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Tuesday, July 30, 2013
MotoGP rumor mill
Not sure how many of these stories have been confirmed. This is from a Facebook page about motorcycle racing, called 2 Wheeled Racing News And Views that yours truly suggested for readers to check out. However, this one might also be old news. Haven't heard too much in the motorcycle racing world. Will keep posting things when found.
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Monday, July 29, 2013
Melandri and Davies Head To Silverstone with determination
BMW is leaving the World Superbike Championship after the 2013 season. Sad news to hear.
http://www.motorsport.com/wsbk/news/melandri-and-davies-head-to-silverstone-with-determination/
http://www.motorsport.com/wsbk/news/melandri-and-davies-head-to-silverstone-with-determination/
Thursday, July 25, 2013
FIM World Superbike rounds 7 & 8: Imola & Moscow
Tom Sykes swept both World Superbike races at the Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy.
World Superbike Race 1: #66 Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10-R
World Superbike Race 2: #66 Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10-R
World Supersport Race: #54 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR MAHI Racing Team India Kawasaki ZX-6-R
Superstock 1000 Race: #1 Sylvain Barrier FRA. BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK Team
BMW S1000RR HP4
Superstock 600 Race: #81 Alessandro Nocco ITA San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki ZX-6-R
Marco Melandri won the first race in the next round at Moscow Raceway in Moscow, Russia.
World Superbike Race 1: #33 Marco Melandri ITA BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000RR
Neither of the Superstock classes raced there. But, of course, the second Superbike race and all racing activity was cancelled, due to the tragic death of Italy's Andrea Antonelli, who rode the #8 Team Goeleven Kawasaki ZX-6-R- in the Supersport class. Rest In Peace, Andrea Antonelli. The next race for the World Superbike Championship will be at Silverstone, in Silverstone, England, coming up next weekend.
World Superbike Race 1: #66 Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10-R
World Superbike Race 2: #66 Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10-R
World Supersport Race: #54 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR MAHI Racing Team India Kawasaki ZX-6-R
Superstock 1000 Race: #1 Sylvain Barrier FRA. BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK Team
BMW S1000RR HP4
Superstock 600 Race: #81 Alessandro Nocco ITA San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki ZX-6-R
Marco Melandri won the first race in the next round at Moscow Raceway in Moscow, Russia.
World Superbike Race 1: #33 Marco Melandri ITA BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000RR
Neither of the Superstock classes raced there. But, of course, the second Superbike race and all racing activity was cancelled, due to the tragic death of Italy's Andrea Antonelli, who rode the #8 Team Goeleven Kawasaki ZX-6-R- in the Supersport class. Rest In Peace, Andrea Antonelli. The next race for the World Superbike Championship will be at Silverstone, in Silverstone, England, coming up next weekend.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Corkscrew moments - Laguna Seca 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
MotoGP round 9: U.S.A.: Laguna Seca
The northern California hills, for a quarter century, has had it's home on the Monterey Peninsula. Eddie Lawson won the first race in 1988. Wayne Rainey won three straight races in 500cc competition. Nicky Hayden won twice. Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo have both won. Who will win the United States Grand Prix this year? Fans, you are about to find out. Read on.
This is the halfway mark in the world championship. 37 points separate the top five riders. Stefan Bradl is on pole. He has the first pole for Honda this year. Jorge Lorenzo had that monstrous practice crash at Assen. Lorenzo will ride, and has qualified sixth for this race. Dani Pedrosa did not ride in Germany. But, he'll race here in the United States. He is not sure he can win. He just wants to finish. Marc Marquez is on pole. He's been real fast. In qualifying, Marquez, on provisional pole, Marquez ditched his Honda in turn six, and got pipped by Stefan Bradl for pole by 37 thousandths of a second!
The Corkscrew is the most legendary corner at Laguna Seca. The track was built in 1957. The corner is blind. You have to be on the knife edge. It's an 18% grade, 60 foot drop. It's equivalent of falling off a six story building. Yikes! It is never flat or straight. The tire wear won't be an issue. 32 laps scheduled in today's race. Laguna Seca, at 2.243 miles, is the shortest track that the MotoGP bikes and riders race on. Cal Crutchlow has had the best season for a British rider since Barry Sheene back in 1982.
Right now, the rider's are alone, with their thoughts about how they'll run their race. We're getting ready to race. Guitarist Joe Satriani delivers an electrifying version of the national anthem, and before that, a moment of silence was observed for the late Andrea Antonelli who lost his life in an FIM World Supersport race in Moscow, Russia.
Valentino Rossi wants to win again. In qualifying, Marc Marquez crashed, as Stefan Bradl put his satellite LCR Honda on pole. Alvaro Bautista is third and is the fastest rider in a straight line at 167 miles an hour. The riders are on their warmup lap. It's complete. We're set for a start, now. The race to the Andretti hairpin will be big.
At the start, Bradl jumps into the lead, the bikes fan out immediately. Valentino Rossi has come to second. Alvaro Bautista was shuffled back. Lorenzo is phsing, going for it. Alvaro Bautista is fifth, coming to the corkscrew for the first time. Lorenzo and Marquez tussle as Marquez raises the front wheel. Down through the corkscrew, and onto the end of the lap through turn eleven. Bautista passes Lorenzo. Dani Pedrosa is sixth. Crutchlow is back there and so are the Ducati's of Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso.
Through Rainey curve THEY COME. Bradl runs fast lap at 1:21.815. Rossi is going to fight. Cal Crutchlow is closing on Dani Pedrosa. Crutchlow had a suspension problem in qualifying, and he adjusted the ride height on his bike as Rossi did. Marquez runs fast lap at 1:21.579. Turns three and four are the only flat corners at Laguna Seca. Marquez tries passing Rossi and he's off track! He sticks the pass! He gets by Rossi! Holy cow!
Marquez wants by Bradl as Jorge Lorenzo holds fifth. Randy de Puniet, out. His race has been run. Marquez continues chasing Bradl. Marquez runs a new fast lap at 1:21.539. Soon, the tires will drop off. The prototype bikes have the same compounds on the rear, and everyone has medium compound front tires. Stefan Bradl's father, Helmut Bradl, ran in and won titles in the 250cc division in world grand prix bike racing. Aleix spargaro has dumped his bike. He overdid a braking zone.
Rossi got 61 degrees of lean angle, and Marquez got 63 degrees! These guys can really push themselves on their bikes. Bradley Smith retires his bike. He must have had a mechanical problem. Stefan Bradl still leads. Fans watch the race from a hill at the top of the Corkscrew. Bradl and Marquez still lead this race. There are big differences between a factory and a privateer bike. They are different. The new bike is an evolution of one that came before.
Dani Pedrosa passes down the inside of Jorge Lorenzo into the Andretti hairpin. Marquez is running wider into turn eleven and that could be causing him to lose some time to Bradl. We watch the action from Marquez's onboard camera, through the twists of the first part of the course, coming to the Corkscrew another time. Hit the throttle hard, and feel weightless, like being in space. Rossi is third, 3.3 seconds behind the leaders. Two laps to halfway. Working lap 14 of 32. Rossi runs a 1:22.5. Cal Crutchlow wants to pass Rossi and Pedrosa, because he's on a satellite bike, while the two other riders are factory guys, but they're hurt.
Colin Edwards is up to eleventh. Good effort for "The Texas Tornado". Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden, are battling each other for position. Hayden will not be back with Ducati in MotoGP next year. That must be frustrating. He's a world champ and a two-time U.S. GP winner in 2005 and 2006. Marquez runs 2/10ths of a second quicker than Bradl at the halfway mark in the race. 16 laps complete. 16 to go. Alvaro Bautista and Valentino Rossi fight for third. Bradl continues to lead. He was not happy after not winning his home race in Germany last time out.
Bautista still hounds Rossi. If Bautista gets the podium, it will be his first since Motegi, Japan last year. Now, Marquez takes the lead away from Bradl. Will he sail into the sunset? Bradl has to push, now! Keep pushing. Get after it, sunshine. Marquez can turn the bike into corners harder, and Bradl wants to feed it into the corner gently, as the two leaders lap Lukas Pesek. Rossi is having issues turning his bike. Twelve laps to go.
Ben Spies will be back to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next time out, for the second consecutive MotoGP race in the U.S., and third and final U.S. round of the year. Dani Pedrosa has opened a gap on Jorge Lorenzo. He is chasing down Alvaro Bautista. Bautista runs a totally different suspension system than the other Honda bikes in the field. The lap times range between 1:21.9 and 1:22.3. Nicky Hayden passes Andrea Dovizioso and then, he has trouble. He slows down and Dovizioso passes. They got togther! How did that happen?
Bradl continues to chase down Marc Marquez. Bradl passes Hiroshi Aoyama. Marquez dispenses with another lapped rider... Yonny Hernandez. Five laps remain. Bradl will get second. Rossi wants distance between he and Bautista. He wants a podium. The top seven riders are running the same lap times. Colin Edwards tries to pass Hector Barbera. Marquez will break another of Freddie Spencer's winning records for being the youngest rider. Spencer won back-to-back races at a certain point in the 1983 season. Freddie Spencer won both the intermediate (250cc) and premier (500cc) classes at Le Mans, in 1985.
Two laps to go. Alvaro Bautista gets cheered on by his crew. Hayden sticks a pass on Dovizioso through The Corkscrew. Bautista is coming for Rossi. Marc Marquez is on his last lap, on his way to another win. It will be a second consecutive victory, and, a second in the United States, for Marquez, after winning at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, back in March. Rossi will not make a move. Marc Marquez becomes the first rookie in MotoGP to win at Laguna Seca!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
The next MotoGP race is indeed the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, in three weeks.
This is the halfway mark in the world championship. 37 points separate the top five riders. Stefan Bradl is on pole. He has the first pole for Honda this year. Jorge Lorenzo had that monstrous practice crash at Assen. Lorenzo will ride, and has qualified sixth for this race. Dani Pedrosa did not ride in Germany. But, he'll race here in the United States. He is not sure he can win. He just wants to finish. Marc Marquez is on pole. He's been real fast. In qualifying, Marquez, on provisional pole, Marquez ditched his Honda in turn six, and got pipped by Stefan Bradl for pole by 37 thousandths of a second!
The Corkscrew is the most legendary corner at Laguna Seca. The track was built in 1957. The corner is blind. You have to be on the knife edge. It's an 18% grade, 60 foot drop. It's equivalent of falling off a six story building. Yikes! It is never flat or straight. The tire wear won't be an issue. 32 laps scheduled in today's race. Laguna Seca, at 2.243 miles, is the shortest track that the MotoGP bikes and riders race on. Cal Crutchlow has had the best season for a British rider since Barry Sheene back in 1982.
Right now, the rider's are alone, with their thoughts about how they'll run their race. We're getting ready to race. Guitarist Joe Satriani delivers an electrifying version of the national anthem, and before that, a moment of silence was observed for the late Andrea Antonelli who lost his life in an FIM World Supersport race in Moscow, Russia.
Valentino Rossi wants to win again. In qualifying, Marc Marquez crashed, as Stefan Bradl put his satellite LCR Honda on pole. Alvaro Bautista is third and is the fastest rider in a straight line at 167 miles an hour. The riders are on their warmup lap. It's complete. We're set for a start, now. The race to the Andretti hairpin will be big.
At the start, Bradl jumps into the lead, the bikes fan out immediately. Valentino Rossi has come to second. Alvaro Bautista was shuffled back. Lorenzo is phsing, going for it. Alvaro Bautista is fifth, coming to the corkscrew for the first time. Lorenzo and Marquez tussle as Marquez raises the front wheel. Down through the corkscrew, and onto the end of the lap through turn eleven. Bautista passes Lorenzo. Dani Pedrosa is sixth. Crutchlow is back there and so are the Ducati's of Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso.
Through Rainey curve THEY COME. Bradl runs fast lap at 1:21.815. Rossi is going to fight. Cal Crutchlow is closing on Dani Pedrosa. Crutchlow had a suspension problem in qualifying, and he adjusted the ride height on his bike as Rossi did. Marquez runs fast lap at 1:21.579. Turns three and four are the only flat corners at Laguna Seca. Marquez tries passing Rossi and he's off track! He sticks the pass! He gets by Rossi! Holy cow!
Marquez wants by Bradl as Jorge Lorenzo holds fifth. Randy de Puniet, out. His race has been run. Marquez continues chasing Bradl. Marquez runs a new fast lap at 1:21.539. Soon, the tires will drop off. The prototype bikes have the same compounds on the rear, and everyone has medium compound front tires. Stefan Bradl's father, Helmut Bradl, ran in and won titles in the 250cc division in world grand prix bike racing. Aleix spargaro has dumped his bike. He overdid a braking zone.
Rossi got 61 degrees of lean angle, and Marquez got 63 degrees! These guys can really push themselves on their bikes. Bradley Smith retires his bike. He must have had a mechanical problem. Stefan Bradl still leads. Fans watch the race from a hill at the top of the Corkscrew. Bradl and Marquez still lead this race. There are big differences between a factory and a privateer bike. They are different. The new bike is an evolution of one that came before.
Dani Pedrosa passes down the inside of Jorge Lorenzo into the Andretti hairpin. Marquez is running wider into turn eleven and that could be causing him to lose some time to Bradl. We watch the action from Marquez's onboard camera, through the twists of the first part of the course, coming to the Corkscrew another time. Hit the throttle hard, and feel weightless, like being in space. Rossi is third, 3.3 seconds behind the leaders. Two laps to halfway. Working lap 14 of 32. Rossi runs a 1:22.5. Cal Crutchlow wants to pass Rossi and Pedrosa, because he's on a satellite bike, while the two other riders are factory guys, but they're hurt.
Colin Edwards is up to eleventh. Good effort for "The Texas Tornado". Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden, are battling each other for position. Hayden will not be back with Ducati in MotoGP next year. That must be frustrating. He's a world champ and a two-time U.S. GP winner in 2005 and 2006. Marquez runs 2/10ths of a second quicker than Bradl at the halfway mark in the race. 16 laps complete. 16 to go. Alvaro Bautista and Valentino Rossi fight for third. Bradl continues to lead. He was not happy after not winning his home race in Germany last time out.
Bautista still hounds Rossi. If Bautista gets the podium, it will be his first since Motegi, Japan last year. Now, Marquez takes the lead away from Bradl. Will he sail into the sunset? Bradl has to push, now! Keep pushing. Get after it, sunshine. Marquez can turn the bike into corners harder, and Bradl wants to feed it into the corner gently, as the two leaders lap Lukas Pesek. Rossi is having issues turning his bike. Twelve laps to go.
Ben Spies will be back to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next time out, for the second consecutive MotoGP race in the U.S., and third and final U.S. round of the year. Dani Pedrosa has opened a gap on Jorge Lorenzo. He is chasing down Alvaro Bautista. Bautista runs a totally different suspension system than the other Honda bikes in the field. The lap times range between 1:21.9 and 1:22.3. Nicky Hayden passes Andrea Dovizioso and then, he has trouble. He slows down and Dovizioso passes. They got togther! How did that happen?
Bradl continues to chase down Marc Marquez. Bradl passes Hiroshi Aoyama. Marquez dispenses with another lapped rider... Yonny Hernandez. Five laps remain. Bradl will get second. Rossi wants distance between he and Bautista. He wants a podium. The top seven riders are running the same lap times. Colin Edwards tries to pass Hector Barbera. Marquez will break another of Freddie Spencer's winning records for being the youngest rider. Spencer won back-to-back races at a certain point in the 1983 season. Freddie Spencer won both the intermediate (250cc) and premier (500cc) classes at Le Mans, in 1985.
Two laps to go. Alvaro Bautista gets cheered on by his crew. Hayden sticks a pass on Dovizioso through The Corkscrew. Bautista is coming for Rossi. Marc Marquez is on his last lap, on his way to another win. It will be a second consecutive victory, and, a second in the United States, for Marquez, after winning at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, back in March. Rossi will not make a move. Marc Marquez becomes the first rookie in MotoGP to win at Laguna Seca!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
The next MotoGP race is indeed the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, in three weeks.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
In Memoriam: Andrea Antonelli
FIM World Supersport rider, Andrea Antonelli of Italy, has suffered a fatal accident in the race at Moscow Raceway in Moscow, Russia this weekend. The rest of the races, including the World Superbike event, have been called off. Here's the news.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jul/21/andrea-antonelli-dies-world-supersport
...and
http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/45-ssp-news/17805-tragic-accident-at-moscow-raceway-.html
Rest In Peace, Andrea Antonelli.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jul/21/andrea-antonelli-dies-world-supersport
...and
http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/45-ssp-news/17805-tragic-accident-at-moscow-raceway-.html
Rest In Peace, Andrea Antonelli.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Marquez raises the bar at Laguna Seca
Will watch the race when it re-airs later, and write up a full summary. But, here's news of Marc Marquez' stunning qualifying effort at Laguna Seca. Stay tuned for the race details, fans. All MotoGP this weekend. Moto 2 and Moto 3 are off, until Indianapolis.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/marquez+fp3+motogp+laguna
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/marquez+fp3+motogp+laguna
Friday, July 19, 2013
recovering riders and more good news
Both Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa seem to be healing quickly from their individual injuries in the last two MotoGP races in Holland and Germany, and they will make appearances at Laguna Seca Raceway. Both may be racing there. But, it remains to be seen.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/lorenzo+returns+at+laguna+seca
...and
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Pedrosa+to+depart+for+Laguna+on+Thursday
Well, well, well. What a difference a day makes. BOTH Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa have been cleared to race at Laguna Seca. Article, here:
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Pedrosa+and+Lorenzo+declareds+fit+for+Laguna
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/lorenzo+returns+at+laguna+seca
...and
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Pedrosa+to+depart+for+Laguna+on+Thursday
Well, well, well. What a difference a day makes. BOTH Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa have been cleared to race at Laguna Seca. Article, here:
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Pedrosa+and+Lorenzo+declareds+fit+for+Laguna
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Remember MotoGP Laguna Seca 2005
Let's throw the time machine into warp speed. Watch these highlights of Nicky Hayden winning the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca in 2005. Click on the YouTube link to watch the video, and enjoy.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
No Factory Seat at Ducati for Hayden - Headed to WSBK?
Nicky Hayden could be headed for FIM World Superbike next year. Unfortunately, the Ducati MotoGP bike has been very uncompetitive for a while now.
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/nicky-hayden-ducati-corse-contract-motogp-wsbk/
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/nicky-hayden-ducati-corse-contract-motogp-wsbk/
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
How Many Types of Motorcycles Are There?
Not directly related to motorcycle road racing. But, still a blog worthy link.
http://howmanyarethere.net/how-many-types-of-motorcycles-are-there/
http://howmanyarethere.net/how-many-types-of-motorcycles-are-there/
Monday, July 15, 2013
Moto 2 & Moto 3: Germany (abbreviated highlights)
Two highlights packages in one. Here are abbreviated highlights from Moto 2 and Moto 3 at the Sachsenring.
In Moto 2, the spoils went to a new winner as Jordi Torres became the fifth different rider to win in the class this year. Xavier Simeon started the race from pole. Here's the race summary.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/torres+race+moto2+sachsenring
Simone Corsi came in second, with Pol Espargaro third. 28 bikes finished. Among the unclassified riders who didn't see the checkers were Nicolas Terol, Roman Ramos, Marcel Schrotter, Kyle Smith, Danny Kent, and Alex Marinelarena.
#81 Jordi Torres ESP Suter Rubi
Moto 3 competition saw Alex Rins beating Luis Salom with a last lap pass. These two have been duking it out in recent races to be sure. Here's the story.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rins+race+moto3+sachsenring
Many of the usual suspects were up front, including Luis Salom, Maverick Vinales, Miguel Oliveira, Alex Marquez, Efren Vazquez, Jack Miller, Jonas Folger, Brad Binder, and Arthur Sissis, who complete the top ten runners. Alexis Masbou didn't start the race, and in the retirements column, we have Lorenzo Baldassarri, Luca Amato, Eric Granado, and Kevin Hanus.
#42 Alex Rins ESP KTM
The next round of the championship for Moto 2 and Moto 3 will be in the United States. But, it will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis Grand Prix in a month, as Moto 3 and Moto 2 do not race with the MotoGP bikes in their first U.S. appearance at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. So, the teams and riders from those categories, will have a well deserved rest. See you in Indianapolis with more racing coverage. So long for now.
In Moto 2, the spoils went to a new winner as Jordi Torres became the fifth different rider to win in the class this year. Xavier Simeon started the race from pole. Here's the race summary.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/torres+race+moto2+sachsenring
Simone Corsi came in second, with Pol Espargaro third. 28 bikes finished. Among the unclassified riders who didn't see the checkers were Nicolas Terol, Roman Ramos, Marcel Schrotter, Kyle Smith, Danny Kent, and Alex Marinelarena.
#81 Jordi Torres ESP Suter Rubi
Moto 3 competition saw Alex Rins beating Luis Salom with a last lap pass. These two have been duking it out in recent races to be sure. Here's the story.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rins+race+moto3+sachsenring
Many of the usual suspects were up front, including Luis Salom, Maverick Vinales, Miguel Oliveira, Alex Marquez, Efren Vazquez, Jack Miller, Jonas Folger, Brad Binder, and Arthur Sissis, who complete the top ten runners. Alexis Masbou didn't start the race, and in the retirements column, we have Lorenzo Baldassarri, Luca Amato, Eric Granado, and Kevin Hanus.
#42 Alex Rins ESP KTM
The next round of the championship for Moto 2 and Moto 3 will be in the United States. But, it will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis Grand Prix in a month, as Moto 3 and Moto 2 do not race with the MotoGP bikes in their first U.S. appearance at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. So, the teams and riders from those categories, will have a well deserved rest. See you in Indianapolis with more racing coverage. So long for now.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
MotoGP round 8: Germany
Round eight of the MotoGP World Championship is in Germany, at the Sachsenring, in Saxony, Germany. Dani Pedrosa is not racing today. After breaking his left collarbone, Jorge Lorenzo re-injured his shoulder. He won't race. Dani Pedrosa won't race either. He too, has injured his collarbone, and, he won't race, because he has had low blood pressure. Andrea Dovizioso also had a big wreck, too. MotoGP doctor, Dr. Caceres says that Lorenzo will have to wait to race in the United States, at Laguna Seca, next time out. Pedrosa will be able to race in California next week.
Marc Marquez has pole position. Here's a qualifying report. Lorenzo and Pedrosa are not in this race. So, Marc Marquez has pole, with Cal Crutchlow second, and Valentino Rossi, fourth. Stefan Bradl crashes, but starts fourth. Marc Marquez will race, even though his hand and foot has been hurt for a while. No German rider has won this race at the Sachsenring since 1974. Andrea Ianonne has a dislocated shoulder, and he won't race today either. The field rolls off for the race. Lorenzo will not race at the next race at Laguna Seca Raceway.
This race will be 30 laps. We're ready for a start. At the start, Cal Crutchlow gets the jump and Stefan Bradl passes Marc Marquez. But, it's Valentino Rossi going for the lead, and getting it. Rossi wants his second straight race win. Stefan Bradl gets a good start. Cal Crutchlow drops to fifth. Stefan Bradl takes the lead and the hometown crowd goes crazy! Marquez goes inside Aleix Espargaro. Alvaro Bautista and Cal Crutchlow are in the top spots, too. Tire wear won't be a concern right now. Rossi wants by Aleix Epsargaro into turn eight. No one is pulling away yet. Marquez passes Espargaro. It's Valentino Rossi and Stefan Bradl in front.
Yonny Hernandez from Colombia, crashes out. Game over. Bradley Smith is running farther down the order, and so is Nicky Hayden. Bradl has led in Moto 2 at the Sachsenring, but never in MotoGP. Valentino Rossi has won at the Sachsenring five times. Marquez is trying. Soimeone sets fast lap. Can't tell who it is. Alvaro Bautista will be back in MotoGP next year. Andrea Dovizioso passed Nicky Hayden. Claudio Corti and Danillo Petrucci are moving up. Crutchlow is trying his best. Can he bring Alvaro Bautista along?
This track is difficult to pass at as the bikes fly through turns seven and eight, That's just after a section of corners called Stemquell. Into the last corner, Crutchlow closes, and has the fastest race lap, going through Queckenberg Curve. Cal Crutchlow gains six tenths of a second as Valentino Rossi is flying. Bradl continues to lead. Rossi has a go at Crutchlow. Bradl and Marquez are side by side, and Marquez hangs onto the lead. Bradl has to push, now. Or Marquez will run away with things. This race is only six laps old. Rossi resets fast lap at 1:22.2.
Marquez looks to be checking out on the rest of the field. Stefan Bradl has been passed by Valentino Rossi. Bradl is doing all he can to keep Crutchlow from getting by. Bradl nearly falls into the last corner. Cal Crutchlow passes into the Coca Cola Curve. Can Rossi do anything with Marquez? They are matching lap times at the moment. 20 laps remain. Crutchlow sets his personal best lap at 1:21.1. Bradley Smith is up to sixth, battling with Andrea Dovizioso and Aleix Espargaro. Michele Pirro, subbing for Ben Spies, is also running well.
This is the first big lead we've seen Marquez have in a MotoGP race. When he won at Circuit of the Americas, he was battling with Dani Pedrosa. This time, he's trying to do what he could in Moto 2, and gain a lead without relinquishing it. Valentino Rossi has Cal Crutchlow all over him for second place through turn seven (the first part of Stemquell). Pedrosa is going to lose the lead in the world championship. Andrea Dovizioso passes Aleix Espargaro. Nicky Hayden is languishing in ninth. Rossi and Crutchlow run identical lap times, as Cal Crutchlow is doing his best.
Crutchlow passes Valentino Rossi. Fourteen laps remaining. This race is past halfway. Marquez runs fastest lap of the rac, and he has a 2.8 second lead. 1:22.056 is Marquez's fast lap time. Crutchlow has eaten 4/10ths out of Marquez's lead. He runs a 1:22 flat, just past halfway. Crutchlow continues to close on Marquez, with the gap shrinking to 2.1 seconds now. The Yamaha has a bit more grunt than the Honda uphill through the section of track between corners nine and eleven. Rossi and Bradl are still in contention. Alvaro Bautista runs fifth on a sister Honda to Bradl. This could be Michele Pirro's last race running on Ben Spies' bike. Alex de Angelis from Moto 2 will run next time out at Laguna Seca, and Spies should be back for the race at Indianapolis.
Marquez could lead the world championship if he wins this race. He has won, and he's the youngest ever MotoGP polesitter. There's a battle for seventh between Andrea Dovizioso and Aleix Espargaro. Colin Edwards moves up to 14th from 18th. Will Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa be fit enough for the next race at Laguna Seca? Lorenzo has had another screw, and a bone graft, put into his collarbone. Crutchlow is not giving up. Valentino Rossi is going to finish third, likely. Stefan Bradl has never finished on the podium in a MotoGP race. Bradl has incredible lean angle in his riding style, and he's revolutionizing how to ride a racing bike. So is Marquez.
Cal Crutchlow passes and laps Lukas Pesek. 23 riders finished last time out, all on the same lap at Assen. That has not happened, since a six lap race at the Nurburgring that the world championship riders ran in 1980. Does Marquez have enough to hold off Cal Crutchlow? Crutchlow is desperate. He wants to pass. Five laps remain now. Four now. It could be a bit too late for Crutchlow. Crutchlow is injured, still. But, he's got to go for it. His arm and his leg are not quite healed yet. Marquez plunges downhill into turn twelve. Bryan Staring, a lapped rider, will be passed by Marquez, and he pulls to the outside to let the leaders by.
Marquz is continuing to push, up the steep hill out of turn 13. Crutchlow wants by Bradl and Rossi. Marquez could lead the world championship going into Laguna Seca. Bryan Staring has fallen off his bike. He lost his rhythm, and fell down. Marquez is going to win this race, his second of the season, and will lead the world championship standings. It's not over yet. Rossi will get his third podium of the year. Stefan Bradl wants his first podium. But he's going to have to wait. Aleix Espargaro is pushing, too, fending off Nicky Hayden's challenge.
Marquez will win his second MotoGP race! He takes the lead in the world championship!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
The next race in MotoGP is the Red Bull United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, coming up next weekend. Stay tuned for that, fans.
Marc Marquez has pole position. Here's a qualifying report. Lorenzo and Pedrosa are not in this race. So, Marc Marquez has pole, with Cal Crutchlow second, and Valentino Rossi, fourth. Stefan Bradl crashes, but starts fourth. Marc Marquez will race, even though his hand and foot has been hurt for a while. No German rider has won this race at the Sachsenring since 1974. Andrea Ianonne has a dislocated shoulder, and he won't race today either. The field rolls off for the race. Lorenzo will not race at the next race at Laguna Seca Raceway.
This race will be 30 laps. We're ready for a start. At the start, Cal Crutchlow gets the jump and Stefan Bradl passes Marc Marquez. But, it's Valentino Rossi going for the lead, and getting it. Rossi wants his second straight race win. Stefan Bradl gets a good start. Cal Crutchlow drops to fifth. Stefan Bradl takes the lead and the hometown crowd goes crazy! Marquez goes inside Aleix Espargaro. Alvaro Bautista and Cal Crutchlow are in the top spots, too. Tire wear won't be a concern right now. Rossi wants by Aleix Epsargaro into turn eight. No one is pulling away yet. Marquez passes Espargaro. It's Valentino Rossi and Stefan Bradl in front.
Yonny Hernandez from Colombia, crashes out. Game over. Bradley Smith is running farther down the order, and so is Nicky Hayden. Bradl has led in Moto 2 at the Sachsenring, but never in MotoGP. Valentino Rossi has won at the Sachsenring five times. Marquez is trying. Soimeone sets fast lap. Can't tell who it is. Alvaro Bautista will be back in MotoGP next year. Andrea Dovizioso passed Nicky Hayden. Claudio Corti and Danillo Petrucci are moving up. Crutchlow is trying his best. Can he bring Alvaro Bautista along?
This track is difficult to pass at as the bikes fly through turns seven and eight, That's just after a section of corners called Stemquell. Into the last corner, Crutchlow closes, and has the fastest race lap, going through Queckenberg Curve. Cal Crutchlow gains six tenths of a second as Valentino Rossi is flying. Bradl continues to lead. Rossi has a go at Crutchlow. Bradl and Marquez are side by side, and Marquez hangs onto the lead. Bradl has to push, now. Or Marquez will run away with things. This race is only six laps old. Rossi resets fast lap at 1:22.2.
Marquez looks to be checking out on the rest of the field. Stefan Bradl has been passed by Valentino Rossi. Bradl is doing all he can to keep Crutchlow from getting by. Bradl nearly falls into the last corner. Cal Crutchlow passes into the Coca Cola Curve. Can Rossi do anything with Marquez? They are matching lap times at the moment. 20 laps remain. Crutchlow sets his personal best lap at 1:21.1. Bradley Smith is up to sixth, battling with Andrea Dovizioso and Aleix Espargaro. Michele Pirro, subbing for Ben Spies, is also running well.
This is the first big lead we've seen Marquez have in a MotoGP race. When he won at Circuit of the Americas, he was battling with Dani Pedrosa. This time, he's trying to do what he could in Moto 2, and gain a lead without relinquishing it. Valentino Rossi has Cal Crutchlow all over him for second place through turn seven (the first part of Stemquell). Pedrosa is going to lose the lead in the world championship. Andrea Dovizioso passes Aleix Espargaro. Nicky Hayden is languishing in ninth. Rossi and Crutchlow run identical lap times, as Cal Crutchlow is doing his best.
Crutchlow passes Valentino Rossi. Fourteen laps remaining. This race is past halfway. Marquez runs fastest lap of the rac, and he has a 2.8 second lead. 1:22.056 is Marquez's fast lap time. Crutchlow has eaten 4/10ths out of Marquez's lead. He runs a 1:22 flat, just past halfway. Crutchlow continues to close on Marquez, with the gap shrinking to 2.1 seconds now. The Yamaha has a bit more grunt than the Honda uphill through the section of track between corners nine and eleven. Rossi and Bradl are still in contention. Alvaro Bautista runs fifth on a sister Honda to Bradl. This could be Michele Pirro's last race running on Ben Spies' bike. Alex de Angelis from Moto 2 will run next time out at Laguna Seca, and Spies should be back for the race at Indianapolis.
Marquez could lead the world championship if he wins this race. He has won, and he's the youngest ever MotoGP polesitter. There's a battle for seventh between Andrea Dovizioso and Aleix Espargaro. Colin Edwards moves up to 14th from 18th. Will Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa be fit enough for the next race at Laguna Seca? Lorenzo has had another screw, and a bone graft, put into his collarbone. Crutchlow is not giving up. Valentino Rossi is going to finish third, likely. Stefan Bradl has never finished on the podium in a MotoGP race. Bradl has incredible lean angle in his riding style, and he's revolutionizing how to ride a racing bike. So is Marquez.
Cal Crutchlow passes and laps Lukas Pesek. 23 riders finished last time out, all on the same lap at Assen. That has not happened, since a six lap race at the Nurburgring that the world championship riders ran in 1980. Does Marquez have enough to hold off Cal Crutchlow? Crutchlow is desperate. He wants to pass. Five laps remain now. Four now. It could be a bit too late for Crutchlow. Crutchlow is injured, still. But, he's got to go for it. His arm and his leg are not quite healed yet. Marquez plunges downhill into turn twelve. Bryan Staring, a lapped rider, will be passed by Marquez, and he pulls to the outside to let the leaders by.
Marquz is continuing to push, up the steep hill out of turn 13. Crutchlow wants by Bradl and Rossi. Marquez could lead the world championship going into Laguna Seca. Bryan Staring has fallen off his bike. He lost his rhythm, and fell down. Marquez is going to win this race, his second of the season, and will lead the world championship standings. It's not over yet. Rossi will get his third podium of the year. Stefan Bradl wants his first podium. But he's going to have to wait. Aleix Espargaro is pushing, too, fending off Nicky Hayden's challenge.
Marquez will win his second MotoGP race! He takes the lead in the world championship!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
The next race in MotoGP is the Red Bull United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, coming up next weekend. Stay tuned for that, fans.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Lorenzo out of action after Friday crash
To add to his woes, Jorge Lorenzo had another big crash in Friday practice at the Sachsenring in Germany, only doing further damage to his already broken collarbone, breaking one of the steel plates that was put into it. Ouch! Lorenzo will miss Sunday's race.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Lorenzo+out+of+action+after+Friday+crash
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Lorenzo+out+of+action+after+Friday+crash
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Sachsenring: A Happy Pedrosa Hunting Ground
Preview of this weekend's MotoGP German Grand Prix to be held at the Sachsenring in Saxony, Germany.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Preview%20Germany%20MotoGP
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Preview%20Germany%20MotoGP
Monday, July 8, 2013
Argentina To Host MotoGP until 2016 from next year
A three year deal has been signed for MotoGP to race in Argentina, starting next year, and going through 2016. Here are the details.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Argentina+to+host+MotoGP+at+Rio+Honda+until+2016
Here, too, is another related article. Cal Crutchlow has high praise from the new circuit in Argentina.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Crutchlow+impressed+with+new+track+in+Argentina
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Argentina+to+host+MotoGP+at+Rio+Honda+until+2016
Here, too, is another related article. Cal Crutchlow has high praise from the new circuit in Argentina.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Crutchlow+impressed+with+new+track+in+Argentina
Friday, July 5, 2013
Bike Road Racing Series Round 1: Cookstown, Part 2
Day two action from Cookstown, is coming your way, now.
Day two begins with Super Twin, and the racing will conlude with Superbikes. Ryan Farquhar knows this track better than anybody. He's won 26 races at Cookstown. He retired from racing at the end of last year, but is now a team manager. Farquhar doesn't regret retiring and becoming a team manager, after his long racing career. The first race of the day is the A feature for the Hayes Fuels Super Twin bikes.
At the start, it's the #10 Kawasaki of Nigel Moore moving up. There will be a new winner in Super Twin at Cookstown in 2013. Michael Sweeney and Jamie Hamilton are second and third at the moment. Hamilton is on the outside, looking to go around the long way. Hamilton and Sweeney are side by side, as #44 Jamie Hamilton looks for a way by. Have to check and see who is leading this contest. The bikes stream through Gorton, coming to McAdoo. Craig Shirlaw is second. Watch for that bump at the top of the hill.
Sweeney makes the pass on Shirlaw. Shirlaw will have no easy task staying ahead of Jamie Hamilton. Now, it's the hilly section running up to Black's Farm. Hamilton has indeed passed Shirlaw. Craig Shirlaw is being challenged by fourth place rider, William Davison. Nigel Moore is further down the order, in seventh spot. Sweeney swerves his bike, but stays on. On corrected time, Andy Farrell and Ian Morrell run third and fourth on corrected time, coming from the second wave.
Hamilton closes in on Sweeney. Can Sweeney pull away coming to Black's Farm and that epic hill again? Paul Gartland on bike #28 is off the track. He's got a mechanical problem with the motorcycle, and so, it's game over. William Davison is third, and Hamilton and Davison are REALLY close. Hamilton makes the pass on Sweeney into the braking zone. Hamilton has taken over the race lead. Davison, Farrell, and Morrell complete the top five. Craig Shirlaw has fallen to sixth spot.
Jamie Hamilton is definitely opening up a gap now. Nigel Moore is now ninth after Paul Gartland's exit from the race. Hamilton is gapping the field with one lap left in this Super Twin race. Nigel Moore is also on his last lap. Hamilton gets trapped behind a slower rider, but makes his way past bike #47. Sweeney and Davison still follow in lock step, in second and third. Hamilton wins Super Twins at Cookstown!
#44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
Results:
1. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
2. #65 Michael Sweeney Kawasaki
3. #150 William Davison Kawasaki
4. #96 Andy Farrell Kawasaki
5. #57 Ian Morrell Suzuki
Next, it's the Hayes Fuels 400cc Supersport class.
At the start, #17 Alistair Bayley shoots into the lead from pole. He is challenged by Andy Farrell on bike #196. The second wave takes off as the bikes fly towards Gorton corner. Two riders to watch from the second wave are #22 Ricky McGovern and #42 Ryan Locklin. Gavin Lupton on bike #9 is third. Colin Martin on bike #45 leads the second wave into Gorton corner. Alistair Haworth and Alistair Bailey run 1-2 with Gavin Lupton third. Andy Farrell and Derek Wilkie follow. Martin and McGovern continue their battle.
Here's that tricky Blacks Farm section again. Alistair Haworth almost runs wide. Gavin Lupton is up to third. Farrell passes Lupton. Colin Martin is now fourth. Alistair Howard increases his lead to four seconds at least. Farrell holds down second spot. Farrell is distancing himself from Bailey. Ricky McGovern is now being chased by Ben Cole. Andy Farrell is about to put bike #142 of Stuart Rayner, a lap down.
Derek Wilkie and Colin Martin battle. Colin Martin holds the spot as #27 continues to lead. Bike #33 of David Howard is moving up. Andy Farrell is second, with Alistair Bailey, third. Another notable rider is Yvonne Montgomery, and she's running well on bike #57. For the rest of the race, Alistair Haworth has things all his own way, and he wins the 400cc class.
#27 Alastair Haworth Yamaha
The top five is:
1. #27 Alastair Haworth Yamaha
2. #196 Andy Farrell Kawasaki
3. #17 Alastair Bayley Honda
4. #45 Colin Martin Kawasaki
5. #9 Gavin Lupton Honda
All the preliminaries are over. Now, it's time for the main event. The A Main of the big show, the Cookstown 100.
Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop have both won already. We're ready for a start. Davey Morgan creeps forward. But, no worries. We're underway! Michael Dunlop is immediately on top of Guy Martin with Michael Pearson also moving up, fast. Davey Morgan and Derek Sheils are also in this fight, right through the top five at the very start of the race. Pearson has had a monster start this time. Here comes the second wave. Dean Harrison and Michael Sweeney are two contenders in this group. Sweeney can't keep the front wheel of his motorcycle planted.
Martin and Pearson are fighting hammer and tongs into McAdoo. Sheils chases Morgan for fourth place. Through Mackney, it's still close at the front. Uh oh. Rider down. Michael Dekuvel. Lap one of ten complete. Dunlop tries mightily to get around Pearson. Where's the second wave? Yellow flags are out. No overtaking, after Michael Dekupel ditched his bike. Sheils closes on Dunlop. Martin, Pearson, and Dunlop are the top three. Derek Sheils passes Davey Morgan. Jamie Hamilton is closing on Morgan. Once the second wave catches up, we'll know what the true race pace is.
The top four or five are glued together in a chain between Gorton and McAdoo. There are local yellow flags. No passing allowed. The uphill is a lot steeper than TV cameras make it look. Dean Harrison runs fourth at the moment. Michael Dunlop is laying back, waiting to make his move. Michael Pearson now leads as somehow, some way, Guy Martin leaves the door open. This scrum is between three Super Stock bikes, and one Superbike. Martin holds down second behind Pearson. Michael Pearson makes the jump, but lands with the front wheel of his BMW.
Three laps down. Seven remain. Dunlop pulls out of the slipstream, trying to pass Martin. He can't quite make it. Pearson backs his bike into the corner like a speedway Grand Prix racer. He's really motoring, and holding off Guy Martin's challenge at every turn. Martin tries Pearson into McAdoo again, and Pearson pushes back. Martin goes back into the lead. Dunlop leads out of Craig Mount, into the Orator Crossroads. Jamie Hamilton has fastest lap of the race as Dunlop moves past Pearson for second place. Michael Pearson now has to fend off a challenge from Derek Sheils. Bryan McCormack passes Dean Harrison, too.
Dunlop sets a new lap record! Sheils closes up on Pearson, wanting to take away the third spot. It's still these two battling at the front. It's Suzuki vs. Honda. Dunlop is going for the lead! Martin outbrakes Dunlop. No, wait. Dunlop squeezes back by, just by mere inches! The new lap record set by Dunlop is 1:22.64. We are coming to the last lap of the Cookstown 100. Ryan Farquhar (now retired), has won this race five consecutive times. Now, it appears as though Michael Dunlop will pick up the dominance mantle. The next race is the North West 200, and a fleet of top riders from the British Superbike Championship are expected to contest that one.
Dunlop will have a different bike at the Northwest 200. But, he does it at Cookstown!
#3 Michael Dunlop Honda
The results
1. #3 Michael Dunlop Honda
2. #7 Guy Martin Suzuki
3. #82 Derek Sheils Honda
4. #36 Michael Pearson BMW
5. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
One more race to go. It's the Super Twin B race. There was a big crash at the initial start. Michael Dunlop has pole for the race. Go! Derek Costello is second, behind Dunlop, going into Gorton for the first time. Maria Costello is also in this fight early on bike #84. Anthony Ambler is also in this battle riding bike #59. Bike #53 is ridden by Veronica Hengocchi from the Czech Republic. The bikes race uphill out of McAdoo. Dunlop races his way through Mackney. He's opened up a huge gap already. Dunlop is checking out on everyone else and the second wave hasn't even taken off yet.
Well, actually they have. Darren Gilpin is now second on bike #38. Brian Allan and Anthony Ambler follow. One lap left. Michael Dunlop is going to dominate the B race for the Super Twins. Can Darren Gilpin get on the podium? Brian Allen rides bike #27. Derek and Maria Costello also are catching up. Michael Dunlop comes up to Black's Farm, over the hilly section of the track, still leading. Out of Craig Mount and into Orator, he looks to have this race signed, sealed, and delivered, folks. Dunlop wins his third race of the day.
#44 Michael Dunlop Kawasaki
There is a battle for position coming to the line. Darren Gilpin and Brian Allen. Derek Costello gets second. Maria Costello is third. So, the results are:
1. #44 Michael Dunlop Kawasaki
2. #65 Derek Costello Kawasaki
3. #84 Maria Costello Kawasaki
4. #27 Bryan Allan Kawasaki
5. #38 Darren Gilpin Kawasaki
The final race of the day will be the B feature for the Superbikes. Craig Sherlaw and Callum Laidlaw get away 1-2. Dave Newsen is also running well on bike #119. The riders stream into Gorton for the first time. Alan Kenny on bike #114 runs wide under braking. Here comes the second wave. #28 Paul Gartland and #104 Denny Matthison lead. The riders climb out of McAdoo and go towards Mackney. Then it's the wild ride towards Black's Farm. Mark Goodings and Nuno Katano settle into their positions.
Shirlaw leads Laidlaw. Wow. Much better luck for Allan Kenny as he passes Scott Campbell, cleanly. Paul Gartland continues to lead over Denny Mathison. The sun is beginning to set. This is going to be a battle between Shirlaw, Laidlaw, and possibly, Gartland, as well. Alan Kenny cannot pass Dave Hewson at the moment. Shirlaw and Laidlaw continue battling it out for second and third place. Anthony McColgan on bike #8 and James Niessen on bike #191 run together. Race leader Paul Gartland is actually working his way through lapped traffic.
Alan Kenny continues to amaze on the brakes. Allan Kenny is going for it. Allan Kenny passes in Mackney. But, he only unlaps himself. Kenny, Shirlaw, Laidlaw, and Hewson, are the top four, but not on corrected time. It's Paul Gartland who wins on corrected time, even though Allan Kenny crossed the line first.
#28 Paul Gartland Honda
So, the results are:
1. #28 Paul Gartland Honda
2. #114 Alan Kenny Honda
3. #24 Craig Shirlaw Kawasaki
4. #11 Callum Laidlaw Honda
5. #119 Dave Hewson Aprilia
That's all from Cookstown. The North West 200 is the next race. Will have highlights coming up soon. Stay tuned, fans.
Day two begins with Super Twin, and the racing will conlude with Superbikes. Ryan Farquhar knows this track better than anybody. He's won 26 races at Cookstown. He retired from racing at the end of last year, but is now a team manager. Farquhar doesn't regret retiring and becoming a team manager, after his long racing career. The first race of the day is the A feature for the Hayes Fuels Super Twin bikes.
At the start, it's the #10 Kawasaki of Nigel Moore moving up. There will be a new winner in Super Twin at Cookstown in 2013. Michael Sweeney and Jamie Hamilton are second and third at the moment. Hamilton is on the outside, looking to go around the long way. Hamilton and Sweeney are side by side, as #44 Jamie Hamilton looks for a way by. Have to check and see who is leading this contest. The bikes stream through Gorton, coming to McAdoo. Craig Shirlaw is second. Watch for that bump at the top of the hill.
Sweeney makes the pass on Shirlaw. Shirlaw will have no easy task staying ahead of Jamie Hamilton. Now, it's the hilly section running up to Black's Farm. Hamilton has indeed passed Shirlaw. Craig Shirlaw is being challenged by fourth place rider, William Davison. Nigel Moore is further down the order, in seventh spot. Sweeney swerves his bike, but stays on. On corrected time, Andy Farrell and Ian Morrell run third and fourth on corrected time, coming from the second wave.
Hamilton closes in on Sweeney. Can Sweeney pull away coming to Black's Farm and that epic hill again? Paul Gartland on bike #28 is off the track. He's got a mechanical problem with the motorcycle, and so, it's game over. William Davison is third, and Hamilton and Davison are REALLY close. Hamilton makes the pass on Sweeney into the braking zone. Hamilton has taken over the race lead. Davison, Farrell, and Morrell complete the top five. Craig Shirlaw has fallen to sixth spot.
Jamie Hamilton is definitely opening up a gap now. Nigel Moore is now ninth after Paul Gartland's exit from the race. Hamilton is gapping the field with one lap left in this Super Twin race. Nigel Moore is also on his last lap. Hamilton gets trapped behind a slower rider, but makes his way past bike #47. Sweeney and Davison still follow in lock step, in second and third. Hamilton wins Super Twins at Cookstown!
#44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
Results:
1. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
2. #65 Michael Sweeney Kawasaki
3. #150 William Davison Kawasaki
4. #96 Andy Farrell Kawasaki
5. #57 Ian Morrell Suzuki
Next, it's the Hayes Fuels 400cc Supersport class.
At the start, #17 Alistair Bayley shoots into the lead from pole. He is challenged by Andy Farrell on bike #196. The second wave takes off as the bikes fly towards Gorton corner. Two riders to watch from the second wave are #22 Ricky McGovern and #42 Ryan Locklin. Gavin Lupton on bike #9 is third. Colin Martin on bike #45 leads the second wave into Gorton corner. Alistair Haworth and Alistair Bailey run 1-2 with Gavin Lupton third. Andy Farrell and Derek Wilkie follow. Martin and McGovern continue their battle.
Here's that tricky Blacks Farm section again. Alistair Haworth almost runs wide. Gavin Lupton is up to third. Farrell passes Lupton. Colin Martin is now fourth. Alistair Howard increases his lead to four seconds at least. Farrell holds down second spot. Farrell is distancing himself from Bailey. Ricky McGovern is now being chased by Ben Cole. Andy Farrell is about to put bike #142 of Stuart Rayner, a lap down.
Derek Wilkie and Colin Martin battle. Colin Martin holds the spot as #27 continues to lead. Bike #33 of David Howard is moving up. Andy Farrell is second, with Alistair Bailey, third. Another notable rider is Yvonne Montgomery, and she's running well on bike #57. For the rest of the race, Alistair Haworth has things all his own way, and he wins the 400cc class.
#27 Alastair Haworth Yamaha
The top five is:
1. #27 Alastair Haworth Yamaha
2. #196 Andy Farrell Kawasaki
3. #17 Alastair Bayley Honda
4. #45 Colin Martin Kawasaki
5. #9 Gavin Lupton Honda
All the preliminaries are over. Now, it's time for the main event. The A Main of the big show, the Cookstown 100.
Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop have both won already. We're ready for a start. Davey Morgan creeps forward. But, no worries. We're underway! Michael Dunlop is immediately on top of Guy Martin with Michael Pearson also moving up, fast. Davey Morgan and Derek Sheils are also in this fight, right through the top five at the very start of the race. Pearson has had a monster start this time. Here comes the second wave. Dean Harrison and Michael Sweeney are two contenders in this group. Sweeney can't keep the front wheel of his motorcycle planted.
Martin and Pearson are fighting hammer and tongs into McAdoo. Sheils chases Morgan for fourth place. Through Mackney, it's still close at the front. Uh oh. Rider down. Michael Dekuvel. Lap one of ten complete. Dunlop tries mightily to get around Pearson. Where's the second wave? Yellow flags are out. No overtaking, after Michael Dekupel ditched his bike. Sheils closes on Dunlop. Martin, Pearson, and Dunlop are the top three. Derek Sheils passes Davey Morgan. Jamie Hamilton is closing on Morgan. Once the second wave catches up, we'll know what the true race pace is.
The top four or five are glued together in a chain between Gorton and McAdoo. There are local yellow flags. No passing allowed. The uphill is a lot steeper than TV cameras make it look. Dean Harrison runs fourth at the moment. Michael Dunlop is laying back, waiting to make his move. Michael Pearson now leads as somehow, some way, Guy Martin leaves the door open. This scrum is between three Super Stock bikes, and one Superbike. Martin holds down second behind Pearson. Michael Pearson makes the jump, but lands with the front wheel of his BMW.
Three laps down. Seven remain. Dunlop pulls out of the slipstream, trying to pass Martin. He can't quite make it. Pearson backs his bike into the corner like a speedway Grand Prix racer. He's really motoring, and holding off Guy Martin's challenge at every turn. Martin tries Pearson into McAdoo again, and Pearson pushes back. Martin goes back into the lead. Dunlop leads out of Craig Mount, into the Orator Crossroads. Jamie Hamilton has fastest lap of the race as Dunlop moves past Pearson for second place. Michael Pearson now has to fend off a challenge from Derek Sheils. Bryan McCormack passes Dean Harrison, too.
Dunlop sets a new lap record! Sheils closes up on Pearson, wanting to take away the third spot. It's still these two battling at the front. It's Suzuki vs. Honda. Dunlop is going for the lead! Martin outbrakes Dunlop. No, wait. Dunlop squeezes back by, just by mere inches! The new lap record set by Dunlop is 1:22.64. We are coming to the last lap of the Cookstown 100. Ryan Farquhar (now retired), has won this race five consecutive times. Now, it appears as though Michael Dunlop will pick up the dominance mantle. The next race is the North West 200, and a fleet of top riders from the British Superbike Championship are expected to contest that one.
Dunlop will have a different bike at the Northwest 200. But, he does it at Cookstown!
#3 Michael Dunlop Honda
The results
1. #3 Michael Dunlop Honda
2. #7 Guy Martin Suzuki
3. #82 Derek Sheils Honda
4. #36 Michael Pearson BMW
5. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
One more race to go. It's the Super Twin B race. There was a big crash at the initial start. Michael Dunlop has pole for the race. Go! Derek Costello is second, behind Dunlop, going into Gorton for the first time. Maria Costello is also in this fight early on bike #84. Anthony Ambler is also in this battle riding bike #59. Bike #53 is ridden by Veronica Hengocchi from the Czech Republic. The bikes race uphill out of McAdoo. Dunlop races his way through Mackney. He's opened up a huge gap already. Dunlop is checking out on everyone else and the second wave hasn't even taken off yet.
Well, actually they have. Darren Gilpin is now second on bike #38. Brian Allan and Anthony Ambler follow. One lap left. Michael Dunlop is going to dominate the B race for the Super Twins. Can Darren Gilpin get on the podium? Brian Allen rides bike #27. Derek and Maria Costello also are catching up. Michael Dunlop comes up to Black's Farm, over the hilly section of the track, still leading. Out of Craig Mount and into Orator, he looks to have this race signed, sealed, and delivered, folks. Dunlop wins his third race of the day.
#44 Michael Dunlop Kawasaki
There is a battle for position coming to the line. Darren Gilpin and Brian Allen. Derek Costello gets second. Maria Costello is third. So, the results are:
1. #44 Michael Dunlop Kawasaki
2. #65 Derek Costello Kawasaki
3. #84 Maria Costello Kawasaki
4. #27 Bryan Allan Kawasaki
5. #38 Darren Gilpin Kawasaki
The final race of the day will be the B feature for the Superbikes. Craig Sherlaw and Callum Laidlaw get away 1-2. Dave Newsen is also running well on bike #119. The riders stream into Gorton for the first time. Alan Kenny on bike #114 runs wide under braking. Here comes the second wave. #28 Paul Gartland and #104 Denny Matthison lead. The riders climb out of McAdoo and go towards Mackney. Then it's the wild ride towards Black's Farm. Mark Goodings and Nuno Katano settle into their positions.
Shirlaw leads Laidlaw. Wow. Much better luck for Allan Kenny as he passes Scott Campbell, cleanly. Paul Gartland continues to lead over Denny Mathison. The sun is beginning to set. This is going to be a battle between Shirlaw, Laidlaw, and possibly, Gartland, as well. Alan Kenny cannot pass Dave Hewson at the moment. Shirlaw and Laidlaw continue battling it out for second and third place. Anthony McColgan on bike #8 and James Niessen on bike #191 run together. Race leader Paul Gartland is actually working his way through lapped traffic.
Alan Kenny continues to amaze on the brakes. Allan Kenny is going for it. Allan Kenny passes in Mackney. But, he only unlaps himself. Kenny, Shirlaw, Laidlaw, and Hewson, are the top four, but not on corrected time. It's Paul Gartland who wins on corrected time, even though Allan Kenny crossed the line first.
#28 Paul Gartland Honda
So, the results are:
1. #28 Paul Gartland Honda
2. #114 Alan Kenny Honda
3. #24 Craig Shirlaw Kawasaki
4. #11 Callum Laidlaw Honda
5. #119 Dave Hewson Aprilia
That's all from Cookstown. The North West 200 is the next race. Will have highlights coming up soon. Stay tuned, fans.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Ducati describes bike plan for 2014
Ducati is set to run up to four bikes in MotoGP next year. They will be slightly modified 2013 motorcycles, to conform to the new 2014 regulations.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/ducati+2014+plans
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/ducati+2014+plans
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Moto 3: Holland
Here are the highlights from the Moto 3 race at Assen in Holland, during the Dutch TT weekend, at "the cathedral" of motorcycle racing.
It's windy and a little on the cool side for round seven of Moto 3. 22 laps scheduled. Maverick Vinales, Alex Marquez, and Miguel Oliviera, are on the front row. Oliviera scores pole. He is from Portugal, and breaks the streak of Spanish riders winning pole positions in Moto 3. Watch for Jasper Iwema. He's a local favorite. Here we go. This is going to be a good race.
At the start, Oliviera gets a good start, and Luis Salom is moving up already. Jonas Folger moves up from row two coming into the first left hand corner and down the back straight. Salom is pressuring Oliviera as Arthur Sissis moves up. Jack Miller pushes past Maverick Vinales. Juanfran Guevara falls, and there's a local yellow. Folger has moved to second spot. He passes Marquez and looks at Rins. Niccolo Antonelli is tenth. Niklas Ajo is there. Guevara is being rescued and the accident is being cleaned up.
Miguel Oliviera is third. Luis Salom watches the top battle. This was a one bike crash for Juanfran Guevara. Miguel Oliviera is second going past Alex Rins. Luis Salom passes Jonas Folger. Oliveira sets fast lap. Not sure of the time. Olivieira and Rins are racing each other seriously. Sissis and Folger get passed down at the bottom end of the track. Bike #71 has a jump start for one of the Dutch riders. Rins is ahead. Vubakes rybs fast kao at 1:44.6. Sissis and Marquez are trying their best to stick with the front of the pack.
Now, Arthur Sissis will be penalized a place for passing under a yellow flag. Guevara is OK. But, he has a sore shoulder. Rins runs a new fast lap. 1:43.961 on lap four. Marquez tries passing Luis Salom. Rins' gap is a third of a second. Miguel Oliviera is running really well. van Leuven (not sure of his first name), is serving his penalty. He's a Dutch wildcard rider. Niklas Ajo is right behind Arthur Sissis. Rins and Salom are 7/10ths apart. Salom is not going to let Rins go.
Maverick Vinales has the fastest time of all. He's won Moto 3 at Assen the last two years. Danny Webb is now 18th. He and Zulfahmmi Khairuddin are both moving up. Miguel Oliviera passes. Luis Salom is very quick. He could and should have won this race last year. But, he made a mistake braking, and finished fourth. The Honda's don't have the edge on the KTM's or the Kalex KTM's. Miguel Oliviera is coming back, too. Rins is fastest so far. Jonas Folger lurks in sixth spot. He's hanging onto the top five./ Alexei Masbou is also running well, as is Niccolo Antonelli. Zulfahmmi Khairuddin is in this fight, too.
Rins is going to increase his gap, because these other guys behind are just all over each other. The gap is up to one second. Guevara is not seriously hurt. But, now it seems his hip hurts. Hope he's alright. Danny Webb has fallen. Webb is holding his arm, meaning either it, or, his collarbone is hurt. That's no way to celebrate your 100th Grand Prix start. Marquez, Oliviera, and Folger are all battling each other. Ajo, Masbou, Vinales, and others are fighting for position in the back part of the top ten or so. Niklas Ajo's bike is taken care of by his dad.
Jasper Iwema and Jakub Kornfeil are running well. Brian Shelton is, too. He's the Dutch wildcard. So, the Dutch riders are running well at home. New fast lap. Hard to keep up. This is a competitive race, folks. If Rins wins, he'll gain points, and get back in the championship hunt, after crashing at Jerez. Vinales wants by Salom. What will he do? The gap is 1.388 seconds. Now, it's gone down. Oliviera is setting fast laps. Ten to go. We are past halfway now. Oliviera gets another fast lap at 1:43.414. The Aussies (Miller and Sissis), scrap. Alex Marquez passes Maverick Vinales.
John McPhee was in the points, but he's no longer there. Brian Shelton is the same way. Rins and Salom are pushing. Salom is reeling Rins in. Marquez passes Salom up. He's probably riding for his own pride and not his team's satisfaction. Seven laps left. Rins won't move away from everyone else. This is going to be a closely contested Moto 3 race, as they all are. Miguel Oliviera is running well on his Mahindra, battling four factory KTM's. It's still anyone's race.
Miller is still battling Sissis. Danny Webb will have his shoulder looked at by doctors at the medical center. Vinales and Marquez battle for second. Marquez takes the lead. Rins gets snookered. Vinales is very confident he might be able to pull something off before the end of this one. Vinales is just hanging on, and here comes Rins, just like Cortese and Kent last year. Five laps left. Alex Marquez passes Alex Rins. Vinales has the lead. It's going to come down to the last lap, and into the chicane.
Jonas Folger can't do anything except hold station in sixth. Rins passes Marquez, forcing him to sit up. Marquez is back in front of Rins. The Dutch wildcard rider, retires. But, it's now a tussle between Rins and Marquez. Vinales can increase his lead. Marquez is going for it. Three laps remain. Marquez is being pressured. Here comes Salom, passing Rins. Luis Salom has now taken over second! The plot thickens. It's going to be close coming to the finish, as Vinales wants to do the triple, winning at Assen for a third consecutive year.
Marquez is going to push Rins, and poor old Luis Salom, he's not going to make it work. Jasper Iwema is out. He's devastated to be out of his home race. It's Vinales vs. Salom. Two laps left now. Whoa! Salom takes the lead from Vinales! Who will win? Salom wants his third win. Now, Vinales takes the lead back. It's a five way battle for the lead. Here comes Oliviera. Salmom dives. Who's going to get this. Salom is under pressure from Oliviera. Rins passes for third. Salom is right behind Vinales. Stand by.
Salom makes a pass. Can he block. Salom is coming. Salom does it!
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race is in Germany at the Sachsenring in Saxony, Germany. The race is in less than two weeks.
The next Moto 3 race is in Germany, at the Sachsenring.
It's windy and a little on the cool side for round seven of Moto 3. 22 laps scheduled. Maverick Vinales, Alex Marquez, and Miguel Oliviera, are on the front row. Oliviera scores pole. He is from Portugal, and breaks the streak of Spanish riders winning pole positions in Moto 3. Watch for Jasper Iwema. He's a local favorite. Here we go. This is going to be a good race.
At the start, Oliviera gets a good start, and Luis Salom is moving up already. Jonas Folger moves up from row two coming into the first left hand corner and down the back straight. Salom is pressuring Oliviera as Arthur Sissis moves up. Jack Miller pushes past Maverick Vinales. Juanfran Guevara falls, and there's a local yellow. Folger has moved to second spot. He passes Marquez and looks at Rins. Niccolo Antonelli is tenth. Niklas Ajo is there. Guevara is being rescued and the accident is being cleaned up.
Miguel Oliviera is third. Luis Salom watches the top battle. This was a one bike crash for Juanfran Guevara. Miguel Oliviera is second going past Alex Rins. Luis Salom passes Jonas Folger. Oliveira sets fast lap. Not sure of the time. Olivieira and Rins are racing each other seriously. Sissis and Folger get passed down at the bottom end of the track. Bike #71 has a jump start for one of the Dutch riders. Rins is ahead. Vubakes rybs fast kao at 1:44.6. Sissis and Marquez are trying their best to stick with the front of the pack.
Now, Arthur Sissis will be penalized a place for passing under a yellow flag. Guevara is OK. But, he has a sore shoulder. Rins runs a new fast lap. 1:43.961 on lap four. Marquez tries passing Luis Salom. Rins' gap is a third of a second. Miguel Oliviera is running really well. van Leuven (not sure of his first name), is serving his penalty. He's a Dutch wildcard rider. Niklas Ajo is right behind Arthur Sissis. Rins and Salom are 7/10ths apart. Salom is not going to let Rins go.
Maverick Vinales has the fastest time of all. He's won Moto 3 at Assen the last two years. Danny Webb is now 18th. He and Zulfahmmi Khairuddin are both moving up. Miguel Oliviera passes. Luis Salom is very quick. He could and should have won this race last year. But, he made a mistake braking, and finished fourth. The Honda's don't have the edge on the KTM's or the Kalex KTM's. Miguel Oliviera is coming back, too. Rins is fastest so far. Jonas Folger lurks in sixth spot. He's hanging onto the top five./ Alexei Masbou is also running well, as is Niccolo Antonelli. Zulfahmmi Khairuddin is in this fight, too.
Rins is going to increase his gap, because these other guys behind are just all over each other. The gap is up to one second. Guevara is not seriously hurt. But, now it seems his hip hurts. Hope he's alright. Danny Webb has fallen. Webb is holding his arm, meaning either it, or, his collarbone is hurt. That's no way to celebrate your 100th Grand Prix start. Marquez, Oliviera, and Folger are all battling each other. Ajo, Masbou, Vinales, and others are fighting for position in the back part of the top ten or so. Niklas Ajo's bike is taken care of by his dad.
Jasper Iwema and Jakub Kornfeil are running well. Brian Shelton is, too. He's the Dutch wildcard. So, the Dutch riders are running well at home. New fast lap. Hard to keep up. This is a competitive race, folks. If Rins wins, he'll gain points, and get back in the championship hunt, after crashing at Jerez. Vinales wants by Salom. What will he do? The gap is 1.388 seconds. Now, it's gone down. Oliviera is setting fast laps. Ten to go. We are past halfway now. Oliviera gets another fast lap at 1:43.414. The Aussies (Miller and Sissis), scrap. Alex Marquez passes Maverick Vinales.
John McPhee was in the points, but he's no longer there. Brian Shelton is the same way. Rins and Salom are pushing. Salom is reeling Rins in. Marquez passes Salom up. He's probably riding for his own pride and not his team's satisfaction. Seven laps left. Rins won't move away from everyone else. This is going to be a closely contested Moto 3 race, as they all are. Miguel Oliviera is running well on his Mahindra, battling four factory KTM's. It's still anyone's race.
Miller is still battling Sissis. Danny Webb will have his shoulder looked at by doctors at the medical center. Vinales and Marquez battle for second. Marquez takes the lead. Rins gets snookered. Vinales is very confident he might be able to pull something off before the end of this one. Vinales is just hanging on, and here comes Rins, just like Cortese and Kent last year. Five laps left. Alex Marquez passes Alex Rins. Vinales has the lead. It's going to come down to the last lap, and into the chicane.
Jonas Folger can't do anything except hold station in sixth. Rins passes Marquez, forcing him to sit up. Marquez is back in front of Rins. The Dutch wildcard rider, retires. But, it's now a tussle between Rins and Marquez. Vinales can increase his lead. Marquez is going for it. Three laps remain. Marquez is being pressured. Here comes Salom, passing Rins. Luis Salom has now taken over second! The plot thickens. It's going to be close coming to the finish, as Vinales wants to do the triple, winning at Assen for a third consecutive year.
Marquez is going to push Rins, and poor old Luis Salom, he's not going to make it work. Jasper Iwema is out. He's devastated to be out of his home race. It's Vinales vs. Salom. Two laps left now. Whoa! Salom takes the lead from Vinales! Who will win? Salom wants his third win. Now, Vinales takes the lead back. It's a five way battle for the lead. Here comes Oliviera. Salmom dives. Who's going to get this. Salom is under pressure from Oliviera. Rins passes for third. Salom is right behind Vinales. Stand by.
Salom makes a pass. Can he block. Salom is coming. Salom does it!
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race is in Germany at the Sachsenring in Saxony, Germany. The race is in less than two weeks.
The next Moto 3 race is in Germany, at the Sachsenring.
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