It’s New Year’s Eve and this is the time of year that awards ceremonies tend to happen and everyone looks back at the year gone by.
I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year, and direct you to The Lappies 2007 and The MotoGP Armchair Awards 2007.
Have fun and see you in the New Year. Don’t forget to visit the stores on your way into 2008!
Over at Motorcycle Performance Blog there are a couple of cuttings from Gazetta Dello Sport with a handy translation. One is of Stoner’s Ducati GP7 cockpit, explaining the controls. According to the translation, Stoner boils the complex controls down to the lap time, engine mapping selection and engine warning light and pretty much ignores anything else unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The second is a witty cartoon poking fun at Rossi’s recent form.
The MotoGPBlog US and UK stores are now open for business, powered by Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. You will find links to them in the section list at the top of the page.
Feel free to have a browse through the products on offer, and make sure you check out the MotoGPBlog Top Picks category, where you’ll find stuff that has been tried and tested by MotoGPBlog. As always, feedback most welcome.
Cheers, Rob.
In comparison to last season, the changes in the regulations are fairly benign. Here’s a summary along with the MotoGPBlog take on them:
Tyres
Each rider will now be allowed 18 front tyres and 22 rear tyres in dry conditions.
Each tyre company can nominate, before the start of the season, a single MotoGP circuit where they may test for a maximum of four days per year. The testing may take place during the season or during the breaks, but not with designated team riders, and not prior to the event which that circuit holds.
The tyre suppliers may request a two day test at a new or substantially resurfaced track, to take place at least four weeks before the scheduled event at the circuit. The test may not include designated riders.
If a tyre is damaged before use, then a replacement may be fitted with the permission of the race Technical Director. This tyre will be included in the rider’s allocation.
MotoGPBlog view: Upping the tyre allowance was sensible, and provides the teams with the opportunity to allow for a wider range of temperatures and conditions, making the selection of rubber and construction much less of a blind gamble. Allowing more testing specifically for tyres may reduce the guesswork a little too, as will the tests at new or resurfaced tracks. A good move overall, but I believe the allowance will be upped again next year if Bridgestone remain dominant.
Start and Race Procedure
MotoGP teams may use a generator to power tyre warmers on the grid, with a maximum output of 2kW.
Spare machines can stay in the pit box (garage) until required in the race but any exchange must be made in the pit lane.
During the race, if the rider enters the pit box, the machine he is riding is deemed retired and may not be used again in the race.
Refuelling is strictly prohibited.
If the winning rider wishes to parade a flag, he must ride to the side of the racing surface to collect the flag and then rejoin the circuit when it is safe to do so. Read the rest of this entry »
You can find an article on pneumatic valves, how they work and why they are suddenly so popular in the newly-launched Technical Reference section.
If you have comments on the article, feel free to add them to this post.
It’s the same only different. I’ve tried to keep the simple, clean lines of the old layout while adding some different ways to navigate through the content, and making it more robust across browsers. I have added a reference section and I’ll add to the content here over time - to say this section was currently rather sparse would be understating the facts somewhat.
If you can spare a moment, feedback on the design would be much appreciated.
No massive surprises on the entry list for next year, just some doubt over the status of Team Roberts.
Number plate nonsense
Stoner has chosen to take the No. 1 plate, casting aside the 27 “given” to him by Alberto Puig in his 125cc days. Vermeulen has pounced on the No. 7 plate now that the old dog Carlos Checa has finally rescinded his control over it. Expect Vermeulen to be living out Barry Sheene fantasies for the first couple of races, and expect the 7 on his bike to be bearing a cross bar in much the same style as his hero did. Shy but outgoing champ Nicky Hayden reverts to No. 69, as raced by his dad, Earl. Perhaps his luck and speed will return with the number.
What’s with Team KR?
Well they are not off the grid yet. They are still negotiating with hopes of a large sponsorship deal and some Ducati engines to allow them to compete. No doubt the short shrift they got from Honda on the engine front in 2007 means no support from the Big H in 2008, Kawasaki and Suzuki don’t have the budget, and KTM and BMW have plumped for WSB. The only possible option is Ducati. Come on Bologna, let ‘em have it!
Posting will slow on the site over the next month or so as we implement a more robust design and add some new features. I’m really pleased with the way the site has grown since it launched earlier this year, so thank you all for your support and comments. Comments are like oxygen to a blog - keep them coming!
Rob.
Shortish and sweet, here’s my take on the winter testing. Jimmy’s got his slant on the Jerez test too.
Honda
Both riders looking good, fast and competent. Those at the head of Big H will be please to see the factory team topping the timing sheets before the winter break. Situation normal. Other Honda teams are looking strong, Dovizioso in particular making everyone wonder how many podiums he’ll get this year.
Yamaha
After a worryingly timid start, Toseland is finding his way and is now challenging Edwards, who may be showing his thoughts of retirement or need of a new challenge in his riding. Is the Tornado becoming more of a bit of light rain? Lorenzo is off and running now and is working hard and making sure everyone knows about it. The lad is fast. The Rossi/Yamaha/Bridgestone team have had their first outing but were hampered by the Special One’s broken hand. No conclusions can be drawn from this evidence.
Kawasaki
Team Green head into the winter needing to find some pace. West and Hopkins have been workmanlike in their application but the times are not there. West in particular needs to learn how to set up a bike and communicate better with his engineers. Will Hopper be able to help him with this? Will he want to? I he having any regrets?
Ducati
Early dominance across the tests was spoiled by a massive Stoner high-side spelling what Jimmy sees as a return to type for Stoner. Melandri appears to be lagging a little in his times, but perhaps he’s not used to riding at full fitness, preferring the handicap of a broken ankle or rib.
Suzuki
Blanking everyone else by heading to Phillip Island for the last test of the year, the Rizla boys surprised us all. No times released from the sessions means either they were dreadful or they are hiding their light under a bushel and protecting some new developments for their 08 bike from the gaze of the press.
Overall, little can be deciphered from this except Kawasaki are currently seeming to lag, and Suzuki might be. The Rossi on Bridgestones is as fast as the Rossi on Michelins at Jerez, but that is Jerez and not the other 17 tracks the show will visit next year. The show resumes in January in Sepang, we’ll know more (but not much) then.
A brief recap on the progress of the noobs:
Jorge Lorenzo
Picking up the pace, Jorge finished second only to the Repsol Hondas. He has complained of feeling some pain and stiffness after returning to the bike on the second and third days, a measure of how physical these machines are compared to the 250cc bikes; Ant West complained in much the same way when he was given his big break last year. He is getting himself sorted out and has improved greatly from Sepang. There looks to be more to come as well. Grade: A
Andrea Dovizioso
Has maintained his work level and progress on the Honda, running 0.3 secs behind Lorenzo’s best lap time. He looks to have found the transition to 800cc easier than Lorenzo but will his equipment allow him to show his full talent? Grade: A+
James Toseland
A better test for Toseland has seen him climb to within 0.03 of his team-mate Edwards. As the old saying goes, the first person for a rider to beat is the guy on the same machinery as him and James came very close to this in Jerez. He’s finally getting his head around the new machinery, tyres, team and culture and letting his talents show. So much better than Sepang, he has to be greatly encouraged by this display. Grade: B+
