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

The Honda's just had a little more oomph than the Yamahas on this track. Pedro just upped his game at the last minute and Rossi just couldn't match the pace, but MM sure did have this dialed in before the race started. Surpassed his previous pole record and fastest lap during a race for this track!

Although it would be a miracle of comebacks if MM got the title again this year, I'm hoping that with MM and Dani back to form, that they'll at least keep JL from getting any more points than Rossi. Of course, JL is a bit more consistent at getting on the front row than Rossi. This could mean that the Honda duo could keep Rossi off the podium, something I'd hate to see.

It's funny, the wife doesn't really follow the riders, but she said "I hope that Valentino wins this year. I'd love to see the "old guy" (as she put it), show these youngsters he's still got it." She is impressed with his current standings and even went so far to say that she hopes that MM doesn't "get in the way"!

 

As always, George just goes the same pace the whole race... This time it put him 4th. Rossi on the otherhand, fought that M1 the whole way around that track every lap, riding "out of his skin". This was a perfect example of what I've said about George before.

I've been interested by "Crazy Joe" doing better than Dovi; he hasn't had worse than a 6th all season. For someone who used to remind me of Ruben Xaus (win it or waste it), he's matured well.

And Maverick is impressing me as well, doing very well on that WAY underpowered Suzi. They keep building that engine and improving the electronics, when the rules come back to meet them, they're going to be a force to reckon with.

 

Completely agree on Crazy Joe and MV. I think MV on a factory bike in the future might be very interesting.
Rossi was pushing the M1 past its limits trying to find something. JL will find his comfortable pace and that seems to be it. Sometimes that comfortable pace (especially when he gets away at the front) is amazingly fast and consistent. GO Rossi!

 

The future is now.....Suzuki is a factory ride. Just give them some time. I'm a supporter of Mav and believe he has what it takes.....unlike my feelings for Redding.

 

Think about that for a minute and it might come to you......and when you think about it, do it without the emotion.

 

Oh I get it. It's exceptional that he can maintain his pace through the whole race, and as Gator said, sometimes that's enough to walk away with it. My issue is, he can't seem to (or wont) elevate his game when needed. He is amazing at keeping his pace, and that along with his consistency makes him something to contend with in the championship most years. I gave him mad props for that nasty break in his collar bone and then getting 5th like 5 days later a few years ago.

All I'm saying is, he doesn't seem to have another gear. He can't seem to push himself or the bike when needed. It very well may be a choice on his part, because it's part of the reason he's so consistent. But, I'd much rather watch a rider with passion, willing to risk it all for one more step up on the podium, than someone who just works like a sewing machine, always at the same pace, that when it's good enough, is good enough, and when it's not, oh well...

 

LOL, yeah Suzuki is a factory bike. When I read that I laughed. Zuk has been away for a while I guess, I'm glad their back.

 

Give them another year, they'll be up front....loved the retro paint..GSX

 

Yeah, 'Zuk it's doing very well in their return to MotoGP. Basically new kids on the block and they are making a great showing.

 

Could it also be that he gets up to his maximum speed immediately and doesn't build up to it over the entire weekend like the others? The next gear you speak of doesn't really exist, it's just that some riders take longer to get up to speed. Rossi is a prime example. Lorenzo and Marquez are on their pace almost immediately, Rossi and Pedrosa consistently build up to their max pace over the entire weekend.

The longer runs in practice are a pretty good indicator of who has what. The 6-10 lap runs that they do in FP4 are a good gauge of what the race pace will be. Rarely, if ever, does a rider "find another gear" in the race. Go back and look at the historical data and you will find the data doesn't lie.

Lorenzo was sure after Q2 that his goal was to get on the podium, not to go for the win. He tried to get to the front to slow the pace and to hope for a scrum....it didn't happen.

 

Where do you dudes find oot aboot all this stuff? I tried channeling but those darn fast guys are thinking in Italian or Spanish or they just talk funny and are hard to understand.

 

Well, back from the WSBK races in Laguna. Good times! Main event was great, although both races had the same outcome.

We even got to meet a few racing legends! Here's Duccmann with #34 Kevin Schwantz...


Sadly, the final race two riders died in a first turn pile up. RIP Daniel and Bernat.

 

Good times fer sure.

God speed....a very sad day for MotoAmerica

 

No umbrella girl pics and no Bike Night pics from Cannery Row.....holding out?......hmmmmmm..Is that Badbilly in the background in the black skirt?????

 

So you finally got your pic with Wayne! You going to frame it?

Bad situation all around RIP Daniel and Bernat.

 

Yup, ran up and asked for a picture and told him about how I watched him and all the Americans kick ass back in the eighties there, he looked at me and said. ...that was along time ago and laughed.
We were on the straight before turn 4 when the red flag came out. Didn't find out till later about how bad it actually was . Did see two medic vac helicopters leave the track.

 

Kevin and Wayne in the same day. Very cool.

 

OK, Let's start with the important pics first. Sorry Norcalboy, we didn't do Cannery Row, seems most of us wanted to chill and just walk across the street for dinner. I guess that's how us old folks roll. BTW, I have over 450 pics to sort through and considering a lot of these photos are of fast moving bikes and often through chain link fences to shoot through, or to change focal points, it'll take a little while before I get any action shots posted.

(Added a pic I missed)

 

The little cutie in the white skirt and red tank top standing next to our bud Chris, gave us a visual that won't soon be forgotten, thank you Lord for that perfect gust of wind blowing her skirt up past her waist. ..revealing a nice little g string. Could of sworn someone stepped on my tongue.

 

I tried to grab some video but it eats up the camera battery real quick! Regardless, here's a little clip I grabbed at the Cork Screw. This is the second race of the WSBK.

[video=youtube_share;8z9THJrGS-k]http://youtu.be/8z9THJrGS-k[/video]