Championship Changes - Racing in Riot Mode

[Dark Angel]

MotoGP - The GOAT’s in retirement mode and the Marquez/Honda misery continues. Quatararo’s quickest and the following pack is failing.

Who’s gonna win it?

WSBK - Toprak’s taming Jay-Ray but it’s a close-run title-bash. Jay-Ray won’t relinquish his title easily, but Toprak’s tough, talented and very consistent of late.

Who’s gonna win it?

Suddenly, boring F1 is frenetic and feisty. Verstappen’s very fast and Hamilton’s having to dig deep. But it’s not looking good - Stapper might be on the beginning of a roll, now.

Who’s gonna win it?

Place your bets, gentlemen.

 

[andyBeaker]

MotoGP - The GOAT’s in retirement mode and the Marquez/Honda misery continues. Quatararo’s quickest and the following pack is failing.

Who’s gonna win it?

WSBK - Toprak’s taming Jay-Ray but it’s a close-run title-bash. Jay-Ray won’t relinquish his title easily, but Toprak’s tough, talented and very consistent of late.

Who’s gonna win it?

Suddenly, boring F1 is frenetic and feisty. Verstappen’s very fast and Hamilton’s having to dig deep. But it’s not looking good - Stapper might be on the beginning of a roll, now.

Who’s gonna win it?

Place your bets, gentlemen.

And Russell is driving for Mercedes next year…..cat amongst pigeons….what a talent he is.

 

[Dark Angel]

And Russell is driving for Mercedes next year…..cat amongst pigeons….what a talent he is.

…That’s for NEXT year. Let the spirit take you and state your prophecies for all three categories.

THIS is about RACING.

 

[andyBeaker]

…That’s for NEXT year. Let the spirit take you and state your prophecies for all three categories.

THIS is about RACING.

Verstappen for F1, Red Bull have got their act together , Max is a top driver although in my opinion not quite in Hamilton’s class (cue anti-Hamilton comment from Derek ), Mercedes treading water not developing their car in view of rule changes next season.

haven’t a clue on the others, not my bag.

 

[Pow-Lo]

I’m going with Hamilton for F1 this year. His experience will pay off because he‘s been there, done that and got the t shirt.

 

[slim63]

F1 boring, don't watch it and don't care

Moto GP marginally better nice to see Rins and MIr getting on it for a change, bikes are improving but its too late for them, Quatararo for the win failing a major problem as he has the machinery and the talent

WSBk way too close to call between Toprak and Jonathon if they both stay on for the remaining races it could be either of them but I would like to see Toprak winning overall as he's worked hard and seems a genuinely nice bloke, so is Rea but he cant will them all.

Of much more interest to me is British superbikes O'Halloran is bloody good but irritates me everytime he opens his mouth
Taz Mackenzie could well win it and deserves to but I would love to see Tommy Bridewell fulfil his promise and stand on the top step this year

 

[DEG5Y]

I'm really enjoying the bikes this year.

Marquez through his career has been very lucky to be 'major' injury free until he broke his arm and what an affect that has had.
Quatararo

WSBK ruled against the extra rpm for the Kawasaki, and what an affect that has had!
I think Toprack has got to hit the dirt for JR to win it!

There was a lot more pre season testing in BSB which I think has helped the 'lesser' teams. Never been a fan of Brookes
so good to see the Bird camp struggling.
With O'Halloran 100 points clear, it would be wrong for him to lose it but I think Mackenzie will get it, he seems strongest towards the end of the season.
(rumours are WSBK next year.)

 

[Dark Angel]

F1 boring, don't watch it and don't care

Moto GP marginally better nice to see Rins and MIr getting on it for a change, bikes are improving but its too late for them, Quatararo for the win failing a major problem as he has the machinery and the talent

WSBk way too close to call between Toprak and Jonathon if they both stay on for the remaining races it could be either of them but I would like to see Toprak winning overall as he's worked hard and seems a genuinely nice bloke, so is Rea but he cant will them all.

Of much more interest to me is British superbikes O'Halloran is bloody good but irritates me everytime he opens his mouth
Taz Mackenzie could well win it and deserves to but I would love to see Tommy Bridewell fulfil his promise and stand on the top step this year

F1: boring, don't usually watch it, but it could get tasty next time push turns to shove between Hamilton and Verstappen. Bottas doesn’t seem to be overly interested in following team orders, either - so there could be even more fun along the way! I reckon Verstappen for the title.

Moto GP: miles better than it was. More entertaining because the bikes have much the same out-and-out performance, but with marked differences vis-a-vis strengths and weaknesses. The Rossi saga is coming to an end, the Marquez saga continues, albeit it in a wobbly-weebull stylee and Quatararo’s saga seems bound for a glorious finale. With the rise of Aprillia, the move of Maverick, the return of Dovi and the burgeoning crop of talented rookies, well; that’s quite a mix! The “Q” man should win the title and I’ll be pleased if he does because he’s learnt from his experience and listened to what seems to be some excellent advice from those who surround him.

WSB: Toprak’s on the rise, but Johnny Rae’s no pushover and the fight for the title will be rough, tough and, I hope, fair between two of the hardest riders ever to compete in the WSBK paddock. It’ll go down to the wire, for sure - each way money on both of ‘em ‘cos it’s too close to call!

BSB: Taz Mackenzie - the smiling-est assassin I’ve ever seen. He’s tough, talented, fast and sprinkled with stardust. I hope he wins the title.

 

[Dark Angel]

I'm really enjoying the bikes this year.

Marquez through his career has been very lucky to be 'major' injury free until he broke his arm and what an affect that has had.
Quatararo

WSBK ruled against the extra rpm for the Kawasaki, and what an affect that has had!
I think Toprack has got to hit the dirt for JR to win it!

There was a lot more pre season testing in BSB which I think has helped the 'lesser' teams. Never been a fan of Brookes
so good to see the Bird camp struggling.
With O'Halloran 100 points clear, it would be wrong for him to lose it but I think Mackenzie will get it, he seems strongest towards the end of the season.
(rumours are WSBK next year.)

MotoGP: Marquez himself has admitted his fear that, because of his injury, he might not be “the same Marc Marquez as before.” Then, he goes and wins at Sachsenring! Was that win a flash in the pan? It’s hard to say, but Marquez still shows no fear of crashing - it’s as though, quite literally, he’s re-learning the lessons of the past while working to tame the Honda that only he can ride to its full potential. Time will tell… Quatararo will (probably) win the championship - but it ain't over yet!

WSBK: 500 rpm less than the expected limit of 15100rpm is a big hit for any bike, but Johnny Rae spent years learning how to get the best out of an outdated Honda and winning races on it, too. That’s why Kawasaki took him on and look what he’s done for them in return. He’s made some big mistakes this year, which shows how hard he’s working to retain his title, and he won’t stop pushing until it’s impossible to win; and if Toprak makes any kind of an error…

BSB: If O’Halloran wins it, it’ll be because he’s earned it - but I just think that Mackenzie deserves it more, somehow.

 

[DEG5Y]

WSBK: 500 rpm less than the expected limit of 15100rpm is a big hit for any bike,

But that 500rpm was coming from a bending of the rules.

That’s why Kawasaki took him on and look what he’s done for them in return.

I personally think Sykes did all the hard work!

 

[Dark Angel]

But that 500rpm was coming from a bending of the rules.

A-aaaarrrrr… Yer might be bein’ a bit picky there, Degs…

…I mean… “Bending the rules”…

…In this day and age…

…You never ‘eard o’ politicians…?

All that matters is winning.

What you’re willing to do to win is up to you.

It’s the the “new normal”, mate.

I personally think Sykes did all the hard work!

Yes, he did (Mrs DA and I have been Sykes supporters since his days in the Virgin Cup (600cc) Series).

But Rea took Tom’s bike and moved it on into realms of development that have brought year-on-year World Championship titles since 2015.

In racing - as in all other recreational/professional sports (including politics) - only results count.

But the difference between racing and politics is that in racing you can't fool any of the people any of the time.

 

[Minkey]

my favourite motorised vehicle viewing, BTCC always exciting to watch, especially Ash Sutton, then MOTOGP, lastly speedway.

 

[Dark Angel]

my favourite motorised vehicle viewing, BTCC always exciting to watch, especially Ash Sutton, then MOTOGP, lastly speedway.

Ah-ha! Days of Jason Plato! I enjoyed BTCC when he was racing - a proper character and a proper racer, I thought.

He's the kind of guy I can watch and believe in - same as Tiff Needell - and I enjoyed 'em both in "Fifth Gear".

Totally believable lads - unlike the scurrilous liar, Clarkson, who I wouldn't trust with my bag of crisps!

 

[Dark Angel]

Marquez nearly a second faster than the rest - FP1 Aragon.

 

[Dark Angel]

A brilliant quali. day in MotoGP, a gesture from Quatararo that made me smile and drama in BSB (SPOILER!).

(You might need to register to watch the free video on the MotoGP site - but it's worth it! )

Who could ask for more?!

 

[andyBeaker]

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the incident today I lost a lot of respect for Max for not checking Hamilton was ok. Which fortunately he is, but might easily have gone the other way.

Monza may be exciting for F1 but a couple of the chicanes make contact inevitable, that can’t be right.

 

[Me!]

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the incident today I lost a lot of respect for Max for not checking Hamilton was ok. Which fortunately he is, but might easily have gone the other way.

Monza may be exciting for F1 but a couple of the chicanes make contact inevitable, that can’t be right.

He will have been given that info down the confidential team radio.

 

[andyBeaker]

He will have been given that info down the confidential team radio.

Hmmmmmmmmmm….even if that was the case (which I doubt) then some show of interest/concern would have been good.

Walking off in a strop wasn’t.

 

[Me!]

Hmmmmmmmmmm….even if that was the case (which I doubt) then some show of interest/concern would have been good.

Walking off in a strop wasn’t.

It was almost as entertaining as Bagnia showing Marquez how it’s done. Rather refreshing

 

[Minkey]

Ah-ha! Days of Jason Plato! I enjoyed BTCC when he was racing - a proper character and a proper racer, I thought.

He's the kind of guy I can watch and believe in - same as Tiff Needell - and I enjoyed 'em both in "Fifth Gear".

Totally believable lads - unlike the scurrilous liar, Clarkson, who I wouldn't trust with my bag of crisps!

Jason is still hanging on in there