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Sykes Flies As New Season Gets Ever Closer
Newsflash, 15 February 2012
Joan Lascorz and Tom Sykes enjoyed three days of good weather during their unofficial tests at Phillip Island, with Sykes frequently heading up the time sheets against his many competitors.
On his Ninja ZX-10R Sykes was fastest on day one, then went second fastest on day two and on a race tyre setting he was only a tenth of a second off reigning champion, Carlos Checa, on the final day.
Sykes was particularly satisfied that the bike's base settings, which he has been perfecting over a few winter tests sessions, worked at a warm Phillip Island with only minor tweaks and adjustments as the temperatures changed. Today was the hottest of the three, but track action was interrupted many times during this test in general, because of crashes and several forms of wildlife that strayed onto the track quite frequently.
Joan used the fact that this is an unofficial test to run two bikes, each with its own distinct set-up philosophy, in his efforts to find a final base setting to start the season with. He improved his best lap time today and jumped into the top five in the final combined time sheets.
For both Tom and Joan two more days of testing remain before qualifying begins. These final two days will give both the chance to evaluate the race tyres that official tyre supplier Pirelli have brought for the PI race weekend. That factor alone makes it an important two days of testing, which will take place between 20th and 21st February.
Tom Sykes: “Day three went pretty well. We tried out a lot of things again, in the hot conditions this time. We had good consistency and found a bit of a better bike balance for me. Through all our tests we have explored a lot of areas, gathered a lot of information, but finally it looks like our base setting from winter testing is pretty good. This is the third or fourth race circuit, in a wide range of temperatures, that it has worked at. We did some fine-tuning and managed our lap times quite well. It is difficult to see exactly where our competitors are at in terms of set-up but ultimately we have had a successful test and have set ourselves up nicely for the official tests next week. Hopefully we will have two days of decent weather and that will prepare us for the beginning of the season.”
Joan Lascorz: “I have not decided my final settings and I need to test more at the sessions next week. We have two days to make a decision in which direction to go. I have two basic bike set-ups, both work well, but they are very different. One gives us a longer bike and one a shorter bike, so I need to make the decision which way to go. We only get to use the real race tyres at the official tests, not this test, to help me make the final decision. We have two more days on track next week and they will be very important.”
Newsflash, 15 February 2012
Joan Lascorz and Tom Sykes enjoyed three days of good weather during their unofficial tests at Phillip Island, with Sykes frequently heading up the time sheets against his many competitors.
Sykes was particularly satisfied that the bike's base settings, which he has been perfecting over a few winter tests sessions, worked at a warm Phillip Island with only minor tweaks and adjustments as the temperatures changed. Today was the hottest of the three, but track action was interrupted many times during this test in general, because of crashes and several forms of wildlife that strayed onto the track quite frequently.
Joan used the fact that this is an unofficial test to run two bikes, each with its own distinct set-up philosophy, in his efforts to find a final base setting to start the season with. He improved his best lap time today and jumped into the top five in the final combined time sheets.
For both Tom and Joan two more days of testing remain before qualifying begins. These final two days will give both the chance to evaluate the race tyres that official tyre supplier Pirelli have brought for the PI race weekend. That factor alone makes it an important two days of testing, which will take place between 20th and 21st February.
Tom Sykes: “Day three went pretty well. We tried out a lot of things again, in the hot conditions this time. We had good consistency and found a bit of a better bike balance for me. Through all our tests we have explored a lot of areas, gathered a lot of information, but finally it looks like our base setting from winter testing is pretty good. This is the third or fourth race circuit, in a wide range of temperatures, that it has worked at. We did some fine-tuning and managed our lap times quite well. It is difficult to see exactly where our competitors are at in terms of set-up but ultimately we have had a successful test and have set ourselves up nicely for the official tests next week. Hopefully we will have two days of decent weather and that will prepare us for the beginning of the season.”
Joan Lascorz: “I have not decided my final settings and I need to test more at the sessions next week. We have two days to make a decision in which direction to go. I have two basic bike set-ups, both work well, but they are very different. One gives us a longer bike and one a shorter bike, so I need to make the decision which way to go. We only get to use the real race tyres at the official tests, not this test, to help me make the final decision. We have two more days on track next week and they will be very important.”
Stoner becomes a father
Friday, 17 February 2012
The Australian rider and his wife Adriana welcomed a daughter into their family yesterday. Alessandra was born Thursday at 9:55pm in a local hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Casey Stoner and his wife Adriana became proud parents yesterday with the birth of the first child, daughter Alessandra. The baby was born at a local hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the couple lives during the winter months. The news was confirmed by the Repsol Honda team with a brief message through Twitter that said: "We are very happy to announce that Alessandra Stoner was born on the 16th of February at 9:55pm, weighing 2.8 kilos. Both mother and baby are doing well".
The MotoGP World Champion’s first child was born the same day that Valentino Rossi celebrated his 33rd birthday, a coincidence that provoked many comments on the social networks yesterday.
Stoner still has a few days to enjoy his new family, as in two weeks he will travel to Malaysia to participate in the second Test of the pre-season at the Sepang circuit, where the count down to the start of the first race of 2012 continues.
Repsol Honda announced that fans who would like to congratulate the new parents may do so through Stoner’s blog.
Friday, 17 February 2012
The Australian rider and his wife Adriana welcomed a daughter into their family yesterday. Alessandra was born Thursday at 9:55pm in a local hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Casey Stoner and his wife Adriana became proud parents yesterday with the birth of the first child, daughter Alessandra. The baby was born at a local hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the couple lives during the winter months. The news was confirmed by the Repsol Honda team with a brief message through Twitter that said: "We are very happy to announce that Alessandra Stoner was born on the 16th of February at 9:55pm, weighing 2.8 kilos. Both mother and baby are doing well".
The MotoGP World Champion’s first child was born the same day that Valentino Rossi celebrated his 33rd birthday, a coincidence that provoked many comments on the social networks yesterday.
Stoner still has a few days to enjoy his new family, as in two weeks he will travel to Malaysia to participate in the second Test of the pre-season at the Sepang circuit, where the count down to the start of the first race of 2012 continues.
Repsol Honda announced that fans who would like to congratulate the new parents may do so through Stoner’s blog.
Corti and Nakagami both top Moto2™ field
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Three days of testing at the Jerez circuit concluded today with both riders of the Italtrans Racing Team posting the fastest time of the Moto2™ field.
The third and final day of testing at the Andalusian circuit was held under sunny and warm weather (ambient temperature 19°C and asphalt temperature 34°C) with times among the Moto2 riders dropping steadily as the teams wrapped up three busy days of work in preparation for the 2012 Championship season
Italtrans duo Claudio Corti and Takaaki Nakagami both reported the fastest time of the day with a time of 1’42.2, with Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paccock) and Pol Espargaró of Pons Racing both posting a time of 1’42.4. Meanwhile, Avintia racing’s Julian Simon and Scott Redding both brought up fifth with a shared time of 1’42.7.
The quicker pace and pressure to make to most of the last day on track added to the number of crashes that occurred on the final day, with Tech 3 Racing’s Xavier Simeon, Kiefer Racing’s Max Neukirchner, Yuki Takahashi of NGM Mobile Forward Racing, SAG Team’s Angel Rodriguez and Damian Cudlin of the QMMF Racing team all having crashes in the morning though without injuries. In the afternoon, falls included Marco Colandrea and Pol Espargaró though without incident, however Claudio Corti and Alex De Angelis both had falls that brought out the red flag, though the riders ultimately were pronounced unscathed.
The Moto2 teams now have one month to analyze data and rider feedback collected and perform the required modifications their bikes before testing resumes again at Jerez on March 19th.
Unofficial Moto2 lap times for Saturday (recorded by teams):
1. Claudio Corti, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’42.2
2. Takaaki Nakagami, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’42.2
3. Thomas Luthi, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK, 1’42.4
4. Pol Espargaro, Pons Racing, 1’42.5
5. Julian Simon, AVINTIA RACING Moto2, 1’42.7
6. Scott Redding, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, 1’42.7
7. Mika Kallio, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, 1’42.8
8. Esteve Rabat, Pons Racing, 1’42.8
9. Randy Krummenacher, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND, 1’42.9
10. Bradley Smith, TECH 3 RACING, 1’43.0
11. Angel Rodriguez, SAG TEAM, 1’43.2
12. Axel Pons, PONS RACING, 1’43.5
13. Alex De Angelis, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’43.6
14. Toni Elías, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, 1’43.6
15. Nico Terol, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, 1’43.6
16. Mike Di Meglio, SPEED UP, 1’43.7
17. Simone Corsi, IODARACING PROJECT, 1’43.7
18. Xavier Simeon, TECH 3 RACING, 1’43.7
19. Ricky Cardus, ARGUIÑANO RACING TEAM, 1’43.8
20. Gino Rea, GRESINI RACING Moto2, 1’43.8
21. R. Wiliarot, THAI HONDA GRESINI Moto2, 1’43.8
22. Yuki Takahashi, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’43.9
23. Johann Zarco, JIR Moto2, 1’44.0
24. Andrea Iannone, SPEED MASTER, 1’44.2
25. Max Neukirchner, KIEFER RACING, 1’44.2
26. Dominique Aegerter, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’44.5
27. Roberto Rolfo, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’44.7
28. Alexander Lundh, MZ RACING TEAM, 1’45.1
29. Marco Colandrea, SAG TEAM, 1’45.4
30. Eric Granado, JIR Moto2, 1’46.0
31. Damian Cudlin, QMMF RACING TEAM, no time provided
32. Elena Rosell, QMMF RACING TEAM, no time provided
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Three days of testing at the Jerez circuit concluded today with both riders of the Italtrans Racing Team posting the fastest time of the Moto2™ field.
The third and final day of testing at the Andalusian circuit was held under sunny and warm weather (ambient temperature 19°C and asphalt temperature 34°C) with times among the Moto2 riders dropping steadily as the teams wrapped up three busy days of work in preparation for the 2012 Championship season
Italtrans duo Claudio Corti and Takaaki Nakagami both reported the fastest time of the day with a time of 1’42.2, with Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paccock) and Pol Espargaró of Pons Racing both posting a time of 1’42.4. Meanwhile, Avintia racing’s Julian Simon and Scott Redding both brought up fifth with a shared time of 1’42.7.
The quicker pace and pressure to make to most of the last day on track added to the number of crashes that occurred on the final day, with Tech 3 Racing’s Xavier Simeon, Kiefer Racing’s Max Neukirchner, Yuki Takahashi of NGM Mobile Forward Racing, SAG Team’s Angel Rodriguez and Damian Cudlin of the QMMF Racing team all having crashes in the morning though without injuries. In the afternoon, falls included Marco Colandrea and Pol Espargaró though without incident, however Claudio Corti and Alex De Angelis both had falls that brought out the red flag, though the riders ultimately were pronounced unscathed.
The Moto2 teams now have one month to analyze data and rider feedback collected and perform the required modifications their bikes before testing resumes again at Jerez on March 19th.
Unofficial Moto2 lap times for Saturday (recorded by teams):
1. Claudio Corti, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’42.2
2. Takaaki Nakagami, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’42.2
3. Thomas Luthi, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK, 1’42.4
4. Pol Espargaro, Pons Racing, 1’42.5
5. Julian Simon, AVINTIA RACING Moto2, 1’42.7
6. Scott Redding, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, 1’42.7
7. Mika Kallio, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, 1’42.8
8. Esteve Rabat, Pons Racing, 1’42.8
9. Randy Krummenacher, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND, 1’42.9
10. Bradley Smith, TECH 3 RACING, 1’43.0
11. Angel Rodriguez, SAG TEAM, 1’43.2
12. Axel Pons, PONS RACING, 1’43.5
13. Alex De Angelis, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’43.6
14. Toni Elías, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, 1’43.6
15. Nico Terol, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, 1’43.6
16. Mike Di Meglio, SPEED UP, 1’43.7
17. Simone Corsi, IODARACING PROJECT, 1’43.7
18. Xavier Simeon, TECH 3 RACING, 1’43.7
19. Ricky Cardus, ARGUIÑANO RACING TEAM, 1’43.8
20. Gino Rea, GRESINI RACING Moto2, 1’43.8
21. R. Wiliarot, THAI HONDA GRESINI Moto2, 1’43.8
22. Yuki Takahashi, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’43.9
23. Johann Zarco, JIR Moto2, 1’44.0
24. Andrea Iannone, SPEED MASTER, 1’44.2
25. Max Neukirchner, KIEFER RACING, 1’44.2
26. Dominique Aegerter, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’44.5
27. Roberto Rolfo, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’44.7
28. Alexander Lundh, MZ RACING TEAM, 1’45.1
29. Marco Colandrea, SAG TEAM, 1’45.4
30. Eric Granado, JIR Moto2, 1’46.0
31. Damian Cudlin, QMMF RACING TEAM, no time provided
32. Elena Rosell, QMMF RACING TEAM, no time provided
Espargaró: "Aprilia will be the bike to beat among the CRTs"
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Just ahead of the second test round of the season for CRT teams and riders next week in Jerez, Aleix Espargaró spoke with motogp.com about his impressions of the project that will return him to the premier class.
It’s difficult to find someone in the MotoGP™ paddock with the enthusiasm of Aleix Espargaró when facing new adventures, and now that he has the opportunity to return to the top class in 2012 he is especially motivated and enthusiastic. The rider from Granollers, just outside Barcelona, recently debuted the Aspar Team’s ART bike at the first preseason test in Valencia, and will continue developing the bike at the Jerez circuit in a test next week. But first he will make a stop in Paterna (Valencia) where his team will officially present the multinational Power Electronics company as their primary sponsor of the MotoGP Aspar Team. In this interview, Espargaró shared his views on the project and his progress thus far.
Aleix, at the end of last season when you signed with the Aspar team, it was originally to run in the Moto2 class. Then this CRT project for MotoGP came up. Are you where you want to be in 2012?
"MotoGP is better for me, for my size and weight I’ll have less of a handicap. And the start of the project has been exciting. "
On one hand, you’ll have many options to stand out among the other CRTs but on the other hand, having a rider like Randy De Puniet on the same bike and in the same box ...
"Yes, they always say that your friend is your first enemy, and in this case even more so. Randy is a very experienced rider and very very fast. But I really like him, at the Valencia test we talked a lot and we helped each other out, the most important thing is to make our bike the best CRT. It’s a year to gain experience and develop the bike and I think between the two of us we can do a good job."
Do you think it will it be a year of gradual evolution or think you’ll see some quick progress, perhaps after the first part of the championship? What expectations do you have in this regard?
"It’s clear that we will evolve and CRTs will get progressively closer to the front. It’s logical and obvious that we’ll suffer in the first few races, but the idea and the goal must be to get better in every GP and then toward middle or end of the year to be as close as we can to the front, especially at the smaller circuits."
Your opinion after the Valencia test was positive, you even had some pleasant surprises, like with the level of tire grip. What are you going to focus on next with the bike?
"As far as power and riding, the bike is very different from a Moto2 bike, and I have had to re-adjust my riding. But I'm happy, the bike works great. We have to learn to make good use of the electronics, I think that’s the most important thing, and like I said, I also have to adapt and improve the bike gradually. It’s clear that the initial package will be inferior to what we will have at the end of the season, it’s going to evolve."
Regarding suspension, brakes, chassis, tires and other components, it isn’t so different from the MotoGP bikes. Which aspects do you think you’ll have to work on more to optimize the ART CRT ?
"I see it as an improved Superbike. The times are going to be between a Superbike and MotoGP bike. A little faster than the Sperbike, a little slower than a MotoGP bike. In terms of power, I think we can still improve a little. And I think that we’re not too far off. As for electronics, the CRT concept is somewhat less sophisticted than a MotoGP bike, less complex, and with far fewer telemetry channels, but it’s clear that what we have works well and we have to try to improve it."
At the first test in Valencia, there were no other CRTs there, they were at the test in Malaysia, so the first direct comparison between all the 2012 CRT's is coming up shortly. Will you be at the test in Jerez next week?
"I don’t know for sure. Clearly, I would have liked to have gone to Malaysia, but it made sense not to go, the bike is still green and training in Europe is much safer, because if something happens you have the factory next door. So we haven’t been measured against the teams that went to Malaysia, and now we are going to test in Jerez, then in Aragon, and then again at the Official Test in Jerez, which means that we’ll see where we are before the Grand Prix in Qatar, though I think the Aprilia will be the bike to beat in the CRT category."
"We'll see where we are with respect to Colin (Edwards), who seemed to be the best in Malaysia. The Sepang track is a bit misleading though because it’s fast and the power of the 1000cc is really noticeable there, but if we do better than the BMW-Suter on tracks like Aragon, Valencia and Jerez, then the objective has to be 2 to 2.5 seconds off pole."
Experienced and fast riders like Edwards and De Puniet won’t make it easy for you to be the first rider on a CRT ...
"No, nor others like Pasini, a rider with no experience in the class, but really fast ... I think it'll be fun. We’ll get left behind by the MotoGP bikes - but we have to try to be close, because then everything will be more competitive-- but we’ll focus on trying to beat all CRTs. Like I said, I think the Aprilia motorcycle will start as the favorite, so de Puniet will be the strongest rival. I'd be very happy if I could be the first CRT."
What is the atmosphere like in the Aspar team surrounding this new project?
"We are excited, about our team and about the Aprilia. The bike is brand new and the truth is that when it arrived, we liked it a lot. Jorge Martinez and Aprilia are working hard and we all can’t wait to see how far we can go this year."
For someone like you with the reputation of being a good test rider, to embark on a project like this should be particularly exciting ...
"Yes, I was fortunate enough to develop the first Moto2 bikes that were in Spain, with Dani Devahive, and then I went to the World Championship and got on the podium with a Moto2. Now I really want to do something great with this bike. Jorge has one of the best teams in the Championship, it’s a professional environment and with Aprilia it’s great ... it's a very exciting project, I really want us to be competitive and do something big "
And starting tomorrow, you’ll have a new sponsor ....
"Yes, I’ll be at the presentation in Paterna (Valencia) with the team. Jorge is making an amazing effort, he started testing the new bikes without a sponsor. Now the sponsor(Power Electronics)has been finalized and hopefully with a bit of luck and we can do well in the races and in the Championship "
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Just ahead of the second test round of the season for CRT teams and riders next week in Jerez, Aleix Espargaró spoke with motogp.com about his impressions of the project that will return him to the premier class.
It’s difficult to find someone in the MotoGP™ paddock with the enthusiasm of Aleix Espargaró when facing new adventures, and now that he has the opportunity to return to the top class in 2012 he is especially motivated and enthusiastic. The rider from Granollers, just outside Barcelona, recently debuted the Aspar Team’s ART bike at the first preseason test in Valencia, and will continue developing the bike at the Jerez circuit in a test next week. But first he will make a stop in Paterna (Valencia) where his team will officially present the multinational Power Electronics company as their primary sponsor of the MotoGP Aspar Team. In this interview, Espargaró shared his views on the project and his progress thus far.
Aleix, at the end of last season when you signed with the Aspar team, it was originally to run in the Moto2 class. Then this CRT project for MotoGP came up. Are you where you want to be in 2012?
"MotoGP is better for me, for my size and weight I’ll have less of a handicap. And the start of the project has been exciting. "
On one hand, you’ll have many options to stand out among the other CRTs but on the other hand, having a rider like Randy De Puniet on the same bike and in the same box ...
"Yes, they always say that your friend is your first enemy, and in this case even more so. Randy is a very experienced rider and very very fast. But I really like him, at the Valencia test we talked a lot and we helped each other out, the most important thing is to make our bike the best CRT. It’s a year to gain experience and develop the bike and I think between the two of us we can do a good job."
Do you think it will it be a year of gradual evolution or think you’ll see some quick progress, perhaps after the first part of the championship? What expectations do you have in this regard?
"It’s clear that we will evolve and CRTs will get progressively closer to the front. It’s logical and obvious that we’ll suffer in the first few races, but the idea and the goal must be to get better in every GP and then toward middle or end of the year to be as close as we can to the front, especially at the smaller circuits."
Your opinion after the Valencia test was positive, you even had some pleasant surprises, like with the level of tire grip. What are you going to focus on next with the bike?
"As far as power and riding, the bike is very different from a Moto2 bike, and I have had to re-adjust my riding. But I'm happy, the bike works great. We have to learn to make good use of the electronics, I think that’s the most important thing, and like I said, I also have to adapt and improve the bike gradually. It’s clear that the initial package will be inferior to what we will have at the end of the season, it’s going to evolve."
Regarding suspension, brakes, chassis, tires and other components, it isn’t so different from the MotoGP bikes. Which aspects do you think you’ll have to work on more to optimize the ART CRT ?
"I see it as an improved Superbike. The times are going to be between a Superbike and MotoGP bike. A little faster than the Sperbike, a little slower than a MotoGP bike. In terms of power, I think we can still improve a little. And I think that we’re not too far off. As for electronics, the CRT concept is somewhat less sophisticted than a MotoGP bike, less complex, and with far fewer telemetry channels, but it’s clear that what we have works well and we have to try to improve it."
At the first test in Valencia, there were no other CRTs there, they were at the test in Malaysia, so the first direct comparison between all the 2012 CRT's is coming up shortly. Will you be at the test in Jerez next week?
"I don’t know for sure. Clearly, I would have liked to have gone to Malaysia, but it made sense not to go, the bike is still green and training in Europe is much safer, because if something happens you have the factory next door. So we haven’t been measured against the teams that went to Malaysia, and now we are going to test in Jerez, then in Aragon, and then again at the Official Test in Jerez, which means that we’ll see where we are before the Grand Prix in Qatar, though I think the Aprilia will be the bike to beat in the CRT category."
"We'll see where we are with respect to Colin (Edwards), who seemed to be the best in Malaysia. The Sepang track is a bit misleading though because it’s fast and the power of the 1000cc is really noticeable there, but if we do better than the BMW-Suter on tracks like Aragon, Valencia and Jerez, then the objective has to be 2 to 2.5 seconds off pole."
Experienced and fast riders like Edwards and De Puniet won’t make it easy for you to be the first rider on a CRT ...
"No, nor others like Pasini, a rider with no experience in the class, but really fast ... I think it'll be fun. We’ll get left behind by the MotoGP bikes - but we have to try to be close, because then everything will be more competitive-- but we’ll focus on trying to beat all CRTs. Like I said, I think the Aprilia motorcycle will start as the favorite, so de Puniet will be the strongest rival. I'd be very happy if I could be the first CRT."
What is the atmosphere like in the Aspar team surrounding this new project?
"We are excited, about our team and about the Aprilia. The bike is brand new and the truth is that when it arrived, we liked it a lot. Jorge Martinez and Aprilia are working hard and we all can’t wait to see how far we can go this year."
For someone like you with the reputation of being a good test rider, to embark on a project like this should be particularly exciting ...
"Yes, I was fortunate enough to develop the first Moto2 bikes that were in Spain, with Dani Devahive, and then I went to the World Championship and got on the podium with a Moto2. Now I really want to do something great with this bike. Jorge has one of the best teams in the Championship, it’s a professional environment and with Aprilia it’s great ... it's a very exciting project, I really want us to be competitive and do something big "
And starting tomorrow, you’ll have a new sponsor ....
"Yes, I’ll be at the presentation in Paterna (Valencia) with the team. Jorge is making an amazing effort, he started testing the new bikes without a sponsor. Now the sponsor(Power Electronics)has been finalized and hopefully with a bit of luck and we can do well in the races and in the Championship "
magoo
Rookie
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sad day for the Velobanjogent.....
Today, Sunday 25th January 2009 was a sad day for me....
I was to take an old motorcyling friend, wheelchair and nursing home bound for the last 3 years, to a re-union at the last meeting of the Oran Park raceway, south of Sydney.
Progress has caught up with Oran Park..it is to become a housing estate.
Alan Burt, some months short of his 86th birthday died earlier today an hour before I was to pick him up and transport him to the event.... The nursing staff said he was quite excited at the prospect, ate a hearty breakfast then when they checked on him some 10 minutes later was gone with a heart attack...
I guess it was the thought of meeting up with old pals..... I'd like to think that....
I'd like to share some of Allan's life with you... with some words and with some of his photographs....
He was a motorcyclist all his life...never married, some said he was wed to Velocette and AJS.....
A racers racer was an apt description....
I've added another photo since I set up Allan's tribute, a portrait shot, unsure when or where,....but it looks so typical of the road racer of the classic era we know....
My thanks to Jim Scaysbrook for sending it.
The first photo shows Allan dicing with the late Les Diener in 1948 at Mildura, Victoria....
The next with great mate Bobby Brown unloading bikes around 1950 also at the Mildura races of that year.
The next is Allan aboard a MAC in a trial near Parramatta, Sydney.
Another is of the P & R Williams 1954 Castrol 5 day trial team, L to R...B.Lemon, Doug Williams and Allan Burt.
A shot of Bob Brown on a P & Rs ex works KTT Velocette, with Allan on a P & Rs 7R AJS, at Mt. Druitt race track, west of Sydney, 1953. In between is Les Slaughter and Eric McPherson, both dealer supported riders.
Following is Allan at the IOM TT races, June 1955 outside the favourite guest house for Commonwealth riders in Douglas..."Rose Villa"...L to R- Allan Burt, Richie Thomset, Bobby Brown, Maurie Quincey's wife, Maurie Quincey. Both Allan and Bob are mounted on loaned AMC machines from the factory to assist in learning the course...
Bob Brown, a great friend of Allan's was tragically killed in 1960 riding a works Honda.
Allan suffered a horrendous crash in practice for the 1955 TT that resulted in his spending 8 months recouperating in the IOM, cared for by the proprietors of "Rose Villa", Glad and Roy Gilbert, with whom Allan retained a lifelong correspondence.
Bob Brown came back to the IOM in Feb.1956, collected Allan who was on crutches and Allan accompanied him as a mechanic all through the 1956 European season, then returned to Australia and worked in three jobs during 1957 to save to go to Europe again.
1958 saw Allan and Bob return by boat to the UK and embark on a full continental racing season.
Returning to Australia late in 1958, Allan remained a force in Australian title road racing up until his late 60s....
Allan's smashed 7R sits forlornly outside the AMC raceshop in Plumstead outside London, awaiting repair....
Following is Allan aboard his AJS 7R for the 1958 IOM TT races, awaiting practice to start.
Then some motorcycling memorabilia...AB's Western Suburbs MCC Cromwell "pudding basin" crash helmet.
The other is one of the bronze replicas Allan won for his 44th place in the 1958 Junior IOM TT on his 350 AJS 7R, the other for 41st in the 1958 Senior IOM TT, riding Bob Brown's Junior TT AJS 7R (Allans' Senior mount, a G50 Matchless broke a crankpin in practice).
Allan loved working on bikes...here he is using "Big Bertha", my really large old lathe to machine up a sprocket blank in my shed.
Allan's last G50, a 1961 model seen at Amaroo Park circuit, July 1977.
Then for Allan tragedy struck.... in hospital in May 1998 for unsuccesful surgery to his leg, his shed was broken into and a 1960 7R AJS, a 1961 G50 Matchless and a 1954 G45 Matchless were stolen.
Allan was devastated...to him the theft must have been perpetrated by an associate or even a friend.... He found it difficult to look friends in the eye. Were they the thief?
He never actively went into his shed again to work on motorcycles and as time passed his old "war wound" the badly smashed leg from the 1955 IOM crash affected his mobility and eventually he had to go into a nursing home.
His three racing motorcycles are still missing.
I assisted in clearing his shed, some bikes and all parts were sold, but four racers were put on display in the National Motor Racing Museum at Bathurst, NSW...pictured are three of them. A Mk.8 KTT replica, another 7R AJS and his 125cc Yahama racer.
The final two photos are of Allan at his nursing home...one with good friend Jim Day, the other, taken shortly before his death is with old friend Jan Grainger... a batchelor he may have been, but he always had an eye for "good lookin' sheilas..." ( a "sheila" is Australian parlance for a gal..).
Late last year, 2008, two brother were charged with receiving stolen goods involved in the theft of Allan's bikes...some 10 years later.
There is hope the bikes may be recovered and justice be done to the perpetrators of this crime...
To steal from a friend is a low act....
Sadly Allan will not see the result of the impending judicial trial or if his bikes will ever be recovered.
Rest assured there are many of us who have worked to bring the thieves to justice and will continue until justice is done.
Allan you were a good friend to me and so many others whose life you touched.
Rest in peace......
View attachment 41066
Sad day for the Velobanjogent.....
Today, Sunday 25th January 2009 was a sad day for me....
I was to take an old motorcyling friend, wheelchair and nursing home bound for the last 3 years, to a re-union at the last meeting of the Oran Park raceway, south of Sydney.
Progress has caught up with Oran Park..it is to become a housing estate.
Alan Burt, some months short of his 86th birthday died earlier today an hour before I was to pick him up and transport him to the event.... The nursing staff said he was quite excited at the prospect, ate a hearty breakfast then when they checked on him some 10 minutes later was gone with a heart attack...
I guess it was the thought of meeting up with old pals..... I'd like to think that....
I'd like to share some of Allan's life with you... with some words and with some of his photographs....
He was a motorcyclist all his life...never married, some said he was wed to Velocette and AJS.....
A racers racer was an apt description....
I've added another photo since I set up Allan's tribute, a portrait shot, unsure when or where,....but it looks so typical of the road racer of the classic era we know....
My thanks to Jim Scaysbrook for sending it.
The first photo shows Allan dicing with the late Les Diener in 1948 at Mildura, Victoria....
The next with great mate Bobby Brown unloading bikes around 1950 also at the Mildura races of that year.
The next is Allan aboard a MAC in a trial near Parramatta, Sydney.
Another is of the P & R Williams 1954 Castrol 5 day trial team, L to R...B.Lemon, Doug Williams and Allan Burt.
A shot of Bob Brown on a P & Rs ex works KTT Velocette, with Allan on a P & Rs 7R AJS, at Mt. Druitt race track, west of Sydney, 1953. In between is Les Slaughter and Eric McPherson, both dealer supported riders.
Following is Allan at the IOM TT races, June 1955 outside the favourite guest house for Commonwealth riders in Douglas..."Rose Villa"...L to R- Allan Burt, Richie Thomset, Bobby Brown, Maurie Quincey's wife, Maurie Quincey. Both Allan and Bob are mounted on loaned AMC machines from the factory to assist in learning the course...
Bob Brown, a great friend of Allan's was tragically killed in 1960 riding a works Honda.
Allan suffered a horrendous crash in practice for the 1955 TT that resulted in his spending 8 months recouperating in the IOM, cared for by the proprietors of "Rose Villa", Glad and Roy Gilbert, with whom Allan retained a lifelong correspondence.
Bob Brown came back to the IOM in Feb.1956, collected Allan who was on crutches and Allan accompanied him as a mechanic all through the 1956 European season, then returned to Australia and worked in three jobs during 1957 to save to go to Europe again.
1958 saw Allan and Bob return by boat to the UK and embark on a full continental racing season.
Returning to Australia late in 1958, Allan remained a force in Australian title road racing up until his late 60s....
Allan's smashed 7R sits forlornly outside the AMC raceshop in Plumstead outside London, awaiting repair....
Following is Allan aboard his AJS 7R for the 1958 IOM TT races, awaiting practice to start.
Then some motorcycling memorabilia...AB's Western Suburbs MCC Cromwell "pudding basin" crash helmet.
The other is one of the bronze replicas Allan won for his 44th place in the 1958 Junior IOM TT on his 350 AJS 7R, the other for 41st in the 1958 Senior IOM TT, riding Bob Brown's Junior TT AJS 7R (Allans' Senior mount, a G50 Matchless broke a crankpin in practice).
Allan loved working on bikes...here he is using "Big Bertha", my really large old lathe to machine up a sprocket blank in my shed.
Allan's last G50, a 1961 model seen at Amaroo Park circuit, July 1977.
Then for Allan tragedy struck.... in hospital in May 1998 for unsuccesful surgery to his leg, his shed was broken into and a 1960 7R AJS, a 1961 G50 Matchless and a 1954 G45 Matchless were stolen.
Allan was devastated...to him the theft must have been perpetrated by an associate or even a friend.... He found it difficult to look friends in the eye. Were they the thief?
He never actively went into his shed again to work on motorcycles and as time passed his old "war wound" the badly smashed leg from the 1955 IOM crash affected his mobility and eventually he had to go into a nursing home.
His three racing motorcycles are still missing.
I assisted in clearing his shed, some bikes and all parts were sold, but four racers were put on display in the National Motor Racing Museum at Bathurst, NSW...pictured are three of them. A Mk.8 KTT replica, another 7R AJS and his 125cc Yahama racer.
The final two photos are of Allan at his nursing home...one with good friend Jim Day, the other, taken shortly before his death is with old friend Jan Grainger... a batchelor he may have been, but he always had an eye for "good lookin' sheilas..." ( a "sheila" is Australian parlance for a gal..).
Late last year, 2008, two brother were charged with receiving stolen goods involved in the theft of Allan's bikes...some 10 years later.
There is hope the bikes may be recovered and justice be done to the perpetrators of this crime...
To steal from a friend is a low act....
Sadly Allan will not see the result of the impending judicial trial or if his bikes will ever be recovered.
Rest assured there are many of us who have worked to bring the thieves to justice and will continue until justice is done.
Allan you were a good friend to me and so many others whose life you touched.
Rest in peace......
Mr. Magoo can you name these riders ?
and dont cheat.
spares
and dont cheat.
spares
34X34: The Mysterious Island
by kevin schwantz
Friday, March 02, 2012
Here's my Phillip Island WSBK column ...
From where I sit, this is how I see it ...
image by dean adams
First, condolences to Oscar McIntyre's family and friends, and everybody involved. I think there were two other riders involved in that incident. I didn't know Oscar, but we all know how deep the talent pool is in Australia. He might've been one of its future world champions. And all the guys who did race over the weekend after that, how tough it is to know that something like that has happened, and still be able to ride, and push, and do everything you can to try and win and stay focused? It couldn't have been easy for anybody out there. Respect.
Phillip Island is one of those places that can give you every kind of weather conditions in one race. It can go from sunny at the start, to spitting with rain, to blowing wind, and depending on where the wind's coming from, it's typically not blowing right up or right down the straightaway - it's typically blowing across. You've got the end of the pit building, the end of the grandstands, as you're going down the front straightaway, it either blows you left or right when you finally clear those structures. Trying to get through the fast Turn 3, depending on which way the wind's blowing, trying to shove you outside, it makes Turn 3 a pretty scary corner. Through Honda Hairpin, and then back over that long left that takes you over to the Hayshed, once again, another really fast left-right direction change that as well, when that wind's blowing across the facility like that, is just an absolute nightmare to get through. It either wants to shove you in the corner first and then out of the corner second, or just the opposite, depending on where the wind's coming from.
Then probably the most important corner on the track, the last couple of corners leading onto the front straightaway, those long lefts, if you miss on the set-up a little bit, you gamble on maybe a little bit too soft a tire, and those last two left-handers are just, everybody's just driving away from you a school bus length at a time. You've got yours hung out and smoking and doing everything you can to try and hang on, and they're getting some drive and getting some grip and they're just riding away from you. It's really frustrating.
The front straightaway speed, I think MotoGP bikes are doing 340 KPH there now. I'm sure the World Superbikes are well in excess of 320, something like that - I didn't even look at the speeds, but that's right on 200 MPH, so that first turn comes at you pretty quick. And then having to deal with all the elements, and all the different things that can confront you there on any given lap.
The seagulls. Typically once a race starts, I don't think the birds are a big issue, but those first couple of laps before they finally get scared enough to get out of there, they can play a part in the results of a race, as well.
MotoGP wants to race there earlier in the year instead of later. There isn't a good time to go to Phillip Island. I was there at the end of 2010, in November, and I wore jackets and long pants and long-sleeved shirts and it was everything I could do to stay warm. I don't know when the best time to go to the Island and race is. They need to be able to schedule a race when the weather's nice, but I don't know when that is.
I was kind of surprised to see Charlie (Checa) give 25 points away at such an early point in the season with a late-race highside. He's fortunate to be uninjured, because it seems like these days just about everybody who's hitting the ground is getting hurt. The list of riding wounded is quite lengthy, and the first race weekend has just finished. Leon Haslam's dad was my teammate in '89, so I've always known of the Haslams and how tough they are, but kudos to Haslam on riding as well as he did over the weekend, having just got screws put in that leg that he broke. And I think Laverty did a good job, too. Not nearly as far up the field as Leon made it the second day, but still managed to get out there and mix it up with a pretty substantial injury, anyway.
The first race, to see Max Biaggi win by seven seconds at a track like Phillip Island--a place that typically lends itself to really close racing ... It seems like it's always hard to get away there. I think even Stoner, when he clinched the MotoGP World Championship there, Simoncelli and a couple of the other guys really kept him honest most of the day. I think weather played a part in the MotoGP race there, a little bit, though. And then Checa winning by just over five seconds in the second race. To me, both of those were surprises, because like I said, typically the draft plays such a big part. It's so fast, it so beneficial to use the lead guy to get your brake markers and your turning points and apexes off of, typically it's not a place that lends itself to real spread-out racing like that.
Max Biaggi coming back from completely dead last, all the way back to second, I think shows us that maybe the Aprilia and the Ducati still have just a tick of advantage over everybody right now, but maybe it's just that they're that much better set up. Phillip Island is one of those places that will really show you how bad your bike is, if you don't get the setup exactly right. Those fast, long corners, driving on the big long straightaways and driving through Turn 3, it's tough to do when you don't have the bike right. Let's hope that maybe that spread-out aspect of it that we saw this weekend isn't something that continues. But I think once again, we've seen that Carlos is capable of winning races, and I think it just depends on both guys staying healthy. Between Max and Charlie, it's going to be a good season. They're both prone to making mistakes. I'm sure Max is going to give some points back some time throughout the season, and when he does that, it's going to open up that opportunity for those five or six or eight guys who are between those two in points right now, to be able to make a really good, close championship out of this, throughout the whole season.
BMW looks like they've done their homework, Melandri on the podium in the second race, Haslam fighting through and getting a really good result as well, bodes well for them. Kawasaki and Sykes, on the podium the second race, is good to see. He was actually the guy who ended up starting from pole, without the running of Superpole, but he had been fast all weekend. It wasn't just a fluke that he managed to sneak up and get that pole position. He showed that by getting some good points, I believe in both races, but just on the podium for the second race.
It's disappointing to see the Suzuki riders, Josh Brookes and Leon Camier, finish where they did. Camier I think ran off the track and crashed in the gravel the first race, and then got back and at least scored a few points the second race. But it's disappointing, because I know that bike's good. I know it's capable. And I feel like both of the riders are, as well. I guess we can maybe lend it down to just team management?
Jonny Rea and Hiro Aoyama on what are now factory Hondas. I think Jonny finishing eighth in the first race had to have been a disappointment. Back up closer to the front the second race is a whole lot more what I expect, and I think Jonny and the whole Honda team expect of him. But once again, like I said, at Phillip Island, if you just miss on that setup a little bit, it's an easy place to find yourself out of contention, at least with the front guys, anyway. And Hiro, that's his first race on a World Superbike. Quite an improvement from the first race to the second one. I think he'll just continue to learn more and more about what it takes to go fast on those bikes, and hopefully he'll get up there and challenge Jonny a little bit. Maybe the team pushes itself that much closer to the front. Hopefully they can race the Ducatis and the Aprilias. I'm told that Rea was really smoking his tire in the second race. That's one of those things that the Island can show you, when setup's not exactly right, or maybe tire choice is a little bit off. It's just impossible to get the drive through the corner that you need, when the back end's hung out, stepped out, smoking like that. And a little bit of it is Jonny's style. He's not afraid to grab a big handful of throttle, that's for sure. Maybe he finds that the Honda's just got so much power, and maybe the power delivery's a little bit sharp on it now. Maybe it's not got the torque that they need. So maybe they can make some improvements. They've got a little bit of time before the next race, and it's a long season. He can still come back and challenge those guys. I think he scored points both days, so he's somewhere in the mix between Carlos and Max right now. It'll be interesting to watch.
Chaz Davies, reigning World Supersport champion, missed the round after injuring his wrist in a crash in qualifying. Chaz has been one of those guys who just seems a little bit unlucky. I don't know what the crash was like or how violent it was, but it just seems like even when he rode here in America, whether it was crashing, whether it was mechanical failures, issues with the bike, whatever it was. And stepping up from a 600 to a big bike is never an easy step. You get so confident and comfortable racing at the front on the 600s that you think, "I'm just supposed to be up there." I'm sure this is not at all what he was hoping for in his first weekend on a World Superbike. But he'll come back. He'll get his fitness back and find a way to mix it up with those guys. I think what the new kids in Superbike have to remember is that most of the guys that are beating them are guys who have been doing it for a long time. I raced Max Biaggi in my last Grand Prix. That was in '95. That's how long he's been at it at a fairly high level. Same with Checa. He's been around since just after I quit.
The other kid that I think showed some promise this weekend is Checa's teammate, Davide Giugliano. He's a kid that I'll watch as well, especially since he's got number 34 on his bike. We'll keep tabs on him. He's managed by a good buddy of mine in Italy. It's good to see him up near the front at least in one or two of the practices. I'm sure the results he got aren't exactly what he was hoping for. But they'll get to some tracks that maybe suit his style a little bit better, and just keep chipping away at it. They're not going to find full seconds, nowadays - you're going to find tenths here and there. It's a work in progress, and it's a tough thing to do.
Of course, Kenan Sofuoglu made a triumphant return to the Supersport ranks. I felt, going in, that Broc Parkes, the local kid, would win the Supersport race. I think that's kind of what we saw in practice and testing. He's been fast all pre-season, whether they've been testing at Phillip Island or anywhere else. He was one of those kids last year that you watched him gain more experience, more confidence, and race closer and closer to the front, and threaten for race wins.
So best of luck to everybody out there. They've got a month off before Imola. Hopefully those who were a little off the pace this weekend can do some more testing, and get better prepared for the next race.
by kevin schwantz
Friday, March 02, 2012
Here's my Phillip Island WSBK column ...
From where I sit, this is how I see it ...
image by dean adams
First, condolences to Oscar McIntyre's family and friends, and everybody involved. I think there were two other riders involved in that incident. I didn't know Oscar, but we all know how deep the talent pool is in Australia. He might've been one of its future world champions. And all the guys who did race over the weekend after that, how tough it is to know that something like that has happened, and still be able to ride, and push, and do everything you can to try and win and stay focused? It couldn't have been easy for anybody out there. Respect.
Phillip Island is one of those places that can give you every kind of weather conditions in one race. It can go from sunny at the start, to spitting with rain, to blowing wind, and depending on where the wind's coming from, it's typically not blowing right up or right down the straightaway - it's typically blowing across. You've got the end of the pit building, the end of the grandstands, as you're going down the front straightaway, it either blows you left or right when you finally clear those structures. Trying to get through the fast Turn 3, depending on which way the wind's blowing, trying to shove you outside, it makes Turn 3 a pretty scary corner. Through Honda Hairpin, and then back over that long left that takes you over to the Hayshed, once again, another really fast left-right direction change that as well, when that wind's blowing across the facility like that, is just an absolute nightmare to get through. It either wants to shove you in the corner first and then out of the corner second, or just the opposite, depending on where the wind's coming from.
Then probably the most important corner on the track, the last couple of corners leading onto the front straightaway, those long lefts, if you miss on the set-up a little bit, you gamble on maybe a little bit too soft a tire, and those last two left-handers are just, everybody's just driving away from you a school bus length at a time. You've got yours hung out and smoking and doing everything you can to try and hang on, and they're getting some drive and getting some grip and they're just riding away from you. It's really frustrating.
The front straightaway speed, I think MotoGP bikes are doing 340 KPH there now. I'm sure the World Superbikes are well in excess of 320, something like that - I didn't even look at the speeds, but that's right on 200 MPH, so that first turn comes at you pretty quick. And then having to deal with all the elements, and all the different things that can confront you there on any given lap.
The seagulls. Typically once a race starts, I don't think the birds are a big issue, but those first couple of laps before they finally get scared enough to get out of there, they can play a part in the results of a race, as well.
MotoGP wants to race there earlier in the year instead of later. There isn't a good time to go to Phillip Island. I was there at the end of 2010, in November, and I wore jackets and long pants and long-sleeved shirts and it was everything I could do to stay warm. I don't know when the best time to go to the Island and race is. They need to be able to schedule a race when the weather's nice, but I don't know when that is.
I was kind of surprised to see Charlie (Checa) give 25 points away at such an early point in the season with a late-race highside. He's fortunate to be uninjured, because it seems like these days just about everybody who's hitting the ground is getting hurt. The list of riding wounded is quite lengthy, and the first race weekend has just finished. Leon Haslam's dad was my teammate in '89, so I've always known of the Haslams and how tough they are, but kudos to Haslam on riding as well as he did over the weekend, having just got screws put in that leg that he broke. And I think Laverty did a good job, too. Not nearly as far up the field as Leon made it the second day, but still managed to get out there and mix it up with a pretty substantial injury, anyway.
The first race, to see Max Biaggi win by seven seconds at a track like Phillip Island--a place that typically lends itself to really close racing ... It seems like it's always hard to get away there. I think even Stoner, when he clinched the MotoGP World Championship there, Simoncelli and a couple of the other guys really kept him honest most of the day. I think weather played a part in the MotoGP race there, a little bit, though. And then Checa winning by just over five seconds in the second race. To me, both of those were surprises, because like I said, typically the draft plays such a big part. It's so fast, it so beneficial to use the lead guy to get your brake markers and your turning points and apexes off of, typically it's not a place that lends itself to real spread-out racing like that.
Max Biaggi coming back from completely dead last, all the way back to second, I think shows us that maybe the Aprilia and the Ducati still have just a tick of advantage over everybody right now, but maybe it's just that they're that much better set up. Phillip Island is one of those places that will really show you how bad your bike is, if you don't get the setup exactly right. Those fast, long corners, driving on the big long straightaways and driving through Turn 3, it's tough to do when you don't have the bike right. Let's hope that maybe that spread-out aspect of it that we saw this weekend isn't something that continues. But I think once again, we've seen that Carlos is capable of winning races, and I think it just depends on both guys staying healthy. Between Max and Charlie, it's going to be a good season. They're both prone to making mistakes. I'm sure Max is going to give some points back some time throughout the season, and when he does that, it's going to open up that opportunity for those five or six or eight guys who are between those two in points right now, to be able to make a really good, close championship out of this, throughout the whole season.
BMW looks like they've done their homework, Melandri on the podium in the second race, Haslam fighting through and getting a really good result as well, bodes well for them. Kawasaki and Sykes, on the podium the second race, is good to see. He was actually the guy who ended up starting from pole, without the running of Superpole, but he had been fast all weekend. It wasn't just a fluke that he managed to sneak up and get that pole position. He showed that by getting some good points, I believe in both races, but just on the podium for the second race.
It's disappointing to see the Suzuki riders, Josh Brookes and Leon Camier, finish where they did. Camier I think ran off the track and crashed in the gravel the first race, and then got back and at least scored a few points the second race. But it's disappointing, because I know that bike's good. I know it's capable. And I feel like both of the riders are, as well. I guess we can maybe lend it down to just team management?
Jonny Rea and Hiro Aoyama on what are now factory Hondas. I think Jonny finishing eighth in the first race had to have been a disappointment. Back up closer to the front the second race is a whole lot more what I expect, and I think Jonny and the whole Honda team expect of him. But once again, like I said, at Phillip Island, if you just miss on that setup a little bit, it's an easy place to find yourself out of contention, at least with the front guys, anyway. And Hiro, that's his first race on a World Superbike. Quite an improvement from the first race to the second one. I think he'll just continue to learn more and more about what it takes to go fast on those bikes, and hopefully he'll get up there and challenge Jonny a little bit. Maybe the team pushes itself that much closer to the front. Hopefully they can race the Ducatis and the Aprilias. I'm told that Rea was really smoking his tire in the second race. That's one of those things that the Island can show you, when setup's not exactly right, or maybe tire choice is a little bit off. It's just impossible to get the drive through the corner that you need, when the back end's hung out, stepped out, smoking like that. And a little bit of it is Jonny's style. He's not afraid to grab a big handful of throttle, that's for sure. Maybe he finds that the Honda's just got so much power, and maybe the power delivery's a little bit sharp on it now. Maybe it's not got the torque that they need. So maybe they can make some improvements. They've got a little bit of time before the next race, and it's a long season. He can still come back and challenge those guys. I think he scored points both days, so he's somewhere in the mix between Carlos and Max right now. It'll be interesting to watch.
Chaz Davies, reigning World Supersport champion, missed the round after injuring his wrist in a crash in qualifying. Chaz has been one of those guys who just seems a little bit unlucky. I don't know what the crash was like or how violent it was, but it just seems like even when he rode here in America, whether it was crashing, whether it was mechanical failures, issues with the bike, whatever it was. And stepping up from a 600 to a big bike is never an easy step. You get so confident and comfortable racing at the front on the 600s that you think, "I'm just supposed to be up there." I'm sure this is not at all what he was hoping for in his first weekend on a World Superbike. But he'll come back. He'll get his fitness back and find a way to mix it up with those guys. I think what the new kids in Superbike have to remember is that most of the guys that are beating them are guys who have been doing it for a long time. I raced Max Biaggi in my last Grand Prix. That was in '95. That's how long he's been at it at a fairly high level. Same with Checa. He's been around since just after I quit.
The other kid that I think showed some promise this weekend is Checa's teammate, Davide Giugliano. He's a kid that I'll watch as well, especially since he's got number 34 on his bike. We'll keep tabs on him. He's managed by a good buddy of mine in Italy. It's good to see him up near the front at least in one or two of the practices. I'm sure the results he got aren't exactly what he was hoping for. But they'll get to some tracks that maybe suit his style a little bit better, and just keep chipping away at it. They're not going to find full seconds, nowadays - you're going to find tenths here and there. It's a work in progress, and it's a tough thing to do.
Of course, Kenan Sofuoglu made a triumphant return to the Supersport ranks. I felt, going in, that Broc Parkes, the local kid, would win the Supersport race. I think that's kind of what we saw in practice and testing. He's been fast all pre-season, whether they've been testing at Phillip Island or anywhere else. He was one of those kids last year that you watched him gain more experience, more confidence, and race closer and closer to the front, and threaten for race wins.
So best of luck to everybody out there. They've got a month off before Imola. Hopefully those who were a little off the pace this weekend can do some more testing, and get better prepared for the next race.
FAAARRK THIS !
how many of you poor american riders gotta put up with this shit ?
how many of you poor american riders gotta put up with this shit ?
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yeah WE know the jump
who the fuck are these pelicans ? i get more speed on the telelever at work, I could push them out the way one the highbar scooter pic above . . . . .. . . .. ..
and I should post the e-mail you answered with to the questions I asked above ( i bet tork scored better than you but he's another fucker who rides and reads this thread but dont post )
this one should be a lot easier his name is everywhere the last pic of the guy with the blonde hair might be a problem tho . . .. . . .. . lol remember our chat tonite about the guy who's bald now ?
whos this ?
opps sorry about the repost of pics pissed again . . . .. . .. here
looks like kenny roberts
lol trust you to speak up . . . .. and correct, who's this ?
another GP world champion
another GP world champion
freddie spencer
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