2022 Spielberg - CryptoDATA Austrian Grand Prix

Doesn't look like we have an official race discussion thread so here we go.

Austrian Grand Prix goes down at the Red Bull Ring this weekend. Bagnaia looking to make another haul of points against the field. Weather is ominous, but we'll see what happens. Marquez looming in the paddock, trying to keep control of the news cycle and avoid giving press to his competitors. The new Zarco chicane (not the official name) is also in play this year. Red Bull Ring is one of my favorite circuits, even if it can't compare to the old A1 ring. Could be a great weekend of racing. Ducati will surely be dominant again.

MotoGP Introduces Plan to Run Saturday Sprint Races for Half Championship Points

Riders Livid, Hope To Unionize

What a mess. I would claim to be shocked, but when Dorna launched the global fan survey, they were surely going to use it partly for ill. Here we are.

But I thought rider safety was paramount.

I've got nothing against Simon Crafar BUT he should not be allowed anywhere near the commentary box. Oy..........................."ya know"

Looks like it's going to be a tough race for anyone not on a Ducati. Bags could get himself right back into the thick of it.

Qualifying 2 Results:
1. Enea Bastianini - ITA - Gresini Ducati (GP21) - 1'28.772s
2. Francesco Bagnaia - ITA - Ducati Lenovo (GP22) - +0.024s
3. Jack Miller - AUS - Ducati Lenovo (GP22) - +0.109s
4. Jorge Martin - SPA - Pramac Ducati (GP22) - +0.186s
5. Fabio Quartararo - FRA - Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) - +0.231s
6. Johann Zarco - FRA - Pramac Ducati (GP22) - +0.274s
7. Maverick Viñales - SPA - Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) - +0.363s
8. Joan Mir - SPA - Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) - +0.483s
9. Aleix Espargaro - SPA - Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) - +0.483s
10. Fabio Di Giannantonio - ITA - Gresini Ducati (GP21)* - +0.564s
11. Alex Rins - SPA - Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) - +0.652s
12. Brad Binder - RSA - Red Bull KTM (RC16) - +0.764s

Qualifying 1 Results:
13. Luca Marini - ITA - Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP22) - 1'29.386s
14. Takaaki Nakagami - JPN - LCR Honda (RC213V) - 1'29.39s
15. Pol Espargaro - SPA - Repsol Honda (RC213V) - 1'29.475s
16. Franco Morbidelli - ITA - Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) - 1'29.54s
17. Miguel Oliveira - POR - Red Bull KTM (RC16) - 1'29.613s
18. Stefan Bradl - GER - Repsol Honda (RC213V) - 1'29.809s
19. Andrea Dovizioso - ITA - WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1) - 1'30.085s
20. Marco Bezzecchi - ITA - Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP21)* - 1'30.122s
21. Darryn Binder - RSA - WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)* - 1'30.328s
22. Remy Gardner - AUS - KTM Tech3 (RC16)* - 1'30.397s
23. Raul Fernandez - SPA - KTM Tech3 (RC16)* - 1'30.475s
24. Lorenzo Savadori - ITA - Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) - 1'30.487s
25. Alex Marquez - SPA - LCR Honda (RC213V) - 1'33.653s

Thanks for taking up the slack. I "officially" thank you. LOL. Been busy wrapping up details of publication of my new (not about racing) book.

PRS717 said:

I've got nothing against Simon Crafar BUT he should not be allowed anywhere near the commentary box. Oy..........................."ya know"

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Admired him as a rider, podiums including a win in on WCM Yamaha 500 are not to be sneered at.

Really don’t like him as a commentator either though, I am sure completely unfairly I even find his voice grating.

Made a comment I agreed with during qualifying, in his current form Jack Miller might have kept the factory Ducati ride. Apparently he found something in the most recent mid season test. Ducati seem to have a propensity for dropping riders just as they are coming good. I don’t think their policy which seems to be to set their riders against each other is the best one of winning the riders’ championship is the aim, and can’t see Martin and particularly Bastianini settling down to help Bagnaia win the title if that becomes prudent as much as Jack provably will do. Also led to excessive pressure on Bagnaia early season this year. I guess both riders have the potential to win titles themselves which Jack likely doesn’t have.

Have to admire FQ, he is fairly obviously outriding his bike.

In the 500s on a WCM Yamaha I meant.

Quite like Crafar as a commentator. His relatively recent hx as a rider gives him greater insight than the average microphone blurter.
I'd have him calling the races.

Fabio's pass on Miller was sublime!

Mick D said:

Fabio's pass on Miller was sublime!

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No doubt. The pass itself was sublime but Fabio’s presence and intensity during the entire race was most impressive. Amazing performance. Where were the other Yamahas again?

Absolutely it was, what a ride.
Losing so much in a straight line but still right there!

WHY are they still doing the 'top independent rider' thing?

I thought we had moved on.

Not a super exciting race, but those last few laps with Fabs were sublime. Hoping against hope Yamaha gets their act together for next year.
I’d hate to see him get burned out from efforts to overcome the M1’s shortcomings the way Marquez has with the Honda. He has such talent and spirit.
Precious qualities that should not be squandered.

Another interesting race weekend, though most of the interest was related to technical matters rather than race craft. Aleix couldn't get the holeshot device activated on the starting grid. Mir launched over the highside. Looked like an electronic problem, but maybe he was too hamfisted to be bailed out. Bastianini had a mechanical DNF. The Aprilia's ran the soft rear tire, which proved not to be the correct selection (imo) for them as they struggled with pace. Maverick faded badly and struggled with several grip-related mistakes. Jorge Martin seemed to indicate that he was struggling with a mechanical issue, after he ran wide. Then he dumped it with 2 to go. I guess the 2nd Ducati factory seat is the ride no one wants.

Anyway, Fabio was awesome. The Yamaha lacks a bit of pace, and he rode over the limit the entire race distance to get that result. His best lap was bested only by Jorge Martin, and Fabio's pass around Miller was remarkable. Quartararo managed to lose only 5 points to Bagnaia, and he picked up points on Aleix, extending his championship lead to more than 25 points. Bagnaia is definitely coming though, and the remainder of the calendar is quite friendly to Ducati. The championship could get tight if Bagnaia keeps this up.

Marini and Bezzechi were also impressive, the latter fought his way to 9th from 20th (IIRC) at the start. Brad Binder rode well, too.

Regarding Crafar, I dunno. He's a technically gifted mind who maintains good relations in the pit garage. Unfortunately, he's doesn't possess the gift of turning thoughts into concise verbal composition. Not ideal for a pit lane reporter, and MotoGP video content creator. We'll see. Maybe he will improve with experience.

Regarding the new Saturday sprint races, I'm opposed. Glad they won't count towards the win stat. Not pleased it will be a point scoring affair. It's already hard enough trying to tally the scores in WSBK. There is no reason to add complexity to the points scoring and career stats. Not a prerequisite of creating a Saturday sideshow for the TV people and promoters. Bad concept, created in bad faith.

mylexicon said:

Regarding Crafar, I dunno. He's a technically gifted mind who maintains good relations in the pit garage. Unfortunately, he's doesn't possess the gift of turning thoughts into concise verbal composition. Not ideal for a pit lane reporter, and MotoGP video content creator. We'll see. Maybe he will improve with experience.

Regarding the new Saturday sprint races, I'm opposed. Glad they won't count towards the win stat. Not pleased it will be a point scoring affair. It's already hard enough trying to tally the scores in WSBK. There is no reason to add complexity to the points scoring and career stats. Not a prerequisite of creating a Saturday sideshow for the TV people and promoters. Bad concept, created in bad faith.

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I like Crafar's musings and observations and tech updates whilst in the pits. He also makes great points when he's in the commentary box. It's just he has such a hard time getting his thoughts from his brain to his mouth without stumbling, bumbling and saying "ya know" every sentence.

I'm on the fence about the sprint races. I enjoy the superpole race in WSBK so I'm willing to wait and see.

PRS717 said:

I like Crafar's musings and observations and tech updates whilst in the pits. He also makes great points when he's in the commentary box. It's just he has such a hard time getting his thoughts from his brain to his mouth without stumbling, bumbling and saying "ya know" every sentence.

I'm on the fence about the sprint races. I enjoy the superpole race in WSBK so I'm willing to wait and see.

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He does trip over his tongue a bit
I can forgive that though, he is respectful and as you say makes informative observations. Don't mind his input and prefer it to the other commentators tbh.

mylexicon said:

Anyway, Fabio was awesome. The Yamaha lacks a bit of pace, and he rode over the limit the entire race distance to get that result. His best lap was bested only by Jorge Martin, and Fabio's pass around Miller was remarkable.

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That ride was awesome, the comparative acceleration and straight line speed his bike has compared to the dukes is very unflattering to Yam.

mylexicon said:

. There is no reason to add complexity to the points scoring and career stats. Not a prerequisite of creating a Saturday sideshow for the TV people and promoters. Bad concept, created in bad faith.

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Agreed. I don't want the damn things either. Just get rid of some of the aero ..... and reduce the cost to the manufacturers a bit. More different bikes and bikes that can overtake would be a far bigger positive change.

Whoever gave Crafar a job that included holding a microphone needs a ... whipping.