[abtech]

Originally Posted by ratter

After watching the event a few more times, I agree with the shoulder releasing the brake theory to why he ran him out wide.

Are block passes illegal? it may not be sportmans like, but is it legal?

From the FIM MotoGP rulebook:

2) Riders must ride in a responsible manner which does not cause
danger to other competitors or participants, either on the track or in
the pit-lane. Any infringement of this rule will be penalised with one of
the following penalties : fine – ride through – disqualification –
withdrawal of Championship points – suspension.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by abtech

From the FIM MotoGP rulebook:

2) Riders must ride in a responsible manner which does not cause
danger to other competitors or participants, either on the track or in
the pit-lane. Any infringement of this rule will be penalised with one of
the following penalties : fine – ride through – disqualification –
withdrawal of Championship points – suspension.

I guess legal people could argue both ways whether it caused danger or not

[nedro]

Originally Posted by ratter

I guess legal people could argue both ways whether it caused danger or not

Really?

[JBAXX]

Rossi to Sete: Sorry I run you off track, your shoulder is sticking in brake lever no?

Sete: Sure Val, my bad.

[tigerblade]

That last corner move by Rossi has given everybody something to talk about. I'm in the minority, I guess, I don't think Sete left too much room open and Rossi got through. I think Rossi was out of control to a degree and would not have made the corner if he hadn't used Sete as a berm.

Then again, R.L. has never raced MotoGP, so...

Full article

[nomad]

Wow... 5 pages of opinion. This is great. I had a lot of time to mull this over without anyone elses feedback. I read a few internet forums that knew jack about racing and the rules.

I just want to add my 2 cents which may not be even worth that if only racers are allowed to comment. But I took a look at Rossi's line and I did a few experiments on the go-kart track a week ago... his theory seems to work. If you jam your bike (go-kart) down on the inside, blocking the 'racing line' through the corner, it forces the guy being passed to the outside where he must continue to brake. You are both then at a similar point and you probably have a slight edge so it becomes a drag race to the finish. I think this was Rossi's plan.

If you watch the full corner, not just the drivel they post in .gif's in interweb-land, you'll see that the Mullet is setup for the corner, knee out, body in shape and tipping in while Rossi is diving right for the first Apex of that weird shaped corner. He makes no attempt to setup the body for cornering. Gibbers is diving towards the apex when he hits Rossi, yes Gibbers hit him but was on the racing line, so who's fault is it? Besides the point. The elbow makes contact and Rossi stands it up forcing the Mullet to tangle his hair in the gravel. Uhm... the real infraction, in my lowly opinion, was done BEFORE the contact of the elbow. I dont think you are allowed to take the inside non-racing line if it intersects with another racer... please correct me if I'm wrong.

To illustrate with hyperbole, lets take an example of a turn after the straight away. If a rider hammers down the straight away on the INSIDE, and then BRAKES at the last second in front of all his competitors then tiptoes around the corner, is this not a reason to be penalized? I'm sure you could only do that once in a race before being left in the dust, but with only two racers... it appears to be a tactic that could get you onto the top spot.

I just watched it one last time... is Rossi looking through the turn? The helmets look to me like they are at different angles.

Just my non-racing 2 cents.

[abtech]

"To illustrate with hyperbole, lets take an example of a turn after the straight away. If a rider hammers down the straight away on the INSIDE, and then BRAKES at the last second in front of all his competitors then tiptoes around the corner, is this not a reason to be penalized? I'm sure you could only do that once in a race before being left in the dust, but with only two racers... it appears to be a tactic that could get you onto the top spot."

That is commonly called a block pass or stuffing . . .

[nomad]

Originally Posted by abtech

That is commonly called a block pass or stuffing . . .

Thanks. I didn't know there was a term. Although, I thought stuffing was running up the inside and then taking over the race line at a slow pace not running THROUGH it.

At any rate, my question is more about if it's allowed within the rules? My thought is that to run through the race line to perform this type of pass is dangerous and hence disallowed. If more bikes were around, this type of pass is surely to collect them all and sweep them into the gravel, no?

[02FBlade]

Rossi =

IMREYITCLO (in my rookie expert year in the club level opinion ), if Rossi is the man he doesn't have to play dirty or make rewreckless passes to win. I've lost respect for him. It was a bone head move IMREYITCLO. He's becoming the Jeff Gordon of motogp! I can't pass you so I'll bump you off the track! ...or run in to hot so I have no choice.... Yeah a win is a win..but to me it's how you get it not just getting it at all costs.

[02FBlade]

huh?...thought that would stir the pot...guess everyones tried of this topic.

[nomad]

I agree with this, "...or run in to hot so I have no choice...."