F1technical.net

Thats big news. I thought he was cleared to race!? So I guess he doesn't feel ready after a run out at Barcelona. If he's not ready now but is fit enough to race, how much more time will he need? I now fear he will never be the same again.

MotoGP will have new and more advanced system for detection of track limit violations. Basically instead of cameras they used to check if someone is out of track and then trying to judge if he really was out or not they now have pressure sensors outside of kerbs and now it quickly determined if rider is either inside track or out of it. They now also don't allow for even one wheel out of track so either one or both wheels are out riders will be judged to be out of track

https://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2021/0 ... 021/364378

a small warm up

J.A.W. wrote: ↑

15 Mar 2021, 10:04

.... Again from the 1970's, factory Norton engineer/rider Peter Williams made a scientific design effort
to work around the power-limitations of his aged 4T 750 twin when racing in the new FIM F750 class,
including significant wind-tunnel work on the fairing, minimising extraneous flow through the fairing,
but including ducting for oil-cooling & a dedicated cool air pressure-fed engine intake air-box, plus
a broad fairing (much wider than required by the notably slim Norton twin) to provide for full-lean
'ground effect' - so enabling him to 'drift' the machine smoothly through high-speed sweeping bends,
& make up time lost on every other factory-backed F750 - which had power advantages on straights.
https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images ... ery_10.jpg
https://motocrossactionmag.com/Uploads/ ... 5/JPN6.jpg

the 73 machine shown was a semi-monocoque(containing the fuel) - so 'low and wide'
the 74 machine used a spaceframe - and had a better layout
at this time forks and tyres and their wakes were becoming wider - so the fairings became wider
(but it seems that we can't 'Google-sample/read' his book any more - because it's back in print ?)

http://www.sintich.com/quattrovalvole.htm has the flavour of those times
PW & Arter-Weslake - (Surtees framed ? Matchless - slim fairing & TT 'single lap record') ... replaced by .....
the Read-Weslake 500cc twin (ex W's 1.5 litre BRM/Shell & 3 lit research) apparently having a 360 deg crank
(see http://8w.forix.com/gurney-weslake-gran ... ngine.html )
Read's of Leytonstone and (unrelated) Phil Read and Rickman (Metisse) also involved ...
then Weslake's 8 valve conversion for Triumphs done for bros Rickman
(later the more Weslake motor that Dave Nourish then took up)
then the related Triumph's TSS 8 valve ....


I was unaware that Peter Williams died in December
it's 49 years since we saw him on the 500 Matchless beat Agostini's MV - the Hutchinson 100 (reverse Brands Hatch)
and of course he won at the highest level on the Norton
his recent words https://peterwilliamsengineering.wordpr ... monocoque/

Fp1 Result;
1 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha YZR-M1 Yamaha 17 1'54.921
2 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia RS-GP Aprilia 15 1'55.046 0.125
3 Jack Miller Ducati 13 1'55.112 0.191
4 Fabio Quartararo Yamaha YZR-M1 Yamaha 16 1'55.213 0.292
5 Joan Mir Suzuki GSX-RR Suzuki 15 1'55.255 0.334
6 Maverick Viñales Yamaha YZR-M1 Yamaha 18 1'55.309 0.388
7 Alex Rins Suzuki GSX-RR Suzuki 18 1'55.353 0.432
8 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati 16 1'55.365 0.444
9 Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 Yamaha 15 1'55.419 0.498
10 Miguel Oliveira KTM RC16 KTM 17 1'55.745 0.824
11 Alex Marquez Honda RC213V Honda 16 1'55.748 0.827
12 Takaaki Nakagami Honda RC213V Honda 17 1'55.754 0.833
13 Johann Zarco Ducati Desmosedici GP20 Ducati 16 1'55.871 0.950
14 Stefan Bradl Honda RC213V Honda 13 1'55.942 1.021
15 Pol Espargaro Honda RC213V Honda 17 1'56.046 1.125
16 Africa Brad Binder KTM RC16 KTM 16 1'56.057 1.136
17 Luca Marini Ducati 15 1'56.069 1.148
18 Enea Bastianini Ducati Desmosedici GP19 Ducati 16 1'56.191 1.270
19 Danilo Petrucci KTM 15 1'56.230 1.309

FP2

Johann Zarco has recorded a highest ever top speed for a MotoGP bike during FP4


Pole position was won by Francesco Bagnaia, followed by 3 Yamaha riders in Quartararo, Vinales and Rossi. Most shocking thing is that Yamaha was on average around 15km/h slower on the main straight than Ducati and that is where Bagnaia maid all of his advantage.

MotoGP grid:



Moto2 grid:



Moto3 grid:

Classic Moto3 race. Rookies like Acosta & Guevara are exciting to watch

So it is a factory Yamaha team 2 for 2 at the start of the season with Quartararo winning today. I haven't seen Doha GP yet but with social media you can't really miss the spoilers.
Zarco and Martin completed the podium, whilst Rins and Vinales completed the top 5.

Championship stands as follows:
1. Zarco (Pramac Ducati) 40
2. Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) 36
3. Vinales (Monster Yamaha) 36
4. Bagnaia (Ducati) 26
5. Rins (Suzuki) 23
6. Mir (Suzuki) 22
7. Martin (Pramac Ducati) 17
8. A Espargaro (Aprilia) 15
9. Miller (Ducati) 14
10. P Espargaro (Repsol Honda) 11

Manufacturers Standings:
1. Yamaha 50
2. Ducati 40
3. Suzuki 26
4. Aprilia 15
5. KTM 11
6. Honda 11

Teams Standings:
1. Monster Yamaha 72
2. Pramac Ducati 57
3. Suzuki 45
4. Ducati 40
5. Repsol Honda 18
6. Aprilia 15
7. Red Bull KTM 14
8. Esponsorama Ducati 11
9. Petronas Yamaha 8
- Tech3 KTM 0
- LCR Honda 0


In Moto2 race was won by Sam Lowes, while Gardner and Raul Fernandez completed the podium. Championship stands as follows:
1. Lowes 50
2. Gardner 40
3. Raul Fernandez 27
4. Bezzecchi 26
5. Di Giannantonio 22


In Moto3 race was won by Pedro Acosta with Binder and Antonelli. Championship standings:
1. Acosta 45
2. Binder 36
3. Masia 32
4. Antonelli 26
5. Guevara 19

I think he need a good penalty for that

Mir overtake was far from clean, but Miller contact was deliberated and could have caused a huge crash at the start of the straight. Mir apologized in same corner. Miller should have been black flagged, it´s an obvious case of taking justice by your own hands and doing something wich put on serious risk the rest of the riders


Apart from that, interesting race. Ducati on a different league engine wise. It must be extremelly frustrating to be in the position of any of the Yamaha or Suzuki riders (apart from Quartararo), overtaking in the corners assuming some risks, to only be flypassed at the straight again easily

Mir had it coming, everyone knows if you do that to Jack, its gonna come back just as hard if not harder.