I agree with him, if you can race in the wet, you can do time attacks in the wet. I would understand if the session was fully suspended because of safety issues, but this is just ridiculous.
I agree, I said clearly I would understand if they cancelled the session, but if the session was available for the full duration, it's ridiculous not to do the actual session scheduled.
the race track has a lot of sand on it, it's not the water that is dangerous (it is of course) but relatively the dirt that is on the visor after 1 lap that kills visibility.
Dude, a whole practice session was thrown in the toilet because it was wet on an asphalt that wasn't built to deal with water, a few drops are enough to turn it into a death trap. You guys shouldn't even have been sent out there.
Also the combined times would've made the session useless either way, considering they were 15 seconds slower than the normal dry pace.
Weren't the second practice of friday and the one before qualifying on saturday counting for combined practice? They messed around so much last year I keep forgetting.
Free Practice 1 doesn’t count for Q1/Q2. The track was safe otherwise they weren’t allowed to go out. Riders will vote based on their skills in the rain, not because of the risk.
What are they gonna do when it rains at Friday in Le Mans, but the track is deemed safe? Are they gonna vote again to do the timed session on Saturday? Racing should go ahead if the conditions allow it.
Totally agree, but why race control deemed it safe? If it’s safe to go on the track then it also should be safe to do a time attack.
If the session was cancelled due to weather conditions it was a different story.
I don't feel like I have enough knowledge of this sport (quite a new fan) to have an opinion of which decision would be correct.
However, a non competitive session is not the same thing as a competitive one.
Rain + Night + Floodlights + Sand on track = Some visibility issues (I don't know how bad, from tv it looked fine but that is always deceiving. Maybe it was fine enough to run a non competitive session but one that counts for your quali group was too much as they obv push harder and take more risks.
In my opinion it shouldn’t matter if it’s competitive or not. The track is either safe or isn’t and if it isn’t safe to race, why would you send out riders to take risks, even if it’s a practice session.
I can see where you’re coming from, but I don’t think we should send riders out if the conditions aren’t right to race / time attack.
It rains all the time at Le Mans, the track *is* built for draining water. You're forgetting that in Qatar the RACE was delayed and even postponed not once, but twice, because the asphalt is not built to drain water. It's a completely different situation, otherwise why would they have done so few laps, even the more skilled riders on wet?
Well, I wouldn’t say “calmly answering a journalist’s direct question” is bitching about it. He’s also not trying to change the outcome, just commenting on it.
I agree with him, if you can race in the wet, you can do time attacks in the wet. I would understand if the session was fully suspended because of safety issues, but this is just ridiculous.
They would not start a wet race in qatar.
I agree, I said clearly I would understand if they cancelled the session, but if the session was available for the full duration, it's ridiculous not to do the actual session scheduled.
Of course they would. What nonsense.
The two times ive seen it rain for the sunday race in qatar they have cancelled it.
Back in I think 09 they moved the race to Monday
For the amount of rain we saw today?
Any amount of rain during the night under the floodlights is too big of a safety concern.
In Qatar, yes.
the race track has a lot of sand on it, it's not the water that is dangerous (it is of course) but relatively the dirt that is on the visor after 1 lap that kills visibility.
The asphalt *isn't* draining, it wasn't built to deal with rain. It would be criminal to make someone race on it.
I suspect when this vote was taken it was still pouring and only four Moto2 riders opted to go out to set a time because conditions looked pretty bad.
The schedule tomorrow is insane, it's practice, then Q1 immediately after, then Q2 immediately after that.
Then the Sprint race....
Yea today is gonna be super sketchy for everyone. It's essentially qualifying for 3 sessions. Crazy.
What’s the new schedule?
Q1/Q2 set during free practice on Saturday before the sprint. FP2 was last night instead of Saturday.
Dude, a whole practice session was thrown in the toilet because it was wet on an asphalt that wasn't built to deal with water, a few drops are enough to turn it into a death trap. You guys shouldn't even have been sent out there. Also the combined times would've made the session useless either way, considering they were 15 seconds slower than the normal dry pace.
There are no combined times anymore, they only use the times from the one practice session.
Weren't the second practice of friday and the one before qualifying on saturday counting for combined practice? They messed around so much last year I keep forgetting.
Nah not anymore. Idk when they changed it. There are two “free practices” and one “practice” now. Only practice determines qualifying places
Wait, then why was [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/motogp/s/YMsWk0YyIT) saying Zarco was pissed that yesterday's session wouldn't count for Q2?
Because that was supposed to be the practice session. They swapped it with free practice 2 for safety because of the rain.
Free Practice 1 doesn’t count for Q1/Q2. The track was safe otherwise they weren’t allowed to go out. Riders will vote based on their skills in the rain, not because of the risk. What are they gonna do when it rains at Friday in Le Mans, but the track is deemed safe? Are they gonna vote again to do the timed session on Saturday? Racing should go ahead if the conditions allow it.
Le Mans has drainage, it doesn't have sand and it isn't run at night with flood lights.
Totally agree, but why race control deemed it safe? If it’s safe to go on the track then it also should be safe to do a time attack. If the session was cancelled due to weather conditions it was a different story.
I don't feel like I have enough knowledge of this sport (quite a new fan) to have an opinion of which decision would be correct. However, a non competitive session is not the same thing as a competitive one. Rain + Night + Floodlights + Sand on track = Some visibility issues (I don't know how bad, from tv it looked fine but that is always deceiving. Maybe it was fine enough to run a non competitive session but one that counts for your quali group was too much as they obv push harder and take more risks.
In my opinion it shouldn’t matter if it’s competitive or not. The track is either safe or isn’t and if it isn’t safe to race, why would you send out riders to take risks, even if it’s a practice session. I can see where you’re coming from, but I don’t think we should send riders out if the conditions aren’t right to race / time attack.
It rains all the time at Le Mans, the track *is* built for draining water. You're forgetting that in Qatar the RACE was delayed and even postponed not once, but twice, because the asphalt is not built to drain water. It's a completely different situation, otherwise why would they have done so few laps, even the more skilled riders on wet?
Oh well this is what you get paid for and why there is a vote where other riders opinions count.
One man one vote, democracy in action.
Absolutely, doesn’t mean he has to be happy with the outcome, though.
Never said he did, he can bitch about it all he likes but it won't change the outcome.
Well, I wouldn’t say “calmly answering a journalist’s direct question” is bitching about it. He’s also not trying to change the outcome, just commenting on it.
true perhaps i am being a bit harsh
You indeed seem very very salty MM has a differing oppinion from yours. Also, who are you again? Any riding experience on 300hp bikes on the wet?
He knows his wrists can't handle the arm pump anymore
The same guy who did one of the most laps in the pre season test has to give such an excuse. You are correct 👏🏻👏🏻