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Record Number of Crashes in the 2008 GP Season

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There were 876 crashes this past GP season. That’s a lot.

Between free practices, qualifying, and races, the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP series racked up 30% more crashes than last year, with an average of 48 crashes for each race weekend. It should be noted that this was the wettest season in the history of the series, with 16 out of 18 race weekends having at least one day of rain in the official three days of racing. While the rain certainly is a factor, it should also be noted that Randy de Puniet crashed 22 times this season, and only took his shirt off twice.

The crash numbers for the past seasons for the quant-jocks in the room:

1999 – 565
2000 – 633
2001 – 634
2002 – 646
2003 – 705
2004 – 706
2005 – 737
2006 – 647
2007 – 672
2008 – 876

Source: GPone

At least Randy looks really, really, really ridiculously good looking when he crashes.

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Breaking Ground at the Balatonring for the Hungarian GP

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As you may remember, we brought you the story that MotoGP will be hosted in Hungary for the 2009 season and on. Well, the symbolic first stone of Hungary’s new $64 million Balatonring circuit was laid into place at its new home near Savoly in Western Hungary today.

The full event consisted of laying the first stone for the track’s construction, and burying a “time capsule” containing mementos, as well as the Hungarian and Spanish flags. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, was on hand for the ground breaking ceremony as well to mark the event.

The Balatonring will host MotoGP racing for the next five years starting from 2009.

We have no idea why the Spanish flag was put in the time capusle either. Take that Spain.

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Racing

Tech3 Is Looking for Umbrella Girls…Aren’t We All?

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Wanted: Tall, Leggy, Blonde who is capable of holding an umbrella….and looking really good while she does it. Bonus if you’re French.

The MotoGP Tech 3 Yamaha Team is looking for Umbrella Girls. An ideal candidate will be available all the Sunday races of the MotoGP Championship Calendar, in the country of your choice. If you are tall and slim and enjoy the smell of race fuel, please inquire within (with Tech3, not A&R. Our standards are much lower…no umbrella holding experience necessary).

Source: Tech3

Excusez-moi mademoiselle, ça vous arrive d’embrasser des inconnus ? Non ? Eh bien laissez-moi me présenter?

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MotoGP Testing Rounds Downsized

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Investment banks and America as a whole aren’t the only places feeling the economic crunch. MotoGP teams have budgets too. And in order to cut costs, about $100,000 per test day, teams will be reducing their non-European test sessions. Accordingly, the The 2008/2009 testing schedule will be the following:

November 26 -27 Jerez Spain
February 5-7 Sepang Malyasia
March 5-7 Losail Qatar Night test
March 28-29 Jerez Spain Official IRTA test

December 1st to January 20th will be a winter test ban where no teams are allowed to do any testing. Phillip Island has been taken off the testing calendar, and Malaysia will only host one test instead of the two that were originally scheduled. Testing days after GP races will also be sized down, and no testing will occur the Monday after Sunday racing at Jerez, Barcellona, Mugello, Brno, and either Hungary or Estoril.

Source: GPone

Congress is of course considering an Economic bailout for all the teams, only time will tell if it goes through, or if it just becomes a stimulus package.

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Schwantz on Nicky Hayden

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In case you didn’t see this last MotoGP season, you may not have heard of the shenanigans going on in the Repsol Honda garage. With a very unhappy Nicky Hayden, and what has been described as an imaginary wall across the team’s garage, Nicky’s move to Ducati has been a welcomed change.

With most camps being cheeky as to the details that have surrounded the team falling outs, it is interesting to see what outsiders, who may have some more perspective, have to say about the whole thing. MotoGP.com released a short article about Kevin Schwantz’s perspective on Nicky, but left a very telling quote for the end of the article. Click to see what he said.

 

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Brno extends MotoGP contract until 2013

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MotoGP will return to the Brno, Czech Republic until at least 2013, thanks to a recent extension of the current agreement between the circuit’s owners and MotoGP’s owners, Dorna Sports. With this extension, MotoGP visits to Brno are assured for at least the next five years.

Brno date is a popular stop with the MotoGP riders and fans alike, with over 240,000 fans watching the race this year in Brno over the course of the weekend.

Source: MotoGP

We’d like to personally thank all of Eastern Europe for 5 more years of the best umbrella girls.

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Anthony West We Hardly Knew Thee

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In 2007 Anthony West replace Jaques Olivier on the Factory Kawasaki MotoGP team. After this Sunday at Valencia, Anthony’s year and a half will end. West has had a lackluster season this year, currently sitting 18th in the point standings with 50 points, which has caused many to call for his replacement. Italian Marco Melandri will join John Hopkins on the Kawasaki team for the 2009 season as West’s replacement.

 

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