Alright Gentlemen (and I do use that phrase loosely).
Time for some light discussion about a topic loved by all of us and not even we can get angry with each other about...

Moto GP is about to start soon.
Yay!

Who do you think will do well?
Who do you hope will do well?
Any bold predictions or general comments to make!

Lets hear what you have to say.
Just a shame Kawasaki isn't in the game and smashing all the manufacturers like in World Super Bikes...

* Last updated by: yannih on 3/20/2018 @ 11:22 AM *

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Greatest the world has ever seen...

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Where do you guys watch it? Since it moved from fs1 to bein a couple years ago, i can't find a cheap solution.

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Where's his frame sliders?lol.

All the usual suspects. I'm thinking Zarco will be a problem this time around. Lorenzo if he can steer it. Honda remains in the hunt. Mir is someone to watch and Pasini in that class.

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"No doubt,by the time mine got over that far I would have allready jumped off"...shit Bump...if ya got er leaned in that far,may as well stay in it!lol.Must be a real rush blastin through and draggin arms;)

Oh yeah, before I forget any [bold] predictions left on the table ... MM saves no less than 2 crashes for the season. He might perfect the SAVE being there at that pivotal point.

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There's this for $170
motogp videopass

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Yeah I watch it all on that official MotoGP link.
A bit of cash but you get all Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP tests live, all practice days live, the race live, bike details, whats happening with the riders and whats going on overall in MotoGP.
Plus there is access to all previous seasons and races.
Expensive but worth it I think.
Depends how big a fan you are I guess.

I also watch it through my large screen smart TV so it all works for A1 me.

* Last updated by: yannih on 3/1/2018 @ 1:36 PM *

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I'm keen to know what you think Hub (and anyone else who cares to comment) cause I know you'll say it as it is.

Apart from bringing in millions to the Yamaha corporation every season, what do you thing of Valentino Rossi at this stage of the game, his chances of a Championship and how long he will hang around for.

Also whats going on with the Yamaha MotoGP bike?
From one of if not the best bikes to being left wanting.
Bike, riders or a combo?

* Last updated by: yannih on 3/20/2018 @ 11:05 AM *

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I think that as long as Rossi can consistently run in the top 5 he stays at Yamaha until he hangs up the leathers and starts his own GP team. But, with all the trouble Yamaha is having lately, which bike would he want??? Vinales seems to still have problems with the M1. Bike? Or confidence???
Borenzo could be a threat if he finally connects with the GP18 at most of the tracks. Zarco can be a real ball buster this year. He seems to get along with the 2017 M1 so far in testing. Marquez will always be near the top, and with his talent of crashing without crashing he'll be hard to beat. If Dovi can build on the season he had last year it could be a repeat of him and the "Mexican".Crutchlow and Dani are the same. Some good, most meh...
Miller going good on the Ductai, will be an interesting season for him.

Mad

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No predictions here.. Way too much talent out there..no one seems to stand out ...well except Marquez for absolute when-is-it-going-to-happen entertainment .

Come on, chrly, it's like picking lottery numbers. Take a shot at it with your best gut guess. I've been watching the constancy of Rins. Since he entered GP he's been a top 5 runner right out of the gate. So he just needs to keep doing his thing and he'll hit his prime later. Some of the leaders will dwindle a few years from now and Rins will become one of the usual suspects. Here is my year's darkhorse to win one or podium some.

Tech3 parts ways. So I'm listening to ATF2 and that makes me thing of Zarco. To me, he's kind of a setup guy and understands a bike. So I see someone like him having a long career as a crew chief in motogp. You need a team that jells. Zarco should follow tech3 to ktm; if this begins the early start of the seat changing season. Zarco brings direction and the principal at tech3 reaches factor level and leaves a satellite team.

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I would love to see Rossi be very competitive and win some races this year - he would drive the young guns nuts. That would make for some really exciting races all season.

So VR is my pick as a long shot, hope the Yammi is up to it! Sounds like Mad and I might agree on something, hopefully

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Ha Ha...
Perhaps you and mad agree on this one but just to be difficult I don't.
I still haven't forgotten Rossi's bitching in 2015 where the garbage that came out of his mouth cost him a Championship.

Hope he wins a race or two but not the Championship.
He is no longer good enough anyway.
The new generation young guns are teaching the old dog a trick or two or three...

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Ok Hub..Marquez with 5 wins , Dovi with three. Zarco at least one MAYBE Lorenzo sneaking in to lead one all the way.

There you go, chrly. Since '99 I've been a Rossi fan. One year I slapped myself in the face thinking Rossi was out to pasture and he fooled me! So it goes without saying. Oldest gp racer and still in the hunt. It's not the bike but the heart-will to win-the love of the sport. King of the Aliens.

Here, I imagine yanni about puking by now.

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Hub, of course everyone is entitled to their opinion and has their favourites.

But you are correct.
I just lost my breakfast!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wrdc-v0aQ4

Mouse over to 1:39 and repeat over and over so you can watch the shaving down of there of.

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I'm actually kind of pleasantly surprised by the early pace of Imapony. Guess drinking and banging all night hasn't slowed him down yet.

Mad

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It all starts this weekend under lights.
You bloody beauty.

Can't wait to see
If Vinales gets off to another strong start on the initial tracks that suit him and the Yamaha.
How the new rookies go.
How Miller goes on the Ducati.
If Dovi has kept his form from last season.
If Pedrosa has grown some mongrel.
What Lorenzo will bring to the table.
If Zarco continues his incredible improvement to threaten for the Championship.
What saves Marquez has in stall for us.

Bring it on!

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MM is something else w/out the duc HP. Dovi seems to steer the smoothness out of that duc, where Jorge's formula is as stuck in the same dark hole Rossi was. You wonder if it's finally Dovi's time and the duc too.

I don't mean to crash your party, yannih, rub salt in a wound, leave a bad taste in your mouth like last time, but didn't turtle say he learned his lesson from your favorite buddy?

Signed,
NOLTT

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MM is something else w/out the duc HP.

Easily the fastest rider out there. A great result considering this is not a Honda/Marquez track. That combination will again be difficult to beat this year.

You wonder if it's finally Dovi's time and the duc too.

You wouldn't get any argument from me. Would be a great result for the Championship.

Jorge's formula is as stuck in the same dark hole Rossi was.

Yeah Jorge is completely fucked at the moment but he always knew he was signing up for a difficult gig. Money must have been good. Hope he and the team figure it out but I won't hold my breath.

Unbelievable ride from Vinales. A race winner from a higher starting grid position. If he and Rossi could work out their qualifying woes they could be dangerous...

Zarco would be a bit shattered. Has the speed but needs to work out the riding style and bring the bike home for race distance. There will be tracks that suit him though.

Pedrosa, I just can't figure the guy out! Shows something very special and then goes back into the mediocre shell.

Nice work from Crutchlow.

And Hub, it's only race one! I'll make a prediction though.
Rossi may podium but will not win a race this season unless attrition plays a part (or he kicks someone off)...

* Last updated by: yannih on 3/20/2018 @ 11:22 AM *

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Zarco would be a bit shattered. Has the speed but needs to work out the riding style and bring the bike home for race distance. There will be tracks that suit him though.

According to what I've read, Zman broke the track record, said he had this in the bag till the tire choice tookashit. His aggressive riding style is one part of the puzzle to this guy. He had the setup dialed the way he likes it. Are we talking about the same guy?

Unbelievable ride from Vinales. A race winner from a higher starting grid position. If he and Rossi could work out their qualifying woes they could be dangerous...

These two were my last years pick. I said, 'someone in this camp is going to win the whole thing.' I was having a great run at the time. Like pulling the one arm bandit and it keeps ringing and plopping coinage. This is why it's fun and spooky at the same time. These are my gut picks for the year. So what I read about Rins before his DNF, he owned the two most fastest laps for the race. If Vinales was more consistent maybe we'd have something there. He's more like Pedrosa being in the hot and cold camp. I picked Pedrosa three years ago thinking he needed to pay honda back for all those years. Lorenzo gifted yammie on his way out the door was it?

Either way this is going to be a kick to watch things pan out this year. I'm waiting for next year and the triumph entry in moto2. My money is on a couple of shares of Multi-Crash...if you get my drift.
https://getitfree.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/coupon-scoop-away.jpg

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According to what I've read, Zman broke the track record, said he had this in the bag till the tire choice tookashit. His aggressive riding style is one part of the puzzle to this guy. He had the setup dialed the way he likes it. Are we talking about the same guy?

Zarco smashed Jorge's 10 year lap record in qualifying and then led 90% of the race. Then his tyre choice went to custard.
So the question is then did he choose the wrong tyre or was he riding too aggressively on the correct tyre?

Moto GP teams spend millions on equipment research and development plus the best riders each year, and then are potentially penalised because of an incorrect tyre selection!
How many times have you heard "Ah, definitely the wrong tyre choice"?
In my opinion take this variable out of the picture and get everyone on the same rubber. Then the best rider/bike combination shines through.
Who wants to see the best package not win due to an incorrect variable like tyres...
You might say "Well what about smooth riders being penalised then"?
If a rider is worth their salt they will adapt to equipment they are on.

Just my opinion...

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