Sex Crazed SaltShaker of DeathHas there been any word on how Toprak Razgotlioglu did in testing today? #motogp
I saw he was 1.7 seconds slower than Pedrosa (fastest at test) and .7 slower than Crutchlow on the Yamaha. Very respectable.
Ben@dsmdexter I just wonder if Yam has put the cart before the horse and offered him Franky's ride when it seems like they're only just now giving Franky what he needs. Course, Franky can make them pay for that (as Lorenzo did Ducati) by having a strong rest of the season but, yeah.
@VersionBen6999
I would be surprised if Toprak would agree to anything at this point. The drawbacks to the Yamaha are apparent, and while there may not be a lot of contracts expiring this year, there has been an epidemic of injurieswhich could lead to a seat available that isn't known yet.
I would be surprised if Toprak would agree to anything at this point. The drawbacks to the Yamaha are apparent, and while there may not be a lot of contracts expiring this year, there has been an epidemic of injurieswhich could lead to a seat available that isn't known yet.
Nick 'The Viking'Yeah, this is not the time to be jumping on a Yamaha, nor the Honda.
I suspect we're going to have a brutal year for injuries. I'd be surprised if we see a full grid of contracted riders again this year.
@nlarson830 @dsmdexter As someone who enjoys Marc's talent, I'm curious if Honda can fix their shit while he's still under contract. Because I think if they don't that Red Bull will facilitate a move to KTM, especially given that his current manager has ties there.
Unpopular opinion....
Marc will bonk his head hard enough this year he'll be done.
He can't control himself to just *ride* in the race and develop the bike. They can't develop now, as he's hurt.
@nlarson830 @dsmdexter I don't necessarily agree? I think the bike is such shit (as evidenced by him missing so many races last year and STILL being the top Honda rider) that he's having to use his physical abilities to try and push it to (and past) it's limit, to just be able to compete, let alone win or fight for the championship.
He's readily admitted he's an asshole on the bike, but I don't think you can win championships and not be. Maybe Nicky excluded, but he only had 1.
I agree with that, the bike is bad and has been for a while, and yes he's had to over-ride it to do well.
He's a hard rider but his willingness to crash and gather up other riders into collateral damage, I'm not fond of that. He's entertaining to watch, totally opposite of watching Lorenzo, which bored me to tears.
He's spent the last couple years pretty much broken, so development has been poor, everybody else has been racing and getting faster while he's been rusting on the couch.
I've been watching moto racing for a long time and I've seen these career arcs many times.
I'm jaded for sure.
@nlarson830 @dsmdexter See, I'm a more recent fan (2014) and my introduction to MotoGP was a clip of JL99 with Anna Vives. And damn him if he didn't drag me right in. I related to his personality. Still do, really. Started rooting for Nicky shortly thereafter. But as I'm prone to do (gogo Autism) made myself a student of the sport. Watched many old races.
Perhaps I'm not willing to watch another rider I'm rooting for hang 'em up yet. Either way, we'll see how it all plays out!
I'm not sure exactly when I got into MotoGP, I remember stumbling across a race and the first thing I saw was Gibernau hazing the back tire from just past the apex til he had it up straight. Probably '09.
Lorenzo was very fast, but so smooth he looked slow.
It's good you studied and watched old races, it's perspective.
I don't want MM to retire, but I don't want him to need a guide dog either.
@nlarson830 @dsmdexter
Which as why, as much as I hated it from a "I want him to race forever" standpoint, I was glad JL retired when he did. He seemed legit scared of the bike after that back-breaker.
Equally, I can remember being ANGRY at Marc for trying to come back from that humerus injury after less than a week. Really, more so at the Doctors who encouraged it, because WTF? It's not like these guys get pensions. I'm glad he has a more cautious medical team now.
@VersionBen6999 @nlarson830
I think that "more cautious" team is because the Honda sucks and the penalty hasn't been decided yet (as far as I know). If they thought he could win this weekend, their caution would be out of the window.
I think that "more cautious" team is because the Honda sucks and the penalty hasn't been decided yet (as far as I know). If they thought he could win this weekend, their caution would be out of the window.
It'd be a bad thing to allow MM to squirm out of the penalty on a technical.
He crashed, and got hurt, happens all the time.
Solo crash, no penalty.
Bonehead move, hitting 2 riders knocking one off and injuring them, penalty. It's not complicated to me.
IMO, Honda is teetering on the edge of a 100% disaster. I've broken that bone in my left hand. The thought of that injury on the right combined with big squeeze on the brake and a handstand on the bars, it's gonna suck.
@nlarson830 @dsmdexter But now we're circling back to inconsistency again. Luca was overly ambitious, took out Enea, who's still hurt, and there was nothing done. Not that weekend, not after. Is it because he's Vale's brother? When even the other riders are questioning the lack of penalty, you need to wonder.
And while I don't entirely disagree, they left that door wide open for him. He apparently confirmed it only applied for Argentina, and only THEN signed.
The moral compass is broken and they never used it much anyway...
Flip side, even if they were 100% on top of it every minute it's still a very hard job.
@nlarson830 @VersionBen6999
Having Freddie Spencer making these decisions is a mistake. While he is, by all accounts, a great guy, he sees things through the filter of someone who was a coddled factory supported racer since he was a kid. So he would always get the benefit of the doubt.
Having Freddie Spencer making these decisions is a mistake. While he is, by all accounts, a great guy, he sees things through the filter of someone who was a coddled factory supported racer since he was a kid. So he would always get the benefit of the doubt.
@nlarson830 @VersionBen6999
I also want to say thanks for the discussion, it is nice to talk about something other than politics!
I also want to say thanks for the discussion, it is nice to talk about something other than politics!
@nlarson830 @dsmdexter I enjoy a good healthy discussion, even if we don't all agree (which we don't 😂). It's a refreshing change from the mudslinging and name calling on the bird site.