Weekend Preview (21/22 April 2018)

Some of things happening this weekend that I’ll be watching.

Times are approximate and in British Summer Time. And yes, the MotoGP and IndyCar races are both in the US and they overlap. I’ve noted the start of TV coverage since I’m not sure of exact start times this week, but I don’t think we’ll see MotoGP completely done before IndyCar starts.

MotoGP:  GP of the Americas
(8pm Sunday, BT Sport 2)

Moto3 4:15pm, Moto2 6pm (TV coverage times)

Circuit of the Americas hosts round 3 of MotoGP.

Will we see some sense of the usual order? Or are Crutchlow and Zarco going to be competitive all season? If the former is true then Doviziosio has a healthy points advantage. If the latter, we have one hell of a season in progress!

That said, COTA is Marc Marquez country:  There have been 5 MotoGP races at this circuit and he has won all of them. (Lewis Hamilton has won 5 of the 6 F1 GPs.)

Dani Pedrosa is apparently intending to race, despite breaking his wrist two weeks earlier in Argentina. Made of stern stuff, these motorcycle racers.

Points after 2 races
Riders:
38  Cal Crutchlow;
35  Andrea Dovizioso;
28  Johann Zarco;
21  Maverick Vinales;
20  Marc Marquez;

Manufacturers:
45  Honda;
38  Ducati;
36  Yamaha;
23  Suzuki;
7  KTM;
4  Aprilia;

Teams:
41  LCR Honda;
37  Monster Yamaha Tech 3;
37  Movistar Yamaha MotoGP;
36  Ducati Team;
36  Alma Pramac Racing;

IndyCar:  GP of Alabama
(8pm Sunday, BT Sport ESPN)

The first time we see the new 2018 IndyCar aero package at a natural terrain road course. I can’t wait to see them, the looser cars with lower downforce could either open up passing opportunities or it could make a one-groove racetrack like it was when the ex-IRL cars started racing here in 2010.

Watch onboard cameras at this track, it feels like video from a rollercoaster! That’s one reason alone to watch this race even if it turns out to be boring competitively, the drivers really are working so hard at this place and you can really see it here, unlike somewhere like the Indy road course.

Three different styles of track in three consecutive weeks:  Phoenix short oval, Long Beach street course, and Barber road course. Hell of a mix.

Expect a lot of talk about Indianapolis, this being the final race before the “Month of May”.

Most Barber wins (current drivers):
2  Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden;
Most wins (teams):
5  Team Penske;

Points after 3 races:
126  Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport / Honda);
104  Josef Newgarden (Team Penske / Chevrolet);
93  Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman / Honda);
88  Sebastian Bourdais (Dale Coyne / Honda);
83  James Hinchcliffe (Schmidt Peterson / Honda);

Other

Other things happening this weekend, that I probably won’t see.

NASCAR Cup and Xfinity both at Richmond;
Indy Lights at Barber;
IMSA PC at Barber;
Blancpain GT Endurance at Monza;
24H Series with the 12H Navarra;
Supercars at Phillip Island;
World Superbikes at Assen;
Super Formula at Suzuka;
NHRA at Baytown;