MotoGP 2019

[powermzii]

Well done Brad... 3pts the difference at the end... Wow

 

[greg0205]

Damnit!

If only KTM had that bike sorted one or two races before they did...

Three on the bounce for Brad, and I think that means he ends up the season three points off a world championship.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Great stuff from Brad. I really hope KTM produces a bike worthy of him next year. Roll on 2020!

 

[thestaggy]

Japan.

As bad as KTM's start to the season was, it was that result in Japan where Brad finished 12th.

What an end to the season though.

 

[zeb]

Japan.

As bad as KTM's start to the season was, it was that result in Japan where Brad finished 12th.

What an end to the season though.

I agree, Japan was great for the Boks but terrible for Brad. This is where the title was lost. Still a brilliant season for the man and I hope KTM gets their act together for the 2020 MotoGP season.

Wrt Alex, he'd be the luckiest guy in the top class if he gets the Honda seat. He's may be a tad above average as a rider but he's very accident prone.
He won't be competitive if the Honda isn't miles above the rest.

 

[thestaggy]

No love for Zarco from Aleix Espargaro regarding the Repsol ride.

Espargaro: Zarco doesn't deserve factory Honda MotoGP ride in 2020

"Many people say that Zarco deserves that bike, for me that is not true," said Espargaro.

"For me, if Zarco deserves that bike, [my brother] Pol and me deserve it 10 times more. I think if the Moto2 world champion [Alex Marquez] goes there, more than welcome, and I think he deserves it.

"[Zarco] doesn't deserve anything. The attitude he showed this year, for me, is not a professional attitude.

"The people in Aprilia know how many times I cry last year and this year but this is our job and life, a lot of people behind us with a lot of families are working very hard, a lot people are putting a lot of money in the projects.

"To stop and say 'this bike is s**t, I go home', for me he doesn't deserve to go to the best bike and best team in the world. It is just my opinion."

 

[zeb]

That's poor from Espargaro. Real self entitlement there if he believes either one of them deserve a specific ride ahead of another rider.

 

[Agent_Smith]

So that's it for another season. The only big news still to come is Marc Marquez's team mate announcement. I think that might be this week but we'll see.

My picks for...

Rider of the season: Undoubtedly MM93. Apart from his spill at COTA, his worst finish of the season was 2nd. Unreal...

Surprise of the season: Has to be Fabio Quartararo. He had no place being that high up the grid but he stuck it to MM93 a few times and certainly gave the factory Yamahas a bloody nose. If the Petronas Yamaha SRT development can continue unabated into 2020, I fully expect him to be in the title fight.

Disappointment of the season: As much as it pains me to say, is Ducati. They just went nowhere as the season progressed. They had their moments but overall, they just couldn't live with the Honda of Marquez. Yeah, Dovi finished second in the championship but I feel that was more down to the failings of the Yamahas and Rins' inconsistency than it was to the Ducatis pace. He finished 151 points down on Marquez and that is a lifetime in terms of a gap.

Race of the season: Ironically, was Austria. Given that it was one of the few times that the Ducati was singing but man, my nerves were shot to sh*t. I still go watch highlights of that race.

To watch in 2020: Will be the KTMs. While it would be unfair to expect anything special from them early on in the season, I hope we see a steady improvement as the season progresses. They have committed the full might of their not inconsiderable financial clout to their premier class campaign and I suspect that the second half of the season will see them steadily climbing the pecking order, hopefully leading to a Binder inspired title charge in 2021.

 

[powermzii]

So that's it for another season. The only big news still to come is Marc Marquez's team mate announcement. I think that might be this week but we'll see.

My picks for...

Rider of the season: Undoubtedly MM93. Apart from his spill at COTA, his worst finish of the season was 2nd. Unreal...

Surprise of the season: Has to be Fabio Quartararo. He had no place being that high up the grid but he stuck it to MM93 a few times and certainly gave the factory Yamahas a bloody nose. If the Petronas Yamaha SRT development can continue unabated into 2020, I fully expect him to be in the title fight.

Disappointment of the season: As much as it pains me to say, is Ducati. They just went nowhere as the season progressed. They had their moments but overall, they just couldn't live with the Honda of Marquez. Yeah, Dovi finished second in the championship but I feel that was more down to the failings of the Yamahas and Rins' inconsistency than it was to the Ducatis pace. He finished 151 points down on Marquez and that is a lifetime in terms of a gap.

Race of the season: Ironically, was Austria. Given that it was one of the few times that the Ducati was singing but man, my nerves were shot to sh*t. I still go watch highlights of that race.

To watch in 2020: Will be the KTMs. While it would be unfair to expect anything special from them early on in the season, I hope we see a steady improvement as the season progresses. They have committed the full might of their not inconsiderable financial clout to their premier class campaign and I suspect that the second half of the season will see them steadily climbing the pecking order, hopefully leading to a Binder inspired title charge in 2021.

If you'll let me play as well

Rider of the season: Would be too easy for MM93 so I'm going to go with Fabio - punched above his weight and like you said gave the much more estalished and funded factory Yamahas and even Ducatis a beating

Surprise of the season: How far back Ducati and Factory Yamaha were to the Honda and the inconsistency of their riders

Disappointment of the season: Tied Factory Ducati and Yamaha. When they were off the pace they truly were off. Even being beaten by their independent rivals (Petronas and Pramac)

Race of the season: Austria followed by British GP - That Rins move at the end....

To watch in 2020: Can anyone really bring it to MM93? Excited for Brad to have his rookie season and a more mature Fabio + Morbidelli

 

[Agent_Smith]

If you'll let me play as well

Rider of the season: Would be too easy for MM93 so I'm going to go with Fabio - punched above his weight and like you said gave the much more estalished and funded factory Yamahas and even Ducatis a beating

Surprise of the season: How far back Ducati and Factory Yamaha were to the Honda and the inconsistency of their riders

Disappointment of the season: Tied Factory Ducati and Yamaha. When they were off the pace they truly were off. Even being beaten by their independent rivals (Petronas and Pramac)

Race of the season: Austria followed by British GP - That Rins move at the end....

To watch in 2020: Can anyone really bring it to MM93? Excited for Brad to have his rookie season and a more mature Fabio + Morbidelli

Salient points indeed! @thestaggy, your 2c?

 

[powermzii]

Alex to Repsol Honda confirmed

 

[powermzii]

aaaaand also... #BB33

 

[thestaggy]

Salient points indeed! @thestaggy, your 2c?

You've pretty much got it covered regarding the Rider and Surprise of the season. Marc was near perfection; Quartararo had one helluva rookie season.

As for disappointment, there is a case that Ducati could've done better, but points wise Dovi had his best year on a Ducati. More points than he scored in 2018 and more points than he had in 2017 when he pushed Marc close for the championship. In terms of consistency, only Marc was better. Dovi had more points finishes and more podiums than any other rider not named Marc Marquez. Sure he had fewer wins, but the same amount of podiums as 2018 and more race finishes. Its just that the Honda in Marc's hands was on another level.

Quartararo finished 2nd to Marc in 5 races. Even if he won those races he still would've been 52-points behind Dovi.

I think for me the factory Yamaha team is a continued source of disappointment. Especially when you consider what Quartararo was doing.

Race of the season: Tight call between Austria and Great Britain. Both had sensational last laps.

To watch in 2020: The all-Marquez Honda lineup. Not sure what their relationship is like, but Marc is definitely not the guy that will play nice if things are close. Keen to see what KTM does development-wise. We saw how they turned their Moto2 season around so we know they have some potential on the R&D and engineering side and with them closing their Moto2 program to focus on MotoGP, it bodes well. Pol Espargaro close to doubled his points tally from 2018 (51 pts to 100 pts), so the bike is making strides, at least in his hands. Regarding Brad, it will just be a matter of whether he can adjust to the bike. Zarco admitted that it isn't an easy bike to ride and he couldn't adapt to it while Oliveira and Pol could.

 

[thestaggy]

That's poor from Espargaro. Real self entitlement there if he believes either one of them deserve a specific ride ahead of another rider.

My guess is his brother Pol fed him some juicy inside info on Zarco's attitude toward KTM this year.

 

[greg0205]

You've pretty much got it covered regarding the Rider and Surprise of the season. Marc was near perfection; Quartararo had one helluva rookie season.

As for disappointment, there is a case that Ducati could've done better, but points wise Dovi had his best year on a Ducati. More points than he scored in 2018 and more points than he had in 2017 when he pushed Marc close for the championship. In terms of consistency, only Marc was better. Dovi had more points finishes and more podiums than any other rider not named Marc Marquez. Sure he had fewer wins, but the same amount of podiums as 2018 and more race finishes. Its just that the Honda in Marc's hands was on another level.

Quartararo finished 2nd to Marc in 5 races. Even if he won those races he still would've been 52-points behind Dovi.

I think for me the factory Yamaha team is a continued source of disappointment. Especially when you consider what Quartararo was doing.

Race of the season: Tight call between Austria and Great Britain. Both had sensational last laps.

To watch in 2020: The all-Marquez Honda lineup. Not sure what their relationship is like, but Marc is definitely not the guy that will play nice if things are close. Keen to see what KTM does development-wise. We saw how they turned their Moto2 season around so we know they have some potential on the R&D and engineering side and with them closing their Moto2 program to focus on MotoGP, it bodes well. Pol Espargaro close to doubled his points tally from 2018 (51 pts to 100 pts), so the bike is making strides, at least in his hands. Regarding Brad, it will just be a matter of whether he can adjust to the bike. Zarco admitted that it isn't an easy bike to ride and he couldn't adapt to it while Oliveira and Pol could.

Brad did a test on that MotoGP bike and within a week or so KTM announced the team reshuffle... My guess is that he was fast. Really fast.

The extra power will suit him.

 

[thestaggy]

Brad did a test on that MotoGP bike and within a week or so KTM announced the team reshuffle... My guess is that he was fast. Really fast.

The extra power will suit him.

Well, the Valencia post-season testing starts today so we will get an idea of how he fairs.

 

[zeb]

Rider of the season for me can only be Marc Marquez. The man has no equal and will one day go down as the greatest rider in history, barring any injuries preventing it.

Surprises of the season was the poor showing from both Rossi on the Yamaha and Petrucci, despite the singe victory, on the Ducati.

Disappointment of the season is Jorge Lorenzo. Sure there were injuries but boy was he terrible on a great bike.

Race of the season was Austria

To watch in 2020. Quartararo. Would have liked to see El Diablo on a works bike so I'm disappointed that Alex got the honda ride. Good to have Marc as a brother I suppose.

 

[thestaggy]

2019 Valencia MotoGP test times - Tuesday FINAL

Following Sunday's season-ending Valencia MotoGP race, riders and teams returned to the circuit to start their 2020 preparations in earnest during a two-day official test.

Moto2 champion Alex Marquez - who will join brother Marc at Repsol Honda next season - has been placed at the LCR team for this test and was on track alongside fellow class rookies Brad Binder and Iker Lecuona.

Alex fell after just eight laps, fortunately without harm but causing significant damage to his 2019-spec RCV. Bradl later fell at the same Turn 10, while Smith then brought out the red flags to retrieve his Aprilia from the gravel trap.

Marc Marquez was next to halt the session, after a fast out-lap fall left his 2020 bike heavily damaged at Turn 13, followed by more red flags for Quartararo who fell (at Turn 10) shortly after pulling 0.430s clear at the top in the middle of the afternoon.

The Frenchman was unharmed and returned later in the session. Quartararo's earlier time remained unbeaten, although Vinales reduced his advantage to 0.164s. The factory Yamaha team had a new prototype engine to try, which seemed to provide more top speed, while the satellite Sepang squad got the end-of-season chassis updates.

All factories with the exception of Aprilia have brought significant updates to this test. Aprilia's new bike will not be seen until Sepang in February.

At first glance Brad's times are alarming, he was nearly a second off of Lecuona. No idea what type of runs he was doing though. Full race simulation? Looking for set-up?

 

[thestaggy]

Marquez left puzzled by "strange" Valencia MotoGP test crash

Marc Marquez says the crash which totalled his 2020 MotoGP Honda prototype on the first day of the Valencia test was "strange", but doesn't believe there was a mechanical issue.

Marquez was on an out-lap on the new RC213V prototype when he was flicked from his bike heading into the Turn 13 right-hander on Tuesday afternoon, which brought out a red flag.

The world champion walked away, but was unable to ride the '20 bike for the rest of the day and had to complete the session on the '19 version - which he finished fifth on.

"The bike was destroyed, and I saw there were some pieces there [in the gravel] and just I picked up everything and put it there with the fuel tank," he said when asked why he was picking up debris.

"It was a very strange crash. I was going out from the box slowly but just when I shifted up the gear I fly [from the bike].

"Was just with the prototype bike, still a few things to understand, was not any mechanical problem.

"But sometimes when you try new things, you don't expect those kinds of reactions and it was a very strange crash.

"Lucky for us it was not a big issue on the body side and will also not change the plan for tomorrow, which was important to keep testing in the same way."

 

[thestaggy]

2019 Valencia MotoGP test times - Wednesday (FINAL)

Following Sunday's season-ending MotoGP race, riders and teams have returned to the Valencia circuit to start their 2020 preparations in earnest during a two-day official test.

Vinales set the fastest time of the test - and beat the pole time from the race weekend - while using the new Yamaha prototype, featuring an updated engine and chassis, with an hour of testing to go.

As on Tuesday, M1 riders filled the top three places, with Quartararo and Morbidelli exchanging the top spot with Vinales.

The Petronas team-mates were again using the 2019 engine but had the carbon fibre swingarm and some aero parts to try. The Sepang team should get the new Yamaha engine, more top speed but said to be just as smooth, at the next test.

All factories with the exception of Aprilia, whose new bike will not be seen until Sepang in February, brought significant updates to this test.

Brad was the slowest, again nearly a second off of Lecuona's pace. However, only .2 off of Alex Marquez who is on a better bike. Still don't know if this is a true reflection of his pace as we have no idea what he was doing.