Yours truly has some scheduling conflicts, and is confused about the times for the broadcasts of Moto 2 and Moto 3 from Aragon, Spain, (the support races for MotoGP). So, in the interest of time, both these races will be abbreviated to one entry, based on their results. Here's your race report(s).
In the Moto 2 race, it was Spaniard Nico Terol for Aspar Team Moto2 taking the victory over countryman Tito Rabat. Spaniards swept the podium, as Pol Espargaro, winner of the previous Moto 2 race, rounded out the podium. Championship points leader Scott Redding finished fourth. Takaaki Nakagami and a few other key riders, finished outside the top ten. Among the retirements were Alex De Angelis, Anthony West, Simone Corsi, Tom Luthi, Xavier Simeon, and Steven Odendaal.
#18 Nico Terol ESP Suter
More luck for Spain in the Moto 3 race, as Alex Rins emerged the winner over his countrymen who finished second, third, and fourth. Maverick Vinales and Alex Marquez also made the podium. 29 bikes were classified at the finish. Six of them were DNF's including Zulfahmi Khairuddin, Matteo Ferrari, Florian Alt, Toni Finsterbusch, Jakub Kornfeil, and Alan Techer.
#42 Alex Rins ESP KTM
These are the last European races of the season for Moto 2 and Moto 3 until the actual season finale at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, in Valencia, Spain, at the end of November. For MotoGP, Moto 2, and Moto 3, their next three races will be in Asia and Australia. The Malaysian Grand Prix is slated to take place in two weeks. Stay tuned for the race reports.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
MotoGP round 14: Aragon, Spain
Jorge Lorenzo is on pole for this 23 lap race at Motorland Aragon in Aragon, Spain. Hector Barbera is on track after problems. Here we go.
At the start, Jorge Lorenzo gets the jump as Marc Marquez is up to second past Dani Pedrosa. Stefan Bradl fourth. Cal Crutchlow sixth. Through the Aragon Corkscrew. Valentino Rossi is pushing early on. Stefan Bradl is chasing. Cal Crutchlow runs wide. The gap is a second between Marquez and Lorenzo. Lorenzo does a 1:50 lap. Marquez has the softer front tire. The Honda's could have the advantage at this track over the Yamaha's. Cal Crutchlow has to pass Alvaro Bautista coming into turn sixteen.
Lorenzo has rocketed into the distance. But, Dani Pedrosa is fastest right now. Danilo Petrucci, Michael Laverty, and Luca Scassa, have all crashed. Scassa is a new rider in the championship. He rides the ART bike. Dani Pedrosa has taken second away from team mate Marc Marquez. Pedrosa is reeling in Jorge Lorenzo into The Chase. Pedrosa is riding the defensive line and Marquez pushes into turn number eight. Pedrosa has crashed! Pedrosa will lose the World Championship. He's hurt. The two touch. No. Actually, it was a high side for Pedrosa.
Valentino Rossi has to take evasive action. Lorenzo has two seconds on Marquez. Pedrosa may have had the wind knocked out of him. Bradl, Bautista, and Crutchlow, are behind Rossi. Wow. That was a surprise. It was win or bust for Pedrosa. Unfortunately, it's bust. Valentino Rossi wants to keep his spot. But, Bradl, Bautista, and Crutchlow, they all want a podium. Bautista runs wide, and Crutchlow is now right on top of him.
Crutchlow will try passing on the wider outside line. He can't quite get there. Crutchlow passes into the turn. He's up to fifth. Lorenzo has a 1.1 second lead over Marquez. It's Lorenzo and Marquez 1-2 at this point. Pedrosa high sided his bike. One wonders if he thought Marquez was there. Pedrosa is at the medical center, being checked out. Marquez continues to close on Lorenzo. After this race, there will be only four left to run.
Jorge Lorenzo must beat Marc Marquez. Twelve laps left. It's about halfway through the race. Andrea Dovizioso is in his 200th Grand Prix. He chases Bradley Smith, who seems to be improving. Dovizioso was third here last year, and Smith, had a podium in the 125cc class. Lorenzo runs a 1:49.6. Andrea Ianonne and Aleix Espargaro battle. After his wreck, it could be that Pedrosa has a knee injury. Bautista passes Crutchlow for fifth.
Less than eleven laps to go. Marquez is coming, and fast. Jorge Lorenzo knows Marquez is right on his tail. Here's the battle. Marquez fires into the lead. Can Lorenzo respond? He has to go for it with ten laps left. Marquez will disappear into the distance. Marquez has recovered from his earlier mistake. There's a monster battle for the final podium place. Nicky Hayden is ninth. Colin Edwards is 16th. Cal Crutchlow is keeping up. Smith is still fending off both Ducati's.
This is the last MotoGP race of the season in Europe. Now, has Jorge Lorenzo got something left in the locker for the end of this one? Lorenzo had some real flying laps in practice. Lorenzo runs deep into every corner, and he's throwing everything he's got at Marquez on the Honda. Lorenzo gains another tenth of a second. Six laps to go now. Can Lorenzo take a third consecutive race win? Marquez actually also might have a streak going. These bikes are reaching 212 miles an hour!
Valentino Rossi is fastest. Ah. Dani Pedrosa doesn't have serious injuries. Now, Alvaro Bautista is on the podium. Can Bautista hang on and make it an all Spanish podium? It's Marquez, Lorenzo, Bautista, as opposed to Marquez, Lorenzo, Pedrosa. Damien Cudlin is also running some races in MotoGP. His name should be familiar to FIM World Endurance Championship fans. Michael Laverty is another rider who has been lower down the order in this one.
Tire management might be what this race comes down to. Lorenzo has closed in on Marquez. Four laps left. Lorenzo has won the last two races. Rossi sticks to Bautista, with Bradl behind. Lorenzo loses 3/10ths of a second to Marquez in the second sector of the track. It's too little too late for Lorenzo to get anything out of this race, as far as going for the win. Lorenzo is giving it everything he's got. He's won four championships. Two 250cc titles and two MotoGP titles. But, he's likely not going to win this year's championship.
Nicky Hayden, Andrea Ianonne, and Aleix Espargaro, all battle for ninth. Bradley Smith is seventh or so. Stefan Bradl pushes in fifth. Rossi closes on Bautista. Bautista blocks. Rossi might have a chance to pass through turn two. Bautista is on the defensive. Rossi will push hard. He slides past into turn seven. Bautista tries and then, into the Aragon corkscrew, Rossi takes advantage. Bautista is fighting. This is the race since in front it's pretty well done and dusted. Gressini is getting nervous. Can Rossi keep the edge? This is thee final lap of the race.
Marquez should have this race in the bag. Now, Stefan Bradl passes Bautista for fourth. No all Spanish podium here. Bradl and Bautista battle for third. Rossi is pulling away. Rossi has the advantage and he'll get third. Crutchlow can't get to this battle. Rossi will get a podium. Lorenzo will be second. Marc Marquez is going to win his sixth race of 2013 in his rookie season as a MotoGP rider. Marquez does it!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
Four races left. Three of them, will be flyaway races. The first of those, will be the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, coming up in two weeks.
At the start, Jorge Lorenzo gets the jump as Marc Marquez is up to second past Dani Pedrosa. Stefan Bradl fourth. Cal Crutchlow sixth. Through the Aragon Corkscrew. Valentino Rossi is pushing early on. Stefan Bradl is chasing. Cal Crutchlow runs wide. The gap is a second between Marquez and Lorenzo. Lorenzo does a 1:50 lap. Marquez has the softer front tire. The Honda's could have the advantage at this track over the Yamaha's. Cal Crutchlow has to pass Alvaro Bautista coming into turn sixteen.
Lorenzo has rocketed into the distance. But, Dani Pedrosa is fastest right now. Danilo Petrucci, Michael Laverty, and Luca Scassa, have all crashed. Scassa is a new rider in the championship. He rides the ART bike. Dani Pedrosa has taken second away from team mate Marc Marquez. Pedrosa is reeling in Jorge Lorenzo into The Chase. Pedrosa is riding the defensive line and Marquez pushes into turn number eight. Pedrosa has crashed! Pedrosa will lose the World Championship. He's hurt. The two touch. No. Actually, it was a high side for Pedrosa.
Valentino Rossi has to take evasive action. Lorenzo has two seconds on Marquez. Pedrosa may have had the wind knocked out of him. Bradl, Bautista, and Crutchlow, are behind Rossi. Wow. That was a surprise. It was win or bust for Pedrosa. Unfortunately, it's bust. Valentino Rossi wants to keep his spot. But, Bradl, Bautista, and Crutchlow, they all want a podium. Bautista runs wide, and Crutchlow is now right on top of him.
Crutchlow will try passing on the wider outside line. He can't quite get there. Crutchlow passes into the turn. He's up to fifth. Lorenzo has a 1.1 second lead over Marquez. It's Lorenzo and Marquez 1-2 at this point. Pedrosa high sided his bike. One wonders if he thought Marquez was there. Pedrosa is at the medical center, being checked out. Marquez continues to close on Lorenzo. After this race, there will be only four left to run.
Jorge Lorenzo must beat Marc Marquez. Twelve laps left. It's about halfway through the race. Andrea Dovizioso is in his 200th Grand Prix. He chases Bradley Smith, who seems to be improving. Dovizioso was third here last year, and Smith, had a podium in the 125cc class. Lorenzo runs a 1:49.6. Andrea Ianonne and Aleix Espargaro battle. After his wreck, it could be that Pedrosa has a knee injury. Bautista passes Crutchlow for fifth.
Less than eleven laps to go. Marquez is coming, and fast. Jorge Lorenzo knows Marquez is right on his tail. Here's the battle. Marquez fires into the lead. Can Lorenzo respond? He has to go for it with ten laps left. Marquez will disappear into the distance. Marquez has recovered from his earlier mistake. There's a monster battle for the final podium place. Nicky Hayden is ninth. Colin Edwards is 16th. Cal Crutchlow is keeping up. Smith is still fending off both Ducati's.
This is the last MotoGP race of the season in Europe. Now, has Jorge Lorenzo got something left in the locker for the end of this one? Lorenzo had some real flying laps in practice. Lorenzo runs deep into every corner, and he's throwing everything he's got at Marquez on the Honda. Lorenzo gains another tenth of a second. Six laps to go now. Can Lorenzo take a third consecutive race win? Marquez actually also might have a streak going. These bikes are reaching 212 miles an hour!
Valentino Rossi is fastest. Ah. Dani Pedrosa doesn't have serious injuries. Now, Alvaro Bautista is on the podium. Can Bautista hang on and make it an all Spanish podium? It's Marquez, Lorenzo, Bautista, as opposed to Marquez, Lorenzo, Pedrosa. Damien Cudlin is also running some races in MotoGP. His name should be familiar to FIM World Endurance Championship fans. Michael Laverty is another rider who has been lower down the order in this one.
Tire management might be what this race comes down to. Lorenzo has closed in on Marquez. Four laps left. Lorenzo has won the last two races. Rossi sticks to Bautista, with Bradl behind. Lorenzo loses 3/10ths of a second to Marquez in the second sector of the track. It's too little too late for Lorenzo to get anything out of this race, as far as going for the win. Lorenzo is giving it everything he's got. He's won four championships. Two 250cc titles and two MotoGP titles. But, he's likely not going to win this year's championship.
Nicky Hayden, Andrea Ianonne, and Aleix Espargaro, all battle for ninth. Bradley Smith is seventh or so. Stefan Bradl pushes in fifth. Rossi closes on Bautista. Bautista blocks. Rossi might have a chance to pass through turn two. Bautista is on the defensive. Rossi will push hard. He slides past into turn seven. Bautista tries and then, into the Aragon corkscrew, Rossi takes advantage. Bautista is fighting. This is the race since in front it's pretty well done and dusted. Gressini is getting nervous. Can Rossi keep the edge? This is thee final lap of the race.
Marquez should have this race in the bag. Now, Stefan Bradl passes Bautista for fourth. No all Spanish podium here. Bradl and Bautista battle for third. Rossi is pulling away. Rossi has the advantage and he'll get third. Crutchlow can't get to this battle. Rossi will get a podium. Lorenzo will be second. Marc Marquez is going to win his sixth race of 2013 in his rookie season as a MotoGP rider. Marquez does it!
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
Four races left. Three of them, will be flyaway races. The first of those, will be the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, coming up in two weeks.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
AMA round 8: The New Jersey Lottery Devil's Showdown
There is more AMA racing this weekend. But, here are the results of the most recent event. The New Jersey Lottery Devil's Showdown, was run at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, two weeks ago, on the weekend of September 13th-15th. In the Superbike class, Josh Herrin for Monster Energy Yamaha, took the win in the first race, which ran for 19 laps.
#2 Josh Herrin Yamaha R1
The 23 lap second race for the Superbikes saw Herrin finish in second behind Monster Energy Yamaha team mate, Josh Hayes.
#1 Josh Hayes Yamaha R1
The Daytona Sportbike class also ran two races. The first of which, (a 23 lap event) saw more dominance from Yamaha, as Cameron Beaubier, won.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF-R6
Beaubier did not stop there. He swept the second race, (of the same distance), too.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF-R6
In the Supersport class, the first race was won by Hayden Gillam on his Team 95, RM Racing, Bazzaz, Bell Helmets Yamaha.
#69 Hayden Gillam Yamaha YZF-R6
The second Supersport race was won by Thomas Puerta, riding his RoadRace Factory, Addict By Bosi, Indeportes Yamaha YZF-R6
#12 Tomas Puerta Yamaha YZF-R6
Yamaha swept everything at NJMP except probably for the Harley Davidson spec XR1200 class. In the 11 lap race for the heavy iron, it was Steve Rapp (a former Superbike racer), taking the victory.
#5 Steve Rapp Harley Davidson
All of this, leads into another AMA race this weekend, which is the finale for the AMA season. They are racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on the Monterey Peninsula, along with the FIM World Superbike Championship, who are running their U.S. round this weekend, back at Laguna Seca after being at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, for a number of years.
Results of both of those races will be posted in separate blog entries, when they can be received, and in AMA, we will crown champions and look forward to next season. Stay tuned for updates from Laguna Seca. So long for now.
#2 Josh Herrin Yamaha R1
The 23 lap second race for the Superbikes saw Herrin finish in second behind Monster Energy Yamaha team mate, Josh Hayes.
#1 Josh Hayes Yamaha R1
The Daytona Sportbike class also ran two races. The first of which, (a 23 lap event) saw more dominance from Yamaha, as Cameron Beaubier, won.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF-R6
Beaubier did not stop there. He swept the second race, (of the same distance), too.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF-R6
In the Supersport class, the first race was won by Hayden Gillam on his Team 95, RM Racing, Bazzaz, Bell Helmets Yamaha.
#69 Hayden Gillam Yamaha YZF-R6
The second Supersport race was won by Thomas Puerta, riding his RoadRace Factory, Addict By Bosi, Indeportes Yamaha YZF-R6
#12 Tomas Puerta Yamaha YZF-R6
Yamaha swept everything at NJMP except probably for the Harley Davidson spec XR1200 class. In the 11 lap race for the heavy iron, it was Steve Rapp (a former Superbike racer), taking the victory.
#5 Steve Rapp Harley Davidson
All of this, leads into another AMA race this weekend, which is the finale for the AMA season. They are racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on the Monterey Peninsula, along with the FIM World Superbike Championship, who are running their U.S. round this weekend, back at Laguna Seca after being at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, for a number of years.
Results of both of those races will be posted in separate blog entries, when they can be received, and in AMA, we will crown champions and look forward to next season. Stay tuned for updates from Laguna Seca. So long for now.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Terol leads as Moto 2 action commences at Motorland
A preview of Moto 2 action at Motorland Aragon in Aragon, Spain, this weekend.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/terol+moto2+aragon+fp1
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/terol+moto2+aragon+fp1
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Valentino Rossi and Sky form Moto 3 team
Valentino Rossi forms a partnership with the Italian broadcaster for MotoGP (Sky Italia), starting next year, to promote Moto 3 as a division of worldwide Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Here are the details.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Valentino+Rossi+and+Sky+form+Moto3+team
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Valentino+Rossi+and+Sky+form+Moto3+team
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
FIM World Superbike Round 11: Istanbul Park (Turkey)
In the most recent round of the FIM World Superbike Championship, held in Turkey at Istanbul Park, Eugene Laverty and the Aprilia Racing Team, did the double, sweeping both races. In the Supersport race, Turkish native Kenan Sofuoglu won his home race on his Kawasaki ZX-6-R-
World Superbike race 1: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Superbike race 2: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Supersport race: #54 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR MAHI Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-6-R-
Neither of the Superstock classes ran in Turkey, and they won't run in the U.S. either. That means their championships for the 1000cc and 600cc classes, will have just two races to go. This weekend marks the annual WSBK race in the United States at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, with just three races left in the 2013 season. Results of that race will follow as soon as they can be obtained.
World Superbike race 1: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Superbike race 2: #58 Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Supersport race: #54 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR MAHI Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-6-R-
Neither of the Superstock classes ran in Turkey, and they won't run in the U.S. either. That means their championships for the 1000cc and 600cc classes, will have just two races to go. This weekend marks the annual WSBK race in the United States at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, with just three races left in the 2013 season. Results of that race will follow as soon as they can be obtained.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Repsol Honda Team en route to Aragon
Comments from Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa leading up to this weekend's MotoGP action in Aragon, Spain.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Repsol+Honda+Team+en+route+to+Spain+for+the+Aragn+GP
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Repsol+Honda+Team+en+route+to+Spain+for+the+Aragn+GP
Espargaro looks to take advantage of Redding
I don't often post the previews of Moto 2 races, preferring to zoom in on MotoGP every time they race. But, this is crucial. With Scott Redding's recent injury, Pol Espargaro might just have an upper hand at the Aragon race this weekend.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/moto2+preview+aragon
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/moto2+preview+aragon
Lorenzo takes fight to Marquez on home soil
A preview of the next MotoGP race at Motorland Aragon in Aragon, Spain.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/motogp+preview+aragon
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/motogp+preview+aragon
Monday, September 23, 2013
British Superbike Championship
Here's the link to the official Facebook page for the British Superbike Championship, as well as a link to their website.
https://www.facebook.com/britishsuperbike
...And
http://www.britishsuperbike.com/
https://www.facebook.com/britishsuperbike
...And
http://www.britishsuperbike.com/
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Suzuki completes three-day test at Misano
Suzuki stayed for an extra day at the Misano circuit for testing, after all other teams had completed their scheduled shakedown runs. Here are the details.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/suzuki+complete+test+misano
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/suzuki+complete+test+misano
Thursday, September 19, 2013
24 Hours of Le Mans Moto: qualifying
Here's the story on qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto, taking place at the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans in France, this weekend. Might have results of that race when they are available. Article is from the ACO and is in French.
SERT Suzuki leads SRC Kawasaki, Yamaha GMT 94, BMW Motorrad, and Monster Yamaha YART.
http://www.24h-moto.com/fr/actualites/fin-des-essais-qualificatifs-suzuki-en-pole-position-provisoire_4_1_1998_12327.html
SERT Suzuki leads SRC Kawasaki, Yamaha GMT 94, BMW Motorrad, and Monster Yamaha YART.
http://www.24h-moto.com/fr/actualites/fin-des-essais-qualificatifs-suzuki-en-pole-position-provisoire_4_1_1998_12327.html
CEV Repsol comes under FIM umbrella for 2014
The Federation International de Motorcyclisme will oversee the Spanish CEV Repsol road racing championship, starting next year. Here are the details.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/CEV+Repsol+to+come+under+FIM+umbrella+from+2014
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/CEV+Repsol+to+come+under+FIM+umbrella+from+2014
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
James Toseland
Former FIM World Superbike racer James Toseland, has found a new career, as a musician. Check this out. His band is simply called, Toseland. This comes from another of my own blogs about music.
http://clifford-bruber.blogspot.com/2013/09/james-toseland-renegade.html
http://clifford-bruber.blogspot.com/2013/09/james-toseland-renegade.html
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Moto 3: San Marino
Here are the highlights of the Moto 3 race from the Misano Adriatico circuit, in San Marino.
It is round 12 of Moto 3 for 2013. Valentino Rossi's half brother Luca Marini is in this race. Jonas Folger is on pole for this race. Luis Salom, championship leader, starts on row four of the grid. Andrea Locatelli is starting last, right at the back of the grid along with Luca Amato as the bikes set off on their warmup lap. We're ready for a start to this race. 23 laps scheduled.
At the start, Luis Salom makes a good getaway, taking two or three spots. Luca Marini (a wildcard rider, Valentino Rossi's brother), he's out. Rats. Jonas Folger leads over Alex Rins, Maverick Vinales, and Zulhfammi Khairuddin. The Moto 3 bikes run flat out through Curvone. Alex Rins is running up at the front. Rins and Vinales have been out front a lot this year. Niccolo Antonelli passes Zulhfammi Khairuddin. Oliveira runs deep and into La Quercia, there's more battling. Luca Marini high sides his bike. Ugh. Rins wants by Folger. But, he'll wait, and bide his time.
Two laps complete. Luis Salom and Alex Marquez want to move up. Niccolo Antonelli wants to be close by Khairuddin on the road. Rins runs fast lap. Not sure of the time. He leads back into Quercia. Vinales is going to go for it as they fly through turn eleven at Misano, which is one of the fastest corners in MotoGP. Rins has to book it to keep up with Vinales. Rins has a 1:43.4. Vinales has a 1:43.3 lap time. Jonas Folger gets launched off his bike! He'll be OK. But, too much power. He crawls away from the bike. But, that's vicious crash! He was thrown off the bike, and into the air trying to sit up going through the corner.
Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales will battle for the top spot. Jack Miller is eighth. Philip Oettl is ninth. Niklas Ajo is also running well, going from 21st to 12th. Jonas Folger is put on a stretcher. Lets hope he's OK. Alex Marquez will battle Luis Salom for sure. Vinales challenges Rins for the race lead. Salom and Marquez are still in a hotly contested battle, as Spanish riders are again, dominating the field. Salom could follow Marquez. He's good at following his target, and then, jumping out and passing.
So, it's a predator, prey type idea. It's like a cheetah, stalking a gazelle. Romano Fenati wiggles his bike and fortunately stays on. But, he's had a tough season. Next year, Fenati will run for a team financially supported by Valentino Rossi, in Moto 3. Can Alex Marquez close on Rins and Vinales? Marquez moves away from Salom, and is closing on the top three riders. Niccolo Antonelli barely hangs on to the top group. Arthur Sissis, Niklas Ajo and a few more, run in lockstep. Isaac Vinales is also there. He'll be with Gressini as part of a new team next year.
Marquez is 3/10ths quicker than Vinales. Eric Granado and Romano Fenati are battling for the final points paying position. Fenati had three podiums last year. Not so much this year. Brad Binder is also in this scrum. Granado is learning fast from the other riders around him. Francesco Bagnaia, (Fenati's team mate), has crashed. Game over. Marquez is now second in front of Luis Salom. Salom leads the Moto 3 championship points, by 26 markers over his nearest rival. So, he could gain a few points instead of a lot, and still be in the lead.
Niccolo Antonelli is sixth or seventh, and is the top Italian rider in Moto 3. Valentino Rossi is the only Italian to win in any MotoGP class this year. Marquez is trying to reel in Rins and Vinales. Twelve laps left in the race now. The gap between Vinales and Marquez is 1.355 seconds. Philip Oettl runs alone in ninth. It would be his best result in Moto 3. He does well in practice and qualifying as Luis Salom hounds Zulfahmmi Khairuddin and others. Luis Salom and Arthur Sissis have been arguing with each other off track about each other's riding behavior.
The gap between Marquez and Vinales is four seconds. Now, Vinales takes the place from Marquez. Keep in mind, this is Marc Marquez's brother, the MotoGP star. Marquez passes in turn 11. Matteo Ferrari crashes out of 21st place. This race is half over. Local yellow for Ferrari's bike. Rins and Marquez are a half a second apart. Vinales has had a load of podiums, but hasn't won since France, at Le Mans, in May. Niccolo Antonelli passes Jack Miller. Marquez has lost time as Rins reacts to what Vinales is doing.
Antonelii passs Khairuddin. Zulfahmi Khairuddin tried passing another bike. Alexis Masbou is out with a mechanical issue. Less than ten laps to go now. Zulhfammi Khairuddin still has some fight in him. Will he move up? The points situation is a big deal. But, Khairuddin's team mate is Luis Salom, who is in the championship fight. Khairuddin will be with a new team next year and there will be more junior riders moving to Moto 3 next year.
Into Curvone, Khairuddin pushes and passes Luis Salom. Now, this battle betwen Vinales and Rins is still hot, too. Marquez is in the picture if these two have a row. They run back through La Quercia again. The gap in the points championship will close up. But, Maverick Vinales needs a win, too. Rins comes inside, but can't get by Vinales. Miguel Oliviera has the harder compound option front tire. Could he come up and make a move? Antonelli has some issues with punch out of the corner on his bike, in terms of it's engine's power.
Alex Rins might make a move. But the pace is steady in the 1:43 bracket. Salom is pushing, and so are Khairuddin and others. Salom has it a little easier now that Antonelli has lost ground. Alex Rins is sizing up Vinales, in a long run to the line after negotiating turn 16. Antonelli twitches, and Oliviera goes by. Vinales still leads this one. Alex Marquez looks to finish third, and it will be his third podium in Moto 3. Rins makes his move for the lead into turn one. Rins can stick with a plan and grow his lead.
Can Maverick Vinales stay with Rins? Marquez looks like he'll finish third. Rins is cruising. Don't make a mistake. Miguel Oliviera has a lead over Zulhfammi Khairuddin. Hyuga Watanabe crashes and restarts on bike #29. The marshals help him. Luis Salom has to get by Khairuddin if he wants to stay competitive. Antonelli and Miller are still in it. Now, Vinales still has an advantage over rins with less than two laps left. Through Curvone. Antonelli passes Salom. Yikes!
Khairuddin has been gapped. Now, watch out for Watanabe. Will Alex Rins get by Vinales? This is big race. Watanabe sits up and moves over. It's the last lap of the Moto 3 Grand Prix at San Marino. Will Rins pass in La Quercia? Rins runs in and passes. Vinales comes back on the other end of the road. Here they come. This is the decision. Who will get it? Rins takes the lead and into turn 13 and 14, Vinales tries to run in on Rins. Rins defends. Who gets it? Rins wins it at Misano!
#42 Alex Rins ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race is at Motorland Aragon in Spain, coming up in two weeks.
It is round 12 of Moto 3 for 2013. Valentino Rossi's half brother Luca Marini is in this race. Jonas Folger is on pole for this race. Luis Salom, championship leader, starts on row four of the grid. Andrea Locatelli is starting last, right at the back of the grid along with Luca Amato as the bikes set off on their warmup lap. We're ready for a start to this race. 23 laps scheduled.
At the start, Luis Salom makes a good getaway, taking two or three spots. Luca Marini (a wildcard rider, Valentino Rossi's brother), he's out. Rats. Jonas Folger leads over Alex Rins, Maverick Vinales, and Zulhfammi Khairuddin. The Moto 3 bikes run flat out through Curvone. Alex Rins is running up at the front. Rins and Vinales have been out front a lot this year. Niccolo Antonelli passes Zulhfammi Khairuddin. Oliveira runs deep and into La Quercia, there's more battling. Luca Marini high sides his bike. Ugh. Rins wants by Folger. But, he'll wait, and bide his time.
Two laps complete. Luis Salom and Alex Marquez want to move up. Niccolo Antonelli wants to be close by Khairuddin on the road. Rins runs fast lap. Not sure of the time. He leads back into Quercia. Vinales is going to go for it as they fly through turn eleven at Misano, which is one of the fastest corners in MotoGP. Rins has to book it to keep up with Vinales. Rins has a 1:43.4. Vinales has a 1:43.3 lap time. Jonas Folger gets launched off his bike! He'll be OK. But, too much power. He crawls away from the bike. But, that's vicious crash! He was thrown off the bike, and into the air trying to sit up going through the corner.
Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales will battle for the top spot. Jack Miller is eighth. Philip Oettl is ninth. Niklas Ajo is also running well, going from 21st to 12th. Jonas Folger is put on a stretcher. Lets hope he's OK. Alex Marquez will battle Luis Salom for sure. Vinales challenges Rins for the race lead. Salom and Marquez are still in a hotly contested battle, as Spanish riders are again, dominating the field. Salom could follow Marquez. He's good at following his target, and then, jumping out and passing.
So, it's a predator, prey type idea. It's like a cheetah, stalking a gazelle. Romano Fenati wiggles his bike and fortunately stays on. But, he's had a tough season. Next year, Fenati will run for a team financially supported by Valentino Rossi, in Moto 3. Can Alex Marquez close on Rins and Vinales? Marquez moves away from Salom, and is closing on the top three riders. Niccolo Antonelli barely hangs on to the top group. Arthur Sissis, Niklas Ajo and a few more, run in lockstep. Isaac Vinales is also there. He'll be with Gressini as part of a new team next year.
Marquez is 3/10ths quicker than Vinales. Eric Granado and Romano Fenati are battling for the final points paying position. Fenati had three podiums last year. Not so much this year. Brad Binder is also in this scrum. Granado is learning fast from the other riders around him. Francesco Bagnaia, (Fenati's team mate), has crashed. Game over. Marquez is now second in front of Luis Salom. Salom leads the Moto 3 championship points, by 26 markers over his nearest rival. So, he could gain a few points instead of a lot, and still be in the lead.
Niccolo Antonelli is sixth or seventh, and is the top Italian rider in Moto 3. Valentino Rossi is the only Italian to win in any MotoGP class this year. Marquez is trying to reel in Rins and Vinales. Twelve laps left in the race now. The gap between Vinales and Marquez is 1.355 seconds. Philip Oettl runs alone in ninth. It would be his best result in Moto 3. He does well in practice and qualifying as Luis Salom hounds Zulfahmmi Khairuddin and others. Luis Salom and Arthur Sissis have been arguing with each other off track about each other's riding behavior.
The gap between Marquez and Vinales is four seconds. Now, Vinales takes the place from Marquez. Keep in mind, this is Marc Marquez's brother, the MotoGP star. Marquez passes in turn 11. Matteo Ferrari crashes out of 21st place. This race is half over. Local yellow for Ferrari's bike. Rins and Marquez are a half a second apart. Vinales has had a load of podiums, but hasn't won since France, at Le Mans, in May. Niccolo Antonelli passes Jack Miller. Marquez has lost time as Rins reacts to what Vinales is doing.
Antonelii passs Khairuddin. Zulfahmi Khairuddin tried passing another bike. Alexis Masbou is out with a mechanical issue. Less than ten laps to go now. Zulhfammi Khairuddin still has some fight in him. Will he move up? The points situation is a big deal. But, Khairuddin's team mate is Luis Salom, who is in the championship fight. Khairuddin will be with a new team next year and there will be more junior riders moving to Moto 3 next year.
Into Curvone, Khairuddin pushes and passes Luis Salom. Now, this battle betwen Vinales and Rins is still hot, too. Marquez is in the picture if these two have a row. They run back through La Quercia again. The gap in the points championship will close up. But, Maverick Vinales needs a win, too. Rins comes inside, but can't get by Vinales. Miguel Oliviera has the harder compound option front tire. Could he come up and make a move? Antonelli has some issues with punch out of the corner on his bike, in terms of it's engine's power.
Alex Rins might make a move. But the pace is steady in the 1:43 bracket. Salom is pushing, and so are Khairuddin and others. Salom has it a little easier now that Antonelli has lost ground. Alex Rins is sizing up Vinales, in a long run to the line after negotiating turn 16. Antonelli twitches, and Oliviera goes by. Vinales still leads this one. Alex Marquez looks to finish third, and it will be his third podium in Moto 3. Rins makes his move for the lead into turn one. Rins can stick with a plan and grow his lead.
Can Maverick Vinales stay with Rins? Marquez looks like he'll finish third. Rins is cruising. Don't make a mistake. Miguel Oliviera has a lead over Zulhfammi Khairuddin. Hyuga Watanabe crashes and restarts on bike #29. The marshals help him. Luis Salom has to get by Khairuddin if he wants to stay competitive. Antonelli and Miller are still in it. Now, Vinales still has an advantage over rins with less than two laps left. Through Curvone. Antonelli passes Salom. Yikes!
Khairuddin has been gapped. Now, watch out for Watanabe. Will Alex Rins get by Vinales? This is big race. Watanabe sits up and moves over. It's the last lap of the Moto 3 Grand Prix at San Marino. Will Rins pass in La Quercia? Rins runs in and passes. Vinales comes back on the other end of the road. Here they come. This is the decision. Who will get it? Rins takes the lead and into turn 13 and 14, Vinales tries to run in on Rins. Rins defends. Who gets it? Rins wins it at Misano!
#42 Alex Rins ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race is at Motorland Aragon in Spain, coming up in two weeks.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Marquez heads test Hernandez joins Pramac
Marc Marquez goes quickest in the post-race test at Misano for MotoGP, while Suzuki also tested their bike for next year, and Yonny Hernandez tested for Pramac Ducati.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/test+misano+motogp
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/test+misano+motogp
Moto 2: San Marino
Here are the highlights of the Moto 2 race from the Misano Adriatico circuit. This is round twelve of the Moto 2 championship. Six races to go. Pol Espargaro trails Scott Redding by 38 points. This event for Moto 2 will be 26 laps. The track temperature is getting warmer. The wind picks up. Hoping for no rain. Takaaki Nakagami is third. Tito Rabat is second. Pol Espargaro has pole position. Scott Redding is going to roll off fifth.
Alex de Angelis, on row seven, is from San Marino. Steven Odendaal is back racing after his big warmup crash at Silverstone, as the bikes are on their warmup lap. The warmup lap is complete. We're ready for a start to this one. Good start from Scott Redding. Good start from Julian Simon. There's passing going on already in this 26 lap race. Scott Redding has already passed. Tito Rabat and Pol Espargaro are 1-2 into Quercia. Xavier Simeon runs wide. Dominik Aegerter is running well. They come to Curvone flat out on a Moto 2 bike.
Again, these are 600cc machines. Now, Nakagaami passes Rabat. Dominik Aegerter is starting to move up. Something lists Xavier Simeon as leading. That's not true as the timing is out. Into Quercia again. Anthony West is now tenth, and may have added a spot. Oh. Nope. Back into Curvone. Nakagaami is closing up on Espargaro. Nakagami is there, and so is Dominik Aegerter, who started tenth. Nakagaami runs fast lap at 1:38.5. Pol Espargaro holds off Nakagami's challenge, going into the last turn.
Espargaro is just in front of Nakagami. Tito Rabat is third. Tom Luthi runs seventh right now, two laps into this race. Nakagaami makes his move at La Quercia. He makes the move stick. Rabat holds off Scott Redding, down the back straight. Johann Zarco is running well. The battles are starting to heat up. Mika Kallio was passed very late by Xavier Simeon, as Mattia Passini had also tried to get by. Dominik Aegerter sets new fast lap. Not sure what the time is. Redding is slower than Aegerter through the tenth turn and into the final right hand turn sequences.
Espargaro is going to have to throw evrything he's got at Redding, including the kitchen sink. Redding sticks a pass on Aegerter. Brave stuff from both of these guys. Go for it. Nakagami is moving ahead of Espargaro and Rabat. Tito Rabat sets his personal best lap time. They run into Curvone, as the battle of the team mates, continues. Yellow flags in to Quercia? Hmmm. Simone Corsi has fallen out of twelfth place. Anthony West, Marcel Schrotter, and Nico Terol, move up.
Tito Rabat sets his personal best lap time. Redding is 6/10ths of a second slower than Pol Espargaro. This race is settling into a pace as Nakagaami runs laps in the 1:38 range. Espargaro runs a personal best of 1:38.2. Nakagami also sets an identical lap time. Aegerter and Johann Zarco continue to follow behind Scott Redding. Espargaro sets another personal best lap time. Espargaro might have tire issues. Then again, maybe not.
Aegerter passes Redding. Nakagaami's gap is 2.1 seconds right now. Johann Zarco also goes around Scott Redding's Marc VDS bike. Redding is 4/10ths quicker than Aegerter and a tenth up on Zarco. Anthony West gets into a slight tangle with Xavier Simeon. The front gap closes a bit. Thitipong Warokorn from Thailand, falls. But, back to the front, Nakagami wants this win. He's been second in the last three races. The gap is up to two seconds. Tito Rabat sets a personal best lap, and he's closing on Pol Espargaro as Scott Redding is still trying to pass Dominik Aegerter. Tom Luthi is lurking, too.
Nakagami is feeling for tire wear as Scott Redding is now dealing with Tom Luthi. The gap closes to 1.1 seconds between the Team Harmony riders (Rabat and Espargaro). Redding might be able to pull out the stops at the end of this race. We'll see. Aegerter, Zarco, Luthi, and Redding, all battle over fourth spot with just six laps left. Five now, actually. The gap is closing. 1.4 seconds. Rabat is motoring. Nakagami might be worried about losing this race.
Nakagami leads again. Espargaro also wants this. Tom Luthi is up to fourth. Aegerter runs deep trying to pass Luthi. New fast lap from Espargaro. 1:38 flat! 1:38.070. Four laps remaining now. Espargaro might catch Nakagami. He's straining every sinew right now. Espargaro is closing as the bikes start their next lap with three remaining. Espargaro must ride the wheels off his motorcycle. Redding is stuck in seventh, still. Luthi, Aegerter, and Zarco, are ahead of Redding. Back into Quercia again. Nakagami's armor is starting to crack.
Espargaro is closing right up on Nakagami. Both these guys are desperate. Nakagami wants a win. Espargaro wants to get the points to catch up to Redding in the championship. Espargaro leads now, with two lkaps to go. Nakagami must respond, after having a three second lead at one point. Espargaro lengthens his gap. Just over a lap left now. It looks like Nakagami is going to have to settle for second. This is the last lap. This could be the most important Moto 2 win of Espargaro's career.
Nakagami is coming back. Has he got something left in the locker? Half a lap left. Unfortunately, Nakagami is not going to get there. Pol Espargaro is going to win this race.
#40 Pol Espargaro ESP Kalex Granollers
The next race is in Spain at Motorland Aragon, in two weeks.
Alex de Angelis, on row seven, is from San Marino. Steven Odendaal is back racing after his big warmup crash at Silverstone, as the bikes are on their warmup lap. The warmup lap is complete. We're ready for a start to this one. Good start from Scott Redding. Good start from Julian Simon. There's passing going on already in this 26 lap race. Scott Redding has already passed. Tito Rabat and Pol Espargaro are 1-2 into Quercia. Xavier Simeon runs wide. Dominik Aegerter is running well. They come to Curvone flat out on a Moto 2 bike.
Again, these are 600cc machines. Now, Nakagaami passes Rabat. Dominik Aegerter is starting to move up. Something lists Xavier Simeon as leading. That's not true as the timing is out. Into Quercia again. Anthony West is now tenth, and may have added a spot. Oh. Nope. Back into Curvone. Nakagaami is closing up on Espargaro. Nakagami is there, and so is Dominik Aegerter, who started tenth. Nakagaami runs fast lap at 1:38.5. Pol Espargaro holds off Nakagami's challenge, going into the last turn.
Espargaro is just in front of Nakagami. Tito Rabat is third. Tom Luthi runs seventh right now, two laps into this race. Nakagaami makes his move at La Quercia. He makes the move stick. Rabat holds off Scott Redding, down the back straight. Johann Zarco is running well. The battles are starting to heat up. Mika Kallio was passed very late by Xavier Simeon, as Mattia Passini had also tried to get by. Dominik Aegerter sets new fast lap. Not sure what the time is. Redding is slower than Aegerter through the tenth turn and into the final right hand turn sequences.
Espargaro is going to have to throw evrything he's got at Redding, including the kitchen sink. Redding sticks a pass on Aegerter. Brave stuff from both of these guys. Go for it. Nakagami is moving ahead of Espargaro and Rabat. Tito Rabat sets his personal best lap time. They run into Curvone, as the battle of the team mates, continues. Yellow flags in to Quercia? Hmmm. Simone Corsi has fallen out of twelfth place. Anthony West, Marcel Schrotter, and Nico Terol, move up.
Tito Rabat sets his personal best lap time. Redding is 6/10ths of a second slower than Pol Espargaro. This race is settling into a pace as Nakagaami runs laps in the 1:38 range. Espargaro runs a personal best of 1:38.2. Nakagami also sets an identical lap time. Aegerter and Johann Zarco continue to follow behind Scott Redding. Espargaro sets another personal best lap time. Espargaro might have tire issues. Then again, maybe not.
Aegerter passes Redding. Nakagaami's gap is 2.1 seconds right now. Johann Zarco also goes around Scott Redding's Marc VDS bike. Redding is 4/10ths quicker than Aegerter and a tenth up on Zarco. Anthony West gets into a slight tangle with Xavier Simeon. The front gap closes a bit. Thitipong Warokorn from Thailand, falls. But, back to the front, Nakagami wants this win. He's been second in the last three races. The gap is up to two seconds. Tito Rabat sets a personal best lap, and he's closing on Pol Espargaro as Scott Redding is still trying to pass Dominik Aegerter. Tom Luthi is lurking, too.
Nakagami is feeling for tire wear as Scott Redding is now dealing with Tom Luthi. The gap closes to 1.1 seconds between the Team Harmony riders (Rabat and Espargaro). Redding might be able to pull out the stops at the end of this race. We'll see. Aegerter, Zarco, Luthi, and Redding, all battle over fourth spot with just six laps left. Five now, actually. The gap is closing. 1.4 seconds. Rabat is motoring. Nakagami might be worried about losing this race.
Nakagami leads again. Espargaro also wants this. Tom Luthi is up to fourth. Aegerter runs deep trying to pass Luthi. New fast lap from Espargaro. 1:38 flat! 1:38.070. Four laps remaining now. Espargaro might catch Nakagami. He's straining every sinew right now. Espargaro is closing as the bikes start their next lap with three remaining. Espargaro must ride the wheels off his motorcycle. Redding is stuck in seventh, still. Luthi, Aegerter, and Zarco, are ahead of Redding. Back into Quercia again. Nakagami's armor is starting to crack.
Espargaro is closing right up on Nakagami. Both these guys are desperate. Nakagami wants a win. Espargaro wants to get the points to catch up to Redding in the championship. Espargaro leads now, with two lkaps to go. Nakagami must respond, after having a three second lead at one point. Espargaro lengthens his gap. Just over a lap left now. It looks like Nakagami is going to have to settle for second. This is the last lap. This could be the most important Moto 2 win of Espargaro's career.
Nakagami is coming back. Has he got something left in the locker? Half a lap left. Unfortunately, Nakagami is not going to get there. Pol Espargaro is going to win this race.
#40 Pol Espargaro ESP Kalex Granollers
The next race is in Spain at Motorland Aragon, in two weeks.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
MotoGP round 13: San Marino
MotoGP returns to Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano Adriatico circuit Marco Simoncelli in the province of Ramini, Italy.
This is Valentino Rossi's home track. Just six races are left on the schedule for 2013. Every win by any of the top riders, will be for the championship chase. Ten minutes from now, the race will start. Now, Marc Marquez fell in the warmup, and fortunately, did not get hurt. Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez have both fallen in the past. Some of the crashes have been brutal. But, their suits aree fully kangaroo or cow leather. They have plastic protectors on the elbows and knees. They also have an airbag system in the shoulders and back, that is computerized. The airbags are contained in the suit, to protect the rider, because the g forces are so high during the crashes.
In the helmets, there isn't much special except for the rearoffs. They are made from fiberglass and one of the big helmet makers is called Shoei. So, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, and Jorge Lorenzo, have all been hurt at times this season. In qualifying, Marquez took his sixth pole of the season with a 1:32.915 after crashing in practice. Jorge Lorenzo takes second spot. Valentino Rossi is third. Dani Pedrosa is third, alongside Cal Crutchlow and Aleix Espargaro.
Michele Pirro is again subbing for Ben Spies, riding bike #51. Karel Abraham might have shoulder surgery this coming week after this race. We are three minutes away from a start of this race. The bikes are on their warmup lap on the Adriatic coast. Marquez shatters Casey Stoner's lap record. Yamaha has a new seamless transmission for their bikes. This track is 2.6 miles. It will run for 28 laps. The track was built in 1969 and modified five years ago in 2008.
We're ready! At the start, Aleix Espargaro has jumped the start. Espargaro passess Valentino Rossi. Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi try their best. Rossi gets swamped. Bradley Smith is eighth. Lorenzo leads and wants to get away from everyone else, going onto the back straight. How will Yamaha's seamless gearbox perform? Rossi is catching the factory Honda's as Andrea Ianonne also passes both factory Ducati's of Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso. Espargaro has jumped the start and will get a ride through penalty, after starting sixth.
Stefan Bradl makes a pass. Lorenzo leads with Dani Pedrosa in second. Is Marquez concerned because of those crashes? Maybe. Lorenzo laps the track at 1:34.1. Lorenzo brings the lap time down to 1:34 flat. What can Dani Pedrosa do? Cal Crutchlow, Stefan Bradl, and Alvaro Bautista battle as Andrea Ianonne has crashed. Aleix Espargaro has to pit for his penalty. He hasn't seen the board yet. Pedrosa has not had luck with the rear tire today. Espargaro is frustrated. His team is trying to calm him down so he doesn't make a mistake.
Wow. This battle is getting heavy. Rossi passes for third spot while Marquez and Pedrosa scrap with each other. Jorge Lorenzo still has the lead here at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Nicky Hayden is eighth. Colin Edwards is 12th and is top CRT rider. Rossi runs 1:34.447 and Marc Marquez is still running quicker. Lorenzo is whistling off into the distance. Karel Abraham is out of this race. He's also going to miss the rest of the season after his operation. He's not feeling 100$ at all. Nicky Hayden, Andrea Dovizioso, and Michele Pirro, battle on all three Ducati's. Watch out, boys. Don't crash.
Hey Andrea, don't let the test rider, beat you. Lorenzo has 2.7 seconds in hand over Pedrosa right now. Lorenzo runs 1:34.3 and then 1:34.1. Bradl has one podium this year, (second place at Laguna Seca). Aleix Espargaro is 17th after his penalty, having passed Danilo Petrucci. Pedrosa has changed the fuel mapping on his motorcycle's engine. They are tight on fuel as it is and cold be even tighter next year, with requirements for a 20 liter fuel tank. No pit stops in MotoGP or most motorcycle racing, unless it's the endurance bikes.
Marquez may or may not finish on the podium here. Marquez dives to the inside of Valentino Rossi! Wow! Marquez sets fast lap and wants by Dani Pedrosa. Rossi has a new helmet design. It's Pink Floyd and their 1975 record Wish You Were Here. Fourteen laps complete. Fourteen remain. It's halfway through the race now. Lorenzo knows how to ride his race at the front. If he knows Pedrosa is closing, he'll push just that little bit harder. Giacomo Agostini is here this weekend. He brought Yamaha a championship when he left MV Agusta and came to ride for them in the glory days of the 500cc two stroke era.
Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl continue to battle in this race. Marquez continues to close on Dani Pedrosa. Rossi is 2.5 seconds behind Marquez now. Marquez closes on Pedrosa. He fires it through turn two, passing Pedrosa. If Pedrosa can't respond, it won't work for the championship either. Now, can Marquez reel in Jorge Lorenzo? Pedrosa is not letting Marquez get away. Pedrosa threatens into turn one. Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl battle. Andrea Dovizioso, Nicky Hayden, and Michele Pirro are eight through tenth.
Aleix Espargaro passes Danilo Petrucci and wants to catch Colin Edwards to be the top CRT bike. But, once again, it's this battle btween the two Repsol Honda's that will be the biggest deal in this race. Into the Rio corner, (turn four), the battle rages, and into Quercia. Marquez runs the wider line. Wow. Pedrosa gets by Marquez! It's the same thing Marquez has done to Valentino Rossi. Now, it looks like Marquez gets the best of Pedrosa. This battle isn't over at all with six laps left.
Lorenzo has a four second lead. He's going to win. There's no catching him. Who will finish second? Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl still battle for fifth spot. Lorenzo's lead is still four seconds and Valentino Rossi falls behind in fourth. But, the order in and of itself has not altered much. Crutchlow and Bradl battle on their satellite bikes. Crutchlow on the satellite Yamaha and Bradl, on the satellite LCR Honda. Crutchlow will be a Ducati rider next year.
Lorenzo is looking for his sixth consecutive win in Italy between Misano and Mugello. Bradl has to get by Crutchlow for fifth. But, will he? After this race, just five races remain in the season. Final lap. Can Bradl run down Cal Crutchlow? It's hard to tell. On the run to Quercia or Carro, will be the opportrunities. Bradl tries to pass into Quercia and he does it. Bradl has the drive into Curvone. Lorenzo will win in Italy! He wins his third consecutive San Marino Grand Prix!
Stefan Bradl beats Cal Crutchlow to the line.
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
Five races left in MotoGP for 2013. The next one will be at MotorLand Aragon in Aragon, Spain, coming up in two weeks.
This is Valentino Rossi's home track. Just six races are left on the schedule for 2013. Every win by any of the top riders, will be for the championship chase. Ten minutes from now, the race will start. Now, Marc Marquez fell in the warmup, and fortunately, did not get hurt. Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez have both fallen in the past. Some of the crashes have been brutal. But, their suits aree fully kangaroo or cow leather. They have plastic protectors on the elbows and knees. They also have an airbag system in the shoulders and back, that is computerized. The airbags are contained in the suit, to protect the rider, because the g forces are so high during the crashes.
In the helmets, there isn't much special except for the rearoffs. They are made from fiberglass and one of the big helmet makers is called Shoei. So, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, and Jorge Lorenzo, have all been hurt at times this season. In qualifying, Marquez took his sixth pole of the season with a 1:32.915 after crashing in practice. Jorge Lorenzo takes second spot. Valentino Rossi is third. Dani Pedrosa is third, alongside Cal Crutchlow and Aleix Espargaro.
Michele Pirro is again subbing for Ben Spies, riding bike #51. Karel Abraham might have shoulder surgery this coming week after this race. We are three minutes away from a start of this race. The bikes are on their warmup lap on the Adriatic coast. Marquez shatters Casey Stoner's lap record. Yamaha has a new seamless transmission for their bikes. This track is 2.6 miles. It will run for 28 laps. The track was built in 1969 and modified five years ago in 2008.
We're ready! At the start, Aleix Espargaro has jumped the start. Espargaro passess Valentino Rossi. Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi try their best. Rossi gets swamped. Bradley Smith is eighth. Lorenzo leads and wants to get away from everyone else, going onto the back straight. How will Yamaha's seamless gearbox perform? Rossi is catching the factory Honda's as Andrea Ianonne also passes both factory Ducati's of Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso. Espargaro has jumped the start and will get a ride through penalty, after starting sixth.
Stefan Bradl makes a pass. Lorenzo leads with Dani Pedrosa in second. Is Marquez concerned because of those crashes? Maybe. Lorenzo laps the track at 1:34.1. Lorenzo brings the lap time down to 1:34 flat. What can Dani Pedrosa do? Cal Crutchlow, Stefan Bradl, and Alvaro Bautista battle as Andrea Ianonne has crashed. Aleix Espargaro has to pit for his penalty. He hasn't seen the board yet. Pedrosa has not had luck with the rear tire today. Espargaro is frustrated. His team is trying to calm him down so he doesn't make a mistake.
Wow. This battle is getting heavy. Rossi passes for third spot while Marquez and Pedrosa scrap with each other. Jorge Lorenzo still has the lead here at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Nicky Hayden is eighth. Colin Edwards is 12th and is top CRT rider. Rossi runs 1:34.447 and Marc Marquez is still running quicker. Lorenzo is whistling off into the distance. Karel Abraham is out of this race. He's also going to miss the rest of the season after his operation. He's not feeling 100$ at all. Nicky Hayden, Andrea Dovizioso, and Michele Pirro, battle on all three Ducati's. Watch out, boys. Don't crash.
Hey Andrea, don't let the test rider, beat you. Lorenzo has 2.7 seconds in hand over Pedrosa right now. Lorenzo runs 1:34.3 and then 1:34.1. Bradl has one podium this year, (second place at Laguna Seca). Aleix Espargaro is 17th after his penalty, having passed Danilo Petrucci. Pedrosa has changed the fuel mapping on his motorcycle's engine. They are tight on fuel as it is and cold be even tighter next year, with requirements for a 20 liter fuel tank. No pit stops in MotoGP or most motorcycle racing, unless it's the endurance bikes.
Marquez may or may not finish on the podium here. Marquez dives to the inside of Valentino Rossi! Wow! Marquez sets fast lap and wants by Dani Pedrosa. Rossi has a new helmet design. It's Pink Floyd and their 1975 record Wish You Were Here. Fourteen laps complete. Fourteen remain. It's halfway through the race now. Lorenzo knows how to ride his race at the front. If he knows Pedrosa is closing, he'll push just that little bit harder. Giacomo Agostini is here this weekend. He brought Yamaha a championship when he left MV Agusta and came to ride for them in the glory days of the 500cc two stroke era.
Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl continue to battle in this race. Marquez continues to close on Dani Pedrosa. Rossi is 2.5 seconds behind Marquez now. Marquez closes on Pedrosa. He fires it through turn two, passing Pedrosa. If Pedrosa can't respond, it won't work for the championship either. Now, can Marquez reel in Jorge Lorenzo? Pedrosa is not letting Marquez get away. Pedrosa threatens into turn one. Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl battle. Andrea Dovizioso, Nicky Hayden, and Michele Pirro are eight through tenth.
Aleix Espargaro passes Danilo Petrucci and wants to catch Colin Edwards to be the top CRT bike. But, once again, it's this battle btween the two Repsol Honda's that will be the biggest deal in this race. Into the Rio corner, (turn four), the battle rages, and into Quercia. Marquez runs the wider line. Wow. Pedrosa gets by Marquez! It's the same thing Marquez has done to Valentino Rossi. Now, it looks like Marquez gets the best of Pedrosa. This battle isn't over at all with six laps left.
Lorenzo has a four second lead. He's going to win. There's no catching him. Who will finish second? Cal Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl still battle for fifth spot. Lorenzo's lead is still four seconds and Valentino Rossi falls behind in fourth. But, the order in and of itself has not altered much. Crutchlow and Bradl battle on their satellite bikes. Crutchlow on the satellite Yamaha and Bradl, on the satellite LCR Honda. Crutchlow will be a Ducati rider next year.
Lorenzo is looking for his sixth consecutive win in Italy between Misano and Mugello. Bradl has to get by Crutchlow for fifth. But, will he? After this race, just five races remain in the season. Final lap. Can Bradl run down Cal Crutchlow? It's hard to tell. On the run to Quercia or Carro, will be the opportrunities. Bradl tries to pass into Quercia and he does it. Bradl has the drive into Curvone. Lorenzo will win in Italy! He wins his third consecutive San Marino Grand Prix!
Stefan Bradl beats Cal Crutchlow to the line.
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
Five races left in MotoGP for 2013. The next one will be at MotorLand Aragon in Aragon, Spain, coming up in two weeks.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Rossi ahead of Lorenzo with new gearbox
Valentino Rossi is slightly ahead of his Yamaha team mate Jorge Lorenzo at San Marino in practice, with a new gearbox. Sunday is race day, and we'll see what happens.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Rossi+ahead+of+Lorenzo+with+new+gearbox
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Rossi+ahead+of+Lorenzo+with+new+gearbox
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Agostini: The first Italian motorcycling legend
A great article from the MotoGP website about Giacomo Agostini, who is a legend of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. He will be present for this weekend's MotoGP race at Misano in Italy, and will present a book about his life and racing career, which ended with his retirement from racing, 36 years ago, back in
1977.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Agostini+The+first+Italian+motorcycling+legend
1977.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Agostini+The+first+Italian+motorcycling+legend
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Bike Road Racing Series: North West 200
The Bike Road Racing Series comes to Portrush, Northern Ireland, for the second round of the 2013 season. It's the Vauxhall International North West 200, taking place on streets that run through three towns. Portrush, Portstewart, and Coleraine on Northern Ireland's north coast. It's a great place for a vacation, except for this week, when the motorcycles invade the territory for their big race. Here are the highlights.
There are teams and riders that represent more than fifteen different countries. Some of the best riders in the world compete in this race. We are ready for the first race of the day. Look for these riders to show their stuff. Listed will be their name, their nationality, and the number of wins they've scored in this great race.
Bruce Anstey New Zealand 9 wins
Alastair Seeley Northern Ireland 8 wins
John McGuinness England 6 wins
William Dunlop Northern Ireland 3 wins
Michael Dunlop Northern Ireland 1 win
Guy Martin England 0 wins*
Cameron Donald Australia 0 wins*
*Guy Martin and Cameron Donald, both want their first tastes of success at this race. Will they be triumphant? We'll find out. Between the top five on the win list, there are 27 race wins. The first race of the day is for Supersport bikes. Five years ago, in 2008, Michael Dunlop scored his one win at the North West. He won the race after his dad Robert was killed in a practice crash. It was a popular victory. Robert Dunlop holds the record for wins in this race.
We have a damp track for this Ballymoney Council Super Sport event, with the Honda of John McGuinness on pole. Twelve bikes will start this race. At the start, it's John McGuinness getting the jump. Bruce Anstey is second with Guy Martin in third spot. McGuinness goes around Anstey and it's really damp on track right now. These guys will have to really watch where they're going with the tires at the very least. Stewart Easton on bike #5 is coming through this pack. Cameron Donald is also back there.
Now, the second wave of bikes is going to start. So, there are more than twelve in this race. There's got to be at least 30-40 bikes out there. Alastair Seeley is starting in this second pack, and he has to work his way around slower riders, which is sure to be a challenge. This is an unbelievable slide that Bruce Anstey goes through, while still staying on his bike! It's a third gear corner on the road. McGuinness and Anstey are riding similar bikes. They are both Padgett's prepared Honda's.
The crown of the road is just starting to dry. That's the center, where the dotted lines are. Alastair Seeley is trying to clear through the second wave and get open road to race on. These are tricky conditions as we watch the #6 RC Express Yamaha of Dean Harrison. This race has been shortened. One lap has been subtracted. So, it will be five laps instead of six. The race was shortened because of time constraints. Alastair Seeley on the #34 Gearlink Kawasaki is moving up, catching the first wave.
Michael Dunlop is slipstreaming two bikes down the straight! Wow. Talk about a head of steam! He squeezes Guy Martin onto the wet section of track, on the outside line. Into the Matthew's Cross chicane, and then, back onto the road. The bikes go into the Metropol corner, which is at a junction. Seeley is still behind as the riders run along the coast road. Michael Dunlop slides the front wheel, and still hangs on to the lead. Dunlop slides the bike as he works the gearshift with his foot, and uses his right hand for the clutch on the motorcycle.
Lee Johnston passes John McGuinness. Alastair Seeley goes over the top of Black Hill. His, and other rider's heartbeats are way up. This is adrenaline pumping, and also hard work for the riders to keep their machines on the road. Alastair Seeley has passed Jamie Hamilton. Two bikes pass into University corner where there are definitely puddles. It's still raining. Michael Dunlop still has the lead, but he twitches the bike and fortunately, stays on! Whoa! That's a first gear corner. But, Dunlop mashed the throttle just a hair too quickly and could have ditched the bike!
Alastair Seeley is closing on Michael Dunlop. Will he have enough time? Will Dunlop have a big enough cushion? Dunlop wins this race. But, he has to wait for Seeley to cross the line to find the gap. Seeley has traffic ahead. Oh! Seeley is the winner. Dunlop doesn't get it, because of the timing difference! Whoa! It pays to wait, folks. In this kind of racing, you never know who is going to win.
#34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
The top five is:
1. #34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
2. #6 Michael Dunlop Honda
3. #4 Guy Martin Suzuki
4. #2 Bruce Anstey Honda
5. #5 Stuart Easton Yamaha
The next race is for the Super Twins. Kawasaki dominates this class. But, the big deal with this race, will be tires. Jeremy McWilliams is going to start on pole. Another 12 bike field. Most of the riders in the Super Twin race have elected to start on full wet tires. This should be a sizzler. Michael Dunlop is the only rider in the field who has gone ahead with the dry weather tire, or perhaps, an intermediate compound where it's essentially a slick tire, with slight grooves cut into it with a hot iron.
The Vauxhall Supertwin race is set to get underway. Four laps scheduled. Go! Jeremy McWilliams gets passed on the start by James Hillier. But, Hillier has issues with his bike right from the get go. Jamie Hamilton is moving up on the #44 KMR Kawasaki. Likewise, Lee Johnston moves through the field. The bikes are coming to the Mill Road roundabout, as the second wave takes off from the starting grid.
Hamilton drafts past Lee Johnston. Jeremy McWilliams is pushig. His heart rate is slightly above the speed of the bike, numerically. Three wide, and Hillier is the meat in the sandwich. But, that hot dog just got eaten up by the two riders to either side of him. Jeremy McWilliams brakes late into the corner, and he knows what to do, running on the Bridgestone wet tires. Michael Rutter is also running consistently so far. Rutter is having to work his way through this field.
Jeremy McWilliams is a local rider and he's battling with another, who just barely got onto the grid for this race. His name wasn't even on the official lineup at first. That's William Davidson, on bike #50. Not very much information about the riders in this championship like there is for MotoGP, World Superbike, AMA, or the Endurance World Championship. The rules this year stipulate a bike has to run a taillight if it rains.
It's raining now. So, taillight on. The crowd is going berserk, watching their favorite riders, cheering them on. All these bikes are 650cc machines putting out 100 horsepower. Ivan Lintin is another rider to keep an eye on in this one. Spare a thought for Lee Johnston. He's riding with an injured leg, that was broken three weeks before this race took place back in June. Yikes! He seems to be hanging right in there. All these riders are getting brave going around the Metropol. The bikes are flat out through Station corner, only lifting a tiny bit.
Uh oh. Either McWilliams or William Davidson is off the road now. He had to stop the bike and turn it to avoid sliding down the escape road. McWilliams could gather up a lead towards the end of this one. He's got rain, and flies on the visor. Just what any motorcycle racer needs, right? James Hillier goes past Jamie Hamilton. Hamilton passes Hillier on the inside, on the coast road. Lee Johnston has more trouble, overcooking a corner, and going straight on.
He's come out of the no man's land past the chicane and will let the leaders go by. William Davidson seems to be right on top of Jeremy McWilliams now. McWilliams looks over his shoulder, trying to see where he is. Racing bikes do not have mirrors of course. Wow! Davidson goes by McWilliams on the damp line into the Metropol! Davidson is now swamped by other riders as the checkered flag awaits. These two are neck and neck. McWilliams carries the back wheel of the bike and Davidson tries to go inside. But, no! McWilliams keeps the lead.
Davidson's luck runs out with a big crash! He low sides the bike, right in front of Jeremy McWilliams! That could have been really ugly. Fortunately, he slides onto grass to cushion the fall. He was pushing too hard and the front end washed out going into Black Hill. It's the last lap of the Super Twin race. Jeremy McWilliams looks to be on his way to a win here. But, don't speak too soon. James Hillier and Jamie Hamilton are coming, fast. They want a piece of this. They want to challenge McWilliams for the win.
No challenge though, as McWilliams wins!
1. #99 Jeremy McWilliams Kawasaki
2. #4 James Hillier Suzuki
3. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
4. #15 Ivan Lintin Kawasaki
5. #5 Lee Johnston Kawasaki
The Super Twin race is done and dusted. Race three on the schedule will be the Super Stock division. These are the 600cc bikes. This is the biggest field of any race today. Australian Josh Brookes makes his debut at the North West 200, and he's currently competing in the British Superbike Championship. This is a big field. 56 bikes will start in four waves of 14 bikes. This race will be six laps. It's the Livewire AV Superstock race.
At the start, John McGuinness rockets away from pole as there's argy bargy in the middle of the pack. Bruce Anstey gets bumped. He's looking for the dry pavement on the track right now. McGuinness tries making a move. These guys are on cold tires. Gary Johnson makes a bold pass on Alastair Seeley. William Dunlop gets passed as everyone struggles to warm up their tires. The second wave takes off with Josh Brookes leading on bike #2. Gary Johnson takes the race lead. These 600cc bikes might not reach top speed of 200 miles an hour. But, they'll be close, running 190 miles an hour down the long roads.
Some riders touched 199 miles per hour in practice. If that isn't booking it on a motorcycle, I don't know what is. Into the Valley Sally roundabout, it's still quite wet. Be careful around this one, lads. Bruce Anstey makes a mega move around Guy Martin in the roundabout! OK. No backing down for these guys today. Guy Martin drafts by his closest competitors and gets an advantage into the corner. Michael Dunlop also passes. We are looking for the lead battle at the moment. Fly past the church and under the railway bridge. Right now, it's Gary Johnson and Bruce Anstey running 1-2.
Most of these bikes are running intermediate tires. Anstey passes Johnson for the lead. Anstey gets the run on Johnson down Millbank Avenue and makes it stick. This is a horsepower war, and so far, Kawasaki has more grunt than Honda. Where Anstey makes up time is in the braking zones. No change into University corner. Josh Brookes has now cracked the top 15. The rain has stopped. But the roads need to dry out. Could Alastair Seeley win two races in the same day? Good question.
Seeley is running on the Nick Morgan prepared MSS Kawasaki. Seeley is trying to pass in the chicane! Seeley streaks by Anstey. Not even sure if Anstey knew he was there! Talk about going for it! Could Johnson be having problems with his motorcycle? Did he miss a gear in the shift pattern? Johnson is losing ground. It's the last lap of this contest. Who will win? It's Seeley vs. Anstey for the win. Lapped traffic in the way. Two wins in one day for Alastair Seeley!
#34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
Here's the top five
1. #34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
2. #5 Bruce Anstey Honda
3. #7 Gary Johnson Kawasaki
4. #1 Guy Martin Suzuki
5. #60 Derek Sheils Kawasaki
Alastair Seeley now has ten wins at the North West 200. Day two action is coming up. But, the weather doesn't look promising.
It's Saturday at the North West 200, and bang, just as the forecasts predicted, it's raining. Fans have their umbrellas at the ready, and undoubtedly, track conditions are going to be slick! We are ready for the second Super Sport race of the weekend. The McKendry Fabrications Supersport race. John McGuinness is on pole for this five lap shootout. The distance has been reduced by one lap. Everybody will run full wet tires in this contest.
We're ready for a start. At the start, it's John McGuiness getting the jump on the field. Cameron Donald is part of the second wave. Bruce Anstey wants to sweep past John McGuinness. Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop are in a battle of their own. Cameron Donald scraps with Guy Martin as Anstey passes for the lead into the Mill Road roundabout. The second wave takes off. Alastair Seeley is in the pack. He's the one to keep an eye on. Seeley has passed half a dozen riders in his group already, and will catch the first wave, soon.
Anstey, McGuinness and Dunlop are the top three. Guy Martin and Lee Johnston are also in the running. The rain is pouring and this makes visibility really tough for the riders as they fly on these country roads. Into University, it's difficult to see the bikes. Bruce Anstey still holds down P1. Over the Links Road and into the Balley Sally roundabout, Michael Dunlop is charging on bike #6. Seeley is flying, clear of the pack. In a straight line, he's running 174 miles an hour! Dunlop is about eat up John McGuinness.
Dunlop advances to second spot. This is on corrected time. But, Michael Dunlop will be absolutely sure to not let Alastair Seeley get anywhere near him. He'll be riding out of his skin to keep the race lead. Into Mather's Cross, the road will be slipperier than anyplace on this track. Seeley is pushing Dunlop. But there are backmarkers to deal with as usual. Lee Johnston is still hanging tough even with a broken leg. They're on the run down to Metropol.
The dark clouds are thickening above the road. Anstey leads Dunlop, and McGuinness is fading slightly. Dunlop gaisn on Anstey through Metropol. Through Church, it's McGuinness vs. Johnston. McGuinness is the rabbit, while Johnston, is the hound. Johnston gets by McGuinness. Seeley goes through Church and onto the coast road. Up Black Hill, there's little space between Seeley and his rivals now. Dean Harrison runs well in this race and has been solid throughout the whole week of action here in Northern Ireland. Dunlop is all over Anstey like a rash.
Dunlop tries to pass through Primrose and York corners. But, he can't get by. Seeley is third, two and a half seconds adrift of the race lead. The leaders come through the Mill Road roundabout. Meanwhile, Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey battle into University. Anstey won't give up without a fight. Dunlop finally passes Anstey as the rain continues to pour. Seeley still flies at 176 miles an hour on a 600cc bike! Unreal! The chicanes make things safer, but they also complicate things, bringing the bike to first gear and almost a dead stop.
Guy Martin makes a pass on John McGuinness. Anstey might be losing the tow from Dunlop. Seeley runs into Macravoy corner. He has to get by slower riders from the first wave who are laps down. Seeley makes quick work of Scott Campbell. Coming to complete lap two, Dunlop still leads Anstey. Through Juniper corner, this fight to the finish will continue. But, problems on track. Someone has taken a big spill. That's Scott Campbell.
He should be OK. But on the fall, Campbell slid one way and the bike slid the other. That downed motorcycle can't stay in that area without a yellow flag intervention. Will there be a red flag? Cameron Donald pulls off the road. He either has a problem with the bike, or is wary of continuing in these conditions. Dunlop twitches his bike! Yikes! He still wants by Seeley and carries the front wheel through York. Has Seeley made up enough time? Three laps to go. But, Seeley has lost time. For Cameron Donald, it's game over. He's out.
There's a lot of standing water. Seeley struggles for traction. Conor Cummins is out of the race, too. Red flag is out. This race is done and dusted. Is it for the conditions? Or, did someone crash? Michael Dunlop wins the North West 200.
#6 Michael Dunlop Honda
1. #6 Michael Dunlop Honda
2. #2 Bruce Anstey Honda
3. #5 Lee Johnston Honda
4. #34 Alistair Seeley Kawasaki
5. #4 Guy Martin Suzuki
The conditions are bad. Rain continues to fall. So much so that race director Mervyn Whyte, (along with riders Michael Rutter, John McGuinness, and Stewart Easton), they are surveying the track. It's in the hands of Mervyn Whyte, the chief steward. Whyte says that despite having street sweepers out, there's so much standing water that the racing for today, is over. Four races did get run today. Maybe next year, it will be sunny.
The next bike road race is at the Billown circuit in Castletown on the Isle of Man. Highlights of that race, will come soon. Stay tuned.
There are teams and riders that represent more than fifteen different countries. Some of the best riders in the world compete in this race. We are ready for the first race of the day. Look for these riders to show their stuff. Listed will be their name, their nationality, and the number of wins they've scored in this great race.
Bruce Anstey New Zealand 9 wins
Alastair Seeley Northern Ireland 8 wins
John McGuinness England 6 wins
William Dunlop Northern Ireland 3 wins
Michael Dunlop Northern Ireland 1 win
Guy Martin England 0 wins*
Cameron Donald Australia 0 wins*
*Guy Martin and Cameron Donald, both want their first tastes of success at this race. Will they be triumphant? We'll find out. Between the top five on the win list, there are 27 race wins. The first race of the day is for Supersport bikes. Five years ago, in 2008, Michael Dunlop scored his one win at the North West. He won the race after his dad Robert was killed in a practice crash. It was a popular victory. Robert Dunlop holds the record for wins in this race.
We have a damp track for this Ballymoney Council Super Sport event, with the Honda of John McGuinness on pole. Twelve bikes will start this race. At the start, it's John McGuinness getting the jump. Bruce Anstey is second with Guy Martin in third spot. McGuinness goes around Anstey and it's really damp on track right now. These guys will have to really watch where they're going with the tires at the very least. Stewart Easton on bike #5 is coming through this pack. Cameron Donald is also back there.
Now, the second wave of bikes is going to start. So, there are more than twelve in this race. There's got to be at least 30-40 bikes out there. Alastair Seeley is starting in this second pack, and he has to work his way around slower riders, which is sure to be a challenge. This is an unbelievable slide that Bruce Anstey goes through, while still staying on his bike! It's a third gear corner on the road. McGuinness and Anstey are riding similar bikes. They are both Padgett's prepared Honda's.
The crown of the road is just starting to dry. That's the center, where the dotted lines are. Alastair Seeley is trying to clear through the second wave and get open road to race on. These are tricky conditions as we watch the #6 RC Express Yamaha of Dean Harrison. This race has been shortened. One lap has been subtracted. So, it will be five laps instead of six. The race was shortened because of time constraints. Alastair Seeley on the #34 Gearlink Kawasaki is moving up, catching the first wave.
Michael Dunlop is slipstreaming two bikes down the straight! Wow. Talk about a head of steam! He squeezes Guy Martin onto the wet section of track, on the outside line. Into the Matthew's Cross chicane, and then, back onto the road. The bikes go into the Metropol corner, which is at a junction. Seeley is still behind as the riders run along the coast road. Michael Dunlop slides the front wheel, and still hangs on to the lead. Dunlop slides the bike as he works the gearshift with his foot, and uses his right hand for the clutch on the motorcycle.
Lee Johnston passes John McGuinness. Alastair Seeley goes over the top of Black Hill. His, and other rider's heartbeats are way up. This is adrenaline pumping, and also hard work for the riders to keep their machines on the road. Alastair Seeley has passed Jamie Hamilton. Two bikes pass into University corner where there are definitely puddles. It's still raining. Michael Dunlop still has the lead, but he twitches the bike and fortunately, stays on! Whoa! That's a first gear corner. But, Dunlop mashed the throttle just a hair too quickly and could have ditched the bike!
Alastair Seeley is closing on Michael Dunlop. Will he have enough time? Will Dunlop have a big enough cushion? Dunlop wins this race. But, he has to wait for Seeley to cross the line to find the gap. Seeley has traffic ahead. Oh! Seeley is the winner. Dunlop doesn't get it, because of the timing difference! Whoa! It pays to wait, folks. In this kind of racing, you never know who is going to win.
#34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
The top five is:
1. #34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
2. #6 Michael Dunlop Honda
3. #4 Guy Martin Suzuki
4. #2 Bruce Anstey Honda
5. #5 Stuart Easton Yamaha
The next race is for the Super Twins. Kawasaki dominates this class. But, the big deal with this race, will be tires. Jeremy McWilliams is going to start on pole. Another 12 bike field. Most of the riders in the Super Twin race have elected to start on full wet tires. This should be a sizzler. Michael Dunlop is the only rider in the field who has gone ahead with the dry weather tire, or perhaps, an intermediate compound where it's essentially a slick tire, with slight grooves cut into it with a hot iron.
The Vauxhall Supertwin race is set to get underway. Four laps scheduled. Go! Jeremy McWilliams gets passed on the start by James Hillier. But, Hillier has issues with his bike right from the get go. Jamie Hamilton is moving up on the #44 KMR Kawasaki. Likewise, Lee Johnston moves through the field. The bikes are coming to the Mill Road roundabout, as the second wave takes off from the starting grid.
Hamilton drafts past Lee Johnston. Jeremy McWilliams is pushig. His heart rate is slightly above the speed of the bike, numerically. Three wide, and Hillier is the meat in the sandwich. But, that hot dog just got eaten up by the two riders to either side of him. Jeremy McWilliams brakes late into the corner, and he knows what to do, running on the Bridgestone wet tires. Michael Rutter is also running consistently so far. Rutter is having to work his way through this field.
Jeremy McWilliams is a local rider and he's battling with another, who just barely got onto the grid for this race. His name wasn't even on the official lineup at first. That's William Davidson, on bike #50. Not very much information about the riders in this championship like there is for MotoGP, World Superbike, AMA, or the Endurance World Championship. The rules this year stipulate a bike has to run a taillight if it rains.
It's raining now. So, taillight on. The crowd is going berserk, watching their favorite riders, cheering them on. All these bikes are 650cc machines putting out 100 horsepower. Ivan Lintin is another rider to keep an eye on in this one. Spare a thought for Lee Johnston. He's riding with an injured leg, that was broken three weeks before this race took place back in June. Yikes! He seems to be hanging right in there. All these riders are getting brave going around the Metropol. The bikes are flat out through Station corner, only lifting a tiny bit.
Uh oh. Either McWilliams or William Davidson is off the road now. He had to stop the bike and turn it to avoid sliding down the escape road. McWilliams could gather up a lead towards the end of this one. He's got rain, and flies on the visor. Just what any motorcycle racer needs, right? James Hillier goes past Jamie Hamilton. Hamilton passes Hillier on the inside, on the coast road. Lee Johnston has more trouble, overcooking a corner, and going straight on.
He's come out of the no man's land past the chicane and will let the leaders go by. William Davidson seems to be right on top of Jeremy McWilliams now. McWilliams looks over his shoulder, trying to see where he is. Racing bikes do not have mirrors of course. Wow! Davidson goes by McWilliams on the damp line into the Metropol! Davidson is now swamped by other riders as the checkered flag awaits. These two are neck and neck. McWilliams carries the back wheel of the bike and Davidson tries to go inside. But, no! McWilliams keeps the lead.
Davidson's luck runs out with a big crash! He low sides the bike, right in front of Jeremy McWilliams! That could have been really ugly. Fortunately, he slides onto grass to cushion the fall. He was pushing too hard and the front end washed out going into Black Hill. It's the last lap of the Super Twin race. Jeremy McWilliams looks to be on his way to a win here. But, don't speak too soon. James Hillier and Jamie Hamilton are coming, fast. They want a piece of this. They want to challenge McWilliams for the win.
No challenge though, as McWilliams wins!
1. #99 Jeremy McWilliams Kawasaki
2. #4 James Hillier Suzuki
3. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki
4. #15 Ivan Lintin Kawasaki
5. #5 Lee Johnston Kawasaki
The Super Twin race is done and dusted. Race three on the schedule will be the Super Stock division. These are the 600cc bikes. This is the biggest field of any race today. Australian Josh Brookes makes his debut at the North West 200, and he's currently competing in the British Superbike Championship. This is a big field. 56 bikes will start in four waves of 14 bikes. This race will be six laps. It's the Livewire AV Superstock race.
At the start, John McGuinness rockets away from pole as there's argy bargy in the middle of the pack. Bruce Anstey gets bumped. He's looking for the dry pavement on the track right now. McGuinness tries making a move. These guys are on cold tires. Gary Johnson makes a bold pass on Alastair Seeley. William Dunlop gets passed as everyone struggles to warm up their tires. The second wave takes off with Josh Brookes leading on bike #2. Gary Johnson takes the race lead. These 600cc bikes might not reach top speed of 200 miles an hour. But, they'll be close, running 190 miles an hour down the long roads.
Some riders touched 199 miles per hour in practice. If that isn't booking it on a motorcycle, I don't know what is. Into the Valley Sally roundabout, it's still quite wet. Be careful around this one, lads. Bruce Anstey makes a mega move around Guy Martin in the roundabout! OK. No backing down for these guys today. Guy Martin drafts by his closest competitors and gets an advantage into the corner. Michael Dunlop also passes. We are looking for the lead battle at the moment. Fly past the church and under the railway bridge. Right now, it's Gary Johnson and Bruce Anstey running 1-2.
Most of these bikes are running intermediate tires. Anstey passes Johnson for the lead. Anstey gets the run on Johnson down Millbank Avenue and makes it stick. This is a horsepower war, and so far, Kawasaki has more grunt than Honda. Where Anstey makes up time is in the braking zones. No change into University corner. Josh Brookes has now cracked the top 15. The rain has stopped. But the roads need to dry out. Could Alastair Seeley win two races in the same day? Good question.
Seeley is running on the Nick Morgan prepared MSS Kawasaki. Seeley is trying to pass in the chicane! Seeley streaks by Anstey. Not even sure if Anstey knew he was there! Talk about going for it! Could Johnson be having problems with his motorcycle? Did he miss a gear in the shift pattern? Johnson is losing ground. It's the last lap of this contest. Who will win? It's Seeley vs. Anstey for the win. Lapped traffic in the way. Two wins in one day for Alastair Seeley!
#34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
Here's the top five
1. #34 Alastair Seeley Kawasaki
2. #5 Bruce Anstey Honda
3. #7 Gary Johnson Kawasaki
4. #1 Guy Martin Suzuki
5. #60 Derek Sheils Kawasaki
Alastair Seeley now has ten wins at the North West 200. Day two action is coming up. But, the weather doesn't look promising.
It's Saturday at the North West 200, and bang, just as the forecasts predicted, it's raining. Fans have their umbrellas at the ready, and undoubtedly, track conditions are going to be slick! We are ready for the second Super Sport race of the weekend. The McKendry Fabrications Supersport race. John McGuinness is on pole for this five lap shootout. The distance has been reduced by one lap. Everybody will run full wet tires in this contest.
We're ready for a start. At the start, it's John McGuiness getting the jump on the field. Cameron Donald is part of the second wave. Bruce Anstey wants to sweep past John McGuinness. Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop are in a battle of their own. Cameron Donald scraps with Guy Martin as Anstey passes for the lead into the Mill Road roundabout. The second wave takes off. Alastair Seeley is in the pack. He's the one to keep an eye on. Seeley has passed half a dozen riders in his group already, and will catch the first wave, soon.
Anstey, McGuinness and Dunlop are the top three. Guy Martin and Lee Johnston are also in the running. The rain is pouring and this makes visibility really tough for the riders as they fly on these country roads. Into University, it's difficult to see the bikes. Bruce Anstey still holds down P1. Over the Links Road and into the Balley Sally roundabout, Michael Dunlop is charging on bike #6. Seeley is flying, clear of the pack. In a straight line, he's running 174 miles an hour! Dunlop is about eat up John McGuinness.
Dunlop advances to second spot. This is on corrected time. But, Michael Dunlop will be absolutely sure to not let Alastair Seeley get anywhere near him. He'll be riding out of his skin to keep the race lead. Into Mather's Cross, the road will be slipperier than anyplace on this track. Seeley is pushing Dunlop. But there are backmarkers to deal with as usual. Lee Johnston is still hanging tough even with a broken leg. They're on the run down to Metropol.
The dark clouds are thickening above the road. Anstey leads Dunlop, and McGuinness is fading slightly. Dunlop gaisn on Anstey through Metropol. Through Church, it's McGuinness vs. Johnston. McGuinness is the rabbit, while Johnston, is the hound. Johnston gets by McGuinness. Seeley goes through Church and onto the coast road. Up Black Hill, there's little space between Seeley and his rivals now. Dean Harrison runs well in this race and has been solid throughout the whole week of action here in Northern Ireland. Dunlop is all over Anstey like a rash.
Dunlop tries to pass through Primrose and York corners. But, he can't get by. Seeley is third, two and a half seconds adrift of the race lead. The leaders come through the Mill Road roundabout. Meanwhile, Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey battle into University. Anstey won't give up without a fight. Dunlop finally passes Anstey as the rain continues to pour. Seeley still flies at 176 miles an hour on a 600cc bike! Unreal! The chicanes make things safer, but they also complicate things, bringing the bike to first gear and almost a dead stop.
Guy Martin makes a pass on John McGuinness. Anstey might be losing the tow from Dunlop. Seeley runs into Macravoy corner. He has to get by slower riders from the first wave who are laps down. Seeley makes quick work of Scott Campbell. Coming to complete lap two, Dunlop still leads Anstey. Through Juniper corner, this fight to the finish will continue. But, problems on track. Someone has taken a big spill. That's Scott Campbell.
He should be OK. But on the fall, Campbell slid one way and the bike slid the other. That downed motorcycle can't stay in that area without a yellow flag intervention. Will there be a red flag? Cameron Donald pulls off the road. He either has a problem with the bike, or is wary of continuing in these conditions. Dunlop twitches his bike! Yikes! He still wants by Seeley and carries the front wheel through York. Has Seeley made up enough time? Three laps to go. But, Seeley has lost time. For Cameron Donald, it's game over. He's out.
There's a lot of standing water. Seeley struggles for traction. Conor Cummins is out of the race, too. Red flag is out. This race is done and dusted. Is it for the conditions? Or, did someone crash? Michael Dunlop wins the North West 200.
#6 Michael Dunlop Honda
1. #6 Michael Dunlop Honda
2. #2 Bruce Anstey Honda
3. #5 Lee Johnston Honda
4. #34 Alistair Seeley Kawasaki
5. #4 Guy Martin Suzuki
The conditions are bad. Rain continues to fall. So much so that race director Mervyn Whyte, (along with riders Michael Rutter, John McGuinness, and Stewart Easton), they are surveying the track. It's in the hands of Mervyn Whyte, the chief steward. Whyte says that despite having street sweepers out, there's so much standing water that the racing for today, is over. Four races did get run today. Maybe next year, it will be sunny.
The next bike road race is at the Billown circuit in Castletown on the Isle of Man. Highlights of that race, will come soon. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Anticipation builds as battle continues at Misano
Preview of this weekend's MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano Adriatico circuit in Misano, Italy.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Misano+preview+MotoGP
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Misano+preview+MotoGP
Monday, September 9, 2013
FIM World Endurance Championship Round 2: Suzuka 8 Hours (Suzuka, Japan)
Round two of the FIM World Endurance Championship brings the teams and riders to the legendary Suzuka 8 Hours which has been run since 1977. The best Japanese riders and teams are here to join the regulars in the FIM World Endurance Championship, and give them a good run for their money, in what is a classic of motorcycle road races.
The big news for this race is that former 500cc Grand Prix world champion Kevin Schwantz from the United States, is going to make his international racing comeback, with Team Kageyama, sharing their #071 Suzuki GSXR1000 with former World Superbike and MotoGP rider Noriyuki Haga, and Yukio Kagayama. This is Schwantz's first race appearance on a motorcycle since 1995. So, he's spent nearly two decades away from riding. How will he do? We'll find out. Schwantz came for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Suzuka track last year, in 2012. He was lured back to racing, by making that visit.
Schwantz feels he can be consistent with his riding during the race. Endurance racing is a big deal. Yes, it's the riders. Yes, it's trying to catch bikes that are slower. But, it's also the pit crew. There are fifteen people on each crew. But, just four of them, are allowed to work on the motorcycle during a pit stop. Schwantz also says, you cannot give up on a race until the checkered flag is waving on the last lap. Two rookie riders will make their debuts at Suzuka.
Australian Josh Hook will ride with countryman Jamie Stauffer on the #71 Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda CBR1000RR. Hook says that Stauffer has mentioned this is one of the most draining races any rider can do, because of the heat and humid conditions in Japan during the middle of the summer. Michael van der Mark shares Takumi Takahashi of Japan, and World Superbike regular, Leon Haslam on the #634 Musashi Harc Pro Honda CBR1000RR.
This is a big race for the riders, teams, fans, and all the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers as it's right in their own backyard. Honda has won this race 24 times out of the 35 years it's been run. They have an astounding record at Suzuka. FCC TSR Honda has won this race back-to-back in the last two years. Can the duo of Ryuichi Kionari and World Superbike racer Johnny Rea, bring them the hat trick? That's the question to be answered in the next eight hours of this race, in highlighted form. We're ready for a start.
The top ten qualifying time trial was cancelled due to iffy track conditions. So, there was just an ordinary qualifying session for the ten fastest teams from Friday practice. The battle for the full season points championship will be between Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, and BMW Motorrad France. BMW did not score points in the Bol D'Or at Magny Cours in France, the season opening race of the championship.
Yamaha YART has pole, with Yoshimura Suzuki in second place. The #7 Yamaha YART Yamaha R1 will be shared by Katsuyuki Nakasuga of Japan, and Australian riders Broc Parkes and Joshua Waters. Most of the top teams are in the top ten grid spots. Monster Energy Yamaha YART, on pole. In the top ten spots, we see factory teams for the most part including YART, Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team, F.C.C. TSR Honda, Musashi Harc Pro, Team Kagayama, Yamaha GMT 94, BMW Motorrad France, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, and Honda Team Asia.
Bolliger Kawasaki is also a bit further down the order, just outside the top ten. A field of 63 bikes will start. Riders are on the opposite end of the track, in a traditional Le Mans style start, and will run to their bikes, start the engines, and the race will be on. The bikes are away. It's go time at Suzuka! The start is a clean one. Who gets the lead early going into turn one? Right now, as the bikes begin their first lap, it's the #12 Suzuki for Yoshimura in the race lead.
FCC TSR Honda runs second right now. Ryuichi Kiyonari makes his way around bike #25, the Honda CBR 1000RR shared by Takashi Yasuda, Daijiro Hiura, and Kohji Kitaguchi. Lap one, done and dusted, as the bikes are pretty close together at this stage. There's a long way to go yet. But, it's a battle at the front already between Suzuki and Yamaha as the YART bike looks for a way around the Yoshimura machine. SERT, and BMW Motorrad France are also in the thick of it early. But, BMW runs into issues pretty much right off the start. The #99 BMW S1000RR of Erwan Nigon of France, and American AMA Superbike veteran Jason Pridmore, is already in the pit lane.
The bike has issues starting. Team manager Nicolas Dousage explains that their third rider, Damien Cudlin crashed in practice. In the wreck, Cudlin broke his leg, and will need to recover. So, Pridmore was drafted in and it's his first time riding this particular bike, though he has ridden a BMW before. Hopes are that Pridmore and Nigon can push, and catch up to the field. Action is hot and heavy early as the leaders split and go three wide with the #84 Kawasaki ZX10R in the hands of Takeshi Kawarabayashi, Yoichi Nakajima, and Jun'ichi Morimoto.
Pit stop time for Musashi Harc Pro. There will be a rider change. It will likely be to either Leon Haslam or Michael van der Mark. Yoshimura Suzuki also stops for the first time, using the same procedure. Again, on the Yoshimura bike, sharing the riding chores are Josh Brookes, Nobuatsu Aoki, and Takuya Tsuda. Musashi Harc Pro and FCC TSR Honda continue their battle. The fans surely are enjoying the racing so far. Monster Energy Yamaha YART team manager Mandy Kainz says the team is running to it's race pace so far, and will change tactics as the race wears on.
Broc Parkes will be the next rider in the rotation for YART. Team Kagayama is also having a good race with their #071 Suzuki. Kevin Schwantz is slated to get on the bike soon. Both YART and Kagayama pit. Noriyuki Haga and Yukio Kagayama have been sharing the riding chores in the first part of the race for the Kagayama squad. Pit stops come thick and fast for Musashi Harc Pro and for FCC TSR Honda. These stops are just coming prior to the two hour mark in the race.
Rider changes and refueling are the focus. Some teams also elect to change tires, either one, or both. But, it's at this point where FCC TSR Honda's race comes unraveled. Ryuichi Kiyonari suffers a monstrous high side crash! It's the second year in a row that they've crashed. Last year, they came back to win the Suzuka 8 Hours. But, this year, might be a struggle. Kiyonari is back on the bike. He'll limp it to pit lane. Team manager Masakazu Fujii says that Kiyonari's crash was very sudden, but he's confident the rider can recover and make up positions.
Will that be enough? It seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Yamaha GMT 94 is not feeling pressure, according to team manager Christophe Guyot. The team makes a pit stop. Sharing the Yamaha R1 are Spaniard David Checa and Frenchmen Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive. Here are the top ten positions after two hours of racing.
1. EWC #11 Kiyonari/Rea FCC TSR Honda Honda CBR1000RR
2. EWC #634 Takahashi/Haslam/van der Mark Musashi RT Harc-Pro Honda CBR1000RR
3. EWC #12 Tsuda/Brookes/Aoki Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
4. EWC #071 Kagayama/Haga/Schwantz Team Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000
5. EWC #7 Nakasuga/Parkes/Waters Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha YZF-R1
6. EWC #1 Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
7. EWC #99 Barrier/Pridmore/Nigon BMW Motorrad France Thevent BMW S1000RR
8. EWC #104 Yamaguchi/Itoh/Watanabe Toho Racing With Moriwaki Honda CBR1000RR
9. EWC #94 Checa/Foray/Lagrive Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1
10. EWC #22 Tamada/Kamaruzaman/Nagashima Honda Team Asia Honda CBR1000RR
The battle also continues betwen Team Kagayama and their Suzuki and the Monster Energy YART Yamaha. Musashi RT Harc-Pro pits again for fuel, tires, and a rider change. Takumi Takahashi or Leon Haslam, will take over from Michael van der Mark. It's unclear as to which of them is next in the rotation. There isn't much of a gap between the two Honda squads. FCC TSR Honda has a slight edge over Musashi RT Harc-Pro.
The top of the field is separated by less than a lap at this stage. Whoops. Bike #634 has a slight off track moment, but gathers things up. Yoshimura now pits. Will it be Takuya Tsuda, Nobuatsu Aoki, or Josh Brookes, on the bike? Not sure. But, they are having a good ride in their home race. More traffic is beginning to build up for the top riders. That is to be expected when you have a field of 63 bikes. There's an average of 17 bikes per mile on this course. Hey, that's A LOT of motorcycles to go through as you work your way to the front.
FCC TSR Honda's race is going from bad to worse. They are in the garage now. The team of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Johnny Rea is having no luck. Team manager Masakazu Fujii is perplexed. They are headed for the house as the crash was caused by an errant helmet visor that was a piece of debris on the course. The race is going no better for BMW Motorrad France and the duo of Erwan Nigon and Jason Pridmore. There's a clear mechanical issue with that motorcycle. The BMW S1000RR is going nowhere. The teams has had two wrecks, and team manager Nicolas Dousage says there's too much damage. It's game over for BMW.
So, BMW has scored no points in the first two races of the season. Their home race in Germany at the Oschersleben circuit is the next one. Maybe, they'll have better luck there. Honda TT Legends on bike #77 is still hanging in there. Haven't spoken about these guys in this race yet. They are competitive. Sharing the Honda CBR1000RR are British tourist trophy riders and Bike Road Racing Series veterans Simon Andrews, Michael Rutter, and John McGuinness. Hence, the name of the racing team, Honda TT Legends. They make a regularly scheduled pit stop.
Honda TT Legends are hoping to turn their season around, as, like BMW, they haven't had the season they've wanted so far. So, Honda and BMW are languishing. BMW has headed for the bench already. Damien Cudlin, (BMW's star rider in endurance motorcycle road racing), had a crash on the Tuesday before this race, and that's how he broke his leg, leaving Jason Pridmore and Erwan Nigon to tough it out as a duo. FCC TSR Honda has also had their problems. So, Musashi Harc Pro has been able to consolidate their race lead.
Michael van der Mark is readying himself for another stint aboard bike #634. Pit stop time. Right on cue. Their rivals from Yoshimura Suzuki are also struggling, having to fix an oil leak on their GSXR1000. Here are the top ten standings after four hours. The race is officially half over.
1. EWC #634 Takahashi/Haslam/van der Mark Musashi RT Harc-Pro Honda CBR1000RR
2. EWC #12 Tsuda/Brookes/Aoki Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
3. EWC #071 Kagayama/Haga/Schwantz Team Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000
4. EWC #1 Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
5. EWC #94 Checa/Foray/Lagrive Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1
6. EWC #104 Yamaguchi/Itoh/Watanabe Toho Racing With Moriwaki Honda CBR1000RR
7. EWC #22 Tamada/Kamaruzaman/Nagashima Honda Team Asia Honda CBR1000RR
8. EWC #71 Stauffer/Hook Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda CBR1000RR
9. EWC #33 Yoshida/Kojima/Tokudome Honda Kumamoto Racing Honda CBR1000RR
10. EWC #7 Nakasuga/Parkes/Waters Monster Energy Yamaha - YART Yamaha YZF-R1
The race is into the second half as the Yoshimura Suzuki continues to pursue the Musashi Harc Pro Honda. Tsuda, Brookes, and Aoki are giving it 100% out on track. Or, they were giving it 100% until losing the bike! One of their riders low sides into the hairpin before the bridge, in a cloud of dust. He picks up the bike, but will have to limp back to pit lane. This allows Musashi Harc Pro to open a gap as the #20 bike goes by.
That #20 machine is a Suzuki GSXR1000 for another duo team. Toshiki Kunimatsu, and Tadayuki Yoshida. SERT makes a scheduled pit stop. Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Julien Da Costa, are hanging right in there at the moment. Team manager Dominique Meliand hopes they can contend for a podium place, though they're fourth overall right now. Kevin Schwantz is preparing for his first and perhaps only stint on the #071 Kagayama Suzuki. Schwantz is ready to do what he can for his team.
The team also fuels the bike and changes tires. Kevin Schwantz is back into racing, back at Suzuka, and back riding a Suzuki as he did so famously during his success in FIM 500cc Grand Prix racing. Musashi Harc Pro, has completed 163 laps, 586.8 miles. Kevin Schwantz battles for third, making his way by the lapped #50 bike. This is the Honda CBR1000RR shared by another Japanese trio of riders, including Ikumi Shimizu, Ken'ichi Sakurai, and Ryuta Kobayashi.
Schwantz ran very well in the test session leading up to the Suzuka 8 Hours. The leader makes another scheduled stop. It's the #634 Musashi Harc Pro Honda. No surprise. They're dominating this race. Leon Haslam takes over the riding chores from Takumi Takahashi. After a successful single stint, Kevin Schwantz pits. Could Schwantz return for next year's race? We'll see. The team congratulates Schwantz. Noriyuki Haga (a great rider in his own right), takes over the #071 bike.
Suzuki Endurance Racing Team is the strongest full season FIM Endurance World Championship team still in the running. They are a lap down to the leader, but still holding off their rivals from Yamaha France GMT 94. That is the bike ridden by David Checa, Kenny Foray, and Mathieu Lagrive of course. Musashi Harc Pro runs their own race, keeping Yoshimura Suzuki at bay. It's pit stop time again for the #634 bike, expecting another scheduled rider change. Takumi Takahashi will take over from Leon Haslam. Leon Haslam put in a long stint.
Yoshimura Suzuki is also pitting again. They too, will change riders, as this race comes to the finish. Six hours down. Two hours left to run. Australian rider Josh Brooks will be the next rider out on track for Yoshimura. He has taken over for Takuya Tsuda. A battle ensues between Yoshimura Suzuki, and the similar bike of Team Kagayama. They negotiate lapped traffic, including bike #66. That is a Honda CBR1000RR ridden by Minoru Ohuchida, Tasuku Akimoto, and Kuniharu Watase. Here is the top ten after six hours.
1. EWC #634 Takahashi/Haslam/van der Mark Musashi RT Harc-Pro Honda CBR1000RR
2. EWC #12 Tsuda/Brookes/Aoki Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
3. EWC #071 Kagayama/Haga/Schwantz Team Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000
4. EWC #1 Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
5. EWC #94 Checa/Foray/Lagrive Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1
6. EWC #104 Yamaguchi/Itoh/Watanabe Toho Racing With Moriwaki Honda CBR1000RR
7. EWC #22 Tamada/Kamaruzaman/Nagashima Honda Team Asia Honda CBR1000RR
8. EWC #7 Nakasuga/Parkes/Waters Monster Energy Yamaha - YART Yamaha YZF-R1
9. EWC #33 Yoshida/Kojima/Tokudome Honda Kumamoto Racing Honda CBR1000RR
10. EWC #2 Buisson/Dietrich/Giabbani Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
The only change in the top ten sees Stauffer and Hook bike fall down the order, and in tenth place now, is FIM Endurance World Championship regular team, Team R2CL. Their Suzuki GSXR1000 is shared by the French trio of Dylan Buisson, Guillaume Dietrich, and Gwen Giabbani. SERT continues to hold down fourth in the overall. SERT will extend their points lead. The Bol D'or winners, SRC Kawasaki, are not competing at the Suzuka 8 Hours.
SERT pits again. With BMW Motorrad France running into problems, SERT will stand to gain ground in the points race. Musashi Harc Pro continues to lead by a lap over the rest of the field. It will be a battle between them and Yoshimura Suzuki to the end of this one, as riders are instructed from the flag stand to switch on the bike's headlight. It's twilight, and this race will finish at night. There could be a sprinkle of rain just before the end of the race. Nothing major.
Musashi Harc Pro pits for what is presumably the final time, and Takumi Takahashi will take over the bike from Leon Haslam. Yoshimura Suzuki will do likewise. President of Yoshimura Japan, and team boss Fujio Yoshimura says, "We've had a few accidents. But, we'll try the best that we can." The #12 bike is second overall as the rain has come to Suzuka just before the finish. The sky is dark, and the race is coming to an end. Yoshimura wants to capitalize on any mistakes made by Musashi Harc Pro.
OK. Now, it's the final stop for the #634 bike. Fueling done, and tires changed. Takahashi is cruising. No drama. The riders are slowing a bit because of the rain, and obviously, fatigue. Team Kagayama pits for a tire change as team boss and rider, Yukio Kagayama is going to take his bike to the finish. SERT will finish fourth, just missing the podium scrap. SERT will maintain the points lead in the FIM Endurance World Championship. But, now the race is over. The checkered flag is out. Musashi RT Harc Pro wins it with riders Takumi Takahashi, Leon Haslam, and Michael van der Mark!
They complete 240 laps, 864 miles.
#634 Takahashi/van der Mark/Haslam Honda CBR1000RR
Honda win this race three years in a row, and for the 26th time in it's history, dating back to their first win in the second running of the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1979 when bike #6, a Honda CB900 was taken to victory by the Australian riding duo of Tony Hatton and Michael Cole. Honda has won every Suzuka 8 Hour race since 1997 except for two, each won by Suzuki in 2007 and 2009. One of those victories did go to the #12 team for Yoshimura, and both races were won by all Japanese riding teams.
The next race is the Oschersleben 8 Hours in Germany. A report on that race will be coming in the not too distant future.
The big news for this race is that former 500cc Grand Prix world champion Kevin Schwantz from the United States, is going to make his international racing comeback, with Team Kageyama, sharing their #071 Suzuki GSXR1000 with former World Superbike and MotoGP rider Noriyuki Haga, and Yukio Kagayama. This is Schwantz's first race appearance on a motorcycle since 1995. So, he's spent nearly two decades away from riding. How will he do? We'll find out. Schwantz came for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Suzuka track last year, in 2012. He was lured back to racing, by making that visit.
Schwantz feels he can be consistent with his riding during the race. Endurance racing is a big deal. Yes, it's the riders. Yes, it's trying to catch bikes that are slower. But, it's also the pit crew. There are fifteen people on each crew. But, just four of them, are allowed to work on the motorcycle during a pit stop. Schwantz also says, you cannot give up on a race until the checkered flag is waving on the last lap. Two rookie riders will make their debuts at Suzuka.
Australian Josh Hook will ride with countryman Jamie Stauffer on the #71 Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda CBR1000RR. Hook says that Stauffer has mentioned this is one of the most draining races any rider can do, because of the heat and humid conditions in Japan during the middle of the summer. Michael van der Mark shares Takumi Takahashi of Japan, and World Superbike regular, Leon Haslam on the #634 Musashi Harc Pro Honda CBR1000RR.
This is a big race for the riders, teams, fans, and all the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers as it's right in their own backyard. Honda has won this race 24 times out of the 35 years it's been run. They have an astounding record at Suzuka. FCC TSR Honda has won this race back-to-back in the last two years. Can the duo of Ryuichi Kionari and World Superbike racer Johnny Rea, bring them the hat trick? That's the question to be answered in the next eight hours of this race, in highlighted form. We're ready for a start.
The top ten qualifying time trial was cancelled due to iffy track conditions. So, there was just an ordinary qualifying session for the ten fastest teams from Friday practice. The battle for the full season points championship will be between Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, and BMW Motorrad France. BMW did not score points in the Bol D'Or at Magny Cours in France, the season opening race of the championship.
Yamaha YART has pole, with Yoshimura Suzuki in second place. The #7 Yamaha YART Yamaha R1 will be shared by Katsuyuki Nakasuga of Japan, and Australian riders Broc Parkes and Joshua Waters. Most of the top teams are in the top ten grid spots. Monster Energy Yamaha YART, on pole. In the top ten spots, we see factory teams for the most part including YART, Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team, F.C.C. TSR Honda, Musashi Harc Pro, Team Kagayama, Yamaha GMT 94, BMW Motorrad France, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, and Honda Team Asia.
Bolliger Kawasaki is also a bit further down the order, just outside the top ten. A field of 63 bikes will start. Riders are on the opposite end of the track, in a traditional Le Mans style start, and will run to their bikes, start the engines, and the race will be on. The bikes are away. It's go time at Suzuka! The start is a clean one. Who gets the lead early going into turn one? Right now, as the bikes begin their first lap, it's the #12 Suzuki for Yoshimura in the race lead.
FCC TSR Honda runs second right now. Ryuichi Kiyonari makes his way around bike #25, the Honda CBR 1000RR shared by Takashi Yasuda, Daijiro Hiura, and Kohji Kitaguchi. Lap one, done and dusted, as the bikes are pretty close together at this stage. There's a long way to go yet. But, it's a battle at the front already between Suzuki and Yamaha as the YART bike looks for a way around the Yoshimura machine. SERT, and BMW Motorrad France are also in the thick of it early. But, BMW runs into issues pretty much right off the start. The #99 BMW S1000RR of Erwan Nigon of France, and American AMA Superbike veteran Jason Pridmore, is already in the pit lane.
The bike has issues starting. Team manager Nicolas Dousage explains that their third rider, Damien Cudlin crashed in practice. In the wreck, Cudlin broke his leg, and will need to recover. So, Pridmore was drafted in and it's his first time riding this particular bike, though he has ridden a BMW before. Hopes are that Pridmore and Nigon can push, and catch up to the field. Action is hot and heavy early as the leaders split and go three wide with the #84 Kawasaki ZX10R in the hands of Takeshi Kawarabayashi, Yoichi Nakajima, and Jun'ichi Morimoto.
Pit stop time for Musashi Harc Pro. There will be a rider change. It will likely be to either Leon Haslam or Michael van der Mark. Yoshimura Suzuki also stops for the first time, using the same procedure. Again, on the Yoshimura bike, sharing the riding chores are Josh Brookes, Nobuatsu Aoki, and Takuya Tsuda. Musashi Harc Pro and FCC TSR Honda continue their battle. The fans surely are enjoying the racing so far. Monster Energy Yamaha YART team manager Mandy Kainz says the team is running to it's race pace so far, and will change tactics as the race wears on.
Broc Parkes will be the next rider in the rotation for YART. Team Kagayama is also having a good race with their #071 Suzuki. Kevin Schwantz is slated to get on the bike soon. Both YART and Kagayama pit. Noriyuki Haga and Yukio Kagayama have been sharing the riding chores in the first part of the race for the Kagayama squad. Pit stops come thick and fast for Musashi Harc Pro and for FCC TSR Honda. These stops are just coming prior to the two hour mark in the race.
Rider changes and refueling are the focus. Some teams also elect to change tires, either one, or both. But, it's at this point where FCC TSR Honda's race comes unraveled. Ryuichi Kiyonari suffers a monstrous high side crash! It's the second year in a row that they've crashed. Last year, they came back to win the Suzuka 8 Hours. But, this year, might be a struggle. Kiyonari is back on the bike. He'll limp it to pit lane. Team manager Masakazu Fujii says that Kiyonari's crash was very sudden, but he's confident the rider can recover and make up positions.
Will that be enough? It seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Yamaha GMT 94 is not feeling pressure, according to team manager Christophe Guyot. The team makes a pit stop. Sharing the Yamaha R1 are Spaniard David Checa and Frenchmen Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive. Here are the top ten positions after two hours of racing.
1. EWC #11 Kiyonari/Rea FCC TSR Honda Honda CBR1000RR
2. EWC #634 Takahashi/Haslam/van der Mark Musashi RT Harc-Pro Honda CBR1000RR
3. EWC #12 Tsuda/Brookes/Aoki Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
4. EWC #071 Kagayama/Haga/Schwantz Team Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000
5. EWC #7 Nakasuga/Parkes/Waters Monster Energy Yamaha YART Yamaha YZF-R1
6. EWC #1 Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
7. EWC #99 Barrier/Pridmore/Nigon BMW Motorrad France Thevent BMW S1000RR
8. EWC #104 Yamaguchi/Itoh/Watanabe Toho Racing With Moriwaki Honda CBR1000RR
9. EWC #94 Checa/Foray/Lagrive Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1
10. EWC #22 Tamada/Kamaruzaman/Nagashima Honda Team Asia Honda CBR1000RR
The battle also continues betwen Team Kagayama and their Suzuki and the Monster Energy YART Yamaha. Musashi RT Harc-Pro pits again for fuel, tires, and a rider change. Takumi Takahashi or Leon Haslam, will take over from Michael van der Mark. It's unclear as to which of them is next in the rotation. There isn't much of a gap between the two Honda squads. FCC TSR Honda has a slight edge over Musashi RT Harc-Pro.
The top of the field is separated by less than a lap at this stage. Whoops. Bike #634 has a slight off track moment, but gathers things up. Yoshimura now pits. Will it be Takuya Tsuda, Nobuatsu Aoki, or Josh Brookes, on the bike? Not sure. But, they are having a good ride in their home race. More traffic is beginning to build up for the top riders. That is to be expected when you have a field of 63 bikes. There's an average of 17 bikes per mile on this course. Hey, that's A LOT of motorcycles to go through as you work your way to the front.
FCC TSR Honda's race is going from bad to worse. They are in the garage now. The team of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Johnny Rea is having no luck. Team manager Masakazu Fujii is perplexed. They are headed for the house as the crash was caused by an errant helmet visor that was a piece of debris on the course. The race is going no better for BMW Motorrad France and the duo of Erwan Nigon and Jason Pridmore. There's a clear mechanical issue with that motorcycle. The BMW S1000RR is going nowhere. The teams has had two wrecks, and team manager Nicolas Dousage says there's too much damage. It's game over for BMW.
So, BMW has scored no points in the first two races of the season. Their home race in Germany at the Oschersleben circuit is the next one. Maybe, they'll have better luck there. Honda TT Legends on bike #77 is still hanging in there. Haven't spoken about these guys in this race yet. They are competitive. Sharing the Honda CBR1000RR are British tourist trophy riders and Bike Road Racing Series veterans Simon Andrews, Michael Rutter, and John McGuinness. Hence, the name of the racing team, Honda TT Legends. They make a regularly scheduled pit stop.
Honda TT Legends are hoping to turn their season around, as, like BMW, they haven't had the season they've wanted so far. So, Honda and BMW are languishing. BMW has headed for the bench already. Damien Cudlin, (BMW's star rider in endurance motorcycle road racing), had a crash on the Tuesday before this race, and that's how he broke his leg, leaving Jason Pridmore and Erwan Nigon to tough it out as a duo. FCC TSR Honda has also had their problems. So, Musashi Harc Pro has been able to consolidate their race lead.
Michael van der Mark is readying himself for another stint aboard bike #634. Pit stop time. Right on cue. Their rivals from Yoshimura Suzuki are also struggling, having to fix an oil leak on their GSXR1000. Here are the top ten standings after four hours. The race is officially half over.
1. EWC #634 Takahashi/Haslam/van der Mark Musashi RT Harc-Pro Honda CBR1000RR
2. EWC #12 Tsuda/Brookes/Aoki Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
3. EWC #071 Kagayama/Haga/Schwantz Team Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000
4. EWC #1 Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
5. EWC #94 Checa/Foray/Lagrive Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1
6. EWC #104 Yamaguchi/Itoh/Watanabe Toho Racing With Moriwaki Honda CBR1000RR
7. EWC #22 Tamada/Kamaruzaman/Nagashima Honda Team Asia Honda CBR1000RR
8. EWC #71 Stauffer/Hook Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda CBR1000RR
9. EWC #33 Yoshida/Kojima/Tokudome Honda Kumamoto Racing Honda CBR1000RR
10. EWC #7 Nakasuga/Parkes/Waters Monster Energy Yamaha - YART Yamaha YZF-R1
The race is into the second half as the Yoshimura Suzuki continues to pursue the Musashi Harc Pro Honda. Tsuda, Brookes, and Aoki are giving it 100% out on track. Or, they were giving it 100% until losing the bike! One of their riders low sides into the hairpin before the bridge, in a cloud of dust. He picks up the bike, but will have to limp back to pit lane. This allows Musashi Harc Pro to open a gap as the #20 bike goes by.
That #20 machine is a Suzuki GSXR1000 for another duo team. Toshiki Kunimatsu, and Tadayuki Yoshida. SERT makes a scheduled pit stop. Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Julien Da Costa, are hanging right in there at the moment. Team manager Dominique Meliand hopes they can contend for a podium place, though they're fourth overall right now. Kevin Schwantz is preparing for his first and perhaps only stint on the #071 Kagayama Suzuki. Schwantz is ready to do what he can for his team.
The team also fuels the bike and changes tires. Kevin Schwantz is back into racing, back at Suzuka, and back riding a Suzuki as he did so famously during his success in FIM 500cc Grand Prix racing. Musashi Harc Pro, has completed 163 laps, 586.8 miles. Kevin Schwantz battles for third, making his way by the lapped #50 bike. This is the Honda CBR1000RR shared by another Japanese trio of riders, including Ikumi Shimizu, Ken'ichi Sakurai, and Ryuta Kobayashi.
Schwantz ran very well in the test session leading up to the Suzuka 8 Hours. The leader makes another scheduled stop. It's the #634 Musashi Harc Pro Honda. No surprise. They're dominating this race. Leon Haslam takes over the riding chores from Takumi Takahashi. After a successful single stint, Kevin Schwantz pits. Could Schwantz return for next year's race? We'll see. The team congratulates Schwantz. Noriyuki Haga (a great rider in his own right), takes over the #071 bike.
Suzuki Endurance Racing Team is the strongest full season FIM Endurance World Championship team still in the running. They are a lap down to the leader, but still holding off their rivals from Yamaha France GMT 94. That is the bike ridden by David Checa, Kenny Foray, and Mathieu Lagrive of course. Musashi Harc Pro runs their own race, keeping Yoshimura Suzuki at bay. It's pit stop time again for the #634 bike, expecting another scheduled rider change. Takumi Takahashi will take over from Leon Haslam. Leon Haslam put in a long stint.
Yoshimura Suzuki is also pitting again. They too, will change riders, as this race comes to the finish. Six hours down. Two hours left to run. Australian rider Josh Brooks will be the next rider out on track for Yoshimura. He has taken over for Takuya Tsuda. A battle ensues between Yoshimura Suzuki, and the similar bike of Team Kagayama. They negotiate lapped traffic, including bike #66. That is a Honda CBR1000RR ridden by Minoru Ohuchida, Tasuku Akimoto, and Kuniharu Watase. Here is the top ten after six hours.
1. EWC #634 Takahashi/Haslam/van der Mark Musashi RT Harc-Pro Honda CBR1000RR
2. EWC #12 Tsuda/Brookes/Aoki Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
3. EWC #071 Kagayama/Haga/Schwantz Team Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000
4. EWC #1 Philippe/Delhalle/Da Costa Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSXR1000
5. EWC #94 Checa/Foray/Lagrive Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1
6. EWC #104 Yamaguchi/Itoh/Watanabe Toho Racing With Moriwaki Honda CBR1000RR
7. EWC #22 Tamada/Kamaruzaman/Nagashima Honda Team Asia Honda CBR1000RR
8. EWC #7 Nakasuga/Parkes/Waters Monster Energy Yamaha - YART Yamaha YZF-R1
9. EWC #33 Yoshida/Kojima/Tokudome Honda Kumamoto Racing Honda CBR1000RR
10. EWC #2 Buisson/Dietrich/Giabbani Team R2CL Suzuki GSXR1000
The only change in the top ten sees Stauffer and Hook bike fall down the order, and in tenth place now, is FIM Endurance World Championship regular team, Team R2CL. Their Suzuki GSXR1000 is shared by the French trio of Dylan Buisson, Guillaume Dietrich, and Gwen Giabbani. SERT continues to hold down fourth in the overall. SERT will extend their points lead. The Bol D'or winners, SRC Kawasaki, are not competing at the Suzuka 8 Hours.
SERT pits again. With BMW Motorrad France running into problems, SERT will stand to gain ground in the points race. Musashi Harc Pro continues to lead by a lap over the rest of the field. It will be a battle between them and Yoshimura Suzuki to the end of this one, as riders are instructed from the flag stand to switch on the bike's headlight. It's twilight, and this race will finish at night. There could be a sprinkle of rain just before the end of the race. Nothing major.
Musashi Harc Pro pits for what is presumably the final time, and Takumi Takahashi will take over the bike from Leon Haslam. Yoshimura Suzuki will do likewise. President of Yoshimura Japan, and team boss Fujio Yoshimura says, "We've had a few accidents. But, we'll try the best that we can." The #12 bike is second overall as the rain has come to Suzuka just before the finish. The sky is dark, and the race is coming to an end. Yoshimura wants to capitalize on any mistakes made by Musashi Harc Pro.
OK. Now, it's the final stop for the #634 bike. Fueling done, and tires changed. Takahashi is cruising. No drama. The riders are slowing a bit because of the rain, and obviously, fatigue. Team Kagayama pits for a tire change as team boss and rider, Yukio Kagayama is going to take his bike to the finish. SERT will finish fourth, just missing the podium scrap. SERT will maintain the points lead in the FIM Endurance World Championship. But, now the race is over. The checkered flag is out. Musashi RT Harc Pro wins it with riders Takumi Takahashi, Leon Haslam, and Michael van der Mark!
They complete 240 laps, 864 miles.
#634 Takahashi/van der Mark/Haslam Honda CBR1000RR
Honda win this race three years in a row, and for the 26th time in it's history, dating back to their first win in the second running of the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1979 when bike #6, a Honda CB900 was taken to victory by the Australian riding duo of Tony Hatton and Michael Cole. Honda has won every Suzuka 8 Hour race since 1997 except for two, each won by Suzuki in 2007 and 2009. One of those victories did go to the #12 team for Yoshimura, and both races were won by all Japanese riding teams.
The next race is the Oschersleben 8 Hours in Germany. A report on that race will be coming in the not too distant future.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Pirro hopes for Misano confidence boost
Michele Pirro will ride in place of Ben Spies at Ducati again next weekend in the Italian Grand Prix at Misano for MotoGP and he hopes he can do well. Spies wanted to return for the race. But, he had another wreck, and will sit out Misano.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Pirro+hopes+for+Misano+confidence+boost
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Pirro+hopes+for+Misano+confidence+boost
Stoner's Motegi test cancelled due to rain
Casey Stoner, former two-time MotoGP champion, was supposed to continue doing shakedown runs on Honda's new MotoGP bike. But, further test sessions at the Motegi circuit in Japan, have been called off, due to rain. He will resume testing in early October.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/stoner+testing+motegi
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/stoner+testing+motegi
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Moto 3: Great Britain
Here are the highlights of the Moto 3 race from Silverstone.
This is round eleven of Moto 3. It's a 17 lap race. Maverick Vinales starts from pole. He won here at Silverstone last year, and has to win if he has any hope of getting back into contention for the championship. Two British wildcard riders are entered. Kyle Ride and Wayne Ryan.
We're ready for a start. At the start, Jack Miller gets a good jump. Luis Salom is leading. But, Zulfahmmi Khairuddin has to start from pit lane. Alex Marquez runs ahead of Jack Miller. Jakub Kornfeil had a good start. The bikes draft their way down Hangar straight. Maverick Vinales is trying to keep Luis Salom honest into Vale. Alex Marquez tries Jonas Folger on the inside as Alan Techer and Juanfran Guevara both crash, and so does Wayne Ryan, the wildcard.
Folger runs wide. Jack Miller passes for fifth. Maverick Vinales and Luis Salom move to the front. Marquez and Rins are both pushing. The bikes run down Hangar straight and into Stowe. Alex Rins wants by Alex Marquez, and makes the pass. In replay, Techer goes down, and Guevara and Ryan had nowhere to go. Jack Miller fends of Miguel Oliviera, Romano Fenati, and others. Fifteen laps left in this race. Maverick Vinales needs to win this race as Alex Rins sets fast lap. Not sure of the time.
They run through Maggots/Becketts. Miller loses out to Oliviera. Alex Rins came into this race with two straight wins. Francesco Bagnaia, pits. It's game over for Bagnaia as Rins and Vinals tussle for position. Luis Salom waits for his chance to pass. He's third, and wants to win this race. He hasn't won since Le Mans in France, back in May. The harder rear tire and softer front, are being used. Both are medium compounds.
Maybe, this race is beginning to settle down, just a little bit. Alexis Masbou is running well, having started from the front row for this one. Jonas Folger has Masbou and Jack Miller around him. Efren Vazquez and Arthur Sissis are running well. John McPhee is in the last points paying spot. This is settling into the usual pattern for a Moto 3 event. Luis Salom runs a 2:14.413. Sandro Cortese set the fast lap record last year in the first season for Moto 3. Alex Marquez is running real well right now, but needs to improve his braking.
Rins runs wide and this opens the door for Vinales to pull away. Can Vinales react? He has to book it, now. They come into Brooklands corner. Vinales has a window of opportunity, running a 2:14.4. What will Vinales do. Jonas Folger, Miguel Oliviera, and Alexis Masbou are in this. Isaac Vinales, Efren Vazquez, and Arthur Sissis are also in this. Romano Fenati and John McPhee battle, and so does Niccolo Antonelli. Wayne Ryan, the wildcard, seems to be out of this one.
Luis Salom passes Alex Rins. Ten laps remain now. Sorry, eleven laps to go. Luis Salom runs a new race lap record, two seconds quicker than the one from last year. Luis Salom is going to have to push. He can't save too much now, because he has to catch Maverick Vinales, because when Vinales pulls away, goodnight. Through Club corner they come. Luis Salom is still just chipping away at the gap. Salom runs wide and then, Rins goes for it, into The Loop. No dice here. Vinales will pull away.
Right now, we do have ten laps left. Masbou and Oliviera both pass Jonas Folger. Through Vale and into Club, the race continues. Salom closes to 4/10ths of a second. Into Brooklands. Rins is still pushing. So is Alex Marquez. Can he keep the pace with the top three? We are about halfway through this race. Alex Rins resets fast lap. Vinales has continually run in the 2:14.5 range. Luis Salom takes the lead from Maverick Vinales. Alex Rins is also pushing, and maybe Vinales is having an issue at the moment.
Rins is still knocking at the door. Alex Marquez slides his bike coming through The Loop, down the Wellington straight, and into Brooklands. They're side by side into Woodcote. Oliviera is fifth. Antonelli, Fenati, Vazquez, Ajo, McPhee, and others, all battle. Alex Rins now leads with seven laps left. Marquez moves to third with Vinales fourth. Salom slows the pace down, saving something for the final lap. He couldn't keep complete control of this race.
Marquez leads. But, it's not over yet. The lap times are increasing from 2:14 flat to 2:16.3. Who has the mental toughness to get through to the end of this one? Luis Salom is still pushing. This will come down to experience and race craft. Three wide into Brooklands as Rins passes Marquez. The lower runners are having battles of their own, being led by Jakub Kornfeil in ninth. Jack Miller goes up the inside of Miguel Oliviera.
Masbou hangs on. The pace is now back into the 2:14 range. Every corner, something happens here. Rins passes Luis Salom into Brooklands. It's crunch time now. The top four run liner stern, and fan out into Stowe. Can Vinales win? He hasn't won since Le Mans. He's had ten consecutive podium finishes, though, shooting for number eleven. Marquez passes Rins and Vinales! Wow. Salom still leads this race. Actually, it might have been Salom. It was! Wow! He just flew by the three other bikes like they were standing still!
Four laps to go now. Coming to Abbey, Jack Miller passes Alexis Masbou, and the riders run through Club. Salom is now fourth having been passed by Vinales. Luis Salom is pushing and so is Alex Marquez. The race is nearly over. Rins gos with Luis Salom. Will Vinales make his move on Alex Marquez? He'll have to, soon. There's still a ways to go yet, even with two laps left as Arthur Sissis falls, pushing Philip Oettl and Niklas Ajo, off the road. Sissis gets the worst of it.
Into Woodcote, Rins leads with Salom second. Throw the tactics out the window. Through Stowe and onto the Hangar straight. Marquez comes with Salom. What will Vinales do? Rins goes past his team mate, helping Salom get away. Rins wants his fourth win of 2013 and Salom, wants his sixth checker flag of the year. Eric Granado is slow, after crashing into another bike and Matteo Ferrari ditches his bike. Through Woodcote for one last time.
It's the last lap. Into Copse, Salom still leads over Rins and Marquez, with Vinales in fourth after winning Silverstone last year. Maggots, Becketts, Chapel, onto the Hangar straight, and into Stowe for the final time. Rins wants by Marquez on the inside and Rins can't quite get the drive. He could into Vale. Nope. Salom holds a tight line. Into Club, past the old start/finish line, and into Abbey. Vinales wants by Marquez. He can't get there.
Brooklands will be the big corner here. Into The Loop for the final time. Down the short straight, there's all sorts of jockeying for places. Luis Salom still leads into Luffield corner. Through Woodcote one last time. Salom does it! Rins second. Marquez third. Vinales gets snookered.
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race will be at the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano circuit in Italy in less than two weeks.
This is round eleven of Moto 3. It's a 17 lap race. Maverick Vinales starts from pole. He won here at Silverstone last year, and has to win if he has any hope of getting back into contention for the championship. Two British wildcard riders are entered. Kyle Ride and Wayne Ryan.
We're ready for a start. At the start, Jack Miller gets a good jump. Luis Salom is leading. But, Zulfahmmi Khairuddin has to start from pit lane. Alex Marquez runs ahead of Jack Miller. Jakub Kornfeil had a good start. The bikes draft their way down Hangar straight. Maverick Vinales is trying to keep Luis Salom honest into Vale. Alex Marquez tries Jonas Folger on the inside as Alan Techer and Juanfran Guevara both crash, and so does Wayne Ryan, the wildcard.
Folger runs wide. Jack Miller passes for fifth. Maverick Vinales and Luis Salom move to the front. Marquez and Rins are both pushing. The bikes run down Hangar straight and into Stowe. Alex Rins wants by Alex Marquez, and makes the pass. In replay, Techer goes down, and Guevara and Ryan had nowhere to go. Jack Miller fends of Miguel Oliviera, Romano Fenati, and others. Fifteen laps left in this race. Maverick Vinales needs to win this race as Alex Rins sets fast lap. Not sure of the time.
They run through Maggots/Becketts. Miller loses out to Oliviera. Alex Rins came into this race with two straight wins. Francesco Bagnaia, pits. It's game over for Bagnaia as Rins and Vinals tussle for position. Luis Salom waits for his chance to pass. He's third, and wants to win this race. He hasn't won since Le Mans in France, back in May. The harder rear tire and softer front, are being used. Both are medium compounds.
Maybe, this race is beginning to settle down, just a little bit. Alexis Masbou is running well, having started from the front row for this one. Jonas Folger has Masbou and Jack Miller around him. Efren Vazquez and Arthur Sissis are running well. John McPhee is in the last points paying spot. This is settling into the usual pattern for a Moto 3 event. Luis Salom runs a 2:14.413. Sandro Cortese set the fast lap record last year in the first season for Moto 3. Alex Marquez is running real well right now, but needs to improve his braking.
Rins runs wide and this opens the door for Vinales to pull away. Can Vinales react? He has to book it, now. They come into Brooklands corner. Vinales has a window of opportunity, running a 2:14.4. What will Vinales do. Jonas Folger, Miguel Oliviera, and Alexis Masbou are in this. Isaac Vinales, Efren Vazquez, and Arthur Sissis are also in this. Romano Fenati and John McPhee battle, and so does Niccolo Antonelli. Wayne Ryan, the wildcard, seems to be out of this one.
Luis Salom passes Alex Rins. Ten laps remain now. Sorry, eleven laps to go. Luis Salom runs a new race lap record, two seconds quicker than the one from last year. Luis Salom is going to have to push. He can't save too much now, because he has to catch Maverick Vinales, because when Vinales pulls away, goodnight. Through Club corner they come. Luis Salom is still just chipping away at the gap. Salom runs wide and then, Rins goes for it, into The Loop. No dice here. Vinales will pull away.
Right now, we do have ten laps left. Masbou and Oliviera both pass Jonas Folger. Through Vale and into Club, the race continues. Salom closes to 4/10ths of a second. Into Brooklands. Rins is still pushing. So is Alex Marquez. Can he keep the pace with the top three? We are about halfway through this race. Alex Rins resets fast lap. Vinales has continually run in the 2:14.5 range. Luis Salom takes the lead from Maverick Vinales. Alex Rins is also pushing, and maybe Vinales is having an issue at the moment.
Rins is still knocking at the door. Alex Marquez slides his bike coming through The Loop, down the Wellington straight, and into Brooklands. They're side by side into Woodcote. Oliviera is fifth. Antonelli, Fenati, Vazquez, Ajo, McPhee, and others, all battle. Alex Rins now leads with seven laps left. Marquez moves to third with Vinales fourth. Salom slows the pace down, saving something for the final lap. He couldn't keep complete control of this race.
Marquez leads. But, it's not over yet. The lap times are increasing from 2:14 flat to 2:16.3. Who has the mental toughness to get through to the end of this one? Luis Salom is still pushing. This will come down to experience and race craft. Three wide into Brooklands as Rins passes Marquez. The lower runners are having battles of their own, being led by Jakub Kornfeil in ninth. Jack Miller goes up the inside of Miguel Oliviera.
Masbou hangs on. The pace is now back into the 2:14 range. Every corner, something happens here. Rins passes Luis Salom into Brooklands. It's crunch time now. The top four run liner stern, and fan out into Stowe. Can Vinales win? He hasn't won since Le Mans. He's had ten consecutive podium finishes, though, shooting for number eleven. Marquez passes Rins and Vinales! Wow. Salom still leads this race. Actually, it might have been Salom. It was! Wow! He just flew by the three other bikes like they were standing still!
Four laps to go now. Coming to Abbey, Jack Miller passes Alexis Masbou, and the riders run through Club. Salom is now fourth having been passed by Vinales. Luis Salom is pushing and so is Alex Marquez. The race is nearly over. Rins gos with Luis Salom. Will Vinales make his move on Alex Marquez? He'll have to, soon. There's still a ways to go yet, even with two laps left as Arthur Sissis falls, pushing Philip Oettl and Niklas Ajo, off the road. Sissis gets the worst of it.
Into Woodcote, Rins leads with Salom second. Throw the tactics out the window. Through Stowe and onto the Hangar straight. Marquez comes with Salom. What will Vinales do? Rins goes past his team mate, helping Salom get away. Rins wants his fourth win of 2013 and Salom, wants his sixth checker flag of the year. Eric Granado is slow, after crashing into another bike and Matteo Ferrari ditches his bike. Through Woodcote for one last time.
It's the last lap. Into Copse, Salom still leads over Rins and Marquez, with Vinales in fourth after winning Silverstone last year. Maggots, Becketts, Chapel, onto the Hangar straight, and into Stowe for the final time. Rins wants by Marquez on the inside and Rins can't quite get the drive. He could into Vale. Nope. Salom holds a tight line. Into Club, past the old start/finish line, and into Abbey. Vinales wants by Marquez. He can't get there.
Brooklands will be the big corner here. Into The Loop for the final time. Down the short straight, there's all sorts of jockeying for places. Luis Salom still leads into Luffield corner. Through Woodcote one last time. Salom does it! Rins second. Marquez third. Vinales gets snookered.
#39 Luis Salom ESP KTM
The next Moto 3 race will be at the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano circuit in Italy in less than two weeks.
Monday, September 2, 2013
The fall that could've ruined Marquez's weekend
Thank goodness it didn't. He came out of the wreck, and raced, despite injuring his collarbone. Here's the story.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/marquez+crash+telemetry+at+silverstone
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/marquez+crash+telemetry+at+silverstone
Moto 2: Great Britain
This race for Moto 2 is big, and it will affect the
championship. 19 laps scheduled. Two or three riders won’t start due to
injury. On pole, it’s Takaaki
Nakagami.
#45 Scott Redding GBR Kalex Quedgeley
Redding could become the first British champion since 1977 when the late, great Barry Sheene did it.
At the start of this 18 lap race, Scott Reedding got a good start into the first corner. Tom Luthi tried for second, but Taki Nakagami got around him. Redding has the early lead. Tom Luthi is running well onto Hangar straight and into Stowe. Tito Rabat and Johann Zarco also are battling through Vale. Mika Kallio and Xavier Simeon pass Pol Espargaro into Abbey. Going through Farm, Nakagami is pushing, through Village, and into The Loop and down the Wellington straight, through Brooklands.
Redding stays safe in front while there's a huge battle from fifth through ninth, back into Copse. Espargaro and Redding are on the same tires. Soft front, hard rear. Xavier Simeon has a medium rear tire. Redding has to open a gap over Espargaro. This is Redding's home Grand Prix and he has won at Silverstone. Simeon passes Kallio. But, it didn't work. Kallio gets back by him as they go back down Wellington straight and into Brooklands another time.
Into Woodcote, this completes another lap. Rabat sets fast lap in the 2:01 range. Nakagami wants to win. Can he? Espargaro is running slower than Scott Redding, and he's dispensed with Johann Zarco. Redding, Zarco, and Dominik Aegerter, are the only three riders who have scored points in all the races this year. Pol Espargaro is now eighth as in Becketts/Chapel, Alberto Moncayo falls, and his team mate, Steven Odendall didin't even start, after a crash he suffered.
Espargaro runs a 2:09.1. Redding is faster in the 2:07 range. Tito Rabat is recovering after running wide into Vale corner. Dominik Aegerter is pushing Tom Luthi right now. Is Pol Espargaro struggling? Or, is he waiting for an opportunity to pass? Nakagami resets fast lap as Scott Redding sets a personal best. Nakagami it seems, has been ill. But, he's running well so far. He wants to win a Grand Prix. Tom Luthi and Dominik Aegerter both want a piece of the action. Aegerter has had 26 straight races, finishing in the points.
Nakagami resets fast lap, again in the 2:07s. Espargaro chases Mattia Pasini. Three years ago, it was Scott Redding, running a great race with Jules Cluzel. Twelve laps left. Scott Redding keeps knocking out personal best lap times coming back through Woodcote. Espargaro passes Matteo Pasini into Copse. He's taking a second a lap out of Redding. Simone Corsi is trying Pol Espargaro. Corsi is quicker. Pol Espargaro might lose quite a few points. Gino Rea and Danny Kent are having a great race. But, it's for 21st place.
Kent will be back in Moto 2 with Tech 3 next year. The top four all set personal best laps. Zarco, Kallio, and others, are going to have to hurry if they want to gain ground. Zarco is slipping back. But, Redding is still ahead. Tom Luthi is coming, though. Can he catch Scott Redding? Redding has had great consistency during races this year. Tom Luthi resets fast lap at 2:07.32 as Simone Corsi passes Pol Espargaro, but Espargaro gets him back through Brooklands.
2:07.320 is a new fast lap. Luthi is strong at Stowe corner as they come out of Club and into Abbey and Farm. Luthi is still chipping away at Nakagami. But, Redding continues to gain an advantage. Rafid Topan Sucipto is going to be lapped. Nakagami passes Redding for the lead. He wants the win, after getting second in the last two races. They come into Copse. Six laps left in this one. Redding does best in the third sector, through Vale. Redding runs his slowest race lap at 2:08.7. Into Abbey, Redding is still pushing. Rabat passes Simeon.
Dominik Aegerter is fourth. Tito Rabat will be the new rider for Marc VDS in Moto 2 next year when Redding movs to MotoGP. Now, Rabat sets a new fast lap. Pol Espargaro is being driven crazy by Johann Zarco. They are still behind Mika Kallio, too. Redding wanted by into Stowe. Not there. Rabat passes Aegerter, resetting fast lap at 2:07.2. What can Luthi do? Will Rabat gain ground? Redding is close to Nakagami coming through Luffield.
Into Woodcote again, and down the front straight. Rabat is 6/10ths quicker than Nakagami and Redding. Into Stowe, Redding is pushing with Luthi and Nakagami ahead. Redding's crew tells him, "want it." Into Abbey, four laps left. Nakagami runs wide and Redding gets the lead back! Whoa! Nakagami went too deep into Village. Luthi is second. Nakagami is fading. Three laps left. This is getting good now. The crowd is going berserk, cheering their man on. Going into Stowe, Rabat is closing on Nakagami. Luthi is pushing, hard.
Down into Abbey, no change. Can Rabat make his move? Down the Wellington straight and into Brooklands. Nakagami might get another podium. Rabat runs a 2:07.186 for fastest lap. It's a new track record, too! Rabat almost runs wide. Yikes! Push, push, push. Redding is still leading. Into Club corner, up to Abbey, what's left in the tank? Redding set a personal best lap time. Nakagami passes Luthi. Redding escapes, and it looks like he's going to win this race. Luthi almost passes. But, it didn't work.
Through Woodcote, one lap left. The crowd wants their man to win this. Redding has a half a second over Nakagami. Luthi is now into second. Can he block Nakagami? Yes. No. Nakagami goes throuigh. Thre abreast for second. Get the champagne. Redding is going to win this. Xavier Simeon is out. He's crashed. Luthi tries passing Nakagami. No dice. Redding is through Luffield. He's going to win. The world championship leader, wins his home Grand Prix as Nakagami snatches second from Tom Luthi!
Phew! What a Moto 2 race!
#45 Scott Redding GBR Kalex Quedgeley
Redding could become the first British champion since 1977 when the late, great Barry Sheene did it.
The next Moto 2 race is the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano circuit in Italy, coming up in two weeks.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
MotoGP Round 12: Great Britain
Round twelve of MotoGP is at the legendary Silverstone circuit in Silverstone, England. This is special, because it's the 200th race of the MotoGP era since it debuted in 2002.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/MotoGP+modern+era+hits+200+at+Silverstone
The Silverstone track is located on an old WW. II. bomber station. In morning warmup, Cal Crutchlow crashed for the third time. Marc Marquez barrels through the gravel trap. The safety crews had to run to get Crutchlow out of the way. Marquez has a dislocated collarbone. But, he will ride in the race today. Marc Marquez could win the championship and be the youngest to do so since American Kenny Roberts in 1978. Although, according to motorcycle racing historian Dennis Noyes, Roberts was a dirt track racer before going to MotoGP.
Noyes says that in talking to Marquez, Marquez mentioned that riding a lighter, smaller, Moto 2 bike, has informed his riding style in MotoGP. Marquez would keep the points lead over Dani Pedrosa. What will happen? Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa have also had to deal with broken collarbones. Now, in qualifying, Marquez and Lorenzo both floored the crowd in qualiufying. Marquez ran a new record lap. Cal Crutchlow had his two big wrecks, but will still race. Stefan Bradl, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, and others, had good qualifying runs.
Pedrosa has never won at Silverstone, in any division of MotoGP. The bikes are on their warmup lap. This race will be 20 laps. Marquez wants his fifth consecutive win of 2013. This will be a tough one. At the start, Lorenzo gets a good jump, getting the hole shot as Valentino Rossi comes up to third. Pedrosa drops to sixth behind Cal Crurchlow. They come down the Hangar straight and into Stowe. They make theeir way through Abbey as Alvaro Bautista passes Crutchlow. Into Vilage, it's a scrap between Lorenzo and Marquez while Crutchlow passes Bautista into Abbey.
Now, into Vale, the corner that caused rider's issues in the warmup this morning. Lukas Pesek crashes. Game over. Dani Pedrosa continues to push as Alvaro Bautista hounds Valentino Rossi. They come towards Copse. Lorenzo runs a 2:02.1. Bautista passes Rossi for fifth. Can Marquez stay with Lorenzo despite his broken shoulder? So far, he is. Pedrosa wants by Stefan Bradl. Marquez runs a 2:01.996. Into Copse, Bradl wants Pedrosa. But, he can't get to him.
Marquez continues to knock down fast laps. Marquez is practically fearless through his injury and still wants to go for it. He's a real scrapper. They come into Brooklands which is a bumpy corner. Pedrosa resets fast lap at 2:01.9. Bradl, Nicky Hayden, and Andrea Dovizioso are all running together. Well, check that. The Ducati's are a bit farther down the order. Lorenzo and Marquez race into Brooklands. Pedrosa is getting back into this fight, too. Lorenzo is down to 2:02.6. But, Pedrosa is faster at 2:01.94.
Pedrosa is behind Lorenzo in the championship by 26 points, the equivalent of his bike's number. Andrea Ianonne passes Pol Espargaro. Colin Edwards runs ahead of Hector Barbera. This race is nearly half over. Not quite. Pedrosa can run consistent lap times and doesn't have to push as hard. He can't quite get there in the last laps of these races. But, this race at Silverstone, could be different. Marquez's collarbone was popped back into position before the race. He's toughing it out. Alvaro Bautista wants by Stefan Bradl, still.
Lorenzo leads through Copse corner. Pedrosa will push now as they come through Woodcote, down the front straight and into Copse. We are halfway now. Ten laps down. Ten to go. Aleix Espargaro is now top CRT even though, he too, is riding hurt, with a broken finger. Through Abbey, Lorenzo continues to lead. Pedrosa is right up behind Marquez now. They fly down Wellington straight and into Brooklands. Pedrosa is now pushing Marquez. The top three, are the best motorcycle racers in the world right now.
Through Brooklands and Luffield again, this battle is not letting up. These guys fly their bikes through the corners at 150 miles an hour into Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel. Seven laps to go. Hayden is tenth, slipping behind Andrea Dovizioso. Colin Edwards runs 14th. This battle is just like one in 1979 between Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts. Lorenzo and Marquez run identical lap times at 2:02.3. Through Club corner. Dovizioso and Hayden are pushing, and they chase Bradley Smith.
This scrap is for eighth. Lorenzo continues to lead, running a 2:02.2. Marquez and Lorenzo are still close behind. Lorenzo is stepping up the pace. But, the Repsol Honda's are still in it with three laps left. Through Abbey and Farm, Rossi is still there. But, he's a bit slower on a full fuel tank. Bautista was a champion in the old 125cc class. Smith passes Andrea Dovizizoso. Aleix Espargaro will get a good finish. It is his pinky finger that is broken.
Marquez takes the lead away from Lorenzo! He forced him to sit up through Brooklands! Wow! Will Marquez win this race even with a dislocated collarbone? Can Dani Pedrosa get past Lorenzo? Lorenzo is doing all iun his power to stay with bike #93. Oh wow! Lorenzo isn't quitting. He passes back into Vale and Marquez wants to come back. They're almost side by side into Club corner, coming to Abbey. Here comes Dani Pedrosa. This is wild, folks. W'ere coming to the end of this race.
Can Marquez go past Lorenzo? Not yet. They've crossed the back straught into Brooklands for the next to last time. Into Copse for the final time. Now, Dovizioso is down from eighth. Hayden and Smith will be promoted. Marquez has to go, now. Down into Stowe for the final time. Brooklands is the key corner. Bautista passes Rossi. Rossi can't do anything with Alvaro Bautista battling for fourth. Bautista holds on. Lorenzo hangs on. This is it.
Into Village and The Loop, and then, into Brooklands. Through Aintree. Marquez passes for the lead. Lorenzo comnes back. H forces his way back. It;s a drag race. Lorenzo wins it! Rossi beats Bautista. Phew! What a race!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
The next race for MotoGP is the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit in Misano, Italy, in two weeks.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/MotoGP+modern+era+hits+200+at+Silverstone
The Silverstone track is located on an old WW. II. bomber station. In morning warmup, Cal Crutchlow crashed for the third time. Marc Marquez barrels through the gravel trap. The safety crews had to run to get Crutchlow out of the way. Marquez has a dislocated collarbone. But, he will ride in the race today. Marc Marquez could win the championship and be the youngest to do so since American Kenny Roberts in 1978. Although, according to motorcycle racing historian Dennis Noyes, Roberts was a dirt track racer before going to MotoGP.
Noyes says that in talking to Marquez, Marquez mentioned that riding a lighter, smaller, Moto 2 bike, has informed his riding style in MotoGP. Marquez would keep the points lead over Dani Pedrosa. What will happen? Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa have also had to deal with broken collarbones. Now, in qualifying, Marquez and Lorenzo both floored the crowd in qualiufying. Marquez ran a new record lap. Cal Crutchlow had his two big wrecks, but will still race. Stefan Bradl, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, and others, had good qualifying runs.
Pedrosa has never won at Silverstone, in any division of MotoGP. The bikes are on their warmup lap. This race will be 20 laps. Marquez wants his fifth consecutive win of 2013. This will be a tough one. At the start, Lorenzo gets a good jump, getting the hole shot as Valentino Rossi comes up to third. Pedrosa drops to sixth behind Cal Crurchlow. They come down the Hangar straight and into Stowe. They make theeir way through Abbey as Alvaro Bautista passes Crutchlow. Into Vilage, it's a scrap between Lorenzo and Marquez while Crutchlow passes Bautista into Abbey.
Now, into Vale, the corner that caused rider's issues in the warmup this morning. Lukas Pesek crashes. Game over. Dani Pedrosa continues to push as Alvaro Bautista hounds Valentino Rossi. They come towards Copse. Lorenzo runs a 2:02.1. Bautista passes Rossi for fifth. Can Marquez stay with Lorenzo despite his broken shoulder? So far, he is. Pedrosa wants by Stefan Bradl. Marquez runs a 2:01.996. Into Copse, Bradl wants Pedrosa. But, he can't get to him.
Marquez continues to knock down fast laps. Marquez is practically fearless through his injury and still wants to go for it. He's a real scrapper. They come into Brooklands which is a bumpy corner. Pedrosa resets fast lap at 2:01.9. Bradl, Nicky Hayden, and Andrea Dovizioso are all running together. Well, check that. The Ducati's are a bit farther down the order. Lorenzo and Marquez race into Brooklands. Pedrosa is getting back into this fight, too. Lorenzo is down to 2:02.6. But, Pedrosa is faster at 2:01.94.
Pedrosa is behind Lorenzo in the championship by 26 points, the equivalent of his bike's number. Andrea Ianonne passes Pol Espargaro. Colin Edwards runs ahead of Hector Barbera. This race is nearly half over. Not quite. Pedrosa can run consistent lap times and doesn't have to push as hard. He can't quite get there in the last laps of these races. But, this race at Silverstone, could be different. Marquez's collarbone was popped back into position before the race. He's toughing it out. Alvaro Bautista wants by Stefan Bradl, still.
Lorenzo leads through Copse corner. Pedrosa will push now as they come through Woodcote, down the front straight and into Copse. We are halfway now. Ten laps down. Ten to go. Aleix Espargaro is now top CRT even though, he too, is riding hurt, with a broken finger. Through Abbey, Lorenzo continues to lead. Pedrosa is right up behind Marquez now. They fly down Wellington straight and into Brooklands. Pedrosa is now pushing Marquez. The top three, are the best motorcycle racers in the world right now.
Through Brooklands and Luffield again, this battle is not letting up. These guys fly their bikes through the corners at 150 miles an hour into Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel. Seven laps to go. Hayden is tenth, slipping behind Andrea Dovizioso. Colin Edwards runs 14th. This battle is just like one in 1979 between Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts. Lorenzo and Marquez run identical lap times at 2:02.3. Through Club corner. Dovizioso and Hayden are pushing, and they chase Bradley Smith.
This scrap is for eighth. Lorenzo continues to lead, running a 2:02.2. Marquez and Lorenzo are still close behind. Lorenzo is stepping up the pace. But, the Repsol Honda's are still in it with three laps left. Through Abbey and Farm, Rossi is still there. But, he's a bit slower on a full fuel tank. Bautista was a champion in the old 125cc class. Smith passes Andrea Dovizizoso. Aleix Espargaro will get a good finish. It is his pinky finger that is broken.
Marquez takes the lead away from Lorenzo! He forced him to sit up through Brooklands! Wow! Will Marquez win this race even with a dislocated collarbone? Can Dani Pedrosa get past Lorenzo? Lorenzo is doing all iun his power to stay with bike #93. Oh wow! Lorenzo isn't quitting. He passes back into Vale and Marquez wants to come back. They're almost side by side into Club corner, coming to Abbey. Here comes Dani Pedrosa. This is wild, folks. W'ere coming to the end of this race.
Can Marquez go past Lorenzo? Not yet. They've crossed the back straught into Brooklands for the next to last time. Into Copse for the final time. Now, Dovizioso is down from eighth. Hayden and Smith will be promoted. Marquez has to go, now. Down into Stowe for the final time. Brooklands is the key corner. Bautista passes Rossi. Rossi can't do anything with Alvaro Bautista battling for fourth. Bautista holds on. Lorenzo hangs on. This is it.
Into Village and The Loop, and then, into Brooklands. Through Aintree. Marquez passes for the lead. Lorenzo comnes back. H forces his way back. It;s a drag race. Lorenzo wins it! Rossi beats Bautista. Phew! What a race!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
The next race for MotoGP is the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit in Misano, Italy, in two weeks.
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