I wish I had a channel that regularly showed me MotoGP races, but it looks like I'm going to have to come to this thread for updates. I'm glad that this is at least here.
After reading up on the change from 990s to 800s, I think we need to wait and see what happens after a few races into the season and see what sort of problems the riders end up having. While the 800s are actually not as powerful as the 990s, they are turning faster laps, lighter, and making the riders go from trying to keep the back end nailed down to keeping the front end pointed in the right direction (you may or may not notice, but generally the riders are now sitting more forward in their seats than they were when the 990s were in the bikes). Of course, as much as I also like to see a little smoke show in and out of corners, I also understand how important it is to get the most life out of a tire, and sliding around like there's no tomorrow is gonna shred these new crazy tires that the companies are coming up with to pieces and put these riders at even greater risk. So while the whole traction and wheelie controls bit seems to make the racing seem less pure in my eyes, I can appreciate the safety it can provide when (inevitably) a rider makes a move that would normally get him spat off of the bike or both sliding off into the gravel. Maybe he can't make that pass this time around because of it, but at the same time he can adjust and figure out a different way or a different place to pass without overdriving the machine.
The other thing being that I'm expecting a lot of these engines to end up breaking down more than usual throughout the season. An 800cc engine will have to rev a hell of a lot higher than a 990 to make similar power, and it's pretty easy to see how that can lead to problems.
As for how competitive Honda will be, I think that they'll be pretty formidable since they have plenty of (good and bad) info from Hayden's previous season on the prototype. However, I do get very happy seeing a Ducati dust everything else on the grid when the road straightens out. It's still got a longer wheelbase than just about everything else out there, so it's not going to corner as well, as we observed in the first race of the season, but at least it's not deficient everywhere. I am looking forward to seeing a lot of different people from the norm on the podium and a much more competitive season that may get a possibility of say, 5 riders in close competition for a championship than just two people battling it out with everyone else way behind on the points.
Thanks for making the thread JohnBM01. Hope it stays good discussion.
At least my favorite brand is winning! 
