Monday 14th April 2014

MotoGP America & WSB Aragon: PH2

Marquez walks it in Texas, plus a comfortable weekend for Sykes in WSB

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Having demolished the competition in practice and qualifying, few would bet against Marc Marquez to take the win in Texas. How on earth he made it through to the race without ending up in a hospital is a testament to his sheer skill. The bloke is stunning to watch on a bike, 100 per cent in control or not...

It's that man again!

An absolute shocker of a false start saw Lorenzo virtually complete the first lap before the lights went out, earning himself a ride through penalty and handing the lead to Marquez. Poor old Lorenzo; on current form, if he had a pet fish it would drown.

A clear track ahead and the predictable happened, Marquez checked out. Could Pedrosa keep him honest and at least make a bit of a race of it? Behind Cal was looking good in fourth on the Ducati, but Rossi was even better, taking his place after a few laps. If only the Doctor had made a better start he may have been able to give Marquez a run for his money. Although probably not as his race fell apart along with his tyre's grip with ten to go and both Tech-3 riders zipped past. Bradders stick it to Rossi, that's one for the scrapbook.

A MotoGP race that couldn't exactly be called a classic was won (predictably) by Marquez (that last corner was close...) with Pedrosa in second while Dovizioso got third.

Cal suffered a tyre issue that ruined his race before suffering a massive, and painful, crash while Bradley took fifth (have that Pol!), Redding DNFed and Laverty got 16th.

It's lonely out at the front...

Moto2 and the first lap saw Sam Lowes unlucky to be involved in a somewhat predictable first corner mass pile up, which was cruel luck after his Qatar heroics. Thankfully Gino Rea made it through the carnage and got his head down to make up some serious places from a poor qualifying while riders ahead started to take each other out. In the end Vinales took the win from Rabat and Aegerter in a rather stretched out race. PH2 likes Maverick, and after a few setbacks it was good to see him take a win. Not a great race for the Brits, but they were hit by bad luck - and other bikes!

Moto3 and with the Brits in 15 and 16th spot, it was fingers crossed for a good result. With the elevation changes, everyone was expecting a hectic Moto3 race, but Miller, Vazquez and Marquez were a class apart and as in Qatar, it looked like it would be a battle between these three. Then Fenati arrived and performed a monster out brake on the last lap, stealing second while Marquez pulled the ejection handle. Both Brits finished in the top ten, which was a top result.

Finally, after watching all of BT's coverage, anyone else wish Ben Spies would commentate full time?

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Results:

MotoGP
1. Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
2. Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team)
3. Dovizioso (Ducati Team)

Moto2
1. Vinales (Pons HP 40)
2. Rabat (Marc VDS Racing Team)
3. Aegerter (Technomag carXpert)

Moto3
1: Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
2: Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46)
3: Vazquez (SaxoPrint-RTG)

Brit watch

Cal Crutchlow (MotoGP) - DNF
Bradley Smith (MotoGP) - 5
Michael Laverty (MotoGP) - 16
Scott Redding (MotoGP) - DNF
Sam Lowes (Moto2) - 16
Gino Rea - (Moto2) - 25
John McPhee (Moto3) - 9
Danny Kent (Moto3) - 8

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WSB Round 2 - Aragon

Over in Aragon, the WSB circus was in full flow and Sykes was back in his usual pole position. A good start and he led the whole race to take a fairly easy win while behind Baz got second and Rea third after winning a battle of muscles with Giugliano. Leon Camier won the Evo race.

Race two and after another holeshot, Sykes took the lead while behind, worryingly, Rea and Giugliano were together on track. Another fairly calm race for Sykes was ruined on the last few laps by the arrival of Melandri, who cannoned up the inside on the last lap and took the lead for about one meter before relegating himself to third. A double for Sykes, two seconds for Baz and a top weekend for Kawasaki.

In Supersport, Kev Coghlan rode a stunning race before being taken out by Cluzel while leading the race. Crap. Sofuoglu eventually took the win, Coghlan remounted to get fifth, Kennedy 11th and Rogers 18th.

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Results:

Race 1:
1. Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team)
2. Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team)
3. Rea (PATA Honda World Superbike Team)

Race 2:
1. Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team)
2. Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team)
3. Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team)

Brit watch

Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) - 5, 6
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) - 1, 1
Leon Haslam (Honda) - 9, 8
Jonathan Rea (Honda) - 3, 5
Chaz Davies (Ducati) - 4, DNF
Alex Lowes (Suzuki) - 10, DNF
Leon Camier - 19, 13

[thatdude]

I couldn't believe Lorenzo made such a balls-up of his start. His excuse (removing a tear-off before the start affected his concentration because it was not a usual action) is suggestive of the highly-strung nature of a world-class, and world-beating athlete in the abnormally tense situation that is the start and the run down to turn one. Bradley Smith (upon being told of the excuse) reportedly responded with a single word; "Oh". In any case, I wouldnt expect it of him, but then we all have those moments where we fk up royally. Marquez almost making a race-loosing mistake coming into the final turn was another show of how fatigued a rider can get (COTA looks hellishly physical)

Shame about the front tyre situation, although Smith seemed to be very clever in his preservation of tyres and brakes early on.

Didnt see moto3 or moto2, is it worth watching?

Roll on round 3

[PhantomPH]

Spies a commentator would be excellent.

If only BT Sport would do the right thing and get rid of Melanie Sykes. Jebus, she is unwatchable....thank god for recording the 100 hour long coverage and being able to fast forward all bar the races and some of the interesting tech segments.

Marquez manages to be as dominant as Vettel, but still remain watchable. His skill on the bike is hypnotic...and makes it all the more amusing when things like the last corner make me yelp and jump off the sofa.

[FestivAli]

Main race was on at 5am here in Aus. Yo America, Sunday was yesterday... anywho, thought it was okay. I think we get the Skysports commentary package (on One, Nick Harris and someone else) but agree re Spies - didn't have him this race but one of the rounds last year he commentated and he's very informed and got surprisingly energized - in short he was great. Have also heard Redding join the commentary team once and he wasn't bad either.

Anyone else in Aus think it's a shame One/Ten aren't televising the Moto3 and Moto2 this year?

[bakerstreet]

Rossi had a stinker of a start. The bike looked all over the place. Another master class from Marquez. I'm beginning to think that we are witnessing the start of the Marquez era and it will go on for years. I always used to say that Rossi was the best on the brakes in the world, but I feel that his ability has been superseeded by Marcez. He seems to be able to stop and turn the bike when it looks violently out of control.

[podman]

What a yawn fest MotoGP is and has been for some time now, this round was typical, the 'excitement ' of the pre-season hype and debate rarely get delivered come the actual race.

WSB is much, much more entertaining but thankfully, BSB this weekend, the best racing on the box by miles IMHO.