Michelin killed Formula 1 at Indianapolis by not supplying suitable rubber. Aside from rider safety, forcing bike changes mid race is farcical and undermines MotoGP's product and credibility. I bet Dorna have penalty clauses in the contract with Michelin that are being looked at as closely as the tyre debris.

 

Some of this is because Michelin push the envelope. F1 lap times on Michelin have always been notably quicker than equivalent Bridgestone and Pirelli. Most tyre companies will play it safe to protect their reputation in the domestic market. I for one am glad Michelin seam to be in a quest for producing the best tyres I understand a tyre failure at 200+ mph on a bike is no fun but this is the extreme pinnacle of the sport so we want extreme lean angles and grip. Its not like a production tyre each tyre although QC'd and have a tolerance will be unique and bespoke prototype. I don't see how the engineers can verify their design analysis without an actual race. A race simulation with an old hat like Colin Edwards on one particular bike is not going to verify ever permutation. At the sharp end its always going to be best guess scenario unless you play it safe and predictable like Bridgestone but then you get boring races like Schumacher's dominance in the 90's.

That was Bridgstone custom making tyres to suit the Ferrari and no-one else.

Will the riders not take action at future races if Michelins fail again?

Rossi's early Yamaha deal pushes Lorenzo to Ducati !!

 

Maverick top of Lin Jarvis' wish list.

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123846/lorenzo-leaves-yamaha-for-ducati

Edited 18 April, 201610 yr by camelspyyder

Rossi's early Yamaha deal pushes Lorenzo to Ducati !!

Maverick top of Lin Jarvis' wish list.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123846/lorenzo-leaves-yamaha-for-ducati

Lorenzo and Ducati could be unstoppable

Time will tell - apart from Capirossi, Bayliss and Stoner nobody else has had any success with it.

Lorenzo and Ducati could be unstoppable

He's not strong enough to wrestle it I don't think. He's mister smooth and wont like it all squirrely underneath. Marquez once he's a bit older and put a bit of meat on would be unstoppable on the Duke. Give Iannone another year and I think he could be the one to tame the beast also and get some good results. Such as shame we don't have simo anymore I think he would also have been a good Ducati rider.

So if it was ever in any doubt that has put paid to any thoughts of Stoner returning then.

 

I still think of Ducati as the ride that ruined many careers and  OK it is getting better by far but there has only been Stoner who could do anything with it.

Loris and Troy both won on the 990, but since then only Casey...

Well done sam lowes

Yes he looked quick all weekend,Moto 3 was good,not gonna mention GP but for me a good result,season shaping up well!

Super well done to Chas Davies on his WSB wins at Imola, lap record on Saturday to boot.

 

Brit 1-2-3s in both races shows are dominance in  this manly sort of racing that is not to far behind the MotoGP time and all with steel brakes!

 

Be interesting to see what they could do with carbon fibre brakes on their bikes!

Maverick to Yamaha next year.

Maverick to Yamaha next year.

Not unexpected. Also "best name ever"?

Not unexpected. Also "best name ever"?

 

Iannone to Suzuki, Dovy to stay at Ducati factory and "team" up with Lorenzo.  Dani and Mark stayng at Honda.

 

Ducatis hitting 345 kph on Mugelo straight, most other bikes 335-340 including Suzuki.

 

Faster tomorrow I would expect. 

So?

 

Did Team Marquez encourage Honda to retain Dani?

 

After all, had Pedrosa gone to Yamaha (as rumoured) that could have freed up a Repsol bke for...Maverick!

 

I'm sure Marc has Dani covered on the same bike, but Mav is a bit of an unknown (although clearly a bl***y fast one)

Edited 20 May, 201610 yr by camelspyyder

So?

Did Team Marquez encourage Honda to retain Dani?

After all, had Pedrosa gone to Yamaha (as rumoured) that could have freed up a Repsol bke for...Maverick!

I'm sure Marc has Dani covered on the same bike, but Mav is a bit of an unknown (although clearly a bl***y fast one)

 

Marquez is still the most exiting riding on the grid and what he is getting from the mediocre Honda is incredible.  Honda decided to put its R&D elsewhere and the Honda has gone from the fastest bike on the grid to almost the slowest and only Marquez's talent and Dani's low weight has kept them vaguely in the running.

 

Even Iannone on an ever faster Suzuki, and a point to prove, could be a contender for podiums.

 

Honda's F1 (and their commercial jet program) seem to be taking precedent.  Shame considering their recent history but at least it means it has let Yamaha have the top spot for the last couple of years and now Suzuki contending two and who knows what the Lorenzo Ducati combo might do to make a 4 way fight and then KTM along too.    

Edited 21 May, 201610 yr by lol-lol

it's getting ever more exciting though, isn't it.

 

I think there are only 2 or 3 full time "aliens" now though - Jorge and Marc (and Valentino most of the time)

 

If Honda were serious about winning with their second bike you think they would put someone else on it by now.

Sad news today from Cataluna.  Trafically Luis Salom lost his life after falling from his bike in Moto2 FP2.

 

 

RIP

Sad news today from Cataluna.  Trafically Luis Salom lost his life after falling from his bike in Moto2 FP2.

 

 

RIP

 

Oh dear RIP.

 

i hope no knee jerk reactions on safety front, these boys know the risks and i would hate to see what is excellent Motorsport at the minute be sanitized like F1.

i Haven't watched it yet what happened rider mistake or someone else at fault?

The camera did not pick it up or if it did they did not show it.  No doubt we will find out more but I would hope they wouldn't show it.

 

I seem to recall when Marco Simoncelli lost his life the meeting was cancelled but I would think everyone will want to carry on as a sign of respect.  After all it is what they choose to do.

I hear the riders are demanding changes to the circuit if the meeting is to continue.

 

If it's not safe how does it get through FIM approval?

 

 

 

 

RIP Louis.

They will be riding the F1 layout with the chicane before the start/finish straigth.

Time scedule is changed for tomorrow, to have the riders more time in practice for the new layout.

I see that online now.  Also using the slower layout before turn 12 where the accident occurred.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2016/06/03/catalan-gp-to-run-with-revised-layout-and-schedule/202736

 

Not too sure why the riders are saying it is dangerous but I know from listening to the free practice commentary yesterday there was a lot of comment about the bumps and ripples caused by the heavy use of the circuit by F1, trucks and the like.  There is also comment about how poor the surface is because it is very polished through use.

 

Of course as yet we do not know why Luis crashed but if the riders are creating about safety it is quite possible that it is more circuit related than rider or machine.  We all know that it is a dangerous sport but thankfully there have been very few serious accidents in recent years.  I agree with you Camel though when you say why are they there if the riders deem it to be unsafe?

 

For me aside from the obvious financial issues cancelling it when people have turned up or are on their way to the circuit with tickets and travel paid for wouldn't be right.  I think it is a fitting tribute to Luis to carry on as I am sure he would have wanted to do had he not been the one involved.

 

We are right on the edge if TT week and as usual without doubt there will be incidents there and knee jerk reactions to this and any on the Island.  Motor sport is dangerous and that is why people do it and people enjoy watching it.  As long as the safety issues are dealt with and it is made as safe as possible then it should be business as usual.

 

 

RIP Luis Salom

WOW!!! Absolutely amazing race, and a battle we've all waited to see for so long.

 

What a brilliant race and a fitting tribute to #39    Lovely to see Valentino and Marc shake hands at last.

 

I wouldn't want to be Ianone right now...