Le Mans, France

MotoGP Engine Restrictions: An Analysis Of The Engines Used So Far

Submitted by David Emmett on

With MotoGP now one third through its 18 race season, the effect of the engine-life regulations - restricting each MotoGP rider to just 6 engines throughout the entire season - is starting to become clear. The latest engine information list - assembled by IRTA and MotoGP Technical Director Mike Webb, and distributed (if you can call it that) by Dorna - provides an interesting perspective on the impact the regulations are having, and how the factories have approached the problems posed by limited engines.

The clear winner that emerges from the list is surely Honda. Of their six riders, three (Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, and San Carlo Gresini's Marco Simoncelli) have used just two engines, and not had to have a third engine officially sealed. Dovizioso and Simoncelli have distributed their races equally, with three races on each of the two engines, while Dani Pedrosa has four races on his number 1 engine, and just two on his number 2 engine.

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OnTheThrottle Video Interview: Ben Spies Talks Le Mans And Mugello

Submitted by David Emmett on

Once again, David Williams of the On The Throttle crew caught up with Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Ben Spies after the latest MotoGP round at Mugello in Italy. Spies talks to Williams about the Le Mans and Mugello races, about learning new tracks, about the difference between the older and the newer tracks, and about what goes into setting up a MotoGP bike for a race. As ever, an interesting interview and 30 minutes of a MotoGP fan's time extremely well spent.

Here's the video from OnTheThrottle.tv:

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Le Mans MotoGP Debrief: Pedrosa Reveals Rear Brake Problem

Submitted by David Emmett on

The Le Mans MotoGP race turned into a bit of a mystery for a couple of riders. Casey Stoner lost the front for no apparent reason, and Dani Pedrosa, who had looked strong all race, lost two places on the last lap of the race. Afterwards, Pedrosa spoke to the press, explaining that his problems at the end of the race had been caused by a rear brake which had failed. The Repsol Honda rider also expressed his frustration at the continuing problems with the RC212V. Here's what Pedrosa had to say.

Q: What happened at the end? Was your front tire gone?

Dani Pedrosa: No, I couldn't stop the bike. I was all the time off line and I was making mistakes.

Q: Because you were riding defensively?

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Casey Stoner's Post Le Mans Press Conference: "It Seems Like I'm Being Teased"

Submitted by David Emmett on

After crashing out at the Le Mans Grand Prix this weekend, a visibly upset Casey Stoner spoke to the press, to give his side of events. The Marlboro Ducati rider was upset, but most of all, he was mystified why he had crashed. There was nothing in the data to explain it, and he did not believe he had done anything wrong. He spent nearly 15 minutes talking to a throng of reporters in a crowded Ducati hospitality unit. Below is a nearly complete transcript of that conference, with only some sections where Stoner repeated himself removed.

Q: Front end Casey?

Casey Stoner: Yeah, I lost the front end for about 15 to 20 meters before it actually went down. I'd pretty much ground through my elbow protection there trying to keep it up, but it was a lost cause. After a while the rear end just followed it round and it was game over.

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2010 Le Mans MotoGP Race Result: Comfortable Victory Belies Close Podium Battle

Submitted by David Emmett on

Results and summary of the MotoGP race at Le Mans:

Jorge Lorenzo took an impressive second victory in a row for the Fiat Yamaha rider, cruising to a comfortable win over his teammate Valentino Rossi. Rossi had an excellent start, getting the holeshot ahead of Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, Lorenzo slotting into 3rd, ahead of the Marlboro Ducatis of Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner. Lorenzo was not content to sit behind Pedrosa, though, passing his fellow Spaniard through Garages Verts.

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2010 Le Mans Moto2 Race Result - Comfortable Victory, But Carnage Down The Field

Submitted by David Emmett on

Results: 

Toni Elias rode a measured and controlled race at Le Mans to take his second victory in a row in the Moto2 class. The Spaniard had a little luck along the way, but once he took the lead, the result was never really in doubt.

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2010 Le Mans 125cc Race Result - Hard-Fought Duel Settles Opening Race

Submitted by David Emmett on

Results and summary of the 125cc race at Le Mans:

Pol Espargaro finished up a strong weekend in France by taking victory in the first race of the day at Le Mans. Espargaro did not have the race all his own way, though, Nico Terol getting the jump from the start, but Espargaro catching the Bancaja Aspar rider by the end of the first lap. For most of the race, Espargaro was happy to follow Terol as the Spanish pair pulled out a solid lead over the rest of the field, the Tuenti Derbi rider merely sizing up where Terol was strongest.

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