Late season race stuff...

[fastwin]

Disturbing race news. Racing in 2009 is going to be weird here in the States... more weird than usual.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Nov/081123grayfriday.htm

[Giannis]

homologation requirements are jut Horseshit! I f i want to see stock bikes ill watch superstock , If i want to see superbikers ai want to see the best production superbikes turn into firebreathing beasts with Exotic Brembos, Ohlins, Carbon fiber...


Very sad, I love the 80s AMA SBKs and sucks for the Series tht created the term "Superbike" to come to an end...

[svoloch]

What a wasted opportunity for a revamp of terrible series...

[fastwin]

Sad indeed. I also loved the late 70's and early 80's Superbikes before the 750cc reduction. That was the motorcycle racing equivalent of the late 60's and early 70's SCCA Trans-Am series to me. Lots of horsepower and iffy handling... and some of the best riders and drivers ever. Lawson/Donahue, Spencer/Folmer, etc... Good times.

[never2loud]

Disturbing race news. Racing in 2009 is going to be weird here in the States... more weird than usual.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Nov/081123grayfriday.htm

The AMA Superbike rule disagreement at this point may just be a convenient cover story for the manufacturers; I think it's the economy that's at issue.  No racing series seems immune to the current economic doom and gloom.

NASCAR is talking about halving their race dates next season because of sponsorship issues.  Even F1 is feeling the pinch with some pretty radical cost-savings suggestions on the table for next season - more radical than usual, that is 

I think that due to the global economic situation, the next few years of racing - in general - will be shadows of any former greatness.

[Giannis]

Sad indeed. I also loved the late 70's and early 80's Superbikes before the 750cc reduction. That was the motorcycle racing equivalent of the late 60's and early 70's SCCA Trans-Am series to me. Lots of horsepower and iffy handling... and some of the best riders and drivers ever. Lawson/Donahue, Spencer/Folmer, etc... Good times.

750s wasnt bad neither, im sure you remeber the battles between Kevin on his GSXR750 and Wayne on his VFR750

[fastwin]

For sure, great stuff! In my opinion the 750s evolved and became more refined... as much as can be expected of a street bike turned into a race bike. But the early Jap 1000cc Superbikes from the late 70s and early 80s were just awesome in their brute power and I'm sure riding them at break neck race speed was akin to rodeo bull riding with the bull having an extra 160 horsepower! Sort of an early four stroke racing version of the later 500cc two stroke GP days so to speak. Traction control was the throttle, your lack of fear and the size of your "you know whats". None of the ride by wire, neutered race bikes of this day. Just two different kinds of awesome, brutal and refined. Stone axe tech brutal vs computer chip, soft ware refined... but still brutal.

[bryant8]

Leaving the Old Monk tonight and I pull up behind a tricked out Benz with the license plate "ELBOWZ"... I wonder who that was. 

[fastwin]

Leaving the Old Monk tonight and I pull up behind a tricked out Benz with the license plate "ELBOWZ"... I wonder who that was. 

You know that Giannis posted recently about running into Ben Spies at the Best Buy across from NorthPark and said he was very friendly and approachable... as any Texan should be! Dallas County Appraisal District shows Ben Spies and his Mom (if her name is Mary... I think it is) own a condo here in town so that makes sense that he is being seen around BigD. I'd love to sit down and buy him a beer or two!

[Giannis]

For sure, great stuff! In my opinion the 750s evolved and became more refined... as much as can be expected of a street bike turned into a race bike. But the early Jap 1000cc Superbikes from the late 70s and early 80s were just awesome in their brute power and I'm sure riding them at break neck race speed was akin to rodeo bull riding with the bull having an extra 160 horsepower! Sort of an early four stroke racing version of the later 500cc two stroke GP days so to speak. Traction control was the throttle, your lack of fear and the size of your "you know whats". None of the ride by wire, neutered race bikes of this day. Just two different kinds of awesome, brutal and refined. Stone axe tech brutal vs computer chip, soft ware refined... but still brutal.

you will love thi then

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJijMnwP6cY


and a Freddie Spencer Special!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CncJTPVQofE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ9o00EQg9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKrq1CK_Po

[calscrazy]

+1 on what lisa said. alot of factories are feeling it right now. not just the domestic guys. a mag at work said toyota is renting some big lot in cali with thousands of cars just siitin there collecting dust and rust. we got lucky and my boss was smart enough not to order abunch of 08's in aug/sep so we don't have but a few 08's left on our lot. according to most reports even motorcycle sales are not up where they were. if thats true then there is alot of bikes sitting somewhere too.

[Ronr]

Some more 0% incentives from Ducati sure would be nice

[fastwin]

GMan,

Thanks for the SBK pics and videos! Now that's what I'm talking about!! [moto]

[AndreRA3]

crash.net has some photos up from the Jerez test...











Edwards and Toseland were incredibly quick for their first time on bridgestones!!!

1. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team  1min 39.525 sec
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 40.135 sec
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 41.163 sec
4. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 41.390 sec
5. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 41.468 sec
6. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 41.539 sec
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1min 41.655 sec
8. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 41.679 sec
9. Niccolo Canepa ITA Alice Team 1min 42.074 sec
10. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 42.098 sec
11. Mika Kallio FIN Alice Team 1min 42.837 sec
12. Sete Gibernau SPA Onde 2000 Ducati (B) 1min 42.943 sec
13. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Test Rider 1min 43.642 sec
14. Yuki Takahashi JPN Team Scot 1min 44.360 sec

[fastwin]

Here's something interesting regarding our old ex-AMS friend Brian Sharp (for those oldies that remember Brian... what a great guy!! ) and Boulder Motorsports Ducati.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Dec/081201a.htm