Sam Lowes handlebar breaking and resulting crash
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It was pretty hard fall. Very much lucky to only be travelling at the speed he was and not at the end of one of the longer straights.
Also raises the question regarding bike safety after a crash.
At every race meet, every bike is inspected by officials who deem the bike fit/unfit for the racing regulations.
Yet after a crash, generally a rider decides this. As was evidenced yesterday, Lowes bike was not up to safety standards and he could very much have killed himself or others.
Do we need to tighten up this practice??
I'd hate to see a racer not able to compete because of over reaching rules in regard to crashed/ returning to field motorcycles. i.e a blanket rule that states a rider must never re-enter a race after a fall.
Likewise I'd hate to see a serious injury due to such happenings.
Also raises the question regarding bike safety after a crash.
At every race meet, every bike is inspected by officials who deem the bike fit/unfit for the racing regulations.
Yet after a crash, generally a rider decides this. As was evidenced yesterday, Lowes bike was not up to safety standards and he could very much have killed himself or others.
Do we need to tighten up this practice??
I'd hate to see a racer not able to compete because of over reaching rules in regard to crashed/ returning to field motorcycles. i.e a blanket rule that states a rider must never re-enter a race after a fall.
Likewise I'd hate to see a serious injury due to such happenings.
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BSB has a ruling that if you run off line and take an escape route or to the grass and stay upright you can rejoin if the bike goes over on its side, your out. I believe this was brought in after a rejoining bike left a trail fluids on a track.
It works, thats all I have to say about that.
i think bsb implemented that rule after what happend in the video below.
i'm a marshal at assen. i don't marshal at big events. but i've been told that marshalls can keep riders from the dutch championship from re joining the race after they crashed and there's something wrong with the bike. but with motogp they can't. they have to check the bike and tell the rider the brake is broken but if he wants to continue they are not allowed to stop him. i think it's because the big sponsorship money in gp.
Arrabbiata1
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Lady Luck leaves the hapless Sam 'Low-side' stranded at the altar yet again. Yet this year promised to be the perfect matrimony between man and machine...Sam and Team. Following a brief honeymoon period it seems that the rotten luck is returning.
After the frankly bizarre 'Spies-esque' sequence of events at Speed Up last season (does anyone recall the collapsed rear hugger grinding a groove into the rear tyre at Misano?) I'd really hoped that the union of Sam with Gresini and Kalex was a marriage made in heaven. Sam is a real talent with a mature approach and a tenacious attitude. I do think his riding style could be more economical however and perhaps he'll reign this in next year at Apriia. If I'm honest though, I'm more excited at the prospect of Zarco at Tech 3. Good to see Alex on the grid yesterday - it wouldn't surprise me if his bonus from the 8 hour exceeded his brothers entire yearly income at Gresini.
After the frankly bizarre 'Spies-esque' sequence of events at Speed Up last season (does anyone recall the collapsed rear hugger grinding a groove into the rear tyre at Misano?) I'd really hoped that the union of Sam with Gresini and Kalex was a marriage made in heaven. Sam is a real talent with a mature approach and a tenacious attitude. I do think his riding style could be more economical however and perhaps he'll reign this in next year at Apriia. If I'm honest though, I'm more excited at the prospect of Zarco at Tech 3. Good to see Alex on the grid yesterday - it wouldn't surprise me if his bonus from the 8 hour exceeded his brothers entire yearly income at Gresini.
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His riding style and approach to racing is fun to watch, but seemingly leaves him in catch up mode a lot of the time after mistakes. I think yesterday may have been his first dnf, but there have been occasions this year where he is running at the front and just runs off track and kills his chances of a podium finish. He needs to refine his riding style as there is no need to back it in on every corner. lol
Arrabbiata1
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Contrary to my expectations - far less best man, Sam will be lucky to be the bridesmaid this year. Can't see him catching Rins.
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You may be correct however I cannot confirm, I only started watching bsb in 2011. But I am well and truly hooked now, by far the best series in the world for THE racing IMO.
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Sam needs to keep his tyres more in line and less of the flashy backing it in ..... Zarco and Rabat before him didn't need to do it, conserve tyre and obliterate the opposition in the last few laps seems to be the key to winning moto2 to me
Arrabbiata1
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Disagree P.G. - Tito was well sideways on a Moto2 bike, although you're absolutely right about Zarco, who stays super smooth, in line and manages his tyre.. which is why I look forward to seeing him on the M1. Although credit to the Dunny's - durability doesn't tend to be an issue.
Luthi on the other hand is the back it in king right now.
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I wasn't saying Tito or Zarco never did dude, But they do did it towards the end of the race, keep in line, save them, then go for it the last five laps, That's when both Tito used to and Zarco does now to clear of into the sunset.
Go back to last year with Sam, a different bike I know but he was backing it in every available corner, started well and then dropped off with the rubber second half.
Move forward to Qatar he was more in line with the tyres at Argentina and COTA he had totally got it sussed Backing it in towards the end when it matters.
Jerez again and he won the race.
But he seems to have gone back to his old backing it in days as of late, and guess what he is throwing any chance of a title away with his rubber.
I wish I had time to go back and rewatch and make sure this isn't just in my head. But it looks like this is my last day off till we have that bevvy in shiverstone so much more important things to do.
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Is it just me that had subtitles on that video that were nowhere near what was being said??
Seems youtube struggles with Whitham's dulcet yorkshire tones.
Arrabbiata1
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I guess comparison of Tito from last year is not reflective because from the off his title defence was impeded by his dislike of the new Kalex. To me, his style is not dissimilar to Lowes albeit slightly tidier, but in his title winning year although he rode loose he certainly, as you say was able to pull the pin in the final third. As I say, tyre durability doesn't tend to be so much of an issue in Moto2 although obviously you do need to manage the rear. Remember backing in is a slide as opposed to lighting up the tyre but sideways in when it's so late on the engine braking and brakes isn't necessarily the fastest way around a racetrack. Lowes reminds me of Stalker who always looks the fastest rider on the racetrack when it's not necessarily the case. Sam's seat of the pants style will certainly need to be modified for the precision required to be fast on a MotoGP bike.
Enjoy your ale PG.
