MotoGP 2020

[BiG DoM]

Sure you are not thinking of Ultrabatt?

[TheBear]

Interesting read on traction control and wheel spin:

https://www.crash.net/motogp/feature/935647/1/motogp-traction-control-retarding-and-cutting

Also in the news.  Aprilia buys surplus Boeing B-Max wings ....

I'm still fucked off with Unibatt

I spent a LARGE sum of money with them and had MAJOR issues.

You fitted a Unibatt and your bike didn't turn into a MotoGP bike?  You didn't turn into MM93?  What is the issue?

[TheBear]

Sepang shakedown testing done and dusted.  The first official testing will be on the same circuit next weekend.

At the end of the three days, Pol Espargaro was fastest on his KTM at just under 2 minutes per lap.  This is pretty similar to the fastest official test time from last year, the circuit's pole record and the circuit's race record.  The new Aprilia was hot on his tail.  Our Brad is just over 0,6s slower than fastest man.  It seemed like it was a good practice and get to know your bike 3 days.  JL99 joined them on day 3 of the testing.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/935659/1/pol-fastest-shakedown-ends-lorenzo-rides-yamaha

[IceCreamMan]

Sepang test today

Fabio, morbidelli, rins, cal, miller, vinales, King 10th, 93 12th, Binder 21st.

D ped was half a second faster than BB. He has work to do.

[BiG DoM]

Sepang test today

Fabio, morbidelli, rins, cal, miller, vinales, King 10th, 93 12th, Binder 21st.

D ped was half a second faster than BB. He has work to do.

Early days and shake downs. Fabio fastest on '19 bike is interesting, wonder how he will like the '20 version? Yamaha have new engines as does Aprilia - completely new V4 90' and new chassis.

[Smith]

MAN..OH..MAN.. Fabio was showing his worth last season and could be a contender 2020.
But my heart will be Bad Brad, knowing he might only be finding his feet.

[TheBear]

Sepang test today

Fabio, morbidelli, rins, cal, miller, vinales, King 10th, 93 12th, Binder 21st.

D ped was half a second faster than BB. He has work to do.

Early days and shake downs. Fabio fastest on '19 bike is interesting, wonder how he will like the '20 version? Yamaha have new engines as does Aprilia - completely new V4 90' and new chassis.

Indeed early days.  Like anyone else, I enjoy following the testing, but also find it hugely frustrating as we are not close enough to the teams to know what they are actually testing.  That said, halfway through testing today:

GP Riders: Jackass, Mir, Franky, Maverick, Rins, Pol, MM93, VR46, Fabio, Aleix.

Rookies:  AM73 (16th), BB33 (17), Lecuona (22).

Test riders:  Dani (18th), Guintoli (20), Yamaha Test 3 (24), Yamaha Test 1 (25) , Smith (26)

Brad is now 1.1s of the fastest.  Some interesting comparative times:

Best Lap:  Fabio 1,58,576 - 2019
Best race lap:  VR46 1,59,661 - 2019
Unofficial lap record: Petrux 1,58,239 - 2019 during testing
Fastest during shakedown tests: Pol 1,59,444 - 2020
Jack Miller today: 1,58,641

MAN..OH..MAN.. Fabio was showing his worth last season and could be a contender 2020.
But my heart will be Bad Brad, knowing he might only be finding his feet.

I so hope Fabio does feature on the podium and even become a serious championship contender.  I liked him since day 1, but he disappointed me in Moto3 and Moto2.  He had better get his act together, or I will be forced to loudly and viciously swear at my TV screen!   

For Bradical I am hoping two things.  Making points and beating the satellite KTMs.

[blockheadxl650v]

For Bradical I am hoping two things.  Making points and beating the satellite KTMs.

How about rookie of the year for Brad? Or do you think AM73 has that one in the bag?

[BiG DoM]

For Bradical I am hoping two things.  Making points and beating the satellite KTMs.

How about rookie of the year for Brad? Or do you think AM73 has that one in the bag?

Nothing is in the bag! Racing is a lucky packet. The more you race the luckier you get.

[TheBear]

For Bradical I am hoping two things.  Making points and beating the satellite KTMs.

How about rookie of the year for Brad? Or do you think AM73 has that one in the bag?

I think it can go either way, like BigDom said nothing is in the bag, but I am assuming (hopefully incorrectly)  for now that the Repsol Honda will be a better bike than the Red Bull KTM.  Sadly so.

[TheBear]

Day 2 test times (one hour to go) from Sepang.  No major changes though.

GP Riders:  Miller, Mir, Morbidelli, Maverick, Rins, EspargaroP, MM93, VR46, Fabio, EspargaroA.

Rookies:  AM73 (17th 1,02 off fastest), BB33 (18 1,13s off fastest), Lecuona (22).

Test Riders:  Dani (16th), Guintoli (20th), Yamaha Test 3 (24), Yamaha Test 1 (25), Smith (26)

[BiG DoM]

Pedrosa just put the KTM .090 off FQ's best lap of the 2 days. Putting him 3rd fastest ON A KTM.

[TheBear]

Pedrosa just put the KTM .090 off FQ's best lap of the 2 days. Putting him 3rd fastest ON A KTM.

It is such a pity he will not race anymore.  He is still a bloody good rider.

[BiG DoM]

Interesting comparison of current top speeds.

[TheBear]

End of day from Sepang.  Fabio and Dani suddenly shot up the timing sheets.

Riders:  Fabio (1,58.582), Jack, Dani, Mir, Morbidelli, Maverick, Rins, EspargaroP, MM93, VR46.
(4 x Yamahas in top 10, 1 x Ducati, 2 x KTM, 2 x Suzuki, 1 x Honda).

Rookies:  AM73 (17 1.1s off), BB33 (18 1.2s off), Lecuona (23)

Test Riders:  Dani (3), Guintoli (21), Yamaha Test 3 (24), Yamaha Test 1 (25), Smith (26).

Amazing performance by Dani on the KTM.  Pol is also doing well with brother Aleix on the all new Aprilia consistently in, or near the top 10.  JL99 will start riding tomorrow.

[Gingerball]

Bought my weekend tickets this morning for Circuit of the Americas in Austin for April.  Turn 15 stand, top rows. Cant bloody wait 

[TheBear]

Bought my weekend tickets this morning for Circuit of the Americas in Austin for April.  Turn 15 stand, top rows. Cant bloody wait 

Moderators!  How can you allow a post like this on the forum?  SIES!

Is there a "green with envy" emoticon somewhere?  Lucky bugger.  Enjoy every moment.

[IceCreamMan]

Bought my weekend tickets this morning for Circuit of the Americas in Austin for April.  Turn 15 stand, top rows. Cant bloody wait 

Just waiting for normal tickets to be released for silverstone. Camp overnight an spend the day at the races. General admission.

Went in 2017 and loved it.

Possibly Rossi swan song, all the more reason to go.

[TheBear]

End of the final day of testing from Sepang.

GP Riders:  Fabio, Crutchlow, Rins, Bagniaia, VR46, Petrux, EspargaroP, Jackass, EspargaroA, Mir.

Rookies:  AM73 (16, 0,69s off), BB33 (17 0,75 off), Lecuona (23 1,5 off)

Test riders:  JL99 (20), Smith (21), Guintoli (24), Kalio (25), Yamaha Test 1 (26), Tsuda (27)

Top 18 seperated by only 0,8s. 
Both KTM and Aprilia consistently in top 10.
Ducati struggling. Apparently struggling with turning.
Honda struggling.  MM93 not 100% fit yet. Crutchlow reckon the 2020 bike is even worse at turning than the 2019 bike..
Looks like two of the rookies, AM72 and BB33 could have some great races this coming season.  Both can brag that, today at least, they were faster than JL99 and Maverick. 

[Gingerball]

Bought my weekend tickets this morning for Circuit of the Americas in Austin for April.  Turn 15 stand, top rows. Cant bloody wait 

Moderators!  How can you allow a post like this on the forum?  SIES!

Is there a "green with envy" emoticon somewhere?  Lucky bugger.  Enjoy every moment.

  

Ja, its been a long time coming. Missed it last year due to skoonpa's 70th party. Told them then, I dont care what happens in 2020, I am going to Austin for the MotoGP.