MotoGP Off-Season (pre 2012) Thread

[Kneescrubber]

CRT teams test in Europe. Factories test in warmer climates halfway around the world. Is this:

a) an attempt cut travel budgets for CRT teams?
b) Dorna's plan to avoid any direct on-track comparisons until nearly the start of the season?
c) something to do with putting some more GP dollars into Spanish tracks?
d) more Carmelo Ezpeleta silliness?
e) all of the above



http://www.motomatters.com/news/2012/01/18/crt_testing_to_be_limited_to_europe_whil.html

a. All of the factory teams (except Ducati) are based in Japan. Obviously Sepang is much closer for them. I'd venture a bet it's an attempt to lower the cost of testing. Isn't lowering costs to operate a team one of the things they're trying to do?
b. All you have to do is compare the CRT times once they start testing.
c. I think it has more to do with the fact that Valencia, Jerez & Aragon have a very mild winter/spring compared to the rest of the European tracks.
d. Don't know. Never met the man so I don't know how silly he is. Just know he's in charge and he's made buttloads of money doing what he does.



Patience grasshopper. It'll be here before you know it.  

[DogBoy]

All two of the factory teams are Japanese those efforts are really based in Europe. They send engines and other components back and forth to Japan but the physical shops and personnel are all in Europe. Engineers do not fly to Europe from Japan for each of the continental races. While Spain has a mild climate, winter testing is not representative of the actual racing conditions on those tracks like testing at Sepang or Losail.  

My post was mostly in jest. I don't think Ezpeleta is making big money. He's a Dorna employee (part of a much larger sports management corporation) rather than an evil overlord like Bernie.

[Kneescrubber]

My post was mostly in jest.

thanks for throwing me under the bus  

[DogBoy]

I'll be joining you there shortly if the CRT bikes flop.

[DogBoy]

2012 testing started today. Time to speculate on the 2012 champion and associated fallout based on the results of early testing.

[Kneescrubber]

I don't think there's any doubt. Stoner.

[stromgal]

46 sent out a cell phone pic of the aluminium-framed Doocatee today....  

[PatM]

As was said before, the issue I see is tires..

If the proto type teams are spending 425Million dollars it's only about 10 times the cost of Ferrari's Formula 1 team.  

Meh, Ferrari F1 racing budget for 2011 was 199 million Euros around 250 - 260 million dollars.

[crashtech]

Early predictions?????

Well for champion i will say Stoner if he is on the same form as last year.....Loved watching him ride.....

Spies???.....I still say he is and was NO alien......He is on the yamabubble with Jarvis....no results and he is out for next year.....

Rossi and Hayden????.....Still same story so far.......at the rear of the factory pack guys........Hope they can bring that turd up to speed this year.

CRT's????......not up to speed yet but will be fun to watch them bust up the leaders when lapped.....

Way early to tell......Thinking WSBK will be the series to watch again this year......

[tomek]

It is gonna be between Stoner and Lorenzo , usually "slow" but steady racers win championships . Bottom line , Yamaha will have competitive bike this year , Jorge will be a factor in the championship .
Perdosa , Spies and maybe even Rossi ( it looks like Ducati sucks less this year ) will win some races .


CRT ? It is a joke on many ,many levels . It is just like I - and many others -  said almost a year ago . No surprise here .  Lol .

   

[DogBoy]

Just for fun, last year's Sepang test and associated speculation thread is right here.

[tomek]

Just for fun, last year's Sepang test and associated speculation thread is right here.

I refuse / I`m afraid  to read it .  

[DredheadV2.0]

Just for fun, last year's Sepang test and associated speculation thread is right here.

2011 will be a stellar year for MotoGp.

[DogBoy]

I refuse / I`m afraid  to read it .  

In a different thread last year I argued with somebody that "you should never underestimate Rossi and Burgess."   I'm not sure there is a facepalm big enough to show how wrong I was.

[crashtech]

Well Stoner is back...................Spies stepped up...................Rossi , well still the same...........

Collins CRT Sutter is only 4 seconds off the pace, rest are OMG slow.....

[Blunder]

Meanwhile, at Valencia some of the CRT bikes are nipping at the times set by the slowest of the satellite teams. Yeah, it's the Aprilia effort with their mildly disguised WSBK, but it's something.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120201d.htm

[McHack]

1st Year,  big bike rider Stefan Bradl is only 1.5 seconds off Stoners pace....   good for him.

[DredheadV2.0]

1st Year,  big bike rider Stefan Bradl is only 1.5 seconds off Stoners pace....   good for him.

From what I understand, he won some minor something-or-other last year.  

Hope he does better than the last two middle-class champs to move up to a sat-spec Honda.  Three, really - Sic didn't exactly set the world on fire on the lesser bike, Hiro did better at times on the same bike, and Elias's problems are manifold.  

[Kneescrubber]

I didn't realize the CRT riders had to pay their way onto the team.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jan/120130mnwa2.htm

[DogBoy]

Probably 90% or more of riders in in pro road racing these days have to bring money. Its usually a pretty high percentage but even worse now. Outside of Edwards, I doubt any of the CRT riders are being paid. I'm guessing some of the satellite riders are bring sponsorship or personal money also.