[Closed] Moto GP 2013

He has Rossi's bike. He's said as much himself. He wants Rossi's team.

He has Rossi's bike. He's said as much himself. He wants Rossi's team.

Cal was given on of the chassis designs that VR and JL rejected during their last test but he didn't like it so went back the the 2012 chassis.

I don't think anyone knows apart from the techies what Cal is running, rumour has it that Rossis bike and Lorenzos is different and that the playing field is tilted in Lorenzos favour which was part of him agreeing to have Rossi back as a team mate.

I get the impression that Cal is a wring the tits off the thing and bully it through corners while the other 3-4 at the front have a lot more finesse in the way they ride. Could be wrong.

But with last years chassis and fuel tank position. That's why he can't attack in the first few laps because the heavy fuel load affects the front end feel.

Should have said front end feel for him.

Different riders, different feel innit! 😀

Upon reflection and having spoken to someone well regarded in the BSB paddock, Cal's move may be a wise one.

OPTION 1 (head over heart, set up for life)

He goes to a FACTORY Ducati for 4 years for £7million (I think that's the terms). So he's stinking rich for life, well looked after and most likely he's nowhere then that will be the bikes fault, not Cal's.
Audi makes an example of the lead Italian engineers sending them to the special shower blocks to motivate the others and Cal starts getting podiums and wins then it'll be down to him (whether or not the bike has actually improved).

OPTION 2

He has no other Factory options and stays at Tech 3, next year he'll only (due to bike limitations) do what he's done this year so far at best and if he does any worse then he's paid a pittance and after a few years fades through CRT obscurity to WSB/BSB.

OPTION 3

He gets the Gresini ride and the same thing will probably happen.

OPTION 1b (heart rules head)

The Ducati deal lasts about a year as the bike is still rubbish. Cal realises that his inner racer is dying a little bit at a time, every time he fails to get anywhere on the Ducati or it beats him up for no explainable reason. Cal wants a win more than money at this point.
A FACTORY HONDA, YAMAHA or Suzuki ride comes up. Contract suddenly becomes worthless and Cal leaves for another team.

Of course it's a wise move. He's hasn't got many years left. He needs to earn some money.

Marquez

kind of dominance Rossi once had

I was actually thinking the same about Lorenzo, truth is unless there are rule changes like there have been in the last decade then i don't think anyone will repeat Rossi. They will be more like Doohan, and thats no bad thing at all 😉

Cal?
Look, i hope he owns the Ducati- its not beyond the realms of possibility- he comes from a superbike background so if Ducati can make their bike more 'superbike' like then he'll be fine 😀
Don't forget that Rossi, Hayden, Dovi etc all came from GP backgrounds- used to 125, 250 and 500cc bikes (and of course MotoGP), maybe Cal can be the solution to their problems.

Fingers crossed eh?

Yo.

I've got tix to Silverstone on Saturday - I know nothing about Motorbikes.

Should I go - can someone tell me what to do/what to see and what not to do etc.

🙂

Cheers,
SammyF

Don't forget that Rossi, Hayden, Dovi etc all came from GP backgrounds- used to 125, 250 and 500cc bikes (and of course MotoGP), maybe Cal can be the solution to their problems.

Hayden came from AMA (American Superbikes) and dirt track before that. They thought his style would suit the Ducati, and to be fair he's been ok on it (at least compared to Rossi.)

Edit: I'll never really understand how Hayden was a world champion. Seem to remember it being Dani's first season and everyone else kept falling off.

Yo.

Completely disagree about Cal not being WC material, he can't do it on a Ducati but I reckon he'd mix it up with Lorenzo/Marquez/Pedrosa on Rossi's bike no probs.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I don't think he's as good as those three, week in, week out. He finished behind a very second hand Jorge last time out. Ok, perhaps not his favourite track, but to be in with a chance of being WC, you need a bad weekend to be third at worst - not at best.

Regarding his bike compared to the factory boys? No idea tbh, but reports suggest there's not a lot in it. It's certainly not underpowered to the same extent it was at Qatar.

I'd love Ducati to turn it around and for Cal to be leading the charge. He'll need to delete his social media accounts if he wants to keep his job 😀 . I doubt zee germans would appreciate him lambasting the bike in public if it remains a dog.

News Flash (assuming its not been stated already)

From Bradley Smiths [url=

page :

"Smith and Espargaro form young and talented Monster Yamaha Tech 3 line-up for 2014"

I'll never really understand how Hayden was a world champion

Consistency- not Lorenzo consistency- but consistency none the less. And everyone else kept falling off 😀
It was nice to see though, everyone likes an underdog 😉
He has been pretty good on the Ducati aswell to give him his dues...

Hayden is a good rider, the Champ I just dont understand is Kenny Roberts jnr.

Also a good rider. Timing and luck come into every championship.

cupra - Member
Crutchlow signs to Ducati for 2 years...

Get the wheelchair ready.

Whatever they're paying him, it's not worth it.

We had a chance of a British World Champ, now the best we can hope for is he comes out of it walking because I don't think he'll be backing off.

(I hope I'm wrong)

Hayden is a good rider, the Champ I just dont understand is Kenny Roberts jnr.

I know what you mean about Jr, though he was second the year before, and he did win quite a few races.

Hayden, was it only the one win at Laguna Seca in his championship season? A very lucky champion.

We had a chance of a British World Champ

The only way crutchlow can win a championship is in a factory team. Yamaha is full. Honda is full.

He had absolutely no chance of winning in a satellite team.

The statistic I love about Hayden's championship year is that Bayliss led more laps that year than Hayden - but Bayliss only did one race. Also heard that Rossi thought it was in the bag and celebrated a bit too much on the Saturday night. Hangover = crash at first corner...

Lets get back to racing, everyone is fit again well fittish and since Bradl seems to have got the handling sorted he can run at the front, should be a cracking race.

The Levi post 😉

Is it just me or has MotoGP disappeared from iPlayer? Last 2 rounds (which I've missed) don't seen to have ever been put on it?

Bloody hell, Bradders up to sixth in free practice!

Cal 2nd.

Looking forward to this, how very dare they have a summer break!

S'on the red button now folks.

Peppa pig sounds much more appealing....

Mamola retired yonks ago.

Blimey, half a second!

Redding 😯 holy crap

Bloody brilliant race

WTF were the ducati boys doing???

Love how Rossi came back to 4th from no where. Superb 8)

Crutchlow seemed to have enjoyed that race incredibly too. Big smiles from him afterwards. He had great tussles with bautista all the way through and then with rossi at the end. Looked like superb fun from a riders point of view. 😆

last few laps were ripping! Marquez is a stunning to watch, how he slid that bike around beggers believe 😀

I can't help thinking Yamaha have made a big mistake with Crutchlow.

Marquez was looking very much like Stoner.

The ducati motocross project showed more promise than their moto gp program.

brilliant race, shame they missed some of the key moves. Ducati reminded me of this (also involving Hayden)

[IMG] [/IMG]

I thought Cal's interview was clumsily handled - asked what he had to say to his worried fans he replied "my true fans will support me and they dont know what was on the table" - he as much as said "I am being paid a fortune so f-- it". Surely he'd have been better (and just as honest) to say that he expects Ducati to turn the bike around and make it competitive within the 2 years?

Marquez was looking very much like Stoner.

Stoner wouldn't have made that move on Pedrosa.

Watching the slow motion of Marquez sliding put me in mind of the poster I had on my bedroom wall of Doohan doing the same thing.

Any replays of the Ducati incident yet? 😀

Was it just me and my wobbly eyes or was Marquez' bike suffering a good deal of chatter while he was monstering it round? Interesting to see Rossi coming back so strongly in the dying laps.

Hard to tell with Marquez's bike it was going in all directions all at once it seemed to me. The poor thing was left wimpering in the garage after the race wondering what the hell had just happened to it.

Rabat had the same thing as Rossi, suddenly finding pace at the end of the race. Rossis move to get 4th from Cal was pretty smart 😀

Yamaha put a tyre warmer on Lorenzos rear in the winners enclosure, that was strange.

MSP - Member
"Marquez was looking very much like Stoner."
Stoner wouldn't have made that move on Pedrosa.

He wouldn't have had to...

He would of been bleating about something of nothing..... 😉

Best move of the day was Redding on Espagaro. "Want it" !

That move provoked my Holy Crap post 😆

Love how Rossi came back to 4th from no where. Superb

Makes you wonder if he can ride fast with a full tank of fuel- how comes he can't put a decent qualifying lap together? If he started on the front row he might have kept Marquez in sight.

Marquez for the title anyone? I laughed in disbelief a few times as he slung it sideways and kept it out of the gravel- and power wheelieing out of the last bend with the front completely crossed up 8)
Too cool for school 😀

He wouldn't have had to...

Check out his rookie year, he would have just chucked it into the gravel trap.

Marquez for the title anyone?

He is in the lead, so now he is favourite. Next races are important, are Lorrenzo and Pedrosa slowed by their injury's or has Marquez stolen a march on them.

Anyone else think Pedrosa's start was a bit dodgy? Seemed just as, if not more, intent on baulking Marquez's start than getting away himself. Bit of niggle in the team maybe.

Check out his rookie year, he would have just chucked it into the gravel trap.

Hahaha!

Marquez for the title anyone?

Why oh why didn't I put a tenner on him winning it at the start of the season, I thought about it as a "nah it'll never happen but just imagine...." Type thing after seeing his times in testing 🙁

So I'm in the shop just now and this bloke walks in with a HIGH end carbon Spesh road bike. Carbon EVERYTHING. Power meters, high end GPS, team kit, the lot. Built like a very serious cyclist he was.
He asks for a pump.
His voice rings a bell at this point but I say nowt.
Chatting away it turns out he's just come back from the USA
"Holiday?" I enquired.
"No, racing" he replies.
"Motorbikes is that"
"Yeah"
"You're Cal Crutchlow!"
"Yeah"

So I congratulated him on getting the Works Ducati ride and said good luck etc
Lovely chap. Not as tall as I thought he would be, mind....

That's made my day has that 😀

Sweet 😀

He's a dwarf isn't he? Same height as Danny the Spanish 50kg dwarf.

Haha! Peter, the top end specialized fsr xc, at the time, wasn't flash enough for Shane Byrne when I tried to sell him one (10 years ago) 👿 May have been my sales technique though 😉

Even at 3 ft tall Crutchlow would scare the crap out of me 😯

Watch your word boblo 🙄

My money still he would nail the championship this year 😈

chapeau PP. In fact, this chapeau

[img] [/img]

🙂

Watch my word? In English please....

😀

I hope he's not been spending that Ducati money on a spesh, the Italians will lynch him.

He's a dwarf isn't he? Same height as Danny the Spanish 50kg dwarf.

Well I'm only 5'8" and I was taller than Cal.

Odd thing I did notice - You know how motorcycle racers stand with their leathers on, because of the shape of the outfit? Sort of slightly crouched with their arms round in front of them, as if they're just about to sit on the throne for a good old crap?
Well, he stands like that anyway... 🙂

Apparently he's 5'6". Officially 'girl' height (5'6" being the average height of a British lady). Not sure I'd say that to him mind you... 🙂

Dani "2013 motogp champion" pedrosa i think is 5'3 .... Cal is just 5'6? Hmm..he looks taller in tv

Motorbike riders stand like that to show off the sponsors logos that are on their arms I believe? I'm sure I've seen an interview that saw Foggy attributed with it's creation....

@the wolf... you've just got a very big TV. 🙂

Great work Cal brilliant pole 🙂

Great pace from Cal, outright lap record i believe?...Yamaha were daft not to lay on a third factory bike for him next year.

I hope Ducati get their act together next year, Cal is now one of the best in the class, on a good Ducati he could make a run on the title.....can Ducati make the bike good again that's the question?

Of course Yamaha could have laid on a third factory bike.
But Valentino can't be seen to be beaten into last place in the team by a relative rookie, can he?
And no one wants to upset the goose that lays the golden egg, do they?

So it's the cold shoulder for Cal so Vale and his fans can continue as they are, safe in the fantasy that he's still a better rider.

Yes that's right Rusty 🙄

Epic Moto 2 race Hyva Mika 😀

Glad you agree.

You are aware of Vale's history of massive toys out of pram incidents whenever he's had competative team mates, aren't you?

Glad you agree.

You are aware of Vale's history of massive toys out of pram incidents whenever he's had competative team mates, aren't you?

What's your point? If it is that Rossi is a bastard and utterly ruthless about racing. . . . . .well duh 😉 Can you name a champion that haven't got an ego the size of a planet.

You saying Cal is a better rider than Rossi is laughable 😀 Why has Cal gone to Ducati??? Money and I am not blaming him for that, I don't think he has been very smart in how he or his management have dealt with negotiations. Cal is a brilliant rider of that there is no doubt.

At least he didn't run away from the sport because he didn't like competition, like moaner did.

Fantastic racing between Marquez and Lorenzo.

It's just an absolute joy to watch Marquez riding that bike around.

Good race, agree about Marquez, he's starting to make some people look decidedly average.

MSP - Member

At least he didn't run away from the sport because he didn't like competition, like moaner did.

No, he ran away from Yamaha because he knew Lorenzo was a much faster rider on that bike. 🙂

Oh, and 'moaner'? Are you 11?

Pigface - Member
You saying Cal is a better rider than Rossi is laughable Why has Cal gone to Ducati??? Money and I am not blaming him for that, I don't think he has been very smart in how he or his management have dealt with negotiations. Cal is a brilliant rider of that there is no doubt.

Well, we'll never know will we, because Vale, Jorge and their management teams have ensured that they never have to race Cal on equal terms.
Why do [b]you[/b] think Yamaha didn't provide CC with a works bike?

Really, this level of blind devotion, combined with a refusal to believe he can do any wrong is quite sweet.
Worrying, but sweet.
Religious, almost.
Reminds me of when my god daughters were fans of the Spice Girls - oh, the tears when they realised they were just human after all. 😀

No, he ran away from Yamaha because he knew Lorenzo was a much faster rider on that bike.

Oh, and 'moaner'? Are you 11?

Italian rider goes to Italian team, you're really clutching at straws to hate Rossi. But there is no doubting that stoner likes to moan, and left because he didn't like having to compete, shame though I would have love to see him blubbing like a baby about a Marquez move 😆

I don't hate Rossi.
I admire his skill and talent immensely. 🙂

But there is no doubting that stoner likes to moan, and left because he didn't like having to compete, shame though I would have love to see him blubbing like a baby about a Marquez move

I think you'll find it would have been the tyres - or something. 😀

In all honesty, I don't think anyone has an answer to Marquez - shame, ecause he's just going to bugger off on his own at the front for a few years.
At least if Stoner came back we'd have better racing.

😆 Dear Rusty I don't worship Rossi at all and if anything is worrying is your refusal to see facts, to use your religion analogy are you an Orangeman in N.I who just refuse to see the facts 🙂

Remind me where Cal finished compared with the Messiah 😆

And don't you dare diss the Spice Girls zigazag ahhh 😉

Cracking picture of Bradl - check out the sparks off his elbow!

[img] [/img]

By Tom Thompson at superbikeplanet.com.

But there is no doubting that stoner likes to moan

Nice photo Namastebuzz, shame you didn't take it!!!
Weather here at Silverstone is wonderful
Some great qualifying & some spectacular crashes!!
The new pit lane exit seems to be catching a few out!!
Roll on the races 🙂

Great qualifying from Lorenzo and Marquez, I wonder how the race will go, I suspect that Lorenzo wasn't back to race fitness last time round, I think he may be the only one who can push Marquez, but I can't work out why Lorenzo is working his tyres harder than Marquez when watching their riding styles. Maybe the Yamaha's handling isn't as sorted as generally believed. And of course will Pedrosa be able to push them both again in race trim.

This season is just getting better with each race.

Watching Marquez you would think he would be shredding tyres, but reckon the Yamaha spends more time on the sides of the tyre and carries more corner speed than the Honda which may be why the tyres are having to work harder.

Hope Lorenzo and Pedrosa can get up there and at least make a race of it. Great qualifying with Lorenzo putting in what he reckoned was one of the best laps of his racing career... and still he gets beaten by Marquez.

And this morning, Marquez has a fairly major crash.........had to happen sooner or later. Sounds like a shoulder dislocation and I wouldn't be surprised if he still races. To be honest, an injury to Marc is the only hope anyone else has of clawing their way back into the championship.