Reply With QuoteGot the jacuzzi disassembled and am stuck for parts: Was not going to bother but it is a perfect moment to watch some MotoGP.
Livestream of BT sport!!
Lowes is ... awesome.
New season today: starts with practice in Qatar...I know there's an F1 thread and definitely some bikers on here so wondered if any like minds are here... spent a lovely few hours watching preview and build up to practice, great to have it back on screen as I watch little sport apart from motor sports ...
Sum up, great first day for Brits in lower classes and not too shabby in top flight....
I doubted BT sport like many but they do give us extensive coverage ...great news as well with moto GP tonight morphing into a BBC forum style show straight after races..
Last edited by lordloz; 19th October 2015 at 23:26. Reason: policy decision
Got the jacuzzi disassembled and am stuck for parts: Was not going to bother but it is a perfect moment to watch some MotoGP.
Livestream of BT sport!!
Lowes is ... awesome.
New Ducati???? Wotwotwot??
So I came back in for the MotoGP qualifying.
Not sure why they are so jubilant over Ducati? Ok, very good for a fresh bike but they are on soft option which is worth a second. They would be at the back without that second. They cannot race it AND would lose the priviledge if they win.
Makes for a good qualifying show but it is also all make believe.
I thought the by far bigger news was a confident Pedrosa beating Marc. That was réal.
Bit disappointed about Lorenzo and Rossi. Lorenzo is riding VERY well but he does not seem to be getting anywhere fast.
The rules still confound me. Three different formulae bike ánd some old CRTs thrown in.
Bike sport is the only motor sport I watch.... And I've really been looking forward to this season...
Dani is my man....I'm really hopeful he'll have a great season....
As for qualifying...looks like the Yamahas are on the backfoot a little, Scott didn't quite find his mojo, and I was quite surprised by the performance of the Suzukis...
aprilia mmm... Don't hold out much hope for them this season...
There will of course be action up front with Lorenzo, Pedrosa, marquez and Rossi and maybe one of the ducatos for the early laps....but I believe the real action is going to be midfield....Cal, Bradley, Scott, nicky, Aleix and a few others will be fighting it out for top 10 finish.... Can't wait.
As for Moto 2... Well what can you say about the effort from Sam?? Nice one..
And finally Moto 3..... Well my prediction for that, is carnage....
They were on softs. Again; worth a second there. Add that and they are out of the frame.Originally Posted by Enoch
Still WAY better than pre-season but tomorrow they will be lucky to be in the mid field.
Yes an enormously gallant effort too from this relatively small factory.
The starting grid times are not representative for the real performances. At least the confusing rules have managed to get the qualifying closely fought
Just signed up for BT sport as I refuse to pay for the appalling MotoGP video pass again this year.
Won't get set up for another week so will miss this race. Glad to hear that BT coverage is good though.
Had to switch from my beloved Plusnet to BT to get it (Plusnet only do it through Sky)
That's my dilemma - except that I can't bring myself to sign up to BT - bridge too far for me!
N
I'm in the same boat, can't bring myself to sign up to bt after some bad experiences. Having to settle for avoiding the result and watching the highlights on itv4 on Monday.
Can´t you watch a free live stream????
Over here I became SO sick of all the regional limitations and hoops I need to jump through with poor rewards for pay that I have resorted to free streams only. Works great. Can even put it on the TV using the SDMI connector. Ok, so it has less resolution but it is better than the tele we had till 5 years ago.
Yes, and we do. Same goes for the premier league footie. But the quality is shite.Can´t you watch a free live stream????
Feel free to PM me with (genuine) HD streams :)
N
Looking forward to race. BT sport on laptop then HDMI LEAD TO TV. Come on Rossi. And Cal!
I'm hoping Dani does the business...... He's looked good up to now...
Just watching warm up....moto3 first 12 bikes all within 2.07. Danny Kent 2nd fastest....the race should be very close.
F...ing hell. What racing??
Stunning race in Moto 3 - well done Danny Kent, but the big bikes was just one of the best races ever. Rossi is God. So pleased to see the Ducati's competitive with a brand new bike. Honda will be scratching their heads. Even without Marc running off the track I don't think they had the pace.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
It was breath taking.
The Ducatis sure had the legs of the Yamahas. Just not of Rossi.
As to the competetiveness of the Hondas... lap times of Marquez were on par with the front guys and he did make up a lot of ground on them meaning that if he had not lost it, he could have been as much out at the front.
Considering that the entirely new 2015 Ducati is still soft from the mould, the team will have learned a LOT from this race. It is bound to be better still next time out.
All in all a great weekend for the tifosi with both Ferrari and Ducati back!
Was a great race, the winner certainly seemed like his old self!
Bad news RE the Pedrosa announcement, I sincerely wish him well as I'm a massive fan....
Lorenzo has managed to come up with a whole new excuse! Must remember to avoid his helmet supplier!!
I (too) think that had Marquez maintained something resembling his grid position, it would be a different podium....
....but he didn't and it wasn't!
Ducati must be very happy and whatever Gigi is being paid it's probably not enough!
The race last night was the best motogp race I have seen in ages. I'd becone completely disillusioned with the championship but now my faith is well and truely restored.
And rossi? I thought he was past it but last night he showed all the doubters (like me) that he is still the man. Brilliant!
Interestingly that was the first italian 1-2-3 since 2005 (rossi, biaggi, capirossi in mugello).
Great also to see come real pace from the ducattis. I thought the germans would take a little longer to sort them out but the must have been doing some serious ass-kicking behind the scenes.
21 years racing for that ?
Great review !
What's happening with Dani, is he taking a break?
Those with BT queries, I took out the 12 month channel subscription and linked it through my Sky account. It was activated within half an hour and app access was instant, as I believe it is with broadband sign ups. Very pleased with the coverage. I'll likely cancel Sky Sports when my contract ends as BT gives me Moto GP and Indy Car.
Poor Dani.....if it wasn't for bad luck he'd have no luck at all.... He's been so close for so many years, but something has always goes wrong....
Many great riders despite riding at the top level for many years never win the premier class, Biaggi, Checa, Mamola, Cadalora, Gibernau, Melandri, Edwards and loads more.......I'm afraid it looks like Dani will join them....
He's had a fantastic career, and is a brilliant rider, but if this is the end of his career, I for one will be sorry..
And for those that think he's a bit remote, and misserable.....just take a look at this video..
http://youtu.be/4mM2wKIh1Us
http://youtu.be/g0X97qxH0KA
He has had the problem of pumping up fore-arms for quite some time now.
Although he has not been moaning about it, it was sort of general knowledge and Honda was very much aware.
Mid season last year he was operated but it made no difference.
Over the winter he has been seeing specialist all over the world and they don´t know but for advising against more cutting into it.
This weekend he has shown that he has the speed but again the arms pumped up.
He is now stepping away untill a solution is found.
That can be interpreted any which way.
Mine is that since Honda was fully aware, there will someone taking his seat next race.
If Dani can't race.....I hope honda give Scott a chance on the bike..
OT but I'm off to BSB next weekend.....anyone going, give a shout out for my mate Joe Francis...(flipper)
He rides SS600 for Kieth Flint's Team Traction Control.......only 17 but an up and coming talent....he's No4 Yamaha R6
Last edited by Enoch; 30th March 2015 at 14:05.
unlikely...(sadly)
Perhaps Cal.... More likely a test rider.... FWIW last time a Repsol rider went on the sick (Stoner, 2012) they drafted in someone from WSB (Rea)
Imo by far Dani's most admirable quality, he doesn't moan.
from what I've read, the arm pump isn't a problem at all circuits, COTA for example.... So perhaps he'll race there....
I hope he manages to continue racing, people under rate Dani.... But (until the arrival of Marc) he had the most lap records of any motogp rider, has never gone a season without a win, and has at one time or another beaten every single rider on the grid in a fair fight.
sadly I fear that 2012 was his year, but alas.... Iirc what 7 race wins (?) and no title, world level sport is clearly cruel, especially if you compare Dani's career to winners such as Roberts jnr, Criville and Hayden. And no offence to those guys, they won their titles fair and square, but in Dani's case few have achieved so much and been rewarded with so little....
I was wondering about Cal, but like Redding, being from a one bike team I can't see LCR allowing it. Rea moved to Kawasaki for this season so I can't see that, but perhaps Honda would take a chance on VdMark or a Japanese rider? They really don't have a lot of choice and I'm not convinced Stoner would want to come back.
But I think we're all assuming it's a done deal. No further news today from Dani or Honda.
Sorry I wasn't clear...
I never thought Rea would get the offer (as you say, he rides for Kawa now) I just meant that last time this happened, the repsol team sourced a rider from outside the championship, so perhaps they will again...
as you say, the problem with using an exitsting motogp rider is that they are rather tied to their existant teams/sponsors etc
I so hope this isn't the end of Dani, I'm a genuine fan. Perhaps he'll miss the year, lose his ride... But come back in 2016 on something like the Tech 3 Yam, which imHo the yam would suit his style a lot better than the Honda.... But that's massive speculation on my part....
Blimey I start this off and then had to go off grid as hadn't seen F1 in morning and switched to all Moto clases...
And now I come back to a load of replies...thanks folks nice to see some like minds on here... Much appreciated...
Huertecilla as surprised as a few people were with Ducati pace on medium hoops and vale even more of a surprise as Yamaha looked out of it....
I've watched F1 from a child and got my ARDs licence , gone to many events and enjoy it but now caught up with it was totally mystified at the hype for that race result which was just tedious..,
Im sorry Suzi you need to get back to watching MGP..... 8 seconds in front of 2nd with skewed pit stops and easy DRS overtakes does NOT make an exciting race.... I was so bored and the Ferrari Vettel gushing and trying to talk up a dull event was frankly embarrassing ...
Photo finish and pack of 8 in M3 does make pure brilliant racing and Moto GP even outdid that...
. Truly wonderful racing on the edge and scraping elbows and fairings and a legend who motivates himself God knows how at his age to get out there... I struggle to get enthusiasm to go out for a run every now and then to maintain weight ...how to train and compete at that level still is superb...
Great from Danny Kent, shame didn't get that extra bit but is a contender... Gutted by Sam Lowes, so dominant and could have made a real advantage but hope he comes back stronger...
Marquez will be seething and will be awesome next time and there is real competition in field for this now ...
Shame dani needs to sort arm pump his replacement will be interesting... I don't want to go back to the moaner days but seeing Marquez race against him would really up the ante ...
Only just watched the highlights of this weekends race, great race and good to see Yamaha and Ducatti battling it out at the front, great win for Rossi!
Really disappointing to read about Dani, like most of you I've always liked him and been gutted he never won a title - here hoping they'll find something to help
According to GPOne Livio Suppo says Aoyama will replace Dani, if Dani decides to stop.
That's a bit disappointing......Aoyama is good on his day, but he doesn't have enough of those days.....
Just watched the highlights. Rossi first and two Ducatis on the podium - amazing start to the season. Those Ducatis are awesome!!
Something that was overlooked immediately after the race, Ducati have now scored 3 dry podiums since the start of 2014 so they lose 2 litres of fuel from the next race. May not make a difference, especially if Ducati themselves are to be believed.
I'm no fan of Stoner at all, could do without the attitudeback there but it would be really really great to put the argument to bed once and for all and have him join Marquez for a few races to decide who really is the best on the RCV....
If it's the Roo then fair play and I bow downbut I suspect it will be the Ant
and Aoyama just isn't at that level....strange as Repsol Honda aren't bothered by the constructors title in that case... Marc needs a solid back up if they aren't going to let Yamaha or Ducati steal it....
by the way Goodwood FoS ticket sales just got turbocharged as Rossi has just been confirmed to make his debut there this year
I tried to check on prices for Sunday and the website was already crashed :)by the way Goodwood FoS ticket sales just got turbocharged as Rossi has just been confirmed to make his debut there this year
I'm not knocking the moaner, but imho it's no contest, that mighty little ant all day long, the stats speak for themselves....I'm no fan of Stoner at all, could do without the attitude
If it's the Roo then fair play and I bow down
by the way Goodwood FoS ticket sales just got turbocharged as Rossi has just been confirmed to make his debut there this year
besides.... Not taking away anything from his historic ducati year or his repsol title year, but all his other years weren't so glory soaked...
We (ok I) could pub agrue all night long about who's the most naturally gifted modern day rider, but imo in practice Marc can tap into his deep well of talent for more consistently than Stoner. YMMV!
Still not too sure about the whole open class concept. In reality only about 5 bikes can win, the rest are just fillers to make sure the grid doesn't look empty. At least in the 500 two stroke days even the wild card riders had a reasonable chance on similar equipment.
Both the family and i were fortunate enough to be there in person and we enjoyed it inparticular the Rossi win as we are all huge fans !
As for the event got to be honest i was rather disappointed, but i think thats because we were spoilt at our last event in Valencia.
Let me try and explain
Unless your paying big money, you only get to sit on the start finish straight and viewing the action from there is at its most difficult, the TV screens were way too small and the commentary pumped through the tannoy was poor as well.
If you pay big money you get the MotoGP exeperience and i think you get to see the infield action on the track.
One outlet selling food
One overpriced souvenir shop
One stand showing a few M sport BMW's with a mixture of 3 maybe 4 bike manufacturers displaying 3 bikes each
Am i happy we went ...hell yeah!
Would i go again...probably not!
Should F1 go there...defiently not!
I have just had the opportunity to watch the first race of the season having recorded it. All the pre race hype was all about the new Ducati GP15, Honda, more Honda, Marques, the new Ducati and yes you've guessed it, Honda. Being a Rossi fan for a long, long time, it was simply awesome to see him start in eighth and end up in tenth after the first lap. He then showed what he is made of. Unbelievable but boy, he still has the hunger, talent and measure of that (slow on the straights) Yamaha. I enjoyed it so much that I am going to watch it again. Kettle on.
He was obviously talented but confusingly as poms are criticised for whinging he was far more than any Brit in racing so didn't make friends of fans in UK easily who normally are mostly fans of talented riders whatever nationality. See Bayliss or Haga for example......
but I think that arrogant comment when Rossi skittled him out was the end of any popularity he might have had... saying a 9 times champion's ambition outweighed his talent was rude and unnecessary...
The ducati was a top speed monster when he won and did not much after that till this year and the RCV the best bike out there by a long way....
so to all his defenders it would be good to confirm once and for all who is top Dog and like you I also agree it would be #93 not #27 who would be #1
It's all single class next year with standard ECU so may level out more....it's at least slightly more level than F1 with smaller teams never ever getting a chance of even a podium...
Glad you had a good time...always surprises me how F1 big up their night races as if they thought of it when Moto GP did it first much earlier....also huge fuss over verstappen only being 17 in F1 & being too young etc....when Scott won the British 125gp at 15, quarternnarro only 15 & leading Sundays race for a bit and Rossi and Marc already winning championship or at least in contention at that age
Shame they didn't open facility out as you would think with small crowds they would open it up more.... surprised me after British races when I went to Monza world superbikes and our tickets were normal stand tickets but you could sit in anyone of them around the circuit , start/finish, wherever....
To be honest that was my main drive to get there because of the night race as it adds to the atmosephere IMHO
The entire facility was open its just the only seating area they have is the main straight and the ViP area on the pits, if the event or future events were to prove popular there would be some excellent additonal areas to erect stands to improve the experience...i just dont see attendance improving.
As for F1 at Losail just not sure it would work...does the region need another under attended motorsport event?
not to mention that the Bridgestone tires Stoner ran in 2007 were very much designed around the needs of ducati
Rossi demanded the same tires for 2008 and look what happened in that year!
I think this was the Plan B befóre Ducati turned out a contending bike. With Marc the almost assured winner and Aoyama as solid high points finisher, the constructors title would be within sight. Not so with two Ducatis lapping up equal points.
Don´t be too surprised if they try shake the FIM to step v.d.Mark up.
I still don't see Hiroshi as even a solid points finisher unfortunately - he got outshone in open class repeatedly even though he was great in 250 as champion he just didn't make the transition as well - I know he didn't have a great bike but riders on similar machinery beat him most of the time - this is just a result of Japanese support as a sort of thank you almost and is an odd choice.
Saying that they don't have many options within Honda, everyone is committed to their teams and if they want to do well in WSBK or Moto 2 they need to stay within their respective championships ... vDM is just learning WSBK so wouldn't be a good choice to hop back and forwards for him just yet for example so it needs to be a free agent favoured by Honda without a ride so Aoyama it is...
Take this with a pinch of salt because it's from the Ecclestone fed press, but several articles this week have said Qatar will be paying in excess of $70m per year to host a race. So there's no worries about it being well attended. Not necessarily going to be at Losail either.
When making F1 comparisons I hadn't realised there was any talk of it going to Losail so thanks for that....
It's always difficult to tell how many people are actually there on TV as they rarely show the stands. Is it as empty as it sometimes looks ?
So i have a few benchmarks that i compare against
Silverstone F1 raceday 2011 - place was rammed roads gridlocked and not a spare seat or standing room in sight - nothing like Qatar
Valencia Motogp 2013(i think marquez's first title) - rammed 125k Spanish there cheering a potential winner in every class of the championship - nothing like Qatar
BSB at Oulton Park 2008 - place was rammed roads gridlocked and 10's of 1000's of people there - nothing like Qatar
Qatar - no queue at ticket collection, no queues in or out of the circuit maybe 100 bikes there and car park maybe 1/20th full, i could sit my family of four anywhere on the main straight
Flippin heck didn't relalise it was that bad. As a man who hates queuing you've sold me next years event. I was working in Bahrain a number of years ago and they were giving away F1 tickets to to fill the venue.
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