At first I thought both Rossi and Lorenzo had taken into consideration that, with Pedrosa - Jorge's only title contender wasn't starting, Jorge will still pulling a greater gap in championship standing before both pulled themselves into the duel at later part of this race. I'm not surprise that Jorge didn't lay down and let Rossi away although it will jeopardized his championship lead. But I do now surprise and realised that I'm wrong when Jorge's made that comment after the race. Thought he knows Vale already.

I agree with AndyW35, it would be fun if, Jorge wrap-up the title in Sepang - we have another 3 more races to see both these guys fighting off each other!

I'm sure I remember J-Lo kicking someone, during the race, in 125s.....

He has previous experience of close fighting in Motegi in the MotoGP class. In the 2008 race he tried a desperate move on Pedrosa in the closing stages of the race, almost causing a crash.

I have to agree with the sour grapes. Rossi has probably found a new Biaggi in Lorenzo and he will always make it as tough as possible. But there wasn't anything illegal, Rossi certainly knew Lorenzo had the title on the line and decided to see how far he'd go for it. Perhaps Lorenzo would have rather crashed than finish 4th otherwise, but he should at least have keep his cool.

I don't know how to translate it, but he clearly "acusou o golpe" of being beat by Rossi.

Rossi is playing games heading into 2011 already.. the old man is good. Real good.

Do you guys know why Rossi always has his leg out on heavy braking zones ?

Balance, like motocross guys do.


I think people are way overdoing the negative comments. Just because someone gripes about someone else's move on the track, it doesn't mean they've lost some psychological war. Watch an F1 race, everyone complains about everyone else.

so, let's vote for the battle of the year:

1) rossi vs lorenzo - motegi
2) spies vs dovizioso - aragon
3) ... (excuse my short memory, but were there any more interesting battles this year worth noting?)

Quite funny to hear Yamaha management and 'sooky, sooky, la la' talking about the team and teammates. That all went out the door when Lorenzo and his cronnies built their Berlin Wall in the Yamaha pit. Yamaha lost Rossi when they allowed this. I think we can safely say there will be no early release for VR to start testing at Ducatti now. Lorenzo better get used to close racing with Rossi. It will be on for young and old next year and as the saying goes, there's life in the old dog yet ! (woof, woof)

Great rider that Rossi is, he’s not a team player. Lorenzo is in line to win the Title – shouldn’t Rossi be supporting him? I can’t think of too many other racing series were this would happen. If I was Lin Jarvis I’d have been hopping mad. I don’t need my World Champion-elect having an accident with his team mate. It seems as though Vale can do what he wants.

Rossi wanted the wall, not Lorenzo.

Lorenzo basically has to show up at the remaining races and the title is his, surely he should have been the one to play it safe for the title as you say and not tried to pass Rossi? What was Jorge expecting, for Rossi to move over and just let him through?

Okay but then, why did he start doing this only recently ?

He didn't. He's been doing it for a few years, and more and more guys are doing it. It's really of a reflection of how hard someone is riding. If the leg is popping out under braking they're basically on the verge of crashing.

Not quite; he was not expecting a fightback.

Dovi and Hayden at Qatar, Mini P and JLo at Jerez, and Stoner against 1 or 2 guys at the last laps of Mugello.

You are correct. I was told it was Lorenzo who wanted it. It will be interesting to see if it remains in 2011 when Spies joins the factory team and starts beating Lorenzo on the same bike.

Rossi has been quoted as saying that he and the team (Honda or Yamaha, can't remember) analyzed his performance with and without the "leg dangle" and found no difference whatsoever, but subjectively it sometimes felt better when riding hard, as you wrote. Others have accused him of using it effectively as a block, and covering that up by doing it when he isn't being closely followed as well. Then again I don't think any rider would just stick his leg in the path of another bike at 100+ km/h on purpose. Yet others think it's just to mess with the other riders' heads, and that it's worked because they are now increasingly doing it too.

I do think though if you go back to older footage you can see the likes of Schwantz doing it when really on the limit (although those may be more clear-cut cases of basically "almost falling off").

EDIT: coincidentally, cross-training in MX is increasingly popular with GP riders, and Americans like Schwantz came from a dirt/speedway background I suppose.

Spanish Media Accusing Rossi Of Jump Start At Motegi

I was just about to post that myself!

It appears they've been distracted from obsessing over Alonso for five minutes....

yes he's a clever bugger isn't he, if it was Max pulling those moves I doubt he'd get away with it as much it must be said Ross.

For a moment there I wondered if you were going to say how much makeup Vale wears around the motorhome ??

Andy

Youtube of highlights - start at 13s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7xPnRPRZYk

now why do i have a feeling that you are making this season sound exciting

He did creep forward a little bit just before the lights went out

No, he was expecting a clean battle. Remember Catalunya 2009?


I don't remember Lorenzo having a case of 'sour grapes' after that race. It was an exciting and clean battle. Why Rossi chose to ride like he did at Motegi I don't know, probably due to negative emotions that have been building practically all year. Lorenzo must bug Rossi to absolutely no end, he knows that he is in his best years yet this 23 year old kid is riding on the same level. When Rossi starts pushing and shoving like he did you know something's up in his mind. Hopefully he'll clean up his act, because that kind of behaviour does not encourage close racing. As I have said, Rossi can race cleanly, we have seem him race cleanly and I don't expect anything less.

from the video methinks lunatic was late 1 sec before releasing the clutch

i want to see the holy office of spanish media tribunal put carmelo on spanish inquisition

The only way Horegay Lorenzo can get back at Rossi is to just dish out the same to him. I know he is at the mercy of Rossi this time of the championship where Rossi got nothing to lose.

I love to see the day when a rider can clash-bang-ram with Rossi and come out smiling winning. There are hardly any riders like that. Well Max has been deported to WSBK, I dont like him anyway.

another question by senile giddy: did spies test at sepang with yoshimura's suzy back in the ama wsbk days, when he was affraid of flying? he should be familiar with the track, right? sort of?

Did he get something else?

You people are funny. You'll sit and watch a boring race and then complain. You'll sit and watch an exciting race like we had on Sunday and you'll complain. Some people are just negative about everything and will never be satisfied.

Max, Sete, Casey, Lorenzo. Max strongest off track, Lorenzo is strongest on track??

The difference between Catalunya 2009 and Motegi 2010 is so inconspicuous, though. Catalunya could have easily ended in tears and broken bones. The moves during such close racing are hardly pre-planned, but rather spur-of-the-moment reactions. And it's good that the four aliens do not get comfortable with each other, because together they shoulder the burden of providing 90% of the entertainment during a motoGP race. Heartache for them, good entertainment for the rest of us.

Actually I noticed that live. He did move slightly before but this made things worse because he left the gas and then reapplied after the others had moved off. Still could have been declared a jump start really. Thankfully it was not and we saw a great head to head

Brilliant!

I'd say Casey is stronger than Lorenzo, but that's just an opinion.

IMO, when the bike is fine, Pedrosa is the fastest guy followed by Stoner who is better then him wheel to wheel. Lorenzo is the more balanced of the three.

Was he trying to out do Spies? I think Toseland beat Xaus for most crashes this year.

Did Spies launch an R1 pretty well too?

I had a little laugh when James hopped through the fence where his bike had just cleared a hole in the advertisements. It probably saved him a pretty long walk.

Ok, so some desperate win or bin moves to finish 3rd ahead of a conservative almost-champion Lorenzo with a less powered engine is enough to bring back Rossi to the top level?

Come on guys, I'm sure he can still do better than that?

Why are you so obsessed with it?

From next year, the factory machines in WSBK will carry onboard cameras.

Assen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpjBXpbaHIg
I think Toseland wins. although Ben's was pretty good too.

The major difference between Catalunya 2009 and yesterday was that Jorge didn't have a championship on the line last May.

And to those suggesting team orders--this isn't F1. That philosophy simply doesn't exist in motorcycle racing.

You are wrong. Team orders have been used in motorcycle racing.

Ah, I did see that but not the whole thing. The broadcast missed most of it.

Pedrosa's Sausagering crash in 2008(?) is worth a mention too. That Honda almost cleared the fence.

I did catch a bike trying to jump onto the highway at Sears Point once. T10 has way too little runoff due to the highway butting right up to it. This girl's Gixxer managed to jump the tires and hit the billboards, coming back down to rest on the tires though instead of breaking through.

Had an okay weekend with our race team to finish out the year. 4th in 600 Production, 3rd in 600 Superbike, 2nd in 750 Production, 3rd in 750 Superbike and 2nd in Formula I. We were really hoping to take home a championship this year but Lenny Hale and Tyler O'Hara, a couple of AMA guys, were just too much. Still an improvement over last year.

But they don't do it in the tight slippery corners, which is when they crash. I've not seen anyone crash while they had the leg out. And they often crash on the first couple of laps. I've not seen them hanging their legs out then!

By the way, Stoner was hanging his leg out on the last or second last lap of the last race, and he was not slow but he was well in front. He certainly wasn't on the verge of crashing IMO.

I don't admire the riders who pace themselves, and then come on at the end of the race. I much more admire those who go balls out on the cold tyres, and push as hard as they can until they are far enough in front to be able to back off. Sitting back, bedding in the tyres, feeling the bike and then moving forward, is what someone does who has the fastest bike in the race. They can afford to race like that. Someone with a slower bike can't. They have to race full bore from the flag drop. I like those blokes much more.

Neil

I've tried hanging my leg off a bit. The biggest effect seems to be that your boots wear out faster.

You must have long legs too

Nice! And perhaps HD broadcast too? Or is it already?