MotoGP Blog

Autosport is carrying a piece on a press conference in Australia with Vermeulen, Stoner and Melandri who make strong cases against having a control tyre, and point out that this is no guarantee of closer racing or better competition.

Gerry Burgess has also come out against the control tyre proposal, saying it is a knee-jerk reaction and may well not make the racing closer.

Hopkins has also stated he believes a control tyre would punish Bridgestone for success after 13 years of Michelin dominance.

Superbike Planet have a well reasoned opinion piece on the matter too.

I can’t find one news story or editorial in favour of the idea. Are you listening Dorna?

Speedtv.com have an interesting article on the reasons why Dorna is considering the introduction of a control tyre, and on the politics of the decision making process. While the article is clearly written from the point of view that a control tyre would be a good thing for MotoGP - a view not shared by this blog - the insight it provides into the decision-making process between the various bodies involved is fascinating.

What becomes apparent is the power of the MSMA (Motorcycle Sport Manuafacturers Association): the factories. The article states that if the MSMA unanimously vote against the proposal for the control tyre, this acts as a veto and the other participants, the FIM, Dorna and the IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association) may not proceed. If the vote is not unanimous, the article speculates that this would result in the proposal being carried, and a control tyre introduced.
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Formula 1 has had its trials and tribulations recently with the Mclaren/Ferrari spying affair dragging the reputation of the the sport and the teams involved through the mud. This is not really the problem with Formula 1 though, it goes much deeper than that. The plain and simple fact is: it has become boring. This was made plain to me today, sitting in front of the TV watching the race at Spa, followed by the Estoril round of MotoGP.

I actually swore off F1 when the McLaren judgement was announced, such was my disgust. I documented some of how I was feeling on Clive’s excellent F1 Insight blog, but found myself reluctant to miss the race in case it was exciting, and I do so love Spa. So I watched it, well some of it.

I literally dozed off in the F1 race. For 20 laps, I snored. Then I woke up with six laps to go and nothing had changed. No, sorry, Coulthard dropped out with a hydraulic problem in that time. He was back in about 14th though, so no big deal. Still Raikkonnen led Massa, who led Alonso who led Hamilton. And then it was the BMWs I think. To be honest I couldn’t really care. For me to miss 20 laps and at the same time not miss anything of import is a real shame. More than that, it is sad.

Then came the MotoGP race. A four way battle for the lead right from the off. Nine men fighting for ninth place for several laps. Exchange of the lead several times. The current championship leader struggling for grip and fighting, and succeeding, to close the gap on the leaders. The greatest rider of all time seeming to play with the competition then shown to be riding right at the limit, only to snatch victory on the final lap.

I was on the edge of my seat: shouting, ooh-ing and aww-ing at outrageous riding; wincing in disbelief at the overtaking maneuvers; sat in awe as rear tyres lifted under braking, and feet flew off of pegs as riders anticipated crashes that never quite happened. There was not a dull moment. In contrast, the F1 race was exciting for the first three, maybe four corners as Alonso and Hamilton duked it out up to Eau Rouge. By half way through the first lap the race was decided. Halfway through the last lap and the MotoGP result was far from decided!

Farewell F1. You shall not sap another Sunday afternoon from me again this year.

There are many unwritten rules in MotoGP and motorbike racing in general.

One of them is that you don’t slow down on the racing line, anywhere, for any reason. If you’re easing up or have a mechanical problem, you get the hell off the line everyone else is on.

Kurtis Roberts forgot that for a moment at Laguna in qualifying. He eased up on the racing line in one of the fastest sections of the track and it resulted in Melandri clipping his bike as he shot by at racing speeds, catapulting him onto the gravel. Melandri jumped off before the bike hit the air fence - very sensibly - and while the bike ploughed on into the barriers he tumbled to a stop before hitting anything too solid.

All Kurtis’ fault. Wake up fella. You’re off Gresini’s christmas card list.

As I type, it looks like Melandri is heading back to the pits in a golf cart to get back on the spare bike. Amazing.