AMA news

Some cheerful, and also, sad, news from the world of AMA road racing.

Tomas Puerta and Wyatt Maguire lead 2014 Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award Chase
http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60814

Meen Motorsports mourns the loss of their AMA Pro SuperSport rider Erick Yahir Sanchez
http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60844

Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Rider Josh Hayes Is Poised To Win His Fourth AMA Pro SuperBike Championship
http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60853

74th Daytona 200 Set for Saturday, March 14
http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60893

MotoGP news

The latest MotoGP news, including... a biggie.  Could Jack Miller move straight from Moto 3, into MotoGP, skipping the Moto 2 championship, altogether?

Miller relaxed about potential move straight to MotoGP
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Miller+relaxed+about+potential+move+straight+to+MotoGP

Meregalli on Rossi and Lorenzo performances in 2014
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Meregalli+Halfway+Yamaha+2014

Honda Racing Corporation increase partnership with Red Bull
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Honda+Racing+Corporation+increase+partnership+with+Red+Bull

Ciabatti: "Big improvement for GP14 in second part of season"
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Ciabatti+Halfway+Ducati+2014

Suppo evaluates 2014 campaign so far
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Suppo+Review+Halfway+2014

AMA Daytona Sportbike: Mid Ohio Race 2

Daytona Sportbike race two action from Mid Ohio.

AMA Daytona Sportbike: Mid Ohio Race 1

Video of the first of two races for AMA Daytona Sportbike from the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

AMA Superbike Mid Ohio: race 2

Here's race two from Mid Ohio for the AMA Superbikes. 

The next race for the AMA Superbikes will not be at the round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a couple weeks.  That, I believe, will see MotoGP being supported by the XR1200 class.  So, the next race for AMA Superbikes will be the season finale.  It will be the Kawasaki Devil's Showdown at New Jersery Motorsports Park, taking place the second weekend in September.

AMA Superbike Mid Ohio: race 1

Here's action from the AMA Superbike races at Mid Ohio.  Race one, is up first.

more MotoGP news

A few quick stories that have developed over the past few days in MotoGP, as we anticipate the upcoming race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Miller: 'I think title will be decided in Valencia'
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Miller+I+think+title+will+be+decided+in+Valencia

Ianonne pleased with 2014 form and Ducati speed
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Iannone+pleased+with+2014+form+and+Ducati+speed

Camier to sub for Hayden in Indianapolis and Brno
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Leon+Camier+to+stand+in+for+Nicky+Hayden+in+Indianapolis+and+Brno

Hernandez hoping for Desmosedici GP15 next year
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Hernandez+Hoping+for+GP15

Dunlop's mid-season tyre use review (Moto 2)
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Dunlop+MidSeason+Review

Antonelli undergoes successful surgery on right collarbone after training accident
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Antonelli+under+knife+after+training+accident

Corsi hoping to win at Indianapolis
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Corsi+hoping+to+win+at+Indianapolis

Marc VDS Racing Team part ways with Loi
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Marc+VDS+Racing+Team+part+ways+with+Loi

Solid targets emerge for Rins, Marquez
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Solid+targets+emerge+for+Rins+and+Marquez

MotoGP news update

Yours truly is a little late with this.  But, there's lots of news to catch up on in MotoGP during this off-time in the season before the teams head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. in just over two weeks.  These stories, span the past nine days.

Bridgestone looking forward to Suzuka 8 Hours event
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Bridgestone+looking+forward+to+Suzuka+8+Hours+event

De Puniet on Suzuki MotoGP progress and the challenge of Suzuka
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/De+Puniet+on+Suzuki+MotoGP+progress+and+the+challenge+of+Suzuka

Crutchlow confirmed to ride with Ducati in 2015
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Crutchlow+to+stay+in+Ducati+Team+in+2015

Dovizioso renews with Ducati for two more years
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Dovizioso+signs+with+Ducati+for+another+2+years

Nicky Hayden undergoes successful operation in San Diego
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Nicky+Hayden+undergoes+successful+operation+in+San+Diego

Marquez and Pedrosa complete Brno test
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Marquez+and+Pedrosa+complete+Brno+test

Marquez and Pedrosa have first outing on 2015 machine
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/repsol+honda+test+in+brno+second+day

Surgery on both arms for Crutchlow
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Surgery+on+both+arms+for+Crutchlow

Repsol and Honda extend MotoGP collaboration through to 2017
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Repsol+and+Honda+extend+collaboration+through+to+2017

Constructive first day in Brno despite temperamental weather
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Constructive+first+day+in+Brno+despite+temperamental+weather+HRC+Repsol+Honda

Miller: Title hinges on avoiding repeat mistakes

Jack Miller realizes he has to become more consistent and avoid making errors on the track, in the coming races, if he is indeed going to be crowned 2014 Moto 3 World Champion.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/07/24/miller-title-hinges-avoiding-repeat-mistakes/

Report: Aprilia to return to MotoGP for 2015 season with Bautista

Aprilia will return to the MotoGP grid a season earlier than first anticipated, and Alvaro Bautista, will be their lead rider.

http://www.foxsports.com/speed/motogp/report-aprilia-to-return-to-motogp-for-2015-season-with-bautista/?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:speed

Ducati to expand to six bike effort in MotoGP

For the 2015 season, Ducati will have half a dozen bikes on the MotoGP grid.  Here's the story via MCN motorcyclenews.com.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/sport/sportresults/motogp/2014/july/Ducati-to-expand-to-six-bike-effort-in-MotoGP

SuperBike photo finish highlights seven-races-in-one-day extravaganza at Mid Ohio

Still waiting to find video of the Superbikes and other races from Mid Ohio.  But, here's a story about the fantastic action at the track yesterday, after all of Saturday's racing was washed out.  Each race is highlighted here in the article.  Click the link, and read all about it.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60757

It's a wash: Saturday's rain makes for action-packed Sunday at Mid Ohio

Saturday's action for the AMA Pro Racing motorcycles in all classes, was washed out at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course.  This means, Sunday will be the day for all the action.  Here's the story.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60751

Will post video of the races should they be online next week.  Stay tuned, motorcycle racing fans.

FIM World Superbike round 8: U.S.A. (Laguna Seca)

In round eight in the United States at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, it was time for the World Superbikes to shine with none of their other FIM classes they race with, there.  The support races, came from the AMA, and those have already been blogged here.  In race one at Laguna Seca, it was Marco Melandri and Aprilia spoiling Tom Sykes' and Kawasaki's party.  But, in race two, Sykes came back and told the other competitors, "I'm still here!", with a win.

Actually, Sykes was third, on the podium for race one.  Sylvain Guintoli finished second in both races. 

FIM World Superbike race 1: #33 Marco Melandri     ITA.     Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
FIM World Superbike race 2: #1 Tom Sykes              GBR.    Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10-R

Just four races remain in the 2014 FIM World Superbike season.  Right now, it is summer break and the teams will have almost two months off, picking up the action again, in September, at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Jerez, Spain.  

AMA Daytona Sportbike: Laguna Seca

In the single race for the AMA Daytona Sportbike class at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in the FIM Superbike World Championship, Geico Motorcycle U.S. Round, Jake Lewis won the race followed on the podium by J.D. Beach and Danny Eslick

#85 Jake Lewis     Motosport.com/Meen Yamaha Yamaha YZF R6

Here are the full race results.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/events/results.cfm?year=2014&eid=2014011418&discipline=RR&class=DS&type=F&rnum=1&class_sort=all

Just like the AMA Superbikes, the next race for the Daytona Sportbike division, will be the penultimate round of the season which is the Buckeye Superbike Weekend presented by Dunlop at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.  It takes place this weekend.

AMA Superbike: Laguna Seca

In the AMA Superbike race at the FIM Superbike World Championship, Geico Motorcycle U.S. Round, Josh Hayes beat his team mate Cameron Beaubier for the victory in race one.

#4 Josh Hayes      Monster Energy Graves Yamaha Yamaha R1

Here are the race results.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/events/results.cfm?year=2014&eid=2014011418

The next event for the AMA Superbikes will be this weekend.  It's the penultimate round of the championship, the Buckeye Superbike Weekend presented by Dunlop at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Marc Marquez has second crash in Brno test

Things are not going well for defending MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez in testing in preparation for the next two MotoGP races.  He's crashed not once, but twice, at Brno in the Czech Republic, which is not the next race on the schedule, but the one after the next event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/sport/sportresults/motogp/2014/july/jul1614-marquez-crash

Marquez explains the crash, in this story.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/sport/sportresults/motogp/2014/july/jul1614-marquez

Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, and Jorge Lorenzo, advocate a safer way to switch from their primary, to their spare motorcycles in a wet race

From 2Wheeled Racing News And Views on Facebook.  Marquez, Pedrosa, and Lorenzo, want a safer way to start races affected by rain.  Couldn't blame them.

***

Motogp - German MotoGP podium finishers Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa and
Jorge Lorenzo have called for a change in the regulations to avoid a
repeat of Sunday's chaotic scenes at the end of pit lane.
A rain shower shortly before the race start meant most riders
decided to fit wet weather tyres on the grid, only to find during the
formation lap that the drying surface was more suitable for slicks
As a result, 14 of the 23 riders promptly dived into pit lane instead
of lining up on the grid.
Those 14 then jumped from their wet bike to a waiting dry bike,
before rushing to form a free-for-all queue at the end of pit lane.
With five riders packed side-by-side on each unofficial row, they
were all released as those on the grid reached turn one.
Race winner Marquez, who called it a Motocross style start, said:
“This situation will be difficult to repeat but of course someday it
can happen again. We will speak with Race Direction and maybe
make some kind of change at the end of pit lane, because now when
everybody goes in to change the bike it does not matter if you were
on pole positon. It was like just go there and try to find a place to
start at the front.”
While Marquez was able to squeeze to the front of the pit lane
queue, team-mate and second place qualifier Pedrosa was demoted
to row two.
“Like Marc said maybe that is the biggest thing because I was front
row on the grid, but because I didn't go into the pits first, when I
changed my bike I was in the second row at the end of pit lane,”
said Pedrosa. “Normally today's situation doesn't happen, where
everybody makes the same choice [to come into the pits before the
start]. I did it two years ago but I was only with two or three other
guys.”
Lorenzo meanwhile was forced to take avoiding action at the first
corner due to the cold carbon brakes failing to slow his Movistar
Yamaha.
“For me it was dangerous for a few reasons,” said the Spaniard.
“The carbon disc is one reason, because for me I couldn't warm the
disc [before the start]. Also you've got new tyres and especially the
exit after the pit lane is very narrow. There were a lot of riders trying
to overtake. So maybe it is better to get another type of regulation
to avoid these kind of very dangerous moments.”

Moto 3: Germany

Moto 3 is ready to take off.  The race at the Sachsenring is scheduled for 27 laps.  It is bright and sunny for the race.  Five riders could possibly take the points lead from Jack Miller, who is on pole for the fifth time this year.  Romano Fenati, Alex Rins, Alex Marquez, and Efren Vazquez are in contention, too.  We'll be halfway through the season this year.  Efren Vazquez had a big wreck in practice.

Romano Fenati has three wins.  Niklas Ajo will not race as he's recovering from a broken ankle.  In his place will be Argentinian rider, Gabriel Rodrigo.  Alessandro Tonucci has problems.  We're ready to race.  The conditions are perfect.  Go!  Down into turn one, Danny Kent wants by Alex Marquez.  Now, one of the bikes goes down, and there is more drama.  Livio Loi and Alex Marquez are down.  Alex Rins is out of this one.  Gabriele Rodrigo has also crashed.  Danny Kent, Brad Binder, Eneo Bastianinni is in there, too.  Miller leads.

Alexis Masbou drops to third.  Marquez is second.  Karel Hanika is running well.  But, Enea Bastianini has been off in the gravel.  Livio Loi is off, and so is Bryan Schouten.  Scott Deroue is also in this and these two want to fight.  No, no, no.  Break it up, guys.  Jack Miller continues to lead through The Waterfall.  Romano Fenati is up to fifteenth spot.  Alexis Masbou is battling Alex Marquez.  In replay, we see Rodrigo lose it, and then, Livio Loi anticipates the situation but falls down, too.  Did he stay on the bike?  I stand corrected.  He did.

Jack Miller wants his fourth win.  Alex Marquez wants his third straight win. n These guys are spreading out, which is not what you'd expect.  Oof!  Alex Rins is off the road.  He won here last year.  Not this year.  Efren Vazquez has moved to 14th after starting 17th as Romano Fenati has carved his way from 25th to 11th.  Ahhh!  Romano Fenati is down!  Ugh!  Will he be OK?  His leg is sore.  Efren Vazquez is now 13th.  Alex Marquez and Jack Miller are going for it.

Alex Marquez is of course, Marc Marquez's younger brother.  John McPhee has gone fro 28th to 12th as Zuhlfammi Khairuddin has also crashed.  Luis Salom and Maverick Vinales both won three races in a row in Moto 3.  Now, these two have moved up to Moto 2, obviously.  Brad Binder and Danny Kent are also running really well, with Isaac Vinales sixth.  Vinales wasn't feeling well during qualifying.  But he seems fine now.  Miller continues to lead.  Binder is pushing.  Philip Oettl is up to ninth in his home Grand Prix.

Enea Bastianinni is caboose on the field right now.  Bryan Schouten is out of this race as Brad Binder passes Alexis Masbou.  Karel Hanika passes and so does Juanfran Guevara.  Danny Kent is racing with the team of former FIM World Superbike champion, James Toseland.  Still 20 laps remaining.  Jack Miller continues to run well as Brad Binder steams up behind his competitor.  His team will work with Aspar next year in 2015 in Moto 3.  Aspar, of course, has a MotoGP team.  Watch out for Vazquez and Oettl.  Vazquez could be up to sixth.

Hanika and Oettl are going for it.  Brad Binder sets fast lap and he's catching Marquez and Miller hand over fist.  Watch for Alexis Masbou.  Masbou and Binder haven't won.  Binder hasn't gotten a podium.  Binder tries for second place and makes it stick.  Efren Vazquez is hounding Karel Hannika.  Jack Miller is being hounded by Brad Binder, still.  Two riders (Miller and Marquez), will be in contention before the next race at Indianapolis.

Niccolo Antonelli is up to sixth, ahead of Efren Vazquez.  Karel Hannika is up to seventh.  Binder is having a go.  Ooh.  Hannika and Antonelli touch as Efren Vazquez loses another spot to Miguel Oliviera.  Binder fights back on Marquez.  Jack Miller knows where these guys are.  It's KTM, Mahindra, Honda, and Husqvarna in the top four.  John McPhee is in contention as Isaac Vinales moves back into the top ten.  Lots of riders are in contention.  Gabriel Ramos is out of this one.  Matteo Ferrari runs 15th.

Brad Binder tries to go by Jack Miller.  No dice.  Danny Kent is pushing Alex Marquez with 13 laps left.  Binder is really strong into the braking zone.  What happened to Alex Rins?  In replay, we see that he loses control in turn two and might have had a touch with another bike.  Enea Bastianini is down the order as we watch Marquez and Kent battle.  Alex Marquez is being pressured by Alexis Masbou.  Livio Loi is another retirement.  He's under lots of pressure, is the Belgian, riding for Marc VDS Racing.

Eleven laps remaining now.  Binder pushes Jack Miller and is right on top of him.  Livio Loi struggles with his bike.  Andrea Locatelli also crashes out.  Brazilian Eric Granado tapped Alex Rins and that's what took him out of the race.  Alexis Masbou has one podium, and it was here, at the Sachsenring a couple years ago.  Livio Loi had a mechanical issue with the bike.  Jack Miller leads this race.  Alex Marquez wants his third straight win.

Niccolo Antonelli passes Efren Vazquez for eighth place.  Miller is hotly pursued by Brad Binder.  Just seven laps will remain.  Karel Hanika and Miguel Oliviera have both wrecked.  Not good.  Vazquez is up to sixth.  Local yellow in that corner.  Alexis Masbou is going to pass Alex Marquez, and yes, he makes it stick.  He's the last bloke Alex Maequez wants to get into a scrap with.  Arthur Sissis will get a championship point.  Five laps remain for Jack Miller.  He wants to win this.  Alex Marquez passes Alexis Masbou.

Four laps to go of the shortest track on the MotoGP schedule.  A big moment for Marquez.  He wobbles the front end of the bike.  Marquez could have crashed.  This race will be done in five or six minutes.  Marquez has to charge, now.  Danny Kent tries to go through.  Remember, Fenati and Rins are out of this thing.  Jack Miller wants to win four races.  Oh!  Niccolo Antonelli has crashed out.  He ran it straight on and leapt off the bike by vaulting over the top.

Masbou wants to draft by Marquez, but no.  Brad Binder has not tried to pass Miller.  Can John McPhee help Efren Vazquez?  Jakub Kornfeil and Juanfran Guevara are there, and so is Matteo Ferrari.  Binder tries making a move.  Miller brakes late.  Masbou gets passed.  Brad Binder is going to finish on the podium.  There's no question about that.  Jack Miller hasn't won since Le Mans in May.  Half a lap left.  Two corners remain now.  Jack Miller will win.  Brad Binder will get second for his first podium.

#8 Jack Miller     AUS.    KTM

The next Moto 3 race is after the summer break at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., coming up in a little less than a month.

Johann Zarco's fire

Here's a video of the extreme fire that took Johann Zarco out of the Moto 2 race at the Sachsenring yesterday.
 
http://www.motorsport.com/bike/video/main-gallery/johann-zarco-s-bike-becomes-flying-fireball-moto2-german-gp-2014

Moto 2: Germany

We're ready to go for the Moto 2 race here at the Sachsenring.  29 laps scheduled for this race at the Sachsenring.  We have a new polesitter.  It's Tito Rabat third, Mika Kallio, second.  But, it's Dominik Aegerter on his first pole.  He wants to win this race and become the tenth Swiss rider to do so.  Takaaki Nakagami is down the order.  Nina Prinz of Germany, is a wildcard rider.  The bikes are on their warmup lap.  We'll be ready to race very soon.

Here we go.  Round nine of Moto 2 is go!  Dominik Aegerter leads into turn one.  But, here comes Mika Kallio.  Last year's German GP winner Jordi Torres is in third.  They go through The Waterfall into turn twelve.  Xavier Simeon wobbles a bit.  The first lap is a clean one.  Mika Kallio wants by Dominique Aegerter into corner number one.  Randy Krummenacher needs to move over.  Keep an eye on the weather conditions.

Dominik Aegerter wants to win his first race.  Mika Kallio has won here in 125cc and MotoGP competition.  Mika Kallio takes the lead.  The Finn is going to be strong here.  Azlan Shah had an off and has rejoined the race as Aegerter passes Torres for second.  Franco Morbidelli is up to fourth ahead of Tito Rabat.  Simone Corsi has also moved up to fourth.  So, now, it's a different order than we anticipated.  Lorenzo Baldassari and Xavier Simeon complete the top ten.

Tito Rabat might pull away.  Aegerter closes up into turn one going into lap three.  Maverick Vinales has dropped a place and has come back up.  Luis Salom is having trouble, dropping down the order.  Sam Lowes is not running well either.  Nor is Antrhony West, who won the Assen Moto 2 round last time out, in Holland.  Franco Morbidelli is running very well right now.  Morbidelli passes Torres for fourth.  Oh!  Torres crashes out of this one!  He won't win again at the Sachsenring, high siding right in front of Tito Rabat.  Torres was pitched into orbit, and off the bike.

Watch out for yellow flags after Torres' wreck.  The bikes run down into the valley and then, back uphill.  Simone Corsi and Franco Morbidelli are battling for position.  Whoops.  Lorenzo Baldassari has crashed.  Game over.  Kallio leads.  He wants win number three of the season.  Corsi, Morbidelli, and Rabat, battle for position, for fourth spot.  Rabat wants by Corsi and Morbidelli.

Morbidelli passes Corsi.  Kallio leads over Aegerter as Tito Rabat tries to move from fifth to third.  But, these guys aren't gaining too well.  But, Jonas Folger is out.  Game over for Jonas Folger.  Folger had a mechanical issue as he followed his team mate Axel Pons around the speedway.  Maverick Vinales has come up to eighth and wants by Alex de Angelis.  Marcel Schrotter passes Louis Rossi.  Both of those guys went off the road in qualifying.

Dominique Aegerter wants his first win.  But he'll have to pass Kallio, the Flying Finn, first.  Morbidelli still wants Corsi.  No dice.  Here comes Tito Rabat.  Morbidelli has to yield.  Rabat forces his way through into fourth spot.  Morbidelli retakes the spot.  Rabat says, "no you don't".  Morbidelli is fighting fire with fire.  Corsi says, "I'm outta here, dudes.  Arriva derci, baby!"  Zarco, de Angelis, and Vinales, are coming.  Folger is out because of a gear selection problem.

Johann Zarco and company are closing on Tito Rabat.  Dominique Aegerter will take every possible risk.  He wants his first win.  17 laps left in this race.  Maverick Vinales is very quick on lap 13.  We work lap 14 at the moment with 15 laps remaining.  Josh Herrin has trouble, and it's game over.  It's been a tough transition to racing on the world stage for Herrin, coming from the AMA Superbike Championship.  Azlan Shah went down right at the start of the race.

Rabat passes Morbidelli.  We're at halfway in this contest.  Maverick Vinale wants to pass Johann Zarco, and does so in turn twelve.  Mika Kallio runs fastest lap of this race.  Josh Herrin is playing hurt, and he'll hope to have a better second half of the season.  Tito Rabat passes Simone Corsi.  Johann Zarco is out, and his bike is on fire.  Both Caterham bikes have had a horrible race.  That bike is comprehensively ablaze.  Did that happen before the wreck?

The smoke is still thick as the Caterham bike, melts like the Wicked Witch of The West.  Dominique Aegerter is closing up on Mika Kallio.  Watch out.  Colin Edwards had a fire riding in his first year of Grand Prix racing on an Aprilia at the Sachsenring.  Kallio wants to win this.  Corsi hangs onto third over Tito Rabat.  Watch out for Maverick Vinales.  He's faster than the race leader right now.  This is going to be a nail biting finish.

Aegerter shows Mika Kallio his front wheel saying, "knock, knock.  I'm here."  We work lap 20, with eleven remaining.  Tito Rabat has passed Simone Corsi.  He's not close enough as Rabat is now third, in a podium spot.  Franco Morbidelli is also trying to get by Corsi.  Aegerter is close.  He's applying the blowtorch to Mika Kallio.  Mika Kallio has won 15 Grand Prix races.  Tom Luthi passes Alex de Angelis for ninth.  It's anyone's guess who will finish in this race, and who will win.

Maverick Vinales might help Tito Rabat.  Dominique Aegerter is going to make a move.  it's a matter of when.  90% of the grid is on hard, scrubbed tires, according to the Dunlop engineers, the tire supplier for Moto 2.  How will Mika Kallio react?  Maverick Vinales moves ahead of Franco Morbidelli.  Vinales is having a go at Corsi at the Sachsen curve.  Kallio and Aegerter will battle to the end for the race win.  Morbidelli has Rabat all over him like a rash.  Pardon.  Vinales does.  Vinales is chasing Rabat.

Sandro Cortese is out.  He won here in Moto 3 a couple years ago.  Marcel Schrotter goes to fourteenth spot.  Has Mika Kallio got anything left in the locker to try passing?  Oh!  There's a bike down.  It's in turn eleven.  It's off the racing line, but, still on the track.  Alex de Angelis is the rider down.  He's fine.  But the bike is blocking the road.  It's real odd to have a bike sitting in the middle of the road, with the blokes leading the race, booking it down the hill.

Corsi swoops around the outside of Vinales.  Franco Morbidelli is still in this scrap, too.  Five laps left.  Vinales wants by Corsi.  Corsi is still saying, no way, sunshine!"  Vinales tries in turn twelve.  He can't quite do it.  Here comes Vinales over Corsi.  He moves to fourth.  Aegerter passes for the lead.  He's hounded Kallio.  It's Switzerland vs. Finland.  Aegerter finally said, "uncle!, uncle!  I'm going by!"  But Kallio is a strategic, tactical racer.  Nina Prinz needs to move over.  She does.

Kallio is absolutely flying.  Azlan Shah, after his first lap wreck, is still running.  Aegerter can smell blood.  He wants to win his first Grand Prix race.  Corsi re-passes Vinales for fourth.  Dominik Aegerter is pushing, and is 2/10ths quicker than Mika Kallio.  Into turns nine and ten before plunging down the Waterfall at turn eleven and into twelve.  He can't carry enough speed.  Whoa!  Kallio retakes the lead.  Two laps left.  Can Aegerter pass for the win?  We know now that Kallio has the steam to hang with Aegerter.

Can Aegerter come back?  A lap and a half to go.  Kallio is flying.  He's opening a gap on Aegerter.  Dominik Aegerter is closing.  He might get snookered.  Corsi and Vinales set their personal best laps.  It's the last lap.  Kallio is going to have more steam into turn one than Aegerter.  Aegerter is going.  But, he doesn't have but one opportunity left.  Kallio runs wide.  Lapped traffic in the way of other riders.  Half a lap to go.  Kallio is fighting for win sixteen.  Aegerter for his first.  This is big.  Here he comes.  He slides by anjd takes the lead.  Can he hold the lead?

He goes defensive.  Aegerter wins for the first time in his Moto 2 career!

#77 Dominique Aegerter    CHE.     Suter Rohrbach

Aegerter gets his first pole and his first win in the same race at the German GP.  The next race for Moto 2 is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for the second appearance by MotoGP & company in the U.S. this year.  That race is in a little less than a month.  Looking forward to it.       

MotoGP round 9: Germany

The Sachsenring in Saxony, Germany, is the venue marking the halfway point in the 2014 MotoGP World Championship.  Marc Marquez has won all the races so far.  But, he had a nasty highside in free practice number one.  But, he's got his seventh pole, breaking Casey Stoner's record on a Ducati in 2008.  Back then there were special tires.  Choose the right tire compound, start strong, and keep cool down the waterfall which is one of the most important corners on the Sachsenring course.

The Sachsenring is the shortest track on MotoGP's calendar.  It was built in 1996 after racing on streets since the 1920s.  Ten left hand corners, and only three right hand corners are on this course.  There's a possibility of rain, too.  This race has been declared a wet race.  Marc Marquez has a perfect 200 points, and a 72 point lead over his competition from Valentino Rossi.  Lots has gone on lately.  The setup is different, because there are a couple of paddocks.  On the other side of the pit lane, is where the Moto 2 and Moto 3 teams are.

Contracts have been signed for Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi.  Jorge Lorenzo is still negotiating for another year with Yamaha and might move to Ducati in 2016.  Four riders are hoping to race for Suzuki.  But, they could be a wildcard entry at the last race in Valencia, Spain, in November, with Randy de Puniet at the controls of the new motorcycle.  Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa both had big crashes in Friday practice.  Marquez was winded.  But, otherwise, he was fine.

There's more to come about qualifying.  Andrea Dovizioso came through in qualifying, but was beaten by Nicky Hayden.   Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith both crashed.  Aleix Espargaro outqualified the factory Yamaha's on his Forward Racing machine, while Dani Pedrosa crashed and will start second.  Stefan Bradl will be third.  Marc Marquez beats Casey Stoner's lap record, and takes pole position.  Marquez wants his fifth straight win at the Sachsenring track.

Andrea Ianonne is the top qualified Ducati, but Andrea Dovizioso is the best of the factory Ducati's.  Colin Edwards makes his last start at the Sachsenring, and Danilo Petrucci, returns to racing, after breaking his wrist.  We're ready to race.

The riders are on their warmup lap and the track is beginning to dry.  The top 14 riders were covered by just eight tenths of a second.  We're on a drying track.  Stefan Bradl has gambled with slick tires.  Everyone is diving into the pits!  30 laps scheduled.  We're swiutching fromt wets to slicks.  Watch out.  Everyone changes to their spare bikes.  Oh no.  It's a traffic jam getting on the gird.  We've started the race.  Here we go!  They make their way to turn one.  Watch out.  All these blokes are on slicks.

Stefan Bradl leads this race.  The track dries in front of our eyes.  Stefan Bradl could really upset Marc Marquez's record here.  Marquez is tenth.  They plunge downhill.  It's not tally dry in some spots.  Wow.  The wet tires will get burned up.  I've never seen a start like this for a motorcycle race.  Bradl, Hiroshi Aoyama, and Karel Abraham were the three riders to start on slicks.  It's damp in turn twelve.  Marc Marquez is going to havee to push hard.  Stefan Bradl could win his home race.

But, the pack is after him.  Bradl is the rabbit, with the hounds chasing him.  Michael Laverty passes Danilo Petrucci for second.  Colin Edwards is there.  Marc Marquez is making his way past the lower bikes.  He's going past Colin Edwards, Mike Demeglio and others.  Stefan Bradl is flying right now.  Marquez slices past Hiroshi Aoyama.  Bradl leads working lap four, of 30 scheduled.  Marc Marquez s coming.  Bradl wiggles through the Waterfall.

Oh no!  Bradley Smith has crashed!  He's had five wrecks this weekend!  If the rain gets heavier, it's going to really turn this race into a lottery.  Watch the skies.  Will the blokes on wet tires have the last laugh?  Michael Laverty, Karel Abraham, and others, battle for the bottom half of the top ten.  Nicky Hayden is not at all where he wants to be, in 22nd spot.  Marc Marquez has his team mate Dani Pedrosa all over him.  But, Pedrosa uses his team mate as a reference.  Now, the two Yamaha's of Rossi and Lorenzo are running sixth and seventh.

Stefan Bradl is setting the pace right now.  But, the Repsol Honda's are coming.  Bradl will have to be on his toes.  He knows those guys are there.  Now, it's a fair fight.  Stefan Bradl is going to be overtaken.  Marquez takes the lead.  Pedrosa wants by.  Hiroshi Aoyama loses a spot to Valentino Rossi.  Pedorsa passes Bradl.  Marquez begins to move.  He's right at the top.  A brave move by Stefan Bradl.  But, Marc Marquez is indeed our new leader here in Germany.

More rain could come.  The two factory Yamaha's are going for it.  But, also, Dani Pedrosa sets fast lap, and he's reeling in Marc Marquez.  Andrea Ianonne is up to sixth.  Lorenzo makes a move into fourth spot.  This is a fair race.  Marquez runs fast lap and extends his lead.  But now, Lorenzo sets fast lap at 1:23.6.  The weather should be OK.  The spurts of rain are virtually nothing.  Lorenzo and Rossi want by Bradl.  Bradl is fighting, but it won't be enough to get away from the Yamaha's wrath.

Down the waterfall, into the Sachsen Kurve.  Rossi is right behind Bradl.  Valentino Rossi moves to fourth.  Now, Andrea Ianonne is going to be closing on Bradl, too.  But, the track conditions are at their best.  Marc Marquez has fast lap at 1:22.872.  Track conditions are spot on at the moment.  Poor old Stefan Bradl, though.  He's being passed everywhere.  He's now sixth.  The spare bikes are still in pit lanee.  Hiroshi Aoyama and Scott Redding battle.  Hiroshi Aoyama has won at the Sachsenring before, in the 250cc division.

Pedrosa resets fast lap.  The gap between the Honda's and Yamaha's is growing.  There's still some damp spots in turn 12.  Marquez runs fastest lap.  Pedrosa runs his personal best lap.  Many other riders do, too.  We see Scott Redding pass Hiroshi Aoyama as Stefan Bradl is being pressured by Andrea Dovizioso, Aleix Espargaro, and others.  Spare a thought for Stefan Bradl, as his confidence has been shaken a little bit.  Aleix Espargaro passes Bradl.  Dani Pedrosa now sets fast lap.

One theory is that Bradl's bike doesn't have the performance because the other bikes were set for a dry race.  Bradl's bike was only set up for a wet race.  Crutchlow passes Bradl.  Dani Pedrosa is not letting Marc Marquez get away.  Pedrosa has a new two-year contract for Honda.  Valentino Rossi also has a contract with Yamaha.  We'll watch the last 13 laps.  The modern Sachsenring configuration has been used since 1998 and Dani Pedrosa has won six races on this course.

Stefan Bradl's crew admits they made a mistake.  Scott Redding is up to ninth, passing Stefan Bradl.  Marc Marquez increases his lead to 6/10ths of a second.  The two Repsol Honda's are in their own race.  Has the resistance been broken?  Will Marc Marquez win his ninth straight race?  Here we see a battle between Scott Redding and Pol Espargaro.  These blokes battled in Moto 2 throughout last year.  The lead is up to one and a half seconds for Marc Marquez.  Alvaro Bautista qualified tenth and he wants by his team mate, Redding.

Where will Bautista be next year?  We'll have to find out.  Eight laps left.  Dani Pedrosa is being told to speed it up.  Jorge Lorenzo wants a podium.  If he gets it, it will only be his third podium of 2014.  Cal Crutchlow battles his Ducati team mate Andrea Dovizioso.  Pol Espargaro is back there, too.  He replaced Crutchlow at Tech 3 Yamaha.  23 riders started this race.  14 did so from pit lane.  We've got just six laps left.  Can anyone stop this young man?  We're looking at the next race on the calendar already.  But, we'll talk about it after this race is over.

Cal Crutchlow passes Andrea Dovizioso into the waterfall turn again.  Cal Crutchlow is yet to finish ahead of Andrea Dovizioso as long as they've been team mates at Ducati.  Remember, though, just a couple years ago, these chaps were team mates at Tech 3 Yamaha.  Marc Marquez is controlling the race.  But Pedrosa is coming.  Alvaro Bautista passes Scott Redding.  So, the two Gressini bikes have swapped spots.  Pedrosa runs wide and Pol Espargaro has split the Ducati's.  Now, Marc Marquez has an even bigger gap.  1.4 seconds.

There will be just three laps left now.  Marc Marquez was right on the limit into turns nine and ten.  If Marquez makes a mistake, that will be the only chance for Pedrosa to pounce.  Pol Espargaro passes Cal Crutchlow.  Hiroshi Aoyama and Karel Abraham run 12th and 13th.  Two laps to go now.  Marquez has a full house.  He's going to win his ninth straight race of the season.  Marquez is unstoppable.  He's pulling away.

Andrea Dovizioso passes Cal Crutchlow in turn one as Alvaro Bautista closes in.  This is the final lap of the German Grand Prix on this two and a quarter mile circuit.  Factory Honda's 1-2, and factory Yamaha's 3-4.  Dani Pedrosa is second.  But, he won't catch his team mate down the waterfull in turn eleven.  Two bends to go.  Marc Marquez is going to win this race.  He wins five in a row at the Sachsenring, and wins nine races in a row.

#93 Marc Marquez     ESP.     Honda

The next race is in less than a month.  It's the only event in the United States, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.  But now, it's the summer break for the riders.  Amazing.  Indianapolis, could see Marquez tie Giacomo Agostini's record of ten straight wins which he had in 1970.  See you in Indianapolis, folks. 

Solid start at Sachsenring for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP pair

If anyone can actually knock Marc Marquez off his perch at the top, it's these two blokes from the factory Yamaha squad.  Of course, I am referring to Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Solid+start+at+Sachsenring+for+Movistar+Yamaha+MotoGP+pair

UK law change set to allow Isle of Man-style road racing

Motorcycle road racing so prevalent in Northern Ireland over the years, will come to England!  This is fabulous news!  But, there's no way this unique motorsport would ever be sanctioned in the United States.  Yours truly doesn't think so, anyway.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/news/newsresults/general-news/2014/july/jul1114-uk-road-racing

Lorenzo 'optimistic as usual' going into round nine

Jorge Lorenzo is optimistic and looking forward to racing in Germany at the Sachsenring this weekend.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/2014+Sachsenring+Lorenzo+Preview

Rossi heads to Germany with future decided

Valentino Rossi can relax going into this weekend's action for MotoGP in Germany, now that his future in MotoGP is secure, having just signed a new two-year contract with the factory Yamaha squad through 2016.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Rossi+preview+Germany

Honda signs new contract with Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa and Honda have signed a new contract for the Spaniard to continue racing on the HRC factory bikes in MotoGP for the next two years.

http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/motogp/motogp-honda-sign-pedrosa-until-end-of-2016/

Top SuperSport riders set to compete in GoPro Daytona Sportbike race this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Since there will be no AMA Supersport action on the racing schedule at Laguna Seca Raceway this weekend, when the AMA runs with the stars of the FIM World Superbike championship, the top 15 riders in AMA Supersport, have a chance to join, and expand the grid, for the AMA GoPro Daytona Sportbike race instead.  This is a win win situation for those riders, because they still get to race, and also have the attention of many of the factory teams.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60625

Round 4 of the AMA Pro Road Racing season from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will not be broadcast on FansChoice.tv

Sorry folks.  But, due to not getting permission from the rights holder of the Laguna Seca race, there will be no online broadcast on FansChoice.tv for this weekend's racing.  So, yours truly will look up the results on the AMA webpage and post the winners of each race instead.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60610

Can Marquez make it 9 out of 9 in Germany?

Should Marc Marquez win this weekend's German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, it will be nine wins out of nine starts, and a chance to be able to wrap up and seal the championship by the 14th round of the season at Motorland Aragon in Aragon, Spain in late September, no matter what his rivals should accomplish throughout the second half of the 2014 MotoGP season.  Simply astonishing.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Germany%20preview%20MotoGP

Dunlop set for BMW factory machine at Ulster Grand Prix

Michael Dunlop won the Isle of Man TT on a factory BMW S1000RR.  He will have the same bike for the last international road race of the 2014 season... the Ulster Grand Prix at the Dundrod circuit.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/sport/sportresults/tt-road-races/2014/july/jul0414-dunlop-ugp

a few MotoGP headlines

There are a few headlines going around in the world of MotoGP as well as Moto 2 and Moto 3.  Check these out.

Gresini runs the rule over season so far
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Gresini+post+Assen+Interview

Aspar on 'difficult season' and plans for future
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Aspar+mid+season+motogp+interview

Pramac's Campinoti: 'If Iannone went, Bradl could be an option'
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Campinoti+Pramac+Racing+interview

Maturing Vinales shows talent again in first wet Moto 2 race
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Maturing+Viales+shows+talent+again+in+first+wet+Moto2+race

Bitter end to Assen visit for Lowes
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Bitter+end+to+Assen+visit+for+Lowes

QMMF Racing Team delighted by West Win
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/QMMF+Racing+review+after+west+win

First top five of 2014 for Masbou
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/alexis+masbou+tt+assen+moto3

Iwema impresses as returning cameo
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Iwema+impresses+as+returning+cameo

Marc VDS Racing Team reiterates pre-agreement with Jack Miller
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Marc+VDS+reiterates+preagreement+with+Jack+Miller

Melissa Paris returns to race in the United States with Triumph Motorcycles at Laguna Seca

Motorcycle racer Melissa Paris, is currently running in the FIM CEV Repsol International Championship.  But, she is returning to the United States to race a Triumph Daytona 675R in the Daytona Sportbike division at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, coming up next weekend.  Here are the details on Paris' return to racing in the U.S. for this one-off appearance.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=60585

speed demons

Anyone who follows this blog and has access to Facebook, check this out.  This video, captures the essence of the Northern Ireland motorcycle road races.  These riders are the bravest in the world, because unlike MotoGP or World Superbike, these blokes are NOT running on a closed course.  They are flying on their motorcycles down Irish country roads at obscene speeds, and are absolutely fearless about it.  It's something that truly has to be seen to be believed.

Go to this YouTube channel, and you'll see EXACTLY what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/user/lockk9

Yamaha and Rossi set to continue with two-year contract extension

The most important piece of news for today, is that Valentino Rossi will continue in MotoGP after signing a new, two-year contract extension deal with Yamaha.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Yamaha%20and%20Valentino%20Rossi%20set%20to%20continue%20with%20twoyear%20contract%20extension

There are some things you should know about Bobby Goodin

Bobby Goodin was not just an unknown racer, coming to Pikes Peak for the first time.  He ran professionally for a while.  Here's his story.

http://www.motorsport.com/#!/hillclimb/news/there-are-some-things-you-should-know-about-bobby-goodin/

Bradl rides father's 250 bike at Sachsenring

Stefan Bradl got the chance to ride his dad Helmut Bradl's 250cc Grand Prix motorcycle at the Sachsenring.  Helmut Bradl, took that bike, to the runner up spot in points in the 250cc world championship in 1991.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Bradl+rides+fathers+250+bike+at+Sachsenring

Witnessing death at Pikes Peak: a first person account of Bobby Goodin's final moments

Photographer Trevor Andrusko, writes a scathing first person account of witnessing death at Pikes Peak, and unfortunately, how the safety standards of the great event, are lackluster.

http://www.motorsport.com/hillclimb/news/witnessing-death-at-pikes-peak-a-first-person-account-of-bobby-goodin-s-final-moments/

MotoGP news after the Dutch TT

As we recover from the wild action at Assen, and head into the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring in a couple of weeks, here are noteworthy stories from MotoGP.

Cautious standings leader Rabat comes home eighth
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Assen+Moto2+RAC+Rabat

Early mistake eventually proves beneficial for Parkes
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Early+mistake+eventually+proves+beneficial+for+Parkes

Tech 3 riders regretting strategic errors
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Tech+3+riders+regretting+strategic+errors

A race of notable incidents at Assen
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/A+race+of+notable+incidents+at+Assen

Crutchlow on icy-like grip levels at Assen
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Crutchlow+on+icylike+grip+levels+at+Assen

Dall'Igna on efforts to take Ducati back to top
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Gigi+DallIgna+on+Ducati+next+steps

Honda's first lightweight 1-2 since 2005
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Hondas+first+lightweight+12+since+2005

Rossi fights back after wrong tire choice
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Assen+RAC+Rossi

Disappointing Assen visit for Lorenzo
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Assen+RAC+Lorenzo

Solid results for Bautista and Redding
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Bautista+Assen+Race+review

Another strong sixth place for Iannone
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Assen+RAC+Iannone

Equal best MotoGP result for Aleix Espargaro
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Espargaro+Assen+Race+review

Early mistake eventually proves beneficial for Parkes
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Early+mistake+eventually+proves+beneficial+for+Parkes