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MotoAmerica: More On How Junior Cup Race Two Was Handled (With Video)
First Person/Opinion:
By Frank Angel
Thanks for posting David Swarts’ opinion piece discussing the eventful conclusion of MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race 2 at Road Atlanta. I have comments to add on the decision of Race Direction that ultimately docked competitors two places, resulting in demoting Kayla Yaakov to third place, Gus Rodio to fourth place and Cody Wyman to fifth. In the interest of full disclosure, I share the Race Director position with ASRA and CCS for the Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions with Phil Sberna, and I’m the Chief Technical Officer for the Florida region, which includes Daytona and formerly the Daytona 200. I am also the data tech and a crew member for Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK competing in the Junior Cup and Twins Cup classes.
As everyone knows by now, in the final turns of the race, standing yellow flags were displayed warning riders of danger ahead beside the track. This was caused by a rider behind the leaders crashing in turn 10a. The flags were seen by some of the riders, but not by all, as they were in a pack that was five riders wide going into the turn. Several riders made passes before the green flag near turn 11, which was the infraction. Rule 1.16.2.a.2 presents the basis for the decision by Race Direction. It states that overtaking is forbidden up until the point where the green flag was waved. Our understanding at the time, reinforced by statements made by the FIM Safety Officer at a meeting after the race, was that the green flag was waved at Turn 10b. Accordingly, we believed that Gus did not overtake anyone from Turn 9 through Turn 10a, but did overtake exiting Turn 10b.
After the decision was handed down to dock the top three finishers, representatives of the teams involved went to the track tower to get clarification from Race Direction. Kayla was represented by David Yaakov and George Nassaney; Gus was represented by Kevin Rodio and myself; and Cody Wyman was represented by Bob Wyman. We were greeted at the meeting by FIM Safety Officer Dan Argano and Rider Representative Michael Martin. The attitude exhibited by the FIM Safety Officer was immediately confrontational; we were told that the decision could not be protested and that the decision was final. The discussion went further confrontational when Argano responded to Kevin Rodio’s request to view the video by asking if Kevin was accusing him of lying! At this point Michael Martin intervened to attempt to defuse the situation, to his credit. We were not permitted to view video that would have been instrumental in our understanding of the situation either at that time or at the conclusion of racing for the day. The meeting concluded with the FIM Safety Officer stating that he had other races to run and had to leave. Before we left, AMA Representative Ken Sailant brought us the regulation that confirmed that change of position could not be protested. Rule 1.21.a states that riders must obey flag signals, and that they may be penalized according to the provisions of rule 1.21.b. I emphasize the word “may” because in that very same meeting with Race Direction it was used to explain another regulation unrelated to this incident. In other words, the wording was used in one case to support a decision, but in this case it was essentially ignored.
Rule 1.21.b sets forth possible penalties for infringement of flag signals. These include fine, drop of position(s), ride-through, time penalty, drop of any number of grid positions at the rider’s next race, disqualification, withdrawal of Championship points, and suspension or any other penalty at the discretion of Race Direction. Race Direction elected to use one of the more punitive penalties in this case. The claim that Race Direction had no choice in the matter but had to enforce the Regulations, as made by the FIM Safety Officer in our meeting, simply isn’t true. In my opinion, MotoAmerica needs to take a hard look at the attitude of Race Direction. Teams should be treated with respect in meetings that are intended to gain understanding of a ruling, not confronted in a manner that is unprofessional and intended to intimidate. Legitimate inquiries must not be viewed as accusing any official of not telling the truth. Anything else is to the detriment of the sport.
I’ve heard rumblings that my position on this incident is a direct result of MotoAmerica’s takeover of the Daytona 200. Nothing is farther from the truth, I’m a realist and I understand that MotoAmerica has resources and relationships that ASRA simply can’t compete with. I am not bitter about the Daytona 200, in fact I wish that MotoAmerica can carry on where ASRA left off and bring the race back to former glory. ASRA made good strides in that regard, and I’m proud of my small involvement to keep the race alive when it wasn’t wanted on the MotoAmerica schedule.
My mentor Phil Sberna is the most honest and thoughtful man I know in racing, always considering what is fair above all. Whenever I am in a situation faced with a tough decision, I always ask myself “What would Phil do?” That has served me well in the past and will remain with me.
I don’t know what I would have decided in this case, the position of Race Director is not an easy one. That said, the magnitude of taking away hard-earned podium positions from young racers who have learned a different protocol for passing under a standing yellow, the visibility of flags throughout the incident, and other factors cannot be underestimated and I would have considered them all.
What I do know is that I would have asked myself the question that is the bedrock of my commitment to fairness, “What would Phil do?”, and maybe I would have decided differently.
FIM Rulebooks: “All Flags Are Presented Waved”
During the recent discussion of the end of MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta, four riders were penalized for passing in a corner where a stationary yellow flag was displayed.
This was confusing to some because most racers in America have been taught for years that it is OK to pass under a stationary yellow flag and it is NOT OK to pass under a waving yellow flag.
MotoAmerica, however, operates under rules and regulations written by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)/FIM North America and much of the MotoAmerica rule book was essentially cut and pasted from the FIM Superbike, Supersport & Supersport 300 World Championship rule book.
This was initially done at the beginning of MotoAmerica in 2015 to streamline technical rules in America with the World Championships to allow parts manufacturers to produce one set of parts that were legal for both racing series, reducing costs, and to prepare American racers by teaching them International racing procedures.
But in the case of yellow flags, MotoAmerica’s rules are not only different from what racers in America have been taught, they are also different than the current World Championship regulations.
The 2022 MotoAmerica AMA Road Racing Series/FIM North America Championship Regulations states in Section 1.16.2.a.2.: “A standing yellow flag at the flag marshal post indicates that there is a danger ahead beside the track. Riders must exercise caution (and) overtaking is forbidden up until the point where the green flag is waved.”
Section 1.16.2.a.3 then reads: “Waving yellow flag at the flag marshal post indicates that there is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track, or other high-risk situation. Riders must slow down and be prepared to stop. Overtaking is forbidden from the first yellow flag up until the point where the green flag is waved. Any infringement of this rules during a practice session will result in the cancellation of the time of the lap during the infraction occurred.”
Both the FIM World Championship Grand Prix Regulations and the FIM Superbike, Supersport & Supersport 300 World Championships Regulations have a section (1.22 in the Grand Prix rule book and 1.23 in the Superbike rule book) on Flags and Lights that include the following statement: “All flags are presented waved.” As in not stationary!
Further, in Section 1.22.2 (Grand Prix) and 1.23.2 (Superbike) labeled Flags Which Convey Information and Instructions – Yellow Flag, it reads, in part: “A single yellow flag waved at the flag marshal post indicates that there is a danger ahead beside the track.
“Two yellow flags waved together at the flag marshal post indicate that there is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track.
“The waving of a single or a double yellow flag does not signify a degree of danger, but only the location of the incident.
“The riders must slow down and proceed with caution. During practice and warm up sessions, the lap time of riders passing a yellow flag(s) will be cancelled.
“During a race, overtaking is forbidden up until the point where the green flag is waved.
“An infringement of this rule will result in a penalty.”
Monterey County Approves Funding To Repave Laguna Seca
Monterey County Board of Supervisors Approve Funding for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Improvements
MONTEREY, Calif., April 28, 2022 – The Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved $9.7 million in funding for crucial repairs at the legendary WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca, the only major track in the United States that is government owned.
Work that will be done includes resurfacing the iconic track and replacing the Start/Finish Bridge.
Late last year, the Board approved $450,000 for the design work for these projects. The County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department and the County’s Laguna Seca Recreation Area management firm, A&D Narigi Consulting LLC., are working with design consultants to complete plans, formalize the bid package, and acquire any necessary permits. Plans are to have the work completed in time for the 2023 racing season.
The financing for the project is composed of available Laguna Seca Enterprise Fund balance, some unassigned General Fund balance, a County-funded loan that will be paid back through Transient Occupancy Tax revenue over the next several years, and income from sponsorships.
“Laguna Seca has been an asset to our county and an asset to our region because events there bring in major revenue and they do keep people working in restaurants, hotels and other tourism related businesses,” says Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo. “This is an amount less than
$10 million that we have delayed for so long, we have kicked the can down the road. We know that with some recent litigation, it’s only a matter of time before there is an injury that would cost us millions of dollars by neglecting our duty to do this maintenance.”
Supervisor Mary Adams, whose district includes the raceway, supported the project funding as an investment not only for safety but in Monterey County’s tourism industry.
“The track has been neglected far too long, and if we are going to continue to compete in the world market of racing where we get international coverage, and that international coverage is what brings people to our county.”
Included in the approval is a plan for setting aside future Laguna Seca Recreation Area earnings into a special capital projects fund to prepare for future capital needs.
Rossi Racing His Audi This Weekend At Brands Hatch
TEAM WRT’s ASSAULT TO THIRD SPRINT CUP TITLE IN A ROW STARTS AT BRANDS HATCH
28 April, 2022
One month after the Endurance Cup, it’s time also for the Sprint Cup, the other series under the umbrella of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, to open its 2022 season. Hosting the season-opener is one of the most legendary tracks, Brands Hatch. Team WRT has set for itself the goal of winning a third consecutive double title in the Sprint Cup and fields in the competition four Audi R8 LMS.
Brands Hatch has the magic of old master crafts preserved throughout the decades: the 4.207 km track in Kent, one of the most iconic tracks, has kept not only its essence but also the atmosphere of times gone. It remains a very challenging and treacherous circuit, loved by drivers and fans alike. Team WRT has a special bond with it, given the so many good memories, which include no less than six race wins (of which two double) in the 7 visits made by SRO-organized GT3 competitions.
The objective this weekend will be to perpetuate the tradition and to have a good start to the new Sprint Cup season, after having won the Endurance Cup season-opener at Imola. In the Sprint Cup, the Belgian squad enters four cars, three in the Pro class, for reigning champions Dries Vanthoor-Charles Weerts, Valentino Rossi-Frédéric Vervisch and Christopher Mies-Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, and one in the Silver Cup, for Benjamin Goethe-Thomas Neubauer.
Ahead of crossing the Channel, Team WRT Principal Vincent Vosse said: “Brands Hatch is one of my favorite circuits. It’s probably the opinion of an ‘old driver’, but I am glad to see that it is shared by many young drivers! Of course, an old-fashioned track means more risks and more incidents: mistakes in such tracks are paid cash! It’s also a track where we have been quite successful in the past. This year, I expect the Mercedes to be very competitive, but the important thing is not to do mistakes, on track and at pit stops, and to score heavy points to start well in the Sprint Cup. We know we have what it takes to do so. The pressure will be on us and we like that…”
Dries Vanthoor: “Brands Hatch brings back good memories. It’s there that we won the Sprint title last year. This time, it’s the start of the new season, and I’m glad to get going for another one together with Charles and the whole squad. It’s been one month since I raced, it seems a long time, and I look forward to being on a nice, cool and old-school track. I feel very motivated to go for another title.”
Charles Weerts: “I look forward to the start of another Sprint campaign, hopefully, we can reiterate the great form of the last two years and try to win a third title in a row. For sure, it won’t be easy, given also the level of competition, but I am convinced that with hard work and the dedication we have shown in the last two years, we will definitely be in contention. Let’s start in the best possible way.”
Benjamin Goethe: “I am excited a new Sprint season is underway at Brands Hatch, a very old-school track. I raced there last year, I know what it is and I enjoyed it a lot. Hopefully, we can get a good result and get the Sprint season off to a good start.”
Thomas Neubauer: “I have terrific memories of Brands Hatch, where I did my debut in GT3 and in the GTWCE back in 2019. We actually won Race 1, it was a very big and good surprise, so I am very much looking forward to being there again, with Team WRT, and hopefully, we can repeat the success.”
Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer: “I really look forward to this first round of the Sprint Cup and I am very happy to be associated with Christopher. He is a very strong driver and I am sure I can learn a lot from him.””
Christopher Mies: “I am looking forward to be racing again at Brands Hatch, with Team WRT and Jean-Baptiste, a young talented guy. Brands Hatch is one of the best tracks in the world: small, with ups and downs, a real roller-coaster, and a drivers’ circuit. I hope we can have a great weekend.”
Frédéric Vervisch: “We had a good debut in the Endurance Cup, I hope we can do the same in the Sprint Cup. It’s always nice to go to a cool track like Brands and although Vale has never raced there, I think it will suit him well and he has already proven that he is quick, so let’s continue building on all the positives.”
Valentino Rossi: “It will be the first sprint race of my career, as I never drove on such a format before. One needs to be faster and adopt a different mindset from endurance racing. We also need to be perfect in the pit stop not to lose time. It will also be my first race in Brands Hatch, it’s a very difficult and technical track, with a lot of blind spots. It won’t be easy but we’ll give the maximum and I am anxious to be thefe and work with Fred and the entire team.”
Fanatec World GT Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Sprint Cup Rd. 1
Brands Hatch, United Kingdom – 30 April – 1st May 2022
Timetable (UK = CEST – 1)
Saturday 30 April 2022
09:00-10:00 Free Practice
12:25-13:25 Pre-Qualifying
15:50-16:40 Qualifying
Sunday 1st May 2022
11:25-12:25 Race 1
16:45-17:45 Race 2
Team WRT entries (Audi R8 LMS)
#30 Benjamin Goethe (DE) – Thomas Neubauer (FR) Silver
#32 Dries Vanthoor (BE) – Charles Weerts (BE) Pro
#33 Christopher Mies (DE) – Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (FR) Pro
#46 Frédéric Vervisch (BE) – Valentino Rossi (IT) Pro
MotoGP: Riders Reveal A Lot During Pre-Race Press Conference At Jerez
“The level is so high!”: Jerez set to serve up another stunner
Quartararo, Rins, Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez gear up for the Gran Premio Red Bull de España
Thursday, 28 April 2022
Catch your breath, because it’s already time to suit up for the Gran Premio Red Bull de España! Ahead of track action there was plenty to talk about in the pre-event Press Conference, with Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) joined by Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who is equal on points with the Frenchman but doesn’t (yet?) have that first win of the year, as well as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) as the number 41 remains a close third. Eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed the line-up in Jerez, aka his first home Grand Prix of the year.
QUOTES
How important was the first win to kickstart your title defence?
Fabio Quartararo: “It was an important moment. It was great for us to basically not have a lot of dry track, because we know that our base is very similar to last year. Straight away, I was able to be fast, and in the race, to make a 39.4 on Lap 3 was quite important. Of course, to fight for the victory after the tough start to the season is always great, and it’s even greater when you have back-to-back races, and I am at one of my favourite tracks.”
Do you feel a sense of payback is coming this weekend after last year’s arm pump problem?
FQ20: “Payback, I will say no, because basically it was not an issue with the bike, it was an issue from my side. I would say that I am arriving much more prepared. The surgery I had last year was perfect, so of course I feel we can go super-fast but we need to work on a normal weekend. I feel we have the potential to fight for the victory but we need do it step-by-step, first Friday and then we will see our speed.”
What do you hope your manufacturer will bring to Monday’s test?
FQ20: “I hope horsepower. To be honest, I feel super great on the bike. We can always find a little bit more, but the big thing we need to find is horsepower. I have not spoken to them about the test, but I think we have one swingarm and a few electronics things to test, but do not have much information about Monday.”
It was an incredible first lap in Portugal…
Alex Rins: “For sure it was not that easy to recover all those positions. We were lucky that I took the outside line and I was able to recover a lot of positions. I also took a risk because, usually, you can see some riders entering the first corner and going wide. So we were lucky that nobody was going wide and this one allowed me to keep with the same line and to arrive into the next corner. Then I released a little bit the brakes and I made some more good positions. It gives me good confidence. We are at a track that I really like. Last year, we had a small crash at Turn 6, so I did the race with just one wing. The pace was not that bad, so let’s see. Let’s see what awaits us this weekend and let’s try to do the same as last weekend.”
Fans return this weekend to Jerez:
AR42: “It’s nice. Yesterday I was cycling around the circuit and I saw some fans with their motorbikes, with their campers, making some noise, some sound. This is super good and for sure this is one of the tracks that a lot of riders will be fast at. It’s the first GP in Spain, so it will be difficult. Also, the level that we have in MotoGP is high this year. We will try to give our 110%!”
What are you expecting from Monday’s test?
AR42: “We don’t have many things to test. Just some electronic items, some suspension settings. Not many things to try. I don’t know exactly because I’m focusing on this weekend. If we have something that can help us now, I’d want to put it on tomorrow. So I prefer not to know.”
How satisfied are you to have taken 66 points from the opening five Grands Prix?
Aleix Espargaro: “I feel good, I’m really enjoying this season. Already in pre-season, I felt quite good with the bike. It was not easy to imagine that I would be able to reach this level, but I’m very happy, working and enjoying it a lot every time I go on-track. We know we have to improve in some areas, but overall, I’m satisfied, I feel good with the bike, and I can’t wait to go out on-track tomorrow in FP1 to see how the bike reacts in Jerez. Last season here was very good for us, we were quite close to the podium and the victory, so I hope with this year’s bike, that improves quite a lot, and we can be even more competitive.”
You must be really optimistic that you’ve got a great chance to get a podium on Sunday?
AE41: “Yes I am, but this year things have changed a lot for us, but also for the rest of the riders on the grid. The level is very high, and we know how tough this category is. I remember that in FP3 here last season, there were just three or four tenths covering 15 riders, so it’s going to be difficult, and it’s going to be very important to be focused from FP1. With the system of having the first three sessions to be in the top 10, we know it’s very important, and every session will count. I’m just trying to enjoy it from Lap 1 tomorrow morning, and see how prepared we can be on Sunday.”
What do you hope Aprilia has been working on in Noale for the test?
AE41: “We have quite a lot of things to try. Sincerely, I don’t know if we will have enough time on Monday because, for the engineers, everything is just an action, so they can put 100 laps, but we are not machines. Lorenzo Savadori is racing here again, like in Portimao. His bike is quite different to Maverick’s and mine, so hopefully everything he tries and feels is interesting, we will be able to try on Monday. But, it’s important to not lose the focus that the base of the bike is quite good. It’s always good to try to improve, there is always room to improve, but we have to be very careful as well.”
Thoughts from last weekend?
Marc Marquez: “We were far, too far in Portimao. You see sixth position and think not bad. But we were too far from the podium and from the victory. We struggled a lot in the race but anyway we will try to find a way to be faster here in Jerez. Of course, we have some ideas already to try. Not only for the bike but also for myself. I need to keep improving and we are working on it. We will see how we start in FP1 and from that point we can start to understand our performance this weekend.”
How soon can you find the improvements you need?
MM93: “This is the big question. It’s true that it’s a bike that in big circuits it’s working really well like we saw in pre-season in Malaysia and then in Qatar. But as soon as we arrive at a small circuit and you need to turn in a short time, that is where we struggle a lot. That’s where we need to understand some more. The solution is close or far? We don’t know, we don’t know. The potential is there. I believe the potential is there. But we need to find a way how to take profit from that potential.”
What do you expect from Monday’s test?
MM93: “We are in a different situation. My Monday test starts tomorrow. We will start with some things tomorrow, not new items. They have a good base and they are fighting for the championship for that reason. When you have a good base, you are able to be fast everywhere. That’s where we need to work. Try to find, first of all, a base where we feel comfortable. From that point, we can start to try new things.”
MotoE: Granado Goes Quickest During FP2 At Jerez
Moto2: Dixon P1, Beaubier Top American At P6 In FP1 At Jerez
MotoGP: Mir Leads Suzuki 1-2 In FP1 At Jerez
Moto3: Deniz Oncu Leads FP1 At Jerez
MotoE: Pons Tops FP1 At Jerez
MotoAmerica: More On How Junior Cup Race Two Was Handled (With Video)
First Person/Opinion:
By Frank Angel
Thanks for posting David Swarts’ opinion piece discussing the eventful conclusion of MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race 2 at Road Atlanta. I have comments to add on the decision of Race Direction that ultimately docked competitors two places, resulting in demoting Kayla Yaakov to third place, Gus Rodio to fourth place and Cody Wyman to fifth. In the interest of full disclosure, I share the Race Director position with ASRA and CCS for the Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions with Phil Sberna, and I’m the Chief Technical Officer for the Florida region, which includes Daytona and formerly the Daytona 200. I am also the data tech and a crew member for Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK competing in the Junior Cup and Twins Cup classes.
As everyone knows by now, in the final turns of the race, standing yellow flags were displayed warning riders of danger ahead beside the track. This was caused by a rider behind the leaders crashing in turn 10a. The flags were seen by some of the riders, but not by all, as they were in a pack that was five riders wide going into the turn. Several riders made passes before the green flag near turn 11, which was the infraction. Rule 1.16.2.a.2 presents the basis for the decision by Race Direction. It states that overtaking is forbidden up until the point where the green flag was waved. Our understanding at the time, reinforced by statements made by the FIM Safety Officer at a meeting after the race, was that the green flag was waved at Turn 10b. Accordingly, we believed that Gus did not overtake anyone from Turn 9 through Turn 10a, but did overtake exiting Turn 10b.
After the decision was handed down to dock the top three finishers, representatives of the teams involved went to the track tower to get clarification from Race Direction. Kayla was represented by David Yaakov and George Nassaney; Gus was represented by Kevin Rodio and myself; and Cody Wyman was represented by Bob Wyman. We were greeted at the meeting by FIM Safety Officer Dan Argano and Rider Representative Michael Martin. The attitude exhibited by the FIM Safety Officer was immediately confrontational; we were told that the decision could not be protested and that the decision was final. The discussion went further confrontational when Argano responded to Kevin Rodio’s request to view the video by asking if Kevin was accusing him of lying! At this point Michael Martin intervened to attempt to defuse the situation, to his credit. We were not permitted to view video that would have been instrumental in our understanding of the situation either at that time or at the conclusion of racing for the day. The meeting concluded with the FIM Safety Officer stating that he had other races to run and had to leave. Before we left, AMA Representative Ken Sailant brought us the regulation that confirmed that change of position could not be protested. Rule 1.21.a states that riders must obey flag signals, and that they may be penalized according to the provisions of rule 1.21.b. I emphasize the word “may” because in that very same meeting with Race Direction it was used to explain another regulation unrelated to this incident. In other words, the wording was used in one case to support a decision, but in this case it was essentially ignored.
Rule 1.21.b sets forth possible penalties for infringement of flag signals. These include fine, drop of position(s), ride-through, time penalty, drop of any number of grid positions at the rider’s next race, disqualification, withdrawal of Championship points, and suspension or any other penalty at the discretion of Race Direction. Race Direction elected to use one of the more punitive penalties in this case. The claim that Race Direction had no choice in the matter but had to enforce the Regulations, as made by the FIM Safety Officer in our meeting, simply isn’t true. In my opinion, MotoAmerica needs to take a hard look at the attitude of Race Direction. Teams should be treated with respect in meetings that are intended to gain understanding of a ruling, not confronted in a manner that is unprofessional and intended to intimidate. Legitimate inquiries must not be viewed as accusing any official of not telling the truth. Anything else is to the detriment of the sport.
I’ve heard rumblings that my position on this incident is a direct result of MotoAmerica’s takeover of the Daytona 200. Nothing is farther from the truth, I’m a realist and I understand that MotoAmerica has resources and relationships that ASRA simply can’t compete with. I am not bitter about the Daytona 200, in fact I wish that MotoAmerica can carry on where ASRA left off and bring the race back to former glory. ASRA made good strides in that regard, and I’m proud of my small involvement to keep the race alive when it wasn’t wanted on the MotoAmerica schedule.
My mentor Phil Sberna is the most honest and thoughtful man I know in racing, always considering what is fair above all. Whenever I am in a situation faced with a tough decision, I always ask myself “What would Phil do?” That has served me well in the past and will remain with me.
I don’t know what I would have decided in this case, the position of Race Director is not an easy one. That said, the magnitude of taking away hard-earned podium positions from young racers who have learned a different protocol for passing under a standing yellow, the visibility of flags throughout the incident, and other factors cannot be underestimated and I would have considered them all.
What I do know is that I would have asked myself the question that is the bedrock of my commitment to fairness, “What would Phil do?”, and maybe I would have decided differently.
FIM Rulebooks: “All Flags Are Presented Waved”
During the recent discussion of the end of MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta, four riders were penalized for passing in a corner where a stationary yellow flag was displayed.
This was confusing to some because most racers in America have been taught for years that it is OK to pass under a stationary yellow flag and it is NOT OK to pass under a waving yellow flag.
MotoAmerica, however, operates under rules and regulations written by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)/FIM North America and much of the MotoAmerica rule book was essentially cut and pasted from the FIM Superbike, Supersport & Supersport 300 World Championship rule book.
This was initially done at the beginning of MotoAmerica in 2015 to streamline technical rules in America with the World Championships to allow parts manufacturers to produce one set of parts that were legal for both racing series, reducing costs, and to prepare American racers by teaching them International racing procedures.
But in the case of yellow flags, MotoAmerica’s rules are not only different from what racers in America have been taught, they are also different than the current World Championship regulations.
The 2022 MotoAmerica AMA Road Racing Series/FIM North America Championship Regulations states in Section 1.16.2.a.2.: “A standing yellow flag at the flag marshal post indicates that there is a danger ahead beside the track. Riders must exercise caution (and) overtaking is forbidden up until the point where the green flag is waved.”
Section 1.16.2.a.3 then reads: “Waving yellow flag at the flag marshal post indicates that there is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track, or other high-risk situation. Riders must slow down and be prepared to stop. Overtaking is forbidden from the first yellow flag up until the point where the green flag is waved. Any infringement of this rules during a practice session will result in the cancellation of the time of the lap during the infraction occurred.”
Both the FIM World Championship Grand Prix Regulations and the FIM Superbike, Supersport & Supersport 300 World Championships Regulations have a section (1.22 in the Grand Prix rule book and 1.23 in the Superbike rule book) on Flags and Lights that include the following statement: “All flags are presented waved.” As in not stationary!
Further, in Section 1.22.2 (Grand Prix) and 1.23.2 (Superbike) labeled Flags Which Convey Information and Instructions – Yellow Flag, it reads, in part: “A single yellow flag waved at the flag marshal post indicates that there is a danger ahead beside the track.
“Two yellow flags waved together at the flag marshal post indicate that there is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track.
“The waving of a single or a double yellow flag does not signify a degree of danger, but only the location of the incident.
“The riders must slow down and proceed with caution. During practice and warm up sessions, the lap time of riders passing a yellow flag(s) will be cancelled.
“During a race, overtaking is forbidden up until the point where the green flag is waved.
“An infringement of this rule will result in a penalty.”
Monterey County Approves Funding To Repave Laguna Seca
Monterey County Board of Supervisors Approve Funding for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Improvements
MONTEREY, Calif., April 28, 2022 – The Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved $9.7 million in funding for crucial repairs at the legendary WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca, the only major track in the United States that is government owned.
Work that will be done includes resurfacing the iconic track and replacing the Start/Finish Bridge.
Late last year, the Board approved $450,000 for the design work for these projects. The County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department and the County’s Laguna Seca Recreation Area management firm, A&D Narigi Consulting LLC., are working with design consultants to complete plans, formalize the bid package, and acquire any necessary permits. Plans are to have the work completed in time for the 2023 racing season.
The financing for the project is composed of available Laguna Seca Enterprise Fund balance, some unassigned General Fund balance, a County-funded loan that will be paid back through Transient Occupancy Tax revenue over the next several years, and income from sponsorships.
“Laguna Seca has been an asset to our county and an asset to our region because events there bring in major revenue and they do keep people working in restaurants, hotels and other tourism related businesses,” says Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo. “This is an amount less than
$10 million that we have delayed for so long, we have kicked the can down the road. We know that with some recent litigation, it’s only a matter of time before there is an injury that would cost us millions of dollars by neglecting our duty to do this maintenance.”
Supervisor Mary Adams, whose district includes the raceway, supported the project funding as an investment not only for safety but in Monterey County’s tourism industry.
“The track has been neglected far too long, and if we are going to continue to compete in the world market of racing where we get international coverage, and that international coverage is what brings people to our county.”
Included in the approval is a plan for setting aside future Laguna Seca Recreation Area earnings into a special capital projects fund to prepare for future capital needs.
Rossi Racing His Audi This Weekend At Brands Hatch
TEAM WRT’s ASSAULT TO THIRD SPRINT CUP TITLE IN A ROW STARTS AT BRANDS HATCH
28 April, 2022
One month after the Endurance Cup, it’s time also for the Sprint Cup, the other series under the umbrella of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, to open its 2022 season. Hosting the season-opener is one of the most legendary tracks, Brands Hatch. Team WRT has set for itself the goal of winning a third consecutive double title in the Sprint Cup and fields in the competition four Audi R8 LMS.
Brands Hatch has the magic of old master crafts preserved throughout the decades: the 4.207 km track in Kent, one of the most iconic tracks, has kept not only its essence but also the atmosphere of times gone. It remains a very challenging and treacherous circuit, loved by drivers and fans alike. Team WRT has a special bond with it, given the so many good memories, which include no less than six race wins (of which two double) in the 7 visits made by SRO-organized GT3 competitions.
The objective this weekend will be to perpetuate the tradition and to have a good start to the new Sprint Cup season, after having won the Endurance Cup season-opener at Imola. In the Sprint Cup, the Belgian squad enters four cars, three in the Pro class, for reigning champions Dries Vanthoor-Charles Weerts, Valentino Rossi-Frédéric Vervisch and Christopher Mies-Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, and one in the Silver Cup, for Benjamin Goethe-Thomas Neubauer.
Ahead of crossing the Channel, Team WRT Principal Vincent Vosse said: “Brands Hatch is one of my favorite circuits. It’s probably the opinion of an ‘old driver’, but I am glad to see that it is shared by many young drivers! Of course, an old-fashioned track means more risks and more incidents: mistakes in such tracks are paid cash! It’s also a track where we have been quite successful in the past. This year, I expect the Mercedes to be very competitive, but the important thing is not to do mistakes, on track and at pit stops, and to score heavy points to start well in the Sprint Cup. We know we have what it takes to do so. The pressure will be on us and we like that…”
Dries Vanthoor: “Brands Hatch brings back good memories. It’s there that we won the Sprint title last year. This time, it’s the start of the new season, and I’m glad to get going for another one together with Charles and the whole squad. It’s been one month since I raced, it seems a long time, and I look forward to being on a nice, cool and old-school track. I feel very motivated to go for another title.”
Charles Weerts: “I look forward to the start of another Sprint campaign, hopefully, we can reiterate the great form of the last two years and try to win a third title in a row. For sure, it won’t be easy, given also the level of competition, but I am convinced that with hard work and the dedication we have shown in the last two years, we will definitely be in contention. Let’s start in the best possible way.”
Benjamin Goethe: “I am excited a new Sprint season is underway at Brands Hatch, a very old-school track. I raced there last year, I know what it is and I enjoyed it a lot. Hopefully, we can get a good result and get the Sprint season off to a good start.”
Thomas Neubauer: “I have terrific memories of Brands Hatch, where I did my debut in GT3 and in the GTWCE back in 2019. We actually won Race 1, it was a very big and good surprise, so I am very much looking forward to being there again, with Team WRT, and hopefully, we can repeat the success.”
Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer: “I really look forward to this first round of the Sprint Cup and I am very happy to be associated with Christopher. He is a very strong driver and I am sure I can learn a lot from him.””
Christopher Mies: “I am looking forward to be racing again at Brands Hatch, with Team WRT and Jean-Baptiste, a young talented guy. Brands Hatch is one of the best tracks in the world: small, with ups and downs, a real roller-coaster, and a drivers’ circuit. I hope we can have a great weekend.”
Frédéric Vervisch: “We had a good debut in the Endurance Cup, I hope we can do the same in the Sprint Cup. It’s always nice to go to a cool track like Brands and although Vale has never raced there, I think it will suit him well and he has already proven that he is quick, so let’s continue building on all the positives.”
Valentino Rossi: “It will be the first sprint race of my career, as I never drove on such a format before. One needs to be faster and adopt a different mindset from endurance racing. We also need to be perfect in the pit stop not to lose time. It will also be my first race in Brands Hatch, it’s a very difficult and technical track, with a lot of blind spots. It won’t be easy but we’ll give the maximum and I am anxious to be thefe and work with Fred and the entire team.”
Fanatec World GT Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Sprint Cup Rd. 1
Brands Hatch, United Kingdom – 30 April – 1st May 2022
Timetable (UK = CEST – 1)
Saturday 30 April 2022
09:00-10:00 Free Practice
12:25-13:25 Pre-Qualifying
15:50-16:40 Qualifying
Sunday 1st May 2022
11:25-12:25 Race 1
16:45-17:45 Race 2
Team WRT entries (Audi R8 LMS)
#30 Benjamin Goethe (DE) – Thomas Neubauer (FR) Silver
#32 Dries Vanthoor (BE) – Charles Weerts (BE) Pro
#33 Christopher Mies (DE) – Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (FR) Pro
#46 Frédéric Vervisch (BE) – Valentino Rossi (IT) Pro
MotoGP: Riders Reveal A Lot During Pre-Race Press Conference At Jerez
“The level is so high!”: Jerez set to serve up another stunner
Quartararo, Rins, Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez gear up for the Gran Premio Red Bull de España
Thursday, 28 April 2022
Catch your breath, because it’s already time to suit up for the Gran Premio Red Bull de España! Ahead of track action there was plenty to talk about in the pre-event Press Conference, with Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) joined by Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who is equal on points with the Frenchman but doesn’t (yet?) have that first win of the year, as well as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) as the number 41 remains a close third. Eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed the line-up in Jerez, aka his first home Grand Prix of the year.
QUOTES
How important was the first win to kickstart your title defence?
Fabio Quartararo: “It was an important moment. It was great for us to basically not have a lot of dry track, because we know that our base is very similar to last year. Straight away, I was able to be fast, and in the race, to make a 39.4 on Lap 3 was quite important. Of course, to fight for the victory after the tough start to the season is always great, and it’s even greater when you have back-to-back races, and I am at one of my favourite tracks.”
Do you feel a sense of payback is coming this weekend after last year’s arm pump problem?
FQ20: “Payback, I will say no, because basically it was not an issue with the bike, it was an issue from my side. I would say that I am arriving much more prepared. The surgery I had last year was perfect, so of course I feel we can go super-fast but we need to work on a normal weekend. I feel we have the potential to fight for the victory but we need do it step-by-step, first Friday and then we will see our speed.”
What do you hope your manufacturer will bring to Monday’s test?
FQ20: “I hope horsepower. To be honest, I feel super great on the bike. We can always find a little bit more, but the big thing we need to find is horsepower. I have not spoken to them about the test, but I think we have one swingarm and a few electronics things to test, but do not have much information about Monday.”
It was an incredible first lap in Portugal…
Alex Rins: “For sure it was not that easy to recover all those positions. We were lucky that I took the outside line and I was able to recover a lot of positions. I also took a risk because, usually, you can see some riders entering the first corner and going wide. So we were lucky that nobody was going wide and this one allowed me to keep with the same line and to arrive into the next corner. Then I released a little bit the brakes and I made some more good positions. It gives me good confidence. We are at a track that I really like. Last year, we had a small crash at Turn 6, so I did the race with just one wing. The pace was not that bad, so let’s see. Let’s see what awaits us this weekend and let’s try to do the same as last weekend.”
Fans return this weekend to Jerez:
AR42: “It’s nice. Yesterday I was cycling around the circuit and I saw some fans with their motorbikes, with their campers, making some noise, some sound. This is super good and for sure this is one of the tracks that a lot of riders will be fast at. It’s the first GP in Spain, so it will be difficult. Also, the level that we have in MotoGP is high this year. We will try to give our 110%!”
What are you expecting from Monday’s test?
AR42: “We don’t have many things to test. Just some electronic items, some suspension settings. Not many things to try. I don’t know exactly because I’m focusing on this weekend. If we have something that can help us now, I’d want to put it on tomorrow. So I prefer not to know.”
How satisfied are you to have taken 66 points from the opening five Grands Prix?
Aleix Espargaro: “I feel good, I’m really enjoying this season. Already in pre-season, I felt quite good with the bike. It was not easy to imagine that I would be able to reach this level, but I’m very happy, working and enjoying it a lot every time I go on-track. We know we have to improve in some areas, but overall, I’m satisfied, I feel good with the bike, and I can’t wait to go out on-track tomorrow in FP1 to see how the bike reacts in Jerez. Last season here was very good for us, we were quite close to the podium and the victory, so I hope with this year’s bike, that improves quite a lot, and we can be even more competitive.”
You must be really optimistic that you’ve got a great chance to get a podium on Sunday?
AE41: “Yes I am, but this year things have changed a lot for us, but also for the rest of the riders on the grid. The level is very high, and we know how tough this category is. I remember that in FP3 here last season, there were just three or four tenths covering 15 riders, so it’s going to be difficult, and it’s going to be very important to be focused from FP1. With the system of having the first three sessions to be in the top 10, we know it’s very important, and every session will count. I’m just trying to enjoy it from Lap 1 tomorrow morning, and see how prepared we can be on Sunday.”
What do you hope Aprilia has been working on in Noale for the test?
AE41: “We have quite a lot of things to try. Sincerely, I don’t know if we will have enough time on Monday because, for the engineers, everything is just an action, so they can put 100 laps, but we are not machines. Lorenzo Savadori is racing here again, like in Portimao. His bike is quite different to Maverick’s and mine, so hopefully everything he tries and feels is interesting, we will be able to try on Monday. But, it’s important to not lose the focus that the base of the bike is quite good. It’s always good to try to improve, there is always room to improve, but we have to be very careful as well.”
Thoughts from last weekend?
Marc Marquez: “We were far, too far in Portimao. You see sixth position and think not bad. But we were too far from the podium and from the victory. We struggled a lot in the race but anyway we will try to find a way to be faster here in Jerez. Of course, we have some ideas already to try. Not only for the bike but also for myself. I need to keep improving and we are working on it. We will see how we start in FP1 and from that point we can start to understand our performance this weekend.”
How soon can you find the improvements you need?
MM93: “This is the big question. It’s true that it’s a bike that in big circuits it’s working really well like we saw in pre-season in Malaysia and then in Qatar. But as soon as we arrive at a small circuit and you need to turn in a short time, that is where we struggle a lot. That’s where we need to understand some more. The solution is close or far? We don’t know, we don’t know. The potential is there. I believe the potential is there. But we need to find a way how to take profit from that potential.”
What do you expect from Monday’s test?
MM93: “We are in a different situation. My Monday test starts tomorrow. We will start with some things tomorrow, not new items. They have a good base and they are fighting for the championship for that reason. When you have a good base, you are able to be fast everywhere. That’s where we need to work. Try to find, first of all, a base where we feel comfortable. From that point, we can start to try new things.”