Autoblog

MotoGP Japan postponed, Tokyo Motorcyle Show canceled

Zach Bowman — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, Motorcycle

As a result of the devastation left behind by the recent earthquake and tsunami activity in Japan, the organizers of MotoGP have moved the Motegi round to October 2. The race was originally scheduled for next month, but widespread damage to the road system between Tokyo and Mito is not expected to be fixed in time. Additionally, Visordown reports that both the track surface and grand stands at Motegi suffered damage in the earthquake. MotoGP Japan will now fall between the Spanish and Australian grand prix races.

Additionally, the 2011 Tokyo Motorcycle Show has been outright canceled. The two-wheeled gathering was initially set to take place on March 25, but Tokyo is facing a number of challenges that make the event all but impossible. Power shortages, transportation woes and the full tragedy of the disaster have forced organizers to shutter the show. Those who already have tickets will be offered a full refund.

[Source: Visordown]

MotoGP Japan postponed, Tokyo Motorcyle Show canceled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MotoGP 2010: All things Italian leave their mark on Japan's home turf [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Japan, Motorcycle, Event Alert, Racing

As the battle between Fiat-Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo and Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa materialized over the last few rounds of racing action, it appeared that this past weekend's Japanese Grand Prix would offer fans somewhat of a "perfect storm" in terms of two-wheeled racing drama. Pedrosa entered as the only man with a mathematical chance of swiping the crown from Lorenzo this late in the season, with both jockeys desiring to become the pride of Spain, their home country, adding to that. Plus there's the fact this duo headed to Japan piloting two of the country's finest examples of two-wheeled awesomeness... Oh, we could hardly wait!

That was precisely when the news of Pedrosa's shoulder injury, and the need for a surgery that would put him out of the race, rolled across our desk, kind-of-like a lead balloon sent to squash our dreams. However, that feeling was quickly replaced with anticipation again as the Japanese round offered up edge-of-the-seat racing to satisfy our appetite. But as the dust settled, we were left with a podium full of all things Italian.

First, Casey Stoner continued his winning ways and put his Italian bike atop the block by passing pole-man, and Italian native, Andrea Dovizioso, who took great care to match Stoner's pace for a time, only to gladly hang on as second man under the checkers just 3.8 seconds behind the Ducati. Jorge Lorenzo did end up with a battle on his hands, albeit not as he may have expected, as team-mate Valentino Rossi put the final boot shaped nail in the podium while knocking the points leader out of the winners circle. Follow the jump for the complete top ten, which included an unexpected performance from American Colin Edwards.

[Source: motogp.com | Image: AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: All things Italian leave their mark on Japan's home turf [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010: All things Italian leave their mark on Japan's home turf [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS]

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing

2010 Indy Japan 300 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Heading into Saturday, only two races remained in the 2010 Izod IndyCar Series season, and the championship is coming down to the wire. Team Penske's Will Power raced to an early lead in the standings, his dominating performances on the road and street courses earning him the inaugural Mario Andretti award as the road course champ.

Team Target Chip Ganassi teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon headed to Japan in second and third respectively and first and second in the oval championship standings. Power's lead before the green flag waved at Twin Ring Motegi was 17 points over Dario, the same lead Franchitti has over Dixon in the race for the A.J. Foyt oval champ award. This weekend's Indy Japan 300 was crucial, with the potential to end with both championships decided even though the season's final race at Homestead is still two weeks away.

Follow the jump to see how it played out.

Gallery: IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300

[Images: Jonathan Ferrey, Chris Graythen/Jiji Press/AFP/Getty, Shizuo Kambayashi, Greg Baker/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Indy Japan 300 settles oval championship [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan's Motegi test center goes off-roading

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Nissan

three high-res pics available by clicking image above

Looks like Nissan is SHIFTing even more heavily into its truck development. With the popularity of crossovers, SUVs and pickups expected to stay strong, Nissan decided to add an off-road test facility to its Motegi proving grounds. Today they opened that extreme off-road track in the Tochigi Prefecture facility. At 2.3 hectares, it is said to be one of the largest tracks in Japan. Is that the same as a parsec?

The new track segments were "designed to replicate different real-world driving conditions from across the world." It includes a rocky section simulating rough mountain terrain, a desert road and a 30-degree incline slope. The obvious advantage of having such a facility is to test four-wheel drive systems, but also to do it in a safe and controllable environment. Being able to replicate tests with a great degree of accuracy and having control over the conditions makes this a nice addition to any test center.

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: Nissan Motegi Off-Road facility

Nissan's Motegi test center goes off-roading originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23

Stuart Waterman — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Quite a weekend! Ferrari returns, a new Nextel Cup points leader, a wild sports car race, a ton of motorcycle road racing, and some fence-climbing in Japan.

Formula 1:
At the front of the field, the San Marino Grand Prix was a mirror-image of last year's race, this time with Michael Schumacher holding off Fernando Alonso instead of the other way around. Schumacher's victory capped a great weekend for the tifosi, with Felipe Massa redeeming himself for his miscues in previous races with a fourth place finish, and Michael qualfying on the pole. Alonso continued to build his championship lead with his second-place finish, and Juan Pablo Montoya brought his McLaren home in third. Full weekend coverage here. [Photo courtesy of Ferrari]

More after the jump.

Continue reading [Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23

[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments