Weekly round-up 03/09/2010
This is a quick round up of the week and a look forward to this weekends action:
MotoGP
It's the San Marino Grand Prix (or Adriatic Grand Prix) or whatever else they call it this weekend, a race that every Italian in every class will want to do well in. Jorge Lorenzo, on the other hand, will be looking to consolidate his championship lead to keep ahead of the resurgent Dani Pedrosa and Honda. Valentino Rossi will also be hoping for a good result at home in front of his fans.
DTM
It's the Brand Hatch round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft this weekend and I will be making my annual trek to see it with my brother. The big draw this year will be former Grand Prix star David Coulthard, who is racing for Mercedes this season in addition to his BBC duties. However, the real sharp end of the racing will be proved by Championship leader Bruno Spengler, McLaren test driver Gary Paffett and last years winner Paul DiResta.
I'll write a up a report of my weekend on Monday, telling you stories of sitting the back of the van waiting for practice to begin, fry-ups in the Octagon and the roar of those Mercedes and Audi's battling their way around the track. See you later!
Lorenzo wins at Brno as the silly season begins…
We'll dispense with the race report today as we all know that Jorge Lorenzo won the Czech Grand Prix at Brno yesterday. It is now increasingly likely that the superb Spaniard will take the MotoGP title this year, with arch rival Dani Pedrosa the only rider capable of giving him a run for his money week in, week out (fellow aliens Stoner and Rossi are encumbered with either mechanical or health woes).
Instead I'm going to divert your attention to the fact that the silly season has started in earnest in MotoGP. For a start, the worst kept rumour in the sport has been proved right, Valentino Rossi IS going to Ducati next year. This is the key piece of the puzzle, as it means that Yamaha and Tech 3 can get on with signing riders and contracts etc. Ducati Corse will be using the rest of their savings account to pay for Nicky Hayden to stay on another year. With Rossi gone, it is almost certain that Ben Spies will be moving up to the factory Yamaha team, with his place in Tech 3 being taken by the highly rated Englishman Cal Crutchlow (not confirmed at all as I write this). Where Colin Edwards is going is less clear, with murmurings of a return to WSB being mooted.
Over at Honda, we will probably find out shortly whether HRC will be fielding a three bike factory team next year or if Andrea Dovisioso will be taking his P45 to another team. What is certain is that Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa will be wearing the Repsol colours for Honda next year. The Gresini Honda squad also face a similar dilemma with Marco Simonchelli and Marco Melandri, as it is said that Loris Capirossi maybe being lined up for a third seat.
So as you can see, the cards have been thrown into the air and we can only make an educated guess as to where they will land. However, expect them to hit the ground very soon now that Mr Rossi has done his deal.
Rossi steals the show again
Jorge Lorenzo won the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca on Sunday, furthering his championship lead, however someone else got the limelight. Yes, Valentino Rossi stole the show by finishing third, overtaking Andrea Dovisioso in the final laps of the race. He took to the podium on crutches with his trademark big grin, however the race had taken a lot out of him. He admitted to the BBC's Matt Roberts, that he was suffering at the end and would need the next few weeks to recuperate.
Dani Pedrosa led from the start once again but slung his Honda into the scenery on lap 11 after coming under pressure from his countryman Lorenzo. Casey Stoner continued his good form by finishing second on the Ducati. Nicky Hayden won his duel with fellow American Ben Spies to finish fifth and as the top American.
However, ride of the day really should go to the 'Doctor', I mean it's not like he's riding for the money, as he must have enough in his savings account. I think it's that need to be the best and of course, the speed. I imagine the others rider are worried already...
Continuing our high speed Eco-battle…
As saving the planet is the subject of the day today, I've dug up another interesting story, this time about Porsche's attempts to make a hybrid car. It does sound unlikely that one of the world's most famous high performance car manufacturers has created a car that attempts to harmonise with the environment, but it's true.
The 911 GT3 R Hybrid has been built with a standard petrol engine, but with an additional electric motor which powers the front wheels. This is used as a boost for when extra power is needed, for either speed on the straights or when overtaking. When not in use, the motor is recharged by the turning of the front wheels.
Now as we all know, the Germans are very meticulous and thorough. They had to test it and where did they chose to test? Only at the Nurburgring 24 hours! This demanding event is not held on the small Grand Prix track, but on the 14 mile monster itself.
Take a look at the car in action below:
F1: Environmentally friendly?
Formula One team are planning to cut their emissions by 15% over the next three years. The most inward and reality cocooned sport on the face of the planet has decided to clean up it's act? How has this come about? Well, unsurprisingly the impetus has come from sponsors, anxious to be associated with cleaner products. As a result, FOTA is looking to:
- Use smaller engines such as a 1.5 litre turbo.
- Reduce fuel allotment to maybe 80kg.
- A rationalisation of the race calendar to prevent numerous continent crossings.
For more info on this, take a look at this story on the BBC website.
Turkish Grand Prix: Button tops 2nd practice
Jensen Button topped the time sheets in Istanbul during second practice for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix. The Red Bull duo of Marc Webber and Sebastian Vettel were second and third respectively. The top six was rounded off by Hamilton, Alonso and Rosberg. Although I'm not making any predictions, the Mclarens do seem pretty well hooked up here, as Hamilton headed the first practice session with Jensen just behind him.
WSBK Kyalami: Haslam extends lead
Despite another crushing display from the 'Roman Emperor' at Monza, Leon Haslam is still leading the World Superbike Championship, thanks to another pair of excellent rides in Sunday's round at Kyalami and savings made with double points finishes in the previous round. Race 1 saw the Suzuki Alstare rider come in third behind winner Michael Fabrizio (Ducati) and Carlos Checa. Haslam then took victory in the second race leading Jonathan Rea and Max Biaggi home.
The Englishman now leads Max Biaggi by fifteen points, but I imagine that the four time 250cc world champion and MotoGP star will give him a very tough time right through the season.
Webber conquers the principality
Well, the Aussies may have lost the Cricket, but they seem to be doing alright with this F1 lark. Marc Webber was triumphant on the streets of Monaco yesterday, as he managed to weather three lead-slashing safety car periods to take the chequered flag. Seb Vettel finished in second but was unable to mount a challenge to his team mate and his bemusement at this fact was quite clear in the post-race press conference. Robert Kubica rounded off the top three with a massively impressive drive, easing off only to save his flat-spotted tyres.
Michael Schumacher made what I thought was a great opportunist move, overtaking Alonso on the last lap at Rascasse. However, due to a safety car technicality, it was not to be. The German was penalised and Alonso retained his position. Jensen Button retired with mechanical failure and Lewis Hamilton started fifth and finished the same.
Oddly, in a season where Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton were expected to blow the others out of the weeds (like Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo and Pedrosa do in MotoGP), it is Marc Webber and Jenson Button who are leading the way. Button, despite being reigning world champ, was ruled out as many thought that Hamilton would destroy him. In reality, it hasn't quite worked out like that, has it? As for Marc Webber, James Allen in his Monaco race report likens the Australian's career to that of Nigel Mansell's; always thought of a make-weight until he hit his world-class prime at 33. I think he could be right.
Weekly round-up 06/05/2010
Here are a few stories that are doing the rounds today:
Splitting the field
Qualifying may be split for the Monaco Grand Prix this year, due to the gap between the time of the front runners and the boys at the back. Fears of congestion on the famous street circuit have prompted fears from drivers looking to maximise their chances at qualifying well for Sunday's race. Read more here.
I've been rubbish
Unfortunately, I've had no time to write anything about the MotoGP races at the weekend. If you want a more authoritative review of the two wheeled action at Jerez (i.e. someone who was there), click here.
Lotus chase improvements
James Allen is back on film with this interesting interview with Mike Gascoyne. The Lotus Technical Director is chasing an extra two seconds in performance..
1972 and all that…
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's Youtube time once again! There is some magnificent footage of races from the 1972 season available on the site, much better than the cinefilm-and-contemporary-voice-over that you usually find. Here are some of the clips that I've found:
1972 British Grand Prix
Fittipaldi in a JPS Lotus, Ickx in a Ferrari, Stewart in a Tyrell, Brands Hatch... oh just click here!!!!
1972 Brazilian Grand Prix
A non-championship race with an excellent turnout of drivers, plus the fantastic full Interlagos track. Listen to the commentators going wild when the Fittipaldi brothers slug it out! Note all the cars and vans strewn about the track. Click here to watch.
1972 Austrian Grand Prix
The Osterreichring in all it's glory, just watch the cars swing through the Hella Licht corner and the Boschkurve. You can find it here.
1972 Italian Grand Prix
The first year with chicanes but still super-fast. Mike 'The Bike' Hailwood's finest hour in F1. Great footage of Italian policemen poking about with Stewart's Tyrell after he abandons it. It's also worth noting how scrappy and amateurish the chicanes are. See it here.
I shall see if I can find more gems, as I've seen a couple of 1974 films too. What I love about these clips is the immediacy of them, making you feel like you are watching it all live on television without any extraneous rubbish, plus the film quality is superb. Enjoy!