2012 MotoGP Round 16 - Sepang (Spoilers!)

[derby]

in all of this i forgot about 1 very important thing: there's a decent chance that george will have to start one of these last 2 races from pit lane.
 

Yup.  He's basically got two rounds to net an additional 4 points over Pedro without a DNF.

[zooom]

Yup.  He's basically got two rounds to net an additional 4 points over Pedro without a DNF.

wouldn't that just suck if a motor just let go like Spies at Indy...

[Raux]

wouldn't that just suck if a motor just let go like Spies at Indy...

he's not Spies, Yamaha would never let that happen

[zooom]

he's not Spies, Yamaha would never let that happen

while this is true...he is also almost exhausted his engine alotment....

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Oct/121017pillion.htm

so the choice is either to take a chance that an engine goes kablooey mid race making no points, or getting a new engine and starting at the back of the grid and making points after working his way through the CRT's and a few of the slow prototypes (ie:Satelites and/or Ducs)

[Raux]

while this is true...he is also almost exhausted his engine alotment....

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Oct/121017pillion.htm

so the choice is either to take a chance that an engine goes kablooey mid race making no points, or getting a new engine and starting at the back of the grid and making points after working his way through the CRT's and a few of the slow prototypes (ie:Satelites and/or Ducs)

he'll take option 2. there's no way that the traffic will stop him from making enough points... well unless someone raises their hand to stop the race before he makes the pass

[zooom]

MAYBE...then there is that level of arrogance that perhaps will keep him from the shameful feeling he'll put on himself of having to start from pitlane....we just never know...

[Jester]

he'll take option 2. there's no way that the traffic will stop him from making enough points... well unless someone raises their hand to stop the race before he makes the pass

As long as Barbera is on the track, there is nothing safe about coming through the field.

[zooom]

http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2012/10/24/the_engine_situation_will_lorenzo_make_i.html

updated engine allocation  and session info...

[duccarlos]

So it seems unlikely he will have engine issues. He will still be extra conservative with them, which means that it will be a challenge to stay awake throughout the last 2 races.

[OT]

Couple of questions re engine use:

1 - I was under the impression that six engines were "sealed" at the start of the season.  But, it sounds like that isn't the case; that engines are brought into service continuously during the season?

2 - One comment in the article indicates Pedro rec'd an engine during the season with upgrades.  Are the upgrades limited to that engine, only, or (if answer to 1, above is "continuously") can upgrades be added to future engines/all engines?

[duccarlos]

Engines are not "sealed" at the beginning. The teams are limited to using only six. They can continue to develop throughout the year, but that takes away development time from next year's machine.

[derby]

Engines are not "sealed" at the beginning. The teams are limited to using only six.

yup... an easier way to say it is that each rider is limited to six engines which are sealed prior to use.

they can start the season with two sealed engines, get updated engines mid-year, and finish out the year with yet another pair of updated engines.

[OT]

yup... an easier way to say it is that each rider is limited to six engines which are sealed prior to use.

Which sounds to me like it could come out of the race lab Saturday nite and be in the bike and on the starting line Sunday afternoon....?  That is, it's got to be a "fresh" engine with no previously used parts, and it stays that way for the season?

[derby]

Which sounds to me like it could come out of the race lab Saturday nite and be in the bike and on the starting line Sunday afternoon....?  That is, it's got to be a "fresh" engine with no previously used parts, and it stays that way for the season?

correct.

[Speeddog]

Which sounds to me like it could come out of the race lab Saturday nite and be in the bike and on the starting line Sunday afternoon....?

Yes.

 That is, it's got to be a "fresh" engine with no previously used parts, and it stays that way for the season?

It can be made from whatever parts, new, used, doesn't matter.
The engine gets 'sealed' by the MotoGP's Technical Director.
It is then 'allocated' when it leaves the pit lane to go out on track.
At that time it's officially deducted from the allocation of 6.
I presume than an engine that grenades in the garage before going out, or on the first trip out on pit lane, wouldn't come out of the allocation.

A rider could start the 1st practice session of the year with 2 engines allocated, and get 4 more 'updated' units one-by-one during the season.