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MotoGP News - MotoGP Germany: Valentino Rossi: I lost a good opportunity

Well deserved ... almost 100k in attendance in the pouring rain:

Germany gets new MotoGP deal, Sachsenring likely venue - MotoGP - Autosport

AND, MotoGP returning to Finland for the first time since 1982:

MotoGP calendar: Finland returns to schedule for 2018 - MotoGP - Autosport

Lorenzo remains confident he can win the title:

Lorenzo insists: "The championship is not finished"

I have to say that Marquez is a fundamentally matured rider this year. If you recall, he crashed and crashed and crashed earlier last year ... had no patience and pressed to hard. The team switched to the 2014 chassis and he began shifting his mentality. This year his evolution as a rider has continued. He has become far more strategic and is tends to sit and await opportunities and when they emerge he pounces on them!

AND THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON HAS COMMENCED.... AND WHAT A START IT WAS!!!!

For the first time in 6 years ... DUCATI wins a race!!! Is a new golden age for Ducati upon us? Possibly so with Lorenzo joining the team for 2017!!!

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MotoGP Austria: Andrea Iannone takes first win in Ducati 1-2 - MotoGP - Autosport

Now let's not beat around the bush ... this track is tailored for Ducati ... it's the fastest track on the calendar and that's exactly what Ducati needed to win a race. It's also amazing that MotoGP is back in Austria. The time is perfect because:

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MotoGP News - MotoGP Austria: KTM: We?re on schedule for Qatar 2017

HERE COMES KTM!!!!!!

KTM will be joining a packed field in Qatar next year to kick-off 2017.... Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM... it's great to see manufacturers really backing this field.

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A couple of observations:

-great to see Marquez have a good race after hurting his shoulder earlier in the weekend. Finishing fifth allowed him to maintain much of his points lead over Lorenzo and Rossi
-a 1-2 finish for Ducati! The track definitely played into the strengths of the powerful Ducati bikes
-great to see MotoGP back in Austria after 19 years and great to see such a fantastic number of fans in attendance (the track has such a gorgeous backdrop)
-the MotoGP broadcast did an epic job of capturing the scale of this track. The F1 broadcast didn't capture how aggressively racked the track was and how steep sections were.

Ducati won last week and this week a British rider won! After a 'boring' race last week in Austria, this week's race was a THRILLER!!!

Early on (with hard tires from and rear) Lorenzo and Rossi vanished to the back of the field. However, as the track dried out, Rossi SURGED through the field and took a podium finish. Lorenzo, despite starting to put in some fast laps late WENT TO THE PITS and swapped bikes (against the advice of his team) and then SWAPPED back again!!!! He gave up a ton of points.

It was great to see a non-factory team win a race.

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'I've been close at a couple of races like Sachsenring and some others in the past, but nothing is greater than winning' - Cal Crutchlow.
Read more at http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/232...toL5Sf44FGL.99

Cal Crutchlow: I was playing with MotoGP rivals in Brno win - MotoGP - Autosport

What a TREMENDOUS performance by Rossi. The tire decision was strategic and paid off in a big way.

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'Unfortunately we did not also put the hard on the front because this morning I had not a very good feeling with the soft, so I was not brave enough like Cal' - Valentino Rossi.
Read more at MotoGP News - MotoGP Czech Republic: Rossi: I wasn't brave enough like Cal!

Lorenzo situation explained:

"Seven laps before the end the front tyre tore up, but when I stopped the [damaged part of the tyre] was on the tarmac," Lorenzo said. "So the front tyre looked perfect. It was only when they moved the bike that they understood a piece of the tyre was missing. That's probably why Ramon [Forcada, crew chief] didn't understand why I wanted to change the bike."
Read more at MotoGP News - MotoGP Czech Republic: Lorenzo: 'The front tyre tore up'

Race Finish

1 - Crutchlow
2 - Rossi
3 - Marquez
4 - Baz
5 - Barbera

Current Standings

1 - Marc Marquez - 197 pts
2 - Valentino Rossi - 144 pts
3 - Jorge Lorenzo - 138 pts
4 - Dani Pedrosa - 109 pts
5 - Maverick Viñales - 100 pts

As a final note, it was terrific to see a British rider top the podium. I had no idea it had been 35 years. I'm particularly excited because in two weeks I'll be in the UK to see the British MotoGP race live at Silverstone.

Marquez just killing it. :joy:

Appreciate your thread btw

VINALES!!!

Maverick Rules Silverstone for a Stunning Maiden Win

I feel happy for the Suzuki factory team as well. Mav now #4 on the standings with 125 points, super impressive result. Esparargaro though :rolleyes: Can't wait to see Mav next season with an M1.


With a handful of races left, looks like another disappointing season for VR though. Forever #2.

I'm going to post a completely separate thread in the near future about my experience at Silverstone last weekend for the British MotoGP race but in the meantime I wanted to make sure I got this update in while it was still relevant. :)

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Vinales wins British GP, Crutchlow second!!!

Maverick Vinales wins MotoGP British GP for Suzuki, Cal Crutchlow second - MotoGP - Autosport

Circuit of Wales still not complete, British MotoGP will stay at Silverstone for 2017

Silverstone keeps MotoGP for 2017 in new Circuit of Wales deal - MotoGP - Autosport

MotoGP: British Grand Prix at Silverstone for foreseeable future | MCN

Dani Pedrosa (sans splitters) had amazing pace to win his first race of 2016. He has now won at least one race during every single season in MotoGP's top tier. It was nice to see the ever classy rider win a race. Rossi had a terrific race and (for the fourth consecutive competition) finished ahead of Marc Marquez to claw back some critical points.

MotoGP Results - MotoGP Misano - Race Results

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Sunfighter, your behind by 1 race. This past weekend's race was in Aragon.

Race finish
1 - Marquez
2 - Lorenzo
3 - Rossi
4 - Vinales
5 - Crutchlow

Championship Standings
1 - Marquez - 248 pts
2 - Rossi - 196 pts
3 - Lorenzo - 182 pts
4 - Pedrosa - 155 pts
5 - Vinales - 149 pts

AragonGP

Dorna doesn't ever waste time taking down youtube vids from the race.

It was from official MotoGP page so I guess you have to watch it directly on YT.

THE KING HAS BEEN CROWNED!!!!

http://www.ecestaticos.com/imagestat...ime=1413133465

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-...hampion-motegi

Marc Marquez didn't understand pressure before 2016 MotoGP season - MotoGP - Autosport

Race Finish

1 - Marc Marquez (Honda)
2 - Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati)
3 - Maverick Viñales (Suzuki)
4 - Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki)
5 - Cal Crutchlow (Honda)

Current Standings

1 - Marc Marquez - 273 pts
2 - Valentino Rossi - 196 pts
3 - Jorge Lorenzo - 182 pts
4 - Dani Pedrosa - 145 pts
5 - Maverick Viñales - 155 pts

So much happened in this race ....

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-Rossi crash: title hopes vanish
-Lorenzo crash: gives title to Marquez
-Marquez wins title: same race as in 2014
-Suzuki takes 3rd and 4th
-Iannone "injured" and doesn't attend race... as per the BT Sport MotoGP podcast he is acting like a "petulant child" ... maybe not a surprise since he won't be back with Ducati next year but who would want to sign him with the attitude he is demonstrating?
-Pedrosa doesn't race - has surgery for earlier crash
-could Cal Crutchlow race for the factory Honda team in Australia???

Nicky Hayden filling in for Pedrosa at Philip Island.
That's going to be sweet seeing the Kentucky Kid back on the Repsol machine.