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

Wasn't saying it was a secret or insider knowledge, just mentioning the point. I agree that it sucks that any factory teams pull out of the major series.

Yep, I've been watching it's development for a couple years now... Almost worth moving to Texas; almost...

I would contend that Matt and Ben had more to do with that than the rules, teams, bikes, etc... JMNSHO

It sucks that WSBK is loosing Yamaha; though I am glad to see Duc coming back with a full factory team (not like they haven't done awfully well with their "non-factory" team).

Suzuki needs to "piss or get off the pot"; I'm tired of them kinda racing. Wish they'd either commit, or just call it a day and help the satellite teams do their thing. The Yosh team in AMA has proven they can do it for a long time without being "factory".

Part of the issue in my opinion in AMA SBK is the old riders. They need to get some of those "elder statesmen" outta there and let those fun kids from Daytona Sport Bike move up; would be a lot more fun. I mean Bobby Fong doesn't have a ride? WTF?

I agree with you too on the Supersport and Sportbike part; those classes, here and in the World series, are different with regards to "factory" team, but have been fantastic and shouldn't be touched.

P.S. Kuddos to Chaz for another win and a bigger lead in the points! Great race (on a "non-factory" "satellite" Yamaha mind you).

 

The Austin race in 2013 is going to be great, definately going to be there! Contemplating doing the VIP Village for that one. I have been looking over the possibility of going to F1 in June 2012, just to get an idea of the city layout and to have a better understanding of where the best places to stay and party are.



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What's so bad about old riders echo? Checa probably chugs Metamucil to keep himself regular on the podium. Since I am not a moto journalist nor a racer I'll just sit over here in my rocking chair eating popcorn and watching sketchy race coverage on Speed channel, saving my money for the day a regular guy gets to pony up the dough to go to the track a couple times a year

 

But you did go to the California Superbike School :wink:



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I'm not allowed to mention that anymore. ound:

 

bmw finished fourth at the suzuka 8 hour race....now they lead the world endurance championship with only a few rounds to go....





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Amassing large bar tabs makes you tell people stuff they get sick of hearing. I never get sick of hearing Beemers are winning hahaaahaaa

 

I started this thread and barely show my face. Sorry.

Super stoked Stoner has not let me down.

Yay HONDA!!!!!

 

Back to the discussions on Yamaha leaving WSBK. Let me throw this out there.

As far as Ducati running off and hiding next season, if you're basing that on this season I could echo Echo's logic and say that's as attributable to Carlos Checa as to anything else. Even if he is an old fart. Obviously economic conditions are driving Yamaha's decisions. My limited experience would qualify me as the average fan, not a superfan, and I'm probably the guy Yamaha wants to come out to watch the races in droves and then run out and buy a Yammie. There's only so much money left to go around. Efforts made in the form of rule changes, spec tires, etc can only do so much.

I think the racing might actually be a bit better if WSBK became more "superstock" rather than "superbike". But as noted, BMW, Aprilia, and Ducati are not going to play nice and go away, looks like they've decided this is their chance to dominate the Big Three finally. Too bad.

Full agreement from me on leaving AMA sportbike just the way it is.

 

I am basing that on results, and Ducati's release of a brand new superbike with a full factory effort. I would like to see Marco Melandri get a second seat in this new factory Ducati squad. Maybe even Leon Haslam......

Corser will likely retire and Leon Haslam has not had too many nice things to say about the BMW. Camier is gone from Aprilia at the end of this year, so I could see Eugene Laverty with a strong potential to gather up that empty seat. Max has had so many issues this year that he has taken himself out of having an even remote chance. The Honda's have been shite and even Johnny R couldn't have helped that, but they too will be getting a brand new machine next year. I would love to see a new RVF homologation special rise up from the ashes....

There are some fast boys in the BSB series right now that could really make it interesting with some decent equipment. Tommy Hill, Josh Brookes, Michael Laverty to name a few....






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Nothing against old farts Bear (that would be self loathing on my part); Checa is doing amazing! What I'm talking about are the cadre of old riders hogging up the good seats in AMA SBK; not talking World at all.

I think we develop riders too slow in America; they should make a Seniors or Masters tour for the old farts in AMA SBK, and let the young guns of Daytona Sportbike move up; Danny Eslick, Josh Herrin, Cory West, Tommy Aquino, Cameron Beaubier, Dane Westby, PJ Jacobsen, AND Bobby Fong should all have joined Martin Cardenas in SBK, so they could develop more and try to get one or more of them over to the world stage (SBK or GP).

As long as all those old fogies stay there hogging all the prime seats, our talented youngsters languish in sportbike for too long, and don't get the opportunities to capitalize.

So, I'm not against old racers at all, as long as they aren't "freezing out" the development of the young talent we've got here, that I want to see head over seas and do good on the world stage.

Look at the development of Martin Cardenas this year. Had he moved up a year or two ago, he may have won the AMA SBK championship by now, and been on his way or already overseas. Much like what happened with Ben Spies.

I think Cameron Beaubier has got mad skillz, and that kid needs to move up to SBK next year, burn a year getting his chops there, then head over seas... I want some American domination of the WSBK and MotoGP (and Moto2/3) again...

 

Cameron already had his shot overseas, didn't quite work out for him. Spies is a phenom, unfortunately, there isn't another one coming along at this moment in time...The next great hope had his chances ended at Indy.

Look at the faces on these kids:

http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Red-Bull-Rookies-Cup-Riders/001242970471648




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Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to say it didn't work out for him... He didn't do so well at the world level in his final (and only at that level) year over there, but before that in the 2007 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup series, he won the race at Sachsenring, finished on the podium at Assen and Estoril and finished the season in sixth place overall. That's not too shabby, for a 14/15 year old at the time...

 

2007 was four years ago. i'm not saying he isn't talented, what i am saying is that he would probably still be there if his results had warranted his continued participation. he will stay in the u.s. the reality of the situation is that he is not going to compete at the same level as a marc marquez or stefan bradl. look at what that level of competition has done to another one of your favored pilots - super glue, kenan sofuoglu. the only guys that have shown any ability to compete on the world stage, outside of the guys currently in, or slated to return to, motogp...are josh hayes in his wss wildcard rides and jake zemke who has had a win in europe this year.

i'm not sure that any of the current crop has what it takes to compete against the worlds best.




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I gotchya. I think there are other things at work for Cameron; political and economic in nature, that are keeping him from being in the same company as Marquez and Bradl. I also think much of Sofuoğlu's issues are a result of Sutor's problems that most of their riders are having this year. And Hayes is one of those "old farts" that needs to move on IMO... But, I'm there with ya on your broader point(s).

 

Interesting MotoGP Speculation on Rossi ?

Suggests Rossi may want back to Honda ?

" The latest gossip was that Rossi was thinking returning to the Honda fold or run his own MotoGP team with the Japanese manufacturer’s bike, but that was more or less pooh-poohed away, but now the soon-to-be-out of a job Marco Melandri has just lent some credibility to that rumor.

“I know that Valentino Rossi has contacted Gresini for a Honda in 2012: all this confirms what I’ve been saying for some time, that the marriage between the” Doctor “and Ducati have the months counted, said Melandri, who had his own personal stormy relationship with Ducati, that included sessions on a psychologist’s couch. "

Full Story Linky:
Valentino Rossi has asked for a Gresini Honda says Marco Melandri

 

and here i was all excited to see rossi back together with hayden, even if it was ducati.

 

Stay tuned for the latest gossip gleaned from around the world and made to fit right here by the resident experts.

 

oh now you cant tell me that the V4 honda AND the V4 ducatis dont make you wanna touch yourself in a very naughty place.

 

Speaking for myself, yes they do. I cannot tell a lie. Further responses further from the truth are pending.