MotoGP Sepang

Lots of stuff happening this weekend, and some great racing in tricky conditions. Throw in a world title and we have a great weekend.

First of all, before the action got under way, it was Maverick making the news by walking out on his team and flying back to Spain. Before the weekend, he was still in a position to mathematically win the Moto3 title. Instead, he showed is opinion of his team by walking out. He claims it was because they were not delivering, but honestly with the number of victories he has managed the bike be all that bad! Still, we obviously will never know what really went down. So, the question now is where will he be racing next year? I just hope we will get to see him fighting for the title, because he is one of the most amazing talents to come along for a while.

Nevertheless, there was a Moto3 race on, and Malaysia's own Khairuddin was on pole! With Viñales gone, it was only Salom that could beat Cortese to the title, but that would basically require Cortese not finishing, so it was fair to expect him to win the title here. Racing conditions were tricky as the race was declared wet. Khairuddin did the race of his life, and did not fall off the pace in the closing stages. Unfortunately Sandro Cortese was determined to get the victory, and he just snatched the win in front of Khairuddin. Still, it was the first time in history that a Malay was on a podium.

Moto2 was just fabulous. Also a wet race, you just knew things would not be business as usual. There was a Malaysian wildcard rider called Syahrin, and I don't think I have seen such amazing riding as he gave us since Abe was a wildcard on a 500. He was clearly in the zone, and at one point was leading the race doing fastest lap after fastest lap. Unfortunately for him, he was joined up front by three riders with nothing to lose, and contracts to sign for next year. West has always been a great wet weather rider, and Gino Rea as the Englishman he is was obviously no stranger to rain. But it was de Angelis who showed them all that experience does count for something, and he saved his 2012 season by taking the victory as the race was red flagged. Our Malaysian friend came fourth, but that was simply huge for him, and the crowd greeted him like a national hero. Marquez on the other hand, crashed out, leaving the title victory for next weekend.

Finally, the MotoGP race was pretty much the same as we have been seeing for some time now. Lorenzo and Pedrosa took off, fighting for the win. Pedrosa took the lead at the halfway point, and as the rain intensified, Lorenzo pleaded to the race directors for them to stop it, just barely saving his second place. One more lap and he would either have crashed out or he would have been in third conceding some more points to Pedrosa. Oh well, it is not over just yet...

Doran saved Jorge's ass. He made a bad tire choice, and cried his way to keep 2nd place.

Shows what a cry-baby he has become. Goes running to the Dorna every time things go against him. It will be interesting next year with Marquez...

I agree, he admitted to running the tires off the bike. He knew he was on the soft rears, so as soon as he had a problem he cried. I recall a few years ago here in Indy they ran in a Hurricane. It was not until the Yamaha tent collapsed, did they opt to stop the race. Even then the riders were all in agreement that they needed to stop. Not like today when we saw some wondering what was going on.

Good racing in Sepang, terrible conditions.

Can't believe it's been a year already.

PLAYLIFE wrote:Good racing in Sepang, terrible conditions.

Can't believe it's been a year already.

Agreed. Now we wait four months.