Track Action 2013: Biggest MotoGP crashes

Merry Christmas everyone.  But, hold on tight.  You may want to wear leathers and a crash helmet watching this.  These are the biggest MotoGP crashes of 2013.  Follow the link, and check them out.  But, be warned, some of these are going to hurt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6xXRlf5NdY&feature=player_embedded

Eric Buell Racing World Superbike 2014

From the Facebook page 2 Wheeled News and Views.  It looks like Eric Buell Racing, and their riders... Geoff May, and Aaron Yates, are headed for World Superbike for 2014.  Cool!

FIM World Endurance Championship round 4: France (season finale)

Yours truly wrote a brief summary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto.  But, here are the full race highlights.  Check it out.

This is the final race of the 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship season, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Contrary to the car race version of this event, as always at Le Mans, the motorcycles use the part of the track which is known as the Bugatti circuit. Before we get to this year's action, take a look at the history of the 24 Heures Moto, as it began in 1978.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_%28motorcycle_race%29

The season title will be decided here, at the Bugatti circuit, which is the track at Le Mans (inside of the Circuit de la Sarthe for the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans car race.  It is sure to be a battle between Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, and Monster Energy Yamaha YART for the title.  New riders will be a part of this race.  Multiple AMA Superbike champion and king of American motorcycle road racing, Josh Hayes, will race for Yamaha YART.

Alex Cudlin will bolster the effort for Suzuki Endurance Racing Team.  But, for Josh Hayes, he's excited to be racing at Le Mans for the first time in his career.  Suzuki's Vincent Philippe also knows the importance of this race.  Team manager for YART, Mandy Kainz, called Josh Hayes and asked if he'd come to ride with the team at Le Mans, explaining that they could be in contention to win the World Championship.  Hayes will share the bike with Broc Parkes and Igor Jerman.

Vincent Philippe will share his Suzuki GSXR1000 with Alex Cudlin and Julien Da Costa.  BMW Motorrad France has had a very difficult season, but had a good result last time out at Oschersleben in the 8 hour race there.  Rider Sebastien Gimbert explains that they ended up with a race that was much better than expected, in fact, an excellent one.  Erwan Nigon is hurt.  Damien Cudlin can't be at this race either.  So, BMW Motorrad France, has on their squad... Sebastien Gimbert, Sylvain Barrier, and Josh Waters.

SERT and YART are strong.  But, SRC Kawasaki seem to be the specialists in the 24 hour French endurance events and have won both the Bol D'Or (which was highlighted on this blog earlier this year) at Magny Cours, and, also, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto.  Let's go racing!  Suzuki Endurance Racing Team will start from pole position.  Their combined overall pole time was a lap at 1:37.877.

YART and BMW Motorrad France are up at the sharp end, and many French teams are competing in this, their home race.  Honda TT Legends is back for Le Mans and have revised their rider lineup.  It will be Michael Rutter, Simon Andrews, and Michael Dunlop.  Anthony Delhalle was injured in a crash in practice earlier in the race week and will not start this race.  Kawasaki will have at least two bullets in the gun, with SRC Kawasaki, and Team Bolliger, from Switzerland.

Yamaha GMT 94 starts second in this race with the riding team of David Checa, Kenny Foray, and Matthieu Lagrive.  In total, 56 bikes will start the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  We're ready for a start.  The riders are poised to run to their bikes and get the race underway.  The Trois Couleurs flag is waved, and we're ready.  Go!  SRC Kawasaki is already building a lead going into the first of the s curves on the Bugatti track, with the rest of the field following in hot pursuit.

In a 24 hour race, the early going is of very little consequence.  These guys are just going to be riding around, setting a pace, and seeing how things shape up.  SRC Kawasaki has on it's rider's strength, three Frenchmen.  Gregory Leblanc, Nicolas Salchaud, and Fabien Foret.  One lap done and dusted, and many, many more to come.  Early on, both Honda TT Legends and Yamaha GMT 94 seem very competitive.  But, maybe their consistency won't last too long.

David Checa spills the bike in one of the chicanes.  He runs to the bike, motioning with his hands like, "for Pete's sake, why did that happen?!"  Checa hits the pit lane and turns the bike nose first into the garage, which at Le Mans, or in any of these endurance motorcycle races, is never a good sign.  The crew jumps right on the task of fixing the motorcycle.  David Checa had not one, but two wrecks.  Not to be outdone, early on, Vincent Philippe ditches the #1 SERT Suzuki, too.

The reigning champions, and title contenders, crash early.  Can Vincent Philippe, Julien Da Costa, and Alex Cudlin, recover?  SERT also had a blown gasket on their motor, and after four hours of racing, it is BMW Motorrad France, in the lead, a team that desperately needs a result this year, after having a fraught season to this point.  SERT team manager Dominique Meliand says the race start has been a tough one for his team.  He says, "we've had a crash, and a gasket problem.  This delayed us a lot.  Now, we'll focus more on the championship than the race.  The choice wasn't up to us."

At this moment, it's a battle for supremacy between SRC Kawasaki, and BMW Motorrad France.  SERT does eventually get back on track.  But, they have a long road to navigate, and a mountain to climb.  They are 40 laps behind the leaders.  On the 2.655 mile Bugatti layout, that means, they are some 106 miles behind.  Josh Hayes is riding his first stint for YART.  Hayes makes a pass on a lapped bike, #37.  Not sure which team, bike, or riders, that number belongs to. 

He brings the bike in for a regular pit stop, handing over to either Igor Jerman, or Broc Parkes.  It's unclear which rider will go next.  Jerman, possibly.  Broc Parkes says the track is very slippery.  Parkes was quite concerned, seeing crashes, and also, having no front brake on the bike.  Sebastien Gimbert and BMW Motorrad France lead the race after four hours.  SERT pits as BMW Motorrad France is now a lap up on SRC Kawasaki.  Remember, the trio of riders for BMW in this race includes Sylvain Barrier, Sebastien Gimbert, and Josh Waters. 

Honda TT Legends, YART, FMA Assurances, and Team R2CL follow.  SERT continues to struggle, and things are not much better for YART, as the bike stalls on a pit stop.  SRC Kawasaki continues to lead and has not had many issues to speak of in this race.  They make a scheduled pit stop, and right now, the field is spread out as Kawasaki and BMW are the only factory teams that haven't really run into problems as of yet.  The safety car would be deployed just before the four hour mark with a huge tumble by bike #51.  Not sure which bike this is.  Meanwhile, the #13 Penz13 Kraftwerk BMW S1000RR is in the pits, after a crash, putting the trio of Jason Pridmore, Steve Mercer, and Pedro Vallcaneras, behind.

The bikes are circulating behind the safety car right now.  It looks as though Penz 13 has repaired their BMW motorcycle quickly.  They'll be back into the race.  Like SERT earlier, they've lost a bunch of time.  We come back to green flag conditions, but SERT remains in the garage.  The team of Philippe, Da Costa, and Cudlin, not going anywhere.  Here's the top ten after four hours at Le Mans.

1. EWC #99 BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent     BMW S1000RR
             Gimbert/Barrier/Waters
2. EWC #11 Team SRC Kawasaki                               Kawasaki ZX10R
             Leblanc/Foret/Salchaud
3. EWC #77 Honda TT Legends                                  Honda CBR1000RR
             Rutter/Andrews/Dunlop
4. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART                  Yamaha YZFR1
             Parkes/Hayes/Jerman
5. EWC #20 FMA Assurances                                     Honda CBR1000RR
             Black/Lussiana/Debise
6. EWC #2 Team R2CL                                               Suzuki GSXR1000
             Martin/Buisson/Giabbani
7. EWC #55 National Motos                                        Honda CBR1000RR
             Tizon Ibanez/Junod/Four                
8. EWC #18 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers                      Kawasaki ZX10R
             Molinier/Tangre/Briere
9. SST #50 Team Motors Events - April Moto              Suzuki GSXR1000
           Fastre/Savary/Lucas
10. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94                        Yamaha YZFR1
               Checa/Foray/Lagrive

Scheduled pit stops start, with BMW Motorrad France.  They led the first quarter of this race.  That's 265 laps (682 miles).  Sebastien Gimbert, Sylvain Barrier, and Josh Waters, are in P1 for the moment, after a tumultuous 2013 season so far.  For SRC Kawasaki, their race isn't going to plan.  Contact with another lapped bike, sends the green machine crashing to the pavement.  Running repairs will definitely be in order, as the bike enters pit lane.

The repairs were quick, and SRC Kawasaki was soon again in hot pursuit of BMW Motorrad France.  Fabien Foret was on the bike and says he got tapped going into the final corner, which on the Bugatti circuit is called Reccordement, and it's turn eleven.  Team R2CL is running well.  Dylan Buisson and Gwen Giabbani are racing with new team mate Guy Martin.  Fans of this blog, will know Guy Martin from the Bike Road Racing Series.  He is one of the top riders on that circuit.  This team is moving up the order, consistently.

Honda TT Legends is running well.  They have new riders for Le Mans, too, in the form of Michael Dunlop, Michael Rutter, and Simon Andrews.  All three of these guys, also run regularly in the Bike Road Racing Series and in those wild races on the streets around the Isle of Man.  They make a regularly scheduled pit stop.  Michael Dunlop says everything is running smoothly for the team.  They are in a heated battle with the Bolliger Team at the moment, on track, though.  Bolliger has kept falling behind and between hours four and eight, continued to sink.

By the eighth hour, they'd dropped out of the top ten.  Team Motors Events April Moto, and their riders Gregory Fastre, Claude Lucas, and Michael Savary, seem to be having a good showing so far.  They lead in class in Super Stock right now.  The shadows begin to grow long, and a mist hangs over the Bugatti track at Le Mans, headed for the hours of darkness.  Team Motors Events hold a two lap lead over their closest pursuer in class, DGSport Herock.  Additionally, they are five laps behind BMW Motorrad France in the overall.  On the rider's strength for DGSport Herock's Yamaha R1 are Didier van Keymeulen, David McFadden, and Lucas Mahias.

At the eight hour mark, Yamaha GMT94 have recovered from early crashes, to complete the top five in the overall, as the team makes a scheduled pit stop.  They do a standard pit stop for tires, fuel, and a rider change.  The bikes all have their headlights on, as dusk settles in at Le Mans.  The nighttime at Le Mans is the most difficult part of this race.  Fully into the darkness now, SRC Kawasaki pits.  They do a rider change, and add fuel.  The green bike is two laps behind BMW Motorrad France, as Salchaud, Foret, and Leblanc, press on.

YART currently holds second spot.  The safety car comes out again, as there's been another big wreck.  This is right at the end of the front straight, going into turns one and two, (the Dunlop chicanes).  Honda TT Legends were one of the teams involved in this wreck.  It actually happened just short of turn five, (Museum corner).  Other teams involved were Kawasaki 3D Endurance Moto Center, MCS Racing, and the Team Flemmbo Leader team Kawasaki.

Here are the rider's strengths for those teams:

Kawasaki 3D Endurance Moto Center: Stephan Egea, Fabrice Holub, & Hugo Clere     Kawasaki ZX10R

MCS Racing - IPone: Marin Ivanov, Alexandre Basso, & Roberto Anastasia     Suzuki GSXR1000

Team Flemmbo Leader Team: Xavier Demar, Janis Prosenik, & Emiliano Belucci     Kawasaki ZX10R

Frantic action is going on in pit lane for Team R2CL, who actually might be making a regular stop.  They have moved to fourth place in the overall.  Here are the standings (the top ten) after eight hours of racing.

1. EWC #99 BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent     BMW S1000RR
             Gimbert/Barrier/Waters
2. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART                  Yamaha YZFR1
             Parkes/Hayes/Jerman
3. EWC #11 Team SRC Kawasaki                               Kawasaki ZX10R
             Leblanc/Foret/Salchaud
4. EWC #2 Team R2CL                                               Suzuki GSXR1000
             Martin/Buisson/Giabbani
5. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94                          Yamaha YZFR1
               Checa/Foray/Lagrive
6. SST #50 Team Motors Events - April Moto              Suzuki GSXR1000
           Fastre/Savary/Lucas
7. EWC #18 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers                      Kawasaki ZX10R
             Molinier/Tangre/Briere
8. EWC #55 National Motos                                        Honda CBR1000RR         
             Tizon Ibanez/Junod/Four
9. EWC #14 Maco Racing Team                                  Yamaha YZFR1
             Roccoli/Baldolini/Luis
10. SST #9 DGSport Herock                                        Yamaha YZFR1
             van Keymeulen/McFadden/Mahias

As the night racing continues, BMW Motorrad France makes another pit stop.  They are still trying to hold an overnight lead.  Sylvain Barrier says that the race is going real well.  There were injuries in the earlier wreck with Honda TT Legends and another team.  Simon Andrews is conscious, as he was on the bike in the crash, but has some broken bones.  Another rider, is in serious condition.  More updates on their status, will come.

In the darkness and mist, there are more crashes.  Things are only getting more difficult for the riders now.  After a wreck, Team SRC Kawasaki wants to move back into contention.  They are close behind BMW Motorrad France, and YART.  SRC Kawasaki does make a scheduled pit stop.  Despite the earlier wreck, they are now seemingly back in the race lead.  The leaders, previously, BMW Motorrad France, they're headed for the house.  They're out, retiring with mechanical woes.  A DNF for Sebastien Gimbert, Sylvain Barrier, and Josh Waters.

We are now into the race's 14th hour, just over halfway through.  YART still wants a win and the Parkes/Jerman/Hayes trio is pushing hard.  But, it's a disappointing conclusion to a dreadful season for BMW Motorrad France.  Team manager for YART, Mandy Kainz says they are running consistently.  But, then, he makes a statement that wrecks their hopes, that the engine on their Yamaha YZF R1 has let go.  So, now, Broc Parkes, Josh Hayes, and Igor Jerman, are also non-finishers.

So, bad races for Yamaha YART and BMW Motorrad France, are not what either of these teams wanted, and each one will look to 2014 to strengthen their efforts.  SRC Kawasaki continues to lead, and Team R2CL continues marching through the field.  R2CL pits.  They want a podium for their trio of riders... Guy Martin, Gwen Giabbani, and Dylan Buisson.  The factory squads, many of them, have had unforeseen issues throughout this race.

Where things went sour for BMW Motorrad France and for Monster Energy Yamaha YART, they seem to be turning around for Yamaha France GMT 94, who are clawing their way back up the order as dawn approaches at Le Mans.  Right now, the team is buttoning up repairs on the bike, in the garage.  Before retiring, BMW Motorrad France had led for nine straight hours in this race, and also had to overcome a minor issue with the bike's exhaust system.

DGSport Herock pits.  They are running well in Superstock, but losing pace somewhat at the same time.  Their riders, Didier van Keymeulen, David McFadden, and Lucas Mahias, have been doing what they can to stay competitive.  Also in Superstock, Team Motors Event is still in the class lead and they are booking it around the Bugatti circuit.  Gregory Fastre, Claude Lucas, and Michael Savary, are doing very well to this point.  They make a scheduled pit stop.  By hour sixteen, they are on the podium, running in third place overall.

Team Motors Event is nine laps behind the leading SRC Kawasaki team, and three laps behind Team R2CL.  Things seem to be fairly steady in Superstock at the moment.  Team LMS Suzuki is running well, too.  They make a scheduled stop.  Sharing the riding chores on bike #72 (a Suzuki GSXR1000), are three Frenchmen.  Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson, and Guillaume Dietrich.  Currently, they are eighth in the overall, chasing the Maco Racing Team bike #14 with their riders Alex Baldolini, Massimo Rocoli, and Jose Manuel Luis.

Team Motors Event made a mistake, and has promoted the Suzuki LMS Junior Team.  Three French teams are in the top six.  Yamaha France GMT 94, National Motos, and Team 18 Sapeurs-Pompiers, are also up into the top five.  SRC Kawasaki continues to lead, with a six lap margin right now, as dawn breaks over Le Mans.  Here are the standings after 16 hours.

1.  EWC #11 Team SRC Kawasaki                               Kawasaki ZX10R
             Leblanc/Foret/Salchaud
2.  EWC #2 Team R2CL                                               Suzuki GSXR1000
             Martin/Buisson/Giabbani
3.  SST #50 Team Motors Events - April Moto              Suzuki GSXR1000
           Fastre/Savary/Lucas
4.  EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94                          Yamaha YZFR1
               Checa/Foray/Lagrive
5.  EWC #55 National Motos                                        Honda CBR1000RR         
             Tizon Ibanez/Junod/Four
6.  EWC #18 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers                      Kawasaki ZX10R
             Molinier/Tangre/Briere
7.  EWC #14 Maco Racing Team                                  Yamaha YZFR1
             Roccoli/Baldolini/Luis
8.  SST #72 Junior Team LMS Suzuki                           Suzuki GSXR1000
            Guittet/Masson/Dietrich
9.  SST #9 DGSport Herock                                         Yamaha YZFR1
             van Keymeulen/McFadden/Mahias
10. SST #68 Atomic Motosport                                     Suzuki GSXR1000
             Pierre/Jond/Cholvin

Dawn brings hope in any kind of endurance racing on two wheels or four.  Eight long hours still remain in this race and it's not over yet.  With retirements from some of the bigger teams, SERT is still in with a shout to at least finish this race.  They are still fighting the championship battle with Yamaha France GMT 94, even though the two teams are 63 laps apart.  After their earlier crash, SRC Kawasaki, somehow, some way, is dominating this race.

Team manager Gilles Stafler says that the night went over well, and the team is not forcing the pace since the retirement of their closest competition from BMW Motorrad France.  The team is running to a definite pace, but not pushing 100%.  Team R2CL with Guy Martin, Gwen Giabbani, and Dylan Buisson, are their closest competitors.  Speaking of R2CL, they make another scheduled pit stop.  Gwen Giabbani says that they're still fighting, particularly with Yamaha GMT 94.  This team has recovered well.  They were in fourth at hour sixteen, and since then, have moved up to second, behind SRC Kawasaki.

David Checa, the lead rider for Yamaha GMT 94, wants to see the team get on the podium.  SERT is just trying to move up through the field, despite their fraught race with crashes, and a blown gasket earlier on. They come to pit lane, for a scheduled stop, still wanting this championship for World Endurance motorcycle road racing in 2013.  What they want, is a second consecutive title.  In Superstock, it's still Team Motors Events with the trio of Fastre, Lucas, and Savary, with the lead in class.

They are running well, but on a scheduled pit stop, one of the riders overshoots the pit box.  Claude Lucas also says that the engine temperature on the motorcycle is going up.  The team's pit stop is successful and they applaud each other as the bike exits pit lane.  Here are the standings after 20 hours.  Just four hours remain in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto, and the 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship season.

1.  EWC #11 Team SRC Kawasaki                               Kawasaki ZX10R
             Leblanc/Foret/Salchaud
2.  EWC #2 Team R2CL                                               Suzuki GSXR1000
             Martin/Buisson/Giabbani
3.  EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94                          Yamaha YZFR1
               Checa/Foray/Lagrive
4.  SST #50 Team Motors Events - April Moto              Suzuki GSXR1000
           Fastre/Savary/Lucas
5.  EWC #18 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers                      Kawasaki ZX10R
             Molinier/Tangre/Briere
6.  SST #72 Junior Team LMS Suzuki                           Suzuki GSXR1000
            Guittet/Masson/Dietrich
7.  EWC #14 Maco Racing Team                                  Yamaha YZFR1
             Roccoli/Baldolini/Luis
8.  EWC #55 National Motos                                        Honda CBR1000RR         
              Tizon Ibanez/Junod/Four
9.  SST #33 Team Louit Moto 33                                  Kawasaki ZX10R
            Marino/Savadori/Jonchiere
10. EWC #5 Synergyforce Trickstar                              Kawasaki ZX10R
               Serizawa/Deguchi/Teramoto

This race is entering it's final stages... the final four hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  SRC Kawasaki is going to have their fourth consecutive win at the Le Mans 24 Hours.  This will be the fourth Le Mans win for Gregory Leblanc as a rider, too.  Team Motors Event will win the Superstock division if things hold as they are for the last hours of the race.  They could also make the overall podium.

Yamaha France GMT 94 makes a pit stop.  They make a rider change, and hope to move into second, taking the spot from team R2CL.  R2CL also pits.  The team of Martin, Giabbani, and Buisson, have had a good race.  The teams salute their riders for successful final stints.  Team SRC Kawasaki is cruising, and strategy will give them a good place to be the winner of this race, as they make their final pit stop.  Nervous moments in the garage.  But, the riders have done their part.

Team SRC Kawasaki wins it!  Victory at home for the French team.  Gregory Leblanc, Fabien Foret, and Nicolas Salchaud, do it.  In Superstock, it is Team Motors Events, winning the Le Mans 24 Hour race, with Gregory Fastre, Michael Savary, and Claude Lucas... another all French squad.  Suzuki Endurance Racing Team defends their title in the FIM Endurance World Championship!

Overall/EWC:   #11 Team SRC Kawasaki                               Kawasaki ZX10R
                        Leblanc/Foret/Salchaud

            SST: #50 Team Motors Events - April Moto                Suzuki GSXR1000
                   Fastre/Savary/Lucas

This brings the 24 Hours of Le Mans to a close.  SRC Kawasaki win again at Le Mans.  SERT, the team champions, also win, despite not being in a celebratory mood after their race.  There is a trophy presentation for the team's overall efforts, at Le Mans, after the race.  Team Motors Event win the Superstock championship, and SERT, win the Endurance World Championship.

Overall/EWC:   3rd     Team SRC Kawasaki                         Kawasaki ZX10R
                        2nd     Yamaha France GMT 94                    Yamaha YZFR1
                        1st      Suzuki Endurance Racing Team           Suzuki GSXR1000

           Superstock: 3rd      Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Team     BMW S1000RR
                              2nd     Junior Team LMS Suzuki                     Suzuki GSXR1000
                              1st      Team Motors Event - April Moto         Suzuki GSXR1000

This has been one of the most dramatic races at Le Mans.  SERT claim their 13th FIM Endurance World Championship crown.  We'll see you for more motorcycle endurance racing in 2014.  So long for now.
            


  

  
 
     

Stopping a crash in MotoGP is better than coffee

Road & Track magazine has a compilation of the best saves from the 2013 MotoGP season.  Check these out, after the jump...

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-videos/moto-gp-crash-saves-better-than-coffee?src=spr_FBPAGE&spr_id=1459_35718073

Suzuki RGV 250 (a picture from the Facebook page called 2Wheeled Racing News And Views)

MotoGP news stories

Some of the major stories from the world of MotoGP as of late.

Cadena SER: 'Marquez would not block Lorenzo Honda move'

Il Messagero: Valentino To Marry?

'Adidas To Sponsor Yamaha And Sky VR46 Teams'

'Camier In Line For IODA seat in MotoGP'

These are just a few of the stories as of late.  Scroll through and check them out at this link.

http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+in+the+Media

Australian Broc Parkes lands MotoGP ride with Paul Bird Motorsport For 2014 Season

Broc Parkes and Michael Laverty will team up with Aprilia's in the new customer bikes class in MotoGP next year.  Here are the details.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/moto-gp/australian-broc-parkes-lands-motogp-ride-with-paul-bird-motorsport-for-2014-season/story-fn2ms4i4-1226781210616

South Africa on WSBK provisional calendar for 2014

World Superbike looks to be set to be racing in South Africa in 2014.  Here are the details.

http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/5-sbk-news/19214-south-africa-on-wsbk-provisional-calendar-for-2014.html

Insane onboard through Macau street circuit run

Watch motorcycle racer Didier Grams at the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, run his BMW S1000RR at full throttle through the Macau Guia course.  Hold on to your hats.  This is certifiably, a thrill ride!

http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/motogp/motogp-insane-on-board-through-macau-street-circuit-run/

FIM cancel Sic Supermoto Day

As a follow-up to the story yesterday about Doriano Romboni's death, the FMI (Italian motorcycle racing federation), has decided to cancel the remainder of the Sic Supermoto Day event, as a sign of respect.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/FMI+cancel+Sic+Supermoto+Day

In Memoriam: Doriano Romboni

Former motorcycle Grand Prix race winner Doriano Romboni was killed in a practice crash for a Sic Supermoto race and passed away at the Santa Maria Goretti hospital in Latina, Italy. 

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Romboni+passes+away+after+Supermoto+accident

Rest In Peace, Doriano Romboni.

Bike Road Racing Series round 4: Billown, Part 2

We're ready for day two action at the Billown circuit on the Isle of Man, and the fourth and final day of the Southern 100 international road races.

Guy Martin wants his second Southern 100 championship.  But, Michael Dunlop will be one of his biggest competitors.  We've seen the track, and all the major corners.  The first race of the day is the championship race for the Superbikes.  This is Honda vs. Suzuki.  Michael Dunlop vs. Guy Martin.  The big boys and the big toys are coming out to play.  We are ready, for the Manx Gas Solo Championship Superbike race!  Go!  At the start, Dean Harrison immediately jumps into the race lead.

Michael Dunlop also gets a decent start and doesn't bog down off the line.  Ian Lougher is up there, but here comes Dunlop, taking the fight to Martin.  Michael Dunlop is making a move into Iron Gate.  It's Suzuki vs. Honda vs. Kawasaki.  Dunlop takes the lead.  Not far behind are names like Jamie Hamilton, Michael Pearson and Russ Mountford.  We've seen Hamilton and Mountford in some of the other divisions racing, and they were featured prominently, in part one of this race report.

They cleanly race through Ballabeg hairpin and are well on their way.  Guy Martin may be third, but he's had better race starts during his Superbike career in the Bike Road Racing Series.  Ian Lougher is going to have to book it to keep up with the top three.  The bikes ease into Cross Four-Ways for the first time.  The big 1000cc four cylinder engines, are roaring, announcing their presence on the Isle of Man.  Lougher, Pearson, and Hamilton, are also in a race of their own.

Whoever mashes the throttle hardest and soonest, will have the advantage down the front straight.  Ian Lougher moves to the outside of Jamie Hamilton.  What can he do?  Ooh!  Lougher almost hits the wall!  Woohoo!  That was close!  Phew!  Dunlop leads, but Dean Harrison is right along with him.  Not to be outdone, Martin is right up the tailpipe of Dean Harrison's motorcycle.  Seamus Elliott runs at the back of the pack on bike #97, trying to make his way around Ballabeg hairpin.

Martin pops a wheelie as he's going after Harrison around one of the sloped curves.  Michael Dunlop is ahead for Honda TT Legends, (a name recognizable from the coverage of the FIM World Endurance Championship, here on this blog).  Two laps complete.  Seven remain.  We've got a couple of 600 Supersport bikes mixed in with the Superbikes for good measure, in this race.  They make their way back towards Ballabeg another time.

Hamilton, Lougher, and Pearson, are still in their own battle, behind the leaders.  As for Martin, he's still finding difficulty in passing Harrison.  Martin won't give up.  But, he gets a bonus.  Dean Harrison, runs wide, off the racing line.  Ian Lougher still fends off Michael Pearson.  Harrison and Martin are going to be the ones to fight it out for second.  There's still six laps left.  Jamie Hamilton runs by himself, with Michael Pearson and Ian Lougher in pursuit.  Dean Harrison has his feet off the foot pegs into Cross Four Ways!  Hang it on the edge!

Ian Lougher pops another wheelie!  Dunlop is still ahead of Martin.  But, Martin has broken the 2:14 lap barrier, running a 2:13.9.  This might be a new lap record for the Billown course.  Martin continues to close on Dunlop.  Dean Harrison has faded.  It's a two man race for the win.  Russ Mountford flies past Roy Gallagh's farm, approaching the Bomb Hole.  Dunlop slides his way into the last corner, coming up to complete another lap.

The Suzuki is fast in a straight line, but doesn't quite have the oomph of the Honda out of the corners.  Russ Mountford catches Michael Pearson, and Pearson, makes his way down the escape road.  Martin, also catches Dunlop.  Guy Martin is skating all over, while Michael Dunlop's bike is on rails.  It has nothing to do with technique.  It's more about bike setup.  Remember from part one... the bike isn't control of you as a rider.  You, the rider, control the bike.

Both of them slide towards the wall, and emerge unscathed.  Guy Martin has a run on Michael Dunlop.  He's flying, folks.  Martin nabs the lead.  Martin is in P1!  How will Dunlop respond to this challenge?  Dunlop wants to get him back, going into Ballekeighan.  Tim Poole overtakes slower rider Mike James on bike #39.  Dean Harrison holds third.  Both Martin and Dunlop wheelie, coming up out of the Bomb Hole.  This is intense!

Jamie Hamilton and Dean Harrison are still out there, but neither is in contention to win this race.  Martin flies into Stadium, and Dunlop is still pushing.  It's the final lap of the Superbike race.  Dean Harrison is still third.  Watch out for backmarkers.  Russ Mountford is running with James Cownton behind him.  Through Ballabeg, Cross Four Ways, and Great Meadow.  There is still time for decisive moves.  This is it.  Will it be Tyco Suzuki, or Honda TT Legends?  They've gone through Church Bends.  Great Meadow, Stadium, and Castletown corner are all that remains.

Martin wins it!  He's the Southern 100 champ!

#4 Guy Martin     Suzuki 1000

Here's the top five.

1. #4 Guy Martin             Suzuki 1000
2. #1 Michael Dunlop      Honda 1000
3. #2 Dean Harrison        Kawasaki 1000
4. #44 Jamie Hamilton     Kawasaki 1000
5. #9 Ian Lougher            Honda 1000

Let's resume the action, and go three wheelin'.  It's time for the sidecars on the Isle of Man.  In the first race for sidecars, a battle ensued between Wayne Lockey and Greg Lambert.  It was a race between three teams.  Colin Harrison made his way past Greg Lambert.  Roy Hanks was also in the wars in the first sidecar race.  The race was stopped after a vicious crash where one of the passengers was tossed from the sidecar!  Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle, won it.

#77 Reeves/Sayle     Honda 600

Here's the top five.

1. #77 Reeves/Sayle     Honda 600
2. #26 Bryan/Winn       Honda 600
3. #3 Harrison/Chauhan  Honda 600
4. #4 Lockey/Capewell  Honda 600
5. #5 Lambert/Cole        Honda 600

Gary Bryan, is confident.  Roy Hanks, has many memories of racing on the Isle of Man, as he's done so for years.  Hanks' dad raced on this course, against another racer named Charlie Freeman.  Back then, the bikes were made by companies like BSA, Triumph, and Norton... legendary names in motorcycle racing history.  We come to the sidecar championship race at Billown.

Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are the top runners, and we'll also pay attention to the team of Harrison and Chauhan.  The Bell team (father and son), are also in this race.  Ben and Tom Birchall start from pole and will be ones to watch.  Bring up the revs, and here we go!  Ben Birchall makes a good start going into the lead of the race immediately.  It's a side-by-side duel between the Bell's and the Reeves/Sayle team.  Tim Reeves has the edge.

How do you tiptoe around Ballekeighan on a sidecar?  It's tough.  But, you have to.  Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are going for it right away.  The Birchall team holds onto P1.  The Lockie and Capewell team is doing well, too.  Gary Bryant and Jamie Winn are running well.  They want to pass Ian and Carl Bell.  Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are watching all this.  We watch sidecar #15 in the hands of Stuart Stubbel and Robert Munt. Keep all three wheels down.  No curb hopping in a sidecar cycle.

The 600cc Honda sidecar seems to have a throatier, sharper, nastier exhaust note than the rest of the bikes out there in this division.  This team is reeling in the Birchall brothers.  So, it's Ben and Tom Birchall followed by Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle.  Next, it's Ian and Carl Bell.  Gary Bryan and Jamie Winn are fourth.  Reeves looks to be closing up on the Birchall's and they let that team go past.

Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle have it all their own way in the sidecar championship race at the moment.  Conrad Harrison, Greg Lambert, and Wayne Lockie, are a ways down the order.  Dean Lindley is also in there.  Through Cross Four-Ways, nice and quick.  Ian and Carl Bell seem like they might have an opportunity to challenge for the win here, too.  They've won these races, and championships.  They know what it takes to run a sidecar racer on the Isle of Man.

Dean Lindley bumps another competitor, trying to pass.  Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle open their margin little by little.  These sidecars with the 600cc motors sound really sweet.  Keep the revs high and the speed up.  Tim Reeves wants a Southern 100 win to add to his CV.  He's won the Isle of Mann TT, the British Superbike Championship, and has World Championship sidecar wins.  With the sidecar racers, the bumps through these corners, present a real shock to the system.

Darren Hope is also in this race.  He used to be a passenger, but now, drives a sidecar cycle.  Watch out into Cross Four-Ways.  That's tricky even on a regular motorcycle, as we've already seen.  Roy Hanks... the legend, is running great, along with passenger, Kevin Perry.  Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are flying into Stadium.  It seems that Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle have a definite advantage.  The Birchall's and the other competitors are not keeping up as well as they'd like to.  The intervals are regular and steady.  But, there's still a race on our hands here, blokes.

The Birchall's are getting quicker.  This is a six lap race.  It should have been eight.  But, two laps were subtracted from the distance.  Dean Lindley is running well, with passenger, Jason O'Connor.  Cole Bennett and Lee Kane are also running in top form on sidecar #13.  125 miles an hour maximum speed, lying on your tummy?  Jeez!  Serious case of road rash!  Thank goodness for leathers, chest and back protectors, and helmets.

Dan Sayle has won many races at Billown in the past.  He is as successful as riders like Dave Molyneux and Klaus Glafboch.  Greg Lambert and Wayne Lockie are in a battle for position.  Reeves and Sayle still lead over the Birchall's and the Bell's.  Gary Bryant has dropped behind.  Colin Harrison is fifth.  The Bell's are pushing and want to try for second.  Roy Hanks is still bringing up the rear of the pack.  The Birchall's might be closing in on the very strong Honda of Reeves and Sayle.

Everyone seems to run in the 2:37 range in terms of lap times.  John Chandler pushes Horst Valsack out of the way.  The margins between the top three continue to tighten up.  This is the last lap of the sidecar race.  Ben and Tom Birchall reset fast lap at 2:35.8.  John Chandler pulls to the side of the road.  Could it be game over for Chandler?  Yes.  Dean Lindley and Jason O'Connor, meanwhile, have been running their own race so far.

The top three run through the Bomb Hole for the last time.  We are into the last mile of this race for the sidecars.  Headed to Castletown corner, it looks like Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle will indeed be the winners.  The Birchall's were close.  But not close enough.  Reeves and Sayle, win!  The Birchall's still score fastest lap.  Ian and Carl Bell, round out the podium.

#77 Reeves/Sayle     Honda 600

Here's the top five for the sidecars.

1. #77 Reeves/Sayle     Honda 600
2. #1 Birchall/Birchall    Honda 600
3. #2 Bell/Bell               Honda 600
4. #26 Bryan/Winn        Honda 600
5. #3 Harrison/Chauhan Honda 600

The next race that will be highlighted is the Armoy Race of Legends in Armoy, Northern Ireland.  Stay tuned for that.  There will be a race report, coming soon.

Bike Road Racing Series round 4: Billown, Part 1

We return to the Billown circuit for round four of the 2013 Bike Road Racing Series.  This is actually the other races that took place during the Southern 100 weekend.  Two race reports will be coming your way, or rather, one race report, will be split into two parts.   

Get ready for more high speed, and close action.  This is the Billown 100.  Let's review (having raced here, previously), the key corners on this 4.25 mile track, before we go racing.  The corners include Ballakeighan, Iron Gate, Joey's Gate, the Ballabeg hairpin, Williams corner (the trickiest part of the track which goes past a farm, and into this unique turn called the bomb hole).  Cross Four-Ways follows, before sliding into Church Bends.  Out of Church Bends, the riders fly down the fastest part of the track at Great Meadow. 

To complete the lap at Billown, it's hard on the brakes through the last two turns known as Stadium Bend, and Castletown corner.  The first race of the day, is not for Superbikes, but instead, it's the combined race for 125cc and 400cc motorcycles presented by Station Garage.  Castletown is the capital of the Isle of Man, (or Mann as it's properly spelled).  Chris Palmer, is a local racer.  He and his family, live here.  Palmer runs a 125cc bike.

OK, folks.  We are ready for the aforementioned Station Garage 125cc/400cc race to begin.  Strap on the helmet and the racing gloves, twist the throttle, and get ready to race.  There will be one, and only one winner this year.  No separate honors for each class.  Some big names are in this race.  Chris Palmer, William Dunlop, Paul Robinson, and Ian Lougher, are probably the four biggest stars in this category.  Lougher and Dunlop run a lot of different kinds of bikes in these race meetings.

The sun is low in the sky, and we're ready.  Go!  Chris Palmer and Alistair Haworth both get the jump on the rest of this field.  Callum Collister is also up there.  The field is bunched up going into Ballakeighan and Iron Gate.  Rider Dave Kennington on bike #46 wanted to make an outside move.  He couldn't quite do it.  Collister, Howeth, and Dave Taylor are the top three right now.  One year in this race, the start was so late, the streetlights in the town came on during the race.

Chris Palmer is being challenged by Dave Corliss.  The bikes fly past Joey's Gate and into the hairpin.  Collister continues leading this race.  Paul Robinson ditches his bike.  One of the 250cc riders is in trouble already.  Fortunately, he picks up his Aprilia, and continues.  Chris Palmer is absolutely flying on his 125cc Honda at the moment.  Never let go of the throttle on a 125cc bike.  Keep it wide open and wound up, all the time.

Alistair Haworth has taken over the race lead.  Chris Palmer, meanwhile, closes in on Dave Taylor.  Howeth leads.  He's very good on a 400cc bike.  Ian Lougher makes a pass on Dave Corlett.  If the top three finishers in this race are on 400cc bikes, the 125cc riders won't get any glory, unfortunately.  Callum Collister goes back in front for the time being.  Chris Palmer is indeed closing up on his competitor.  Dave Taylor is the man he wants to pass to gain another spot.

Haworth retakes the lead from Collister coming down into Castletown corner.  We watch Joe Newbold on bike #143, being chased by a couple more riders behind him.  Howeth and Collister are going to battle to the end in this one.  They're shoulder to shoulder coming to Ballekeighan again.  The 400cc bikes are very controllable, and they're beautifully made bikes, too.  The leaders race into Ballabeg hairpin another time.  Now, we see a battle between bikes #76 and #56.  Eddie Lymer rides the #76 machine.  Seamus Elliott is also in that battle.

Through Great Meadow and into Stadium.  Collister is running very well in this race, and is well in control.  Dave Corliss battles Mark Goodings for position.  Ian Lougher, meanwhile, is booking it.  He's fifth after being stuck in sixth place for a while.  He seems to be closing up on both Dave Taylor and Chris Palmer.  Palmer wants to overtake Taylor into the braking zone for Ballabeg.  Oh no!  Taylor runs straight on, missing the corner!  He'll lose time now.  Chris Palmer could get on the podium here.  Eddie Lymer and Dan Sayle continue their battle.  Sayle is on bike #56.

We are used to seeing Sayle in sidecar competition.  Lougher is quickly closing up on Palmer.  William Dunlop is another rider who has run 125cc bikes at Billown before.  But, he's not in the race this year, having not found an opportunity for a ride.  He was on the entry list, but, the ride never materialized.  Dunlop has also had issues with his 250cc bike.  Now, another brave pass.  Lougher, passes Palmer!  Lougher and Palmer are going to fight this one out, for sure.

It's game over for bike #117 of Dave Walsh.  He's got a mechanical issue with his motorcycle.  Walsh is riding a KTM.  Alistair Haworth is second, doing a wheelie up the hill.  Callum Collister still leads, in a league of his own.  It's the last lap of this race.  Chris Palmer makes a pass on Ian Lougher.  They're side-by-side through Ballekeighan!  Who's going to prevail?  It'll be Lougher.  The back wheels of the bikes go light there some of the corners around here.  But, the battle rages between Palmer and Lougher.

Collister is going to win this race.  But, it's Lougher and Palmer we'll be watching for.  Callum Collister wins it.  Now, to third place.  Lougher beats Palmer to the line!  Wow! 

#53 Callum Collister     Kawasaki 400

Here's the top five.

1. #53 Callum Collister     Kawasaki 400
2. #29 Alistair Haworth    Yamaha 400
3. #9 Ian Lougher             Honda 125
4. #5 Chris Palmer            Honda 125
5. #46 David Kennington  Kawasaki 400

Next up, it's the Junior Consolation Support Race, for 650cc bikes.  You've got a mix of Super Twins, (the 650cc machines), with a 400 or 125 bike thrown in for good measure.  Conor Cummins is not racing this weekend.  Instead, he's supporting his dad Billy Cummins, who is running in this race,  At the start, from onboard Billy Cummins' bike, we see a slight false start.  But, they're away.

Rad Hughes and James Neesom both get good starts.  James Niesam leads this race.  Nicholas Pfeiffer is another rider in this battle for the lead.  Jack Hunter and Steven Orff are also in their own battle.  Through Ballabeg, the order remains the same in this one.  The riders move through Williams and down into the Bomb Hole for the first time.  The order has not changed as they run through Church bends.  Rad Hughes leads with James Niesam and Jack Hunter.

A rider "overcooks" the entry to Ballekeighan and fortunately, manages to get their bike turned in the right direction.  Neesom passes Rad Hughes for the race lead.  Billy Cummins has run into trouble.  He's missed an entry to the corner, missing a gear, or finding a false neutral in the transmission somewhere.  Jack Hunter comes under pressure from Nicholas Pfeiffer.  Dave Clark leads a second group on bike #85.  Neesom and Hughes continue to fight for the race lead.

Niklas Pfeiffer is still hanging in there.  Neesom continues pulling ahead of Rad Hughes.  Billy Cummins' bike must be running at full song again.  Ian Cowie on bike #66 and bike #102 battle.  #102 is Mark Bamford.  Bamford makes the pass and it's done and dusted.  Super Twins are a great bike to race on a track like this because the rider can be in control of the motorcycle as opposed to the bike controlling the rider.

The battle continues.  But, Ian Cowie makes his way by Mark Bamford.  Battle for the lead here, folks.  Rad Hughes is all over James Niesam one more time.  Niesam does it, and Niklas Pfeiffer passes Jack Hunter.  Most of these bikes are Kawasaki's with the exception of one or two Suzuki SV650's.  Stuart Raynor on bike #42 is slowing, with mechanical issues.  Joe Newbold is also running well.  He was in the previous race with the 125cc bikes, too.  It's the final lap of the Super Twins race.  It's going to be James Neesom's race to lose.

Slower riders such as Dave Clark, Leon Murphy, and James Christie make their way around the course.  Billy Cummins is still trying to recover.  He's done so, very well.  Into Castletown corner, there's a pass.  Rad Hughes has gone around James Neesom.  Rad Hughes wins!  What happened to Neesom?  Ah.  He gets second place.

#55 Rad Hughes     Kawasaki 650

The top five:

1. #55 Rad Hughes     Kawasaki 650
2. #91 James Neesom Kawasaki 650
3. #47 Niklas Pfeiffer  Kawasaki 650
4. #69 Jack Hunter     Kawasaki 650
5. #38 Billy Cummins  Kawasaki 650

The next race is a combined event for the 250s and the 650 Super Twins. It's the Ocean Ford 250/650 race.  Dean Harrison and Jamie Hamilton are going to be the main ones to watch in this contest.  There was already one race for the Super Twins, and Harrison and Hamilton put on quite the show.  It's a clean start, as we ride aboard the #88 bike of Joe Faragher.  Watch bikes #2 and #44.  Go!  Chris Palmer had his front wheel up in the air.  Dean Harrison gets the best launch off the line.

Hamilton is third.  Ivan Lintin is the leader at the moment.  Through Ballekeighan for the first time.  Lintin looks to be breaking away from the rest of the pack already.  It's Lintin, Hamilton, and Harrison, the top three.  James Cownton, Russ Mountford, and Chris Palmer, follow.  The bikes run into Cross Four-Ways for the first time, and Joe Faragher is still behind everyone else.  Tim Poole is also up there, right behind Chris Palmer. 

Ivan Lintin is making a break for it right now.  Steve McKnight on bike #64 is also running decently.  At the rear of the second group is bike #18 ridden by Callum Laidlaw.  The leaders run through the Bomb Hole for the first time.  Hamilton and Cownton are giving the Ryan Farquhar team a good run.  Farquhar, is of course, a former racer.  Ivan Lintin continues to lead this race.  Lintin holds the lead into lap three of this race.  Joe Faragher gets passed as Jamie Hamilton squeals the tires into the corner. 

Adrian Harrison is another rider, deeper in this field.  Now, back to the lead battle.  Dean Harrison is closing in on Ivan Lintin.  These two are leaving Jamie Hamilton in the dust.  The gap between Harrison and Lintin closes even further.  This will be a grandstand finish to the Super Twin and 250cc combined race.  Haven't seen hide nor hair of the 250cc bikes though.  They run past Joey's Gate.  Colin Stevenson and Callum Laidlaw run farther down the race order.

Chris Palmer and Russ Mountford battle for fifth spot.  You might want to go to the fridge and grab a bite to eat, chaps.  This race hasn't changed at the front.  It's still Harrison and Lintin going at it.  John Bott and Adrian Harrison run together, for the last few positions in the top ten.  Steve McKnight is still running out there, but he's shown the mechanical black flag (the "meatball"), because of something wrong with the bike.  It's a black flag with a giant red dot in the middle, hence the nickname, "meatball".  Lintin is still keeping Dean Harrison in his pocket.

Jamie Hamilton might have a problem as he's not riding the bike the way he'd mean to.  Chris Palmer and Russ Mountford still battle, as Palmer is coming to grips with a Super Twin, after riding a 250cc bike for a long time, a bike he truly loved to race.  Joe Faragher gets passed again.  He's had a fraught race.  Tim Poole is running decently.  Oh boy!  Dean Harrison is going to push, and he's right alongside Ivan Lintin now.  Harrison slides down the inside.  Will he make it stick?

He's got the spot.  It's the last lap now.  Lintin has the speed.  Harrison has the cornering agility, and is better under braking.  James Cowton is fourth.  Lintin is still ahead.  Can he do it?  Chris Palmer still holds off Russ Mountford in their battle.  They come into Church Bends one more time.  Who is going to get the win?  Tom Snow on bike #45 (another 250cc machine), runs well.  But, that might be the last time you'll see a 250cc machine on the Billown course for the Southern 100.  Dean Harrison slides sideways and is on the outside, trying to pass Lintin!

He does it!  Harrison is going to win this race.  Harrison wins it!

#2 Dean Harrison     Kawasaki 650

Here are the results. 

1. #2 Dean Harrison     Kawasaki 650
2. #25 Ivan Lintin         Tigcraft 650
3. #44 Jamie Hamilton  Kawasaki 650
4. #52 James Cowton  Kawasaki 650
5. #5 Chris Palmer       Kawasaki 650

More action to come from Billown and these other Southern 100 races, in another entry.  Stay tuned for that in the not too distant future.  Part 2, coming your way, soon.  So long for now. 


     

MotoGP news and notes

Here's a link to some important news from the world of MotoGP, including stories on Valentino Rossi denying he'll retire from MotoGP racing, the plan for the Circuit of Wales to host MotoGP in 2015, an interview with Cal Crutchlow, a new "Open" class in MotoGP, and an interview with longtime Valentino Rossi crew chief, Jeremy Burgess, on why he split with the multiple world champion.

http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+in+the+Media

Lorenzo: "It's an honour to share the garage with Rossi"

Jorge Lorenzo talks about his season, what he will do in the off-season, and the great honor and privilege of sharing a garage with his team-mate, the legend, Valentino Rossi.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Lorenzo+on+winter+break+and+Rossi+future

Former Racing Champions - The Silence Of Racing

Former Grand Prix motorcycle racing champions Mike Baldwin, Freddie Spencer, and Mick Doohan talk about what they miss most about racing, in this article.  Check it out.

http://www.sportrider.com/features/146_0805_former_racing_champions/viewall.html

MotoGP news stories

Take a look at this link: MotoGP in the Media, and pay particular attention to a couple of stories.  They include Randy de Puniet sitting out the 2014 MotoGP season, and, a possibility that in 2015, Jorge Lorenzo could well move from Yamaha, to Honda.

http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+in+the+Media

Macau motorcycle Grand Prix

This weekend is the annual Macau Grand Prix for both cars and motorcycles.  Here are the highlights of qualifying for the motorcycles.  Still have to update other Bike Road Racing championship races.  But, will end up highlighting the Macau race in due course.  Stay tuned.

Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Qualifying 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL9NVYQzdRk

...and

Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Qualifying 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw7-o_Bh0VM

Additionally, here are the practice and qualifying times.
 http://www.bikesportnews.com/news-detail.cfm?newstitle=2013-Macau-GP%3A-Fridays-qualifying-times&newsid=10938

Rossi and Galbusera pleased with first steps

Valentino Rossi and his new Yamaha crew chief, Silvano Galbusera, seem to be gelling in their relationship between chief mechanic, and rider, already.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rossi+galbusera+first+day+valencia+test

The Marc of Greatness: Marquez Becomes Youngest MotoGP King

Great story about Marc Marquez's rise to becoming the 2013 MotoGP champion.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/The+Marc+of+Greatness+Marquez+becomes+youngest+MotoGP+King

MotoGP Valencia 2013 Best slow motion & Best action

Links to the best slow motion and best action videos from the MotoGP season finale in Valencia.  Enjoy.

Best slow motion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR-M3swSYAA

Best action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYRJ5eH1hxU

Moto 3: Valencia (season finale)

It's the final race for Moto 3 in 2013, at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.  24 laps will decide this championship.  Three riders are in the contest for the championship and if one of them wins, they'll be champion. Alex Rins, Maverick Vinales, and Luis Salom... all Spaniards.  The atmosphere is buzzing indeed.  This ought to be good.  Wr have no idea what will happen.  Winner takes all here in Moto 3.

The championship contenders are spread across the front row.  John McPhee will be back in Moto 3 next year.  24 laps scheduled.  This track is named after Ricardo Tormo, who was champion in the old 50cc and 80cc classes.  The bikes set off on their warmup lap and after this race, there will be a championship awards ceremony.

Here we go.  The moment has arrived.  24 laps up to decide a champion.  At the start, Luis Salom gets the jump going into the first turn.  Jonas Folger moves in front of Alex Rins and into the Mick Doohan corner.  Alex Marquez, Jonas Folger, Alex Rins, and others are going for it and Maverick Vinales makes a move for the lead.  It's important to be in position.  Alex Rins moves into third.  There are a lot of games to play.  Get into a rhythm and start churning out quick laps.

The top three in the championship are the top three in the race.  Jonas Folger, Jack Miller, Niccolo Antonelii, and others, are running decently.  But the focus will be on the top three.  Alex Marquez says he'd stay out of the way if the championship leaders are there.  But, if not, he still wants to go for it.  We're into this single file pattern that works out in Moto 3 until the last four to five laps of the race.

The top three are slightly quicker than Jonas Folger at the moment.  Luis Salom is biding his time and he gets passed by Alex Rins.  Salom passes.  But don't make a mess out of things early.  Rins wiggles the bike and stays in it, fortunately.  He'll have to work to get towards the lead.  Vinales runs a 1:39.9.  21 laps to go.  Vinales unsettled Rins a little bit, rattling him.  Luis Salom is showing a wheel to Vinales, letting him know he's there.

What can Jonas Folger and Jack Miller do?  Vinales runs a 1:40.2.  Actually, it might be Alex Rins.  The race pace is settling down now, into a pattern.  Rins tries to get to the front and stretch things out.  But, today, in this race, it's not happening necessarily.  Vinales continues to lead.  The strategies seem to be worked out already.  Working lap six.  Luis Salom has been told to have confidence and believe in his abilities, which have made him a better rider this year.  He won the Red Bull Rookie's Cup.  Next year, Luis Salom and Maverick Vinales will be team mates for the Pons team in Moto 2.

Salom sets fast lap at 1:35.244.  Salom seems to be playing gams with Maverick Vinales and possibly with Alex Rins.  Folger and Miller are still attached to this battle.  But the top three need to break away.  Alex Marquez, Efren Vazquez, Niccolo Antonelli, and others, are running further down the order.  Miguel Oliviera is not having a good weekend at all.  Luis Salom is beginning to open things up.  Folger and Miller are in a battle and catching up to the leading group.

Folger hasn't taken any risks yet.  He doesn't want to be wrecking people who are in contention for the championship.  John McPhee crashes out of this race.  Game over for 2013.  He'll be back in Moto 3 in 2014.  Vinales retakes the lead from Salom.  Everyone is sizing each other up.  The riders will have a strategy, but strategies always change.  Luis Salom seems to be making up time.  Niccolo Antonelli, Ana Carrasco, and Zulfahmi Khairuddin are in the top half.  But, Niklas Ajo takes a spill.  Lets hope he's alright.  The rear tire let go and that was a nasty tumble.  The track at Valencia is very greasy.

Alex Rins is trying to make a move at halfway.  Remember, though... winner takes all.  Maverick Vinales wants his first win since Le Mans in France, way back in May, six months ago, which seems like an eternity.  Livio Loi and Luca Amato have both crashed.  At the front, the games continue with Vinales and Rins.  Simmer down, blokes.  Don't do this until the race is coming to an end.  Alex Rins is going for it.  Jack Miller and Jonas Folger are patient, biding their time.

Here comes Rins into second spot.  Folger sits up and allows Luis Salom the room.  There's a little argy bargy.  A little jabbing, going on.  Alex Rins now takes over the race lead.  The lap times are in the 1:41s.  Luis Salom has crashed!  He's out of it!  It's down to two.  Maverick Vinales and Alex Rins are the last two contenders.  Salom gets back on the bike.  But, he's out of contention for the title.  If you slow down a tad, the tire temperatures and pressures will go down, according to Dunlop.

Rins takes the lead from Maverick Vinalrs.  Folger and Miller will battle for a podium place.  Luis Salom is back in this race, but he will not win the title.  It's going to be a battle between Vinales and Rins for the title ad the race win.  Salom is back in the points as Niccolo Antonelli crashes out of the race.  What will happen on the last lap?  Jack Miller still wants a podium.  Miller will be riding for the Red Bull KTM Moto 3 team next year.

Ana Carasco is up to eighth.  Alexis Masbou has made it to seventh after starting from pit lane.  Six laps left.  Jonas Folger is close by Alex Rins.  Salom has to keep going.  He is still leading the championship.  Now, if the top two crash out, he still could be champion.  Where has Jack Miller gone?  He's crashed in turn three.  Ugh.  Game over... season over, for Jack Miller.  Vinales and Rins are battling for the title.  Folger is holding station, sitting tight.  Jonas Folger will also be in Moto 2 next year.

Four laps remain now.  Vinales ups the pace, back into the 1:39 range.  Vinales is pushing hard.  Three laps to go and Rins wants to make a move.  Here comes Rins, making the pass into Doohan corner.  Vinales runs wide and loses time to Rins.  Vinales pulls back the advantage.  This will be close.  Alex Rins holds off Vinales with two laps to go in the 2013 Moto 3 season.  Jonas Folger tries to go by Vinales, but he sits up.  Did Vinales miss a shift?  Hmmm.  Rins is pushing it.  Rins runs a 1:40.5.

Into the Mick Doohan corner, Vinales takes it back.  Into Angel Nieto corner, onto the back straight, Vinales slides past Rins into the lead.  He takes the lead spot away.  They come to turn eleven.  Will it be about the run to the line?  Rins can try one more time.  One lap to go now.  Nothing to choose between them.  Rins retakes the lead.  THis will be down to the wire.  Vinales comes back and here comes Vinales.  He holds the advantage.  Folger watches.  This will be down to turn 14.  Vinales holds the spot for now.  Rins can't come through,. coming into turn eleven.  Rins wants the drive coming to the last corner.

Go now!  One more turn.  Here comes Rins, but Vinales comes back by.  Vinales wins the race and is the 2013 Moto 3 World Champion!

#25 Maverick Vinales     ESP     KTM

Champion:

#25 Maverick Vinales     ESP     KTM

Wow!  He's won the world title.  Rins and Salom congratulate each other.  Alex Rins will be back in Moto 3 next year.  What a final race!  We'll see you in 2014, for more awesome Moto 3 racing.

Moto 2: Valencia (season finale) & 2013 Moto 2 champion

We're ready for the final race of the season in the Moto 2 race at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

Pol Espargaro is already champion.He wants to be in MotoGP next year.  But, he crashed in the morning warmup.  If he wins today, he'll have seven victories in Moto 2.  Jordi Torres and Simone Corsi are second and third.  Randy Krummaenacher is back for the first time since Silverstone, due to an injury.  We're ready for the final round of the world championship for Moto 2.  Pol Espargaro wants to win in front of his home crowd.  Here we go.

27 laps scheduled.  We're ready for a start.  Go!  At the start, Pol Espargaro gets a good start and there's bustling for posiution in the back.  Espargaro gets a big jump.  Tom Luthi tries passing Simone Corsi.  Dominik Aegerter gets a good start, too.  Jordi Torres passes Tom Luthi for third.  Espargaro is pulling away from everyone as Gino Rea runs wide.  Scott Redding has dropped to 18th place.  Espargaro has a second advantage on Simone Corsi.  Mika Kallio is moving through the field.  Someone else has crashed.  Tito Rabat is running well.

Tom Luthi is not moving up.  Johann Zarco has lost spots.  Aegerter is moving by as Takaaki Nakagami moves up and there's a battle on between Nico Terol and Dominik Aegerter battle.  Terol runs fastest lap as Luthi wants by Torres.  Luthi, Rabat, Kallio, Zarco and others are jockeying for position.  Simone Corsi is running well and Nico Terol sets fast lap.  Not sure of the time.  Nakagaami is right in the middle of a mid pack battle as Scott Redding drops another place.

Tito Rabat runs wide.  Pol Espargaro continues to open a gap.  1:35.708 is the new fast lap by Espargaro.  21 laps left.  Espargaro has a HUGE twitch!  That was massive!  He thankfully held onto the bike.  Will Nico Terol and Simone Corsi pounce on that?  Zarco is ahead of Rabat now.  Rafid Topan Sucipto retires but also, Pol Espargaro has crashed out of this race!  Unreal!  Front end folds and he goes down after having a 1.5 second lead.  Nico Terol leads in Moto 2.  Espargaro is back on the bike, but he won't win this.

Nico Terol takes the lead.  Simone Corsi is second with Jordi Torres in third.  Terol wants his third Moto 2 win and Simone Corsi wants his first Moto 2 win even though he's won in Moto 3.  We know Terol is quick.  He's got a 4/10ths of a second lead.  Luthi is thirteenth.  He's got a softer rear tire and it hasn't worked.  Ten laps complete.  17 left.  Both Aspar riders are trying to get on the podium.  Scott Redding is trying to hang on to second in the world championship.

Redding runs behind Luthi.  Xavier Simeon passes Mattia Pasini.  Nico Terol still leads.  Tom Luthi is being hounded by Scott Redding.  With Luthi, the soft tires were a bad call.  Terol runs fast lap.  Not sure of the time.  Pol Espargaro languishes in 30th spot.  Luthi gets back by Xavier Simeon.  Sandro Cortese is 16th and wildcard Franco Morbidelli is 19th.  Nico Terol knows he has to up the pace to control the rest of this race.

Simone Corsi has won at Ricardo Tormo, in the old 125cc class.  Johann Zarco will be switching teams next year.  Jordi Torres almost flies off his bike.  Pol Espargaro is still 29th.  Nico Terol has a 2.6 second gap to Simone Corsi.  Anthony West is eighth, running ahead of Dominik Aegerter.  Simone Corsi is having tire issues at the moment.  For Dominik Aegerter, he will score points in the 33rd consecutive race.  Ten laps left now.

Jordi Torres won't challenge Simone Corsi.  Working lap 18 of 27.  Will Torres be patient?  He wants to get by Corsi.  Can Torres get through for a 1-2 for Team Aspar?  We'll see.  Nico Terol is checking out.  Torres has to be patient.  Will he get by Corsi?  Just seven laps to go.  Corsi and Torres fighting for second is the best battle on track as Julian Simon passes Xavier Simeon.  Dominik Aegerter and Tom Luthi battle, too.  Is Torres close enough to get by Corsi?  No.

Here he comes.  He does it!  We have an Aspar 1-2.  Nico Terol used to run this way in the 125cc class.  He's going for it with just four laps to go.  He is very Jorge Lorenzo-esque in that way.  Nico Terol only had one podium in Moto 2 last year, and that was in this race, last year, in 2012.  Tom Luthi battles with Anthony West.  Mattia Pasini and Dominik Aegerter want to finish as Gino Rea is battling with Franco Morbidelli and others.

Two laps left.  West passes Luthi into turns five and six.  Anthony West gets passed by Tom Luthi in turn eight.  This battle is for seventh spot.  It's the final lap.  Corsi is being pressured by Johann Zarco.  He'll have one chance.  This is for the final spot on the podium as the two Aspar bikes will finish 1-2.  Zarco wants by Corsi.  Corsi is still pushing.  It will be a run to the line.  Nico Terol will win.  He wins his third Moto 2 race of the year.  Who gets third?  Corsi!  It was a dead heat for third!

#18 Nico Terol     ESP     Suter Alcoy

Champion

#1 Pol Espargaro     ESP     Kalex Granollers

So, that's a wrap for the Moto 2 world championship.  Another season is in the books.  Looking forward to what 2014 will have to offer.  We'll see you next year for more great Moto 2 action.  So long for now.  

MotoGP round 18: Valencia (season finale) & 2013 MotoGP World Champion

It all comes down to this.  It's the season finale for the 2013 MotoGP World Championship at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. 

We've been through four continents, 13 race tracks and 18 races. it's going to be an epic fight to the finish.  Who will win the championship?  Will it be Jorge Lorenzo or Marc Marquez?  We are nine minutes away from the start of the season finale.  Marc Marquez is ready to possibly become the youngest ever MotoGP world champion.  Jorge Lorenzo needs to make up 13 points.  We've talked about the scenarios.  If Jorge Lorenzo finishes fifth or worse, Marquez is champ.

Marquez crashed in italy and had that tire penalty in Australia.  Lorenzo broke is collarbone in Assen where he finished fifth, and reinjured his collarbone in Germany.  Since recovering, he's won four of the last six races.  Marc Marquez has a lot of respect for his championship competitor.  Lorenzo has lead many more laps.  But here's what happened in qualifying.

In qualifying, the fans were stacked in the stands.  Jorge Lorenzo qualified second after having the engine go down on his primary bike.  Marc Marquez set a new record time to start from pole.  Dani Pedrosa is third, and he'll be able to ride his own race.  Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi (both on Yamaha's like Lorenzo), will have to help him to win the title.  Nicky Hayden returns to MotoGP with Honda next year.  Aleix Espargaro has clinched the CRT title.  Martin Bauer is the wildcard rider.  He also raced earlier this year.

30 laps will decide this championship.  The bikes are on the warmup lap.  We're ready.  This will be only the second championship battle in the final race of the year in the last seven or so years.  Circuit Ricardo Tormo has existed since 1999.  It's a stadium track that has been newly repaved.  30 laps, 74.7 miles will be the distance of the race. 

Here we go.  At the start, Jorge Lorenzo has a great start and Dani Pedrosa and Bradley Smith already try to pass Marquez.  Now, he's coming back through Mick Doohan corner.  The Yamaha's didn't beat Marquez to turn one.  Valentino Rossi is pushing as they come downhill through turn eight.  Valentino Rossi wants by Marc Marquez.  They come back through turn 14.  Can the Yamaha's unsettle Marquez?  Lorenzo knows he needs to win.  Dani Pedrosa takes the lead and Alvaro Bautista passes Valentino Rossi as Jorge Lorenzo now takes the lead back.

Dani Pedrosa is determined to help Marquez.  Pedrosa is pushing into turn seven.  Marquez is watching.  When will he make his move?  Alvaro Bautista holds off Valentino Rossi.  Lorenzo has passed Pedrosa back who ran wide and left the door open.  Stefan Bradl sets fast lap.  Not sure of the time.  The lead has swapped three times.  Marc Marquez is trying to help Dani Pedrosa too.  Lorenzo wants to slow the pace.  But, he has to keep it quick.  He's forced to.  Lorenzo runs a 1:32.2.  1:32.263 is the new fast lap. 

Here comes Pedrosa, and Lorenzo fights back for the lead.  The crowd is going nuts.  Here comes Marquez, lurking, too.  This is a showdown.  We wanted to see this.  Marquez almost runs into Pedrosa.  Valentino Rossi, Bradley Smith, and Cal Crutchlow are all there, too.  Lorenzo runs wide into the last corner.  Dani Pedrosa wants to pass and Lorenzo brakes late, but holds the advantage.

This is an epic race already.  It's hard to overtake at Ricardo Tormo.  Dani Pedrosa is in this and so are Alvaro Bautista, and Valentino Rossi.  As things stand, Lorenzo has the advantage with only five laps done.  Bradley Smith continues to lead Cal Crutchlow.  This is  amazing!  Lorenzo is not going to give up.  He's giving people chances to push him, but then, snatching it away.

Pedrosa is trying to pass and does pass Lorenzo.  Lorenzo fights back.  Marquez and Bautista pass by and Marquez is into the lead!  This is crazy!  Cal Crutchlow is out.  He's crashed.  Working lap nine.  The dynamic of this race is changing.  Marquez leads.  Jorge Lorenzo is right behind Marquez.  Lorenzo passes into turn two.  Marquez has to slow him up, somehow.  They come through Angel Nieto corner.  Marquez tries to pass but can't quite get there.  Alvaro Bautista is trying to help Marquez by rolling out of the throttle in the corners, but he still has Valentino Rossi to contend with.

Rossi passes Bautista.  Jorge Lorenzo is going to be investigated for a move by the stewards after this race.  Whoa.  Marquez is second.  If he finishes in the top four, he'll be champion.  The plot thickens.  We're halfway through the race.  Lorenzo and Marquez run 1-2.  Marquez would be champ if he finishes second.  Lorenzo is taking a tenth or two out of Marquez's lead each lap.  Marquez bike is twitchy.  But, that's how he rides a motorcycle, and what's comfortable for him.

Lorenzo runs a 1:31.9 and Marquez can match that.  Rossi and Bautista are slightly down the order.  Marquez could already have one hand on the championship trophy, even before the race ends.  Jorge Lorenzo crosses the line.  Eleven laps remain.  Let's enjoy this championship battle.  Honda looks like they're in good shape.  Dani Pedrosa is going well, too.  Remember that Marquez got a podium in Qatar at the opening race, and won his first race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, back in March. 

If Marquez is champ, at age 20, he'll be the youngest ever MotoGP motorcycle champion.  The fans will launch fireworks off after the race in celebration, no mattwe what.  Jorge Lorenzo runs a 1:31.7.  Lorenzo may not win the title.  But he still wants to win the race, and show why he's a great racer.  The constructor's cup battle is up for grabs, too.  But, Honda might win over Yamaha.  Repsol Honda has won the teams championship.

Dani Pedrosa brings fast lap down to 1:31.6.  Valentino Rossi cannot match Lorenzo's lap times.  Lukas Pesek, Yonny Hernandez, and Damien Cudlin, have all crashed.  We wonder who will ride for Pramac Ducati next year.  Yonny Hernandez will be on a privateer bike and Andrea Ianonne on the factory Ducati for 2014.  Marc Marquez just has to race.  He can't celebrate yet.  Seven laps remain.  For Randy de Puniet, his race is over.  But, for now, we focus on bike #93.  Lorenzo may win.  But, the Repsol Honda team won't give a darn, because they're going to win this championship.

The battle for next year will be a great one, too.  Dani Pedrosa is still pushing, too.  He's right behind his team mate, and he's 3/10ths behind Marquez with five laps left.  In the 65 years of MotoGP, Marquez will be the youngest champion and the first rookie champion since Kenny Roberts in 1978.  Dani Pedrosa is still going for it.  Don't push too hard, Dani.  He almost does a tankslapper through turn six.  Four laps to go.  Jorge Lorenzo will cruise to the win, even though he won't win the title this year.

Marquez has smashed every record.  He could get more.  Andrea Ianonne has crashed.  Game over for the Italian.  Let's hope there's no oil or debris down there.  Lorenzo has done very well.  Dani Pedrosa is second.  Three laps to go.  Keep going.  Keep up the pace.  It's close now between Marquez and Pedrosa.  He's on pins and needles on this penultimate lap.  Marquez has been the best to appear in MotoGP for the first time since Valentino Rossi.  Rossi didn't win in his rookie year.  Luca Scassa, Michael Laverty, and Bryan Staring, are backmarkers.  They're all passed.

In 2.5 miles, Marquez will be champ.  Jorge Lorenzo won last year.  But, this year, there's a new champion in town.  Lorenzo stepped up to the plate.  But, Marc Marquez can cruise.  He's going to be champ.  Emilio Alzamora (former 125cc champion), is in tears.  He's so happy.  Jorge Lorenzo wins his eighth race of the season.  But, Marc Marquez is the NEW WORLD CHAMPION!

#99 Jorge Lorenzo     ESP     Yamaha

Champion:

#93 Marc Marquez     ESP     Honda

What a race!  What a season!  Marquez has six wins and sixteen podiums for this season.  He didn't fight it.  He rode a championship winning race today.  So ends the 2013 MotoGP championship season.  We'll see everybody on the 2 Wheelin' blog for more MotoGP next year.  For now, so long, everyone.

2013 BMW M Award goes to Marquez

Marc Marquez COULD win the championship in tomorrow's MotoGP finale in Valencia, Spain.  But, he's also already won an award.  He wins the BMW M Award for being the best qualifier in MotoGP this season.  Here are the details.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/BMW+M+Award+goes+to+Marquez+as+best+qualifier+in+2013

Rossi announces parting of ways with Burgess

Valentino Rossi is parting ways with longtime chief mechanic Jeremy Burgess.  They've worked together in the MotoGP world championship for the last 14 years.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rossi+burgess+split+after+valencia+race

Here's more.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/burgess+on+split+after+valencia+race

How the 2013 MotoGP title can be won

At this link, is the list of scenarios for how either Marc Marquez or Jorge Lorenzo, can win the 2013 MotoGP world championship, going into the season finale at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Final+race+decider+in+MotoGP

A history of final race MotoGP showdowns

As we head into the final MotoGP race of the season in Valencia, Spain this weekend, here's a history of championship showdowns from MotoGP's storied past to wet your appetite for more great racing.  Check this list out.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/A+history+of+final+race+MotoGP+showdowns

Stay tuned for a full race report on the championship and race outcome for MotoGP and reports (brief, or extensive), on Moto 2 and Moto 3, too.

Waters Returns to Suzuki in 2014 MCE BSB with Tyco

Josh Waters will race with Suzuki in the 2014 British Superbike Championship.  Here are the details.

http://www.britishsuperbike.com/news/waters-returns-to-suzuki-in-2014-mce-bsb-with-tyco.aspx

BBC News - Joey Dunlop's TT winning outfit makes 13,000 Euros at Auction

Joey Dunlop... the legend.  There will never be another like him in Tourist Trophy motorcycle road racing in the Irish countryside.  Check this out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-24806309

Marquez & Lorenzo: The numbers

Here's how things will stack up when it comes to numerology going into the final race of the 2013 MotoGP season in Valencia, Spaint this coming weekend.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/marquez%20lorenzo%20in%20numbers

Moto 3: Japan

It's time for Moto 3 to race at the Motegi circuit in Motegi, Japan.  The sun is shining.  There were typhoons, as well as rain and fog.  But it has disappeared.  Alex Rins and Luis Salom are five points apart going into this race.  The riders had qualifying in the wet and had a full warmup in the morning.  It dried out within the last minutes of the session.

This is a straight fight for the title between polesitter Alex Rins, and Luis Salom, who is on the second row on the 2.983 mile track.  There are a couple Japanese wildcard riders in this race.  John McPhee, Alexis Masbou and others, are down the order on the grid.  35 bikes will start this 20 lap race.  The bikes are off on their warmup lap.  We could have Luis Salom be the champion after this race, or, Alex Rins.  We'll find out together, fans.

There's a lot of tension in the air.  It's the penultimate race for Moto 3 this season.  Turn one is going to be the major corner.  Salom, Rins, Vinales, stay out of trouble.   At the start, Rins and Salom get good jumps with Alex Marquez blocking as Zulhfammi Khairuddin falls off.  Jack Miller is going well, but Rins has to sit up, and drops spots.  Marquez leads with Vinales second and Salom third.  Luis Salom was passed.  Vinales was fastest in the morning practice.  But, Salom and Vinales have both crashed!  That was Isaac Vinales (Maverick Vinales' cousin).  Oh my!

oUT OF THE S CURVE, Vinales was out of shape and piling over the top of Luis Salom, who crashes!  Alex Rins got lucky.  That is massive for the championship.  Jack Miller was on the inside.  So, Maverick Vinales is now into the championship hunt.  Will Rins win this race?  If he does, that'll be big for the season finale.  Salom is six seconds down on Jasper Iwema who is 30th.  He's passed Iwema.

Jonas Folger has moved up.  Rins sets fast lap at 1:58 and change.  Couldn't see the time.  Now, Salom's race is over.  Zulhfammi Khairuddin has also crashed.  Maverick Vinales is all over Alex Rins right now.  Rins sets a new circuit record.  He has to stay in touch but not do anything foolish.  John McPhee sets new fast lap at 1:58.971.  Luis Salom is having issues as Alex Marquez runs deep into turn five.  This is early times in the race.

It's not over by any means.  Vinales still leads with fifteen laps left.  Jonas Folger is quickest on the track as Marquez has a slight issue off of turn two.  Rins was signaling to Marquez, "hey, dude, what were you doing?"  Salom runs fast lap at 1:58.6.  Wildcard rider (last name Yamada), is slower on track at the moment.  Alex Marquez is under pressure from Jonas Folger.  Jack Miller continues to run fifth.  Rins runs a 1:58.473.  Yamada and the other wildcard rider Yamoto are slower still.  How hard will Rins ride to beat Maverick Vinales?

Marquez and Folger are second and third through the 90 degree corner.  New fast lap for Luis Salom, running 27th.  Not sure of the time.  Somewhere in the 1:58s.  Rins is on the tail of Maverick Vinales with 12-13 laps left.  Take a deep breath, fans.  This race isn't over yet.  Miguel Oliviera is in fifth place already, and has passed Jack Miller.  He'll be back in Moto 3 next year.  John McPhee is up to ninth spot.  Luis Salom makes another pass.

Rins is right on top of Maverick Vinales now.  Luis Salom pushes too hard, crashes his bike, and will score zero points.  He has lost his chance of catching up to Alex Rins.  Well, he's got a bit of a shot going into the finale at Valencia, Spain at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.  But, it'll be an uphill battle.  Ten laps left in this race now.  Rins has left a gap, but that's the only mistake he's made this whole race.  Jack Miller is struggling to stay in his spot with Romano Fenati and others chasing him down.

Rins is in the catbird seat for the championship lead.  Romano Fenati is challenging Jack Miller.  Fenati will race for a team owned by Valentino Rossi.  Alexis Masbou is also in a battle here, and again, so is John McPhee.  Niccolo Antonelli passes Niklas Ajo.  Alex Marquez passes Alex Rins.  Hmmm.  Marquez sets fast lap of the race at 1:58.380.  How did that happen?  Nine laps left.  Brad Binder got into Zulhfammi Khairuddin earlier.  So, both riders are under investigation by the FIM stewards.

Rins runs third.  He's going to stay behind Alex Marquez, giving Marquez a chance to go after Maverick Vinales.  Seven laps left in this race at Motegi.  Jack Miller, Alexis Masbou, and Romano Fenati battle.  Masbou passes Miller.  John McPhee is having his best race of the season right now.  He's 2.5 seconds ahead of Niccolo Antonelli.  Alex Marquez is looking for his first Grand Prix victory.  Alexis Masbou has done well this season.  Miguel Oliviera and Jonas Folger are also running well, with six laps left now.

Alex Marquez passes Vinales, and Vinales comes back in the braking zone.  Vinales needs a lifeline in the championship with one race remaining.  If Rins makes a move on Marquez, he'll need to do it soon.  Oh no!  Alex Rins has crashed!  If Vinales wins, Rins has a three point lead over Luis Salom!  Holy cow!  Rins restarts his bike.  It's not over yet.  He's ridden around on the service road to turn one.  If Vinales wins, he leads the world championship going into the finale in Valencia, Spain.

Rins lost the rear tire going into the final corner.  Three laps left.  Maverick Vinales is leading the Moto 3 world championship.  If Marquez wins, he would give Salom a chance.  Rins, K.O.  Rins is now 25th in the order.  He's running by himself.  This is crazy!  Jonas Folger can get on the podium.  Alex Marquez wants his first win.  Two laps left at Motegi.  Marquez has gone through inside Vinales.  If he does win, there will be five points in it before a winner takes all shootout at Valencia.

Alex Marquez still leads this race.  They come to the hairpin.  Vinales maks a pass and takes the lead again down the back straight.  Alex Marquez is going to push like no tomorrow for this final lap.  What will happen?  Vinales leads.  Marquez is second.  He has a go on Vinales.  Marquez slips going to turn five.  Vinales is booking it.  Marquez has to ride his own race.  Half a lap left now.  Marquez is trying.  They are both trying.  Marquez takes the lead out of the hairpin.  Here comes Vinales.  Vinales late on the brakes.  He runs wide.  Marquez wins from Vinales!

#12 Alex Marquez     ESP     KTM

One race remains in Moto 3 in Valencia, Spain at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, coming up in two weeks.

 

Moto 2: Japan

Pol Espargaro has a sixteen point lead over Scott Redding, coming into this penultimate race of the Moto 2 championship.  This race will be 23 laps.  Scott Redding will ride today, and had his wrist on his left hand operated on over a week ago.  How will he do with the pressure?  Johann Zarco, Xavier Simeon, and for the first time, Mika Kallio, on pole.  Danny Kent broke his collarbone in the morning warmup, and he won't start this race.

23 laps scheduled for this race.  Will Pol Espargaro be the new Moto 2 world champion?  The bikes are on their warmup lap.  This is the most important race for Pol Espargaro in his career.  His broter Aleix looks on.  Here we go.  At the start, Mika Kallio gets the jump with Pol Espargaro coming to third.  Scott Redding and Tito Rabat have crashed!  Redding is taken out by Rabat!  The race is red flagged.  We'll need to restart this race.  Rabat brought another rider down, too.  Redding hit Rabat's bike.  Dominik Aegerter also was involved.

He has had many finishes, but not in this race.  Redding hit Rabat.  That was a vicious looking wreck.  Lets hope everybody is OK.  The bikes come down pit lane.  Pol Espargaro will have to finish sixth or better.  We wait.  The race has been stopped.  Tito Rabat is being attended to.  This race will be restarted, and shortened to 15 laps.  Alex Marinelarena was also in that wreck.  All riders involved are OK.  Scott Redding will be fine.  But, he's had a horrible eight days leading up to and in this race.

Dominik Aegerter has his bike repaired.  The bikes reconvene on track for another warmup lap.  Pol Espargaro has to finish in the top seven and the championship might go to the season finale.  Matteo Pasini will start behind Tito Rabat.  Dominik Aegerter won't start.  Here we go.  On the restart, Mika Kallio and Pol Espargaro both get good starts.  They're bunching up as Espargaro comes to second, down owards turn three.  Espargaro is indeed second as Johann Zarco is fighting.  Mika Kallio leads.  Simone Corsi wants to pas Xavier Simeon and Johann Zarco.

Rafid Topan Sucipto drops a spot and Gino Rea is behind him.  He passes Sucipto.  Kallio leads Espargaro.  They race to the 90 degree corner.  Pol Espargaro passes Mika Kallio for the lead.  If Espargaro wins, he's champ.  Zarco drops back but Tom Luthi is running well.  He won the 125cc championship here a few years ago.  Simone Corsi crashes out of third spot.  Game over.  Johann Zarco is third with Tom Luthi fourth.

Luthi wants by Johann Zarco.  Alex de Angelis is running well, ahead of Gino Rea.  Rea wants to be back on the Moto 2 grid next year.  Mika Kallio is going to do all he can to ruffle Espargaro.  But it remains to be seen what he'll do.  Kallio runs fastest lap with ten laps left.  Not sure of the time.  Kallio is going to push Espargaro.  There's no question of that.  A scooter on the sid of the track, is smoking.  Fortunately, it's not a racing bike.  Espargaro passes for the lead in replay, over Kallio.

Tpm Luthi is third.  Dominik Aegerter is up to eleventh place, passing Gino Rea.  Nico Terol was way down in 24th and has moved all the way to tenth.  Takaaki Nakagami is fourteenth, in the points, passing Anthony West.  Richard Cardus has slid off his bike.  Pol Espargaro is likely going to take the Moto 2 world championship, looking for his sixth race win.  The race is 1/3rd over.  Zarco and Simeon still battle.  Nico Terol is tenth with Dominik Aegerter in eleventh spot.

There are now eight laps left.  Xavier Simeon passes Johann Zarco for fourth place.  Six laps left in this race.  If Pol Espargaro remains where he is, he'll be the 2013 Moto 2 World Champion.  Espargaro muscled his way forward at the start, passing by Johann Zarco.  Louis Rossi and Azlan Shah both crashed together.  But both have rejoined this race.  Takaaki Nakagami is picking up points.  He's 12th.  Shah hits the gravel in the 90 degree curve.  Pol Espargaro continues to lead.  He's checking out, and is in the zone.

Xavier Simeon passes Johann Zarco.  Jordi Torres is out of this race, too.  He's crashed.  He'll run with Aspar in Moto 2 next year but also, Johann Zarco is done, too.  Mechanical problems with the gearshift.  Game over.  The gearshift lever is broken on his bike.  Zarco won at Motegi in the 125cc class a few years ago.  Five laps left in this race.  Espargaro will cruise to a race win and a world championship.  Keep the t shirts wrapped up for now.  Anything can still happen.

Tom Luthi and Mika Kallio have both run in Grand Prix motorcycle racing for a long time.  Takaaki Nakagami has done well, but, he hasn't had the success in his home race that he would have wanted.  Sandro Cortese runs behind Axel Pons.  All three world championships might go to the finale in Spain.  Espargaro will get his sixth race win of the season.  Five of them have been from pole.  But, not in this race.

Two laps remain now.  Tom Luthi will get on the podium.  He wants the championship, and will get another chance to run for it next year.  Aleix Espargaro signals his younger brother through.  Espargaro is cruising.  Tom Luthi remains third.  One lap left.  Takaaki Nakagami, and others, are passing for position as there's now a half a lap to go as Pol Espargaro makes it through the S curve.  Pol Espargaro is going to win the race, and more importantly, he's 2013 Moto 2 World Champion!

#40 Pol Espargaro     ESP     Kalex Granollers 

Espargaro is world champion.  One more race, at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, coming up in two weeks.