It's that time again eh? Here's a pic of @xracer at the circuit before starting his last Superbike race there (don't think much of ya trailer mate) : So what you reckon? Come on you lot THIS is what we live for! How crazy is this championship this year!?? Jeez... Anyway, whatever, say what you gotta say. Legend gonna kick Moody Blues right in the gonnads? While the new pup watches on and learns? And the resurgent insanely dull Topo Jiggio life-size model runs for cover realising his new found maneuverability confidence ain't worth jack when the men are at it? I think so. Any of you crusty's remember as far back as 2003? Eh? This place used to be known as the Vale track until Moaning Horse Face (his Aboriginal name) turned up. But HF ain't here anymore - so we don't need to even mention him. Ah bugger...
And what's wrong with this poxy thing where I can't type the word 'obviously' in upper case in the title? This some kinda politically correct BS gone bonkers again or what?
Rossi wins dramatic Philip Island encounter despite ten second penalty Valentino Rossi clocked up win number 8 (fifth from the last six) of the year and his 21st consecutive podium result all despite incurring a ten second penalty in the formative stages of the race due to passing under yellow flags. An incident packed MotoGP event at Philip Island took place in vastly different weather conditions compared to the previous two races. It was still cold and windy but the rain-lashed asphalt of the 125cc activity had now dried and was bathed with sunshine; slick tyres were warmed and umbrellas closed. The first third of the race was typical exciting Aussie GP fare as a six rider group battled for the top positions with Marco Melandri, Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi all taking their turn to front the field. Troy Bayliss was a member of the throng but crashed out on lap 4 after touching one of the treacherously wet and slippery white lines on the outside of the asphalt at the Honda hairpin. The Ducati rider went down heavily and was knocked unconscious, being declared OK before being taken to hospital for further checks. The following circulation Rossi passed Melandri at the same corner clearly not seeing the yellow flags and was promptly informed of a ten second penalty several laps later when he was leading by three seconds from Loris Capirossi who had also escaped the clutches of the pursuing group. Melandri then fell at high speed entering the last turn on the circuit. Nicky Hayden had been looking threatening and had made his way to third before running slightly wide at the Honda curve, which dropped him behind Melandri, Tohru Ukawa, Sete Gibernau and Carlos Checa. Nine laps after Melandri's untimely exit Checa ran off the circuit but was able to rejoin the fray some way behind and take 8th by the chequered flag. Rossi, upon digesting the knowledge from his pit board that he had to beat Capirossi by ten seconds, put his head down and produced a frantic pace in the second half of the GP to eventually extend a winning margin of 15.2 seconds. Capirossi was smoking his rear tyre onto the main straight trying to catch-up but stood little chance against his fellow Italian, who went on to celebrate by brandishing a number seven lap in memory of the late Barry Sheene. The action-packed tussle for third went down to a last lap showdown between Hayden and Gibernau, with the former pulling a brave and aggressive move on one of the fastest parts of the circuit to hold onto his first ‘proper' top three finish by just four hundredths of a second. Repsol Honda had two riders on the podium with young rookie Hayden really starting to look like a worthy replacement for Rossi if the World Champion decides to change teams for 2004. Rossi wins dramatic Philip Island encounter despite ten second penalty For those more recently into riding art and racing - what Vale did on that day was simply EPIC. It deserves most of the swear words I know, and would be justified. It's shit like this that makes Valentino Rossi the true - 100% - legend that he is. Any who have watched him since he started on the international stage cannot fail to be impressed, even if they don't want to be. Here we are, TWELVE YEARS later. I didn't think he'd still be here TBH, utterly brilliant as anyone could see he was. And he's on for the friggin title??? Bring it the fuck on! THIS is what it's all about. Gladiators being braver than they themselves knew how because they need to. IMHO there is no greater sport currently.
Five-times world champion Valentino Rossi rode one of the races of his life to win Sunday's action packed Australian Grand Prix, the Italian superstar being forced to overcome a 'suprise' 10 second penalty in the process. Rossi got poor start from his first ever Phillip Island pole and slipped to sixth by the end of lap one. However, he would soon regroup and work his way back up the order with the pivotal moment of the race occurring on lap four, when local hero Troy Bayliss crashed out. "I made a bad start and had to fight a lot at the beginning. It was very dangerous because everyone was very aggressive. A lot of heavy braking and with the strong wind the bike was difficult to control," recalled Vale. The Repsol rider would grab the advantage in the chaotic aftermath of the Bayliss incident, relieving Sete Gibernau of third place, then Marco Melandri on that same lap. However, it would be the Melandri move (top picture) which cost him the ten second penalty and potentially race win, as he clearly passed the Fortuna Yamaha rider under waved yellows at the spot where Bayliss was still being treated after his 'off' the lap before. The move was clearly unintentional, but race direction had no choice but to punish the infringement, and the Repsol team now had the task of trying to inform their rider that he needed to cross the line at least 10secs ahead of his nearest rival to be the race winner. "I attacked and after seven or eight laps I see on my pit board “less 10”," explained the 24-year-old. "I didn't understand what it meant. Next time I see 'P8'. I say to myself 'f*** what happened?' After I thought about a yellow flag but I don't remember - I didn't see any flag." Now aware that he needed to pull out a further seven seconds over new second placed man Loris Capirossi, The Doctor – now with no championship considerations to constrain him – simply rode flat out right to the flag. The factory RCV rider reeled off fastest lap after fastest lap: On lap seven the gap had been just 1.3 seconds, by lap 23 (with four to go) the gap was 10.4secs. Rossi's cause was aided by Capirossi not realising how close he was to victory, but by the time he took the chequered flag, Valentino had a 15secs advantage to put his superb victory beyond doubt. MotoGP News - 'F*** what happened?' – Rossi on penalty.
Phillip Island 2001: The first title We start with the race that sealed Rossi's first premier class title. It was the last year of the all-out 500cc era, and at the Australian GP Rossi went head-to-head with Max Biaggi for victory. It all came down to the final lap, where a ballsy overtake from Rossi just a few corners from the end of the race moved him into the lead. He held it to the line in a tense finish, winning by just 0.013 seconds to take the first of five titles in a row as the start of a new era exploded into life. *Special mention: Phillip Island 2003. Rossi overcame a 10-second penalty during the race to still win by more than five seconds. MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi’s five best races (obviously it wasn't "The First Title")
Late night trivia - Carlos Checa used to be known as Careless Chucker for, erm, luckily for him not-too-costly excursions. Bloody funny whoever came up with that (anyone here know?). Everyone (well, mostly) decided to give it a rest after he showed mettle in SBK (he'd earned enough respect). Top bloke regardless. Always reminded me of Rubens Barrichello in his initial persona. Reminds of this huge guy (in every way, literally) named Phil, who worked at the same place as I did at a certain point, heard someone refer to him as 'Phil The Room?' one day - jeez - it's shit like that (and CC's tag) that make me yearn I was born smarter.
Haha! Just looking forward to the race big time. Oh and trying to distract myself bit. Buncha funny guys eh?
Craigy - only because Turn 3 is called Stoner Corner mate. Seemed funny at the time anyway. Hey is that my taxi?
