Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

What are the Suzukis doing up there with the top guys?!?
But personally want the Ducatis/Suzukis mixing it up with the Hondas/Yamahas and make it more interesting this year

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

The wonder of Soft tires

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

If that was the real situation, it would be too good for Ducati... Ducati's performance however is significant because they made the lap times without using the soft tire. The times themselves are not bad at all, considering the track couldn't be in optimal conditions... But I'm sure Marquez has quite a few tenths up his sleeve, and the Yamahas must have been busy tuning their new gearbox. Rossi's crash was due to a technical failure but surely that didn't encourage him going faster. Let's see how the top dogs will stretch their legs tomorrow, to get a better idea....

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Don't know about Ducatis, but in the interview Rossi stated he didn't use the 3rd tyre available to him and thus wasn't able to make a quick lap. But keeping that aside the ducati's and Suzuki's are certainly quick. Race might be a different situation as many other things play significant role. I'm sure Ducati would with at least one race in the season when it has a favourable situation. But in general as they all say - at the end the best riders will always be on top.

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

I'm just curious to know the top speeds achieved by the Suzukis as compared to others, since they were not so good in sepang. Any data on that, anybody?

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Turns out I may have been wrong(click link). Journalists are confused if those times were set on the supersofts or the mediums. Dovi said that they were set on the "harder option" (which is medium compound for Ducati), same as the "softer option" for factory teams. The Ducatis are legit fast and Crutchlow has pretty much certainly made wrong decisions 2 years in a row now.

MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Things do not look good for the other factories. Even if Ducati loses their open factory status next year, it might not make much of a difference to current years championship. Dovi or even Iannone both might stir up thing at the front. Couldn't find top speed charts yet. Motomatters articles give great insight on the actually picture. Will be waiting for the 3rd day roundup.
Rossi has improved but is still standing 5th. I'm more worried about yamaha than Honda. Honda might pull off a miracle by bringing in a whole new bike mid season(same engine). But yamaha can't afford to go to that extent. These are all ifs and buts. No one knows the actually picture before the riders cross the finish line after the first race.

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Yes, The ducatis haven't used the soft tires till now which was confirmed by Marquez as well when he jokinly said they would be faster by a second if they used one!
Really impressive times by Karel abraham considering the fact that he has the same machinery as Nicky Hayden. As [MENTION=11424]R-series[/MENTION] told we will know the actual picture only after the first race but somehow get this feeling that the "Usual" 4 are going to have a tough time this year starting from race 1!

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Final times for yesterday. Wow!! Ducati is back. They havent used softer tyres yet is what they claim. If thats true, we have serious competition this year. To make matters even more interesting we have top 14 riders within a second of the fastest lap set yesterday.

Whats gone into Karel Abraham? He is clocking in good speeds, may be Showa and Nissin suits him more. He is the top Open rider as well as top Open Honda rider in last 2 sessions. He is even quicker than Scott Redding, may be somebody hurt his ego

A very nice article on motomatters



1. = Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 54.907s [Lap 33/38]
2. = Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.091s +0.184s [27/54]
3. = Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 55.104s +0.197s [16/46]
4. = Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.500s +0.593s [15/51]
5. ˄ Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.581s +0.674s [50/61]
6. ˅ Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.582s +0.675s [22/40]
7. ˄ Cal Crutchlow GBR CWM LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.624s +0.717s [40/42]
8. ˅ Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.648s +0.741s [13/49]
9. ˅ Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.658s +0.751s [29/46]
10. ˅ Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS) 1m 55.765s +0.858s [38/41]
11. ˅ Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 55.772s +0.865s [13/33]
12. ˅ Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 55.795s +0.888s [22/33]
13. ˅ Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 55.803s +0.896s [50/60]
14. ˅ ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 55.810s +0.903s [31/42]
15. = Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 56.058s +1.151s [20/50]
16. = Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RC213V-RS) 1m 56.104s +1.197s [40/44]
17. ˄ Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 56.259s +1.352s [40/53]
18. ˅ Eugene Laverty IRL Drive M7 Aspar Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 56.342s +1.435s [25/54]
19. = Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (Desmosedici) 1m 56.476s +1.569s [30/32]
20. = Stefan Bradl GER Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 1m 56.724s +1.817s [4/17]
21. ˄ Jack Miller AUS CWM LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 56.758s +1.851s [47/50]
22. ˅ Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.1) 1m 56.762s +1.855s [9/32]
23. = Loris Baz FRA Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)* 1m 56.936s +2.029s [8/40]
24. = Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 57.273s +2.366s [36/46]
25. = Alex De Angelis RSM Octo IodaRacing (ART) 1m 57.390s +2.483s [25/45]
26. = Marco Melandri ITA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 57.982s +3.075s [14/23]

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Final times for yesterday. Wow!! Ducati is back. They havent used softer tyres yet is what they claim. If thats true, we have serious competition this year. To make matters even more interesting we have top 14 riders within a second of the fastest lap set yesterday.

Whats gone into Karel Abraham? He is clocking in good speeds, may be Showa and Nissin suits him more. He is the top Open rider as well as top Open Honda rider in last 2 sessions. He is even quicker than Scott Redding, may be somebody hurt his ego

A very nice article on motomatters

https://motomatters.com/analysis/2015/03/16/2015_motogp_qatar_test_day_2_round_up_th.html

1. = Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 54.907s [Lap 33/38]
2. = Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.091s +0.184s [27/54]
3. = Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 55.104s +0.197s [16/46]
4. = Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.500s +0.593s [15/51]
5. ˄ Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.581s +0.674s [50/61]
6. ˅ Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.582s +0.675s [22/40]
7. ˄ Cal Crutchlow GBR CWM LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.624s +0.717s [40/42]
8. ˅ Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.648s +0.741s [13/49]
9. ˅ Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.658s +0.751s [29/46]
10. ˅ Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS) 1m 55.765s +0.858s [38/41]
11. ˅ Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 55.772s +0.865s [13/33]
12. ˅ Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 55.795s +0.888s [22/33]
13. ˅ Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 55.803s +0.896s [50/60]
14. ˅ ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 55.810s +0.903s [31/42]
15. = Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 56.058s +1.151s [20/50]
16. = Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RC213V-RS) 1m 56.104s +1.197s [40/44]
17. ˄ Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 56.259s +1.352s [40/53]
18. ˅ Eugene Laverty IRL Drive M7 Aspar Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 56.342s +1.435s [25/54]
19. = Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (Desmosedici) 1m 56.476s +1.569s [30/32]
20. = Stefan Bradl GER Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 1m 56.724s +1.817s [4/17]
21. ˄ Jack Miller AUS CWM LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 56.758s +1.851s [47/50]
22. ˅ Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.1) 1m 56.762s +1.855s [9/32]
23. = Loris Baz FRA Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)* 1m 56.936s +2.029s [8/40]
24. = Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 57.273s +2.366s [36/46]
25. = Alex De Angelis RSM Octo IodaRacing (ART) 1m 57.390s +2.483s [25/45]
26. = Marco Melandri ITA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 57.982s +3.075s [14/23]

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Final times for yesterday. Wow!! Ducati is back. They havent used softer tyres yet is what they claim. If thats true, we have serious competition this year. To make matters even more interesting we have top 14 riders within a second of the fastest lap set yesterday.

Whats gone into Karel Abraham? He is clocking in good speeds, may be Showa and Nissin suits him more. He is the top Open rider as well as top Open Honda rider in last 2 sessions. He is even quicker than Scott Redding, may be somebody hurt his ego

A very nice article on motomatters

https://motomatters.com/analysis/2015/03/16/2015_motogp_qatar_test_day_2_round_up_th.html

1. = Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 54.907s [Lap 33/38]
2. = Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.091s +0.184s [27/54]
3. = Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 55.104s +0.197s [16/46]
4. = Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.500s +0.593s [15/51]
5. ˄ Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.581s +0.674s [50/61]
6. ˅ Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.582s +0.675s [22/40]
7. ˄ Cal Crutchlow GBR CWM LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.624s +0.717s [40/42]
8. ˅ Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.648s +0.741s [13/49]
9. ˅ Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.658s +0.751s [29/46]
10. ˅ Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS) 1m 55.765s +0.858s [38/41]
11. ˅ Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 55.772s +0.865s [13/33]
12. ˅ Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 55.795s +0.888s [22/33]
13. ˅ Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 55.803s +0.896s [50/60]
14. ˅ ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 55.810s +0.903s [31/42]
15. = Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 56.058s +1.151s [20/50]
16. = Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RC213V-RS) 1m 56.104s +1.197s [40/44]
17. ˄ Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 56.259s +1.352s [40/53]
18. ˅ Eugene Laverty IRL Drive M7 Aspar Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 56.342s +1.435s [25/54]
19. = Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (Desmosedici) 1m 56.476s +1.569s [30/32]
20. = Stefan Bradl GER Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 1m 56.724s +1.817s [4/17]
21. ˄ Jack Miller AUS CWM LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 56.758s +1.851s [47/50]
22. ˅ Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.1) 1m 56.762s +1.855s [9/32]
23. = Loris Baz FRA Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)* 1m 56.936s +2.029s [8/40]
24. = Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 57.273s +2.366s [36/46]
25. = Alex De Angelis RSM Octo IodaRacing (ART) 1m 57.390s +2.483s [25/45]
26. = Marco Melandri ITA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 57.982s +3.075s [14/23]

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Quite surprised as well. But, I'm happy! Need to support the local talent, you see.

A lot of middle finger salutes at Sepang by Crutchlow and Redding. May be, he was slow and forcing them to slow down as well. Who knows!

I hope that he maintains this form.

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Karel is Czech as far as i know

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Exactly and that's why he's local for @Makky

The rain washed away all the excitement of the 3rd day, but all riders are eager for the 1st race of the season. I don't know if it's just me but every year beginning of the season is so exciting for me. Less than two weeks and we'll all know where Ducati actually stands. We'll know what progress Suzuki has made in the past 3-4 months time.

Next weekend we have the 2nd round of WSBK from Thailand :P
Who ever is following, we'll have some activity of the production bike's motorsports thread for sometime see you all there.

Posting some amazing shots from Motogp.com
DesmoDovi :P

2 things I love about Qatar - Glowing discs and flaming exhausts

This Suzuki is so beautiful, can't get enough of it not matter what.


These new akras on the M1 look more of a cosmetic mod with the type of look they give


One thing I notices here (apart from the flames) look how high those rearsets are, must be so uncomfortable keeping you legs folded for 45 min.

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Yeah, I live here.

With the new found pace, Ducati is making Honda and Yamaha restless. Motomatters/Emmett said, Ducati didn't use soft tyres (He checked all the photos and didn't find a white patch, it seems) and Ducati confirmed. However, a Polish journo has posted a snapshot of Ducati with "SOFT" label on the front tyre. Some said, it was a mistake by the crew while scribbling the details.

But, their race pace is still a question.

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

Ducati's speed is out of the question after these tests imho. The GP15 is born under some good stars! The funny thing is that while many concentrate on this suspicion that they might have used the extra-soft tire to set their lap times, they might actually need the harder tire to last race distance (Open teams have an extra-soft tire at their disposal, but they lack the harder one that factory teams have). So tire wise it's a give and take between Open and Factory: Open teams are favored for qualis, but not for race distance especially when temperatures go up.

Re: MotoGP 2015 Season - Updates

MotoGp is here baby!!!! The wait is finally over. Weekends wont be boring any more.

FP1 results.

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.281s [Lap 5/15] 344km/h (Top Speed)
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.357s +0.076s [3/15] 347km/h
3. Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 55.685s +0.404s [11/13] 329km/h
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.698s +0.417s [5/17] 338km/h
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR CWM LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.818s +0.537s [14/16] 340km/h
6. Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.1) 1m 55.939s +0.658s [15/15] 341km/h
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 55.980s +0.699s [10/17] 345km/h
8. Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 1m 56.139s +0.858s [11/14] 344km/h
9. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 56.162s +0.881s [10/18] 338km/h
10. Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 56.315s +1.034s [8/17] 344km/h
11. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 56.361s +1.080s [3/18] 345km/h
12. Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 56.374s +1.093s [14/16] 338km/h
13. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 56.428s +1.147s [11/20] 344km/h
14. Stefan Bradl GER Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha) 1m 56.577s +1.296s [10/18] 336km/h
15. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RC213V-RS) 1m 56.651s +1.370s [13/15] 334km/h
16. Alex De Angelis RSM Octo IodaRacing (ART) 1m 56.768s +1.487s [14/16] 327km/h
17. ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 56.922s +1.641s [14/14] 331km/h
18. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 56.957s +1.676s [6/12] 340km/h
19. Jack Miller AUS CWM LCR Honda (RC213V-RS)* 1m 56.983s +1.702s [12/16] 338km/h
20. Loris Baz FRA Athina Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)* 1m 57.031s +1.750s [12/15] 333km/h
21. Nicky Hayden USA Aspar (RC213V-RS) 1m 57.052s +1.771s [14/14] 331km/h
22. Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 57.130s +1.849s [15/16] 332km/h
23. Eugene Laverty IRL Aspar (RC213V-RS)* 1m 57.224s +1.943s [15/17] 336km/h
24. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14 Open) 1m 57.612s +2.331s [12/15] 338km/h
25. Marco Melandri ITA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 59.579s +4.298s [12/14] 334km/h