MotoGP 2021

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by S griffin

He’s always been there or thereabouts, he has done a great job in the past. No reason he can’t be champion this year

I wonder if it's worth putting a couple of bob on him ?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

he did the double last year at Jerez .. and he's favorite this year i'm sure

Who ?

[Gerard C]

Seems that a gearbox gremlin is at the origin of Zarco crash.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Who ?

Fabio QUARTARARO

[justracing]

The young Acosta in Moto3 is going to be fun to watch working his way through the ranks, what a talent. Agreed about Lowes, he was just too over anxious to regain the places he lost at the start, easy to say but he would have been much better to settle down in 4th/5th and work his way forward over the 23 laps.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by justracing

Fabio QUARTARARO

Sorry yes, I thought we were still talking about MM
I definitely agree about Quartararo, when he's on it he is like Lorenzo was at Yamaha. The thing is that he seemed to lose it after about half season last year but of course Suzuki stepped up to the mark as well.
I would think that being one of the top works riders this year will give him that edge and be more determined to be the one to beat

[S griffin]

You do wonder if Marquez will be back to his best, especially now others seem to have taken over.

For me this is Fabio’s big chance. He certainly had it in him always, but didn’t always have the machinery, especially compared to others

He will have tough opposition in Vinales, but the champion killer instinct means he can win it

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I definitely agree about Quartararo, when he's on it he is like Lorenzo was at Yamaha. The thing is that he seemed to lose it after about half season last year but of course Suzuki stepped up to the mark as well.

Agreed, fully. If he remains away from french journalists it will be easier for him to keeping calm, focused and determined as you say. Good thing is he can share the french media useless and constant pressure with Zarco.

[GORDON STREETER]

Pramac Ducati has revealed that injured rookie star Jorge Martin is not expected to return to MotoGP action until Mugello.

That means Martin, who suffered multiple fractures in a huge Saturday practice accident in Portimao, will not only miss this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix - where he is confirmed as being replaced by Tito Rabat - but also the following French Grand Prix at Le Mans on May 14-16.

The Italian round is then scheduled to take place on May 28-30.

[S griffin]

Not surprised, that was quite a big crash. He will need time to recover from that. At least he should return in good time, rather than miss out the rest of the season. It's not the end of the world. Let's see what Rabat does in his place. Hopefully he gets enough points for the team

Shame Martin has to miss a couple of rounds, but hope he's back in time for Mugello, so it's not so bad

[justracing]

Fond memories of Jerez, fino from the fridge very morish but not good in the baking heat

[GORDON STREETER]

MotoGP Jerez combined Friday practice times. Interesting

1 63 F.BAGNAIA ITA Ducati Lenovo Team DUCATI 1’38.301 1’37.209
2 20 F.QUARTARARO FRA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 1’38.344 1’37.387
3 41 A.ESPARGARO SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA 1’38.204 1’37.646
4 21 F.MORBIDELLI ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT YAMAHA 1’38.492 1’37.704
5 12 M.VIÑALES SPA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 1’38.434 1’37.726
6 30 T.NAKAGAMI JPN LCR Honda IDEMITSU HONDA 1’38.484 1’37.775
7 88 M.OLIVEIRA POR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 1’38.398 1’37.816
8 42 A.RINS SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI 1’38.706 1’37.847
9 5 J.ZARCO FRA Pramac Racing DUCATI 1’38.397 1’37.888
10 33 B.BINDER RSA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 1’38.013 1’37.896
11 6 S.BRADL GER Honda HRC HONDA 1’38.764 1’37.939
12 43 J.MILLER AUS Ducati Lenovo Team DUCATI 1’38.871 1’37.965
13 36 J.MIR SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI 1’38.484 1’38.040
14 44 P.ESPARGARO SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’38.433 1’38.115
15 10 L.MARINI ITA SKY VR46 Avintia DUCATI 1’39.531 1’38.274
16 93 M.MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’38.291 1’38.295
17 9 D.PETRUCCI ITA Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing KTM 1’39.054 1’38.462
18 23 E.BASTIANINI ITA Avintia Esponsorama DUCATI 1’39.110 1’38.516
19 32 L.SAVADORI ITA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA 1’38.630 1’38.594
20 73 A.MARQUEZ SPA LCR Honda CASTROL HONDA 1’38.819 1’38.618
21 46 V.ROSSI ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT YAMAHA 1’39.299 1’38.698
22 27 I.LECUONA SPA Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing KTM 1’39.825 1’38.713
23 53 T.RABAT SPA Pramac Racing DUCATI 1’39.502 1’39.023

[S griffin]

Good times from Bagnaia. Fabio is looking good atm, wouldn't bet against him for another win

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Good times from Bagnaia. Fabio is looking good atm, wouldn't bet against him for another win

Yes if he can get a decent start he could do a "Lorenzo" and disappear up the road on the first lap. However at the moment the best times are very close and the Ducati's do have a start advantage. It does seem strange to see M Marquez a second down compared to the past !

[GORDON STREETER]

Marquez a huge crash just now in FP3 ! The whole field covered by one and a half seconds

[E.B]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Marquez a huge crash just now in FP3 ! The whole field covered by one and a half seconds

Marquez has been declared fit to continue riding following precautionary checks in hospital after his big crash in FP3. Marquez walked away from the accident, went to the circuit’s medical centre for checks, which revealed he’s escaped serious injury and suffered 'just 'a cervical contusion.

As a precaution, Marquez then went to hospital in Jerez for an MRI to check his condition.

All good.

[S griffin]

Who says lightning doesn’t strike twice? At least this time Marquez isn’t badly injured

[justracing]

This morning's crash for MM certainly didn't deter him from trying to make it through Q1, I counted 3 times he picked the bike up with his knee but to no avail. We'll have to see if Miller and his team mate can beat the Yamahas to the first turn tomorrow.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Yes if he can get a decent start he could do a "Lorenzo" and disappear up the road on the first lap. However at the moment the best times are very close and the Ducati's do have a start advantage.

I dont think he can make a Lorenzo as you say but we'll see that morrow. The Ducati team has a huge knowledge of the electronic devices as, a long time ago, Ferrari had. Brave MM is pushing his luck.

[GORDON STREETER]

Grid for Sunday

1 Fabio Quartararo
2 Franco Morbidelli
3 Jack Miller
4 Francesco Bagnaia
5 Takaaki Nakagami
6 Johann Zarco
7 Maverick Viñales
8 Aleix Espargaro
9 Alex Rins
10 Joan Mir

[hoffman66]

I say it now for the record

Acosta is the best I have ever seen so far at this level.

He shows immense maturity, cool and calmness in a massively stressful arena, for one so young.

He makes the right decision constantly has massive awareness.

Pundits keep saying he reminds them of Marquez, sod that he is miles better, Marquez has always crashed, made stupid mistakes, hit people, this lad does none of that, Marquez first year was a disaster, he was hopeless, on a naff bike fair enough, but this is far, far better.

Stop comparing him, and let's just do what I have done and put him at a new level, Better than MM, VR, JL, DP even at this level.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by hoffman66

I say it now for the record

Acosta is the best I have ever seen so far at this level.

He shows immense maturity, cool and calmness in a massively stressful arena, for one so young.

He makes the right decision constantly has massive awareness.

Pundits keep saying he reminds them of Marquez, sod that he is miles better, Marquez has always crashed, made stupid mistakes, hit people, this lad does none of that, Marquez first year was a disaster, he was hopeless, on a naff bike fair enough, but this is far, far better.

Well he proved it again today

[GORDON STREETER]

Well what a race ! Although the Ducati's were obviously (barring disasters) going to finish up the front it didn't go well for the person that most of us though was going to walk it !! I have no idea at the moment what happened to Quartararo but it looked like he was in agony at the end ?
1 Jack Miller Ducati
2 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati
3 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha

[Gerard C]

He was in agony well before the end, the front tyre is blamed. At least he remained calm and on his wheels, taking some important points. Next race will be better I hope, the season is just starting.

[justracing]

It certainly appeared that Quartararo's problem was physical rather than a problem with the bike, the storming way he made his way through to take the lead in the opening lead was very convincing but not to last. Agree about the comments about Acosta, not just quick but a very mature approach, he wil go far. Words escape me for McPhee's crash.