Hertz British Grand Prix 2012
Posted on Jun 11, 2012 by Nick Harris
NINE RIDER BRITISH CHARGE AT THE HERTZ BRITISH GRAND PRIX AT SILVERSTON ON SUNDAY
Last year’s Silverstone runner-up Bradley Smith leads the highly competitive Moto2™ challenge. Riding the Tech 3 Mistral machine it’s been a real battle against the Suter and Kalex framed machines and the 21 year old Oxfordshire rider hopes to be nearer the podium in the 18 lap race on Sunday.
Gloucestershire teenager Redding is the still the youngest ever grand prix winner after his success at Donington in 2008. The Marc VDS rider has already been on the podium this season. Londoner Gino Rea seeks a change of fortune on his British Moto2 debut. Riding the Federal Oils Gresini Suter machine he’s been knocked off in the last two races, on the second bend of the last race in Barcelona.
Controversy still reigns in the highly competitive Moto2 World Championship after the Barcelona collision between the two Spanish rivals Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro. Race Direction initially added a one minute penalty to Marquez’s third place which kept him out of the points. His Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol team protested which was upheld and he was re-instated. Espargaro’s Pons 40 HP Tuenti appealed against that decision. Their appeal is currently being heard so watch this space. Oblivious to all the drama is Swiss rider Tom Luthi who took the lead in the Championship after finishing second in Barcelona behind Italian Andrea Iannone who currently shares third place in the Championship with the luckless Espargaro. It promises to be a similar weekend at Silverstone.
HERTZ BRITISH GRAND PRIX TIT BITS
No British rider has ever won the premier class race (MotoGP) at the British Grand Prix. Steve Parrish and John Williams came the closest when they crashed separately while leading on the last lap at the first ever British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1977. Their Suzuki team-mate Pat Hennen won the race.
The last British rider to win a premier class grand prix was Barry Sheene – the 1981 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp. The last British rider to finish on the premier class podium was Jeremy McWilliams who was third in the 2000 British Grand Prix at Donington Park.
The Annual Riders For Health Day of Champions Auction takes place on Thursday afternoon. Already passes, sets of leathers and helmets have been donated by the leading riders and teams.
Rise Again is the new single from The Rainband and is released in tribute to MotoGP legend Marco Simoncelli on 17 June with profits going to the charitable foundation named in his memory. The Rainband were approached by the newly formed Marco Simoncelli Foundation and agreed to write a song to help raise funds to build disabled care homes across the world, a cause close to the racing hero's heart. The Rainband will play live at Silverstone over the weekend.
“Road To London for Sic,” a journey dedicated to the legendary Marco Simoncelli and organised by members of the Vespa Club di Morciano di Romagna . The ride will go from Romagna to England with 14 vintage Vespas –carrying a replica helmet donated by Paolo Simoncelli to the Riders For Health auction. Proceeds will go to the Marco Simoncelli Foundation.
SILVERSTONE FACTS AND FIGURES
Silverstone circuit staged the first ever British Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1977. Previously the British round of the World Championship was held at the TT races in the Isle of Man. In 1987 the grand prix switched to Donington Park but returned to Silverstone in 2010.
TELEVISION TIMES BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Saturday 16 June
1250 – 1605 BBC Red Button - Live Qualifying Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP
1930 British Eurosport 2 Qualifying
Sunday 17 June
1105 – 1230 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 Live Moto2 race
1230 – 1430 BBC 2/BBC HD Live MotoGP race
1430 BBC Red Button and British Eurosport 2 Live Moto3 race and MotoGP Action