Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/12/drs.html
Saturday
Repsol Press Release: Moto3 Rider Alex Rins Breaks Shoulder In Training Accident
Below is a press release on the injuries suffered by Alex Rins, Spanish 125cc champion who will be riding for Monlau Competicion in Moto3 this season:
Year:
2012
Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok
BMW X5 M50d
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BMW’s dive into the diesel market included not just the M550d xDrive, but the X5 M50d as well. Just like the M550d, the SUV version is powered by the 3.0 liter six-cylinder in-line diesel engine that delivers a total of 381 HP and a peak torque of 546 lb-ft. With this amount of power, the X5 M50d will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, while top speed is limited to 155 mph. Fuel economy has been reported at 37.7 mpg.
Compared to a standard X5, the new M50d will be distinguished by an optimized aerodynamic balance and enhanced driving pleasure. In the space reserved for the fog-lamps, the new model has received new air intakes joined by horizontal bars painted in Ferric Grey metallic paint and race-inspired air-channeling flaps that sit below the side air intakes to optimize the car’s aerodynamic balance at high speeds. The BMW kidney grille features titanium-colored vertical bars, while the exterior mirror caps are painted in Ferric Grey metallic. The car sits on a standard set of 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in V-spoke design, but there are alsooptional 20-inch M light-alloy wheels in Ferric Grey metallic.
The new BMW X5 M50d will go on sale in Germany on June 16, 2012 at a price of 82,300 euro ($106,500 at the current exchange rates).
BMW X5 M50d originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 January 2012 09:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/2012-bmw-x5-m50d-ar123715.html
Yamaha Looks East: Lin Jarvis Explains Why MotoGP Needs To Be Racing Outside Europe
MotoGP is looking eastward. As the involvement and interest from and in Asia has continued to grow in recent years, the importance of the region - beyond the historic role that Japan has played in the series, that is - to both the MotoGP series and the manufacturers has become increasingly evident. With Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies visiting the region a couple of times over the winter, and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta hinting at more races in Asia in coming years, the Asian dimension in MotoGP is set to grow in the near future.
The addition of "Semakin di Depan", the slogan used by Yamaha's subsidiary in Indonesia, to the factory Yamaha M1s back in 2010 was the first sign of change, and Honda followed suit in 2011, with the addition of the "Satu Hati" slogan, used by Honda's Indonesian subsidiary, to the factory Repsol Honda machines. Meanwhile, Yamaha's factory riders have been making marketing trips to Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries in the region on a regular basis since 2008.
Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
Friday
Did Steven Tyler one up Saving Abel in the ?horrible anthem? category?
Remember all the way back to the August Michigan race and Saving Abel's rendition of the National Anthem?
Oh, you've cleansed that from your memory? Sorry, I apologize for bringing it up.
Before Sunday's AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Ravens, Aerosmith lead singer and current 'American Idol' judge Steven Tyler sang the National Anthem. As fellow Y! blogger Maggie Hendricks said, using the word sing or any of its variations may be an overstatement.
So now we've got to ask? What was worse? Steven Tyler or Saving Abel? Drop us a line in the comments, and no, we're not responsible for any potential hearing loss from watching these videos.
Jerome D?Ambrosio lands Lotus third driver job
Jerome D’Ambrosio has been announced as third driver for Lotus, alongside Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. D’Ambrosio, who drove for Virgin last year, is managed by the Genii organisation, via its Gravity offshoot. ?It?s an exciting next step in my … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/01/24/jerome-dambrosio-lands-lotus-third-driver-job/
Emily Maynard to be this season?s ?The Bachelorette?
Emily Maynard, the former fiancee of Ricky Hendrick, NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick's late son, will be the main contestant on ABC's new season of "The Bachelorette."
[ OMG: More on the new 'Bachelorette' ]
Maynard won the "The Bachelor" last season, but her relationship with Brad Womack quickly fizzled. And to accommodate Maynard and her daughter Ricki -- named after Ricky -- the show will be taped in Charlotte.
Ricky Hendrick, along with nine others, perished in the Hendrick Motorsports plane crash in October 2004.
No word if this season will also include a contrived racing-themed episode. When Maynard was on "The Bachelor," the show filmed an episode at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ricky Hendrick's driving career ended after a crash at Las Vegas.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Low-key coach perfect for Murray State | Racers win again
? Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade scores a $230,000 birthday gift
? Patriots coach Bill Belichick's dual tight-end threat started in '70s
? Shine: We choose fragrances based on our body odors
Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz
Thursday
Happy Hour: Where will Brian Vickers end up?
NASCAR is in the middle of its media week, and look, I have to say this: as much as we all complain about NASCAR drivers being vanilla and bland to the media, you have to admit: these guys are more available for more sessions than any other sport anywhere. And most of them will actually treat the process with respect and, dare I say it, a bit of enjoyment in some circumstances. NASCAR fans (and NASCAR media), we get a TON of information straight from the major players. Not all of it, true, and not all of it IS true, but still ... far better than the alternative. (Hey there, NFL.) Anyway, let's start with a guy who, sadly, isn't doing many interviews right now:
I am one of those rare under-30 NASCAR fans and I cheer only young drivers (to the point I actually watch the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series on a semi-regular basis #Lame). I started liking NASCAR in college. Brian Vickers was one of my go-to guys as he connected with young fans. Watching him win in Michigan was awesome! As the silly season ends, is he doomed to start/park or nothing?
I don't get why no one will pick up Vickers. Nationwide champion, 2x Sprint race winner. Did the Kenseth incidents end his career? I hope not, but it seems like he is a pariah for NASCAR.
? Chris Johnson
Yeah, there's something up with the Vickers thing that we haven't totally isolated yet. David Ragan took the last available regular Sprint Cup seat (at Front Row Motorsports), so yes, it's looking like Vickers will be either a Nationwide driver or a start-and-parker. We've put in an inquiry with Vickers but are yet to hear back; most recently on Twitter he told a fan, "When there is news, we will let you know. Until then- sit tight please." (He's also hawking sake to his 39,000 followers. Hey, you do what you have to do.)
Vickers seems to be another of those guys who desperately needs to prove he's not as bad as his image would suggest. A good, drama-free run in a lower-level car would do just that; his career shouldn't be over, by any means.
____________________
In the "way too early to discuss but why not while we wait for Daytona" category, who do you think will, and should, end up in the Hall of Fame next year? I have only a few possible picks with a good chance:
-Rusty Wallace (definite)
-Leonard Wood (likely)
-Fireball Roberts
-Joe Weatherly
Drivers I'd like to see:
-Alan Kulwicki (and the famous napkin contract)
-Ralph Earnhardt (the original number 8)
-Benny Parsons
-Davey Allison
I wouldn't mind seeing a broadcaster in there, either. Benny Parsons fits the bill as a driver AND a broadcaster. Thoughts?
? Jeff "Sarge" Smith
Statesboro, Ga.
All worthy choices. I'd throw in Red Byron (won the first NASCAR championship), Buck Baker (two-time champ) and possibly Wendell Scott (first African-American driver) as potentials as well. Now that we've gotten mostly past the "guaranteed"s and before we get to the next round of must-enters (Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart), we've got some time on our hands to debate value to the sport. It'll be fun AND educational!
____________________
I know during the silly season everyone tries to come up with ways to pass the time, including coming up with a better way to determine the champion.
Under many different scenarios, Tony Stewart would not have won the Sprint Cup title. But he did. And he did so in dominating fashion. From a position where no one gave him a second thought, he won 5 of the 10 chase races. There is no doubt that at the end of the season he was the best driver, sitting in the best car. Even non-NASCAR fans are aware of what he did in the final race.
Stewart is the 2011 Champion and he earned the title.
? Ross Lipman
A bunch of commenters got bent out of shape (commenters reacting irrationally? No!) about the whole multiple-Chase-scenarios of last week. Yes, we know Tony Stewart won. Kicking around multiple scenarios does nothing to diminish his achievements. Relax, everybody, and enjoy kicking a few topics around. We won't be taking Tony's trophy away. Yet.
____________________
I keep hearing that the reason the top 35 in points are locked in each week is due to the power of the sponsors. Yet the cars not in the top 35 have sponsors. What makes their sponsors inferior to the ones for the top 35? Kind of makes the whole argument invalid doesn't it? Why doesn't NASCAR just say "The following sponsors are ensured a spot, we don't care who drives it."?
? Scott
Interesting idea. But let's be honest: a multinational, multibillion-dollar company IS superior to a sponsor who's there for one race only, and because of the simple fact of dollars and cents. If Billy Ray's Sausage Links & Car Insurance can come up with $20 million to sponsor a car for a year, then they get to belly up to the table with the Lowe's and Home Depots of the world. If not? Yeah, there's a bit of a caste system there.
____________________
Qualifying should be restricted to only a few select tracks where starting position is crucial to a good finish (i.e. Bristol, Sonoma, Martinsville, etc.). The starting positions for the other races should be set based on the inverse order of the points. The points leader would start dead last, forcing the best drivers to prove every race that they can pass everyone else.
? Rusty Brummett
I'll do you one better: Every place above 43rd in the points gets another 10 pounds added to their car. So the race leader has to drag nearly an extra quarter-ton around the track. Or how about this: Every race, the drivers get to pick the car they want to drive out of the whole field! Or, here's one: the drivers play a giant game of dodgeball in the infield, and winner gets their choice of pit stalls ...
Point being, my friend, we can complicate the hell out of any scenario. Turn 'em loose and let the chips fall where they may is probably the best of all possible plans.
____________________
I understand you get all sorts of suggestions for the Chase. So here goes mine. I believe once the Chase is set the only teams that should receive points are the teams in the Chase. What are the other drivers in the race for? The prize money for that race is still in play, and isn't that good enough? Now as for points each race the points go from 12-1 based on the order the Chase drivers finish in. There are 2 points awarded for a win, 1 point for most laps led. If a Chase driver is wrecked early it won't end their chances. The only way to gain points is to finish high, win a race and lead laps. I think this makes more sense than the current state of things.
? S.I.
Chicago, Ill.
I'm not even going to ask anyone to run the numbers on this one, because�A) Tony Stewart would probably win and�B) I think we've bagged our limit on fantasy Chase scenarios. Plus, this one would really hurt the feelings of the non-Chasers, and we don't want that, do we?
Finally, this week in spam:
____________________
Bonjour, je suis informaticien depuis 6 ans dans un pays africain. Mon objectif �tait d'avoir les moyens et les relations en Europe ou en Asie avec une personne qui partage mes ambitions. Ce que je voulais concr�tement c'est d'avoir une personne qui se trouve en Europe ou en Asie ou en Am�rique comme associ�.
Damn straight. I think. Or not. What did I just agree to there? Anybody speak French?
Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here.� Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
Wednesday
Ducati Wrooom Wednesday Press Release: Filippo Preziosi Talks About The GP12
Below is the Ducati press release issued after Filippo Preziosi presented the changes to Ducati's Desmosedici GP12 to the media at Madonna di Campiglio:
Year:
2011
Join the Yahoo! Sports/Marbles fantasy league! Do it now!
All right, here's the deal: Fantasy NASCAR is coming up soon, and we at Yahoo! Sports want to fantasize with you. (Wait, that sounded really wrong.) Anyway, you need to get in on this action. Go to the Fantasy NASCAR homepage and sign up for a team. Then make sure you jump in on our special private league:
Fans of From The Marbles
Group ID: 31
Password: marbles
(sneaky password, yes?)
Anyway, the whole deal begins in a month or so with the Daytona 500. There'll be acclaim and love for the weekly winners, and you'll get the satisfaction of knowing that you're a better race analyst than [insert announcer name here]. Win-win all the way around. Get on it!
Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell
Tuesday
Emily Maynard to be this season?s ?The Bachelorette?
Emily Maynard, the former fiancee of Ricky Hendrick, NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick's late son, will be the main contestant on ABC's new season of "The Bachelorette."
[ OMG: More on the new 'Bachelorette' ]
Maynard won the "The Bachelor" last season, but her relationship with Brad Womack quickly fizzled. And to accommodate Maynard and her daughter Ricki -- named after Ricky -- the show will be taped in Charlotte.
Ricky Hendrick, along with nine others, perished in the Hendrick Motorsports plane crash in October 2004.
No word if this season will also include a contrived racing-themed episode. When Maynard was on "The Bachelor," the show filmed an episode at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ricky Hendrick's driving career ended after a crash at Las Vegas.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Low-key coach perfect for Murray State | Racers win again
? Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade scores a $230,000 birthday gift
? Patriots coach Bill Belichick's dual tight-end threat started in '70s
? Shine: We choose fragrances based on our body odors
Kawasaki WSBK Press Release: Lascorz And Sykes End Test At Almeria
The Kawasaki World Superbike team issued the following press release after their private test at the Almeria circuit in southern Spain:
Year:
2012
Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever
Video: Nissan Juke-R blows away fancy European exotics
| |
If there was every any skepticism surrounding the Nissan Juke-R, this amateur video of the Nissan UK project taking on some of the world’s most powerful supercars is all the evidence Nissan needs to validate the tuned-up crossover.
The site of this race is the Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai, where the Juke-R incidentally served as the official safety car. We can imagine that this race was set up pretty quickly with the Juke-R taking on a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Ferrari 458 Italia, and a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG on a short and improvised sprint track.
With the credentials of the European exotics, it appears that the Juke-R has some serious competition - at least until the light turned green. That’s when the Juke-R simply flexed its GT-R-powered muscles, blasting the three exotics like they were plastic traffic cones.
Surprising is an understatement, but we do have to pay attention to the track conditions. It wasn’t the best one for racing, but all things considered, elements included, the Juke-R more than held its own against three of the most powerful exotic cars in the world.
Consider us very impressed.
Video: Nissan Juke-R blows away fancy European exotics originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 January 2012 09:00 EST.
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