It has been confirmed this afternoon that Valentino Rossi he will split with legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess for 2014. Burgess was informed of Rossi’s decision to replace him in a meeting this morning, ending their long and successful relationship together. Burgess has worked with Rossi throughout his entire MotoGP career from when he joined Honda in 2000 and he was the technical mastermind behind the Italian’s seven premier class world titles and 80 wins and went with Rossi to Yamaha in 2004, went with Rossi to Ducati in 2011 and returned to Yamaha this season.
Valentino Rossi decided that change is needed for 2014, and a change crew chief was needed, because he wanted to change, try and find some new motivation and try to boost to improve his level and speed. No word yet thst who is Valentino Rossi's new crew chief is. But, it will be more than likely annocence sooner then later.
The end of the Rossi and Burgess era.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Aprilia back in MotoGP in a fully loaded comeback in 2016
It has been confirmed on Tuesday (5/11/13)at the International Motorcycle Exhibition in Milan, that Aprilia will return to MotoGP as a full factory entry, from 2016 and onwards.
Aprilia last ran an official MotoGP team in 2004, when Shane Byrne and Jeremy McWilliams raced the three-cylinder RS Cube which failed. And the first factory team to withdraw from the four-stroke MotoGP era due to financial reasons.
Aprilia unofficially return to the premier-class in 2012 under the new Claiming Rule Team regulations, offering a modified version of its WSBK-winning RSV4 superbike for privateers dubbed the 'ART', has won the CRT MotoGP class for the past two seasons with Aspar's Aleix Espargaro.
But, with leading ART team Aspar using the all new Honda Production bike. And most recently the news of the departure of Aprilia racing boss Gigi Dall'Igna to Ducati. Perhaps is a good time for Aprilia to return to as a fully manufacturer alongside present manufacturers Honda, Yamaha, Ducati in having an official factory MotoGP team, with Suzuki also returning to the premier class in 2015.
In my opinion, this is good news for the sport, that having a fifth manufacture in the premier class. I believe that don't want to be a manufacture team in the midfield of the grid. But to win, as we did in World Superbikes with Max Biaggi n the past five seasons. Anyway, good luck for Aprilia for their new challenge ahead in returning to the Premier Class of MotoGP in 2016.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Aprilia last ran an official MotoGP team in 2004, when Shane Byrne and Jeremy McWilliams raced the three-cylinder RS Cube which failed. And the first factory team to withdraw from the four-stroke MotoGP era due to financial reasons.
Aprilia unofficially return to the premier-class in 2012 under the new Claiming Rule Team regulations, offering a modified version of its WSBK-winning RSV4 superbike for privateers dubbed the 'ART', has won the CRT MotoGP class for the past two seasons with Aspar's Aleix Espargaro.
But, with leading ART team Aspar using the all new Honda Production bike. And most recently the news of the departure of Aprilia racing boss Gigi Dall'Igna to Ducati. Perhaps is a good time for Aprilia to return to as a fully manufacturer alongside present manufacturers Honda, Yamaha, Ducati in having an official factory MotoGP team, with Suzuki also returning to the premier class in 2015.
In my opinion, this is good news for the sport, that having a fifth manufacture in the premier class. I believe that don't want to be a manufacture team in the midfield of the grid. But to win, as we did in World Superbikes with Max Biaggi n the past five seasons. Anyway, good luck for Aprilia for their new challenge ahead in returning to the Premier Class of MotoGP in 2016.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Top Six Gordon Murray race cars
Last year, I did two posts on top six Formula 1 cars designed by Adrian Newey and Colin Chapman. So this post is all about former McLaren and Brabham race car Designer Gordon Murray, as this post is the top six Gordon Murray race cars, starting with number six:
Number 6: 1978 Brabham BT46B – aka the "fan car"
Story: Brabham BT46B was powered by 3 litre Alfa Romeo Flat-12 engine that that produces 500 bhp. And the story goes that once Lotus had introduced the concept of ground effect to the Formula One with the Lotus 79 in 1978. Gordon Murray who designed the Brabham BT46 could not put ground effect technique onto the car due to Alfa Romeo flat-12 engine used by Brabham that season was too wide to permit the venturi tunnels needed for really significant ground effect. So, the Brabham BT46B was inspired by the Chaparral 2J sticking a fan at the rear of the Brabham BT46B to dubbed the car to many as the "fan car". It only managed to do one Grand Prix and winning its only Grand Prix, the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix with Niki Lauda. Afterwards the Brabham BT46B 'fan car' never raced again. It is popularly thought that it was banned, but it was actually voluntarily withdrawn by Brabham themselves. All in all a legendary car none the less.
Number 5: 1974-75 Brabham BT44
Story: The Brabham BT44 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT44 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine that produces 430 bhp. Brabham BT44 took five victories between 1974 and 1975, four for Carlos Reutemann and one for Carlos Pace. Although the Brabham BT44 never took a drivers' championship in those two seasons. It did took Brabham to second place in the Constructors championship in the 1975 season behind Ferrari in the standings.
Number 4: 1983 Brabham BT52
Story: Brabham BT52 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT52 was powered by the BMW four cylinder 1.5 litre turbocharged engine which in 1983 produced about 850 bhp in qualifying, detuned to around 600 bhp for race spec. Brabham BT52 took four wins in 1983, three for Nelson Piquet and one for Riccardo Patrese. While Nelson Piquet driving the Brabham BMW BT52 took the drivers championship in 1983 and winning his second of his third F1 drivers championship. And took Brabham to third place in the Constructors championship that year.
Number 3: 1979-82 Brabham BT49
Story: Brabham BT49 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT49 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine that produces 490 bhp. Brabham BT49 took seven wins in two and a half years, six for Nelson Piquet and one for Riccardo Patrese. While Nelson Piquet driving the Brabham BT49 took the drivers championship in 1981 and winning his first of his third F1 drivers championship. And took Brabham to second place in the Constructors championship that year.
Number 2: 1995 McLaren F1 GTR
Story: Basically the McLaren F1 GTR developed from the McLaren F1 road car. Designed by Gordon Murray, the McLaren F1 GTR had 600 bhp from a BMW 6.1 litre V12. The McLaren F1 GTR was a grand touring race winning machine, winning races in series such as the BPR Global GT Series, FIA GT Championship, JGTC, and British GT Championship. But, It is most famous for its overall victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans where Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing team of Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya and JJ Lehto, won the race overall ahead of faster purpose-built prototypes. Also in that race, four McLaren F1 GTR finished inside the top five after 24 hours as-well(1st-3rd-4th-5th place).
Number 1: 1988 McLaren MP4/4
Story: The McLaren MP4/4 use powered by the famous Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath the McLaren MP4/4, the last of the turbos in Formula 1 (until next season that is) which produce over 1000 bhp in qualifying and around 790 bhp in race pace. Which, McLaren took fifteen victories from sixteen races in 1988, eight for Ayrton Senna and seven for Alain Prost, including ten 1-2 finishes, fifteen Poles which Senna took thirteen poles that season. Finally gives McLaren the Constructors Championship in 1998 and Ayrton Senna to the Drivers Championship in 1988 as-well. As this is the best Gordon Murray race car he has ever designed.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Number 6: 1978 Brabham BT46B – aka the "fan car"
Story: Brabham BT46B was powered by 3 litre Alfa Romeo Flat-12 engine that that produces 500 bhp. And the story goes that once Lotus had introduced the concept of ground effect to the Formula One with the Lotus 79 in 1978. Gordon Murray who designed the Brabham BT46 could not put ground effect technique onto the car due to Alfa Romeo flat-12 engine used by Brabham that season was too wide to permit the venturi tunnels needed for really significant ground effect. So, the Brabham BT46B was inspired by the Chaparral 2J sticking a fan at the rear of the Brabham BT46B to dubbed the car to many as the "fan car". It only managed to do one Grand Prix and winning its only Grand Prix, the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix with Niki Lauda. Afterwards the Brabham BT46B 'fan car' never raced again. It is popularly thought that it was banned, but it was actually voluntarily withdrawn by Brabham themselves. All in all a legendary car none the less.
Number 5: 1974-75 Brabham BT44
Story: The Brabham BT44 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT44 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine that produces 430 bhp. Brabham BT44 took five victories between 1974 and 1975, four for Carlos Reutemann and one for Carlos Pace. Although the Brabham BT44 never took a drivers' championship in those two seasons. It did took Brabham to second place in the Constructors championship in the 1975 season behind Ferrari in the standings.
Number 4: 1983 Brabham BT52
Story: Brabham BT52 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT52 was powered by the BMW four cylinder 1.5 litre turbocharged engine which in 1983 produced about 850 bhp in qualifying, detuned to around 600 bhp for race spec. Brabham BT52 took four wins in 1983, three for Nelson Piquet and one for Riccardo Patrese. While Nelson Piquet driving the Brabham BMW BT52 took the drivers championship in 1983 and winning his second of his third F1 drivers championship. And took Brabham to third place in the Constructors championship that year.
Number 3: 1979-82 Brabham BT49
Story: Brabham BT49 was designed by Gordon Murray, the Brabham BT49 was powered by the 3 litre V8 Cosworth DFV engine that produces 490 bhp. Brabham BT49 took seven wins in two and a half years, six for Nelson Piquet and one for Riccardo Patrese. While Nelson Piquet driving the Brabham BT49 took the drivers championship in 1981 and winning his first of his third F1 drivers championship. And took Brabham to second place in the Constructors championship that year.
Number 2: 1995 McLaren F1 GTR
Story: Basically the McLaren F1 GTR developed from the McLaren F1 road car. Designed by Gordon Murray, the McLaren F1 GTR had 600 bhp from a BMW 6.1 litre V12. The McLaren F1 GTR was a grand touring race winning machine, winning races in series such as the BPR Global GT Series, FIA GT Championship, JGTC, and British GT Championship. But, It is most famous for its overall victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans where Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing team of Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya and JJ Lehto, won the race overall ahead of faster purpose-built prototypes. Also in that race, four McLaren F1 GTR finished inside the top five after 24 hours as-well(1st-3rd-4th-5th place).
Number 1: 1988 McLaren MP4/4
Story: The McLaren MP4/4 use powered by the famous Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath the McLaren MP4/4, the last of the turbos in Formula 1 (until next season that is) which produce over 1000 bhp in qualifying and around 790 bhp in race pace. Which, McLaren took fifteen victories from sixteen races in 1988, eight for Ayrton Senna and seven for Alain Prost, including ten 1-2 finishes, fifteen Poles which Senna took thirteen poles that season. Finally gives McLaren the Constructors Championship in 1998 and Ayrton Senna to the Drivers Championship in 1988 as-well. As this is the best Gordon Murray race car he has ever designed.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
Super Aguri back in Formula ........................................ E!
From last week (1/11/13) former Formula 1 team and current Super GT team Super Aguri is set to make a surprise return to international motorsport in the new Formula E Championship from 2014. Former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki's team, which ran in Formula 1 from 2006-8, was announced as one of the ten Formula E entrants in Tokyo on Friday morning. There will be the sixth Formula E team announce which include other teams so far the likes of Drayson Racing, China Racing, Andretti Autosport, Dragon Racing, and e.DAMS.
The squad will be known as Super Aguri Formula E, or SAFE.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
The squad will be known as Super Aguri Formula E, or SAFE.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Donut that!
During last weekends Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and weekends before that at the Indian Grand Prix, four times world champion Sebastian Vettel did some donuts celebrations after the Grand Prix wins.
To top that, former F1 driver David Coulthard and Red Bull top it with some championship winning donuts ontop of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on top of their helipad which is 210 meters above ground to do some masterclass donuts. This celebration was for winning their fourth consecutive Constructors' and Driver's Championships in a row. Enjoy.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
To top that, former F1 driver David Coulthard and Red Bull top it with some championship winning donuts ontop of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on top of their helipad which is 210 meters above ground to do some masterclass donuts. This celebration was for winning their fourth consecutive Constructors' and Driver's Championships in a row. Enjoy.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
2013 GP2 and GP3 champions news
This post is all about the new 2013 GP2 and GP3 champions.
Fabio Leimer won the GP2 series championship at Yas Marina Circuit from last weekend, with a race to spare ahead of Sam Bird in the standings. So where going to see Fabio Leimer next season? Unless he brings in high amount sponsorship like previous champions have done for example Romain Grosjean 2011 GP2 champion (bringing Total sponsorship to Lotus this season) and Pastor Maldonado 2010 GP2 champion (bringing PSDVA/Venezuelan sponsorship to Williams this season), then he will be in Formula 1 with a Grand Prix team. If not maybe Indycar Series for 2014 which is more than likely option.
Meanwhile in the GP3 series, next seasons Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat won this years GP3 series championship this weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, with a race to spare ahead of both Facu Regalia and Conor Daly.
So, contractions to the new champions. Bring on 2014.
End of blog for now, new post soon, bye.
Fabio Leimer won the GP2 series championship at Yas Marina Circuit from last weekend, with a race to spare ahead of Sam Bird in the standings. So where going to see Fabio Leimer next season? Unless he brings in high amount sponsorship like previous champions have done for example Romain Grosjean 2011 GP2 champion (bringing Total sponsorship to Lotus this season) and Pastor Maldonado 2010 GP2 champion (bringing PSDVA/Venezuelan sponsorship to Williams this season), then he will be in Formula 1 with a Grand Prix team. If not maybe Indycar Series for 2014 which is more than likely option.
Meanwhile in the GP3 series, next seasons Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat won this years GP3 series championship this weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, with a race to spare ahead of both Facu Regalia and Conor Daly.
So, contractions to the new champions. Bring on 2014.
End of blog for now, new post soon, bye.
Monday, 4 November 2013
2013 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Review and thoughts
2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix review of round seventeen of the F1 season at Yas Marina Circuit, and thoughts on the race as well.
Good points
Another dominating race weekend from Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull, front row start on Saturday to conclude with an impressive race win on Sunday winning the race by over half a minute to give Sebastian his eleventh Grand Prix win of the season and his seventh race win a row matching Michael Schumacher's record from 2004, he only needs two more Grand Prix wins to match Alberto Ascari record of nine race wins in a row.
Meanwhile, Mark Webber finished in second place in the other Red Bull to concluded a Red Bull one-two finish at Yas Marina Circuit. While Nico Rosberg finished in third place in the Mercedes.
Next stop the United States Grand Prix in two weeks time.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
Good points
- Red Bull Racing (Sebastian Vettel, front row start, lead from start to finish with a race win; Mark Webber, finished 2nd)
- Nico Rosberg (finished 3rd)
- Romain Grosjean (finished 4th)
- Force India (Paul di Resta, finished 6th; Adrian Sutil, finished 10th)
- Sergio Perez (finished 9th)
- Giedo van der Garde (finished 18th, ahead of team-mate Charles Pic and both Marussia drivers)
- Kimi Räikkonen (DNF, should have qualified fifth, but was disqualified from qualifying when his car failed a floor deflection test, but adespite having back pains throughout the weekend, DNF the first lap by a collusion with Giedo van der Garde)
- Jenson Button (finished 12th, front nose change on the first lap)
- Nico Hülkenberg (finished 14th, drive through penalty and got lap by Vettel)
Another dominating race weekend from Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull, front row start on Saturday to conclude with an impressive race win on Sunday winning the race by over half a minute to give Sebastian his eleventh Grand Prix win of the season and his seventh race win a row matching Michael Schumacher's record from 2004, he only needs two more Grand Prix wins to match Alberto Ascari record of nine race wins in a row.
Meanwhile, Mark Webber finished in second place in the other Red Bull to concluded a Red Bull one-two finish at Yas Marina Circuit. While Nico Rosberg finished in third place in the Mercedes.
Next stop the United States Grand Prix in two weeks time.
End of blog for now, new post soon. Bye.
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