The official 2012 season MotoGP thread! Return of the 1000cc bikes!

Know its not the MotoGP class, but Max Neukirchner just confirmed with Kiefer Racing for 2012

...

WOO-HOO!!!!!!!! :dance:

Sooooo glad I have fix for Phillip Island in 2012 booked already. Got into the new (undercover!) Doohan Pavillion too, about as comfortable and "luxurious" as you can get without spending the thousands on the VIP hospitality. Get a pit walk on the Friday too for booking early!!!!!!!
 
Excellent, Finnish Ajo Motorsport is going to be running the KTM factory effort in Moto3. I should check it out, 125s were amazing even though I've completely missed out on last couple seasons.
 
Michele Pirro will ride a CRT bike for Team Gresini, FTR fram and CBR1000RR engine.

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Aleix Espargaro and Randy de Puniet will ride Aspar Aprilia CRT bikes.

http://asia.eurosport.com/motorcycling/de-puniet-joins-aspar_sto3043992/story.shtml
 
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oh yeah, Swede Alexander Lundh signed for MZ in moto2!

\o/
 
For me, the move to bigger 100cc engines for 2012 is not so good.
It?s not like the 800s lacked power or speed.
Similar to the feeling of some of the main teams in 2011, I reckon a move to a smaller displacement, drop rider aides & leave all else open for modification staying with a normally aspirated engine. Would make for tighter racing & more teams in the medium term, but that?ll never be known now.

Can we pick winners for 2012 yet?
Will Honda own MotoGP in 2012?
Will Rossi get his magic back?
Will Ducati stop destroying it?s riders?
Will Yamaha catch up?
Will CRT mean 2x races on the track as the same time?
 
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Test MotoGP Sepang Day 2 - Classifica finale
01 Casey Stoner 2:00.895 - - 29
02 Ben Spies 2:01.052 +0.157 +0.157 37
03 Jorge Lorenzo 2:01.068 +0.016 +0.173 40
04 Dani Pedrosa 2:01.508 +0.440 +0.613 35
05 Cal Crutchlow 2:01.565 +0.057 +0.670 42
06 Hector Barbera 2:01.788 +0.223 +0.893 50
07 Valentino Rossi 2:01.886 +0.098 +0.991 44
08 Alvaro Bautista 2:01.933 +0.047 +1.038 46
09 Andrea Dovizioso 2:02.160 +0.227 +1.265 42
10 Nicky Hayden 2:02.354 +0.194 +1.459 41
11 Stefan Bradl 2:02.414 +0.060 +1.519 41
12 Karel Abraham 2:02.598 +0.184 +1.703 66
13 Katsuyuki Nakasuga 2:02.941 +0.343 +2.046 40
14 Franco Battaini 2:04.311 +1.370 +3.416 38
15 Colin Edwards 2:05.603 +1.292 +4.708 37
16 Ivan Silva 2:10.297 +4.694 +9.402 16
17 Jordi Torres 2:11.893 +1.596 +10.998 2
18 Robertino Pietri 2:12.546 +0.653 +11.651 5
 
Amazing race yesterday. Especially the Moto2 race. Winner not certain until the very end and just the way I like it. Didn't really pay much attention to the Moto3 race and while the MotoGP race was certainly interesting and entertaining. It wasn't as great as the Moto2 race.
 
Anyone watch the Moto3 race today? Man what a race! So close all around the field and CORTESE vs VI?ALES was an absolute treat! right up to the finish line where COR just made a frantic move to deny VIN the overtake right on the finish line. Then atching VIN drive him off the road after the race ended and hitting his leg was priceless!

Man I enjoyed that. MotoGP was damn boring BTW...
 
Haven't seen moto3 yet, but I thought Moto2 was pretty damn awesome too. Fell asleep during MotoGP- had been so good over the past few races, hope it gets back to that soon.
 
I actually missed Moto2 which is kind of a bummer since I quite like watching Iannone ride. Now that I know it was a good race I'd download it but I already checked out the results so there's no point now. Ah well, Monaco in 2 weeks.
 
Stoner to quit MotoGP at the end of the year !!! :-o

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/m...er-motogp-season/story-e6frfgb6-1226359813993

TWO-time world champion Casey Stoner has announced he will quit MotoGP at the end of the season for "family reasons".

The 26-year-old Australian, who has won 35 MotoGP races in his career and leads the current standings after winning two of the season's three events, made the announcement at a news conference ahead of Sunday's French Grand Prix.

"After a long period of thought and numerous discussions with my wife and family, I have decided to stop competing at the end of the season," Stoner said.

"After so many years taking part in this sport that I love, and with all the sacrifices that I have had to make, I no longer have the passion to continue and I think that it is best to stop."

Stoner, who also won the world title in 2007 with Ducati, became a father for the first time in February when his wife Adrianna gave birth to a baby daughter.

At the time he shrugged off suggestions that fatherhood would dampen his love of motorcycling.

"They say you slow down when you get married, but in my first year of marriage I won the title," Stoner said on the eve of the season.

"When I found out we were having a baby, I won it a second time. I don't think that's the case (that you slow down)."

Stoner joined the elite MotoGP class in 2006 with a satellite Honda team after working his way through the 125cc and 250cc ranks following his debut as a 125cc wildcard at Donington, England, in 2001.

His switch to Ducati in 2007 proved an inspired decision as he won the MotoGP season-opener in Qatar, followed by nine more victories that propelled him to the world title.

He moved to the factory Honda team last year and clinched his second title on home ground at Phillip Island, having already won nine races. Stoner closed the season with a 10th victory in Valencia.

"Casey just announced that 2012 will be his final year in the MotoGP Championship. Let's hope he has a fantastic year," said his Honda team on Twitter.
 
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that was an awesome race indeed!
 
I'll just leave my last Facebook status here:

'ROSSI!.. =O what an absolute legend. No matter how bad the bike.. still the best motorcyclist on this planet.'
 
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