MOTOGP » MotoGP rookie rule, engine limit clarified.

So they have clarified what constitutes a rookie, now clarify what makes a bike "factory". Yamaha/Honda/Ducati will find a way to get the bike they want to the rider they want. Plain and simple. If Yamaha wants Spies on a copy of Rossi's bike, the only difference will be the Tech 3 livery.

MOTOGP » Elias: It’s not too late.

I have the solution: only sign Toni to half-season contracts.

MOTOGP » Dovizioso keen to get back on the board

If he is able to retain his Repsol seat next year he should do better. IMO the pressure of being on a factory team with a fast teammate has gotten in his head a bit. Last year he had comparatively little pressure nor expectations, this year it is the opposite. He will need to grow into his ride, hopefully he gets the chance. I wonder how that pre-season prediction/goal of the championship is going for him? Watching Dovi struggle though might put the talents of Hayden in perspective. He has been having a similar year to the two Hayden endured on the 800 Honda. One is the golden boy, one is the joke (and former champion).

MOTOGP » Sete Gibernau shocked as team quits MotoGP.

Shredder, I don't disagree with your comments but there are several technologies present on MotoGP bikes that will never be used on the street, carbon-carbon brakes being a big one. The goals with any cost-reducing rule changes would be to: 1. Not interfere with the contracted monopoly WSBK has on production racing. 2. Provide enough fuel to allow for easy horsepower w/o electronic trickery to finish. 3. Make the engines big enough to have more than enough as was the norm in the 990s. 4. Remove some of the current argument that electronics win races, not riders. I want to know that Stoner was the best this race, not Magneti-Marelli.

MOTOGP » Sete Gibernau shocked as team quits MotoGP.

990cc four strokes. 4 cylinder maximum, max redline 16,000. No ride-by-wire, actual cable from throttle to butterfly. 24L of control fuel for the race. Bridgestone Control tire. Ferrous brake rotors. Speaker in helmet to broadcast safety announcements. No flag-to-flag rule, one bike per rider. Mandatory 3 minute "pit stop" in dry to wet race, then aggregate time w/ no refueling. Riders can decide in wet/dry race to come in or not. Why is this so hard to implement?

WSBK » Checa targets Ducati, Yamaha scalp

Checa hasn't been impressive this year, and aside from Miller '08, has had bit of a slump for the last DECADE. Not a big fan of him. Get him on a customer Ducati next year to make room for Toseland or Vermuelen on the Ten Kate CBR

MOTOGP » Gresini to decide Simoncelli team-mate soon?

Melandri is such an obvious choice that I wonder if that means it won't happen. Elias will fight to keep his spot and backing money is powerful leverage. Elias has some, Melandri appears to have none. Other riders are a possiblity like Bautista, Vermuelen, or even Hayden. The silly season has just started, Gresini can take thier time and pick the best rider that fits with their business plan, and that may not be the best rider available on pure talent. Melandri had a good relationship with Gresini, but also desperately wants a factory bike for his input in development. Question is whether a factory Suzuki is better than a customer Honda.

MOTOGP » Hayden: Home fifth as hard as a win.

I've never understood why so many people hate on Hayden. The paddock would do well to have a positive, hard-working guy that is tough and can develop a bike rather than some of the constipated, pissy Eurotrash prima donna that stomps off to pout when his front sag is set 1mm too low. The guy is still probably the best racer from the US at the moment. Live with it.

WSBK » Sykes: I know people want my ride

Sykes is having a "good" rookie year while Haslam & Rea are having "great" rookie years in WSBK. Spies is having an "unbelievable" rookie year. This makes Sykes look comparatively bad, unfairly so. But there will be a lot of riders that would like that second spot on the Yamaha team, perhaps jilted MotoGP riders (Toseland or Hayden?) or WSBK regulars that have lesser rides this year. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Sykes sacked or demoted at the end of the year.

WSBK » Hacking eyeing permanent WSBK berth

In Misano's wet race 1 he showed that he can be competitive. He was in the top 6 on an uncompetitive bike before riders in front of him started to pit and switch bikes. A wet track is a great equalizer and shows the talent of the riders rather than the quality of their equipment. The Kawasaki appears woeful.