There were two separate practice sessions for the MotoGP riders earlier today in Argentina. After the first session, the times fell rapidly as the riders began to push. Ultimately, Honda’s defending champion Marc Marquez, who has already won the first two races this year, was the only rider to dip under 1 minute 40 seconds, posting a lap time of 1:39.3, leaving the rest of the field in his dust. The next quickest lap was posted by his Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, but it was more than a second adrift of the young Spaniard. Both satellite and Open Yamaha riders were quicker than Yamaha factory stars Jorge Lorenzo (9th) and Valentino Rossi (8th) after the two practice sessions were completed.
We will see tomorrow how the field sorts out during qualifying at this new venue.
Put #93 on the Yamaha and the results would be the same…it’s the rider! Remember what Stoner did on the Ducati…
Maybe Stoner would like to see if this kid Marquez can beat him and come out of retirement on a Suzuki or whatever to find out. I’m sure he would be well paid if up to the challenge.
Stoner’s Ducati championship was on a Bike with a speed advantage similar to the current Hondas. Granted, he rode later Ducatis better than anyone else has, and he was a great rider, but the Ducati championship season had a lot to do with the high end speed of that bike.
We really need to put Lorenzo on an identical Honda (to Mark’s) to find out how much of Marquez’s recent success is him and how much is about the bike. It’s clearly a bit of both. The only chance we have of seeing competitive racing the next few years is if Lorenzo were to move to to Honda (assuming Marquez stays healthy.)
It’s not just the rider. Citing Stoner’s results on a Ducati doesn’t recognize the state of constant change these bikes are in. Ducati just hasn’t changed well with the other teams and tires.
If it were only the rider then Hayden would be beating Rossi and Dovi, like he did when both were on the Ducati.
re: “it’s the rider!”
look…! up in the sky…! it’s a bird…! it’s a plane…!
nope just NATCORK.
re: “Remember what Stoner did on the Ducati”
yeah, but what does him being upside down in the gravel on several occasions with gas pouring out the tank have to do with this…?
For the sake of fans and real competition, Honda should put Hayden on Marc’s Honda and Marc on Hayden’s Honda. Then we could see some real racing !!
I was thinking the same thing.
re: “Then we could see some real racing !!”
then we’d some OWENSBORO OWNING.
You are out of your mind on that one Norm
what, he IS a Worl’ Champeen…? and that’s more than most can boast. he’s even got the bike Ross never got. 🙂
I have to admit though it would be interesting, but i’m betting Marquez would still beat Hayden
Not a chance in hell. Given the current Grand Canyon-sized chasm between the factory and Aspar Hondas, I would imagine that if Nicky and Marquez swapped rides Nicky would probably podium half the races while winning at least a couple. Meanwhile, MM riding the Aspar Honda would still only be slightly less of a nonfactor than Nicky has been. Short of all the key players DNF-ing, he would never get a sniff of a dry-race podium.
re: “i’m betting Marquez would still beat Hayden”
foot races or push bikes…?
Going to be a pretty boring series until he gets bored and goes to another make.
Then I guess Yamaha, Ducati, and Suzuki better ramp it up some to be more competitive. Or, as some suggest, let’s dumb down the fast bikes so the racing’s tighter.
Option #2 is the only way. None of the other brands are willing to match Honda’s spending. It’s a minor miracle that Yamaha can compete.
Option 1 is the way to go. Why must those that succeed be brought down to the level of those that can’t? I hate Honda with a passion, but everyone else needs to bring their A game (dollars or development) or go home.
Option 2 already exists, it’s called World Superbike.
Option #1 is fantasy. Honda brings the big wallet, the others leave (to WSBK, as you suggest). MotoGP then closes its doors or becomes a 1-brand spec series.
With Honda only competing against themselves, they have no reason to pour $millions$ into GP dream bikes. It’d look like Moto2, another series that’s more fun to watch than MotoGP.
re: “Option #2 is the only way. None of the other brands are willing to match Honda’s spending. It’s a minor miracle that Yamaha can compete.”
my name is Norm G. and I approve this statement.
“None of the other brands are willing to match Honda’s spending. It’s a minor miracle that Yamaha can compete.”
I wanna barf. Seriously. We’re talking full-on Spaghettio’s projectile vomiting here. – Nicky Hayden
A monumental over-simplification of the first 2 practice sessions.
Marquez is totally on another planet. And he’s not shredding his tires like everyone else at this new circuit. He’s going to crush everyone unless he crashes out. Lorenzo must feel like his year is slipping away.
Norm, you might want to take the Mrs. out this weekend? 🙂
i’d hoped it wouldn’t come to fruition, but there it is, Termas De Rio “HONDA”…
table for 2 please.