MotoGP | 2023 | Race 15 | Mandalika | Indonesia | Oct 13 - 15

I feel badly for Honda and Yamaha. They seem to be completely lost. Aprilia, KTM and Duc have made incremental gains over the past several years, so they seem to have a plan. The Japanese manuf's are lost at sea. Must be tough on the teams.

 

Since when has Lin anything to do with the development of the bike???

 

My thought is that Honda and Yamaha got smoked when all the aero stuff came into play. When it comes to design/engineering/building a pure motorcycle, I don't know that anyone has more overall might than Honda. Both Honda and Yamaha have always been able to build some great motorcycles, and I have no doubt they can do so again.
But, they need to get an "in" with a good aero firm. Honda does have the Red Bull F1 team they could lean on, maybe they already do. I don't know.
I believe the biggest advantage Ducati has over the others is when the Audi money and collaboration came into play, they got a LOT of aero help and are always leading the way with the wings and bits that are becoming more and more important to MotoGP with multiple iterations each year.

The biggest question with Honda at the corporate level is if they really care, and how much. I tend to think the HRC and racing groups care a bunch. But the corporate side is more concerned with electric/fuel cell/robotics and just doesn't give much of a shit to the ICE motorcycle racing side any longer.

 

Lynn Davis might.

 

Miguel Oliveira rumoured to have a shot at MM93's seat

 

Dave?

Anyone seen Dave?

He might have a, er.. heat stroke(?)

 

It would make total sense for Honda to offer it to him. He would be dumb to take it unless it's for the money.

 

Quoting from David Emmett:

 

The Honda might not be a bad option, he's not really thriving on that Aprilia.

 

Miguel and Raul are riding last year’s bike. Read somewhere that Miguel got to ride the current bike and said it was better everywhere.

 

Since said test, Raul has outperformed Miguel and appears to be waking up.

 

Bez on his way to race.

 

that kicks ass! I really like the little happy dude!

 

Right here.

Tough when taken out three times and injured. I am with Papa, the only motivating factor with that option would be money. Miguel should be on the factory Aprilia instead of Mav. He is a top 5 racer, who seems to have inherited Dani's 2011-13 type of bad luck.

 

I do too. I just want him to be as excitable as Simoncelli.

 

He’s the closest we’ve had since… half the size but similar mannerisms

 

i mean Martin is similar in that he gives no F's.

Martin and "the Model" would have been interesting seeing them on Ducs

 

If Bez is Simo then Martin is definitely Iannone

 

great comparison… my point was more about his demeanor as he seems so humble and so appreciative of his situation and always having as much fun as possible it seems… that stuff is contagious and makes fans for life

 

Not many have that instant likability like Simo had. Dude was always smiling.