Moto GP

[cromwell]

They do indeed, usually on BBC 2.

[cromwell]

Qualifying today at 1.00pm on BBC 2, race 12.30pm tomorrow on BBC2!
It's the Aragon GP in Spain and Marquez was fastest in practice yesterday.

[miasmum]

Thank you for that, will watch the end of qualifying now

[cromwell]

Well, that was interesting! A four-way battle for third place, a crash and Marquez wins again. Rossi won the race long scrap for third with Bautista, Crutchlow and Bradl; Lorenzo led for a long way before being caught by Marquez, and Pedrosa ended up in the ambulance (but not much hurt, thank goodness).
The Pedrosa crash is probably the most unusual crash ever. Marquez got very close to him in the corner, too close, and had to take to the run off. But Marquez's elbow pad had broken the traction control wire to Pedrosa's rear wheel. So when Pedrosa opened the throttle exiting the corner, the bike threw him straight up in the air!
Pedrosa is not a happy man. Marquez has a well deserved reputation for being very fast, a bit reckless and sometimes, a bit ruthless as well, although it wasn't being ruthless that caused the crash.
There will be even more pressure on Dani Pedrosa now. Pressure to win; pressure not to get in Marquez's way as he leads the Championship, and surely the pressure of dearly wishing to repay the favour, and put Marquez into the gravel good and proper....

[Workingman]

Now what will happen.... there was a touch going in to the corner? Will Marquez get demoted or lose the points altogether? Not that that would help Dani, who was on what some thought was the better tyre strategy for the end of the race.

It's not often you see the back end wanting to overtake the front, especially as the bike is straightening up out of a bend. Spectacular!

The Rossi, Bautista, Bradl and Crutchlow battle was something else. Those last few laps could have gone any which way.

[cromwell]

Now what will happen.... there was a touch going in to the corner? Will Marquez get demoted or lose the points altogether?

The stewards are investigating the incident WM. Whether they will actually do anything I don't know. What has become obvious is how angry Pedrosa is. He has said he wants to know where "the limit" comes in bike racing, because he can also ride aggressively and over the limit. You'd almost think that was a warning..!

It's not often you see the back end wanting to overtake the front, especially as the bike is straightening up out of a bend. Spectacular!

Certainly is. When the traction control went, the back wheel spun and lost traction; then all of a sudden it found traction again when the bike was all out of shape, and Dani joined the air force!

[Workingman]

I see that Marquez could be sanctioned, lose two points, and have to start from the back of the grid in Sepang. Probably fair.

Traction control is a bit of a worry. It's OK at the start, to overcome wheel spin, but when racing? It takes control away from the riders and allows them to ride in ways not intended. Fine, when it works, but potentially disastrous when it fails - for whatever reason. Dani was very lucky that the bike hit him tank/seat first and shoved him off the track. Had it spun 180 degrees before it hit him..........!!!

[cromwell]

It's on twice tomorrow; about 8.25am which I think is live and then highlights in the early afternoon, both on BBC,
Bradl broke his ankle today in free practice. Crutchlow is on the front row, in 3rd! Beating a factory Honda (Pedrosa) and a factory Yamaha (Lorenzo).
It's a sin and a shame to put him on a Ducati next year!

[miasmum]

Hey well done Cal, will try and remember to watch it

[cromwell]

Not as exciting as some of the last races, apart from Marquez and Lorenzo having a bit of a barging match. I can't get over the feeling though that Marquez is going to cause someone to have a big accident before he's done. Maybe he's just learning the circuits on a GP bike in his first season? Sometimes though he carries so much speed into a corner he's in danger of wiping out the guy in front.