2019 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas

Safe to say - Marquez will win.

Questions are:

How many seconds will 2nd place be behind him?

Will Ducati pick up the pace? Dovi was 5th last year behind Vinales, Iaanone and Rossi.

Will Lorenzo start to show some promise - or will we have to wait till mid-season for that?
Maybe people will start to refer to him as Sleeping Beauty?

Will Marquez win, hmmm and how much by, hhmmmm.
The Duc will be great down the back straight, but that'll be it I feel. I'm not going to say who will win, I seem to jinx them, just like the talent less 2 in the commentary box (Motogp).

I think Rins might come 2nd, or it might be Cal :tumbleweed2:
Another top 10 for Oliveira and hopefully the leading KTM.

Jeez thats a gamble innit?

I think its safe to say that this race is Marquez's race to loose, because no-one else will have his pace.

I expect the Suzukis to be fast here, maybe even podium.

As for Ducati, they need to minimize their points loss, make few mistakes, qualify well, and see how many bikes Dovi can hold up and maybe secure 3rd.

Track Map Courtesy of Brembo Brakes


Circuit Information Courtesy of MotoGP.com

LENGTH: 5.5 km / 3.43 miles
CORNERS: 11 left - 9 right
WIDTH: 15 m. / 49.21 ft.
LONGEST STRAIGHT: 1200 m. / 3937.01 ft.


For weeks, the racing world has held its breath in anticipation of the FIM Appeals Court regarding the allegations that a major factory team had illegally used prohibited aerodynamic effects during competition. Now, days after the court has released its ruling, we have obtained exclusive access to the transcripts of the final testimony of Massimo Rivola, Aprilia's CEO, during those proceedings as he is questioned by rival Gigi Dal'Igna.

GIGI
Massimo, the aerodynamic spoiler on the Ducati was the first one used in competition?

RIVOLA
Yes.

GIGI
There wasn't a spoiler in use before that race?

RIVOLA
Gigi, I think we've covered this, haven't we?

GIGI gets the two log books from his table as well as the piece of paper that SAM scribbled on.

GIGI
Your Honor, these are the Technical Director's Logs for the both the Malaysia 2018 pre-race and post. The Sepang pre-race log lists no aerodynamic rule infractions for any team, and the post race log lists no complaints that there was an infraction either. I'd like to admit them as Defense Exhibits "A" and "B".

RANDOLPH
I don't understand. You're admitting evidence of a aerodynamic device that never existed?

GIGI
We believe it did, sir.
(glancing at the paper, then motioning to the two race stewards)
Defense'll be calling Steward Cecil O'Malley and Steward Anthony Perez. They were working the pit lane at Sepang on November 4th.

ROSS
Your Honor, these men weren't on the list.

GIGI
Rebuttal witnesses, Your Honor, called specifically to refute testimony offered under direct examination.

If you looked closely at RIVOLA, you could see a drop of sweat.

RANDOLPH
I'll allow the witnesses.

RIVOLA
This is ridiculous.

GIGI
A moment ago --

RIVOLA
Check the Steward Logs for christ's sake.

GIGI
We'll get to the stewards in just a minute, sir. A moment ago said that you ordered Kendrick to order his men not to protest the GP19.

RIVOLA
That's right.

GIGI
And Kendrick was clear on what you wanted?

RIVOLA
Crystal.

GIGI
Any chance Kendrick ignored the order?

RIVOLA
Ignored the order?

GIGI
Any chance he just forgot about it?

RIVOLA
No.

GIGI
Any chance Kendrick left your office and said, "The 'old F1 reject's wrong"?

RIVOLA
No.

GIGI
When Kendrick spoke to the pit crew and ordered them not to protest the GP19, any chance they ignored him?

RIVOLA
Have you ever spent time in pit lane, son?

GIGI
No sir.

RIVOLA
Ever put your race day in another man's hands, ask him to put his career in yours?

GIGI
No sir.

RIVOLA
We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people lose. It's that simple. Are we clear?

GIGI
Yes sir.

RIVOLA
Are we clear?

GIGI
Crystal.

GIGI speaks with the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you're about to drop your opponents

GIGI
(continuing; beat)
I have just one more question before I call Steward O'Malley and Steward Perez: If you gave an order that the GP19 wasn't to be protested,
and your orders are always followed, then why would the swingarm spoiler be in danger, why would it be necessary to transfer it off the swingarm base?

And RIVOLA has no answer.

Nothing.

He sits there, and for the first time, seems to be lost.

RIVOLA
The swingarm spoiler was a sub-standard aero device. It needed to be transferred off the swingarm because --

GIGI
But that's not what you said. You said it should be transferred because its use represented a grave danger.

RIVOLA
(pause)
Yes. That's correct, but --

GIGI
I can have the Court Reporter read back your --

RIVOLA
I know what I said. I don't need it read back to me like I'm a damn --

GIGI
Then why the two protests?
(beat)
Colonel?
(beat)
Why did you --

RIVOLA
Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.

GIGI
No sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands. Your men follow orders or people lose races. So the GP19 shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should it?

Everyone's sweating now. Everyone but GIGI.

RIVOLA
You little ........

ROSS
Your Honor, I have to ask for a recess to --

GIGI
I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.

RANDOLPH
The Court'll wait for answer.

GIGI
(continuing)
Kendrick ordered the technical protest, didn't he? Because that's what you told Kendrick to do.

ROSS
Object!

RANDOLPH
Counsel.

GIGI will plow through the objections of ROSS and the admonishments of RANDOLPH.

GIGI
And when the appeal went bad, you cut these guys loose.

ROSS
Your Honor --

RANDOLPH
That'll be all, counsel.

GIGI
You had Markinson sign a aerodynamic research order --

ROSS
Judge --

GIGI
I'll ask for the forth time. You ordered --

RIVOLA
You want answers?

GIGI
I think I'm entitled to them.

RIVOLA
You want answers?!

GIGI
I want the truth.

RIVOLA
You can't handle the truth!

And nobody moves.

RIVOLA
(continuing)
Son, we work in a pitlane that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with computers. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Gigi? I have a greater responsibility to Aprilia than you can possibly fathom. You weep for the under-swingarm spoiler and you curse the other members of the MSMA. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: That the spoiler's death, while tragic, probably would have saved budgets. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves budgets.
(beat)
You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me there.
(boasting)
We use words like aerodynamics, downforce, fluid dynamics... we use these words as the backbone to a life spent developing double bubble windscreens and efficient fairings. You use 'em as a punchline.
(beat)
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man whose career rises and falls under the umbrella of the very technology I developed in F1, then questions the manner in which I provide it to MotoGP. I'd prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a laptop and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to.

GIGI
(quietly)
Did you order the protest against Ducati?

RIVOLA
(beat)
I did the job the MSMA sent me to do.

GIGI
Did you order the protest against Ducati?

RIVOLA
(pause)
You're ....... right I did.

Silence. From everyone. RANDOLPH, ROSS, the MSA staff, they're all frozen. JO and SAM are likewise. RIVOLA seems strangely, quietly relieved. GIGI simply takes control of the room now.

Hmmm....!

Rivola: You know you don't have to act with me, Gigi. You don't have to say anything about aerodynamics, and you don't have to do anything about aerodynamics. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Gigi? You just put your lips together and... blow.

All FP3 cancelled due to weather condition

evo9 said:

All FP3 cancelled due to weather condition

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I guess they don't normally have weather like that then in Texas.

Oh, they have thunderstorm, a plenty. Just not on race weekend. I think I just ate my most expensive breakfast ev-ar, if you include getting here, the hotel, and the race tickets.

It's getting brighter outside, so we will see if they can do the qualifying later. There are some places that puddle on the track, so it may take awhile to dry enough, even if the weather is okay.

Anyone see Marc's helmet. Pretty nice art for the location, in my opinion.

Theo said:

I guess they don't normally have weather like that then in Texas.

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They do but, lighting is a big problem in these parts of the USA.

evo9 said:

They do but, lighting is a big problem in these parts of the USA.

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I've always thought of Texas as being desert and very dry. But world weather is changing, wonder if the polarities showing so much movement is a reason?

It's hard to bet against Marquez in Austin, but apparently the tyre choice is wide open. If he gets it wrong, we might at least have a race.

Cal's impressive form after his terrible injury continues. Rossi's strength seems to be growing. Jorge is far too slow for a 5 time world champ.

RCV600RR said:

It's hard to bet against Marquez in Austin, but apparently the tyre choice is wide open. If he gets it wrong, we might at least have a race.

Cal's impressive form after his terrible injury continues. Rossi's strength seems to be growing. Jorge is far too slow for a 5 time world champ.

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Can't have helped his confidence when the bike died in quali.

RCV600RR said:

It's hard to bet against Marquez in Austin, but apparently the tyre choice is wide open. If he gets it wrong, we might at least have a race.

Cal's impressive form after his terrible injury continues. Rossi's strength seems to be growing. Jorge is far too slow for a 5 time world champ.

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Did you see how he was running? The guy is clearly still seriously injured. He might be a 5x world champ but he is jumping onto a bike that was built for a guy who’s style couldn’t be more different than his. I believe all recent and current riders other than Stoner would probably take a while to dial in a bike built for Marc’s radical style. That’s without throwing in the injury issues.

My take from fp and qp. That back straight 'whoops'. Serious head shakes from bikes, I fear someone's pads will be thrown loose and potentially cause an accident ala pirro at Mugello last year. I also notice Honda and KTM both have some kind of tri brace? On the front brake disk. I wonder if this is another interpretation of the aero fitment on the Ducatis. Marc looks strong, I feel mav will do well here as long as he can get clear track from start of race, he's good for lap pace alone and this race traditionally has been spaced out. I just hope all riders finish and nothing major occurs due to some of the bumps. T2, T10, back straight are concerns.

Keshav said:

Can't have helped his confidence when the bike died in quali.

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Yeah, but on that lap, Marc was way behind, caught him, and passed him like he was standing still. He's not in great shape at the moment.

p4p1 said:

Did you see how he was running? The guy is clearly still seriously injured. He might be a 5x world champ but he is jumping onto a bike that was built for a guy who’s style couldn’t be more different than his. I believe all recent and current riders other than Stoner would probably take a while to dial in a bike built for Marc’s radical style. That’s without throwing in the injury issues.

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No doubt, but Cal isn't in the greatest shape either. He shouldn't be getting trounced by Cal.

RCV600RR said:

Yeah, but on that lap, Marc was way behind, caught him, and passed him like he was standing still. He's not in great shape at the moment.

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Can't help but speculate that whatever was wrong with the bike was a large contributing factor to his poor performance.

Theo said:

I guess they don't normally have weather like that then in Texas.

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Austin is in part of Texas called the "hill country" they get rolling thunderstorms, that come through fast dump a large amount of rain, lots of lightning, lots of wind, but usually do not last long.

We also have had a problem with people getting struck by lightning, especially at sporting events, which is why they implemented the law a couple years ago.

it should be a close race tomorrow ... for second