MotorLand beckons but Tomi in our thoughts
Shoya Tomizawa, tragically killed during the Moto2 race at Misano on 5 September, died doing something he loved and all who knew him well have said he would want every rider, team and fan to carry on as a tribute to him.
So, while 'Tomi' will be very much in our thoughts this weekend and with many riders planning their own tributes to the Japanese youngster, MotoGP continues and the paddock moves on to its second new circuit this season - MotorLand in Aragon, Spain.
This will be the third time the bikes have been racing in Spain this season after trips to Jerez and the Circuit de Catalunya.
And if Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo finishes in the top two - something he has achieved in all but one race this season - he can guarantee that either he or fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa will win the world championship.
Despite their dominance in 2010, it may not be straightforward for the Spaniards this weekend, given the 800cc bikes will be racing here for the first time. To help teams and riders familiarise themselves with their new surroundings and to make up for a lack of data, there is an extra practice session planned for Friday morning.
Bridgestone, the tyre suppliers to MotoGP, have also been carrying out all sorts of 'white-coated' experiments to work out what type of rubber will work best on a track no-one has ridden on before on a MotoGP bike.
It is not only the teams that must work out what to do when a new circuit is introduced to the world of MotoGP. TV camera positions need to be decided upon and each team's paddock position must be agreed for a start.
Our trusty floor manager, Mat, will be running around non-stop all weekend with his stopwatch working out how long it will take for us to walk from the paddock, through the garages, to the pit lane and grid. Like the riders, the BBC team will have to spend a lot of time getting used to every twist, turn and undulation there is.
If you have caught any of the Twitter conversations this week, you will know that we have been trying to work out what the MotoGP circuit in Aragon resembles. Opinions so far are quite amusing, with dolphins, bottle openers and a c spanner among the suggestions. Personally, I think it looks like Captain Hook's arm but have a look at the layout below and let me know your view.
It may sound like a bit of fun but a lot of the riders try to imagine what a track resembles to get the best out of their bikes. Ben Spies infamously described almost every circuit on the tour as an animal to help him learn it, with kittens and sharks among his choices.
The last couple of weeks have been really tough for many people. Fans all around the world have taken time to remember Tomizawa, a promising and talented rider, and to think of others involved in the accident at Misano, like Britain's Scott Redding.
The news that he will ride in this weekend's Moto2 race was a great relief to all. We all wish him luck, courage and strength for what is bound to be a difficult race.
And as many have said: Shoya, on the track and beyond, we will always follow your line.
Hello, I'm Jennie Gow and I'll be guiding you through this year's MotoGP coverage on the BBC. I've been working in the biking world ever since I started out in TV, covering Speedway and Motocross before my move into the world of Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden et al. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my blog and all the gossip and tales I'll be bringing from the grid and paddock.
Comments