Off Topic » Phillip Island' MotoGP 2018

This year the weather is mild. Today, first practice, there is a small chance of showers. Tomorrow, 35% chance of rain. Sunday - 5% chance of showers.
Had dinner last night in small local fish & chips restaurant and the Yamaha team were there. So many young men, in Team jackets with the "old middle age" boss in the worn flannel checked shirt. Limited English but my 2 mates and I confirmed our support for Rossi and they understood.
Only mild Police presence on the way down. No trouble for 3 old farts on a S1000 RR, R 1200 S and the RS.
The RS can haul the most gear, BTW.
What always surprises me about the RS is its extreme confidence and ability for this work. We run out of road before there is any stress on rider or machine. Thr RS just commands all roads from suburban, to urban to freeway to A, B and C roads and then dirt.
I found mine was also good at gently herding a herd of Alpacas. (odd, but true, I have witnesses!).

Watched the race today, looks like a fantastic circuit.
I've been to Australia a few times now but usually post Christmas so have never been able to get to the GP.
Hope you had a good day.
Alan

Yes. Race day was very sunny and pleasant. Saturday, cold, wet, miserable and windy. It was one of those days where the wind blows so hard from the ocean, and it is so cold, that you find you are wiping snot from your ears. If my wide brimmed American hat was not secured by a lanyard under my chin, it would have been blown metres away by each gust.

According to circuit announcements, 36,000 spectators were there on Sunday, and I think that was about right judging on the time taken to return to Melbourne and the congestion on the roads.

On Saturday a lot of Moto2 riders fell because someone, it may have been a Moto3 rider, dumped oil over 3/4ths of the circuit.

Apart from the brain fade from Zarco (one of my favs) ramming his Yamaha into Marquez's Honda at the end of the main straight, there were no serious incidents that I saw. A review of the video recorded at home may show more.

Rossi remains the crowd favourite, and even at his older middle age, he is still at the sharp end of the field. It must be frustrating for the others to keep seeing him ahead of them. His support from the crowd is unequalled. Marquez is rapidly moving to equal or surpass Rossi's records, but he does not have the appeal with the crowd, and I for one, can't really put a finger on it. Maybe he is just too serious. He is obviously remarkable, as was Casey Stoner (unkindly referred to by some Brits I met at the Isle of Man as being "Casey Moaner") but something just does not "click" with him.

The Suzuki looks good. The commentators on the circuit kept speaking about the "sweet handling" Suzuki, but IMO it is just hogwash. It didn't try to throw them to the ground and it kept up for a long time before dropping back. How anyone other than the bloke in the saddle can comment on how well it handles when it does not obviously try to kill him doesn't make it sweet handling. It is probably on a par with the Honda, Ducati (for a change!) and the Yamaha (on a good day).

Moto2 is also filled with a lot of manufactured hype - what with all the BS as to the "power of the KTM". The power is the same power as everyone else, the Honda CBR 600. Same sort of drivel about the KTM Moto3, which is also a Honda single.

The fact is the equipment is very close, and only the very gifted riders can dominate over the merely gifted riders; and their success on the day can be determined by so many other psychological issues, or perhaps physical restriction. The bikes are, more or less, very close to each other. Even Jack Miller was able to almost lead the whole of the 1st lap on last year's Ducati.

Some PC devoted simpleton sought to promote Moto E and one of those things was ridden around the circuit, I believe, by Mick Doohan. The only useful thing that came out of the demonstration was the commentator saying that it was so quiet the rider could hear comments from the fans at the track.

Because Doohan is so well respected, I don't think he heard any "wanker" remarks; but, seriously, why would anyone go to a race when all you can hear is tyre noise (if that)?

Maybe instead of the Red Bull air races, they can have hot air balloon races with a silencer of the gas jets - or maybe sail plane races that don't need the gas jets.

Anyway, a good time was had by all.

As my mates and I were packing up to leave at the end, one patron was passed out on our viewing mound at Siberia corner. This is not a common sight at the circuit. Dead to the world. In shorts and a t shirt, with a bright green baseball cap over his face and one shoe missing. Spread eagled. Rapdily turning red from the sun. He was surrounded by a virtual mountain of "tinnies" (the business man who owns the circuit, Lindsey Fox, is a serious trucking magnate - and his Linfox trucks used to cart for CUB (Carlton / Fosters) and Coco Cola. He lost the contract. As a result, you can only get Pepsi Co products at the track or "Furfy" beer). The beer is about $9.00 for a tinny, as opposed to a normal price of $2.00 or a bit more. Just how the fellow could have drunk so much and been so plastered is a real question. He could have paid $11 a tinny for mixed drinks (bourbon & coke or what have you). He had to be seriously rich or be a really personable bloke that others would "shout" him a few dozen.

The St. John's Ambulance people came by to look at him. He was "unresponsive" but breathing, so they let him be. The diagnosis was "dazed and confused".

Overall the cops were in close attendance, but you would have to be a real Wally to do something to stand out from the crowd and get their attention. All you have to do is remind yourself of the wildebeests running past he lions... don't draw attention to yourself.

There would be so many advantages to living in the UK and Europe to be able to follow the races, if you have the time and the money. It is really out of reach for all but a very, very few Aussies to fly out to other GP meetings, even with them now being held in South East Asia and Japan.

Brilliant summary of the event, Mark. We should send you to all of the rounds

I watched the limited rerun of the MotoGP last night, also the gp3 and 2, do these guys in gp3/2 not realise its a non-contact sport.?.

Thanks to thread author for not putting a spoiler on the title ( some do)


Ged