MotoGP '13 Qatar- Desert in the dark (spoilers!)

I think Honda's downfall last year was the trouble they had making the new front tire work. If they had concentrated on making it work earlier on, Casey or Dani would be the current WC. JMHO.

I am very curious to see how Marc does. I am curious to see how Valentino fares, also. I think he will have his hands full fending off both Marc and Cal. My gut says it won't be long before Marc is a threat to win every race. I will be very impressed if Rossi is able to muster some of the old magic to finish higher than 3rd.

Rossi's still the most experienced of all the top riders. And with the greatest success by far. He does face a giant task, if he is to take that 10th championship, but THAT's what he is there for. Not there to ride around for 2nd place behind Jorge, or anyone else for that matter. "Warm and friendly" relations between these two are going to be interesting to watch... I predict it'll be something like Senna & Prost in F1 a good while ago

That is why I am curious to see if he still has it.

I think they did everything they could given that the new tire was imposed at Round 6. I'd blame it more on Bridgestone than Honda.

It was available for testing from early on and everyone else made it work? Either way, it was their downfall last season.

Pedrosa and Stoner had chatter issues from the start of 2012, and the "optional" tire made it worse, so why would they make their title challenge harder by using a tire which didn't work as well? There was no warning from Bridgestone till the last minute that the optional tire was going to be the only one offered, a move Pedrosa called "dictatorial."

Honda immediately started working on making changes, but as Nakamoto said, "I've said it before, but because we can't do full tests during the season, it's not possible to make big modifications to the frame." If this was the Honda of 2007 or 2008, they probably would have just made minor adjustments and left it at that, but I think they've learned the hard way that they can't expect a rider to make up for major deficits in the chassis.

I figure Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Marquez will make up the podium, though the exact order is unclear in my crystal ball.

Should be a good scrap for the next 3-4 positions, with Rossi mixing it up with the satellite Hondas and Yamahas.

I don't foresee Ducati making it into the top seven, and three of the four will likely finish behind the top placed CRT.

Time for a nap now, as all this prognostication has worn me out.

Conventional wisdom says the results of Qatar aren't strongly indicative of anything, being a night race, etc.

Last year's Qatar podium was also the order they finished in the standings.

Just sayin.

No predictions, only a prayer:

Please, please, please let there be racing, and not lapping.

Can I get an amen, brothers and sisters?

getting psyched!

I think Rossi is going to surprise a lot of folks this season.
Pedrosa and Lorenzo get more psyched by losing to Rossi then they did with their old pal Stoner.
I don't see Marquez on the podium for the first race, but after that....

When Lorenzo finishes a race behind Rossi or
Pedrosa finishes a race behind Marquez it's going to get hot.

Yeah, if the front tyre was hondas problem last season, hiring two Spaniards might be their problem this season...
Both Pedro and MM have and will play it dirty. Pedrosas problem is, that MM has that extra Alien talent.

The Yamaha guys are different, they are both smooth and wise. I think it's gonna be epic season of tight battles between JLO and Rossi.

Prediction for race:

-MM
-Rossi
-JLO
-Bradl
-Nicky

Prediction for title:

-ROSSIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that would be the guy who´s won (and beaten Lorenzo, the reigning champion) 6 times in the last 8 races.... imagine where he´d be, if only he had a little ´alien talent´.. ​

Hello from Doha, Qatar. I'll be at FP1 tomorrow night! I'll post pictures, though I don't think I'll get very close (no press pass)
-jw

Kyns' top 5 doesn't include Pedrosa. How about for every place above 6th that Pedrosa places, Kyns sits out the Pedrosa-bashing for that many rounds?

It's getting old.

ftfy

We're stoked for whatever you can post. Thanks.

Race prediction:
Lorenzo
Pedrosa
Marquez
Rossi
Crutchlow
Nicky
Bradl
Dovi
Smith
Crazy Joe

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