[JDS]

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More detail of day 1 at Sepang test, but more interestingly info abot Ducati deciding before this week's deadline to enter the factory team as Open Class bikes for this year.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/motogp/motogp-sepang-test-2-day-1-summary/


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[onsight512]

Good reading. Looks like it might be an entertaining year.

There's a write up on Day 2 of the test at motomatters.com.

 

[Ackers]

If the new rear tyre is going to favour the Honda's then it could be a pretty boring season up the front?

 

[Reckler]

Do you figure Marc will be able to bounce back once he's recovered? That leg is bound to put a bit of a damper on his season if not just his time for dialing in the bike. Could offset any advantage from the tires, though Dani might have a better season. Know better after the first race I suppose.

 

[onsight512]

I'd suppose that his leg isn't going to be much of an issue for him. I'd think he'll come firin right out of the gate.

 

[Tocalosh Black]

1 ROSSI, Valentino Yamaha Factory Racing 1:59.999 13 / 41
2 PEDROSA, Dani Repsol Honda Team 1:59.999 0.000 0.000 47 / 50
3 DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 2:00.067 0.068 0.068 6 / 42
4 ESPARGARO, Aleix NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2:00.101 0.102 0.034 7 / 43
5 BRADL, Stefan LCR Honda MotoGP 2:00.164 0.165 0.063 12 / 48
6 BAUTISTA, Alvaro GO&FUN Honda Gresini 2:00.506 0.507 0.342 9 / 60
7 LORENZO, Jorge Yamaha Factory Racing 2:00.619 0.620 0.113 20 / 70
8 CRUTCHLOW, Cal Ducati Team 2:00.790 0.791 0.171 7 / 62
9 SMITH, Bradley Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:00.804 0.805 0.014 69 / 71
10 ESPARGARO, Pol Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:01.032 1.033 0.228 6 / 54
11 IANNONE, Andrea Pramac Racing 2:01.198 1.199 0.166 26 / 47
12 DE PUNIET, Randy Team Suzuki MotoGP 2:01.430 1.431 0.232 53 / 55
13 HERNANDEZ, Yonny Energy T.I. Pramac Racing 2:01.497 1.498 0.067 51 / 56
14 EDWARDS, Colin NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2:01.748 1.749 0.251 23 / 35
15 HAYDEN, Nicky Drive M7 Aspar 2:01.924 1.925 0.176 57 / 59
16 PIRRO, Michele Ducati Test Team 2:02.029 2.030 0.105 8 / 48
17 AOYAMA, Hiroshi Drive M7 Aspar 2:02.070 2.071 0.041 61 / 61
18 REDDING, Scott GO&FUN Honda Gresini 2:02.228 2.229 0.158 48 / 50
19 BARBERA, Hector Avintia Racing 2:02.341 2.342 0.113 13 / 54
20 NAKASUGA, Katsuyuki Yamaha Factory Test Team 2:03.115 3.116 0.774 3 / 30
21 DI MEGLIO, Mike Avintia Racing 2:03.499 3.500 0.384 15 / 52
22 ABRAHAM, Karel Cardion AB Motoracing 2:04.304 4.305 0.805 5 / 29
23 AOKI, Nobuatsu Team Suzuki MotoGP 2:06.482 6.483 2.178 3 / 14

 

[Donsy]

Ducati would be crazy to not go down that road - http://motomatters.com/news/2014/02...o.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook - but it won't help them catch the Yamaha's in that group.

It's going to be a long season, hopefully more than 2-3 riders up front, but I somehow doubt it. I will be watching as usual though.

 

[tripletripletriple]

It's going to be a long season, hopefully more than 2-3 riders up front, but I somehow doubt it. I will be watching as usual though.

I hope at least some of these surprise quick lap times result in interesting qualifying sessions! Bautista near the front has always been.... exciting.

 

[Ackers]

Ducati would be crazy to not go down that road - http://motomatters.com/news/2014/02...o.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook - but it won't help them catch the Yamaha's in that group.

It's going to be a long season, hopefully more than 2-3 riders up front, but I somehow doubt it. I will be watching as usual though.

It does make sense if they need to make geometry changes to the engine and chassis to make the thing work.

I don't think the leg will make any difference to Marquez, he missed this test but is still half a second quicker from the 1st Sapang test than Rossi and Ped are this time, although was Marquez running the 2013 or 2014 tyre at the first test?

Luckily for me I have access to BT Sports for this season in the UK (thanks mum) and their promising a bevy of live cameras you can choose from so I won't have to watch the front of the pack because I fear that may be a bit of a precession and all the actions going to be at the sharp end of the open class maybe?

 

[JDS]

Open Class only for Ducati

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Makes sense as a development year is neded I guess?

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/motogp/ducati-compete-motogp-open-option/


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[PTsalas]

Go Rossi!

 

[italia]

Ducati ... but it won't help them catch the Yamaha's in that group.

Predictable Ducati bashing by Dons.

 

[Reckler]

Go Rossi!

He got the fast lap, but he doesn't have the overall race pace. Be nice to see him pull it together for another championship win.

I feel a bit bad for Jorge since it seems the new tires are detrimental to his riding style. Hopefully he can adjust and get back on pace.

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[Donsy]

Hahaha

Predictable Ducati bashing by Dons.

Not always typical Kevin , fwiw, I hope they get it right, I'm sick of the Yamaha vs Honda show.

 

[italia]

It's all good Dons. If I raced an MV, I'd knock Ducati every chance I got.

 

[Almeriman]

It seems Dorna are now going to introduce a "Factory 2" catagory (at the behest of HRC & YMC, no doubt!)

What a f**k up! They couldn't organise a shite in a shitehouse!

Constant meddling by people in suits- seems Casey was justified in walking away!

 

[italia]

It seems Dorna are now going to introduce a "Factory 2" catagory (at the behest of HRC & YMC, no doubt!)

Yes, evidently Honda threw a hissy fit over Ducati deciding to be in the Open Class. Evidently, Ducati followed the rules, provided at their cost some software code for the Open Class ECU (which automatically makes that software enhancement available to other Open Class teams for free), and now Honda are whining about it. Sure, Open Class teams get more fuel and softer tires to try to compete, but now that they got close to Honda's lap times by following the rules of Open Class, little whiney Hondy ain't happy. Fucking babies. :jerkoff:

If the rules don't give Honda clear advantage, they just bitch to have them changed. And spineless Dorna bends over like a broke whore. :loser:

 

[Ackers]

It all kinda takes the edge off a riders achievements when the team you ride for are calling all the shots.
It will become folklore that a "true" champion is one that didn't achieve it on a Honda?

Ezpeleta needs to grow a pair or get out! His pampering to Honda is diminishing any credibility the championship has?

 

[Donsy]

What you all said, and it worries me that they own WSBK too.

 

[Ackers]

I don't see it makes much odds to Ducati, they dropped from the factory class to allow them to sort out the problems with the bike during the season, solutions likely to involve engine and chassis changes, if their ultimate plan is to return to factory status then won't they try to do all this within the 20 litre, 5 engine limit and the same tyres? Otherwise whats the point?