MotoGp: Gran Premio de Espana

Jerez was a Spaniard affair, a domestic matter between the humorless and grey Pedrosa and the flashy Loren-show. The recent 250 World Champion was hoping to consolidate the fantastic start of the season in 800cc after collecting two pole positions and a strong 2nd place in Quatar behind the untouchable Stoner. In his own track he was dreaming of challenging in one event everybody, from Stoner to Pedrosa going through Rossi. The authority that he had shown during the qualification tests was definitely stimulating, if not supporting, his dreams, but yesterday morning, once the traffic light became green he must immediately have come to conclusions that it was only a dream.
Danny Pedrosa started like a bullet, in an obvious mission to play the game in his own way, by taking the lead and building on it. He has done it so many times in 250 in a fashion that reminds to all of us the “old” Biaggi. When leading a race, Danny is able to ride at 100% until the end without loosing concentration or making even the slightest mistake. Yesterday, his body, so petit even for the new “miniature” Honda, worked relentlessly to detach his bike at the exit of each turn to whack-open the throttle in a fashion that belongs more to the past than to today’s electronic traction control era. The new 800 machines cannot be managed with the traditional skills, particularly those ones requiring use of the hands or body. Ask Melandri or Capirossi if they agree with my claim.
Today a rider is required an extra dose of courage or willful blindness in the tool, the magic triad of suspension set up – electronics – tires. The modern centaur, once released the brakes after the turn point, has to hold the breath and open the throttle with a full trust in the magic of the electronics, with the faith that tha paratrooper would have in his parachute before jumping from the areoplane. Do you remember Rossi, Gibernau, Capirossi or Melandri a couple of years ago? They were able to compensate the wearing-off of tires by sapiently edging bike and throttle to put down power at the exit of each turn. Sensitive buttocks and skilful wrists were making the difference between an average rider and a champion. Today if the triad equation is not solved and tested nobody can win. Rossi and Capirossi have learned it in the last two years. Indeed the new WSBK star Biaggi was the first one to claim electronic issues a long time ago. Last year, Rossi on his end could evidently blame Michelin, but the poor Capirossi on the Red Missile Ducati, even though was faster than his teammate Aussie up to the apex of a corner, he wasn’t able to match the acceleration of Stoner at the exit of it. A lot of people were using as justification his age if not the fact that he had recently become father, as to say that he had not more the guts to take the extra risk to stay on the front of the field. The same sunset have been pictured for Rossi, with the extra malicious comment that the Tavullia champion had finally stop receiving a favorable treatment by factory teams and Michelin. In Quatar, the same people were very quick in calling his end, stating that “ …you see… even with Stoner’s Bridgestone he cannot stay in the front ..”.

Last MotoGp race has brought back some logic! Stoner proved to be very human, if not childish during the weekend while trying to solve normal technical issues. I say normal and not usual because since last year, he has never experienced any relevant technical issue with a Ducati that has worked for him with the consistence of a trustful videogame. Why childish? Well was it really necessary to kick that foot after passing his ex teammate Capirossi? Yes, he blamed the Italian for ruining his best lap, but what to say about all those mistakes during the race? And his obvious desire to “hide himself” by wearing the helmet while seating on a chait after the race? To my eyes Stoner has still to learn how to lose before reaching the status of well weathered old time champions.
On the other end, Sunday the other ex World Champion, Nicky Hayden confirmed to be a top rider, able to adjust his style to an ever changing machine obviously tailored to his blazoned teammate Pedrosa. In the last part of the race Nicky seemed to be able to challenge Lorenzo's third position. Unfortunately he trail-braked a bit too much losing the front grip and jeopardizing his attack to the third position. Curiously in Jerez both Hayden and Edward were able to save a clear low side by leveraging their elbows. The spectacular move proves the incredible results achieved by the tire companies (in this case Michelin) in improving grip and shoulder flexibility. I remember a few years ago while riding the yellow Honda Nastro Azzurro, Rossi was able to save a low-side by resting on his knee, and not on his elbow.
Last but not the least, I want to stress the incredible performance of Toseland and Capirossi. The first one looks totally at home in MotoGp and his overtaking technique going to the apex, tested in Quatar with Lorenzo and in Jerez with Dovizioso, is becoming his signature. He was an obvious protagonist of the battle for the 5th place, but at the end it was a determined Capirossi on his new Suzuki to win the dicing.


Picture Via|Motoblog.it
Chart by Almos

Grande Premio de Portugal: Welcome back MotoGp

Welcome back MotoGp! This is the type of show for which we are paying seasonal subscription with MotoGp.com or Tivo. Often we have to get up early in the morning or in the middle of the night to watch our heroes racing. Over the years, even during the Robert, Rainey, Doohan and Rossi kingdoms we have always had good battles for the podiums, something that unfortunately have lacked this year. But last Sunday in Portugal it was show time with four different riders (if we count Hayden who had the pole) leading the race at some point. Once Pedrosa got the fugitive Stoner, the typical “time trial race” of the last few months became a real MotoGp race with everybody fighting on the brakes, holding stubbornly the outside lines when they were stuffed on the inside. Great show offered by Rossi and Pedrosa in the front but even in the back thank to Hayden, Melandri and Elias who did whatever they could to hold their positions against the faster guys. Sunday the commentators didn’t talk for one hour about Bridgestone and Michelin because too focused with the actual race. So many new things happen in Portugal! The Italian red missile has lost power over the summer …or better Honda has opened itself to some doping issues, but who cares because MotoGp is not Tour de France. The M1 too seemed improved but unfortunately my impression is supported only by Rossi and not by his teammate Edwards.
Pedrosa is still very petit but he has improved dramatically his …. determination on the brakes! He was able to fend several Rossi’s attacks without closing the door. He did it so many times that when Rossi overtook him going into that left turn with a couple of laps to go Danny had to pick up twice his left foot on the peg while going to the apex of the corner. At this point Rossi was able to create a little gap that he carried to the end, but still the little Spaniard did a hell of a race.
Stoner race was a bit strange: after the first third of the race everybody thought that his Bridgestone had started to deteriorate. As matter of the fact, after the race Rossi admitted that Sunday Michelin had an edge over the competitors. In reality later one the Australian explained that he had suffered a problem with a slipper clutch eliminating any engine brake. I believe Stoner, but somehow I do not understand it because Rossi and Pedrosa were not much faster than him on the brakes. What was clear it is that he didn’t have the usual extra speed on the straights and at the exit of turns: on the gas, out of the corners, his rear was very nervous, almost too quick in unloading the compression … but again he is Stoner and I am only a motorbike lover. Talking about bike set ups, even Hayden’s Honda seemed too nervous on the quick changes of direction and when he got really aggressive on the brakes it became difficult for him to keep a tight line in the corners.
What happened to the Suzuki? I have not been able to do my reading in the last few days but at this point my mind is already focused on nest Sunday, let’s just hope for another great show!

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That's how we ... ride

In the last few years I have been reading of more and more professional riders that have made of bicycling their favorite form of training . Indeed, Robert Lombardi and I met because of our love for bicycles. Back in 1996 Robert was already a NJ mountain bike champion and a mutual friend of ours told him that there was a new “ginny” in the neighbor who used to road-race bicycle professionally in Italy. So one day I was in front his shop making eights on my Italian Scapin and Rob while looking at me thought “that guy is fat, but his legs …. and the way he keeps the balance on the pedals ….he must be the famous ginny!!!”: Robert approached me and here we are …
Today we race at local level (yes, recently he has convinced me to compete again after 23 years) and we consider bicycling as the best tool to improve our physical condition. There is not other sport that you could practice for hours with such precise control of the aerobic/anaerobic stages. Yes, running is easy, cheap, and quick but heavy onyour feet, ankles, knees and back and it doesn’t really matter how slow you go because it still causes physical stress. A long list of riders has chosen bicycling to control weight, strength their legs and improve their stamina, all critical variables in racing motorcycles at professional level. I definitely recall Bayliss, Stoner, Melandri, Capirossi, Hopkins, Biaggi, the Haydens, Mladin, Duhamel as passionate riders hitting the road 3 to 5 times a week as part of their training program.
Personally I integrate bicycling with rowing in order to maintain a healthy muscle balance between legs and torso. A few years ago I had a surgery to fix a dislocated shoulder and our “Dr. Costa”, Dr. Hausman told me that several weighlifters end up with arthritis on their shoulders because of the excessive stress caused by that type of exercise.
Anyhow, the road bicycle fever has been spreading among the PMP crew and recently Antonio, Naim and Mike have committed to start riding with us: someone to loose a few extra pounds, others to stop smoking. Either way, once they start enjoying the results of their training they will joint the increasing group of motorcycle racers in love with the way we …. ride.




Picture source: ctbkgroup.com, camorani.com, velocitynation.com

A special thank to: Tichetti, BVF Team, Bay Ridge Bicycle,

MotoGp Poll: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix

Everybody should agree on Nicky Hayden's victory in Laguna Seca, but who is going to take the second place? Logic wants that I pick Edwards, always faster than Rossi in USA, but my heart goes to Valentino, to an epic victory in a track so difficult to an European rider born and raised in circuits that are totally different at least in width and run-offs. The Tavullia Champion is a rider who learns quickly from his own mistakes, someone able to change his riding style according to the conditions even during the same race by processing continuously the information collected from lap to lap. As much as I try to be rational, when it comes to MotoGp, I like to imagine what it would excite me and so, my pick is Hayden, second behind an irresistible Rossi. Unfortunately we have to choose among the first 7 riders in the World Championship, so I will be even more naive, Edwards (again like logic wanted) but again behind Rossi, for a historic Yamaha podium!!!!!!!

Grand Prix Deutschland: a strange race

Only on Saturday I pointed out that Honda had been suffering one of the worst years of the last decade and on Sunday Pedrosa and Hayden took the first and third steps of the podium in the Sachsenring circuit. Indeed at the same track last year Pedrosa had the fastest time and Hayden took another third position. So the surprise was not much about the riders but the bikes and the …. tires. Once again in this championship tires were the critical factor. The Bridgestone squad, Stoner, Melandri, Capirossi, Hopkins and De Puniet chased Pedrosa for more than half of the race until the deterioration of their tires forced them to slow down the pace. Very strange weekend: if in the qualifying practice on Saturday we had 16 riders wrapped in .81 of a second, at the end of the race we had several seconds of gap from one rider to the other one with the exception of Stoner, Melandri and Hopkins that fought for the fifth position up to the end. I had expected a tight race with a lot of dicing and we got just the opposite. In reality the race was quite boring with just a few moments of thrill or, if you want, disappointment. On the fifth lap Rossi crashed after passing West on a long double right. He lost the front end and even thought he held courageously the clutch to keep the engine on until the bike stopped sliding into the gravel trap, a bent clip-on didn’t allow the Italian champion to jump back on the bike. After the race he apologized for his mistake with his team and his fans, all of them frustrated by the accident. After all, in 2006 he won the Gp starting from the 11th position, in the same way he did in Assen two weeks ago, and his record in the Sachsenring was certain one of the reasons we were expecting from him a better weekend. Personally my disappointment was mitigated once I learned that Valentino was suffering the effects of a bronchitis with fever at 38C (100.4 F): not too much but enough to dull the skills of our hero since it was a hot day, 33C (92F).
Rossi has spontaneously admitted his mistake, but was his crash really caused by an objective oversight? He had been trying to pass West unsuccessfully with his Yamaha overheating behind the opponent’s bike, when the Kawasaki rider went a bit wide into the turn and opened the door to him. Rossi, in grabbing the opportunity, was forced to connect the two apexes of the double right in a very tight arch that eventually overpowered the front tire grip. His desire to reach the race leaders had induced him to force the pace and gamble a race that, after the Bridgestone’s debacle, I say that he could have won.
Strange race for a strange podium … Pedrosa wins in his manner, riding the RC212V like a 250cc, and leading the whole race without being seriously challenged by anybody. I am sure that his miniature body must be an advantage in a track characterized by turns where the riders use the edge of their tires for a long time. Same comment goes to Capirossi who, for the first time in 2007, was able to precede his teammate Stoner. Sometime ago I read that Capirex carries more speed into the corner up to the apex than the Aussie but then he cannot match Casey on the throttle at the exit. Well this time Stoner’s aggressiveness didn’t pay because he worn too much his rear tire and trashed a potential second place.
For Nicky Hayden another third place before the Laguna Seca race was like shots of testosterone for his ego: he will be the man to set the standards in California.

Honda or ... not Honda?

With Hopper emigrating to Kawasaki along with Capirossi, Melandri to Ducati, and Pedrosa getting most of the pressure and the blame for the lack of results of the new bike, I have yet to read something explaining how Honda intends to solve its 2007 flop. Last year, the Honda- Repsol Team was able to win the championship with Hayden’s podiums, Rossi’s misfortunes and with a competitive bike that was evolved earlier by Valentino and his boys. Indeed so far the RC212V has not won a race and even if someone will be able to do it before the end of the season, the bike remains a lemon. For years, if not forever the HRC Team has been considered the ultimate Team, the team that has been behind most of the world champion stories of the modern era, but today the same team doesn’t seem to be as appealing as we think and the lack of rumors in the pre-market season seems to confirm it. Probably the Japanese will end up importing new talents from the 250 or from WSBK but with what promises? In fact they too could turn to be other Pedrosas ….

Grand Prix of Qatar: Australian "canguru" wins on Italian red missile

In the first race of the season we could have had a final classification with riders stretched in longer time span if it wasn't for Rossi slowing down, somehow, the Australian rider on his new Italian missile. The Ducati was much faster than any other bike: in practice Stoner reached 324.7 km/h, much faster than Rossi’s 309.9 km/h and Pedrosa 317.9km/h. The red bike from Borgo Panicale has always been fast over the years, but the extra speed was seldom matched by appropriate stability and grip. Last year, after winning his first race with a bike sliding sideway in every turn of the circuit,Capirossi was compared to a red crab by his fans.
Last Saturday, instead, Casey Stoner looked outstanding on a bike that seemed solid, precise, reasonably quick in changing direction and … fast, very fast. On every lap he stormed Rossi on the front straight: it didn’t matter how many bikes of distance the Tavullia champion had on him at the exit of the last turn, because regardless, Stoner was able to pass his opponent in half straight and gain, maybe, another 70-90 ft by the end of the fornt stretch. Only because of Rossi’s immense talent and his desire to re-conquest the lost World Champion title, we were able to actually see some dicing in the infield. Indeed Rossi, strong of an impeccable Fiat-Yamaha was able to carry much more speed at the entrance of turn 1 so that at the exit of the same turn he was already back on the tail of the young Ducati rider. From there, during the race Rossi has launched his assalts passing the Australian youngster several times: on the brakes or on the outside of a turn leading to an opposite twist. Well, anytime Rossi has been able to pull in front the Ducati, his lead was then wiped out on the front long straight as if Stoner was still riding last year bike.

On the other end Pedrosa’s extra speed was not enough to challenge either Stoner or Rossi, but good enough to put him on the third step of the podium. In a few occasion it seemed that he had passed Rossi toward the end of the front straight but once on the brakes he could not match Valentino's higher entrance speed. As we have already noticed last year, it seems that Pedrosa is still not used to “Rossi’s confidence” when it comes to tight passing. Someone has claimed that Danny is still paying his easy years in 125cc and 250cc when he often won after passing his opponents and taking off to lead the race until the end. Conversely last Saturday he ended up suffering even Hopkin's pressure who, fighting the pain of the recent injuries and a poor performance in his last winter test, pulled out an incredible race for which he almost won a final third place.
There is not much to say about the rest of the riders, including the World Champion Nicky Hayden for his meager 8th place that looks even worse if we consider that two riders have crashed in front of him: Ceca and … Capirossi. Last year, Bayliss stole a secure victory from Capirossi and last Saturday his new teammate was doing it again. Maybe this situation was really bothering him, anyhow after a bad start due to a contact with another rider, Capirossi had unleashed the extra power of his bike to try to catch the front riders but unfortunately he low-sided when in 5th position. Was he pushing too much? Did he trail brake to much? Or was he exploring faster lines? In any case he wasted a secure podium and 16 points that could have been useful for the Championship especially now that the even the young Aussie is in the list of potential winners. As matter of the fact, Stoner has already displayed a cocky attitude: after being asked "... how does it feel to have a 7 time World Champion attached on your tail for the whole race?"... he said something very similar to “ …It was like to have anybody else behind”.


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