MOTOGP » Rossi targets ton on happy hunting ground.

Hi Rob - yes, I'm using Firefox now. Cheers, John.

MOTOGP » Rossi targets ton on happy hunting ground.

Sorry to go off-topic on this one, but would the administrators of this site PLEASE stop these damn UtargetTV pop-ups. We all appreciate that they need adverts to support the site, but it's repeat after repeat until there are 25+ windows open within 5 minutes, and the computer just locks up! This is REALLY frustrating - STOP DOING IT!!!! P.S. does anyone know of any way to block these things - normal pop-up settings don't seem to work.

BSB » GSE withdrawal triggers rider frenzy.

The inertia is the mass times the piston acceleration. The mass from a 600cc piston is way higher than a 250cc piston in the Jap fours, putting enormous strain on the pistons, con rods, rings etc. The piston has to be strong enough to withstand the inertia and acceleration, as loads increase on a log scale - i.e. a piston twice the size is probably experiencing stresses 4 or 5 times higher. At the constant very high revs in racing, the stresses are so high that a standard 600cc piston could simply disintegrate. This is what worries Ducati - they are really pushing the engineering boundaries of a twin, and spectacular failures are a danger to the rider and risk depositing engine internals and oil all over the track, to the detriment of all riders. What Ducati has proposed (& agreed in WSB) is for a strengthened piston with the same weight & profile, reducing the risk of failure without any performance advantage. I can't see any sensible reason to deny this request when it affects the safety of everybody on the track.

BSB » Dunlop v Pirelli in BSB rubber shootout.

Could Pirelli actually supply all the needs for both WSB & BSB? For once, we should support our own industry and go with Dunlop. Made here, used here.

BSB » GSE withdrawal triggers rider frenzy.

Let's not forget that not too long ago, Ducati twins were 1000cc when Jap fours were 750's with restrictors. For marketing reasons, the Jap manufacturers wanted to run their 1000 bikes rather than 750 specials, and the organisers pressurized Ducati to agree, with the sop that they could race with a higher level of tune. It's a great testiment to Ducati's engineers that they have been able to make, and keep, the 999 competitive for so long but this has been at massive cost and priced the bikes out of the range of privateeers. Going to 1200 with no tuning advantage is effectively going back to where the rules pretty much were before, and will encourage other manufacturers into WSB too.

MOTOGP » Stoner: Just unbelievable!

Very droll Mr. Reaper! What I think you need is the cheat code that Rossi had in previous versions of the game, where he gets the best bike and grade A special overnight tyres. I think this might solve your problem!

BSB » GSE withdrawal triggers rider frenzy.

One reason BSB has been so successful is that the rules have always matched WSB. WSB has accepted the 1200 and alternative pistons, with restrictors and added weight to prevent any performance advantage. It is crass of the BSB organisers not to follow suit. The 999 can't remain competitive, and anyway why would Ducati want to continue racing it when they stopped making the 999 a year ago? Hardly any marketing advantage there. If the BSB organisers don't get their heads out of their *** very quickly, next season will have lost both the top four riders and one of the top teams - it will be a very lame affair.

MOTOGP » Friday 'falls' to Stoner.

Simon - CV's colour scheme is that of the suzuki team up to 1976 abd Barry raced in these colours until 1997 when it switched to the red/yellow/black Texaco Heron scheme. Check this link to see what I mean - http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/suzi/rg500/rg500.htm

WSBK » Q&A: Troy Bayliss.

Ebay has stuff like that - try this link; http://sports-memorabilia.search.ebay.co.uk/ducati_Clothing_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfclZ1QQlopgZ2QQsacatZ123775

MOTOGP » PICTURES: Vermeulen's Sheene livery.

The 'old' liveries are definitely the best. CV's PI job look well good compared to the 'normal' Suzuki. And didn't the old yellow/black and red/white historic Yamaha liveries last year look fabulous?