Wake up early or set the DVR

[Randy]

MotoGP live from Jerez on Speed at 8am EDT on Sunday. Check your local listings.

 

[James Burleigh]

Thanks for the heads up, Randy. I can't F**KING believe for the second year in a row I missed the first race of the season! :angry:

How's Vali gonna do this year on the Ducati?

 

[dragonchef]

9PM Sunday night here in Seoul...

We get it on Star Sports. The sound mix is terrible, they have the commentary so low the TV has to be cranked to understand what they are saying, not to mention the British/Scottish accents so hard to understand...

Anyhow...maybe with no football this year, MotoGP will get a bigger following in the US!

 

[rogdeb]

Thanks Randy - I'll inform my live-in programmer - she'd hate to miss these.

 

[Randy]

Thanks for the heads up, Randy. I can't F**KING believe for the second year in a row I missed the first race of the season! :angry:

How's Vali gonna do this year on the Ducati?

If I knew the answer, I would be a very rich man. It's the hardest bet...can't bet for him because he's still not 100% healthy, but, can't bet against the (arguably) best ever. I don't think the championship is in reach, but, maybe 2 wins and 4 other podiums would be my guess. I'm thinking they're going to spend most of the year getting the team used to the factory and next year on the big bike will be very very interesting.

 

[Jim in Phoenix]

Amazing race. In the rain, and crashes everywhere. Lorenzo kept his cool and won going away - and Spies could of had second but crashed with the podium in sight. Meanwhile, Rossi took out Stoner when he lost the front and slid into Stoner - Rossi was able to restart and had a respectable finish. No interview at the end but maybe something on Speed TV tonight. I hope everyone was able to set their DVR to catch the whole thing.

 

[airboss]

Moto GP and F-1, only two things that'll get me up early on a Sunday morning, except a good day for a ride.

 

[wfooshee]

I'd like to know if something broke on Stoner's bike, not being able to get it refired . . . .

I was worried about Rossi, sliding into the gravel with that leg pinned under two bikes! The pass was not a good idea, he was just too far back.

Spies was dropping back early after a fairly good start. I think three guys got by him before those in front started dropping their bikes. Then I'm thinking that all he's got to do is stay on the bike for a podium, and then for second, but damn. . . . Ya gotta stay on the bike!

Can't wait to see the 125 and Moto2 races when Speed shows them Tuesday. If they had the same level of rain, those crowded grids could be quite interesting.

 

[Randy]

What a mess of a race. Sucked for Ben and Colin. Haven't heard official word, but, word is that Ben's bike had a broken/damaged footpeg and shift lever and damaged handlebar and a completely shot tire.

I'm def a fan of Nicky and was happy to see him get Duc's 1st podium of the year. Not sure he'll get another chance to get that close to the front again this year...the talent pool is very very deep.

 

[Bugnatr]

All racing should be in the rain. I know, sucks for the riders but what a race to watch, never really who would get what until the end. Most entertaining Moto GP race in quite a while.

Sucks our boys crashed out but how about Rossi getting 5th after crashing. Holy cow!

Do you think the Stoner fans are just a bit pissed? Rossi did look like Pedrosa taking out Hayden when they were team mates a while back.

 

[Crash Cash]

I'd like to know if something broke on Stoner's bike, not being able to get it refired . . . .

According to Stoner, after Rossi left, all the marshals except one ran back to their posts, and the one guy wasn't able to get the Honda going. He's not so mad about that failed pass as he's hopping furious about the marshal's behavior. When Spies dropped it, I'm sure my yelp woke up all the neighbors.

Since I can't get up early in the morning, I stayed up all night to see the race. Missed my airshow, but the race was worth it!

 

[wfooshee]

That wasn't clear in the coverage, thanks. They kapt saying Stoner was furious, but not what about.

 

[Crash Cash]

FWIW my info about Stoner is from Ryder Notes on Superbike Planet.

 

[TestPilot]

Rossi came from a long way back and lost the front, taking Stoner out. Both bikes ended up pretty well on top of Rossi, and Stoner picked up his bike. The marshalls then clustered around Rossi getting him started, and gave only token assistance to Stoner. Of course Rossi, being the sportsman that he isn't, didn't care that he had taken his rival out, and had effectively been helped by Stoner lifting his bike of Rossi; but at the end of the race make a big show of going to "apologise" making sure the cameras were all following. Showmanship, not apology. Stoners reaction was cordial. Quote from Casey to Rossi: "Your ambition outweighs your talent" and on the performance we saw you've got to say Casey is right.

Now there is to be a hearing into the actions of the marshalls:

And from the official MotoGP website today: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/FIM+will+review+the+incident+Stoner+Rossi

Statement of the MotoGP Race Direction

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

 

The FIM will review how the Rossi-Stoner collision in Jerez was handled.

 

Following the collision between Rossi and Stoner during the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix on 3 April in Jerez, the Race Direction has decided to organize a hearing with the Clerk of the Course and the Chief Marshal in order to review the incident and to hear the explanation of the officials in charge.

 

Due to the fact that the final decision of the Race Direction will not affect the result of the race, the hearing will be organized on Thursday 28 April in Estoril, Portugal.Count how many are helping Rossi, who caused the crash, and how many are helping Stoner:

 

[TestPilot]

FWIW my info about Stoner is from Ryder Notes on Superbike Planet.

Thanks for that link - a pretty good summary of the way I saw it.

 

[MotorToad]

I haven't seen anything mentioned on why once Stoner did get his bike running, he went to the pits to ***** instead of getting points. This puts me in a frame of mind to not care what he says.

 

[Randy]

I haven't seen anything mentioned on why once Stoner did get his bike running, he went to the pits to ***** instead of getting points. This puts me in a frame of mind to not care what he says.

I didn't think he was able to get it running. I know he couldn't get it bumpstarted because the Honda with their newfangled tranny have to put 2 pins in the clutch when they start it on the rollers. You can bumpstart it without the pins, but, it's very difficult. Once you are at the point where you can't get it started, the bike has to be moved out of the way. If he couldn't get the bike back to the pits by either pushing it or riding it, he couldn't go back out. If he had damage, but, was able to get it back to the pits, he could have had repairs made and gone back out.

 

[JT 384]

Thanks for the info!

 

[TestPilot]

I haven't seen anything mentioned on why once Stoner did get his bike running, he went to the pits to ***** instead of getting points. This puts me in a frame of mind to not care what he says.

Stoner didn't get his bike running (see post #11 above, and others too) and he didn't get help to get it running.

Here's your answer (a direct quote from the article referenced above by Crash Cash https://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Apr/110403rydernotes2.htm ) and the picture I posted shows the marshalls swarming over Rossi:

What he was even more displeased about was the actions of the Spanish marshals. Casey's bike was undamaged but he'd managed to hit the kill switch on his way to the floor and needed a push while Rossi's bike was running. Only one marshal tried to push start Casey, the rest ran back to their post after Rossi had departed. Now the Honda's clutch, for whatever reason, requires a push start from two people. HRC know this but obviously see compensating advantages. Casey said that if they'd pushed him he'd have go the bike started and there were an awful lot of points to be scooped up.

 

This is the basis of Casey's complaints, and he has a point. 'This is something that riders who go against Valentino have to deal with.' Casey was happy to widen his argument to include the Safety Commission and Race Direction. With true Aussie distrust of the Establishment, he sees them as a bunch old men who've known each other for a long time and who—in his eyes—favor certain riders. As for the Safety Commission, a riders' body, he doesn't bother going anymore. This is more of a direct dig at Valentino who he sees as holding sway over the rest of the MotoGP grid. 'Why were they talking abut weight limits this weekend? That's not a safety issue?'