McLaren ‘Living the dream’ with Marks and Sparks
Marks & Spencer have announced a partnership with McLaren and will be producing a range of children's clothing, entitled "Living the dream". The range will be available in all M&S stores from the 19th September.
Random fact: I had a jumper with racing cars on it when I was a little boy. Not flowers. It wasn't from M&S though.
Weekly round-up 20/08/2009
Time to have a quick look at what's happening in motor sport in the aftermath of the Czech Motorbike Grand Prix and this week's upcoming Formula 1 race on the Valencia street circuit.
Formula 1
- The fledgling USF1 team that is to enter F1 next season have announced that they have the backing of Youtube. What this will mean to Bernie's practice of having F1 footage removed from the website as a breach of copyright, will remain to be seen.
- Nelson Piquet Jr has been replaced by Roman Grosjean for the rest of the season. The Brazilian has launched a broadside against Renault boss Flavio Briatore, saying that he has no clue about racing. This is something that Briatore has been accused of before, having been nicknamed "the T-shirt salesman" in the early years of his involvement in the sport.
- For this weekends race, the Valencia street track has been modified, with the pit lane exit revised and walls moved back from the track on some corners. The pit lane exit did appear to be downright dangerous last year, so any improvement will be welcome, however moving walls from street circuits surely removes the challenge of this type track. Martin Brundle won't be pleased (The BBC commentator has been very critical of the changes to the Monaco circuit, which he feels has made it easier).
MotoGP
- Casey Stoner will miss out the next two Grand Prix as he continues treatment in Australia for the mysterious illness that has dogged him this season.
- Jorge Lorenzo's future still appears up in the air, with rumours appearing daily on the net concerning Ducati's overtures to the Mallorcan. It seems that the Italian team is worried that Casey Stoner's recovery could be long and they will need another top-line replacement. However, Lorenzo should be aware of the Desmosedici's career damaging reputation, as only Stoner has so far got to grips with it's handling characteristics.
- Despite his embarrassing accident while trying a wheelie on the slowing down lap at Brno, Alvaro Bautista will step up to the MotoGP class next year with Suzuki in place of Chris Vermulen.
DTM
- Four cars have been sealed for examination by the German Motorsport Authority in order be used as reference for the DTM development freeze. These cars will then be used to enforce the freeze for the next year and a half, before the technical regulations change in 2011.
Sportscars
- 1992 Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell will be taking part in the Silverstone 1000kms in the Team LNT's Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 prototype next month. He will be one of three drivers, comprising himself, his son Greg and team owner Lawrence Tomlinson.
Rossi takes Czech win, Lorenzoland remains unclaimed
Like a legion of true believers, they were ready for the time of their idols victory. Spain's most flamboyant motorcycle racer, Jorge Lorenzo, had been setting the pace all weekend at Brno until his Yamaha team mate Valentino Rossi (some say he's quite good, you know), beat him to pole at the end of qualifying. However, it was generally accepted that Lorenzo was the man most on the pace and would take the chequered flag first.
Jorge's boys were dotted around the Brno racetrack, waiting to climb over the barriers and drive those 'Lorenzoland' banners into the sand traps. Despite leading from pole, Rossi was overtaken by Lorenzo with six laps to go and the flags were about to be unfurled. But then in an attempt to ward off a challenge by Mr Rossi, Lorenzo broke late and ditched his bike into the scenery.
The flags fell to the ground and the heads hung low as the matador left the arena.
Having a smashing time...
Lorenzo's smashed Yamaha was not the only wrecked bike left at the side of the track yesterday. Mika Kallio (standing in for a sick Casey Stoner) and Marco Melandri had a 'handbags at dawn' incident when the two collided and wrote both their bikes off. However, this is nothing compared to the 'Twat of the week' award nominee, Alvaro Bautista, with this stunning display of stunt riding gone wrong. The Spaniard, lying second in the 250cc world championship, had finished third in the 250 race and attempted a celebratory wheelie. Team owner Jorge Martinez (Triple world champ himself) was probably not too pleased to see his expensive bike trashed in such an unnecessary way. Oh well, it gave the rest of us a good laugh!
Dani Pedrosa took second and Tony Elias did a superb job to come third. As for James Toseland, he managed ninth after another difficult weekend.
I must say that the Brno circuit looked superb this weekend and it's layout provided some great racing. F1 Czech Grand Prix anyone? Plus I'm also going to post this link, as it is one of my favourite Youtube films: the Brno road circuit hosting it's last GP in 1982. Back in the days when men were men and used vans were dumped on the side of the track. So without further ado, sit back and enjoy Mang vs Lavado and Wimmer!
Massa leaves hospital, Schumacher returns
He's back. The man that some call the greatest and others call the greatest cheat has returned to Grand Prix racing. Philipe Massa is now out of hospital, looking like he's done ten rounds with Lennox Lewis and will not be racing for the next few Grand Prix at least. Therefore Ferrari are playing their wildcard and putting the ze greatest living German back in their car.
Whether or not he is able to get back up to speed and compete will remain to be seen, but he is the best man to bring back to deliver in the car. Hire Villeneuve or Schumacher? If I was a team boss, I would pick Schumacher every time. Over the last two and a bit years since retiring, the German has showed no signs of letting his competitive edge dull, racing in the German Superbike series and karting. His commitment to race and compete is still there (plus all those world championships), so he really is the best 'super-sub' they could get.
However, Mr Schumacher's approach to sportsmanship and bending of the rules has always left a lot to be desired. I could recount several examples but they have all been repeated on TV, radio and the internet countless times. Needless to say, only Jean Todt has probably missed this approach to getting results and many people will be watching him for any 'gamesmanship'.