Yooperbikemike's 2011 MotoGP Thread

Team Suzuki Press Office - November 8.


Suzuki Motor Corporation wishes to thank all customers and race fans who supported the Suzuki MotoGP Team in 2010.

With the experience and knowledge gained in 2010 the Suzuki MotoGP Team will move forward with great passion and effort in search of glory in 2011.

The Suzuki MotoGP Team will participate in 2011 with a single rider, Alvaro Bautista. Alvaro joined the team in 2010 and made good progress with GSV-R, the Suzuki Grand Prix machine, improving his results throughout the season.

Suzuki will continue to make the best use of the short time to the start of the 2011 MotoGP season to develop the GSV-R machine for this, the pinnacle class of motorcycle racing, and we thank all Suzuki customers and race fans for their continued support.

Is this a program circling the drain? One factory rider, zero satellites and no dry race wins in ages.

I know its the Rossi show, but the grid has to get bigger!!

Suzuki needs needs some electronics help to catch up I think.

Suzuki MotoGP race fans? Criminey, they could hold the fan banquet in a phone booth.

Thanks for picking up the torch again for 2011 Mike, looking forward to another good year of discussions and bench racing!

ok Im in... already goin thru no road race for months blues..

So Tuesday we get to see the carbon beauties!

G'day Mike,
I miss you! Jim's site is suffering, no pictures...

What are we going to do now? Well lots actually, hopefully the cast comes off this week, and I can start walking. The racing will have to wait until the bank balance starts to look like we can eat. There are unfinished projects in the shed (and around the house my missus keeps reminding me). So all is not lost.

Mark 'Hollywood' Miller will be on MotoGPod next week with a preview of the Macau GP.

Our club has its big open race meeting of the year on the 28th of November. for those of you into 'Dirt Track'. I'll post some images after.

Tuesday will be interesting in MotoGP land...

Ummm. Did you have an accident?

Well Boot,
while you were swanning around overseas, I started FIFO work, and things were going along great. Then on a club day, I had a gentle low side but my left ankle got caught between the rear wheel and shock. End result being two fractures at the lower Fibula. I've been banned from site (and racing) until I have a doctors clearance (5 1/2 weeks). So, the bank balance has taken a hit, the missus is hammering me to quit racing, my son is cranky because I can't kick the footy with him, the shed is a mess, and I'm going fucking nuts.

BTW, how was Europe and the racing you got to see? Did you flag at the Island?

Predictions for testing on Tuesday?

Stoner under the lap record before lunch time.
Rossi has a front end loose
Jorge under the lap record after lunch
Hayden to complete 400 laps
Ben to be 0.1 off the lap record

OUCH! Bloody. No one needs that.
Europe was Good. 9000+ miles, with triple doses of Alps and Dolomites. Took in Donnington Revival meet, Assen round of German Supers, (Mugga's and Damo Cudlin Champs! ), Misano Motogp, Centenial TT at Assen, (see Imola Reunion thread), Imola WSBK, (as a Guest, access all areas..), BSB at Oulten Park, Historic meet at Cadwell Park....
Off plane at Melb. at 5.30 am, after 23hr flight, straight to the Island to wave flags at Motogp! Managed to avoid hypothermia, altho a lot of didn't..
Back on a plane at midday Monday, to fly back to work in the Pilbara.:huh
Spent the next week wading through a metre high pile of angry bills , now well and truly busted arse broke!
But hey, what's the point of bein' the richest dude in the cemetry?
Hope ya heal up soon, bloke...

Some mighty fine ridn over in them thar hills!!!

Moto2: Gresini confirm Pirro, Takahashi

Honda just confirmed the three-rider Repsol team.

Will Stoner be under Puig's wing?

My predictions in order
Lorenzo-He was the best this year, and no big changes for him next year. Hard to bet against him.
Stoner-It will take him a few races to get used to the team, and then he will win or bin all year
Dovi-Not going to win many but no DNF's and fighting for the podium every race will get him a lot of points.
Rossi-It will take him a bit to get the Duc to his liking, then he will win a bunch of the last races
Hayden-He will benefit from Rossi's touch
Simo-Big hair will have big leaps in performance
Spies-Slow and steady, I may be wrong and wouldn't be shocked if he finished higher.
Pedrosa-I think he will be a bit gun shy of his shoulder and fighting with the big boys

I am excited to see how the season plays out, though Moto2 is going to be the class to watch next year.
Superglue wins it all!

Don't forget, folks. MotoGP.com is running live coverage of tomorrow's test from 10am to 12:30, local time. That's 4am to 6:30, eastern U.S.

Matthew Birt of MCN is tweeting that Rossi will have three bikes available to test at Valencia: 2010 and 2011 "big-bang" and a 2011 "screamer".

Does anybody have the Moto2 times and other details?

I have been looking and haven't seen anything yet.

I thought Jerry et al. were not going to be allowed in the pit box during the test? Didn't waste time donning the red

They all signed some papers this weekend and they have been contract free after the Valencia race ended.

Besides, Yamaha repossessed their uniforms and JB just *happened* to have a red shirt in his suitcase.