MotoGP 2009

Off-topic
1

This year is looking like it is going to be quite unpredictable. Based on test pace, Casey Stoner is looking like the man to beat. Valentino doesn’t seem that bothered by Casey’s pace. Unfortunately, Pedrosa is having a bad start to the year. Also there are dark horses like Jorge, Davidioso and Hayden. So is likely to win it this season? Who is your money on?

Personally, my money is on Valentino. His confidence is high from success of last season and the M1 Yamaha seems to be within 0.2sec of the ducati. That is all Valentino needs as most circuit is not about straight line speed but cornering speed and good [track] setup. These are the guys likely to win it:-

  1. Valentino Rossi 10:1
  2. Casey Stoner 8:1
  3. Jorge Lorenzo 7:1
2

I would like to see James Toesland but it`s not going to happen.

3

I’m thinking of having a Punt on Spies when he gets moved up to the premier league, really enjoying watching him in WSBK

This season though, figure it’ll be between Vale and Stoner. Think Dovizioso could throw down this year though

4

+1 lorenzo

5

me :smiley:

6

Rossi for the win with Lorenzo spoiling the party on more than a few occasions. Dovi and Stoner winning races to…Pedrosa i see self destructing and he starts the year injured and with the pressure of the chop if he doesn’t win (which i can’t see him doing very often).

Spies will be a top motogp rider but it’ll take him more than a rookie year to be winning maybe 2nd year he’ll be there but i bet ya he takes over from Colin next year…or even Rossi the year after.

7

I don’t care who wins as long as its close and exciting racing. Too many times we’ve seen the leader buggering off into the distance to win by a country mile. Lets see some fairing bashing ;):smiley:

8

i dont even have to say it really…but #46!:slight_smile:

9

It’ll be another two horse race between Rossi and Stoner as no one else can match their pace.

Dovi will get the occasional 2nd or 3rd. Lorenzo will win one of the Spanish rounds and be a top 5 finisher.

Ermm…I don’t think the racing will be that exciting or close.

I’m looking forward to Rossi retiring from GPs and racing in Superbike :smiley:

10

MotoGP is dying on the vine…IMHO.

It hasn’t been a racing spectacle for at LEAST the last 2 or 3 seasons…more of a parade. Only 17 bikes on the grid this year? And of those, only 3…maybe 4 have any kind of realistic shot at winning any given race.

It seems to me that MotoGP is rapidly become a farce…showing only a pale reflection of it’s former glory. If you want to see REAL racing…COMPETITIVE racing…you’ve gotta watch WSB. shrug

Having said that, I look for Rossi to win…and Stoner to be his only consistent challenger, assuming his wrist can go race distances rather than only 4 or 5 hot laps at a time.

11

You may have your wish this year.

Randy Mamola pegs Stoner to be favorite for 2009. He has been consistently fastest at most test meets. However, Stoner’s riding style relies heavily on electronics, he winds the throttle open and lets the electronics sort the rest out for him. With eletronics banned for 2009, it now comes down to finese of throttle control under race conditions and l think that is where Valentino has a upper hand.
That said, Stoner has been consistently better last year at setting up the bike quicker than anyone on the grid. Valentino hasn’t, but l put that down to crappy Michelins in 2006/7 and new Bridgestones in 2008. Now he has more experience with the Bridgestones and the Yamaha M1 chassis has been built around the Bridgestone, l think 2009 might be a different story.
One thing is certain, who ever wins it will not do so easily this year. I expect to see more race winners than we did last year. Thankfully, the MotoGP organisers haven’t lost their head and changed the point system as F1 has done. Hence we can expect the rider who most consistently visits the podium to win the title. If that comment smacks of Hayden, that was not intended but is quite possible.

12

zero points for nitro daze :w00t:

Launch control & electronically controlled suspension is banned, traction control, data logging etc is totally legal for 2009!!!

No one was using electronically adjusted suspension anyway, yamaha italia in wsb tried it at the end of last year i believe but no team in moto gp. So they’ve made them turn off launch control…like that will make any difference to a race result.

2 horse race, boring spectacle with no racing to speak of except in the mid pack. Hope I’m wrong. The sooner rossi and the rest move to WSBK with a 40 rider grid the better…that would be awesome!!!

13

I would love to see Mr Rossi do it again, just to make history in my life time.

14

How about Hayden?!.. I think if he gets off to a good start and builds up some early confidence on the Ducatti he’ll be a contender.

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I agree…he has real potential to kick some ass on the Ducati! Would love to see him beat Stoner :smiley:

Contenders for this year are pretty much the same as last, The Doctor, Stoner, Lorenzo, Pedrosa & Hayden. Watch out for Dovi…he’s proving to be quite the contender :cool:

Will be venturing to see the boys in Assen & Dony :wink: Cant wait :smiley:

16

They said that about Milandri on Ducati;):smiley:

17

The biggest surprise will be if Ducati keep him on a factory bike for more than this year.

Go to Superbike Hayden, and you Edwards and you Rossi. Forget Moto Pee Pee :smiley:

18

Did you happen to see a race called Laguna last year?

19

Yes…I watched it live.

Unfortunately, that was ONE race in what was otherwise a long boring season of parades. :blink:

20

You are quite correct , Traction Control appears not to be banned for 2009. Stoner has the electronic aid he needs to bring the race to Rossi this year. The question is “Has he got the mettle to trade paint with Vale and come on top?” Stoner, like Pedrosa like to win from the front. I mean romp off into the distance. On twisty tracks where standard tyre could mean close racing, l wonder how he would fair, especially after last season’s moan when he got beat up by Rossi at Laguna Seca:hehe:.