Former motorcycle Grand Prix race winner Doriano Romboni was killed in a practice crash for a Sic Supermoto race and passed away at the Santa Maria Goretti hospital in Latina, Italy.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Romboni+passes+away+after+Supermoto+accident
Rest In Peace, Doriano Romboni.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Bike Road Racing Series round 4: Billown, Part 2
We're ready for day two action at the Billown circuit on the Isle of Man, and the fourth and final day of the Southern 100 international road races.
Guy Martin wants his second Southern 100 championship. But, Michael Dunlop will be one of his biggest competitors. We've seen the track, and all the major corners. The first race of the day is the championship race for the Superbikes. This is Honda vs. Suzuki. Michael Dunlop vs. Guy Martin. The big boys and the big toys are coming out to play. We are ready, for the Manx Gas Solo Championship Superbike race! Go! At the start, Dean Harrison immediately jumps into the race lead.
Michael Dunlop also gets a decent start and doesn't bog down off the line. Ian Lougher is up there, but here comes Dunlop, taking the fight to Martin. Michael Dunlop is making a move into Iron Gate. It's Suzuki vs. Honda vs. Kawasaki. Dunlop takes the lead. Not far behind are names like Jamie Hamilton, Michael Pearson and Russ Mountford. We've seen Hamilton and Mountford in some of the other divisions racing, and they were featured prominently, in part one of this race report.
They cleanly race through Ballabeg hairpin and are well on their way. Guy Martin may be third, but he's had better race starts during his Superbike career in the Bike Road Racing Series. Ian Lougher is going to have to book it to keep up with the top three. The bikes ease into Cross Four-Ways for the first time. The big 1000cc four cylinder engines, are roaring, announcing their presence on the Isle of Man. Lougher, Pearson, and Hamilton, are also in a race of their own.
Whoever mashes the throttle hardest and soonest, will have the advantage down the front straight. Ian Lougher moves to the outside of Jamie Hamilton. What can he do? Ooh! Lougher almost hits the wall! Woohoo! That was close! Phew! Dunlop leads, but Dean Harrison is right along with him. Not to be outdone, Martin is right up the tailpipe of Dean Harrison's motorcycle. Seamus Elliott runs at the back of the pack on bike #97, trying to make his way around Ballabeg hairpin.
Martin pops a wheelie as he's going after Harrison around one of the sloped curves. Michael Dunlop is ahead for Honda TT Legends, (a name recognizable from the coverage of the FIM World Endurance Championship, here on this blog). Two laps complete. Seven remain. We've got a couple of 600 Supersport bikes mixed in with the Superbikes for good measure, in this race. They make their way back towards Ballabeg another time.
Hamilton, Lougher, and Pearson, are still in their own battle, behind the leaders. As for Martin, he's still finding difficulty in passing Harrison. Martin won't give up. But, he gets a bonus. Dean Harrison, runs wide, off the racing line. Ian Lougher still fends off Michael Pearson. Harrison and Martin are going to be the ones to fight it out for second. There's still six laps left. Jamie Hamilton runs by himself, with Michael Pearson and Ian Lougher in pursuit. Dean Harrison has his feet off the foot pegs into Cross Four Ways! Hang it on the edge!
Ian Lougher pops another wheelie! Dunlop is still ahead of Martin. But, Martin has broken the 2:14 lap barrier, running a 2:13.9. This might be a new lap record for the Billown course. Martin continues to close on Dunlop. Dean Harrison has faded. It's a two man race for the win. Russ Mountford flies past Roy Gallagh's farm, approaching the Bomb Hole. Dunlop slides his way into the last corner, coming up to complete another lap.
The Suzuki is fast in a straight line, but doesn't quite have the oomph of the Honda out of the corners. Russ Mountford catches Michael Pearson, and Pearson, makes his way down the escape road. Martin, also catches Dunlop. Guy Martin is skating all over, while Michael Dunlop's bike is on rails. It has nothing to do with technique. It's more about bike setup. Remember from part one... the bike isn't control of you as a rider. You, the rider, control the bike.
Both of them slide towards the wall, and emerge unscathed. Guy Martin has a run on Michael Dunlop. He's flying, folks. Martin nabs the lead. Martin is in P1! How will Dunlop respond to this challenge? Dunlop wants to get him back, going into Ballekeighan. Tim Poole overtakes slower rider Mike James on bike #39. Dean Harrison holds third. Both Martin and Dunlop wheelie, coming up out of the Bomb Hole. This is intense!
Jamie Hamilton and Dean Harrison are still out there, but neither is in contention to win this race. Martin flies into Stadium, and Dunlop is still pushing. It's the final lap of the Superbike race. Dean Harrison is still third. Watch out for backmarkers. Russ Mountford is running with James Cownton behind him. Through Ballabeg, Cross Four Ways, and Great Meadow. There is still time for decisive moves. This is it. Will it be Tyco Suzuki, or Honda TT Legends? They've gone through Church Bends. Great Meadow, Stadium, and Castletown corner are all that remains.
Martin wins it! He's the Southern 100 champ!
#4 Guy Martin Suzuki 1000
Here's the top five.
1. #4 Guy Martin Suzuki 1000
2. #1 Michael Dunlop Honda 1000
3. #2 Dean Harrison Kawasaki 1000
4. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki 1000
5. #9 Ian Lougher Honda 1000
Let's resume the action, and go three wheelin'. It's time for the sidecars on the Isle of Man. In the first race for sidecars, a battle ensued between Wayne Lockey and Greg Lambert. It was a race between three teams. Colin Harrison made his way past Greg Lambert. Roy Hanks was also in the wars in the first sidecar race. The race was stopped after a vicious crash where one of the passengers was tossed from the sidecar! Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle, won it.
#77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
Here's the top five.
1. #77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
2. #26 Bryan/Winn Honda 600
3. #3 Harrison/Chauhan Honda 600
4. #4 Lockey/Capewell Honda 600
5. #5 Lambert/Cole Honda 600
Gary Bryan, is confident. Roy Hanks, has many memories of racing on the Isle of Man, as he's done so for years. Hanks' dad raced on this course, against another racer named Charlie Freeman. Back then, the bikes were made by companies like BSA, Triumph, and Norton... legendary names in motorcycle racing history. We come to the sidecar championship race at Billown.
Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are the top runners, and we'll also pay attention to the team of Harrison and Chauhan. The Bell team (father and son), are also in this race. Ben and Tom Birchall start from pole and will be ones to watch. Bring up the revs, and here we go! Ben Birchall makes a good start going into the lead of the race immediately. It's a side-by-side duel between the Bell's and the Reeves/Sayle team. Tim Reeves has the edge.
How do you tiptoe around Ballekeighan on a sidecar? It's tough. But, you have to. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are going for it right away. The Birchall team holds onto P1. The Lockie and Capewell team is doing well, too. Gary Bryant and Jamie Winn are running well. They want to pass Ian and Carl Bell. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are watching all this. We watch sidecar #15 in the hands of Stuart Stubbel and Robert Munt. Keep all three wheels down. No curb hopping in a sidecar cycle.
The 600cc Honda sidecar seems to have a throatier, sharper, nastier exhaust note than the rest of the bikes out there in this division. This team is reeling in the Birchall brothers. So, it's Ben and Tom Birchall followed by Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle. Next, it's Ian and Carl Bell. Gary Bryan and Jamie Winn are fourth. Reeves looks to be closing up on the Birchall's and they let that team go past.
Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle have it all their own way in the sidecar championship race at the moment. Conrad Harrison, Greg Lambert, and Wayne Lockie, are a ways down the order. Dean Lindley is also in there. Through Cross Four-Ways, nice and quick. Ian and Carl Bell seem like they might have an opportunity to challenge for the win here, too. They've won these races, and championships. They know what it takes to run a sidecar racer on the Isle of Man.
Dean Lindley bumps another competitor, trying to pass. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle open their margin little by little. These sidecars with the 600cc motors sound really sweet. Keep the revs high and the speed up. Tim Reeves wants a Southern 100 win to add to his CV. He's won the Isle of Mann TT, the British Superbike Championship, and has World Championship sidecar wins. With the sidecar racers, the bumps through these corners, present a real shock to the system.
Darren Hope is also in this race. He used to be a passenger, but now, drives a sidecar cycle. Watch out into Cross Four-Ways. That's tricky even on a regular motorcycle, as we've already seen. Roy Hanks... the legend, is running great, along with passenger, Kevin Perry. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are flying into Stadium. It seems that Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle have a definite advantage. The Birchall's and the other competitors are not keeping up as well as they'd like to. The intervals are regular and steady. But, there's still a race on our hands here, blokes.
The Birchall's are getting quicker. This is a six lap race. It should have been eight. But, two laps were subtracted from the distance. Dean Lindley is running well, with passenger, Jason O'Connor. Cole Bennett and Lee Kane are also running in top form on sidecar #13. 125 miles an hour maximum speed, lying on your tummy? Jeez! Serious case of road rash! Thank goodness for leathers, chest and back protectors, and helmets.
Dan Sayle has won many races at Billown in the past. He is as successful as riders like Dave Molyneux and Klaus Glafboch. Greg Lambert and Wayne Lockie are in a battle for position. Reeves and Sayle still lead over the Birchall's and the Bell's. Gary Bryant has dropped behind. Colin Harrison is fifth. The Bell's are pushing and want to try for second. Roy Hanks is still bringing up the rear of the pack. The Birchall's might be closing in on the very strong Honda of Reeves and Sayle.
Everyone seems to run in the 2:37 range in terms of lap times. John Chandler pushes Horst Valsack out of the way. The margins between the top three continue to tighten up. This is the last lap of the sidecar race. Ben and Tom Birchall reset fast lap at 2:35.8. John Chandler pulls to the side of the road. Could it be game over for Chandler? Yes. Dean Lindley and Jason O'Connor, meanwhile, have been running their own race so far.
The top three run through the Bomb Hole for the last time. We are into the last mile of this race for the sidecars. Headed to Castletown corner, it looks like Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle will indeed be the winners. The Birchall's were close. But not close enough. Reeves and Sayle, win! The Birchall's still score fastest lap. Ian and Carl Bell, round out the podium.
#77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
Here's the top five for the sidecars.
1. #77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
2. #1 Birchall/Birchall Honda 600
3. #2 Bell/Bell Honda 600
4. #26 Bryan/Winn Honda 600
5. #3 Harrison/Chauhan Honda 600
The next race that will be highlighted is the Armoy Race of Legends in Armoy, Northern Ireland. Stay tuned for that. There will be a race report, coming soon.
Guy Martin wants his second Southern 100 championship. But, Michael Dunlop will be one of his biggest competitors. We've seen the track, and all the major corners. The first race of the day is the championship race for the Superbikes. This is Honda vs. Suzuki. Michael Dunlop vs. Guy Martin. The big boys and the big toys are coming out to play. We are ready, for the Manx Gas Solo Championship Superbike race! Go! At the start, Dean Harrison immediately jumps into the race lead.
Michael Dunlop also gets a decent start and doesn't bog down off the line. Ian Lougher is up there, but here comes Dunlop, taking the fight to Martin. Michael Dunlop is making a move into Iron Gate. It's Suzuki vs. Honda vs. Kawasaki. Dunlop takes the lead. Not far behind are names like Jamie Hamilton, Michael Pearson and Russ Mountford. We've seen Hamilton and Mountford in some of the other divisions racing, and they were featured prominently, in part one of this race report.
They cleanly race through Ballabeg hairpin and are well on their way. Guy Martin may be third, but he's had better race starts during his Superbike career in the Bike Road Racing Series. Ian Lougher is going to have to book it to keep up with the top three. The bikes ease into Cross Four-Ways for the first time. The big 1000cc four cylinder engines, are roaring, announcing their presence on the Isle of Man. Lougher, Pearson, and Hamilton, are also in a race of their own.
Whoever mashes the throttle hardest and soonest, will have the advantage down the front straight. Ian Lougher moves to the outside of Jamie Hamilton. What can he do? Ooh! Lougher almost hits the wall! Woohoo! That was close! Phew! Dunlop leads, but Dean Harrison is right along with him. Not to be outdone, Martin is right up the tailpipe of Dean Harrison's motorcycle. Seamus Elliott runs at the back of the pack on bike #97, trying to make his way around Ballabeg hairpin.
Martin pops a wheelie as he's going after Harrison around one of the sloped curves. Michael Dunlop is ahead for Honda TT Legends, (a name recognizable from the coverage of the FIM World Endurance Championship, here on this blog). Two laps complete. Seven remain. We've got a couple of 600 Supersport bikes mixed in with the Superbikes for good measure, in this race. They make their way back towards Ballabeg another time.
Hamilton, Lougher, and Pearson, are still in their own battle, behind the leaders. As for Martin, he's still finding difficulty in passing Harrison. Martin won't give up. But, he gets a bonus. Dean Harrison, runs wide, off the racing line. Ian Lougher still fends off Michael Pearson. Harrison and Martin are going to be the ones to fight it out for second. There's still six laps left. Jamie Hamilton runs by himself, with Michael Pearson and Ian Lougher in pursuit. Dean Harrison has his feet off the foot pegs into Cross Four Ways! Hang it on the edge!
Ian Lougher pops another wheelie! Dunlop is still ahead of Martin. But, Martin has broken the 2:14 lap barrier, running a 2:13.9. This might be a new lap record for the Billown course. Martin continues to close on Dunlop. Dean Harrison has faded. It's a two man race for the win. Russ Mountford flies past Roy Gallagh's farm, approaching the Bomb Hole. Dunlop slides his way into the last corner, coming up to complete another lap.
The Suzuki is fast in a straight line, but doesn't quite have the oomph of the Honda out of the corners. Russ Mountford catches Michael Pearson, and Pearson, makes his way down the escape road. Martin, also catches Dunlop. Guy Martin is skating all over, while Michael Dunlop's bike is on rails. It has nothing to do with technique. It's more about bike setup. Remember from part one... the bike isn't control of you as a rider. You, the rider, control the bike.
Both of them slide towards the wall, and emerge unscathed. Guy Martin has a run on Michael Dunlop. He's flying, folks. Martin nabs the lead. Martin is in P1! How will Dunlop respond to this challenge? Dunlop wants to get him back, going into Ballekeighan. Tim Poole overtakes slower rider Mike James on bike #39. Dean Harrison holds third. Both Martin and Dunlop wheelie, coming up out of the Bomb Hole. This is intense!
Jamie Hamilton and Dean Harrison are still out there, but neither is in contention to win this race. Martin flies into Stadium, and Dunlop is still pushing. It's the final lap of the Superbike race. Dean Harrison is still third. Watch out for backmarkers. Russ Mountford is running with James Cownton behind him. Through Ballabeg, Cross Four Ways, and Great Meadow. There is still time for decisive moves. This is it. Will it be Tyco Suzuki, or Honda TT Legends? They've gone through Church Bends. Great Meadow, Stadium, and Castletown corner are all that remains.
Martin wins it! He's the Southern 100 champ!
#4 Guy Martin Suzuki 1000
Here's the top five.
1. #4 Guy Martin Suzuki 1000
2. #1 Michael Dunlop Honda 1000
3. #2 Dean Harrison Kawasaki 1000
4. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki 1000
5. #9 Ian Lougher Honda 1000
Let's resume the action, and go three wheelin'. It's time for the sidecars on the Isle of Man. In the first race for sidecars, a battle ensued between Wayne Lockey and Greg Lambert. It was a race between three teams. Colin Harrison made his way past Greg Lambert. Roy Hanks was also in the wars in the first sidecar race. The race was stopped after a vicious crash where one of the passengers was tossed from the sidecar! Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle, won it.
#77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
Here's the top five.
1. #77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
2. #26 Bryan/Winn Honda 600
3. #3 Harrison/Chauhan Honda 600
4. #4 Lockey/Capewell Honda 600
5. #5 Lambert/Cole Honda 600
Gary Bryan, is confident. Roy Hanks, has many memories of racing on the Isle of Man, as he's done so for years. Hanks' dad raced on this course, against another racer named Charlie Freeman. Back then, the bikes were made by companies like BSA, Triumph, and Norton... legendary names in motorcycle racing history. We come to the sidecar championship race at Billown.
Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are the top runners, and we'll also pay attention to the team of Harrison and Chauhan. The Bell team (father and son), are also in this race. Ben and Tom Birchall start from pole and will be ones to watch. Bring up the revs, and here we go! Ben Birchall makes a good start going into the lead of the race immediately. It's a side-by-side duel between the Bell's and the Reeves/Sayle team. Tim Reeves has the edge.
How do you tiptoe around Ballekeighan on a sidecar? It's tough. But, you have to. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are going for it right away. The Birchall team holds onto P1. The Lockie and Capewell team is doing well, too. Gary Bryant and Jamie Winn are running well. They want to pass Ian and Carl Bell. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are watching all this. We watch sidecar #15 in the hands of Stuart Stubbel and Robert Munt. Keep all three wheels down. No curb hopping in a sidecar cycle.
The 600cc Honda sidecar seems to have a throatier, sharper, nastier exhaust note than the rest of the bikes out there in this division. This team is reeling in the Birchall brothers. So, it's Ben and Tom Birchall followed by Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle. Next, it's Ian and Carl Bell. Gary Bryan and Jamie Winn are fourth. Reeves looks to be closing up on the Birchall's and they let that team go past.
Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle have it all their own way in the sidecar championship race at the moment. Conrad Harrison, Greg Lambert, and Wayne Lockie, are a ways down the order. Dean Lindley is also in there. Through Cross Four-Ways, nice and quick. Ian and Carl Bell seem like they might have an opportunity to challenge for the win here, too. They've won these races, and championships. They know what it takes to run a sidecar racer on the Isle of Man.
Dean Lindley bumps another competitor, trying to pass. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle open their margin little by little. These sidecars with the 600cc motors sound really sweet. Keep the revs high and the speed up. Tim Reeves wants a Southern 100 win to add to his CV. He's won the Isle of Mann TT, the British Superbike Championship, and has World Championship sidecar wins. With the sidecar racers, the bumps through these corners, present a real shock to the system.
Darren Hope is also in this race. He used to be a passenger, but now, drives a sidecar cycle. Watch out into Cross Four-Ways. That's tricky even on a regular motorcycle, as we've already seen. Roy Hanks... the legend, is running great, along with passenger, Kevin Perry. Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle are flying into Stadium. It seems that Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle have a definite advantage. The Birchall's and the other competitors are not keeping up as well as they'd like to. The intervals are regular and steady. But, there's still a race on our hands here, blokes.
The Birchall's are getting quicker. This is a six lap race. It should have been eight. But, two laps were subtracted from the distance. Dean Lindley is running well, with passenger, Jason O'Connor. Cole Bennett and Lee Kane are also running in top form on sidecar #13. 125 miles an hour maximum speed, lying on your tummy? Jeez! Serious case of road rash! Thank goodness for leathers, chest and back protectors, and helmets.
Dan Sayle has won many races at Billown in the past. He is as successful as riders like Dave Molyneux and Klaus Glafboch. Greg Lambert and Wayne Lockie are in a battle for position. Reeves and Sayle still lead over the Birchall's and the Bell's. Gary Bryant has dropped behind. Colin Harrison is fifth. The Bell's are pushing and want to try for second. Roy Hanks is still bringing up the rear of the pack. The Birchall's might be closing in on the very strong Honda of Reeves and Sayle.
Everyone seems to run in the 2:37 range in terms of lap times. John Chandler pushes Horst Valsack out of the way. The margins between the top three continue to tighten up. This is the last lap of the sidecar race. Ben and Tom Birchall reset fast lap at 2:35.8. John Chandler pulls to the side of the road. Could it be game over for Chandler? Yes. Dean Lindley and Jason O'Connor, meanwhile, have been running their own race so far.
The top three run through the Bomb Hole for the last time. We are into the last mile of this race for the sidecars. Headed to Castletown corner, it looks like Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle will indeed be the winners. The Birchall's were close. But not close enough. Reeves and Sayle, win! The Birchall's still score fastest lap. Ian and Carl Bell, round out the podium.
#77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
Here's the top five for the sidecars.
1. #77 Reeves/Sayle Honda 600
2. #1 Birchall/Birchall Honda 600
3. #2 Bell/Bell Honda 600
4. #26 Bryan/Winn Honda 600
5. #3 Harrison/Chauhan Honda 600
The next race that will be highlighted is the Armoy Race of Legends in Armoy, Northern Ireland. Stay tuned for that. There will be a race report, coming soon.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Bike Road Racing Series round 4: Billown, Part 1
We return to the Billown circuit for round four of the 2013 Bike Road Racing Series. This is actually the other races that took place during the Southern 100 weekend. Two race reports will be coming your way, or rather, one race report, will be split into two parts.
Get ready for more high speed, and close action. This is the Billown 100. Let's review (having raced here, previously), the key corners on this 4.25 mile track, before we go racing. The corners include Ballakeighan, Iron Gate, Joey's Gate, the Ballabeg hairpin, Williams corner (the trickiest part of the track which goes past a farm, and into this unique turn called the bomb hole). Cross Four-Ways follows, before sliding into Church Bends. Out of Church Bends, the riders fly down the fastest part of the track at Great Meadow.
To complete the lap at Billown, it's hard on the brakes through the last two turns known as Stadium Bend, and Castletown corner. The first race of the day, is not for Superbikes, but instead, it's the combined race for 125cc and 400cc motorcycles presented by Station Garage. Castletown is the capital of the Isle of Man, (or Mann as it's properly spelled). Chris Palmer, is a local racer. He and his family, live here. Palmer runs a 125cc bike.
OK, folks. We are ready for the aforementioned Station Garage 125cc/400cc race to begin. Strap on the helmet and the racing gloves, twist the throttle, and get ready to race. There will be one, and only one winner this year. No separate honors for each class. Some big names are in this race. Chris Palmer, William Dunlop, Paul Robinson, and Ian Lougher, are probably the four biggest stars in this category. Lougher and Dunlop run a lot of different kinds of bikes in these race meetings.
The sun is low in the sky, and we're ready. Go! Chris Palmer and Alistair Haworth both get the jump on the rest of this field. Callum Collister is also up there. The field is bunched up going into Ballakeighan and Iron Gate. Rider Dave Kennington on bike #46 wanted to make an outside move. He couldn't quite do it. Collister, Howeth, and Dave Taylor are the top three right now. One year in this race, the start was so late, the streetlights in the town came on during the race.
Chris Palmer is being challenged by Dave Corliss. The bikes fly past Joey's Gate and into the hairpin. Collister continues leading this race. Paul Robinson ditches his bike. One of the 250cc riders is in trouble already. Fortunately, he picks up his Aprilia, and continues. Chris Palmer is absolutely flying on his 125cc Honda at the moment. Never let go of the throttle on a 125cc bike. Keep it wide open and wound up, all the time.
Alistair Haworth has taken over the race lead. Chris Palmer, meanwhile, closes in on Dave Taylor. Howeth leads. He's very good on a 400cc bike. Ian Lougher makes a pass on Dave Corlett. If the top three finishers in this race are on 400cc bikes, the 125cc riders won't get any glory, unfortunately. Callum Collister goes back in front for the time being. Chris Palmer is indeed closing up on his competitor. Dave Taylor is the man he wants to pass to gain another spot.
Haworth retakes the lead from Collister coming down into Castletown corner. We watch Joe Newbold on bike #143, being chased by a couple more riders behind him. Howeth and Collister are going to battle to the end in this one. They're shoulder to shoulder coming to Ballekeighan again. The 400cc bikes are very controllable, and they're beautifully made bikes, too. The leaders race into Ballabeg hairpin another time. Now, we see a battle between bikes #76 and #56. Eddie Lymer rides the #76 machine. Seamus Elliott is also in that battle.
Through Great Meadow and into Stadium. Collister is running very well in this race, and is well in control. Dave Corliss battles Mark Goodings for position. Ian Lougher, meanwhile, is booking it. He's fifth after being stuck in sixth place for a while. He seems to be closing up on both Dave Taylor and Chris Palmer. Palmer wants to overtake Taylor into the braking zone for Ballabeg. Oh no! Taylor runs straight on, missing the corner! He'll lose time now. Chris Palmer could get on the podium here. Eddie Lymer and Dan Sayle continue their battle. Sayle is on bike #56.
We are used to seeing Sayle in sidecar competition. Lougher is quickly closing up on Palmer. William Dunlop is another rider who has run 125cc bikes at Billown before. But, he's not in the race this year, having not found an opportunity for a ride. He was on the entry list, but, the ride never materialized. Dunlop has also had issues with his 250cc bike. Now, another brave pass. Lougher, passes Palmer! Lougher and Palmer are going to fight this one out, for sure.
It's game over for bike #117 of Dave Walsh. He's got a mechanical issue with his motorcycle. Walsh is riding a KTM. Alistair Haworth is second, doing a wheelie up the hill. Callum Collister still leads, in a league of his own. It's the last lap of this race. Chris Palmer makes a pass on Ian Lougher. They're side-by-side through Ballekeighan! Who's going to prevail? It'll be Lougher. The back wheels of the bikes go light there some of the corners around here. But, the battle rages between Palmer and Lougher.
Collister is going to win this race. But, it's Lougher and Palmer we'll be watching for. Callum Collister wins it. Now, to third place. Lougher beats Palmer to the line! Wow!
#53 Callum Collister Kawasaki 400
Here's the top five.
1. #53 Callum Collister Kawasaki 400
2. #29 Alistair Haworth Yamaha 400
3. #9 Ian Lougher Honda 125
4. #5 Chris Palmer Honda 125
5. #46 David Kennington Kawasaki 400
Next up, it's the Junior Consolation Support Race, for 650cc bikes. You've got a mix of Super Twins, (the 650cc machines), with a 400 or 125 bike thrown in for good measure. Conor Cummins is not racing this weekend. Instead, he's supporting his dad Billy Cummins, who is running in this race, At the start, from onboard Billy Cummins' bike, we see a slight false start. But, they're away.
Rad Hughes and James Neesom both get good starts. James Niesam leads this race. Nicholas Pfeiffer is another rider in this battle for the lead. Jack Hunter and Steven Orff are also in their own battle. Through Ballabeg, the order remains the same in this one. The riders move through Williams and down into the Bomb Hole for the first time. The order has not changed as they run through Church bends. Rad Hughes leads with James Niesam and Jack Hunter.
A rider "overcooks" the entry to Ballekeighan and fortunately, manages to get their bike turned in the right direction. Neesom passes Rad Hughes for the race lead. Billy Cummins has run into trouble. He's missed an entry to the corner, missing a gear, or finding a false neutral in the transmission somewhere. Jack Hunter comes under pressure from Nicholas Pfeiffer. Dave Clark leads a second group on bike #85. Neesom and Hughes continue to fight for the race lead.
Niklas Pfeiffer is still hanging in there. Neesom continues pulling ahead of Rad Hughes. Billy Cummins' bike must be running at full song again. Ian Cowie on bike #66 and bike #102 battle. #102 is Mark Bamford. Bamford makes the pass and it's done and dusted. Super Twins are a great bike to race on a track like this because the rider can be in control of the motorcycle as opposed to the bike controlling the rider.
The battle continues. But, Ian Cowie makes his way by Mark Bamford. Battle for the lead here, folks. Rad Hughes is all over James Niesam one more time. Niesam does it, and Niklas Pfeiffer passes Jack Hunter. Most of these bikes are Kawasaki's with the exception of one or two Suzuki SV650's. Stuart Raynor on bike #42 is slowing, with mechanical issues. Joe Newbold is also running well. He was in the previous race with the 125cc bikes, too. It's the final lap of the Super Twins race. It's going to be James Neesom's race to lose.
Slower riders such as Dave Clark, Leon Murphy, and James Christie make their way around the course. Billy Cummins is still trying to recover. He's done so, very well. Into Castletown corner, there's a pass. Rad Hughes has gone around James Neesom. Rad Hughes wins! What happened to Neesom? Ah. He gets second place.
#55 Rad Hughes Kawasaki 650
The top five:
1. #55 Rad Hughes Kawasaki 650
2. #91 James Neesom Kawasaki 650
3. #47 Niklas Pfeiffer Kawasaki 650
4. #69 Jack Hunter Kawasaki 650
5. #38 Billy Cummins Kawasaki 650
The next race is a combined event for the 250s and the 650 Super Twins. It's the Ocean Ford 250/650 race. Dean Harrison and Jamie Hamilton are going to be the main ones to watch in this contest. There was already one race for the Super Twins, and Harrison and Hamilton put on quite the show. It's a clean start, as we ride aboard the #88 bike of Joe Faragher. Watch bikes #2 and #44. Go! Chris Palmer had his front wheel up in the air. Dean Harrison gets the best launch off the line.
Hamilton is third. Ivan Lintin is the leader at the moment. Through Ballekeighan for the first time. Lintin looks to be breaking away from the rest of the pack already. It's Lintin, Hamilton, and Harrison, the top three. James Cownton, Russ Mountford, and Chris Palmer, follow. The bikes run into Cross Four-Ways for the first time, and Joe Faragher is still behind everyone else. Tim Poole is also up there, right behind Chris Palmer.
Ivan Lintin is making a break for it right now. Steve McKnight on bike #64 is also running decently. At the rear of the second group is bike #18 ridden by Callum Laidlaw. The leaders run through the Bomb Hole for the first time. Hamilton and Cownton are giving the Ryan Farquhar team a good run. Farquhar, is of course, a former racer. Ivan Lintin continues to lead this race. Lintin holds the lead into lap three of this race. Joe Faragher gets passed as Jamie Hamilton squeals the tires into the corner.
Adrian Harrison is another rider, deeper in this field. Now, back to the lead battle. Dean Harrison is closing in on Ivan Lintin. These two are leaving Jamie Hamilton in the dust. The gap between Harrison and Lintin closes even further. This will be a grandstand finish to the Super Twin and 250cc combined race. Haven't seen hide nor hair of the 250cc bikes though. They run past Joey's Gate. Colin Stevenson and Callum Laidlaw run farther down the race order.
Chris Palmer and Russ Mountford battle for fifth spot. You might want to go to the fridge and grab a bite to eat, chaps. This race hasn't changed at the front. It's still Harrison and Lintin going at it. John Bott and Adrian Harrison run together, for the last few positions in the top ten. Steve McKnight is still running out there, but he's shown the mechanical black flag (the "meatball"), because of something wrong with the bike. It's a black flag with a giant red dot in the middle, hence the nickname, "meatball". Lintin is still keeping Dean Harrison in his pocket.
Jamie Hamilton might have a problem as he's not riding the bike the way he'd mean to. Chris Palmer and Russ Mountford still battle, as Palmer is coming to grips with a Super Twin, after riding a 250cc bike for a long time, a bike he truly loved to race. Joe Faragher gets passed again. He's had a fraught race. Tim Poole is running decently. Oh boy! Dean Harrison is going to push, and he's right alongside Ivan Lintin now. Harrison slides down the inside. Will he make it stick?
He's got the spot. It's the last lap now. Lintin has the speed. Harrison has the cornering agility, and is better under braking. James Cowton is fourth. Lintin is still ahead. Can he do it? Chris Palmer still holds off Russ Mountford in their battle. They come into Church Bends one more time. Who is going to get the win? Tom Snow on bike #45 (another 250cc machine), runs well. But, that might be the last time you'll see a 250cc machine on the Billown course for the Southern 100. Dean Harrison slides sideways and is on the outside, trying to pass Lintin!
He does it! Harrison is going to win this race. Harrison wins it!
#2 Dean Harrison Kawasaki 650
Here are the results.
1. #2 Dean Harrison Kawasaki 650
2. #25 Ivan Lintin Tigcraft 650
3. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki 650
4. #52 James Cowton Kawasaki 650
5. #5 Chris Palmer Kawasaki 650
More action to come from Billown and these other Southern 100 races, in another entry. Stay tuned for that in the not too distant future. Part 2, coming your way, soon. So long for now.
Get ready for more high speed, and close action. This is the Billown 100. Let's review (having raced here, previously), the key corners on this 4.25 mile track, before we go racing. The corners include Ballakeighan, Iron Gate, Joey's Gate, the Ballabeg hairpin, Williams corner (the trickiest part of the track which goes past a farm, and into this unique turn called the bomb hole). Cross Four-Ways follows, before sliding into Church Bends. Out of Church Bends, the riders fly down the fastest part of the track at Great Meadow.
To complete the lap at Billown, it's hard on the brakes through the last two turns known as Stadium Bend, and Castletown corner. The first race of the day, is not for Superbikes, but instead, it's the combined race for 125cc and 400cc motorcycles presented by Station Garage. Castletown is the capital of the Isle of Man, (or Mann as it's properly spelled). Chris Palmer, is a local racer. He and his family, live here. Palmer runs a 125cc bike.
OK, folks. We are ready for the aforementioned Station Garage 125cc/400cc race to begin. Strap on the helmet and the racing gloves, twist the throttle, and get ready to race. There will be one, and only one winner this year. No separate honors for each class. Some big names are in this race. Chris Palmer, William Dunlop, Paul Robinson, and Ian Lougher, are probably the four biggest stars in this category. Lougher and Dunlop run a lot of different kinds of bikes in these race meetings.
The sun is low in the sky, and we're ready. Go! Chris Palmer and Alistair Haworth both get the jump on the rest of this field. Callum Collister is also up there. The field is bunched up going into Ballakeighan and Iron Gate. Rider Dave Kennington on bike #46 wanted to make an outside move. He couldn't quite do it. Collister, Howeth, and Dave Taylor are the top three right now. One year in this race, the start was so late, the streetlights in the town came on during the race.
Chris Palmer is being challenged by Dave Corliss. The bikes fly past Joey's Gate and into the hairpin. Collister continues leading this race. Paul Robinson ditches his bike. One of the 250cc riders is in trouble already. Fortunately, he picks up his Aprilia, and continues. Chris Palmer is absolutely flying on his 125cc Honda at the moment. Never let go of the throttle on a 125cc bike. Keep it wide open and wound up, all the time.
Alistair Haworth has taken over the race lead. Chris Palmer, meanwhile, closes in on Dave Taylor. Howeth leads. He's very good on a 400cc bike. Ian Lougher makes a pass on Dave Corlett. If the top three finishers in this race are on 400cc bikes, the 125cc riders won't get any glory, unfortunately. Callum Collister goes back in front for the time being. Chris Palmer is indeed closing up on his competitor. Dave Taylor is the man he wants to pass to gain another spot.
Haworth retakes the lead from Collister coming down into Castletown corner. We watch Joe Newbold on bike #143, being chased by a couple more riders behind him. Howeth and Collister are going to battle to the end in this one. They're shoulder to shoulder coming to Ballekeighan again. The 400cc bikes are very controllable, and they're beautifully made bikes, too. The leaders race into Ballabeg hairpin another time. Now, we see a battle between bikes #76 and #56. Eddie Lymer rides the #76 machine. Seamus Elliott is also in that battle.
Through Great Meadow and into Stadium. Collister is running very well in this race, and is well in control. Dave Corliss battles Mark Goodings for position. Ian Lougher, meanwhile, is booking it. He's fifth after being stuck in sixth place for a while. He seems to be closing up on both Dave Taylor and Chris Palmer. Palmer wants to overtake Taylor into the braking zone for Ballabeg. Oh no! Taylor runs straight on, missing the corner! He'll lose time now. Chris Palmer could get on the podium here. Eddie Lymer and Dan Sayle continue their battle. Sayle is on bike #56.
We are used to seeing Sayle in sidecar competition. Lougher is quickly closing up on Palmer. William Dunlop is another rider who has run 125cc bikes at Billown before. But, he's not in the race this year, having not found an opportunity for a ride. He was on the entry list, but, the ride never materialized. Dunlop has also had issues with his 250cc bike. Now, another brave pass. Lougher, passes Palmer! Lougher and Palmer are going to fight this one out, for sure.
It's game over for bike #117 of Dave Walsh. He's got a mechanical issue with his motorcycle. Walsh is riding a KTM. Alistair Haworth is second, doing a wheelie up the hill. Callum Collister still leads, in a league of his own. It's the last lap of this race. Chris Palmer makes a pass on Ian Lougher. They're side-by-side through Ballekeighan! Who's going to prevail? It'll be Lougher. The back wheels of the bikes go light there some of the corners around here. But, the battle rages between Palmer and Lougher.
Collister is going to win this race. But, it's Lougher and Palmer we'll be watching for. Callum Collister wins it. Now, to third place. Lougher beats Palmer to the line! Wow!
#53 Callum Collister Kawasaki 400
Here's the top five.
1. #53 Callum Collister Kawasaki 400
2. #29 Alistair Haworth Yamaha 400
3. #9 Ian Lougher Honda 125
4. #5 Chris Palmer Honda 125
5. #46 David Kennington Kawasaki 400
Next up, it's the Junior Consolation Support Race, for 650cc bikes. You've got a mix of Super Twins, (the 650cc machines), with a 400 or 125 bike thrown in for good measure. Conor Cummins is not racing this weekend. Instead, he's supporting his dad Billy Cummins, who is running in this race, At the start, from onboard Billy Cummins' bike, we see a slight false start. But, they're away.
Rad Hughes and James Neesom both get good starts. James Niesam leads this race. Nicholas Pfeiffer is another rider in this battle for the lead. Jack Hunter and Steven Orff are also in their own battle. Through Ballabeg, the order remains the same in this one. The riders move through Williams and down into the Bomb Hole for the first time. The order has not changed as they run through Church bends. Rad Hughes leads with James Niesam and Jack Hunter.
A rider "overcooks" the entry to Ballekeighan and fortunately, manages to get their bike turned in the right direction. Neesom passes Rad Hughes for the race lead. Billy Cummins has run into trouble. He's missed an entry to the corner, missing a gear, or finding a false neutral in the transmission somewhere. Jack Hunter comes under pressure from Nicholas Pfeiffer. Dave Clark leads a second group on bike #85. Neesom and Hughes continue to fight for the race lead.
Niklas Pfeiffer is still hanging in there. Neesom continues pulling ahead of Rad Hughes. Billy Cummins' bike must be running at full song again. Ian Cowie on bike #66 and bike #102 battle. #102 is Mark Bamford. Bamford makes the pass and it's done and dusted. Super Twins are a great bike to race on a track like this because the rider can be in control of the motorcycle as opposed to the bike controlling the rider.
The battle continues. But, Ian Cowie makes his way by Mark Bamford. Battle for the lead here, folks. Rad Hughes is all over James Niesam one more time. Niesam does it, and Niklas Pfeiffer passes Jack Hunter. Most of these bikes are Kawasaki's with the exception of one or two Suzuki SV650's. Stuart Raynor on bike #42 is slowing, with mechanical issues. Joe Newbold is also running well. He was in the previous race with the 125cc bikes, too. It's the final lap of the Super Twins race. It's going to be James Neesom's race to lose.
Slower riders such as Dave Clark, Leon Murphy, and James Christie make their way around the course. Billy Cummins is still trying to recover. He's done so, very well. Into Castletown corner, there's a pass. Rad Hughes has gone around James Neesom. Rad Hughes wins! What happened to Neesom? Ah. He gets second place.
#55 Rad Hughes Kawasaki 650
The top five:
1. #55 Rad Hughes Kawasaki 650
2. #91 James Neesom Kawasaki 650
3. #47 Niklas Pfeiffer Kawasaki 650
4. #69 Jack Hunter Kawasaki 650
5. #38 Billy Cummins Kawasaki 650
The next race is a combined event for the 250s and the 650 Super Twins. It's the Ocean Ford 250/650 race. Dean Harrison and Jamie Hamilton are going to be the main ones to watch in this contest. There was already one race for the Super Twins, and Harrison and Hamilton put on quite the show. It's a clean start, as we ride aboard the #88 bike of Joe Faragher. Watch bikes #2 and #44. Go! Chris Palmer had his front wheel up in the air. Dean Harrison gets the best launch off the line.
Hamilton is third. Ivan Lintin is the leader at the moment. Through Ballekeighan for the first time. Lintin looks to be breaking away from the rest of the pack already. It's Lintin, Hamilton, and Harrison, the top three. James Cownton, Russ Mountford, and Chris Palmer, follow. The bikes run into Cross Four-Ways for the first time, and Joe Faragher is still behind everyone else. Tim Poole is also up there, right behind Chris Palmer.
Ivan Lintin is making a break for it right now. Steve McKnight on bike #64 is also running decently. At the rear of the second group is bike #18 ridden by Callum Laidlaw. The leaders run through the Bomb Hole for the first time. Hamilton and Cownton are giving the Ryan Farquhar team a good run. Farquhar, is of course, a former racer. Ivan Lintin continues to lead this race. Lintin holds the lead into lap three of this race. Joe Faragher gets passed as Jamie Hamilton squeals the tires into the corner.
Adrian Harrison is another rider, deeper in this field. Now, back to the lead battle. Dean Harrison is closing in on Ivan Lintin. These two are leaving Jamie Hamilton in the dust. The gap between Harrison and Lintin closes even further. This will be a grandstand finish to the Super Twin and 250cc combined race. Haven't seen hide nor hair of the 250cc bikes though. They run past Joey's Gate. Colin Stevenson and Callum Laidlaw run farther down the race order.
Chris Palmer and Russ Mountford battle for fifth spot. You might want to go to the fridge and grab a bite to eat, chaps. This race hasn't changed at the front. It's still Harrison and Lintin going at it. John Bott and Adrian Harrison run together, for the last few positions in the top ten. Steve McKnight is still running out there, but he's shown the mechanical black flag (the "meatball"), because of something wrong with the bike. It's a black flag with a giant red dot in the middle, hence the nickname, "meatball". Lintin is still keeping Dean Harrison in his pocket.
Jamie Hamilton might have a problem as he's not riding the bike the way he'd mean to. Chris Palmer and Russ Mountford still battle, as Palmer is coming to grips with a Super Twin, after riding a 250cc bike for a long time, a bike he truly loved to race. Joe Faragher gets passed again. He's had a fraught race. Tim Poole is running decently. Oh boy! Dean Harrison is going to push, and he's right alongside Ivan Lintin now. Harrison slides down the inside. Will he make it stick?
He's got the spot. It's the last lap now. Lintin has the speed. Harrison has the cornering agility, and is better under braking. James Cowton is fourth. Lintin is still ahead. Can he do it? Chris Palmer still holds off Russ Mountford in their battle. They come into Church Bends one more time. Who is going to get the win? Tom Snow on bike #45 (another 250cc machine), runs well. But, that might be the last time you'll see a 250cc machine on the Billown course for the Southern 100. Dean Harrison slides sideways and is on the outside, trying to pass Lintin!
He does it! Harrison is going to win this race. Harrison wins it!
#2 Dean Harrison Kawasaki 650
Here are the results.
1. #2 Dean Harrison Kawasaki 650
2. #25 Ivan Lintin Tigcraft 650
3. #44 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki 650
4. #52 James Cowton Kawasaki 650
5. #5 Chris Palmer Kawasaki 650
More action to come from Billown and these other Southern 100 races, in another entry. Stay tuned for that in the not too distant future. Part 2, coming your way, soon. So long for now.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
MotoGP news and notes
Here's a link to some important news from the world of MotoGP, including stories on Valentino Rossi denying he'll retire from MotoGP racing, the plan for the Circuit of Wales to host MotoGP in 2015, an interview with Cal Crutchlow, a new "Open" class in MotoGP, and an interview with longtime Valentino Rossi crew chief, Jeremy Burgess, on why he split with the multiple world champion.
http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+in+the+Media
http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+in+the+Media
Lorenzo: "It's an honour to share the garage with Rossi"
Jorge Lorenzo talks about his season, what he will do in the off-season, and the great honor and privilege of sharing a garage with his team-mate, the legend, Valentino Rossi.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Lorenzo+on+winter+break+and+Rossi+future
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Lorenzo+on+winter+break+and+Rossi+future
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Former Racing Champions - The Silence Of Racing
Former Grand Prix motorcycle racing champions Mike Baldwin, Freddie Spencer, and Mick Doohan talk about what they miss most about racing, in this article. Check it out.
http://www.sportrider.com/features/146_0805_former_racing_champions/viewall.html
http://www.sportrider.com/features/146_0805_former_racing_champions/viewall.html
Monday, November 18, 2013
MotoGP news stories
Take a look at this link: MotoGP in the Media, and pay particular attention to a couple of stories. They include Randy de Puniet sitting out the 2014 MotoGP season, and, a possibility that in 2015, Jorge Lorenzo could well move from Yamaha, to Honda.
http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+in+the+Media
http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+in+the+Media
Friday, November 15, 2013
Macau motorcycle Grand Prix
This weekend is the annual Macau Grand Prix for both cars and motorcycles. Here are the highlights of qualifying for the motorcycles. Still have to update other Bike Road Racing championship races. But, will end up highlighting the Macau race in due course. Stay tuned.
Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Qualifying 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL9NVYQzdRk
...and
Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Qualifying 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw7-o_Bh0VM
Additionally, here are the practice and qualifying times.
http://www.bikesportnews.com/news-detail.cfm?newstitle=2013-Macau-GP%3A-Fridays-qualifying-times&newsid=10938
Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Qualifying 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL9NVYQzdRk
...and
Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Qualifying 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw7-o_Bh0VM
Additionally, here are the practice and qualifying times.
http://www.bikesportnews.com/news-detail.cfm?newstitle=2013-Macau-GP%3A-Fridays-qualifying-times&newsid=10938
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Rossi and Galbusera pleased with first steps
Valentino Rossi and his new Yamaha crew chief, Silvano Galbusera, seem to be gelling in their relationship between chief mechanic, and rider, already.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rossi+galbusera+first+day+valencia+test
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rossi+galbusera+first+day+valencia+test
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The Marc of Greatness: Marquez Becomes Youngest MotoGP King
Great story about Marc Marquez's rise to becoming the 2013 MotoGP champion.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/The+Marc+of+Greatness+Marquez+becomes+youngest+MotoGP+King
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/The+Marc+of+Greatness+Marquez+becomes+youngest+MotoGP+King
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
MotoGP Valencia 2013 Best slow motion & Best action
Links to the best slow motion and best action videos from the MotoGP season finale in Valencia. Enjoy.
Best slow motion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR-M3swSYAA
Best action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYRJ5eH1hxU
Best slow motion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR-M3swSYAA
Best action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYRJ5eH1hxU
Moto 3: Valencia (season finale)
It's the final race for Moto 3 in 2013, at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. 24 laps will decide this championship. Three riders are in the contest for the championship and if one of them wins, they'll be champion. Alex Rins, Maverick Vinales, and Luis Salom... all Spaniards. The atmosphere is buzzing indeed. This ought to be good. Wr have no idea what will happen. Winner takes all here in Moto 3.
The championship contenders are spread across the front row. John McPhee will be back in Moto 3 next year. 24 laps scheduled. This track is named after Ricardo Tormo, who was champion in the old 50cc and 80cc classes. The bikes set off on their warmup lap and after this race, there will be a championship awards ceremony.
Here we go. The moment has arrived. 24 laps up to decide a champion. At the start, Luis Salom gets the jump going into the first turn. Jonas Folger moves in front of Alex Rins and into the Mick Doohan corner. Alex Marquez, Jonas Folger, Alex Rins, and others are going for it and Maverick Vinales makes a move for the lead. It's important to be in position. Alex Rins moves into third. There are a lot of games to play. Get into a rhythm and start churning out quick laps.
The top three in the championship are the top three in the race. Jonas Folger, Jack Miller, Niccolo Antonelii, and others, are running decently. But the focus will be on the top three. Alex Marquez says he'd stay out of the way if the championship leaders are there. But, if not, he still wants to go for it. We're into this single file pattern that works out in Moto 3 until the last four to five laps of the race.
The top three are slightly quicker than Jonas Folger at the moment. Luis Salom is biding his time and he gets passed by Alex Rins. Salom passes. But don't make a mess out of things early. Rins wiggles the bike and stays in it, fortunately. He'll have to work to get towards the lead. Vinales runs a 1:39.9. 21 laps to go. Vinales unsettled Rins a little bit, rattling him. Luis Salom is showing a wheel to Vinales, letting him know he's there.
What can Jonas Folger and Jack Miller do? Vinales runs a 1:40.2. Actually, it might be Alex Rins. The race pace is settling down now, into a pattern. Rins tries to get to the front and stretch things out. But, today, in this race, it's not happening necessarily. Vinales continues to lead. The strategies seem to be worked out already. Working lap six. Luis Salom has been told to have confidence and believe in his abilities, which have made him a better rider this year. He won the Red Bull Rookie's Cup. Next year, Luis Salom and Maverick Vinales will be team mates for the Pons team in Moto 2.
Salom sets fast lap at 1:35.244. Salom seems to be playing gams with Maverick Vinales and possibly with Alex Rins. Folger and Miller are still attached to this battle. But the top three need to break away. Alex Marquez, Efren Vazquez, Niccolo Antonelli, and others, are running further down the order. Miguel Oliviera is not having a good weekend at all. Luis Salom is beginning to open things up. Folger and Miller are in a battle and catching up to the leading group.
Folger hasn't taken any risks yet. He doesn't want to be wrecking people who are in contention for the championship. John McPhee crashes out of this race. Game over for 2013. He'll be back in Moto 3 in 2014. Vinales retakes the lead from Salom. Everyone is sizing each other up. The riders will have a strategy, but strategies always change. Luis Salom seems to be making up time. Niccolo Antonelli, Ana Carrasco, and Zulfahmi Khairuddin are in the top half. But, Niklas Ajo takes a spill. Lets hope he's alright. The rear tire let go and that was a nasty tumble. The track at Valencia is very greasy.
Alex Rins is trying to make a move at halfway. Remember, though... winner takes all. Maverick Vinales wants his first win since Le Mans in France, way back in May, six months ago, which seems like an eternity. Livio Loi and Luca Amato have both crashed. At the front, the games continue with Vinales and Rins. Simmer down, blokes. Don't do this until the race is coming to an end. Alex Rins is going for it. Jack Miller and Jonas Folger are patient, biding their time.
Here comes Rins into second spot. Folger sits up and allows Luis Salom the room. There's a little argy bargy. A little jabbing, going on. Alex Rins now takes over the race lead. The lap times are in the 1:41s. Luis Salom has crashed! He's out of it! It's down to two. Maverick Vinales and Alex Rins are the last two contenders. Salom gets back on the bike. But, he's out of contention for the title. If you slow down a tad, the tire temperatures and pressures will go down, according to Dunlop.
Rins takes the lead from Maverick Vinalrs. Folger and Miller will battle for a podium place. Luis Salom is back in this race, but he will not win the title. It's going to be a battle between Vinales and Rins for the title ad the race win. Salom is back in the points as Niccolo Antonelli crashes out of the race. What will happen on the last lap? Jack Miller still wants a podium. Miller will be riding for the Red Bull KTM Moto 3 team next year.
Ana Carasco is up to eighth. Alexis Masbou has made it to seventh after starting from pit lane. Six laps left. Jonas Folger is close by Alex Rins. Salom has to keep going. He is still leading the championship. Now, if the top two crash out, he still could be champion. Where has Jack Miller gone? He's crashed in turn three. Ugh. Game over... season over, for Jack Miller. Vinales and Rins are battling for the title. Folger is holding station, sitting tight. Jonas Folger will also be in Moto 2 next year.
Four laps remain now. Vinales ups the pace, back into the 1:39 range. Vinales is pushing hard. Three laps to go and Rins wants to make a move. Here comes Rins, making the pass into Doohan corner. Vinales runs wide and loses time to Rins. Vinales pulls back the advantage. This will be close. Alex Rins holds off Vinales with two laps to go in the 2013 Moto 3 season. Jonas Folger tries to go by Vinales, but he sits up. Did Vinales miss a shift? Hmmm. Rins is pushing it. Rins runs a 1:40.5.
Into the Mick Doohan corner, Vinales takes it back. Into Angel Nieto corner, onto the back straight, Vinales slides past Rins into the lead. He takes the lead spot away. They come to turn eleven. Will it be about the run to the line? Rins can try one more time. One lap to go now. Nothing to choose between them. Rins retakes the lead. THis will be down to the wire. Vinales comes back and here comes Vinales. He holds the advantage. Folger watches. This will be down to turn 14. Vinales holds the spot for now. Rins can't come through,. coming into turn eleven. Rins wants the drive coming to the last corner.
Go now! One more turn. Here comes Rins, but Vinales comes back by. Vinales wins the race and is the 2013 Moto 3 World Champion!
#25 Maverick Vinales ESP KTM
Champion:
#25 Maverick Vinales ESP KTM
Wow! He's won the world title. Rins and Salom congratulate each other. Alex Rins will be back in Moto 3 next year. What a final race! We'll see you in 2014, for more awesome Moto 3 racing.
The championship contenders are spread across the front row. John McPhee will be back in Moto 3 next year. 24 laps scheduled. This track is named after Ricardo Tormo, who was champion in the old 50cc and 80cc classes. The bikes set off on their warmup lap and after this race, there will be a championship awards ceremony.
Here we go. The moment has arrived. 24 laps up to decide a champion. At the start, Luis Salom gets the jump going into the first turn. Jonas Folger moves in front of Alex Rins and into the Mick Doohan corner. Alex Marquez, Jonas Folger, Alex Rins, and others are going for it and Maverick Vinales makes a move for the lead. It's important to be in position. Alex Rins moves into third. There are a lot of games to play. Get into a rhythm and start churning out quick laps.
The top three in the championship are the top three in the race. Jonas Folger, Jack Miller, Niccolo Antonelii, and others, are running decently. But the focus will be on the top three. Alex Marquez says he'd stay out of the way if the championship leaders are there. But, if not, he still wants to go for it. We're into this single file pattern that works out in Moto 3 until the last four to five laps of the race.
The top three are slightly quicker than Jonas Folger at the moment. Luis Salom is biding his time and he gets passed by Alex Rins. Salom passes. But don't make a mess out of things early. Rins wiggles the bike and stays in it, fortunately. He'll have to work to get towards the lead. Vinales runs a 1:39.9. 21 laps to go. Vinales unsettled Rins a little bit, rattling him. Luis Salom is showing a wheel to Vinales, letting him know he's there.
What can Jonas Folger and Jack Miller do? Vinales runs a 1:40.2. Actually, it might be Alex Rins. The race pace is settling down now, into a pattern. Rins tries to get to the front and stretch things out. But, today, in this race, it's not happening necessarily. Vinales continues to lead. The strategies seem to be worked out already. Working lap six. Luis Salom has been told to have confidence and believe in his abilities, which have made him a better rider this year. He won the Red Bull Rookie's Cup. Next year, Luis Salom and Maverick Vinales will be team mates for the Pons team in Moto 2.
Salom sets fast lap at 1:35.244. Salom seems to be playing gams with Maverick Vinales and possibly with Alex Rins. Folger and Miller are still attached to this battle. But the top three need to break away. Alex Marquez, Efren Vazquez, Niccolo Antonelli, and others, are running further down the order. Miguel Oliviera is not having a good weekend at all. Luis Salom is beginning to open things up. Folger and Miller are in a battle and catching up to the leading group.
Folger hasn't taken any risks yet. He doesn't want to be wrecking people who are in contention for the championship. John McPhee crashes out of this race. Game over for 2013. He'll be back in Moto 3 in 2014. Vinales retakes the lead from Salom. Everyone is sizing each other up. The riders will have a strategy, but strategies always change. Luis Salom seems to be making up time. Niccolo Antonelli, Ana Carrasco, and Zulfahmi Khairuddin are in the top half. But, Niklas Ajo takes a spill. Lets hope he's alright. The rear tire let go and that was a nasty tumble. The track at Valencia is very greasy.
Alex Rins is trying to make a move at halfway. Remember, though... winner takes all. Maverick Vinales wants his first win since Le Mans in France, way back in May, six months ago, which seems like an eternity. Livio Loi and Luca Amato have both crashed. At the front, the games continue with Vinales and Rins. Simmer down, blokes. Don't do this until the race is coming to an end. Alex Rins is going for it. Jack Miller and Jonas Folger are patient, biding their time.
Here comes Rins into second spot. Folger sits up and allows Luis Salom the room. There's a little argy bargy. A little jabbing, going on. Alex Rins now takes over the race lead. The lap times are in the 1:41s. Luis Salom has crashed! He's out of it! It's down to two. Maverick Vinales and Alex Rins are the last two contenders. Salom gets back on the bike. But, he's out of contention for the title. If you slow down a tad, the tire temperatures and pressures will go down, according to Dunlop.
Rins takes the lead from Maverick Vinalrs. Folger and Miller will battle for a podium place. Luis Salom is back in this race, but he will not win the title. It's going to be a battle between Vinales and Rins for the title ad the race win. Salom is back in the points as Niccolo Antonelli crashes out of the race. What will happen on the last lap? Jack Miller still wants a podium. Miller will be riding for the Red Bull KTM Moto 3 team next year.
Ana Carasco is up to eighth. Alexis Masbou has made it to seventh after starting from pit lane. Six laps left. Jonas Folger is close by Alex Rins. Salom has to keep going. He is still leading the championship. Now, if the top two crash out, he still could be champion. Where has Jack Miller gone? He's crashed in turn three. Ugh. Game over... season over, for Jack Miller. Vinales and Rins are battling for the title. Folger is holding station, sitting tight. Jonas Folger will also be in Moto 2 next year.
Four laps remain now. Vinales ups the pace, back into the 1:39 range. Vinales is pushing hard. Three laps to go and Rins wants to make a move. Here comes Rins, making the pass into Doohan corner. Vinales runs wide and loses time to Rins. Vinales pulls back the advantage. This will be close. Alex Rins holds off Vinales with two laps to go in the 2013 Moto 3 season. Jonas Folger tries to go by Vinales, but he sits up. Did Vinales miss a shift? Hmmm. Rins is pushing it. Rins runs a 1:40.5.
Into the Mick Doohan corner, Vinales takes it back. Into Angel Nieto corner, onto the back straight, Vinales slides past Rins into the lead. He takes the lead spot away. They come to turn eleven. Will it be about the run to the line? Rins can try one more time. One lap to go now. Nothing to choose between them. Rins retakes the lead. THis will be down to the wire. Vinales comes back and here comes Vinales. He holds the advantage. Folger watches. This will be down to turn 14. Vinales holds the spot for now. Rins can't come through,. coming into turn eleven. Rins wants the drive coming to the last corner.
Go now! One more turn. Here comes Rins, but Vinales comes back by. Vinales wins the race and is the 2013 Moto 3 World Champion!
#25 Maverick Vinales ESP KTM
Champion:
#25 Maverick Vinales ESP KTM
Wow! He's won the world title. Rins and Salom congratulate each other. Alex Rins will be back in Moto 3 next year. What a final race! We'll see you in 2014, for more awesome Moto 3 racing.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Moto 2: Valencia (season finale) & 2013 Moto 2 champion
We're ready for the final race of the season in the Moto 2 race at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
Pol Espargaro is already champion.He wants to be in MotoGP next year. But, he crashed in the morning warmup. If he wins today, he'll have seven victories in Moto 2. Jordi Torres and Simone Corsi are second and third. Randy Krummaenacher is back for the first time since Silverstone, due to an injury. We're ready for the final round of the world championship for Moto 2. Pol Espargaro wants to win in front of his home crowd. Here we go.
27 laps scheduled. We're ready for a start. Go! At the start, Pol Espargaro gets a good start and there's bustling for posiution in the back. Espargaro gets a big jump. Tom Luthi tries passing Simone Corsi. Dominik Aegerter gets a good start, too. Jordi Torres passes Tom Luthi for third. Espargaro is pulling away from everyone as Gino Rea runs wide. Scott Redding has dropped to 18th place. Espargaro has a second advantage on Simone Corsi. Mika Kallio is moving through the field. Someone else has crashed. Tito Rabat is running well.
Tom Luthi is not moving up. Johann Zarco has lost spots. Aegerter is moving by as Takaaki Nakagami moves up and there's a battle on between Nico Terol and Dominik Aegerter battle. Terol runs fastest lap as Luthi wants by Torres. Luthi, Rabat, Kallio, Zarco and others are jockeying for position. Simone Corsi is running well and Nico Terol sets fast lap. Not sure of the time. Nakagaami is right in the middle of a mid pack battle as Scott Redding drops another place.
Tito Rabat runs wide. Pol Espargaro continues to open a gap. 1:35.708 is the new fast lap by Espargaro. 21 laps left. Espargaro has a HUGE twitch! That was massive! He thankfully held onto the bike. Will Nico Terol and Simone Corsi pounce on that? Zarco is ahead of Rabat now. Rafid Topan Sucipto retires but also, Pol Espargaro has crashed out of this race! Unreal! Front end folds and he goes down after having a 1.5 second lead. Nico Terol leads in Moto 2. Espargaro is back on the bike, but he won't win this.
Nico Terol takes the lead. Simone Corsi is second with Jordi Torres in third. Terol wants his third Moto 2 win and Simone Corsi wants his first Moto 2 win even though he's won in Moto 3. We know Terol is quick. He's got a 4/10ths of a second lead. Luthi is thirteenth. He's got a softer rear tire and it hasn't worked. Ten laps complete. 17 left. Both Aspar riders are trying to get on the podium. Scott Redding is trying to hang on to second in the world championship.
Redding runs behind Luthi. Xavier Simeon passes Mattia Pasini. Nico Terol still leads. Tom Luthi is being hounded by Scott Redding. With Luthi, the soft tires were a bad call. Terol runs fast lap. Not sure of the time. Pol Espargaro languishes in 30th spot. Luthi gets back by Xavier Simeon. Sandro Cortese is 16th and wildcard Franco Morbidelli is 19th. Nico Terol knows he has to up the pace to control the rest of this race.
Simone Corsi has won at Ricardo Tormo, in the old 125cc class. Johann Zarco will be switching teams next year. Jordi Torres almost flies off his bike. Pol Espargaro is still 29th. Nico Terol has a 2.6 second gap to Simone Corsi. Anthony West is eighth, running ahead of Dominik Aegerter. Simone Corsi is having tire issues at the moment. For Dominik Aegerter, he will score points in the 33rd consecutive race. Ten laps left now.
Jordi Torres won't challenge Simone Corsi. Working lap 18 of 27. Will Torres be patient? He wants to get by Corsi. Can Torres get through for a 1-2 for Team Aspar? We'll see. Nico Terol is checking out. Torres has to be patient. Will he get by Corsi? Just seven laps to go. Corsi and Torres fighting for second is the best battle on track as Julian Simon passes Xavier Simeon. Dominik Aegerter and Tom Luthi battle, too. Is Torres close enough to get by Corsi? No.
Here he comes. He does it! We have an Aspar 1-2. Nico Terol used to run this way in the 125cc class. He's going for it with just four laps to go. He is very Jorge Lorenzo-esque in that way. Nico Terol only had one podium in Moto 2 last year, and that was in this race, last year, in 2012. Tom Luthi battles with Anthony West. Mattia Pasini and Dominik Aegerter want to finish as Gino Rea is battling with Franco Morbidelli and others.
Two laps left. West passes Luthi into turns five and six. Anthony West gets passed by Tom Luthi in turn eight. This battle is for seventh spot. It's the final lap. Corsi is being pressured by Johann Zarco. He'll have one chance. This is for the final spot on the podium as the two Aspar bikes will finish 1-2. Zarco wants by Corsi. Corsi is still pushing. It will be a run to the line. Nico Terol will win. He wins his third Moto 2 race of the year. Who gets third? Corsi! It was a dead heat for third!
#18 Nico Terol ESP Suter Alcoy
Champion
#1 Pol Espargaro ESP Kalex Granollers
So, that's a wrap for the Moto 2 world championship. Another season is in the books. Looking forward to what 2014 will have to offer. We'll see you next year for more great Moto 2 action. So long for now.
Pol Espargaro is already champion.He wants to be in MotoGP next year. But, he crashed in the morning warmup. If he wins today, he'll have seven victories in Moto 2. Jordi Torres and Simone Corsi are second and third. Randy Krummaenacher is back for the first time since Silverstone, due to an injury. We're ready for the final round of the world championship for Moto 2. Pol Espargaro wants to win in front of his home crowd. Here we go.
27 laps scheduled. We're ready for a start. Go! At the start, Pol Espargaro gets a good start and there's bustling for posiution in the back. Espargaro gets a big jump. Tom Luthi tries passing Simone Corsi. Dominik Aegerter gets a good start, too. Jordi Torres passes Tom Luthi for third. Espargaro is pulling away from everyone as Gino Rea runs wide. Scott Redding has dropped to 18th place. Espargaro has a second advantage on Simone Corsi. Mika Kallio is moving through the field. Someone else has crashed. Tito Rabat is running well.
Tom Luthi is not moving up. Johann Zarco has lost spots. Aegerter is moving by as Takaaki Nakagami moves up and there's a battle on between Nico Terol and Dominik Aegerter battle. Terol runs fastest lap as Luthi wants by Torres. Luthi, Rabat, Kallio, Zarco and others are jockeying for position. Simone Corsi is running well and Nico Terol sets fast lap. Not sure of the time. Nakagaami is right in the middle of a mid pack battle as Scott Redding drops another place.
Tito Rabat runs wide. Pol Espargaro continues to open a gap. 1:35.708 is the new fast lap by Espargaro. 21 laps left. Espargaro has a HUGE twitch! That was massive! He thankfully held onto the bike. Will Nico Terol and Simone Corsi pounce on that? Zarco is ahead of Rabat now. Rafid Topan Sucipto retires but also, Pol Espargaro has crashed out of this race! Unreal! Front end folds and he goes down after having a 1.5 second lead. Nico Terol leads in Moto 2. Espargaro is back on the bike, but he won't win this.
Nico Terol takes the lead. Simone Corsi is second with Jordi Torres in third. Terol wants his third Moto 2 win and Simone Corsi wants his first Moto 2 win even though he's won in Moto 3. We know Terol is quick. He's got a 4/10ths of a second lead. Luthi is thirteenth. He's got a softer rear tire and it hasn't worked. Ten laps complete. 17 left. Both Aspar riders are trying to get on the podium. Scott Redding is trying to hang on to second in the world championship.
Redding runs behind Luthi. Xavier Simeon passes Mattia Pasini. Nico Terol still leads. Tom Luthi is being hounded by Scott Redding. With Luthi, the soft tires were a bad call. Terol runs fast lap. Not sure of the time. Pol Espargaro languishes in 30th spot. Luthi gets back by Xavier Simeon. Sandro Cortese is 16th and wildcard Franco Morbidelli is 19th. Nico Terol knows he has to up the pace to control the rest of this race.
Simone Corsi has won at Ricardo Tormo, in the old 125cc class. Johann Zarco will be switching teams next year. Jordi Torres almost flies off his bike. Pol Espargaro is still 29th. Nico Terol has a 2.6 second gap to Simone Corsi. Anthony West is eighth, running ahead of Dominik Aegerter. Simone Corsi is having tire issues at the moment. For Dominik Aegerter, he will score points in the 33rd consecutive race. Ten laps left now.
Jordi Torres won't challenge Simone Corsi. Working lap 18 of 27. Will Torres be patient? He wants to get by Corsi. Can Torres get through for a 1-2 for Team Aspar? We'll see. Nico Terol is checking out. Torres has to be patient. Will he get by Corsi? Just seven laps to go. Corsi and Torres fighting for second is the best battle on track as Julian Simon passes Xavier Simeon. Dominik Aegerter and Tom Luthi battle, too. Is Torres close enough to get by Corsi? No.
Here he comes. He does it! We have an Aspar 1-2. Nico Terol used to run this way in the 125cc class. He's going for it with just four laps to go. He is very Jorge Lorenzo-esque in that way. Nico Terol only had one podium in Moto 2 last year, and that was in this race, last year, in 2012. Tom Luthi battles with Anthony West. Mattia Pasini and Dominik Aegerter want to finish as Gino Rea is battling with Franco Morbidelli and others.
Two laps left. West passes Luthi into turns five and six. Anthony West gets passed by Tom Luthi in turn eight. This battle is for seventh spot. It's the final lap. Corsi is being pressured by Johann Zarco. He'll have one chance. This is for the final spot on the podium as the two Aspar bikes will finish 1-2. Zarco wants by Corsi. Corsi is still pushing. It will be a run to the line. Nico Terol will win. He wins his third Moto 2 race of the year. Who gets third? Corsi! It was a dead heat for third!
#18 Nico Terol ESP Suter Alcoy
Champion
#1 Pol Espargaro ESP Kalex Granollers
So, that's a wrap for the Moto 2 world championship. Another season is in the books. Looking forward to what 2014 will have to offer. We'll see you next year for more great Moto 2 action. So long for now.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
MotoGP round 18: Valencia (season finale) & 2013 MotoGP World Champion
It all comes down to this. It's the season finale for the 2013 MotoGP World Championship at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
We've been through four continents, 13 race tracks and 18 races. it's going to be an epic fight to the finish. Who will win the championship? Will it be Jorge Lorenzo or Marc Marquez? We are nine minutes away from the start of the season finale. Marc Marquez is ready to possibly become the youngest ever MotoGP world champion. Jorge Lorenzo needs to make up 13 points. We've talked about the scenarios. If Jorge Lorenzo finishes fifth or worse, Marquez is champ.
Marquez crashed in italy and had that tire penalty in Australia. Lorenzo broke is collarbone in Assen where he finished fifth, and reinjured his collarbone in Germany. Since recovering, he's won four of the last six races. Marc Marquez has a lot of respect for his championship competitor. Lorenzo has lead many more laps. But here's what happened in qualifying.
In qualifying, the fans were stacked in the stands. Jorge Lorenzo qualified second after having the engine go down on his primary bike. Marc Marquez set a new record time to start from pole. Dani Pedrosa is third, and he'll be able to ride his own race. Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi (both on Yamaha's like Lorenzo), will have to help him to win the title. Nicky Hayden returns to MotoGP with Honda next year. Aleix Espargaro has clinched the CRT title. Martin Bauer is the wildcard rider. He also raced earlier this year.
30 laps will decide this championship. The bikes are on the warmup lap. We're ready. This will be only the second championship battle in the final race of the year in the last seven or so years. Circuit Ricardo Tormo has existed since 1999. It's a stadium track that has been newly repaved. 30 laps, 74.7 miles will be the distance of the race.
Here we go. At the start, Jorge Lorenzo has a great start and Dani Pedrosa and Bradley Smith already try to pass Marquez. Now, he's coming back through Mick Doohan corner. The Yamaha's didn't beat Marquez to turn one. Valentino Rossi is pushing as they come downhill through turn eight. Valentino Rossi wants by Marc Marquez. They come back through turn 14. Can the Yamaha's unsettle Marquez? Lorenzo knows he needs to win. Dani Pedrosa takes the lead and Alvaro Bautista passes Valentino Rossi as Jorge Lorenzo now takes the lead back.
Dani Pedrosa is determined to help Marquez. Pedrosa is pushing into turn seven. Marquez is watching. When will he make his move? Alvaro Bautista holds off Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo has passed Pedrosa back who ran wide and left the door open. Stefan Bradl sets fast lap. Not sure of the time. The lead has swapped three times. Marc Marquez is trying to help Dani Pedrosa too. Lorenzo wants to slow the pace. But, he has to keep it quick. He's forced to. Lorenzo runs a 1:32.2. 1:32.263 is the new fast lap.
Here comes Pedrosa, and Lorenzo fights back for the lead. The crowd is going nuts. Here comes Marquez, lurking, too. This is a showdown. We wanted to see this. Marquez almost runs into Pedrosa. Valentino Rossi, Bradley Smith, and Cal Crutchlow are all there, too. Lorenzo runs wide into the last corner. Dani Pedrosa wants to pass and Lorenzo brakes late, but holds the advantage.
This is an epic race already. It's hard to overtake at Ricardo Tormo. Dani Pedrosa is in this and so are Alvaro Bautista, and Valentino Rossi. As things stand, Lorenzo has the advantage with only five laps done. Bradley Smith continues to lead Cal Crutchlow. This is amazing! Lorenzo is not going to give up. He's giving people chances to push him, but then, snatching it away.
Pedrosa is trying to pass and does pass Lorenzo. Lorenzo fights back. Marquez and Bautista pass by and Marquez is into the lead! This is crazy! Cal Crutchlow is out. He's crashed. Working lap nine. The dynamic of this race is changing. Marquez leads. Jorge Lorenzo is right behind Marquez. Lorenzo passes into turn two. Marquez has to slow him up, somehow. They come through Angel Nieto corner. Marquez tries to pass but can't quite get there. Alvaro Bautista is trying to help Marquez by rolling out of the throttle in the corners, but he still has Valentino Rossi to contend with.
Rossi passes Bautista. Jorge Lorenzo is going to be investigated for a move by the stewards after this race. Whoa. Marquez is second. If he finishes in the top four, he'll be champion. The plot thickens. We're halfway through the race. Lorenzo and Marquez run 1-2. Marquez would be champ if he finishes second. Lorenzo is taking a tenth or two out of Marquez's lead each lap. Marquez bike is twitchy. But, that's how he rides a motorcycle, and what's comfortable for him.
Lorenzo runs a 1:31.9 and Marquez can match that. Rossi and Bautista are slightly down the order. Marquez could already have one hand on the championship trophy, even before the race ends. Jorge Lorenzo crosses the line. Eleven laps remain. Let's enjoy this championship battle. Honda looks like they're in good shape. Dani Pedrosa is going well, too. Remember that Marquez got a podium in Qatar at the opening race, and won his first race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, back in March.
If Marquez is champ, at age 20, he'll be the youngest ever MotoGP motorcycle champion. The fans will launch fireworks off after the race in celebration, no mattwe what. Jorge Lorenzo runs a 1:31.7. Lorenzo may not win the title. But he still wants to win the race, and show why he's a great racer. The constructor's cup battle is up for grabs, too. But, Honda might win over Yamaha. Repsol Honda has won the teams championship.
Dani Pedrosa brings fast lap down to 1:31.6. Valentino Rossi cannot match Lorenzo's lap times. Lukas Pesek, Yonny Hernandez, and Damien Cudlin, have all crashed. We wonder who will ride for Pramac Ducati next year. Yonny Hernandez will be on a privateer bike and Andrea Ianonne on the factory Ducati for 2014. Marc Marquez just has to race. He can't celebrate yet. Seven laps remain. For Randy de Puniet, his race is over. But, for now, we focus on bike #93. Lorenzo may win. But, the Repsol Honda team won't give a darn, because they're going to win this championship.
The battle for next year will be a great one, too. Dani Pedrosa is still pushing, too. He's right behind his team mate, and he's 3/10ths behind Marquez with five laps left. In the 65 years of MotoGP, Marquez will be the youngest champion and the first rookie champion since Kenny Roberts in 1978. Dani Pedrosa is still going for it. Don't push too hard, Dani. He almost does a tankslapper through turn six. Four laps to go. Jorge Lorenzo will cruise to the win, even though he won't win the title this year.
Marquez has smashed every record. He could get more. Andrea Ianonne has crashed. Game over for the Italian. Let's hope there's no oil or debris down there. Lorenzo has done very well. Dani Pedrosa is second. Three laps to go. Keep going. Keep up the pace. It's close now between Marquez and Pedrosa. He's on pins and needles on this penultimate lap. Marquez has been the best to appear in MotoGP for the first time since Valentino Rossi. Rossi didn't win in his rookie year. Luca Scassa, Michael Laverty, and Bryan Staring, are backmarkers. They're all passed.
In 2.5 miles, Marquez will be champ. Jorge Lorenzo won last year. But, this year, there's a new champion in town. Lorenzo stepped up to the plate. But, Marc Marquez can cruise. He's going to be champ. Emilio Alzamora (former 125cc champion), is in tears. He's so happy. Jorge Lorenzo wins his eighth race of the season. But, Marc Marquez is the NEW WORLD CHAMPION!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
Champion:
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
What a race! What a season! Marquez has six wins and sixteen podiums for this season. He didn't fight it. He rode a championship winning race today. So ends the 2013 MotoGP championship season. We'll see everybody on the 2 Wheelin' blog for more MotoGP next year. For now, so long, everyone.
We've been through four continents, 13 race tracks and 18 races. it's going to be an epic fight to the finish. Who will win the championship? Will it be Jorge Lorenzo or Marc Marquez? We are nine minutes away from the start of the season finale. Marc Marquez is ready to possibly become the youngest ever MotoGP world champion. Jorge Lorenzo needs to make up 13 points. We've talked about the scenarios. If Jorge Lorenzo finishes fifth or worse, Marquez is champ.
Marquez crashed in italy and had that tire penalty in Australia. Lorenzo broke is collarbone in Assen where he finished fifth, and reinjured his collarbone in Germany. Since recovering, he's won four of the last six races. Marc Marquez has a lot of respect for his championship competitor. Lorenzo has lead many more laps. But here's what happened in qualifying.
In qualifying, the fans were stacked in the stands. Jorge Lorenzo qualified second after having the engine go down on his primary bike. Marc Marquez set a new record time to start from pole. Dani Pedrosa is third, and he'll be able to ride his own race. Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi (both on Yamaha's like Lorenzo), will have to help him to win the title. Nicky Hayden returns to MotoGP with Honda next year. Aleix Espargaro has clinched the CRT title. Martin Bauer is the wildcard rider. He also raced earlier this year.
30 laps will decide this championship. The bikes are on the warmup lap. We're ready. This will be only the second championship battle in the final race of the year in the last seven or so years. Circuit Ricardo Tormo has existed since 1999. It's a stadium track that has been newly repaved. 30 laps, 74.7 miles will be the distance of the race.
Here we go. At the start, Jorge Lorenzo has a great start and Dani Pedrosa and Bradley Smith already try to pass Marquez. Now, he's coming back through Mick Doohan corner. The Yamaha's didn't beat Marquez to turn one. Valentino Rossi is pushing as they come downhill through turn eight. Valentino Rossi wants by Marc Marquez. They come back through turn 14. Can the Yamaha's unsettle Marquez? Lorenzo knows he needs to win. Dani Pedrosa takes the lead and Alvaro Bautista passes Valentino Rossi as Jorge Lorenzo now takes the lead back.
Dani Pedrosa is determined to help Marquez. Pedrosa is pushing into turn seven. Marquez is watching. When will he make his move? Alvaro Bautista holds off Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo has passed Pedrosa back who ran wide and left the door open. Stefan Bradl sets fast lap. Not sure of the time. The lead has swapped three times. Marc Marquez is trying to help Dani Pedrosa too. Lorenzo wants to slow the pace. But, he has to keep it quick. He's forced to. Lorenzo runs a 1:32.2. 1:32.263 is the new fast lap.
Here comes Pedrosa, and Lorenzo fights back for the lead. The crowd is going nuts. Here comes Marquez, lurking, too. This is a showdown. We wanted to see this. Marquez almost runs into Pedrosa. Valentino Rossi, Bradley Smith, and Cal Crutchlow are all there, too. Lorenzo runs wide into the last corner. Dani Pedrosa wants to pass and Lorenzo brakes late, but holds the advantage.
This is an epic race already. It's hard to overtake at Ricardo Tormo. Dani Pedrosa is in this and so are Alvaro Bautista, and Valentino Rossi. As things stand, Lorenzo has the advantage with only five laps done. Bradley Smith continues to lead Cal Crutchlow. This is amazing! Lorenzo is not going to give up. He's giving people chances to push him, but then, snatching it away.
Pedrosa is trying to pass and does pass Lorenzo. Lorenzo fights back. Marquez and Bautista pass by and Marquez is into the lead! This is crazy! Cal Crutchlow is out. He's crashed. Working lap nine. The dynamic of this race is changing. Marquez leads. Jorge Lorenzo is right behind Marquez. Lorenzo passes into turn two. Marquez has to slow him up, somehow. They come through Angel Nieto corner. Marquez tries to pass but can't quite get there. Alvaro Bautista is trying to help Marquez by rolling out of the throttle in the corners, but he still has Valentino Rossi to contend with.
Rossi passes Bautista. Jorge Lorenzo is going to be investigated for a move by the stewards after this race. Whoa. Marquez is second. If he finishes in the top four, he'll be champion. The plot thickens. We're halfway through the race. Lorenzo and Marquez run 1-2. Marquez would be champ if he finishes second. Lorenzo is taking a tenth or two out of Marquez's lead each lap. Marquez bike is twitchy. But, that's how he rides a motorcycle, and what's comfortable for him.
Lorenzo runs a 1:31.9 and Marquez can match that. Rossi and Bautista are slightly down the order. Marquez could already have one hand on the championship trophy, even before the race ends. Jorge Lorenzo crosses the line. Eleven laps remain. Let's enjoy this championship battle. Honda looks like they're in good shape. Dani Pedrosa is going well, too. Remember that Marquez got a podium in Qatar at the opening race, and won his first race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, back in March.
If Marquez is champ, at age 20, he'll be the youngest ever MotoGP motorcycle champion. The fans will launch fireworks off after the race in celebration, no mattwe what. Jorge Lorenzo runs a 1:31.7. Lorenzo may not win the title. But he still wants to win the race, and show why he's a great racer. The constructor's cup battle is up for grabs, too. But, Honda might win over Yamaha. Repsol Honda has won the teams championship.
Dani Pedrosa brings fast lap down to 1:31.6. Valentino Rossi cannot match Lorenzo's lap times. Lukas Pesek, Yonny Hernandez, and Damien Cudlin, have all crashed. We wonder who will ride for Pramac Ducati next year. Yonny Hernandez will be on a privateer bike and Andrea Ianonne on the factory Ducati for 2014. Marc Marquez just has to race. He can't celebrate yet. Seven laps remain. For Randy de Puniet, his race is over. But, for now, we focus on bike #93. Lorenzo may win. But, the Repsol Honda team won't give a darn, because they're going to win this championship.
The battle for next year will be a great one, too. Dani Pedrosa is still pushing, too. He's right behind his team mate, and he's 3/10ths behind Marquez with five laps left. In the 65 years of MotoGP, Marquez will be the youngest champion and the first rookie champion since Kenny Roberts in 1978. Dani Pedrosa is still going for it. Don't push too hard, Dani. He almost does a tankslapper through turn six. Four laps to go. Jorge Lorenzo will cruise to the win, even though he won't win the title this year.
Marquez has smashed every record. He could get more. Andrea Ianonne has crashed. Game over for the Italian. Let's hope there's no oil or debris down there. Lorenzo has done very well. Dani Pedrosa is second. Three laps to go. Keep going. Keep up the pace. It's close now between Marquez and Pedrosa. He's on pins and needles on this penultimate lap. Marquez has been the best to appear in MotoGP for the first time since Valentino Rossi. Rossi didn't win in his rookie year. Luca Scassa, Michael Laverty, and Bryan Staring, are backmarkers. They're all passed.
In 2.5 miles, Marquez will be champ. Jorge Lorenzo won last year. But, this year, there's a new champion in town. Lorenzo stepped up to the plate. But, Marc Marquez can cruise. He's going to be champ. Emilio Alzamora (former 125cc champion), is in tears. He's so happy. Jorge Lorenzo wins his eighth race of the season. But, Marc Marquez is the NEW WORLD CHAMPION!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
Champion:
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
What a race! What a season! Marquez has six wins and sixteen podiums for this season. He didn't fight it. He rode a championship winning race today. So ends the 2013 MotoGP championship season. We'll see everybody on the 2 Wheelin' blog for more MotoGP next year. For now, so long, everyone.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
2013 BMW M Award goes to Marquez
Marc Marquez COULD win the championship in tomorrow's MotoGP finale in Valencia, Spain. But, he's also already won an award. He wins the BMW M Award for being the best qualifier in MotoGP this season. Here are the details.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/BMW+M+Award+goes+to+Marquez+as+best+qualifier+in+2013
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/BMW+M+Award+goes+to+Marquez+as+best+qualifier+in+2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Rossi announces parting of ways with Burgess
Valentino Rossi is parting ways with longtime chief mechanic Jeremy Burgess. They've worked together in the MotoGP world championship for the last 14 years.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rossi+burgess+split+after+valencia+race
Here's more.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/burgess+on+split+after+valencia+race
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/rossi+burgess+split+after+valencia+race
Here's more.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/burgess+on+split+after+valencia+race
Thursday, November 7, 2013
How the 2013 MotoGP title can be won
At this link, is the list of scenarios for how either Marc Marquez or Jorge Lorenzo, can win the 2013 MotoGP world championship, going into the season finale at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Final+race+decider+in+MotoGP
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/Final+race+decider+in+MotoGP
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
A history of final race MotoGP showdowns
As we head into the final MotoGP race of the season in Valencia, Spain this weekend, here's a history of championship showdowns from MotoGP's storied past to wet your appetite for more great racing. Check this list out.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/A+history+of+final+race+MotoGP+showdowns
Stay tuned for a full race report on the championship and race outcome for MotoGP and reports (brief, or extensive), on Moto 2 and Moto 3, too.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/A+history+of+final+race+MotoGP+showdowns
Stay tuned for a full race report on the championship and race outcome for MotoGP and reports (brief, or extensive), on Moto 2 and Moto 3, too.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Waters Returns to Suzuki in 2014 MCE BSB with Tyco
Josh Waters will race with Suzuki in the 2014 British Superbike Championship. Here are the details.
http://www.britishsuperbike.com/news/waters-returns-to-suzuki-in-2014-mce-bsb-with-tyco.aspx
http://www.britishsuperbike.com/news/waters-returns-to-suzuki-in-2014-mce-bsb-with-tyco.aspx
Monday, November 4, 2013
BBC News - Joey Dunlop's TT winning outfit makes 13,000 Euros at Auction
Joey Dunlop... the legend. There will never be another like him in Tourist Trophy motorcycle road racing in the Irish countryside. Check this out.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-24806309
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-24806309
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Marquez & Lorenzo: The numbers
Here's how things will stack up when it comes to numerology going into the final race of the 2013 MotoGP season in Valencia, Spaint this coming weekend.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/marquez%20lorenzo%20in%20numbers
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/marquez%20lorenzo%20in%20numbers
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