Grand Prix at Estoril. Did you know

Grand Prix at Estoril. Did you know

Stacked THE BOX – The concrete pillars inside the box have created many problems for the MotoGP teams, forced to work in very cramped spaces. Especially sacrificed Gresini, Marco Simoncelli and with his mechanics who had zig-orange blossoms between a column and the next.

HOW MANY MONITORS! – Impressive new location at the pit wall of the Ducati at the disposal of men of the red there are 12 monitors, television pictures and 4 for 8 for the time and data. Again, the MotoGP is getting closer to F1.

Modified clutch – Honda has slightly changed the clutch of the RC212V to facilitate the start up and so we can avoid repeating what happened in Jerez. In any case, however, a pilot can not do a MotoGP bike again and always need the help of a push, more or less powerful.

FORBIDDEN TRAINING – How long is repeated, the MotoGP is the only sport that allows players to practice. Among other things, is a peculiarity of (negative) its only the premier class, because for 125, and SBK Moto2 there are in fact limitations. Really a contradiction, because the highest expression of the motorcycling world is penalized much more of the theoretically lower. And, as pointed out by Valentino Rossi, with no real savings. “In practice – rightly points out the nine times world champion – only the riders can not run, because the houses take to the track with the testers, still spending money.”

NEW CONSULTANT – Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna’s number one, started a collaboration with Hiroshi Yasukawa, until a few months ago in charge of Bridgestone. E ‘Yasukawa was precisely to deal with the renewal of the supply of tires to the MotoGP Japanese for three years, but now it’s past the other side of the fence. We will see what the role of this important figure, which almost certainly will have a direct contact with Japanese manufacturers.

THE TRACK IN 1000 – He made ??quite a stir in the test conducted in early April by Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, got into the “1000″ next year at Jerez. As often happens in MotoGP, unfortunately, there is no written rule, but only an agreement among manufacturers that includes eight days of testing during the year for riders of the new bikes that we will see next season. A short test versions in 2012 Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa (Honda the only two drivers under contract for 2012), again at Jerez, the week after the French Grand Prix (May 15), while Jorge Lorenzo will have to wait until 4 July, when the day after the Italian Grand Prix on his Yamaha M1 in 2012 will rise at Mugello. As for Ducati, Honda and Yamaha also the testers have already made ??(in Japan) with the new prototypes.

Sunshine or rain? – Title of Tuttosport on Friday, April 29: “Smith calls for rain.” Title Time on Friday, April 29: “Rossi is hoping the sun.”

POLLUTION? NO THANKS – Estoril debuted the new hospitality team Pramac, leading to energy savings and environmental impact. On the roof are placed 48 solar panels, for a total of 70 square meters, capable of producing 6 kW of electricity, while a three-bladed wind, designed by Philippe Stark, produces another kW. In this way, the hospitality is totally independent and, in fact, does not produce CO2. The interior is all done with recycled materials such as cardboard chairs and tables, while food and beverages are produced on farms certified to produce zero CO2. Finally, the truck is made ??of aluminum with a weight reduced from 40 to 21 tons, this too limiting pollution. A good initiative, although some may seem a contradiction in a motor racing. But it is not.

LORENZO ASTRONAUT – According to tradition in the Portuguese GP, Jorge Lorenzo was wearing the white helmet and black, based on that of astronauts since 2009 is that Jorge Estoril abandons its traditional graphics for this, very beautiful.

MARSHAL ASSOLTI – Friday, April 29, the Race Direction has been met to analyze what happened in Jerez, where the “Marshal”, the track workers had been accused by Casey Stoner and Marco Simoncelli of not having helped them to go. All acquitted as announced in the official FIM.
“After reviewing several videos of the incident between Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner in the Spanish GP on April 3, 2011 and after having heard the explanations of Juan Alvarez, Director of the Jerez circuit, the Race Direction has decided that the intervention of Marshal was safe and appropriate.
The Race Direction is determined to confront the Grand Prix Commission to study possible solutions for improving the process of intervention. ” Valentino Rossi said it was decided that: “The commissioners should assist the pilot, but can not enter the track.”

Brake problem – During the first free practice session on Friday morning, came off a pipe pressure of the brake calipers on Honda’s Casey Stoner of Australia, however, got away with a straight, without put the wheels in the sand.

DUCATI ONLY FOR ROSSI – “In Ducati only work for Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi to say. “I had attitude problems in the saddle – Loris reveals – so I asked the handlebars mounted on the back that old Desmosedici early. I made ??them do it somewhere my chief technician Sterlacchini: the racing department are all working with Valentino and had no time to rest …. ”

FOREVER FRIENDS – Valentino Rossi and Marco Simoncelli ensure that the rivalry on the track will not change their friendship. “The SIC is a friend of mine – says he is convinced Valentino – we’re enough time together, we love, he has a great respect towards me and I for him, because he’s a good guy. In track we have two drivers very aggressive and I do not expect any favors from him. Now I see him as a player said, is going very strong opponents on the track we’re like everyone else. On the one hand I’m happy for him, although I hope I come back …. ”

BEWARE OF LIGHTNING – Friday afternoon, during the qualifying session of the Rookies Cup, the flagship KTM 125 for the kids, has unleashed a tremendous thunderstorm and lightning crashed on the runway, leaving a hole in the asphalt. Fortunately did not hit any of the pilots at that time on the track, but the Spanish and Austrian Cudicio Gracia (14 years) have felt the effects in the body, fell and lost consciousness. Fortunately, everything turned out with a bad scare.

I told you – Loris Reggiani, commentator for the World Championship Italia1 at lap 23: “Dani Pedrosa will wait until the last lap to attack Lorenzo, if it still manages to keep up in the wake.” Pedrosa passed on lap 25 Lorenzo, trimmed in a single pass second half and closing the GP at the top with 3 “051 advantage.

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/lkPhhC4daUn/Grand+Prix+Estoril+know

Steven Frossard Eric Geboers Sylvain Geboers Broc Glover Rui Goncalves Josh Grant