Spoiler That was a great race ! Superman flying through the air into poor old Quartararo ! Marc - I am coming through - Marquez, again ! Good result for Zarco Parc Ferme celebrations Agostini thinking it was all about him and forgetting to hand out the winner's trophy
Tragic....... From what I saw he spun out and got hit by another rider. A reminder of dangerous our sport really is. Makes me think of Daijiro Katoh this
Not that impressed with the visor on Quartararos' Scorpion lid, during Q2. It popped out very easily and ended up on the floor, without any crash. A few minutes earlier the visor stayed in place on Marquez's Shoei lid, even after a face plant onto the track.
Thought the same, all he did was open it while celebrating his pole position! I'd be having a word with the sponsor if I were him
I'm surprised he wears that brand happy shopper lid......Baustisa wears the same brand seams like loads of padding rather than different shell sizes I may be wrong as never had one a bit like my OGK back in the day good enough for Hizzy good enough for me.
I had a Scorpion lid when I had an X-Max scooter. Open face, drop down visor thing, with a ratchet chin strap. Massive plastic golf-ball head sold it for £10. Although I am sure it was fine really - never felt the need to buy another.
Will Valencia be Lorenzo's Swan Song with Honda? I think the Lorenzo 'situation' will come to a head at Valencia. Valencia is one of Lorenzo's favoured circuits, (4 wins) so if he cannot perform on the Honda there, he won't anywhere. I just cannot see a rider of his calibre going into the off season thinking about how he can perform on the Honda next year - despite his 'reported' commitment to Honda for the remainder of his contract. We know this is an egotistical sport, and for me, as an egotist and former racer, I would fall on my sword rather than face another year of dismal performances. Not sure who would have (or want) him, but the guy's not washed up. So, I also agree that there's a massive opportunity for Zarco if he performs this weekend as he did at Sepang - without getting wiped out .
I think Lorenzo should find another bike to ride, other than a Honda, as the Honda will likely keep throwing him down the road making his injuries worse. Also he cannot be competitive on a bike he is nervous of crashing. Big names are only given so much slack - they have to compete in the now, not live on past glories.
Let's put this into perspective though...... He's had one shit season!!! Not counting the shit first season at Ducati which most riders have anyway. His second season there proved to people what he can do. However it will be interesting to see what happens this weekend. I hope he doesn't retire, he can still win races.
I really can't see Repsol signing Zarco, but then I can't see who they would stick on the 2nd bike. If I had to take a punt I would say Alex Marquez, but only because of his brother.
He didn't do that great on the Ducati, I might be mistaken but he only really had an upturn when it became clear he was leaving/being replaced at which point he was storming ahead on it.
Agree, BSS, that it's probably premature to consider Zarco, despite his promising first appearances. Certainly there is a good association with Crutchlow, but I think he is not the rider to keep the Repsol on the lower podium steps. Both Takahashi and Nakagami are barely top tenners at best. I think the learning curve for Alex Marquez would be too great, so that leaves Honda (in my opinion) a proposition to 'poach' another rider already in contract. That would make only Vinales and Quatararo 'capable' of coming to terms with the bike, but they would be so contractually tied up that it's hardly worth speaking of. So, based on that personal hypothesis, the smoothest transition would be to give Cal the seat and slot Zarco into the 2020 LCR team.
