Austrian MotoGP *** SPOILER ALERT ***

[CB4ME_imp]

The summer break is over and the second half of the season begins with 9 races in 13 weeks.

This is their first time at the Red Bull Ring. On paper, this F1 track favors horsepower (Ducati) with fewer corners and more straights than other tracks. Lots of elevation changes (65 meters high to low) are added to the mix.

Maverik Vinales upset the convention wisdom by leading FP1 with a couple of Ducati's and Valentino Rossi right behind. Should be an interesting weekend.

BeIn Sports will air qualifying this afternoon and the races Sunday morning.

[the Ferret]

YES, they are back! I will be out of town for qualifying but back for the race.

[CB4ME_imp]

FP2:

5 Ducati's in the top 10. Marquez a second and a half off the pace in 10th.

1 DOVIZIOSO ITA 1'23.617
2 IANNONE 1'23.855
3 VIÑALES 1'24.471
4 ROSSI 1'24.483
5 CRUTCHLOW 1'24.688
6 PETRUCCI ITA OCTO 1'24.866
7 BARBERA 1'24.956
8 LORENZO 1'24.988 1
9 PIRRO 1'24.988
10 MARQUEZ 1'25.039

[CB4ME_imp]

Marquez crashed hard in FP3 and dislocated his shoulder. He did good to qualify 5th shortly afterwards.

Iannone, Rossi and Dovo - row 1.

Lorenzo, Marquez, Vinales - row 2.

The Yamaha's were the big surprise of qualifying.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Guys, seriously, how about a "SPOILER ALERT" in the thread title? This is the only forum I visit that doesn't make that a serious ethics violation, lol...

[the Ferret]

We do for race results, but not for qualifying. I watch the race first time it's on, immediately after it's over get up and walk to my PC and change title to include SPOILER ALERT So that members can discuss race and no other members will have race spoiled for them.

Those that don't have cable or sports channels can at least know who qualified in what position and how they ran in the free practices and then can check in and see how the race went.

If you don't want to know any of this stuff, I suugest not clicking on a thread that has MOTO GP in the title.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

We do for race results, but not for qualifying. I watch the race first time it's on, immediately after it's over get up and walk to my PC and change title to include SPOILER ALERT So that members can discuss race and no other members will have race spoiled for them.

Those that don't have cable or sports channels can at least know who qualified in what position and how they ran in the free practices and then can check in and see how the race went.

If you don't want to know any of this stuff, I suugest not clicking on a thread that has MOTO GP in the title.

So your system is not as Draconian as most forums, more of a "Gentleman's Agreement" then. No wonder I didn't get it, I am not a gentleman. ;-)

[the Ferret]

Just watched qualifying. WHen did the riders start wearing helmet fins? NEver seen that before. there helmets are starting to look like bicycle racing helmets, especially Lorenzo's Shark helmet.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Just watched qualifying. WHen did the riders start wearing helmet fins? NEver seen that before. there helmets are starting to look like bicycle racing helmets, especially Lorenzo's Shark helmet.

Spoilers. The new X-Fourteen Shoei (Marquez uses it) has a lot of that tech. The faceshield even has a row of tiny vortex generators (spoilers) on each side that break up side lift. They work really well, I have one I mainly use for track days and the helmet is very quiet even at speed and doesn't tend to lift up or pull to the side. They are quite a bit more extreme on the factory helmets which are all custom-built.
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[the Ferret]

Everyone had clear ones except Lorenzo that. Saw, and his was gray and much bigger than everyone elses and actually looked part of a larger shell.