MotoGP: Assen (let's race on Saturday) TT

Not that it's breaking news but, VR said in today's press conference that, basically, it's just a matter of finalizing everything before his new contract with Yamaha is announced.

Romano Fenati

Maverick Vinales

Valentino Rossi

My picks are based on the cool first name factor. Marc doesn't have the same panache.

Jeez, I wonder what that A-Style logo on the background stands for?

That is one of the most adsurd/best logos ever.

Agreed. It took me YEARS to figure it out. Maybe I didn't and someone said something about it.

VR (if not here - where?)
MM
DP

Rossi won here last year and has now had plenty of time to study Marquez from close behind.

He said that at the last press conference too. So apparently, it IS about the money. Maybe they are waiting for a sponsor to sign on the line? With each passing race Rossi's position just gets stronger ...

That race must've been very embarrassing for Colin. I think he actually had the lead for a few feet, but just magically fell off his bike. It was weird.

And I love the logo in the background. Still can't believe they got away with that.

Not so much embarrassing as heart-breaking. Such a long and checkered career to never have a single victory in MGP, to have it in his grasp and then ... watch it slip away. I still cringe whenever I see that photo.

that should be cal's race bike, lesser chance of a mechanical issue and he might actually finish one before the year is over

He made up a full second on Hayden on the last lap and then biffed it in the chicane. Bummer but he still has some impressive MotoGP podiums (even while injured), a couple of World Superbike championships, won one of the best races in World Superbike history, a hot wife, two kids and lots of money. I think he'll be OK.

dirt programs, boot camp.... yeah, he'll be fine.

Good point.

He would probably complain about it and put in less effort than everyone else on a Ducati and watch Iannone pass him on a stunt bike he picked up at the local Kmart.

Crash.net is reporting another round of comments from Crutchlow here.

Another new stance. In his previous comments he was saying that the bike wasn't right and so he wasn't going to take any risks and he didn't care much that the other Ducati riders were quicker.

This time he says:

“We need to improve my riding on the bike, because at the moment I'm just completely frozen on the bike. I don't move on the bike. I don't do anything. I need to be able to relax and ride the motorcycle how a bike should be ridden, not just freeze every time because you don't know what the hell it is going to do.

"... We'll try and get me more comfortable on the bike before we start to worry about anything else.”

Last year here Crutchlow was third, having run into Marquez on the last lap while trying to overtake him for second.

Mm
vr
dp

Aleix Espargaro pips Marquez with extra soft tire to set new lap record to lead FP2 ...

Free Practice 2:
1. Aleix Espargaro
2. Marc Marquez
3. Dani Pedrosa
4. Jorge Lorenzo
5. Andrea Iannone
6. Bradley Smith
7. Valentino Rossi
8. Pol Espargaro
9. Stefan Bradl
10. Andrea Dovizioso
11. Alvaro Bautista
12. Scott Redding
13. Cal Crutchlow
14. Yonny Hernandez
15. Colin Edwards
16. Hiroshi Aoyama
17. Nicky Hayden
18. Karel Abraham
19. Broc Parkes
20. Hector Barbera
21. Michael Laverty
22. Danilo Petrucci
23. Mike Di Meglio

Anyone else have problems with the FP live streaming? I tried to watch MotoGP FP1 last night and only got intermitent feeds with constant pauses.

My picks are:
Jorge,
Vale,
Dani.




Aleix and Alvaro take Mark out on lap 7 in a duel for the lead before their tyres go off....

Cal doesn't come out of his motorhome all day.

Somebody give that kid a factory ride already :eek1

I didn't watch FP1 live, but watched all of FP2 without any tech issues.