But hopefully to another ride. I am convinced he still has a lot to offer. We can drop many names of riders who have changed camps with little or no success and bounced back to winning after a change.
^^^ Now Honda might have a conundrum for if Zarco super performs on Naka's bike, that will throw a giant question mark over Lorenzo. We know he has reported his 'commitment' to Honda for 2020, but if faced with the decision to replace JL99 with Zarco, what will Honda do? Go with the best rider I think.
Zarco a waste of time?? This season has been a disaster...... Granted. But he's a two time world champ and was doing last season what Quartararo is doing this season.
He has a defeatist attitude, which in a competitive sport is a very bad thing. He has shown time and again that he will get into his own head and beat himself.
Prior performance is not a guarantee of doing well in higher classes, just look at Danny Kent. I suspect Zarco would have done better on a Yamaha but you have to ride what you have and try to make the best of it. If you act like a sulky twat the top teams won't be interested, just look at Lorenzo who seems to be on the way out, and I suspect will not be racing in MotoGP next season
Prior performance is a pretty good indication I would say.....that's how riders get promoted into the bigger classes......no one can predict how its going to work out though! As for Lorenzo.......he's been a sulky twat since he was a child, he's also been in the top 3 teams in Moto gp all of his Moto gp career so I wouldn't say it's put anyone off signing him in the past! Just sayin
Very interesting article in this months Practical Sportsbikes. They look at the difference between the Honda RC213 V and the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bikes, why the Yamaha has lost its winning streak to the Honda. They reckon the in line 4cl motor of the Yamaha is easier to place in the frame, for optimum balance and cornering ability - and it is easier to route the exhaust pipes as well, resulting in a sweeter handling bike. However it does not produce as much power as the V4. By contrast the Honda produces more power but it is harder to get it to handle as well as they are more restricted in how the V4 motor can be placed in the frame, harder to get it to turn - resulting in the point and squirt approach. The other factors were the changes to standard software which meant Yamaha could not use their own very good traction control to manage wheel spin out of corners, so loosing to the brute power of the Honda. Marquez has mastered the art of getting the best out of the Honda's handling (with a few crashes along the way) and is able to then benefit from its power over the in line 4 cylinder of the Yamaha. Really good well researched article.
It can be a good indicator, just saying that it is not a guarantee. I do have some sympathy with Zarco who joined a Yamaha team albeit with an older bike only for them to jump to KTM with a jam tomorrow bike. As for JL, well most people know my opinion of him, and while he has been at the 3 major teams of the era he has only shone in one of then, did somewhere between ok and meh with another, and has done fook all with the third. If, when, Honds put him on gardening leave for 2020-21 he will have lost another year, another year where an upcoming rider will get linked with the big teams, another year where satellite teams will have nutured another talent. Sorry by he is a spent force and unless KTM/Aprilla decide to take a chance on him he will not be in a Factory Team.* *Yes I know I haven't mentioned Suzuki but does anyone think they would be interested in him?
Early start today. Watched FP1 from my BT Sport recording. Usual commentary jargon about the 'bad handling Honda' and 'what will happen to Zarco?' No spoilers, but uneventful so far.
Interesting that there's not been any discussion on here about Cal and whether he should have Lorenzo's bike next year.. Saw Cal in the paddock area at Silverstone - have to say, he was not a particularly happy chappy..
Just read that Lorenzo has gone back to a 'previous' chassis. Whether that is 2018 or an earlier one from this year, there's no clue. Based on FP1 and 2, he's still languishing down the bottom of the time sheets. I feel that the guy deserves a break and I hope he can pull it together for these last few races. If he is going to be outshone by Zarco, putting aside everything else, it would be a real head spin (head f*ck) for JL.
If Zarco goes well in the next 3 races, he's going to make Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Nakagami look silly. The likelihood is he'll struggle the same as they all do! I hope he beats the KTMs though! Just for his own personal gratification!
No way Zarco is going to do well. He did well on the easy to manage Yammy. Went to KTM and underperformed. Now he's expected to jump on a bronco and do well. Don't see it happening somehow. Although I would love to see him and another Honda up near the top
It reminds me of the Manchester Airport tunnels that run underneath the runway. Both about 200m long with strip lighting in the cieling. There is something quite surreal about blasting through there on a dark evening at 100+mph with the lights flashing in your visor! feels like Tron!
I think he is at the back somewhere ! It all went down hill for him after he crashed that flat tracker just before the start of the season, when he broke his wrist. Remember the Honda Race Team launch and he was standing there already in bandages before the season had even started - a disaster, almost game over right there.
