2012 starting 3 weeks later

GP starting in April now, instead of March. WHY!

More time 4 ur beloved CRTs 2 get up 2 speed?!?!

Mick D said:

More time 4 ur beloved CRTs 2 get up 2 speed?!?!

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Dont get me started. That, and maybe giving a certain Italian manufacturer a little extra time . Seriously though, i wonder what the explanation is.

Uuhm, isn't it a week earlier?

heyhuub said:

Uuhm, isn't it a week earlier?

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Not from last year its not.



2011 race was on March 20th, 2012 is scheduled for April 8th

Pov's right about the date, if not his conspiracy theories.

(Although I wouldn't put it past Rossi - Evil ....... that he is - to be the party pulling the strings!)



I misread it too. Re-reading the post on Krop's site: "The move is in response to the Formula One calendar, which sees the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for April 15th, the date originally planned for Qatar, and so the decision was taken to start the MotoGP season a week earlier."



If the results page on MotoGP is right, 2011 Qatar was March 20.



Next year's schedule - 2012:

8 April, Qatar - Doha/Losail

29 April, Spain - Jerez de la Frontera

6 May, Portugal (STC) - Estoril

20 May, France - Le Mans

3 June, Catalunya - Catalunya

17 June, Great Britain - Silverstone

30 June, Netherlands - Assen

8 July, Germany (STC) - Sachsenring

15 July, Italy - Mugello

29 July, United States - Laguna Seca

19 August, Indianapolis - Indianapolis

26 August, Czech Rep. - Brno

16 September, San Marino & Riviera di Rimini - Misano

30 September, Aragon - Motorland

14 October, Japan - Motegi

21 October, Malaysia - Sepang

28 October, Australia - Phillip Island

11 November, Valencia - Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

Geo Nerd said:

Pov's right about the date, if not his conspiracy theories.

(Although I wouldn't put it past Rossi - Evil ....... that he is - to be the party pulling the strings!)



I misread it too. Re-reading the post on Krop's site: "The move is in response to the Formula One calendar, which sees the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for April 15th, the date originally planned for Qatar, and so the decision was taken to start the MotoGP season a week earlier."



If the results page on MotoGP is right, 2011 Qatar was March 20.



Next year's schedule - 2012:

8 April, Qatar - Doha/Losail

29 April, Spain - Jerez de la Frontera

6 May, Portugal (STC) - Estoril

20 May, France - Le Mans

3 June, Catalunya - Catalunya

17 June, Great Britain - Silverstone

30 June, Netherlands - Assen

8 July, Germany (STC) - Sachsenring

15 July, Italy - Mugello

29 July, United States - Laguna Seca

19 August, Indianapolis - Indianapolis

26 August, Czech Rep. - Brno

16 September, San Marino & Riviera di Rimini - Misano

30 September, Aragon - Motorland

14 October, Japan - Motegi

21 October, Malaysia - Sepang

28 October, Australia - Phillip Island

11 November, Valencia - Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

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What would the Chinese F1 Grand Prix have to do with Moto GP in Qatar. Its not like Moto GP and F1 dont have any other overlapping dates on the schedule. Im guessing it has something to do with Qatar being a night race and tv scheduling

Its all in how you look at it and how you word it. While some will say, hey GP is starting a week earlier than planned, isnt that great. Others like me will say, hey WTF, why is the season starting a month later than last year..

Theres always WSBK starting Feb 26

SackWack said:

Theres always WSBK starting Feb 26

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Lol no doubt.. Those first races are always a tease though, cuz it seems like they have one race (for each series), then a month long break before we see anything again anyway.. i'll wait.. let's have some back to back stuff.. gotta love those runs

povol said:

GP starting in April now, instead of March. WHY!

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Temperature at night in the desert, and the dew point.

I like it better. These seasons get way too spaced out. Also that means Nicky may be at Daytona this year to watch his brothers( if Tommy can get a ride)

That weekend usually coincides with a GP testing event.

Kropotkin said:

Temperature at night in the desert, and the dew point.

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Why not move the Qatar race, instead of pushing the season back.

Every chance I will be corrected, but I was under the impression that Qatar paid a premium to be the season opener.

double

expatal said:

Every chance I will be corrected, but I was under the impression that Qatar paid a premium to be the season opener.

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Correct. Qatar pays a lot of money (enough to cover all of the freight costs of the series for the entire year) to host the season opener. And they want a night race. As a result, we have to start in April, instead of racing in February.

Kropotkin said:

Correct. Qatar pays a lot of money (enough to cover all of the freight costs of the series for the entire year) to host the season opener. And they want a night race. As a result, we have to start in April, instead of racing in February.

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Answers that question!

Kropotkin said:

Correct. Qatar pays a lot of money (enough to cover all of the freight costs of the series for the entire year) to host the season opener. And they want a night race. As a result, we have to start in April, instead of racing in February.

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Wow, I hope it pays some dividends for them.. all politics aside, I really respect the middle east nations that try to make the western stuff work for them, just wish it was easier to support them, other than watching it on tv.. can't see myself going to qatar anytime soon



On a side note, anyone ever seen those arab drift videos on youtube? they got some ballsy drivers, i hope they get some good talent with the track out there.. but sportbikes are probably quite a luxury, sofuoglu came through from turkey.. and WSBK has been talking about alot of eastern europeans coming on board... maybe we'll get some talent in a few years.. i like to believe that there are plenty of people with the raw talent that never have the chance to give it a shot, because of the circumstances of their environment.. hell, i never got to ride a motorcycle until i was 23..

I thought the Phillip Island round of MotoGP was being moved from October to March for better weather.



WSBK is at Phillip Island last week of Feb. Maybe then the CRT teams could just get the WSBK teams to leave their bikes there for another week or two!

povol said:

GP starting in April now, instead of March. WHY!

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Stoners not back from his fishing trip until then !