Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya(spoilers mixed with stoner/rossi talk)

Motokitty said:

I like MM's helmet.

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I didn't quite get why a point to ask him about it was made in the press conference. What did I miss? Looks cool to me.

This has been an interesting thread. Learned 2 'junior' Yamaha racers have more balls than I imagined, criticizing the 'untouchables', even when they ride for Yamaha too. Kudos to Bradley and Pol. That's the only way things will change. And it seems like more and more riders are interested in their safety. Thank you to all posting their statements.

Jumkie said:

I didn't quite get why a point to ask him about it was made in the press conference. What did I miss? Looks cool to me.

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I was wondering about that too. I said it earlier but I really liked Salom's helmet. I usually don't like anything morbid on my helmet or bike (I'm a bit superstitious) but I always love Día de Muertos stuff.

elptxjc said:

This has been an interesting thread. Learned 2 'junior' Yamaha racers have more balls than I imagined, criticizing the 'untouchables', even when they ride for Yamaha too. Kudos to Bradley and Pol.

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Not so ballsy when you consider neither of them are returning to Yamaha next year. What do they have to fear at KTM or from either of those 'untouchables'?

Motokitty said:

I was wondering about that too. I said it earlier but I really liked Salom's helmet. I usually don't like anything morbid on my helmet or bike (I'm a bit superstitious) but I always love Día de Muertos stuff.

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That's a beautiful helmet and quite poignant!

For the benefit of others, the helmet is decorated with symbolism associated with the important Mexican holiday called "Dia de Los Muertos" (Day of the Dead). It's the day Mexicans pay respects to their dead ancestors and support them in their afterlife. It's a big holiday in Mexico, perhaps even rivaling Christmas, or say the American Thanksgiving (I wouldn't know what to compare it to for our UK and Aussie friends.) Luis Salom's nickname was "El Mexicano" (The Mexican), apparently an off the cuff nickname that stuck from an incident that his manager's brother had with a horse that stalled at the start, etc. Luis is Spanish (from the same island as Lorenzo, Mallocra) but anyway, his nickname stuck.

By the way, Mexicans do NOT consider Dia de Los Muertos 'morbid' at all, it's more like a celebration. Food is prepared for the living and our dead loved ones and rememberance is not a sad or macabre occasion, quite the contrary, it's a celebration of their lives! It is NOT like Halloween, though often in America it's confused as such because the ....... imperialist Spanish conquest which perpetrated genocide corrupted the holiday and moved it to coincide with the Catholic traditions, particularly 'All Saints Day' (November first). However Dia de Los Muertos was originally celebrated at the end of Spring or you can say the beginning of Summer. It has indigenous origins, and since the ....... Spanish decided it was pagan ritual and tantamount to devil worship, they did the Christian thing and tortured and killed millions to rid the people from this festival, a festival to honor those who have passed.

Probably more info than you needed. But anyway, nice helmet, and quite moving considering Salom's untimely death.

Mick D said:

Not so ballsy when you consider neither of them are returning to Yamaha next year. What do they have to fear at KTM or from either of those 'untouchables'?

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Agreed, but it is ballsy in terms of whom they are speaking about given the power of at least one, if not both of those individuals.

We have seen for years what can occur if people wish to challenge Rossi and so to speak out in the terms and manner that has occurred is ballsy for the likes of Smith and Pol as it will mean that they will or can expect repercussions in terms of public acceptance.

michaelm said:

I have to say I was taken aback by Lorenzo's preoccupation with a possible advantage to a rival in the race in the face of a rider dying. He would seem to be just as obsessed with winning his next title as Rossi is.

If the safety meeting was held at the regular time then they can't complain about not being notified. One aspect of the safety meeting however is that Stoner who was passionate about safety and was prescient about a number of dangers including the dangers of differential speed and tarmac in the run-off areas gave up attending as he felt no-one was taking any notice of his concerns.

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According to BT Sport commentators, Lorenzo have not ever attended the safety commission meetings since they were instituted....
I found that very surprising....but it true is very disappointing....

MigsAngel said:

According to BT Sport commentators, Lorenzo have not ever attended the safety commission meetings since they were instituted....
I found that very surprising....but it true is very disappointing....

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There was a comment I read Migs (may have been on Krops site) that he had not attended since 2011 as his concerns regarding rider behaviour were ridiculed and disregarded so he saw no sense in continuing to attend (the reference of course being to Simoncelli)

Gaz said:

There was a comment I read Migs (may have been on Krops site) that he had not attended since 2011 as his concerns regarding rider behaviour were ridiculed and disregarded so he saw no sense in continuing to attend (the reference of course being to Simoncelli)

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Even then he should attend if he sees himself as a thought leader in MotoGP...and specifically he cant complain about it decisions if he doesn't show up at all...

Either way, i am surprise the safety commission meetings are optional for riders.....they should be mandatory no matter how big the ego of or unpopular the rider....

MigsAngel said:

According to BT Sport commentators, Lorenzo have not ever attended the safety commission meetings since they were instituted....

I found that very surprising....but it true is very disappointing....

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Bt sport commentators are as partisan as they come where it comes to Lorenzo. They take any opportunity to stick the boot in where he's concerned, whilst taking any opportunity to glorify Rossi. Edwards even tried to praise Rossi saying fair play to him because he had something on and couldn't attend. No mention was made of his refusal to be in the same room as Marquez.
Edwards when asked about the track said its been taken from Yamaha's hands and placed into Honda's. Don't suppose he'll get criticism though because he sits in the yellow corner too!

As usual it's an amazing Moto 3 race, can't pick a winner yet!

MigsAngel said:

Even then he should attend if he sees himself as a thought leader in MotoGP...and specifically he cant complain about it decisions if he doesn't show up at all...

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Whilst not 100% that he should attend, fully agree that if he does not attend then do not comment on the outcomes of the safety meetings

MigsAngel said:

Either way, i am surprise the safety commission meetings are optional for riders.....they should be mandatory no matter how big the ego of or unpopular the rider....

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The commission is different to the rider briefings which are compulsory attendance with the commission being optional attendance as from my understanding they are more an 'informal' advisory panel with no formal outcomes (Smith alludes to this in some of his comments that it is more of a 'bar like' gatherings).

To Lorenzo's credit he has stated his position some years ago and did not try to absolve himself at all from not attending Friday's meeting by making up excuses.

The focus seems to be on Lorenzo, but he was not the only non-attendee and nor was he the only one to speak against the changes publically.

yamfan said:

Bt sport commentators are as partisan as they come where it comes to Lorenzo. They take any opportunity to stick the boot in where he's concerned, whilst taking any opportunity to glorify Rossi. Edwards even tried to praise Rossi saying fair play to him because he had something on and couldn't attend. No mention was made of his refusal to be in the same room as Marquez.
Edwards when asked about the track said its been taken from Yamaha's hands and placed into Honda's. Don't suppose he'll get criticism though because he sits in the yellow corner too!

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Totally agree Yam.

One person has not attended for 5 or so years and is the focus whilst a second has not attended for 9 months and seems immune from criticism.

As for Edwards, is he not still employed by Yamaha and as such would need to toe the official party line (funny, Smith/Espargaro have made no similar statements regarding it now being a Honda track)

Daniboy said:

As usual it's an amazing Moto 3 race, can't pick a winner yet!

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Keep moto3 in moto3 please Dani, lets not spoil that cracking race for anyone else

lil red rocket pilot said:

Keep moto3 in moto3 please Dani, lets not spoil that cracking race for anyone else

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No results spoilers is ok though I reckon. I'll go over to the Moto 3 thread.

Gaz said:

Whilst not 100% that he should attend, fully agree that if he does not attend then do not comment on the outcomes of the safety meetings





The commission is different to the rider briefings which are compulsory attendance with the commission being optional attendance as from my understanding they are more an 'informal' advisory panel with no formal outcomes (Smith alludes to this in some of his comments that it is more of a 'bar like' gatherings).

To Lorenzo's credit he has stated his position some years ago and did not try to absolve himself at all from not attending Friday's meeting by making up excuses.

The focus seems to be on Lorenzo, but he was not the only non-attendee and nor was he the only one to speak against the changes publically.

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Exactly. I would imagine there is a good chance Lorenzo and Pedrosa stopped attending for similar reasons to Stoner, but Rossi can apparently be absolved from not attending because he was justifiably piqued about being sanctioned after Sepang 2015, when he actually sent another rider to the tarmac.

I am disappointed about petty politics from any of them after a rider actually died though.

michaelm said:

Exactly. I would imagine there is a good chance Lorenzo and Pedrosa stopped attending for similar reasons to Stoner, but Rossi can apparently be absolved from not attending because he was justifiably piqued about being sanctioned after Sepang 2015, when he actually sent another rider to the tarmac.

I am disappointed about petty politics from any of them after a rider actually died though.

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Lorenzo is said to have stopped after his concerns regarding rider behaviour were ridiculed by some within the commission (and outside the commission) and as he could see no benefit of a safety commission that did not listen to all views but only some (effectively the same as CS back before Lorenzo). As for Pedrosa have not heard any reason or if he has stopped etc but it was clear that Marquez attends as often as possible (really I doubt these guys would have 'business reasons' not to attend)

As for the failure to attend, totally agree that it should have occurred out of respect, but we also need to weigh in that apparently no Moto2 or Moto3 riders ever attend the meetings which are open to all and none attended on Friday either, so the fault is apathy from many and petulance from a few.


Edit. Mike, the other very unfortunate aspect in todays MotoGP environment may also be that given JL has not attended for some time, I have no doubt that were he to attend on Friday there would have been commentary from some media and general public about his 'grandstanding' (think derogatory comments) . In some way he was in a bit of a corner and would likely have been damned for going, just as he is damned for not going

Hopefully, and that sounds a poor word under the circumstances but if the Friday incident brings more people to the meetings, then at least there may be one good outcome from the poor situation

Gaz said:

Agreed, but it is ballsy in terms of whom they are speaking about given the power of at least one, if not both of those individuals.

We have seen for years what can occur if people wish to challenge Rossi and so to speak out in the terms and manner that has occurred is ballsy for the likes of Smith and Pol as it will mean that they will or can expect repercussions in terms of public acceptance.

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Sure, its possible. Not likely tho I suspect. I believe any comments from yesterday will be absolved by all upon reflection. Hopefully though a proper review/investigation will generate some real improvements in rider safety wherever they are needed.

Mick D said:

Sure, its possible. Not likely tho I suspect. I believe any comments from yesterday will be absolved by all upon reflection. Hopefully though a proper review/investigation will generate some real improvements in rider safety wherever they are needed.

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Hope you are right Mick and at the same time both Smith and Pol have the anonymity in their favour as they are not seen as direct threats to Rossi in championship terms

The main thing needs to be (and as you say), cool heads to identify the improvements required to ideally remove the risk altogether at that point, or at worst minimise it.

What an awesome race so far!