TGIF
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 12:14PM
Unlikely as it seems being a Friday and with a number of events scheduled around the world this weekend , there is even less to talk about today than the last two!
Speaking of unlikely, that is how Autoweek is commenting on the Monticello Motor Club's release that they are in talks with Bernie about staging the USF1 GP at their private members only club track in the Catskills, 90 minutes from New York City. "A most unlikely venue" is right. New Jersey may have been a stretch, but at least you can see Manhattan from there! "It is like winning the Olympics" the Club President said. Too right it is, and who pays for the Olympics? Let us know how you get on with those discussions with the State and local Governments. I am totally at a loss at the lack of understanding about what it costs to stage an F1 race these days, and how impossible it is to make any of it back, so why do these guys persist in wanting to chase one? If Indianapolis could not make it pay, how is anyone else?
I just love headline writers. Don't let the content of the story get in the way of a good headline, as I have found out to my cost. Most people read no further than that anyway. Practice is underway for the French Moto GP, and there beside each other were two headlines: "Rossi trounces rivals," and "Ducatti expect GP10 to suit Le Mans." I expected Rossi to be a good two seconds a lap faster, but imagine my surprise when I read he had a tenth of a second from a quick lap he threw in at the end over, yes, the Ducatti. So perhaps that headline was right, but "trounced" is not a word I associate with one tenth. The best American was Colin Edwards in sixth followed by Nicky Hayden. I commented the other day about Max Biaggi still winning in Superbike, but here's Colin (really and Australian, just born in Texas) still going strong. I first met Colin at the Superprestigio in Jarama in late '92 when we took Kenny Jnr. to Europe for the first time. That is a long career for a motorcycle rider at this level. As I said, are the bikes easier to ride, the competition less, or is the fitness training better these days?
Yesterday was a test day at Laguna Seca for the ALMS boys. Not sure what to make of the times other than it was set up day. Klaus Graf was quickest in the Porsche Spyder ahead of Clint Field in the Intersport Lola, neither a front running car lately. Third was the Highcroft Honda with David Brabham. Bruni led the way in the GT class with just over 0.8 seconds covering the usual suspects. It will be interesting to see what today's practice brings. The race can be watched live on the American Le Mans web site from 5:30 EDT tomorrow if like me you will have forgotten about it by Saturday 29th!
Speaking of unlikely, that is how Autoweek is commenting on the Monticello Motor Club's release that they are in talks with Bernie about staging the USF1 GP at their private members only club track in the Catskills, 90 minutes from New York City. "A most unlikely venue" is right. New Jersey may have been a stretch, but at least you can see Manhattan from there! "It is like winning the Olympics" the Club President said. Too right it is, and who pays for the Olympics? Let us know how you get on with those discussions with the State and local Governments. I am totally at a loss at the lack of understanding about what it costs to stage an F1 race these days, and how impossible it is to make any of it back, so why do these guys persist in wanting to chase one? If Indianapolis could not make it pay, how is anyone else?
I just love headline writers. Don't let the content of the story get in the way of a good headline, as I have found out to my cost. Most people read no further than that anyway. Practice is underway for the French Moto GP, and there beside each other were two headlines: "Rossi trounces rivals," and "Ducatti expect GP10 to suit Le Mans." I expected Rossi to be a good two seconds a lap faster, but imagine my surprise when I read he had a tenth of a second from a quick lap he threw in at the end over, yes, the Ducatti. So perhaps that headline was right, but "trounced" is not a word I associate with one tenth. The best American was Colin Edwards in sixth followed by Nicky Hayden. I commented the other day about Max Biaggi still winning in Superbike, but here's Colin (really and Australian, just born in Texas) still going strong. I first met Colin at the Superprestigio in Jarama in late '92 when we took Kenny Jnr. to Europe for the first time. That is a long career for a motorcycle rider at this level. As I said, are the bikes easier to ride, the competition less, or is the fitness training better these days?
Yesterday was a test day at Laguna Seca for the ALMS boys. Not sure what to make of the times other than it was set up day. Klaus Graf was quickest in the Porsche Spyder ahead of Clint Field in the Intersport Lola, neither a front running car lately. Third was the Highcroft Honda with David Brabham. Bruni led the way in the GT class with just over 0.8 seconds covering the usual suspects. It will be interesting to see what today's practice brings. The race can be watched live on the American Le Mans web site from 5:30 EDT tomorrow if like me you will have forgotten about it by Saturday 29th!
Reader Comments (1)
Bikes are easier to ride and have more forgiving powerbands. The lethal device that was the 2 stroke 500 finished many a top riders career. Early 30's was the norm for people to stop in the past. Nowadays a rider can extend that to his late 30's and beyond if he still has the desire. Also protection has improved( witness airbag leathers) but I think it"s mainly the sophisticated electronics( anti wheelie, launch control, traction control) plus vastly improved rubber and better places to crash at most circuits as well( more run off).
Riders these days are able to open the throttle in places that would have had their predercessers in orbit had they tried it.
I respect every motorcycle racer but I hold the old guard in a special kind of awe.