Round 4 - Moto GP 2011, LeMans

[jhansen]

Normal service resumed.

The championship goes to the LeMans bugatti circuit, which is an underwhelming track with amazing atmosphere. I have not had a chance to look over the weather forecast, but we have seen all sorts of weather in the past. I suspect this will be a battle between the two Spaniards. Stoner and Simoncelli should also play a part. I am becoming more interested in Rossi. He was more his old self at the last race. Ducati are working overtime, and we are now approaching the time of the season where these changes will start to pay off.

In the lower categories, can Bradl and Terol be knocked off their perches?

[jhansen]

Honda domination so far. I'm surprised Lorenzo isn't closer quite frankly. I thought the situation would be similar to Estoril. It's only Friday though. The yahoo weather report shows sunny and partly cloudy. No rain, yet...

[jhansen]

Ah what can you say, when Stoner is on form he's simply brilliant.

[Born Racer]

Stupid penalty for Simoncelli.

[Mr V]

As they siad on BBC, where's the consistancy? I personally think that Simonchelli should have backed out, but that's irrespective. He goy a penalty when Rossi didn't for taking Stoner out 2 races ago.

Am i the only one seriously concerned for Dani's welfare? How much more damage can he do to his body?

[ghinzani]

Ironic that Pedrosa found the spat where Lorenzo was complaining about Sideshow Bobs overtaking style so funny at the last round, and then this happens. Marco has always been wild mind, he was worse in 250 if you recall.

[GORDON STREETER]

No way should it have been a ride through, fair enough sort it out afterwards.
Agreed he is a "bit mad" I seem to remember when he was in the 250s that he flipped the bike pulling a wheelie on the slowing down lap after winning one race

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by Mr V

As they siad on BBC, where's the consistancy? I personally think that Simonchelli should have backed out, but that's irrespective. He goy a penalty when Rossi didn't for taking Stoner out 2 races ago.

Am i the only one seriously concerned for Dani's welfare? How much more damage can he do to his body?

I dont think U can compare those two situations. Rossi made a mistake in Jerez and Stoner was an unfortunate victim. I believe Sic could have left a bit more room for Dani. The ride thru was to harsh in my opinion.

I hope Dani will be able to ride in Barca, as he is the only one being able to make Stoners life difficult.

I was expecting a penalty for Rossi as well, as he outbreaked Dovi under yellow at the scene of Pedrosas fall. Then again what was I thinking, he's Rossi...

[chunder]

The thing is Simoncelli has a very poor track record. He has been done in 250's, been complained about a few times in GP and the riders have clubbed together to issue an official complaint about his riding.

Comparing that crash to Rossi and Stoner is Jerez is total garbage as Rossi crashed without touching anyone, so forget that. But the one with Lorenzo at Valencia applies as the same thing happened, Sic just roder across the front of another rider and anyone can just ride across the front of another as the bloke behind is always mroe likely to crash.

If you watch, entering the braking zone Simonceli was a bike length behind, Dani brakes is going fo the apex and would not expect MArco to go round the outside, nothing wrong with that, but to then just rol,l across the front end of someone else is very stupid and dangerous.

I don't agree with the ride thru, but the boy who cried wolf thing applies here I am afraid. If he never did it before noone would complain, other riders can get away with more coz they dont have form.

It should not happen that way but I am glad that the officials have taken into account more common sense in that a rider that consistently has trouble with contact with rivals for many years has been done over.

[Andy77]

I was away all weekend, working for and helping out at my fire stations 140th anniversary celebrations. I missed every session and only have caught up now with the results.
I must say I am getting impressed with little Bradl as he finally seems to hold his act together instead of throwing it away. Now that I am done with all the work at fire station I am getting all excited on the NW 200

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by chunder

Comparing that crash to Rossi and Stoner is Jerez is total garbage as Rossi crashed without touching anyone,

Rossi did actually have contact with Stoner, it's just that it happened after Rossi hit the deck, but the same applies in my opinion. Rossi (unintentionally) ruined Stoners race. I'm sure that Marco didn't mean to take Dani out either, although riding across him like that is more likely to do the job.

But my original point remains, if Rossi ruined Stoners race, why shouldn't he be penalised? But as he wasn't is it right to penalise Simonchelli?

I think your right though, he's been penalised because of his past record, the fact that the current World Champion has been on his case too may have something to do with it also? After all, had Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo done the same thing to Dani yesterday, would they have been punished? I doubt it.

I think that Simonchelli was 100% at fault yesterday (i read on twitter that that's Ben Spies view too and he's more of an expert than me) but we either penalise riders or we don't.

[jhansen]

I'm on the fence about Simoncelli. We need guys that are not afraid to mix it up. I'm so tired of these robots that trod along setting fast laps at will. I will say though, he could have easily waited a lap or two, and tried again. He was clearly faster than Pedrosa.

With that said, I've seen comments from other riders that say Pedrosa should have tightened his line instead of standing the bike up. The photos show that he had enough room if he would stayed in the corner and leaned the bike over more. Heck, maybe he could have even roughed Simoncelli up and run him wide into the gravel!

[Andy77]

Still laughable incidents compared to this one in 1998 involving Tetsuya Harada and Loris Capirossi:

Originally Posted by wiki

1998 was a pivotal year for Harada. He battled his Aprilia team-mate, Capirossi for the championship with Harada leading for most of the season when the two riders were involved in a controversial incident at the final race of the year in Argentina.[3] Harada had the world championship within sight, leading the race into the final corner of the final lap when Harada's bike was rammed from behind by Capirossi's machine, sending the Japanese rider off the track. Valentino Rossi passed both riders for the victory while Capirossi claimed second place and the world championship. Harada would finish the season in third place behind Capirossi and Rossi. It was small consolation for Harada when Aprilia showed its displeasure with Capirossi's conduct by releasing him after the season.

[Dani Filth]

no need for wiki .. I remember it well .. just like Senna in 90

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

no need for wiki .. I remember it well .. just like Senna in 90

I remembered the incident, just not when.
Put up the quote as not everybody might remember it

[gomick]

Bit different, Senna & Prost had been fueding since 88 - dont remember Harada & Capirossi having issues before Capirossi's dog act... Nothing wrong with Simoncelli's riding - harden up precious Spaniards

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Am i the only one seriously concerned for Dani's welfare? How much more damage can he do to his body?

You're not the only one! It can't be good to keep breaking bones in such a seemingly fragile body. Daft understatement I know. I've kinda warmed to his riding style when he is really on it. I hope he is back challenging soon.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by jhansen

I'm on the fence about Simoncelli...

With that said, I've seen comments from other riders that say Pedrosa should have tightened his line instead of standing the bike up. The photos show that he had enough room if he would stayed in the corner and leaned the bike over more. Heck, maybe he could have even roughed Simoncelli up and run him wide into the gravel!

My thoughts exactly, Marco may have chopped him off in a rather careless fashion (as if there was no rider on his inside) but if Dani was really going to make the corner, why on earth did he stand the bike up? To my tiny non-bike rider mind, standing it up is the reaction of a rider who has decided they are not going to make the corner.

Anyway, random question for you Chunder, whaddaya make of Bradley Smith's season so far? Your thoughts please.

PS: Nice to hear Regis Laconi on the Eurosport broadcast.

[chunder]

Bradders is doing fine, but to be honest I thinik Bradl and maybe Iannone have found something that is making them miles quicker.

Bradl is doing the saem as Elias last year really.

Redding has been disappointing for me, the Suter doesnt seem as quick this year

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by chunder

the Suter doesnt seem as quick this year

You mean the VDS Suter hasn't been quick.

[gostickitdecals]

It's hard to point the finger of fault when in racing you're making a split second decision, you don't have time to have a ponder about making and move..

The Simo/Pedrosa crash they've both made split second decisions, which this time ended in Pedrosa crashing.

Rossi passing under a yellow. My own experience on the track is quite often you don't see the flags. And the GCR's (the rulebook) states the team manager must forward a rider/team complaint to race control within a certain number of laps, identifying the lap number, rider #'s and the corner number.

It's up to the teams discretion whether a yellow pass complaint is submit to race control. No complaint, no penalty.

The teams tend not to make complaints about waved yellow passing, (unless it's an extreme case of waved yellow passing for a major unfair advantage) as it just results in all the teams dobbing on each other over small things. They just don't bother with it..

Great win by Stoner & fantastic move on Rossi by Dovi for 2nd !