| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Shouldn't be a big surprise, but Pirro will replace Spies at Jerez. Pirro was always scheduled to ride at Jerez as one of three appearances this year on the development 'mule'. I don't know if he will run in Pramac livery or not but he is not really a replacement for Spies as he would have been riding this weekend anyway. The bike Pirro will ride is apparently significantly different to the factory and Pramac bikes, so that still leaves Spies' bikes sitting in the garage unused unfortunately  | ||
| Jaimec |
Schwantz wasn't the one with the "Tirade," Matt. Schwantz simply made the observation that Dani is an excellent rider, but he needs to get out from under Puig's influence. It was then "Spooge" who launched into the full-blown tirade complete with wild accusations AND inaccuracies (which is his SOP since he did the same thing when his "Golden Boy" punted Nicky off the track in 2006). I refer you to the article I linked for all the details on "Spooge's" rage-induced rant. I was under the impression that Pirro was scheduled to test AFTER the races at three rounds; not ride as a Wild Card... | ||
| Trojan |
I know both sides have launched comments on each other (I don't support Puig either), and just think it is very unprofessional of both of them really, considering they are both supposed to be 'elder statesmen' of racing. BTW I read to day that Schwantz ism aking a comeback for Suzuki at the Suzuka 8 hour. Don't do it Kevin you are 49 and it won't end well!! As for Pirro, he has always been scheduled to ride 3 wild card races this year, with Jerez being the first. Whether he rides in Pramac colours now that Spies isn't there is maybe the only difference to the plan. | ||
| Simond |
.......but if he lunches an engine does it come out of Spies' allocation if he rides in Pramac colours? As for Suzuka; Haga/Kagayama/Schwantz is certainly a crowd pleasing lineup. (Message edited by Simond on May 02, 2013) | ||
| Jaimec |
GOOD question!! | ||
| Xb1125r |
how the heck is that a crown pleaser, seriously. haga is the defenition of failure, he had the title and he blew it. this shawn guy is one of those guys that thinks he is still 21. if he does anything good it will be becuase the competiton flet sorry for the old guy. i never liked Danny but I wish he would win to shut that good ball off | ||
| Gaesati |
One wonders whether any of the three would still have the fitness level to do an 8 hour race. They would be crowd pleasers, though given their history and popularity in Japan. | ||
| Jaimec |
Heard a rumor Yamaha might field a team with Rossi and Crutchlow... | ||
| Trojan |
I thinki Suzuki will be going for the 'team old fart' award and really can't see any of them being competitive. Haga was awful in BSB last year and Kagayama hasn't done anything for years (since leaving BSB in fact). Adding Schwantz is just for headlines and almost a joke really. Condidering how many young riders are around, and that Suzuki is contemplating returning to MotoGP, I would have thought they could find some current talent to groom rather than these 3 geriatrics. It would be good to see Rossi & Crutchlow at the 8 hour but I don't know if Cal should even consider it given the cold shoulder he is getting from Yamaha right now. It isn't as though they will suddenly change tack and offer him a factory bike if he wins is it? Rumour has it that Pol Espagaro has already been signed to replace Cal at Tech 3 next year (oh great, yet another Spaniard in MotoGP!) and partner Bradley Smith (nice guy but should not be there at Cal's expense) even though Cal is the top 'non factory' rider by a long way. He wants a factory bike but with almost everyone on 2 year contracts his choices are very slim. He could replace Hayden at Ducati or try to oust Bradl from LCR (factory Honda) but other than that his choices are limited. I would not be surprised to see Cal go back to WSB if he can't get a factory bike next year (and wouldn't blame him at all). Interesting times and scullduggery ahead methinks  | ||
| Jaimec |
Looks like Pirro will be racing in the factory colors, so Ben's engine allotment is safe: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/May/130502a.ht m | ||
| Gaesati |
Hmmm, interesting thought, Crutchlow and Dovizioso racing each other again on equal machinery in 2014 on Ducatis. Maybe neither getting podiums but great racing should happen. | ||
| Jaimec |
Rossi just put the kibosh on any return to the Suzuka 8-hour for this year. Apparently the new schedule doesn't give him a long enough break to recuperate after that event. Would've been fun to see how he and Cal would make out as team mates. | ||
| Trojan |
With such strong denials it is pretty certain it will actually happen then Lorenzo was quickest this morning, just edging out Pedrosa who had been quickest for most of the session. Rossi, Crutchlow and Marques follow as usual. Nicky Hayden is 6th but then Ducati have tested at Jerez more than anywhere else so they should see a better performance there than at other tracks maybe. Espagaro is a very creditable 9th on the CRT Aprilia, again ahead of some regular prototype runners. | ||
| Trojan |
FP2 times. The usual suspects in the top five (only the order changes slightly) then a comparitively big gap to 6th...but look who has popped into 8th place on the FTR Kawasaki! That will put a few noses out of joint at Ducati & Tech 3! And what has ahppened to Bradl? Is he feeling the pressure already? 1 99 Jorge LORENZO 1'39.562 2 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW 1'39.733 3 26 Dani PEDROSA 1'39.757 4 46 Valentino ROSSI 1'39.874 5 93 Marc MARQUEZ 1'39.889 6 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA 1'40.507 7 29 Andrea IANNONE 1'40.574 8 8 Hector BARBERA 1'40.736 9 41 Aleix ESPARGARO 1'40.738 10 69 Nicky HAYDEN 1'40.837 11 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO 1'40.884 12 51 Michele PIRRO 1'40.902 13 38 Bradley SMITH 1'40.990 14 6 Stefan BRADL 1'41.053 15 14 Randy DE PUNIET 1'41.078 16 9 Danilo PETRUCCI 1'41.751 17 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA 1'41.774 18 71 Claudio CORTI 1'41.790 19 5 Colin EDWARDS 1'42.058 20 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ 1'42.603 21 67 Bryan STARING 1'42.606 22 70 Michael LAVERTY 1'42.974 23 17 Karel ABRAHAM 1'43.356 24 52 Lukas PESEK 1'43.403 | ||
| Jaimec |
So the question is: Will Cal Crutchlow be the FIRST satellite rider to WIN a race since the 990cc era?? | ||
| Svh |
I sure hope so. I bet he thanks his lucky stars every day he didn't get the Ducati ride! | ||
| Trojan |
I bet he thanks his lucky stars every day he didn't get the Ducati ride! Trouble is, he is always going to be at best 3rd in line for new parts and developments at Yamaha the way things are now. if he went to Ducati he would at least be first in line for factory bits. At present that won't mean much because the Yamaha is a better bike, but if Ducati get their act together this year then it could be vital to him ever winning a GP. Will he win this weekend? Much as I would like to see it I don't think so. If he can grab a podium he will be doing very well indeed but a win is unlikely against the 4 top factory boys. Good run by Scott Redding again today. Surely he MUST be in line for a MotoGP ride next year (replacing Bautista maybe)? | ||
| Jaimec |
I don't know about you, but I'd rather be fighting for a podium on a satellite bike than fighting for the top ten on a factory bike any day of the week... | ||
| Gaesati |
Doesn't Bautista have a contract for 2014 already to entice him to keep working with Showa? | ||
| Trojan |
I don't know about you, but I'd rather be fighting for a podium on a satellite bike than fighting for the top ten on a factory bike any day of the week... I would probably feel the same, but then we are not top level cut thoat racers who want to win, and nothing less counts. Cal knows that as long as he stays at Tech 3 he is at best 3rd on the list of priorities for Yamaha, and they won't give him the latest and best factory kit because it could embarress the factory team (He is quickest in FP3 this morning by the way ). The last 'non factory' GP winner was Tony Elias in 2006, so Cals chances of beating the factory teams are slim at best, although we all hope Cal can do it if anyone can of course. He would also be the first Brit to win a MotoGP racde since Barry Sheene of course, and would lay that to rest at last. Long term Cal is better off at any of the factory (or factory supported such as LCR)teams, even Ducati, simply because they have the resources to win (eventually) and will focus on him rather than him just being a 'customer' rider. Lastly, his place at Tech rumours to have been filled already for next year, with heavy rumour suggesting that Pol Espagaro has already signed for the team. With bradley Smith on a 2 year deal (something I'm sure the team regret already) Cal Crutchlow has no choice but to try and get a factory ride or move back to WSBK for next year I think. If Cal cannot get a factory ride after showing what he can do this year then it is a travesty and shows even more how 'Spanish-Centric' the sport has sadly become. With 4 GP's in a crumbling economy and Spanish riders and teams dominating the events (even though some of them surely do not deserve to be there on merit alone), and of course DORNA heavily biased towards Spanish teams and riders, it may be a long time before we see many British or US winners again | ||
| Crusty |
'Spanish-Centric'? Oh, come on,now. The top ten riders in this morning's practice were, by Nationality, one Brit, one Yank, three Italians and only five Spaniards. | ||
| Trojan |
Yeah your right, what was I thinking... MotoGP Qualifying 1 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA 2 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA 3 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Moto 3 Qualifying 1 42 Alex RINS SPA 2 25 Maverick VIŅALES SPA 3 39 Luis SALOM SPA Moto2 Qualifying* 1 80 Esteve RABAT SPA 2 45 Scott REDDING GBR 3 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN * Could be subject to a re-run as there is only one Spanish rider in the top 3, so the organisers may want to try again  The worrying thing is Moto3, where nearly all the future stars will be drawn from. The vast majority are Spanish and Spain has the best domestic Moto3 series too (we haven't even got a dedicated domestic moto3 series yet and are still mixing with 125's!). The rest of the world needs to wake up and smell the peaella, and start getting riders into GP racing a lot younger Esteve Rabatt is only 23 and has done 113 GP races so far. Lorenzo in only 26 today! | ||
| Jaimec |
If someone DOESN'T think MotoGP is dominated by the Spanish, one needs look no farther than what happened to the proposed GP round in Argentina. It certainly wasn't an American or an Italian company that put the kibosh on that event. I would've said "Screw it, Repsol... your teams will forfeit that round, then." But then, I'm not a Spaniard like Ezpeleta (despite the Hispanic sounding name I bear). (Message edited by jaimec on May 04, 2013) | ||
| Trojan |
What a result I won't spil it for those who haven't watched it already, but definitely shades of Rossi/Gibernau there | ||
| Gaesati |
Shades of Rossi/Stoner at Laguna... or Rossi/ Lorenzo in 2010. It could have interesting ramifications for one of the parties involved. | ||
| 46champ |
Matt I may have missed something in his younger years but how did Bradley Smith get a Tech 3 ride? | ||
| Jaimec |
I'm thinking his father has a photo of Herve Poncharal in compromising photos with farm animals. Nothing else makes sense. | ||
| Crusty |
Naa-a-a-a... | ||
| Simond |
He was a race winner and Championship contender in 125GPs + he put in some impressive performances on the the woefully slow Tech3 Moto2 bike in 2011....... ......but.....he was less impressive last year and Poncharal tried to get out of the promise of a MotoGP ride for this year. It would be a real shame if his contract keeps a faster rider off the second Tech 3 next year - particularly if it's Crutchlow. You never know, he could be on the pace by the end of the year.....  . | ||
| Trojan |
You do have to remember that the Tech 3 Moto 2 bike is a complete dog and one of the slowest in the field. For Smith to get into the top ten at all last year waseriously impressive, and you'll notice that Danny Kent (another Moto3 winner) is at or near the back on it this year. The bike has had no development since 2010 unlike the other Moto 2 bikes, and really Herve should just bite the bullet and buy a Kalex/Suter/SpeedUp like everyone else. Having said that, there are faster Moto 2 riders than Bradley out there, but Poncheral has been doing this for a long time and knows what he is doing. Give the lad a while to adjust before we judge him too harshly. Simoncelli didn't exactly set the world on fire in his first season either, and he was on a factory Honda. |
