Anyone else talking RACING?! <--- of the motorcycle type

So, Herrin gets suspended for cutting into another riders line and causing an accident. The AMA is calling it willful recklessness. Herrin, in case the organizers hadn't noticed, was in front. In my opinion this was an absurd decision. It was nothing more than a race incident and had it not been for that lapper who refused to get out of the way, none of this would have happened. I'm not exactly hanging Josh Herrin posters up on the bedroom wall, but compared to the unpunished and obvious disregard that Eslick put on display last season, Herrin's incident was miniscule. If anything, maybe they could have docked some points. Honda is looking smarter and smarter by the day regarding their decision to decline participation in this special needs series.

 

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[video=youtube;4nvZ_uFCY7M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nvZ_uFCY7M[/video]

 

I agree with that, mostly, except about Herrin being in front. They were side by side for several seconds before his elbow contacted Westby's brake lever. He was definitely the one who was swerving, not Westby.
I do agree the penalty was quite harsh.

I do see good progress this year in the series as far as trying to be transparent, and fair, etc. The press release put out by AMA/DMG on the Dunlop tire situation, as well as this one on the Herrin penalty was something you would not have dreamed of seeing a couple years ago when they were intimidating the riders into not speaking up. In one of the releases they even state that they are no longer the AMA of a year or two ago.

Maybe the penalty was a warning to all potential roughness this season vs last season, to go along with their improvement in other areas. We can hope, as the US needs their former AMA racing back.

 

Stoner
Pedrosa is not going to be happy this season. Along with many of the other guys who enjoyed success the past few seasons.

 

Thats one weird crash, is this NASCAR racing on motorcycles ?

Interesting in the Qatars MotoGP Caparossi's managed not to crash after his left hand was smacked hard by a crashing De Puniets raised back wheel.

 

Racing at that level will become "gentlemanly" just as soon as all the riders and pic crews start singing Kumbyya before and after each moto.

The sale of Tshirts with "Sbit Happens" just went up.

 

Looks like Westby nerfed Herrin a bit earlier than the final contact with his elbow a bit to get him going wide, then Herrin jumped back down trying to get a lower line, most likely the banking made his lean angle carry him really close really quick, and he got Westby's lever. If anything, maybe the AMA didnt like the sudden lean into Westby, but they were going at it pretty good all the way through that last bit. Maybe Westby will switch to tiny little levers from now on.


Aside: very impressed with Iannone's run to grab a podium in Moto2. He was my guy from late last year, glad to see him picking right up where he left off. Now he needs to qualify better. There has been the customary retooling and there is still some work to do for him after his team change this year, but I think he can get it done. Last year some teams were complaining when he would gap the field that there must be some cheating going on, but the telemetry data gathered by the tech inspectors said it all, he simply carried more corner speed.

 

Moto2
Whoever thought Marc Marquez was gonna surprise everyone was right, but not the way they expected... I'm sure he'll do better as he gets some laps under his belt. I was disappointed in Kenan (I know he's been struggling with the new chassis, but was hoping for more).

I agree, was way harsh.

Yeah, I hate that they're making an example of him, don't think he deserves it; but, if they're consistent, I agree it's a good thing overall.

I'm there with ya brother... I'm digging Iannone myself, hope he continues to impress; though you're right, he needs to qualify better and be consistent to have a real shot.

 

Marquez should be no surprise, the kid is quick. The first few corners of a Moto2 race have caught out even the best of the cherry pickers who occupy this class. If I had to pick a surprise for less than expected results, I think i'd have to go with Scott Redding.

The most embarassing display award goes to, and it's a landslide, Tony Elias...I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even make it through half the season before getting sacked by Chechinello....that relationship is already strained and i'm pretty sure that Dorna had quite a bit to do with ramming that square peg into the round hole. Karel Abraham scored three points on a Ducati for christ sakes! Either Elias changes his riding style, or he's a distant memory.

As far as Ducati and you know who, that bike is a science experiment in it's current form and their main rider isn't far behind. This is either gonna be the feel good story of the year or the worst thing that could have happened to either of them. There is a metric shitload on the line with this one.

Dani Pedrosa has to be more than a little concerned with his physical situation, 'nough said. That kid has been the one responsible for the feedback to get that bike where it is today. Love him or hate him, the development work he has done since Nicky took his ball and went home, has a lot to do with the success of that bike in it's current form. I betcha Casey Stoner is pretty happy that they designed the bike to his liking.......yep, I went there.

 

Much of this "inside" info comes from regurgitation of regurgitation sometimes constructed to deceive.

Anybody got any poop on the rumor that.........?

 

For those who didn't hear, they (AMA/DMG) suspended Josh Herrin after the final lap incident where he accidentally hit a fellow riders brake lever for one race, put him on probation for the year, and fined his team. Overly harsh in my opinion.

Josh has written a letter in response: Soup :: An E-mail From Graves Yamaha Rider Josh Herrin :: 03-23-2011

 

I don't think it was just the first few corners, but I'm with you overall.

I agree. They say he can't ride the Bridgestones, everyone shoulda known that long ago, but he had better luck last time he rode in GP. Based on what I've read, I'd agree Dorna pushed it, because they wanted the Moto2 champ to go directly to GP, to try to prove the Moto2 class is a direct feeder class; but, what's it gonna show if he's always 3 seconds off the pace?

Meh, maybe.

Yeah, he officially has a "stretch" (which I'm taking it as a strain or sprain): http://www.motomatters.com/news/2011/03/23/pedrosa_s_shoulder_problem_at_qatar_down.html

I think you're giving him a little more credit than he deserves, but not much. The Fairy has done a good job, and I hope he's not in career jeopardy.

 

From motorcyclenews.com on Pedrosa, hopefully he heals soon.

" He flew back to Europe and underwent checks in Barcelona with specialists to assess the shoulder problem. The results showed there is no vascular or nerve compression in the canal of the collarbone, but there is a small stretch in the plexus, which is gradually improving but will need more time to finish healing completely.

The triple world champion, who is preparing for his home race in Jerez next weekend, said: "I honestly didn't expect my arm would react in this way because during pre-season I didn't feel too much trouble and I thought the problem was solved. However, I felt really bad in the Qatar race and was aware that the injury is not completely healed. It was a shame because in Qatar I had a good feeling and until the second half of the race - which is when the pain started "

 

Ducati Preparing Major Changes For Estoril MotoGP Test

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2011/03/26/ducati_preparing_major_changes_for_estor.html

It has been clear for some time that Ducati have a lot of work to do on their Ducati Desmosedic GP11. Where Honda and Yamaha have made huge steps forward over the winter, all of the Ducati riders have struggled during testing, with all six riders crashing during the final winter test at Qatar, and then only the two Marlboro Ducatis in the top 10 at the opening MotoGP race in Losail, with Valentino Rossi the best finisher in 7th.

Rossi's technical debrief was a perfect illustration of just where Ducati is at this moment: After speaking to the press after the race on Sunday night, Rossi went back into the paddock hut housing the Ducati team for a technical meeting with his pit crew and Ducati engineers that went on for what seemed like a very long time indeed. Ducati clearly has a lot of work to do.

But the presence of Rossi and his legendary crew chief Jeremy Burgess may start to pay off soon for Ducati. Speaking to the Italian TV channel Sportmediaset, head of Ducati Corse and engineering guru Filippo Preziosi revealed that the team would be bringing a host of new parts to be tried at the Estoril MotoGP test, due to take place on the Monday after the Portuguese Grand Prix. Some of those changes will be "radical and visible," Preziosi asserted, whilst others will be just as important though not as visible.

Among the changes will be a new chassis, Preziosi revealed. The chassis will continue to be a carbon fiber subframe, however. "You can radically change the behavior of the bike without changing the shape of the elements," Preziosi said, though adding that changing the elements could also help to change the bike.

One of the biggest changes will be in the engine, Preziosi added. The aim was to make the engine respond a lot less aggressively in the corners, especially when leaned over hard. Making the bike easier to turn and control in corners is a key aim for Ducati.

As for a new gearbox, to match the performance of the Honda's instantaneous gearshift, Preziosi was cautious. Where Valentino Rossi had hinted at Qatar of having a new gearbox to test at Estoril, Preziosi insisted it was not that simple. "You can't just decide you want to build one and then use it," Preziosi told Sportmediaset. But it was definitely something that needed to be thought about, the Ducati boss added.

The changes for Estoril will be just the first batch of changes due to be phased in during the season. The Ducati Desmosedici looks like undergoing a major change throughout the 2011 season, to make it easier for everyone - not just Valentino Rossi - to ride.

 

The Sunday afternoon mass at the Trinity Church of the Holy Ducati is now in session. More Rossispeak so the fanboys they can all make it through next week.

Ducati should start siphoning off some of the money and time they're wasting on Rossi and invest it in Carlos Checa.





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Here's an interesting story a friend sent over, before the races get started. Of course there is much drama circulating over this; seemed timid to me.


http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/max-biaggi-marco-melandri-slap-video/

 

Funny part is, if they werent so fast on a bike, in other words if you saw the two of them at the grocery store or something slap fighting, you'd laugh your ass off at the two little guys acting like they were gonna fight.

While everyone else is busy being silly and jamming each other up, Checa and Haslam will probably run off into the distance.

 

Talk about bitch slapping - I would say that Biaggi got him with his pimp hand, but the strength just wasn't there.

Definitely expecting a podium for BMW today, and a probable 3rd or 4th spot for Kawasaki - can't believe it, but I think they've got something with Sykes and the new ride.

 

first time I've ever seen a rim come apart WSBK race 1
pic>> http://i65.servimg.com/u/f65/15/85/26/50/d8ffr10.jpg

 

That is too bad for Josh.
Anyone who has ever ridden Daytona knows how much the bike will wallow around in a group of riders.