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Can Suzuki's MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales
pictured at Sepang, during winter testing in February capture
his debutant podium this year? (Image source: motorsport.com)
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Why do I feel an 'Ol Clint Eastwood Quip comin' on
here? As in A-L-L this F1 excitement, I've plain forgotten if I scribbled five
or six stories? Hya!
As I've almost entirely forgotten about
MotoGP, or who's been doing what since that FARCICALLY RIDICULOUS
Season Finale!
Whilst it's NOT a
very ringing endorsement for this year's title defense of Thy pinnacle 'O
motorsports, nee Formula 1, or should I-T be Pee-knuckle? Especially if its
world champion pronounces the following...
Yet much has changed in the following four-plus
months time, most notably the series sensibly morphing back into a single
category, eliminating the confusion over Factory vs. Open Bikes two-tiered
class structure. As A-L-L entries must now use the single Unified Magnetti Marnelli
mandated ECU system - with each rider
allowed seven engines per season, with non winning (2013-15) Dry Race entities
allowed twelve, unless gaining too many podium positions, hence reverting to
seven.
And there's some confusing rules about number
of engine Evoluzione' (evolutions) each manufacturer's allowed, dependent upon
number of Satellite Squads in Thy equation.
Beginning with three allowed per One Factory
& Two Satellite teams respectively, i.e.; Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, etc.
Whilst Factory teams are allowed to hand down their previous machinery, which
means that Satellite squad's may be running dated Scooters', i.e.; 2014-16
Ducs' (Ducati) in the field for example...
Also gone is the separate amount 'O petrol
the two classes could carry, with now everyone limited to a maximum of 22-litres
per race.
While the other major change is the departure
of Bridgestone's Japanese rubber being replaced by France's Michelin tyres,
which could possibly effect the racing
somewhat due to coming to grips with suitable new compounds,
Also new this season is an increase in rim
size, with MotoGP inching up to 17-inch rims a la their supporting series
Moto-2 & Moto-3, whilst there are limits upon numbers of each compound,
i.e.; Hard, intermediate and soft front & rear tyres allowed; Cornfuzed'
Yet?
I first learned of the term
"Aliens" at the 2014 Circuit Of The Americas MotoGP race from some very amiable British Fans, with the
current trio of Aliens comprising of Marquez, Lorenzo and Rossi, for which I've
totally soured upon the first two's unscrupulous pranks, while Rossi's NO
Choirboy either!
thus naturally Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez
will be this year's favourites with the ageless "Doctor" Valentino
Rossi, now age 37 being the Darkhorse for championship consideration.
Then there's my new favourite from last year,
playfully now known as Maverick "Top Gun" Viñales - who
seemingly faces great pressure to live up to his rising star status in his
MotoGP sophomore campaign, albeit Maverick, and more importantly the Suzuki
bikes seem more potent with finally adapting the de riggour seamless shift crashboxes! Which hopefully
will incorporate both up & downshifts this season.
As that's my Top-4 riders this season with NO
disrespect towards the remainder of the MotoGP grid, especially since they're
A-L-L BAD ARSES! for which I'll leave the Heavy lifting to the accompanying
article...
And as typical, should we believe the final
winter's test results at the Losail
international circuit where Jorge Lorenzo finished
comfortably ahead of everyone? With Scott Redding now aboard a year old
Satellite Ducati surprisingly second - while my Boy Maverick capped off running
towards the front this winter with an impressive P3! Although suppose Y'all can
never count out those astoundingly Hyper-fast Desmosedici
Ducati's...
Presumably, albeit thoust was hard pressed a
Fortnight's prior to find when in Tar nations the race would be televised
Stateside, or even which FOX Network? So Yuhs will have to find I-T yourself!
KICK ARSE MAVERICK!