planetf1.com

I'm sure he likes to decide for himself how he spends his money rather being told by DORNA who to employ and how much money he needs to pay that rider, Lorenzo has a highly rated value of what he is worth and it's been said that's the reason why Suzuki didn't employ him.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Like Lorenzo could drive a F1 car competitively?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Why wouldn't he? I've no doubt top motogp riders would have minimal difficulty transitioning across. The experiment would create huge interest

That's largely unproven although John Surtess did do it, Casey Stoner tried Australian touring cars and flopped, that I think would be a far cry from F1?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Iannone will not continue with Suzuki next year. Aprilia perhaps? This would push out Redding.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89717 ... ave-suzuki

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

Almost as if this Lorenzo to a Satellite Yamaha business is a done deal. Seems like there are lots of details to work out, but if Marc VDS can pick up the Yamahas where Tech 3 left off, it seems as if everyone would benefit. Unless of course the Yamaha has changed that much since Lorenzo last rode it, which is certainly possible. I can only imagine the stress at the factory Yamaha squad if Lorenzo ends up competing regularly, and dare I say it---beating them. Interesting story line!

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89718 ... ha-rumours

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

Oh my God I hope he is OK. Reported to be conscious. That was at the end of the fastest straight, bikes are clocking 350K+ at the braking point.

Iannone is killing it; FP2 Results:


"Home star Iannone completes a perfect sweep of Friday practice at the Italian MotoGP.

Pirro taken to the Medical Centre after a massive accident at the end of the 350km/h main straight - 'rider conscious'.

The session was later red-flagged again after a big engine failure for Dovizioso left possible oil on the straight."

1. = Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 46.735s [Lap 20/21] 343km/h (Top Speed)
2. ^2 Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 1m 47.122s +0.387s [21/23] 346k
3. ^3 Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 47.218s +0.483s [12/21] 348k
4. ^7 Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1) 1m 47.365s +0.630s [21/22] 344k
5. = Jack Miller AUS Pramac Ducati (GP17) 1m 47.403s +0.668s [19/21] 341k
6. ^4 Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 47.433s +0.698s [20/21] 351k
7. ^1 Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 1m 47.445s +0.710s [20/21] 343k
8. ˅1 Franco Morbidelli ITA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 1m 47.497s +0.762s [13/20] 344k
9. ^4 Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Ducati (GP18) 1m 47.569s +0.834s [21/21] 351k
10. ˅1 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP18) 1m 47.691s +0.956s [21/22] 345k
11. ^7 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V)* 1m 47.901s +1.166s [22/22] 343k
12. ˅9 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP18) 1m 47.902s +1.167s [4/21] 356k
13. ^4 Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 47.924s +1.189s [20/20] 346k
14. ^10 Hafizh Syahrin MAL Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 47.946s +1.211s [19/20] 341k
15. ˅3 Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 47.996s +1.261s [19/22] 344k
16. ˅2 Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 48.113s +1.378s [15/17] 344k
17. ^4 Tito Rabat ESP Reale Avintia (GP17) 1m 48.221s +1.486s [13/20] 347k
18. ˅3 Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 1m 48.269s +1.534s [19/20] 347k
19. ^4 Scott Redding GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 48.458s +1.723s [17/18] 344k
20. ˅1 Alvaro Bautista ESP Angel Nieto Team (GP17) 1m 48.524s +1.789s [19/21] 345k
21. ˅5 Karel Abraham CZE Angel Nieto Team (GP16) 1m 48.926s +2.191s [12/17] 345k
22. ˅2 Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 1m 49.044s +2.309s [4/18] 344k
23. ˅1 Thomas Luthi SWI EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 1m 49.082s +2.347s [5/21] 339k
24. ˅22 Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Team (GP18) 1m 49.111s +2.376s [5/5] 355k
25. = Xavier Simeon ESP Reale Avintia (GP16)* 1m 49.757s +3.022s [19/19] 345k

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

So Rossi does the pole lap then slows down and interferes with Marquez's lap which was heading for pole, he lost about 0.5s passing Rossi, this wasn't shown but then Rossi is back on the power once Marquez is past him, interesting.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

I was waiting to see the video, have you seen it yet? Do riders get penalties in Motogp for interfering with other riders laps?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2016: 24th place
2017: 4th place

Wins: Spain 2016, Canada 2017, Malaysia 2017
Podiums: 2nd Germany 2016, 3rd Mexico 2016

They brought a new rule in when they penalised Marquez, I'm guessing we won't see the incident?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Bittersweet.

_________________
I'd rather die than be overtaken.

decent enough race. suprised dovi couldnt catch him but vintage lorenzo. like clockwork. marques going down is good for the championship. vinales is the worst starter i think i have ever seen. even marc webber wasnt that bad. every race either his reactions or lauch settings are terrible and then his early pace is poor. he seems to have "found something" every weekend and then has a poor race. i think i would just keep quiet from now on until after the race.

Muggelo is a Jorge Lorenzo track... But still, I wouldn't be totally surprised if he had more points than Dovi at the end of the year...

So the plot thickens! It really looks like they've solved Jorge's stamina issues with the new tank. We'll have to see if this changes the plot for next year. If Jorge's got it sorted he will be faster than Dovi more often than not. They've been riding for more than a decade against each other and Jorge has always been the superior performer. Ducati really need to prevent Jorge from signing a deal to leave. I don't think Dovi can lead them to a title over Marquez but Lorenzo; if he is at the top of his game; is capable of that. Awesome performance! Total domination and I am happy for him.

It was also nice to see Rossi have a strong weekend at his home circuit. Marquez really dropped the ball in this race. He was the fastest once again but he's always on the edge and he crashes from time to time. At this stage in his career, I don't think that's ever going to change. It's his Achilles heel.

The Moto2 race was amazing by the way. Unbelievable battle there and Oliveira is IMO the best Moto2 rider. He's the only rider on that suspension who's even in the mix at the front and he was able to take the win. On a side note, Alex Marquez should have his agent contact some WSBK teams. He isn't MotoGP material IMO; at least not to ride for a factory team. He's got so much experience at the Moto2 level and yet he continues to make several errors per race. Mir seems to have just about got the measure of him already and we're not even at the half-way point of his rookie year.

In Moto3 I was happy to see Martin win the race. He is far and away the best Moto3 rider and has been the best pretty much everywhere. if not for people taking him out of the races, he'd be dominating.

Lorenzo has pretty much confirmed he is leaving Ducati. He said he will be in MotoGP for at least another two seasons, and when asked if this result helps with the Ducati situation, he said 'its too late'.

That's really unfortunate. Is there any info on his likely replacement? If the Miller rumors are true, that's just really an underwhelming option for me.

Very unfortunate, which is why I viewed this as bittersweet. From the way I’m reading the press reports and comments, they are going to promote Petrucci. If they truly have fixed Lorenzo’s issues with the new tank and he regularly podiums and challenges for wins, Ducati is going to look immensely stupid. And I’m a Ducati owner and large fan. Idiots. Lots of racing left! Great to see JL99 return to form.

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

You were right in your assessment before. It seems it really was a failure of Ducati to give Jorge what he needed. I had assumed his issues with falling off the pace in races were mostly down to tire management. To find out after all this time that it was an ergonomic issue is shocking. How on earth could it have taken so long to solve that!?

mugello is a very strong track for lorenzo and id be suprised if he keeps up the "yamaha" form he had today tbh. even though im no lorenzo fan it was good to see him back. the championship needs its best riders mixing it up to keep it interesting.

You are correct, Shoot999. I didn’t see the interview before, but this has to confirm it.
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89759 ... exit-looms

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

It's very much a Ducati track also helped by the tyre politics for the home team, we saw in the Moto2 race that the track is high deg yet for the MotoGP they brought the softest tyres and there was not one suitable tyre that the Hondas could race on, surprising Cal Crutchlow was the one Honda rider that didn't bin the bike.

Marquez couldn't win the race, he said he was going to be sensible and just race for points, but come the race he tries to win and bins it.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Marquez wasn't the fastest because of the tyres that were brought to the race, that's why he binned it by trying to race faster bikes.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Sometimes it makes you wonder why decisions are made so early in the season, the same goes for Iannone.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

What? What you've just written doesn't make any sense whatsoever. He was actually using the same tires that everyone else was. He wasn't at some sort of disadvantage and he could likely have set pole for this race if he wasn't slightly balked on his qualifying lap. The fact that he binned it is down to him making an error. It's not something to blame on the bike.

I thought he was balked but it actually wasn't shown if he was balked or not, both fast laps he did he lost time in sector 3, Marquez said that by the time he got to sector 3 the front tyre was already overheating, the tyres were too soft to even last 1 lap for him.

Before the race it was known that Marquez had little chance of winning because of overheating issues with the tyres, he was supposed to be just racing for points but he just couldn't help himself.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Official: Pedrosa and HRC finally going separate ways:

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89762 ... psol-honda

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

Lorenzo to partner Márquez at HRC????

https://www.crash.net/motogp/contentm/8 ... osa-yamaha

Can’t see it happening, but wow is it intriguing.

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

It's about time! Honestly I think Valentino should be the next old-timer to make way for the next generation.

Lorenzo to Honda is something I simply can't see happening. IMO Zarco should be taking a factory ride either at Ducati or Honda. Joining KTM is madness. He's certainly left others with a golden opportunity.

Perhaps Cal will finally get that HRC ride afterall. Perhaps there is a young rider that they would like to extend an opportunity to. Not sure if Maverick has already re-signed but if not, he should consider it. Being teammates with Marquez may be daunting but the bike is really in the ascendency and Honda might be the best team for the next year or two. Now is really a good time to join them.

He probably has that option but he knows he can ride a Yamaha competitively.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Zarco apparently turned the Honda ride down, it wouldn't surprise me if they went for Morbidelli.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 3rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Vinales is comical how everytime he has a good test or session he's solved the bikes problems then come raceday he goes AWOL. He must be dying inside seeing how well the Suzuki is going

Jorge saying he'd have fought for wins at Jerez and le man's if theyd introduce the tank he wanted earlier. I'm not convinced he's going to be a regular race winner yet though. The race reminded me of catalunya last year where everyone tipped toed round corners preserving tyres and Ducati won by default as it blasted along the straights

Marquez testing 2013 F1 car at speilberg today. Don't think Stoner season in V8 is relevant at all. He complained about the level of commitment whilst he was doing it. Raikkonen hardly set the world alight in wrc either

OFFICIAL—LORENZO TO HONDA!!!!

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

Mind=Blown

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/ ... 44691/amp/

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

OFFICIAL-PETRUCCI INKS DEAL WITH FACTORY DUCATI TEAM,
REPLACING LORENZO.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/ ... m-1044320/

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

Mercedes needs to take a lesson here. This is what the fans want!

_________________
PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

Ducati....How do they manage to end up high and dry here? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for Petricci but Ducati can't seem to get their act together with riders. They will go into next season still lacking a true top-shelf rider IMO. They had one with Lorenzo but it took them too long to figure things out.

I'm definitely looking forward to watching Jorge for the rest of this season to see how things look at Ducati now that he's gotten his act together. I actually don't think Mugello is a one-off. I see it as a turning point. More than that, I look forward to see Jorge vs. Marc next year. Should be interesting.

So I'm assuming that yamaha are standing pat with their lineup? Suzuki have gone with Rinz and Mir. I suppose that settles things for the silly season then?

Sandman---Yes sir, Vinales and Rossi both extended to 2020 earlier this year.

KTM has Zarco and Espargaro next year, and now the next big name is Iannone, who I read in the flurry of all of this other news, is going to be replacing Scott Redding at Aprilia. Suzuki has Rins signed for this year and the next, and it is all but a formality that they will be announcing Joan Mir for next year on a two-year deal.

I agree with you----it will be very interesting to see how much Vengeance Lorenzo rides with now, as I believe he will want to stick it to Ducati for not believing in him and not providing him with the requested updates until now, which he requested after the test in Thailand before the season started. Also, I read that Ducati, while making noises that weren't positive about Lorenzo prior to last week, hadn't officially told him to look elsewhere---rather, he had already talked to Honda and after the race and made the pronouncement that it was "too late". So really, Ducati seems to have significant egg on their face here. Which doesn't surprise me, they have been this way in the past. When Stoner was winning, they told Melandra "the bike wins, you need to ride it differently", a very binary approach and not very helpful. Now, mind you, Melandri wasn't that great of a rider in GP, but the groundwork of that mentality from the factory was laid then. It continued with Hayden, and it continued with Rossi, at least in terms of them not being very good at listening and adapting. And so now the same, with Lorenzo.

It makes the Lorenzo V. Dovizioso matchup the rest of the season potentially VERY contentious. Dovi has an outside shot at the title if something happens to MM93 a few more times like in Mugello. He can't beat Marquez I think over the balance on speed, but if Marquez has brain farts like he is prone to, Dovi, with good finishes, is in with a shout. Except for the fact that Lorenzo might now be on to something---will the team ask him to pull over, and if so, will he do it,should he be in front and challenging?

Montmelo will be buzzing with electricity now, even moreso than normal!!!

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I'd rather die than be overtaken.

You mean Mercedes to wait for the red team to sack their multiple world champion; and then sign him to partner their multiple world champion?