2020 MotoGP Thread

[garry]

What are the chances Spain or Portugal races could be cancelled as those two countries are tightening shutdown measures? Anyone have info that I am not seeing, which is mill?

I don't think they'll cancel. They'll just close it to the crowds. Watched most of FP2 today and, although they didn't show a crowd shot, the stands I could see were empty.

Pretty cool session, though. The announcers fell in love with Garret Gerloff. He finished 19th in the session because he didn't nail the time attack at the end, but he was midpack most of the way. Given he's on a bike he's never ridden on a track he's never ridden on a partially damp track -- they couldn't stop gushing about him. Sounds like Rossi will be back on the bike tomorrow, but he made an impression.

And although he finished 19th, at one point mid-session he was 5th? 6th? in FP2. He didn't crash. He was only 1.6 seconds off the pace after the time attack in FP2. If he has a good 2021 in WSBK and Rossi retires, that could be the seat he fills in 2022.

[R Doug]

I am now really missing my MotoGP video pass.  NBC Sports have decided a delayed broadcast of 9:30 PM on Sunday is acceptable.   

[garry]

MM93 out for the rest of the season.

Iannone loses appeal and receives a 4 year ban. I guess that is good news for Crutchlow who signed some kind of something with Aprilia recently.

Dovi and (in WSBK) Chaz Davies are both looking. They would make a heck of a WSBK team.

Rabat loses his seat despite having a contract. He doesn't look happy it. Maybe he will be off to WSBK next year? Back to Moto2 maybe? He never got on well in MotoGP.

[Black Hills]

The Marquez thing is interesting.  When has a broken arm resulted in missing an entire, although shortened, season??

[miles]

It has been obvious for a while that the damage was much greater than HRC was willing to admit.  A few races ago when Alex was kicking ass?  The camera caught MM on the sideline, and he had to use his left hand to lift his right arm to wave.

All signs point to serious nerve damage.

[garry]

Dovi says he is taking 2021 off and hopes to return in 2022. I suspect he won't find a ride (too old). Changing of the guard, yadda yadda.

Also seems that Crutchlow might not get that open seat at Aprilia and will be gone from the grid.

[R Doug]

Despite NBC Sports showing the race on time this morning, I sucked it up and re-subscribed to Video Pass for next season.  They included today's races so I got to see the 3 and 2 championships play out live instead of reading about them after the fact. 

[Skee]

Guess I’m lucky. Most if not all (except today’s) of the races were on FM2 (or another station) which is part of our cable package.  Hopefully that continues next season. Keeping track when it’s on which station is something of a chore.  Although I watched or recorded all of them this year, I really did not pay close attention to the grid until the end of the season.  I suppose that makes me a casual fan.

Next year I resolved to pay more attention.   

[motodog650]

And, by the way, my fantasy team is doing sucky. Who else is playing?

Well... If there would have been a S-TN EOE Cup this year me thinks I would be adding some more hardware to the collection. Don't mean to toot my horn (toot toot) but:

19th overall
4th in USA
1st in 3 leagues of which one is Greg's Garage Podcast, which nets me an Arai helmet of choice !!

Always have wanted a Nicky Hayden replica lid   

[R Doug]

And, by the way, my fantasy team is doing sucky. Who else is playing?

Well... If there would have been a S-TN EOE Cup this year me thinks I would be adding some more hardware to the collection. Don't mean to toot my horn (toot toot) but:

19th overall
4th in USA
1st in 3 leagues of which one is Greg's Garage Podcast, which nets me an Arai helmet of choice !!

Always have wanted a Nicky Hayden replica lid   

Fan-freak'n-tastic!  Congrats!

[squeezer]

And, by the way, my fantasy team is doing sucky. Who else is playing?

Well... If there would have been a S-TN EOE Cup this year me thinks I would be adding some more hardware to the collection. Don't mean to toot my horn (toot toot) but:

19th overall
4th in USA
1st in 3 leagues of which one is Greg's Garage Podcast, which nets me an Arai helmet of choice !!

Always have wanted a Nicky Hayden replica lid   

Suh-WEET!  Yeah, I think it would have been yours. The helmet's nicer, though.   

I started poorly and finished wretchedly. Pretty much stopped paying attention after a while. Though I sucked at the game, it turned into a great season to watch -- in all three classes.

[motodog650]

Thanks Doug & Ed  Definitely a strange but exciting season !!

[motociclista]

And, by the way, my fantasy team is doing sucky. Who else is playing?

Well... If there would have been a S-TN EOE Cup this year me thinks I would be adding some more hardware to the collection. Don't mean to toot my horn (toot toot) but:

19th overall
4th in USA
1st in 3 leagues of which one is Greg's Garage Podcast, which nets me an Arai helmet of choice !!

Always have wanted a Nicky Hayden replica lid   

That's damned impressive, motodog. Now I'm glad I wasn't competing against you this year to be humbled and humiliated.

[motodog650]

That's damned impressive, motodog. Now I'm glad I wasn't competing against you this year to be humbled and humiliated.

Thanks Lance !! Every now and then a blind squirrel finds a nut 

[Black Hills]

The MM situation keeps sounding worse: https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/marquezs-recovery-slower-process-than-honda-expected/4916127/

[squeezer]

That's damned impressive, motodog. Now I'm glad I wasn't competing against you this year to be humbled and humiliated.

No problem. I had that last part covered.   

[Smoothie]

And, by the way, my fantasy team is doing sucky. Who else is playing?

Well... If there would have been a S-TN EOE Cup this year me thinks I would be adding some more hardware to the collection. Don't mean to toot my horn (toot toot) but:

19th overall
4th in USA
1st in 3 leagues of which one is Greg's Garage Podcast, which nets me an Arai helmet of choice !!

Always have wanted a Nicky Hayden replica lid   

That’s ridiculous!     And this crazy year of all years.   Very, very well done.   

That Nicky Hayden hat is gonna look good on you.

[Skee]

Iannone: 'Incredible riding style', 'one of MotoGP's biggest talents'

Interesting web on Iannone.  I would like to know more about the doping test results and whether the ban was really warranted - something we may not learn for years - because current test methods are highly secretive to prevent intentional violators from developing regimens that avoid detection.  I read a technical explanation some time ago.  New steroid analogues and performance enhancing cocktails are being developed all the time to mask the detection of banned substances.  There's a very high tech and tricky cat-and-mouse game of abuse and detection allegedly taking place in many professional sports.  Still one has to wonder, was Iannone an innocent victim or did he get caught by a recently developed method; and was that method suitably validated.  As Cal Crutchlow states in the link, "With regards to the penalty or the ban he was given it is not for me to comment… My opinion is that you have to respect the decision that’s been given."

[miles]

The initial ban was whatever it was, but then Iannone tried to appeal and mounted such a half-assed unbelievable defense that it got his ban extend by 2 1/2 years. 

Clearly a case of "Keep quiet and let people believe you're an idiot, open your mouth and prove them right"

[motodog650]

And, by the way, my fantasy team is doing sucky. Who else is playing?

Well... If there would have been a S-TN EOE Cup this year me thinks I would be adding some more hardware to the collection. Don't mean to toot my horn (toot toot) but:

19th overall
4th in USA
1st in 3 leagues of which one is Greg's Garage Podcast, which nets me an Arai helmet of choice !!

Always have wanted a Nicky Hayden replica lid   

That’s ridiculous!     And this crazy year of all years.   Very, very well done.   

That Nicky Hayden hat is gonna look good on you.

Thanks !! As much as I want a NH69 replica I've been distracted by the KR-2. Decisions decisions...

[Black Hills]

things are not going well for MM:  https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/12/03/marc-marquez-undergoes-a-new-operation/359668?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=MarcM%C3%A1rquezundergoesanewoperation&utm_campaign=Traffic&fbclid=IwAR0g6MvU1Izku6BykjZ9qx8USGR3VOvpTst8Lt8hJXcg5TpuLLDRTc5cAQc

[motodog650]

things are not going well for MM:  https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/12/03/marc-marquez-undergoes-a-new-operation/359668?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=MarcM%C3%A1rquezundergoesanewoperation&utm_campaign=Traffic&fbclid=IwAR0g6MvU1Izku6BykjZ9qx8USGR3VOvpTst8Lt8hJXcg5TpuLLDRTc5cAQc

Hopefully this gets his recovery heading in the right direction. Would be a shame for this injury to eventually be a career ender...

"The surgical procedure lasted for eight hours and was uneventful." An eight hour surgical procedure in itself is pretty eventful IMO