The official 2011 season MotoGP thread!

avanti

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Another year, another thread!

Just 2 months to go! :thumbsup:

Official test calendar:
MotoGP
1-3 febbraio: Sepang, Malesia
22-24 febbraio: Sepang, Malesia
13-14 marzo: Losail, Qatar (test in notturna)

Moto2/125cc
10-12 febbraio: Valencia, Spain
15-16 febbraio: Estoril, Portogallo
4-6 marzo: Jerez, Spagna (Moto2)

2011 MotoGP Season Calendar
March 20th Qatar* (Losail)
April 3rd Spain (Jerez)
April 24th Japan (Motegi)
May 1st Portugal (Estoril)
May 15th France (Le Mans)
June 5th Catalunya (Catalunya)
June 12th Great Britain (Silverstone)
June 25th Netherlands** (Assen)
July 3rd Italy (Mugello)
July 17th Germany (Sachsenring)
July 24th United States*** (Laguna Seca)
August 14th Czech Republic (Brno)
August 28th Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
September 4th San Marino & Riviera di Rimini (Misano)
September 18th Arag?n (MotorLand)
October 16th Australia (Phillip Island)
October 23rd Malaysia (Sepang)
November 6th Valencia (Ricardo Tormo ? Valencia)

* Evening Race
** Saturday Race
*** Only MotoGP class

big_rossi_hayden_tuta_ducati_04.jpg
 
Why do they keep Laguna Seca only for the big bikes? I understand there's some kind of dreary emissions rubbish law in California that is against 2-stroke engines, but Moto2 is now on 4-stroke as well and Moto3 (replacing 125cc) will also be on 4-stroke from 2012. :|


Also, kinda meh at Rossi's overalls. I'm not sure this colour combination works, TBH.
 
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I really hope Rossi's move to Ducati goes smoother than Hayden's and Melandri's. Would be such a disappointment to see him fight for a finish in the top 10.
I hear Stoner's loving the Honda so I assume he'll be challenging for the top spots next season as well.
Spies moving to the factory team is also really interesting and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him beat Lorenzo, never liked the guy. He's a super talented rider so I assume he'll be on top pace soon.
Mika Kallio moved to Moto2. Good move except I have to start watching the races streamed online if I want to see them. A couple of years ago there were two channels airing the races live and now all we can get for free is the MotoGP race, broadcasted four hours after the actual race. And naturally they spoil the results from the smaller classes so downloading the race afterwards won't be an option either. Fuck.

edit: On other news, a new Finn on the tracks. Niklas Ajo, the son of Ajo Motorsport's Aki Ajo will be riding in the 125cc season for team Interwetten in an Aprilia. He's 16 so a future promise perhaps. I hope he'll start climbing up classes as soon as possible. It doesn't seem that long ago when Mika Kallio and Casey Stoner were teammates in the KTM 125cc team...
 
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24528.jpg


Image from Toby Moody



More images, official press shots:

Valentino-Rossi-Scream-Ducati-Desmosedici-GP11.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-1.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-2.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-3.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-4.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-5.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-6.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-7.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-8.jpg


ducati-desmosedici-gp11-9.jpg
 
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The GP9 and GP10 were really pretty bikes but that just looks wierd. It looks fat and bloated, the big round front fairing reminds me of the 500cc two-strokes. The yellow in Rossi's bike is not helping the looks either. Only red, black and white should be used in Ducati :p.
Looks like they've adapted the "wheelie winglets" they were testing towards the end of last season as a permanent part of the design. They sure look a bit funny as well. I wonder why Ducati seems to have much more wheelie issues than the others?
Does anyone know what's up with the AMG sticker?
 
Looks like they've adapted the "wheelie winglets" they were testing towards the end of last season as a permanent part of the design. They sure look a bit funny as well. I wonder why Ducati seems to have much more wheelie issues than the others?
Does anyone know what's up with the AMG sticker?

The wings are not there as an anti-wheelie thing, more as a put more weight on the front when going into a corner thing. That's where they have been having problems throughout 2010 (look at all the Casey's front end crash).
 
2 shades of red on vali's livery! it looks strange very strange - acceptable when he's on the bike though. you'd think red and yellow would go together a bit better.

They are switching their forks to 42mm for better feel in addition to the winglets. I hope it works - those crashes took a lot out of caseys points last year - also feeling under brakes are pretty important to rossis racecraft.
I think Stoner's gonna be a monster next year on the honda. The field balance now is just so awesome, if Rossi can get up to speed. If not i see Stoner and Lorenzo duking it out with Pedrosa and Spies grabbing for 3rd and 4th. dovi rossi and hayden just variables to throw in.
 
The wings are not there as an anti-wheelie thing, more as a put more weight on the front when going into a corner thing. That's where they have been having problems throughout 2010 (look at all the Casey's front end crash).

When they first debuted last year Ducati themselves said they were to keep the bike from doing so much wheelies and no reputable source has questioned that. Bikes can't really use downforce to cornering benefit, because at high cornering angles the aerodynamic force is pushing the bike sideways more than down. These winglets also double as a cooling aid. They create a low pressure area behind them so it helps suck air out of the radiator exit vent to "fill" that low pressure area.
I know Ducati is notorious for front end issues but I don't think it's ever been a matter of how fast the corners are. Having a weight distribution too much to the rear shouldn't be handled with downforce. Usually downforce is distributed to the front and rear in the same ratio as the weight distribution of the vehicle. Casey said they fixed their problems last year by changing his riding position so that his weight was more over the front end in corners.

justvisiting said:
They are switching their forks to 42mm for better feel in addition to the winglets.

The lack of feel in the front end is the thing I've heard the Ducati riders complain about most. Kallio was struggling with it for every race last season, he said he couldn't feel what the front end was doing (especially when the bike was light on fuel) and that it was a nightmare to setup. He said the bike would always go from worse to bad no matter what they'd do it. On most weekends he spent the practice and quali experimenting all kinds of different setups, none of them working, then switching to a best guess setup for the race. He'd often start well with the bike heavy on fuel and then drop back as the race went on.
 
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When they first debuted last year Ducati themselves said they were to keep the bike from doing so much wheelies and no reputable source has questioned that. Bikes can't really use downforce to cornering benefit, because at high cornering angles the aerodynamic force is pushing the bike sideways more than down. These winglets also double as a cooling aid. They create a low pressure area behind them so it helps suck air out of the radiator exit vent to "fill" that low pressure area.
I know Ducati is notorious for front end issues but I don't think it's ever been a matter of how fast the corners are. Having a weight distribution too much to the rear shouldn't be handled with downforce. Usually downforce is distributed to the front and rear in the same ratio as the weight distribution of the vehicle. Casey said they fixed their problems last year by changing his riding position so that his weight was more over the front end in corners.

I stand corrected.
 
Yeah, the new Ducati is not very pretty and Rossi's leathers doesn't make it better...
 
has Rossi given up that "The Doctor" tagline... really don't fancy staring at his arse in the on board bike cameras with that plastered all over it.
 
haha I guess you'll see on the first onboard... I doubt it - he probably has gotten superstitious about it.
 
has Rossi given up that "The Doctor" tagline... really don't fancy staring at his arse in the on board bike cameras with that plastered all over it.

Nope, you will still have to look at it:

04rossi-leathers.jpg
 
Nooooooooo... why must the world hate me so much?

Can't there be a womans Moto GP? i would have no problem with the rear on board cameras then.
 
Hey, I don't complain about the buttcams. Now, I don't even have to move my head due to the gyroscopes... :D
 
Official entry lists:

MotoGP

1; JORGE LORENZO, SPANISH, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA
4; ANDREA DOVIZIOSO, ITALIAN, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
5; COLIN EDWARDS, AMERICAN, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA
7; HIROSHI AOYAMA, JAPANESE, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI, HONDA
8; HECTOR BARBERA, SPANISH, ASPAR TEAM, DUCATI
11; BEN SPIES AMERICAN, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA
14; RANDY DE PUNIET, FRENCH, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI
17; KAREL ABRAHAM, CZECH, CARDION AB MOTORACING, DUCATI
19; ALVARO BAUTISTA, SPANISH, RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP, SUZUKI
24; TONI ELIAS, SPANISH, LCR HONDA MotoGP, HONDA
26; DANI PEDROSA, SPANISH, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
27; CASEY STONER, AUSTRALIAN, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
35; CAL CRUTCHLOW, BRITISH, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA
46; VALENTINO ROSSI, ITALIAN, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI
58; MARCO SIMONCELLI, ITALIAN, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI, HONDA
65; LORIS CAPIROSSI, ITALIAN, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI
69; NICKY HAYDEN, AMERICAN, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI

Moto2

3; SIMONE CORSI, ITALIAN, IODA RACING PROJECT, IODA
4. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, SWISS, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND KIEFER RACING, KALEX
9; KENNY NOYES, AMERICAN, AVINTIA-STX, FTR
10; FONSI NIETO, SPANISH, G22 RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI
12; THOMAS LUTHI, SWISS, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK M2 RACING, SUTER
13; ANTHONY WEST, AUSTRALIAN, MZ RACING TEAM, MZ-RE HONDA
14; RATTHAPARK WILAIROT, THAI, SAG TEAM, FTR
15; ALEX DE ANGELIS, SAN MARINESE, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI
16; JULES CLUZEL, FRENCH, FORWARD RACING, SUTER
21; JAVIER FORES, SPANISH, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, SUTER
25; ALEX BALDOLINI, ITALIAN, FORWARD RACING, SUTER
29; ANDREA IANNONE, ITALIAN, SPEED MASTER, SUTER
34; ESTEVE RABAT, SPANISH, BLUSENS-STX, FTR
35; RAFFAELE DE ROSA, ITALIAN, G22 RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI
36; MIKA KALLIO, FINNISH, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, SUTER
38; BRADLEY SMITH, BRITISH, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3
39; ROBERTINO PIETRI, VENEZUELAN, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, SUTER
40; ALEIX ESPARGARO, SPANISH, PONS RACING, PONS KALEX
44; POL ESPARGARO, SPANISH, HP TUENTI SPEED UP, SPEED UP
45; SCOTT REDDING, BRITISH, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, SUTER
49; KEV COGHLAN,BRITISH, MOTORSPORT 69, FTR
51; MICHELE PIRRO ITALIAN, GRESINI RACING Moto2, MORIWAKI
53; VALENTIN DEBISE, FRENCH, SPEED UP, SPEED UP
54; KENAN SOFUOGLU, TURKISH, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER
60; JULIAN SIMON, SPANISH, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, SUTER
63; MIKE DI MEGLIO, FRENCH, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3
64;SANTI HERNANDEZ, COLOMBIAN, SAG TEAM, FTR
65; STEFAN BRADL, GERMAN, VIESSMANN KIEFER RACING, KALEX
68; YONNY HERNANDEZ, COLOMBIAN, BLUSENS-STX, FTR
71; CLAUDIO CORTI, ITALIAN, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, SUTER
72; YUKI TAKAHASHI, JAPANESE, GRESINI RACING Moto2, MORIWAKI
75; MATTIA PASINI,ITALIAN, IODA RACING PROJECT, IODA
76; MAX NEUKIRCHNER, GERMAN, MZ RACING TEAM, MZ-RE HONDA
77; DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, SWISS, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER
80; AXEL PONS, SPANISH, PONS RACING, PONS KALEX
88; RICKY CARDUS, SPANISH, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI
93; MARC MARQUEZ, SPANISH, TEAM CATALUNYA CAIXA REPSOL, SUTER
95; MASHEL AL NAIMI, QATARI, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI

125

3; LUIGI MORCIANO, ITALIAN, TEAM ITALIA FMI, APRILIA
5; JOHANN ZARCO, FRENCH, AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
7; EFREN VAZQUEZ, SPANISH, AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
11; SANDRO CORTESE, GERMAN, RACING TEAM GERMANY, APRILIA
12; DANIEL KARTHEININGER, GERMAN, CARETTA TECHNOLOGY RACE DPT., KTM
15; SIMONE GROTZKYJ, ITALIAN, WORLDWIDE RACE, APRILIA
17; TAYLOR MACKENZIE, BRITISH, WORLDWIDE RACE, APRILIA
18; NICOLAS TEROL, SPANISH, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM, APRILIA
19; ALESSANDRO TONUCCI, ITALIAN, TEAM ITALIA FMI, APRILIA
21; HARRY STAFFORD, BRITISH, ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA, APRILIA
23; ALBERTO MONCAYO, SPANISH ANDALUCIA CAJASOL APRILIA
25; MAVERICK VINALES, SPANISH, PEV-BLUSENS-SMX-PARIS HILTON, APRILIA
26; ADRIAN MARTIN, SPANISH, MOTORSPORT 69, APRILIA
30; GIULIAN PEDONE, SWISS, WORLDWIDE RACE, APRILIA
31; NIKLAS AJO, FINNISH, TT MOTION EVENTS RACING, APRILIA
39; LUIS SALOM, SPANISH, MOLENAAR RACING GP, APRILIA
40; SERGIO GADEA, SPANISH, PEV-BLUSENS-SMX-PARIS HILTON, APRILIA
43; FRANCESCO MAURIELLO, ITALIAN, WTR-TEN10 RACING, APRILIA
44; MIGUEL OLIVEIRA, PORTUGUESE, ANDALUCIA CAJASOL, APRILIA
52; DANNY KENT, BRITISH, RED BULL AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
53; JASPER IWEMA, DUTCH, MOLENAAR RACING GP, APRILIA
55; HECTOR FAUBEL, SPANISH, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM, APRILIA
63; ZULFAHMI KHAIRUDDIN, MALAYSIAN, AIRASIA - SIC ? AJO, DERBI
69; SARATH KUMAR, INDIAN, WTR-TEN10 RACING, APRILIA
71; TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA, JAPANESE, RACING TEAM GERMANY, APRILIA
72; ALEXANDER KRISTIANSSON, SWEDISH, MATTEONI RACING, APRILIA
76; HIROKI ONO, JAPANESE, CARETTA TECHNOLOGY RACE DPT., KTM
77; MARCEL SCHROTTER, GERMAN, MAHINDRA RACING, MAHINDRA
84; JAKUB KORNFEIL, CZECH, ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA, APRILIA
94; JONAS FOLGER, GERMAN, RED BULL AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
96; LOUIS ROSSI, FRENCH, MATTEONI RACING, APRILIA
99; DANNY WEBB, BRITISH, MAHINDRA RACING, MAHINDRA
 
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