In both 2013 and 2014, the single corner with the most falls was La Caixa at Catalunya. Yes, the one with the big red interior that F1 avoids by turning left a bit sooner than MotoGP.

In 2014 it had 22 falls, and in 2013 it had 28!

In 2013 La Caixa won hands down, as its 28 falls thumped the 2nd place turns, both of which were, surprise, at Le Mans. Both Turns 3 and 7 saw 18 falls each at Le Mans in 2013.

This season, La Caixa’s 22 falls were followed closely by Sepang and, you guessed it, Misano, both with turns seeing 21 falls each.

The more interesting part here, however, is that Misano also had 20 falls at Turn 6. So in effect it tied for 2nd place with Sepang AND is 3rd on its own because Phillip Island had only 19 falls at the Honda Corner, Turn 4.

Trying hard to keep up, Sepang had 21 falls in Turn 15 and 15 falls in Turn 9. So it is both tied for 2nd with Misano and tied with Brno, which had 15 falls at its Turn 3.

Returning to Le Mans, which in 2013 had 18 falls apiece at Turns 3 and 7: In 2014 Turn 7 was still tied, though with only 12 falls this time. And Turn 8 managed to take the honors away from Turn 3.

Given the above chart, you may be interested to know which turns were hot spots at the circuits I’ve not yet mentioned, so here you are, with Circuit and Turn with the Most Falls:

Catalunya: Turn 10 (La Caixa), 22 falls
Misano: Turns 4 and 6, 21 falls each
Sepang: Turn 15, 21 falls
Phillip Island: Turn 4 (Honda Corner), 19 falls
Brno: Turn 3, 15 falls
Motegi: Turn 9 (V Corner): 14 falls
Sachsenring: Turn 1, 13 falls
Aragon: Turn 9, 13 falls
CotA: Turn 11, 13 falls
Le Mans: Turn 7 (Musée) and Turn 8 (Garage Vert), 12 falls each
Jerez: Turn 6 (Dry Sack), 12 falls
Losail: Turn 2, 11 falls
IMS: Turn 2, 11 falls
Termas de Rio Hondo: Turn 5, 10 falls
Silverstone: Turn 12 (Farm Curve), 9 falls
Valencia: Turn 6 (Ángel Nieto), 8 falls
Mugello: Turn 10 (Scarperia), 7 falls
Assen: Turn 9 (De Bult), 6 falls

And one more graph before we end Part 2:

Make what you will of this, but the first thing I notice is that Bridgestone became the sole tire supplier in 2009. Did that have anything to do with the drop from 876 falls to 642? Were riders being more cautious as a group, even though some had been on Bridgestones in previous seasons? Perhaps not, as in 2007 the falls number was 670. And of course, these numbers include falls on Dunlop tires in the lower classes.

Another point: as detailed as the Falls Report is, I know of no official corresponding report on injuries. So while riders are falling more frequently as a general trend, are they getting hurt more often? That I just don’t know.

Up next: Riders.

©2014 by Scott Jones / PHOTO.GP – All Rights Reserved

Camera Info: Nikon D4 with Nikon 500mm f/4.0

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