Yamaha cannot catch up - they need to be at the front to win. Ducati appear to be the only bike that can make up for poor qualifying to challenge for race wins.
This is mostly true, but for most of this year Quartararo has been the exception. He's made lots of moves stick and held off the Duc's in the straights up to last weekend, even from further back on the grid when he's had poor starts. Cold doesn't seem to be the Yamaha's friend, whether it's from air temp or rain, and it seems to undo whatever front-heavy setup is working for Fabio that lets him brake so deep...
Bagnaia is now in the top 5 of racing talent in the world.
Agreed, though he'll have to translate that to next year for it to stick and for Ducati to start fine tuning the bike to his preferences. Their problem all year has been different front-runners poaching points off each other. With Zarco, Martin and Miller all being Top Duck at various points, they haven't been able to settle on a number one guy for a full season. As it stands, Bagnaia looks like he's growing in confidence and learning from his mistakes, so can maybe start the season strong next year. He'll have 7 other Ducatis to help/hinder...
The rumour is that Darryn Binder has a contract with Razlan Razali that went through 2022 - the idea was that he was either going to remain in Moto3 or move up to Moto2 with the SRT team, but now that that team has vaporized, the only option that does not include buying the contract out is to put him in the MotoGP seat (he must have a contract with Razali directly rather than the SRT team). To be it's the only reasonable explanation for it. Jake Dixon or Xavi Vierge would have been more appropriate given their experience with bike displacement bikes. I think Binder will be ok ultimately, but he is going to have a BIG spotlight on him, so he will get (unfairly?) crucified if/when he makes a mistake taking another rider out.
Yep, though with the power struggle between Stigefelt and Razali, it was unclear who he was contracted to and what was committed to Binder. Either way, the confusion is more around how Binder lucked into a top class ride over many more deserving candidates. (It's also nuts just how many brothers are on the grid lately, between the Espargaros, the Marini/Rossis, the Marquez's, and now the Binders.) As for being watched closely, that's the cost of repeatedly riding dangerously. There's nothing unfair about the reputation he's built for himself.
I don't understand what happened to KTM - I thought they found something when Oliviera had his consecutive podiums, but they fell off a cliff again.
It's going to be very interesting to see what 2022 bikes will be like now that the engine development freeze has been lifted.
From all the stuff I've read online, it appears that the KTM just cannot use the new front tire carcass that Michelin switched to. I believe they sorted their bike bang-on-the-money for what Michelin was giving them... then Michelin changed the tire.
My understanding is it was a tire Michelin had actually stopped bringing, but that was very early in the season. They found speed in the middle of the year before the summer break, which was widely attributed to a new chassis they'd built, but disappeared after the break (aside from Binder's freak/lucky win). Spec tires will always favour some bikes over others, but KTM just couldn't fix things like Honda (sort of) has. Building a bike for one tire is not ideal: look how often the other manufacturers switch compounds...
As for engine freeze being lifted, I'm not sure what can really be accomplished by the v4 companies.
Aprilia - maybe a bit more top end..
Ducati - who knows. Motor's already pretty much the best one on the grid
Honda - Smoothness maybe?
Suzuki - More power please.
Yamaha - Same as Suzuki. More power please.
Aprilia has a V4 but could use lots more top speed, though it could also be their aggressive aero package that's holding them back at the end of the straights. If this past weekend was any indication, Suzuki's new shapeshifter has massively reduced the straightline deficit to the Ducatis, as Mir wasn't losing much on the straight at all.
The bikes are so powerful now that it's as much about getting the power to the ground as peak hp. I read an article a while back quoting Petrucci where he said he was
using the rear brake for as much as 70% of a lap at some tracks, both to stabilise the bike and to control wheelies. Finding a way to maintain peak power while also being controllable is what they're working towards now.
Either way, the margins are so slim now that even a minor improvement could make a difference of four or five places over race distance...
