2012 MotoGP Shaping Up

[Go4Long]

1000cc bikes already faster than the all time circuit record with the 800s at Sepang

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/t...y+3+end+report

Should be a good year.

[japan_us]

Rossi looks good out the gate, but more importantly he's happy with the bike. MotoGP needs him to be competitive, and there's a good chance he will be this year.

Stoner was his usual self with that sub 2min lap, but that was during the early part of the day. Lorenzo and Spies actually did more sub 2min 01sec laps during the tougher parts of the day, so the M1 looks really good as well.

Here's hoping the factory rides are within a second of each other come Qatar.

[Go4Long]

Stoner is recovering from a tweaked back, hence the inability to do long stints at speed. He didn't ride tuesday at all, and only half a day yesterday.

Hayden is still recovering from shoulder problems.

Yamaha looks good, Ducati is doing well considering the bike is really only 40 days old while the other bikes have been in development since mid last year. Honda looks VERY good again.

[japan_us]

Fair enough about the bad back. I was more trying to say that the consistent times are a good sign for the Yamaha team.

Honda does look good, but this was expected. I think what wasn't expected was to see the Yamaha and Ducati so close. Stoner is crazy fast and is on a different level on an open track. That said, the Yamahas and Rossi did quite well when compared to DP.

I'm not looking too much into Hayden and Dovi because of their respective injuries.

[TunerF1]

The Repsol boys will no doubt be on top for a while. Stoner set insane times on his second lap. Spies should be good with the 1000's from his WSBK days.. same with Crutchlow. Definitely looking to be an exciting season!!

[m10-power]

Hopefully the tires hold up this time under race conditions or it will be a lame season of conservation.

[japan_us]

Nicky will be in Jerez in three weeks, testing new parts for the Duc. The CRTs will also be on track, so it should be interesting to see the gap. DePuniet isn't looking too bad on the ART!

[TunerF1]

LCR has high hopes on Bradl as well.. Im anxious to see how he does to start the season. With no Suzuki this year I also waiting to see how Bautista does on a Honda. He put up some imprssive times and positions last year on the under performing Suzuki... maybe with a better bike he can push harder for the front of the pack. Lots of good potential!!

[japan_us]

Originally posted by TunerF1
...Lots of good potential!!

Agreed, at least early on in the season. Once the factory rides start to get the upgrades we'll see the satelites fall back, as usual.

I really like Bautista. I met him at Laguna one year and he seems like a really nice guy, and he's always been quietly quick. I was impressed by his form on the Suzuki - kinda wish he had one more year to work with.

Bradl could impress, but the LCR team isn't known to be the easiest to work with. From what I've read/heard, they're not very receptive to rider input. If Bradl is like Stoner and get-on-and-go quick, he should be fine, but if he needs a finer tuned machine, like Elias, it could be a long season.

[civic_stylez]

I was really upset to hear about Suzuki dropping out for the next few years. I think they were on the right path to getting some good results. Ive alway been a big Bautista fan. I followed his blog posts on his riders for health trip in Africa. Seems like a pretty cool guy.

Dovi seems to be really happy going to Yami but I dont think he will have it as easy as he did with RC212V at honda. The new aluminum frame on the GP12 will keep Rossi happy as last year was a total write off. It will be better for the front end/understeer control issues that killed them last year.

Hopefully the testing will establish a competitve season.

[japan_us]

Originally posted by civic_stylez
...
Dovi seems to be really happy going to Yami but I dont think he will have it as easy as he did with RC212V at honda...

I think he's just being professional about it. He went from the strongest factory package to a satellite squad - he was gutted. He didn't really have a choice after HRC decided to back Sic (RIP).

Before the season ended, I remember Dovi being asked if he would consider riding for Ducati alongside Vale, and him saying that the Ducati was too far behind in terms of being competitive. I wonder what he thinks now that the GP12 is showing some promising signs.