Sunday, 27 November 2011

Taylor needs our help

Coming as a major blow to British biking, Taylor Mackenzie appears unable to ride next season because his main sponsor has withdrawn funding due to the poor economic climate!

But do not disappear our resourceful Taylor has set up mysquares, a way to fund next years competitive racing season by selling advertising space on his helmet!

To support Taylor and find out more visit http://www.taylor-mackenzie.com/mysquares/

Monday, 14 November 2011

2011 Top 5 for all three classes!

Weekends are going to be so empty now! Well only five months until the start of the next season...

To get the Moto GP moral up have done my top five for this season in all three classes:

125
1. This was a tough decision, but considering his age and the wins he scored this year I have chosen Maverick Vinales
2. Someone who should of won way more races then he did, Johann Zarco
3. World Champion, Nico Terol
4. Third in the championship, Sandro Cortese
5. A hard worker, and helpful team mate, Hector Faubel

Moto 2
1. To me this one is obvious, he is the best young rider around in my opinion, and it won't be long before he acquires legend status, which is saying something for an 18 year old Marc Marquez (could write an essay on how awesome he is)
2. World Champion Stefan Bradel
3. Considering it is his first year and he has the unfortunate luck to be British, Bradley Smith deserves third in my chart
4. Someone who thoroughly deserves, and needs, to move up to Moto GP next year, Andrea Iannone
5. Fighting back against the young ones this season for Thomas Luthi reminds me of days of old

Moto GP
1. Hopefully this choice is echoed by many of you, I believe this person showed outstanding talent, skill, character and calmness on and off track, now however he will never get the chance to win a GP race, Marco Simoncelli
2. World Champion Casey Stoner
3. The sad thing is that in the premier class there are not may riders to choose from, but third belongs to Dani Pedrosa, after missing three races due to injury and still coming fourth overall
4. Is just 'because he is an awesome rider' a good enough explanation as to why Ben Spies is here? ...Good!
5 .I suppose this one has to go to Jorge Lorenzo, he came second by default and didn't show much flair on the track, he was to busy being an ass of it...

May extend my thoughts on this later, but ciao for now! =)

Saturday, 12 November 2011

Intriguing stuff

Intriguing stuff from the BBC pit lane reporter:
'this season riders moves seem to change every second, as do the teams´ plans and machinery. dont take anything for certain til its signed!' Azi Farni, Twitter

I wonder who has hopped bikes?

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

When the Fan come around

You may disagree, but I think that social networking sites are a God send in the modern world of motorcycle sport. Twitter helps keep avid fans and bloggers, such as myself, up to date with all the latest goings on, and all opinions of the riders, journalists and the dedicated fans on the grid or on the sofa.

A recent Facebook page that caught my eye was ‘Marco Simocelli-Leave Pole position free next Moto GP’. The page, set up by devoted fan Chris Morrison shortly after the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli, aimed to gather enough momentum so that it could lobby the ‘Moto GP organisers to leave the Pole position empty for the next Moto GP out of respect for Marco Simoncelli, his family and loved ones.’ I think that the group was very successful, gaining 11,370 ‘likes’ and getting 6,681 users ‘talking about’ it. It was clear the deep unmoving emotion that Marco’s passing caused and the effort to leave the Pole free for him were overwhelming, with Chris updating the Facebook page saying:

I just want to say again how BRILLIANT it is to be part of such a wonderful group of people and thank you so much for your support. We will all be watching on Sunday with sweaty hands and eyes full of tears ... but let’s do this for Marco !!!’

Throughout the period between Sepang and Valencia phone calls were made, letters were written and several bloggers and journalist, including Cycle World Magazine, became interested in this tantalising campaign aimed at allowing Marco to hold his rightful place for the last time.

Unfortunately despite Chris’ and the fans amazing efforts the Pole was claimed by Stoner with no intention from Moto GP to keep it free. However of course there was the excellent Make Noise for Marco tribute held at the Valencianna track and around the world by fellow bikers, the slightly uncolourful no spraying of Champaign, and Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl dedicated his championship to Marco.

Well Done Chris et al, this shows the power grassroots hold and I hope the sport will continue to thrive from our involvement, but never again with such a morbid topic…Ciao Marco!

P.S. Title inspiration from Jonny Cash's When the Man comes around

Monday, 7 November 2011

FIM Awards

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2011/2011+FIM+MotoGP+Awards+Full+Ceremony

Love the bit where they have to take away Marquez's first award to give him a second one! <3

End of season frenzy

A lot happens only one day after the season finishes!

~Nicky Hayden is having treatment for a hand injury he picked up in yesterdays crash on the fist bend of lap one in the premier class...
Nicky Hayden's hand injury

~Jonas Folger is hoping for a Moto2 deal and has completed a test with MZ and will ride for them in Spanish championship next week.

~Tito Rabat has signed with the Pons team

~The British guys are being, well, British:
Harry Stafford
'After a really good Friday I got let down by my bike for the rest of the weekend. Story of the year!'
 
~Iannone has been unable to test with Gresini yet, but he is hoping for a ride on Wednesday
 
~And Barbera is now officially signed at Pracmac!
 
Now am going
 to go and watch the FIM awards ceremony!

Sunday, 6 November 2011

The Problem with Paris

You know when I set up this blog I never thought I would have to write an article concerning Paris Hilton, of all people! I thought 'MotoGP, God I love this sport, and the great thing is that everyone involved is truly passionate about it!'

Guess I was wrong...

Paris Hilton the sponsor of  'Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing' (as if you could miss who the sponsor is) gave her name, and Daddy's money, to the 125 team at the end of last year. The team comprising of the two Spanish riders, Maverick Vinales and Josep Rodriguez,  Sports Director Richard Jove and previous technician to Valentino Rossi Rossano Brazzi, have had a good first season with Vinales finishing 3rd in his rookie championship on 248 points, claiming 4 wins and the Michel Metraux Trophy, as voted for by his peers. Rodriguez on the other hand came 32nd in the championship on 3 points, only starting 8 races, and from what I can gather his best finish was 14th- there is not that much information on him out there sadly, not even on Paris Hilton's official site.

(Ahh yes the site...almost as annoying as her. There is a little button on sponsoring that follows you around, and the bad grammar almost has me convinced she may have something to do with the writing of it!?)

Now I understand that this is a business and especially in this economic climate the teams need all the help they can get, but some things should be left to those who understand and appreciate the world they are in. A motorcycle team should not be owned by an American socialite, with no discernible talents. (I know that sounds harsh, but she's had worst, I am sure). It's not only that she splurges her name all over the place, it's the amount of pink too.
Pink: Maverick Vinales riding for the Paris Hilton owned 125 team 
                                                                                                 
At least if she has to own it, she could just stay away from the track and she should defiantly, defiantly not be aloud to collect the trophy like she did today for Maverick's 4th win. It feels like an insult to the sport.

Sorry guys this turned into a bit of a rant, but you should be glad it didn't take a turn for the whole 'Capitalism has done this debate'-this is a Moto GP blog after all!

*Guys I am just adding this bit for a friend, it won't make sense to you- I dislike Paris Hilton and she is not fat!*

See I am a writer that gives my work a personal touch!

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Leave pole position free!

Seeing Double

What a day! Am unsure where to start...um let's start at the beginning. 125. Webb has taken his first ever pole in the last ever 125 qualifying! Well done, he defiantly deserves it!

In Moto2 news Gresini Racing Moto2 have taken the 1st and 2nd grid positions after all but a couple of the riders retired to the pits after 5 minutes due to 'rain', but we all know the real reason, and hopefully we all respect the real reason-SuperSic! Marquez has sacrificed this years championship because of bad health, including double vision (hence the title). So Stefan Bradl is now the Moto2 world champion by default, but I always expected him to win.

MotoGP was incredibly sombre, with lots of picture tributes to Simoncelli and Capirossi donning the number 58. Lorenzo and Edwards will be missing out the last 800cc race due to injury, but there is always hope the will take part in 2 mins revving noise tomorrow in memory of SuperSic.

Can't think of anything else at the  moment...

Thursday, 3 November 2011

This is food for thought...

I read this article and was horrified, Brad is such a great rider and like he says 'It's in [his] heart'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motogp/15475864.stm

Simoncelli Tributes

Here is a bit of a sneak peak at what some of the riders will be wearing in memory of Simoncelli!
pic.twitter.com/CVqFNWOC
Scott Redding tweet

The guys from all three classes will also be revving their engines for one minute before the start of the races, as well as there being a 16-metre wall with Simoncelli’s iconic number 58 put up at the circuit, upon which visitors can write their own personal messages throughout the weekend.

Sunday, 30 October 2011

Thursday, 27 October 2011

SuperSic

Hi,
It is amazing how people, fans, those who have never met or spoken with no# 58 and those who have, pull together to pay tribute to MotoGP's fallen hero. Two minutes silence was held today at 2.00pm as his family laid his body to rest and the number 58 will be removed from the championships.

These are just some of the pages I have found, devoted to the memory of Marco Simoncelli:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marco-Simoncelli-Leave-Pole-position-free-next-moto-GP/168538953237138?sk=wall#!/pages/Marco-Simoncelli-Leave-Pole-position-free-next-moto-GP/168538953237138


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marco-Simoncelli-Leave-Pole-position-free-next-moto-GP/168538953237138?sk=wall#!/pages/RIP-Marco-Simoncelli/118528498255655


http://www.facebook.com/groups/138553036244640/


http://marco.simoncelli.gonetoosoon.org/


http://www.racer.com/tributes-paid-to-marco-simoncelli/article/215013/


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motogp/15470635.stm

http://www.benspies.com/

http://www.valentinorossi.com/index-en.html

Of course there are tons of pages and tributes out there, but the truth is words can never describe the loss to the world of motorsport. Rest in Peace SuperSic, you will never be forgotten! xx

Sunday, 23 October 2011

R.I.P 58

Rest in peace Marco, you will be missed!

The racing world has not had the best couple of weeks: first with the death of Dan Wheldon and now Marco Simoncelli has passed away after an accident in Sepang.

Nothing can be said at a time like this, another rising star is now looking down on us.

2 years and 2 riders have lost their lives, I am starting to lose faith.

Friday, 14 October 2011

Sorry guys, after promising to write I didn't. But now have decided to make-over the site and will not review the races as you would of seen them, I will write lovely, little opinion pieces! x

Friday, 27 May 2011

So Sorry

So sorry guys (if anyone even reads this?) I kind of fell of the radar recently due masses of revision and exams, but stay faithful will be back to full MotoGP reviewing form for the next race in a weeks time at Catalunya!!!!

Saturday, 2 April 2011

Good Timing!

Jerez~Qualifying


I feel kind of bad because there is not much you can say after qualifing, but here it goes...


125's
It was a bit of a pick'n' mix in a some what messy qualifing session at Jerez. With Cortese taking pole, instead of Terol who I expected to dominate qualifing, and who I expect will dominate tommorws race.


A few crashes which allowed the martials to show their incompintance whilst they tried to take away the bikes from the riders when they NEED to get back on track.


Our British boys rode well once again! With Kent qualifing on the 3rd row in 9th after a bit of a mix up with the timings. Mackenziecoming 16th followed by Webb in 19th and Harry Stafford bringing up the rear in 27th!


Moto2
I have no idea why anyone thinks that Marquez or Redding will win or come close to winning this years championship. With constant crashing and poor qualifing fom Redding (yes some how Marquez managed 4th). Am more reasured by the fact that Smith came 5th yay!


Moto GP
The first thing I have to say is Hopkins just looks good on that bike!


Stoner is owning that Honda like he did the Ducati, taking complete and utter control, which is why he is on pole. Little Dani (not to be patronising) came 2nd and I pray it will finally be his year to win the championship! Rossi and Hayden don't seem to be doing to well which is not good, I love Hayden, I do but since the 2006 Championship win he has gone down hill...maybe not him, maybe his choice in rides? As for Rossi, well it's obvious that he still not fully fitafter last years big bone breaking crash.


Spies in 4th but was not to happy after a fall, like many of the other guys through out the classes on turns one and two.


Annie xx

Monday, 21 March 2011

The Race is on!

ROUND ONE~QATAR


125's
The 2011 season is under way and it is going to be the last 125 year as 2012 will see the entrance of Moto3 and 250cc engines!


So Qatar saw it's last 125 race led by Nico Terol from start to finish constantly being 10 seconds on average infront of the tailing gang of Sandro Cortese (100th race), Sergio Gadea, Efren Vazquez and Jonas Folger who took 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th consecutively. But we all know the reason Terol is speeding away because last years cream of the crop have moved on up to Moto2 (yes I'm talking Marquez, Smith and Espargaro).


As for our British boys Danny Kent came 13th, which is great for a rookie, with Danny Webb 16th, Taylor Mackenzie 18th and Harry Stafford 25th riding briliantly with a broken wrist! My friends the future is bright!


I can't wait for the next race in two weeks time when the guys venture out to Jerez, which is always fun and I'm sure Terol will want to maintain the top spot on the podium for his home crowd!


Moto2
Surprisingly Marquez qualified 2nd, 2nd! In his first race on a Moto2 bike. I was expecting him to be crap, rubbish like most rookies, but no he is up there fighting with the big boys! Actually as I’m writing this I’ve just seen an orange blur fly across my TV screen…No# 93...ah yes, Marc Marquez. So much for the second place, maybe I was right! Sorry.
And in true Moto2 style 7 non-finishers (crashers) one of which included British Kev Coghlan who retired. Scott Redding also managed to chuck his bike down the road (maybe comeuppance for dying his hair red (yes I know it was for red nose day but you can do other things and his hair was dudey before!) but thankfully he picked it up again and finished in 31st place.
Bradl was another leader from the start winning with a 6 second lead (it must be confusing for the sound system to play a national anthem that is not Spanish after last years race wins mostly being Spanish!) But I would say Bradl is defiantly one to watch, and I can pick ‘em Marc Marquez, well lets just say I’ve seen that one coming for a few years!

MotoGP
Amongst a lot of screaming and shouting from me and the BBC commentators the dust clears to reveal a Frenchman curled up in the middle of the track. Randy de Puniet. Well it’s to be expected really. Ironically swerving to avoid team mate de Puniet Capparossi injured his hand on the flying No# 14 bike and had to retire. So 3 laps in, after de Puniet limped away both the Primac boys were in the pits. I feel sorry the Primac team, they don’t have much luck, last years Aleix Espargaro and Mika Calio binning the bikes in the gravel at every available opportunity. But for some reason I have soft spot in my heart for the green and white team. Another crasher was that of the Moto2 Champion Toni Elias who with only 3 laps to go hoped off and crawled away!
Else where on the track Stoner, Pedrosa, Dovizioso and Lorenzo were sqabling like spoilt children over podium positions. Stoner came out on top followed by Lorenzo in 2nd and Pedrosa in 3rd ( Dani looked like he might be suffering from a bit of arm pump!) Even finishing second Lorenzo still made such a fuss, he is such a show off, I hate show offs!
The legend that is Rossi finished 7th seeming weary and creaky when he ambled off the bike. A big wobble with 7 laps to go probably didn’t hep either.

P.S Did you see the moon! 


Annie xx

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Can't wait!

Hi guys!


I simply can not wait until the new 2011 season starts on the 20th of March! I am super psyched to see Cal Cruchlow representing the Brits on the MotoGP and Bradley Smith has finally moved up to Moto2 to join Scott Redding who finished 8th overall last season. And to add to the British talent we have Danny Kent, Harry Stafford and Taylor McKenzie joining Danny Scott in the 125 championship!


This year is defiantly going to be one of the best with Moto2 finding its feet, loads of new talent coming in and plenty of moving around of riders from last season. Plus maybe MotoGP will carm down with Rossi and Lorenzo in different teams, but with Lorenzo's title to defend who knows? Personally I think it is abot time Pedrosa won the championship!


Annie xx