MotoGP shocker - China is a street race!

[gav]

Holy shit!!! This is gonna be cool! A street race, hey, wonder if they'd race at Auckland, havent you guys got a street race happening soon?

[Suney]

Isn't that just barros putting on a show for the portuguese crowd?

[Waylander]

Like the official type guy in the back with highwaters on.

[gav]

Whatttttttt? You think you can just go rarking up and down the streets in Portugal on a loud four stroke? Its not West Auckland , ya know?
Speaking of Barros, check this out, its on board with Alex for the opening lap of the MotoGP race at Jerez last weekend!
On Board with Barros

[NordieBoy]

Holy shit!!! This is gonna be cool! A street race, hey, wonder if they'd race at Auckland, havent you guys got a street race happening soon?

They'd better watch out for all those Chinese Palm Trees though...

[gav]

Plastic, Made in China..........................

[Ghost Lemur]

There seems to be a distinct lack of chinese people in Bejing.

Seriously though, I've always thought a street race round is what the MotoGP really needs. F1 has Monaco, maybe if the IOMTT finishes up they could incorporate it as a GP round.

[gav]

Of course they use to race at IOM, Imatra in Finland, Rijeka Yugoslavia, to name 3 dangerous ex GP circuits. The last two were tree and telegraph lined and included crossing over railway crossings (a bit like Wanganui !)

[Bob]

To be honest, from what I can see, the purpose-built permanent circuit where the race is being held is much more interesting than the old Shanghai public road circuit.

To have a look at the layouts etc, take a look at http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=3933. You'll need to click on the link in there... and then choose countries and then China.

I *think* they held a round of the World Endurance Championship at the circuit last year. A mate of mine is the man who runs the official website (once upon a time, so did I...) so I'll see if he can tell me what the circuit is like.

[Bob]

Of course they use to race at IOM, Imatra in Finland, Rijeka Yugoslavia, to name 3 dangerous ex GP circuits. The last two were tree and telegraph lined and included crossing over railway crossings (a bit like Wanganui !)

Well of course they still do race at these places (I wouldn't recommend saying to anyone that takes part in the IOMTT they're not racing!), but thankfully these races were all removed from the GP calendar.

After that of course, for some years there was a separate road racing world championship - but when the number of races fell below six (fairly sure it was six), it no longer had sufficient for world championship status... once that went, the races all went their own way.

From a personal perspective,I admire anyone that competes in the TT etc., but to me the thrill of watching racing comes from seeing people compete against each other. I don't enjoy watching time trials (which is what all public road bike races are - set off at timed intervals and race against the clock).

Seeing Rossi and Gibernau banging shoulders (literally) was thrilling. Watching someone race on their own? Doesn't do it for me in the same way.

[Bob]

Just received this from my mate that I mentioned in an earlier thread:

"The Formula One race was held at Shanghai, and I think it was on a
street circuit round the new business district... Quite possible because
those were the only roads in China smooth enough.

I *think* that MotoGP are using the same circuit. They're definitely in
Shanghai again.

World Endurance went to Zhuhai, which is just across the river delta
from Hong Kong. The circuit was fine if a little unimaginative and the
facilities were easily on a par with Brands or Donington in terms of pit
and press buildings, stands, and so on. The people were wonderfully
friendly and welcoming, and as curious about us as we were about China.

The problem was that the Chinese work ethic is slightly askew to the
western one, raising Spain's "maniana" (sp?) to a whole new level. They
work hard, but achieving results by a deadline is secondary to
fulfilling beurocratic responsibilities. A good example is the lunches
provided for the "international press office staff" (that's me, Vittorio
and Giovanni). The circuit organisers were supposed to provide three
packed lunches in the office every day for three days. On the first day
we were there nine lovely, piping hot packed lunches arrived...

No problem though, because there was a hospitality suite for the rest of
the journalists, providing cooked meals, hot drinks and snacks
throughout the weekend. Except it closed for about two hours every
lunchtime...

And so it went on. At one point Kel Edge had a gun pointed at him
because he wanted to get close enough to the track to take photos. He
had an access all areas track pass, but no one had told the policeman
checking passes that photographers were allowed to take photographs from
the side of the track...

And then there was the journey home...

Anyway.

I assume that Formula 1 just shipped absolutely everything in for the
week; they're much more self-contained anyway. And Shanghai is probably
more westernised than Zhuhai, although access to Zhuhai is restricted to
Western tourists and well-heeled Chinese.

I'm not sure how MotoGP will fare, but it'll be interesting reading
between the lines of the live commentary."

[gav]

OK, didnt think it would be a street circuit, looks like it is this one in Shanghai.

Actually looks pretty good!

[Two Smoker]

OK, didnt think it would be a street circuit, looks like it is this one in Shanghai.

Actually looks pretty good!

Fark, turn one looks like a bit of fun hehehe

[Coyote]

Didn't relise there was so many european cars in Bejing

[Brian d marge]

thats because they arnt very keen on the Japanese !!!
trust me on that one ...The Japanese sort of had a bit of a holiday before the war ,,,and the latest one a Japanese company hired a hotel and filled it full of ummm working girls ,,so that the workers could get a bit off R and R ,,,,
So given the choice ......fix or repair daily is the prefered punishment

Stephen
Tokyo