MotoGP, Superbikes and Road Racing 2021

As expected Nakagami has signed for Honda on a 'multi-year' deal.


Apparently Dovi is passing out his CV looking for a test rider job. Surely, if he wants to stay in MotoGP, he'll accept the seat on offer at Aprilia when it inevitably comes?


Speaking if which... the verdict on Iannone's appeal (and WADA's) is not now expected until mid-November. It was expected within the week but the fact that WADA are counter-appealing has meant it will take longer. Iannone offered no physical evidence in the appeal or the original hearing, not even a food intake diary which most athletes prone to random testing would keep. His defence has repeatedly said that the FIM and judge have accepted that it was an accidental contamination but they've never stated this. Incidentally, the drug he tested positive for is Drostanolone. It's a very expensive drug that's almost unheard of in meat contamination. It's used to aid weight loss. Coincidentally, Iannone had been bragging that he'd lost 7KG around the same time. It carries an automatic 4 year ban so I don't know why he was only given an 18 month ban? This is what WADA are appealing, they want 4 years.

I read last week that Crutchlow is already contracted to Aprilia somehow. They have some kind of 'first dibs' agreement whereby he can't go anywhere else unless they sign someone else. Can't find where I read it though.

Alex Marquez FTW this weekend!!

https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2020/BMW+duo+Sykes+and+Laverty+discuss+difficult+2020+season

Listening to Cal and Naka after FP2 has me thinking that Naka is a contender for the win this weekend and he (Naka) sees himself with an outside chance of the championship.

Ducatis are no where after FP2 4th best bike last week to worst this week.

Michelin have commented on Fabios tyre issues last weekend - Petronas set the pressures too high - they had to guess as Fabio had not run the tyre (medium front) all weekend.

Cracker of a Moto 3 race - what a last lap !

Dorna have confirmed that Valencia and Portimao will go ahead - there were concerns as restrictions increase in Spain and Portugal

A lot of head scratching by teams and riders after that Moto GP race.

Tyres keep being mentioned but the variances in performance must be more than tyres

Spoiler alert:





Binder has been hit with a long lap penalty after taking Miller out at the start of the race.
Cal has suffered some kind of shoulder injury and is getting a MRI done tomorrow, Cals words 'I felt something snap '

Frankies reaction after the race was very telling 'It's On" ie the championship. For a rider with 3 DNF'S including an engine failure to be now only 25 points behind is mind boggling.

What a turn around from last week ! The input of Mavericks reject ,Senor Forcado , cannot be underestimated.

There are 6 in the running for the championship with 3 races to go but in reality Dovis challenge is over with Ducatis dislike of Valencia.
Consistency and Momentum was always going to be key to this championship which is why Rins cannot be ruled out, Frankies older Yamaha should still work well at Valencia and Portimao sounds like a Yamaha / Suzuki circuit.

Fabio had another poor race with Maverick only one place ahead. It feels like the championship has got to them.

Mir on the other hand stayed relaxed (though not as relaxed as Frankie) and another podium has strengthened his championship charge.

With the way the season is developing Rossi could become king maker - the factory Yamaha is the only team in the mix with just one rider in the championship.

Potimao, the last race of the season, has a higher than average chance of rain - it's hard to see anything else but a season finale thriller

h3000 wrote: »

Smith out and Savadori in at Aprilia for the rest of the year.
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/10/27/savadori-to-replace-smith-in-valencia-and-portimao/353716

did they just shaft bradley?

or is he injured?

Savadori has tested with Aprilia aswell since Iannone's ban (effectively replacing Smith as tester while he was the rider instead of Iannone)

Where is Lowes contracted to next year?
If he wins the championship, does he stay and defend it for another year. Then, if he wins it again, would any MotoGP team give him another chance?

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Any word on what Eugene Laverty is doing next year?

https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2020/Will%20Laverty%20remain%20on%20a%20BMW%20in%202021%20and%20what%20other%20options%20are%20there

Infoanon wrote: »

Dovi has no interest in the Aprilla project and apparently the feeling is mutual - a test ride with Yamaha could be potentially announced as soon as next week.

Cal was/is favourite for the Aprilla ride BUT Cal has been talking in terms of ' I have had a good career' over the last few days so retirement maybe imminent.

Replacing Bradley for Valencia with Savadori is starting to make a little more sense - Bradley was not seen as a long term replacement for Iannone

I wouldn't be surprised to see cal retire from moto gp
British superbikes a beckoning

https://twitter.com/denkmit/status/1321902783910551554

I really hope Mir doesn't win the championship without having won a race. It just lessens it IMO.

Infoanon wrote: »

Put it another way - winners this year include Binder / Petrucci - would they be deserving a championship because they won a race

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it. He's the most points and that's the objective. I'm just saying it slightly lessens the season, for me, if the champion hasn't had a win and I dare say, it probably slightly lessens if for him a bit too, world champion and not won a race in 3 years!