I’ve been a bit slack the last week or so. Working full-time at school means that time is very precious out of school time and family matters need to be optimised on the weekend. So, sorry I haven’t written much lately.
This is not to say that things are not hotting up, however.
As of next weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix, MotoGP riders will get an extra practice session. This is a one-off deal so that organiers can assess the impact and possible value. There will now be 4×45 minute sessions rather than 3×1 hour sessions. How many riders will take full advantage given the parlous nature of some of the teams’ engine allocations is another issue altogether.
There will be a minute’s silence at the Aragon meeting to commemorate the memory of Shoya Tomizawa as well as the same at his home GP at Motegi.
Loris Capirossi is a doubtful starter this weekend after enduring a long and complicated operation on his finger. Given their engine blues, it’s likely that Suzuki will not replace Capirex for this meeting. And, on the subject of Suzuki, it seems that they have attracted the attention of Randy de Puniet who is angling for a ride with the blue team in 2011. Now I’ve made my feelings very clear on this matter before. Anyone who willingly volunteers to ride for Suzuki is in serious need of therapy. Despite his accident at Sachsenring, de Puniet is in the middle of his best MotoGP season ever on the Honda which, by now, is regarded as the fastest bike in the paddock (and his satellite bike almost as quick). Why in heaven’s name he’d want to swap that for the heap of junk that is the GSVR I really cannot fathom.
If this does come to pass (and I hope, for Randy’s sake, that it doesn’t). MotoGP reject and almost-certain Moto2 Champion, Tony Elias, is in talks with LCR about taking his place and reviving his MotoGP career.
After undergoing medical treatment, Scott Redding is hopeful of taking his place on the grid this weekend. Just how much his involvement (unwitting) in the Tomizawa accident will play on his mind is anyone’s guess, but he’s showing great spirit by wanting to get back “on the horse”. I’m sure well all wish him the best.
Oh, and congratulations to one of my favourite Aussie exports, Broc Parkes, on his fine podium last weekend at the Nurburgring. It’s almost like he’d never been away from the WSS pack.
Not quite so good news for Josh Brookes in the BSB meeting on the weekend, slipping further behind the series leader, Tommy Hill, with two relatively poor placings in the two races (6th and 8th). Josh has slipped back to 4th spot in the title chase, 28 points behind the leader.
WSBK news sees Jonathan Rae signed up again at Ten Kate, James Toseland shown the door at Sterilgarda and looking for somewhere (anywhere) to ride in 2011 and Rae’s TK team-mate, Max (falling leaves) Neukirchner denying rumours that he will be riding for Ducati in yet another satellite team (a new, German one) in 2011. Ducati has since come out and said that they won’t be increasing the number of GP10’s on the grid. What this does say, of course, is that, Max looks to be out of a job at TK next year and this could leave the door open for JT (especially since he has a good relationship already with the Dutch Honda squad). As always, watch this space.
At the Bol d’ Or on the weekend, Aussie riders Damain and Alex Cudlin has mixed fortunes. Alex qualified 1st in the Superstock class and was looking good early in the race before a series of crashes by his team-mates saw the bike slip down, finishing, but well odd the pace. Damian didn’t get a ride at all, being reserve rider for the French BMW team who ran as high as 3rd for quite a lot of the race before a huge crash caused frame damage that saw them DNF. Good exposure before the world press, but a pretty frustrating weekend for both of them.
SITE NEWS: Had a long chat tonight with my mate Chris who administers this site for me and the news is that a new design is in the pipeline and should be coming on stream soon.
