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Post by mikael on Sept 22, 2024 20:17:45 GMT
The MotoGP circus has stayed in Italy... on the same circuit but under a different name. Very peculiar! Has something like this ever taken place before? |
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Post by Carl on Sept 22, 2024 22:10:28 GMT
The MotoGP circus has stayed in Italy... on the same circuit but under a different name. Very peculiar! Has something like this ever taken place before? In North America, a similar trend has been circuit names altered to include corporate sponsors, who are invited (more likely they demand) to attach their brand name to the circuit. What was once Laguna Seca is now Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca... sarcasm alert: Why is the original name allowed to freeload? Laguna Seca should pay or leave town!
Mosport (short for motorsport) is now Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, which you hear all the time because it's so delightful to say!
"Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounc'd it to you, trippingly on the tongue!"
-Hamlet
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Post by chrisb on Sept 23, 2024 10:00:16 GMT
Mikael I can't recollect this ever happening before, and was introduced to compensate for the cancellation of the Indian race, which is back next year, what was worse was that the WSB were a few hundred kilometres away and apparently sold out - whereas this clearly wasn't.
In saying that it was a bizarre weekend, in truth, Pecco dominant in the sprint race, which I missed as was at Headingly with the Aussies battering us yet again, at least it didn't rain...and then the main race on Sunday saw some controversial overtakes some strange happenings and some form returning to the sole Yamaha
Pecco led initially then dropped back as his tyres didn't work as well as Jorge and Enea who opened up a gap, leaving the rest of the field miles behind without much effort, then Pecco started speeding up and crashed. Which was a shame as he was catching Martin and Bastianini at a rate of knots, Marquez was a lonely 4th as both KTM's fell off, and then Bastianini did an overtake Marquez would have been proud of, no-one else would have been and to say it was harsh was a bit um 'harsh' and forced Martin off track, yet the stewards deemed it ok.
The good news for non Ducati fans, Yamaha were much much better - running 5th until the last corner when he ran out of fuel was the only Yamaha on the grid, Fabio was Mr Fabulous again, really great to see
Next year the excellent Simon Crafar is taking over as the steward and I do feel this is a really good move and will hopefully introduce some greater understanding and consistency
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Post by René on Sept 28, 2024 9:42:57 GMT
Indonesian Grand Prix - Mandalika The MotoGP weekend is already halfway with a victory for Franceso Bagnaia in the sprint race. Tomorrow the Grand Prix where Jorge Martin will start from pole position. 
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Post by chrisb on Oct 4, 2024 15:40:14 GMT
an amazing race in Indonesia , yet it seems so long ago as we have moved from there to one of my favourite countries and race tracks, I just adore those fans in Japan, they really do take rider worship to another level- brilliant, It is still one of the GP's that is on the list to go to, I would really love to visit,
As last year we are down to the two to go, Pecco vs Jorge, with all kinds of interlopers, KTM have started well with Brad Binder quickest - the sprint race is at 07:00 tomorrow [UK time] and with the unpredictability of the weather it could be anyone's.
There does seem to be a bit more feeling in this years championship, mainly it feels from Jorge, I am unsure what exactly I mean other than it feels more personal this year. Just hope for a good clean race
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Post by René on Oct 5, 2024 9:31:56 GMT
Japanese Grand Prix - Motegi Indeed Chris, the Japanese Grand Prix is already on its way! Pedro Acosta put it on pole for the sprint race for the first time in his career. But unfortunately, he crashed out of the lead with three laps to go! Francesco Bagnaia said 'thank you' and took the win. 
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Post by René on Oct 18, 2024 11:21:56 GMT
Australian Grand Prix - Phillip Island Four races to go and it's incredibly exciting between Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. After a strong weekend in Japan for Bagnaia, the difference is now only 10 points.  The Marquez brothers are fastest in the first practice.
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Post by chrisb on Oct 21, 2024 16:00:03 GMT
Phillip Island is such a brilliant circuit, with its undulations and fast corners, it really suits some more than others.
The sprint showed us Jorge unbeatable and the main race sees Marc doing the same, lots of people falling off and one scary incident between Bezz and Maverick where these wretched aerodynamics sucked Bez's bike into the back of Mav's bike at considerable speed and the resulting accident both were extremely fortunate to not get seriously hurt.
There were a host of stories going on, some good some unfortunate- Acosta had a bad prang and didn't race in the main race, others look liked they wanted to be elsewhere, and as usual the weather dominated proceedings-
onto Thailand next weekend and a more social time to watch
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Post by René on Oct 26, 2024 10:25:02 GMT
Thailand Grand Prix - Chang International Circuit Pole postion for Francesco Bagnaia for the main event but it's Enea Bastianini who wins the sprint! 
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Post by chrisb on Oct 26, 2024 10:38:24 GMT
Enea just left them behind after the first corner when a 'determined' Martin pushed Pecco out wide and allowed Enea through along with subsequently a rather subdued Marc Marquez, and followed in 5th literally miles behind was his brother.
Not exactly a great race - the heat playing a serious part in this race and the qualifying, what was good was that in qualifying Fabio was 6th Johann was in the speed and the Yamaha and Honda were looking strong, KTM with Pedro looked good in qualifying only sadly to end up in the kitty litter again. He did re-mount only to retire before the end of the race.
Wondering why there was a lack of excitement I noted who designed the circuit...
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Post by chrisb on Oct 27, 2024 10:18:19 GMT
One scary race - a brilliant ride by Pecco - the weather playing a serious part in today's races, oh my word it really was a knife-edge
Pecco won, Marquez crashed and rejoined and played a shifty card, Martin was a welcome for him 2nd and Pedro Acosta a very good 3rd, his battle with team-mate and mate Jack Miller was a sheer highlight - showing the world you can have a good clean and very tasty fight without tears, something MM sadly needs to learn as he nerfed Joan off the track.
DiGinnantonio was a very good 4th with Jack 5th and Brad 6th, big cheers to Maverick who ended up a lonely 7th and Zarco a brilliant 8th. Unluckiest rider has to be Fabio, running as high as 2nd at the start - a brilliant start only to get forced off and over by a very aggressive Frankie - a real shame as Fabio had the pace to compete with the KTM's and that would have been such a boost -
two more races to go - Malaysia next weekend then boring old Valencia going to go to the wire - no idea who will be champion this year - and it is tense
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Post by René on Oct 31, 2024 17:14:20 GMT
Malaysian Grand Prix - Sepang International The championship will go right down to the wire with only two races to go. Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia or Jorge Martin? Only 17 points separates them so it's anyone's guess. 
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Post by chrisb on Nov 2, 2024 12:04:44 GMT
catastrophe! I missed the qualifying as apparently it was one of the best ever sessions - the fight between Pecco and Jorge was astonishing-
Sadly it didn't manifest in the sprint race, Pecco went down and that was that - is it the end of the championship battle, odds are now stacked against Pecco now - yet as we all know it's ain't over until it's all over-
Best results of the sprint race were the Yamaha's - especially Fabio, 5th was truly such a great improvement- really pleased for them.
Big race tomorrow- I will do my very best to avoid the result and watch it 'live' some hours after the event, now that reminds me of a classic Hitchcock film and two archetypical English fans - my second favourite Hitch film.
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Post by chrisb on Nov 2, 2024 12:10:11 GMT
as a quick footnote and worthy of an extra entry, number 29 was back on the MotoGP grid, Iannone is back, albeit just covering for DiGiannantonio who is injured and maybe his first MotoGP sprint race didn't end in glory neither did it finish in tears
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Post by chrisb on Nov 3, 2024 11:23:21 GMT
my word what drama, the race was red flagged during the first lap and we feared the worst for Jack Miller, happily at time of writing he seems ok,
the second start and the opening few laps were hailed as some of the best for a century, I am not sure I would quite put them up there with Barcelona and Valle vs Lorenzo yet it was mighty close, extremely close, the race was full of excitement initially - then Pecco drew away and Jorge started to get a bit ragged so dropped back and Marc a fine 3rd initially dropped it and eventually finished 12th or something
There was so much incident and so many great rides, applause goes to Alex Marquez finished a fine 4th for me one of the best rides was Fabio who was caught up in the first incident and clearly hurt his leg and he finished 5th on his second bike and old engine, very impressed
With the tragedy that is unfolding in Valencia and my heart goes out to everyone caught up there in that appalling tragedy needless to say the final race which was scheduled to be at Valencia has been cancelled, they are suggesting Barcelona will now replace that race and it is looking likely.
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