Anyone else excited about the start of MotoGP season?

[mmattockx]

Yeah buddy! Question: why do so many people dislike Mark Marquez? I've seen him booed on the podium at a number of past races.

He's won a huge pile of races and championships and has on occasion been a reckless douche on the track. Because of the halo effect, the stewards have never sanctioned him for his moments of stupidity and that really chaps some people.


Mark

[Buffalo Bill]

Irish Road Racing kicking off soon.
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/m...e-2016-3459749

They have a range event of sizes. Which do you think are the best?

[RichDesmond]

He's won a huge pile of races and championships and has on occasion been a reckless douche on the track. Because of the halo effect, the stewards have never sanctioned him for his moments of stupidity and that really chaps some people.


Mark

Actually, he has been penalized a couple of times, but not nearly often enough to suit some people.

[RichDesmond]

Good question. Maybe because he crushed the competition, including Rossi, with in-your-face race tactics? I think it could be argued that he had a run that was as good or better than any other in the history of the sport. That said, I can't remember a race that I was happy that he won, except for maybe beating Lorenzo.

That sums it up pretty well.

I've been watching GP racing since 1978, and he's the best I've ever seen. Probably said this before here, but I was at COTA in 2013 when he won his first MotoGP race. Was here all three days and saw all of practice and qualifying. Left there just stunned, convinced he'd win the championship that year and as many after that as he was healthy for.

[Grimly]

They have a range event of sizes. Which do you think are the best?

I try to catch the North West 200 if I can, but realistically any of the smaller venues are just as hairy and ass-clenching.
The annoying thing is, about half of the meetings take place in the Republic, but the state broadcaster refuses to cover them, so the only TV coverage is courtesy of BBC Northern Ireland, and they can't cover events south of the border.

[Forden]

Irish Road Racing kicking off soon.
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/m...e-2016-3459749

I just watched "The Road Racers" for the first time. Loved it, even the crappy resolution copy I downloaded. Sad though to acknowledge all the principals died on tracks thereafter, even if J Dunlop lasted a couple decades...

[zuluwiz]

It's kinda hard to get excited about something which you don't know what it is. I'm going to assume MotoGP is a race of some sort.

[Buffalo Bill]

I've been enjoying this weekly MOTOGP group discussion on youtube. Fills the weekdays with something.

[KiwiAlfa156]

Yeah love the MotoGP. Qatar was really interesting. Race one is always where the truth begins. So far we know that Honda has built bikes that people -other than Marquez- can ride at winning pace and not fall off. Yamaha is too slow to be at the front, especially in qualifying and if you're not in the first three rows your likely to be toast, as is Quartarro's title defense. Every marque apart from Yamaha look competitive out of the box. Suzuki seems to have gained enough power and aero to not get blitzed down the long Lusail straights, Aprilla (4th place) and KTM (2nd place) are also well balanced and thus competitive packages. Ducati still seems on paper the bike to beat, and even though Bastianini came first on a Ducati, it was last years bike. For the record, the next best was Ducati was 8th (Zarco) behind both Suzukis and that 3 x Ducatis DNFed and no factory bike made it into the points.

[cowboyup3371]

It's kinda hard to get excited about something which you don't know what it is. I'm going to assume MotoGP is a race of some sort.

The premier motorcycle race circuit.

Sadly the various NBC channels aren’t showing the race TV broadcast schedules where I can find them like I could the last few years. Or maybe it’s me spending most of my time in the shop

[Baatfam]

It's on CNBC at 3pm Eastern....

Your complete racing schedule for all things racing:

[BigD_83]

You know, when I was younger I was mad about all things racing. I truly wanted to get into it myself, having a rally-racer for a father. Life and money obstacles, plus a dose of parental common-sense intervened and I never did race. You'd think that I'd be more into now, but I'm just not. I do love catching the highlights and checking in on the drama now and again.

[Baatfam]

Who knew about this and didn't say anything? Wife and watched the first two episodes yesterday, and it is good.
Amazon for sure stole the format from Netflix and their Formula 1: Drive to survive....

[Baatfam]

OK, first day of Spring is going to be pretty cool.

We are just minutes away from lights out in the first Formula 1 race of the year, in Bahrain
New cars this year, with both Ferrari and Haas are looking strong. (ESPN)

Immediately after that, at 1pm eastern, is the first IndyCar race of the year, in Texas. (NBC)

And finally, at 3pm eastern, Moto GP from Indonesia, to finish the day off right. (CNBC)...

[Big T]

Interesting race today, definitely wouldn't have predicted the results from the last race