MotoGP Assen *******spoilers*****

[duccarlos]

I love that now the press are turning it into the new Rossi vs whateveryoungbuck rivalry. The funny part is that they will continue asking until the MM and Vale start thinking that it must be true.

[1.21GW]

Here's what I don't get: even if MM had made it through on the right of the final chicane and there was either no contact or contact was not enough to push VR off the track, how was he going to handle the second half of the chicane?  He could not have thought he'd be a full bike length ahead, and so assuming they were nearly neck-and-neck with MM out 1/2 length or less, wouldn't Rossi still be in the better position for the left?

I get that it's the last corner and if you are a true racer-alien, you gotta at least try.  But what was the strategy after he theoretically nudged in on the first part of the chicane?

[ducpainter]

<snip>  But what was the strategy after he theoretically nudged in on the first part of the chicane?

Rossi goes in the gravel and either doesn't finish or finishes second.

[HotIce]

But what was the strategy after he theoretically nudged in on the first part of the chicane?

My point exactly. That move had nothing for it, besides sending VR off. Dumper car track kind of move.
Even if this was magic videogame, and VR was transparent, MM would have gone VERY long on that turn, and VR would have nailed him with the better race line he was onto.

[duccarlos]

You're in second place going into the last turn, what do you do? You race.

[1.21GW]

You're in second place going into the last turn, what do you do? You race.

True.

[Triple J]

My point exactly. That move had nothing for it, besides sending VR off. Dumper car track kind of move.
Even if this was magic videogame, and VR was transparent, MM would have gone VERY long on that turn, and VR would have nailed him with the better race line he was onto.

Disagree...completely.

First...if you don't try, then you don't win. There was absolutely zero wrong with the move, and I'd bet a paycheck that Rossi would have tried the EXACT same move if in MM's position.

Second, even though Rossi would have been better set-up for the second half of the chicane, if he would have avoided the collision and let MM in unmolested (and I'm pretty sure MM could have made that turn), he would have been off-line a bit and gotten a terrible drive onto the straight. This could have given MM the chance to out drag race him to the line.

MM is no dummy. He's seen that move before, and had been practicing that line. The problem with the move was that Rossi knew it was coming, and had a plan...because he's Rossi.

Here's another
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBf-PZkmi4

[koko64]

Rossi did a similar move on Gibber years ago, he put Gibber in the dirt and won the race. He dominated the championship from there. Forget what year it was, someone will remember.

[triangleforge]

Drive out of that last corner seems to be the key, and it's entirely possible to win from the right side (skip forward to around 4:30 to see the last of the race) - in this one, Bayliss passes on the right side in the third & final right kink of the chicane, rather than the first - possibly because he was too far back going into the combination to even attempt a pass:

SBK 2007 - Assen Race 2

I would agree with Triple J - if Marquez could have gotten a wheel ahead through the first right and held it through the left (a whopping big IF), he would have been in good shape for the final drive out of the chicane.

It's interesting in the video posted a bit earlier that Colin Edwards tried the same move on Hayden as Marquez did on Rossi; Hayden ended up gassing through the gravel like Rossi, but Edwards crashed. Glad it didn't end that way this time around.

[Triple J]

Rossi did a similar move on Gibber years ago, he put Gibber in the dirt and won the race. He dominated the championship from there. Forget what year it was, someone will remember.

Here ya go...corner is a little different, but Rossi pretty much pulling the same move as MM. Rossi is reckless!!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N42HYwuyOg8

(how are you guys getting videos to embed?)

[triangleforge]

If I delete the "s" from the "https," it seems to embed in the post. Give it a shot.

[1.21GW]

Drive out of that last corner seems to be the key, and it's entirely possible to win from the right side (skip forward to around 4:30 to see the last of the race) - in this one, Bayliss passes on the right side in the third & final right kink of the chicane, rather than the first - possibly because he was too far back going into the combination to even attempt a pass:

SBK 2007 - Assen Race 2

I would agree with Triple J - if Marquez could have gotten a wheel ahead through the first right and held it through the left (a whopping big IF), he would have been in good shape for the final drive out of the chicane.

It's interesting in the video posted a bit earlier that Colin Edwards tried the same move on Hayden as Marquez did on Rossi; Hayden ended up gassing through the gravel like Rossi, but Edwards crashed. Glad it didn't end that way this time around.

Wow.  Just wow.     What a finish!!


I see your/JJJ's point---if the outside rider on the first/right turn of the chicane gets moved too far off the race line, he has to turn more on the second/left turn rather than run it straight through.

[Triple J]

If I delete the "s" from the "https," it seems to embed in the post. Give it a shot.

Sweet! 

[OT]

Here ya go...corner is a little different, but Rossi pretty much pulling the same move as MM. Rossi is reckless!!  

Reckless, indeed.  

In the video, Sete had no idea Rossi was even there - otherwise, he could have stayed on the track if he'd anticipated that inside move, which he didn't, and that is why Rossi always owned him.

[koko64]

Yep he had his measure.^
Rossi knew MM would try there and had a counter move. Hes a good "boxer".  Rossi has a counter move for his own moves so he can anticipate MM similar playbook.