WSBK: Fast By France

Check out this interview with Kawasaki World Superbike rider, Loris Baz.  It is a press release obtained by www.speedtv.com. 

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-fast-by-france/

SPEEDWAY: World Speedway Invitational Returns to U.S. Soil

This is a story on World Speedway motorcycle racing returning to the U.S.  Haven't really followed this series.  But, it is noteworthy.  Check out the story via the link.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/speedway-world-speedway-invitational-returns-to-us-soil/

The race took place this weekend, in fact.  Pretty cool.

John Surtees

John Surtees was another legend who had great success on both two wheels and four.  Hard to find any really good footage of Surtees' early days in motorcycle competition.  However, John Surtees did enter a classic motorcycle race in 1980 at the Amaroo Park circuit located in Annangrove, New South Wales.  The track was in used for three decades, opening in 1967 and closing in 1998.  John Surtees is shown as being a great rider, even later in his career, as this video demonstrates.  Check it out, fans.  It's a scrap between John Surtees and Jackie Saunders.  Surtees wins the race.

1990 AMA Superbike & Supersport: Mid Ohio

More delving into the archives of motorcycle racing.  This video is of AMA Superbike and Supersport at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, circa 1990.  The track is actually not far from the home base for the American Motorcyclist Association.  Check this out.

AMA SBK: '13 Grid Finally Taking Shape

This article was published two weeks ago.  But, it does give some insight as to who will be where on the grid in AMA Superbike for the 2013 season.  Check it out.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-13-grid-finally-taking-shape/

MOTOGP: Regulation Updates

SPEED.com has a story about regulation updates in MotoGP, Moto 2 and Moto 3.  Some will be effective immediately, while others will be phased in over the next year to three years.  Here is the link to all the details.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-regulation-updates/

2013 FIM World Superbike race schedule + riders & teams

Here is all the information on the 2013 FIM World Superbike Championship.  The race schedule has been announced and so have the riders and teams.  The schedule has some changes.  Round two will see a first race for WSBK in India at the Buddh circuit.  There is a race that has a venue still to be confirmed.  The U.S. round moves dates and venues.  It will be run in September instead of May and moves from Miller Motorsports Park in Tooelle, Utah, to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.  The last time WSBK ran at Laguna Seca was in 2004 before a hiatus for the series coming to the U.S. for four years.  The race will be run in late September.

Unlike last year, the season will end in Spain instead of France.  There will be 15 races, assuming that the TBA venue is confirmed, and, the contract for running at Portimao in Portugal is finalized.  Here's the calendar:

Round 1: 2/24 Australia          Philip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Round 2: 3/10 India                Buddh International Circuit
Round 3: 4/7 Spain                 Motorland Aragon
Round 4: 4/28 Netherlands     Assen TT circuit
Round 5: 5/12 Italy                Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Round 6: 5/26 Great Britain   Donington Park
Round 7: 6/9 Portugal           Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
Round 8: 6/23 TBA              TBA
Round 9: 6/30 Italy               Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Round 10: 7/21 Russia         Moscow Raceway
Round 11: 8/4 Great Britain  Silverstone
Round 12: 9/1 Germany       Nurburgring
Round 13: 9/29 United States     Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA
Round 14: 10/6 France               Circuit de Nevers, Magny Cours
Round 15: 10/20 Spain               Circuito de Jerez

Here are the teams, manufacturers and riders on the 2013 roster.  Wildcard riders might fill in during various races of the season, or fill out the field.

Althea Racing     Aprilia RSV4 Factory               Davide Giugliano     ITA

Aprilia Racing Team     Aprilia RSV4 Factory      Sylvain Guintoli       FRA
                                                                           Eugene Laverty      IRL

Red Devils Roma        Aprilia RSV4 Factory       Michele Fabrizio     ITA

BMW Motorrad Italia BMW S1000RR              Chaz Davies           GBR
                                                                           Marco Melandri     ITA

Team Grillini                BMW S1000RR              Vittorio Ianuzzo      ITA

Team Ducati Alstare    Ducati 1199 Paginale        Ayrton Badovini     ITA
                                                                          Carlos Checa         ESP

PATA Honda World
Superbike                   Honda CBR1000RR        Leon Haslam         GBR
                                                                          Johnny Rea            GBR

Kawasaki Racing Team     Kawasaki ZX10R     Loris Baz               FRA
                                                                         Tom Sykes             GBR

FIXI Crescent Suzuki       Suzuki GSX-R1000  Leon Camier          GBR
                                                                         Jules Cluzel            FRA

     

Bike Road Racing Series: Macau motorcycle Grand Prix (season finale)

The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix is a very different event from a typical Bike Road Racing Series event on the roads of Ireland.  There are riders at Macau that run regularly in the series, and some that have done only a handful of races this year, whose names you may be familiar with.

Macau is similar to Hong Kong.  It is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China.  Macau's economy is based upon gambling, tourism, and manufacturing.  The racetrack at Macau is known as the Guia circuit.  It is a narrow, bumpy,   Here are the main corners on the race track to serve as reference.

Mandarin Bend
Lisboa
San Francisco Hill
Maternity Bend
Solitude Esses
Reservoir Bend
Moorish Hill
Melco hairpin
Donna Maria
Fisherman's Bend
R Bend

This track does have two things that most street courses don't.  Plenty of elevation changes, and, a long straightaway to bring out a vehicle's top speed.

The top rider in this year's race is Michael Rutter.  He's won the Macau Grand Prix seven times, going for number eight.  He is teamed with John McGuinness who has won the race once, about ten years ago.  Gary Johnson is back in the field.  He hasn't scored a podium or won at Macau.  But, either of those things could happen in this race.  Ditto for Martin Jessopp.  He finished second in last year's Macau motorcycle Grand Prix.

We go first to qualifying highlights.  Here's what went down.

This is a 30 minute qualifying session after the one scheduled the day before was cancelled.  Riders will need to get fast laps done early as daylight is fading.  At this point, Michael Rutter is on provisional pole at 2:28.3.  Rutter is slower in this session, but still at the top of the timesheets at 2:31 and change.  Martin Jessopp and Gary Johnson both might have something to say about that.  The leaders in qualifying are:

1. John McGuinness
2. Michael Rutter
3. Martin Jessopp
4. Gary Johnson
5. Simon Andrews
6. Jimmy Storrar
7. James Hillier
8. Didier Grams

The track is getting quicker.  McGuinness turns in a flying lap at 2:27.763 which is his best of the session so far.  Rutter is only slightly faster.  Martin Jessopp still holds down third.  Horst Saiger (from the FIM World Endurance Championship), will compete at Macau.  Right now, he runs fifth, between Johnson and Andrews.  Half the bikes are on track.  Half in pit lane.  The heat plays a big factor at Macau.  Mark Miller is coming into the pits.

Meanwhile, Saiger is waved through by Davy Morgan.  Simon Andrews wants to pass Horst Saiger.  It's Kawasaki vs. BMW.  So, the battles are on, even in qualifying.  The race has not started yet.  Rutter brings fast time down to 2:27.5.  Conor Cummins is up to fifth overall.  Right now, it's McGuinness and Rutter who are the top.  They are team mates for SMT Honda.  A red flag comes out with ten minutes left, stopping the session.

So, here are the positions after the qualifying session is concluded.

1. #1 Michael Rutter          SMT Racing
2. #2 John McGuinness     SMT Racing
3. #40 Martin Jessopp      Riders Motorcycles.com
4. #5 Gary Johnson          Quattro Plant Motorsports
5. #4 Conor Cummins      Tyco Suzuki

That is the top five.  The race is coming up.  Michael Rutter is the winningest rider at Macau with seven wins, beating the previous record mark set by Ron Haslam.  The two SMT Honda's are on different tires.  McGuinness running Dunlop and Rutter, Pirelli.   There are no wet weather tires that can be used.

The riders are on their warmup lap.  The track might be damp.  Here's the whole grid.

Row 1:     #1 Michael Rutter     GBR
                #2 John McGuinness GBR
                #40 Martin Jessopp   GBR

Row 2:     #5 Gary Johnson       GBR
               #4 Conor Cummins    GBR
              #8 Horst Saiger           AUT

Row 3:   #17 Simon Andrews    GBR
              #15 James Storrar       GBR
              #55 Dan Kneen           Isle of Man

Row 4: #37 James Hillier           GBR
            #26 Didier Grams          GER
            #9 James McBride         GBR

Row 5: #13 Riko Penzkofer       GER
            #12 Steve Mercer          GBR
            #66 Branko Srdanov      NLD

Row 6: #10 Mark Miller             USA
            #20 David Johnson         NZL
            #54 Steve Heneghan       IRL

Row 7: #113 Rafael Pascholian   BRA
            #71 Davy Morgan          GBR
           #74 Y. Matsushita           JPN

Row 8: #47 Brandon Cretu       USA
            #32 Joao Fernandes     MCO
            #18 Sio Hong Sou        MCO

Row 9: #44 Jamie Hamilton      GBR

We are ready to race.

The race is on!  At the start of this 15 lap race, McGuinness and Rutter battle side by side.  Martin Jessopp is down to fourth as this 25 bike field thunders around the Guia circuit.  Conor Cummins is now third.  The bikes turn into Lisboa for the first time.  Jessopp has to stay with the two Honda's of Rutter and McGuinness.  There's dirt on the track from the car races that took place at Macau including the Formula 3 Grand Prix, the GT race, and the touring car race.

McGuinness and Rutter are both going for it.  One rider may have a problem.  The red flag comes out on lap one, stopping the race.  What happened?  Rain is falling on the track.  One rider is out of the race.  The bikes and riders go back to the pits.  According to Michael Rutter, things seem to be worsening with the rain.  So, the race is stopped, and will be restarted, the next day.

What will happen is, the motorcycle GP will follow the final car race (the Formula 3 Grand Prix), and be shortened by five laps, for a total distance of ten laps.  It's now or never for the bike race as the F3 car race had plenty of red flags in it.  At the start, Gary Johnson takes the race lead immediately.  Rutter and McGuinness follow.  Conor Cummins is fourth.  Martin Jessopp is down the field as Rutter passes Johnson.  McGuinness is running well on his Honda.

He follows right behind Johnson, and will pick up speed as the race continues.  McGuinness will have to stick to Rutter like glue.  The bikes round the Melco hairpin.  Martin Jessopp and Simon Andrews are moving forward.  McGuinness has his bike set for power up the hills and not necessarily outright straightaway speed.  Conor Cummins and Martin Jessopp battle through Lisboa.  Up San Francisco Hill, everyone settles down just a bit.

Jessopp wants to pass Cummins.  Horst Saiger has also joined in this battle.  Up the hill to Moorish, there's a hard stop after a 90 degree right hand curve.  Then comes the Donna Maria section of the track.  Johnson has passed McGuinness as Michael Rutter leads.  It's close through the hairpin, going back downhill.  There's passing in the Melco hairpin.  Unlike in the car races at Macau, there are no corner flags for the motorcycles.

McGuinness is looking for a way around Johnson.  The bikes start another lap, heading down the front straight, towards the Mandarin.  Simon Andrews sets fast lap at 2:28.891.  McGuinness closes up and then drops back from Gary Johnson.  Andrews passes Johnson.  He makes the move going through Lisboa.  McGuinness is pushing as the front wheel of his bike rose off the ground on the uphill.  The track is surrounded by walls.  If you wanted to play pinball riding a motorcycle, this is how it's done, folks, on the streets of Macau.

McGuinness wanted to pass Gary Johnson, but had Simon Andrews take him entirely by surprise.  Martin Jessopp has faded slightly.  Everyone thought he'd be in contention for a win here.  Not the case so far.  Simon Andrews is right up on Gary Johnson's rear wheel.  Andrews does it again, getting right around Johnson.  One lap to halfway.  Jessopp takes possession of fast lap at 2:27.249.  He has passed John McGuinness and is going to be on top of Simon Andrews soon.

Jessopp has an extra burst of speed, getting around Simon Andrews.  Michael Rutter holds the lead by two and a half seconds.  Johnson is now second.  He'll need to hold his line, as you cannot make defensive moves around a track this narrow.  Jessopp is setting all the purple (fastest of all) sector times, even though Michael Rutter holds down P1.  Jessopp flies by Johnson on the straight just past Melco hairpin.  Jessopp has flown from sixth to second in one lap!  It's the halfway mark already.  The riders are on lap five of ten.

Andrews continues to hound Johnson while 1-2 it's Rutter followed by Jessopp.  Don't count out Simon Andrews on his BMW either.  Jessopp in sector one, is three tenths quicker than Michael Rutter, the leader.  Jessopp picks up 2/10ths on Rutter now.  1:34.8 for Jessopp, and 1:35 flat for Rutter.  Some riders who might lose energy during a longer race, won't do so, since this race is run at a shortened distance.  Jessopp is almost a second quicker than Rutter.  Rutters lap is 2:29.033, while Jessopp is running a 2:28.043.

McGuinness and Johnson battle until McGuinness goes straight on down an escape road at Lisboa.  McGuinnness outbrakes himself.  Jessopp is still hounding Rutter.  It's just that Rutter has a real comfortable margin.  Well, maybe not so comfortable.  It's actually shrinking.  Rutter goes purple in sector two.  Rutter runs a 1:33.9, and Jessopp, a 1:34.7.  Rutter is very well on his way to an eighth win in the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix.  Rutter runs a personal best time in sector one another time.  His lap is a 2:27.432, while Jessopp still needs a few more hundreths at 2:27.567.

The Ducati has an advantage on the longer, faster sections, compared to the Honda.  Rutter is still up by a second, and Martin Jessopp is running out of time, with just three laps left.  Simon Andrews is third.  Michael Rutter increases his lead margin to 3.5 seconds.  These guys are now racing more like a traditional bike road race.  That is, against the clock, rather than against each other.  Rutter is in traffic, which may give Martin Jessopp and opportunity.

The gap goes up with a lap or so left.  Rutter turns in a 2:28.111, while Jessopp, can only muster 2:28.709.  Is Rutter in the clear?  Will Martin Jessopp have an opportunity to challenge?  Jessopp has a fast bike.  But, Rutter has been running the Macau motorcycle race for a lot longer.  So, he knows the track.  Simon Andrews in third, is out of contention, except for that final place on the podium.  Rutter begins the last lap of the race.

Jessopp is still quickest on the long, wide straightaways.  But, the gap grows.  It's five plus seconds between Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp now.  Rutter goes through Lisboa one more time, still quicker by a second or so.  Rutter is in cruise mode from here on out.  Michael Rutter goes through Melko hairpin once more, and is headed for victory.  Doing a wheelie on the front straight, Michael Rutter wins Macau Grand Prix number eight!  Will he come back for the 60th anniversary in 2013 and go for a ninth win?  Odds are, the answer would be, yes.

#1 Michael Rutter     SMT Racing Honda

So ends a fabulous season in 2012 of the Bike Road Racing Championship!  2013 beckons, and we'll see what happens then.  So long, for now.

      

WSBK: 'Syked' for 2013

Article on World Superbike standout Tom Sykes who rides for Kawasaki.  He's looking for more in 2013.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-syked-for-2013/

Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy motorcycle race at Goodwood Revival

At the Goodwood Revival race, there are mostly cars competing, save for one race.  It's the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy for bikes from 1951-1954.  Makes include  Matchless, AJS, and  BSA.  Here's the information on the race.

http://www.goodwood.co.uk/revival/the-races/barry-sheene-memorial-trophy.aspx

Duncan Fitchett was the race winner.

Bike Road Racing Series: Scarborough Gold Cup

OK.  Yours truly was mistaken.  There is one more round of the Bike Road Racing Series.  It was thought that the Ulster Grand Prix was the last race of the year.  But no.  This post will highlight the penultimate race, which is the Scarborough Gold Cup.  The setting is North Yorkshire, England, and the town of Scarborough.  The track is known as Oliver's Mount.  This is the 62nd running of the Scarborough Gold Cup, which is officially known as the International Steve Henshaw Gold Cup.

The first motorcycle race at Oliver's Mount was held back in 1946.  This is a short track.  It is only 2.43 miles around as compared with some of the other venues that the Bike Road Racing Series has visited throughout the 2012 season such as Cookstown, The Isle of Man, and the Northwest 200 circuit, to name a few.  The corners and spots on this track include the Mere Hairpin, Sheene's Rise, Quarry Hill, and The Esses, before going up the long back straightaway.  It isn't really a straightaway by definition.  Off the back straight, the next corner is called Memorial.  From Memorial, there is a short straight that leads to Drury's hairpin.

Going downhill, the riders approach what is known as the Mountside hairpin.  This hairpin is tricky, because it is downhill.  In the middle of the next straightaway, there is a part called Jeffrie's Jump.  The bikes are at top speed in sixth gear, and can either pop a wheelie, or get airborne at this part of the course.  Off the straightaway, the bikes come to another section called the Farm Bends.  These are slightly slower corners.  From Farm Bends, the riders come back to the start/finish line.

John McGuinness is one rider who has won the Scarborough Gold Cup before.  The first race of the day is the Darran Lindsay Trophy for the big bikes.  This race is actually run in two parts, and we pick up the action in the second part of this event in terms of how it is scored for the points standings.  The riders are ready to race.

At the start, Jamie Hamilton gets the jump over everyone else.  Guy Martin didn't get the start he wanted, and Bruce Anstey is working his way through the field.  Dean Harrison and Michael Pearson battle for second while John McGuinness is currently fourth.  The bikes go over Sheene's Rise and power up Quarry Hill for the first time.  Dean Harrison overtakes Jamie Hamilton for the race lead.  Anstey is hounding McGuinness.

Pearson wants by Hamilton going into Memorial corner.  Bruce Anstey is only making his second start at Scarborough in a decade.  Guy Martin sweeps around Anstey and takes a spot away.  The bikes roll through Drury's and the battle is heating up.  Pearson dumps his bike in the hairpin.  He'll resume, but lose places.  Dean Harrison currently leads, giving it everything he's got on that motorbike at the moment.  Anstey now runs fifth, tackling the Farm Bends.  Lap one is in the books.

Martin and Anstey are fourth and fifth.  Michael Dunlop (a favorite in this championship as readers well know), is languishing in tenth place.  Down the backstretch, Martin is applying the blowtorch to McGuinness.  Martin passes McGuinness into Memorial corner, and Bruce Anstey has a grandstand view of that, from his bike, just slightly behind.  Martin is already up to second, sweeping past Jamie Hamilton.  Close shave!  Martin is on a charge to the front.  Harrison leads and absolutely makes his Kawasaki ZX10R fly over the jump!

Ian Lougher is down in seventh place.  He retired from the first leg of the event, but is back on form now.  The riders are on their third lap.  No indication is given as to how many laps this race will be.  Harrison and Martin battle at the sharp end while others are content to give each other some space.  Ian Lougher goes too deep into the hairpin, sliding off course, but keeping control of the motorcycle.  Jamie Hamilton is slowing down going through Farm Bends.  He could have braking issues.  Martin sweeps around Harrison once more.  Hamilton and McGuinness continue an epic scrap for third.

Hamilton is losing grip and nearly loses his bike, too.  But he's hanging on.  Ian Lougher continues to chase Mick Cummings.  Lougher makes the pass successfully and continues chasing down his competition.  Guy Martin is checking out.  He's runniing consistent lap times and going smoothly through all the corners.  This race is coming to an end.  Guy Martin wins it.

#1 Guy Martin       Suzuki

The distance for that race was eight laps.  Martin wins the Darrin Lindsay cup as the winner.

The next race is for the 650cc Super Twins.

Ryan Farquhar is to retire after this race.  So, he will leave a large void in the Super Twin field.  Jamie Hamilton was to have taken part in this event, but will not, as he crashed his bike in qualifying the day before.
Once more, this event is in it's second leg.  It is the Supertwin Phil Mellor Trophy.  At the start of this one, Dean Harrison might have taken the lead as Ian Lougher battles his way through the scrum of bikes.  Everyone makes it through the Mere Hairpin.  Difficult to tell who is in the lead.

Ian Lougher tries passing Paul Gartlett.  But, no dice.  Not yet anyway.  Davy Morgan passes Lougher.  Ivan Lintin is holding down second spot at the present time.  Ian Lougher has been shuffled down to sixth spot.  This race is another eight lap event.  Harrison and Lintin lead through Drury's with Craig Shirlaw third.  Lougher still wants by Gartlett.  Harrison won the first leg of the Super Twin event.  Dean Harrison leads by 8/10ths of a second.

Davy Morgan holds down fourth place.  Lougher tries making a pass, but goes straight instead of heading into the turn.  It's still Harrison, Lintin, and Shirlaw, the top three.  Davy Morgan runs solitary in fourth place.  Wayne Martin and John Battey (on bikes #7 and #66 respectively) follow each other down the order in lockstep.  Dean Harrison has a decent cushion over Ivan Linton at the moment.  Andy McPherson is another rider having a good race.  David Bell has passed Paul Gartlett somewhere along the way.

At the halfway mark, the race is red flagged.  The race will be restarted.  Dean Harrison will lead the bikes away for the restart.  Harrison leads over Lintin.  David Bell will be third.  Harrison has Lintin right on top of him, all over the tailpipe of his bike.  The gaps are growing between most of the bikes now.  This race will be based on an aggregate result.  Dean Harrison must stay ahead of Ivan Lintin if he wants to win without having a battle on his hands.  Brad Hughes on bike #51 is running farther down the field at this point.

The top four remains Harrison, Lintin, Shirlaw, and Morgan.  There is nothing between Harrison and Linton.  But, Harrison might just have this win locked up with the key to the safe, thrown away.  It's the last lap of the Super Twin race.  Linton is not giving up and not letting Dean Harrison get away.  Harrison wins the second race.

#38 Dean Harrison     Kawasaki

Guy Martin has actually won the Scarborough Gold Cup, seven times.  Martin is the fastest qualifier for the Gold Cup race, setting a time of 1:45.961.  This is the big race of the weekend.  It is the Scarborough Gold Cup.  So many great motorcycle racers have won this race including Phil Read, Geoff Duke, Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Carl Fogarty, and others.  This is the official race.  A marshal blows his whistle, telling people to clear the grid.

Bruce Anstey won't start.  The gearbox on his bike isn't working.  At the start, it's John McGuinness taking the lead, like he was shot from a cannon!  Guy Martin is second, while the rest of the pack fiercely battles each other.  The bikes runs two by two.  Jamie Hamilton is sixth.  Michael Pearson and Michael Dunlop are also in the top group.  Pearson has crashed.  He won't have a chance at winning the Scarborough Gold Cup.  McGuinness rides a Superstock bike, while Guy Martin races a full fledged Superbike.  It's McGuinness, Martin, and Harrison, the top three.

The riders complete the first of eight laps scheduled.  Martin and McGuinness continue their squabble.  McGuinness is clearly holding off Martin's Suzuki.  Dean Harrison takes Martin by surprise and passes him.  Ian Lougher is running slightly behind the top three, right behind Jules Croft.  Dean Harrison's rear tire slides, and he drifts the rear end of his bike out, without losing control!  Phew!  Harrison won't let a slight slip up deter him, as he comes inside John McGuinness, trying to make a pass.

Harrison takes the lead in the Scarborough Gold Cup!  Martin passes McGuinness back.  Ian Lougher is eleven seconds back from the top three.  Lougher still follows Croft.  At the front, Harrison and Martin do synchronized jumps, landing right together with both wheels of their bikes back on the tarmac!  Wow!  Jules Croft is sliding his bike, feeling the heat from Lougher now.  Lougher is still having issues with Croft who is holding him up.  Meanwhile, Guy Martin has taken the race lead.

Four laps are complete.  The Gold Cup race is half over.  Bike #69, Dave Willams, is under pressure from a rival.  Martin is pulling away from Dean Harrison.  Dean Harrison seems to be letting up his relentless pace just a little bit.  Michael Dunlop is fourth as the bikes negotiate Jeffrey's jump another time.  Gary Graves and Mick Cuddins are in tenth and eleventh spots, further down the order.  Guy Martin is checking out.  He could very well win this race.

Jamie Hamilton follows Michael Dunlop, but Hamilton is far slower.  Ian Lougher successfully manages to pass Jules Croft.  Guy Martin starts lap seven, 2.1 seconds ahead of John McGuinness, with a lap or so remaining.  Ian Lougher is going well.  He won the Gold Cup in 2002, riding a 250cc bike.  It was the last time any bike with an engine smaller than 1000ccs has won the Scarborough Gold Cup feature race.  Guy Martin wins the Scarborough Gold Cup for the eighth time in his career!

#1 Guy Martin     Suzuki

It's time to go three wheelin' folks.  The sidecar race is up next!

This is the second leg of the National F2 Sidecar race.  The race will be six laps.  At the start, Ian and Carl Bell get off to an early lead.  The sidecar bikes are so wide, it's going to be difficult for them to get through the hairpin cleanly.  Carl Fenwick and Mark Sayers are third.  Not sure who the second place duo is just yet.  The names of the sidecar rider teams just aren't as familiar.  Dave Hurst and Ben Bins are sixth.  Molyneux and Farrance are closing up.  They are the second place team.  The passengers in the sidecar really have to be on their game in these races.  It's a tag team effort.

The team of Conrad Harrison and Lee Patterson are running up at the sharp end as Ian and Carl Bell negotiate the bumps in the road.  The sidecars do fly over the jumps, and they do have some aerodynamic downforce to help them out.  Sidecar #1 has a tank slapper!  It's Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance!  The Fennig/Sayers duo is still holding third down solidly.  In fourth, it's... Michael Dunlop!  Yes.  He's running in sidecars.  This is his first race running a sidecar.  Dunlop is riding with Dan Sayle who is very experienced in sidecars.

The Bell's are stretching their lead.  The passenger is in a vulnerable spot, and must keep shifting his weight at all times.  Please keep arms and legs inside the vehicle?  Not here.  This is no amusement park fun ride.  Right behind Dunlop and Sayle, it's Dave Atkinson and Phil Natin right behind.  Jim Noble and Shawn Chandler follow.  Behind them, it's John and Jake Lautha.  The gap between second and third is starting to spread out.  Dunlop is being hounded by Atkinson right now.  Atkinson still wants by Dunlop.  The amount of road space a sidecar cycle takes up is pretty amazing.  They are very wide vehicles.

Molyneux is getting closer to the Bells.  Tony Thurkel and Nigel Barlow riding on sidecar #5 are having a good race.  The gap between first and second has not changed.  Dunlop is really being pursued by Atkinson now.  Atkinson takes the sidecar almost onto the grass!  There is no room to make a pass!  Molyneux is closing up on the Bell's, too.  Atkinson goes off the road!  He and his team mate are pushed aside by the Dunlop sidecar!  Conrad Harrison goes by, too!  Atkinson runs wide another time.  They've actually crashed!  Both riders are fine.  But, there's shrapnel on the road.

The race is red flagged.  The Bell's win it, with the race ending slightly early.  Here are the results.

1. #3 Bell/Bell                             Yamaha
2. #1 Molyneux/Farrance            Kawasaki
3. #7 Fenwick/Sayers                 Honda
4. #2 Harrison/Patterson             Honda
5. #11 Dunlop/Sayle                   Honda

Next, day two action of the Gold Cup.  More intense racing, coming your way.

Bruce Anstey is making the most of coming back to Scarborough, and of course, he returns after an absence of nearly a decade.  The weather could provide a challenge for the second day of racing.  This is the second leg of the David Jeffries Cup for 600cc Supersport bikes.

At the start, Dean Harrison, presumably, takes an early lead.  It's difficult to tell with all these bikes crowded together through the first hairpin.  Harrison is first, followed by Anstey.  Guy Martin runs third.  Martin is beginning to pass everyone.  Could he be on a charge to the front in the 600 race?  We'll see.  Michael Pearson currently runs fourth.  Dean Harrison is right up behind Martin now.  He's looking to pass, but can't quite do it through the tight corners.  This race is eight laps, and will fly by as the 600cc bikes are going all out at top speed.

Guy Martin is too quick on the throttle, and nearly pays for it.  He stay on the bike, but it could have been an ugly incident.  Riders must not take too many chances in these races.  The road circuits are very unforgiving.  Pearson easily passes Anstey on the inside line.  William Dunlop ran well in leg one.  But, he's languishing now, in the second race for the 600s.  Bruce Anstey could be slowing down.  Harrison is still up the sharp end as the bikes buck and jump over the rolling undulations on the back part of the course.

It's still Martin vs. Harrison over Sheene's Rise.  Harrison is pushing. This is a cat and mouse game on high powered two wheeled machines.  Ian Lougher is going well.  Harrison passes in the hairpin, and Martin really fudges the corner, stopping the bike!  Martin cannot re-fire the engine.  Michael Pearson goes by as Martin does get the engine fired up on his Suzuki.  He won't repeat wins in this big race.

So, the order is Harrison, Michael Pearson, and Ian Lougher, the top three.  Michael Dunlop passes bike #15 ridden by Daniel Freer.  Guy Martin retires.  The problem with his bike is terminal.  The battle is on between Lougher and Pearson.  William Dunlop is also on a charge.  He's caught up with this pack.  Lougher has been criticized as being too old to remain in this sport.  But, he knows how to ride a 600.  So, don't count him out.  William Dunlop rides ahead of bike #52, James Cownton.

Lougher and Dunlop gang up on Pearson, looking to pass him, fair and square.  Lougher is now second.  Ivan Lintin (a name who has been mentioned several times), is also running, contently in this race, lower down the order, slightly.  Now, turn up the heat to a boil.  There's a three way battle for position!  It's Lougher, Dunlop and others, being passed by their competitors!  Lintin and Lougher, lead this pack.  Dunlop wants by Pearson.  Rider Tom Robinson ditches his bike on an uphill section, but he'll be OK.  Dean Harrison will cruise to the checkers.

Can Ian Lougher still pass the three riders he's been in battle with for the whole race?  Lougher passes William Dunlop, but he's having trouble making it stick.  No dice.  On aggregate results, Dean Harrison wins 
The David Jeffries Cup!

#38 Dean Harrison     Yamaha

The next race is a combined one for 250cc bikes and classic bikes.  Two stroke bikes are not as common.  But, they still have their fans.  This is the Lee Pullan 250 & Classic race.  It too, is in the second half.

At the start, Phil Harvey gets the jump and leaves William Dunlop in the dust!  The vintage bikes are right with the more modern machines.  The two stroke bikes are very temperamental as far as how the motors are set up.  Dunlop carves his way through the field, but it won't be enough to compete with the leaders.  Phil Harvey and Paul Owen are going to the be two scrapping for the win in this one, it appears.  Owen is being hounded by bike #73 ridden by Justin Waring.  Harvey continues to lead.  The hairpin is tricky, because the only way a 250cc bike works, going around that corner, is if the rider slips the clutch and intentionally stalls the motor for a millisecond.

Can William Dunlop catch up?  Meanwhile, in the classic race, it's #46, John Jones on his 350cc Honda, in front.  There's a specific type of Castrol motor oil used in the old bikes, that if you're a spectator who has seen the races, you'd well know.  Yours truly, and many readers, probably just have to imagine that.  Dunlop is reeling in Justin Waring.  The only way to get around the tricky hairpin turn on a 250 is by slipping the clutch.  Phil Harvey is checking out.  Justin Waring is being reeled in by William Dunlop.  Dunlop is back on form now, so, there was no mechanical issue with his motorcycle.  Dunlop passes.  His next target, is Paul Owen.

Dunlop is speeding up.  Will he pass Owen through the hilly section?  Not quite.  Down the straight to complete another lap, Dunlop is pushing.  He finally gets by Paul Owen, going back into the first turn.  Owen was taken by surprise.  The classic division has a new leader.  It's bike #105 of Gary Jamison on his Honda 350.  The gap has closed tremendously between Dunlop and Harvey.  Gary Jamison is being pursued by bike #66 in the classic division.  Meanwhile, in 250s, Dunlop gets the lead back.

Ed Hanley Jr. is Gary Jamison's pursuer for the classic title.  There's no stopping Dunlop, but Harvey isn't finished yet either.  The Jamison/Manley Jr. tussle heats up, too.  Halfway home.  This race is scheduled for eight laps.  Four are complete.  Jamison is gapping Hanley as well.  John Jones has appeared to race with Jamison and Manley, too.  So, the classic bike battle is not over by any stretch, folks.  Dunlop is cruising, easing away from Paul Owen.  Justin Waring passes Paul Owen for second.  William Dunlop is beginning to lap the classic bikes now.

John Jones tries going for the lead in the Classics, but can't get there.  Jones passes Gary Jamison.  William Dunlop wins the 250cc/Classic event going away.

250cc
#6 William Dunlop     Honda

Classic
#46 John Jones         Matchless

Next race, the 125cc and 400cc bikes in their second appearance.  It is a combination of those two classes in one race.

Chris Palmer won the first leg of the 125cc race.  Seamus Elliott and Sam Wilson were second and third in the first part of the race action.  James Cownton won leg one for the 400cc machines. A combined result decides the overall outcome of the races.  The race will be six laps, and for the 125cc bikes, the race is the Stu Reed Trophy.

At the start, James Cowton leads away from the rest of the pack.  The bikes negotiate the first corner fine, and make their way uphill.  Cowton already is opening a lead.  Cowton is riding a Honda RVF400 which is a legendary bike in the category.  The 125cc bikes are very popular, but they are bound to go extinct at some point.  A rider has his hand in the air, signaling trouble.  It's Tony Flinton.  Something is awry with his bike.  Chris Palmer now leads on his 125.  Palmer wants to win the second leg of this race.  So, he has to beat Seamus Elliott and Sam Wilson.

Daniel Freer and Gavin Lupton battle for position.  Six laps is a long way for these riders.  Who could be lurking to steal one of these 125 rider's thunder?  It's Ian Lougher, who does well on any bike he rides.  Seamus Elliott retires from the race, and so does another bike, (the #37 machine of Tony Flinton).  Palmer is making the 125 fly and Ian Lougher's 400 just lifts it's front wheel.  Palmer and Lougher run 1-2.  Seamus Elliott is third.  He's coming, fast.  Sarah Boys is the only female rider in this race.  But, she is running well.  Meanwhile, Palmer will now have to fend off Lougher's challenge.

Seamus Elliott is balked by a 400cc bike.  For some reason, the 400s are not as reliable as the little 125s.  Gavin Lockton and James Cowton continue their dust up for third.  Tony Limer is running decently on his 400, (bike #76).  Lougher tried to get around Palmer.  But, no dice.  The leaders negotiate a lapped rider.  That is Bob Farrington on bike #42.  Lockton and Cownton continue to follow one another.  Rather, it is bike #9 ahead of bike #52.  Sarah Boys is up to seventh place.  Lougher passes Palmer for the lead.

Justin Waring is about to be lapped by the lead duo.  Lougher gets around Palmer one more time.  Chris Palmer wins it.  He has his fist in the air before crossing the finish line!  He knew he'd won that race.

125cc

#50 Chris Palmer      Honda

400cc

#9 Gavin Lupton      Honda

Cowton wins on aggregate based on both races.

#52 James Cowton     Honda

One more race at Scarborough.  One more chance to go three wheelin'.  It's the sidecars in their third race of the weekend.

Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance have the advantage over Ian and Carl Bell going into the last race.  Dave Molyneux starts the race with a hole shot!  But, Ian and Carl Bell immediately race into the lead.  Michael Dunlop runs third.  Carl Fennig and Mark Sayers come next.  Tony Thurkel and Nigel Barlow are next in line.  Molyneux and Farrance are trying to get away from the Bells.  Ian and Carl want the lead.  Into Sheene's Rise, up the hill, nothing changes.

Jim Noble and his passenger are chasing John Chandler.  It Molyneux/Farrance vs. Bell/Bell.  The two sidecar cycles touch!  The Bell's are forced wide onto the berm!  Contact is not an unknown in sidecar racing competition.  Molyneux and Farrance have a decent lead.  If the result stands, Molyneux and Farrance will be number one on the aggregate leader board.  Meanwhile, Ian and Carl Bell are going to retire from this race.  Their season is over.

Tony Thirkell is being challenged by Conrad Harrison and Lee Patterson.  Sometimes sidecars can go side by side.  But get three into one corner?  Not a chance.  Michael Dunlop is still second with Carl Fennig and Mark Sayers in third.  Harrison/Patterson are not giving up.  Harrison makes a pass and holds on.  Carl Fenwick smokes the brakes on his sidecar, aggressively charging through a turn.  Molyneux and Farrance are going to win this race.  Dunlop and Sayle are holding off their competitor.  Conrad Harrison is pulling away from Tony Thirkell and Nigel Barlow.

Fennig and Sayers are right on top of Dunlop and Sayle, headed for the finish.  This is the last lap.  Dave Molyneux continues in the lead.  Molyneux is in the clear, but, Dunlop and Harrison seem to be in a battle over who will get second and third.  Jim Noble is also in a tussle of his own.  Carl Fenwick tries taking second from Michael Dunlop.  Fenwick smokes the brakes and Dunlop goes right back by.  Molyneux and Farrens are the winners!

Dunlop and Sayle do get second place.

Here's the top five:

1. #1 Molyneux/Farrance     Kawasaki
2. #11 Dunlop/Sayle            Honda
3. #7 Fenwick/Sayers          Honda      
4. #2 Harrison/Patterson      Honda
5. #5 Thirkell/Barlow           Honda

The race from Scarborough, and most of the season for the Bike Road Racers is now done.  One race left.  It's at the Macau Grand Prix.  Those results will come in another blog post, soon.  Stay tuned.  





  


  



 




  

Mike "The Bike" Hailwood

Here is a video of the great Mike "The Bike" Hailwood.  He was known as "Mike The Bike" and had much success on both two wheels and four.  His Grand Prix motorcycle racing career occurred between 1958 and 1967, and then, during the late '60s and early 1970's, he became a successful car racer.  He is the first of a few riders that will be highlighted on this blog who had success on both two wheels and four. 

There is a video here of Hailwood racing at the Isle of Man TT in 1964 or so.  Check it out.  Also, here's the article on Hailwood from Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Hailwood

Racing legends and stars line up at the Paul Ricard circuit

There was a cool road race held at Paul Ricard last week featuring many motorcycle racers as well as seven-time Formula One World Champion, Michael Schumacher.  The bike racers included Pol Espargaro, John McGuinness, Randy Mamola, and Moto 2 rider, Keith Flint.  Here's the whole story.  Check it out.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Racing+legends+and+stars+lineup+at+the+Paul+Ricard+Circuit

2013 MotoGP World Championship race schedule

Well, after an unsuccessful attempt to link an article about a possible second race for MotoGP in Malaysia, yours truly has found something better.  MotoGP has released their official 2013 calendar.  The link will be provided, and, the entire calendar will be drafted in this post as well.

http://www.motogp.com/en/calendar+circuits/2013

Here's the calendar.

Race #1: 4/7 Qatar                         Losail Circuit: Losail, Qatar
Race #2: 4/21 U.S.A.                     Circuit of the Americas: Austin, Texas
Race #3 5/5 Spain                          Jerez Circuit: Jerez, Spain
Race #4 5/19 France                      Bugatti Circuit: Le Mans, France
Race #5 6/2 Italy                            Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello: Mugello, Italy
Race #6 6/16 Catalunya                 Circuit de Catalunya: Barcelona, Spain
Race #7 6/29 Holland                    TT Circuit Assen: Assen, Holland
Race #8 7/7 Germany                    Sachsenring Circuit: Hohenstein Ernstthal, Saxony, Germany
Race #9 7/21 U.S.A.                     Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca: Monterey, California
Race #10 8/18 U.S.A.                   Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Indianapolis, Indiana
Race #11 8/25 Czech Republic      Automotodrom Brno: Brno, Czech Republic
Race #12 9/1 Great Britain            Silverstone Circuit: Silverstone, England
Race #13 9/15 San Marino           Misano World Circuit: San Marino
Race #14 9/29 Aragon
                       (Province of Spain) MotorLand Aragon: Aragon
Race #15 10/13 Malaysia              Sepang Circuit: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Race #16 10/20 Australia              Philip Island Circuit: Philip Island, Victoria, Australia
Race #17 10/27 Japan                  Motegi Circuit: Motegi, Japan
Race #18 11/10 Valencia              Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Comunitat Valenciana: Valencia, Spain

motorcycle racing news source

For more news in the world of motorcycle racing, outside of this blog, check out Crash.Net at this link.

http://www.crash.net/bikes/news_archive/1/content.html

Dig it.

James Toseland to spearhead UK motorcycle land speed record attempt

Two-time World Superbike champion James Toseland, will attempt to go for a motorcycle speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in less than two years.  Here are all the details via the automobile and motorcycle racing magazine Autosport and their online affiliate, www.autosport.com.  Follow the link, and check it out.

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/104724

Greatest show on earth *HD* 320 kph/200 mph Street Race, Isle of Man TT

Fans, you've GOT to check this out.  This is what the incredible Isle of Man TT looks like on video.  Reports have been written about these motorcycle road racers in Ireland.  But, words do not do justice to what these brave souls can do with a 200 mile per hour, 600 to 1000cc motorcycle.

World Superbike testing news

A recap of the test session for World Superbike last Thursday at the Jerez circuit in Spain.  Check it out via the link.  Marco Melandri was quickest for the Italian BMW team which replaces the full on factory squad for the 2013 championship.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-melandri-heads-thursday-order

Jerez WSBK And Ducati MotoGP Test

This is a news story about the third day of a three day test done by some MotoGP and World Superbike teams, running together at the Jerez circuit in Spain.  Eugene Laverty had the quickest time of the test on his Aprilia World Superbike, while Nicky Hayden scored the fastest time for MotoGP on his Ducati, in third place overall.  An interesting mix of riders and bikes took part in the test.  Here's the full story via motomatters.com.

http://motomatters.com/node/6782

Sixteen bikes took part in the test. 

What MotoGP can learn from F1

Yours truly follows both car and motorcycle racing, and has blogs set up for both areas.  This article caught my eye, about the business of the sport.  It is from the publication Moto Matters and republished in another racing publication called Asphalt & Rubber. 

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/motogp-learn-f1-business-symposium/

Winner of the 46th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix

Michael Rutter scored the win in the motorcycle race (the 46th edition of it) held during the Macau Grand Prix weekend in the streets of the special administration region of the People's Republic of China.  Riders from both the Bike Road Racing Series, and the FIM World Endurance Championship, as well as possible local riders, took part in the race.  Here's a brief synopsis of the highlights from MotorcycleUSA.com.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/498/14932/Motorcycle-Article/Macau-Grand-Prix-Results-2012.aspx

MotoGP testing update

Even though the 2012 MotoGP season ended last weekend, testing for 2013 has already begun.

The latest details come from SPEED Center. 

Valentino Rossi is back on a Yamaha.  He will be team mates with Jorge Lorenzo, and a rivalry between them should continue.  Nicky Hayden has a new frame for his Ducati.  Marc Marquez was just off the pace set by Dani Pedrosa.  So, the 2013 championship will be very competitive indeed.

Solar-Powered Cycle Breaks Speed Record

Not even too far into the off season for motorcycle racing, and there's already a cool story.  A motorcycle and it's rider have broken a land speed record.  What makes the record special, (the speed was just shy of 190 miles an hour), is, that the bike being ridden, is a solar powered motorcycle.  Follow the link to check out the story which is mostly in pictures of the bike, and it's rider, Jim Hoogerhyde.  The solar cycle was built by a company called Lightning Motorcycles.

http://news.discovery.com/autos/solar-powered-motorcycle-121115.html#mkcpgn=fbdsc17

Moto 3: Valencia (season finale)

This is the last of the season finale races for the FIM for 2012.  It is Moto 3 from the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

Luis Salom and Maverick Vinales will decide second place in the championship behind Maverick Vinales.  Jonas Folger has a problem.  The bike did start, but, he'll be at the back of the field, starting from pit lane.  Luis Salom, Miguel Oliveira, and Jonas Folger are on the front row.  But, as mentioned, Folger might or might not start.  Jonas Folger is having issues with the starter motor, and it actually does.  The bikes roll off on their warmup lap.  Folger is still having issues with the bike.  There's something wrong in the electrical system.

Folger's crew scrambles to get the bike on the track.  They won't have time.  Here we go!  At the start, Sandro Cortese gets behind Luis Salom in this 25 lap race.  Folger joins the race as does Danny Webb.  Louis Rossi is moving forward.  He won in the wet at Le Mans earlier in the year.  Maverick Vinales is languishing down the order.  Jack Miller is picking up spots.  He's a good rider in the wet.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin is also at the sharp end right now.

Luis Salom, Miguel Oliveira, Alex Marquez and other riders are now running in the top five.  Alex Marquez is Marc Marquez's younger brother.  The track is damp now.  There's no rain falling.  But there's also no wind drying the track out.  Marquez runs fast lap at 1:54.7 early on.  Folger is lapping in the same time bracket as the top runners.  The time gap is between 1:54 and 1:56 as Alex Marquez wants to pass Miguel Oliviera.  Alex Marquez is challenging for position over Oliveira.  These two are right behind Luis Salom.  They run three wide into turn one as Alex Marquez takes second.

Alex Marquez takes the lead from Miguel Oliveira and Luis Salom.  Marquez gets fast lap.  He is the Spanish Moto 3 champion.  Jack Miller has made it to eleventh spot.  Maverick Vinales is running well, but, Alex Marquez falls down.  He tried too hard turning into the corner.  He's not happy.  He pushed it too hard into the corner and slid off the bike.  Adrian Martin is the quickest rider on the track at the moment.  Sandro Cortese seems to be taking it easy.  Danny Kent is fastest.  Louis Rossi leads.  He and Danny Kent both go to Moto 2 for Tech 3 Yamaha in 2013.

Brad Binder is running well now, too.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin is moving up from his seventeenth starting spot, too.  Alex Marquez is out of the race.  Luigi Morciano is another race retirement as Jonas Folger is moving up the order.  Folger is running the pace of the leaders, but, he's still 18 seconds behind, with Arthur Sissis following him.  Louis Rossi runs wide, but still leads.  Sandro Cortese is now third.  Adrian Martin may have crashed.  Seven of 24 laps are complete.  Hector Faubel runs fast lap at 1:52.4.  Could he win?  Maybe.  Sandro Cortese takes the lead as Jonas Folger retires from the race.  He'll be back in 2013.

Maverick Vinales continues to run eleventh and he's not satisfied with the wet conditions.  Jack Miller seeems to be doing well, even as he was a wildcard rider in the 2011 season.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin is being patient, running consistently.  Danny Kent is going well as Brad Binder sets fast lap at 1:51.7.  Miguel Oliviera wants by Brad Binder.  There may be a slightly dry line out there.  But, it's hard to tell.  The bulk of the track is wet here at Ricardo Tormo.  Luis Salom runs wide and Maverick Vinales is coming, fast.  They'll battle for second in the points behind Sandro Cortese (the world champ). 

Does Luis Salom have issues with the bike?  Jakub Kornfeil has run fast lap with thirteen remaining.  Niklas Ajo passes Maverick Vinales.  He's dropping spots.  Brad Binder is hanging on well.  There are a bunch of riders involved in one battle.  At least a half a dozen.  Efren Vazquez runs wide.  Brad Binder will be back in Moto 3 next year.  He'll be team mates with Danny Webb.  Vazquez takes out Oliveira!  They'll be team mates next year!  Wow!  That might not be good, although, they did apologize to each other immediately.  Another question is, will Maverick Vinales be a Moto 2 rider next year?

There are seven bikes in contention to win.  Cortese, Rossi, Binder, Faubel, Kent, Miller, and Khairuddin.  Khairuddin runs fast lap at a 1:51.1.  Will Jack Miller keep his sixth spot?  Danny Kent lowers fast lap time to 1:50.7.  Seven laps remain in the Moto 3 season.  Jakub Kornfeil is up to eighth.  Miller battles Khairuddin.  Cortese is trying to gap the field.  Brad Binder is right up behind Danny Kent.  The gap is coming down.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin is going for it.  But, Jack Miller has a fall.  He has a fast fall into a curve and is fortunately, just fine.

He'd set his personal best lap, trying hard to keep up with Hector Faubel, and couldn't do it.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin could be on the podium.  Brad Binder, Louis Rossi, and Hector Faubel are still in contention for top placings.  Alex Rins and Romano Fenati are languishing, and Danny Kent would beat those two for Rookie of the Year honors.  Danny Kent would move to Moto 2 next year, obviously.  Khairuddin runs fastest lap at 1:50 flat.  Sandro Cortese will likely get his third consecutive win.  Cortese sets his personal best lap.  He'll be a Moto 2 rider next year for sure.  Rain begins to come down.

Brad Binder could get a podium and be prepared for testing for the new season.  Binder could be the first South African on a MotoGP podium since 1980.  The last riders to accomplish that both did so in the 1980 German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.  Both riders won their respective classes that day.  Jon Ekerold in the 350cc class, and Kork Ballington in the 250cc class.   

  Kent, Binder, and Faubel are running in the 1:50s.  Maverick Vinales will finish eighth.  Will he get full points?  Niklas Ajo and Luis Salom battle.  A lap left in the season.  This is it for 2012.  Hector Faubel squeezes by Brad Binder.  One lap to go.  Sandro Cortese and Danny Kent lead.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin nips Faubel.  Will he get on the podium?  Faubel messes up in Doohan corner.  Who will get the last podium place?

Sandro Cortese is going to win this race more than likely.  Kent is closing on Cortese.  Can he pass?  Can he make a move to win?  Brad Binder wants by Danny Kent.  He attacks and it doesn't work.  Into the final right hander on the track, who will win?  Kent goes through on Cortese!  He does it!  Danny Kent wins Valencia!  What a finish to the Moto 3 season!

#52 Danny Kent      GBR     KTM

So, the Moto 3 season for 2012 is in the books as is most motorcycle racing.  This blog will continue in the future.  Stay tuned for sporadic updates through the off season and more action to come in 2013.  So long for now.

Moto 2: Valencia (season finale)

Here are the highlights of the Moto 2 season finale from Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

The skies are dark.  Marc Marquez qualified second but will start at the rear of the grid after a kerfuffle in practice.  On pole position, it's Pol Espargaro, who starts from his fourth consecutive pole spot and eighth of the year.  Marc Marquez has been told be his team manager (and former motorcycle racer) Emilio Alzamora, to keep calm.  The race will be 27 laps.

At the start, Taaki Nakagami gets a good start.  Nico Terol and Marc Marquez are both going for it.  Bradley Smith pushes Johann Zarco wide.  Nico Terol gets the lead.  Marquez is now right behind Andrea Ianonne.  Nico Terol had his best qualifying run of the season in Moto 2.  Pol Espargaro and Tom Luthi follow Nico Terol.  Marquez is going for it, making up spots and he's behind Mika Kallio.  Simone Corsi passes Thomas Luthi.  Julian Simon is also moving up through the field right now.

Terol is ahead of Pol Espargaro.  Gino Rea is now Marc Marquez's next target.  Alex de Angelis might have won in Malaysia.  But he's not running here and didn't run in Australia either.  Bradley Smith and Scott Redding are down the order.  Anthony West is not in this race either.  Terol sets fast lap at 1:49 flat.  Julian Simon is looking for a way by Pol Espargaro.  There's two seconds between them as Simon has made a pass.  Gino Rea is pressing Marquez at the moment.  Nico Terol is flying as Julian Simon resets fast lap.  Not sure of the time.

Gino Rea is quickest on track right now as Marc Marquez follows.  A dry line begins to form on the track.  It's just sprinkling with rain at this time.  Marquez continues to challenge Rea.  Dominik Aegerter is also in the path of Marquez and could be passed.  Terol sets new fast lap at 1:48.152 on lap six.  Aegerter passes Marquez back.  Dominik Aegerter goes three wide and hits the brakes.  He goes wide.  So does Gino Rea.  The track begins to dry.  Julian Simon resets fast lap, chasing Terol.

The bikes are starting to form a big group down the order.  Pol Espargaro falls down and fortunately, rejoins the race, but down in 18th spot.  Pol Espargaro was pitched sideways by another rider and fortunately, he kept the motor running.  Simone Corsi was the rider to get in his way.  Seventeen laps to go.  Dark clouds continue to loom over the track at Ricardo Tormo.  The positions are shuffling.  There's a battle for third between Redding and Aegerter.  Simon leads.  Marquez and Rea are scrapping.  Who will win this battle?

Gino Rea runs really wide.  Marquez does likewise.  Fifteen laps to go now.  Dominik Aegerter retains his podium spot at the moment, behind Julian Simon.  There are points positions being shuffled as this race goes on.  Marquez slides past Gino Rea, and will work at passing Dominik Aegerter.  Julian Simon has a major wiggle into turn eight.  Marquez and Aegerter touch!  Gino Rea makes a pass.  Marquez sets new fast lap at 1:47 and change.  Gino Rea ditches his bike, fortunately resuming.  He slid sideways and fortunately picked it up again.

Andrea Ianonne is not performing the same way he should be.  But, he doesn't care really because he'll move to MotoGP on a Ducati next year, teaming with Ben Spies.  The gap is under two seconds with nine laps remaining.  Elena Rossell falls down after contacting Eric Granado.  She's out of the race.  Rossell has run in endurance motorcycle racing that has been blogged here before.  Marc Marquez slices past Nico Terol.  He's quicker than Julian Simon, too.  Simon continues to lead.  Marquez is now second.  He's the hound, and Simon is the rabbit.

Simon runs through Doohan corner.  It's a two bike race for the win.  Pol Espargaro has clawed his way back through the field.  Marquez is a second quicker than anyone else.  He's sliding the bike like in dry conditions.  Marquez is champion, and chasing his ninth race of the season.  He starts his MotoGP career tomorrow (Tuesday).  Simon still leads but it's very close.  It's a gap of one second between Julian Simon and Marc Marquez.  Who will win the season finale for Moto 2?  He can't get by Simon.  Will he try in turn one?

On the backstretch, Marquez passes Julian Simon.  Adios amigo.  Marc Marquez is on his way to another win.  Simon tries to hang on behind Marquez.  It's the last lap of the Valencia Grand Prix for Moto 2.  Nico Terol will be on the podium.  He's a former 125cc world champion.  But, Marquez will go out of Moto 2 on top.  He's going to win this race.  He's a Moto 2 champion.  He'll start on Tuesday as a MotoGP rider.  Marc Marquez is the winner!  ...And, he came from behind to do it.

#93 Marc Marquez     ESP     Suter BMW

So ends a great season of Moto 2 action.  Congratulations to Marc Marquez on the championship.  He's bound for MotoGP.  See you in 2013 for more Moto 2 racing.  Ciao for now.

  

MotoGP round 18: Valencia, Spain (season finale)

The season finale for the 2012 MotoGP World Championship is in Valencia, Spain, at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, which is named after a former motorcycle racer.  It's located in Cheste, Spain and repaved.  However, it's very bumpy. 

Jorge Lorenzo is already champion.  This race is purely for bragging rights, going into 2013.  Dani Pedrosa has to return to form to prove himself, and Casey Stoner wants to go out with a bang before retiring, as this is his last career MotoGP race. 

In qualifying, it was dry.  Dani Pedrosa is on pole with Jorge Lorenzo (the new world champ), second.  Casey Stoner rolls off third in his last race with the two Tech 3 Yamaha's and Nicky Hayden's Ducati, on the second row.  Stefan Bradl splits the two Tech 3 bikes.  Hiroshi Aoyama moves to MotoGP from World Superbike for next year.  He starts this race as does Moto 2 racer Claudio Corti, and, Katsuyuki Nakasuga will also make a start in this season finale race for MotoGP.

The bikes head out on their warmup lap.  Some riders will run slick tires and others, wets.  The race will be 30 laps.  This is it, for all the marbles.  Riders enter the pits.  But, the grid is set.  At the start, it's Aleix Espargaro!  Many riders had to pit and start from pit lane.  Will the race dry out?  The CRT bike leads with Espargaro aboard.  The riders on wet tires will need to change.  Valentino Rossi has third.  Andrea Dovizioso passes Casey Stoner.  Will there be more rain?

Valentino Rossi passes Hector Barbera.  Alvaro Bautista, Dani Pedrosa, and Nicky Hayden are way down the order.  Aleix Espargaro is now leading.  Jorge Lorenzo is eighth.  He's coming quick.  Dani Pedrosa is closing up on the CRT bikes, passing Randy de Puniet.  One lap is complete.  If you are on wet tires, don't pit too soon, in case it does rain.  The track is very abrasive, wearing down the tires.  Michele Pirro is having problems.  Andrea Dovizioso takes over the lead.  He's running his last race for Tech 3 Yamaha.  Casey Stoner needs to change to dry tires.

Aleix Espargaro is still leading on wet tires and he runs wide as Jorge Lorenzo gets the lead.  Rossi stays out on wet tires as more riders come in.  This is quite the race.  Stoner and Pedrosa change tires.  Andrea Dovizioso's bike wouldn't start.  This race is only four laps old.  Dani Pedrosa and Kasayuki Nakasuga are both flying on slicks.  Claudio Corti started on slick tires.  Jorge Lorenzo has taken over the lead running fast lap at 1:39.5.  Valentino Rossi and Aleix Espargaro pit and actually change from their main bikes to their spares with the rain tires on.  There are spots of rain around.  But it's nothing serious.

Nicky Hayden crashes out of the race.  His 2012 season is over.  Jorge Lorenzo resets fast lap three seconds quicker at 1:36.8.  He's outrunning Dani Pedrosa.  Dani Pedrosa has won five times in Valencia between all three divisions (125cc, 250cc, and MotoGP).  Nakasuga is being pressured by Stefan Bradl.  Kazuke Nakasuga is riding on Ben Spies' bike this weekend.  Spies did not start the race due to injury.  Dani Pedrosa runs a 1:33.3 and is right on top of Jorge Lorenzo now.

There are large black clouds coming, as many riders are using the pits, worried about the tires and the conditions.  It's another battle between Pedrosa and Lorenzo.  Pedrosa brings fast lap down to 1:33.1 and Nakasuga now runs third.  Actually, Cal Crutchlow takes over third.  Pedrosa wiggles the bike and loses time.  He ran wide behind Lorenzo.  Aleix Espargaro led the race.  But now, Lorenzo is clearly in control.  Lorenzo has a huge crash!  The bike begins to fishtail, and he gets swept off!  So, the top three is now Pedrosa, Crutchlow, and Nakasuga.

Dani Pedrosa is pushiong hard now, coming up on halfway through this race.  Fifteen laps is halfway.  Working lap fourteen at the moment.  Former MotoGP and World Superbike champion Max Biaggi is attending this race.  He has retired from riding, but knows a lot about the conditions.  His exploits were followed in World Superbike this year on this blog of course.  Nicky Hayden's crash was in turn ten and Stefan Bradl also crashed.  All this before Lorenzo's high side.  Nakasuga remains third with Bautista fourth, and the lead CRT bike is fifth, with Michele Pirro aboard.

Randy de Puniet runs off in the gravel.  Just ten laps remain now.  Dani Pedrosa is leading and tehn, Claudio Corti crashed.  Corti is now team mate to Colin Edwards.  Pedrosa battles with the lapped bike of Karel Abraham.  He must get by.  He flies by down the front straight, easily.  Stefan Bradl and Jorge Lorenzo ended up getting away well at the start.  The bikes in the pits had a really wicked time getting off the starting blocks.  Cal Crutchlow runs second and Katsuyuki Nakasuga will be third, getting on the podium.  Nakasuga will not challenge for second place.

Seven laps remain now.  Pedrosa is running a second slower than before.  Unfortunately, Cal Crutchlow crashes!  He's out of it.  Nakasuga is now second and Alvaro Bautista will be third.  Crutchlow had a nasty slide off the bike, tumbling through the gravel after going wide.  Casey Stoner will get fourth, but he's not done yet.  He closes up on Alvaro Bautista.  Only four laps remain now.  It's Bautista vs. Stoner for the last podium spot.  Stoner wants it, in his last ever MotoGP race.  Stoner is closing on Bautista two seconds a lap.

Stoner won his first race in 125cc competition in 2003 at Ricardo Tormo.  Andrea Dovizioso slides off line and fortunately continues.  Casey Stoner moves through Doohan corner.  Can Stoner get by Bautista?  Will Bautista hold him off?  Well, it looks like Stoner will make the pass.  Two laps remain in Stoner's career.  He'll finish on the podium.  Dani Pedrosa has dominated this race despite starting from pit lane.  Dani Pedrosa will be second in the championship, eighteen points behind Jorge Lorenzo.  Pedrosa will score another win, scoring the most wins in 2012 MotoGP competition!

#26 Dani Pedrosa     ESP     Honda

Kasuki Nakasuga finishes second.  Nakasuga was Japanese Superbike champion this year, too.  Casey Stoner gets his tenth podium of 2012 and his 69th career podium.  He has 38 race wins.  Happy retirement, Casey Stoner!  So ends a great season of MotoGP racing.  Looking forward to 2013.      

2014 MotoGP Rules Announced

Check out the following link to get the skinny on the 2014 rules for MotoGP and Moto 2.

http://motomatters.com/node/6719?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

1990 AMA Superbike race from the streets of Miami, Florida

Here's more old school AMA Superbike racing from 1990 on the streets of Miami, Florida.  The Miami Motorcycle Grand Prix.  Riders competing in this race include Doug Chandler, Scott Russell, David Sadowski, Thomas Stevens, and Randy Renfrow, just to name a few.

Alstare Ducati outcome expected this week

Alstare and Ducati could come together for the 2013 FIM World Superbike season.  It's possible that riders could be Carlos Checa and Sylvain Guintoli.  Guintoli was linked to both Suzuki and Aprilia (the latter for which, he would possibly replace World Champion Max Biaggi).  But, these particular rumors may be less likely.  Here's the whole story.

http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/185787/1/alstare_ducati_outcome_expected_this_week.html

1992 AMA Daytona 200

Another video of motorcycle racing in the early 1990s.  This is the 1992 running of the Daytona 200.  Riders in this race include some familiar and unfamiliar names surely to fans.  Competing in the race for the honors are such front runners as Jamie James, Doug Chandler, Scott Russell, Pascal Picotte, Doug Polen, and Thomas Stevens to name a few.  The video quality is not very good.  But, it's quite the race.  Check it out.

2013 FIM World Endurance Championship race schedule

The 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship schedule has been released and can be found (in French or English), on the www.lemans.org in the section for the motorcycle 24 hours.

http://www.lemans.org/fr/courses/24-heures-moto/actualites/moto-calendrier-provisoire-du-championnat-du-monde-d-endurance_9155.html

Here's the full schedule as printed.

Race 1: 4/20-4/21    Bol D'or                         Magny Cours, France
Race 2: 7/28            Suzuka 8 Hours              Suzuka, Japan
Race 3: 8/8              Oschersleben 8 Hours    Oschersleben, Germany
Race 4: 9/21-9/22   24 Hours of Le Mans     Le Mans, France

No 8 Hours of Qatar on next year's schedule.  But, should be a great season of racing to look forward to.

AMA Superbike in 1993

Here is a brief clip of what AMA Superbike racing was like back in the 1990s.  This is from the 1993 Camel Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (back then, called New Hampshire International Speedway), featuring riders such as Mike Smith, Miguel Duhamel, Tiger Shoa, Doug Polen, and Dale Quarterly.  Not all the action is highlighted here.  But, a good chunk is.  There is also a video of the 250cc Grand Prix series from the same venue, to be posted, later.

1993 Dutch TT

More motorcycle racing from the glorious 500cc Grand Prix era.  This is the 1993 Dutch TT (Dutch Tourist Trophy) race from the Assen circuit in Holland.

Moto 3: Australia

Here are the highlights of the Moto 3 race from Philip Island.

Danny Webb is a guest commentator.  He had an engine issue with his Mahindra bike.  Maverick Vinales missed the Malaysia round, but he's back for Australia.  He has apologized to everyone for missing the Malaysia round.  23 laps are scheduled.  On the pole will be Sandro Cortese (the World Champion in Moto 3).  He won the 125cc race last year.  Arthur Sissis is running in his home race.  The bikes set off on their formation lap.  

At the start, Zulhfammi Khairuddin leads and a few riders get shuffled down the order.  Maverick Vinales and Sandro Cortese both drop down the order as the bikes go through Lukey Heights and MG corner.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin leads down Gardner straight into Doohan corner.  Nikolas Ajo is up to seventh.  Jack Miller is starting to move up, too.  The bikes enter the Honda hairpin and Sandro Cortese fends off the challenge from Miguel Oliviera.  Luis Salom has also made a good start in this race. 

Arthur Sissis passes Nikolas Ajo as a bike clips a seagull.  What a mess!  Alessandro Tonucci is real fast as Ricardo Moretti pits.  Into Siberia corner, Maverick Vinales moves up.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin still wants a win in his 50th start.  Roberto Moncayo and Arthur Sissis are running well.  Jonas Folger is right behind Khairuddin now.  Sissis tries to pass Oliviera for sixth out of the Southern Loop.  Sissis defends his spot into the Honda hairpin.  Cortese is right where he wants to be and pounce when it's right.

There's a long way to go yet.  Five riders will be penalized for jumping the start.  Alberto Moncayo, Jonas Folger, Louis Rossi, and Luis Salom, are all going to be sent to the sin bin.  Jack Miller will be, too.  Louis Rossi has gone off the road in the Honda hairpin.  That might just negate his penalty.  Maybe.  Sissis and Cortese are going to be in a battle.  Louis Rossi has served his penalty.  But the others still need to do it.  Luis Salom is serving his penalty with 17 laps to go.  Salom resumes in the race as Sandro Cortese takes over the lead with Miguel Oliviera.  Jack Miller serves his ride through penalty, too. 

This is Miller's home race.  He'll be gutted.  But he needs to get it done.  Jonas Folger has fallen behind significantly.  Folger also has to serve his penalty.  He must come in to avoid being black flagged.  Cortese and Oliviera are pulling away.  Danny Kent is also back there.  Alex Rins has come from sixteenth to fourth.  He was last year's Spanish Moto 3 champ.  The bikes comes over Lukey Heights and Niklas Ajo slides his bike off into the gravel trap and he fortunately stays on the bike!  But, man, did he have to wrestle it!  That incident was in turn eleven.

Ajo slowed up some of the riders.  Oliviera is ahead of Alex Rins by two seconds.  Brad Binder will be penalized.  He needs to serve it before he's black flagged.  Miller still needs to serve his penalty.  He does.  Maverick Vinales is up to third.  Miguel Oliviera is right behind Sandro Cortese.  This is the lead battle.  Fourteen laps remain.  Sissis takes over third into the Southern Loop.  He tucks in behind Alessandro Tonucci.  Sissis is forced wide and Vinales passes as Tonucci gets right onto the ripple strips separating the track and the grass.  Nicolas Ajo has another fall.  Cortese is pulling away, but, Oliviera is coming. 

Miguel Oliviera wants his first Moto 3 win and didn't ride at Philip Island last year.  Alex Rins and Romano Fenati battle back in the pack.  Maverick Vinales is catching up and so is Jonas Folger.  Folger runs 18th.  This happens when a rider is penalized.  They lose on track time, and track position.  There's a yellow flag.  Someone has crashed.  It's probably Nikolas Ajo.  He's been taken to the medical center for a checkup.  Arthur Sissis could get on the podium.  But he must pass Rins and Vinales in order to do it.  Ten laps now remain.

Zulhfammi Khairuddin is now tenth.  Salom, Folger, Rossi, and Moncayo have all been penalized.  More battling for position in the last ten laps.  Arthur Sissis is now third.  He's behind the lead duo of Cortese and Oliviera.  Maverick Vinales has crashed!  He's back on the bike now.  But, he crashed in the Siberia corner.  The bike is back in pit lane and will have the bodywork changed.  However, it's game over for Vinales.  Vinales' bike has had the ECU ripped off the engine.  Whoa.  Romano Fenati passes Arthur Sissis. 

Miguel Oliviera makes a move on Sandro Cortese for the lead.  Fenati and Tonucci are up to third and fourth.  Arthur Sissis is down to fifth.  But he's still in contention.  Luis Salom languishes in 17th place.  Oliviera is gapping Cortese slightly.  Can he close up?  Danny Kent is beginning to come into the picture, slightly, as Sissis makes a pass into fifth again.  Cortese is going really well, but, Zulhfammi Khairuddin is having issues with his KTM.  He tried to pull off the road but ditched the bike and fell, hard, in the process.  There's a huge battle as Cortese and Oliviera continue to scrap for the win. 

Cortese stretches his lead.  Sissis is third as Fenati passes Danny Kent into Doohan corner and Stoner corner.  Will the Aussie get on the podium?  He'll be the first on the podium in Moto 3/125cc since Casey Stoner in 2004.  It looks like Cortese will win the race.  The battle remains for the remaining spots.  There are four bikes in a battle as Danny Kent passes for third.  Danny Kent holds on into Siberia over Sissis.  Into Hayshed, and Lukey Hights, into MG corner.  There's swapping all over the place.  Sandro Cortese wins it!  It's his fifth win.  Oliviera is second and Sissis gets on the podium!

#11 Sandro Cortese     GER     KTM

One race remains in Moto 3 as well as the other classes for the season.  It's in Valencia, Spain, in less than two weeks.

  

FIM e-Power International Championship

There's a championship exclusively for electric motorcycles called the FIM e-Power International Championship.  Four rounds have been run.  There was a race at Magny Cours, France.  Here are the winners of the first four races for the e-Power championship.  This series has been in existence since 2010.  It's for bikes powered by alternative energy sources, specifically, battery power, and electricity.  Very small fields of three to four riders compete.


Round 1: France   (Magny Cours)                                   Matthias Himmelman     GER
Round 2: Hungary (Hungaroring)                                     Katja Poensgen             GER                              
*Round 3: U.S. (Laguna Seca)                                        Michael Barnes             USA                               *Laguna Seca featured a much larger field, of eleven bikes which included star American riders like Eric Bostrom, Steve Rapp, Steve Atlas, and Michael Barnes.  
Round 4: Germany (Oschersleben) Race 1:                     Matthias Himmelman      GER
                                                     Race 2:                     Yu Tang                          CHN
Round 5: France (Le Mans)                                           Miguel Duhamel              CDN

Former AMA championship winning rider, Canadian, Miguel Duhamel, wins the season finale for the FIM e-Power International Championship as a guest rider in their race that was a support event for the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race.  So ends the championship season for the electric motorcycles of the FIM e-Power International Championship.

This review of the race winners was compiled sporadically for a while with the list above.  More racing action to come from other motorcycle racing series sanctioned by the FIM before the end of the season.  As for the e Power series, time will tell where it goes and how successful it is in the future.

Moto 2: Australia

Here are the highlights of the Moto 2 race from Philip Island in Victoria, Australia.

Marc Marquez could become champion after this race.  25 laps are scheduled.  If Marquez scores two points, or, if Pol Espargaro doesn't win, he'll be champion.  Pol Espargaro has pole position.  Scott Redding is second.  Alex de Angelis will not start.  He is having an operation on his hand after a crash in practice and will have to wait to compete in the season finale in Spain.

At the start, all the front row gets away cleanly and Marc Marquez takes the lead into Doohan corner and the Southern Loop.  Toni Elias and Taki Nakagami are going for it.  Taki Nakagami takes the lead.  Tom Luthi, Pol Espargaro, Scott Redding, and Johann Zarco round out the top six.  Scott Redding has Mika Kallio all over him and Dominik Aegerter nearly took him out!  Wow!  Marc Marquez leads.  He wants the title, now, before going to MotoGP next year.  Scott Redding passes Johann Zarco.  Anthony West is ninth and coming quick.  Pol Espargaro follows Nakagami over Lukey Heights, into MG corner.  Marquez twitches the bike, allowing Pol Espargaro to get the lead.

Redding is now third.  Dominik Aegerter and Tito Rabat are in a battle.  Tom Luthi has sunk from third to ninth.  Anthony West tries Tito Rabat, but can't get by.  Pol Espargaro runs a 1:34 flat.  He's quickest on track, in the lead.  He has to win to stay in contention.  Dominik Aegerter is all the way up to fourth after starting twelfth.  Into Doohan corner, Espargaro stays straight and true through the corner, on the same line, trying to mess with Marquez a little bit.  If Scott Redding wants to win, he must get by Marquez and chase down Pol Espargaro.

Espargaro is running laps in the 1:43 bracket.  Redding continues to close on Marc Marquez.  Redding tries to get by Espargaro.  Andrea Ianonne has mechanical problems.  He runs off at Honda hairpin with a blown motor.  Redding has passed Marc Marquez with 20 laps to go.  Anthony West is fourth.  It seems all these bikes are evenly matched.  Espargaro runs a 1:33.745 which is a second faster than the rest of the field, and near his pole time.  Pol Espargaro sets fast lap in the 1:33.7 bracket, just as he has consistently done so far.  Anthony West fends off Dominik Aegerter, Tito Rabat, Simone Corsi, and others.  Espargaro has to manage his gap.  He's growing a lead, like Casey Stoner did in the MotoGP race.

Seventeen laps left to run.  Anthony West is still competitive in fourth after finishing second in Malaysia last weekend.  Marquez runs third and will be world champ if he stays there.  Tom Luthi languishes in tenth position at the moment.  Bradley Smith crashed in qualifying and has had a bad time this weekend.  Toni Elias and Julian Simon battle each other.  These two have been rivals before, back in the old 125cc class.  Fifteen laps left as Pol Espargaro works his way through Lukey Heights again.  Scott Redding really likes this track.  He's doing well running at the sharp end of the order.

The race is nearing halfway.  West trails Marquez with Dominik Aegerter running a strong fifth.  West is 2/10ths behind Marquez.  Randy Krummenacher passes Tom Luthi and Mika Kallio is also coming quickly.  Pol Espargaro is still keeping up a good pace as Anthony West is going quickly, too.  Marquez is third, behind Redding.  Anthony West wants a podium in this race.  Ten laps left to run.  Tom Luthi is out of this race.  He's crashed out.  He will get back into the race but has no chance of winning.

Bradley Smith and Toni Elias both move up.  Gino Rea is languishing in 23rd spot.  He is not having the same kind of race he did in the monsoon conditions in Malaysia last weekend.  Marquez is still chasing Scott Redding.  Pol Espargaro has virtually disappeared and is ahead by a country mile.  Marquez is getting really close to Scott Redding and this gives a further advantage to Anthony West.  Tom Luthi packs it in.  He's a retirement from this race.  Pol Espargaro flies down Gardner straight.  Tito Rabat, Claudio Corti, Taki Nakagami, and Randy Krummenacher have had good racers today.

There's a whole pack that just can't quite catch the top three.  Eric Granado is passed by the leaders.  He's a backmarker, down the order.  Catching Marquez is one thing for Redding, passing is another, going through Hay Shed corner.  Only four laps remain.  West is just behind Marquez.  Anthony West is really getting close behind Marquez and Redding now.  Redding knows he's there down the Gardner straight into Doohan corner.  Anthony West is on the podium.  The crowd is cheering their hero.  Just two laps to go.  Marquez will win the Moto 2 title.

Anthony West made his debut in Grand Prix motorcycle racing at Philip Island in 1998.  Mika Kallio ditches his bike just before the race ends.  One lap remains as Pol Espargaro is on his way to a race win, while Marc Marquez is on his way to a championship.  Marquez wants to pass West to get on the podium.  That might not sit well with the fans.  He's going to clinch the title nonetheless.  He's sitting there.  Anthony West has made it to second!  He almost slides the bike.  Can Redding pass at Hay Shed?  No.  Through Lukey Heights.  Pol Espargaro wins it in dominating style!

Marc Marquez gets nipped by West right at the end.  But, that doesn't matter.  He's third, and is 2012 Moto 2 World Champion!

#40 Pol Espargaro     ESP     Kalex Granollers

Champion:

#93 Marc Marquez    ESP     Suter Cervera

Marquez is champion!  He's ready to make his move to MotoGP in 2013.  There is one race remaining for Moto 2 in Valencia, Spain, coming up in two weeks.