Televised Moto GP Rant...

[Little Loris]

I have to rant at the way Dorna have handled the Moto GP television schedule. I simply can't believe that both the 125 and 250 races were unceremoniously cut short for fears of the Moto GP race being delayed! Only to then have the thing rained off anyway!

I know the bikes couldn't have raced in the wet at Losail because of the floodlight situation etc but the 125 race could've re-started because it stopped raining and started drying up. Dorna declared the race because re-starting it would've pinned the 250 race back and thus, the Moto GP race back further still.

Not only that but we suffered 2 delayed 250 starts. One planned 45mins after the original start and then a further 55mins after that for the track to dry out. Then Dorna stated only 13 laps!! Why? So as not to delay the Moto GP race!! Then they ended up with easter egg on their face when Moto GP got cancelled.

Now I love Moto GP as much as the rest of them but for goodness sake, without 125 and 250's, the racing would be crap. I mean, all but 2-3 Moto GP riders came from 125 and 250 races so why make those classes suffer just because Moto GP has to run on time to satisfy our armchair blues??

I'll be really sad to see 250's go. I've seen some amazing races, probably some of the best I've ever seen in my life, of the likes of Kocinski, Cadalora, Rossi, Pons, Chili, Capirossi, Cardus, Reggiani et al. Times change, I know, but how badly do we have to push the lower litre classes about like they mean nothing to us anymore?? We're turning into megalomaniacs - "More power! More petrol! Faster engines! Faster corner speed! More deaths! More money! Pull Kawasaki out! Put retired racers back in! Cull 250's!"

And don't even get me started on cutting costs. Steve Parrish harps on about how riders now have less tyres to cut costs and how they have less engines spare etc etc and one engine-make class to cut costs. How many 125 budget teams have just wasted thousands of unnecessary pounds flying to Qatar for 4 frigging laps of a race? How many shoe-string 250 teams think they could've done better if they had a full race? How many fans feel screwed when their flight home is the same time the Moto GP race is on Monday? If Dorna reimburses them somehow, how is that cutting costs? No one really watches this GP on location anyway do they?? Not unless they work in Dubai. I counted about 20 people on the start/finish straight watching in the grandstand. And how is running the GP late at night helping the environment? How the hell are they getting away with it? It looks awesome and probably the best GP of 2008 but geez, carbon emissions anyone?? We'll have Swampy burying himself in the sand next year.

And finally...

What was with that American tool in Hiroshi Aoyama's garage at the end of the race in Arab head dress and robes shouting about? "Excellent, excellent. We got third!" No, idiot. He came fourth. That's why the rider is in the garage and not on the podium. Get back in your nice comfy office directing your engineering company in Dubai. You're probably the reason why we're not seeing any racing this evening because you're lining some television companies pockets with your fat American dollar bills.

Rant over.

[badgerKDD]

And to cap it all, the BBC are only showing the re run on BBCi ( red button) wich in my area is dodgy at the best of times, so much for Digital TV. I bet the BBC wouldn't do that if they re schedualed an F1 race .

[bambam]

yep it is a bit of a shambles.

just checked and race rerun on bbci today(mon) at 1845.

unless there is some extreme ironing championship going on that is far more important

[badgerKDD]

too true

[Scotty]

Maybe someone at the BBC has a soft spot for insomniacs - over 5 hours of golf yesterday evening alone... people must have been falling asleep in their millions Even worse whenever some overpaid "sportsman" picks up a snooker cue...

[Mike Daytona600]

It's on BBC2 in the early hours of the morning. At least there was no ads during the race

[TLS-Moose]

Personally, I don't have an issue I saw qualifying, the 125's, 250's, and now the 800's all free of charge and advert free. I also personally like the Stavros/Cox commentating team, so am quite happy.

I think the night race is interesting, and can quite understand why they couldn't run in the rain. At least using somewhere like Qatar for such a race, if it has to be postponed then there aren't too many spectators to upset

And at least they did re-run it, rather than have no race at all

[mykee]

I too saw ALL the races live on Eurosport . Yes, even the motogp was live thanks to the re scheduled race program on monday.

As a side note, ALL live motorbike races on Eurosport so far this season (moto gp, wsb, bsb and undercard races) have been ADVERT FREE ..... ok there may be an advert before and after the race or during a track clearing session after a bad accident like in british superstock 600 but whilst live racing is on, there have been no breaks for ads unlike previous seasons.

Role on this weekend 24hr le mans! ( ok, eurosport will show adverts during this race...... but at least they are showing it!).

You may disagree, but take out fat ginger bloke and 'you know' hayden from the commentry team and I think the bike coverage on Eurosport is damn near perfect.

Well that my tuppence worth

Mykee

[tomr6]

I'm chuffed to bits with the rain and the bbc. I had a few too many guinness at the rugby on Sunday and missed my train home.
How happy was I that the beeb had the decency to postpone the race to a time when I could watch it live.

And as for the race. Stoner on fire again. Rossi taking a bit of time to get on the pace and cooked his tyres trying to catch the aussie. Edwards, lorenzo, dovi, dani P all had cracking rides. Gonna be a good season.

Now, when does the aussie bashing start?

Let me help you out. Rossi is best. Rossi's Dad is bigger than Stoners Dad. Ducati compromise all their other bikes and potential sales by not making the other bikes as fast as Stoners. The Ducati is a better bike than the Yamaha. Stoner didnt deserve the race cos he isnt old enough. Hope that helps girls!

[tomr6]

Nearly forgot, Stoner isnt as good fun in front of the cameras as Rossi.

[Cheese Monkey]

I'm chuffed to bits with the rain and the bbc. I had a few too many guinness at the rugby on Sunday and missed my train home.
How happy was I that the beeb had the decency to postpone the race to a time when I could watch it live.

I was in same boat sorta, go out, stay in and watch it. Thought [censored] it I'll be social, got home, heard it was to be rerun monday. RESULT. Wouldnt of missed much though, not the best race ever.

[deej]

Got to agree with loris on this one,250's and 125's have been the class to watch over the last few years


I'm guessing the reason they go to spectatorless qatar is down to the money the arabs pay to have them go there and also the fact that tobacco sponsorship is allowed makes good sense for marlboro. As usual it all comes down to money hence the tv scheduling and sticking to the time slots, made the whole weekend a farce

The motogp race had to be run so stoner could at least get one win on the board !!

[Little Loris]

Personally, I don't have an issue I saw qualifying, the 125's, 250's, and now the 800's all free of charge and advert free. I also personally like the Stavros/Cox commentating team, so am quite happy.

I think the night race is interesting, and can quite understand why they couldn't run in the rain. At least using somewhere like Qatar for such a race, if it has to be postponed then there aren't too many spectators to upset

And at least they did re-run it, rather than have no race at all

Moose, I love you because you're so positive! I do agree with all that you've said but it was just a shame for those guys getting shoved around mercilessly.

I have to say the Moto GP was a bit processional. Stoner is very strong in Qatar so hopefully it won't be Stoner/Rossi all season again. Loving De Puniet's sponsor Shame the Arabs had to censor it. Can't wait for the advertising campaigns to come out in the programmes! Apparently it's changing schemes for each round to cater for different versions of the magazine??

Anyway, roll on Motegi - great circuit!