MotoGP 2012

FeFiDoh · 8 Apr 2012 at 21:00

So thoughts and predictions on the season? Surprised not to see a thread for this already.

Good first race! Lorenzo raced a great race and that bike is looking really good so far.
Ducati not so great but Haydon did alright and Bradl had a great race as well held 6th for quite a long time.
Crutchlow put in a blinding fast lap in quals yesterday and was top with a few minutes left and finished 4th just ahead of Dovi.

Hopefully a good season this year as last years was a little boring tbh

FeFiDoh · 9 Apr 2012 at 16:40

Was surprised to see Pedrosa finish #2 after he seemed to have a bad few days in Qatar, he qualified quite low didn't he? Mind you he weighs bugger all and is crazy off the start line. Also helps he doesn't really wear his tyres like Stoner so no doubt had much better grip latter 3rd of the game.

FeFiDoh · 10 Apr 2012 at 16:00

Stoners biggest problem with that race appeared to be his lack of testing in race conditions. He didn't seem prepared for the loss of tyre grip and they are new tyres this year? The way he rides it sliding around every where it is not surprising he wears them out.
Pedrosa is so damn light and pretty smooth his seem to last that bit longer.

thedoc46, what is up with Rossi then? Seems odd that Hayden seemed to do a lot better on the same bike and Hayden said it is the fastest the Ducati has been since he has been on it? Can't really see Rossi challenging this season tbh seemed off the pace all through testing.

FeFiDoh · 28 Apr 2012 at 13:58

Jerez qualifying over

Lor
Ped
Hay
Cru
Sto
Spi
Dov
Bau
Brd
Rdp
Abr
Bar
Ros

Crutchlow was on fire today some really good lap times put in. Pedrosa and Lorenzo picked it up with about 15 minutes left though. Stoner was quite a bit behind over all I think. Rossi right back in 13th!

FeFiDoh · 28 Apr 2012 at 21:03

Exactly it CAN do it, the difference seems to be the extent in which Rossi is willing to push to do so. He can't feel the limits can he? So is unwilling to push to hard in case of coming off.
I assume all the extra time Haydon has had on it means he is maybe more comfortable on it, and well stoner, he just rings the neck of the thing.
What is the chance of a wet race anyone know? Rossi was 2nd or 3rd fastest Friday when it was wet/damp so there is some hope if it rains.

FeFiDoh · 7 May 2012 at 15:28

It is really impressive the lap times Cal can put in during quals as he can get top for a while. Still has the disadvantage of the tracks being a bit new though? He raced them last season but there isn't that many he had been on prior to that is there?

Seems Ducati may have a new engine to try for Laguna Seca as well. Lowering the torque at bottom end so they can get on the throttle when leaning a bit earlier without the bike understeering or spinning up. This is supposedly one of the issuse with the bike, it has so much power that it is hard to be smooth on it out of corners.

FeFiDoh · 20 May 2012 at 09:55

Rossi was third fastest today in the warm up, it looks to be a wet race and he was on fire at times today so still has what it takes.

Crutchlow
Stoner
Rossi
Lorenzo
I think was the running. Crutchlow was quite late out to warm up and he did fast lap after fast lap and was knocking huge chunks off it, was -.05xx last lap and then got held up by Abraham! Going to be a cracker by the looks of it.

FeFiDoh · 20 May 2012 at 14:18

Some of the comments today from the commentators cracked me up
"About as much grip as a dog on lino"
"The Italians will be fitting sprinklers to Rossi's home race to get him a win"

What a race, I was so tense the whole thing was some amazing battles. Wet races really do show the difference between rider skill and the best bike.

FeFiDoh · 8 Jul 2012 at 12:45

Well that has evened it up a little.
2 Honda's miles in front of everyone else and Stoner comes off what 2-3 corners from the end? I bet Lorenzo can't believe his luck!
Cal was doing so well and just over cooked it, he could have had that he was definitely faster but was being cut off.