MotoGP comments

[fotoguzzi]

In my mind Lorenzo will always have an  *  after Champion.. or a footnote to the story..

[Bonafide Bob]

I agree, but he is he Worlds Champion and rode like today.
 Bob

[rdbandkab]

I was wishing the Dani would have dispatched MM and JL...  Oh well!   
It looked like MM almost took Dani out in one corner.   DP probably figured he better chill,  lest both Hondas crash out..
Vale rode a great race...

[grebmrof]

In my mind Lorenzo will always have an  *  after Champion.. or a footnote to the story..

If I heard the announcers correctly, I thought they said that if JL and VR came in tied with points that JL would have been crowned champion because he had won more races that VR...I don't see an * for that level of performance.

Yes I thought that MM almost touched DP on one of those closing laps, tight racing, wow!

[wrbix]

Label title: "SPOILER ALERT" 

[Arizona Wayne]

I was wishing the Dani would have dispatched MM and JL...  Oh well!   
It looked like MM almost took Dani out in one corner.   DP probably figured he better chill,  lest both Hondas crash out..
Vale rode a great race...

MM decided there was no way he was going to let DP get in front of him at that point in the race.   Their Honda feud cinched Lorenzo winning the race and championship.

[Matteo]

Gee I wonder why MM made no attempt to pass Lorenzo after riding his coat tail the entire race?

[Arizona Wayne]

Gee I wonder why MM made no attempt to pass Lorenzo after riding his coat tail the entire race?

Supposedly the Hondas were concerned about their front tires wearing out too soon before the end of the race.   Maybe that slowed MM down at the end since that track was mostly curves.

[Yukonica]

wow. 
That season wasn't handed to anyone on a platter.
Even as a VR fan I admit JL ran this race-day and earned his every one of his glories.
Congratulations.

[groundhog105]

Gee I wonder why MM made no attempt to pass Lorenzo after riding his coat tail the entire race?

Marquez didn't even attempt a pass because he wanted Lorenzo to win the championship. When have you ever seen Marquez ride on someone's butt for that long and not even attempt to show a wheel and I'm talking about since he came to the GP class. The only time he got aggressive is when Pedrosa caught and passed Marquez and looked as though Pedrosa had the pace to pass Lorenzo.  Lorenzo worked for his title and earned it but it was handed to Lorenzo with the help of Marquez interfering with Rossi. As fans we were cheated out of the battle that should have been between Jorge and Valentino.

[fotoguzzi]

  As fans we were cheated out of the battle that should have been between Jorge and Valentino.

   *

Label title: "SPOILER ALERT" 

I did not give anything away in the title so those who have not seen the race don't have to open the thread.

[oldbike54]

 OK fellas , a thread about this same topic got nuked from on high , so , since none of us are really experts and have no direct connection to anyone of the players involved , stop the name calling and Nascar like crap .

  Dusty

[boatdetective]

Marquez didn't even attempt a pass because he wanted Lorenzo to win the championship. When have you ever seen Marquez ride on someone's butt for that long and not even attempt to show a wheel and I'm talking about since he came to the GP class. The only time he got aggressive is when Pedrosa caught and passed Marquez and looked as though Pedrosa had the pace to pass Lorenzo.  Lorenzo worked for his title and earned it but it was handed to Lorenzo with the help of Marquez interfering with Rossi. As fans we were cheated out of the battle that should have been between Jorge and Valentino.

 :1: :1: :1:   Marquez did not do his reputation any favors. He's a fine young rider. I'm just saying that there seems to be a certain etiquette that was breached (PC enough for you? ;) ).  Based on the comments offered by other competitors, they agree.   

[Arizona Wayne]

Go to http://superbikeplanet.com/2015/Nov/151108qmac.htm and read what this race was like and win means to Jorge Lorenzo in 'quote machine final.'  He puts it in perspective for him and us. You can also read what all the racers say about their race.   

[Aaron D.]

I really am surprised by some of the things people are saying here. Anybody who CAN win a race at this level WILL win it. Otherwise they wouldn't be there.

Oh well, at least Rossi finished about where he would have had he started near the front.

[Aaron D.]

Relevant Nicky Haden comment-I wish him all the best!
Plus-when he beat Rossi in '06, I remember a big uproar that the man with the most wins (Rossi) should be awarded the championship. Today they got their wish!

[drbone641]

MM showed (imho) his true intent today. The Hondas were faster than the Yamahas after the halfway point. Marc was content to be Jorge's wingman. When Pedrosa caught up, MM raced him, passing back immediately. It was a replay of the last race. I felt bad for Vale as he was frustrated enough to move MM off last race and rode wonderfully today. Jorge won't be questioned by me, however MM lost my respect today.

[Arizona Wayne]

Obviously here only some believe what their bias of who wins controls their judgment of the results. 

[earemike]

Phillip Island:
-> MM wins, taking 5 points from from Lorenzo.
"MM is riding for Lorenzo!"
Iannone dices with VR and beats him to 3rd, taking points from VR.
-> ...crickets chirping

Sepang:
MM dices with VR, until VR gets the shits and rides MM wide, causing a crash.
-> "MM SHOULD NOT be fighting with someone who is in the championship!"

Valencia:
MM does not overtake Lorenzo. Lorenzo wins race and championship.
-> "MM SHOULD be fighting with someone who is in the championship!"

( gettin' late over there Dusty?  )

 :1: Interesting season...

[paulbr]

Valencia:

 :1: exactly what I was thinking.

[Dogwalker]

I really am surprised by some of the things people are saying here. Anybody who CAN win a race at this level WILL win it. Otherwise they wouldn't be there.

Lorenzo intimated that his compatriots had helped him win the title by not passing him.
"They knew what I had in play," Lorenzo said. "The fact they are Spaniards like me helped me.
"That helped me because for sure in another kind of race they would have tried to overtake which they didn't this time."

[Aaron D.]

One for the Spanish crowd, Lorenzo retracted those words. In both languages.

How many people thought Petrucci was wrong to move over for Rossi? Poor fellow went off track!

[Dogwalker]

One for the Spanish crowd, Lorenzo retracted those words. In both languages.

it matters little.
When he pronounced them, Jorge Lorenzo, MotoGP pilot since 2008 and three times world champion, evidently thought that it was perfectly possible that not one, but two top MotoGP riders that COULD won the race HAD CHOSEN TO NOT win it. Despite being there.

So, it should not be so surprising if some other people say the same thing.

[Arizona Wayne]

This race/season isn't over between Lorenzo/Rossi/Marquez.   Go to www.autosport.com/motogp/

[Bonafide Bob]

From Superbike Planet...........

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2015/Nov/151109mnsxz.htm

[Aaron D.]

it matters little.
When he pronounced them, Jorge Lorenzo, MotoGP pilot since 2008 and three times world champion, evidently thought that it was perfectly possible that not one, but two top MotoGP riders that COULD won the race HAD CHOSEN TO NOT win it. Despite being there.

So, it should not be so surprising if some other people say the same thing.

Well, I would have raced for the win!

Anyway, it's just racing. Great season. I look forward to next year.

[rboe]

Is it against the rules to "block" in a race and if it is, how do you prove it?

[drbone641]

I don't really understand the whys of what MM was doing. I do know that he certainly appeared to be riding wingman to Lorenzo for the last 10 laps. He certainly did not try to pass him as he did at Sepang and as he did Pedrosa when he got past. Hogdson, in the previously attached article sums up what quite a few of us were thinking.
That said, Jorge won more races and was the fastest racer this year and I, in no fashion whatsoever discredit his Championship (as if my opine matters). I am a Vale fan and I did not like how MM helped choose a winner.

[Aaron D.]

Is it against the rules to "block" in a race and if it is, how do you prove it?

No, nothing says Marquez had to pass Lorenzo. He could have been doing just as he said, he could have been planning a pass and wanted it to be clean, or he could have been hoping to keep Rossi from the championship. All ok by the rules.

[Dogwalker]

Is it against the rules to "block" in a race and if it is, how do you prove it?

Even sending someone off the track, or hit him, is not directly prohibited.
According to the rule book: "Riders must ride in a responsible manner which does not cause danger to other competitors or participants".
Is not possible to foresee all the possible behaviours on the track, so, like in most sports, the Race Direction has ample possibility to decide what a "not responsible" behaviour is, and the prove is "we believe he has acted like this".