Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 11:12AM
As foreshadowed yesterday the questions over the Bahrain GP increase. As Joe Saward points out, the opposition have worked out that if a GP can give world wide exposure to a country, then it can give world wide exposure to its problems. GP2 Asia is due there this weekend and the F1 test is on March 3rd, so I guess we will see what happens. The opposition are saying that now there have been deaths due to the heavy handed response by the Government the protests are not just going to go away.
Meanwhile, back with the "good ol' boys" of NASCAR it has been decided to reduce the cooling system efficiency to try and prevent the pairs of cars running together for extended periods and raising speeds to 206 mph. This has to be a first, especially since the field has already qualified. More changes are expected, including a smaller restrictor plate. The engine builders must be tearing their hair out trying to figure out how to set up for the 500 on Sunday. Could be worth watching.
The argument goes on about the date for the Phillip Island MotoGP after this year. DORNA and the riders are pushing for a return to March, and Ron Walker, who controls the GP Organization for both cars and bikes, does not want it to move. But if, as appears likely, Bernie pulls the plug on the F1 GP, then Ron could easily move the bike GP, or is he going to lose both?
Other than these snippets there is again very little to talk about. Barcelona F1 test starts Friday, more opportunities to be fooled by the teams about what they are actually doing.
On the home front most of our friends seem to have had the flu, including us. The Arizona project has taken a different direction and will take a year to get going, but I am hoping for some news on another project tomorrow.
tagged Arizona, Bahrain, DORNA, Daytona, F1, MotoGP, NASCAR, Phillip Island, Ron Walker, Saward, popular unrest
Reader Comments (2)
Bob,
Interesting about this power play over the Bike GP and dates. The first GP was in April, 1989, and the second was in September 1990 (from memory)
Then Eastern Creek was in April, until it returned to Phillip Island.
Everyone thinks it would be a great idea to have the two races a week apart, but how about for the people who volunteer such as marshalls .
Accomodation may present some issues .
Then,of course, there is World Super Bikes at end of February.
So, WSB , and then a few weeks later, MotoGP and F1.
Far too much for the average spectator to take in , and PAY for.
If it happens, there will be casualties, and the sport will be the loser.
Yes Peter, 89 was April, 90 was originally April but we asked the FIM to move it to September to give me time to build EC. Then EC went back to the date we preferred in April. It went to September again when The Victorian Gov't bought the race back and by then the F1 GP was in March so as not to clash with the Melbourne Cup. We actually ran the Gp and WSBK at PI in 1990 a month apart, with a 6 hour another month later, so it can be done. There is little to no commonality between the F1 and MotoGP marshals so that is not an issue, nor would be accommodation. For motorcycle fans two races in sequential weekends at the Island could be a great holiday if you can get the time off, and you only have the cost of travel once.
Anyway, not my problem anymore, but if I were Ron I'd move the F1 race to November and have it the same weekend as the Cup, best tourist ticket around.