That's exactly my point, finishing 7th/8th with no time on the bike, didn't spend the weekend throwing it at the scenery, good job I think. Plus he can ride a bike loose, he is a Motocrosser and happy to bury the brakes and let it dance around which is possibly why he is suffering brake issues in WSBK ;-) Anyway, todays news... Iannone out of Suzuki, Mir claiming he doesn't have a signed contract for anyone, and Lorenzo stating he 'will be on a good bike for 2 years' makes me sure he is going to Suzuki. The chief reason for this is that even if Ducati had decided to keep him, I think they would only give him 1 more year to get the job done, no way would they commit to another 2 years.
In the commentary on FP1 at Mugello just now they’ve said the rumours in the paddock are a new satellite Yamaha team next year with JLo and Morbidelli.
Lorenzo stated he definitely has 2 more years in motoGP, but would not say with who and will say more at Catalunya .
There was talk on the commentary of Lin Jarvis in secretive meetings, Malaysians flying in to Mugello, Rossi’s potential role in it all... Interesting times.
Thankfully he was conscious when he was taken to hospital in Florence for further checks. That was one big crash.
Horrible but that could have been much worse for him. When they shielded him with a sheet whilst putting him in the ambulance to keep the paps at bay my heart sank. Stick Stoner on the 3rd bike for the rest of the weekend.
They all have some terrifying crashes that's for sure! Those air bag suits seem to save a lot worse body injuries, just can't protect the sticking out bits... Re. Stoner - I seem to recall that he had a lot of crashes in his final year on the Duc & complained a lot about front end & corner speed issues. Same as Rossi did (exactly how different the frames were I don't know). I didn't like his whinging voice much but I wish he'd stayed in motogp, him & Marquez would have been a good battle to see. C-low was unlucky I think with Smith having the longer contract; I think he (C-low) would have done well with another year on the Yam instead of having to work out how to ride the other bikes he's been on. Despite Lorenzo being "less likeable" he can ride well when the bike or circuit suits him, just seems to have low confidence in the duc. He did have bad wet days on the Yam too IIRC. Dovi's near championship win last season shows how a rider can be underrated but turn out to have class but the crash rate this year has knocked his chances.
In Pirro's crash a parachute would have been useful. The airbag suits do appear to be working well this year. The Lorenzo interview with Suzi is well worth watching, as mentioned earlier in the thread.
It would be no contest. VR can be aggressive, but Marquez is off the scale. He is what the love child of VR, Simonchelli and Stoner would be like. Hugely talented, first class strategist and fearless and uncaring in equal measures.
Yes, seems like Marquez has been unusually lucky - he's had some massive get-offs & mostly walked away with nothing but bruises & a headache. I think statistically he will eventually have one where he doesn't get up.. That said he does seem to have incredible feel for the limit - saving it on his elbow etc. Crash-wise DP has made up for it for Honda on the injury front... The others need to raise their game to compete with 93 this season or he'll run a way with it. Just watched Pirro's crash. OMFG! that was frightening.