WSBK » CEV: Noyes wins, Morales takes title.

You reach me as I am about to head off into the morning mountains on the Thruxton with open pipes to wake up coyotes out here in the San Diego county badlands...and you are telling me news I have avoided in my first week of not-reading-the-webs-or-mags vacation. My first reaction is that Toseland will make better use of resources at this stage of their careers than Colin who, I regret to admit, seems to go fast until he signs. William Faulkner once wrote of someone, a Snopes I believe, that "he would be a good man if somebody had a double-barrel shotgun pointed at the center of his forehead every damn day of his life!" Thus, Colin´s riding at contract time. Where is all this written?

MOTOGP » Pedrosa, Honda abandon Brno test.

I am told that there was no general agreement of control tires at Brno, and that both the FIM and the factories are annoyed at Dorna, the commercial rights holders and nothing more, calling a meeting to discuss this kind of changes in the sacred name of "safety." If Dorna want a control tire they have the right to propose it as a "commercial" matter and they have the votes to get it passed, but Ezpeleta doesn´t want to rile the factory teams that chose the right tire. This sounds like Dorna trying to get the right tires for Dani and Repsol Honda. Last year Dorna could have pushed the single tire deal through, but finally Bridgestone agreed to supply Vale and Dani, but Honda said no.

WSBK » Biaggi hits out at Haga.

My only question here is whether Doctors should have cleared Nori to ride with a recently broken (in three places) collarbone from the day before. It is kind of like the Lorenzo question and, accoridng to Michael Scott in GPweek, there is a review of FIM medical practices in the works.

MOTOGP » 250: Simoncelli wins after shocking clash.

Yes, barkbusters would have avoided that crash and also the big one that Sete Gibernau had a couple of years ago at the GP of Catalunya on lap one. Barberá was playing around, slowing the pace down and confident that he could blow past Simoncelli. The Italian knew that Hector had let him past several times and that the plan was to make this pass at the start of the last lap and then run a "normal" lap and win. Paul Butler called it right. There was harm, but no intent to knock anyone off...just the usual weave..and no foul. If you make the weave really illegal and enforce the rule then you change the game. Meanwhile...I am recommending barkbusters. This has happened before...

MOTOGP » Crash.net's French GP blog: Saturday.

Well, he needs to be able to get up and run off the track if he crashes and he needs to have strength in his arms and legs to fight off a high-sider. Maybe he should be able to do 20 pushups, count backwards from 20, remember what country he is in and jump off a chair....I have seen riders go out into races who could do none of these things. I have also seen one-armed dirt track riders who jammed the stump of their arms into a cone on the handlebar and could lap with the best of them...even with the throttle and clutch on the left side. Remnember when Wayne Rainey pulled out of the Dutch in 1992? He was seeing double, could barely walk and was in terrible pain. But the FIM said he was fit!

MOTOGP » Crash.net's French GP blog: Saturday.

If you look into FIM history you will see that in 1991 only 13 of 15 races counted in the GP series. This was a rule made to prevent riders from riding injured. It was a proposal by Sito Pons and went to a 6-6 tie in the CCR when further debate was opened. I participated in that debate as IRRPA presidente (press assiciation) and spoke in favor of throwing away two results because I had seen Gardner riding when not capable of controlling the bike. The next year the rule was reversed because it was "confusing" for fans and journalists. I still back that rule to prevent what Lorenzo is doing. It should never be up to a rider to decide if he is fit. That is for the FIM Medical authorities.

MOTOGP » Crash.net's French GP blog: Saturday.

Lorenzo is not fit to race and he is placing not just himself but others at risk because when he ran across the gravel and came bounding back on to the track he had no way of knowing if another rider was coming and he was not in control of the bike. You need your legs and your feet hard on pegs. But this is not a decision he should be making. I remember racing with a badly broken collarbone and when the bike crossed up I just fell off of it. I also encouraged my son to race a half mile Texas Dirt Track when he had a badly injured shoulder. Dean Miller told it to me straight...if he crashes he could seriously hurt himself. But he needed points. The medical staff is being irresponsible.

WSBK » WSBK race results (2) - Monza.

Thanks Cubic. Yes this is me, back in California after the race in Monza and getting some work doen before the jaunt to Miller Motorsports Park...about 750 miles one way by car but I am tired of airplanes. Your translation is good, but there is a bit more to it. Mi consenta is what Berlusconi often says as way of interrupting another speaker. A way of forcefully stepping in and impossing his will. All pretty sophisticated stuff for Haga to have on a shirt...but it is like he is saying, now you are going to hear what I have to saw! Like he is saying, this matter is not decided yet. I will now have my say. I am still asking my Italian friends from SBK. If I learn more I´ll post it. Ciao!

WSBK » WSBK race results (2) - Monza.

Also , there is some fling on the tires at thiose speeds, that was why Hagañs tire got into the fiberglass lower front part of the rear fender, so the4 only top speed that is accurate is either GPS or radar gun.

WSBK » WSBK race results (2) - Monza.

Hey, does anybody know what the Mi Consenta on Haga´s shirt meant. I am getting all kinds of strange stuff in Italian, but I left Monza without remembering to ask the question. As regards top speed. The speed often indicates that someone has overshot his breaking. They gave Xaus a 321 on the lap he ran deep and over shot his marker in practice but on his other runs he was 310 or so. We got a data redout from Neukirchner that showed him at 331 on his fastest practice lap and 335 on one lap. Clearly the Ducati could hold the draft but could not pass.