MD received the following press release from Yamaha earlier today. It states that the two factory MotoGP riders, Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies, will race at Motegi the weekend of October 2. You may recall that Lorenzo, in particular, indicated earlier that he might not attend the Motegi race due to concerns about radiation from the damaged nuclear facility nearby on the Japanese coast. A study commissioned by the series organizer concluded there was no significant risk at the Motegi facility, however, and it is expected that most, if not all, of the riders will participate there. To some extent, it is still questionable whether Valentino Rossi (Ducati) and Casey Stoner (Honda) will decide to attend, so there is some drama left to play out. Here is the press release from Yamaha Racing.
Yamaha Factory Racing herewith confirms the attendance of its riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies to compete for round 15 of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship at Motegi in Japan on 2nd October.
The Yamaha Factory Racing team will race in Yamaha’s WGP50th Anniversary red and white livery for the 4th time this year at the home GP of team owner Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
I find it somewhat amusing / ironic that these guys, who participate in one of the most dangerous sports in the world, are afraid of the _potential_ exposure to what the experts seem to agree are harmless levels of radiation.
“harmless” and “radiation”… not very often mankind hears those 2 words used in the same sentence. just sayin’.
what i find interesting is this is a press release from the factory (same scenario as herve @ tech-3)speaking on behalf of lorenzo and spies. since when do either these guys require a mouthpiece…? the tuning fork may yet be in for a rude awakening.
Good. They work for Yamaha. They go. I drove past the Vermont Nuke plant a week ago. How many times has that place leaked? Um… MANY! I helped shut down the Rowe plant in Mass. That leaked too. Point being, there is radiation all around US. The industry just does not tell us. Stoner rides for a MAJOR Japanese factory. “See you there, Casey.” It will be some great racing.
better question, how many times did either of those 2 reactors experience a hydrogen explosion ripping the lids off their outer containment buildings with a hat trick of reactors going into meltdown and being assigned a 7 on the nuclear event scale…? remember… appples to apples.
curious, is this what happened in vermont…?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hD54E6uD58&feature=related
What a shame that they couldn’t stick together on this. I’d admire Stoner more if he’d stick to this. Of course Honda will fire him and he’d have to ride the 2nd or 3rd best bike next year.
Yeah, no way Stoner’s going to just give 25 points to Lorenzo. He’ll be there.
Wonder what kind of statements will be made during the Press Conference at Motegi (or beforehand). I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at whatever meetings happened that helped Jorge to “reassess his stand”… The spin will be interesting.
I doubt they had to do any arm twisting. Lorenzo is a competitor, and with the championship still within reach, there is no way he wasn’t going to ride.
re: “there is no way he wasn’t going to ride.”
sure there was… it’s known as radiation exposure.
Maybe just a coincidence but Fruit of the Loom just came out with a “lead lined underwear” product.
No way Stoner doesn’t show up now. The points race is way too close. This definitely forces his hand.
Rossi is probably a no show. Little point in him taking the risk with nothing really on the line. He can spend the week working on next year’s bike.
re: “No way Stoner doesn’t show up now. The points race is way too close. This definitely forces his hand.”
yes way stoner doesn’t show up now. nothing forces his hand. (quentin tarantino voice) there’s nothing being said in this press release that makes a man (a real man) forget that he love’s his wife and unborn child…? is there…? (/quentin tarantino voice)