Is Joe Roberts ready for MotoGP?

Because you really only get one shot at a ride IMHO. That time has passed for him.

 

Zarco turned down Pramac ans stayed in Moto 2 after winning his first championship. Not because he wasn't ready, but because they weren't good enough. Fast forward a few years...

 

Zarco was a complete weirdo back in those days.

 

And he's not now?

 

Well, he's no longer a warrior monk who sleeps on his manager's couch. He found chicks.

He's maybe a 6 on the Kocinski scale.

 

I remember him dominating the superstock 600 class on the R6 and then getting the team hammer ride on a Honda which was a significant step behind the other 600’s. But he still showed flashes. I think if he had gotten on any other 600 he would have fought for a championship, but he didn’t get the chance before he went overseas.

 

I only see the limited things they show of him but I really like Zarco and was happy to see him get his win… almost as much as Petrux… way more than Aleix who’s turned into a douche

I do wish Zarco would wear a beret and act the stereotypical part even further… just for laughs

 

I'd put Edwards a cut above Espargaro/Bautista/Nakagami. 12 podiums in 196 starts and that includes 3 years on CRT bikes that had no chance. I stack up Edwards and Zarco as pretty similar both of whom deserved to have long careers in the top class.

 

CE posted on X this week that “I’m exactly as you think I am and don’t give a fuck”

 

not only, but the Tech3 of that era never stood a chance against its factory counterpart, unlike the current era of things.

 

the Assen race is still the ultimate heartbreaker… at least it was Nicky that won…

Bayliss got his win in style… wish CE would’ve got one…

 

It would be interesting if Roberts replaces Raul Fernandez on an Aprilia. Because Fernandez was rushed into MotoGP when he obviously wasn't ready, and Roberts declined being rushed into MotoGP when he obviously wasn't ready.

It's the circle of life.

 

It will def be interesting to see how it play out. I get the feeling all the manufacturers are starting to understand more and more that the satellite teams need to be running current-spec bikes so they can get more development data and it was Massimo Rivola that said last year that he thinks manufacturers need to support their satellite teams more financially, with factory staff, etc. Also interesting that he said that considering Aprilia have the smallest budget available to go racing. Good seeing Trackhouse has one current spec bike already and the other side of the garage should have the current spec bike soon (if not already). I know some Aprilia factory techs were added to the satellite team when Trackhouse took over from RNF. I'd be very interested to know if the $5M lease deal RNF had was reduced for Trackhouse per Rivola's implied intentions.

 

If my memory is correct (and it might not be), his dad (?) used to bring him out to Chuckwalla on a BMW1000 when he was 15-ish. I remember thinking it was kinda crazy but he wasn't throwing it down the road. This was first year of CVMA in 2011. I think this was time between Red Bull Rookies and AMA 600 Superstock.

 

JR is only 26 and he knows the tracks and more importantly he has been in the show long enough to have made lots of contacts. He's not an outsider. That's a big deal imo.

 

I think I first saw him at Buttonwillow (maybe Fontucky) on a BMW 1000 when he was maybe 12. I was shocked also!

 

I think if you give Joe a bike and crew from Martin or Peco, Joe would be running top 10 and maybe battling for top 5. Could he advance to a podium? I don’t think anyone knows that until he has a chance to develop on the faster bikes. Odds say it is tough to race with the current aliens for podium spots, but I’d say Joe has earned the right to try.

 

Talking with Colin was like talking to my brother...periods of seriousness interspersed with "what the fuckism".

 

To add to that, I forgot about Aldeguer, who confirmed today on French TV that he had an offer from VR46 to race MotoGP in 2024 but his people told him to "calm down" and take his time in Moto 2. A few months later, Ducati came back with an offer for 2025.

I don't know where you guys get this idea that you only get one shot.

 

He had all that for 3 seasons at Italtrans, didn’t set the world on fire.

Maybe it’ll be different in motogp, shit if I know.