Own Goal in Valencia?
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 12:11PM
Sounds as if the FIA scored an own goal the weekend with the goings on at Valencia. I was driving all day to get to Phoenix, 1450 miles, but drive was easy and scenery in Southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona spectacular. Reminded me of my time in Alice Springs, hot and DRY! Missed all the racing and the soccer, thank goodness as it turned out for England. Not sure they have played well enough to deserve to go further, but neither has Germany. Who's for the win, Argentina or Brazil?
It seems Red Bull really does give you wings, just ask Mark Webber! While your at it ask him how that asphalt run off worked him at twenty feet in the air? Not a fan of gravel, but cannot help thinking it might have knocked off a bit of speed before he hit the tire wall. As I have said, asphalt is great if you are in contact with the ground and have all the wheels on and are the right way up with brakes. Don't think any of that applied to Mark. It is great he is OK, and man enough not to just blame Kovalainen for the accident. My good friend Tony Dowe was kind enough to give me a blow by blow on the race over the phone and explained how the resulting safety car period then proceeded to be totally mishandled by all concerned. Is it just me or do the safety car rules change each race?
I just love it when Ferrari complain about someone breaking the rules. This is the team that last week ran their new blown diffuser, aka low mounted exhaust, at a "film session." Testing is of course not allowed during the season, but filming for commercials is. FOTA is revisiting that agreement, which obviously expects that it will be observed by "gentlemen."
Over at the two wheel brigade we have Mr. Lorenzo going on his winning way, and at last someone else is raising the subject of too few motorcycles and too old riders. Casey Stoner has spoken out about the manufacturers not providing equipment, even last years, so that new blood can come in. He is not happy about Yoshikawa stepping in for Rossi, but failed to mention Mr. Akiyoshi finished last at Assen, one lap down. What would we rather see, a young turk having a go and throwing it down the road, or some old guy running around at the back and finishing? No contest for me. At the WSBK Max Biaggi scored another double win, but the BMW is showing signs of getting it sorted. No one commented on Stoners' arm pump, come on Eddie, explain, or are you still in shock from England losing?
Is anyone else surprised that Montoya has not done better in NASCAR? I am a great fan of his racing instincts, and keep waiting for him to break through. Thought this weekend might have done it, but no. Jeff Gordon hit him, which seems par for the course these days. When asked about it Jeff just said that is was how they race these days. Well it seems some more than others.
Our young American in GP3, Alexander Rossi, had a torrid weekend by all accounts, and did not finish either race.
It seems Red Bull really does give you wings, just ask Mark Webber! While your at it ask him how that asphalt run off worked him at twenty feet in the air? Not a fan of gravel, but cannot help thinking it might have knocked off a bit of speed before he hit the tire wall. As I have said, asphalt is great if you are in contact with the ground and have all the wheels on and are the right way up with brakes. Don't think any of that applied to Mark. It is great he is OK, and man enough not to just blame Kovalainen for the accident. My good friend Tony Dowe was kind enough to give me a blow by blow on the race over the phone and explained how the resulting safety car period then proceeded to be totally mishandled by all concerned. Is it just me or do the safety car rules change each race?
I just love it when Ferrari complain about someone breaking the rules. This is the team that last week ran their new blown diffuser, aka low mounted exhaust, at a "film session." Testing is of course not allowed during the season, but filming for commercials is. FOTA is revisiting that agreement, which obviously expects that it will be observed by "gentlemen."
Over at the two wheel brigade we have Mr. Lorenzo going on his winning way, and at last someone else is raising the subject of too few motorcycles and too old riders. Casey Stoner has spoken out about the manufacturers not providing equipment, even last years, so that new blood can come in. He is not happy about Yoshikawa stepping in for Rossi, but failed to mention Mr. Akiyoshi finished last at Assen, one lap down. What would we rather see, a young turk having a go and throwing it down the road, or some old guy running around at the back and finishing? No contest for me. At the WSBK Max Biaggi scored another double win, but the BMW is showing signs of getting it sorted. No one commented on Stoners' arm pump, come on Eddie, explain, or are you still in shock from England losing?
Is anyone else surprised that Montoya has not done better in NASCAR? I am a great fan of his racing instincts, and keep waiting for him to break through. Thought this weekend might have done it, but no. Jeff Gordon hit him, which seems par for the course these days. When asked about it Jeff just said that is was how they race these days. Well it seems some more than others.
Our young American in GP3, Alexander Rossi, had a torrid weekend by all accounts, and did not finish either race.
Reader Comments (2)
Yes Bob, I wasn't in the best of moods at the weekend, total shambles.
As for Casey, well I'm no expert on the subject but I found an interesting article on the net that suggests a lot of it may be in the mind, I put that on my Facebook page if you want to ave a look.
I worry sometimes about Casey, he seems to be turning out a little like Freddie Spencer did post 1985 when all sorts of niggling physical problems kept him away from racetracks and HRC showed the patience of Saints with their public support whilst behind the scenes must have been banging their heads on the corporate walls.
He first came to my attention in Britain in 2001 at the age of 15 when in the MRO championship and later on in the year the British 125 races he won every race he entered with consumate ease. I knew then he was petty special and when he won in 2007 I thought( quite wrongly) that Rossi had had his day.
Since then he's been at times dazzling but god he is a puzzling young man at times. Takes half the season off with some lactose intolerance illness last year, comes back and wins 2 races straight away. I think he has massive natural ability and has caused Rossi more sleepless nights than anyone else but there always seems to be these problems.
He's not the most popular racer in England and has been the subject of some appalling abuse by British "fans" at the Day of Champions event at Donington. Personally I like the guy, he's a change from some of the massive ego's that masquarade as human beings in certain factory garages.
I hope he sorts these problems out and I'm going to stop now otherwise you will think I'm writing the blog.
Thank you Eddie for those insights. If I run out of time to write a blog I will ask you to stand in! It is interesting isn't it how much of the driver's or rider's performance is mind games. I have touched on this before, and yes, Fast Freddie is an interesting comparison to Casey. Freddie's team manager told me that when he won the two championships he never left his native Louisiana. The inside of the motor home was Louisiana, and he had his helmet on at the last minute, walked out and got on the bike on the grid. I was involved in F1 in those days so only met him when things were different. I hope Casey can get this sorted out. I know King Kenny has the problem now, but that cannot be mind related. I always presumed it was an age thing.