Motosport General discussion tread --- Formula1, MotoGP, WTCC, ETCC, DTM.....

[Davian144]

Today Alvaro Bautista again demonstrated the extraordinary power of a Ducati motorbike at the Dutch ASSEN TT Track. This was proven by the victories that Alvaro Bautista got from the Superpole Race, Race1 and also Race2 which had just finished. I watched Race2 WSBK until the end and it turned out that from first to sixth place there were only two manufacturers that dominated the race, namely the Ducati and Yamaha manufacturers.

This shows that Yamaha motorbikes are still very friendly with the Dutch Assen TT circuit, even though Toprak had to surrender to being in second place in Race2 just now because he was unable to keep up with Alvaro Bautista's Ducati power.

[safari88]

The next F1 race will take place in Azerbaijan, Baku. Apparently there is a lot of money there to make races take place, while the country is known for relative poverty in principle. But Verstappen is probably every race favourite. Even if he has to start from 10th place, he still drives everyone home. Mercedes is slowly climbing out of the valley and has achieved at least a few podium places. Trying to win a race here and there this season and then competing for the championship again next season, that will be the tactic at mercedes.

[wildan88]

The next F1 race will take place in Azerbaijan, Baku. Apparently there is a lot of money there to make races take place, while the country is known for relative poverty in principle. But Verstappen is probably every race favourite. Even if he has to start from 10th place, he still drives everyone home. Mercedes is slowly climbing out of the valley and has achieved at least a few podium places. Trying to win a race here and there this season and then competing for the championship again next season, that will be the tactic at mercedes.

Mercedes seems to have a kind of restart year. It's unclear to me exactly where it went wrong. Would it really all have to do with the new rules in F1 since last season? When Mercedes really didn't stand a chance. They dominated the sport for 10 years and Hamilton didn't know how to lose anymore. No wins last season. I think Hamilton would be happy with just 1 win this season, which in itself could work out. Baku seems like a pretty boring course with few overtaking opportunities, right?

[coinlocket$]

The Monaco GP of F1 is at risk.

As you may know in France there is a political protest going on and the Monaco GP can be the next target for the strike from people.

[Velvet78]

I wouldn't be sad if Monaco Grand Prix is gone in the calendar. It is like one of the most boring races of a season. You know about how tight the roads are. I don't call it a decent race as long as a race isn't full of overtakes between drivers. But unless there are simple mistakes Monaco Grand Prix will just make you bored after watching it a little. At least it is the affect on me about this.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix is closing in on us. Next Sunday we are going to watch another race in the season finally. This is a really special one at the same time. Verstappen is absolute favourite of course unless he has some kind of problems. But I'd love to see Ferrari having a solid race here finally.

[swogerino]

I wouldn't be sad if Monaco Grand Prix is gone in the calendar. It is like one of the most boring races of a season. You know about how tight the roads are. I don't call it a decent race as long as a race isn't full of overtakes between drivers. But unless there are simple mistakes Monaco Grand Prix will just make you bored after watching it a little. At least it is the affect on me about this.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix is closing in on us. Next Sunday we are going to watch another race in the season finally. This is a really special one at the same time. Verstappen is absolute favourite of course unless he has some kind of problems. But I'd love to see Ferrari having a solid race here finally.

Monaco is a super boring race only when the weather is good,last year if I recall it correctly it was with rain and a lot of things happened that impacted the race and where we saw Perez as the winner.It is boring I agree but is one of the most iconic F1 races and as such it won't be going away soon from the calendar as F1 for me would not be the same without such an iconic race which in some seasons has been a really beautiful one to watch.

Finally after almost one month of waiting this weekend we will be back in racing and finally it won't be a boring weekend anymore.It is another street circuit but one long and wide one so overtaking here is really possible and the race promises to be a good one.

[tygeade]

The next F1 race will take place in Azerbaijan, Baku. Apparently there is a lot of money there to make races take place, while the country is known for relative poverty in principle. But Verstappen is probably every race favourite. Even if he has to start from 10th place, he still drives everyone home. Mercedes is slowly climbing out of the valley and has achieved at least a few podium places. Trying to win a race here and there this season and then competing for the championship again next season, that will be the tactic at mercedes.

Mercedes seems to have a kind of restart year. It's unclear to me exactly where it went wrong. Would it really all have to do with the new rules in F1 since last season? When Mercedes really didn't stand a chance. They dominated the sport for 10 years and Hamilton didn't know how to lose anymore. No wins last season. I think Hamilton would be happy with just 1 win this season, which in itself could work out. Baku seems like a pretty boring course with few overtaking opportunities, right?

Well simply because they used a different aero on the team, and the chasis was all wrong, which makes you lose so much pace as well so they needed to fix it. Let me tell you the difference, Aston Martin last year had a car much like Mercedes but even worse, look at where they are today? That is because their car is more like Red Bull instead, that's what they changed and suddenly became so much better.

Mercedes already hired their best ever designer, that means if they end up with the same type of improvement and change, if they go that route which they said they will eventually, then they could have that kind of improvement. If Aston Martin went from 7th best to 2nd best, imagine how much better Mercedes could be with that type of upgrade. Will that be on Baku? I do not think so, that's too quick of a change, but I bet after the big summer break they will have it ready.

[Luzin]

It's a pity for Marquez, since 2020 he has always had injuries. To my amazement, Honda didn't even make progress towards improving the bike. Earlier this season Marquez was also injured again colliding with Miguel Oliveira (RNF Aprilia) in the 2023 Portuguese MotoGP. The situation is so difficult, I feel sorry that he seems to be unlucky. His body was damaged by injuries. It seems that there must be the best combination for Marquez to feel comfortable on the bike. Honda must facilitate his comfort and Marquez must give the right input on Honda.

[tokeweed]

Small news.

Ferrari just hired 2 engineers from Redbull they will be in next year's team.

(they are doing what Aston Martin did if you can't beat them... join them.)

If you can't get Horner to join your team, just go get some of his engineers...  Lol.  But it's good.  I hope Ferrari gets as much smart people as they need and bring back their glory days.  It's been a while.

The Monaco GP of F1 is at risk.

As you may know in France there is a political protest going on and the Monaco GP can be the next target for the strike from people.

Jfc..  What are they protesting for?  And what does Monaco have to do with them?  I think it's one of the least political places in the world.  If they're just there to annoy the lot of them rich folks then that would be funny.  

Verstappen now at 1.39 to win Azerbaijan GP.  :/  Hamilton at 15... 

[swogerino]

It's a pity for Marquez, since 2020 he has always had injuries. To my amazement, Honda didn't even make progress towards improving the bike. Earlier this season Marquez was also injured again colliding with Miguel Oliveira (RNF Aprilia) in the 2023 Portuguese MotoGP. The situation is so difficult, I feel sorry that he seems to be unlucky. His body was damaged by injuries. It seems that there must be the best combination for Marquez to feel comfortable on the bike. Honda must facilitate his comfort and Marquez must give the right input on Honda.

He is the only rider that can make Honda win as in the race he was DNF because of colliding with Oliveira he had won the Pole Position despite him having a much weaker bike than Ducati who is dominating this Championship and things look very easy for them with Marquez not fit.It is indeed unlucky for such a rider to not be able to compete at 100% of his condition as if he was at such level I am sure we would be seeing a very fun and competitive season in MotoGP with him fighting alone against the supremacy of Ducati,unfortunately no other rider can do such performances even with a weaker bike so we must resign to the fact that it is already a Ducati season despite us being in the first races of the season.

[RealMalatesta]

I wouldn't be sad if Monaco Grand Prix is gone in the calendar. It is like one of the most boring races of a season. You know about how tight the roads are. I don't call it a decent race as long as a race isn't full of overtakes between drivers. But unless there are simple mistakes Monaco Grand Prix will just make you bored after watching it a little. At least it is the affect on me about this.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix is closing in on us. Next Sunday we are going to watch another race in the season finally. This is a really special one at the same time. Verstappen is absolute favourite of course unless he has some kind of problems. But I'd love to see Ferrari having a solid race here finally.

Monaco is a super boring race only when the weather is good,last year if I recall it correctly it was with rain and a lot of things happened that impacted the race and where we saw Perez as the winner.It is boring I agree but is one of the most iconic F1 races and as such it won't be going away soon from the calendar as F1 for me would not be the same without such an iconic race which in some seasons has been a really beautiful one to watch.

Finally after almost one month of waiting this weekend we will be back in racing and finally it won't be a boring weekend anymore.It is another street circuit but one long and wide one so overtaking here is really possible and the race promises to be a good one.

I disagree. Most people think that Monaco is boring because there are very rarely anyone passing each other, but that makes it even more fun. Too many people considered taking it out but that would be a shame. Historically it is such an important one because it changes everything about the strategy part of the racing world, that is a great track to make sure that you do as well as hoped for.

Even if you are second and overtake the first, just go right near him and use your DRS and that way you will not hurt your tires too long, don't overtake him if you can't, but you can be more ready whereas the first would run out of everything to keep you there, then they will pit, and you will have 1-2 more laps that you can just rush with whatever you have left and then you can pit as well and the result would be overtaking thanks to pit strategy. That's wonderful, not saying people will be able to do it, but that is what racing at Monaco is all about, strategy.

[tokeweed]

^  What's fun about Monaco is the qualifying.  And what's fun about it this year is Verstappen having somewhat of a an ax to grind against Perez.  I don't know if you guys remember, but there were words swirling around that Perez's crash in last year's qualifying at Monaco was on purpose which caused a red flag and prevented Verstappen from completing his last lap.  

So yeah...  I hope those protesters find another day to do their protesting and let the race commence.  I mean I know I'm a bit jaded these days but really, no amount of protesting will change anything.  Those guys at the top will always get their way sooner or later.

[Davian144]

The 2023 Kazakhstan GP has been cancelled
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports can confirm the cancellation of the 2023 Kazakhstan GP. The ongoing homologation work on the circuit, coupled with the current global operational challenges, has necessitated the cancellation of the 2023 event. MotoGP hopes to visit Sokol International Racecourse in 2024 to welcome the new territory into the calendar. The event will be irreplaceable in 2023. Source: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2023/04/26/2023-kazakhstan-gp-cancelled/453335?

[coinlocket$]

They have changed the sprint races in f1 with the effect starts immediatly and it will be a lot better IMHO, without have a dead hour in the saturday.


Friday morning, free practice
Friday afternoon, Qualify for the race

Saturday morning qualify for the sprint race.
Saturday afternoon, sprint race.

Sunday race.

[Distraction]

It can be really entertaining to watch a sprint race before Azerbaijan GP. I think the track is quite suitable for overtakes so it would be nice to see some action on a street track. It has been a long time since we watched the last race. It felt like we were in one of those summer breaks in F1. Especially after watching that legendary race in Australia it was unfair to come across a long break.

I bet there will be more viewers for this race after those very interesting incidents in the Australian GP. Aston Martin are the most attention getting team for me these days. I bet it is like that for many F1 followers too because their performance was really poor last season. Alonso is very competitive right now and he is ready to use full power of his car until the end of the season. There is a consistency with 3 podiums so far and I can't wait to see what he will do here also.

[LTU_btc]

They have changed the sprint races in f1 with the effect starts immediatly and it will be a lot better IMHO, without have a dead hour in the saturday.


Friday morning, free practice
Friday afternoon, Qualify for the race

Saturday morning qualify for the sprint race.
Saturday afternoon, sprint race.

Sunday race.

Yeah, these changes looks good. Previously when there was sprint race, Saturday practice was such big waste of time. Same format will be used in all Sprint weekend this season - Austria, Belgium, Qatar, USA (Austin) and Brazil.
Can't believe that's finally race week. This one month break was such long, it feels like waiting for the new season to begin after winter. Baku track is great and I just hope that this time we will avoid red flags finally like we had in previous races.

[boltz]

Rumors are that Ferrari gained great pace in this mini-break we had with F1 so I'm really curious how they will perform in Baku because usually they had good performances over the years. If they somehow catch a podium on Sunday , I think they will re-become the 2nd faster car after RedBull because in the long run I don't see AM remaining on 2nd place but I do see them securing that 3rd spot over Mercedes.

[Davian144]

News about Marc Marquez, who will still be absent at the MotoGP Jerez race at the end of this week, has been circulating a lot and according to sources from Honda himself, he said Marc Marquez's place would be temporarily replaced by WSBK rider Iker Lecuona. But today there is a little more news update via crashmotogp_ which he said "Marc Marquez will hold a press conference at Jerez today at 2 pm local time"

As for the Ducati manufacturer itself, there has been confirmation for Enea Bastianini who will check his health today to see if his condition is fit to be able to continue racing at MotoGP Jerez this week. Source: crashmotogp_

[Velvet78]

... Alonso is very competitive right now and he is ready to use full power of his car until the end of the season. There is a consistency with 3 podiums so far and I can't wait to see what he will do here also.

I'm also very curious about Alonso's future performances during the season. Because he is very competitive to do his best with a fast car like this. He didn't find this much competition with Alpine last season. Some people including me even criticized Alonso for joining Aston Martin while they were doing really bad. But I would have never expected to see them improving their car this much in one season.

He has been capturing the 3rd place in every race so far. I wonder how long he will be able to keep up this consistency in most of the season. It depends on the car to not cause much problem for Alonso of course. Because I don't doubt Alonso's driving skills at all. He is very competitive like he is having his brightest times again now.

[coinlocket$]

Rumors are that Ferrari gained great pace in this mini-break we had with F1 so I'm really curious how they will perform in Baku because usually they had good performances over the years. If they somehow catch a podium on Sunday , I think they will re-become the 2nd faster car after RedBull because in the long run I don't see AM remaining on 2nd place but I do see them securing that 3rd spot over Mercedes.

Yep, I've read the same.
It is quite unbelievable so far they were slower than the previous year, without big change in the regulation