**Spoiler inside**MotoGP of China

[Tyrroneous]

According to the broadcast, there were 125,000 spectators at the event.

I noticed that too and thought "That can't be right.  There is no way there were 125,000 folks in the stands during the MotoGP race"  A little later in the broadcast, they list the day's attendance at a little over 21,000, which sounds far more plausible.  

Perhaps the 125,000 was for the entire race weekend and included EVERYBODY even remotely associated with the racing, from team managers down to the dude sweeping the floors.  

[LicketySplat]

Huh? What's so "bizarre" about China (and perhaps Qatar if that's what you were implying)?  

New tracks being built at massive expense in places where there's little to no fan base or expectation of spectators? The series signing on in a heartbeat to travel halfway across the world at an expense probably running in the millions per team, at the same time they're making noises about controlling costs to prevent further attrition of private teams? That's bizarre in my book. That is, until you look at the paint and the leathers of the factory Ducati riders, and the Yammies two years ago.

[hobbes]

New tracks being built at massive expense in places where there's little to no fan base or expectation of spectators? The series signing on in a heartbeat to travel halfway across the world at an expense probably running in the millions per team, at the same time they're making noises about controlling costs to prevent further attrition of private teams? That's bizarre in my book. That is, until you look at the paint and the leathers of the factory Ducati riders, and the Yammies two years ago.

China has 3 brazillion people. I'm sure there are plenty of MotoGP fans to attend. Maybe they need to let the races develop a "run" at a track for a few years before they are yanked.

Either way, I heard that the Chinese GP will be gone next year.

[buckeye]

New tracks being built at massive expense in places where there's little to no fan base or expectation of spectators? The series signing on in a heartbeat to travel halfway across the world at an expense probably running in the millions per team, at the same time they're making noises about controlling costs to prevent further attrition of private teams? That's bizarre in my book. That is, until you look at the paint and the leathers of the factory Ducati riders, and the Yammies two years ago.

I agree that running GP races in places like Shanghai and Qatar mostly for commercial benefit is a "bizarre" practice (to utilize your terminology), but the involved countries themselves are not bizarre. A bit nitpicky, perhaps, but your original phrasing could be insulting to a lot of people on this board.

[LicketySplat]

Okay, okay. For the record. China and Qatar are not bizarre countries in and of themselves.

[Mookie]

Meh, Qatar is bizarre.  Perhaps the very definition of bizarre  

Anyways, turns out Lorenzo had not one, but TWO broken ankles and a torn ligament.  Much respect.  Plus I like that he and Pedrosa hate each other.  Finally bringing back some of the rider drama that's been missing since Biaggi quit being Rossi's bitch.  

[miles]

Meh, Qatar is bizarre.  Perhaps the very definition of bizarre  

Anyways, turns out Lorenzo had not one, but TWO broken ankles and a torn ligament.  Much respect.  Plus I like that he and Pedrosa hate each other.  Finally bringing back some of the rider drama that's been missing since Biaggi Gibernau quit being Rossi's bitch.  

Fixed that for you.

[JoBu]

Anyways, turns out Lorenzo had not one, but TWO broken ankles and a torn ligament.  Much respect.  Plus I like that he and Pedrosa hate each other.  Finally bringing back some of the rider drama that's been missing since Biaggi quit being Rossi's bitch.  

I have HUGE respect for Lorenzo riding with those injuries...incredible.  I didn't realize he and Pedrobot hated one another so much.  I wasn't a huge fan of Jorge's when he was in the 250 class, as he seemed a bit of a jerk.  But now that I know he hates Pedrobot...I'm warming up to the nice fellow.  

Cheers,

Joe

[Yamadog]

^ +1

[dnlwthrn]

You mean you guys didn't see in Jerez when the King made the two of them shake hands?  They were shooting daggers at each other with their eyes.  The commentators were talking all about the animosity between the two as well.  Of course, that was on the feed from the website, so I have no idea what was shown on Speed.

[pearsonm]

Until Lorenzo shows a lack of concern for a fellow rider he just torpedoed like Pedrosa did Hayden in ’06 I’ll have a hard time not cheering for Lorenzo to win his dual with Pedrosa. I typically try not to get into the rider personality/drama thing, but what Pedrosa did was classless.

[DredheadV2.0]

And finally an admission from me about Nicky. The boys over on MotoGP News talk absolutely awful about him, and I have always thought they were too harsh. But I'm throwing in the towel--Nicky is only a top five rider at best. There it is I feel terrible now.

I'm not done with Nicky.  I was all gonna be, after he started shooting backwards in the ranks.  But then - unlike every other time he's run out of steam halfway through a race lately - he got it together and started retaking positions.  Was going to finish 10th or 11th, ended up finishing 6th.

There's still some spark there, and I think he might be able to pull something together this season.  I expect he'll have a few podiums before 2008 is through.

[TheGoose]

Yep, two: Laguna and Indianapolis.  

[DredheadV2.0]

Yep, two: Laguna and Indianapolis.  

Unless a team-mate takes him out in the first lap, of course.