It has been announced on Friday (22/8/12) that Tech 3 Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow will be riding for the works Ducati Team on a two year contract, until the end of the 2015 season.
As the Tech 3 rider will replace Nicky Hayden at Ducati will be Andrea Dovizioso team-mate for 2014.
Last season, there was very strong possibility of Cal Crutchlow of getting a ride on the Ducati. But, somehow that deal was never confirmed and went for his Tech3 team-mate Andrea Dovizioso instead to replace Valentino Rossi for the 2013 MotoGP season at Ducati.
Like I said on a pervious post last year:
"this could be the best thing happen to him, what if the Ducati doesn't improve next season and is still an animal to ride next season, despite the investment from Audi."
So far this season the Desmosedici is still an animal to ride, their best result for Ducati this season was forth place for Andrea Dovizioso at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, compared to Cal Crutchlow his already got a pole position tat the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen his season and four podiums under him so far.
So, to my opinion about Cal Crutchlow going to Ducati next season is possibly the best option for Ducati team. It was the right time to replace Nicky Hayden at Ducati, other options would've included for the ride Randy de Puniet, or Ben Spies. Randy de Puniet was developing Suzuki's MotoGP Machine for next year anyway, Ben Spies meanwhile would have been a great choice. But, his been injury prone this season on the Pramac Ducati, only managing to do two Grand Prixs' this season.
Also, Yamaha should've placed Cal Crutchlow in the Works Yamaha squad alongside Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi for next season in a three bike team in my opinion as he is talented as Rossi and Lorenzo. However, Cal Crutchlow reportedly did turned down an increased financial offer and direct Yamaha contract for the Tech 3 team to ride for the works Ducati Team next season.
Meanwhile, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 have announced (2/8/13) that current Moto2 racer Pol Espargaro will race for the satellite team next year. Just as Cal Crutchlow, Pol Espargaro has signed a two-year deal with Yamaha, but with possibility to ride for the Works Yamaha in 2015. Pol Espargaro will now replace Cal Crutchlow next year as he makes his move up to the MotoGP class for the first time. As the current Moto2 rider will have current Tech 3 rider Bradley Smith as his team mate for next season.
This was widely anticipated as Yamaha was interested to sign the Moto2 rider since the start of the season, I believe his a very talent rider too. But, Pol Espargaro needs to do now is to do now is to the same as Marc Marquez did from last season and to win the Moto2 Title to show why Yamaha have signed him for.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
2013 24 hours of Spa race review
Last weekend was the annual 24 hours of Spa race (27-28th July). The HTP Mercedes team with a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 race car of Maximilian Buhk, Maximilian Götz and Bernd Schneider (he has also won this years Dubai 24 Hours race and the Nürburgring 24 hours race too) came out on top to win this years 24 hours of Spa race in 564 laps in total.
While the Manthey Racing team came in second place in their Porsche 997 GT3-R with team of Patrick Pilet, Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz as drivers.
While the Belgian Audi Club WRT team came in third place in their Audi R8 LMS ultra GT3 with André Lotterer, Christopher Mies and Frank Stippler as drivers, they were six laps behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
While the Manthey Racing team came in second place in their Porsche 997 GT3-R with team of Patrick Pilet, Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz as drivers.
While the Belgian Audi Club WRT team came in third place in their Audi R8 LMS ultra GT3 with André Lotterer, Christopher Mies and Frank Stippler as drivers, they were six laps behind the leaders at the end of the 24 hours race.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Monday, 29 July 2013
2013 Hungarian Grand Prix Review, thoughts on the race and Rumours
Round ten of the F1 season, a quick review of the Hungarian Grand Prix, and thoughts on the race itself and rumours of Fernando Alonso might be teaming up with Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull next season.
Good points
Bad points
The race itself was a very good race to watch. And for the first time this season a race win for Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Also, his first win with Mercedes, fist time for a Brit to win in a Mercedes F1 car since Stirling Moss won at the British Grand Prix, at Aintree in 1955. Also, a well earned win for the former world champion in the Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Kimi Räikkönen finished in second place in the Lotus, on a two-stop strategy. While current F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel finished in third place, in his Red Bull.
And now with Sebastian Vettel was leading the drivers championship with 34 points ahead after the Nürburgring round, and now after the Hungaroring, his ahead of Kimi Räikkönen with 38 points. Despite, he only finished in third place in the race, Fernando Alonso is third in the standings with 39 points behind Vettel. While former champions Lewis Hamilton is only 48 points behind behind Vettel in the drivers standings with nine races to go. Can Hamilton, Räikkönen and Alonso can still catch up in the drivers championship and still win it? Only a little bit of luck is needed in my opinion. Remember last season Vettel was 42 points behind Alonso at this time to win his third title.
So is it Sebastian Vettel's championship for the taking, time will tell.
And speaking of Sebastian Vettel, there have been rumours at this weekends Hungarian Grand Prix that Fernando Alonso has approached Red Bull about moving there for next season, as sources say Alonso's manager has told Red Bull the Spaniard is potentially available to partner the current world champion.
In my opinion, I don't think this will ever happen as this is more of a red herring and maybe a signal from Alonso to tell Ferrari make a faster car or else I am leaving after the 2014 season. As I reckoned it will be either Kimi Räikkönen or Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo to be Sebastian Vettel team-mate next season. As I think Alonso and Vettel would be another Prost and Senna in the making, and that didn't happy ended well either.
So next stop, is round eleven for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in four weeks time.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
Good points
- Lewis Hamilton (pole to finished with a race win)
- Lotus (Kimi Räikkönen, finished 2nd; Romain Grosjean, finished 6th, despite a drive through penalty)
- Red Bull Racing (Sebastian Vettel, finished 3rd; Mark Webber, finished 4th)
- Pastor Maldonado (finished 10th, first points of the season for Williams)
- Giedo van der Garde (finished 14th, ahead of Caterham team-mate Charles Pic and Marussia drivers)
Bad points
- Nico Rosberg (DNF, Engine)
- Esteban Gutiérrez (DNF, Transmission)
- Valtteri Bottas (DNF, Engine)
- Force India (Paul di Resta, DNF, Hydraulics; Adrian Sutil, DNF, Hydraulics, on his 100th Grand Prix)
The race itself was a very good race to watch. And for the first time this season a race win for Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Also, his first win with Mercedes, fist time for a Brit to win in a Mercedes F1 car since Stirling Moss won at the British Grand Prix, at Aintree in 1955. Also, a well earned win for the former world champion in the Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Kimi Räikkönen finished in second place in the Lotus, on a two-stop strategy. While current F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel finished in third place, in his Red Bull.
And now with Sebastian Vettel was leading the drivers championship with 34 points ahead after the Nürburgring round, and now after the Hungaroring, his ahead of Kimi Räikkönen with 38 points. Despite, he only finished in third place in the race, Fernando Alonso is third in the standings with 39 points behind Vettel. While former champions Lewis Hamilton is only 48 points behind behind Vettel in the drivers standings with nine races to go. Can Hamilton, Räikkönen and Alonso can still catch up in the drivers championship and still win it? Only a little bit of luck is needed in my opinion. Remember last season Vettel was 42 points behind Alonso at this time to win his third title.
So is it Sebastian Vettel's championship for the taking, time will tell.
And speaking of Sebastian Vettel, there have been rumours at this weekends Hungarian Grand Prix that Fernando Alonso has approached Red Bull about moving there for next season, as sources say Alonso's manager has told Red Bull the Spaniard is potentially available to partner the current world champion.
In my opinion, I don't think this will ever happen as this is more of a red herring and maybe a signal from Alonso to tell Ferrari make a faster car or else I am leaving after the 2014 season. As I reckoned it will be either Kimi Räikkönen or Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo to be Sebastian Vettel team-mate next season. As I think Alonso and Vettel would be another Prost and Senna in the making, and that didn't happy ended well either.
So next stop, is round eleven for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in four weeks time.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
Thursday, 25 July 2013
F1 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix Predictions
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring, near Budapest.
And so predictions for the race itself, Kimi Raikkonen for the win in his Lotus, Lewis Hamilton second in his Mercedes, and Nico Rosberg third in the other Mercedes. Don't forget the Red Bull drivers, McLaren drivers, Ferrari drivers and Romain Grosjean either for a podium place as-well.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
And so predictions for the race itself, Kimi Raikkonen for the win in his Lotus, Lewis Hamilton second in his Mercedes, and Nico Rosberg third in the other Mercedes. Don't forget the Red Bull drivers, McLaren drivers, Ferrari drivers and Romain Grosjean either for a podium place as-well.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Confirmed: Austrian Grand Prix to return next season
Yesterday was a very surprising news that came out, that the Austrian Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar next season, with an agreement being reached for a race to be staged at the Red Bull Ring (formerly known as the A1-Ring).
In an agreement by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, the venue is expected to be given a slot on the first weekend of July, would more than likely placing the race between the British and German Grands Prixs' in 2014.
The Red Bull Ring was close to making a return as a replacement for the postponed Grand Prix in New Jersey, but it was too late at the time to place the race in 2013 season.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
In an agreement by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, the venue is expected to be given a slot on the first weekend of July, would more than likely placing the race between the British and German Grands Prixs' in 2014.
The Red Bull Ring was close to making a return as a replacement for the postponed Grand Prix in New Jersey, but it was too late at the time to place the race in 2013 season.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Monday, 22 July 2013
2013 USA MotoGP Review,
Review of the round nine of the 2013 MotoGP season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey in California, USA. This race will be only for the MotoGP class, as Moto2 and Moto3 does not race at Laguna Seca.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda rider and current Moto2 Champion Marc Marquez on his works Honda RC213V, to give his third race win of the season. Second place was LCR Honda MotoGP rider Stefan Bradl on his satellite spec Honda RC213V, Bradl was over two seconds behind Marquez at the end. While, third place was Yamaha Factory Racing rider and former seven times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi in his works Yamaha YZR-M1, Rossi was over four seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race.
While, current MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo and former points leader Dani Pedorsa did race after-all, after two different heavy crashes in practice for last weekends German Grand Prix. Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedorsa finished in fifth place on his works Honda RC213V, Pedrosa was over nine seconds behind team-mate Marquez at the end of the race. While Jorge Lorenzo finished in sixth place on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, Lorenzo was over twelve seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race. So great performances from both riders.
In CRT class (Claiming Rule Teams, street bike engines rather than non prototype engines), the Avintia Blusens Aspar rider Héctor Barberá won CRT class and finished 10th overall in his FTR (Kawasaki engine), he was over a minute behind Marquez at the end. As for CRT class regular race winner Aleix Espargaró crashed out the race early on, his first DNF of the season.
Meanwhile, former MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden last week announced that he will be leaving Ducati at the end of the 2013 MotoGP season, with the outfit opting not to extend his contract. There has been recent rumours that Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow could be on a works Ducati rider next season by a few sources.
And finally, there were some sad news during the Supersport World Championship race at Moscow Raceway in Russia yeaterday, as Italian rider Andrea Antonelli died in a crash in the race. The Kawasaki rider fell on the back straight in torrential rain and was hit by fellow Italian Lorenzo Zanetti's Honda. He suffered head trauma and later succumbed to his injuries. He was 25. Condolences goes out to Andrea Antonelli family and close friends.
Motorsport is dangerous sport. No matter if its Go-Karting, motorbikes, Formula 1, Indy Car, Endurance Racing or any kind of Motorsport is dangerous, but motorsport can be safer between tracks, fans, specators, tracks marshells, people in pits, cars and drivers too.
R.I.P. Andrea Antonelli (17 January, 1988 – July 21, 2013
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda rider and current Moto2 Champion Marc Marquez on his works Honda RC213V, to give his third race win of the season. Second place was LCR Honda MotoGP rider Stefan Bradl on his satellite spec Honda RC213V, Bradl was over two seconds behind Marquez at the end. While, third place was Yamaha Factory Racing rider and former seven times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi in his works Yamaha YZR-M1, Rossi was over four seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race.
While, current MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo and former points leader Dani Pedorsa did race after-all, after two different heavy crashes in practice for last weekends German Grand Prix. Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedorsa finished in fifth place on his works Honda RC213V, Pedrosa was over nine seconds behind team-mate Marquez at the end of the race. While Jorge Lorenzo finished in sixth place on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, Lorenzo was over twelve seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race. So great performances from both riders.
In CRT class (Claiming Rule Teams, street bike engines rather than non prototype engines), the Avintia Blusens Aspar rider Héctor Barberá won CRT class and finished 10th overall in his FTR (Kawasaki engine), he was over a minute behind Marquez at the end. As for CRT class regular race winner Aleix Espargaró crashed out the race early on, his first DNF of the season.
Meanwhile, former MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden last week announced that he will be leaving Ducati at the end of the 2013 MotoGP season, with the outfit opting not to extend his contract. There has been recent rumours that Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow could be on a works Ducati rider next season by a few sources.
And finally, there were some sad news during the Supersport World Championship race at Moscow Raceway in Russia yeaterday, as Italian rider Andrea Antonelli died in a crash in the race. The Kawasaki rider fell on the back straight in torrential rain and was hit by fellow Italian Lorenzo Zanetti's Honda. He suffered head trauma and later succumbed to his injuries. He was 25. Condolences goes out to Andrea Antonelli family and close friends.
Motorsport is dangerous sport. No matter if its Go-Karting, motorbikes, Formula 1, Indy Car, Endurance Racing or any kind of Motorsport is dangerous, but motorsport can be safer between tracks, fans, specators, tracks marshells, people in pits, cars and drivers too.
R.I.P. Andrea Antonelli (17 January, 1988 – July 21, 2013
Friday, 19 July 2013
Rush Trailer number three
Back in early April, the Rush trailers has appeared on the internet. The Film won't come out until mid-September, that will be based on the 1976 Formula One season and the rivalry between drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Directed by Ron Howard. Actor, Chris Hemsworth will play 1976 F1 World Champion James Hunt. Actor, Daniel Brühl will play former Ferrari driver and three times F1 World Champion Niki Lauda. And actress, Olivia Wilde will play as Suzy Miller, James Hunt's former wife at that period.
With two months to go until the film comes out, there is a third new Rush trailer appeared on the internet with more added dialogue from the main characters. My only problem is that the score below is quite poor for a trailer, but a part from that the trailer is quite good.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
With two months to go until the film comes out, there is a third new Rush trailer appeared on the internet with more added dialogue from the main characters. My only problem is that the score below is quite poor for a trailer, but a part from that the trailer is quite good.
End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)