MOTO GP: More 2020 Calendar Revisions, Marquez undergoes further Surgery, Likely Out for Season means Title's Wide Open

As only a titanium plate could slow Marquez Down! And the reports of breaking it opening a "large" window makes me recall when Juan Pablo Montoya reputedly Slipped on a Tennis Ball, Cough-Cough!

Obviously I had Zero Clue of the Uber Nasty Trick what I'll now forever refer to as Blooger', nee Blogger would play upon me and many other unsuspecting members of the Blogosphere this past August, whom rely upon Blogger to Post their Stories; SIGH! Hence, naturally this No Fenders tome is slightly dated...

For Mwah, I currently find the world's premiere Road Racing Kneedraggers, a la MotoGP far more interesting than the current state of Formula 1, albeit the Italian F1 rounds were Mega Chaotic!

Which I suppose is why I was intending to find myself Scribbling more 'N more about MotoGP here on No Fenders lately - Before Ye gOOgle Munster's Blooger' struck me squarely Amidships, Torpedo! "You Sunk My Gory Battleship!"

Thus if you're following this season's MotoGP now available on big NBC and NBC Sports, then you probably already know that the last three remaining Flyaway' races outside Europe have been Cancelled awhile ago now.

Argentine, Malaysian and Thai MotoGP races Cancelled, New European Season Finale to be Announced

Whilst subsequently the presumed Portimao season finale's been confirmed, taking part on November 22nd, with the racetrack to be resurfaced prior to the MotoGP race.

Portimao confirmed as 2020 MotoGP Finale

Meanwhile, Marc Ye Pinball Wizard Marquez has suffered another setback, after needing further surgery to replace the titanium plate aiding his broken right upper arm's recovery, after it was found to be bending under stress.

And whilst the Doctors claim Marquez did nothing wrong. Me wonders if the reports of him doing Push-ups just days after surgery, or was it just 24hrs later? In his efforts to be deemed medically fit to race in Jerez's second MotoGP round had anything to do with this?

Blow for Marquez, Forced to undergo second Surgery

Marquez belatedly had a second surgery to replace this titanium plate with presumably a new beefed up version and subsequently missed that weekend's Czech MotoGP round. And now appears most likely to sit out the entire 2020 MotoGP season.

Honda's Marc Marquez to be Out of Action a further 2-3 Months

And with the IndyCar Mid Ohio Double Header cancellation, Err postponement over August 8-9, you'd think there would have been ample Air-time to show the Czech MotoGP round at a more soothing time than Oh Bloody Dark-30 for those of us on Ye West Coast! Righto?

As here's what I could find for the current MotoGP Airings on Big NBC & NBC Sports, albeit it's now a Wee Bitamyte' Dated.

Since obviously there's been multiple TV Programming Revisions, with this one Dated July 15th - But it Doesn't seem entirely Accurate - since my Zap2It' TV Guide claimed that the Barcelona round would Air at a very palatable 1:30PM Pacific on NBC Sports on Sept 27th instead...

NBC Sports 2020 MotoGP Broadcast Schedule Revisions

Yet I'd rather get up at 4-Bleepin' 30 AM to watch the MotoGP races vs. what asuredly will be another Mercedes Whitewash, Y-A-W-N! With Golden Child, nee Lewis Hamilton having a Gory 66.6% winning Average prior to the Russian Grand Prix, where presumably he would tie DER TERMINATOR's, aka Michael Schumacher's F1 Career Wins record tally of 91 wins; SHEISA! Before Lewis Shot Himself in his own Foot!

Thus I've gotten Up at Oh Dark-30' on Ye West Coast multiple times now, which I will Not do for Formula 1 Anymore In order to watch; Err listen to these ultimate Kneedraggers! Bloody Hell, I even skipped another Toy-Yoter' parade at Le Mans in favour of the San Marino MotoGP round.

Could Quartararo be MotoGP's first Non Factory Champion?

I first did so for the Czech MotoGP round at Bruno, which was a wonderful race. Although the two British Talking Headz' seemed to slightly Disagree upon the exact year, saying it was either 1973 or '74, whenever records of such ilk began being kept, that it was the first time ever in MotoGP History that two Frenchmen had started a Grand Prix 1-2! They also noted it was 1980 when Kenny "The King" Roberts had last won three in-a-row races aboard a YamaHopper', nee Yamaha; YIKES!

and presumably the startling MotoGP Rookie Brad Binder in only his third ever MotoGP start, who Shockingly won KTM's first ever MotoGP race since Thar arrival in 2017, surely is the first ever South African to win a MotoGP event, El Correctomundo?

MotoGP History maker Binder - This is Insane

Then Thars' the Symmetry 'O Dovi', nee Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati Corse Breaking Up, with Dovizioso's announcement of leaving at season's end and then winning the Austrian Grand Prix One Day later!

Before the second Spielberg Red Bull Ring's Styrian Grand Prix had our third first time MotoGP winner, when the totally unexpected Portugese rider Miguel Oliveira Shocked everyone with his last lap last corner pass for his and KTM Satellite Squad Tech 3's maiden Big Bikes Win's!

But as 'Ol Derek Daly used to pontificate: "Hang Onto your Hollyhocks!" As we're not done yet with inaugural MotoGP winners, Mates. As next in the Queue was VR46 Academy member Franco Morbidelli, Arsumedly NO Relation to that 'Ol, Forgotten Formula 1 Pilote Gianni Morbidelli, Ci?

Surely Y'all remember Gianni as Scuderia Ferrari's Test Driver being Drafted into Formula 1 racing action late 1991 after "The Professor," aka Alain Prost was Fired by la Scuderia! Hmm, may be I'm showing my age Thar, Eh? As Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen enjoys reminding Mwah...

Big Uncle Valentino and His Fountain of Youth

And there was the Second-Second, Err "Pizza-Pizza," Hya! Round No. 7 San Marino MotoGP round at Missano, where my current Freak 'O Year Francesco Pecco' Bagnaia, who finished runner-up the week prior in his return to racing with a Broken Right leg; Aye Karumba!

Should have won his maiden MotoGP race on Home Soil before inexplicably crashing out whilst leading with seven laps remaining, ahead of eventual winner Maverick Top gun' Vinales, who finally notched his season's first W'.

And that's just leading up to the season's Halfway mark during this year's unbelievably Topsy Turvy MotoGP season, with the Championship still totally wide open, albeit Fabio Quartararo took back the points lead with his third victory this season at Barcelona.

Yet the Rider who seems to be on the podium most lately is the relatively unmentioned Joan Mir, who seems to be getting the better of his Suzuki team-mate Alex Rins, although in Rins defense, he's been recovering from injury this entire year-to-date...

 

INDYCAR: Replacing A Legend?

This autographed Scott Dixon Hero Card was collected for Mwah by No Fenders Shutterbug CARPETS' during a visit to McGilvries in Speedway, IN Wayback in 2013, when he was just a three times IndyCar Champion. (the Tomaso Collection)

As I'd presume it's as Difficult a Task in Indy Cars as it's getting your Lottery Draft Pick correct?

Ah, the life of an aging Blogger, especially one who's learning to reinvent thou Wheel 'O Life right now so to speak, after moving from my comfortable, familiar and enjoyable surrounds of two-plus decades, to who knows where? But I digress...

As I simply type too much for Ye Blog Fantastica, and simply Don't have space to Fit it All in upon these overflowing pages 'O No Fenders, along with the nearly 4,000 Posts over the past 12 years! Now Serving; Oh Never Mind!

Thus, this ultimate thought struck me after reading two articles, well actually "My Gal" Lucy', my trusty Screen Reader read them to me Wayback on Summer Solstice, (June 21st) but; Oh Never Mind!

the first was the IndyStar's IndyCar Insider Jim Ayello's Mid-Season Predictions for the second half with NBCSN Reporter Paul Tracy, who really didn't say anything too outlandish. Especially when deducing that any of the Top-4 Drivers Points-wise prior to Road America could win the title. Really?

But where the indelible PT', nee Thrill from The West Hill, a.k.a. "Mr. Chrome Horne" did throw a Fly into the Ointment Pre-Road America for Mwah, was when Tracy mused how it'll be very interesting to see who McLaren Hires as it's IndyCar Driver next year. is it Fernando, Rossi or perhaps Robert Wickens?

Tracy's Predictions on How rest of IndyCar season will go

Whilst 'Ol R', aka Indy Cars Curmudgeon Robin Miller's Mid-season Assessment was more upon thou entertaining side...

Miller's Mid Season Report Card

And then Racer's Marshall Pruett totally spiced things up by speculating 'bout Scott Dixon potentially going to McLaren; Huh?

Dixon to McLaren: The 2019 IndyCar Silly Season is ramping Up

Fast forwarding a month's time, to when Dixon had just scored his third W' of the season at Toronto, his 44th career victory, and increasing his points lead to a healthy 62 markers over Josef Newgarden. Perhaps by the time this rant rolls out, Dixon will have claimed a remarkable fifth IndyCar Championship?

Which would move him to second place Overall for IndyCar titles, one ahead of Mario Andretti and just two shy of 'Ol SuperTex', aka Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jnr's seven National Championships.

But it was Pruett's story 'bout the possibility of the Kiwi' bolting to McLaren next year that set my mind Ah-Wonderin' just how would the Cheepster' go about replacing Dixon?

Although this seems highly unlikely now, as I'm guessing the McLaren IndyCar project has been put on thou Back Burner for now? And is perhaps Alonso McLaren's "Weak Link" instead?

The Art of Deciphering AlonsoSpeak'

Nonetheless it made me wonder how do you replace a Legend? Not to mention just who has the most IndyCar Championship Crowns pre-2018? For which obviously el Capitano', nee Roger Penske immediately comes to mind.

As Team Penske by my unofficial count has won a total of 15 titles beginning with USAC thru today's unified IndyCar series. As it seems so strange to have to clarify that!

Whilst Chip Ganassi was nipping at Roger's heels with 11 titles, with Dixon leading it's Drivers pantheon. With the long since defunct Newman Haas Racing having secured 8 Crowns, and Mikey A's squad four.

As I still can't help but think of Chip Ganassi's outfit resplendent in its Target colours, akin to Penske's iconic red & white Marlboro hues, albeit both IndyCar outfits have continued on their winning ways.

As I briefly looked at the Questione of winning Drivers this way since the Team always comes first, and the Driver second. Which I guess is a lot like normal Businesses, or work, Eh? Which is perhaps why Roger's been so successful over his nearly 40 years of Fulltime IndyCar participation.

And whilst Dixon will seemingly be staying at Ganassi for the foreseeable future, since who knows if the McLaren rumour was simply a negotiating ploy? Although I've got ZERO idea when the Iceman's current contract expires?

As Penske simply hires the best Drivers possible, presumably by offering a robust Pay-packet, not to mention almost always having the best winning equipment available.

Nonetheless, Father Time will inevitably beg the question of whether or not Chip Ganassi Racing will continue in the post Dixon era? Since the amazing Kiwi' cannot race forever in Indy Cars. Like just ask Juan Pablo Montoya or Helio Castroneves...

But I really don't see Ed Jones as the solution. And the forced "early" retirement of Dario Franchitti never saw a successor achieve success at Ganassi.

Since I was going to use the word "Worthy" for Dario's successor, but TK' Follow-your-Schnoz! Kanaan certainly wasn't NO Slouch! Although Me Thinks he only won one race with Cheep?

So who would Ganassi hire as Dixon's replacement? especially since Ganassi's only interested in winning. Which begs the question, is there a succession plan in place for other members of the team? Starting with Chip and followed by longtime Lieutenant Mike Hull. And do team owners keep a current "short list" of potential Driver replacements?

Since you can have the best Driver on the Grid, but if the Team's not of the same caliber, then they're probably not going to have the greatest results, i.e.; winning Championship titles, or the coveted Borg Warner trophy.

while I hope I'm totally wrong, but the vaunted Mazda Road To Indy (MRTI) Indy Lights Championship seems quite thin upon producing future IndyCar Stars at the moment, especially with its meager eight car Armada.

Which sadly, makes me think of those long forgotten Portland Days North American Touring Car Championship (NATCC) Support Series with the same meager car count; Remember Them? Chirp-Chirp, Bueller?

(Dixon "Hero Card" c/o No Fenders ‘Offical Photographer CARPETS')