Sunday, September 30, 2012
VIDEO: Hamilton retires from Singapore lead
F1 2012 [w/video]
Filed under: Motorsports, Toys/Games
Racing Franchise Reboot Is Powerfully Fun, But Flawed
Codemasters is back with a follow-up to its successful - some might go so far as to say genre defining - Formula One franchise, with F1 2012. This season's iteration of the racing title is every bit as beautiful, challenging and engaging to the racing-obsessed gamer as last year's version, though it's far from perfect.If you can get by the oddly cartoonish and badly cropped image on the front of the box, you'll quickly find that the level of graphical detail in F1 is quite impressive. The cars are clearly the stars of the show here, with every one of the five driving vantage points (ranging from right in the cockpit of the car to a "far chase" position that puts the entire exterior of your vehicle in view) renders the racecar in elegant detail. Reflections and the play of light are evident on the car's bodywork; slick tires are easily differentiated from intermediates and intermediates from full-wets; gravel, grass and dirt all mar the surface of the rear rubber if you go off-track at all; and passing competitor cars are just as vibrant as your own, with high enough frame rates to avoid pixilation or blur.
On the downside, the stuff surrounding your racecar is far less detailed than the machine itself. Each event begins with some flyover shots of the track you're competing on - those higher effort, short cut scenes are fairly nice looking, if still less detailed than the racecars themselves. Pay close attention to the off-track scenery while you're driving, however, and you'll notice that the backgrounds are pretty flat and free of complex surfacing. That's okay, as the overall difficulty of gameplay dictates that you focus on the track, not the grandstands, but it does make the F1 2012 world feel less rich than it might otherwise. One exception to this, though kind of a big one, is the rendering of the sky and the weather seen therein. The Codemasters team has done an exceptional job mimicking the rapidly changing heavens that play such an important part in any real race weekend, with lifelike color and drama, as well as fluid movement.
Continue reading F1 2012 [w/video]
F1 2012 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsMuay Thai Training
Saturday, September 29, 2012
2012 Aragon Moto3 FP1 Result: Oliveira Fastest As Red Flag Stops Session
Miguel Oliveira topped the first session of free practice for the Moto3 class at the Motorland Aragon circuit, sitting atop the timesheets when the session was red-flagged due to a severe oil spill with less than ten minutes left. Danny Webb's Mahindra exploded, dumping oil on the track and causing the session to be terminated, after a number of riders fell on the oil, leaving no one injured, fortunately.
Luis Salom led a bevy of KTMs behind Oliveira, sitting in 2nd ahead of Jonas Folger, both men on Kalex KTMS, while the Ajo KTM squad took 4th through 6th positions, Sandro Cortese ending ahead of Danny Kent and Zulfahmi Khairuddin.
Result:
Hamilton will be 'very cautious'
Some 2013 qualifying could move to Fridays
FIA post-race press conference - Singapore
PODIUM INTERVIEWS (Conducted by Eddie Jordan)
Q: Sebastian you're a back-to-back winner here. What's the secret?
Sebastian Vettel: I think it's one of the
Friday, September 28, 2012
Today's 'Race Car Driver Freaking Out His Wife On A Track' is BMW's Augusto Farfus
Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Videos, BMW, Humor, Racing
Augusto Farfus isn't even 30 years old yet, but he already has a certain commanding precision on many of the world's greatest racetracks, including Germany's famed Nürburgring. In the latest installment of the "Scare Your Wife At The Track" internet video meme, the BMW DTM driver takes his wife, Liri, for a high-speed tour of the Nürburgring in a BMW M3 Coupe.
When Liri agreed to hop in the passenger seat for a hot lap with her husband, we have a feeling the two had different meanings of "slow" and "exciting" driving. While most of us would have a hard enough time just staying on the challenging track, Farfus tackles the Green Hell while explaining elements of the track and dealing with his wife screaming in fear for most of the nearly 10-minute video. At one point (around the 5:02 mark) it looks as if Mrs. Farfus even starts to pass out a little just before saying that she's going to be sick, but she still handles the ordeal better than the respective wives of Riccardo Patrese and João Barbosa, the reigning queens of the Scare Your Wife meme.
Farfus, who we learn early in the video has a nickname of "Ninho" from his wife, is having fun the entire video commenting on a classic Mercedes-Benz as they blow past it, an Audi driver who Farfus comments "probably thinks he knows the track" as they pass it in a turn and numerous other cars and motorcycles.
Check out the video below to see whether or not Ninho will end up in the dog house for his antics.
Continue reading Today's 'Race Car Driver Freaking Out His Wife On A Track' is BMW's Augusto Farfus
Today's 'Race Car Driver Freaking Out His Wife On A Track' is BMW's Augusto Farfus originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Kasey Kahne to leave Richard Petty Motorsports for Hendrick in 2011
Richard Petty Motorsports, which has Kahne under contract for this season, confirmed that Kahne is leaving the organization.
Exactly whether Kahne will drive for a Hendrick team or for Hendrick affiliate Stewart-Haas Racing is still to be determined. Stewart-Haas, which features [...]
2012 Aragon MotoGP Preview: It Ain't Over Till It's Over
So MotoGP heads back to Spain for the third time this year, rolling into the Motorland Aragon circuit as the series enters its final stretch. Despite there being still five races left to go, the three different classes all look pretty much settled, after the races at Misano. Jorge Lorenzo benefited from Dani Pedrosa's misfortune at Misano to lead the MotoGP race by 38 points, Marc Marquez beat Pol Espargaro to the line in a do-or-die move in Moto2 to extend his lead to 53 points, and Sandro Cortese rode a brilliant race in Moto3 to enlarge his lead to 46 points. In reality, only misfortune or gross rider error stands in between titles for the three men, and in his studio in Barcelona, Marc Garcia is starting to pencil in the names on the trophy.
That doesn't mean there is no interest left in the series, however. If you had been thinking of skipping the Moto2 races for the rest of the year, then you haven't been paying attention; the life-and-death racing between Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez, the result of the fiercest and most bitterly contested rivalry in Grand Prix at the moment, continues to be breathtaking. Moto3 is seeing the rise of a generation who will sound in the end of Spanish domination in MotoGP, though many fast and promising Spanish youngsters remain.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
AMA Pro Homestead Superbike Saturday race report—Hayden gets his first
National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Roger Lee Hayden takes his first superbike win of his career, while Josh Hayes crashes and remounts to finish 12th; EBR’s Danny Eslick second over Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young
HOMESTEAD, FL, SEPT 22 – Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes will have to wait another day to clinch his third consecutive AMA Superbike title, but he’s OK with it. The runaway leader of the championship crashed, remounted and finished 12th in the race on Saturday, keeping alive the fading hopes of Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young, who had a perfect opportunity to capitalize on the rare Hayes’ mistake. Instead he got into an emotional battle with Team Hero’s Danny Eslick, but for second place. And he didn’t win that one either.
National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Roger Hayden was at a loss for words after winning his first AMA Superbike race, and first race win of any kind in five years. Hayden was in front of Hayes when the Yamaha rider crashed in Homestead’s turn six, Hayden having taken the lead from Young on the second lap. With Hayes out of the picture, the two Suzuki riders swapped the lead until the fifth lap when Hayden tightened his grip on it.
Within two laps he had nearly a two second lead that would continue to grow, blossoming to 7.709 seconds on the 17th of 23 laps before he backed off to win by 5.070 seconds.
aPhoto Gallery: AMA Pro Homestead Superbike Saturday race report - Sport Rider Magazine
Hamlin has successful knee surgery
2012 Singapore Grand Prix lights up the night [spoilers]
Filed under: Motorsports
Though you might call the Singapore Grand Prix one of the newer expansion races on the Formula One calendar, its roots actually trace back to 1966 when it was run as part of the (long since defunct) Formula Libre. It came back in 2008 as part of the Formula One World Championship, though, and its first night race at that.
In the four years it's been run prior to today, Fernando Alonso won twice, and Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel each won once under the massive flood lamps at Marina Bay. Would one of these champions win it again, or would a new race winner be crowned? Keep reading to find out.
Continue reading 2012 Singapore Grand Prix lights up the night [spoilers]
2012 Singapore Grand Prix lights up the night [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsWednesday, September 26, 2012
Wheel-to-Wheel AMA Pro Flat Track Action Returns to Santa Rosa After 42 Years
After a 42 year absence, the thundering wheel-to-wheel action of AMA Pro Flat Track racing thunders into the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon, September 30th.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (September 25, 2012) - After a 42 year absence, the thundering wheel-to-wheel action of AMA Pro Flat Track racing thunders into the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon, September 30th.
aPhoto Gallery: Wheel-to-Wheel AMA Pro Flat Track Action Returns to Santa Rosa After 42 Years - Sport Rider Magazine
Narain Karthikeyan profile
Jordan Suzuki Races to 1st SBK Victory
Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki's Roger Hayden celebrated the team's first AMA Pro National Guard Superbike victory of the season at the penultimate round at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Team Suzuki Press Office - September 24.
aPhoto Gallery: Jordan Suzuki Races to 1st SBK Victory - Sport Rider Magazine
Paralympic gold medalist Zanardi trying to get BMW DTM ride
Filed under: Motorsports, BMW
Alex Zanardi just can't get racing out of his system. Despite losing both of his legs in a CART crash back in 2001, Zanardi has stayed competitive in auto racing (as well as Paralympics cycling), and according to Auto123.com, the Italian racer is now looking to join BMW in the DTM racing series.
BMW has confirmed that Zanardi is interested in the series, but it was vague as to the possibilities of him joining the team. The report says that nothing is likely to happen for this season, and even after that, there is plenty of variables that will play into whether this becomes a reality... especially safety.
This wouldn't be Zanardi's first stint behind the wheel of a BMW racecar as he won four races between 2004 and 2009 for the automaker in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) using a car with hand-controlled brakes and throttle.
Paralympic gold medalist Zanardi trying to get BMW DTM ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsTuesday, September 25, 2012
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer Finishes Third in Seattle
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer Finishes Third in Seattle
Irvine, Calif. (April 23, 2012) - Despite dismal weather predictions for Saturday's Monster Energy AMA Supercross at Centurylink Field in Seattle, Wash., the weather turned out to be beautiful and sunny come race day. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer powered through the rutted track on his KX(tm)450F to earn his fourth podium of the season in third place. Not far behind was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Broc Tickle who rode a solid race to finish eighth. Returning to the series with the rest of the Supercross Lites Western region, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Dean Wilson was looking to extend his points lead and inch closer to the championship, but an incident with another rider sent him to the ground and left him fighting to finish seventh. Hometown hero and reigning champion, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, was riding strong all night until a crash in the main event forced him out of the race early and would leave him in 19th place.
Back on the Box
In the past, Weimer had struggled with the soft dirt in Seattle and knew he would have to work hard to get a good result. Instead of finding consistent lines and clicking them off he would really need to adapt to the track on a lap-by-lap basis. Weimer proved he could adapt quickly and continued to show improvement every time he hit the track. Though he qualified ninth, in the heat race he got a great start and finished second. When the gate dropped for the main event he got another good start on his KX450F and came around the first lap in third. Weimer held onto third place the entire 20 lap main to secure his fourth podium of the season. The outstanding effort advanced Weimer from seventh to fifth in the points standings.
"I really didn't feel comfortable all day so it felt great to finish on the box," said Weimer. "I knew it would be tough racing here, because the track is always soft and rutted. That really isn't my specialty. The track continued to break down throughout the night and there were a few spots where the ruts got really deep so I had to keep adjusting my lines. There was one rut that had a huge rock right in the middle of it, which was really sketchy. I feel pretty good about tonight because I was able to fight through it and come out with a better result than I expected."
High Expectations
Since he took the first professional win of his career in Seattle, Tickle had high expectations coming into the event. He got off to a slow start, qualifying 12th, but knew he needed to find some solid lines before he put on a charge. In the heat race he put it all together and rode strong to finish sixth. When the gate dropped in the main event, Tickle got pinched off and funneled to the back of the pack, coming around the first turn in 15th. Undeterred, he put together a solid charge and picked off nearly half of the field to finish eighth. Tickle currently sits tenth in the points standings.
"I thought I rode the best I had all season," said Tickle. "I rode solid and stayed aggressive all 20 laps and passed half of the pack in the process. You know this has been a crazy season; anything can happen on the track. The top ten racers in the Supercross class are riding really strong so it's difficult to break into the top three to get a podium. I just have to keep pushing forward and working hard no matter how tough it gets. I know eventually it will all pay off. I'm going to focus on my starts this week and hopefully I can carry this momentum into next weekend."
Battleground
After a two month break while the series headed east, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Dean Wilson was pumped to return to racing and hoped to stretch his 2-point lead in Seattle. He got the night off to a great start, qualifying in the number two spot and went on to dominate the six-lap heat race, taking the holeshot and winning by almost four seconds. When the gate dropped for the main event, Wilson immediately went to work. He came around the first turn in third and quickly made a move on second, which was returned shortly thereafter and a battle for second ensured. While jockeying for position the two riders got tangled up mid-race, sending Wilson to the ground. Although he went down hard, he picked up his KX(tm)250F and did the best he could to finish seventh and salvage points. Wilson currently sits second in the points, only four points behind the leader.
"I'm super bummed on tonight's result," said Wilson. "Me and Eli (Tomac) were really going at it. I was able to get around him pretty quickly on the first lap, then he got me back, and we went back and forth a couple times. It was some pretty aggressive racing, but we're going for a championship and giving it everything we got out there. We were halfway through the race and he came across the track, we got tangled up, and I got the worst of it. I just have to put this behind me because we still have another race before the final in Vegas. He only has four points on me and this is racing so anything can happen."
Roar of the Crowd
Although he had already clinched the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, Seattle-native Villopoto wanted to win in his hometown more than ever. With family and friends from his childhood in attendance and spread throughout the stadium the emotional stakes couldn't have been higher. During opening ceremonies when he rolled out onto the track the roar from the crowd was deafening. With the crowd cheering behind him, Villopoto started off the night strong, winning his heat race by nearly seven seconds. When the gate dropped for the main event he was only able to get a mid-pack start. He immediately went to work, looking to charge his way toward the front, but lost the front end and went down, forcing him out of the race.
"The day started out great," said Villopoto. "I found some good lines during practice and was able to connect everything during the heat race. In the main event I didn't get the start I needed and had to work from mid-pack. I was trying to pass three racers on the inside of a turn, came in hot, tried to grab some front brake and ended up washing out the front end."
Hometown Hero
When Villopoto arrived in Seattle days prior to the race the town was already buzzing. Television stations and local newspaper were all vying for his time and wanted to chat with their local hero and recently crowned, two-time supercross champion. While travelling between television stations and visiting extended family, he also swung by the local Seattle Children's Hospital to spread some cheer with teammate Weimer. On race day the pits were absolutely packed and it seemed like everyone on the paddock had some connection with Villopoto. Although the result of the main event was not what anyone expected, everyone who came out to visit him on Saturday knows he has the heart of a champion and is proud of his accomplishments.
"It's always really awesome to come home and race in front of the people that watched me grow up racing," said Villopoto. "I have a lot of family out here so it's always nice to come home and spend time with them too. It seems like most of the people here remember watching me race growing up, know my family, or have pictures with me from my amateur days, so this race is really special for me."
Mission Impossible
Because Seattle gets so much annual rainfall and Centurylink Field is an open stadium, getting the dirt to settle and pack properly is nearly impossible. While the track crew worked tirelessly to build, shape, and protect the track prior to race day, rain had inundated the track for almost an entire week prior to the event. To help the track better withstand the relentless rain, the track crew mixed the dirt with asphalt and lime to help maintain its composure. When racers arrived on Saturday morning they were informed there would be one less practice session due to the track's deteriorating condition. However, once racing began the onslaught of hundreds of dirt bikes eventually pounded the track into a rutted mess. Sometimes you just can't beat Mother Nature.
Next Weekend
Next weekend, Monster Energy AMA Supercross heads to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the penultimate round of the series before the 2012 season wraps up in Las Vegas, Nev.
Results
Monster Energy AMA Supercross - Round 15
Centurylink Field - Seattle, Washington
April 22, 2012
Supercross Class Results
1. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
2. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3. JAKE WEIMER, RUPERT, IDAHO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
7. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
8. BROC TICKLE, HOLLY, MICH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
9. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
10. NICK WEY, DEWITT, MICH., KAWASAKI
19. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
Supercross Lites Western Region Results
1. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
2. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
4. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki,
7. DEAN WILSON, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
8. Billy Laninovich, Riverside, Calif., Honda
9. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
10. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
Supercross Class Points Standings
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 323
2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 222
3. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 219
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 207
5. JAKE WEIMER, RUPERT, IDAHO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 191
6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 178
7. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki, 176
8. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 173
9. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 166
10. BROC TICKLE, HOLLY, MICH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 146
Supercross Lites Western Region Points Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 134
2. DEAN WILSON, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 130
3. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 119
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 111
5. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha, 78
6. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 78
7. Matt Moss, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 77
8. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda, 75
9. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 73
10. Billy Laninovich, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 70
Hamilton on pole for Singapore GP
Hector Barbera Signs With Avintia BQR To Ride CRT Bike For Two Seasons
Ducati's introduction of the junior team strategy, dropping support for the satellite structures that had previously been fielded by Cardion AB and Pramac in MotoGP, has had at least one casualty. With the signing of Ben Spies and Andrea Iannone, there was no more room for Hector Barbera at Ducati. The dropping of Barbera raised eyebrows in some quarters, as Barbera has regularly matched and sometimes even beaten the pace of the factory Ducatis this year.
Barbera may be out of Ducati, but he is not out of MotoGP, however. According to Spanish website Motocuatro.com, Barbera has signed a two-year deal to race with the Avintia BQR team for the next two seasons. The Valencian rider will be racing a CRT machine, most probably an evolution of the Kawasaki-powered FTR bike which Yonny Hernandez and David Salom are currently racing, though no confirmation of equipment has been forthcoming. Barbera turned down an offer from IODA to race the Suter BMW for two seasons, electing instead to stay with the Spanish BQR squad.
Honda to produce supersport bike based on MotoGP RC213V
Honda CEO announces development underway for a “new super sports bike” that harkens back to the RC30
As part of his annual corporate fiscal year-end speech to Honda shareholders, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito inserted a little tidbit at the end of his discussion on what Honda plans for the motorcycle market that has set Big Red fans atwitter with glee. After talking about the future introduction of larger-displacement bikes based on the same “New Concept” design of the NC700X and the return of Honda’s racing involvement in the Dakar Rally, Ito made a brief remark about something that Honda hasn’t done since the headier sportbike days of the mid-90s limited production RC45:
aPhoto Gallery: Honda to produce supersport bike based on MotoGP RC213V - Sport Rider Magazine
Monday, September 24, 2012
Close fight for pole - Hamilton
Phoenix Racing Mike Wallace Rick Ware Ware Racing Enterprises
Hamilton '100% focused' on title
VIDEO: Murray Walker on Jackie Stewart
Tyco Suzuki Re-Signs Brookes for 2013
Having finalised terms with both Suzuki and Tyco Security Products to support its 2013 British Superbike Championship campaign, TAS Racing has agreed an extended contract with current BSB rider Josh Brookes.
Team Suzuki Press Office - September 19.
Having finalised terms with both Suzuki and Tyco Security Products to support its 2013 British Superbike Championship campaign, TAS Racing has agreed an extended contract with current BSB rider Josh Brookes which will see the Australian compete in Tyco Suzuki livery aboard a GSX-R1000 Suzuki. aPhoto Gallery: Tyco Suzuki Re-Signs Brookes for 2013 - Sport Rider Magazine
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Ban helped me prepare - Grosjean
Nascar Penalizes Kyle Busch and the 18 Team
Kawasaki rider holds off Checa as Melandri falls
Full wet conditions arrived on Sunday morning at Portimao and they were to play a part in the race being halted because of an oil spill after a crash. A restarted race, over only 16 laps, was won by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) who scored his third win of the 2012 season and drew himself closer to championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) as a result. Max was fourth in the opening race after several incidents and changing fortunes as the race unfolded.
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) looked like he could pass Sykes but was unable to in the final two laps, and settled for second place, while PATA Racing Ducati privateer rider Sylvain Guintoli scored himself another podium finish, in third.
A collision on lap one of the first start saw Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) crash after an attempted pass on Biaggi and he was taken to hospital for scans on a bruised kidney, missing out on the re-start as a result.