Editorial
New F1 Co-Commentator, CAM McCONVILLE
Welcome to the New Season
G'day and welcome to the first of RPM's editorial's for 2008. I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Christmas. Although most championships had a few weeks break around New Year thankfully the wheels never really stop turning in motorsport. Judging by the emails we've received Drag Racing and Speedway provided you with the perfect summer fix. Even though it was pretty wet I still went out and watched Robbie Farr beat the Americans at Parramatta City Raceway.
Although it's probably a good idea to switch off for a while you always seem to end up searching info on new car launches, the unveiling of '08 race bikes and pre-season testing. How good was Chris Atkinson's result (3rd) at the opening round of the World Rally Championship? And what about Chad Reed? It's fantastic to see him back on top of the US Supercross scene. Some of the RPM team were lucky enough to head to Europe over the break to follow F1 testing at Jerez in Spain. We also ventured to Cologne (Germany) to catch the first glimpse of Toyota's 2008 car. Both Jarno Trulli and new recruit Timo Glock are really upbeat about the season ahead. Along the way we detoured into the French Alps to catch-up with one of the greats - Alain Prost. These days Prost and countryman Olivier Panis compete in the Trophee Andros.....ice racing. It's wild and we look forward to showing you the story when RPM returns.
In recent days Daryl Beattie and I were at Phillip Island for the Moto GP test. Casey Stoner sent a shockwave through the paddock when he stopped the clocks at 1.28.777. That's the fastest lap ever by a motorcycle at the Island and Stoner was significantly faster than his nearest rival. Surprisingly Valentino Rossi didn't come to Australia. Given his switch to Bridgestone tyres most thought he would want as many laps and as much data as the team could gather before the season starts. Yamaha has a new pneumatic valve engine coming but will Rossi be able to go toe to toe with Casey? Time will tell. According to Stoner, if Honda can sort its new bike and Dani Pedrosa's hand injury heals well then the Spaniard will be his biggest challenger. It looks like Casey's new team-mate Marco Melandri won't pose much of a threat until he unlocks the secret to Ducati's unique MotoGP machine. Right now he's struggling by comparison to the World Champ.
I know the PM and the Treasurer are urging us to cut down on spending to help inflation but if you can spare the bucks get a set-top box or an HD tele because we're very excited about NASCAR coming to TEN-HD. And it starts Feb 17 with Aussie Marcos Ambrose in round 1 of the Nationwide Series. Then we'll bring you all the action from one of the most famous races of all - the Daytona 500 on Monday morning Feb 18.
Although there's been plenty of the usual driver/rider movement during the break our line-up is unchanged. In addition to Cam McConville's V8 and Bathurst 12 hour driving gigs he'll be back in the chair for another big year of Formula One. Dazz will be in pit-lane at Albert Park as the Supercars make a welcome return and if it floats, flies or has two wheels Beattie will be covering it for us in '08. So will John Smailes, Mark Oastler and Kylie King along with our international correspondents Leigh Diffey and Peter Windsor.
In reading your forum feedback last year we noted that many of you wanted a return to a Sunday timeslot. Well your wish has been granted. Just keep an eye on your local guides but our new home is between 1 and 2pm on Sundays.
Right now we're working through a number of exciting ideas for '08 and we'll keep you posted on that including RPM's preferred charity. With your help we'd like to give something back to a worthy cause. Mark Webber does some fantastic work for charities like the Leukaemia Foundation and I'd like to encourage you to support Mark's efforts as much as possible. In the lead-up to the Formula One ING Australian Grand Prix we'll be airing the documentary coverage of Mark's 2007 Pure Tasmania Challenge. I've written a separate article on this which has been posted on the RPM site. If you get time check it out.
All the best for the year ahead.
Rusty.
True Grit
Mark Webber may not have won a Grand Prix but we reckon he’s already a champion.
Who is the fittest driver currently racing in Formula One? Some reckon Lewis Hamilton is now the man. Well Lewis can we settle this once and for all with a little endurance test please? Oh and you won’t have to worry about the paparazzi. Come and have a crack at Mark Webber’s Pure Tassie Challenge. Hopefully Heikki Kovalinen can come too. He was a late scratching from '07 Challenge because at that stage Renault's Director of Engineering, Pat Symonds, needed him for testing. Heikki’s time in the New York marathon was pretty handy. He was two hours quicker than Mrs Tom Cruise!
The Challenge is Mark's other passion. It's a week long Adventure Race staged in some remote, very beautiful parts, of Tasmania which helps raise good coin for charities like the Leukaemia Foundation. And he attracts some big name entrants. Olympic athletes Michael Klim, James Tomkins and Tatiana Grigorieva all competed in the last event. My Channel Ten buddy Cam McConville (who is way fitter than I am) was entered but had to pull out because of V8 commitments so some how I was roped in. When Mark said "I'm not into 4k fun runs" in his pre-race address I knew I was in trouble.
Prologue involved a 14.5k mountain bike ride, a 4k run and a 6k kayak. I was partnering Mark and starting in the first group along with young British F3 racer Alex Waters. No pressure! I went like a demon...errr for the first 500 metres. It wasn't long before I was gasping for air and my quads were ready to explode. Mark is so strong on the bike he pedalled up behind me and gave the occasional extra push (he jokingly calls it the 'hand of god'). Speeds of 70 km/h made the sealed downhill sections fun and there was a bit of drafting going on. Then Kiwi Adventure Race World Champ Richard Usher overtook us with his wife in tow. He even said "cheers boys" as he went past in a thick NZ accent. Nice!
Having hardly raised a sweat Mark signed some autographs during the transition into the run leg while I tried unsuccessfully to get my breath back under control. Webber kept motivating me...I could barely talk. He kindly ran at my slower pace - the race horse forced to canter. It wasn't that I couldn't do it. The pace just blew me away! Mark's long time trainer Bernie Shrosbree appeared out of no where and helped me get rid of a stitch as we ran. Bernie's a former British Royal Marine and a hard core operator. I was a long way from lattes and nice hotel rooms but I wasn’t about to tell Bernie how I felt.
The start area for the next leg was busy. We made some ground here by getting into the kayak faster than others and managed to pass former colleague Grace McClure (a wildcard entrant for the Hawaiian Ironman) who caught us on the run. Mark deliberately steered us into the wake of other teams. This was just like drafting on the bike - an aqua form of slip streaming. It was unbelievable the difference this makes. At times the kayaks touched and this caused some laughs. "Rubbin's racing" was Mark’s defence. My arms were burning and anything that remotely resembled technique turned to jelly with 2ks to go. Mark kept diggin deep. We finished in 1 hour and 28 minutes - in the top half of a field of 60 entrants. The Ushers were fastest at 1 hour 15. Judging by the schedule it was the easiest of days on the Challenge and yet I was knackered. I would need to seriously improve my fitness if I ever tackle the entire event. Although we finished ahead of Klim and Grigorieva the reality is Mark made that possible - not me. Thankfully Tomkins was taking over as the next of Webber’s special guest partners.
The whole experience was fantastic even though I was way under prepared. The Challenge is run very professionally and deserves greater recognition. Maybe in 2008 more local motor racers will get involved. Perhaps we could find out who the fittest V8 bloke is? Chris Wootton, a young karter who's stepping up to Formula BMW in Asia this year, took part and reckons it’s a must for Aussies aspiring to follow Mark. What I saw left me with no doubt that Webber is the toughest driver (mentally and physically) in F1. But that's just my opinion. There’s no bent-up bitterness about the crash in Japan which robbed him of a podium – some say his first win. When I felt like I was struggling Mark very calmly said "think of the kids doin it tough bud...this is nothing compared to what those poor kids suffering leukaemia go through every day". And that put it right back into perspective for me.
RPM heads to Europe
Well, its time... The RPM team are off on a road trip to bring you some action from some of the most famous racing destinations in the world... Rusty, Daryl, Cam and the boys are currently on a plane heading north into the British summer en route to Silverstone to the British F1 Grand Prix, and from there off to Germany and the infamous Norisring to catch the MotoGP...
Why now? Well, it seems 2007 has brought somewhat of a renaissance to motorsport across the world. Casey is winning, Lewis is breaking records all over the place, even Ant West is getting in on the action, seemingly coming from nowhere to join Team Green for the rest of the season, and posting two very competitive finishes from two starts.
The question is how has this all come about? After years of domination by Schumacher and Rossi the signs there are signs of a change in the air... It's the nature of racing... a combination of talent and machine dominates the scene, but nothing lasts forever.
If 87 is the unlucky number in cricket, then it seems 7 is that number in racing. Schuey packed it all in after he managed 7 world championships, and Vale is finding life a little more difficult recently... he has 7 titles to his name... Whilst it has been more than entertaining watching the old masters go about their work with that precision and talent at which we can only sit back and marvel, there is something special about witnessing what could become major moments in a formulas history. If the day comes when Lewis Hamilton becomes the most successful F1 driver ever, who won’t be telling everyone they were there when Lewis stood on the podium in his first race, or where they were when he won in Canada, or, just maybe, the feelings they had when he became the first to hold the title as a rookie?
If Casey Stoner one day holds multiple world championships, it will be hard not to reminisce about the day he fought it out with Valentino in the heat of Catalunya, and won. Will that be the moment the baton was passed on from master to apprentice, or, after Rossi's masterful comeback at Assen, will it be merely a hiccup on Vale’s way to another title?
These questions and others are shaping 2007 into unbelievable year for the premier categories. RPM will be there to give you the inside line as Formula One and MotoGP pass their halfway marks and enter the business end of the season.
Lewis Hamilton
Everyone now knows the name Lewis Hamilton.
In February, he was the first black driver to grace the Formula 1 grid. In March, he was the first Brit in 40 years to stand on the podium in his first race. Now, sitting equal first on points after three rounds, the 22 year old is being whispered about as potentially the first rookie to wear the F1 crown.
But the question remains… how good is he?
There has been a deluge of positive comment regarding the unassuming youngster. Hamilton is one who has paid his dues, developing through the McLaren and Mercedes Benz young driver support program since its inception in 1998. The idea that a kid who dreams of being an F1 driver can rise through the ranks at a team like McLaren is hard not to like... a rags to riches, 'hard work pays off' fairytale that is sure to inject even more interest into a formula undergoing a renaissance in 2007.
Hamilton started his career in karts, winning various titles including, prophetically, the 'McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future' series in 1998. He dominated the 2003 British Formula Renault championship, winning 10 of the 15 races. He went on to win the F3 Euro championship in 2005, and the GP2 title with the ART team in 2006, recording 5 wins, 6 fastest laps, and sealing it with victory in Monza in September. He has certainly become used to standing on the top step of the podium during his career.
Looking at these accomplishments, it's easy to claim that Hamiltons shock success is no shock at all. He is definitely a man accustomed to winning, but is it due to some sublime skill that Lewis claims his titles, or is it the result of the giant force of the McLaren machine pushing him to victory? The fact that Lewis has debuted with arguably the best team and hardware in the paddock makes it very difficult to gauge the talent of the Englishman.
Its unusual for a rookie to debut in one of the top teams. Alonso paid his dues at Minardi, Kimi at Sauber, even Schuey was in a Renault back in the day. So, how do we compare? With the storm of publicity surrounding Hamilton, one person who has put the brakes on is veteran F1 driver Nigel Mansell. The former world champion believes Hamilton is lucky to be in a 'fabulous' car, and to have a fast tracked apprenticeship in the sport. It's hard to argue with that, but Mansell goes on to say that 'What Lewis has done has been very impressive but it is what he should have been doing anyway.'
With regulations in place that young drivers must complete a year of F1 testing before competing, as well as the introduction of traction control and power steering, Mansell contends that rookies can now make an impression earlier on in their careers, as they arrive more experienced and better equipped than drivers in years past. 'In the past, drivers who had their rookie race may have had one or two tests in a Formula 1 car and then they were straight into a race... They didn’t have all the intensity and training that Lewis has had.'
However, if you're a F1 Champion or not, there is no arguing with the results, and Hamilton has got them. Whether any other rookie would be doing as well in the MP4-22 is purely academic - Lewis has done the work to score a drive in the McLaren, and has achieved more than anyone could have hoped. Well, anyone except team boss Ron Dennis. 'I knew he was very good and he has a very good team and a competitive car. I was expecting Lewis to be on pace with Fernando.'
If a rookie wins the title in 2007, it may due to testing, training and traction, but the results will stand, and Lewis Hamilton has put himself in the perfect position to be there when the chequered flag drops in Interlagos in October.
The 2007 F1 season seems at the moment to be a two horse race, with McLaren and Ferrari looking to be well ahead of Renault and BMW Sauber after the off season change to Bridgestone tyres. With Felipa Massa the only one in the top four to have stayed with his team over the break, Alonso, Raikkonen and Hamilton look to have slotted easily into teams well prepared for the new fight for the title.
Webbers Woes
Will Mark Webber ever realize his full potential or will circumstances beyond his control mean he's only ever remembered as an F1 journeyman?
Webber didn't try to hide his frustration after being forced to retire from round 3 of the FIA Formula One World Championship in Bahrain. Despite the aerodynamic disadvantage of a fuel flap which refused to close in the 2nd stint he fought his way into a point scoring position. Ultimately a gearbox problem took him out of the game! RedBull Racing Chief Christian Horner says the team is now focussed on sorting out the new RB3 before the next round in Spain in a bid to end the point’s drought for Webber and team mate David Coulthard.
The Adrian Newey designed RB3 was the most eagerly anticipated new car for the 2007 season. Admittedly it was an unknown quantity but on paper it looked better than the cars Webber drove at Williams which suffered constant mechanical failures. Mark’s finishing rate in Formula One is now less than 57% thanks to a number of DNF's in 2006, including Monaco where he was on track for a possible podium result.
In recent weeks Mark has hinted that some of the old Jaguar staff he used to work with, in the team that morphed into RedBull Racing, have yet to gel with Newey who comes well credentialed from McLaren. The ingredients are there, Renault engines, Newey's design and aerodynamic skills, and the seemingly bottomless pit of cash from a soft drink giant. But can Mark afford to wait for it all to come together? He needs a winning car now!
After a mediocre start in Melbourne Mark remained positive about the direction in which Red Bull was moving. This race was the first in which the troublesome fuel flap seemed to operate on its own terms - at complete odds with the RB3's sleek aero package. In Malaysia Webber squeezed into Q3 and once again started tenth. A relatively uneventful race saw him also finish 10th and he was optimistic as the series headed for the Middle East. "No question about it", he said, "as a team we did a much better job than we did in Melbourne... Don’t get me wrong, I’m not excited about finishing 10th - I'm excited about the potential we're beginning to tap into and the direction we’re moving in."
Red Bull may be moving in the right direction, but so is Webber's old team. Williams was impressive in the first two rounds and by their own admission the team's Bahrain result was hurt by a decision not to attend the last test at the Sakhir circuit. Nico Rosberg is showing the benefit of a years experience with solid performances and long time Friday driver Alex Wurz has lost none of his racecraft. Starting from 19th he climbed ten spots to finish just out of the points at Sepang.
Williams's performance has thrown a spotlight on Webber and Red Bull leaving many to wonder whether the 30 year old is really any better off having moved teams? One of his great strengths, outside the car, is the ability to bring a team together. He may need this asset in the next few months if there is indeed some internal friction as staff get used to Newey's style. Collectively they need to shape the RB3 into a winner or at the very least make it a podium contender this year but balancing the delicate blend of patience, perfection and some extremely competitive personalities wont be easy.
250s: The Breeding Ground
By Will McCloy
Ask anyone with an interest in two wheel racing and they'll give you a blow by blow description of last year's MotoGP season. Valentino Rossi's fall at the final and deciding round in Valencia was the last piece of drama in a championship that had it all. But there are a lot of riders tackling these tracks that aren't part of the premier class, and its from these support categories that our future 800cc heroes will arrive in years to come.
The 250cc record books read like a who's who of road racing. From Rainey, Roberts and Rossi, to Pedrosa, Porto, Surtees and Stoner. The 250's and the entry level 125's provide the ideal training ground for young talent looking to step up, and its the place talent scouts turn to when looking for the next big thing.
With much less power than the awesome 800's the smaller capacity classes have facilitated some epic battles over the years, and it looks like 2007 will be no exception. Former racers like Gino Borsoi, Lucio Cecchinello and ex-World Champ Jorge Martinez are helping to shape these young stars who seem to have no fear on the race track. Many of them are now cutting teeth in fiercely competitive Spanish championship before seeing if they can mix it with the World's best.
In the 125 World Championship they learn almost all the tracks on the MotoGP calendar. A young rider must adapt quickly and become fluent in engineering speak so the bike is tuned to best suit the circuit, the conditions and most importantly their riding style. By the time they graduate to the 250's a good rider will have already come to the attention of MotoGP's elite riders and most respected team managers but it’s here they’ll really prove whether they are worthy of a seat in the premier class.
This year there are a new crop of hopefuls wanting to follow Stoner and Pedrosa into the big time, and judging by the racing we have seen so far, it won't be long before they do. The considerable depth in 250's is headed by defending champion Jorge Lorenzo, who became the second youngest world champ in the 250 class last year. Still only 19, Lorenzo was the youngest ever to compete in a GP, turning 15 on the second qualifying day of the Jerez round in 2002. In a sport where mid twenties seems to be old, Lorenzo looks to have a big future ahead of him. After winning the opening two rounds, Jorge represents the benchmark this season.
However, it won't be all plain sailing for the Spaniard, with a host of very talented riders looking to take the title from him. Alex de Angelis will be one looking to shake the perennial bridesmaid tag, posting a 2nd and 4th place in the opening rounds. De Angelis showed his class in Qatar, coming from 8th to claim second behind Lorenzo.
Hector Barbera is also pressing his claim on the 250 title, having stood on the podium in both rounds so far. He never won the 125 title, coming second and third in 2003 and 2004, so Hector will be looking to take out top spot this year and there's more than a little rivalry between Hector and former team mate Lorenzo.
New to the 250 class, Tomas Luthi and Alvaro Bautista arrive off the back of strong performances in 125's. Luthi was the 2005 champion, making him 6th youngest ever. The Swiss born 20 year old will be looking to turn around an average 2006 in his debut in the 250cc class. Bautista took the 125 crown from Luthi in 2006, winning eight races along the way. Bautista already seems to be carrying that momentum into the 250's, and came back from a fall in Qatar to claim second only 2 tenths behind Lorenzo in Spain. He seems to have the right blend of charisma and talent to go a long way in this game and if Lorenzo becomes complacent Bautista may just overtake him.
Andrea Dovizioso has had an indifferent start to the year after being involved in some marathon battles with Lorenzo in 2006. The likeable Italian has a big following in 250's, and finished third last year. Another 125cc champ, Dovi is another who shows that consistent success opens opportunities in higher classes. He's earned the respect of Valentino Rossi but Andrea may be hamstrung by Honda's lack of development in this class. Right now the factory is channeling every ounce of energy into sorting the all new RC 212V for Dani Pedrosa, Nicky Hayden and customers like the Gresini team.
Looking at the achievements of some of the contenders for this years 250 title, it's easy to forget that most of them aren't yet 21. The smaller engines and tighter racing teaches skills that will be invaluable for those that step up to the premier class. Considering the success of recent MotoGP recruits Stoner and Pedrosa, that step up could be achieved by quite a few in this year’s field. The 250 title chase will be one to watch in 2007.
Will sits down with Network Ten's new F1 Co-Commentator, CAM McCONVILLE
Cam, you've taken the traditional route to the V8 Supercars Championship, through Karting and Formula Ford, How did your love for racing begin?
I started on a mini bike when I was about 6 years old and I kept falling off that, so Dad decided that four wheels would be safer and took me to a go-kart race. I was hooked straight away and had my first race just after I turned 8.
You won the National Formula Ford title in 1992, the youngest ever to win the series... Did your ambitions then lie in V8's or did the open wheel format hold more appeal?
I wanted to race open-wheelers straight after winning the FF title, but it was just too expensive. I had some budget and did a few tests overseas and one race in the U.S - but tin tops in Australia was a more realistic goal.
From there you debuted at Bathurst at only 19 with Paul Radisich, what was your first lap of the mountain like?
Scary!! I did a few Bathurst 12 hour races in a production car first, but the first lap in a fast car was Dick Johnson's Ford Sierra and that was scary fast for an 18 year old!!
Bathurst must hold some fond memories for you, finishing third twice in the super tourers in 1997 and 1998 as well as a brilliant second with Lowndes in 1999. Is it your favourite place to race?
Bathurst is a special place and each year I look forward to driving there as you never stop learning around that place! It is also a place that has no room for error and I have learnt that the hard way up there too!
You spent the 1999 season as a co-driver for the enduro events, how did it feel jumping into the car at QLD for the Holden Racing Team?
I felt o.k there, it was Bathurst when the pressure was on. I had to finish in the top 4 or 5 for Craig to win the Championship that year so if I made a mistake I was not going to be popular at all! Luckily we finished 2nd and Craig got the title for Holden, it was a great day.
A lot of drivers spend time away from the V8s in various other motorsport pursuits... But your into a different kind of enduro event, How did you get into Triathlon?
I just started doing a few small ones for fitness in the race car and I got hooked! I have done about three Olympic distances races and about 12 or so sprint events. I haven't competed for a while, it is difficult juggling racing and being a dad these days as well as doing tri’s!! I still train every morning other than Sundays and it is a real buzz for me, I love riding my bike.
What was the best advice you were given as a young racer, and from who?
Dick Johnson - "The only thing you get from looking over your shoulder is a sore neck!"
You're a bit of an old hand in the V8 game these days, what are your goals for the 2007 championship?
My season has not started well being in the old car, so my plan is to wait until I jump in our new VE (probably Eastern Creek) and try to be in the top ten for every round from the enduro’s onwards.
2007 looks to be very competitive in V8s, who do you think are the main contenders for the crown come season end?
I think Garth Tander will win, I hope so as he is a good mate also. Main contenders will be Rick and Todd Kelly and Lowndes.
You've spent time in the media as co-host and commentator for Trackside, as well as commentating Carrera Cup and the Super Tourers, and now you join TEN once again as Formula One Co-Host. Is F1 a passion of yours?
I have always followed F1 as it is the pinnacle of technology and the top of the tree when it comes to international motorsport. I am looking forward to following it much more closely now that I am involved with the telecasts.
What are your thoughts on the 2007 F1 Championship? Will Alonso defend his title successfully?
After his performance in Malaysia, I think Alonso can win again. Kimi will push him hard and I also think Louis will win a race or two later in the year. If Alonso can win again for McLaren, it will be an amazing feat to defend his crown with a new team!
Thanks Cam!
Moto GP: The New Guard
By Will McCloy
The 2007 season has had a lot to live up to.
Last season will be remembered as the tightest in years, with so many incidents involving championship contenders it was harder to keep up with than Casey's new Ducati. Hayden seemed to have the title sewn up until his team mate Dani Pedrosa took him out, then Rossi moved into contention before a fall in Valencia.
The mid-season Catalunya carnage had a big impact on the championship outcome with Capirossi and Melandri both sustaining injuries. It was also the last straw for a dejected Sete Gibernau. Injury ridden and mentally drained, the Spaniard never quite made that step to consistent winner in the premier class.
And what about the infusion of talent? Pedrosa had a very solid debut season, not to mention the Aussies Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen. Randy de Puniet also had a reasonable rookie year. Between them they notched up 10 podiums and Pedrosa scored two victories. Not bad.
Fast forward to Qatar and it seems the game of musical chairs has worked out very well for Stoner, with the Australian notching up victory number one on a Ducati. He blew everyone away on the 1km straight! Rossi was the only one who could stay with him, but in the end the power of the new GP7 was too much.
Stoner may have won, but the Doctor had him through the tighter sections of the desert circuit. The Yamaha chassis is so well balanced and after admitting to a conservative fuel strategy for round 1 the mixture was turned back up for round 2. Vale didn’t let us down, either.
How many times did we hear before Jerez that Rossi had gone 5 straight without a win? The simple fact that it is considered newsworthy to mention Rossi's losing streak shows the almost godlike regard in which people hold the 5 time world champ.
In Spain, he showed us all why he is still at the top of his game, overtaking pole sitter Pedrosa on lap 1 and never looking back. Rossi eventually won by over 3 seconds from hometown hero Dani and Yamaha rider Colin Edwards who clearly has more confidence in his M1.
So, in this new landscape, who will be wearing the crown come Valencia?
Rossi is the first to look towards. It would be foolish to pretend he is anything but a heavy favourite to reclaim his title. He has the bike and the determination. The 2006 M1 let Vale down at times but this year's model seems well refined. The Doctor is riding with a furry 46 on his leathers and reckons he may need to pull a rabbit of the hat to win this year’s title given the company he's in.
Consistency was a big factor in Nicky Hayden's '06 championship win but his title defence is off to a shaky start. He doesn't seem happy on the new RC 212V claiming he's suffering from buffeting as the press speculates that Honda has shaped the bike around the diminutive Dani Pedrosa. The Spaniard had pole in Jerez, and rode well to claim second. Now the questions are starting. How is the Kentucky Kid handling the pressure of having a target on his back in 07?
Dani is a major contender. A steep learning curve last year didn’t stop him from victory in China and Donnington, and he's worked through a massive program to sort the new bike during the pre-season with his mentor, former rider Alberto Puig.
They seem cordial on-track and off but you get the feeling that the rivalry between Pedrosa and Stoner will reignite this season. After a strong start to the '06 championship, on a privately entered Honda, Casey found himself in Pedrosa's shadow and desperately in need for factory support. In Ducati he has that and now the monkey is off his back after winning Qatar this looks like being a great year for the Aussie. Ducati has built a brilliant mouse-trap to comply with the new 800 rules. It's unbelieveably quick and Bridgestone is going toe to toe with Michelin.
Despite two Superbike World Titles Colin Edwards is yet to record a win in MotoGP. Four years without a race win must feel like a life time. He's made rare appearances on the podium and come tantalisingly close to victory at Assen last year until a fall at the final corner after an incredible battle with Nicky Hayden. Will this be the year he takes to the top step of the dias?
Another American, John Hopkins, will also be looking to record some podium finishes this year. After a disastrous start to the '06 championship Suzuki is really starting to get their program together. This smaller team hasn’t reinvented the wheel with its new GSV-R. Infact the bike looks quite similar to last year’s with a smaller configuration of the 990 spec engine to comply with new the 800cc limit. There’s no questioning Hopper’s determination. He squeezes the life out of the sticky qualy tyres and has raced hard in both GP’s this year.
His teammate Chris Vermeulen is the real deal. 2 pole positions and a second place in ’06 were the foundations for an even better year in 2007. The equipment may not be a match for the M1 or the GP7 Ducati but Chris is a canny racer. He’s rallied the troops who work on his bike holidaying with them on Queensland's Sunshine Coast during the off-season. Barry Sheene's protégé learnt much from the great British larrikin and will prove a marketing dream when race wins hopefully start coming his way.
Marco Melandri is already fuming about the lack of factory support that he was promised for the 2007 season. He used his website to vent his frustration as Honda seems to be concentrating its energy on sorting the all new RC 212V via the factory team. Once this happens there should be a flow-on to clients like the Gresini team Melandri rides for. Marco clearly reckons it can't come fast enough.
There's be plenty of surprises along the way as Carlos Checa showed with his front row effort at Jerez. We're yet to see the best from Loris Capirossi but when Casey's very experienced team-mate gets the Ducati/Bridgestone combo right he will be a contender.
Red Reign
By Will McCloy
Did we miss Michael Schumacher?
We'll always hold Michael's achievements in the highest regard but the fact is Formula 1 turned a corner at Albert Park. The next generation stepped out of his shadow and the remaining 16 rounds of the 2007 championship will be a great fight.
Fernando Alonso is the most complete driver in the paddock right now and his switch to McLaren was one of the many changes that added to the level of excitement as we counted down to Melbourne. The decision to pair Alonso with 21 year old GP2 champ Lewis Hamilton was another amazing story in itself. The Melbourne chapter of Hamilton’s 1st season was truly unforgettable.
Kimi Raikkonen's move to Scuderia Ferrari was timely. He no longer has to conform to McLaren's strict policies on conduct and clearly loves the change. Raikkonen was seen at a well known Melbourne restaurant at 11pm the night before the 1st Grand Prix and his decision to compete (and win) a snowmobile race during the off-season is further proof. (He entered under the name James Hunt).
Renault has some work to do. It seems the champion constructor is missing Fernando Alonso. Heikki Kovalainen is an undoubted talent who would have learned much racing alongside the Spaniard. Some are beginning to wonder if he should have been promoted from his testing role sooner? Sadly it was a forgettable start for the Finn with a number of offs. Renault’s faith in former Australian Grand Prix winner Giancarlo Fisichella is admirable but pressure is mounting for the Italian to deliver a regular return on investment. That’s regular wins not just the experience he brings he brings to the team.
It was great to see Alex Wurz return to a racing role filling the spot left by a frustrated Mark Webber but how close was that incident between Wurz and David Coulthard? The high flying Scot accepted full responsibility and did something we rarely see in sport. He apologised to Wurz in the wake of the incident. Nico Rosberg’s 5th fastest lap in the race coupled with a points finish was hopefully the start of a much better season than the last for Williams.
Time is what RedBull needs to realise the full potential of Adrian Newey's 1st chassis. Webber did well to reprogram the electronics during the race in a bid to overcome a throttle problem. Another glitch caused the fuel tank cover or flap to remain open which massively affected the aerodynamic performance of the car. Mark’s top 10 qualifying effort may have been right on the edge but it gives us hope for what hopefully will be a competitive car by mid-season.
The big Japanese manufacturers, Toyota and Honda, leave Melbourne knowing there is a lot of work to do! Continuity of staff is their biggest asset but will it stay that way as both companies seek answers to a relative lack of performance compared to Ferrari or McLaren?
Spyker Tech Director Mike Gascoyne said at the end of our broadcast that some updates are coming which will enable both Christijan Albers and Adrian Sutil to be more competitive with Torro Rosso and perhaps even score a point or two this season. In the mean-time Spyker’s brawl over Super Aguri's use of Honda's '06 race cars continues. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello must be looking at the old cars with more than a little envy after Super Aguri's performance in Melbourne.
Kimi drove the perfect race last Sunday and collected Ferrari’s 193r win. We knew the F2007 was fast from European winter testing results but the Finn’s Albert Park drive confirmed it. Expect to see Red on the podium regularly this season. What we haven’t seen yet is the on-track dynamic between Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
The Brazilian drove brilliantly from the back of the grid and the team took the unusual step of 'one-stopping' him. With no team orders what will it be like when they find each other on the same piece of racing real estate fighting for position or the win?
BMW Sauber continues to build on its impressive 2nd half of the '06 season. Nick Heidfeld held down fourth place after a strong qualifying for five valuable points. It could have been nine points for the team had Robert Kubica's new seamless gearbox not let him down on lap 36. The fast guys in the paddock may not say it but they are wary of Kubica. He's extremely talented and has the right stuff to be an F1 superstar. That said Heidfeld is a savvy racer and either driver could breakthrough for the German manufacturer’s 1st win this season.
McLaren is the main challenger to the Red Empire at this stage of the season. The MP4-22's reliability coupled with a headline grabbing driver pairing (double world champ Alonso and Hamilton, the 1st Brit in 40 years to finish on the podium in his F1 debut) means the sleek silver machines may be hard to beat for both the constructors and perhaps even the drivers championship. There are still rumours of staff discontent at Ferrari and Massa’s gearbox problem on Saturday places another question mark over the red cars. That said Raikkonen was in his element on race day (even if he doesn’t show it) and his annihilation of the field in Ferrari’s speedy F2007 is the start of a wonderful new chapter post Michael Schumacher.
Bring on Sepang...
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