MotoGP Malaysia Sepang circuit - **SPOILERS**

[DogBoy]

 

[squeezer]

I'd choose Kate Beckinsale for just about anything.

You've got to think Pedrobot has the edge in Malaysia. That itty bitty guy on those long, long straights has got to be an advantage.


Nice to see Hopper back on the grid. I'm glad Suzuki kept that promise. Anyone know if zuke is still talking about two bikes for next year?

[Tyrroneous]

Pedrobot's race to loose, for sure.

[motodog650]

 Anyone know if zuke is still talking about two bikes for next year?

Yea, Cresent in WSBK most likely with Hopper & Tommy Hill. LCR holding a seat for Bautista if Suzuki bails from GP. Should be decided this weekend.

[heinee]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/newind.htm/

Hopkins out..    

[motodog650]

Hopkins out..    

Spies has also had to withdraw from the race (nagging PI injuries). Will miss Monday 1000cc test as well...

[DredheadV2.0]

Sigh.

Hooray for Colin, heading the 2nd row.  And if it's a wet race maybe Nicky can get his 2nd podium of the year.  Could be interesting in some parts of the pack.

[squeezer]

Spies has also had to withdraw from the race (nagging PI injuries). Will miss Monday 1000cc test as well...

Wow, poor Yammie. Now neither factory rider can do the test. Are they going to blow it off or will they call up someone like Edwards on Monday?

[veefer800canuck]

Geez, hoppers finger is going to be a real mess. After the earlier pics we saw of it, and now they gotta open it up again???

Dude is gonna be 100% scar tissue!

[DredheadV2.0]

Late breaking news - Marc Marquez ruled out of the race by medical staff, from a crash in the same corner (because of the same lack of RAIN! warning by track officials) that claimed Bradley Smith's collarbone in FP1.  If Bradl wins this race, he wins the championship on sheer luck and will forever be given an asterisk in people's heads, the way Hayden always seems to be marked when people talk about his Championship.  Fuckin' hell.  I was really looking forward to an honest battle for the finish.  Now, unless Bradl just bows out of the race, it'll always be "the year Marquez shoulda won."  

I know it ain't over; Bradl could come in, I dunno, tenth or something, and Marquez could hand him his ass in Valencia, but even then it'll be Marquez overcoming great odds/shit luck to take his rightful place at the top, not a battle with another talent.  Bradl will just be "the guy that almost lucked into the winning spot."

meh.

In other news, Hiro Aoyama 3rd in morning warmup, Nicky Hayden 4th.  60% chance of rain all day.  Can't wait to see how this turns out.

[tigertim955]

Woke up to watch the race. Can't sleep now.

Best wishes to Simoncelli. I hope he's able to pull through.
              ------------------------------------------
It's being reported now that he didn't make it.

 RIP Marco Simoncelli.

[Davy F.]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95629

I feel sorry for Colin Edwards too.

RIP Marco.  

[Aero]

Terrible news, Marco didn't make it. He died in hospital, apparently his helmet somehow came off. Details still coming through...

RIP Marco...

[veefer800canuck]

Video on Youtube until Dorna pulls it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlr3X3GEPI

 

RIP Marco

[Blunder]

Video on Youtube until Dorna pulls it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlr3X3GEPI

 

RIP Marco

That.....

Fuck it. I've no reply.

It's ghastly.

RIP Marco.

[veefer800canuck]

Something I was wondering about  

Helmets don't normally come right off, and I wonder with Marco's unusually large 'fro, if he was running a helmet that was one size too big, to accomodate his prodigious hair?

I know if I suddenly grew hair like that, no way in hell would I fit into my Medium Shoei, which is 7-1/8 to 7-1/4 size.

Anyway, it's a big     all the way around.

[Snowdog]

Terrible news - there's such a fine line between walking away unhurt and the worst possible outcome.

RIP Marco.

[JonS]

From the way everyone was sitting or milling around, it didn't look good. This news is so sad. A helmet coming off is such a fluke.
 RIP Marco.

[Snowdog]

You can leave and read tributes to Marco on the MotoGP site - clicky

[crashtech]

WOW....Im speechless and sad.....Woke up this morning excited to watch the race and saw the crash unfold. With each passing min I just knew it was going to be bad. They dont get that quiet and cancel for normal injuries.

RIP Marco.......GODSPEED!!!!

Prayers for all involved!!!....

[servicerifle]

 

[PatM]

Video on Youtube until Dorna pulls it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlr3X3GEPI

 

RIP Marco

This one still works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P6GztLIcrs

 

[phoenix]

WOW....Im speechless and sad.....Woke up this morning excited to watch the race and saw the crash unfold. With each passing min I just knew it was going to be bad. They dont get that quiet and cancel for normal injuries.

same thoughts and experience here. HAd to run upstairs to get on the internet to get the rest of the story. Damn.

[Orson]

Fuck

 

[squeezer]

same thoughts and experience here. HAd to run upstairs to get on the internet to get the rest of the story. Damn.

Yeah, that was my morning too.  

[bluepoof]

 

Am I an asshole for not being 100% surprised that if anyone, it was Simoncelli?  He wasn't a very controlled racer from the get-go this season and this certainly isn't the first time he's collided with other riders.  

Regardless, RIP.  24 is way too young.  

[motodog650]

Meant to get up and watch the race and didn't which now I'm glad I didn't. No desire to watch the video, had rather not see it. Godspeed Super Sic...

[stromgal]

One of the impressive things about Simo is that he HAD dialed it back. He wasn't anywhere near the danger he had been early on, yet still was a competitor.  Damn.  

[Snowdog]

 

Am I an asshole for not being 100% surprised that if anyone, it was Simoncelli?  He wasn't a very controlled racer from the get-go this season and this certainly isn't the first time he's collided with other riders.  

Regardless, RIP.  24 is way too young.  

This time it wasn't his fault. He low sided and somehow his bike instead of sliding off into the gravel spun and dragged him back across the track into Colin's and Vale's paths. Besides, he has been much more controlled recently.

[yotes65]

Truly sad to hear & watch...  

Super Sic was Entertaining to watch... he will be missed. May he R.I.P.

[Tyrroneous]

24 yrs old.  So young....  

[DrD]

I saw the video before it was pulled.  The view is focused on Edwards and Rossi entering the turn, a right hand turn.  When Simoncelli enters the view from the left, he is already off his motorcycle, but holding on, and headed across the track towards the inside of the turn.  He is so far off the motorcycle his left boot is on the seat.  Since Edwards -- like all riders at that point -- are looking towards the exit of the turn, he likely hit Simoncelli before he realized there was a rider in trouble ahead of him.  Simoncelli's bike was headed towards the inside of the turn with enough force that both his bike and Edward's bike end up on the grass on the inside of the turn.

I think (without good facts) that Simoncelli's bike lost the rearend for short time, but through the rider's efforts, or the traction control, the bike did not skid out.  Unfortuneately, the bike was pointed well inside of the racing line, resulting in the crash.

RIP.

[stk0308]

I saw the video before it was pulled.  The view is focused on Edwards and Rossi entering the turn, a right hand turn.  When Simoncelli enters the view from the left, he is already off his motorcycle, but holding on, and headed across the track towards the inside of the turn.  He is so far off the motorcycle his left boot is on the seat.  Since Edwards -- like all riders at that point -- are looking towards the exit of the turn, he likely hit Simoncelli before he realized there was a rider in trouble ahead of him.  Simoncelli's bike was headed towards the inside of the turn with enough force that both his bike and Edward's bike end up on the grass on the inside of the turn.

Edwards' body position on the bike before the impact says to me he did see it coming, but there wasn't enough time.  He did the best he could to adjust line.  But there's only so much you can do in that situation.

I just saw a picture from the front angle too.  Just ugly.

[stk0308]

 

Am I an asshole for not being 100% surprised that if anyone, it was Simoncelli?  He wasn't a very controlled racer from the get-go this season and this certainly isn't the first time he's collided with other riders.  

Regardless, RIP.  24 is way too young.  

No, your not the only one not 100% suprised it happened to Marco.

[hovmaven]

I saw the video before it was pulled.  The view is focused on Edwards and Rossi entering the turn, a right hand turn.  When Simoncelli enters the view from the left, he is already off his motorcycle, but holding on, and headed across the track towards the inside of the turn.  He is so far off the motorcycle his left boot is on the seat.  Since Edwards -- like all riders at that point -- are looking towards the exit of the turn, he likely hit Simoncelli before he realized there was a rider in trouble ahead of him.  Simoncelli's bike was headed towards the inside of the turn with enough force that both his bike and Edward's bike end up on the grass on the inside of the turn.

I think (without good facts) that Simoncelli's bike lost the rearend for short time, but through the rider's efforts, or the traction control, the bike did not skid out.  Unfortuneately, the bike was pointed well inside of the racing line, resulting in the crash.

RIP.

Simoncelli pushed the front end.  He tried to save it with his elbow.  The front regained traction and dragged him into the race line.  Nothing anyone could do about it.  

[staedtler]

 

    just watched it.... what a tragedy  

[hovmaven]

Everyone is moving in the same direction, and the immovable objects that can cause serious injury or even death are not put in harm's way, but the track is all about predictability.  Once someone goes out of step, all bets are off.  

I hit the gaiter on a left hander, knee down, all ricky racer and such, but the concrete levered the back end and I lowsided, at about 60 mph.  Rider behind me couldn't stop.  He ran right over me.    Sometimes, at those speeds, you just can't get out of the way.  

[1000lbs]

Very sad news  .  RIP Super Sic.  

[Mookie]

Sucks so much.  Poor Rossi ran over a kid's head. I cant' imagine the emotions involved.  

[hovmaven]

Worse yet, the kid was his good friend.  

I can't imagine Rossi's emotions right now.  

[R Doug]

Second sad Sunday in a row.

Sic will be missed. He had potential.  :sad:

[DrD]

  

    just watched it.... what a tragedy  

+1

[DogBoy]

Just absolutely devastated by this tragedy. RIP. My thoughts are with the Simoncelli family and friends.

[The Toecutter]

shit, haven't watched tv all weekend.  this really sucks, I like Sim a lot.  spirited and talented racer that took chances and actually made watching motogp somewhat exciting.

rip  

[DredheadV2.0]

I gotta say, I never rooted for Super Sic coz I didn't like the guy's personality.  But he did have that fighting spirit which much of the field so sorely lacks, and he was always entertaining to watch since he started in GP racing.  He will be missed.  Sorely missed.  

Two things I kinda wish I'd never seen:  1:  The crash itself.  Rossi was his good mate, and knowing that he killed a good friend has got to be tearing Vale up inside.  I know it's racing and shit happens but my heart sinks when I think of the people Sic left behind, like Rossi and 2: His girlfriend bursting into tears - the director cut right to her, very briefly, after showing a shot of his motionless body in the middle of the track.  Her face showed the agony of someone who has just watched a loved one die.

I've felt off ever since watching the footage this AM.  After the fucking incredible excitement of the 125s and the battle for the front of Moto2, I was so hyped up to watch the MotoGP race... and then got the news the rest of the world already knew.

RIP Super Sic.

[Ralf]

I think I'm going to throw up. RIP Simo!  

[Capirex]

Sucks.  Ciao Marco.  

[garry]

Such terrible news. RIP Marco....

I can't even imagine what Rossi must feel like since Marco was his friend. I wouldn't be surprised if he retires. Something like that has to seriously mess with your head.

[Dan K]

What a tragedy.  Total fluke with the helmet coming off.  To answer the post above, it has been reported his helmet was one size bigger due to the hair, but no idea if that contributed to its coming off.  RIP.



http://m.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/23/motogp-marco-simoncelli-malaysia?cat=sport&type=article


- Dan

[bluepoof]

I thought these were both beautiful pieces.

http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/3972/toby-moody-remembers-marco-simoncelli/

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111024-34-rip-sic.htm

[Scoop]

The race is still posted on MotoGP.com.  I didn't know about Marco as I was away all week.  Sat down to watch the race and was devastated.  Looks like, as was said, his bike regained enough traction to cross in front of Edwards and Rossi.  Edwards had no way to avoid and Rossi ended up pushing Edwards right in.  Simoncelli's helmet popped right off.  In a shot of the track workers moving the bike, one is holding the helmet.  The strap is still fastened and just hanging from one side.  Looks like the impact tore the strap right off one side of the helmet!  
So sad.....

[DredheadV2.0]

Considering the force needed to pop a helmet off like that, I'm guessing his larynx was crushed and his head nearly taken off.  I doubt he ever moved again from that point

[Ralf]

Two things I kinda wish I'd never seen:  1:  The crash itself.  Rossi was his good mate, and knowing that he killed a good friend has got to be tearing Vale up inside.  I know it's racing and shit happens but my heart sinks when I think of the people Sic left behind, like Rossi and 2: His girlfriend bursting into tears - the director cut right to her, very briefly, after showing a shot of his motionless body in the middle of the track.  Her face showed the agony of someone who has just watched a loved one die.

[Snowdog]

There's a wonderfully thoughtful blog post by Matt Roberts of the BBC's MotoGP team here

[tigertim955]

www.valentinorossi.com/

www.colinedwards.com/
 

[Snowdog]

Tribute by Kevin Schwantz here.

[hovmaven]

Considering the force needed to pop a helmet off like that, I'm guessing his larynx was crushed and his head nearly taken off.  I doubt he ever moved again from that point

I haven't frame by framed it, but it looked to me like Rossi's wheel struck the helmet at the base from behind, with Simmoncelli's body and head bent forward, at a perfect angle to pop the helmet off.  iIf it was a larger helmet to accommodate his hair, not much for that chinstrap to hold on to and I can see the helmet coming off.

[squeezer]

Considering the force needed to pop a helmet off like that, I'm guessing his larynx was crushed and his head nearly taken off.  I doubt he ever moved again from that point

I think you're probably right. The doc at the press conference said that there were injuries to the head, neck, and chest and that each was severe enough to be fatal. They said they were draining blood from the thorax while trying to revive him, so the rib cage had to be crushed. As I mentioned in one of the other threads, he was in cardiac arrest when they loaded him in the ambulance. He never had a chance.    

[Mastros2]

There's a wonderfully thoughtful blog post by Matt Roberts of the BBC's MotoGP team here

That was a great read. Thanks for sharing.  

[Mookie]

I haven't frame by framed it, but it looked to me like Rossi's wheel struck the helmet at the base from behind, with Simmoncelli's body and head bent forward, at a perfect angle to pop the helmet off.  iIf it was a larger helmet to accommodate his hair, not much for that chinstrap to hold on to and I can see the helmet coming off.

I'm pretty sure the chinstrap broke from the force, so the size of his hair/helmet didn't really matter.  

[hovmaven]

Probably true -- lots of force in an unusual and tragic accident, to be sure.  

[nantahala]

Colin just posted on his forum... seems like he is doing OK.

http://www.colinedwards.com/forum/index.php?/topic/469-thanks-for-all-the-love/

Really sad situation.

[pcrdude]

Anyone know why speed decided not to air Moto2 or 125 races?

[veefer800canuck]

Anyone know why speed decided not to air Moto2 or 125 races?

Moto2 was on in the middle of the night last night. I watched it half heartedly.

[DredheadV2.0]

Like I said, I watched 'em first, and they were awesome.  I literally jumped up and shouted on the last lap of the 125's.  Moto2 was a pretty damn good race also.

Honestly, it's a good thing no one clinched either championship at Sepang.  Who'd want to remember the tragedy of the day along with a victory?  It'd be like having your mom die on a holiday.

But if you get a chance to go back and watch them, they were worth seeing.

[squeezer]

Anyone know why speed decided not to air Moto2 or 125 races?

They got bumped for live coverage of the press conference about the new Formula 1 race in New Jersey. They aired later.

[phoenix]

so....I just watched the Moto2 race. There was commentary in there about how a certain portion of the track was wet, even when it was not raining. The situation led to Mark Marquez' crash in practice that took him out of the race. I wonder.....

I kinda want to hear what happened to Alex Pons. Red flag and stretchered off the track. No idea what corner it was.

Yes, I am speculating.

[phoenix]

by the way, Marco was layed to rest today.

http://espn.go.com/racing/story/_/id/7156036/thousands-pay-respects-funeral-motogp-marco-simoncelli

Thousands honor Marco Simoncelli
 
 Associated Press
 
CORIANO, Italy -- Thousands of fans filled the streets of Coriano in central Italy on Thursday to pay their final respects to MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli, whose funeral took place at the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.

The 24-year-old Simoncelli died of chest, head and neck injuries after he lost control of his Honda during Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Simoncelli's funeral was attended by his friends and family -- his father, Paolo; mother Rossella; sister Martina -- as well as stars of the sport, such as Valentino Rossi, Mattia Pasini, Jorge Lorenzo and Randy De Puniet.

"The night before your last race you said you wanted to win the Grand Prix, because there on the podium everyone could see you better," Bishop Francesco Lambiasi of Rimini said. "Now it pains us not to be able to see you, but it gives us peace and so much joy to know that we are being looked down on by you from the highest podium of them all.

"I also want to sign the banner that says, 'Marco, teach the angels to do wheelies.' "

The hearse arrived at the church in the afternoon and was greeted with applause from thousands of people who had been gathering in the square outside the church since morning. The square also was filled with balloons and banners bearing 58, Simoncelli's number.

Beside Simoncelli's coffin at the altar were two motorcycles -- one that he rode to win the 250cc championship in 2008, and another used this season.

The funeral was broadcast live on big screens outside the church on various Italian TV stations and to more than 10,000 people gathered at the nearby Misano Adriatico circuit.

At the end of the service, seven-time world champion Rossi revved the engine of Simoncelli's Honda and then wheeled it out as a tribute to his close friend, to the sound of Vasco Rossi's "Siamo solo noi" -- Simoncelli's favorite song.

Simoncelli was a rising star in the sport who, with his trademark mop of curly hair, was beloved by Italy's legions of motorcycle-racing fans.

More than 10,000 had lined up in the rain Wednesday for a public viewing of his coffin in the city theater of his hometown.



Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

[pcrdude]

They got bumped for live coverage of the press conference about the new Formula 1 race in New Jersey. They aired later.

I hate when they do that.  My DVR is programmed based on the program guide, so I missed it.

[squeezer]

I hate when they do that.  My DVR is programmed based on the program guide, so I missed it.

Me too.     Sounds like they were great races.

[Blunder]

I hate when they do that.  My DVR is programmed based on the program guide, so I missed it.

Not meaning to threadjack, but if you miss the Sunday broadcast you can always check the following Tuesday when they typically rerun the races, usually starting at 0900 PST.

[Smarti]

Simoncelli laid to rest. It includes a great video of his early minimoto days.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/10/marco-simoncelli-laid-to-rest-earlier-today-in-coriano-italy/

[Mastros2]

Motopodcast did a great tribute show to sic this week.  

[mugwump58]

Having just caught up on a months racing, NTC rotation, I was saddened by the sports loss. At the same time I found the 125 and Moto2 races to be thrilling. That is the vein in which I will remember Super Sic.

[DredheadV2.0]

Having just caught up on a months racing, NTC rotation, I was saddened by the sports loss. At the same time I found the 125 and Moto2 races to be thrilling. That is the vein in which I will remember Super Sic.

He certainly provided a lot of thrills in the 250's.  Just ask Bautista and Barbera.