MotoGP

[Henrik]

Thank god for motorcycle racing! I have just watched the 125cc and the 250cc races at Jerez, and I am totally exhausted. The show those guys put on is just incredible. I have forgotten the time when I would get excited like that watching F1, so I am still happy to get to see these guys.

There is still so much passion in this sport, and the riders give it their best, and more. Just watching how Fonsi Nieto manages to win his home race, and then be carried by the marshals to celebrate the victory almost brings tears to my eyes by the emotion there.

And what to say about the 125cc? Totally amazing! The top drivers going way beyond their limits, pushing every lap to try and get ahead. Then the last lap drama with Poggiali hitting the poor de Angelis, who really deserved to be on the podium, only to over do it in the last corner as he tries to take the victory from Checchinello and crash out. Truly amazing racing, and to think some of the contenders are 15 years old!!! I am in awe, and heading back for the final race of the day.

Okay, the motogp race lacked the intensity of the other two, primarily due to the dominance of the new Honda 4 stroke and Valentino Rossi, it is still great to see how they ride these beasts. The images send shivers down your spine, and the producers really know their stuff as they catch all the action. Congratulations to Kato who managed to come in second with a 2 stroke, and a big thanks to the fighting spirit of Capirossi, who together with Ukawa gave us soma dditional excitement in the last two laps.

:Bounce:  :Bounce:

Here's a determined Nieto!

[Henrik]

While I'm on the topic of motorcycles, I wanted to mention something about overtaking.

In a recent interview of Max Moseley, he explained that it is actually more interesting that there are so few overtakings in F1 these days. It makes them all the more exciting when they happen. (These are his words, not mine!!!)

So, in F1-live, I read some comments on the interview with a number of posters agreeing with Max. A comparison to football was made, and how since there are so few goals, it makes the once that happen all the more exciting. I just can't agree with this, which brings me back to the motorcycles.

There were loads of lead changes, and we are talking of a lead made up of 5 or 6 bikes. Non-stop action from the green light. Now, I would like to know if anybody found that boring?

It drives me crazy when people speak like that about F1. It is supposed to be about racing, and racing does involve trying to overtake the guy in front. It is not about playing "follow the leader". And the Max goes on to say how it is really exciting that overtaking is done in the pits. Damn, if I write anymore here, I'll have to move my post to "Bitch baby, bitch".

:Rant:  :Rant:  :Rant:

[da_silva]

Effing lawyers!!  

[Henrik]

So, there was racing on TV today again! Back to motorcycles at the Bugatti track at Le Mans in France, and the usual line up of three categories.

Kicking off the action as always were the 125cc. As a side note, the fastest speed reached in qualifying was 222kmh, on a 125cc!! As always, the fight was intense, and the potential winners numbered something like ten. One of the most amazing drives of the day was produced by Arnaud Vincent, who having messed his start was back in 11th after the 1st lap. By lap 12, he was up in 2nd place, only to be pushed wide by an over-enthusiastic de Angelis, and falls back to 7th. Makes his way back to 3rd, and is again pushed, but this time by Azuma, and is now 6th. At the finish-line, he manages to get 4th. Checchinello wins, as in Jerez, followed by Poggialo and Pedrosa.

Next up we have the 250cc. The race starts without too much action, and quickly a group of five riders get a bit of a lead. Locatelli, Melandri, Nieto, de Puniet, and the amazing 16 year old Australian talent Casey Stoner make up the lead group. On lap 10 Stoner is a victim of his inexperience and crashes. Soon, Melandri and Nieto breakaway, and the action calms again before the final two laps. Melandri and Nieto change position 4 times in this lap, observing each other, and as they enter the last lap, Nieto takes the lead, and manages to close all the gaps so Melandri is unable to get through. De Puniet takes the third spot.

The first two races had not been as exciting as the Jerez ones, but the motoGP race is of a higher quality than what it was two weeks ago. The Yamahas have found some more speed, and there is a quartet in the front made up of Rossi and Ukawa on the Hondas, and Biaggi and Checa on the Yamahas. On lap ten, a bit of rain falls, tightening up the front as Checa crashes out. Both Ukawa and Biaggi pass Rossi, and the always amazing Abe begins to catch the trio. Soon Abe has made the junction, and goes for a pass on Rossi. Rossi realizes the danger, and decides to up the tempo again, passing Biaggi and Ukawa to take the lead. Problem at this point is that more rain falls, and as the leaders raise their hand, the red flag is brought out. It was a pity the race was cut short, as Abe seemed to be on a roll, and Biaggi probably had it in him to challenge Rossi before the end. Still, some very close racing, and an entertaining afternoon.

I guess next week it’s back to boring old F1 again….

[Henrik]

Man what a race!!

I just got back from a very long day at the go-kart track, a bit disgusted with racing (but I'll get in to that on another thread), and decided to relax by watching the motorcycles races from today.

Relax??

I have only seen the 125cc race so far, and that has to be about the most exciting race ever, all categories included. All through the race, there was a pack of no less than 15 riders within less than a second, fighting it out until the end. Positions would change every single corner, each one of the riders going beyond what is physically possible. And then the last lap....

I have almost lost my voice from screaming!! Too much!!

The battle raged until the very end, clean, tight, and just simply amazing.

And I was hoping to relax...

Now I'm worried because I still have the 250cc and the motogp to watch.

Back for more later....

:Bounce:

[Henrik]

I have been waiting for the news as to who will be driving the new Ducati MotoGP bike next year. Just read who it will be...

Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss!! ;D

I was worried for a while that Max Biaggi would end up there, and I also heard rumours Troy would not. This should be great for 2002!!

The downside is that the title sponsor will be Marlboro. I'm afraid another red machine will lose it's original beautiful deep red colour...

[greg99]

Excellent news!! Go show'em Troy!!!

Does that seal the fate of Superbike? I guess so......

I'll still be supporting Ruben Xaus

[Henrik]

Oh Greg,

I forgot to tell you...Ducati has not renewed Ruben's contract for next year. Have no idea what he will be doing.

Superbike should still be around though, partly with the new Foggy Petronas team. I'm sure Ruben will get to ride a bike for somebody there...

[greg99]

AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

That's too many bad news for one day

Good bye cruel motor sport world.....

[Henrik]

MotoGP kicked off today.....

It was a good start, that has ended tragically...

Daijiro Kato is fighting for his life after a terrible accident in the MotoGP series.

That 125cc race hade me on the edge of the sofa as usual, with an amazing last lap. The 250cc was less spectacular, with most of the top guys having problems, but with Poggiali coming from 23rd to win!

Then the MotoGP. Rossi rules the day, with Biaggi behind him and Capirossi an excellent third in the first race of the Ducati. Bayliss in 5th. But my thoughts are with Kato right now, and I'm hoping he pulls through. An amazing natural talent....

[OT]

It was quite horrifying seeing Kato motionless on the track amongst all the debris and the marshals trying to get him onto a stretcher before the pack came around again...

...thoughts and prayers...

[PabsNotLoggedIn]

I sincerely hope he recovers...

[Senninha]

Ditto the above...

Motorsport can be dangerous etc

[JWK]

What got me when watching it was how little attention was given to him by the commentators and camera crew etc. It seemed as if they took it in their stride and just forgot about it. If that had happened in F1 there would be no talk but that of the accident by the commentators.

Congrats to capirossi on a good first showing for ducati, but boy, i hate seeing things like this happen

All the best for a recovery

[CFF]

Latest report I saw on Kato (April 10th) was that while still in ICU and in a coma, his condition had changed and he was no longer considered on the edge of death. His blood pressure and heart rate had both returned to 'normal'.

Hopefully his brain is keeping the rest of his body resting until time when he can open his eyes. At this point, the most important hope is that he hasn't suffered brain injuries which would leave him incapacitated for the rest of his life.

Thoughts & prayers are with Kato-san and his family ...

CFF