September 30th, 2009 at 11:58pm Under Motorbikes
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A study report has been published about the motorcycle world in France. Compared to a similar study made in 2004, you can see some evolution.
Here are the salient facts of this year’s research on the motorcycle world in France.
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:58pm Under Motorbikes
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Weird. We usually hit animals on the road in this part of the world, but Down Under, it’s the opposite…
Animals hit you. In this case, a motorcycle rider got hit by a kangaroo. The kangaroo escape without leaving details….
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:57pm Under Racing
The Renault formula one team was handed a two year suspended ban in the latest controversy to hit the team. The team pleaded guilty to the charge that Flavio Briatore has asked Nelsinho Piquet to crash deliberately at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in order for Fernando Alonso to score more points during that race. The full text of the press release follows later in the article.
Furthermore Flavio Briatore has been banished from the sport of formula one forever. Pat Symonds got a similar punishment but with a lesser timeframe of only 5 years.
But the decision has not went down well with fans. Most believe that the penalty given to the Renault formula one team is too light. Most notably Brit fans and their press who were OK with the concept of a suspended sentence for the McLaren team when they were punished suddenly disagree with the concept of suspended bans.
Anyway, it seems that formula one is losing its credibility and sheen, hawks like Flavio dont deserve to be in the sport of formula one. They cheat fans and fix races which is unacceptable to all.
The World Motor Sport Council finds that Renault F1 team members Flavio Briatore, Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet Jr. conspired to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. The World Motor Sport Council therefore finds Renault F1, which, under article 123 of the International Sporting Code, is responsible for the actions of its employees, in breach of Articles 151
and point 2
The World Motor Sport Council considers Renault F1’s breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity. Renault F1’s breaches not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself. The World Motor Sport Council considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship. However, having regard to the points in mitigation mentioned above and in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1’s disqualification until the end of the 2011 season. The World Motor Sport Council will only activate this disqualification if Renault F1 is found guilty of a comparable breach during that time.
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:56pm Under Racing
In what will come as a big shocker to loyal Renault F1 fans, the team today made public a statement that Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore have left the F1 outfit. Moreover they will not dispute the charges pit against them by the Piquets that Nelsinho Piquet was asked to crash his F1 car by Flavio Briatore at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team.
Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.
In what comes as an apparent admission of guilt, the Renault formula one team are probably hoping for leniency from the WMSC.
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:56pm Under Racing
Watch Heikki Kovalainen as he reveals the gameplan used at last week’s Belgian Grand Prix which saw him take 6th place after starting from 15th place on the grid.
He talks about the Spa track and the race there. Pretty interesting video.
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:55pm Under Racing
Its official now, Giancarlo Fisichella has dumped the Force India formula one team for a shot with the Ferrari formula one team. He will replace Luca Badoer who was filling in for the injured Felipe Massa. His recent podium finish for Force India (their 1st) and Luca Badoer’s pathetic performances acted as catalyst to the switch. The announcement of the switch wasn’t really a surprise, rumours in the paddocks were alive about the switch for around 1.5 weeks now with Vijay Mallya doing every bit to reject them until now.
Its often said that the dream of every formula one driver is to drive for the Ferrari formula one team, but its even more true for Italians, who probably dream of driving for the Ferrari formula one team even if they aren’t formula one drivers.
The move ofcourse is a big loss for the Force India formula one team and there are rumours that Ferrari did waive off the money Force India owed to them. Vijay Mallya insisted that there were no financial transactions which secured Fisichella’s release from contract.
Meanwhile Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo praised Fisichella in a press release on the Ferrari Media website. He hinted that Fisichella would be the third driver when He was quoted as saying :
“I chose Fisichella for several reasons, starting with the fact he deserves it, that he’s on great form and that he is an expert driver. On top of that, we all wanted to have an Italian driver in our car for Monza and lastly, because it takes the long term view, as he will be our third driver.”
“It is an important moment, coming off the back of a great win with Kimi Raikkonen,” added the Ferrari President. “We also have the good and important news that Felipe Massa is recovering well and will be more than ready for the first race of next season.
“I wish to thank Luca Badoer who, once again has been so amenable towards Ferrari. Therefore, I look forward to Monza with confidence and especially with great pleasure at having Fisichella in the team.”
“the good news that Felipe will race again, that he is recovering and that he will be very ready to race next season is a further plus, after what was a terrible August for us, what with his accident, all the uncertainties and, unfortunately, Michael Schumacher’s fitness difficulties, when we would have liked to see him in our car. However, bit by bit, we are putting everything right again. Victory is the best medicine.”
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:55pm Under Racing
The Indian government has let down the lakhs of Indian formula one fans by deciding against providing the formula one event in India sports status. Its interesting to note that the party who was earlier involved in bringing formula one to India was in fact the Indian Olympics Association which is a government body and is run more or less by politicians of the ruling party. Maybe its due to the involvement of rival Mayawati’s government in the project that the Indian Govt. has backed out. But in all the politics , its the Indian fan that misses out.
The JPSK group as it seems had applied for certain concessions with respect to Forex transfers and import export thingies for the Formula One event (Indian Grand Prix) slated to be held in India in 2011. The Government refused to provide these concessions and also refused to recognise Formula One as a sport and instead called it entertainment.
However Indian formula one fans neednt worry just yet, it seems that JPSK , the body behind the construction of the track is still 100% behind the project backed by its parent company. Its well known that India has been on Bernie Ecclestone shopping list for a long time and with more and more Indian companies sponsoring F1 teams even in times of recession, India becomes all the more important.
Lets hope these politicians and their dirty politics don’t spoil the party for genuine formula one fans.
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:55pm Under Racing
Rubens Barrichello on Sunday ended a 5 year drought by winning the Valencia Grand Prix capitalising on bad McLaren pitstops and the car supremacy that Brawn GP has possessed this season.
Although Barrichello cut his teammate’s lead by a huge margin, Jenson Button who finished seventh in the race was upbeat about his teammate. Rubens was able to cut 8 points in this one race. Jenson Button was quoted as saying :
“It ended up as a bit of struggle for me, but I take more positives than negatives from this one – and it is great to see Rubens winning. The team have asked me to push harder now if I want to win the title”
“Yeah, it is very unusual for your team-mate to take eight points out of you in one race. Rubens did a fantastic job.
“He has been very quick all weekend and I have struggled to be on his pace. But in qualifying I screwed up, which cost me time. I double shifted out of Turn Five and hopefully we can rectify that problem as I did it in the race as well.
“Starting fifth, I thought we could have a good race, but Vettel came across at the start and if I had stayed flat I would have ripped my front wing off. So, being back in the pack – although I know fifth is not back in the pack – it was a bit crazy.
“In a way, I got two points and I was lucky to get those points. I was down in ninth at one point, behind Webber, and with Sebastian up in fifth.
“But in the end neither of them got points and I got two points, so it is a positive day — but it is also a day where our car was strong and, as my team-mate proved, there were a lot more points on offer and it just didn’t go my way.”
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:55pm Under Racing
Kimi Raikkonen has released an official announcement regarding his premature departure from Ferrari:
“With common consent, we have agreed to terminate the contract binding me to Ferrari to the end of 2010, one year ahead of schedule,” he said.
“I am very sad to be leaving a team…
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September 30th, 2009 at 11:55pm Under Racing
F1’s worst kept secret is finally official…Fernando Alonso will be driving for Ferrari in 2010. The deal is believed to be a three-year contract for what must be a gazillion dollars. With a 10% management fee, that should give Flavio briatore some serious FIA legal war chest…
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