MotoGP | 2021 | Round 13 | Aragon | Spain | Sept 10-12

Quartararo: I don’t want to say it is the tyre, but…

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/987508/1/quartararo-i-don-t-want-say-it-tyre

 

Yeah, but they're at the pinnacle of their trade for arguably the most likeable rider ever. I'd say they're still having a good time.

 

And I'm pretty sure he will give the mechanics a better bonus than most other riders could.

 

How good is it?!?!

 

Oh did he? How come he then finished 11th in the championship with over 10 top ten ten finishes, 5 of them in the top fives?

 

5 seconds faster than the old guy doing parade laps?

i'd say there's some huge potential for improvement.

 

I'll give you that. After his retirement announcement, there was a couple crashes, but he did actually finish better than I remember.

 

I'm not going to try to act like I know what's going on in his head for sure but I would guess the same thing. Feels like when you give your 2 weeks notice at a job. For me at least, at my previous job, I pretty much knew a month before turning in my resignation that I was leaving. But I still kept plugging away, doing the best job I could. But once I submitted that 2 weeks notice, it was like everything is finalized and now we're just going through the motions. Staying motivated to continue grinding away at my job felt impossible. This is kind of what it feels like Rossi has hit since announcing retirement. Could be wrong but that's my guess.

 

He should do the right thing and let Dovizioso have the good bike.

 

He has been riding at 99% for a couple years. Prior to the current crop of young guns arriving, that was enough for top 5s and the occasional podium. Now it's good for 20th. He's not necessarily slow, he's just not riding on the edge needed to compete with who is gridded up currently. Everyone is going faster while he's just going fast.
Amazing career and he deserves to leave on whatever terms he wishes, but it's time from a performance standpoint.
Similarly, I think Marc is up against a field that is faster and with more parity than he's ever seen. If he doesn't get healthy and that Honda doesn't become a winner without him crossing the line on it every turn, he may not win another title. I hope he gets healthy and competitive before he gets hurt for good.

 

I thought it was the counter clockwise thing. But, the Michelin tire issue makes sense. He’s not the only one by a long shot that have had issues with the MotoGP tire suppliers product. Michelin needs to up their game, especially when a fellow Frenchman semi calls them out. And, Michelin damned sure doesn’t want to cost that kid a championship. It would be ugly in Frogville.

 

I think that anyone that doubts the level of challenge Marc is still facing physically, the incredible things he is still doing on that bike, the physical handicap he is still under, and that young man's determination just needs to watch the opening 30 seconds of the post race press conference. Marc tires to open a water bottle with his right hand ..... and can't. He has to open it with his teeth. Literally tries and can't break it loose. Watch that and then go back and watch what he does on that Honda vs Pecco and the Duc. Speechless honestly.

 

Mav didn't show up.
To beat Rossi by 5 seconds, pro-rated over the 20+ laps means he was only turning lap times that were 0.25/sec faster at 20 laps, and lower than that since there were 28(?) laps in the race.

Granted he's got to start somewhere, but not really a point to crow about, IMO.

 

To say nothing about being crashed out of 3 of the first 5 races. That doesn't happen and Dani finishes top5 for sure (and maybe doesn't retire). A very apples-oranges comparison.

 

So are pretty much all rider to rider comparisons since there are always large variables, unless they are on the same team

 

Anyone else catch Fabio dropping his air pod in the box pre race? tires my ass.......

 

I feel like this will happen after the Misano rounds.

 

Rossi knew he would never gel with the Michelins, so he's had an eye towards his future for the past couple years... his GF and a mini Rossi on the horizon. His goal is to make it through the season without F-ing himself up physically. I don't like to see him riding at 99%, but I understand. Things are pretty dangerous at the tail end of the pack.

 

I think his point was that no matter what bike Mav rides, he's still faster than Rossi.

 

So are they just insinuating that there is inconsistent quality in the tires? I mean that sure is what it sounds like. That's a major problem if true but I suppose it wouldn't be the first time a tire manufacturer supplied inconsistent product to a premier level series.