[Yudster]

Woah, what about Kubica? Nasty stuff - if his hand injury is as bad as I've heard, he might not be able to drive F1 again even if all the other bones heal up ok. What a shame - hope he's ok.

[MK Chris]

Partially severed I heard this morning - very very nasty indeed. He was underrated too, I hope he can drive again (assuming he wants to).

[Boboff]

So England won, France did and Ireland. I think France England will decide the outcome of the competition. I think Scotland will beat Italy and Ireland this year as well, possibly even Wales.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

What about the Nations Cup this week? I reckon Scotland will win it.

[Munki Bhoy]

What about the Nations Cup this week? I reckon Scotland will win it.

Ireland will. If we take it to the last game (Ireland v Scotland) I'll be happy.

And I mean real Ireland, not that occupied bit.

Back on topic, shocking about Kubica. Hope he can get back to F1 next season and that hasn't finished his career, but the mess that car was in he's lucky to be alive.

[Boboff]

And I mean real Ireland, not that occupied bit.

.

Oh, the bit where no one lives. How can they get a team together if no one lives there?

Or were you refering to the self governing Northern part? Like the self governing and subsidised Scottish area of England, or the place called Wales where no one pays for prescriptions, Students don't have to pay for higher education, and where major projects are supported by European money?

"Occupied Bit" I really find that very offensive.

[altiusdirectory]

Blah blah blah... I love to advertise myself.

[Boboff]

Now would you click on a link like that?

Not in your life!

[wireman2004]

robert kubica's accident was indeed a bad one.
Robert is back in intensive care after surgery. And hopefully will come out in a day or 2.
The front runner too take his seat is nick heildfeld. Bruno senna is also in contention. My personal feeling is heildfeld will get the nod.
Kubica has put his point of view and says he would like toni liuzzi too take the seat.

In other news. The first grand prix in bahrain is under threat due too political reasons there are riots and there is uproar. I've not kept up with this. All i know is that the last pre season test and the first race in bahrain is under threat due too this.

Conclusions from the first 2 tests so far.
Red bull and ferrari are right on the pace.
Mclaren. Are consistant. And hopefully a little sand bagging
Mercedes seem off the pace. They have outright pace. As shown with schumacher with fastest time on friday. But after that initial fast time. The drop off from the tyres is about 2-3 seconds.
Group Lotus Renault seemed too be fast with kubica. Although who replaces kubica will be imperitive.(renault putting the most on kubica with petrov only there due too money.)
Williams could be a suprise package. Seem fast but could be behind the top 5 teams above. Could suprise for a podium. Fastest time on sunday in testing.

Hopefully that brings you up to date with pre season testing for anyone not on the websites.

It's not a plug or anything. But former commentator james allen has a very neat website that will give you his views and some insight too the season. From how the new regulations are too basic infomation from the man himself as he is still involved in the sport. Google james allen and look for i think is jamesallenonf1

[MK Chris]

James Allen is a prick and one of the big reasons (other than no adverts and The Chain) that I was delighted the BBC got the coverage rights again is because he was dropped. I certainly don't want to read his views or look at his website.

[wireman2004]

James Allen is a prick and one of the big reasons (other than no adverts and The Chain) that I was delighted the BBC got the coverage rights again is because he was dropped. I certainly don't want to read his views or look at his website.

Care too explain. He is very informative. He was a much better commentator than jonathan bell-end. And is very much a balanced view on formula 1 now that itv are not ramming lewis hamilton down our throtes! He can read a race and is able too inform us on what was happening.

[MK Chris]

He has a less than basic grasp of the English language for a start and I thought Jonathan Legard did a much better job. Not to mention the fact that he had his head rammed up Michael Schumacher's arse - but then so do you, so I guess you wouldn't see that.

[R94N]

Having your head rammed up Schumacher's arse must be painful And disgusting!

[Yudster]

It explains a lot about wireman's posting style, certainly.

[wireman2004]

First Off.
i never mentioned anything positive. If anything i was stating the fact that although he was fastest on the saturday. His laps after that were some 1 second off the pace and dropping off every lap due too the degregation of the tyres. If anything,. these were more nagative comments...

anyway. the reason for my update.

With the unfortunate accident of robert kubica. in which i think we all wish him the best.

Nick Heildfeld has been confirmed as kubica's replacement.

also in other news. Pirelli have announced that the soft and hard tyres will be used at the first 4 grand prix. allowing the teams too familiarise themselves with the tyres.

and the final news. Due too the incidents of bahrain with there army now killing 87 protesters. Bernie ecclestone is watching the situation and will decide by wednesday if the grand prix and test will go ahead...

[dimtimjim]

No opening race @ bahrain.....!

[AndyJ]

No opening race.....!

There will be an opening race otherwise the whole season wouldn't start, but it's now Melbourne that is opening the season, nor Bahrain...

[dimtimjim]

There will be an opening race otherwise the whole season wouldn't start

Sorry, see edit above.

nor Bahrain..

Not....?

[AndyJ]

Typo... not really concentrating on what I am doing to be honest!

[dimtimjim]

To help combat the F1 season delay for motorsport fans, World Superbike season starts again this weekend, early morning from Phillip Island, AUS.

[MK Chris]

Ahem... no comments since the start of the season then. First race wasn't great and Malaysia was alright..... but yesterday's Chinese Grand Prix, wow! Best race for AGES and I do mean ages. Lewis did brilliantly, as did Mark Webber.

Also interesting in the first few races is how Nico Rosberg is running away from his more experienced teammate.... again.

[dimtimjim]

Ah-ha! Nice one T. Yes indeed, what a race yesterday, realyl pleased for Lewis, and what a drive from Webber - cracking shizz. And yes Toph, I am also enjoying seeing Nico out driving Grandpa Chin. In fact, the whole Grandapa Chin thing has kept me amused as he clutches at his former glory, but relived none of it. Did he really expect to win again? Probably, which makes it even funnier!

What do you think of the KERS/DRS systems though? I have to say, based on the first 3 races, the DRS is neither use nor ornament. Good idea, not correctly implemented, yet. Although the new mix up the tyres are bringing to the fore are just what the sport needed. Reminds me of tyres in F1 from days gone by (late 80's to early 90's) when there was such a marked difference between the 'soft' and 'hard' tyre. Removing re-fuelling was certainly the right idea, with the new tyre issues adding to the strategic side of things. Yesterdays race was more entertaining than the whole season last time Grandpa Chin won it.

The whole KERS/DRS thing does make me think how far away the sport is from going all 'mario kart'. I.E. drivers having weapons at their disposal to increase chance of success. How long before the KERS becomes a bananna skin etc etc?

[nade]

Totally agree, the race was brilliant.

Lewis seems to have figured out a good tactic with use of the tyres during qualifying. However I can see all the other drivers trying the same thing in Turkey.

The Button pit incident was strange, I'm surprised the BBC1 guys never thought about how last season with Jenson being the champion, I think he would have had either the 1st pit/garage ( or maybe his pick of them). I reckon this was why he drove into the Red Bull pit.

Looking forward to the next race.

[wireman2004]

I must be old school. But i don't like DRS of kers. It just puts something on formula 1 that takes away the skill of the driver... Years like 95, 96 and 97. Maybe not the most overtaking moves. But true talent on show and you FOUGHT for your position.

[Zoot]

I must be old school

I seriously doubt every aspect of that sentence.