I am working on my Spanish podcast opening with photos of Gigi and Smokey Yunick. I think Smokey could at least help Yamaha with fuel consumption.

Good update, David. I agree with the changes, but the rules about leaving the grid should have been made immediately after CoTA because two races were run after the scene in Texas and the same thing could have happened again. When I problem becomes apparent it must be solved at once, NASCAR style.

Not in Nieto´s day (or mine when I first got into this business). In the 12 years between 1975 and 1986 7 seasons ended in August and none went beyond September 4. Times changed in 87 when the season ended in Argentina on Oct 4.

Especially promoters and TV. That would be interesting. Marc could skip right-handers. But then you´d have the Ibiza dodge...Nieto always strove to get the championship assured in late July or early August so he could get to the Ibiza beaches.

No, wait, that was changed at the end of 91. Under "The Gardner (Pons) Rule" it was Rainey 233 - Doohan 224, but under the past and futurle rules it was Rainey 240 - Doohan 239. (Only closer battle was 46-46 Ago-Mike tie in `67 that went to Ago on gross points back when points system was half + 1.

Riders! When I broke a collarbone at Cadwell chasing Peter Davies in the Avon Series `76, I HAD to race at Wellsbourne a week later.So I went to a little coven of witches in Raincliffe Woods. They chanted the pain away, but first bump at WB and it was over. Wtches are good for pain, like Dr, Costa.

The rule was passed thanks to a last minute change from abstain to yes by the Canadian rep on the CCR. Rule was scrapped at end of 92 because promoters feared an early champion might fake an injury and run off to Ibiza (like Nieto) instead of finishing out the season.

Understand and can´t fault your logic, but Jorge had really only 6-7 full flying laps on the Aprilia and was, by nature, incapable of taking it steady. It was for that reason that Sito Pons proposed "the Gardner Rule" at the FIM congress in 90...dropping 2 results.Idea...give injured riders a break

And that brings up the other point...SHOULD he have been riding in a GP with only a handful (I make it 7) of flying laps on a machine so different from the Ducati.Should Marc have been riding in Jerez II in 2000? After injuries to the extent of Martin's I believe an exception should have been made.

Of course, it is too easy to say this now, but it might have been a kindness and an act of respect to allow an injured World Champion who had only 7 flying laps with a completely new bike to have had a couple if days of extra practice before jumping right into the Qatar GP. Rules can have exceptions

Laverda Jota was a four finger and a little bit of reverse elbow, and that was just the clutch.