It is round three of the Moto 3 World Championship at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo. All over South America, fans have come to see these races. Can Jack Miller win three races in a row after winning in Qatar, and at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas last time out. Efren Vazquez, and Danny Kent, will start second and third.
21 laps are scheduled for this Moto 3 contest. Brad Binder and Alexis Masbou crashed in practice, as did other riders towards the back of the grid, including Dutchman Scott Deroue. Grand Prix motorcycle racing returns to Argentina, for the first time, in 15 years. We're ready for a start in Moto 3. Go! At the start, Vazquez and Danny Kent take the lead. Jakub Kornfeil crashes immediately as another rider stalls. Jack Miller might try to get away. Jakub Kornfeil is out. Andrea Locatelli and Karel Hanika both crash.
Romano Fenati is leading this race right now. Miguel Oliveira had his clutch go sour. Fenati leads Miller, Vazquez, and Danny Kent. Jakub Korneil is back in this race. Kornfeil made contact with Francesco Bagnaia. Danny Kent wants to get by via the draft. Miller wants to pull away, but, he can't quite do it. It's KTM vs. Honda. Arthur Sissis and Andrea Locatelli also got caught up in that earlier mess. John McPhee is starting to move up, too.
Fenati and Miller battle for the lead. McPhee tries passing Bagnaia, and makes the pass stick. Efren Vazquez is new and improved in his riding style, being more patient. Miller sweeps by Fenati. Fenati tries to get by Bagnaia. Alex Marquez sets fast lap, but he has to catch the leaders. John McPhee runs fifth, having come from 13th on the grid. Into turn nine, Miller and Fenati continue their scrap. This is the front of the field, and it's anyone's race right now.
Alex Rins makes a move on Francesco Bagnaia. Bagnaia battles Niccolo Antonelli. Efren Vazquez is still waiting. He wants to pounce. Kent was dropped by Miller and McPhee, down the order. Where's Alex Rins? He's still going for it behind Kent and McPhee. Rins is on the outside line. Isaac Vinales is now in the top five. Miller, Fenati, and Vazquez, are still 1-2-3. Some of these riders are beginning to get desperate with 14 laps to go.
Rins comes from eighth spot on the grid. Miller and Fenati still lead. Nothing has changed. Rins is going for it, but John McPhee falls in turn two. Fenati and Miller are swapping places at every turn. McPhee is out of this one. The Scotsman will not finish this race. Miller passes Romano Fenati. We aren't even half way through this race yet, folks.
Efren Vazquez still wants to win. But, again, he knows better, and is able to be patient. Fenati passes Miller. Vazquez still can't quite make a pass. Francesco Bagnaia has fallen, although, he does rejoin the action. Niccolo Antonelli crashes, too. He rejoins as well, but, these guys seem to be dropping like flies. Vazquez has made his move on Jack Miller. Will he try Fenati? He does. He takes the lead for a little while, as Fenati and Miller push their way by.
The old Efren Vazquez would be pushing like no tomorrow. The new Efren Vazquez, is much more patient. Alex Marquez makes a move on Danny Kent. Fenati leads this one. Vazquez is close by Jack Miller. Vazquez takes the lead again. But, only briefly. It's funny how the Honda's have the power over the KTM's, but Vazquez still has trouble keeping the advantage, in the race lead.
Marquez and Rins are pushing to the front with only nine laps left in this race. It's three Honda's vs. two KTM's. Fenati and Vazquez are trying to pass. Fenati actually takes the lead from Vazquez. Vazquez runs wide and allows Miller to sweep by. Vazquez has to cool it a little bit, and restore himself back to the patient rider he was for most of this race. Livio Loi and Danny Kent battle for sixth. Livio Loi is celebrating his 17th birthday, and he might get a sixth place finish out of this one.
It's KTM vs. Honda. Fenati continues to lead this one. Moto 3 never lets you down. Can Jack Miller win three races in a row? Efren Vazquez runs wide and Alex Rins goes side by side. He has to sit up. Alex Marquez has been running well for this whole race. Vazquez and other knows they have the potential to win this. Miller continues to lead, with Romano Fenati second... shades of Austin, Texas, last time out. Alex Marquez needs points.
Six laps remain on this 2.9 mile track. Can Vazquez close up again? Vazquez is trying to come back. But, the three at the front, extend their lead. Just four laps to go. If you're going to make a move, make it now. Livio Loi is closing up on the front of the field as Alex Marquez leads this race. Jack Miller and Romano Fenati are still pushing. Livio Loi is still closing. He's 9/10ths of a second behind. If the leaders get in trouble, he could be close enough to capitalize.
Rins wants a podium place. Fenati leads. Three laps left. Livio Loi is closing up. What a birthday celebration if he could get on the podium, or win. Fenati and Miller contiue to battle, and there's now a three way fight as Miller takes the back! Fenati runs wide. He retians second. Marquez is closing on Fenati. Karel Hanika crashes again, and he high sides the bike. Game over. Miller still leads. But Livio Loi is flying in fourth place.
Miller wants his third consecutive win. Fenati wants his first win in two years. Three wide, and who is bravest on the brakes. Marquez takes the lead. Miller and Fenati almost touch. Loi is closing up. He's playing the patience game. A lap and a half remains. Livio Loi is being patient. Fenati leads starting the final lap. Marquez tries to get inside but he can't as they go through turn one and into turn two. Watch for turn five at the end of the 1.1 kilometer back straight.
This is the fastest part of the track. Miller goes up the inside. Miller trakes the lead, runs wide, and now, Marquez takes the lead back. Fenati is third. Watch for him. Miller leads, and here comesd Marquez up ofver the rise. Contact between Miller and Marquez. Loi is coming, too. He's third. Fenati pushes Miller out of the way, and wins! Wow! Fenati is delighted, winning for Valentino Rossi's team as Danny Kent crashes right at the end of the race!
#5 Romano Fenati ITA. KTM Ascoli Piceno
Now, will Fenati be demoted from his win because of the contact at the end of the race? The results are under scrutiny. The results are provisional at this moment. Race control is still investigating the last lap fracas. Ah. No worries. The podium remains the same, and Fenati, keeps his victory. The next race for Moto 3 is the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Jerez, Spain, happening this weekend.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Moto 2: Argentina
It's now time for the Moto 2 race from Argentina and the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo. This is round three of the championship.
Xavier Simeon, Johann Zarco, and Tito Rabat, are on the front row. Rabat, has pole. Nico Terol and Thomas Luthi are at the back of the grid. Anthony West is one of two riders who has experience in Argentina, as he ran the 250cc race in 1999. Track temperatures are going up. Johann Zarco is the only rider to go with a softer rear tire in the heat. Everyone else in this race, seems to be on hard tire compounds on the rear, and also, the front.
We're ready for the first ever Moto 2 race in Argentina. Go! Xavier Simeon has a good start, and so do Jonas Folger and Maverick Vinales as Tito Rabat leads. They stream onto the one kilometer back straight. Simeon leads. Luis Salom is fifth and Johann Zarco is losing spots. The Caterham team needs to finish and needs points. Everyone seems to be through the opening corners cleanly. One lap done and dusted in this 22 lap race.
Dominik Aegerter had a good start, too, as Mattia Passini runs wide. Richard Cardus also runs wide. Tom Luthi has fallen to caboose on the field. Rabat runs a good pace at the front. Simone Corsi is fifth. Maverick Vinales and Jonas Folger are pushing. Alex de Angelis runs seventh. This is very close racing for the 600cc bikes. Tito Rabat continues to lead. Check the race distance. 23 laps. Mika Kallio is 12th in his 200th motorcycle Grand Prix.
Luis Salom passes Simone Corsi. Maverick Vinales was caught by surprise. Xavier Simeon passes Maverick Vinales, too. Rabat leads. Richard Cardus has crashed. Game over. Luis Salom sets fastest lap. Johann Zarco is eleventh after running wide at the start. Rabat, Simeon, Salom... the top three. Cardus did indeed fall off the bike. Salom wants to pass Simeon. Oh rats! Maverick Vinales is out of this race! Disaster for the Spaniard!
Salom passes Simeon, and runs wide. Rabat continues to lead this one. The race is just five laps old. Mika Kallio is up to eighth place. Mika Kallio is flying, but he won't be in contention. Sam Lowes is up to twelfth spot. Game over for Maverick Vinales. Simone Corsi runs fourth. There's still 17 laps left. Corsi runs fast lap of the race. Not sure of the time. Sam Lowes is chasing Jordi Torres. Sandro Cortese (the first Moto 3 champion), is still running well.
Mika Kallio continues to run ahead of Sandro Cortese. Tito Rabat is still pushing. He concentrated on race pace in qualifying, and it seems to be working. Takaaki Nakagami is now ahead of Johann Zarco, who is plummeting down the order. Nico Terol passes Johann Zarco. Franco Morbidelli is also in this battle. Nakagaami and Terol battle. Nakagaami is pushing Zarco, who is on softer tires. But, that is not helping. He's sinking down the order.
Corsi passes Salom for third. Xavier Simeon is the quickest bike in this race, running second. Simeon is coming, and fast. Simeon runs fast lap at 1:44.358. Dominik Aegerter is fifth, closing on Luis Salom as Mika Kallio has passed Jonas Folger. Sandro Cortese rounds out the top ten. Rabat responds to Simeon. Rabat is in control of the pace right now. Dominik Aegerter is running a good race so far, too. We're halfway through this race. Gino Rea runs caboose on the field.
Luis Salom is trapped behind Simone Corsi. Tom Luthi is moving up somewhat, passing Randy Krummenacher. Salom is being held up by Corsi right now. Tito Rabat continues to lead. Kallio is trying to catch Alex de Angelis, having broken away from Anthony West. Ten laps remain. Tito Rabat has dominated this race so far. Alex de Angelis is sixth as West, Cortese, and Folger, battle. Nico Terol, Sam Lowes, and Marcel Schrotter are in a battle of their own.
Lowes battles West, and Nico Terol has passed them both. Sam Lowes hurt his ankle in practice. Lowes has not had a good start to his Moto 2 career, after winning the championship last year in FIM World Supersport. Rabat wants his second win of the year, after winning in Qatar, and finishing second in Austin, Texas at Circuit of the Americas. Salom passes Corsi through turn seven. Corsi comes back, saying, "no way, buddy."
Dominik Aegerter is coming, too. Eight laps left. Cortese, Folger, Lowes, Torres, Schrotter, and West, all scrap. Meanwhile, Corsi and Salom still scrap. Luis Salom needs speed into turn six. He's not close enough. Dominik Aegerter might get on the podium. Tom Luthi is moving up, into 21st place. Franco Morbidelli is running well, and he might get into the points, after almost doing so last year in Valencia, as a wildcard rider.
Tito Rabat is in control of this race. Just six laps remain in this race. Rabat leads Simeon by a second and a half. Five laps left. Xavier Simeon has had a great race. Sam Lowes, Marcel Schrotter, Jordi Torres, and Marcel Schrotter, are also in that group. Tito Rabat runs fast lap at 1:44 flat, with four laps left. Corsi, Salom, and Aegerter, could all be in contention for the final podium spot. Luis Salom passes Simone Corsi, but Salom runs wide.
Corsi, Salom, and Aegerter, are still in this fight. Rabat leads by 1.9 seconds, and he's still running fastest, in the 1:44 range. Corsi runs wide and Salom passes. He's trying to go for it, and get Salom back. Dominik Aegerter, watches all this. Salom is up to third, as Tito Rabat has dominated. He's going to win this race, getting his second victory of 2014 in Moto 2, and his fifth Moto 2 victory. Aegerter is right on top of Simone Corsi now.
Corsi isn't giving up. This is the last lap of the race. Rabat has a 2.2 second lead. Dominik Aegerter wants to pass Simone Corsi. But, odds are, he might not be able to. Tito Rabat will win his second Moto 2 race of 2014.
#53 Esteve Rabat ESP Kalex Barcelona
The next Moto 2 race is in Spain at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, coming up this weekend.
Xavier Simeon, Johann Zarco, and Tito Rabat, are on the front row. Rabat, has pole. Nico Terol and Thomas Luthi are at the back of the grid. Anthony West is one of two riders who has experience in Argentina, as he ran the 250cc race in 1999. Track temperatures are going up. Johann Zarco is the only rider to go with a softer rear tire in the heat. Everyone else in this race, seems to be on hard tire compounds on the rear, and also, the front.
We're ready for the first ever Moto 2 race in Argentina. Go! Xavier Simeon has a good start, and so do Jonas Folger and Maverick Vinales as Tito Rabat leads. They stream onto the one kilometer back straight. Simeon leads. Luis Salom is fifth and Johann Zarco is losing spots. The Caterham team needs to finish and needs points. Everyone seems to be through the opening corners cleanly. One lap done and dusted in this 22 lap race.
Dominik Aegerter had a good start, too, as Mattia Passini runs wide. Richard Cardus also runs wide. Tom Luthi has fallen to caboose on the field. Rabat runs a good pace at the front. Simone Corsi is fifth. Maverick Vinales and Jonas Folger are pushing. Alex de Angelis runs seventh. This is very close racing for the 600cc bikes. Tito Rabat continues to lead. Check the race distance. 23 laps. Mika Kallio is 12th in his 200th motorcycle Grand Prix.
Luis Salom passes Simone Corsi. Maverick Vinales was caught by surprise. Xavier Simeon passes Maverick Vinales, too. Rabat leads. Richard Cardus has crashed. Game over. Luis Salom sets fastest lap. Johann Zarco is eleventh after running wide at the start. Rabat, Simeon, Salom... the top three. Cardus did indeed fall off the bike. Salom wants to pass Simeon. Oh rats! Maverick Vinales is out of this race! Disaster for the Spaniard!
Salom passes Simeon, and runs wide. Rabat continues to lead this one. The race is just five laps old. Mika Kallio is up to eighth place. Mika Kallio is flying, but he won't be in contention. Sam Lowes is up to twelfth spot. Game over for Maverick Vinales. Simone Corsi runs fourth. There's still 17 laps left. Corsi runs fast lap of the race. Not sure of the time. Sam Lowes is chasing Jordi Torres. Sandro Cortese (the first Moto 3 champion), is still running well.
Mika Kallio continues to run ahead of Sandro Cortese. Tito Rabat is still pushing. He concentrated on race pace in qualifying, and it seems to be working. Takaaki Nakagami is now ahead of Johann Zarco, who is plummeting down the order. Nico Terol passes Johann Zarco. Franco Morbidelli is also in this battle. Nakagaami and Terol battle. Nakagaami is pushing Zarco, who is on softer tires. But, that is not helping. He's sinking down the order.
Corsi passes Salom for third. Xavier Simeon is the quickest bike in this race, running second. Simeon is coming, and fast. Simeon runs fast lap at 1:44.358. Dominik Aegerter is fifth, closing on Luis Salom as Mika Kallio has passed Jonas Folger. Sandro Cortese rounds out the top ten. Rabat responds to Simeon. Rabat is in control of the pace right now. Dominik Aegerter is running a good race so far, too. We're halfway through this race. Gino Rea runs caboose on the field.
Luis Salom is trapped behind Simone Corsi. Tom Luthi is moving up somewhat, passing Randy Krummenacher. Salom is being held up by Corsi right now. Tito Rabat continues to lead. Kallio is trying to catch Alex de Angelis, having broken away from Anthony West. Ten laps remain. Tito Rabat has dominated this race so far. Alex de Angelis is sixth as West, Cortese, and Folger, battle. Nico Terol, Sam Lowes, and Marcel Schrotter are in a battle of their own.
Lowes battles West, and Nico Terol has passed them both. Sam Lowes hurt his ankle in practice. Lowes has not had a good start to his Moto 2 career, after winning the championship last year in FIM World Supersport. Rabat wants his second win of the year, after winning in Qatar, and finishing second in Austin, Texas at Circuit of the Americas. Salom passes Corsi through turn seven. Corsi comes back, saying, "no way, buddy."
Dominik Aegerter is coming, too. Eight laps left. Cortese, Folger, Lowes, Torres, Schrotter, and West, all scrap. Meanwhile, Corsi and Salom still scrap. Luis Salom needs speed into turn six. He's not close enough. Dominik Aegerter might get on the podium. Tom Luthi is moving up, into 21st place. Franco Morbidelli is running well, and he might get into the points, after almost doing so last year in Valencia, as a wildcard rider.
Tito Rabat is in control of this race. Just six laps remain in this race. Rabat leads Simeon by a second and a half. Five laps left. Xavier Simeon has had a great race. Sam Lowes, Marcel Schrotter, Jordi Torres, and Marcel Schrotter, are also in that group. Tito Rabat runs fast lap at 1:44 flat, with four laps left. Corsi, Salom, and Aegerter, could all be in contention for the final podium spot. Luis Salom passes Simone Corsi, but Salom runs wide.
Corsi, Salom, and Aegerter, are still in this fight. Rabat leads by 1.9 seconds, and he's still running fastest, in the 1:44 range. Corsi runs wide and Salom passes. He's trying to go for it, and get Salom back. Dominik Aegerter, watches all this. Salom is up to third, as Tito Rabat has dominated. He's going to win this race, getting his second victory of 2014 in Moto 2, and his fifth Moto 2 victory. Aegerter is right on top of Simone Corsi now.
Corsi isn't giving up. This is the last lap of the race. Rabat has a 2.2 second lead. Dominik Aegerter wants to pass Simone Corsi. But, odds are, he might not be able to. Tito Rabat will win his second Moto 2 race of 2014.
#53 Esteve Rabat ESP Kalex Barcelona
The next Moto 2 race is in Spain at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, coming up this weekend.
Monday, April 28, 2014
MotoGP round 3: Argentina
For the first time in 15 years, MotoGP races in Argentina at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo. This is the Grand Prix of Argentina, in the northwestern part of the country. In qualifying, Jorge Lorenzo qualified scond. Stefan Bradl high sided his bike and got woosy, so he sat out the rest of the session. But, Marc Marquez starts on pole at 1:37.683. Tire management will be big, and the track layout will be a major factor, as it was redesigned last year, by track owner, and architect Jarno Zaffelli.
This track is flat, just under three miles, and has 14 turns. Michele Pirro sits in for Cal Crutchlow in this race, at Ducati. Pirro, is the Ducati test rider. Marc Marquez brings an unblemished record into this race, having won two in a row. This is the eleventh race for MotoGP in Argentina. Cal Crutchlow will return for the next race next weekend. Jorge Lorenzo says that his jumped start in Texas last time out, was because of mosquitoes in his helmet, bugging him. No pun intended. Watch the action through turns 9, 10, and 11 in this race. We're ready to race, now. The bikes are on their warmup lap. We're ready for a start.
Go! At the start, Jorge Lorenzo leads as Dani pedrosa passes Marc Marquez and here comes Andrea Ianonne as this 26 lap race gets underway, and the bikes fly down the 1.1 kilometer back straightaway. Ianonne runs wide and Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci, crash. Dani Pedrosa leads. But, poor old Alvaro Bautista. Three races... nil points. Valentino Rossi now leads but in a three wide battle, he loses out to Lorenzo and others. The two Yamaha's sandwiched out Pedrosa as Aleix Espargaro crashes!
Is this Moto 3 or MotoGP? Cool it, boys. Alexis Espargaro recovers. Ianonne is coming back as Lorenzo leads this one so far. Into turn five. Marquez is ahead of Pedrosa as Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro are up there for Tech 3 Yamaha. Loprenzo runs fast lap. Not sure of the time. Ianonne is second, behind Lorenzo, passing Andrea Dovizioso. Lorenzo ekes out a 7/10ths of a second gap. Stefan Bradl is also moving up.
Dovizioso has to sit up as Marc Marquez makes a pass and now, Marquez is back up in the top five after sinking at the start. Marquez is inside Bradl now, carving his way through the field like a knhife through butter. Valentino Rossi is now coming up to second. The factory Yamaha's are 1-2. Marquez is in Ianonne's slipstream. Stefan Bradl wants a piece of this. Rossi runs wide. Marc Marquez comes to second. Rossi fights back. Ianonne is trying to go through, too. But Marc Marquez is loving this, because he can pull away.
Jorge Lorenzo still leads. Everything we've seen is that Marquez is going to catch Lorenzo. Marquez runs fast lap. Three bikes are out of this race. Rossi and Marquez are using the harder compound tire as Rossi runs wide in turn five and loses spots! That's a rough ride for Rossi. Give him a rest. He's a veteran. This is superb racing. Alvaro Bautista is down the order. Marquez is into the 1:40 range. Scott Redding runs ahead of Nicky Hayden. Aleix Espargaro is still in this race, but is behind.
We're now working lap seven. Lorenzo still leads, but Marquez is coming. Lots of position shuffling right now. Pedrosa, Bradl, and Rossi battle each other. Lorenzo moves off the racing line slightly as Pedrosa passes Ianonne. Stefan Bradl is also in the top five. Lorenzo will have to go for it. What can he do to rough up Marc Marquez? Aleix Espargaro crashed out on lap two of course. He qualified well, so, it's disappointing.
Rossi and Marquez have hard front tires, while Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo are on medium tires while Stefan Bradl passes Andrea Ianonne. We've got a real fight on our hands, early on in this race. Lorenzo moves off the racing line, slightly. Pedrosa passes Ianonne. We are looking back down the order and Cal Crutchlow's super sub, Michele Pirro, is fifteenth. Rough up Marc Marquez. That's the only way he'll be beaten.
We watch a replay of Aleix Espargaro's crash. Giacomo Agostini was the last rider to win three races in a row, from pole. Agostini of course, is a 15 time MotoGP champion. Marquez is on a medium front tire, Lorenzo on hard. Both riders are using the harder rear tire from Bridgestone. 15 laps left. Rossi passes Ianonne and is looking fror Bradl and Pedrosa. Stefan Bradl and Dani Pedrosa are also putting in their best laps. Meanwhile, it's Lorenzo vs. Marquez for the lead between turns six and seven on the course.
Lorenzo knows Marquez is there. We're on lap 12 of 26. One lap to halfway. Andrea Dovizioso is challenged by Bradley Smith who has left team mate Pol Espargaro behind. Yonny Hernandez is hanging in there as Bradley Smith fends off Dovizioso's challenge. Nicky Hayden and Hiroshi Aoyama also are behind as Valentino Rossi passes Stefan Bradl. Bradl crashed in qualifying of course. Down the long back straight, Rossi continues to hold his position over Bradl, but, he runs wide, again.
This is the halfway mark in the race. Marquez got a bad start as he was pushed out by Pedrosa and Lorenzo. Dovizioso had a big wobble and Colin Edwards didn't get the best start. Lorenzo leads. But, Marquez wants it. Lorenzo wants to force Marc Marquez into a mistake as we work lap 14. Aleix Espargaro has passed Broc Parkes. Parkes had a decent qualifying run, even though he's caboose on the field.
Pedrosa and Rossi are third and fourth, and Pedrosa is slightly quicker. Ten laps to go now. Marquez is pouring on the steam at the moment. Marquez closes on Lorenzo onto the back straight. Will Marquez outbrake Lorenzo into turn five? No. He ran too deep into turns three and four. Turn six is the second longest corner on this Rio Hondo track. This is the second fastest track for MotoGP, after only Philip Island in Victoria, Australia, where the bikes will race in the fall.
Anything can happen with tire degradation. Lorenzo, Marquez, and Pedrosa are 1-2-3. Pedrosa has shaken up Valentino Rossi, and he's trying to push his rivals (Marquez and Lorenzo). Here comes Marquez, and he shoves Lorenzo out of the way. Will Marc Marquez win three in a row? Eight laps remain in Argentina. This race will be decided in the next two laps. Can Pedrosa do anything about this battle? Not really. He wants to make it a Repsol Honda 1-2. But, there's now just six laps to go.
Michael Laverty passes Mike di Meglio. Aleix Espargaro has passed Colin Edwards, and di Meglio. Six laps remain now. Dani Pedrosa normally struggles with a medium tire towards the end of the race. He's also having trouble with a hard tire. We've got battles all over the speedway, with Nicky Hayden, Hiroshi Aoyama, Karel Abraham, and others. Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa are very close to each other right now. Three laps to go.
Pedrosa could be up with the leaders. But, that's not to be. Nicky Hayden moves into the top ten. Michele Pirro will pick up points for Cal Crutchlow with two laps left, with an advantage over Hector Barbera. Jorge Lorenzo does not want to be beaten by Dani Pedrosa. Pedrosa closes up. Will he have a go? There's 3/10ths of a second between them over the line. Down the 1.1 kilometer back straight, here comes Pedrosa, who wants by Lorenzo.
Dani Pedrosa is still struggling to get by Lorenzo. Just a lap and a half to go now. Pedrosa goes up and passes Lorenzo in turn 13. Has Lorenzo got anything left in the locker? Not today. No lucky superhero outfit for Lorenzo here. Marc Marquez wins three in a row, just as the great Giacomo Agostini did to start the 1971 MotoGP season. As a footnote, Hiroshi Aoyama nabs Nicky Hayden for tenth. The team mates, might not be too happy with each other.
But, Repsol Honda gets three straight wins in a season. He's the first rider, in 43 years, to do that. He's rewriting Grand Prix motorcycle racing's history books, folks. This kid is going places. He's already got one championship, of course.
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
The next race in MotoGP is in Spain at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Jerez, Spain. It happens, this weekend. Stay tuned, for a race report.
This track is flat, just under three miles, and has 14 turns. Michele Pirro sits in for Cal Crutchlow in this race, at Ducati. Pirro, is the Ducati test rider. Marc Marquez brings an unblemished record into this race, having won two in a row. This is the eleventh race for MotoGP in Argentina. Cal Crutchlow will return for the next race next weekend. Jorge Lorenzo says that his jumped start in Texas last time out, was because of mosquitoes in his helmet, bugging him. No pun intended. Watch the action through turns 9, 10, and 11 in this race. We're ready to race, now. The bikes are on their warmup lap. We're ready for a start.
Go! At the start, Jorge Lorenzo leads as Dani pedrosa passes Marc Marquez and here comes Andrea Ianonne as this 26 lap race gets underway, and the bikes fly down the 1.1 kilometer back straightaway. Ianonne runs wide and Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci, crash. Dani Pedrosa leads. But, poor old Alvaro Bautista. Three races... nil points. Valentino Rossi now leads but in a three wide battle, he loses out to Lorenzo and others. The two Yamaha's sandwiched out Pedrosa as Aleix Espargaro crashes!
Is this Moto 3 or MotoGP? Cool it, boys. Alexis Espargaro recovers. Ianonne is coming back as Lorenzo leads this one so far. Into turn five. Marquez is ahead of Pedrosa as Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro are up there for Tech 3 Yamaha. Loprenzo runs fast lap. Not sure of the time. Ianonne is second, behind Lorenzo, passing Andrea Dovizioso. Lorenzo ekes out a 7/10ths of a second gap. Stefan Bradl is also moving up.
Dovizioso has to sit up as Marc Marquez makes a pass and now, Marquez is back up in the top five after sinking at the start. Marquez is inside Bradl now, carving his way through the field like a knhife through butter. Valentino Rossi is now coming up to second. The factory Yamaha's are 1-2. Marquez is in Ianonne's slipstream. Stefan Bradl wants a piece of this. Rossi runs wide. Marc Marquez comes to second. Rossi fights back. Ianonne is trying to go through, too. But Marc Marquez is loving this, because he can pull away.
Jorge Lorenzo still leads. Everything we've seen is that Marquez is going to catch Lorenzo. Marquez runs fast lap. Three bikes are out of this race. Rossi and Marquez are using the harder compound tire as Rossi runs wide in turn five and loses spots! That's a rough ride for Rossi. Give him a rest. He's a veteran. This is superb racing. Alvaro Bautista is down the order. Marquez is into the 1:40 range. Scott Redding runs ahead of Nicky Hayden. Aleix Espargaro is still in this race, but is behind.
We're now working lap seven. Lorenzo still leads, but Marquez is coming. Lots of position shuffling right now. Pedrosa, Bradl, and Rossi battle each other. Lorenzo moves off the racing line slightly as Pedrosa passes Ianonne. Stefan Bradl is also in the top five. Lorenzo will have to go for it. What can he do to rough up Marc Marquez? Aleix Espargaro crashed out on lap two of course. He qualified well, so, it's disappointing.
Rossi and Marquez have hard front tires, while Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo are on medium tires while Stefan Bradl passes Andrea Ianonne. We've got a real fight on our hands, early on in this race. Lorenzo moves off the racing line, slightly. Pedrosa passes Ianonne. We are looking back down the order and Cal Crutchlow's super sub, Michele Pirro, is fifteenth. Rough up Marc Marquez. That's the only way he'll be beaten.
We watch a replay of Aleix Espargaro's crash. Giacomo Agostini was the last rider to win three races in a row, from pole. Agostini of course, is a 15 time MotoGP champion. Marquez is on a medium front tire, Lorenzo on hard. Both riders are using the harder rear tire from Bridgestone. 15 laps left. Rossi passes Ianonne and is looking fror Bradl and Pedrosa. Stefan Bradl and Dani Pedrosa are also putting in their best laps. Meanwhile, it's Lorenzo vs. Marquez for the lead between turns six and seven on the course.
Lorenzo knows Marquez is there. We're on lap 12 of 26. One lap to halfway. Andrea Dovizioso is challenged by Bradley Smith who has left team mate Pol Espargaro behind. Yonny Hernandez is hanging in there as Bradley Smith fends off Dovizioso's challenge. Nicky Hayden and Hiroshi Aoyama also are behind as Valentino Rossi passes Stefan Bradl. Bradl crashed in qualifying of course. Down the long back straight, Rossi continues to hold his position over Bradl, but, he runs wide, again.
This is the halfway mark in the race. Marquez got a bad start as he was pushed out by Pedrosa and Lorenzo. Dovizioso had a big wobble and Colin Edwards didn't get the best start. Lorenzo leads. But, Marquez wants it. Lorenzo wants to force Marc Marquez into a mistake as we work lap 14. Aleix Espargaro has passed Broc Parkes. Parkes had a decent qualifying run, even though he's caboose on the field.
Pedrosa and Rossi are third and fourth, and Pedrosa is slightly quicker. Ten laps to go now. Marquez is pouring on the steam at the moment. Marquez closes on Lorenzo onto the back straight. Will Marquez outbrake Lorenzo into turn five? No. He ran too deep into turns three and four. Turn six is the second longest corner on this Rio Hondo track. This is the second fastest track for MotoGP, after only Philip Island in Victoria, Australia, where the bikes will race in the fall.
Anything can happen with tire degradation. Lorenzo, Marquez, and Pedrosa are 1-2-3. Pedrosa has shaken up Valentino Rossi, and he's trying to push his rivals (Marquez and Lorenzo). Here comes Marquez, and he shoves Lorenzo out of the way. Will Marc Marquez win three in a row? Eight laps remain in Argentina. This race will be decided in the next two laps. Can Pedrosa do anything about this battle? Not really. He wants to make it a Repsol Honda 1-2. But, there's now just six laps to go.
Michael Laverty passes Mike di Meglio. Aleix Espargaro has passed Colin Edwards, and di Meglio. Six laps remain now. Dani Pedrosa normally struggles with a medium tire towards the end of the race. He's also having trouble with a hard tire. We've got battles all over the speedway, with Nicky Hayden, Hiroshi Aoyama, Karel Abraham, and others. Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa are very close to each other right now. Three laps to go.
Pedrosa could be up with the leaders. But, that's not to be. Nicky Hayden moves into the top ten. Michele Pirro will pick up points for Cal Crutchlow with two laps left, with an advantage over Hector Barbera. Jorge Lorenzo does not want to be beaten by Dani Pedrosa. Pedrosa closes up. Will he have a go? There's 3/10ths of a second between them over the line. Down the 1.1 kilometer back straight, here comes Pedrosa, who wants by Lorenzo.
Dani Pedrosa is still struggling to get by Lorenzo. Just a lap and a half to go now. Pedrosa goes up and passes Lorenzo in turn 13. Has Lorenzo got anything left in the locker? Not today. No lucky superhero outfit for Lorenzo here. Marc Marquez wins three in a row, just as the great Giacomo Agostini did to start the 1971 MotoGP season. As a footnote, Hiroshi Aoyama nabs Nicky Hayden for tenth. The team mates, might not be too happy with each other.
But, Repsol Honda gets three straight wins in a season. He's the first rider, in 43 years, to do that. He's rewriting Grand Prix motorcycle racing's history books, folks. This kid is going places. He's already got one championship, of course.
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
The next race in MotoGP is in Spain at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Jerez, Spain. It happens, this weekend. Stay tuned, for a race report.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
FIM World Superbike round 3: Assen, Holland
In round three of FIM World Superbike today at the Assen TT circuit in Assen, Holland, different winners emerged. Winning race one was Sylvain Guintoli on his factory Aprilia RSV4. Johnny Rea and PATA Honda emerged victorious in race two. The win in the Supersport race, went to Michael van der Mark, as the Dutchman wins on home soil, on his #60 Honda CBR600RR. Likewise, Dutchman Kevin Valk took his #18 MTM Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R to victory in the Superstock 1000 race, while in Superstock 600, the win went to Finland's Niki Tuuli, on his #18 Yamaha YZF R6 for Kallio Racing.
World Superbike race 1: #50 Sylvain Guintoli FRA. Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Superbike race 2: #65 Jonathan Rea GBR. PATA Honda World Superbike Team
Honda CBR1000RR
World Supersport
race: #60 Michael van der Mark NLD
PATA Honda World Supersport Team
Honda CBR600RR
Superstock 1000 race: #18 Kevin Valk NLD MTM Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R
Superstock 600 race: #18 Niki Tuuli FIN Kallio Racing Yamaha YZF R6
So, PATA Honda wins two races, and several teams see success in Holland. The next race on the schedule will be in Imola, Italy, at the Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari, in two weeks, over Mother's Day weekend.
World Superbike race 1: #50 Sylvain Guintoli FRA. Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory
World Superbike race 2: #65 Jonathan Rea GBR. PATA Honda World Superbike Team
Honda CBR1000RR
World Supersport
race: #60 Michael van der Mark NLD
PATA Honda World Supersport Team
Honda CBR600RR
Superstock 1000 race: #18 Kevin Valk NLD MTM Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R
Superstock 600 race: #18 Niki Tuuli FIN Kallio Racing Yamaha YZF R6
So, PATA Honda wins two races, and several teams see success in Holland. The next race on the schedule will be in Imola, Italy, at the Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari, in two weeks, over Mother's Day weekend.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
MOTOGP: Dominant Marquez Secures Argentina Pole
Marc Marquez starts from pole for the MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina tomorrow, (Sunday). Yours truly, will have the full race report. Looking forward to another great MotoGP race.
http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/motogp/motogp-dominant-marquez-secures-argentina-pole/
http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/motogp/motogp-dominant-marquez-secures-argentina-pole/
Friday, April 25, 2014
MotoGP news from Argentina
News you can use, about the opening sessions for all three classes in Argentina, before race day on Sunday. Check out these stories as the top times in practice, have been thrown from one rider to another, like a volleyball, in all three classes.
First premier class run sees rapid Lorenzo in front
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+MotoGP+FP1+Lorenzo
Miller tops delayed opening session in Argentina
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+Moto3+FP1+Miller
Folger sets the pace at Termas de Rio Hondo
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+Moto2+FP1+Folger
Marquez dominates second practice in Argentina
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+MotoGP+FP2+Marquez
Zarco the top man in later Friday practice
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+Moto2+FP2+Zarco
Dovizioso in top five despite engine problem
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Dovizioso+in+top+five+despite+engine+problem
First premier class run sees rapid Lorenzo in front
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+MotoGP+FP1+Lorenzo
Miller tops delayed opening session in Argentina
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+Moto3+FP1+Miller
Folger sets the pace at Termas de Rio Hondo
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+Moto2+FP1+Folger
Marquez dominates second practice in Argentina
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+MotoGP+FP2+Marquez
Zarco the top man in later Friday practice
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Argentina+Moto2+FP2+Zarco
Dovizioso in top five despite engine problem
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Dovizioso+in+top+five+despite+engine+problem
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Cameron Beaubier Enjoying Early Success in First AMA Pro SuperBike Season
A story about Cameron Beaubier becoming successful right out of the box in AMA Superbike, after dominating the AMA Daytona Sportbike division for the last few seasons.
http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=59725
http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=59725
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