Even though The Boyz’ are Back on the Championship
Trail now…
Yeah, it’s old news over the spate ‘O crashes
during the Sepang Pre-season test prior to going racing at Thailand on March
2nd. As MotoGP seems to be the hardest of the major racing categories for me to
follow, other than “Watching”, Err listening via TruTV, even if my Gory
Freakin’ Cable TV bill just increased again, seriously Spectrum? Right, I keep
forgetting Spectrum’s motto, We Care, chuh-Ching!
Thus we know that thee Martinator’, nee Jorge
Martin crashed heavily and broke His hand and fractured a foot during testing, reportedly
also shattering His helmet’s visor upon landing violently! Requiring surgery to
His right hand to place a screw in a metacarpal. While supposedly His left foot
wasn’t operated on.
As I’d have to say that Moto Matter’s David Emmett
gave the most “clear” observation of what really happened at Sepang during
Martin’s “High-side” crash on Day-1 of testing. Noting how Aprilia Boss Massimo
Rivola’s “Job” is to shield His star rider from media criticism. Blaming Michelin for Jorge’s crash,
while the tyre supplier’s infra-red tyre casing sensor noted Martin’s inside
tyre temperature being lower than prescribed.
Thus I’d agree that Martin simply pushed to
hard too soon on a “cold” Michelin tyre and paid the price for His normal
aggressiveness just an hour into testing…
Meanwhile Aprilia satellite Trackhouse Racing
rider Raul Fernandez also crashed at Sepang on Day-1, breaking a meta carpel in
His hand a la Martin; with no word if both Aprilia crashes were tyre related?
Whilst sadly, one of my many favourite MotoGP
riders, Fabio di Giannantonio broke His collarbone at Sepang when doing a
“Wheelie” that went wrong, Butterfingers!
All three riders underwent immediate surgery in
Europe. With both Martin and di Giannantonio skipping the final Pre-season test
on February 10-12 at the Chang International Circuit in order to be fit for the
season opener. While Trackhouse confirmed that Fernandez would attempt to take
part in the final test at Buriran, in order to get more valuable “Saddle”, Err
Seat-time.
Whilst I’ve no idea how long di Giannantonio’s
injury recovery time will be? Although Arse-sume He’ll be racing with a
titanium plate or hardware attached to His damaged collarbone in order to
resume racing…
Then on the Monday preceding the season opener
Thailand MotoGP race, Martin injured Himself again in a training accident. This
time suffering multiple fractures to His left hand, including the thumb carpal!
Thus Jorge needed further surgery to repair His
broken wrist. And was set to miss at least the Thailand race with test rider Lorenzo
Savadori replacing Him. Although I don’t see how Martin will be suitably
recovered for the Argentina round a Fortnight later.
Having been away on Holiday once again, Groan!
During both the Thai and Argentine Grands Prix, obviously I don’t know the
current health status of these three riders, albeit Martin seems the most
doubtful to have raced yet?
Whilst naturally, I Arse-sume that di
Giannantonio and Fernandez have been competing, and that Ducati as typical has
won the first two rounds at Thailand and Argentina. Presumably an intra-team
scrum between Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia and Marc Marquez. For which are Emmett’s
choice for who’ll win this year’s MotoGP title. As talk about going out on a
limb with that prediction…
And will this weekend’s U.S. Grand Prix at
Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) see Ye Pinball Wizard’, nee Marc Marquez return
to His throne as King of COTA, now that He’s once again on a fully competitive
Scooter’, having crushed the competition so far!
Whilst in my absence, Jorge Martin divulged the Thursday prior to the Argentine GP that His recovery was taking longer then expected. And that not only would He not compete in Argentina, but would also definitely miss the COTA round. Along with prossibly the following Qatar Grand Prix. Which I’m guessing He’ll miss. Meaning theMartinator’ will presumably miss at least the first four rounds of this year’s MotoGP Championship, scuttling His title defense…
