Assorted Race Crap, etc.

[fastwin]

Wow, Ruben Xaus has signed a two year deal with BMW to race their new four cylinder Superbike in next year's World Superbike Championship and 2010! Guess he got tired of waiting to get back on the factory Xerox/Ducati team.

Also, the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council) here in the States is very seriuosly looking into the major manufactuers bailing on the AMA next season due to the new watered down... OK, let's call it neutered Literbike race bike rules. Why waste their money on a wanker club racing superstock type of class? It may work in the specialized and rarified air of the MotoST endurance series but no one wants to see all the freaking restrictions and limits on real Superbikes. Guess I'll be watching the World SBK races 3 or 4 times each next year to make up for the lack of decent US racing.

Talk amongst yourselves.

[calscrazy]

cant believe xaus is leaving. maybe he got tired of playing 2nd fiddle to biaggi. either way bmw needed to make a splash and that's a good one. not enormous but good!!

[svoloch]

I think its perfect.  He's a good resource to help develop the bike, and clearly that should be their starting focus.  Get the bike competitive and then worry about whether the next shit hot wonderboy with no real experience but lightning fast us in your payroll.  Xaus is a great choice for that, and, frankly, probably not too expensive these days...

Fastwin, are you saying that AMA racing used to be interesting?  When was that? 

There was a rumor in one if the bike rags that the AMA was going to ditch the racing business and stick to the motorcycle advocacy original concept...

[cdc]

Wow, Ruben Xaus has signed a two year deal with BMW to race their new four cylinder Superbike in next year's World Superbike Championship and 2010! Guess he got tired of waiting to get back on the factory Xerox/Ducati team.

They better build a whole bunch of those cause he crashes a lot.


***

[cdc]

from superbikeplanet.com  http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jun/080626a.htm

Stoner-Hayden 1-2 In First Practice For Dutch TT
results of session below
by staff
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:36.569
2 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team Honda 1:37.186
3 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda 1:37.398
4 Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:37.437
5 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:37.470
6 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:37.480
7 Andrea Dovizioso JiR Scot Team Honda 1:37.507
8 John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:37.652
9 Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:37.821
10 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1:37.951
11 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:37.987
12 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:38.082
13 James Toseland Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:38.198
14 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:38.341
15 Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team Ducati 1:38.435
16 Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:38.768
17 Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:39.020
18 Toni Elias Alice Team Ducati 1:39.805

Dry session.

Do you think Melandri will want out of the last year of his 2 year contract?

cdc

[Jester]

CDC
You might not want to post practice/qualifying/race results in a normal post without disclaiming it as a spoiler.  Some people don't want to know until they've watched the practice/quali/race themselves.

While we're on it though, since its posted.  3 of the 4 bikes at the bottom?  Ducati.  Stoner's software is apparently working like last year now.  Hopefully we won't have to bust out the ambien and snooze through the rest of the year while watching 10-30sec victories again.

Also, the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council) here in the States is very seriuosly looking into the major manufactuers bailing on the AMA next season due to the new watered down... OK, let's call it neutered Literbike race bike rules. Why waste their money on a wanker club racing superstock type of class?

Very realistic.  DMG is trying to essentially treat motorcycling like nascar.  They want the factories to dump a bunch of money into a series that focuses on sponsors and does little to sell bikes.  Motorcycle companies sell bikes that win races, they don't sell bikes because they are sponsored by Home Depot.  I applaud the move.  I'd love to see it happen and give DMG the shaft.

[fastwin]

First, I never said AMA racing was interesting. Don't ever accuse me of that! Better that Teletubbies? OK, yeah, I'll say that. But that's as far as I go!! Hopefully they (the factories) can put someting together for 2009. I guarantee the tracks would want their races more than what DMG/AMA can offer. I bet the tracks are freaking out over what DMG is regurgitating as interesting Literbike racing. Maybe AMA made the sale of the decade in motorsports? DMG does a great job with NASCAR but bike racing isn't car racing. The old adage that racing is racing just isn't entirely true.

Yep, I agree with the Xaus move. It's a good one. I don't think he was second fiddle to Biaggi. Max has been too banged up this year to be the #1 rider and get all the goodies. I think Xaus has tremendous experience, as good as most with bike development, is a damn good rider and probably a damn good deal for BMW. I think it's a win-win. He's a name brand rider with 10 years of World SBK under his belt and has a really good fan base. He's a player. I bet BMW will have some studs testing the shit out of that bike behind the scenes while Ruben does the racing. They've got the cubic cash to throw at this deal. Do they ever do anything half ass? I like the looks of it.

[cdc]

CDC
You might not want to post practice/qualifying/race results in a normal post without disclaiming it as a spoiler.  Some people don't want to know until they've watched the practice/quali/race themselves.

Oopps, my bad!  

cdc

[Jester]

The old adage that racing is racing just isn't entirely true.

I can see it now!  Mladin over his new radio helmet to the pit crew:  "I'm gonna put this rookie into the wall!"   

[fastwin]

That's good! Wonder if they'll bust out Waltrip and Petty to announce and relegate Freddie Spencer to color commentary in the pits? It's gonna be weird... I'm getting a feeling of dread.

[shadowcougar1]

Remember, Xaus was a multiple WSBK race winner before GP... if he had a factory team to support him, he would likely be top 4 every year since his departure from GP.

Bayliss, Corser, Haga, Toseland, Checa, German boy,... all  have full squads (from electronics techs to suspension techs)... second tier teams like Sterilgrada rarely have the luxory of a dedicated suspension technician or factory part upgrades... much like D'antin team in GP.

[fastwin]

No Assen race spoiler crap here but DAMN!! Just saw the results online and can't wait to see the race on TIVO tonight after Swanny's dinner gig and the fastwin household is asleep and peaceful! That shouldn't be too hard since we didn't get home from Boy Scout Camp until 1:30AM after a full day stomping around in the dirt in 101 degree heat and not leaving until after 11:00PM. Jennifer was ready to be hospitalized. Colin will probably sleep for two straight days and never leave the AC again after more than a week in boot camp! It was a lonely drive home with a car full of sleeping people. Anyway, can't wait to see the race! It was a good come from behind race for one of my favorites and an injury to another during qualifying. That's all I'm saying.

[fastwin]

Look forward to watching the Misano SBK races today too! Great results that you might not expect. Yes, I cheated and looked online! No spoilers here but once again World SBK just rocks! So many different riders capable of winning on so many different brands! Hey, AMA/DMG you might want to catch a World SBK race on SpeedTV sometime if you want to know what makes good bike racing!! Was going to watch the MotoGP race last night after Swanny's dinner but I forgot it's showing today. Oh well, guess I'll brew some coffee and stay up late and catch MotoGP and both SBK races tonight after the Rockwall b-day dinner extravaganza. Funny how already knowing the results never seems to dull the thrill of watching the races. That's good racing!

[svoloch]

Remember, Xaus was a multiple WSBK race winner before GP... if he had a factory team to support him, he would likely be top 4 every year since his departure from GP.

Bayliss, Corser, Haga, Toseland, Checa, German boy,... all  have full squads (from electronics techs to suspension techs)... second tier teams like Sterilgrada rarely have the luxory of a dedicated suspension technician or factory part upgrades... much like D'antin team in GP.

Let me just say, without spoilers, that I may need to order a second set of skins and some sterilgrada stickers...  Holy mother of god...

[fastwin]

  [moto]