2019 banter & Silly season thread for MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3

Current motorcycle racing related news, information and discussion.
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John
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#316

Post by John »

Bottom post of the previous page:

It's a dull track, but there's so much powerslide porn going on at Valencia.
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#317

Post by kals »

SB83 wrote: 4 years ago Why did he ever leave Tech 3 Yamaha to go to KTM? I can't remember. Was it his decision or Tech 3's to part ways?
That’s the wrong question. The right one is why did Zarco go to KTM when he was offered a Repsol Honda ride. And the answer is his ex-manager Fellon....
kals wrote: 4 years ago Fellon was Zarco's friend and mentor, trusted with putting the rider on the best path for his career while Zarco did what he needed to do on the track. Fellon's actions after signing Zarco to KTM destroyed both of their credibility and also their relationship. Maybe Zarco should have had more knowledge and control over what his manager was doing, yet on the surface it looks like he was a somewhat innocent victim.
kals wrote: 4 years ago What’s interesting about this article is not what Puig says about Lorenzo but what he says about Zarco...
Johann Zarco is a free agent for 2020, having decided to terminate his two-year agreement with KTM one year early, but Puig downplayed the prospect of signing a rider who already rejected the chance to partner Marc Marquez this season.

"We offered the bike to Zarco [for 2019] and he turned it down," said Puig.

"After all that, he came over, apologised and fired his agent [Laurent Fellon] for not having informed me of anything.
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#318

Post by SBan83 »

kals wrote: 4 years ago
SB83 wrote: 4 years ago Why did he ever leave Tech 3 Yamaha to go to KTM? I can't remember. Was it his decision or Tech 3's to part ways?
That’s the wrong question. The right one is why did Zarco go to KTM when he was offered a Repsol Honda ride. And the answer is his ex-manager Fellon....
kals wrote: 4 years ago Fellon was Zarco's friend and mentor, trusted with putting the rider on the best path for his career while Zarco did what he needed to do on the track. Fellon's actions after signing Zarco to KTM destroyed both of their credibility and also their relationship. Maybe Zarco should have had more knowledge and control over what his manager was doing, yet on the surface it looks like he was a somewhat innocent victim.
kals wrote: 4 years ago What’s interesting about this article is not what Puig says about Lorenzo but what he says about Zarco...
Johann Zarco is a free agent for 2020, having decided to terminate his two-year agreement with KTM one year early, but Puig downplayed the prospect of signing a rider who already rejected the chance to partner Marc Marquez this season.

"We offered the bike to Zarco [for 2019] and he turned it down," said Puig.

"After all that, he came over, apologised and fired his agent [Laurent Fellon] for not having informed me of anything.
Wow. That wasn't too smart...
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#319

Post by Vassago »

Some Moto2 news:

Tetsuta Nagashima will take the vacated Iker Lecuona spot at Ajo Red Bull, the SAG team signed some Malaysian guy from CEV Moto2.

Edgar fucking Pons is back. He will take A.Lowes' spot at Gresini. It's amazing what a last name can do to revive a hilariously bad career.

Dominique Aegerter is off to MotoE and MV Agusta decided to bring in Simone Corsi. Can't see that being anything but a lateral move going nowhere tbh.
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#320

Post by kals »

Johann Zarco could end up at Avintia in MotoGP next year despite dismissing the outfit as "not a top team" when rumours of a move first appeared last weekend.

Zarco quit KTM midway through a difficult campaign on the RC16, and has been riding in place of Takaaki Nakagami at LCR on the year-old Honda in the last three races of the season after KTM dropped him post-Misano.

The double Moto2 champion was one of the favourites to take the retiring Jorge Lorenzo's place at the works Honda team, and Zarco insisted staying with Honda was his priority.

But Alex Marquez - reigning Moto2 champion and Marc Marquez's younger brother - now looks set to take Lorenzo's ride, with Zarco being linked to Avintia Ducati.

When asked by Autosport on Saturday at Valencia if he was considering that ride, Zarco said he would rather return to Moto2 - where he has been linked with Marquez's Marc VDS seat - than ride for Avintia because of its poor performance.

Rumours then began to circulate that Zarco could take over Jack Miller's place at Pramac, with Miller pushing Danilo Petrucci out of the works squad.

This was a move seemingly backed by French Grand Prix organisers, though the money thought to be on offer was not enough to cover the financial penalty Ducati would suffer by breaking Petrucci's contract.

Ducati is willing to invest in the Avintia operation at a technical and engineering level for Zarco, though likely on a 2019-spec bike.

Having dismissed Avintia, Zarco was pictured by Autosport leaving Ducati's race office at the Ricardo Tormo circuit having reportedly had an hour-long meeting with the manufacturer's MotoGP bosses Paolo Ciabatti and Gigi Dall'Igna.

Ducati chiefs used the time to try to convince Zarco that he will have the necessary means behind him to have a competitive package at Avintia, at which he will likely replace Karel Abraham.

Tito Rabat signed a two-year extension with the Avintia squad earlier in the year.
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#321

Post by Cheeveer »

Ducati is willing to invest in the Avintia operation at a technical and engineering level for Zarco, though likely on a 2019-spec bike.
This is key. If Ducati can ensure this, why wouldn't Zarco accept? Beggar's can't be chooser's.
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#322

Post by kals »

Cheeveer wrote: 4 years ago
Ducati is willing to invest in the Avintia operation at a technical and engineering level for Zarco, though likely on a 2019-spec bike.
This is key. If Ducati can ensure this, why wouldn't Zarco accept? Beggar's can't be chooser's.
Agree. Maybe that was the outcome Zarco was aiming for with his original 'dismissal' of Avintia's quality.
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#323

Post by John »

Also, if this means that we can finally say goodbye to Karel Abraham, I'll be very happy.
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#324

Post by Cheeveer »

who
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#325

Post by kals »

Dunno, but I hear he's got something to do with Brno. I think that something is money.
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#326

Post by kals »

Marc Marquez's Moto2 title-winning brother Alex will make his MotoGP debut in 2020 as his team-mate at the works Honda team in place of the retired Jorge Lorenzo.

Triple MotoGP world champion Lorenzo announced his retirement on the Thursday of the Valencia Grand Prix, with speculation quickly swirling as to who would take his place.

Initially, it appeared as if Johann Zarco - whom Honda wanted for '19 and who showed promise on the year-old LCR Honda in the last three races - was favourite.

However, Alex Marquez soon became hotly tipped to take Lorenzo's seat, with Autosport revealing on Friday that a deal was close to being signed.

Ahead of Tuesday's first pre-season test of '20, HRC has confirmed it will field an all-Marquez line-up next year - a first in MotoGP history.

The younger Marquez made his full-time grand prix debut in Moto3 in '12, and won the class two years later after a season-long duel with Jack Miller.

He stepped up to Moto2 in '15 with Marc VDS, though struggled in his first two seasons before securing a breakthrough victory in '17.

He won this year's Moto2 crown with a race to spare in Malaysia, and was set to remain in the class with the Belgian outfit before the Honda MotoGP opportunity came along.

Marquez has been signed for an initial one-year deal.

Zarco has been linked to the vacant Marc VDS ride, having publicly shunned a rumoured place at the Avintia Ducati team, which he branded as "not a top team".

However, as Autosport reported on Monday, this deal now looks closer to happening after a meeting between Ducati and Avintia bosses and Zarco.

Marquez will take part in Tuesday's post-race Valencia test but will ride in place of Zarco and Nakagami on the year-old RC213V. It is expected he will ride in Repsol colours next week at the Jerez test.
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#327

Post by kals »

John wrote: 5 years ago
kals wrote: 5 years ago Is that the 2019 bike though? I thought that was just a livery reveal.
Not quite sure, TBH. I've been out of the loop for the past few weeks. Would make sense, though.

If Petrux wins a race this year, I'll be adding "Lorenzo is a God" to my signature for the rest of the season. Not convinced he's entirely deserving of that bike.
Quoting because THIS NEVER HAPPENED. Time to pay up @John :whistling:
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#328

Post by John »

kals wrote: 4 years ago
John wrote: 5 years ago
kals wrote: 5 years ago Is that the 2019 bike though? I thought that was just a livery reveal.
Not quite sure, TBH. I've been out of the loop for the past few weeks. Would make sense, though.

If Petrux wins a race this year, I'll be adding "Lorenzo is a God" to my signature for the rest of the season. Not convinced he's entirely deserving of that bike.
Quoting because THIS NEVER HAPPENED. Time to pay up @John :whistling:
Fuck. I was hoping that comment would have been forgotten by now. Oh well! I have a new signature for the remainder of the off season.
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#329

Post by kals »

John wrote: 4 years ago
kals wrote: 4 years ago
John wrote: 5 years ago
kals wrote: 5 years ago Is that the 2019 bike though? I thought that was just a livery reveal.
Not quite sure, TBH. I've been out of the loop for the past few weeks. Would make sense, though.

If Petrux wins a race this year, I'll be adding "Lorenzo is a God" to my signature for the rest of the season. Not convinced he's entirely deserving of that bike.
Quoting because THIS NEVER HAPPENED. Time to pay up @John :whistling:
Fuck. I was hoping that comment would have been forgotten by now. Oh well! I have a new signature for the remainder of the off season.
Technically the two points you make in your statement were both true. Petrux won a race and proved he's not entirely deserving of that bike.
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#330

Post by John »

kals wrote: 4 years ago
John wrote: 4 years ago
kals wrote: 4 years ago
John wrote: 5 years ago
kals wrote: 5 years ago Is that the 2019 bike though? I thought that was just a livery reveal.
Not quite sure, TBH. I've been out of the loop for the past few weeks. Would make sense, though.

If Petrux wins a race this year, I'll be adding "Lorenzo is a God" to my signature for the rest of the season. Not convinced he's entirely deserving of that bike.
Quoting because THIS NEVER HAPPENED. Time to pay up @John :whistling:
Fuck. I was hoping that comment would have been forgotten by now. Oh well! I have a new signature for the remainder of the off season.
Technically the two points you make in your statement were both true. Petrux won a race and proved he's not entirely deserving of that bike.
So....I’m off the hook? :whistling:
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#331

Post by Vassago »

kals wrote: 4 years ago Dunno, but I hear he's got something to do with Brno. I think that something is money.
Brno & Sachsenring were the two most vulnerable venues on the calendar but they got extended to stay. The thing is, Brno in particular is MotoGP's version of the Hungaroring. It's the cheapest round wildly popular with the fans. You can only host as many races in the desert where nobody shows up but the promotors pay the highest bill. When you keep four rounds in Spain where bike racing is more popular than anywhere in Europe, when you've added the second race in Italy you are paying attention to those details.

Abraham's father is the boss of the Czech racing federation, right? Of course he even got to be in MotoGP based on connections, he's bike racing's pay rider like we ever saw one but the Brno round works without the Czech rider craze. You don't need Abraham on the grid for this thing to work at all.
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