Bad news for Ducati Corsa in advance of the Argentina round: Cal's out with worse-than-originally-thought injuries to his hand:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/203490/1/cal-crutchlow-ruled-out-of-argentina.html

And some background info on the new track:

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2014/04/22/the_termas_de_rio_hondo_circuit_in_argen.html

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this, partial quote from Crutchlow:

“Unfortunately I'm still feeling too much pain in my right hand, "

I suspect that's like a normal person saying:

"My make the beast with two backsing hand is on fire! Hand me that cleaver so I can hack it off and it'll hurt less!"

He's a hard nut.

Interesting looking track.

The track looked pretty rough on the Marc VDS video. It was last year, so let's hope that everything was fixed.

Potential for more tire drama this weekend

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Termas+de+Rio+Hondo+provides+new+challenge+for+Bridgestone

FP1:

1.    Jorge Lorenzo    ESP   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)    1m   42.804s    [Lap 16/18]   322km/h (Top Speed)
2.    Aleix Espargaro    ESP   NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)    1m   43.285s    +0.481s   [12/13]   319km/h
3.    Alvaro Bautista    ESP   Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V)    1m   43.637s    +0.833s   [16/19]   325km/h
4.    Andrea Iannone    ITA   Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)    1m   43.706s    +0.902s   [13/16]   322km/h
5.    Bradley Smith    GBR   Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)    1m   43.806s    +1.002s   [17/18]   322km/h
6.    Pol Espargaro    ESP   Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*    1m   43.961s    +1.157s   [16/19]   322km/h
7.    Stefan Bradl    GER   LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)    1m   44.055s    +1.251s   [15/20]   324km/h
8.    Andrea Dovizioso    ITA   Ducati Team (Desmosedici)    1m   44.096s    +1.292s   [13/17]   322km/h
9.    Nicky Hayden    USA   Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)    1m   44.333s    +1.529s   [17/18]   309km/h
10.    Valentino Rossi    ITA   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)    1m   44.502s    +1.698s   [14/18]   321km/h
11.    Scott Redding    GBR   Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R)*    1m   44.763s    +1.959s   [13/18]   307km/h
12.    Michele Pirro    ITA   Ducati Team (Desmosedici)    1m   44.790s    +1.986s   [16/17]   316km/h
13.    Yonny Hernandez    COL   Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)    1m   44.889s    +2.085s   [11/16]   318km/h
14.    Marc Marquez    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)    1m   45.103s    +2.299s   [3/16]   320km/h
15.    Hiroshi Aoyama    JPN   Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)    1m   45.137s    +2.333s   [20/20]   311km/h
16.    Dani Pedrosa    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)    1m   45.724s    +2.920s   [14/17]   323km/h
17.    Colin Edwards    USA   NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)    1m   45.808s    +3.004s   [15/17]   313km/h
18.    Danilo Petrucci    ITA   IodaRacing Project (ART)    1m   46.008s    +3.204s   [10/16]   305km/h
19.    Michael Laverty    GBR   Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)    1m   46.167s    +3.363s   [12/14]   308km/h
20.    Mike Di Meglio    FRA   Avintia Racing (Avintia)*    1m   46.264s    +3.460s   [9/19]   307km/h
21.    Broc Parkes    AUS   Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)*    1m   46.896s    +4.092s   [14/16]   303km/h
22.    Hector Barbera    ESP   Avintia Racing (Avintia)    1m   47.027s    +4.223s   [14/17]   309km/h
23.    Karel Abraham    CZE   Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R)    1m   47.037s    +4.233s   [11/16]   310km/h

Early reports say rear tire wear is going to be an issue...

MM smoking em in fp2.  Watching that kid ride never gets old.

Too much Honda this year.

1   93   Marc MARQUEZ   SPA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   325.0   1'39.313   
2   26   Dani PEDROSA   SPA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   325.5   1'40.396   1.083 / 1.083
3   41   Aleix ESPARGARO   SPA   NGM Forward Racing   Forward Yamaha   320.3   1'40.566   1.253 / 0.170
4   6   Stefan BRADL   GER   LCR Honda MotoGP   Honda   325.8   1'40.891   1.578 / 0.325
5   4   Andrea DOVIZIOSO   ITA   Ducati Team   Ducati   328.4   1'41.042   1.729 / 0.151
6   38   Bradley SMITH   GBR   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   Yamaha   323.8   1'41.303   1.990 / 0.261
7   44   Pol ESPARGARO   SPA   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   Yamaha   321.8   1'41.368   2.055 / 0.065
8   46   Valentino ROSSI   ITA   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP   Yamaha   322.5   1'41.395   2.082 / 0.027
9   99   Jorge LORENZO   SPA   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP   Yamaha   323.8   1'41.533   2.220 / 0.138
10   29   Andrea IANNONE   ITA   Pramac Racing   Ducati   323.9   1'41.924   2.611 / 0.391
11   19   Alvaro BAUTISTA   SPA   GO&FUN Honda Gresini   Honda   325.8   1'42.029   2.716 / 0.105
12   68   Yonny HERNANDEZ   COL   Energy T.I. Pramac Racing   Ducati   320.2   1'42.128   2.815 / 0.099
13   17   Karel ABRAHAM   CZE   Cardion AB Motoracing   Honda   317.2   1'42.348   3.035 / 0.220
14   5   Colin EDWARDS   USA   NGM Forward Racing   Forward Yamaha   312.5   1'42.608   3.295 / 0.260
15   69   Nicky HAYDEN   USA   Drive M7 Aspar   Honda   311.0   1'42.621   3.308 / 0.013
16   8   Hector BARBERA   SPA   Avintia Racing   Avintia   308.1   1'42.739   3.426 / 0.118
17   23   Broc PARKES   AUS   Paul Bird Motorsport   PBM   301.6   1'42.827   3.514 / 0.088
18   51   Michele PIRRO   ITA   Ducati Team   Ducati   318.3   1'42.898   3.585 / 0.071
19   9   Danilo PETRUCCI   ITA   IodaRacing Project   ART   306.6   1'43.106   3.793 / 0.208
20   63   Mike DI MEGLIO   FRA   Avintia Racing   Avintia   309.2   1'43.125   3.812 / 0.019
21   70   Michael LAVERTY   GBR   Paul Bird Motorsport   PBM   306.5   1'43.151   3.838 / 0.026
22   45   Scott REDDING   GBR   GO&FUN Honda Gresini   Honda   307.3   1'43.165   3.852 / 0.014
23   7   Hiroshi AOYAMA   JPN   Drive M7 Aspar   Honda   311.0   1'43.347   4.034 / 0.182

FP3:
1.    Marc Marquez    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)    1m   39.171s    [Lap 16/19]   325km/h (Top Speed)
2.    Dani Pedrosa    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)    1m   39.330s    +0.159s   [16/19]   324km/h
3.    Valentino Rossi    ITA   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)    1m   39.458s    +0.287s   [18/21]   322km/h
4.    Aleix Espargaro    ESP   NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)    1m   39.573s    +0.402s   [17/18]   321km/h
5.    Andrea Dovizioso    ITA   Ducati Team (Desmosedici)    1m   39.757s    +0.586s   [15/17]   325km/h
6.    Stefan Bradl    GER   LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)    1m   39.771s    +0.600s   [19/21]   325km/h
7.    Jorge Lorenzo    ESP   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)    1m   39.782s    +0.611s   [17/21]   320km/h
8.    Andrea Iannone    ITA   Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)    1m   40.050s    +0.879s   [17/18]   324km/h
9.    Alvaro Bautista    ESP   Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V)    1m   40.223s    +1.052s   [14/17]   325km/h
10.    Pol Espargaro    ESP   Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*    1m   40.422s    +1.251s   [10/15]   321km/h
11.    Bradley Smith    GBR   Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)    1m   40.575s    +1.404s   [16/23]   323km/h
12.    Yonny Hernandez    COL   Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)    1m   40.802s    +1.631s   [15/17]   321km/h
13.    Colin Edwards    USA   NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)    1m   40.950s    +1.779s   [16/18]   314km/h
14.    Nicky Hayden    USA   Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)    1m   41.142s    +1.971s   [19/20]   309km/h
15.    Scott Redding    GBR   Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R)*    1m   41.193s    +2.022s   [15/19]   307km/h
16.    Michele Pirro    ITA   Ducati Team (Desmosedici)    1m   41.457s    +2.286s   [13/15]   315km/h
17.    Karel Abraham    CZE   Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R)    1m   41.552s    +2.381s   [14/14]   310km/h
18.    Mike Di Meglio    FRA   Avintia Racing (Avintia)*    1m   41.904s    +2.733s   [14/15]   308km/h
19.    Broc Parkes    AUS   Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)*    1m   41.935s    +2.764s   [12/15]   302km/h
20.    Hiroshi Aoyama    JPN   Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)    1m   41.958s    +2.787s   [17/20]   311km/h
21.    Danilo Petrucci    ITA   IodaRacing Project (ART)    1m   42.419s    +3.248s   [14/17]   304km/h
22.    Hector Barbera    ESP   Avintia Racing (Avintia)    1m   42.482s    +3.311s   [12/13]   309km/h
23.    Michael Laverty    GBR   Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)    1m   42.932s    +3.761s   [12/16]   305km/h

Top 10 - Combined practice times:
1.    Marc Marquez    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
2.    Dani Pedrosa    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
3.    Valentino Rossi    ITA   Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)
4.    Aleix Espargaro    ESP   NGM Mobile Forward Racing (FTR-M1)
5.    Andrea Dovizioso    ITA   Ducati Team (Desmosedici)
6.    Stefan Bradl    GER   LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)
7.    Jorge Lorenzo    ESP   Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)
8.    Andrea Iannone    ITA   Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)
9.    Alvaro Bautista    ESP   Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V)
10.    Pol Espargaro    ESP   Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)

Marquez swaps the hard rear he's been using so far for a medium, and smokes the field by 0.7 of a second 

I do wonder if Espargaro & the Ducatis are going to wish they had access to the hard tire instead of the medium over the full length of the race.


Q2:
1.    Marc Marquez    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)    1m   37.683s    [Lap 5/6]   327km/h (Top Speed)
2.    Jorge Lorenzo    ESP   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)    1m   38.425s    +0.742s   [6/7]   322km/h
3.    Dani Pedrosa    ESP   Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)    1m   38.651s    +0.968s   [7/8]   325km/h
4.    Aleix Espargaro    ESP   NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)    1m   38.794s    +1.111s   [6/7]   320km/h
5.    Andrea Dovizioso    ITA   Ducati Team (Desmosedici)    1m   38.856s    +1.173s   [5/6]   324km/h
6.    Valentino Rossi    ITA   Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)    1m   38.949s    +1.266s   [6/8]   321km/h
7.    Bradley Smith    GBR   Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)    1m   38.958s    +1.275s   [8/8]   322km/h
8.    Andrea Iannone    ITA   Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)    1m   39.237s    +1.554s   [5/7]   325km/h
9.    Stefan Bradl    GER   LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)    1m   39.297s    +1.614s   [2/2]   323km/h
10.    Alvaro Bautista    ESP   Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V)    1m   39.429s    +1.746s   [7/8]   325km/h
11.    Pol Espargaro    ESP   Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*    1m   39.822s    +2.139s   [2/8]   321km/h
12.    Nicky Hayden    USA   Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)    1m   40.541s    +2.858s   [7/7]   310km/h

Q1:
13.    Scott Redding    GBR   Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R)*    1m   40.238s   
14.    Colin Edwards    USA   NGM Forward Racing (Forward Yamaha)    1m   40.476s   
15.    Karel Abraham    CZE   Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R)    1m   40.615s   
16.    Hiroshi Aoyama    JPN   Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)    1m   40.616s   
17.    Yonny Hernandez    COL   Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)    1m   40.691s   
18.    Broc Parkes    AUS   Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)*    1m   40.981s   
19.    Michele Pirro    ITA   Ducati Team (Desmosedici)    1m   41.018s   
20.    Michael Laverty    GBR   Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)    1m   41.103s   
21.    Hector Barbera    ESP   Avintia Racing (Avintia)    1m   41.129s   
22.    Mike Di Meglio    FRA   Avintia Racing (Avintia)*    1m   41.267s   
23.    Danilo Petrucci    ITA   IodaRacing Project (ART)    1m   41.686s   

Watching Moto2 live right now . . . just started

Unless Yamaha finds some magic, this year Championship could be mathematically over at mid season 

Quote from: HotIce on April 27, 2014, 11:24:32 AM
Unless Yamaha finds some magic, this year Championship could be mathematically over at mid season 

this . . . and JL is very very far in points . . .

Gotta say that I am starting to actually feel a little sorry for Stumpy McAlwaysABridesmaidNeverABride

I had a feeling Marquez was toying with Lorenzo.  Its too bad Rossi got run off after the Bradl pass.  I think he would have been on the podium.