Stoner Lorenzo and Pedrosa confirm they wont race in Japan

[sidewaysammy]

Shit I'll go...if any of the Japanese high up's are looking I'll even pay for my own airfare hotel and food!

Make sure to order the KOBE BURGER. I hear it's so good, it will light up your world.

[The Dr.Jon]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/180720...red-faces.html

I'm with 68W on this. This disaster is no laughing matter: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...ath-toll-18000

[rainh8r]

The real affects of this decision could be far reaching. The Japanese pour millions into GP, and there are fans throughout the county that follow it as closely as any European. Why continue to support a series that insults your country like this? This is not the kind of insult that will be forgotten or ignored by either the polpulation or the manufacturers. The NRC is telling Americans to stay 50 miles away. Japan is restricting entry within 19 miles. Motegi is 66 miles away. It sounds like someone behind the scenes must be promoting this idea, because this could be a public relations disaster for MotoGP as well as risky for the riders that could be held in breach of contract if they can't prove the level of danger is high.

[MikeT]

I'm with 68W on this. This disaster is no laughing matter

Come on Doc, don't forget, there's no slaughter without laughter...

Really guys? You are now so concerned about the situation in Japan that what is said on a motorcycle racing forum has you upset? Maybe you should get some perspective... I wonder how many are going to die in the US if the current 120+ temps carry on... the last time that happened more than 10,000 people perished. I hope you don't ever make jokes about the weather!

As an FYI, I am downwind from the reactor, across the China sea. Some of our members are in Japan and Korea (another country that is likely to see some effect of increased radiation).

I am concerned about the effect of increased radiation in the water of the South China Sea, but not to the extent that I get all teary-eyed over it. Nor am I busted up over the loss of 18,000 Japanese - shit happens, nothing I can say or do will bring them back, including living my life in sackcloth and ashes.

Perhaps your scorn would be better aimed at the idiots that have decided they aren't racing at their factories' most prestigious event because they 'might want to have a family later'

[Beau1K]

66 miles? Fuck that...I'm out too.

[ape66]

Like I posted earlier,everyone can be an expert on the subject.( by the way x is an unknowing quantity an spert is a drip under pressure) but put ourselves in there shoe's and then make an opinion on the subject?

[budoist]

This is not the kind of insult that will be forgotten or ignored by either the polpulation or the manufacturers. The NRC is telling Americans to stay 50 miles away. Japan is restricting entry within 19 miles. Motegi is 66 miles away. It sounds like someone behind the scenes must be promoting this idea, because this could be a public relations disaster for MotoGP as well as risky for the riders that could be held in breach of contract if they can't prove the level of danger is high.

I don't know that it would take much to prove that the level of danger is high. Though "stable", the plant continues to leak radiation uncontrollably, including into Japan's food supplies - a fact that is only very recently coming to light as a major issue. I remember reading that the last time that they tried to get one of the reactors under control (can't remember if I read that it was to vent gasses or something else) it set off hydrogen explosions. If everything really went up in the air from 3 reactors, how fast could you realistically evacuate from the area?

Now, whether the contracting agencies will accept that "proof"... that's a whole 'nother story.

[rainh8r]

It's not the riders concern that is disturbing, it's the way it has been handled. IF the concerns are about food and water, they could bring their own in with them. If it's about the air, and they don't trust the testing that has been done, GP could bring in their own testing to verify the limits. The race is 2 months away, and one would think the concerns could be worked out without creating a public relations situation. There is no nation on earth more sensitive to radiation issues than Japan, and the way this has been presented communicates a "We don't really want to help you" attitude, regardless of whether it's real or not. The teams could have gone to DORNA, explained their concerns and reasons, and worked on a procedure that would satify everyone. Instead it's a headline in the world news that really makes GP look bad. If you were a CEO/CFO of Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki, with budget control for all the racing series, what would your reaction be?

[zgriders]

"Based on this information the FIM and Dorna Sports will announce later this week that, subject to there being no further serious incidents, the Grand Prix of Japan will take place on October 2 as planned."

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...?article=45449

[ape66]

Just read this on autosport
MotoGP's governing body the FIM says an independent study of radiation levels at the Motegi track shows that the risk to health is "negligible" and that the Japanese Grand Prix should therefore go ahead.

Some leading riders have been adamant that they will not attend the rescheduled Motegi race in early October as they fear the effects of radiation from the nuclear power station crisis that resulted from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March.

But the FIM and MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna have been adamant that there is no reason why the event, which was postponed from its original April date after the disaster, cannot take place.

The bodies commissioned the ARPA agency to carry out an independent investigation, and though a final official announcement is not expected until the end of July, the FIM has released ARPA's preliminary report.

While the study acknowledges that "air gamma intensity is higher than what it was in areas close to Motegi before the accident", it suggests that ambient radiation values at Motegi will be below those usually found in cities such as Rome and Madrid and concludes: "based on the estimate dose it can be said by no doubt that the radiation risk during the race event is negligible."

The FIM said the study should provide firm reassurance to riders as it is so specific to the conditions at Motegi.

"This study is intended to complement the information already available from various Governments and the World Health Organisation, which addresses the general situation in Japan following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that occurred in March," said the FIM statement. "This independent investigation reports specifically on the situation in Motegi and its environs, making it much more relevant to MotoGP participants."

The governing body added that it therefore saw no reason why the race would not be rubber-stamped when the final decision is made later this week.

"Based on this information the FIM and Dorna Sports will announce later this week that, subject to there being no further serious incidents, the Grand Prix of Japan will take place on October 2 as planned," it said.

Title rivals Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo are among the riders who have insisted they will boycott the Japanese race if it takes place.

[Punter]

He won't have any targets to hit because he'll be fast enough to stay clear of other potential targets.

Plenty of targets left. Walls, gravel, the track itself...

[Cryogeneric]

Well now it looks like everyone is going...except Adriana. Found this vid today...we should be praying.

[nomadak]

we ALL should be praying.

corrected!

I would have liked to have seen the race moved to another of Japan's tracks further away from the danger. Myself, I have a strong distrust of Governments and Commission reports. Can hardly believe ANY statement from those types of sources any longer in this day and age.

[ghostrider71]

And of course let's not forget that NO CORPORATION like Dorna or their associated affiliates who stand to lose millions in advertising dollars, would EVER lie or hide the truth, simply to for their own personal gain.

That'd never happen.

gr