MotoGP - Moto 2 - Moto 3 - 2017 banter thread

[Everso Biggyballies]

Bottom post of the previous page:

Well, I couldnt have written it any better.

Erm, yes you could. You could have been factually accurate too.

@KalsThought you were having a go at my post being inaccurate.....

[kals]

Well, I couldnt have written it any better.

Erm, yes you could. You could have been factually accurate too.

@KalsThought you were having a go at my post being inaccurate.....

Lol no. This was at Tobias and his meaningless post of which bears no relevance to the topic of conversation and that he could have validated using Google before making himself look foolish

[Everso Biggyballies]

Not the best situation for Dovi after qualifying with Marquez taking pole and Dovi down in 9th.

Marc Márquez claimed pole position, his eighth of the year, for the title-deciding MotoGP race at Valencia, despite crashing during his second Q2 run.

Márquez went quickest early on before storming to a 1:29.897 on his second lap at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, which remained unbeaten across the remainder of the 15-minute session.

Márquez tried to beat his own benchmark on his second run but crashed through Turn 4, though walked away uninjured, having restrained himself against kicking his stricken bike in the gravel trap.

Title rival Andrea Dovizioso, who must win Sunday's race to stand a chance of taking the title, was only ninth fastest, meaning he will round out the third row of the grid.

Tech 3's Johann Zarco emerged as Márquez's primary opponent as he finished 0.349s behind the Repsol Honda rider, while Andrea Iannone delivered on his FP1 pace to claim third.

Jorge Lorenzo was initially Márquez's closest challenger but crashed heavily on the entry to Turn 14; he returned to action on his spare bike but was unable to improve.

Dani Pedrosa took fifth on the other Repsol Honda machine, in front of Ducati tester Michele Pirro and Movistar Yamaha's Valentino Rossi.

Aleix Espargaró clocked the eighth-best time for Aprilia before he suffered an off at the final corner, bringing his session to an early end.

Suzuki's Álex Rins finished just 0.011s down on Dovizioso as he rounded out the top 10, with KTM's Pol Espargaró, who must start from the pits due to exceeding his engine allocation, in 11th spot.

Marc VDS' Jack Miller finished at the foot of the times in Q2, having been another to crash out in the session.

Maverick Viñales' dismal weekend continued as his poor practice pace meant he was forced into Q1.

Viñales was unable to match the laps recorded by the Espargaró brothers and did not qualify for Q2, leaving him in 13th place on the grid, and he punched his bike in frustration after completing his lap.

Marc VDS' Tito Rabat was a fine 14th though crashed at Turn 4, while Danilo Petrucci finished 15th for Pramac.

LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow held one of the two progression spots after the first laps but crashed through Turn 10 while trying to improve and was shuffled down to 16th position.

KTM duo Bradley Smith and (tester) Mika Kallio took 17th and 19th respectively, sandwiching Aspar's Karel Abraham, with Héctor Barberá (Avintia) and Álvaro Bautista (Aspar) next up.

Scott Redding was 22nd for Pramac, in front of Loris Baz (Avintia) and Sam Lowes (Aprilia), the latter crashing during the closing stages.

Tech 3 replacement rider Michael van der Mark qualified at the rear of the 25-bike grid.

Qualifying 2 results - 2017 Valencian MotoGP Grand Prix
Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1. M. Márquez Repsol Honda 01:29.897 6
2. J. Zarco Tech 3 01:30.246 8
3. A. Iannone Suzuki 01:30.399 9
4. J. Lorenzo Ducati 01:30.460 5
5. D. Pedrosa Repsol Honda 01:30.589 9
6. M. Pirro Ducati 01:30.764 7
7. V. Rossi Yamaha 01:30.848 9
8. A. Espargaro Aprilia 01:30.857 8
9. A. Dovizioso Ducati 01:30.961 9
10. A. Rins Suzuki 01:30.972 9
11. P. Espargaro KTM 01:31.044 7
12. J. Miller Marc VDS 01:31.190 7

[Cheeveer]

Allrighty, then... MM93 is nervous.

[Cheeveer]

Aw, shit. Both Ducatis out within a lap...

[kals]

Ridiculous last couple of laps.

Part of me is happy that Lorenzo got some karma for his behavior.

[Antonov]

What a messy race by the two title protagonists.

[kals]

Marquez' save at turn 1 was unreal

[Everso Biggyballies]

Marquez' save at turn 1 was unreal

Much as I dislike him after last years debacle that save was very special.

[Cheeveer]

Deserving, I guess. I think it's too bad that the Honda is so far ahead of the rest, as a complete package. I wonder what Rossi could have done if he'd have that bike for the last few years.

[kals]

Marquez' save at turn 1 was unreal

Much as I dislike him after last years debacle that save was very special.

That debacle was two years ago. Where has the time gone?

[Andy]

Ridiculous last couple of laps.

Part of me is happy that Lorenzo got some karma for his behavior.

I didn't see him doing much wrong. If anything he pulled Dovizioso as Dovi was a tad slower. Dovi haven't had the pace. Sorry to say.
Ducati and Dovi lost it at Phillip Island. See my earlier post on it for that matter. In all reality, it would have taken Marquez a DNF in one of the final 2 races for Dovi to remain with a chance

If you want to watch how a teamorder really fails go and get a copy of the 125cc race at Istanbul the year Tom Lühti became 125cc champ

[John]

I wonder what Rossi could have done if he'd have that bike for the last few years.

Not necessarily better, as they are two fundamentally different bikes, designed for completely different riding styles. The RCV213 is a "late on the brakes, load the front tyre" bike well suited to MM93s riding style. Bomb into the corner, get it turned and accelerate away. The Yamaha is completely different as it's more a matter of high cornering speed rather than full out Gung Ho attacks.

That said, Yamaha can't seem to get the Michelin tyres to work consistently either.

[kals]

Ridiculous last couple of laps.

Part of me is happy that Lorenzo got some karma for his behavior.

I didn't see him doing much wrong. If anything he pulled Dovizioso as Dovi was a tad slower. Dovi haven't had the pace. Sorry to say.
Ducati and Dovi lost it at Phillip Island. See my earlier post on it for that matter. In all reality, it would have taken Marquez a DNF in one of the final 2 races for Dovi to remain with a chance

I know I'm being a bit harsh on Lorenzo. Post race Dovi said he wasn't being held up, Lorenzo went on to say it was good that he ignored team orders.

If we truly want an example of someone ignoring team orders can affect title chances, lest we look back to Portugal 2006.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Lol (Danny P and the late Nicky H?)

[kals]

Lol (Danny P and the late Nicky H?)