year was vague and stated the firing was over the way he was treating the staff in the garage. Dude was fiery and entertaining on the track though. The temper tantrums, the reaching over and turning off the bike of another rider during practice, he needed to be disciplined, but it was still hilarious to watch.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Moto3 underway, only a little excitement and a few swaps of who's leading.

Moto2 ends, and now it's starting to rain.

Thankfully it was short lived and the GP looks to be starting. Spoke too soon, delayed start after they formed up on the grid.

Delayed start to the delayed start. After they were released from pit lane from the second time about a half dozen bikes went off track at turn 14. They sent the safety car back out and they had to turn the rain wipers on when they got to the last 3 corners. The rest of the track is stone dry, the last three corners are wet. Loris Capirossi reports, track surface dry, the curbing is wet and slick. One of the concerns coming up is that if the race starts too late, the temperature change and dew point will meet and the track surface will become slick.

Still waiting to see when they will start.

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 19:30 on Mar 26, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
They're they go and a wild start.

Holy poo poo Aprilia took 6th place. It was actually a race at the front. Nicely done.

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 20:26 on Mar 26, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

BitcoinRockefeller posted:

Man I'm getting old I still have trouble thinking of Zarco as anyone other than captain meltdown who couldn't win a 125 race to save his life despite all he's accomplished.

Zarco just needed to go 4 stroke. (and 600cc plus)

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Johnny Rea takes race one in Motorland Aragon for WSBK. It was a decent battle between Rea and Davies until Davies lost grip on the second to last lap. The crash looked bad as the bike trapped him and they slid together. They reported he was OK, I hope that's completely true.

Xavi Fores had an exciting time, he crashed early on and rejoined the race. Later on his bike caught fire and he rode it into the kitty litter before jumping off. http://www.worldsbk.com/en/videos/2017/MotorLand%20Aragon%20Race%201%20Fores%20Technical%20problem

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

algebra testes posted:

Wait, since when do the Superbikes have race one on Saturday?

Am I really that old and out of touch?

Started recently. Race 1 on Saturday and race 2 on Sunday. Go read about the flipped grid structure for race 2 as well.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Race 2 today, Chaz Davies made a drat good showing. Rea gave Chaz a fight of it, but the Ducati was a bit much in the long straights.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

Slavvy posted:

Wtf is happening with these practice sessions, why are all the poo poo tier teams in the top ten.

Michelin is mandating that 5 race flying laps be made on the hard option tires or suffer a 6 place grid penalty. They are trying to get tire data so a fiasco of a mandatory pit stop doesn't happen like last year.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Vinales had a moment in FP1 on the turn 13/14 combo. In turn 13 the bike compressed and when he went to move on to the other side to set up for the next corner, the bike snapped up and he had a head shake so violent, that even though he didn't crash, the airbag in his suit went off.
turn your speakers down:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvdqnGZHxlU

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 08:55 on Apr 8, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Pedrosa, Rossi, and Lorenzo had to go through Q1. Lorenzo was 6th in Q1 meaning he didn't make it to Q2. In Q2 Pedrosa got 5th and Rossi got 7th. Marquez got pole.

In everyone's defense, it is raining out and no one likes the surface when it's dry.


Look at the first few rows:

1 93 Marc MARQUEZ
2 17 Karel ABRAHAM
3 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW
4 9 Danilo PETRUCCI
5 26 Dani PEDROSA
6 25 Maverick VIÑALES
7 46 Valentino ROSSI
8 41 Aleix ESPARGARO
9 76 Loris BAZ
10 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA
11 94 Jonas FOLGER
12 29 Andrea IANNONE

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 20:47 on Apr 8, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
Moto3 top3 are the same in the same order as Qatar. Good riding and dicing though.
Lorenzo attempted to spear Ianone in the first lap partly around corner one, and only took himself out.
The Marquez family is having a rough day. Ianone gets a jump start penalty.

The battle for 4th in the GP class is pretty good.

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 20:22 on Apr 9, 2017

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

Slavvy posted:

Iannone got penalised for a jump start, Lorenzo crashing was his own dumb fault.

Lorenzo saw an opportunity to "pay back" Iannone for last year's spearing. Only Lorenzo doesn't have nearly the skill or precision that Iannone does and just did a really piss poor job of the whole thing.

Yes, yes I know, Lorenzo's front wasn't gripping and he was standing up the bike/widening his line and ran into the back of Iannone.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
So, who's going to the GP in Austin? I had some stuff come up and couldn't swing the tickets.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

Gay Nudist Dad posted:

Thanks! I was planning on spending Fri/Sat cruising around the track and getting my stupid merch purchases out of the way.

The site says 20oz factory-sealed water bottles - is the size restriction new this year? It also mentions Camelbaks are allowed if they're empty, but that's only useful if there's a place to fill them inside. Are there water fountains/fill stations around the circuit?

Mostly I think we'll be spending a short enough time at the track Fri/Sat that our main meals will be in the city but race day I expect to pretty much plant my rear end at the circuit, so we'll probably just eat inside on Sunday.

e: and sun protection was already in the plans. We are pale Seattleites.

You're better off bringing a 6-pack or more of 20oz waters than relying on anything inside the park. There are stations but it's nasty water out of a giant tank and it will be busy there all of the time.

Sunscreen
Hat
Water
EarPlugs

If you want to see the riders/bikes try to sit as high as you can, otherwise you're staring through the catchfence and it's a pain in the rear end to get pictures through it.
On raceday if you want food, eat early during the Moto2 race, not everyone will have shown up yet and the lines at the concession stands won't be too long. If you try in between races, the lines will be forever.
As stated buy all the crap you want Friday/Saturday and try to bring as much water as you can on Sunday.

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

algebra testes posted:

This post is amazing because it completely forgot about Marco Melandri.



Speaking of Marco Melandri, he's back in the WSBK after not riding in a major racing series for an entire year:
pre:
Current WSBK championship standings

POS  Rider             Points  Manu
1   JONATHAN REA         145 KAWASAKI
2   CHAZ DAVIES          95 DUCATI
3   TOM SYKES            91 KAWASAKI
4   MARCO MELANDRI       81 DUCATI
5   ALEX LOWES           65 YAMAHA
6   MICHAEL VAN DER MARK 49 YAMAHA
7   JORDI TORRES         48 BMW
8   XAVI FORÉS           44 DUCATI
9   LEON CAMIER          38 MV AGUSTA
10  EUGENE LAVERTY       30 APRILIA
11  NICKY HAYDEN         27 HONDA
12  STEFAN BRADL         19 HONDA
13  MARKUS REITERBERGER  19 BMW
14  ROMÁN RAMOS          18 KAWASAKI
15  LEANDRO MERCADO      17 APRILIA
16  RANDY KRUMMENACHER   14 KAWASAKI
17  ALEX DE ANGELIS      13 KAWASAKI
18  LORENZO SAVADORI     10 APRILIA
19  RICCARDO RUSSO        4 YAMAHA
20  JOSHUA BROOKES        4 YAMAHA
21  JULIAN SIMON          4 APRILIA
22  ONDREJ JEZEK          3 KAWASAKI
23  AYRTON BADOVINI       2 KAWASAKI

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

algebra testes posted:

Wait isnt FORMER BSB SUPERBIKE CHAMPION Josh Brookes back in the BSB?
Not only is he racing BSB too, he has more points in that series.
pre:
Pos 	No 	Rider 	Team 	Pts
1 	91 	Leon Haslam 	JG Speedfit Kawasaki 	86
2 	12 	Luke Mossey 	JG Speedfit Kawasaki 	81
3 	24 	Christian Iddon 	Tyco BMW 	65
4 	25 	Josh Brookes 	Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha 	48
5 	60 	Peter Hickman 	Smiths Racing BMW 	37
6 	2 	Glenn Irwin 	Be Wiser Ducati 	36
7 	22 	Jason O'Halloran 	Honda Racing 	32
8 	4 	Dan Linfoot 	Honda Racing 	30
9 	77 	James Ellison 	McAMS Yamaha 	21
10 	7 	Michael Laverty 	McAMS Yamaha 	21

Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.
From the viewpoint i had all three races were pretty tame. A few dust-ups here and there but mostly boring. I just got home from the track as Kuffs and his brother so graciously had extra tickets and thought to bring me along. We even sat by turn two for a while.

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Skreemer
Jan 28, 2006
I like blue.

DevCore posted:

I was at 19 and I got to see a couple of great scenes.

That said, I am critical of the track's design. I wish is had more sweeping high-speed turns rather than non-stop technical turns. (Think Laguna Seca)
I think they designed it with the spectator as the main focus, racing being the secondary focus.

People always flock to turn 15, but I find that section to be really boring.

For those screaming about the design, blame Kevin Schwantz, he's basically the reason the thing was ever even built. If you watched how bumpy it was in the turn 18/19 complex, one of the Honda F1 drivers during a meet and greet in the Honda tent apologized to Marquez and Pedrosa for the cars more or less ruining the surface.

Who Cares, Rossi is 38 and back at the top of the championship. Yes, I know it doesn't mean much as it's only the 3rd race of the season, but both of the other front runners have fallen and Rossi has proven to be a "Sunday Rider" pulling rabbits out of hats when he needs to. (look at the COTA qualifying, pulling himself to the front row on the last lap)

Skreemer fucked around with this message at 17:29 on Apr 24, 2017

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