Bob Barnard Track Engineering

It struck me after posting yesterday's blog that "Unlimited Racing Championship" is actually a very odd name for a spec racing series. By it's very nature it is "limited" to what they give you. So who are they trying to fool?

Casey Stoner wasn't limited by anything in Spain, winning the MotoGP race at Aragon from team mate Pedrosa with Lorenzo keeping his title hopes faintly alive in third. Dovizioso is doing his chances for next year no good at all, crashing again early in the race. Capirossi dislocated his shoulder in a crash, time to hang the helmet up? Rossi finished an unhappy 10th. This can't all be the bike, his team mate and a privateer beat him again. The Moto2 race was a five way battle with Marquez finally breaking away while points leader Bradl slipped to 8th. His once seemingly unassailable lead is now down to 6 points.

In Motegi Dario Franchiti continued his bad run with a uncharacteristic move that resulted in a blocked track, damage to his car and a penalty. Team mate Dixon won the race from Will Power who takes over the lead in the Championship, but it is still anybody's title between Power and Franchiti.

At Laguna non-points scoring cars won the race and the GT Class. Last year's Aston driven by Fernandes returned to the ALMS as this year's car is worse than a dog, and won from Chris Dyson and Guy Smith after their sister car obeyed team orders and sat in the pits long enough for the Dyson car to pass them at the death. Just why the team sent Steven Kane out to chase down everyone in that last hour I don't know, it was pretty obvious to me that he should have just driven around at a pace not to trouble the number one car. That would have been a lot less obvious and insulting to the crowd, what there was of it. The hybrid Porsche 911 carried on from where it left off last time we saw it and put in a stellar performance. Should be fun to watch at the Petit. Now I am not a great fan of KERS, but the engineering in this car shows how it should be done. Risi had a "dry run" for a repeat performance of running out of fuel on the last lap as they did last year at the Petit, throwing away a race win for eligible cars to the Porsche of the Flying Lizards. As usual the GTs put on the best show.

I have no idea what happened with Grand Am at Mid Ohio as no one seems bothered to report on it, and I did not watch it.

Sunday's FR3.5 race was another thriller with American Alexander Rossi beating home Daniel Ricciardo with Vergne third. Canadian Championship leader and team mate of Vergne, Robert Wickens, had a bad day and the title now goes down to the last race with Wickens just two points clear of Vergne. As part of the show Grosjean and Prosts Senior and Junior drove F1 cars at this previous F1 circuit. A prelude to France having a GP back?