MOTO GP: The Forgotten Sport's Desert Oasis Invades the lowlands of Austin

The 2019 MotoGP season will be a year of growing pains for Johann Zarco, who's moved to the Factory Red Bull KTM Team. (Image source: motogp.com)

As Have Y'all Seen 'em Ultimate Kneedraggers BeIN' Heroes on thou Telie' lately?

ARSE-Sumedly lost in All of the Noise over IndyCar kicking off its 2019 season at St Pete, now Just over six weeks ago. Did anybody See the world's Baddest Tarmac Kneedraggers on the Planet commencing Thar season in Qatar underneath thou Floodlights of the Losail International Circuit...

Oh Wait Ah My-nute', Gee Wally; err Mark Miles! That's right, I forgot that MotoGP Pioneered the move to Cable TV Networks that NOBODY's got Access To! BeIN' Fans, BeIN' Sports, BeIN' Invisible, Bake Me a Patty Cake BeIN" sports Baker-man...

MOTO GP: Can Anybody beside Marquez Win at the Circuit Of The Americas?

Which is probably why my vaunted MotoGP Preview stories get shorter 'N shorter each year, el Correctomundo, Ci?

Uhm, Ergo, BeIN' Sports and thou nebulous 404 Error code Access Denied NBC Sports Gold Pass" Pay Wall - Which is absolutely 100% Hunky Dorey with Mwah! Since I haven't needed to get up at Oh DARK 30' for Scooters' races for a few years now. And now Don't bother trying to catch Indy Cars Practice and Qualie' either; But I Digress...

And did we learn anything from MotoGP's Winter Testing? Or did that Squirrely Spaniard Marc Marquez just win again in Thee Lone Star state? While can Anybody stop his continuing Dominance? as I'm absolutely hoping somebody, nee DOVI', aka Andrea Dovizioso can snap his Championship Winning Streak!

Crunching the Numbers: Is Marc Marquez really Risking his Career by Crashing So Much?

And how will Honda's Ace Satellite Rider Stack Up vs. Marquez? Or is that even a fair comparison? Since after all, Marquez's team-mate this season is Two-times MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, albeit both Riders were recovering from Pre-season injuries...

How I Ride: Cal Crutchlow

As the Biggest early season news was the Competing manufacturers filing a protest against Ducati and it's cleverly adapted to the rules "Aero Fairing" rear Swing Arm, for which as far as I know, the Italian Motor Scooter' concern prevailed in the multiple Court Hearings.

MotoGP Court of Appeals Rules Ducati's Swing Arm Aero Spoiler Legal, Confirms Dovizioso as Qatar Race Winner

And instead of trying to chronicle every single Stinkin' Rider 'N Team Change for 2019, especially since the only Factory Team who's Rider lineup stayed intact was the newly re-christened Monster Yamaha Squad with thee Doctor', nee Valentino Rossi and Maverick "top gun" Vinales. Per Tipicali, I'll leave it to thou Professionals to do the Heavy lifting.

The Comprehensive 2019 MotoGP Season Preview

Yet ultimately, it appears not too much has changed at the Pointy End of the Grid. With Dovizioso narrowly defeating Marquez by a scant 0.023 seconds in Qatar. Followed by Crutchlow on the Podium's final step.

As the Brit' just edged out Suzuki's Alex Rins for fourth, with Ducati Corse's other Rider Danilo Petrucci (P6) being la Salami in thoust middle of a Monster Yamaha Submarine  Sandwich; Momma Mia!

With Thee Doctor' (Rossi) carving his way atop Danilo to finish fifth. and Vale's younger Works Yamahopper' team-Mate Vinales being on the bottom in P7.

With Suzuki's Spanish Rookie Joan Mir, Japanese Rookie Takaaki Nakagami riding for LCR Honda and Aleix Espargaro on the Factory Aprilia rounding out the Top-10 respectively.

Then next at Argentina's Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, naturally Marquez put a Good 'Ol Fashioned Beat-down upon the entire MotoGP Grid! Leading Wire-to-Wire and never being challenged. While Thee Doctor' on the premise of his good qualifying result, finished a distant Runner-up to his Arch-rival, with Valentino's fellow Countryman Dovizioso completing the podium.

But the Biggest Questione was could Anybody Stop the Marquez Freightrain at COTA, nee Circuit Of The Americas this year? Where the Spaniard was currently unbeaten in every single race in Austin, Texas, having won All six races. (2013-2018) And HELL! Even more remarkable having never lost a race in the States, be it at Laguna Seca, COTA or Indianapolis!

Yet having been on my own virtual rollercoaster, Zigzagging Up 'N Down thou Oregonian Coast, I simply had to await reading the Post Mortem upon my return to Soggy, sodden Florence, currently Deluged by an unseasonly late Pineapple Express...

2019 Formula 2 Season Set to be Another Hotly Contested Campaign

Now if only my Internetz' would Quit saying Server Not Found!

Was trying to look-up who'd won the season opening FIA Formula 2 Feature Race in Bahrain late Saturday Nite', (March 30th) since it's another of the myriad 'O Motor Racing Series NOT Available on Thy Stateside's Mainstream "Linear" TV; But I Digress...

As All the talk, or Hype surrounding this year's F2 Championship seemingly revolved round Mick Schumacher, son of some Dude known here at No Fenders as 'DER TERMINATOR, nee Michael Schumacher.

As Mick has been appointed to the Ferrari Driver Academy this year, along with being nominated to make his Formula 1 Debut at the Post Bahrain Grand Prix test. First driving for la Scuderia, on Tuesday, and then Alfa Romeo the following day.

Underneath the FIA F2's Big-top...

Won't bother chronicling all ten teams and twenty drivers competing this year, for which Thars' seven rookies in the field, with Drivers representing 14 Nations including  a lone Femme Fatale. As Columbian Tatiana Calderón eschews racing in the much Hyped Women's series.. in favour of hopefully advancing to Formula 1 one day.

Tatiana Calderon secures Arden Drive for upcoming Formula 2 season

With Tatiana having subsequently been confirmed as Alfa Romeo Racing's Test Driver again this season, for the second year in-a-row...

Two new teams join the grid, albeit rebranded entities. With  Russian Time Racing having sold its Assets to Virtuosi Racing, who currently ran the team and now races as UNI Virtuosi Racing.

Sauber Junior Team by Charouz was formerly known as Charouz Racing Systems - and appears to effectively still be managed by the Czech Republic Flagged Squad.

Reportedly the Sauber name is in conjunction with the current entity owning the Sauber F1; Err Alfa Romeo Formula 1 Operation, i.e.; Sauber Motorsport AG and is not "Cough-Cough," Affiliated with Alfa Romeo Racing, which seems a bit Odd? Especially since Calderon and fellow F2 competitor Juan Manuel Correa have been signed to auxiliary roles with the Formula 1 outfit.

Juan Manuel Correa signs with Alfa Romeo Racing as Development Driver

Thee Big Four?

As last year's Big 3, i.e.;

ART Grand Prix, Carlin and DAMS who's drivers finished 1-2-3 Overall last season, All graduated to Formula 1.

With George Russell winning the title for ART Grand Prix, landing at the woeful Team Willy', aka Williams as a Mercedes Junior Driver.

Lando Norris, now racing for McLaren finished Runner-up while helping Carling win the Teams title. And  Alexander Albon, who finished third in F2 with DAMS, now drives for Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda.

Carlin sports an all new lineup this year with Louis Deletraz, son of former F1 racer Jean-Louis Deletraz sporting the team's No. 1 plate. And Nobuharu Matsushita, who'd naturally like to drive for his Home Country's engine manufacturer Honda in Formula 1.

ART Grand Prix features "Dutchie" Nyck de Vries from the Netherlands, hoping to emulate fellow Niederlander' "Maximus Hothead's" (Max Verstappen) career trajectory to Thee Pinnacle 'O Motor Racing. With Russia's Nikita Mazepin as team-mate.

Oh KanaDuh's Nicholas Latifi won the season opening F2 Feature Race in Bahrain for DAMS, and is partnered by Sergio Sette Camara, who's currently also McLaren's Development Driver.

  Meanwhile, certainly many "Eyes" will be focused squarely upon Prema Racing, who finished a disappointing fifth last year. But have a Rookie with the Sir-name of Schumacher competing for them. While Indonesia's  Sean Gelael won't wish to toil in Mick's shadow...

2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship Season Preview

Others

Yeah, I'm easily swayed, but really enjoyed his demeanour during his brief cameo in Sky Sports Commentary Box during Friday's (Free Practice) FP2 session Down Under in Bloody Melbourne, Mates!

Thus, Jack, Not Chet; Hya! Aitken, as I thought up that Oh, So Clever bitamyte 'O Humour over Johnny Herbert having trouble pronouncing his last name, bungling it round 'N making me think of him pronouncing it a la Thee "Country Gentleman," aka Chet Atkins; Hya!

AnyHoo, Aitken's become my personal favourite for this year's FIA F2 championship, whilst another Driver's name surprised Mwah when reading the 2019 Formula 2 Preview.

Brit Driver Jack Aitken Determined to Follow Lando Norris and George Russell out of F2 and into Formula 1

Since I know the name Jordan King from his racing in Indy Cars for Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) Twisties' portion of the 2018 IndyCar calendar, nee Road Courses & Street Circuits, I was surprised that he'd returned to F2. Although perhaps because he couldn't find his desired Fulltime Ride in Indy Cars, Eh?

King finished P8 in the Bahrain F2 Sprint Race, securing a point for doing so, and will also contest this year's Indianapolis 500 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Hence, he'll be pulling a "Fernando," by foregoing his "Day Job's" weekend's Monaco Formula 2 rounds in favour of racing at Mother Speedway.

Italy's Luca Ghiotto, driving for UNI Virtuosi Racing won the Bahrain Round 2's Sprint Race by pitting to change tyres, enabling him to run down the leaders who opted to not stop during the race. And could be a Dark Horse title Contendah'.

Sauber Junior Team by Charouz has two interesting Drivers in its cars, including Ecuadorian born American racer Juan Manuel Correa, who competes under a United States racing license. Whilst Correa's team-mate Brit' Callum Ilott is one of three current Ferrari Driver Academy members racing in Formula 2.

Callum Ilott and Juan Manuel Correa Headline Sauber Junior Team in Formula 2

And lastly, since this Yarn's gone way past thou end of its Roll... Speaking 'O Ferrari Driver Academy members, the third member of this year's trio also sports a famous last name, as in Alesi.

Yep, Giuliano Alesi, racing for Trident is indeed son of former Ferrari Formula 1 Pilote Jean Alesi, who's scored four W's in GP3 before graduating to F2 this year.

As too Bad we Won't get to See any of these Rising Stars on Stateside TV...

F1: All Eyes upon some Cat named Mick' and Others at Post Bahrain GP Test

Funny how some Bloke with the last name Schumacher stole the Spotlight away from even Fernando, Ci!

By now you're well aware of the fact that Mick Schumacher, son of the legendous Seven-times F1 World Champion  Michael Schumacher has made his Formula 1 Debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix Post-race Test, April 2-3.

With the younger Schuey' making even more noise by making his F1 Debut behind the wheel of the Prancing Horse's latest challenger, the Scuderia Ferrari SF90 vs. thou return of Fredrico Suave', aka Fred Alonso doing 2020 Tyre testing for Pirelli behind the wheel of a current McLaren chassis.

MEDLAND: Life Under the Sport's Brightest Spotlight

As Schumacher Jnr acquitted himself quite nicely driving for la Scuderia, finishing P2 on the first Day's Timesheets, beaten only by another racing prodigy, now known here in Nofendersville as Maximus Hothead', aka Max Verstappen.

Verstappen Tops Day-1 of Post Bahrain GP Testing for Red Bull

Although it's pretty funny that testing was interrupted for 4hrs by Rain, Due to None of the teams opting for having Intermediate or Wet Weather Tyres On-hand, since it Never Rains in the Desert...

Day-2 of testing saw some of Mick's FIA F2 and Euro F3 compatriots joining him in the Fray. With current Formula 2 racers Jack, Not Chet; Hya! Aitken and  Nicholas Latifi On-track for le Reggie', nee Renault and Team Willy', aka Williams respectively.

whilst Red Bull Junior team Driver Dan Ticktum, now contesting Japan's Super Nova Series. Who's been a Junior Team member since 2017 finally got his day in thou Limelight, making his Formula 1 Debut for Thee B-I-G BULLZ', aka Red; Err Aston Martin Red Bull Racing on Wednesday, running a Mega 135-laps.

And Thar was another famous Sir-name on hand both days, with Pietro Fittipaldi, Grandson of Two-times F1 World Champion and Double Indianapolis 500 Winner Emerson Fittipaldi, serving as Haas; Uhm, I meant Rich energy Haas F1 Team's Test Driver seeing action at Bahrain.

Yet making the most of his testing opportunity the final day was George Russell, who showed what he's capable of by going P1 in the All conquering "Silver Arrows," which surely was a refreshing change 'O pace from his recalcitrant Williams FW42 mount...

George Russell leads the way for Mercedes on Final Day of Bahrain Testing