2013 Dutch MotoGP Review and for first time in 994 days, Valentino Rossi wins a Grand Prix

Review of the round seven of the 2013 MotoGP season at TT Circuit Assen, Assen in Holland for MotoGP's only Saturday race of the season.

In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Yamaha Factory Racing rider and former seven times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi in his works Yamaha YZR-M1 and for the first time in nearly three years he wins a Grand Prix. Second place was Repsol Honda Team rider and 2012 Moto2 Champion Marc Márquez in his works Honda RC213V, he was over 2 seconds behind Rossi at the end. While, third place was Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow on his satellite spec Yamaha YZR-M1, Crutchlow was over 4 seconds behind Rossi at the end.

But the ride of the day goes to current MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, that was after a horrible crash during a wet Thursday practice session; flow back to Spain to a have collarbone surgery. Then return for the race in a superhuman performance to finished in 5th place, Lorenzo was only 15 seconds behind team-mate Rossi at the end.

In CRT class (Claiming Rule Teams,street bike engines rather than non prototype engines), the Power Electronics Aspar rider Aleix Espargaró won CRT class and finished 8th overall in his ART (Aprilia), he was 32 seconds behind Rossi at the end.

In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Tuenti HP 40 rider Pol Espargaró on the Kalex. Second was Marc VDS Racing Team rider of Scott Redding on the Kalex, he was only 12 hundredths of a second behind Espargaró at the end. While, third was Technomag carXpert rider Dominique Aegerter on the Suter, he was over 3 seconds behind Espargaró at the end of the race.

While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Luis Salom on the KTM. Second was Team Calvo rider Maverick Viñales on the KTM, he was only 12 hundredths of a second behind Salom at the end of the race. While, third was Estrella Galicia rider Álex Rins on the KTM, he was only 28 hundredths of a second behind Salom at the end of the race.

End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.

It's Official - Suzuki to return to MotoGP in 2015

It's has been recently announced a few weeks back that Suzuki will return to MotoGP. But, not until 2015.





Suzuki (17/6/2013) announced its return to the MotoGP grid, since Suzuki withdrew from MotoGP paddock at the end of the 2011 season. But, as not thought we thought, the brands comeback will be in 2015 season rather than the 2014 season as had been predicted.

Suzuki tested their new 1000cc MotoGP racer at Barcelona last week (17/6/2013) a day after Catalunya Grand Prix round.

Suzuki also announced that former Yamaha team chief Davide Brivio will be team manager of its test operation. Brivio was the architect of Valentino Rossi's move to Yamaha in 2004, and then helped the Italian move to Ducati in 2010.

Suzuki, also confirmed that Aspar MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet as the teams development programme's test rider and already ride the new Suzuki in Japan before its European debut last week.

Shame they're not returting in 2014, but at least we know they're returning , but for another years what that is. Now it's just testing till 2015.



End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.

It's Official - Mark Webber quits F1 at the end of the season and racing at Le Mans and WEC with Porsche in LMP1 2014

As confirmed yesterday (27/6/13) that Mark Webber has signed a multi year contract with Porsche to join the firm’s LMP1 program in 2014 to challenge in WEC series and 24 hours of Le Mans race. Which means the Australian will thus be leaving Formula 1 after 12 seasons thus far, has included nine Grand Prix victories.



In a previous post that I wouldn't be surprise that Mark Webber was going to quit F1 and do the Porsche gig. Also, I believe what has happen during the Malaysia Grand Prix with "Multi21" team orders, early in the season which includes no punishment to Sebastian Vettel for ignored team orders not to pass Webber on his way to victory and might have driven him to quit Red Bull and to quit F1 altogether and go with Porsche in 2014.

So who would replace Mark Webber at Red Bull for next season, strong rumours would suggest that Kimi Raikkonen is the man most likely to join Red Bull Racing. But in a pervious post, I felt this won't happen due to who's gonna be his team-mate would be in Sebastian Vettel. The more than likely option would be either Toro Rosso drivers Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Éric Vergne. If I was picking I would go with Jean-Éric Vergne.

But, a wild-card for the seat at Red Bull next season could be Force India driver Paul di Resta. For two reasons, back in his F3 days in 2006, Paul di Resta was actually the faster driver than Sebastian Vettel and the other some of his race performances this season might count (Bahrain Grand Prix, Monaco Grand Prix and Canadian Grand Prix to name a few). Time will tell who is Sebastian Vettel's team-mate.

As for Mark Webber good luck at your new challenge at Porsche next season. As when we get to the start of 2014 F1 season at Melbourne we are all going to miss a little bit of Aussie Grit on the grid.




End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.

F1 2013 British Grand Prix Predictions

Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone the home of the British Grand Prix, were eight Formula one teams (Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes AMG, Lotus, Force India, Williams, Caterham, Marussia) and four Formula 1 drivers (Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Paul di Resta, Max Chilton) is their home grand prix.

And before I start I got the predictions right last time out for the top three places (the link here for the page for the prove of the Predictions for the Canadian Grand Prix).

And so predictions for the race itself, Fernando Alonso for the win in his Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen second in the Lotus, and Sebastian Vettel third in the Red Bull. Don't forget the Mercedes drivers, Filipe Massa, and Mark Webber either for a podium place as-well.

End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.

2014 Garage 56 entry - Nissan ZEOD RC

A day before the 24 Hours of Le Mans started (21/6/13), Nissan has unveiled its new electric car that will run as the Garage 56 entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans next season called the ZEOD RC.







The Nissan ZEOD RC, designed by DeltaWing creator Ben Bowlby, so that is why its appears visually similar looking to the DeltaWing from last year.





Designed as a Coupe, the ZEOD RC stands for Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car, will make use of the same battery technology found on Nissan's LEAF road car and will be used to test technology that could be used on an LMP1-Hybrid machine at some point in the future.

No word yet on the power output of the ZEOD RC. But, Nissan will aim to produce lap times ahead of the GTE-Pro field with the car, with a max speed of over 180 mph on the Mulsanne Straight.



If any manufacture that have the technology and budget to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Electric race car and to finish the race as-well, it's more than likely is none other than Nissan, good luck for 2014.

End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.

WRC Round 7 recap

Last weekends was round seven of the World Rally Championship at Rally d'Italia Sardegna (20th-22nd June) was won by Sébastien Ogier in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC, to win the rally overall. While, Thierry Neuville finished in second place in the Qatar World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Neuville was under 80 seconds behind Ogier at the end. Meanwhile, Jari-Matti Latvala, finished in third place in the other works Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Latvala was under two minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.



Also, mention to Elfyn Evans in his Qatar World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC finished in sixth place, Evans was under 12 minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally. Elfyn Evans who replaced Nasser Al-Attiyah a week before the event started, as the former Junior WRC champion to finish in the points on his first time in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC, contracts to Elfyn Evans.



Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won once again by none other than former Formula One driver Robert Kubica his Citroën backed Citroën DS3 RCC. Robert Kubica finished in ninth place overall and two points in the main standings as-well, he was under 17 minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.



While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Christian Riedemann in ADAC Team Weser-Ems team in their Citroën DS3 R3T. Christian Riedemann finished in sixtieth place overall, he was under 30 minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.

End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.

2013 24 Hours of Le Mans Review, Allan Simonsen 1978-2013

As the title says above a 24 Hours of Le Mans Review of the race. Round 3 for 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship at Le Mans. And this years 24 hours of Le Mans race will be remembered for the Audi win and the death of GTE-Am driver Allan Simonsen.

Audi Sport Team Joest team won the race overall and WEC LMP1 class in their R18 e-tron quatrro with drivers Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Loïc Duval and managed to do 348 laps altogether in dry/wet conditions. This is Loïc Duval first Le Mans win outright, Allan McNish third Le Mans win outright, and Tom Kristensen ninth Le Mans outright win and he dedicate his win to his father who has past early on in the year. Also, to the late Allan Simonsen (I will be writing later in the post).



This was Audi's 12th 24 Hours of Le Mans outright win in the last 14 years. So watch out for Porsche, who will return to the LMP1 category and Le Mans next year, for the first time in 16 years to add to their 16 Le Mans outright wins with their new LMP1 Hybrid race car.

Meanwhile, Toyota Racing team of Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Stéphane Sarrazin came in second place in their Toyota TS030 Hybrid, a lap down from the leaders. Third was the second Audi Sport Team Joest drivers of Oliver Jarvis, Marc Gene and Lucas di Grassi in their Audi R18 e-tron, a lap down behind the lead Audi and under two minutes behind the second place Toyota.

Four and half minutes highlights package of the race below from Michelin's own Youtube channel. So enjoy.



Forth place was the second Toyota Toyota TS030 Hybrid of Alexander Wurz, Kazuki Nakajima and Nicolas Lapierre, they were seven laps down at the end, after Nicolas Lapierre crashed heavily at the Porsche curves, but amazingly managed to get his car back to the pits and repaired without dropping any more spots inside the last two hours of the race.



Fifth place was the third Audi R18 e-tron quatrro, current WEC Champions and last years winners of the 24 André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoît Tréluyerto. They were 10 laps down from the leaders at the end, after they had lead the race from the start until the seventh hour, when the #1 car spent 12 laps in the pits while an alternator problem was fixed. And my opinion they would have won the race again if the R18 e-tron didn't had alternator problems.

Top privateer LMP1 car at Le Mans was Strakka Racing of Nick Leventis, Danny Watts and Jonny Kane in their HPD ARX-03c with a Honda LM-V8 3.4 L V8 was 6th overall, 16 laps behind the leaders.

In LMP2 class, the OAK Racing team of Bertrand Baguette, Martin Plowman and Ricardo González in their Morgan LMP2, Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 engine won in LMP2 class and 7th overall, 19 laps down from the lead Audi.

While in GTE Pro class, was won by Porsche AG Team Manthey team of Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz won in their Porsche 991 GT3-RSR, finished in 17th overall, 33 laps down the leading Audi.

While in GTE Am class, was won by Imsa Performance Porsche team of Raymond Narac, Jean-Karl Vernay and Christophe Bourret in their Porsche 997 GT3-RSR and finished in 26th overall, 42 laps behind the leaders.

Also, quick mention to Dempsey Del Piero-Proton team of Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey, Patrick Long and Joe Foster in their Porsche 997 GT3-RSR, finished in 29th overall, forth in GTE Am class, 43 laps behind the leaders and a lap down behind GTE Am class leaders after 24 hours.



And Finally to Allan Simonsen who was competing at 24 Hours of Le Mans for his seventh time with Christoffer Nygaard and Kristian Poulsen in their Prodrive Aston Martin GE Am spec Aston Martin Vantage GTE, Simonsen spun his Aston Martin Vantage GTE at the Tertre Rouge corner on the third lap of the race and crashed heavily into the barrier. The impact was strong enough to crush part of the roof and rollcage of his Aston Martin Vantage. Simonsen was treated at the scene of the accident before taking him to the circuit's medical centre where he later died from his injuries.



His death was the first such racing incident during a 24 Hours of Le Mans race since Jo Gartner was killed in 1986, while French driver Sébastien Enjolras died more recently in a pre-qualifying session accident prior to the 1997 race.

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.

So condolences goes out to Allan Simonsen's family and close friends.



R.I.P. Allan Simonsen (5 July, 1978 – June 22, 2013

Next Stop 6 Hours of São Paulo at the start of September for the FIA World Endurance Championship.