INDY 500: Should Fans Really Attend?

And will this be the Year's largest Fishbowl experiment?

Was doing my usual reading; Err listening to Lucy', My Arse-Steamed Screen Reader Coo to Mwah For The Love of Indy's weekly Musings From the Weekend's Monday July 20th Colum, where I thought Raymond had several very Astute Points 'bout Mother Speedway's Controllers and Thar apparent Greediness!

Musings From the Weekend: Hello Greed

Ironically, this got me to Ah-Wonderin' how Indiana, and more specifically Indianapolis, where some 'lil 'Ol Oval-track at 16th and Georgetown resides was currently doing Health wise?

As the Indianapolis Star reported the very same day, Monday, July 20th that the Indiana State Department of Health had reported 927 New Positive COVID 19 Pandemic Cases, the first time more than 900 Cases had been reported since April 27th, when 963 Positive Corona Virus Cases were announced. Which continued the trend of the prior week seeing increasing case numbers confirmed.

On Thursday (7/23) 954 New Positive Covid Cases were reported. And then on Friday (7/24) the "Ton" Barrier was broken, when the Indiana State Department of Health reported a record single day count of 1,011 Positive Corona Virus Cases.

Also, on Wednesday of the very same week, the White House in a private teleconference singled out Indianapolis amongst 11 Cities, including Nashville, Tennessee to ramp-up their COVID 19 Pandemic Precautions, since their Cities were seeing rises in Case numbers...

Thus is it really wise of El Capitano', nee Roger Penske and IMS to be so Hell Bent upon having up to 175,000 Spectators attend this year's Indianapolis 500 in Close Proximity?

As I also believe the same IndyStar article noted that only 35% of the State's ICU Beds were available, which simply makes me wonder how this trend will improve in less than a month's time, and why IMS is so fiercely opposed to Not lifting the annual Television Blackout policy? Although I suppose this would entice locals to stay home instead?

And I'd love to be able to point Y'all to Greg Doyle's Scathing IndyStar article about how Sports comes First, including the Indianapolis 500 Over Fans Health! But wadda Yuhs know? It's another Capitalistic Money Grubbin', Greediness Freakin' Pay Wall Blocking any access to the Site's Articles; CRAP! As how's Dem Subscription Numbers working out, Eh?

Not to mention overcoming the sacrilege of running this Hallowed event without Fans in Attendance, since they'll either be fringing the Corona Virus with them or taking it Home as a souvenir of attending this year's race...

Disney Theme Park Staff Worry about COVID 19, I Can't Bring It Home

Yeah, i now know that Mother Speedway's reduced its planned Attendance to only a Svelte 87,500 Fans and will graciously lift the local television Ban for only the fourth time in History, But!

I'll try to keep my visceral Rage towards Thee Idiot in Charge of our good 'Ol United States of Americre' somewhat in check, only saying that if the Buffoon in the White House had actually focused upon a National unified Plan for stopping the COVID 19 Pandemic five months ago, instead of touting there's only 15 Corona Virus Cases in the U.S. and they'll be Gone very Shortly...

But it's quite apparent that He's only interested in making sure All of his properties are at full occupancy and that Air Force One's on Standby to go play Golf anytime He so desires at Maralago; Oh Never Mind!

Yet instead, Sports has been totally Politicized not only as the President's PR Machine, but also Ye Cure All for making us temporarily Forget how Horrific the Deadly Disease in the United States is, now quickly approaching 150,000 American Deaths, the Most in the World!

As i wonder if Roger Penske, at Age 83 will be in Attendance the entire time with His Golden Medal 'O Freedom' around his neck whilst his traveling IndyCar Circus resides at Mother Speedway? And how do you prevent Fans from around the World attending? Like I Dunno, how 'bout somebody from Brazil? Not to mention New York which is now Banning 31 States from visiting the Big Apple.

And why is Sports at the insistence of Corporations Greed making Fans need to choose between their Health vs. some few hours of Entertainment when several millions are about to become Evicted, cannot put Food on their tables or are currently Unemployed? Not to mention presumably unable to pay exorbitant Cable TV Bills, Eh?

As suddenly, I find myself very Turned Off towards this year's impending Indy 500! And what the real reason is for necessitating Ye Show Must G-O On! Hurry-Hurry-Hurry! Get your COVID 19 Hot Dogs Here; Oh Never Mind...

MOTO GP: Insane Start to Delayed 2020 Season!

Like thee two Bloody Brit' Commentators, I too was left Speechless...

So without any Doubts, last weekend's Season Opening round at Jerez was absolutely Surreal! Although it was Uber' enjoyable to finally watch; Err listen to a MotoGP race upon Thy Telie', something I haven't done since how many years ago did MotoGP unwisely choose BeIN' Sports as it's TV Partner?

As I'd never heard these two Talking Headz' before and certainly didn't recognize their names, only mentioned once briefly during the build-up to the start of the race. Although they prattled on 'bout it being Gory 245 Days since the last MotoGP race; Aye Karumba!

And you've got to feel for Suzuki's Alex Rins, after waiting impatiently for the last eight months to resume racing, only to go down in a vicious Fall when trying to avoid another Fallen Rider during Quallie!

As Rins suffered a fractured Shoulder and Torn ligaments according to the race Announcers and was definitely Unfit to ride Sunday.

Alex Rins Set to Miss MotoGP Season Opener after Huge Crash

Although I Didn't catch who apparently was the other rider not taking part? Since I swear I heard them claim Thar were only 20 Riders racing...

Fabio Quartararo claimed Pole position with Maverick Top gun' Vinales second and Marcus Pinball Wizard Marquez rounding out the Grid's first Row in P3, with the Announcers Jawing on 'N on about Marquez's Steely look of Determination behind his "Ray Ban" sunglasses...

Strangest bit of the whole race was the Monster Yamaha Factory Boyz', nee Vinales and Thee Doctor', aka Valentino Rossi opting to run the Michelin Soft Front tyre compound, the only two riders on the Grid to do so, which in the 40 degrees Celcius Heat was Definitely the Wrong choice!

Vinales jumped into the lead utilizing Yamaha's new Hole-shot device with Quartararo dropping to third behind Marquez.

Yet El Senor Marquez thought Maverick's pace was too Slow and dually past him and set about trying to break Vinales and the rest of the Grid's Hopes of Defeating Him.

Then in what will possibly be known as the Save of the Season? Marquez unbelievably saved what appeared to be a certain crash in Turn-4 on lap 5, with the entire field believing Marc was Kaput since he was in the Dirt and going Down!

Yet Marquez willed his Repsol Honda Upright upon using his Elbows to keep the bike somehow Upright! And re-gathered himself in P16 before he began Storming his way back to the Sharp end of the Grid, simply Amazing!

Meanwhile Quartararo had passed Vinales for the lead and effectively checked-out on Vinales who was trying to nurse his Soft front Rubber home, whilst Marquez was a rider possessed, A la Jaws! Churning up riders like Chum as he seemed invincible in his quest to thoroughly Demoralize the entire Grid by capturing victory from the Ashes of Defeat!

As he'd target acquisitioned Vinales for second with just a handful 'O laps remaining before the ink fatigable Marquez went Down once again! Yet this time even his Alien-like Skills couldn't prevent him from Crashing Hard! As his rear tyre lost adhesion in Turn-3 as he was intent on gobbling up Vinales!

And the last the Announcers said was that he'd been taken to the Infield Medical Centre in an Ambulance with a Neck brace on and his arm appeared to be in Pain. Ending his Streak of 24 Consecutive Top-2 Finishes!

Marquez suffers Broken Arm in Nasty Race Crash

Thus History was made as Fabio Quartararo, whom the Talking Headz' said was only four months old the last time that the French National Anthem had been played at a MotoGP event won his maiden MotoGP race at Ye Ripe 'Ol Age of 21!

Having been born on April 20th of the very same year of France's last MotoGP victory occurring at the September 1999 Valencian Grand Prix. Won by the presumably Obscure French 500cc Grand Prix rider Regis Laconi, his lone GP500 Victory; CRIKEYS!

Spanish MotoGP Results: Quartararo Wins Race, Marquez Suffers Huge Crash

After scanning the race results, I learned that it was indeed Cal Crutchlow, who I'd heard mentioned briefly during the Broadcast who was the second rider who Did Not Start (DNS) the race. Learning afterwards that he suffered a wrist injury and probable Concussion during the race's morning warm-up session...

Cal Crutchlow surgery Adds to Honda Racing Headache

Whilst Crutchlow and Marquez both underwent Successful Surgery's the same day in Barcelona with Crutchlow hopeful of competing this weekend and Marquez aiming for Bruno, or the following event...

Crutchlow, Rins, Marquez Deemed Medically Fit to Race

As Y'all can check out these El Premiero Kneedraggers this Sunday on Big NBC at 11:30Am Pacific. But as Always, Check Your Local Listings.

MOTO GP: Will 2020 be Known as the Forgotten Season?

Fabio Quartararo appears CURRENTLY to be the Hottest Rider on the MotoGP Grid, who'll presumably notch his maiden MotoGP Victory this Season. But can He or Anybody else stop Marc Marquez? (Image source: visordown.com)

Or just absolutely Plain 'Ol Wacky instead?

Did Y'all find MotoGP on its new Home Peacock Lite', nee NBC Sports last weekend? And did somebody other than Marcus Ye Pinball Wizard' Marquez stand Atop Thee Podium in Spain's Season Opener?

Arse-sumedly it's just Mwah, but! Thanks comca$t! As I'm Gory 86% certain you purposely slotted the MotoGP race coverage to Clash with la Duesh's Formula 1 replay; SIGH!

You Win! As I'm pretty certain the MotoGP race will be far more interesting than another Silver; Err Black Arrows, nee Mercedes victory... 

Obviously we All know how Daunting this year's been for any Motor Racing Series resuming with the Outbreak of the Dreaded COVID 19 Pandemic, which who knows how long it'll remain a central fixture in our lives, Eh? Or how much extra burden it'll place upon the Team's Members or the other various Staffing required to  complete the season.

MotoGP Faces its Toughest Season Ever in 2020

Thus after the season opening round in Qatar was cancelled Wayback on March 8th, MotoGP's dealt with one after another race postponement or outright cancellations, before finally cobbling together this year's 13 Round European Season Starting with a Two-fer' at Jerez.

MOTO GP: 2020 Season Finally Set to Begin

Yet during the elongated Offseason, it seems that the news has predominantly focused upon the 2021 Silly Season Rider Market instead, which began Wayback at the end of January.

On January 29th it was announced that Yamaha had signed Fabio Quartararo as Thee Doctor's, nee Valentino Rossi's replacement beginning in 2021 on a two year contract. Which was followed immediately by signing current Factory Yamahopper' Kneedragger Maverick Top Gun' vinale's to a further two year's extension, effectively leaving Rossi out in Thee Cold so to speak.

How Fabio Quartararo went from Underdog to Yamaha's Top Dog

Since according to Moto Matter's with just three weeks remaining 'til the Season Opening Jerez round July 19th, Rossi and MotoGP title protagonist Dovi', nee Andrea Dovizioso still hadn't signed 2021 contracts.

Money, Power, Expectations:Why Andrea Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi have yet to Make Deals

As Dovizioso was optimistic of answering the Bell at Jerez after having broken his Collar-bone in a MotoX "Warm-up" outing, also three weeks prior to Jerez! For which I've got Zero clue if he did or not - Since I Don't get Up at Bleepity 'Oh Dark-30 No More for Motor Races...

Andrea Dovizioso was Deemed Fit to race in the week leading up to the Season Opening round at Jerez, which is good news since he's one of the few challengers Marquez has on the Grid...

Yet the extended Off-season has been Good News for reigning MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez, who had Shoulder Surgery last year and wasn't sure how close to 100% Fitness he'd be in the early 2020 season's outings. As a Healthy Marquez is not what his competitors were hoping for presumably, Ci?

And whilst Dovizioso's finished Runner-up to Marquez multiple times including last year, other Riders to watch out for besides the aforementioned Yamaha boyz', albeit Quartararo's still racing for the SRT Petronas Satellite Squad. At least he'll have a 2020 Spec Yamaha YZRM1 to challenge Marquez with this year.

You'd have to expect that Suzuki's Alex Rins will be nipping at Marquez & Company's Heels, especially after winning his maiden MotoGP W' last season. And team-mate Joan Mir will hope to continue progressing in his Sophomore campaign.

Otherwise not really sure who else will challenge for the elusive MotoGP Crown Marquez has been Hogging the past several years. Or if LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow can Up His Game in what could be his Swan Song season?

And Pramac Racing's Jack Miller who's bound for one of the Factory Ducati Corse seats next year will obviously wish to impress ahead of the other Duc' Satellite Squads including Johann Zarco, who's Arse-sumedly in a rebuilding mode  at Avintia Racing, since Thar could potentially be a second Factory saddle up for grabs next year?

Rookies

This year three Moto2 lads' have graduated to the Top Class, led by the reigning Moto2 Champion Alex Marquez, Brad Binder and Iker Lecuona.

Presumably everybody knows that Alex Marquez is the younger Brother of reigning Bad Arse MotoGP Champion Marc Pinball Wizard' Marquez, El Correctomundo? As Alex will pilot the #73 Werks' Repsol Honda RC213V alongside Big Bro' Marc.

Although according to much Scuttlebutt, this will most likely be a One 'N Done affair for the foreseeable future, since Alex is another of the myriad 'O Riders to be on the move in 2021...

2021 MotoGP Season: Who's Confirmed, Who's Rumoured

And I cannot recall two brothers ever racing as team-mates in any racing series? But then again I also Don't focus upon that trivial matter. Although perhaps if I think hard enough; Shush! Perhaps the Flying Franchitti Brothers once contested the 12 Hours of Sebring as team-mates in Seester' Andretti Green Racing or Ye Cheepsters', nee Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) Sports Cars?

But I Dunno, since more likely they competed against each other at Sebring, since Dario's younger brother Marino apparently only drove aboard Highcroft Racing Honda's and CGR once in 2014, the year he won Sebring; But I Digress...

Brad Binder Hails from South Africa and was the 2019 Moto2 Championship Runner-up to Alex Marquez. Binder also won the 2016 Moto3 title and steps up as Johann Zarco's replacement at the Factory KTM Squad after having raced in Moto2 for the KTM Tek Twah' (TEch 3) Satellite Squad. As he'll race aboard the No. 33 Red Bull KTM Factory RC16 mount.

Spaniard Iker Lecuona is a total mystery to Mwah, never hearing of him before this year's MotoGP Championship. And I'm not sure why, Hmm? Perhaps he brings a largish cheque? El Sponsorship Dinero, Ci? Since his best season finish in Moto2 was 12th. But Iker will ride the #27 Red Bull KTM Tech 3 Scooter' this season.

Hopefully somebody other than Marc Marquez will become MotoGP Champion this year, although I Don't have any predictions on who'll Dethrone Him, or if it'll Happen? but Who Knows, Eh?