Some people just dont know when to quit....

[Agemax]

I was streaming the race back on the BBC when I thought, hmm I was about there 4-5 laps after the race started and with a couple of freeze frames...



I was also right in front of the Corkscrew camera when Joe played the US Anthem but of course the BBC didn't play that bit!

I was wearing my "red bull" take-off t-shirt from the Hustler store, pretty easy to pick out.... You can see I'm taking pics/video above my head so I have the pictures looking back at the camera too. Pretty cool

wow, that must have been an awesome place to spectate from. they always emphasize on the TV that the cameras do not justify how steep the corkscrew actually is.

[Tim Tom]

Dan thats awesome you were there! Speeds coverage had Satch`s version of our anthem I thought it sounded fitting for a motorcycle race! As for stoner.. I suspect the speculation will continue until the speculation ends. On a serious note everyone seems to be focusing more on 2014 then what is happening on the track now! Isnt that what winter is for??

[Agemax]

this is a pic of Marquez before the race apparently planning a manouvre in the corkscrew.
see how the sand off track is all but gone leaving the bare tarmac below. so, apart from the drain cover, it is a pretty safe place to ride over (in the dry anyway)...

[GregT]

Like a lot of people, we don't like having to tolerate bullsh!t. Australians in particular seem to have a short fuse for it, at least the ones I know anyway.

I don't think its a coincidence that both Stoner and Webber have retired at the peak of their careers after facing situations that are unacceptable to them.

Webber in particular I feel for, his press release post race after his teammate illegally passed him - and received no penalty for despite being counter to team orders - was particularly devastating. "No comment; no comment; no comment." He looked like he could have killed someone, but he kept his calm and, later, made a rational decision to quit.

I like racing at amateur level, there are no (or by far fewer!) beurocratic bungles and everyone is there to have a good time, not just win.

- boingk

Ha - you Aussies are getting soft. I met Jack Brabham many years back when i was a kid - The old man had helped him out on his first visit to NZ so we always saw him when he was back for the Tasman series.
Now that man would never have retired because he didn't like what was happening. He would have forced a change to suit himself.
Rather sorry that the post race interview was not around in his day - he was often pretty forthright about what had happened....pungent even occasionally, LOL.

[slayer61]

wow, that must have been an awesome place to spectate from. they always emphasize on the TV that the cameras do not justify how steep the corkscrew actually is.

"The Corkscrew" is an incredibly daunting corner, what with the completely blind entrance and a VERY steep drop off. I had seen it on television many times, but the first time I saw it in person was in 2000 at a Keith Code Superbike School looking over the handlebars of a ZX-6! What an experience! I will never forget it! Paul

[pete]

Great place to stand Dan, that would be awesome indeed!

Slayer, that would be daunting first time you see it

[cowboyup3371]

Quick question for you racing afficionados. I know I've been told to not remove my feet from the pegs when going through turns but I'm watching the Laguna race tonight on Speed finally and notice on some of the lefthanders that their feet come off and stay off until they tip in. Why is that?

[Agemax]

Quick question for you racing afficionados. I know I've been told to not remove my feet from the pegs when going through turns but I'm watching the Laguna race tonight on Speed finally and notice on some of the lefthanders that their feet come off and stay off until they tip in. Why is that?

if you mean "hanging the leg out" it is all down to weight shifting, getting the bike balanced before tipping it into the bend.
by moving the leg around they can literally shift the weight balance backwards or forwards to get the right feel.
it also helps as an air brake, to a certain degree and it is a slightly crafty but effective way of deterring other riders from trying to undertake you.

originally mastered by Rossi, after much banter and mickey taking other riders realized it actually works, and so is now used by majority of riders.

[Tim Tom]

With regards to the foot, it works at superhuman speeds with superhuman skills. For ordinary riding, keep your feet on the pegs...

I also noticed Marquez taking the 'Rossi' line through the corkscrew in Q2. He was definitely planning to use it. So when the race came along he knew where he could go.

Now back to wildly speculating... who wants to see Cal and Stoner ride for Suzuki??

[boingk]

Ha - you Aussies are getting soft. I met Jack Brabham many years back when i was a kid - The old man had helped him out on his first visit to NZ so we always saw him when he was back for the Tasman series.
Now that man would never have retired because he didn't like what was happening. He would have forced a change to suit himself.

Sadly, that was when race teams were likely to listen to drivers about things other than the actual machinery they were operating.

- boingk

[boingk]

if you mean "hanging the leg out"

<snip>

originally mastered by Rossi, after much banter and mickey taking other riders realized it actually works, and so is now used by majority of riders.

It was done by a lot of riders in the 50's through 70's, too. Many had prior dirt track experience and if you do, to, then you will know that it feels natural. I myself am inclined to do it on the leadin to fast corners.

- boingk

[Agemax]

I also noticed Marquez taking the 'Rossi' line through the corkscrew in Q2. He was definitely planning to use it. So when the race came along he knew where he could go.

see my earlier pic (post #18), he was planning it way before qually started, i think that shot was taken after FP2

[pete]

Cal and Stoner on Suzuki? Nah... love my Suzuki's but unless they put actual $$$ into MotoGP I can't see them doing much again...

[slayer61]

I think Cal is ready to go to ANY factory team...Stoner is done. Just my .02

[Big T]

Cal and Stoner on Suzuki? Nah... love my Suzuki's but unless they put actual $$$ into MotoGP I can't see them doing much again...

Pete

Suzuki was scheduled to come back in 2014, they tested last month with a competitive bike (would have qualified 6th) but are now waiting to 2015 due to some upcoming rule changes from Dorna (like a spec ECU)

Cal was looking for the Suzuki ride, hard to believe he's bitching about the Tech 3 ride

Stoner - he won't come back, he's tired of all the politics and money issues. No decent seats available anyway