Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 04:38PM
Sir Richard Branson is not sure if he really likes a Virgin, which is odd for a team bearing his company name, not just sponsorship. I have commented before about his seeming lack of commitment, but it is really odd the way he has confirmed that he will continue to support the Virgin Racing team in 2011. And then? He is saying Virgin is willing to accept less branding on the car so that more sponsorship from other companies can be brought into the team. An exit strategy?
Superleague raced at a new track in Mongolia this weekend, Ordos, built by the Government for around $140 m by all accounts. There is a lot of discussion on the future of motorsport. Perhaps we are seeing it. As the populations of developed countries get distracted by other attractions, and building and operating tracks gets more difficult, the underdeveloped world is waking up to it as a sport and economic benefit.
Is Casey Stoner another John Koscinski? He seems to be able to win even on a bike he is not sure about the set up. John seemed to be able to ride around set up problems if his head was right, and maybe this is what we are seeing with Casey? There were some questions raised about his odd drops in form and mysterious injuries. The mind of a motorcycle racer is a powerful thing, and one not to be underestimated. No love lost between Rossi and Lorenzo, not that we thought their was any to start with. Yamaha vs Ducati next season could be very interesting, and let's not forget Casey on Honda with Pedrosa. Pity the size of the field is still disappointing. Not sure I like Motegi, bridges always bother me, and I know there are bridges at Suzuka and Road Atlanta, but not something I would put in a track by choice. Acres of gravel, even on the inside of corners!
Good racing both in Japan and France, surprised there were not more people watching in Japan, home of the motorcycle and with Motegi so close to Tokyo. WSBK in Magny Cours had a decent crowd considering how hard it is to get to.
On four wheels Michael Schumacher says he has the answer to framing a new Team Orders regulation. "I have a very clear position on what I think about team orders." I bet you do Michael, and I also bet we all know what that will be. Move over and let me through. I love Lewis Hamilton's comment that there was no value in beating Schumacher, "he's mostly racing behind me."
tagged Branson, Koscinski, Lewis Hamilton, Lorenzo, Magny Cours, Michael Schumacher, Motegi, Ordos, Pedrosa, Road Atlanta, Rossi, Stoner, Superleague, Suzuka, Virgin
Reader Comments (1)
Bob,
SUZUKA is great. I met you up there at the 1990 Bike Grand Prix. 92,000 people there from memory that day in March, 1990
They used to get 160,000 at the 8 Hour there as well. I was there for the 8 Hour in 1990 as well.
Regarding SUZUKA and your comment on the bridge, I dont think there have ever been any accidents in the area near the bridge. Normally , a rider would lose it on the aproach to Degner 1 or Degner 2.
I used to like photographing from the inside of Degner 2... Great place,and I never saw any bike accidents in relationship to the armco in my 5 years in Japan from 1993 to 1997. Probably the most dangerous place for a bike rider at Suzuka waould be in the area of Dunlop Curve, going up the hill with that extremely fast left and sweeper. I recall that WG hurt himslef there in 1991(?? .forget the date)
Problem with the crowd there on the weekend, is that MOTEGI is a difficult place to get to.
I have never been there to Motegi, but, when I lived in Tokyo, I could take a train 30 minutes into Tokyo Station, walk through the station, get a bullet train to Nagoya, then walk through and take Kintetsu line to Shiroko. Sure, it was about 4 hours or so, but, in fact, was faster than driving there.
Travel to Fuji circuit was always a problem for me. Went there a few times, and it was a real pain. Lots of transfers and then a bus or taxi from Gotemba.
I dont think that Stoner is like Koscinski. Look at the results this year, and apart from those early falls, Stoner is still the best Ducati rider. I know some people thought Nicky H. was going to beat Stoner, but, apart from two or three meetings(?), Hayden has failed to impress . Look at his overall point score. In fact, look at Haydens points in the past few years. I think Ducati only employ him for the USA market.
Everyone goes on about Rossi and how he is going to re-design the Ducati, but, I think that Stoner and his crew seems to have comprehensively done that this year already :-)
All the best....Peter G