Cumulative F1 test times from Jerez

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There’s not a need to draw too much in the way of conclusions after Formula One’s first test in Jerez last week, except these:

  • Mercedes powerplants ran hundreds of laps (875 total laps).
  • Renault powerplants did not (151).
  • Ferrari split the difference (444).
  • This marked the first time teams could get any sort of extended running on the 2014 Pirelli compounds.
  • Kevin Magnussen delivered as excellent a first impression as a confirmed Grand Prix driver as was possible.
  • Teams will still have a lot of work to do in the factories before the next test, Feb. 19-22 in Bahrain.

Here’s the cumulative test times, below. Meanwhile Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday daily recaps are linked in this sentence.

1.  Kevin Magnussen, McLaren-Mercedes, 1m 23.276s, 162 Laps
2.  Felipe Massa, Williams-Mercedes, 1m 23.700s, 133
3.  Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m 23.952s, 121
4.  Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 1m 24.165s, 83
5.  Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1m 24.812s, 78
6.  Valtteri Bottas, Williams-Mercedes, 1m 25.344s, 42
7.  Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1m 25.495s, 173
8.  Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1m 25.588s, 188 
9.  Nico Hulkenberg, Force India-Mercedes, 1m 26.096s, 17
10. Sergio Perez, Force India-Mercedes, 1m 28.376s, 48 
11. Daniel Juncadella, Force India-Mercedes, 1m 29.457s, 81
12. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso-Renault, 1m 29.915s, 45 
13. Adrian Sutil, Sauber-Ferrari, 1m 30.161s, 103
14. Jules Bianchi, Marussia-Ferrari, 1m 32.222s, 25
15. Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber-Ferrari, 1m 33.270s, 60
16. Marcus Ericsson, Caterham-Renault, 1m 37.975s, 12 
17. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1m 38.320s, 11
18. Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham-Renault, 1m 43.193s, 54
19. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso-Renault, 1m 44.016s, 9
20. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull-Renault, 1m 45.374s, 10
21. Robin Frijns, Caterham-Renault, No time, 10
22. Max Chilton, Marussia-Ferrari, No time, 5

SuperMotocross set to introduce Leader Lights beginning with the World Championship finals

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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.