MotoGP Phillip Island: Tomorrow's race will be Flag To Flag, here's what will happen
Against Pedrosa and Lorenzo, Ducati riders and Rossi understand the choice
The new asphalt at Phillip Island, (which the riders liked so much) with the complicity of Bridgestone, meant that the preventive Flag To Flag procedure will be adopted in the race tomorrow for the first time.
Yesterday, after the first day of free practice, Bridgestone had detected excessive tire wear and it was decided to compulsorily race the race on the hard compound. This morning in FP3 and FP4 the riders took to the track with both the hard and extra-hard compounds, but excessive blistering occurred.
At this point it was the race management who made the decision to shorten the race by one lap (26 versus 27) and to adopt the Flag To Flag procedure. The use of the hard rear tire for the MotoGP will also be mandatory and the riders will be forced to make a pit stop on the thirteenth lap to change the bike. A solution that was not liked by all the riders, including those from Honda. Positive opinion instead from Hayden, Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi.
Below are the rules that pilots must respect
1. The race distance will be 26 laps.
2. Each rider must enter the pit lane at least once during the race to switch to the second bike with new tires.
3. No rider will be allowed to do more than 14 laps on the same rear tyre. This means that stopping before lap 12 will mean changing bikes again to finish the race.
4. Riders on official and satellite bikes must use the “hard” compound (B51DR). Bridgestone will supply an extra number of tyres.
5. Drivers on CRTs must use the “hard” compound (B50DR). Bridgestone will supply an extra number of tyres.
6. The speed limit zone entering and exiting the pit lane will be extended both on entry and exit, or space to be used to re-enter the track will be delineated by a white line. Exceeding this line will be sanctioned."
“There was no possibility of doing the race - said Valentino Rossi - I spoke with Loris Capirossi (Dorna safety manager, ed.) and he confirmed to me that none of the three tires available last more than 14 laps. There were therefore three possibilities: do a single race of 14 laps, do two separate races with two starts or Flag To Flag. Personally, I'm fine with all three, so I didn't take sides. The first two solutions were rejected by Dorna because in that way the public would not have seen the 27 laps for which they paid."
Contrary to Jorge Lorenzo as mentioned above
“In my opinion, the Flag To Flag solution (motorcycle change) is dangerous and I was against it, unfortunately no one listened to my opinion."
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RIDICULOUS, this is a real shame for Bridgestone, and perhaps also for those who chose the asphalt at Phillip Island. What will happen next seasons? Will they make a custom compound for Phillip Island???
Obviously the shorter race evoked by Marquez is impossible at most they could have done 2 races, SBK style would have been more fun, with half the points or full points, just to reopen the world championship :)
In my opinion, flag to flag is a bit of nonsense, if a bike breaks down, there is an unexpected event, you can say goodbye to the result in the race. If someone screws up at the first corner and they have to restart, they no longer have the bike for the flag to flag and they have to waste a lot of time changing tires in the garage??
It's true that Phillip Island shouldn't cause problems with fuel consumption, but what about the fuel limit rules?? Goodbye to those too, we start with little petrol and go! Without considering the advantage for Honda which has fresher engines than Yamaha, in my opinion from this point of view they will be more advantaged in Honda, Marquez shouldn't be so dissatisfied, they can use all the power they have available without worrying about tire wear.
Fim and Dorna have just made another statement:
“Fim and Dorna announce that on the morning of the Phillip Island GP (20/10/2013) the riders in the MotoGP class will only be able to do the shit if authorized.
The application must be made 1 hour in advance.
Without authorization from the two bodies, pilots will not be able to defecate*.
If this is not respected, the drivers will have to compete in the next GPs without an engine
Fim and Dorna thank us and are extremely happy with the choices made."
What is it, candid camera?
For me they are rehearsing for the future SBK format: a long race with refueling and tire changes (we are still discussing whether to allow the CRTs to change tires instead of the entire bike).
In extreme cases there are extreme remedies, but 2 short matches would certainly have allowed a result more in line with the values on the field.