vintagemxr
03-17-2011, 07:45 PM
Thanks to my subscription to this year's MotoGP season web broadcast I was able to watch the first Qatar practice session today. Practice results are here.
(http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics)
It looks like Rossi is finding his way nicely, ranking 5th fastest ahead of Jorge in 7th. No doubt Jorge is thinking "Mierda! That wasn't supposed to happen!" Stoner was the man of the hour and he won't be easy to catch.
I missed watching the practice session live but the MotoGP website puts up the full sessions and races on a "no spoiler" page so people can go right to the link and enjoy the race or whatever without having to get up at 3:00 AM. I'm very pleased about this.
The broadcast quality is 720p HD which is pretty good and looked decent on my computer monitor and on my 52" TV using the "Logitech Revue" gizmo. The picture quality sometimes goes a bit pixelated in close up shots and over all isn't quite as crisp as a regular satellite feed but it seemed good enough and after I watched for a while I stopped thinking about the slightly reduced quality.
The very best part was getting to watch the full practice session with no commercials whatever and no inane commentary or over done computer graphics every 5 minutes.
If I divide the cost of the subscription, about $140, by 18 races with practice sessions and qualifying, the cost works out to about $1.90 per hour to watch it all, uninterrupted, and with sensible commentary. That's pretty darned cheap to see the best road racing in the world in the next best way to being there in person. Moreover, that doesn't even include watching the the other classes which are also part of the package.
Of course the commentators speak English English which can be a problem sometimes but I'll gladly miss a few things here and there for the blessing of no commercials and no behind the scenes fluff pieces. Plus, maybe by the time Simon gets here I'll be able to translate for the rest of you guys. :biggrinbandit:
the other Doug
(http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics)
It looks like Rossi is finding his way nicely, ranking 5th fastest ahead of Jorge in 7th. No doubt Jorge is thinking "Mierda! That wasn't supposed to happen!" Stoner was the man of the hour and he won't be easy to catch.
I missed watching the practice session live but the MotoGP website puts up the full sessions and races on a "no spoiler" page so people can go right to the link and enjoy the race or whatever without having to get up at 3:00 AM. I'm very pleased about this.
The broadcast quality is 720p HD which is pretty good and looked decent on my computer monitor and on my 52" TV using the "Logitech Revue" gizmo. The picture quality sometimes goes a bit pixelated in close up shots and over all isn't quite as crisp as a regular satellite feed but it seemed good enough and after I watched for a while I stopped thinking about the slightly reduced quality.
The very best part was getting to watch the full practice session with no commercials whatever and no inane commentary or over done computer graphics every 5 minutes.
If I divide the cost of the subscription, about $140, by 18 races with practice sessions and qualifying, the cost works out to about $1.90 per hour to watch it all, uninterrupted, and with sensible commentary. That's pretty darned cheap to see the best road racing in the world in the next best way to being there in person. Moreover, that doesn't even include watching the the other classes which are also part of the package.
Of course the commentators speak English English which can be a problem sometimes but I'll gladly miss a few things here and there for the blessing of no commercials and no behind the scenes fluff pieces. Plus, maybe by the time Simon gets here I'll be able to translate for the rest of you guys. :biggrinbandit:
the other Doug