Round 7 - Moto GP 2012, Assen

[jhansen]

Day 1 is already in the books, as this event starts on a Thursday and ends on a Saturday. The times are amazingly close with the top 11 within half a second in FP2.

[gomick]

Amazing really to see the times so close, some CRT very quick too...

[frostie]

I only got to the race this weekend but here's a couple of photos from today....

[Dani Filth]

so they penalized Bautista .. ...

[frostie]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

so they penalized Bautista .. ...

Pretty harsh I think. He was clearly at fault but he's hardly a reckless rider that causes accidents on a regular basis. I remember in 125s he was a pretty firm rider but apart from that he hasnt done anything in recent years to warrant a penalty.

I think a warning would have been a much fairer penalty, especially when you see Cortese getting away without penalty in the Moto3 race. Interestingly after the race Dovi said that while it was clearly Alvaro's fault the fact that there are no reference points for braking at the first corner of a race means that sometimes these crashes can happen. Both himself and Stoner also said that they thought Bautista was a clean rider and shouldnt be penalised

[cg7aa]

That Moto3 race was something else! It was one of those races which goes so quickly because there is so much happening and you are engrossed in it just trying to keep up, you lose track of time and laps remaining. Fantastic stuff. Moto2 was fairly watcheable too although I fell asleep when the other lot came out to play.
The jaw-dropping shapes Casey Stoner makes on his bike was not enough to keep me awake all the way through I'm afraid.

Bautista's penalty is ridiculous, why are race officials prone to such illogical decisions? Oh wait, they are human! That was a racing incident, yes, it affected the championship leader but that should not be the basis to issue stronger than necessary penalties.

Speaking of penalties, what about Sofouglu in Supersport yesterday? Puzzling behaviour and equally puzzling penalty (needed something stronger!) although to be fair to the officials, there was probably no precedence to go on.

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

so they penalized Bautista .. ...

Is this what happens when you take out the current points leader?

What's his nationality again?

[Mystery]

Originally Posted by jhansen

Is this what happens when you take out the current points leader?

What's his nationality again?

Funny I was thinking much the same.

Marquez has done worse and got away with it often. There's a theme here.....

[jhansen]

I don't think you'll see these photos in Bridgestone's next advert...

[chunder]

well not much of a theme, Bautista is Spanish too if you recall! So not sure that is anyhting to do with it?

Rossi will be on a Gresini Honda next year or in his own team i reckon, and Cal will join Ducati if he is stupid and blind to money or a bargain with herve if he is sensible

That bike might be a factory bike, but only one rider has every got it to work lad, and you are nowhere near as good as he is.

[mac]

Originally Posted by chunder

well not much of a theme, Bautista is Spanish too if you recall!

You reckon he would have gotten the same penalty if it was Spies that he hit?

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by jhansen

I don't think you'll see these photos in Bridgestone's next advert...

I wonder how they are going to manipulate this one story away.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by chunder

...and Cal will join Ducati if he is stupid and blind to money...

I'm really hoping Cal does the right thing. I would hate to read press releases saying 'how he has always wanted to ride for Ducati and how much of a priviledge it is to ride for such a iconic brand...'

[Trev Campbell]

I would actually like to see him give the Ducati a go. I'd like to see what he can do on it. If he doesn't do any good, people will hardly blame him !!!!! If he get the thing to work, his stocks will skyrocket. I can't see that much of a downside