Here are the highlights from Moto 2 at Assen, and the Dutch TT. It's a hot day for racing. 24 laps are scheduled for the Moto 2 bikes. Pol Espargaro and Mattia Pasini both crashed in the morning warmup. Pol Espargaro has pole position. The bikes set off on their warmup lap. We are ready to race at Assen in the Moto 2 race at the Dutch TT.
Toni Elias crashes on the warmup lap! Ugh! He's had a fraught season and it only continues. We're ready for a start. At the start, Scott Redding gets a good jump as Pol Espargaro takes the lead with Tito Rabat and others. Passini, Anthony West, and Dominik Aegerter are in this thing already. Here comes Rabat and Johann Zarco is surely going for it. Redding is pushing hard. Anthony West tries hanging with the leaders. He won the 2003 250cc race at Assen, a decade ago. Xavier Simeon moves to third past Tito Rabat. The Belgian, who we rode onboard with at Spa in another blog entry, days ago.
Espargaro wants to run wide and try Redding. Redding says, "no way, man." There are no gaps in the front group at all, of 25 bikes. Dominik Aegerter gets around Tito Rabat. These 600cc machines are really close together. Two laps in the books. Mike DiMeglio is fastest on track. Not sure of the lap time. Again, the graphic is hard to see. Mika Kallio now takes fast lap. Aegerter blocks Simeon. All this racing is going to help Espargaro and Redding. Mike DiMeglio continues to run fast laps. Espargaro has crashed twice, while Redding has scored points in every race.
The next race is the halfway point of the season at the Sachsenring. Aegerter passes Simeon, forcing him to sit up. Keep in mind, MotoGP is the only class that goes to Laguna Seca Raceway. Moto 2 and Moto 3, they don't race there, instead, racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Dominik Aegerter sets a new fastest lap. 1:39.217 is the time. Redding continues to set the pace at the front. Tito Rabat is now fourth. Espargaro is being pressured by Aegerter. Can Aegerter stay in position to the end? The battle is for second between Espargaro and Aegerter.
But, Simone Corsi crashes. Did he hit the gas too quickly? Espargaro passes. Aegerter actually goes through on both Espargaro and Redding. He came back at Espargaro, and Dominik Aegerter is like, "while you guys fight, I'm taking the lead!" Espargaro still leads as Redding still challenges, eight laps into the race. Redding can't get an advantage down the back straightaway. Redding and Espargaro come through on Dominik Aegerter. Mika Kallio is sixth. Redding, Simeon, Kallio, and West are all in this scrum. So is Zarco.
Some of these guys are former 125cc champs. Tom Luthi, and Louis Rossi are both running well. Alex de Angelis runs in 14th. Espargaro runs fast lap again. Not sure of the time. The range of lap times is low 1:39s and the fastest is 1:38.9 to 1:39 flat. Simone Corsi pits. Scott Redding is right on top of Pol Espargaro now. It's a two man race, with Dominik Aegerter third. Nico Terol has had a horrible race. He won in Austin, Texas, and had success in Italy. Espargaro runs 1:38.8 as the nw fast lap. Can Redding make a move?
There are rumors that Redding and Espargaro will go into MotoGP next year. Time will tell. Look at Marc Marquez. He came from Moto 2 and has already tasted success riding with the big guys. Aegerter is being pushed by Rabat and Zarco. Nine laps remain. Laps are winding down. Scott Redding continus to push hard, going after Espargaro. Tito Rabat looks like he'll escape as Tito Rabat is clearing Johann Zarco. Redding wants to beat Espargaro. right now, the pace is fluctuating. Espargaro = 1:39.2. Redding = 1:39.5.
Zarco and Aegerter continue their battle. Mika Kallio and Xavier Simeon follow. 1:38.9 for both of thse guys. Six laps to the finish. Espargaro continues to lead. Who will win the Dutch TT Moto 2 race? Tom Luthi passes Anthony West. Luthi has moved from 17th to ninth. Espargaro lets Redding by. Hmmm. Does Espargaro have tire issues? Redding leads. He knows what Espargaro's got. Redding leads the championship. What is happening to Pol Espargaro? Can Redding increase his lead? Yes. Four laps left.
Redding takes over. He wants to hold off Espargaro. He did a 1:40.1 which is a second slower than the previous lap or two. Mike DiMeglio is out of this one. He's crashed. Aegerter is coming back. He's found some new energy. Tito Rabat and Johann Zarco are also up there. Mika Kallio doesn't have much of a chance to push. There's a four bike battle for third. Espargaro is pushing hard. Has Redding gained enough over Espargaro?
Two laps remain now. Espargaro keeps going. A lap and a half to go. Redding won't get off easy here. Espargaro might make a last gasp effort to try and pass. Redding might watch and he might fight back. Here comes Redding. He's lining up for a pass. Redding can't quite do it. Can Redding move past Espargaro? No. It's going to come down to the last corner on the last lap. Dominik Aegerter is third and Mika Kallio is fourth. Can Redding do anything with Pol Espargaro? Into the chicane. These guys are pushing. Espargaro is going to do it, winning the Dutch TT!
#40 Pol Espargaro ESP Kalex Granollers
The next Moto 2 race will be the German Grand Prix at the Saschenring in Saxony, Germany, in two weeks.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
MotoGP Round 7: Holland (Dutch TT)
Round seven of the MotoGP World Championship is the Dutch Grand Prix (Dutch TT, or Tourist Trophy), at the Assen circuit in Assen, Holland. The official race name is the Iveco TT Assen. Jorge Lorenzo has had an issue. As the morning warmup unfolds, Valentino Rossi is fastest. Rain has been in the forecast through the weekend. It will be mostly cloudy, and dry. Jorge Lorenzo had a monster wreck on Thursday in practice. Marc Marquez also wrecked. He broke a finger and a toe. Jorge Lorenzo broke his left collarbone, but might still race today.
Dani Pedrosa also had a huge crash. This track is known as "The Cathedral" of motorcycle racing. The track is 2.8 miles long. It can reward, and punish equally. This is the 65th running of thee race in the World Championship. After Jorge Lorenzo's crash, Yamaha team director Massimo Merigali explained the whole situation where Lorenzo flew back to Barcelona overnight and had surgery on his collarbone, putting in a titanium plate, and Lorenzo will race today.
Lorenzo is in pain, but he passed two physical tests. In qualifying, Cal Crutchlow has taken his first MotGP pole, and became the first British rider to take pole in over a decade. Stefan Bradl will start third. Valentino Rossi has fourth. Dani Pedrosa managed to qualify fifth. Aleix Espargaro scores the highest qualifying place for a CRT bike. Michele Pirro fills in for Ben Spies once again and Ivan Silva fills in for Hiroshi Aoyama who hurt his hand last time out in Mugello.
The weather is improving as the bikes set out on their warmup lap. Assen is 2.8 miles, with 18 corners. It's a speedy track with cambered turns. Assen has been on the calendar since the MotoGP World Championship started in 1949. 26 laps scheduled. Can Cal Crutchlow win his first race? Can Stefan Bradl? At the start, Jorge Lorenzo has a good start and Dani Pedrosa takes the lead. Crutchlow slides from third to fifth. Valentino Rossi is fourth behind Marc Marquez who passes Stefan Bradl immediately.
Jorge Lorenzo is up to eighth. Honda's are 1-2-3. Bradley Smith runs wide and Aleix Espargaro is right on top of him. Rossi passes Stefan Bradl for third spot. He was forced to sit up. Lorenzo flies past Bradley Smith. Cal Crutchlow has to fly on full fuel tanks. Pedrosa leads it. Crutchlow will get stronger as the race goes on. Lorenzo is now fifth. Smith is passed by Espargaro. Valentino Rossi is fastest, running a lap at 1:35 flat. They run down the back straight, which is crooked, somewhat. Rossi has won the Assen TT seven times.
Rossi cannot get to Marquez. Not yet anyway. Cal Crutchlow is fastest, continuing to run 1:35 flat laps. Rossi is still pushing Crutchlow through the corner. Rossi is making his move. Pedrosa, Rossi, and Marquez are running in the top three. This is Rossi's best race since round one in Qatar back in April. Rossi is being urged on by his fans in Italy. Rossi is now a half a second quicker than Pedrosa. This Dutch TT is definitely heating up.
Valentino Rossi has passed deep on the brakes, passing Pedrosa, picking up the lead! The fans are going berserk! Lorenzo is third, and hanging in there, even with the collarbone he's had surgery on with a titanium plate, and eight screws in it. Stefan Bradl and Aleix Espargaro are sixth and seventh followed by Alvaro Bautista, Nicky Hayden, and Andrea Dovizioso. Pedrosa and Rossi run 1:35.3 along with Crutchlow. Lorenzo is fastest at 1:35.1 as he's closing on Marc Marquez. Eight laps are complete.
Cal Crutchlow runs behind Jorge Lorenzo. Marquez is dropping behind Pedrosa and Rossi. Crutchlow continues to push Lorenzo. He's not giving up. Ten laps are in the books. Three laps to halfway. Stefan Bradl languishes in sixth as Alvaro Bautista passes Aleix Espargaro. Dovizioso and Hayden run together. Nicky Hayden won at Assen in 2006. Lorenzo is slowing down a bit, starting to feel uncomfortable, very likely dealing with some pain. These riders are supercharged. A broken collarbone would leave a mere mortal human being in tears.
Lukas Pesek retires from the race. Crutchlow is losing time to Marquez and Lorenzo. Rossi has not won since 2010. The race is now half over. The two Honda's can't quite keep up with Rossi's Yamaha. Jorge Lorenzo is still running fourth. Cal Crutchlow passes Lorenzo. This is the battle to watch on the track. Crutchlow gos quicker as the fuel load burns off. The Repsol Honda's are hanging on. Alvaro Bautista is under pressure from Aleix Espargaro for seventh. Bradley Smith is eleventh, as Hayden and Dovizioso battle on their Ducati's. Both of the riders for Ducati have not had the best weekends. Ducati seems to be languishing once again.
Marquez gets by Pedrosa for second place. Eight laps remain, and Valentino Rossi stretches his margin. Crutchlow is coming, and fast. The gap between Pedrosa and Crutchlow is closing. This will be monstrous for the world championship. Rossi has 105 overall victories. Could he get 106 today? Dani Pedrosa runs deep into the corner. Marquez has cleared Pedrosa, but can't make headway to catch Rossi. Six laps remain in the Dutch TT. Crutchlow is going after Marquez, and he DOES make it past Pedrosa! Wow! Pedrosa will be kicking himself! Can Crutchlow catch Marquez? Jorge Lorenzo is keeping the championship alive.
Pedrosa is not going to keep up with Crutchlow. Rossi is still looking for victory. Can he do it? Crutchlow runs a 1:35.1. He's 6/10ths behind Marquez. Crutchlow is continuing to hound Marquez. Crutchlow is strong through the exit of the corners as Marquez is going wide. Crutchlow has to focus on his own race, but he's closing on Marquez. He's not going to make it work. Valentino Rossi will win his first race in almost three years! Crutchlow is being blocked by Marquez. The Rossi fans are going wild! This is the last lap. Marquez holds the advantage.
Rossi is going to win this race. it's undeniable. But, Crutchlow loses ground. He's off the road slightly, and will have to settle for third. He clips the rear wheel of Marquez's motorcycle. :"The Doctor" is back in the house! Those two years at Ducati are going to be a distant memory. Rossi is going to win his eighth Dutch TT! It is his 80th MotoGP win! Wow!
#46 Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha
Lorenzo has his own victory, finishing this race after being in absolute agony due to that collarbone injury. No Pedrosa and No Lorenzo on the podium. Whoa. Rossi is champ, today. Rossi hasn't won in 45 races. The streak is over! The next race is the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring in Saxony, Germany, coming up in two weeks.
Dani Pedrosa also had a huge crash. This track is known as "The Cathedral" of motorcycle racing. The track is 2.8 miles long. It can reward, and punish equally. This is the 65th running of thee race in the World Championship. After Jorge Lorenzo's crash, Yamaha team director Massimo Merigali explained the whole situation where Lorenzo flew back to Barcelona overnight and had surgery on his collarbone, putting in a titanium plate, and Lorenzo will race today.
Lorenzo is in pain, but he passed two physical tests. In qualifying, Cal Crutchlow has taken his first MotGP pole, and became the first British rider to take pole in over a decade. Stefan Bradl will start third. Valentino Rossi has fourth. Dani Pedrosa managed to qualify fifth. Aleix Espargaro scores the highest qualifying place for a CRT bike. Michele Pirro fills in for Ben Spies once again and Ivan Silva fills in for Hiroshi Aoyama who hurt his hand last time out in Mugello.
The weather is improving as the bikes set out on their warmup lap. Assen is 2.8 miles, with 18 corners. It's a speedy track with cambered turns. Assen has been on the calendar since the MotoGP World Championship started in 1949. 26 laps scheduled. Can Cal Crutchlow win his first race? Can Stefan Bradl? At the start, Jorge Lorenzo has a good start and Dani Pedrosa takes the lead. Crutchlow slides from third to fifth. Valentino Rossi is fourth behind Marc Marquez who passes Stefan Bradl immediately.
Jorge Lorenzo is up to eighth. Honda's are 1-2-3. Bradley Smith runs wide and Aleix Espargaro is right on top of him. Rossi passes Stefan Bradl for third spot. He was forced to sit up. Lorenzo flies past Bradley Smith. Cal Crutchlow has to fly on full fuel tanks. Pedrosa leads it. Crutchlow will get stronger as the race goes on. Lorenzo is now fifth. Smith is passed by Espargaro. Valentino Rossi is fastest, running a lap at 1:35 flat. They run down the back straight, which is crooked, somewhat. Rossi has won the Assen TT seven times.
Rossi cannot get to Marquez. Not yet anyway. Cal Crutchlow is fastest, continuing to run 1:35 flat laps. Rossi is still pushing Crutchlow through the corner. Rossi is making his move. Pedrosa, Rossi, and Marquez are running in the top three. This is Rossi's best race since round one in Qatar back in April. Rossi is being urged on by his fans in Italy. Rossi is now a half a second quicker than Pedrosa. This Dutch TT is definitely heating up.
Valentino Rossi has passed deep on the brakes, passing Pedrosa, picking up the lead! The fans are going berserk! Lorenzo is third, and hanging in there, even with the collarbone he's had surgery on with a titanium plate, and eight screws in it. Stefan Bradl and Aleix Espargaro are sixth and seventh followed by Alvaro Bautista, Nicky Hayden, and Andrea Dovizioso. Pedrosa and Rossi run 1:35.3 along with Crutchlow. Lorenzo is fastest at 1:35.1 as he's closing on Marc Marquez. Eight laps are complete.
Cal Crutchlow runs behind Jorge Lorenzo. Marquez is dropping behind Pedrosa and Rossi. Crutchlow continues to push Lorenzo. He's not giving up. Ten laps are in the books. Three laps to halfway. Stefan Bradl languishes in sixth as Alvaro Bautista passes Aleix Espargaro. Dovizioso and Hayden run together. Nicky Hayden won at Assen in 2006. Lorenzo is slowing down a bit, starting to feel uncomfortable, very likely dealing with some pain. These riders are supercharged. A broken collarbone would leave a mere mortal human being in tears.
Lukas Pesek retires from the race. Crutchlow is losing time to Marquez and Lorenzo. Rossi has not won since 2010. The race is now half over. The two Honda's can't quite keep up with Rossi's Yamaha. Jorge Lorenzo is still running fourth. Cal Crutchlow passes Lorenzo. This is the battle to watch on the track. Crutchlow gos quicker as the fuel load burns off. The Repsol Honda's are hanging on. Alvaro Bautista is under pressure from Aleix Espargaro for seventh. Bradley Smith is eleventh, as Hayden and Dovizioso battle on their Ducati's. Both of the riders for Ducati have not had the best weekends. Ducati seems to be languishing once again.
Marquez gets by Pedrosa for second place. Eight laps remain, and Valentino Rossi stretches his margin. Crutchlow is coming, and fast. The gap between Pedrosa and Crutchlow is closing. This will be monstrous for the world championship. Rossi has 105 overall victories. Could he get 106 today? Dani Pedrosa runs deep into the corner. Marquez has cleared Pedrosa, but can't make headway to catch Rossi. Six laps remain in the Dutch TT. Crutchlow is going after Marquez, and he DOES make it past Pedrosa! Wow! Pedrosa will be kicking himself! Can Crutchlow catch Marquez? Jorge Lorenzo is keeping the championship alive.
Pedrosa is not going to keep up with Crutchlow. Rossi is still looking for victory. Can he do it? Crutchlow runs a 1:35.1. He's 6/10ths behind Marquez. Crutchlow is continuing to hound Marquez. Crutchlow is strong through the exit of the corners as Marquez is going wide. Crutchlow has to focus on his own race, but he's closing on Marquez. He's not going to make it work. Valentino Rossi will win his first race in almost three years! Crutchlow is being blocked by Marquez. The Rossi fans are going wild! This is the last lap. Marquez holds the advantage.
Rossi is going to win this race. it's undeniable. But, Crutchlow loses ground. He's off the road slightly, and will have to settle for third. He clips the rear wheel of Marquez's motorcycle. :"The Doctor" is back in the house! Those two years at Ducati are going to be a distant memory. Rossi is going to win his eighth Dutch TT! It is his 80th MotoGP win! Wow!
#46 Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha
Lorenzo has his own victory, finishing this race after being in absolute agony due to that collarbone injury. No Pedrosa and No Lorenzo on the podium. Whoa. Rossi is champ, today. Rossi hasn't won in 45 races. The streak is over! The next race is the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring in Saxony, Germany, coming up in two weeks.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Bike Road Racing Series round 1: Cookstown, Part 1
Round one of the 2013 Bike Road Racing Series took place last month, in May. It's time for the official start of the 2013 Bike Road Racing season in Northern Ireland. This Cookstown 100 is the oldest motorcycle race in Ireland. William and Michael Dunlop, the brothers, are the guys to beat this time around. Michael Dunlop has factory supported bikes for all the classes he runs in. Guy Martin is also back, trying to steal the Dunlop brothers' thunder.
Cookstown is a clockwise track, just over two miles long. Gorton corner is the first one, with ripples on the pavement. Keep it tight on turn in. Watch for wheelspin, coming to McAdoo. Then, go up the hill. There's a bump that loosens the rear wheel, into McAney. Then, go towards The Farm. Move to the right. Watch out for moving all over the road. Brake again, to a right/left flick, and cross the finish line. It's time first, for the big 1000cc monsters. The Superbikes are going to race. It's the Superstock race, with a couple big Superbikes (Guy Martin, and Michael Dunlop), tossed in to make things interesting.
The weather is great. Ryan Farquhar and Adrian Archibald are not racing this year. They've chosen to either retire from the sport, or take a hiatus. But, the new faces to watch, are familiar names from last season in 2012, like Dean Harrison and Derek Sheils. We're ready to get Bike Road Racing 2013 underway, folks. Here we go!
At the start, Guy Martin gets swamped. Derek Sheils on the #82 Kawasaki got the hole shot. Michael Dunlop runs second. Dunlop is wasting no time, passing Derek Sheils almost immediately. See ya later, dude! Martin and Dunlop are both going for it into Gorton corner for the first time. Shields outbrakes Dunlop into the corner. This is going to be a hot and heavy contest at the sharp end. Shields is P1 at the moment. Now, more fun, as the second wave of bikes takes off.
Brian McCormack and Dean Harrison are ones to watch in this second wave. These guys have already had a race (a non championship warmup event at Scarborough race course). Guy Martin gets around Davey Morgan. Shields still has the lead. Dean Harrison immediately dispenses with Brian McCormack. The bikes fly over the jumps on the hilly part of the circuit. They make their way through Craig Mound corner. William Dunlop is behind. He's nowhere to be found in the lead scrap. Guy Martin makes the jump, lands, but has a huge wiggle! Thankfully, he stays on the motorcycle!
Two laps done and dusted. Dunlop still leads. This is Derek Shields' first race at Cookstown in three years. Guy Martin wants by him. Harrison runs well. Sheils is actually running one of Adrian Archibald's old bikes... a Kawasaki. Dean Harrison is still fifth, three seconds behind Dunlop. Martin can't get by Shields into McAdoo. More bikes are in the hunt. Michael Pearson, Alan Bullard, Steven Thompson, and Brock Barber. Martin is now second, reeling in Michael Dunlop... or trying to. Dunlop has a big advantage. Martin makes the jump stick this time, and tries to get by Shields.
Michael Pearson is the other rider up at the sharp end here. No yellow flags so far in this race. Michael Sweeney grabs a bunch of front brake into the corner. Dunlop is on cruise control at the front. He leads Guy Martin by two seconds. Shields and Pearson battle for third place. Michael Dunlop is about to get his 68th career Irish Bike Road Racing win. One lap to go, folks. Dean Harrison's placing matches his bike number. He's fifth. Dunlop has 2.5 seconds on Martin now. Jamie Hamilton will finish in the top six. Haven't called his name yet today.
This will be another win for the Dunlop family. These guys are professionals and know how to win these road circuit motorcycle races. Michael Dunlop wins.
#3 Michael Dunlop Honda
Here's the top five.
1. #3 Michael Dunlop Honda
2. #7 Guy Martin Suzuki
3. #82 Derek Sheils Honda
4. #36 Michael Pearson BMW
5. #5 Dean Harrison Kawasaki
The next race of the day sees a combination of 125cc bikes with a Moto 3 bike. Now, there's just one Moto 3 spec cycle in this contest. This is the 125/Moto 3 Cookstown Town Center Forum race. At the start, William Dunlop gets the jump on his #6 James Delaney Honda. He's going for it, down towards Gorton, as the second wave is ready to roll. Jack Sands on bike #14 and Maria Costello (#84), lead this charge. Sam Dunlop on bike #33 is also going to be in there. Sam Dunlop is William's cousin. Another Sam, (Sam WIlson), is now behind Michael Dunlop.
Paul Robinson (another Dunlop cousin), is also in the hunt. It's a family affair here at Cookstown in a way. William Dunlop leads, and has held the 125cc lap record for three years at 1:34.75. Out of Mackney, the bikes are single file. Sam Wilson runs wide out of Craig Mound corner. This puts space between Wilson and Dunlop. Dunlop completes lap one at 1:44.1. Dunlop has the speed advantage so far in the 125cc contest. Paul Robinson seems to be reeling in Sam Wilson ever so slightly. Bruce Moulds and Nigel Moore are battling for fourth spot.
William Dunlop is booking it. He has no immediate threats for the race lead at the moment. Over Black's Jump, he carries on, pushing his bike to the limit. Wilson is falling behind. He sets fast time at 1:36.69. He leads by 3.5 seconds. Paul Robison is falling back, too. He's about a second behind Wilson's bike. Wilson and Robison continue their battle. Nigel Moore is now fourth. Dunlop approaches Craig Mount and stalls the motor at the crossroads. Dunlop is in trouble. It's game over. Sam Wilson shoots into the lead. Robinson and Wilson are side by side. Bikes #56 and #18 respectively. Wilson wants by, but can't get there.
Robinson extends his lead. Two laps to go in this race. Robinson, Wilson, and Moore, run 1-2-3. Moles is fourth. Sam Dunlop is fifth. Warren Reid runs sixth. Seventh belongs to Maria Costello on her Moto 3 spec bike. Paul Robinson is into the last corner and will win the 125cc/Moto 3 race. Nigel Moore retires his bike, promoting Bruce Moulds to third. Here are the results.
#18 Paul Robinson Aprilia
1. #18 Paul Robinson Aprilia
2. #56 Sam Wilson Honda
3. #9 Bruce Moulds Honda
4. #84 Maria Costello Honda
5. #33 Sam Dunlop Honda
A couple final notes on this race. William Dunlop had mechanical issues in the 250cc Grand Prix event. Trevor Reid also crashed at Braeside corner, bringing out a red flag. This next race is combining the 250cc GP and Moto 450cc classes. This will be a combined race. William Dunlop and Davy Morgan start first and second.
At the start, Sam Wilson gets the jump almost immediately. The 450cc bikes start in a second wave. Dave Walsh cannot get his bike started. Dunlop passes Morgan into Gorton corner. Anthony McCulligan leads the Moto 450 field. The bikes stream into McAdoo for the first time. William Dunlop is chasing down Sam Wilson. Darren Gilpin leads Moto 450 on bike #38. Seamus Elliott is in second, having switched from a 250cc bike to a 450cc one over the off season. Davey Morgan is charging through this field. In fourth, it's Tommy Henry on bike #74. Davey Morgan is looking for a way by William Dunlop. Can he do it?
Davey Morgan does make the pass. Kevin Straga is back there somewhere, too. Sam Wilson gets passed and gos from first to third. Tommy Morgan, John Ella and Kevin Stragga follow. Seamus Elliott and Darren Gilpin are 1-2 in Moto 450. Sam Wilson passes Davy Morgan into Mackney. Morgan attacks Wilson on the uphill and over Black's Jump. William Dunlop sweeps into Craig Mount. Into the crossroads, it's the last lap. Dunlop is going to win. But Sam Wilson and Davey Morgan will fight it out to the finish. Wilson passes Morgan into Mackney.
Seamus Elliott still leads the 450cc bikes, which lap about eight seconds slower than the 250cc machines do. Dunlop looks to be headed for the win, as Morgan needs to be closer to Wilson to take over second place. Davy Morgan is going to go for it around Sam Wilson. William Dunlop will win this race. Dunlop, Wilson, and Morgan, are the top three.
#6 William Dunlop Honda
Who takes the 450s? Seamus Elliott takes it. Here's your top five.
1. #6 William Dunlop Honda
2. #56 Sam Wilson Honda
3. #71 Davy Morgan Honda
4. #173 John Ella Honda
5. #74 Tommy Henry Honda
Here are the Moto 450 results.
1. #97 Seamus Elliott Yamaha
2. #8 Anthony McColgan KTM
3. #38 Darren Gilpin Honda
4. #28 Stephen Davison Yamaha
5. #171 Dave Walsh KTM
600 Supersport is on deck, and again, we will not see Adrian Archibald or Ryan Farquhar in any of the races this year it doesn't seem like. This race will be eight laps. We are ready for a start. It's Michael Dunlop and Derek Sheils first and second. At the start, Guy Martin gets a huge jump from the second row, rocketing off the starting blocks! Dean Harrison is right at the back of group one as the second wave of bikes takes off.
Jamie Hamilton, Davey Morgan, and Rob Wilson are the top three riders in the second wave. Guy Martin and Michael Sweeney are the first two bikes. Martin, Sweeney, Pearson, Dunlop, and Sheils, are your top five. Michael Dunlop holds the lap record for the 600s at 1:24 and change, which is slightly slower than the Superbikes. Dean Harrison rides in sixth. But, it will be a battle for fourth and fifth between Dunlop and Martin, more than likely. Martin increases his lead out of Craig Mount. Michael Sweeney runs wide at the crossroads.
Shiels misses his braking point, losing ground. Michael Dunlop is on the grass, sweeping by Michael Pearson! Whoa! How close do you like it? Martin chases after Dunlop. The gap between Martin and Dunlop, is closing, and quickly. Dunlop is going for it. The fans know what he's up to. Dean Harrison is going to pass Derek Sheils! He also blows past Sweeney! This is going to be quite the finish! Harrison passes Sheils and Sweeney! Dunlop is closing. He's 7/10ths behind Martin. They cross the line side by side! Harrison wants to pass Sheils into Gorton. Sheils is close. Harrison gains a spot as Dunlop is catching Martin on the last lap of the race.
Guy Martin beats Dunlop by a whisker! Harrison is third.
#77 Guy Martin Suzuki
Here are the results.
1. #77 Guy Martin Suzuki
2. #6 Michael Dunlop Honda
3. #5 Dean Harrison Yamaha
4. #82 Derek Sheils Honda
5. #36 Michael Pearson Suzuki
The final race of the day will be the Supersport B race presented by Braeside Bar & Restaurant. These guys didn't make the cut for the first 600cc Supersport race. It's like the B Main in sprint car racing. Robbie Lyall and Andy Lawson are 1-2. The bikes fly up to Gorton. Lyle is going to take the lead. The second wave is away. Lawson leads over Lyle, Dave Hewson, Phil Archer, and Scott Campbell. Andy Lawson leads. Lawson leads Lyall by a second at the end of lap one. Scott Campbell is on bike #55 in fourth. Mark Goodings is fourth, with Dave Hewson, fifth.
Hewson passes Lyall coming to Black's Jump. Lawson leads by 2.3 seconds over a hammer and tongs battle between Hewson, Campbell, and Lyall. Scott Campbell makes a pass on the extreme outside line as the bikes go three wide. Hewson and Campbell keep going at it. Gary Miller runs ninth. Hewson and Campbell participate in a halfway long jump competition, and Campbell has the edge in that department. Daley Mathison and Mark Goodings fight for fifth overall. It's the last lap, and Lawson still leads it. Hewson and Campbell battle through Gorton for the final time.
Mark Goodings and Gary Graves are both pushing hard wanting to break the top five. Campbell and Hewson still are in a fight for position as the flag approaches. Lawson wins this one, folks. Matthison wants to take fourth from Robbie Lyall on corrected time.
#10 Andy Lawson Kawasaki
The results:
1. #10 Andy Lawson Kawasaki
2. #55 Scott Campbell Yamaha
3. #19 Dave Hewson Yamaha
4. #104 Daley Mathison Suzuki
5. #43 Robbie Lyall Kawasaki
That's it for now. This is part one in a two part synopsis of the race. Will have day two action later. Stay tuned for part two, in the not too distant future.
Cookstown is a clockwise track, just over two miles long. Gorton corner is the first one, with ripples on the pavement. Keep it tight on turn in. Watch for wheelspin, coming to McAdoo. Then, go up the hill. There's a bump that loosens the rear wheel, into McAney. Then, go towards The Farm. Move to the right. Watch out for moving all over the road. Brake again, to a right/left flick, and cross the finish line. It's time first, for the big 1000cc monsters. The Superbikes are going to race. It's the Superstock race, with a couple big Superbikes (Guy Martin, and Michael Dunlop), tossed in to make things interesting.
The weather is great. Ryan Farquhar and Adrian Archibald are not racing this year. They've chosen to either retire from the sport, or take a hiatus. But, the new faces to watch, are familiar names from last season in 2012, like Dean Harrison and Derek Sheils. We're ready to get Bike Road Racing 2013 underway, folks. Here we go!
At the start, Guy Martin gets swamped. Derek Sheils on the #82 Kawasaki got the hole shot. Michael Dunlop runs second. Dunlop is wasting no time, passing Derek Sheils almost immediately. See ya later, dude! Martin and Dunlop are both going for it into Gorton corner for the first time. Shields outbrakes Dunlop into the corner. This is going to be a hot and heavy contest at the sharp end. Shields is P1 at the moment. Now, more fun, as the second wave of bikes takes off.
Brian McCormack and Dean Harrison are ones to watch in this second wave. These guys have already had a race (a non championship warmup event at Scarborough race course). Guy Martin gets around Davey Morgan. Shields still has the lead. Dean Harrison immediately dispenses with Brian McCormack. The bikes fly over the jumps on the hilly part of the circuit. They make their way through Craig Mound corner. William Dunlop is behind. He's nowhere to be found in the lead scrap. Guy Martin makes the jump, lands, but has a huge wiggle! Thankfully, he stays on the motorcycle!
Two laps done and dusted. Dunlop still leads. This is Derek Shields' first race at Cookstown in three years. Guy Martin wants by him. Harrison runs well. Sheils is actually running one of Adrian Archibald's old bikes... a Kawasaki. Dean Harrison is still fifth, three seconds behind Dunlop. Martin can't get by Shields into McAdoo. More bikes are in the hunt. Michael Pearson, Alan Bullard, Steven Thompson, and Brock Barber. Martin is now second, reeling in Michael Dunlop... or trying to. Dunlop has a big advantage. Martin makes the jump stick this time, and tries to get by Shields.
Michael Pearson is the other rider up at the sharp end here. No yellow flags so far in this race. Michael Sweeney grabs a bunch of front brake into the corner. Dunlop is on cruise control at the front. He leads Guy Martin by two seconds. Shields and Pearson battle for third place. Michael Dunlop is about to get his 68th career Irish Bike Road Racing win. One lap to go, folks. Dean Harrison's placing matches his bike number. He's fifth. Dunlop has 2.5 seconds on Martin now. Jamie Hamilton will finish in the top six. Haven't called his name yet today.
This will be another win for the Dunlop family. These guys are professionals and know how to win these road circuit motorcycle races. Michael Dunlop wins.
#3 Michael Dunlop Honda
Here's the top five.
1. #3 Michael Dunlop Honda
2. #7 Guy Martin Suzuki
3. #82 Derek Sheils Honda
4. #36 Michael Pearson BMW
5. #5 Dean Harrison Kawasaki
The next race of the day sees a combination of 125cc bikes with a Moto 3 bike. Now, there's just one Moto 3 spec cycle in this contest. This is the 125/Moto 3 Cookstown Town Center Forum race. At the start, William Dunlop gets the jump on his #6 James Delaney Honda. He's going for it, down towards Gorton, as the second wave is ready to roll. Jack Sands on bike #14 and Maria Costello (#84), lead this charge. Sam Dunlop on bike #33 is also going to be in there. Sam Dunlop is William's cousin. Another Sam, (Sam WIlson), is now behind Michael Dunlop.
Paul Robinson (another Dunlop cousin), is also in the hunt. It's a family affair here at Cookstown in a way. William Dunlop leads, and has held the 125cc lap record for three years at 1:34.75. Out of Mackney, the bikes are single file. Sam Wilson runs wide out of Craig Mound corner. This puts space between Wilson and Dunlop. Dunlop completes lap one at 1:44.1. Dunlop has the speed advantage so far in the 125cc contest. Paul Robinson seems to be reeling in Sam Wilson ever so slightly. Bruce Moulds and Nigel Moore are battling for fourth spot.
William Dunlop is booking it. He has no immediate threats for the race lead at the moment. Over Black's Jump, he carries on, pushing his bike to the limit. Wilson is falling behind. He sets fast time at 1:36.69. He leads by 3.5 seconds. Paul Robison is falling back, too. He's about a second behind Wilson's bike. Wilson and Robison continue their battle. Nigel Moore is now fourth. Dunlop approaches Craig Mount and stalls the motor at the crossroads. Dunlop is in trouble. It's game over. Sam Wilson shoots into the lead. Robinson and Wilson are side by side. Bikes #56 and #18 respectively. Wilson wants by, but can't get there.
Robinson extends his lead. Two laps to go in this race. Robinson, Wilson, and Moore, run 1-2-3. Moles is fourth. Sam Dunlop is fifth. Warren Reid runs sixth. Seventh belongs to Maria Costello on her Moto 3 spec bike. Paul Robinson is into the last corner and will win the 125cc/Moto 3 race. Nigel Moore retires his bike, promoting Bruce Moulds to third. Here are the results.
#18 Paul Robinson Aprilia
1. #18 Paul Robinson Aprilia
2. #56 Sam Wilson Honda
3. #9 Bruce Moulds Honda
4. #84 Maria Costello Honda
5. #33 Sam Dunlop Honda
A couple final notes on this race. William Dunlop had mechanical issues in the 250cc Grand Prix event. Trevor Reid also crashed at Braeside corner, bringing out a red flag. This next race is combining the 250cc GP and Moto 450cc classes. This will be a combined race. William Dunlop and Davy Morgan start first and second.
At the start, Sam Wilson gets the jump almost immediately. The 450cc bikes start in a second wave. Dave Walsh cannot get his bike started. Dunlop passes Morgan into Gorton corner. Anthony McCulligan leads the Moto 450 field. The bikes stream into McAdoo for the first time. William Dunlop is chasing down Sam Wilson. Darren Gilpin leads Moto 450 on bike #38. Seamus Elliott is in second, having switched from a 250cc bike to a 450cc one over the off season. Davey Morgan is charging through this field. In fourth, it's Tommy Henry on bike #74. Davey Morgan is looking for a way by William Dunlop. Can he do it?
Davey Morgan does make the pass. Kevin Straga is back there somewhere, too. Sam Wilson gets passed and gos from first to third. Tommy Morgan, John Ella and Kevin Stragga follow. Seamus Elliott and Darren Gilpin are 1-2 in Moto 450. Sam Wilson passes Davy Morgan into Mackney. Morgan attacks Wilson on the uphill and over Black's Jump. William Dunlop sweeps into Craig Mount. Into the crossroads, it's the last lap. Dunlop is going to win. But Sam Wilson and Davey Morgan will fight it out to the finish. Wilson passes Morgan into Mackney.
Seamus Elliott still leads the 450cc bikes, which lap about eight seconds slower than the 250cc machines do. Dunlop looks to be headed for the win, as Morgan needs to be closer to Wilson to take over second place. Davy Morgan is going to go for it around Sam Wilson. William Dunlop will win this race. Dunlop, Wilson, and Morgan, are the top three.
#6 William Dunlop Honda
Who takes the 450s? Seamus Elliott takes it. Here's your top five.
1. #6 William Dunlop Honda
2. #56 Sam Wilson Honda
3. #71 Davy Morgan Honda
4. #173 John Ella Honda
5. #74 Tommy Henry Honda
Here are the Moto 450 results.
1. #97 Seamus Elliott Yamaha
2. #8 Anthony McColgan KTM
3. #38 Darren Gilpin Honda
4. #28 Stephen Davison Yamaha
5. #171 Dave Walsh KTM
600 Supersport is on deck, and again, we will not see Adrian Archibald or Ryan Farquhar in any of the races this year it doesn't seem like. This race will be eight laps. We are ready for a start. It's Michael Dunlop and Derek Sheils first and second. At the start, Guy Martin gets a huge jump from the second row, rocketing off the starting blocks! Dean Harrison is right at the back of group one as the second wave of bikes takes off.
Jamie Hamilton, Davey Morgan, and Rob Wilson are the top three riders in the second wave. Guy Martin and Michael Sweeney are the first two bikes. Martin, Sweeney, Pearson, Dunlop, and Sheils, are your top five. Michael Dunlop holds the lap record for the 600s at 1:24 and change, which is slightly slower than the Superbikes. Dean Harrison rides in sixth. But, it will be a battle for fourth and fifth between Dunlop and Martin, more than likely. Martin increases his lead out of Craig Mount. Michael Sweeney runs wide at the crossroads.
Shiels misses his braking point, losing ground. Michael Dunlop is on the grass, sweeping by Michael Pearson! Whoa! How close do you like it? Martin chases after Dunlop. The gap between Martin and Dunlop, is closing, and quickly. Dunlop is going for it. The fans know what he's up to. Dean Harrison is going to pass Derek Sheils! He also blows past Sweeney! This is going to be quite the finish! Harrison passes Sheils and Sweeney! Dunlop is closing. He's 7/10ths behind Martin. They cross the line side by side! Harrison wants to pass Sheils into Gorton. Sheils is close. Harrison gains a spot as Dunlop is catching Martin on the last lap of the race.
Guy Martin beats Dunlop by a whisker! Harrison is third.
#77 Guy Martin Suzuki
Here are the results.
1. #77 Guy Martin Suzuki
2. #6 Michael Dunlop Honda
3. #5 Dean Harrison Yamaha
4. #82 Derek Sheils Honda
5. #36 Michael Pearson Suzuki
The final race of the day will be the Supersport B race presented by Braeside Bar & Restaurant. These guys didn't make the cut for the first 600cc Supersport race. It's like the B Main in sprint car racing. Robbie Lyall and Andy Lawson are 1-2. The bikes fly up to Gorton. Lyle is going to take the lead. The second wave is away. Lawson leads over Lyle, Dave Hewson, Phil Archer, and Scott Campbell. Andy Lawson leads. Lawson leads Lyall by a second at the end of lap one. Scott Campbell is on bike #55 in fourth. Mark Goodings is fourth, with Dave Hewson, fifth.
Hewson passes Lyall coming to Black's Jump. Lawson leads by 2.3 seconds over a hammer and tongs battle between Hewson, Campbell, and Lyall. Scott Campbell makes a pass on the extreme outside line as the bikes go three wide. Hewson and Campbell keep going at it. Gary Miller runs ninth. Hewson and Campbell participate in a halfway long jump competition, and Campbell has the edge in that department. Daley Mathison and Mark Goodings fight for fifth overall. It's the last lap, and Lawson still leads it. Hewson and Campbell battle through Gorton for the final time.
Mark Goodings and Gary Graves are both pushing hard wanting to break the top five. Campbell and Hewson still are in a fight for position as the flag approaches. Lawson wins this one, folks. Matthison wants to take fourth from Robbie Lyall on corrected time.
#10 Andy Lawson Kawasaki
The results:
1. #10 Andy Lawson Kawasaki
2. #55 Scott Campbell Yamaha
3. #19 Dave Hewson Yamaha
4. #104 Daley Mathison Suzuki
5. #43 Robbie Lyall Kawasaki
That's it for now. This is part one in a two part synopsis of the race. Will have day two action later. Stay tuned for part two, in the not too distant future.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Xavier Simeon @ Spa Francorchamps
Watch this epic video of Xavier Simeon thrashing his Moto 2 bike around Spa Francorchamps. He is riding a race ready Honda CBR600RR. Hmmm. I wonder about MotoGP racing at Spa. That would be fun, but perhaps, a bit too dangerous. Bikes speeding through Eau Rouge? Ooh. Fun! But, scary, too.
Dutch TT Preview
This weekend marks the 65th running of the Dutch TT at Assen in Holland, and it is also the next round of the MotoGP World Championship. Yours truly is looking forward to it. The races will be run on Saturday as opposed to Sunday. So, look for a race report on Saturday morning, with the usual reports following about Moto 2 and Moto 3, after that.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-assen-hosts-65th-dutch-tt/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-assen-hosts-65th-dutch-tt/
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
AMA Round 3: Triumph Superbike Classic presented by America's First Federal Credit Union
Here are the race results from round three of the AMA Pro Road Racing Championship at Barber Motorsports Park. The Triumph Superbike Classic presented by America's First Federal Credit Union.
Once again, Josh Hayes dominates both the AMA Superbike races, winning each of them, both 21 laps in length
#1 Josh Hayes Yamaha R1
Also on a Yamaha, Cameron Beaubier wins the AMA GoPro Daytona Sportbike division races, and sweeps both, just as Josh Hayes did in Superbike.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF R6
Joe Roberts on his Honda CBR600RR mastered the field in both of the AMA Supersport races at Mid Ohio.
#2 Joe Roberts Honda CBR600RR
In the Harley Davidson class (the name used to be XR1200, but it may have been changed by the organizers), Steve Rapp was the winner. Rapp has experience in Superbike as well.
#5 Steve Rapp Harley Davidson
These races will be rebroadcast on TV. So, maybe, a follow up summary of some of them will come. Stay tuned, fans. The next race on the AMA schedule is the Buckeye Superbike Weekend, presented by Dunlop Tire at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, coming up in less than three weeks. It is scheduled for mid July.
Once again, Josh Hayes dominates both the AMA Superbike races, winning each of them, both 21 laps in length
#1 Josh Hayes Yamaha R1
Also on a Yamaha, Cameron Beaubier wins the AMA GoPro Daytona Sportbike division races, and sweeps both, just as Josh Hayes did in Superbike.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF R6
Joe Roberts on his Honda CBR600RR mastered the field in both of the AMA Supersport races at Mid Ohio.
#2 Joe Roberts Honda CBR600RR
In the Harley Davidson class (the name used to be XR1200, but it may have been changed by the organizers), Steve Rapp was the winner. Rapp has experience in Superbike as well.
#5 Steve Rapp Harley Davidson
These races will be rebroadcast on TV. So, maybe, a follow up summary of some of them will come. Stay tuned, fans. The next race on the AMA schedule is the Buckeye Superbike Weekend, presented by Dunlop Tire at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, coming up in less than three weeks. It is scheduled for mid July.
Monday, June 24, 2013
2012 SBK dyno chart
Horsepower figures for the 2012 FIM World Superbikes, based on individual bikes tested on the dynomometer. Sourced from Facebook and that page that was mentioned here called 2Wheeled Racing News And Views.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Luca Cadalora
Another of the past greats of World Grand Prix motorcycle competition. Luca Caddalora. He was a world champion. Here's the info on his career as he is now, of course, retired.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luca_Cadalora
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luca_Cadalora
Thursday, June 20, 2013
How to ride a MotoGP bike (a picture's worth a thousand words)
Stefan Bradl, showing how to ride a MotoGP bike. Lean over AS FAR AS YOU CAN into a turn, nearly Harry Flatters, (that's another term for flat out, y'all), without falling off the motorcycle! Hold on, Stefan!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Moto 3: Catalunya
Round six of the Moto 3 championship will be at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.
The weather is beautiful. There is a huge crowd for the races. 22 laps scheduled around the Circuit de Catalunya. The Spaniards LOVE motorcycle racing, and many riders come from this area. Luis Salom has pole with Miguel Oliviera and Alex Rins, also on the front row. The times are very close between rows one and eight. So, the first 24 bikes are very close togther. Valentino Rossi won the old 125cc class at Catalunya way back in 1997. Here we go.
At the start, Luis Salom gets a good start, but Alex Rins and Alex Marquez are coming, and here comes Arthur Sissis. Ana Carrasco and Jack Miller are moving up. Alx Rins has the lead. Maverick Vinales is coming, too. Into turn five, the bikes are single file. Efren Vazquez is also coming. Into turn ten, and back through the stadium section, the fans are happy to see a Spaniard leading. Jasper Iwema and Niklas Ajo have both crashed. Game over. Luis Salom battles Maverick Vinales. Niccolo Antonelli is coming. Oh noZ! That crash between Iwema and Ajo was a genuine pileup.
The two of them were slinging their arms at each other as if to say, "hey, dude, why did you wreck me?!" Jack Miller almost got into Efren Vazquez. Don't push too hard. The bikes go three wide on the straight. Alexis Masbou runs fastest lap at a 1:52.6. Marquez is going to go for it if somebody overtakes him. Brad Binder is also reeling in this group. Arthur Sissis is up there, too. Jack Miller is keeping up with this group. Luis Salom is still going for it. Could he lead into turn one? Or, will he sit up and just keep cool for a few laps?
Marquez is a contender in this one, definitely. Salom said in an interview, "you've got to learn to save up for the last few laps of these races." All these guys will be future MotoGP stars in years to come. We'll be hearing these names on the big bikes for sure. Niccolo Antonelli falls. He's had a horrendous season to this point. Rins sets another fast lap. Miller is still nursing a broken collarbone. But, he keeps going. Jakub Kornfeil sets fast lap but gets off in the dust.
Livio Loi also crashes, catching his balance after getting up. Maverick Vinales is still in this battle. The slow motion replays are fascinating to watch. Vazquez passes Rins into turn one, and so, he takes the lead, putting the Mahindra bike out in front. Danny Webb passes Isaac Vinales. Webb has gone from 23rd to tenth and Zulhfammi Khairuddin is his next target. Rins still leads. The Mahindra team looks on. Rins is the race leader. The KTM's have the horsepower advantage for sure. Rins and Miller is the main battle on the course.
Rins is the Spanish Moto 3 champ. Miguel Oliveira is closing up. Twelve laps remain. So, one lap to half distance, as Romano Fenati is going well. Fenati's bike (a Honda), doesn't quite have the torque of the other bikes. The Mahindra's and KTM's are at an advantage in the engine department. Will the KTM's eat up the Honda? These bikes are really getting close together. This is like superspeedway stock car racing, but on motorcycles. Alexis Masbou is running well and so is Efren Vazquez as Luis Salom continues to lead. Salom is second in points, just four points behind Maverick Vinales. Vazquez is hanging on well as Luis Salom sets his personal best lap time.
Have these guys been watching video of Valentino Rossi in 125cc action in 1997? Maybe. Jakub Kornfeil retires from the race, after having a fall. Vinales is now leading, running a 1:52.7 lap, slowing the pace down from 1:51s earlier. Livio Loi is being checked in the medical center. Lets hope he'll be OK. Jonas Folger isn't racing today, and might not next time either. He's got a broken wrist from a Motocross crash. Jack Miller is tucked behind Miguel Oliviera. There are a bunch of riders in mid field and towards the back, who are very competitive.
Livio Loi is fine. But, he has a whopper headache. Arthur Sissis and Alexis Masbou are both getting racy now. Brad Binder, Danny Webb, Romano Fenati, and others, are in this fight to the finish. Luis Salom still leads. Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales are also back there. These guys are the top three in points. Five laps to go. New fast lap of 1:52.3 for Salom. There is a massive bunch of bikes around. Alessandro Tonucci is another, and he had a podium at last years Japanese GP. Salom and Vazquez are both going for it. Three laps left now. Salom wants back-to-back wins after winning in Italy two weeks ago.
Salom, Vinales, and Marquez ALL run fastest laps at 1:51.6. Brad Binder is coming. Zulhfammi Khairuddin is dropping back just a bit. Just two laps remain as Vinales resets fast lap at 1:51.675. Five bikes fan out into turn one and ALL make it through! The top three have all won Moto 3 races in 2013. So, no different winners yet this year. Salom runs another 1:51. This is going to be close as it's the last lap. Into turn five, will Salom hold on? Yes. Into eight and nine, Salom still has the lead into the stadium section. Salom is gapping Rins and Vinales.
He knows he's going to win. Rins wants it. Vinales says, "that's it. I give up." Two corners to go. Who will dwin? It's going to be close. Luis Salom will win, and take the lead in the championship.
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race is in Holland. It's the Dutch TT at Assen, coming up in two weeks or so. Stay tuned for full details on that race.
The weather is beautiful. There is a huge crowd for the races. 22 laps scheduled around the Circuit de Catalunya. The Spaniards LOVE motorcycle racing, and many riders come from this area. Luis Salom has pole with Miguel Oliviera and Alex Rins, also on the front row. The times are very close between rows one and eight. So, the first 24 bikes are very close togther. Valentino Rossi won the old 125cc class at Catalunya way back in 1997. Here we go.
At the start, Luis Salom gets a good start, but Alex Rins and Alex Marquez are coming, and here comes Arthur Sissis. Ana Carrasco and Jack Miller are moving up. Alx Rins has the lead. Maverick Vinales is coming, too. Into turn five, the bikes are single file. Efren Vazquez is also coming. Into turn ten, and back through the stadium section, the fans are happy to see a Spaniard leading. Jasper Iwema and Niklas Ajo have both crashed. Game over. Luis Salom battles Maverick Vinales. Niccolo Antonelli is coming. Oh noZ! That crash between Iwema and Ajo was a genuine pileup.
The two of them were slinging their arms at each other as if to say, "hey, dude, why did you wreck me?!" Jack Miller almost got into Efren Vazquez. Don't push too hard. The bikes go three wide on the straight. Alexis Masbou runs fastest lap at a 1:52.6. Marquez is going to go for it if somebody overtakes him. Brad Binder is also reeling in this group. Arthur Sissis is up there, too. Jack Miller is keeping up with this group. Luis Salom is still going for it. Could he lead into turn one? Or, will he sit up and just keep cool for a few laps?
Marquez is a contender in this one, definitely. Salom said in an interview, "you've got to learn to save up for the last few laps of these races." All these guys will be future MotoGP stars in years to come. We'll be hearing these names on the big bikes for sure. Niccolo Antonelli falls. He's had a horrendous season to this point. Rins sets another fast lap. Miller is still nursing a broken collarbone. But, he keeps going. Jakub Kornfeil sets fast lap but gets off in the dust.
Livio Loi also crashes, catching his balance after getting up. Maverick Vinales is still in this battle. The slow motion replays are fascinating to watch. Vazquez passes Rins into turn one, and so, he takes the lead, putting the Mahindra bike out in front. Danny Webb passes Isaac Vinales. Webb has gone from 23rd to tenth and Zulhfammi Khairuddin is his next target. Rins still leads. The Mahindra team looks on. Rins is the race leader. The KTM's have the horsepower advantage for sure. Rins and Miller is the main battle on the course.
Rins is the Spanish Moto 3 champ. Miguel Oliveira is closing up. Twelve laps remain. So, one lap to half distance, as Romano Fenati is going well. Fenati's bike (a Honda), doesn't quite have the torque of the other bikes. The Mahindra's and KTM's are at an advantage in the engine department. Will the KTM's eat up the Honda? These bikes are really getting close together. This is like superspeedway stock car racing, but on motorcycles. Alexis Masbou is running well and so is Efren Vazquez as Luis Salom continues to lead. Salom is second in points, just four points behind Maverick Vinales. Vazquez is hanging on well as Luis Salom sets his personal best lap time.
Have these guys been watching video of Valentino Rossi in 125cc action in 1997? Maybe. Jakub Kornfeil retires from the race, after having a fall. Vinales is now leading, running a 1:52.7 lap, slowing the pace down from 1:51s earlier. Livio Loi is being checked in the medical center. Lets hope he'll be OK. Jonas Folger isn't racing today, and might not next time either. He's got a broken wrist from a Motocross crash. Jack Miller is tucked behind Miguel Oliviera. There are a bunch of riders in mid field and towards the back, who are very competitive.
Livio Loi is fine. But, he has a whopper headache. Arthur Sissis and Alexis Masbou are both getting racy now. Brad Binder, Danny Webb, Romano Fenati, and others, are in this fight to the finish. Luis Salom still leads. Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales are also back there. These guys are the top three in points. Five laps to go. New fast lap of 1:52.3 for Salom. There is a massive bunch of bikes around. Alessandro Tonucci is another, and he had a podium at last years Japanese GP. Salom and Vazquez are both going for it. Three laps left now. Salom wants back-to-back wins after winning in Italy two weeks ago.
Salom, Vinales, and Marquez ALL run fastest laps at 1:51.6. Brad Binder is coming. Zulhfammi Khairuddin is dropping back just a bit. Just two laps remain as Vinales resets fast lap at 1:51.675. Five bikes fan out into turn one and ALL make it through! The top three have all won Moto 3 races in 2013. So, no different winners yet this year. Salom runs another 1:51. This is going to be close as it's the last lap. Into turn five, will Salom hold on? Yes. Into eight and nine, Salom still has the lead into the stadium section. Salom is gapping Rins and Vinales.
He knows he's going to win. Rins wants it. Vinales says, "that's it. I give up." Two corners to go. Who will dwin? It's going to be close. Luis Salom will win, and take the lead in the championship.
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race is in Holland. It's the Dutch TT at Assen, coming up in two weeks or so. Stay tuned for full details on that race.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Moto 2: Catalunya
Round six of Moto 2 is going to be at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. The race will be hot, even though there's a breeze. Scott Redding wants his third consecutive Moto 2 win. Hometown favorite Pol Espargaro is on pole. Scott Redding and Esteve "Tito" Rabat, is third. Espargaro's team wanted to change engines. But, they elected not to, unlike Marc VDS. The bikes are off on their warmup lap. This race will be 23 laps. Here we go!
At the start, Takaki Nakagaami gets pased. The bikes fan out eight wide into turn one! Tom Luthi runs wide from tenth on the grid! Yikes! Pol Espargaro leads as Toni Elias is out of the race already. Tom Luthi went off and on. Alex de Angelis and Scott Redding battle each other. Louis Rossi crashes along with Steven Odendaal. Mika Kallio got forced wide at the start. Nakagami is being pushed by Redding. He knew he was coming. Redding is third as Nakagaami leads Rabat. Tom Luthi and Alex de Angelis are running well as team mates Randy Krummenacher and Dominik Aegerter are both running together down the order.
Redding runs fast lap in the 1:49 range. For Toni Elias, it's game over. Redding felt his bike was down on power in practice on Saturday. His fastest lap of the weekend was in the morning warmup. Randy Krummenacher is running well, with Johann Zarco behind. Four more riders go down! Ugh. Xavier Simeon is at least one of them. Espargaro continues to lead. He wants to win a second Moto 2 race, and his first at his home Grand Prix. Heat and tire wear are the main issues in this race. Tom Luthi sets new fast lap at 1:46.960. Redding is reeling in Tom Luthi. Alex de Angelis is slowing.
Six laps are complete now. Toni Elias is despondent about being out of his home race. de Angelis actually crashed. Krummenacher moves up. Johann Zarco and Marcel Schrotter take advantage. Alex de Angelis is actually back on the trrack, but he did indeed tip the bike over. Luthi and Redding are going well right now, too. Sandro Cortese makes a pit stop. Cortese ran into Toni Elias. So, he could have damage. Cortese runs off the road and plunges down the order.
Takaaki Nakagami wants to bring his bike home. Randy Krummenacher is working well, too. Although, he seems to be in the shadows of Dominik Aegerter. Rabat is pressuring Espargaro. Can Scott Redding keep going? He's got a big lead in the championship and needs consistency. Pol Espargaro has to win. With Sandro Cortese, he's completely out, and so is Toni Elias. The race approaches halfway. Johann Zarco is running in a decent position at the moment. Louis Rossi and Steven Odendaal have both retired. Esoargari continues to lead and there is a gap between Luthi and Redding.
Zarco is catching Nakagaami and Krummenacher. Marcel Schrotter who was eighth, has crashed. What a shame. Ten lap remain now. Redding looks like he'll finish in fourth. Tito Rabat takes the lead away from Pol Espargaro. What will Rabat do? No team orders. Just don't take each other out. Espargaro runs a 1:48.1. Rabat runs a 1:47.3. Jordi Torres is eighth with Mika Kallio in ninth. He might start moving up towards the end of the race.
Danny Kent runs fourteenth, in front of Nico Terol. Mattia Passini seems he's having a decent race right now, too. The bikes are really starting to slide around. Espargaro runs well, replying to challenges from Luthi and Rabat. Axel Pons has to drop a spot behind Mike Di Meglio. Pol Espargaro takes over the lead from Tito Rabat as Rabat runs slightly wide. Six laps remaining. Espargaro and Rabat put in a ton of lean angle, almost right onto their elbows. Nakagaami and Krummenacher still battle for fifth place. Ratthpark Villairot and other riders battle down the order. But, back at th front, it seems like Espargaro consolidates his lead. Anthony West retires.
Pol Espargaro's brother Aleix Espargaro, watches on. Aleix is a MotoGP rider. Rafid Topan Sucipto, crashes out of the race. Espargaro crashed into Marc Marquez last year in turn ten on this track. Is Axel Pons still in this race? Likely not, as he fell down. Dominik Aegerter tries passing but can't. Nico Terol leads Danny Kent. Redding will keep his big points lead. Take points when you've got them. Don't try to search for too many because there is a risk of crashing out. Espargaro and Rabat are still 1-2. It's the last lap. Rabat wants into Espargaro's slipstream. Can Tito Rabat get by?
Espargaro is pushing, holding off Rabat. He doesn't want anyone there. Not even his team mate. Tito, you'll have to really pull a rabbit out of the hat, sunshine, if you want to win. Through turns nine and ten, Espargaro got through the corner and Rabat ran an uneven line. Into turns twelve and thirteen. Will he go for it? Nope. Espargaro wins his home race, and his second win of 2013.
#40 Pol Espargaro ESP Kalex Granollers
The next Moto 2 race is in Holland. It's the Dutch TT at the Assen circuit, in two weeks.
At the start, Takaki Nakagaami gets pased. The bikes fan out eight wide into turn one! Tom Luthi runs wide from tenth on the grid! Yikes! Pol Espargaro leads as Toni Elias is out of the race already. Tom Luthi went off and on. Alex de Angelis and Scott Redding battle each other. Louis Rossi crashes along with Steven Odendaal. Mika Kallio got forced wide at the start. Nakagami is being pushed by Redding. He knew he was coming. Redding is third as Nakagaami leads Rabat. Tom Luthi and Alex de Angelis are running well as team mates Randy Krummenacher and Dominik Aegerter are both running together down the order.
Redding runs fast lap in the 1:49 range. For Toni Elias, it's game over. Redding felt his bike was down on power in practice on Saturday. His fastest lap of the weekend was in the morning warmup. Randy Krummenacher is running well, with Johann Zarco behind. Four more riders go down! Ugh. Xavier Simeon is at least one of them. Espargaro continues to lead. He wants to win a second Moto 2 race, and his first at his home Grand Prix. Heat and tire wear are the main issues in this race. Tom Luthi sets new fast lap at 1:46.960. Redding is reeling in Tom Luthi. Alex de Angelis is slowing.
Six laps are complete now. Toni Elias is despondent about being out of his home race. de Angelis actually crashed. Krummenacher moves up. Johann Zarco and Marcel Schrotter take advantage. Alex de Angelis is actually back on the trrack, but he did indeed tip the bike over. Luthi and Redding are going well right now, too. Sandro Cortese makes a pit stop. Cortese ran into Toni Elias. So, he could have damage. Cortese runs off the road and plunges down the order.
Takaaki Nakagami wants to bring his bike home. Randy Krummenacher is working well, too. Although, he seems to be in the shadows of Dominik Aegerter. Rabat is pressuring Espargaro. Can Scott Redding keep going? He's got a big lead in the championship and needs consistency. Pol Espargaro has to win. With Sandro Cortese, he's completely out, and so is Toni Elias. The race approaches halfway. Johann Zarco is running in a decent position at the moment. Louis Rossi and Steven Odendaal have both retired. Esoargari continues to lead and there is a gap between Luthi and Redding.
Zarco is catching Nakagaami and Krummenacher. Marcel Schrotter who was eighth, has crashed. What a shame. Ten lap remain now. Redding looks like he'll finish in fourth. Tito Rabat takes the lead away from Pol Espargaro. What will Rabat do? No team orders. Just don't take each other out. Espargaro runs a 1:48.1. Rabat runs a 1:47.3. Jordi Torres is eighth with Mika Kallio in ninth. He might start moving up towards the end of the race.
Danny Kent runs fourteenth, in front of Nico Terol. Mattia Passini seems he's having a decent race right now, too. The bikes are really starting to slide around. Espargaro runs well, replying to challenges from Luthi and Rabat. Axel Pons has to drop a spot behind Mike Di Meglio. Pol Espargaro takes over the lead from Tito Rabat as Rabat runs slightly wide. Six laps remaining. Espargaro and Rabat put in a ton of lean angle, almost right onto their elbows. Nakagaami and Krummenacher still battle for fifth place. Ratthpark Villairot and other riders battle down the order. But, back at th front, it seems like Espargaro consolidates his lead. Anthony West retires.
Pol Espargaro's brother Aleix Espargaro, watches on. Aleix is a MotoGP rider. Rafid Topan Sucipto, crashes out of the race. Espargaro crashed into Marc Marquez last year in turn ten on this track. Is Axel Pons still in this race? Likely not, as he fell down. Dominik Aegerter tries passing but can't. Nico Terol leads Danny Kent. Redding will keep his big points lead. Take points when you've got them. Don't try to search for too many because there is a risk of crashing out. Espargaro and Rabat are still 1-2. It's the last lap. Rabat wants into Espargaro's slipstream. Can Tito Rabat get by?
Espargaro is pushing, holding off Rabat. He doesn't want anyone there. Not even his team mate. Tito, you'll have to really pull a rabbit out of the hat, sunshine, if you want to win. Through turns nine and ten, Espargaro got through the corner and Rabat ran an uneven line. Into turns twelve and thirteen. Will he go for it? Nope. Espargaro wins his home race, and his second win of 2013.
#40 Pol Espargaro ESP Kalex Granollers
The next Moto 2 race is in Holland. It's the Dutch TT at the Assen circuit, in two weeks.
Monday, June 17, 2013
MotoGP Catalunya test session
Go to this link now, and you will find live timing and scoring for a test being held today at Catalunya, after the race there yesterday, focusing on the rest of this season, and on prep for 2014.
http://www.motogp.com/en/TestResults/MotoGP+Catalunya+Test+2013
http://www.motogp.com/en/TestResults/MotoGP+Catalunya+Test+2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
another great motorcycle racing resource
Any fans of this blog who are also on Facebook, I urge you to check out the FB page 2Wheeled Racing News and Views. You will find even MORE information on the world of motorcycle racing there, than yours truly can POSSIBLY hope to give you. Take a look.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/2Wheeled-Racing-News-and-Views/165291433532787?hc_location=stream
https://www.facebook.com/pages/2Wheeled-Racing-News-and-Views/165291433532787?hc_location=stream
MotoGP Round 6: Catalunya
MotoGP returns to Spain, as Dani Pedrosa, Marc Marquez, and Jorge Lorenzo battle in their homeland again. Lorenzo lives in Barcelona, and both Pedrosa and Marquez grew up close to the track. The weather will be hot at Catalunya. Dani Pedrosa set a really fast lap. He is on pole. Hiroshi Aoyama won't run today after having a crash last time out at Mugello, and injuring himself in that wreck. In the morning warmup, Cal Crutchlow was quickest. Ben Spies is still not racing. He may be back either by Laguna Seca, or, the second U.S. round at Indianapolis. Michele Pirro will ride his bike again.
Valentino Rossi is back on form here at Circuit de Catalunya. Will Rossi repeat a well known move he did on Jorge Lorenzo in 2009? Rossi has won nine times at Catalunya along with his nine championships. It's gorgeous, but it's hot. It was hot on Saturday and the track temp soared. In qualifying, Dani Pedrosa ran a 1:40.9. Cal Crutchlow is second and Jorge Lorenzo is third. Nicky Hayden rolls off fifth. Colin Edwards has his best qualifying effort of the season. But, that is in 16th. Pedrosa makes his 200th start in MotoGP (as a rider in all three classes), today. Javier Del Amor, from Spain, is racing in place of Hiroshi Aoyama this weekend, on the #77 FTR bike.
The riders are ready to go. The riders played soccer earlier in the week, with the FC Barcelona soccer team. Nicky Hayden broke a speed record by two miles per hour in qualifying for this 25 lap race. Can Cal Crutchlow catch and battle the factory Yamaha's? The hometown heroes will be factors today. Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa are only twelve points apart in the championship.
At the start, Lorenzo takes the lead. Cal Crutchlow gets passed and so does Alvaro Bautista. Nicky Hayden drops back slightly and runs behind Stefan Bradl. Alvaro Bautista goes down. So does Valentino Rossi! He's crashed again! Andrea Iannone is sixth. Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl both want by. Rossi was forced wide and crashed in the gravel in the stadium section. Unreal. Nicky Hayden passes Ianonne and Andrea Dovizioso is also right on top of him. Dovizioso thought he had a way by. Hayden says, "no way, sunshine." Rossi is back on his bike, following Cal Crutchlow.
'Randy de Puniet falls. Did he go down? Hmmm. Crutchlow and Rossi are going to be pushing like mad to get by the three Spanish riders. Marquez pulls away from Crutchlow, closing on Dani Pedrosa. Marquez runs fast lap at 1:42.552. Casey Stoner set the all time lap record in 2008 at Catalunya. But, that five year old record has been shattered. Turns eight, nine and ten, are really wild on this track. Marquez had a big crash here last year in Moto 2 when he battled Pol Espargaro, but then bailed out after a tire failure.
Stefan Bradl and Andrea Dovizioso are in a good battle. Alvaro Bautista is out of the race. Michele Pirro was forced wide. Michael Laverty also went down. Now, Andrea Ianonne dumps his bike, and this moves up Bradley Smith and Aleix Espargaro as Nicky Hayden is now sixth. Cal Crutchlow has crashed out of this race as well. Lukas Pesek has fallen down. He tucks the front end, tries to save it, but it doesn't work. Then, Cal Crutchlow goes down at turn five, and Nicky Hayden also goes down. Colin Edwards is up to ninth. It's game over for Hayden.
The track is beginning to get greasy. It's Lorenzo vs. Pedrosa vs. Marquez. Former rider Gary McCoy had a unique style, and showed it at Catalunya. McCoy ran in World Grand Prix and MotoGP between 1992 and 2006. Rossi is 2.7 seconds behind Marquez. Randy de Puniet didn't crash. He had engine problems. Lap times are in the 1:43 bracket. Nothing has changed at the front. Valentino Rossi is back up to fourth now. Bradley Smith is seventh and Colin Edwards is battling Aleix Espargaro. Karel Abraham is out with mechanical issues.
Pedrosa pulls out of the slipstream, wants to pass, but can't quite get by Lorenzo for the lead. Lorenzo runs wide, but he is meaning to. Get the bike stood up quick after getting into the corner. Watch your lean angle. There are 90,000 fans watching this race at the track today. Lorenzo runs a 1:43.2 and is 2/10ths quicker than Pedrosa. Cal Crutchlow explains to his crew why he ended up falling off the bike. Karel Abraham's issue that forced him to retire, could be either engine, or electrical. Suzuki is going to test here and at Aragon in Portugal, as they will return to MotoGP in the not too distant future.
Pedrosa is coming, with eleven laps left. Lorenzo still leads. This is quite the race at the front, even though there hasn't been much passing. We watch Cal Crutchlow's fall again. It was just a loss of traction. MotoGP bikes sense that the rider is nervous, and then, they'll give you a tough time, kind of like a dog does. That's paraphrasing a quote from Bradley Smith. Smith will beat Aleix Espargaro in this race. Colin Edwards is also running pretty well. Nine laps left. Can Pedrosa catch Lorenzo? Or, will Lorenzo win two consecutive races, and two consecutively at Catalunya?
Hector Barbera has also crashed. Game over. Valentino Rossi is setting quick times. He won't be close enough to get to the top two or three. Seven laps left. Lorenzo is 3.10ths quicker. Marquez and Rossi are running equal with Lorenzo on their lap times. Rossi rides well when the tires begin to go away. Lorenzo is going to win. But, he needs them, because he's used four of his allocation of five engines for the season before they have to ask to build more. The Honda motors have had more reliability than the Yamaha ones have.
Five laps left to run. Lorenzo runs a 1:43.8 and Pedrosa and Marquez both turn 1:43.6 second laps. Can Pedrosa and Marquez close up on Lorenzo? Bradley Smith is running right up on Andrea Dovizioso. The Ducati's have had a so-so race. The Yamaha is very strong in the stadium part of the course as they fly down the straight. Pedrosa won't let Marquez by. The battle between the Repsol Honda's, will just give more of a gap to Lorenzo and allow him to win this thing. But, this will be a battle royal to the end. Bradley Smith and Andrea Dovizioso battle. Pedrosa is going for it, making it tough for Marquez.
The two Repsol Honda riders are really close together. Th crwod is going bananas cheering for Marquez and surely, for Pedrosa, and others will cheer for Lorenzo. No move for Marquez. He slides. Bradley Smith passes Andrea Dovizioso. Marquez has a disastrous wiggle! He ALMOST crashes! Lorenzo is in control of this race. Can Lorenzo take back-to-back championship wins? Can he take back-to-back wins at Catalunya? Marquez will not stop, trying to catch Pedrosa? Wow. He's pushing. Is Marquez close enough? Pedrosa dives for it. Lorenzo wins! Pedrosa gets second ahead of Marquez.
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
The next MotoGP race is the Assen TT (or Tourist Trophy) in Holland, at the Assen Circuit... a race that used to be called the Dutch TT. The race will be run in two weeks. But, fans, take note. It will be run on Saturday, rather than Sunday. So, look for a full race report on Saturday, June 29th. Should be a good one.
Valentino Rossi is back on form here at Circuit de Catalunya. Will Rossi repeat a well known move he did on Jorge Lorenzo in 2009? Rossi has won nine times at Catalunya along with his nine championships. It's gorgeous, but it's hot. It was hot on Saturday and the track temp soared. In qualifying, Dani Pedrosa ran a 1:40.9. Cal Crutchlow is second and Jorge Lorenzo is third. Nicky Hayden rolls off fifth. Colin Edwards has his best qualifying effort of the season. But, that is in 16th. Pedrosa makes his 200th start in MotoGP (as a rider in all three classes), today. Javier Del Amor, from Spain, is racing in place of Hiroshi Aoyama this weekend, on the #77 FTR bike.
The riders are ready to go. The riders played soccer earlier in the week, with the FC Barcelona soccer team. Nicky Hayden broke a speed record by two miles per hour in qualifying for this 25 lap race. Can Cal Crutchlow catch and battle the factory Yamaha's? The hometown heroes will be factors today. Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa are only twelve points apart in the championship.
At the start, Lorenzo takes the lead. Cal Crutchlow gets passed and so does Alvaro Bautista. Nicky Hayden drops back slightly and runs behind Stefan Bradl. Alvaro Bautista goes down. So does Valentino Rossi! He's crashed again! Andrea Iannone is sixth. Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl both want by. Rossi was forced wide and crashed in the gravel in the stadium section. Unreal. Nicky Hayden passes Ianonne and Andrea Dovizioso is also right on top of him. Dovizioso thought he had a way by. Hayden says, "no way, sunshine." Rossi is back on his bike, following Cal Crutchlow.
'Randy de Puniet falls. Did he go down? Hmmm. Crutchlow and Rossi are going to be pushing like mad to get by the three Spanish riders. Marquez pulls away from Crutchlow, closing on Dani Pedrosa. Marquez runs fast lap at 1:42.552. Casey Stoner set the all time lap record in 2008 at Catalunya. But, that five year old record has been shattered. Turns eight, nine and ten, are really wild on this track. Marquez had a big crash here last year in Moto 2 when he battled Pol Espargaro, but then bailed out after a tire failure.
Stefan Bradl and Andrea Dovizioso are in a good battle. Alvaro Bautista is out of the race. Michele Pirro was forced wide. Michael Laverty also went down. Now, Andrea Ianonne dumps his bike, and this moves up Bradley Smith and Aleix Espargaro as Nicky Hayden is now sixth. Cal Crutchlow has crashed out of this race as well. Lukas Pesek has fallen down. He tucks the front end, tries to save it, but it doesn't work. Then, Cal Crutchlow goes down at turn five, and Nicky Hayden also goes down. Colin Edwards is up to ninth. It's game over for Hayden.
The track is beginning to get greasy. It's Lorenzo vs. Pedrosa vs. Marquez. Former rider Gary McCoy had a unique style, and showed it at Catalunya. McCoy ran in World Grand Prix and MotoGP between 1992 and 2006. Rossi is 2.7 seconds behind Marquez. Randy de Puniet didn't crash. He had engine problems. Lap times are in the 1:43 bracket. Nothing has changed at the front. Valentino Rossi is back up to fourth now. Bradley Smith is seventh and Colin Edwards is battling Aleix Espargaro. Karel Abraham is out with mechanical issues.
Pedrosa pulls out of the slipstream, wants to pass, but can't quite get by Lorenzo for the lead. Lorenzo runs wide, but he is meaning to. Get the bike stood up quick after getting into the corner. Watch your lean angle. There are 90,000 fans watching this race at the track today. Lorenzo runs a 1:43.2 and is 2/10ths quicker than Pedrosa. Cal Crutchlow explains to his crew why he ended up falling off the bike. Karel Abraham's issue that forced him to retire, could be either engine, or electrical. Suzuki is going to test here and at Aragon in Portugal, as they will return to MotoGP in the not too distant future.
Pedrosa is coming, with eleven laps left. Lorenzo still leads. This is quite the race at the front, even though there hasn't been much passing. We watch Cal Crutchlow's fall again. It was just a loss of traction. MotoGP bikes sense that the rider is nervous, and then, they'll give you a tough time, kind of like a dog does. That's paraphrasing a quote from Bradley Smith. Smith will beat Aleix Espargaro in this race. Colin Edwards is also running pretty well. Nine laps left. Can Pedrosa catch Lorenzo? Or, will Lorenzo win two consecutive races, and two consecutively at Catalunya?
Hector Barbera has also crashed. Game over. Valentino Rossi is setting quick times. He won't be close enough to get to the top two or three. Seven laps left. Lorenzo is 3.10ths quicker. Marquez and Rossi are running equal with Lorenzo on their lap times. Rossi rides well when the tires begin to go away. Lorenzo is going to win. But, he needs them, because he's used four of his allocation of five engines for the season before they have to ask to build more. The Honda motors have had more reliability than the Yamaha ones have.
Five laps left to run. Lorenzo runs a 1:43.8 and Pedrosa and Marquez both turn 1:43.6 second laps. Can Pedrosa and Marquez close up on Lorenzo? Bradley Smith is running right up on Andrea Dovizioso. The Ducati's have had a so-so race. The Yamaha is very strong in the stadium part of the course as they fly down the straight. Pedrosa won't let Marquez by. The battle between the Repsol Honda's, will just give more of a gap to Lorenzo and allow him to win this thing. But, this will be a battle royal to the end. Bradley Smith and Andrea Dovizioso battle. Pedrosa is going for it, making it tough for Marquez.
The two Repsol Honda riders are really close together. Th crwod is going bananas cheering for Marquez and surely, for Pedrosa, and others will cheer for Lorenzo. No move for Marquez. He slides. Bradley Smith passes Andrea Dovizioso. Marquez has a disastrous wiggle! He ALMOST crashes! Lorenzo is in control of this race. Can Lorenzo take back-to-back championship wins? Can he take back-to-back wins at Catalunya? Marquez will not stop, trying to catch Pedrosa? Wow. He's pushing. Is Marquez close enough? Pedrosa dives for it. Lorenzo wins! Pedrosa gets second ahead of Marquez.
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
The next MotoGP race is the Assen TT (or Tourist Trophy) in Holland, at the Assen Circuit... a race that used to be called the Dutch TT. The race will be run in two weeks. But, fans, take note. It will be run on Saturday, rather than Sunday. So, look for a full race report on Saturday, June 29th. Should be a good one.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
MotoGP stories
Two stories about Honda and Yamaha's preparations before this weekend's MotoGP action to take place in Barcelona, Spain at Circuit de Catalunya.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-repsol-runners-ready-for-home-round/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-yamaha-prepare-for-barcelona-battle/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-repsol-runners-ready-for-home-round/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-yamaha-prepare-for-barcelona-battle/
Monday, June 10, 2013
World Superbike round 6: Portimao, Portugal
Marco Melandri for BMW and Eugene Laverty for Aprilia won the two races held in round six of the 2013 Eni FIM World Superbike Championship at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal.
World Superbike Race 1: #33 Marco Melandri ITA BMW Motorrad Goldbet SBK BMW S1000RR
World Superbike Race 2: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Supersport Race: #11 Sam Lowes GBR Yaknich Motorsport Yamaha YZF R6
Superstock 1000 Race: #1 Sylvain Barrier FRA BMW Motorrad Goldbet STK BMW S1000RR
HP4
Superstock 600 Race: #12 Franco Morbidelli ITA San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki ZX-6R
The next race for the World Superbikes and the other categories is in Italy at the Enzo E Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola Italy, coming up in three weeks.
World Superbike Race 1: #33 Marco Melandri ITA BMW Motorrad Goldbet SBK BMW S1000RR
World Superbike Race 2: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Supersport Race: #11 Sam Lowes GBR Yaknich Motorsport Yamaha YZF R6
Superstock 1000 Race: #1 Sylvain Barrier FRA BMW Motorrad Goldbet STK BMW S1000RR
HP4
Superstock 600 Race: #12 Franco Morbidelli ITA San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki ZX-6R
The next race for the World Superbikes and the other categories is in Italy at the Enzo E Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola Italy, coming up in three weeks.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
FIM World Endurance Championship Round 1: Bol D'or
The Bol D'or at the Circuit de Nevers in Magny Cours, France, is the opening race of the 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship for motorcycles.
Last year, weather came into play. This year, many of the same racers are back for the Bol D'or. Team SRC Kawasaki will be the team to beat in this race. They are defending champions of the Bol D'or. The team's riders are Gregory Leblanc, former Kawasaki World Superbike rider, Loris Baz, and Jeremy Guarnoni. BMW Motorrad France also has some new riders. They include British Supersport and Superbike racer Karl Muggeridge, and Sylvain Barrier from France. Monster Energy Yamaha is back. Their team will have Igor Jerman from Slovakia, and two Australian riders in Broc Parkes, and Josh Waters.
Honda TT Legends has new riders, too. Cameron Donald is not racing with the team this year, making way for two Michael's. Michael Rutter, and Michael Dunlop, join John McGuinness and Simon Andrews. Not too many changes at SERT (Suzuki Endurance Racing Team). Julien Da Costa rejoins the team along with Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle, and Alex Cudlin. No changes at Yamaha GMT 94 except for the bike's colors. David Checa will share with Kenny Foray, Matthieu Lagrive and former World Superbike rider, Maxime Berger.
Time to race. It's cold, and rain could play a factor in this race. It's round one of four in the 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship. Bike #11 for SRC Kawasaki is on pole, again, shared by the trio of Leblanc, Baz, and Guarnoni. Three classes will run. EWC (Endurance World Championship), SST (Superstock), and Open. The Open class has two bikes. One is built by one of the teams, (the #45 Metiss JLC Moto, Metiss 1000 shared by three French riders. The other, is a Ducati 1199 Panigale, for Team Scuderia Deux Roues, (bike #17). They also run an all French squad.
The Superstock class will see a battle between Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. For flavor, there is one BMW, and one Aprilia RSV4. This is bike #6 for Aprilia Le Mans 2 Roues, once again, with a French riding squad. SRC Kawasaki starts from pole. Five minutes before the race start. Clear the grid, and be ready for a thriller. 24 hours is a long time, and a lot can happen. The one minute board appears. Time to go racing everybody. FIM Endurance World Championship 2013, is go! The riders sprint to their machines, and will take off, starting the race.
Gregory Leblanc takes the lead. But Vincent Philippe wastes no time at all, pouncing on that front spot. In third is bike #3, a French entered Superstock Suzuki GSXR in the hands of Anthony Loiseau, Romain Maitre, and Jonathan Hardt. Loiseau is on board bike #3 for the start. Brock Parkes runs fifth overall behind the LMS Junior Team bike. This is the #72 Suzuki GSXR1000 shared by Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson, Nans Chevaux, and Nicolas Pauhair. Both Yamaha GMT 94 and Honda TT Legends are working their way through the field, with David Checa and Michael Dunlop riding those bikes respectively.
Gregory Leblanc passes Vincent Philippe for the lead. The race is now a few hours old, and rider changes will come, as Loris Baz prepares for his stint. A smooth stop for SRC Kawasaki, as Loris Baz does board the bike. SERT will take over in P1 momentarily. Vincent Philippe is in traffic, which might allow Baz to gain some ground. Holding third is the Yamaha (#94). Kenny Foray has taken over from David Checa. BMW is now fourth. Sylvain Barrier takes over the bike from Sebastien Gimbert.
Sylvain Barrier pits the BMW again, and will stay on the bike. He is doing a double stint. Gimbert did a single. Karl Muggeridge is not set to go on the bike yet. Oops. Rider change at Yamaha YART. Sheridan Morais of France takes the place of Josh Waters. He has taken over from Broc Parkes. But, more drama. Someone ditches their bike. Uh oh. It's Sylvain Barrier on the BMW. Not good. Well, actually, Barrier's bike doesn't have much damage as he checks the dashboard before heading back on track.
Barrier will rejoin in seventh overall. What happened to him? He hits a bump in the last corner in the Lycee complex, and just lays the bike down with some sparks. Sylvain Barrier runs behind Simon Andrews on the #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR. Kenny Foret will take over the Yamaha when the team pits, as team manager Christophe Guyot, looks on. Mathieu Lagrive runs second in the overall. Yamaha GMT 94 passes SERT in the pit lane. Loris Baz hangs in there, making his way around bike #21, the PL Performances Suzuki GSXR1000 in Superstock. On the rider's strength for that bike are Frenchmen Cyril Lepand, Romain Delanoe, Patrick Blanchet, and Stephane Charloux.
Jeremy Guarnoni explains how cautious the SRC riders are being out there on a track that is becoming slightly damp. They are on intermediate tires (which are not slicks and not full wets, but are inbetween). Loris Baz brings the Kawasaki to the pits. There is a rider change, and Guarnoni takes over. Guarnoni may have two slick tires on that motorcycle. Watch out, because it's like riding on ice. Anthony Delhalle has taken over the #1 Suzuki from Vincent Philippe. He is being pursued by the #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR shared by Gregory Junod and Nicolas Metro, both of France.
Sebastien Gimbert is now riding his first stint on the #99 bike, running sixth overall. Anthony Delhalle has dropped the Suzuki, someplace. Once again, in this incident, the bike isn't severely damaged, and can be fixed in pit lane. Broc Parkes now runs fourth overall for Monster Energy Yamaha Austria. SERT pits, opting for a rider change, as Vincent Philippe gets back on the bike after Delhalle's off course incident earlier. The tail of the Suzuki is already battered, and has racer's tape on it. Gregory Leblanc is pulling out a gap over the Yamaha GMT 94 bike. Will Kawasaki turn this field green with envy? OK. Pun intended.
Meanwhile, SERT's problems go from bad to worse as Vincent Philippe crashes again. This triggers a safety car. The weather is acting up. Or, there's something physically wrong with the GSXR1000. Philippe gets the bike back to pit lane. But, he had to be winded after his fall. The bike is taken straight to the garage. Nans Chevaux, riding the #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki is going well. They are second in Superstock, behind the #3, the similar GSXR belonging to AM Moto Racing Competition. The race approaches the end of the fourth hour.
So, at that time point, here are the top ten runners.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
3. EWC #99 BMW Motorrad France
Thevent BMW S1000RR
Gimbert/Barrier/Cudlin
4. EWC #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR
McGuinness/Rutter/Andrews/Dunlop
5. EWC #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR
Junod/Metro/Dunlop
6. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
7. SST #3 AM Moto Racing Competition Suzuki GSXR1000
Loiseau/Maitre/Hardt
8. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
9. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
10. Open #45 Metiss JLC Moto Metiss 1000
Michel/Huvier/Cheron
Bike #14 hits the pit lane. They have an Isle of Man TT veteran in Conor Cummins on their team. But he's new to endurance motorcycle racing. This is the #14 Maco Racing Team Yamaha R1 and he is sharing with Frenchman Denis Bouan. The riders get a massage and have something to eat. But, rest doesn't come too much. They usually go two hours between stints before the team calls them to the pit to get back on the bike.
As night falls, Simon Andrews does just that, taking over on the #77 Honda TT Legends machine. It's getting dark at Magny Cours. So, use the headlights on the front of the bike. Meanwhile, SERT is having a fraught race. It's going from bad to worse as they make repairs to the motorcycle, and while the clock is their enemy, it is a friend to the green machine, the Kawasaki for SRC. Julian Da Costa will take over the Suzuki, and they bring the bike into the pit lane, refueling it, ready to keep going. SERT team manager Dominique Melliand explains how he's had to calm down a couple of his riders, and be a psychologist in a way.
But, they'll get back at it, and run to a pace. Kenny Foray is still on the #94 Yamaha. However, he'll hand over to Matthieu Lagrive on the next pit stop. The Yamaha does pit from first place overall, and Foret will hand over to Lagrive. SRC Kawasaki will take over the race lead. Sylvain Barrier continues on the #99 BMW. But, on the next pit stop, Karl Muggeridge will take over for his first stint in competition. SRC Kawasaki takes over the lead. Jeremy Guarnoni at the controls. But, Guarnoni makes a scheduled pit stop, and will hand the bike back over to Gregory Leblanc.
More woes for BMW. Karl Muggeridge ditches the bike on his outlap. They were running third overall as Muggeridge frantically pushes the bike into pit lane and into it's garage. The bike will be fixed by the crew. But Karl Muggeridge has to be spent after that. They've lost spots, and lost time. But Sebastien Gimbert will take it back on track. Gimbert is not comfortable on the bike. So, soon, as darkness has fallen over Magny Cours, it could be game over for BMW Motorrad France. Gimbert runs wide into Lycee, and has to pit.
Auf wiedersehen BMW. Gesundheit. Farewell. BMW team manager Ian Wheeler, is disappointed, and rightfully so. Better luck next year. Simon Andrews will bring in the #77 Honda and Michael Dunlop will take over. Simon Andrews ran his whole 50 minute stint. But, he had fuel spilled on him, and looks to be in some pain. Honda TT Legends team manager Glen Richards, says the team hopes for a podium place at the end. Sheridan Morais pits the #7 Yamaha R1 for Monster Energy Yamaha YART. Igor Jerman will take over. The #7 bike runs third overall, headed into the hours of darkness at Magny Cours. Kenny Foret, on the Yamaha, runs second right now.
Despite the crash in the Lycee corner, Yamaha team manager Christophe Guyot is confident the team will run strong through the nighttime hours. SRC Kawasaki pits. Loris Baz is off the bike. So, here's the top ten after eight hours.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
3. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
4. EWC #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR
McGuinness/Rutter/Andrews/Dunlop
5. SST #3 AM Moto Racing Competition Suzuki GSXR1000
Loiseau/Maitre/Hardt
6. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
7. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
8. EWC #14 Maco Racing Team Yamaha R1
Bouan/Cummins/Roccolin
9. SST #9 DGSport Herock Yamaha R1
van Keymeulen/Schouten/Mahias
10. EWC #2 Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
Giabbani/Dietrich/Buisson
The darkness sets in and the riders acclimate to cooler weather in the overnight hours. Riders and teams alike will change focus. The racing slows a shade. But, the crews and riders will still have to be on top of their game. SRC Kawasaki pits. Gregory Leblanc takes over. Suzuki is playing catch up. Conor Cummins is now on his bike, (the #14 Maco Racing Yamaha R1). He takes over from third rider Massimo Roccolin. Honda TT Legends also pits as John McGuinness hands over the bike. They change tires, and brake pads. Simon Andrews takes over the bike.
Suzuki Junior Team manager Damien Saulnier debriefs with his mechanics. The team is prepping for a pit stop. 30 seconds. Get this one right, chaps. The Suzuki is in the box. Yes. Make an adjustment to the bike. Final words of encouragement to the new rider, "go get 'em!" "Hey guys, is the oil OK?" "Huh?" "Is the oil OK?" "Yes sir." "You looked at it? How much?" "Two blocks. It's OK." "When you have to sign off for oil, it's impossible. There's one day left." More strategy.
"By now, uh, we'll do, it's nearly 6:00 A.M. If it's OK, the day will come soon." Etienne Masson tells of his stint. "The thing is, I looked, and it said, lap 30, and after what seemed like 45 minutes, it said, 29. I was like, 'oh no'. 'Well, you should have something like three hours now. Go get some sleep. Come back happy, and we won't stop." At Yamaha GMT 94, they are still P2, as confirmed by Christophe Guyot, to his rider. Kenny Foray will pit.
GMT 94 is running like clockwork, doing a routine stop as Foray steps from the bike. Guyot talks to Foray. "Well, excellent, Kenny. Yes, you did 2:42's and that's the plan." "I came to do that. But, there was a lot of traffic. Maybe at the start of the stint, I fell into a group of slow guys." "Well, that's how it is. You did really well. Thanks. Superb. Go and rest." Sixteen hours into the race. The sun is going to rise soon, as a dark bluish hue fingers the sky, and sparks the transformation from darkness, to dawn. Kawasaki is playing games with a snoozing rider or crewman. "Hey, dude. Wake up!" Here are the standings after 16 hours.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
3. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
4. EWC #1 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa/Cudlin
5. EWC #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR
McGuinness/Rutter/Andrews/Dunlop
6. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
7. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
8. SST #3 AM Moto Racing Competition Suzuki GSXR1000
Loiseau/Maitre/Hardt
9. EWC #2 Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
Giabbani/Dietrich/Buisson
10. EWC #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR
Junod/Metro/Dunlop
Suzuki have amazingly made it from 33rd place to being fourth overall! Wow! Kudos to them for gaining back so many spots! Penz 13 and the Suzuki Junior Team battle for Superstock honors. Both teams are on the same lap. But, this is the closest battle of the whole race. Kawasaki leads in the overall. But, Yamaha GMT 94 are steadily closing in on the green bike. Two teams who have had fraught races are the #69 Ecurie Chrono Sport and the #8 Team Bolliger Switzerland Kawasaki's. They've endured electrical gremlins.
Bolliger runs 13th in the overall. Sharing the riding chores are Austrian Horst Saiger, Jose Manuel Luis Mita of Spain, Switzerland's Marc Wildisen, and Mita's countryman, Gaston Garcia Blosco. Ecurie Chrono Sport's Kawasaki is shared by Mickael Mecene of France, and his countrymen, (two Lionel's), Lionel Bergeron, and Lionel Herveux, as well as Julien Ferre. Honda TT Legends is fifth, and the riders cannot get a good feel for the bike at the moment. The motorcycle is being attended to in the garage, and the team is sussing out the problem as it's uncertain of the source. John McGuinness will return to the track.
SERT is catching up to Yamaha YART. But, team manager Mandy Kainz says the team has no specific plan. The race is not over. But, there are problems. Honda TT Legends, goes up in smoke! John McGuinness on bike #77 has an engine explosion, as there was a burst of flame out of the back of the bike! The team was dealing with an oil leak. But, there's more to it than just a severed oil line. McGuinness pushes the bike back, and fortunately makes it to pit lane, looking exasperated. At the seventeen and a half hour mark, the motor in that CBR1000RR has gone ka blammo, and it's game over.
Yamaha GMT 94 is expected to pit. They are beginning to have issues, too. So, these top factory teams are running into difficulty just as the sun rises over the Circuit de Nevers on Sunday morning. The crew seems to be working on the wiring harness of the #94 machine. Kenny Foray was at the controls when the bike came in. Matthieu Lagrive will take over riding chores next. But, the safety car has been deployed again, because the #77 Honda burned up all the oil in the crank case and spewed it all over the track.
The mess will need to be cleaned up, pronto. GMT 94 will have a bit more time to suss out their problems. But, for now, they will fuel the bike and get Matthieu Lagrive back into the fight. Lagrive and Foray hav done most of the riding. Very few mentions of the other two riders at GMT 94, Maxime Berger and David Checa. The bike restarts and is back on track, to the applause of the crewmen. He was dealing with an electrical problem, engaging the rev limiter when it wasn't supposed to be on.
Yamaha GMT 94 will not win. They might get a podium. As for Honda TT Legends, au revoir. Their race is run. Better luck next year. SRC Kawasaki seems like they will be the last team standing when it comes to the factory bikes. Kawasaki team manager Gilles Staffler, is confident, and knows they can build up a lead over the Yamaha. Soon, the track will be back to green flag conditions. Gregory Leblanc pilots the Kawasaki right now.
Here's the running order after 20 hours, with four left to run in the Bol D'Or.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
3. EWC #1 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa/Cudlin
4. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
5. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
6. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
7. EWC #2 Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
Giabbani/Dietrich/Buisson
8. EWC #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR
Junod/Metro
9. SST #50 Team Motors Events April Moto Suzuki GSXR1000
Fastre/Lucas/Savary/Chevrier
10. SST #67 Star Team PAM Racing Suzuki GSXR1000
Prulhiere/Maurin/Longearet/Deletrez
SRC Kawasaki is ten laps ahead of second place with four hours remaining. Brock Parkes is trying his best to bring YART home on the podium and beat Suzuki. They are slightly slower than the YART Yamaha. Vincent Philippe pits and hands over to Anthony Delhalle. Yamaha GMT 94 is back on track with a fixed wiring system. But, Kawasaki will be hard to beat as the hours drift by. David Checa is running on the #94 bike.
There is another crash late in the going for the Open class prototype Ducati Panigale. Lionel Ancelin takes a tumble, but though it looks bad, he's able to get up and might continue in the race, looking for a finish for the new Ducati Panigale. Penz 13 is still running well in the lead of the Superstock division, holding off their rivals from the Suzuki Junior Team. Etienne Masson is on the #72 bike, while Steve Mercer is the rider of bike #13. Jason Pridmore will take it home for Penz 13 on their BMW S1000RR. The Suzuki still has to pit.
Loris Baz explains his uncertainty about overtaking to the crew, saying, "when you overtake, you have to be real sure about when you're braking. I was always breaking to the inside. Then, I had to pass around the outside. Once I was past, I gave it some gas, and moved out the gap to a second." Jeremy Guarnoni is riding the leading Kawasaki, and David Checa is trying to unlap himself. It's Yamaha vs. Kawasaki. Yamaha GMT 94 is still fighting for the podium.
Meanwhile, more problems for the Open division Ducati Panigale. The rear tire and rear frame have completely collapsed, and it looks more like a cruiser than it does, a Superbike. The Panigale has had a fraught race. Meanwhile, Etienne Masson is preparing for a pit stop for the #72 Suzuki. This will be the final pit stop of the race, for this team. How will they do? But, before we get to that, the Penz 13 BMW is in trouble again. They've been called in by the marshals for a stop and go penalty. Why? That changes the lead in Superstock, and the #72 team will be leading the division over the Penz 13 BMW.
Baptiste Guittet has taken over the #72, which now leads Superstock. Rico Penzkofer, the Penz 13 team manager says that Jason Pridmore might have hit the cone at the end of pit lane. Cyril Huvier now leads the Open class. With the problems for the Ducati Panigale, the #45 Metiss 1000 for the Metiss JLC Moto team, is leading the class. At the moment, they are running in 12th overall. Time is running short. The crowd cam to see the end of the race early this morning. Loris Baz is already waving to them. This is the final hour of the race.
Bike #11 comes in for it's final stop. Gregory Leblanc will take the bike to the checkered flag. Brock Parkes is going to take it home for the #7 team, Monster Energy Yamaha Austria. Also, National Motos runs eighth, as in the last part of the race, Michael Rutter has gone over to help Gregory Junod and Nicolas Metro. The Superstock class win will go to the #72 bike that has been documented for most of the race. SRC Kawasaki wins the race, and Gregory Leblanc takes the bike over the line before diving for the pits and parc ferme. Magny Cours is SRC Kawasaki's house. They've won this Bol D'Or race so many times, and this will add to that tally.
Here are the overall and class winners:
Overall/EWC: #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Gregory Leblanc, Loris Baz, and Jeremy Guarnoni
SST: #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson, Nans Chevaux, and Nicolas Pauhair
The winners complete 808 laps... 2,214 miles. In Superstock, Suzuki Junior Team completes 788 laps... 2,159 miles. Monster Energy Yamaha Austria has the points lead, because SRC Kawasaki will not contest the entire 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship season. The next race is the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan, coming up on the last weekend in July. Will have highlights of that race, when they come along. So long for now.
Last year, weather came into play. This year, many of the same racers are back for the Bol D'or. Team SRC Kawasaki will be the team to beat in this race. They are defending champions of the Bol D'or. The team's riders are Gregory Leblanc, former Kawasaki World Superbike rider, Loris Baz, and Jeremy Guarnoni. BMW Motorrad France also has some new riders. They include British Supersport and Superbike racer Karl Muggeridge, and Sylvain Barrier from France. Monster Energy Yamaha is back. Their team will have Igor Jerman from Slovakia, and two Australian riders in Broc Parkes, and Josh Waters.
Honda TT Legends has new riders, too. Cameron Donald is not racing with the team this year, making way for two Michael's. Michael Rutter, and Michael Dunlop, join John McGuinness and Simon Andrews. Not too many changes at SERT (Suzuki Endurance Racing Team). Julien Da Costa rejoins the team along with Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle, and Alex Cudlin. No changes at Yamaha GMT 94 except for the bike's colors. David Checa will share with Kenny Foray, Matthieu Lagrive and former World Superbike rider, Maxime Berger.
Time to race. It's cold, and rain could play a factor in this race. It's round one of four in the 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship. Bike #11 for SRC Kawasaki is on pole, again, shared by the trio of Leblanc, Baz, and Guarnoni. Three classes will run. EWC (Endurance World Championship), SST (Superstock), and Open. The Open class has two bikes. One is built by one of the teams, (the #45 Metiss JLC Moto, Metiss 1000 shared by three French riders. The other, is a Ducati 1199 Panigale, for Team Scuderia Deux Roues, (bike #17). They also run an all French squad.
The Superstock class will see a battle between Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. For flavor, there is one BMW, and one Aprilia RSV4. This is bike #6 for Aprilia Le Mans 2 Roues, once again, with a French riding squad. SRC Kawasaki starts from pole. Five minutes before the race start. Clear the grid, and be ready for a thriller. 24 hours is a long time, and a lot can happen. The one minute board appears. Time to go racing everybody. FIM Endurance World Championship 2013, is go! The riders sprint to their machines, and will take off, starting the race.
Gregory Leblanc takes the lead. But Vincent Philippe wastes no time at all, pouncing on that front spot. In third is bike #3, a French entered Superstock Suzuki GSXR in the hands of Anthony Loiseau, Romain Maitre, and Jonathan Hardt. Loiseau is on board bike #3 for the start. Brock Parkes runs fifth overall behind the LMS Junior Team bike. This is the #72 Suzuki GSXR1000 shared by Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson, Nans Chevaux, and Nicolas Pauhair. Both Yamaha GMT 94 and Honda TT Legends are working their way through the field, with David Checa and Michael Dunlop riding those bikes respectively.
Gregory Leblanc passes Vincent Philippe for the lead. The race is now a few hours old, and rider changes will come, as Loris Baz prepares for his stint. A smooth stop for SRC Kawasaki, as Loris Baz does board the bike. SERT will take over in P1 momentarily. Vincent Philippe is in traffic, which might allow Baz to gain some ground. Holding third is the Yamaha (#94). Kenny Foray has taken over from David Checa. BMW is now fourth. Sylvain Barrier takes over the bike from Sebastien Gimbert.
Sylvain Barrier pits the BMW again, and will stay on the bike. He is doing a double stint. Gimbert did a single. Karl Muggeridge is not set to go on the bike yet. Oops. Rider change at Yamaha YART. Sheridan Morais of France takes the place of Josh Waters. He has taken over from Broc Parkes. But, more drama. Someone ditches their bike. Uh oh. It's Sylvain Barrier on the BMW. Not good. Well, actually, Barrier's bike doesn't have much damage as he checks the dashboard before heading back on track.
Barrier will rejoin in seventh overall. What happened to him? He hits a bump in the last corner in the Lycee complex, and just lays the bike down with some sparks. Sylvain Barrier runs behind Simon Andrews on the #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR. Kenny Foret will take over the Yamaha when the team pits, as team manager Christophe Guyot, looks on. Mathieu Lagrive runs second in the overall. Yamaha GMT 94 passes SERT in the pit lane. Loris Baz hangs in there, making his way around bike #21, the PL Performances Suzuki GSXR1000 in Superstock. On the rider's strength for that bike are Frenchmen Cyril Lepand, Romain Delanoe, Patrick Blanchet, and Stephane Charloux.
Jeremy Guarnoni explains how cautious the SRC riders are being out there on a track that is becoming slightly damp. They are on intermediate tires (which are not slicks and not full wets, but are inbetween). Loris Baz brings the Kawasaki to the pits. There is a rider change, and Guarnoni takes over. Guarnoni may have two slick tires on that motorcycle. Watch out, because it's like riding on ice. Anthony Delhalle has taken over the #1 Suzuki from Vincent Philippe. He is being pursued by the #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR shared by Gregory Junod and Nicolas Metro, both of France.
Sebastien Gimbert is now riding his first stint on the #99 bike, running sixth overall. Anthony Delhalle has dropped the Suzuki, someplace. Once again, in this incident, the bike isn't severely damaged, and can be fixed in pit lane. Broc Parkes now runs fourth overall for Monster Energy Yamaha Austria. SERT pits, opting for a rider change, as Vincent Philippe gets back on the bike after Delhalle's off course incident earlier. The tail of the Suzuki is already battered, and has racer's tape on it. Gregory Leblanc is pulling out a gap over the Yamaha GMT 94 bike. Will Kawasaki turn this field green with envy? OK. Pun intended.
Meanwhile, SERT's problems go from bad to worse as Vincent Philippe crashes again. This triggers a safety car. The weather is acting up. Or, there's something physically wrong with the GSXR1000. Philippe gets the bike back to pit lane. But, he had to be winded after his fall. The bike is taken straight to the garage. Nans Chevaux, riding the #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki is going well. They are second in Superstock, behind the #3, the similar GSXR belonging to AM Moto Racing Competition. The race approaches the end of the fourth hour.
So, at that time point, here are the top ten runners.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
3. EWC #99 BMW Motorrad France
Thevent BMW S1000RR
Gimbert/Barrier/Cudlin
4. EWC #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR
McGuinness/Rutter/Andrews/Dunlop
5. EWC #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR
Junod/Metro/Dunlop
6. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
7. SST #3 AM Moto Racing Competition Suzuki GSXR1000
Loiseau/Maitre/Hardt
8. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
9. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
10. Open #45 Metiss JLC Moto Metiss 1000
Michel/Huvier/Cheron
Bike #14 hits the pit lane. They have an Isle of Man TT veteran in Conor Cummins on their team. But he's new to endurance motorcycle racing. This is the #14 Maco Racing Team Yamaha R1 and he is sharing with Frenchman Denis Bouan. The riders get a massage and have something to eat. But, rest doesn't come too much. They usually go two hours between stints before the team calls them to the pit to get back on the bike.
As night falls, Simon Andrews does just that, taking over on the #77 Honda TT Legends machine. It's getting dark at Magny Cours. So, use the headlights on the front of the bike. Meanwhile, SERT is having a fraught race. It's going from bad to worse as they make repairs to the motorcycle, and while the clock is their enemy, it is a friend to the green machine, the Kawasaki for SRC. Julian Da Costa will take over the Suzuki, and they bring the bike into the pit lane, refueling it, ready to keep going. SERT team manager Dominique Melliand explains how he's had to calm down a couple of his riders, and be a psychologist in a way.
But, they'll get back at it, and run to a pace. Kenny Foray is still on the #94 Yamaha. However, he'll hand over to Matthieu Lagrive on the next pit stop. The Yamaha does pit from first place overall, and Foret will hand over to Lagrive. SRC Kawasaki will take over the race lead. Sylvain Barrier continues on the #99 BMW. But, on the next pit stop, Karl Muggeridge will take over for his first stint in competition. SRC Kawasaki takes over the lead. Jeremy Guarnoni at the controls. But, Guarnoni makes a scheduled pit stop, and will hand the bike back over to Gregory Leblanc.
More woes for BMW. Karl Muggeridge ditches the bike on his outlap. They were running third overall as Muggeridge frantically pushes the bike into pit lane and into it's garage. The bike will be fixed by the crew. But Karl Muggeridge has to be spent after that. They've lost spots, and lost time. But Sebastien Gimbert will take it back on track. Gimbert is not comfortable on the bike. So, soon, as darkness has fallen over Magny Cours, it could be game over for BMW Motorrad France. Gimbert runs wide into Lycee, and has to pit.
Auf wiedersehen BMW. Gesundheit. Farewell. BMW team manager Ian Wheeler, is disappointed, and rightfully so. Better luck next year. Simon Andrews will bring in the #77 Honda and Michael Dunlop will take over. Simon Andrews ran his whole 50 minute stint. But, he had fuel spilled on him, and looks to be in some pain. Honda TT Legends team manager Glen Richards, says the team hopes for a podium place at the end. Sheridan Morais pits the #7 Yamaha R1 for Monster Energy Yamaha YART. Igor Jerman will take over. The #7 bike runs third overall, headed into the hours of darkness at Magny Cours. Kenny Foret, on the Yamaha, runs second right now.
Despite the crash in the Lycee corner, Yamaha team manager Christophe Guyot is confident the team will run strong through the nighttime hours. SRC Kawasaki pits. Loris Baz is off the bike. So, here's the top ten after eight hours.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
3. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
4. EWC #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR
McGuinness/Rutter/Andrews/Dunlop
5. SST #3 AM Moto Racing Competition Suzuki GSXR1000
Loiseau/Maitre/Hardt
6. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
7. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
8. EWC #14 Maco Racing Team Yamaha R1
Bouan/Cummins/Roccolin
9. SST #9 DGSport Herock Yamaha R1
van Keymeulen/Schouten/Mahias
10. EWC #2 Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
Giabbani/Dietrich/Buisson
The darkness sets in and the riders acclimate to cooler weather in the overnight hours. Riders and teams alike will change focus. The racing slows a shade. But, the crews and riders will still have to be on top of their game. SRC Kawasaki pits. Gregory Leblanc takes over. Suzuki is playing catch up. Conor Cummins is now on his bike, (the #14 Maco Racing Yamaha R1). He takes over from third rider Massimo Roccolin. Honda TT Legends also pits as John McGuinness hands over the bike. They change tires, and brake pads. Simon Andrews takes over the bike.
Suzuki Junior Team manager Damien Saulnier debriefs with his mechanics. The team is prepping for a pit stop. 30 seconds. Get this one right, chaps. The Suzuki is in the box. Yes. Make an adjustment to the bike. Final words of encouragement to the new rider, "go get 'em!" "Hey guys, is the oil OK?" "Huh?" "Is the oil OK?" "Yes sir." "You looked at it? How much?" "Two blocks. It's OK." "When you have to sign off for oil, it's impossible. There's one day left." More strategy.
"By now, uh, we'll do, it's nearly 6:00 A.M. If it's OK, the day will come soon." Etienne Masson tells of his stint. "The thing is, I looked, and it said, lap 30, and after what seemed like 45 minutes, it said, 29. I was like, 'oh no'. 'Well, you should have something like three hours now. Go get some sleep. Come back happy, and we won't stop." At Yamaha GMT 94, they are still P2, as confirmed by Christophe Guyot, to his rider. Kenny Foray will pit.
GMT 94 is running like clockwork, doing a routine stop as Foray steps from the bike. Guyot talks to Foray. "Well, excellent, Kenny. Yes, you did 2:42's and that's the plan." "I came to do that. But, there was a lot of traffic. Maybe at the start of the stint, I fell into a group of slow guys." "Well, that's how it is. You did really well. Thanks. Superb. Go and rest." Sixteen hours into the race. The sun is going to rise soon, as a dark bluish hue fingers the sky, and sparks the transformation from darkness, to dawn. Kawasaki is playing games with a snoozing rider or crewman. "Hey, dude. Wake up!" Here are the standings after 16 hours.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
3. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
4. EWC #1 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa/Cudlin
5. EWC #77 Honda TT Legends Honda CBR1000RR
McGuinness/Rutter/Andrews/Dunlop
6. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
7. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
8. SST #3 AM Moto Racing Competition Suzuki GSXR1000
Loiseau/Maitre/Hardt
9. EWC #2 Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
Giabbani/Dietrich/Buisson
10. EWC #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR
Junod/Metro/Dunlop
Suzuki have amazingly made it from 33rd place to being fourth overall! Wow! Kudos to them for gaining back so many spots! Penz 13 and the Suzuki Junior Team battle for Superstock honors. Both teams are on the same lap. But, this is the closest battle of the whole race. Kawasaki leads in the overall. But, Yamaha GMT 94 are steadily closing in on the green bike. Two teams who have had fraught races are the #69 Ecurie Chrono Sport and the #8 Team Bolliger Switzerland Kawasaki's. They've endured electrical gremlins.
Bolliger runs 13th in the overall. Sharing the riding chores are Austrian Horst Saiger, Jose Manuel Luis Mita of Spain, Switzerland's Marc Wildisen, and Mita's countryman, Gaston Garcia Blosco. Ecurie Chrono Sport's Kawasaki is shared by Mickael Mecene of France, and his countrymen, (two Lionel's), Lionel Bergeron, and Lionel Herveux, as well as Julien Ferre. Honda TT Legends is fifth, and the riders cannot get a good feel for the bike at the moment. The motorcycle is being attended to in the garage, and the team is sussing out the problem as it's uncertain of the source. John McGuinness will return to the track.
SERT is catching up to Yamaha YART. But, team manager Mandy Kainz says the team has no specific plan. The race is not over. But, there are problems. Honda TT Legends, goes up in smoke! John McGuinness on bike #77 has an engine explosion, as there was a burst of flame out of the back of the bike! The team was dealing with an oil leak. But, there's more to it than just a severed oil line. McGuinness pushes the bike back, and fortunately makes it to pit lane, looking exasperated. At the seventeen and a half hour mark, the motor in that CBR1000RR has gone ka blammo, and it's game over.
Yamaha GMT 94 is expected to pit. They are beginning to have issues, too. So, these top factory teams are running into difficulty just as the sun rises over the Circuit de Nevers on Sunday morning. The crew seems to be working on the wiring harness of the #94 machine. Kenny Foray was at the controls when the bike came in. Matthieu Lagrive will take over riding chores next. But, the safety car has been deployed again, because the #77 Honda burned up all the oil in the crank case and spewed it all over the track.
The mess will need to be cleaned up, pronto. GMT 94 will have a bit more time to suss out their problems. But, for now, they will fuel the bike and get Matthieu Lagrive back into the fight. Lagrive and Foray hav done most of the riding. Very few mentions of the other two riders at GMT 94, Maxime Berger and David Checa. The bike restarts and is back on track, to the applause of the crewmen. He was dealing with an electrical problem, engaging the rev limiter when it wasn't supposed to be on.
Yamaha GMT 94 will not win. They might get a podium. As for Honda TT Legends, au revoir. Their race is run. Better luck next year. SRC Kawasaki seems like they will be the last team standing when it comes to the factory bikes. Kawasaki team manager Gilles Staffler, is confident, and knows they can build up a lead over the Yamaha. Soon, the track will be back to green flag conditions. Gregory Leblanc pilots the Kawasaki right now.
Here's the running order after 20 hours, with four left to run in the Bol D'Or.
1. EWC #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Leblanc/Baz/Guarnoni
2. EWC #7 Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha R1
Jerman/Parkes/Waters/Morais
3. EWC #1 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa/Cudlin
4. EWC #94 Yamaha France GMT 94/
Michelin Yamalube Yamaha R1
Checa/Foray/Lagrive/Berger
5. SST #13 Penz13.com Frank's Autowelt
Racing Team BMW S1000RR
Vallcaneras/Pridmore/Takada/Mercer
6. SST #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Guittet/Mason/Chevaux/Pauhair
7. EWC #2 Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
Giabbani/Dietrich/Buisson
8. EWC #55 National Motos Honda CBR1000RR
Junod/Metro
9. SST #50 Team Motors Events April Moto Suzuki GSXR1000
Fastre/Lucas/Savary/Chevrier
10. SST #67 Star Team PAM Racing Suzuki GSXR1000
Prulhiere/Maurin/Longearet/Deletrez
SRC Kawasaki is ten laps ahead of second place with four hours remaining. Brock Parkes is trying his best to bring YART home on the podium and beat Suzuki. They are slightly slower than the YART Yamaha. Vincent Philippe pits and hands over to Anthony Delhalle. Yamaha GMT 94 is back on track with a fixed wiring system. But, Kawasaki will be hard to beat as the hours drift by. David Checa is running on the #94 bike.
There is another crash late in the going for the Open class prototype Ducati Panigale. Lionel Ancelin takes a tumble, but though it looks bad, he's able to get up and might continue in the race, looking for a finish for the new Ducati Panigale. Penz 13 is still running well in the lead of the Superstock division, holding off their rivals from the Suzuki Junior Team. Etienne Masson is on the #72 bike, while Steve Mercer is the rider of bike #13. Jason Pridmore will take it home for Penz 13 on their BMW S1000RR. The Suzuki still has to pit.
Loris Baz explains his uncertainty about overtaking to the crew, saying, "when you overtake, you have to be real sure about when you're braking. I was always breaking to the inside. Then, I had to pass around the outside. Once I was past, I gave it some gas, and moved out the gap to a second." Jeremy Guarnoni is riding the leading Kawasaki, and David Checa is trying to unlap himself. It's Yamaha vs. Kawasaki. Yamaha GMT 94 is still fighting for the podium.
Meanwhile, more problems for the Open division Ducati Panigale. The rear tire and rear frame have completely collapsed, and it looks more like a cruiser than it does, a Superbike. The Panigale has had a fraught race. Meanwhile, Etienne Masson is preparing for a pit stop for the #72 Suzuki. This will be the final pit stop of the race, for this team. How will they do? But, before we get to that, the Penz 13 BMW is in trouble again. They've been called in by the marshals for a stop and go penalty. Why? That changes the lead in Superstock, and the #72 team will be leading the division over the Penz 13 BMW.
Baptiste Guittet has taken over the #72, which now leads Superstock. Rico Penzkofer, the Penz 13 team manager says that Jason Pridmore might have hit the cone at the end of pit lane. Cyril Huvier now leads the Open class. With the problems for the Ducati Panigale, the #45 Metiss 1000 for the Metiss JLC Moto team, is leading the class. At the moment, they are running in 12th overall. Time is running short. The crowd cam to see the end of the race early this morning. Loris Baz is already waving to them. This is the final hour of the race.
Bike #11 comes in for it's final stop. Gregory Leblanc will take the bike to the checkered flag. Brock Parkes is going to take it home for the #7 team, Monster Energy Yamaha Austria. Also, National Motos runs eighth, as in the last part of the race, Michael Rutter has gone over to help Gregory Junod and Nicolas Metro. The Superstock class win will go to the #72 bike that has been documented for most of the race. SRC Kawasaki wins the race, and Gregory Leblanc takes the bike over the line before diving for the pits and parc ferme. Magny Cours is SRC Kawasaki's house. They've won this Bol D'Or race so many times, and this will add to that tally.
Here are the overall and class winners:
Overall/EWC: #11 SRC Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX10R
Gregory Leblanc, Loris Baz, and Jeremy Guarnoni
SST: #72 Junor Team LMS Suzuki Suzuki GSXR1000
Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson, Nans Chevaux, and Nicolas Pauhair
The winners complete 808 laps... 2,214 miles. In Superstock, Suzuki Junior Team completes 788 laps... 2,159 miles. Monster Energy Yamaha Austria has the points lead, because SRC Kawasaki will not contest the entire 2013 FIM World Endurance Championship season. The next race is the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan, coming up on the last weekend in July. Will have highlights of that race, when they come along. So long for now.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
AMA Pro Supersport & Harley Davidson Road America recaps
Here are the recaps of the Pro Supersport and Harley Davidson races from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin last weekend.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-pro-ss-h-d-class-road-america-recaps/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-pro-ss-h-d-class-road-america-recaps/
Friday, June 7, 2013
WSBK: Dorna To Rein In Regs
2014 regulations for the FIM World Superbike championship will be phased in next year, in three different stages, according to the sanctioning body, as well as Dorna, and MSMA. Here are the details.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-dorna-to-rein-in-regs/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-dorna-to-rein-in-regs/
Thursday, June 6, 2013
WSBK: Cooking In Portugal
Cool feature. Apparently, motorcycle racers are also some pretty good cooks, too. Hungry? Check this out.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-cooking-in-portugal/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-cooking-in-portugal/
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
BSB: Knockhill Pays Tribute to Steve Hislop
A tribute race to be held in honor of great motorcycle racer, Steve Hislop, who was killed in a helicopter crash, ten years ago.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/bsb-knockhill-pays-tribute-to-steve-hislop/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/bsb-knockhill-pays-tribute-to-steve-hislop/
Is Dani Pedrosa starting to crack under the pressure from rookie teammate Marc Marquez?
It is possible by now that Marc Marquez could be ruffling Pedrosa's feathers.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/moto-gp/is-dani-pedrosa-starting-to-crack-under-the-pressure-from-rookie-teammate-marc-marquez/story-fn2ms4i4-1226657661426#.Ua6sIJwsb3U
http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/moto-gp/is-dani-pedrosa-starting-to-crack-under-the-pressure-from-rookie-teammate-marc-marquez/story-fn2ms4i4-1226657661426#.Ua6sIJwsb3U
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Moto 3: Italy
Here are the race highlights from the Moto 3 race at Mugello in Italy.
On pole will be Jonas Folger, scoring his first pole of the season in 2013. Maverick Vinales and Alex Rins are also on the front row. The bikes set off on their warmup lap for this 20 lap race. Here we go. There is no rain for this race, for round five of Moto 3. Go!
At the start, Alex Rins crept forward and Jonas Folger nabbed him. Going into San Donato, it's Jonas Folger who is ahead. Cool it, chaps. Folger will escape if you don't just run to a pace. They plunge through Casanova and the Arrabiatta corners. Alex Rins and Jack Miller are racing. Alex Marquez is Miller's target as Miguel Oliveira is defending. They line up for the last corner at Bucine. The KTM's have a power advantage ov er the FTR Honda's. Miguel Oliviera is going for it and Alex Rins passes. Miller fends off Niccolo Antonelli's challenge as Zulfahmi Khairuddin is now tenth.
The Mahindra bikes also run well. It's Folger, Vinales, Rins, and Salom, the top four. Vinales wants to get into the lead. He's right around Folger into San Donato. But, Vinales is still pushing. Antonelli passes Miller. Folger, it looks like, sets fast lap. Couldn't find the time on the graphic. Folger knows he'll need to push if he wants to beat the Spaniards. Vinales takes the lead through Bucine. It's Vinales, Folger, and Rins, 1-2-3. Alessandro Tonucci crashes his bike. Game over. Meanwhile, Folger and Rins remain second and third. They're content to be where they are for now.
Vinales is running well. But, Alex Rins is going to push for sure. Back into San Donato again, the top five are all scrapping with each other. Alex Marquez is being patient, biding his time. Rins gets around Folger, but Danny Webb has issues. He's got issues, after scrapping with John McPhee and Jasper Iwema. He might have collided with either of them. Vinales, Folger, Rins, Oliveira, and Marquez, is the top five. Six laps are complete. Rins moves into second. He can't get caught behind Folger. Romano Fenati is moving up, passing John McPhee.
Jasper Iwema and Niklas Ajo are moving up, too. Zulfhammi Khairuddin is also doing well. Back at the sharp end, it's still a train of bikes, with Vinales in P1. Oliviera is settled down, but Alex Marquez is flying right now. What is he up to? He wants to race. Luis Salom is also in this thing, just keeping pace, watching what's going on, riding his race. Folger runs wide and could have given a spot away to Oliviera. Eight laps complete. Two laps to halfway. There are at least two scrums going on on the track, with about seven or eight bikes in each pack.
That San Donato corner is what tells the story for who will pass who. This is great racing right now! Just fantastic! Luis Salom passes Miguel Oliveira, as Alex Marquez tries to go for the lead, and so does Alex Rins. Who is ahead here? Well, no worries. Maverick Vinales is now ahead. Luis Salom also continues to push. Oliviera wanted to pass Folger, but thought better of it. Marquez will have a go when he can. Not sure what Rins might do.
Eric Granado of Brazil is now eighth. Ten ;laps down. Ten to go. The race is half over. Alex Marquez passes for the lead, into San Donato. But, the bikes go six wide in the chasing group! Yikes! This is unreal! These youngsters are not afraid to mix it up. Jack Miller is also going for it. Wow. It's still a KTM vs. Honda battle. Matteo Ferrari, Brad Binder, and others, are in this tussle, too. John McPhee and Jakub Kornfeil are out of the points. Vinales can't get away. Rins gets swallowed up. Luis Salom and Miguel Oliviera are also pushing.
Jack Miller did a wheelie at the start. Nine laps left. Vinales is still being hounded by Marquez and Rins. What is Vinales thinking before the end of this race? He's going to want to retain the race lead. Vinales is still leading the race, and he's got a clear advantage. Luis Salom is now in this scrum. Now, Marquez leads. Luis Salom makes a pass as Khairuddin passes Romano Fenati. Jonas Folger is catching up. Six riders could win this race. Marquez and others get wide into Scarperia. Oliviera passes Rins. More passing as they go six wide again! Luis Salom wants to take over. But, Miguel Oliviera is leading! Wow.
Who is going to win? Yikes! Oliveira is going to try consolidating his lead. He'll run a better pace than Alex Marquez was doing. Into the Biondetti esses and through Bucine, things are still hot and heavy. Five laps remain now. Luis Salom has now presented a challenge. Will Vinales pass? Yes. These bikes are all over the place. The KTM's are squashing the Honda FTR's right now. Niccolo Antonelli is also being caught. Niklas Ajo and Jack Miller are not out of this race yet either.
Miller is pushing Ajo again. Salom hits the brakes and Oliveira pushes into the apex of the corner. This has been a crazy race. Yours truly's head is a litle scrambled with all these changes. Luis Salom had a huge crash at Le Mans in practice, and is still recovering from that one. Oliviera passes Vinales. Rins sits up, and he might be able to push to the front before this race is run. Into San Donato again, Marquez ran wide and blocked Oliveira. Luis Salom might just be able to pull away. Oliviera really wants to pass Marquez. Romano Fenati has crashed in the Biondetti corner. He flies over the handlebars, and tumbles through the gravel. Yikes!
That was a scary crash. Two laps left. Miguel Oliveira is pushing. Here comes Rins, and here comes Salom. Vinales is flying and so is Jonas Folger. Marquez leads over Salom. This is classic racing. It comes down to a last lap shootout whether we're talking about 125cc, Moto 3, 250cc, or Moto 2. It's the last lap. Into Bucine, Rins is following Marquez. Salom has some space, too. This is it. Who will win? Into San Donato for the final time. These guys are four wide. Alex Marquez is caught out. He drifts back. Salom leads over Rins.
Maverick Vinales is stuck. Where will he end up? Alex Rins has really done well. The top two pull away. Luis Salom is going for it. Through Correntaio, and Biondetti. What happens into Bucine? Is Vinales close enough? One corner to go at Mugello. Salom leads. He's the winner! The action is not over. Matteo Ferrari and Jakub Kornfeil get tangled up in the last corner.
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
This is Salom's second win of 2013, after also getting the checkers in Qatar. The next race for Moto 3 sees a return to Spain at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, in two weeks.
On pole will be Jonas Folger, scoring his first pole of the season in 2013. Maverick Vinales and Alex Rins are also on the front row. The bikes set off on their warmup lap for this 20 lap race. Here we go. There is no rain for this race, for round five of Moto 3. Go!
At the start, Alex Rins crept forward and Jonas Folger nabbed him. Going into San Donato, it's Jonas Folger who is ahead. Cool it, chaps. Folger will escape if you don't just run to a pace. They plunge through Casanova and the Arrabiatta corners. Alex Rins and Jack Miller are racing. Alex Marquez is Miller's target as Miguel Oliveira is defending. They line up for the last corner at Bucine. The KTM's have a power advantage ov er the FTR Honda's. Miguel Oliviera is going for it and Alex Rins passes. Miller fends off Niccolo Antonelli's challenge as Zulfahmi Khairuddin is now tenth.
The Mahindra bikes also run well. It's Folger, Vinales, Rins, and Salom, the top four. Vinales wants to get into the lead. He's right around Folger into San Donato. But, Vinales is still pushing. Antonelli passes Miller. Folger, it looks like, sets fast lap. Couldn't find the time on the graphic. Folger knows he'll need to push if he wants to beat the Spaniards. Vinales takes the lead through Bucine. It's Vinales, Folger, and Rins, 1-2-3. Alessandro Tonucci crashes his bike. Game over. Meanwhile, Folger and Rins remain second and third. They're content to be where they are for now.
Vinales is running well. But, Alex Rins is going to push for sure. Back into San Donato again, the top five are all scrapping with each other. Alex Marquez is being patient, biding his time. Rins gets around Folger, but Danny Webb has issues. He's got issues, after scrapping with John McPhee and Jasper Iwema. He might have collided with either of them. Vinales, Folger, Rins, Oliveira, and Marquez, is the top five. Six laps are complete. Rins moves into second. He can't get caught behind Folger. Romano Fenati is moving up, passing John McPhee.
Jasper Iwema and Niklas Ajo are moving up, too. Zulfhammi Khairuddin is also doing well. Back at the sharp end, it's still a train of bikes, with Vinales in P1. Oliviera is settled down, but Alex Marquez is flying right now. What is he up to? He wants to race. Luis Salom is also in this thing, just keeping pace, watching what's going on, riding his race. Folger runs wide and could have given a spot away to Oliviera. Eight laps complete. Two laps to halfway. There are at least two scrums going on on the track, with about seven or eight bikes in each pack.
That San Donato corner is what tells the story for who will pass who. This is great racing right now! Just fantastic! Luis Salom passes Miguel Oliveira, as Alex Marquez tries to go for the lead, and so does Alex Rins. Who is ahead here? Well, no worries. Maverick Vinales is now ahead. Luis Salom also continues to push. Oliviera wanted to pass Folger, but thought better of it. Marquez will have a go when he can. Not sure what Rins might do.
Eric Granado of Brazil is now eighth. Ten ;laps down. Ten to go. The race is half over. Alex Marquez passes for the lead, into San Donato. But, the bikes go six wide in the chasing group! Yikes! This is unreal! These youngsters are not afraid to mix it up. Jack Miller is also going for it. Wow. It's still a KTM vs. Honda battle. Matteo Ferrari, Brad Binder, and others, are in this tussle, too. John McPhee and Jakub Kornfeil are out of the points. Vinales can't get away. Rins gets swallowed up. Luis Salom and Miguel Oliviera are also pushing.
Jack Miller did a wheelie at the start. Nine laps left. Vinales is still being hounded by Marquez and Rins. What is Vinales thinking before the end of this race? He's going to want to retain the race lead. Vinales is still leading the race, and he's got a clear advantage. Luis Salom is now in this scrum. Now, Marquez leads. Luis Salom makes a pass as Khairuddin passes Romano Fenati. Jonas Folger is catching up. Six riders could win this race. Marquez and others get wide into Scarperia. Oliviera passes Rins. More passing as they go six wide again! Luis Salom wants to take over. But, Miguel Oliviera is leading! Wow.
Who is going to win? Yikes! Oliveira is going to try consolidating his lead. He'll run a better pace than Alex Marquez was doing. Into the Biondetti esses and through Bucine, things are still hot and heavy. Five laps remain now. Luis Salom has now presented a challenge. Will Vinales pass? Yes. These bikes are all over the place. The KTM's are squashing the Honda FTR's right now. Niccolo Antonelli is also being caught. Niklas Ajo and Jack Miller are not out of this race yet either.
Miller is pushing Ajo again. Salom hits the brakes and Oliveira pushes into the apex of the corner. This has been a crazy race. Yours truly's head is a litle scrambled with all these changes. Luis Salom had a huge crash at Le Mans in practice, and is still recovering from that one. Oliviera passes Vinales. Rins sits up, and he might be able to push to the front before this race is run. Into San Donato again, Marquez ran wide and blocked Oliveira. Luis Salom might just be able to pull away. Oliviera really wants to pass Marquez. Romano Fenati has crashed in the Biondetti corner. He flies over the handlebars, and tumbles through the gravel. Yikes!
That was a scary crash. Two laps left. Miguel Oliveira is pushing. Here comes Rins, and here comes Salom. Vinales is flying and so is Jonas Folger. Marquez leads over Salom. This is classic racing. It comes down to a last lap shootout whether we're talking about 125cc, Moto 3, 250cc, or Moto 2. It's the last lap. Into Bucine, Rins is following Marquez. Salom has some space, too. This is it. Who will win? Into San Donato for the final time. These guys are four wide. Alex Marquez is caught out. He drifts back. Salom leads over Rins.
Maverick Vinales is stuck. Where will he end up? Alex Rins has really done well. The top two pull away. Luis Salom is going for it. Through Correntaio, and Biondetti. What happens into Bucine? Is Vinales close enough? One corner to go at Mugello. Salom leads. He's the winner! The action is not over. Matteo Ferrari and Jakub Kornfeil get tangled up in the last corner.
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
This is Salom's second win of 2013, after also getting the checkers in Qatar. The next race for Moto 3 sees a return to Spain at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, in two weeks.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Moto 2: Italy
Moto 2 comes to the Mugello Circuit and as they do, it is dry. This is round five of the championship. The track at Mugello is 3.259 miles. Sandro Cortese is getting better in Moto 2, after winning the Moto 3 championship last year. Scott Redding has the pole for this 21 lap race. The bikes are off on their sighting lap, getting ready for a start.
At the start, Taaki Nakagami and Pol Espargaro both get good starts. Nakagami has an edge as Nico Terol comes to second. Johann Zarco and Tito Rabat are going for it as Pol Espargaro gets trapped in 13th behind Simone Corsi. Mika Kallio gets a good start, too. Scott Redding wants this, badly. But, both the Indonesian riders go down in San Donato. It's Rafid Topan Sucipto and Doni Tata Pradita. Through Casanova and Arrabiata, the bikes have settled down and are running single file as Taaki Nakagami leads. Pol Espargaro runs behind Tom Luthi.
Alex de Angelis also passes. Louis Rossi and Matteo Passini both get penalties. Nico Terol is quickest on track at a 1:51.6. Scott Redding is pushing Takaaki Nakagami. Both these riders still want their first wins in Moto 2 and in Grand Prix racing. Johann Zarco is fourth. Tito Rabat, Mika Kallio, and Xavier Simeon are all doing well in this race. The field comes back into San Donato another time. Redding takes the lead in Poggio Secco. Johann Zarco and Nico Terol are running quickly, both in the 1:53 bracket. Pol Espargaro battles with Marcel Schrotter.
Nico Terol slides through Bucine. Alex de Angelis is also having to hang onto his bike. Mika Kallio might make his way forward. On lap five, Terol runs quick lap as Taaki Nakagami slides. Tito Rabat slides off in turn one. Where is he? Rabat rejoins, but he's sunk down the running order. He wiggles the bike in the gravel, staying on it. Terol runs fast lap at 1:53.7. Redding leads this race. Johann Zarco sets new fast lap at 1:53 flat. Mugello can beat up the tires if riders aren't careful.
Simone Corsi and Mika Kallio are both moving up. Johann Zarco passes Nico Terol. This race is now seven laps old. Nico Terol got loose in Biondetti, allowing Zarco to pass. Alex de Angelis passes his team mate. Simone Corsi is losing spots. Jordi Torrres is also there. Redding is taking off as Xavier Simeon passes someone. Not sure who. Mika Kallio has run the gamut of bikes. 125cc, 250cc, MotoGP, and Moto 2. Tito Rabat falls down the order.
Someone has crashed. It's Takaaki Nakagami. Game over. Nico Terol is catching Scott Redding for the race lead with twelve laps remaining in the race. Steven Odendaal from South Africa, crashes his bike and walks away. Nico Terol leads over Redding and Zarco. Mika Kallio is being pushed by Xavier Simeon. Pol Espargaro runs behind Jordi Torres. Redding seems to be strong in the back part of the track, while Terol has an advantage on the other side.
Tito Rabat has fallen to 21st. Danny Kent is having a fraught race and so is his team mate Louis Rossi. Nico Terol is now able to challenge for wins in Moto 2. Tito Rabat is going well as Pol Espargaro is struggling. Johann Zarco is trying to keep up with the top two. Toni Elias sets his personal best lap. Can Redding pour on the steam, trying to pass Terol? Well, he can't take risks, even though he's got a large points lead. Terol squares the corners. Redding takes the lead away from Terol, through his different riding technique.
Alex de Angelis is moving up as Xavier Simeon holds off Mika Kallio, coming back into San Donato. Ratthpark Wilairot is also in a scrap, down the order. Axel Pons is also doing well. Jordi Torres is coming on strong, too. Six laps left. Redding has to keep a gap. Taaki Nakagaami is out of this race and is unsure as to how his crash happened. Nakagaami is OK. Redding opens his gap up over Terol. Redding wants his second straight win in Moto 2. Five laps to go. The pit boards are telling the riders to breathe, and focus.
Axel Pons is out of the race. Xavier Simeon gets hit by Alex de Angelis, and Simeon falls. Oof. He'll be OK. Simeon is OK. But he was punted at San Donato. Through Buccini, there's just four laps left, and Scott Redding could do it. Rodney Gould was the last rider to win two straight races in the intermediate bike class in Grand Prix racing, way back in 1971. Just two laps remain in this race. But, it looks like Redding is going to do it.
Mika Kallio, on the second Marc VDS bike, is still being hounded by Jordi Torres. Pol Espargaro passes for fourth spot as he's in damage control mode coming to the end. One more lap to go. He tucks under the fairing, to get more aerodynamic. Can Mika Kallio get a good result? He is Redding's team mate. Pol Espargaro wants to hold fourth spot. Kallio fends off a challenge from Simone Corsi. It's the last lap now. Redding will win his second straight Moto 2 race for the very first time. Scott Redding is the winner!
#45 Scott Redding GBR Kalex Quedgley
The next Moto 2 race is going to be another event in Spain, with the rest of the MotoGP bunch, at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, coming up in two weeks.
At the start, Taaki Nakagami and Pol Espargaro both get good starts. Nakagami has an edge as Nico Terol comes to second. Johann Zarco and Tito Rabat are going for it as Pol Espargaro gets trapped in 13th behind Simone Corsi. Mika Kallio gets a good start, too. Scott Redding wants this, badly. But, both the Indonesian riders go down in San Donato. It's Rafid Topan Sucipto and Doni Tata Pradita. Through Casanova and Arrabiata, the bikes have settled down and are running single file as Taaki Nakagami leads. Pol Espargaro runs behind Tom Luthi.
Alex de Angelis also passes. Louis Rossi and Matteo Passini both get penalties. Nico Terol is quickest on track at a 1:51.6. Scott Redding is pushing Takaaki Nakagami. Both these riders still want their first wins in Moto 2 and in Grand Prix racing. Johann Zarco is fourth. Tito Rabat, Mika Kallio, and Xavier Simeon are all doing well in this race. The field comes back into San Donato another time. Redding takes the lead in Poggio Secco. Johann Zarco and Nico Terol are running quickly, both in the 1:53 bracket. Pol Espargaro battles with Marcel Schrotter.
Nico Terol slides through Bucine. Alex de Angelis is also having to hang onto his bike. Mika Kallio might make his way forward. On lap five, Terol runs quick lap as Taaki Nakagami slides. Tito Rabat slides off in turn one. Where is he? Rabat rejoins, but he's sunk down the running order. He wiggles the bike in the gravel, staying on it. Terol runs fast lap at 1:53.7. Redding leads this race. Johann Zarco sets new fast lap at 1:53 flat. Mugello can beat up the tires if riders aren't careful.
Simone Corsi and Mika Kallio are both moving up. Johann Zarco passes Nico Terol. This race is now seven laps old. Nico Terol got loose in Biondetti, allowing Zarco to pass. Alex de Angelis passes his team mate. Simone Corsi is losing spots. Jordi Torrres is also there. Redding is taking off as Xavier Simeon passes someone. Not sure who. Mika Kallio has run the gamut of bikes. 125cc, 250cc, MotoGP, and Moto 2. Tito Rabat falls down the order.
Someone has crashed. It's Takaaki Nakagami. Game over. Nico Terol is catching Scott Redding for the race lead with twelve laps remaining in the race. Steven Odendaal from South Africa, crashes his bike and walks away. Nico Terol leads over Redding and Zarco. Mika Kallio is being pushed by Xavier Simeon. Pol Espargaro runs behind Jordi Torres. Redding seems to be strong in the back part of the track, while Terol has an advantage on the other side.
Tito Rabat has fallen to 21st. Danny Kent is having a fraught race and so is his team mate Louis Rossi. Nico Terol is now able to challenge for wins in Moto 2. Tito Rabat is going well as Pol Espargaro is struggling. Johann Zarco is trying to keep up with the top two. Toni Elias sets his personal best lap. Can Redding pour on the steam, trying to pass Terol? Well, he can't take risks, even though he's got a large points lead. Terol squares the corners. Redding takes the lead away from Terol, through his different riding technique.
Alex de Angelis is moving up as Xavier Simeon holds off Mika Kallio, coming back into San Donato. Ratthpark Wilairot is also in a scrap, down the order. Axel Pons is also doing well. Jordi Torres is coming on strong, too. Six laps left. Redding has to keep a gap. Taaki Nakagaami is out of this race and is unsure as to how his crash happened. Nakagaami is OK. Redding opens his gap up over Terol. Redding wants his second straight win in Moto 2. Five laps to go. The pit boards are telling the riders to breathe, and focus.
Axel Pons is out of the race. Xavier Simeon gets hit by Alex de Angelis, and Simeon falls. Oof. He'll be OK. Simeon is OK. But he was punted at San Donato. Through Buccini, there's just four laps left, and Scott Redding could do it. Rodney Gould was the last rider to win two straight races in the intermediate bike class in Grand Prix racing, way back in 1971. Just two laps remain in this race. But, it looks like Redding is going to do it.
Mika Kallio, on the second Marc VDS bike, is still being hounded by Jordi Torres. Pol Espargaro passes for fourth spot as he's in damage control mode coming to the end. One more lap to go. He tucks under the fairing, to get more aerodynamic. Can Mika Kallio get a good result? He is Redding's team mate. Pol Espargaro wants to hold fourth spot. Kallio fends off a challenge from Simone Corsi. It's the last lap now. Redding will win his second straight Moto 2 race for the very first time. Scott Redding is the winner!
#45 Scott Redding GBR Kalex Quedgley
The next Moto 2 race is going to be another event in Spain, with the rest of the MotoGP bunch, at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, coming up in two weeks.
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