revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Wise words from Cal. Him saying that 'we don't need more power, we need a smoother engine', reminds me of other interviews I've read, saying the same thing. It's the engine's inherent character that determines whether it will do fast lap times or not. An engine that delivers the right amount of power at the right time will make for faster lap times than a more powerful engine that relies on electronics to make it rideable. Fab Frog is an amazing rider, but I think he's leading Yamaha down the wrong path constantly asking for more power.

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 11:06 pm Wise words from Cal. Him saying that 'we don't need more power, we need a smoother engine', reminds me of other interviews I've read, saying the same thing. It's the engine's inherent character that determines whether it will do fast lap times or not. An engine that delivers the right amount of power at the right time will make for faster lap times than a more powerful engine that relies on electronics to make it rideable. Fab Frog is an amazing rider, but I think he's leading Yamaha down the wrong path constantly asking for more power.

He's asking for more power to allow the factory to fit more downforce.

Whose direction will Yamaha follow? Sounds like a clear difference of opinion in development direction between Cal and FF.

ChrisW wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:39 pm I’m really glad it’s happened. It’s got to be positive for the class.

Looking forward to next season!

Yeah that. It doesn't do any good for the championship to have one of the best riders of all time on a shit bike.

Of course we (and Marc) get to see if he has still got it now. I suspect this is also a win win. If he can't do it I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't just quit with his money, he doesn't seem the type to roll around at the back. If he can do it then we see a top rider back near or at the front fighting where he should be.

The only downsides I can see are
1. Where does this leave Honda. Their best rider just left for a privateer team through choice! Their 2nd rider is desperately looking for an out. Their 3rd rider has gone to Yamaha after the Honda tried to kill him one too many times and the last rider is there cos he's Japanese.
2. Where does this leave Fabio and Yamaha. If Marc succeeds on a Ducati then Fabio will be wanting to jump ship (even more). We could end up with all the best riders on a Ducati for a one make series, even more than it already is. And will the Japanese just pull out.

Supermofo wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:45 am We could end up with all the best riders on a Ducati for a one make series, even more than it already is. And will the Japanese just pull out.

I hope not. Honda have made improvements in the last couple of races (I realise India was a bit of an outlier) and the two Japanese teams have been signing people on multi year contracts.

Maybe this is the kick up the arse they need? For a while it's felt to me like Ducati & KTM (and Aprilia to a lesser extent) have had a 'win at any cost' mindset, whereas Honda & Yamaha have felt a bit more like 'carry on winning but try not to spend too much'.

ChrisW wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 10:29 am

Supermofo wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:45 am We could end up with all the best riders on a Ducati for a one make series, even more than it already is. And will the Japanese just pull out.

I hope not. Honda have made improvements in the last couple of races (I realise India was a bit of an outlier) and the two Japanese teams have been signing people on multi year contracts.

Maybe this is the kick up the arse they need? For a while it's felt to me like Ducati & KTM (and Aprilia to a lesser extent) have had a 'win at any cost' mindset, whereas Honda & Yamaha have felt a bit more like 'carry on winning but try not to spend too much'.

Me too. I was gutted when Suzuki left and it'd be proper shite if one or both the others quit.They do seem to be trying to keep things in budget more than the Europeans.

Further ramifications of Marquez's move to Gresini - apparently he will not be allowed to take his crew chief and pit crew with him:

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10373 ... him-ducati

Ducati do not want to show the inner-workings of MotoGP’s best bike to a group of engineers who, at the end of 2024, will become free agents and could take the knowledge to a rival manufacturer.

mangocrazy wrote: Fri Oct 06, 2023 11:08 am Further ramifications of Marquez's move to Gresini - apparently he will not be allowed to take his crew chief and pit crew with him:

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10373 ... him-ducati

Ducati do not want to show the inner-workings of MotoGP’s best bike to a group of engineers who, at the end of 2024, will become free agents and could take the knowledge to a rival manufacturer.

It gives him a good excuse if he doesn't win on Ducati, though it would be pretty lame as the crew chief he's likely to get helped win the World Championship in 2020

Interesting article on 6 reasons why Honda have fallen so far behind the European factories. Pretty sure we've covered all these at some point in our discussions, but...


https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10373 ... west-point

See it’s confirmed now, Marquez to Gresini for 2024.


https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10378 ... ini-ducati

wull wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:20 am See it’s confirmed now, Marquez to Gresini for 2024.


https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10378 ... ini-ducati

And cleared to test a Ducati at Valencia next month, too.

ChrisW wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:58 am

wull wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:20 am See it’s confirmed now, Marquez to Gresini for 2024.


https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10378 ... ini-ducati

And cleared to test a Ducati at Valencia next month, too.

Now that will be interesting.

I wonder which brother is paid most?

Young M is there on merit and twice world champion

Older M was desperate for a better ride so maybe not in a great bargaining position. Will be better armed next year

Yorick wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:38 pm I wonder which brother is paid most?

My understanding is that's M.Marquez isn't getting paid. He's doing it for free.

So..Zarco has ruled himself out for the works Honda Repsol ride. I wonder who'll end up in MM's old seat now. Digi? He'd be mad to,but then he's out of a job anyway.

Who knows - I'm sure I heard that Digi had decided recently, what with him leaving at the end of the season, to ignore the Ducati hive-mind set-up and go with his own. Maybe he could do something with the Honda?

From what I heard the reason that Digi's results have improved so dramatically recently is that he's gone away from the recommended Ducati settings and started using 'unapproved' settings that are substantially different to the Gospel according to Bologna.

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Oct 23, 2023 6:28 pm From what I heard the reason that Digi's results have improved so dramatically recently is that he's gone away from the recommended Ducati settings and started using 'unapproved' settings that are substantially different to the Gospel according to Bologna.

Yeah, heard that mentioned in qualy commentary. It'll be interesting to see what happens, admire his plan to hang on to the bitter end rather than taking a WSB or Moto2 seat.
Also looking forward to how Zarco goes for the rest of the season now he's got that monkey off his back, He might do his team mate some favours..?

G.P wrote: Mon Oct 23, 2023 6:38 pm He might do his team mate some favours..?

He didn't last week.