Pure Motorbike Passion

Red: Fatal Attraction.

2008-08-20T11:24:00.011-04:00

Red is one of the most interesting colors. If in certain cultures is linked to luck, heroism, success and erotism, just to mention a few symbolisms, in motorsport, red is synonymous of speed and success, something built by Ferrari in F1 and Ducati in the WSBK.

The 2007 MotoGp World Championship won by Stoner in such authoritative way has projected Team Ducati at the top of the competition. In the last two years the Japanese have been forced to chase the development and the performances of the Red Missile. A lot of you still remember the 2007 MotoGp in China when at the end of the race Rossi claimed that in his career he had never seen such a difference in performance among factory bikes.

With Stoner winning the #1 plate and still being the fastest guy at every circuit, it’s normal to see riders hoping to get into Team Ducati. As Jimmy will probably recall, at the end of 2006 I was disappointed that Melandri had chosen Gresini and his satellite Honda instead of going to Borgo Panicale. I was also quite superficial in thinking that the issue Capirossi- Ducati was related to him and the new 800cc bikes in general. When Macho finally moved to Ducati, I was positive he would have had a great season ahead. Well, I am glad that I didn't bet money on it because now I would be in RED! Ducati is a fast horse but only with the right rider, the Aussie. I still have hard time to accept the fact that Capirossi and then Melandri have suffered their worst season in their career while riding the current World Champion’s bike.

While the first one has found a great team and a competitive bike in the Rizla Suzuki, I hope that Melandri’s choice with the Kawasaki in 2009, instead of the satellite Gresini-Honda, will be the right one: green is normally linked to hope.

With Rossi and Lorenzo in Yamaha and Pedrosa in Honda, as long as they give him Bridgestone tires I would add, the only “available” rider to become witched by the Red Beauty is Nicky Hayden: good luck champ, we wish you all the best!

Picture| Via Kneedraggers.com

Grand Prix Ceske Republiky:The Doctor’s winning therapy.

2008-08-17T20:36:00.005-04:00

Today, at the end of the MotoGp, Rossi compared Stoner’s crash to Biaggi’s one in 2001 at the same track. It could be a pure coincidence or a planned analogy but, regardless, the result doesn’t change since the Doctor’s medicine for his adversaries it is the same inside and outside the track: building a steady mounting pressure. In the last couple of years Yamaha and especially Michelin didn’t support his game, but now the Doctor is back with a competitive bike and tires as good as his competitors. With 5 wins and 50 points over Stoner, only Rossi can loose his 8th World Title. Stoner seems to have lost momentum with two questionable performances right when we was asked to prove his real talent, his ability to “outperform” under pressure. If in Laguna Seca he let Rossi to suck him in a fight where he lost the victory and, I would add his confidence, today in Brno he gave away the championship on a silver plate. If in Laguna Stoner almost searched the dice with Rossi, today he played his most obvious card, the solo ride from the start to the finish. Strong of 6 consecutive poles, he thought that by building a buffer zone he could have avoided the Italian pressure. He went down with a stupid low-side, maybe over a little bump that must have suddenly challenged the grip of his crazy-glue Bridgestone. Most likely it wasn’t his fault and this is what he wants to hear now, but the reality is that he took that line, released the front brake and hit that apex. After taking off like a missile at the green light, the Aussie wasn’t able to disappear because Rossi after a couple of laps seemed capable to stabilize the gap with a very efficient ride of his Yamaha in the twisty sections of the track. Stoner’s time board must have appeared like a mirror filled by Rossi’s contour and, if I recall it properly, the Ducati rider rode his fasted lap right before crashing.
At this point it’s totally normal to question the assumption that Ducati had found a talent able to obliterate, in a few seasons, Rossi, the greatest rider of the modern history. I don’t want to elaborate too much this topic because there are still six races to watch where Stoner will do his best not only to win but to help everybody to forget the past two MotoGps. Anyhow Ducati shouldn’t be too disappointed since today after Rossi and Stoner there is nobody, particularly now that Pedrosa is injured. Another issue about which everybody agrees is that Ducati is not for every rider, as Capirossi and Melandri have proved. They need someone fearless, able to take the red bull by the horns, like a real matador, maybe someone like Elias. Yes, Elias was the real surprise of the day, the only rider able to add some salt on a race that was quite boring. I don’t want to forget to mention Capirossi’s podium, but his result was announced in the first day of practice in dry conditions. On the other end Elias’s performance was totally unexpected and made even more special by the rumors that his presence in MotoGp had recenlty been questioned.
I wonder if today Elias has somehow mixed the cards on the table for the Ducati Team. We know that Hayden would love to be in red and Gibernau would definitely come back and I speculate for considerable amount of money, but what about Elias? His second place was only the result of a lucky day, the outcome of a providential bike set-up that he wouldn’t be able to replicate in the future, or the simple dividend of his hard work on a bike that it’s evidently difficult to understand? Misano will answer.

Photo source| via YouTube

MotoGp Poll: Grand Prix Ceske Republiky

2008-08-14T20:32:00.002-04:00

With Rossi and Stoner shaking hands, yes I repeat it, shaking hands and showing their best smiles during the press conference before the long weekend in Brno, the PMP blog is back with its traditional MotoGp Poll. I am suggesting the first 6 riders in the championship as candidates to “to miss the victory”. Pedrosa should have recovered from the injuries suffered in his high speed crash as well as Lorenzo who, hopefully, has been able to get back his mojo lost somehow at the beginning of the season after his sensational couple of races. Also we should keep an eye on Dovizioso, a young rider who has impressed every body for his consistency, somehow unexpected for a MotoGp rookie.
Rumors appear to confirm Carlos Checa as substitute for Nicky Hayden: the outgoing Kentucky Kid has injured his foot in a recent supermoto race and hopefully will be back in Misano.

Good manners count: always.

2008-08-13T23:16:00.007-04:00

The Laguna Seca show couldn’t have happened at a better time: for three weeks, it left us wondering what will happen in the second leg of the season.
Rossi and Stoner, the protagonists of one of the most breathtaking races in the last few years, have vacationed in different parts of the world, but I am positive that they must have re-played in their minds, over and over, the crucial moments of their last race. Who knows how many times they have asked themselves if the outcome in Laguna, indeed, reflects their real level of skills. In a recent interview, Valentino wished that the rest of the races would be as much fun as the last one was. Stoner’s reply: I have rested in Australia with my family and my wife while training and now I cannot wait to race again. My guess is that the Aussie is still in pain from the last defeat during which his performance has raised obvious questions. Is he as good as Rossi? Can he stand that kind of pressure? Can he win in a tight dice where he cannot use the extra speed of his Ducati?
Have said that, as Rossi’s fan, I am not the most neutral person to conduct a comparison among the two riders, I believe that Stoner in Laguna Seca cracked under the pressure built by the Italian champion one overtaking action after another one. We don’t know if Stoner’s strategy was the result of something planned ahead of just the outcome of the testosterone typical of a young rider. Anyhow, in his boots, after realizing the type of race that I had ahead, I would have gave Rossi the false impression that I had given up, only to attack him in the last couple of laps. Also, with an eye on the championship it would have been better to “accept” a second place than to crash and jeopardize the final classification.
Last note just for the records of the PMP blog, we, Rossi’s fan, motorbike lovers and sport people in general, have not forgot Stoner’s refusal in shaking Valentino’s hand at the end of the race: a terrible example of sportsmanship for the millions of viewers all around the globe.

Picture Via|Motoblog

Toseland's style praised by someone, criticized by others.

2008-04-03T07:53:00.012-04:00

Toseland's debut in MotoGp has surprised riders as well commentators for his ability to adapt to a totally new bike and riding technique. While moving from 250 to 800cc is certainly less traumatic today than in the past, for WSBK riders MotoGp is still very different to what they are used to. Regardless since the last winter tests "Giacomino" Toseland has proved to be totally comfortable with his M1, to the point that only his Yamaha top speed seemed to be the limit factor in the first two races of the season. If in the straights, he has been relegated in holding slipstreams of other faster bikes, oppositely he has been very aggressive overtaking other riders going into the turns. We, MotoGp enthusiasts, have been delighted by his breathtaking maneuvers but he has definitely upset if not frightened other riders.
If touching or hitting other competitors is, to a certain degree, something normal in Superbike, we cannot claim the same for MotoGp. Every time it happens fans are very quick in finding the past actions, or skeletons in riders closets. So, today I read that Capirossi and Vermeulen have vented their criticism toward Toseland abrupt passing in the first two rounds of the season, with Loris claiming that if it should happened again he will find himself among the spectators! Indeed Vermuelen's experience must have been quite unpleasant since his leather suit got somehow ripped during the regrettable contact. Another rider suffering Toseland's roughness was Lorenzo, who if certainly astonished by Toseland's move, didn't complain too much especially after the incredible performance at his first race in Qatar. On his end, Toseland has not been apologetic for his moves, stating that he has not choice if not to pass on the brakes. In my opinion his moves are certainly very dangerous and in the long run could take out some riders out. Yes, he is passing on the brakes, but only a few feet away from reaching the apex, while the other rider is almost on the point to accelerate again while looking at the exit of the turn. While his move is still acceptable, I do recognize that the other rider will realize that Toseland is taking his inside only when his body and/or bike get hit or brushed by the English rider.
Unfortunately to win a racer has to get to the border line of what is acceptable or not, gambling with a potential crash or victory at every turn during the most critical moments of the race. Capirossi, who I esteem as a stout rider, has some famous skeletons too in his career as shown in the following video.

MotoGp: Gran Premio de Espana

2008-04-01T19:16:00.014-04:00

Jerez was a Spaniard affair, a domestic matter between the humorless and grey Pedrosa and the flashy Loren-show. The recent 250 World Champion was hoping to consolidate the fantastic start of the season in 800cc after collecting two pole positions and a strong 2nd place in Quatar behind the untouchable Stoner. In his own track he was dreaming of challenging in one event everybody, from Stoner to Pedrosa going through Rossi. The authority that he had shown during the qualification tests was definitely stimulating, if not supporting, his dreams, but yesterday morning, once the traffic light became green he must immediately have come to conclusions that it was only a dream.
Danny Pedrosa started like a bullet, in an obvious mission to play the game in his own way, by taking the lead and building on it. He has done it so many times in 250 in a fashion that reminds to all of us the “old” Biaggi. When leading a race, Danny is able to ride at 100% until the end without loosing concentration or making even the slightest mistake. Yesterday, his body, so petit even for the new “miniature” Honda, worked relentlessly to detach his bike at the exit of each turn to whack-open the throttle in a fashion that belongs more to the past than to today’s electronic traction control era. The new 800 machines cannot be managed with the traditional skills, particularly those ones requiring use of the hands or body. Ask Melandri or Capirossi if they agree with my claim.
Today a rider is required an extra dose of courage or willful blindness in the tool, the magic triad of suspension set up – electronics – tires. The modern centaur, once released the brakes after the turn point, has to hold the breath and open the throttle with a full trust in the magic of the electronics, with the faith that tha paratrooper would have in his parachute before jumping from the areoplane. Do you remember Rossi, Gibernau, Capirossi or Melandri a couple of years ago? They were able to compensate the wearing-off of tires by sapiently edging bike and throttle to put down power at the exit of each turn. Sensitive buttocks and skilful wrists were making the difference between an average rider and a champion. Today if the triad equation is not solved and tested nobody can win. Rossi and Capirossi have learned it in the last two years. Indeed the new WSBK star Biaggi was the first one to claim electronic issues a long time ago. Last year, Rossi on his end could evidently blame Michelin, but the poor Capirossi on the Red Missile Ducati, even though was faster than his teammate Aussie up to the apex of a corner, he wasn’t able to match the acceleration of Stoner at the exit of it. A lot of people were using as justification his age if not the fact that he had recently become father, as to say that he had not more the guts to take the extra risk to stay on the front of the field. The same sunset have been pictured for Rossi, with the extra malicious comment that the Tavullia champion had finally stop receiving a favorable treatment by factory teams and Michelin. In Quatar, the same people were very quick in calling his end, stating that “ …you see… even with Stoner’s Bridgestone he cannot stay in the front ..”.

Last MotoGp race has brought back some logic! Stoner proved to be very human, if not childish during the weekend while trying to solve normal technical issues. I say normal and not usual because since last year, he has never experienced any relevant technical issue with a Ducati that has worked for him with the consistence of a trustful videogame. Why childish? Well was it really necessary to kick that foot after passing his ex teammate Capirossi? Yes, he blamed the Italian for ruining his best lap, but what to say about all those mistakes during the race? And his obvious desire to “hide himself” by wearing the helmet while seating on a chait after the race? To my eyes Stoner has still to learn how to lose before reaching the status of well weathered old time champions.
On the other end, Sunday the other ex World Champion, Nicky Hayden confirmed to be a top rider, able to adjust his style to an ever changing machine obviously tailored to his blazoned teammate Pedrosa. In the last part of the race Nicky seemed to be able to challenge Lorenzo's third position. Unfortunately he trail-braked a bit too much losing the front grip and jeopardizing his attack to the third position. Curiously in Jerez both Hayden and Edward were able to save a clear low side by leveraging their elbows. The spectacular move proves the incredible results achieved by the tire companies (in this case Michelin) in improving grip and shoulder flexibility. I remember a few years ago while riding the yellow Honda Nastro Azzurro, Rossi was able to save a low-side by resting on his knee, and not on his elbow.
Last but not the least, I want to stress the incredible performance of Toseland and Capirossi. The first one looks totally at home in MotoGp and his overtaking technique going to the apex, tested in Quatar with Lorenzo and in Jerez with Dovizioso, is becoming his signature. He was an obvious protagonist of the battle for the 5th place, but at the end it was a determined Capirossi on his new Suzuki to win the dicing.

Picture Via|Motoblog.it
Chart by Almos

Born to turn!

2008-03-08T21:43:00.005-05:00

10.07 montee ospédale
Uploaded by bartoxx

Now you know why even the average rider or driver in Europe is so good! Because they are conceived, born and raised in natural tracks with every sort of corner: from the increasing radius to the double apex, from the U-shaped turn to double esses. You name it. Even Valentino Rossi as kid used to "practice" on a mountain road nearby his town. Obviously I am not suggesting that riders or drivers should consider public roads as local tracks, because it's too dangerous and irresponsible. My point is that for a kid used to ride in twisty road like in the video, it becomes totally natural to "use" the available asphalt at the entrance as well as the exit of the corner. Have you notice the crispy lines, the bold apexes and the easy management of the rear to close the slower corners? Given the rider's position on the supermotard, I am speculating that the rider doesn't have a professional background: indeed it suggests to me that he is one of the many talented street riders that you could meet while riding in the European countryside.

Video found by Almos.

I wanna ride ... soon.

2008-02-26T21:06:00.005-05:00

Almos has tickled my desire for riding with the video of a new '08 GSX-R 600 tested in Misano Adriatica, Italy. Supposedly it is a bone stock bike in the hands of an evidently skilled rider. The fast double right turn? Definitely in apnea!

Motorcycle Racing: a long and deep passion

2008-02-23T14:03:00.011-05:00

By Jimmy Martin

When I was a young kid in the 1980s, Barry Sheene was a national hero in the UK. Not only was he double 500cc Grand Prix world champion, but his cockney charms gained him literally millions of fans. What amazed me as a youngster was that Sheene's skeleton was held together with various metal plates and screws, mainly thanks to his rear tyre exploding at 178mph on the banking at Daytona. I mean, setting off airport metal detectors with your body, how cool is that?

I didn't get to see much 500GP racing because the BBC only televised the British GP, so my love of motorcycle racing was really formed by TV coverage of British national bike series such as F1. One of the coolest bikes in history came along in the early 1990s: the Norton rotary F1. With a sleek black colour scheme and the spine-tingling howl of its crazy Wankel rotary engine, if Darth Vader rode a motorcycle it would be this one.

Around the mid-1990s there was a shake up of the British racing scene with the introduction of an all-new British Superbike championship. My fellow Scotsman Niall McKenzie had taken podiums in 500GP, and he won the first 3 BSB titles in a row with his smooth, calm riding style, despite making atrocious starts in nearly every race. His main rivals in those 3 years were his Yamaha team-mates, who were Steve Hislop, Jamie Whitham and Chris Walker. The late Steve Hislop was a Scotsman who had won many Isle of Man TT races. He was an extremely quick rider who usually thought that his bike was unrideable and that the entire world was lined up against him (very Biaggi-like in that respect), but was a fans' favourite. Jamie Whitham's hair-raising riding style was reminiscent of Ruben Xaus. Whitham claimed that he used the race number 69 because it looks the same when it's upside-down in a gravel trap. He is now a TV commentator known for his outrageous sense of humour. Chris Walker took a double victory at the first British Superbike round that I attended at Knockhill, Scotland. Knockhill is a short, twisty track in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by sheep-covered hillsides. Turn one is a mirror image of the Laguna Seca corkscrew: turn right, plummet off the edge of the world and remember to turn left when you reach the bottom. There is a chicane insanely situated on the crest of a hill, with the start-finish line on the crest of another. The track's only hairpin sits in a natural arena filled with crazed fans, making it more like a rock concert than a bike race.
This is where I was standing when Walker, by then a Suzuki rider, passed Neil Hodgson's Ducati for the lead. The crowd, who were bigger fans of "The Stalker" than of the clean-cut Hodgson, erupted with joy as if Ozzy Osbourne had just bitten the head off a chicken in front of them. Walker repaid the compliment by stopping for a huge victory burnout, choking us half to death on rubber smoke as we were so close to the track.

Ducati dominated superbike racing at the time, and it was electrifying to stand just fifteen yards away while a pack of Ducatis thundered past at 150mph, the ground shaking under your feet. In between them were the screaming 4-cylinder Japanese bikes, making the kind of noise that a UFO would be proud of. These are the experiences that created my passion for motorcycle racing. I don't care whether a bike is a prototype or a road bike with the headlight removed. As long as the racing is close and the riders are crazy, I'll be watching.

Jimmy

Chupa Chups: to suck is good for you!

2008-02-09T11:12:00.000-05:00

Out of curiosity I have searched Chupa Chups, the big logo displayed on Lorenzo’s X-Lite helmet to discover that it’s a Spanish lollipop created by a certain Enric Bernat in 1958 and now owned by the Italian-Dutch corporation Perfetti Van Melle. The simple, essential and straightforward logo was designed by the surrealist Salvator Dali’, in what could be a perfect example of less is more. The name Chupa Chups originates from chupar, Spanish verb meaning to suck.

As Rossi has openly admitted in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, he had request Yamaha to postpone the acquisition of the new young talent, however it was not possible so, even though he has still “ to get in front” of him, once it will happen, Lorenzo will be an extra stimulus to improve.

The Spaniard has already let people know that he will not be the Colin of the past: he is in MotoGp to win. His skills and potential are proven, but so far he has struggled in getting the right feeling from the M1 to lower significantly his lap time. Lorenzo has justified his results with a lack of confidence in the front end coumpounded by an annoying vibration. As Jim has written in his blog Armchairbikefan, there is a good chance that Jorge will have to change his riding style, maybe shaving a bit of entrance speed to focus more in accelerating at the exit of the turn using the traction control at its full potential. Lorenzo should keep in mind that Stoner has won a World Championship by skyrocketing out of the turns while his ex teammate Capirossi, consistently faster than him in the first part of the corners, finished the season with a meager 7th position.
Normally a new and young rider would keep a low profile in order to absorb or better steal as much as he can from the more experienced teammate, but this is not the case of Lorenzo. He is openly in competition with everybody starting from Rossi. That’s why they have separated their garages with a wall or they have recently had an “accident” when one of Rossi’s crew-members was invited to leave immediately Lorenzo’s pit area.
The swellheaded Lorenzo will undoubtedly add salt to the coming season, but his egocentric attitude is going to draw a lot of attention and critics: anything less than an exceptional performance will remind us of the English meaning of chupar

Sepang: it could have even better if …

2008-02-07T22:17:00.001-05:00

The tests in Sepang, maybe one of the most positive test in Rossi’s career, as stated by the seven time World Champion, could have been even better if …that sensor line connected to the front brakes and/or to the fork of his M1 was not bent by the upper fender! Yes, if you pay attention to the details of the above picture you will notice that under braking the line ended up out of the plastic instead of staying loose close to the forks.

Indeed today was a great day for Vale: he went faster of the previous two days considering that he was able to put ride 14 laps at 2’01 and his best lap, the 20th it was at 2’01.437, almost a second faster than his best lap in his last Gp in Malaysia.
In the interview at the end of the day beside recalling the work done on the electronic, the engine and the elimination of a vibration generated from the front tire, Rossi appeared extremely satisfied not only with his record, but especially with the consistence in his long runs, at race pace. To go fast until the end of the test he had to change a bit his lines to keep working with the tires: this is exactly what it helped him in winning his last few World championships. When everybody else was slowing down because of lack of grip he was squaring off the turns spinning the rear. Now I doubt that he did that today considering the traction control on the new bikes, but I am sure that a different arch must have give him some unused rubber for his final laps.
Last but not least, he pointed out that it has been a long time since last time he had so much pleasure in riding, and now he cannot wait the Jerez’s tests to ride with the rest of his competitors.

Source: motoblog.it

MotoGp: Rossi sets a new Record in Sepang

2008-02-05T22:12:00.000-05:00

After flying from his M1 a few weeks ago Valentino came back to Sepang to fly again, but this time on the bike setting up a new record: 2’00.300 shadowing Nicky Hayden’s time of 2’00.326 clocked only 12 days ago.
Bastoner (the nickname given by the Italians to the Aussie, where bastone is a wood stick, as to say that he is the guy that kicks everybody’s butt) is not in Sepang, nor the rest of the fast guys. It would have been interesting to see in Sepang Pedrosa riding the new 2008 Repsol, but unfortunately he is still recovering from the recent surgery. Last week or so I read that he had openly claimed ” … historically every time Hayden has been responsible with the development it was not beneficial …”. On the other end Hayden has been working hard on the track to squeeze as much as he can from the winter tests, almost proving Randy Mamola’s theory according to which Hayden has never really get used to the 800cc and therefore, he will need to adapt his riding style to become more competitive.
Talking about challenges in acclaiming to new bikes, Melandri has having hard time in riding World Champion Ducati, with a probable satisfaction for Capirossi. Ducati has always been a bike for a few and not for everybody, and even if Macho will have to invest some time to learn how to use the full potential of the Red Missile, his effort could be paid off with a series of victories.
Tomorrow, Vale will have another chance to improve; let’s see what happen, but in the meantime check the funny Photoshop that Almos has found on mcnews.com.

The new 2008 PMP graphic at the Jennings event in Florida

2008-01-23T21:14:00.000-05:00

According to an old Italian saying “A wet bride is a lucky bride”, so I feel to extend a similar wish to our 2008 PMP graphic. Last weekend the PMP crew was in Jennings, Florida for the customary winter event down South, in the so-called Sun State, but on Saturday the guys (I remained in NYC) were welcomed by heavy rain and unusual low temperatures. Indeed Sunday was a dry day and the temperature went up to 52, warm enough to let starving riders to satisfy their hanger for riding accumulated after almost 4 months of inactivity. I have not met yet the guys to get more details, but I did hear that despite the winter rust, they were going as fast as they could, inspired by the presence of a “Canadian champion” in Jennings for a week of tests.
Anyhow, thank you to Almos we have a few picture about the weekend and the new PMP 2008 graphic too! This year our “painter” Mario Pires opted for a mono-color bike, white pearl with blue reflections, while the graphic, inspired by one of Rossi’s bikes in 2007, was developed by our artist and graphic specialist Diana Sliwa, JS Typography. It is again Diana behind the creation of the beautiful PMP poster/wall paper picture that shows in detail our beloved trademark logo.

On a different note it’s with a lot of curiosity that I post the following picture:

This the GPS layout of the track with info about the rider’s performance as memorized by Almos’s latest gadget on his GSX-R 750: I will let him, maybe in the comment section,to describe the different functions of this expensive toy.
The next track event for us will be only in April, but with all the MotoGp tests scheduled in the next future and all the speculations and suspense that they create the time will go by fast …very fast.

The 2008 PMP graphic soon unveiled in Jennings

2008-01-11T23:38:00.000-05:00

Twelve months ago in Jennings we unveiled the new PMP bikes. During the season several other friends decided to join our group, so during the summer it happened more than once to have 8-12 PMP bikes lined up all together in front our tents in the pit areas. The attention generated by the bikes along with our friendly attitude have created the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people with whom we have hanged out at the race track as well at fun nights out in NYC.
Anyhow, in the last couple of months we have decided to add new graphic ideas so, again with the help of Mario Pires and Diana Sliwa we created a PMP re-interpretation of a design used by our hero, Valentino Rossi, during the past season: next week, the first 2008 PMP bike will roll on the track along with the “old sisters” … pictures will follow!

Who was the most spectacular rider in 2007

2007-11-30T22:11:00.000-05:00

With Jerez the 2007 MotoGp season is officially ended. Now everybody will be able to relax, re-charge batteries, take care of shoulders and legs and gain a couple of pounds during the holidays. Before changing page, I would like to run a poll similar to the last one because I am looking to discover our emotional side.

Who was the most spectacular and fun-to-watch rider in 2007? It doesn’t matter how he ended up the Championship or if he has ever stepped on the podium because he is the man whom we still remember about.

Tell your wife that this one could be tax-deductible …

2007-11-23T17:25:00.001-05:00

The 27th of November is the last day to bid on Valentino Rossi’s helmet made for the 2007 Gran Premio d’Italia in Mugello. Dainese, owner of AGV, organizes the auction, and the proceeds from the sale will be devolved to a non-profit association involved in the restructure of the Giannini Gaslini Hospital, specializing in children, located in Genoa, Italy. Only 3 helmets were made for that race: one was thrown to the crowd right after the race, Rossi keeps another and the third one will be assigned to the winner of the auction.
By giving away his personal gears Rossi’s generosity surpassed his well known superstition. After donating, for the same cause, his leather suit in 2006, I wouldn’t be surprised if the seven time World Champion will become more and more inclined in using his influence and money to help other people.

News found by Almos.
Via| Ebay

The good old times: on board, Cinzano Rio Gran Prix, 2003

2007-11-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

Even the English poet George Byron (1788-1824) who said "the good old times ... all times when old are good", would feel some sort of bittersweet longing for those MotoGp years.
Almos has found, in some Hungarian web site, this great on-board video of Sete, Loris and Valentino dicing in the first few laps of the Cinzano Rio Gran Prix, 2003.
The final classification was Rossi, Gibernau, Tamada, Biaggi and ... Capirossi.

via | motorrevu

Who had the best looking MotoGp bike in 2007?

2007-11-19T15:31:00.000-05:00

Who had the best graphic in 2007? Unfortunately teams with several small sponsors can not afford to have a simpler and more elegant painting scheme, so I wouldn't be surprised to see, as usual, the big teams leading the contest.

The other Roman …

2007-11-18T23:16:00.001-05:00

As far as I know besides me in the Tri-State area there is only another Roman regularly attending road racing club events: my friend Luciano.
The first time I noticed him it was several year ago at one of the Pocono events organized by Nesba while inspecting bikes right after the registration. I believe that he had an old H1 or H2, a 3 cylinder Kawasaki, in perfect conditions and as soon as I opened my mouth to compliment him for that beauty he ask me in perfect Roman dialect: “ ma sei de Roma?” (but are you from Rome?) . Since that time I cannot recall how many perfectly restored bikes he has been bringing to the track over the years. I believe that he has a nice collection of 4 strokes but I have recently discovered that he has a boundless enthusiasm for 2 strokes. At the last event that we had in Pocono I had the opportunity to ride his gorgeous yellow Yamaha TZ 250: I had so much fun in shifting up and down those gears thru the twisty turns of the East Course. The bike is light and nimble, very conducive in carrying extra speed at the entrance of the turn to remain in the power band for the exit of the corner. And what about that urge to tuck as much as you can behind the windshield with the elbows tight against the tank? Only that generation of racing bikes can give you this kind of feelings. Modern four stroke bikes have shrank over the years to dimensions that we would have never imagined ten years ago but as Luciano claims a TZ 250 … “with 240 pounds wet and more then 85 hp on the wheel it is a joy to race it. In the right hands a well running TZ can give hard times to a liter bike”.

Winter is coming: do not forget that coffee maker! (part 2)

2007-11-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

Twelve months ago I wrote a reminder about draining the "plain" water from your race bike cooling system, today I post a "to do list" written by our friend Almos:

* pour fuel stabilizer in the tank, then fill it up all the way but don't leave empty space in the tank, where rust can start developing.
* run the bike for few minutes with the stabilizer, so the whole fuel system gets flushed and treated.
* take the battery out and move it to a not-too-cold(your room) place possibly over 40 degree and connect the Battery Tender to it. You can leave it on until next season starts.
* if you have front & rear stands store the bike on the stands, if you don't have them ... get them; otherwise inflate the tires a little bit above the normal pressure like 50 psi. This way the tire won't get a flat spot by the spring.
* put an oil soaked rag in the muffler opening and in the intake, prevent moisture get in.
* change the oil and filter before storage!! Used oil has lot of bad things in it. You don't want your engine components get soaked during the whole winter in that thing ...
* if you have exposed bare(unpainted) steel parts on the bike spray it with fogging oil to prevent rust.
* get a motorcycle cover for your baby.
* try to visit your bike every day, and talk to her. She will be lonely for a long time!!!

VIA Absolute Cycle forum
Photo by Dennis Cuevas, Racedayphoto.com

Should I go for it?

2007-11-17T10:11:00.000-05:00

For a while I have been flirting with the idea of buying a 250cc after having so much fun riding an Aprilia 250 and a Yamaha TZ 250 in Pocono Raceway, last year. As a kid I owened a Laverda LZ 125cc and as everybody else in Italy I grew up riding two stroke bikes but never in a circuit. The combination of the size and the power delivery with the total absence of engine brake makes riding a 250cc similar to blasting my road race bicycle down the twisty roads of a mountain: you have to let her go as much as you can …
Our friend Luciano, owner of a gorgeous yellow Yahama TZ 250, has sent me this video to keep tempting my fantasies.

Video source

Would you have flipped that coin?

2007-11-16T22:10:00.000-05:00

In joining the Team Green, that in my broken English I often refer to as the green tea-m, has Hopper tossed a coin in the air or not? From the money perspective I am sure that it was a no brain, but on the track, do you think that Hopkins is going to have a brighter future with Kawasaki versus what he could have achieved with Suzuki? If we looked at the time sheet at the end of the second day of testing in Sepang, he was damn right: 2’02”200, very close to Pedrosa’s pole position of 2’01”877 and ahead of his ex-teammate Vermeulen with the best lap time of 2’02”344. Now my question is: has he left Suzuki because he thought that the bike had reached the full potential? Was he afraid of missing the possibility to fight for the World Title with the baby blue Rizla Suzuki? But if he was concerned with the Suzuki potential, at the time he signed up the contract did he know that next season Kawasaki would use the 2007 model? The bike has certainly improved in the last two years but the marginal improvements of an “old” project are going to guarantee the level of performance needed to win? I am confused and at the same time intrigued to discover what has guided the MotoGp riders during the “Silly Season” as our friend Jimmy calls it in his Armchairbikefan blog

Picture source

Stoner and Ducati greeted by the Italian President

2007-11-16T17:11:00.000-05:00

Stoner and DUCATI are still celebrating the magical experience of winning the World Title with a formal visit to Quirinale, the official residence of the Italian Head of State, Giorgio Napolitano. On November 15, Casey and his wife Adriana were received by the Italian President after “parking” two bikes in the precious gardens that surround the building. One the two was a red Desmosedici GP7 missile used by the Aussie to rule the 2007 season.

Photographs by our friend Aldo Fabrizi

My strategy for Rossi in 2008: garlic and red chile peppers.

2007-11-11T19:54:00.000-05:00

Do you believe in bad luck? Are you superstitious? A lot of people for religious reasons or just to prove, at least to themselves, that they can make their own destiny, will consider the concept as an ignorant or irrational mindset. On the other end, if I rephrase the question as “do you believe in luck?” the same people would probably admit that they have directly or indirectly experienced it. Beside the obvious luck in gambling we could list numerous type of situations or fields where a successful outcome is normally labeled as lucky: career, family, health, investing, business and many more. The common denominator of all the lucky stories it’s always the action or risk taken by the person, the chance to loose some or everything he or she has at stake. Anyhow we shouldn’t forget other situations where luck is synonymous of case, fate or being blessed: typical example is the survivor of an airplane crash! So if luck (or what else you want to call it) or no luck exist, everybody should agree on the existence of bad luck too, at least as other side of the coin. In Italy, where we were pagans before becoming Christians there is a clear sense of awareness about the topic but what differs it’s how we deal with that.
Rossi’s pre-race procedure of “praying” while kneeling on his bike, adjusting his underwear leaving the pit out lane and then again on the grid has become famous because he has won 7 World Championships. All the MotoGp riders have their own steps with which they reach their mental focus and physical prowess while keeping at bay the negative energy. Negative energy …? But where does it come from? Well if we want to keep talking about MotoGp racers, it could come from an objective issue like a mechanical problem as well as the mounting pressure received by whoever is around them. Have you ever experienced the situation where you suddenly perceive that within your circle of people, family, friends or co-workers the atmosphere has changed? Now you start feeling the criticism and the pressure deriving from any of your actions: some people would love them while others hate them! Some are supporting you, others hope in your endeavors failure. For a famous actor or sport star the phenomenon assumes giant dimension because of the number of people that make “his or her circle”. Jealousy and enviousness are dangerous forces capable of bending the strongest minds, fold the best careers and reversing the best stories. Until a couple of year ago Valentino seemed to be immune from this peril but in coincidence with the peak of his popularity, and by default enviousness, he started experiencing some unusual difficulties or issues that in his long career he had already encountered but successfully solved in a short time. In 2006 I can easily recall the long straggle with the chattering, the faulty Michelin tires and at least one engine failure while leading the race. And what about that second place behind Elias by a couple of inches? After mysteriously low-siding on the last race, those five vital points meant losing the World Championship! At that time, he was greatly criticized for driving the F1 Ferrari during the pre-season months hence held responsible for failing to win the World MotoGp Title. In the 2007 season Valentino was not distracted by any particular lure (if we discard the friendship with the gorgeous Elisabetta Canali), indeed he gave 110% to compensate the substantial lack of power/speed at the beginning of the season and then for the miserable performance of the Michelin tires. In the last race in Valencia, in perfect compliance with the Murphy’s Law according to which “whatever can go wrong will go wrong, at the worst possible time and the worst possible way” Rossi lost the second place in the World Championship because of the M1 engine. The ice on the cake it was that the mechanical failure happened while he was courageously riding and defending his position with a wrist fractured in the free practice! And what about that blow received during the summer when he was notified of a multimillion-pound tax evasion on undeclared revenues between 2000 and 2004? He is responsible from a legal point of view but we know who “put” the young and inexperienced Italian fellow in such a predicament whose outcome revealed itself only after three years went by …

On the other end we have Stoner that after crashing bikes for most of his career until 12 months ago, on Ducati from day one was able to keep upright the bike each and every race! Mechanically he has never suffered any problem but one race when his slipper clutch was not consistent in the feeling. Also, during the season the young Aussie time after time enjoyed an edge on the competitors before with a 20kmh faster bike and then with winning-proof Bridgestone tires. That’s the beauty of life: anything can change at any moment, and sometimes magically or, let me say … luckily for the better!

Now given the circumstances if I were a consultant for Rossi I would remind him the old saying “there is never two without three …”. We cannot lose another championship in this manner, so besides dropping Michelin for Bridgestone, blustering the Yamaha engineers for a better bike and fire is friend and manager Gibo Badioli, I would recommend the old wives’ tale to hang garlic and peppers on your 2008 M1 to keep away negative energy and bad luck!

MotoGp Poll: Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana

2007-10-31T19:45:00.000-04:00

The championship has already been assigned to Stoner, the true revelation of the season but, last year, we had the fingers crossed until the last race with Rossi and Hayden fighting head to head, single point to single point until the end, until Valencia where the Doctor low-sided serving the championship to Hayden on a silver plate. That race was majestically won by Bayliss in front a strong Capirossi, someone who was supposed to guarantee the results for the Ducati Team in 2007 while letting the young Stoner to acclimate himself to the rude Italian horse. Well, all of us know how things have gone …
Sunday race doesn’t have any particular importance if not for the racing numbers well listed by Motogp.com. Among the different records, I would point out that another win by the Aussie, the eleventh one, it would elevate him at the level of Rossi and Agostini, and right behind Mick Doohan’s 12 victories.
Have said that let’s pick the second rider on the podium out of the first seven in the MotoGp World Championship! My pick is Stoner behind Rossi: I hope for an epical battle between the Italian and the Aussie and not their tires or bikes, just the two men.

Norick Abe: another victim of the U-Turn killer

2007-10-12T20:39:00.000-04:00

How many riders have lost their lives because of a vehicle making the ominous U-Turn? I know too many but nobody as famous as Norick Abe. Yes, it’s another champion that lives us in a tragic and unexpected way, far from the circuits where he used to challenge destiny and physics of the fields along with his competitors. He died in the far-west of today’s city roads where driving is everything else except a technical discipline. The truck driver who took away Abe's life claimed that he made the U-turn after realizing that he was going in the wrong direction … Another time it was the view of a parking spot available on the other side of the avenue or because the driver wanted to drop the kids in front the school, or because the cub driver was looking for the building with even #s, those on the other side of the street. How many explanation or justifications have we heard over the years? I drive cars, ride motorcycles and road bicycles and you cannot imagine how many U-Turns I count every day in Brooklyn, but in all these year I have never seen a cop to give a ticket for someone making a U-Turn. Here in NYC it’s common if not well accepted: even the old and big American cars had incredible power steering, something that it allowed everybody to make a U-Turn spinning a finger against one of the bars of the steering wheel. Incredibly no one legislator in this country has proposed a tougher stance again the ominous maneuver, but then I am not surprised because with the exception of Arnold Schwarzenegger who was caught riding an Harley Davidson (and crashing without driver license), nobody else rides motorcycles when they can seat in their huge and black SUV s.
I know … I am raging while now it’s time to pray.

Rest In Peace Abe

Picture source

MotoGp Poll: A-Style Grand Prix of Japan

2007-09-20T18:50:00.000-04:00

Second place to? After Estoril and the resurgence of Rossi, Pedrosa and Hayden along with their much improved bikes, I don't really know! Today Rossi has openly admitted that the recent victory has improved the his team morale and he is planning to fight until the end of the championship: there are 100 points left with Stoner leading with a 76 points difference over Valentino. Last year Rossi was able to keep the cold mathematic at bay until the last race. The M1 got faster and Michelin tires are equal if not better than Bridgestone, as long as it doesn't rain. The goddess Fortune is always represented with a wheel to remind everybody that luck comes and go and it is about time for the Italian champ to enjoy a bit of luck after going up-hill for almost two years.
Now the statistics are totally against the Fiat Yamaha team with Bridgestone winning the race in the last three seasons. Also we shouldn't forget that last year Capirossi and his Ducati won the Motegi race with a 5 seconds gap on Rossi while the new phenomenon Stoner had crashed out. I am looking at last year classification with Melandri in third and I get even more confused .....
Ok, I made my mind and I pick Pedrosa again behind Rossi but do not ask me the third rider because in my heart I would like the show to go on until the last event

Grande Premio de Portugal: Welcome back MotoGp

2007-09-20T09:17:00.000-04:00

Welcome back MotoGp! This is the type of show for which we are paying seasonal subscription with MotoGp.com or Tivo. Often we have to get up early in the morning or in the middle of the night to watch our heroes racing. Over the years, even during the Robert, Rainey, Doohan and Rossi kingdoms we have always had good battles for the podiums, something that unfortunately have lacked this year. But last Sunday in Portugal it was show time with four different riders (if we count Hayden who had the pole) leading the race at some point. Once Pedrosa got the fugitive Stoner, the typical “time trial race” of the last few months became a real MotoGp race with everybody fighting on the brakes, holding stubbornly the outside lines when they were stuffed on the inside. Great show offered by Rossi and Pedrosa in the front but even in the back thank to Hayden, Melandri and Elias who did whatever they could to hold their positions against the faster guys. Sunday the commentators didn’t talk for one hour about Bridgestone and Michelin because too focused with the actual race. So many new things happen in Portugal! The Italian red missile has lost power over the summer …or better Honda has opened itself to some doping issues, but who cares because MotoGp is not Tour de France. The M1 too seemed improved but unfortunately my impression is supported only by Rossi and not by his teammate Edwards.
Pedrosa is still very petit but he has improved dramatically his …. determination on the brakes! He was able to fend several Rossi’s attacks without closing the door. He did it so many times that when Rossi overtook him going into that left turn with a couple of laps to go Danny had to pick up twice his left foot on the peg while going to the apex of the corner. At this point Rossi was able to create a little gap that he carried to the end, but still the little Spaniard did a hell of a race.
Stoner race was a bit strange: after the first third of the race everybody thought that his Bridgestone had started to deteriorate. As matter of the fact, after the race Rossi admitted that Sunday Michelin had an edge over the competitors. In reality later one the Australian explained that he had suffered a problem with a slipper clutch eliminating any engine brake. I believe Stoner, but somehow I do not understand it because Rossi and Pedrosa were not much faster than him on the brakes. What was clear it is that he didn’t have the usual extra speed on the straights and at the exit of turns: on the gas, out of the corners, his rear was very nervous, almost too quick in unloading the compression … but again he is Stoner and I am only a motorbike lover. Talking about bike set ups, even Hayden’s Honda seemed too nervous on the quick changes of direction and when he got really aggressive on the brakes it became difficult for him to keep a tight line in the corners.
What happened to the Suzuki? I have not been able to do my reading in the last few days but at this point my mind is already focused on nest Sunday, let’s just hope for another great show!

Picture source

Lombardi School, Lev 2: Pocono Raceway 9/4

2007-09-07T13:29:00.000-04:00

As I have posted in the Absolute Cycle Forum:

I believe that last Tuesday the launch of the Lev 2 course was a success. I had 3 riders that at the beginning of the day displayed substantial differences in speed and technical skills, but still they looked compatible as group to me. Unfortunately one of them, Rich, had to leave the track after the second session to follow his friend to the hospital, because he had suffered a slight concussion in a crash. With only two students, Tom and Bob, Steven Lombardi and I had the opportunity to put together an extremely intense course. Both, Tom and Bob are motorbike veterans so it was like to teach " new tricks to old dogs". It's definitely easier to instruct someone totally new to bikes than someone with decades of riding under his or her belt. Regardless, I honestly believe that I was able to discover and correct hidden attitudes and frames of mind that were affecting their overall performance. Also, Tuesday I chose to adopt a teaching style where I was explaining: the concept, why it is supposed to be done in such a way and what we try to achieve from a technical point of view. A very intense approach to learn the art of riding that requires physical and mental concentration all through the day by the instructors as well the students. Both riders, Bob and Tom have improved dramatically their riding. By the last session Bob became much more proactive with his body and detailed in dealing with cornering while Tom almost seemed to be another person:by the end of day he was able to create calmness, smoothness and control in his riding. No more fish tailing on the brakes, no more sudden reactions of his front end during the turns, overall a new Tom, capable of being totally in charge of his riding.
Unfortunately my guys were forced to leave the truck a couple of sessions before the end of the day for different personal issues, right after having ridden their best sessions. They looked tired but extremely happy for their achievements. We were able to cover probably only half of the program that I had prepared for the event, but it was OK. The level two course is tailored exactly to the skills and the real needs of each rider so I take the person from where he or she is to escalate my instructing along with his or her improvements. For every topic I have created drills that could be used to facilitate the assimilations of concepts. Obviously every rider is different so there could be a person that can go from point 1 to point 9 of the program in one day vs another one who can only get to the point #5. Regardless, substantial improvements in lowering the lap time and in the technical skills are always guaranteed.
In our school we have always put a lot of passion and joy in instructing, and last Tuesday, even in the Lev 2 course, I feel that we laid out a new milestone for the Lombardi School. As always, you can find good instructors only with good students, so a big and honest thanks goes to Bob, Rich and Tom: you guys made my day.

Ciao,

"Another great event organized by Absolute Cycle, our boutique-style local road racing club" ..... thanks to Roy, Mark and the rest of their crew

I decided ... I wanted to go racing

2007-09-06T23:34:00.000-04:00

From our friend Tim De Bell:

I decided I wanted to go racing. We’ll get to that, but first a little background.

I never rode a motorcycle until 4 years ago. I convinced my wife Jen that having a dirt bike to ride on the trails near our house would make my life complete. The only stipulation was that I would not get to the dealership and buy a street bike instead. “Why would I want to ride on pavement?” I replied.

Off I went and bought an XR250. It’s a good bike, fairly nimble, plenty of grunt and most importantly, sturdy. I rode that around the woods for a year or so and had the bright idea that I could save money riding the XR the 16 miles to and from work. After all, it wasn’t really a street bike, it was a dirt bike with a baja kit and DOT’s. That rationale proved to be somewhat weak, but ultimately I was commuting on my, now a bit scratched up, XR.

After learning the basic street survival skills, I started to look at street riding in a different light. With a bit more bike I could have some real fun and technically be safer. I had enough sense not to get on the highway with the XR, but, for those who haven’t ridden them, there is no such thing as good DOT knobby. I still rode dirt with it so SM wasn’t an option.

I had a picture of a Ducati Monster on my laptop desktop and managed to convince myself that the sun wouldn’t rise and set with any regularity if I didn’t have one of those in my garage. I picked up a used one, stripped it down even more and made it what I wanted.

I love that bike….it’s got curves like Sophia Loren.

The 2V Desmo is a well balanced motor and I had more than my share of grins, and a few gasps, honing my riding skills on that bike.

I was a fan of WSBK and MotoGP prior to really considering going for a track day. After all, I didn’t have a bike I wanted to chance wadding up and renting a bike takes it well out of the “recreational” budget.

Jen came home one day a said she met a guy at work who is a track instructor and I should meet him. We’ll call him Tod……because that’s his name. Little did I know that he had already been on the case explaining to her that going to the track would make me a better rider and, if you are going to go fast that’s the place to do it.

A couple of months pass and I found myself at Pocono, at the East Course, astride Tod’s SV650. After a couple sessions flailing around the track, I finally got into a little groove with the acceleration followed by heavy braking and dipping the bike much deeper than I ever had on the street. Tod explained that you can really get on the front brakes after the front end settles and that made the afternoon that much more enjoyable. I got some good laps for a first day, some passes, and felt very satisfied with the progression of skills I gained during the day.

Skip to a couple months later and I am trying to figure out a way to get back to the track. I had trouble justifying spending the money on a bike that I would ride for a matter of days per year. After many conversations with Jen and many track days missed, we decided that if I wanted to take up track days as a hobby, I needed to do it on my own bike.

I struggled with the decision of which bike to get but ultimately decided on a 600 I4 as I owned a twin and riding different bikes would round me out more as a rider. Besides, I heard they were really fast.

Alex, one of the instructors at Pocono, was selling a 2000 R6. After staring at the pictures of that bike on this very website for a couple weeks I called and he told me that, yes, the bike was for sale but he had an incident at Summit Main the week before and the right side was rashed up. I was realistic about the likelihood of watching my track bike sliding, or worse, tumbling, across the track with my backside rapidly heating up and bruising in places I didn’t even know I had, so we made the deal.

I picked up the bike at the track and rode it for the day to varying levels of success. Long story short, now the left side matched the right.

I went to a couple more track days and gradually worked on my skills. I wasn’t super fast by any particular means, but improving at a gratifying rate. Moving to the intermediate groups in a couple clubs was key in that the freedom on the track came at a good time in my riding education.

Having some friends who race with LRRS encouraged me to at least ride that track. I decided to attend the basic road racing class and stay up to ride the rookie race. I sincerely feel that earning the license is an accomplishment. In retrospect, it takes dedication, specific knowledge, and a not inconsequential set of stones.

I packed up the truck and headed to the 8/31/07 Penguin school with a good friend of mine. We arrived to nice weather, which proceeded, disappear and was replaced with 40 mph winds and heavy rain. We ate and played some cards while holding down the easy-up tent and retired when the weather finally abated. I was more excited than nervous, but wound tighter than an outhouse door spring.

Waking up early, I headed to the Penguin garage about 10 minutes early. This was a treat because I could drool all over the new Ducati’s in the paddock. The 1098 and Hypermotard are both bikes I would compromise my morals to ride. Maybe not, but I really want to ride them….

The morning class session was the standard intro to the track, pit out, pit in, flags and some discussion about body position. We were out in follow the leader sessions by 10:45 which was a pleasant surprise The follow the leader was good in that it provided plenty of time to find the line and markers along the track.

The layout of the NHIS track is challenging and amazingly fun. The elevation changes add another dimension to the riding I had done in the past. The two blind spots on the track are under full acceleration so the approach line has to be spot on.

The afternoon was open session as the track is open for Saturdays racers. The track was never crowded and you don’t sit in the grid for very long on the way out. I was feeling pretty good gradually working up to speed. I spent a couple laps following the CR’s and that really improved my speed through the middle of the circuit. Coming down off the hill through 10 and 11 looks so short as you come out to it but proved to be a sprint through the infield on the line.

We were called into the classroom a couple of times during the afternoon to discuss what the CR’s were seeing on the track. There were a few incidents at 3 and 10 and Steve N. talked about technique through that section and answered any questions we had. At 4 PM we had a scheduled class session that focused on the more procedural aspects of the race. Racer calls, pre-grid, grid and start procedure were all explained in detail as well as a review of the most common wrong answers in a quiz we had taken earlier. It was really to ensure that you didn’t sleep during the class time.

Everyone who completed the course received a card that allowed them to register for the rookie race anytime in the next year. Steve said that it would get you on the track for other club races as well and I have no reason to doubt it.

At that point folks who weren’t sticking around for the races were excused and the rookie racers stayed to review starting procedure again and some Q&A. It was obvious that they intentionally took the time to be repetitive on certain aspects of the class.

During the time we were in the classroom it started to rain again. The track quieted down but Steve talked a bit about the importance of riding in the rain. After a long day and some quality seat time I was thinking of packing it in for the day but at the end of his instruction, Steve said, “Now go ride in the rain.” and I went. This was the best decision I made all day. I was the only one out there without DOT’s (of the three that actually went) and I was acutely aware of that sitting in line, but the simple fact that I was able to feel the bike move around as a result of a wet track made it well worth it. After that, I was much more aware of the position of the bike relative to my body and more sensitive to the feedback of the bike. I am sure it improved my riding the following day.

Jen had arrived while I was in the afternoon session and the infield began to fill up with campers, trucks and tents for the weekend. As she was walking around checking things out and seeing if I was on the track, she heard someone say “Hey, look, only three numb-nuts went out in the rain!” Laughing, she walked up to the two guy’s vantage point and saw that indeed, one the numb-nuts on the track was her beloved husband.

We had an evening meeting for all riders in the rookie race at 6 pm. Other folks who had come from other clubs and previously taken the course attended and we talked about the grid and starting waves, received the forms for the morning registration and told stories for a while. Steve, having ridden and raced for 35 years, had quite a few as you would imagine.

The evening infield camping was great. The people who participate in this sport are a special breed. The sport that you are all passionate about is the one thing that brought you here, the only thing. Because of that, you already know something about everyone there. They either love motorcycle riding or love someone who does. Folks are more relaxed, gracious, and eager to share their experiences with like minded people.

I woke up at 4 and stayed in my sleeping bag until 5. It hadn’t rained overnight, but everything was still soaking form the morning condensation. I got up and started to coals for coffee, completed my paperwork and got out to registration. It was a touch like going to the DMV. Get in one line, get your number and pay some money, get in another line and pay some money. I was given my tech. form and transducer and ran over to the parts trailer for my numbers and a transducer bracket. When I got back to the truck I was completely taken back. My buddy had replaced my rear axle with the one he had to drill out while I was on the track the day before, Jen had coffee and breakfast for me and everyone was as excited as I was.

This wasn’t the first time over the weekend that I got a feeling of modesty mixed with amazement. These folks took time from home, traveled to an unfamiliar place and took care of my needs because they want to and because they wanted to see me safe and successful. I am truly fortunate to have people like this in my life.

I got to tech too late to make the first practice but I knew that would be the case the night before. There is just not time to go through the registration process and make an 8 am practice. The window doesn’t open until 7am and, as a rookie, you have a couple of extra stops to make.

While waiting for my practice call there was a 4 bike incident at the end of the front straight. Someone had blown their motor and a few folks went down into the tire walls in the south end of the oval, attributed to oil on the track. We could not see what happened from our camp but I had a pretty good idea based on the sounds. One of the riders stayed down for a while, however, we could hear him and everyone was relieved it was apparently not a head injury. We got the word later in the riders meeting that he had sustained an injury to his hip and was transported to the hospital lucid and communicating.

I made the second practice, which was red flagged after two laps. Uh-oh, I don’t have tire warmers and my race doesn’t start for 40 minutes. Well, I would have to get some good heat in them on the warm up lap. When the time came I was out to pre-grid in the 1-A spot. Easy to remember however I still wrote it on a piece of tape on my tank just in case. My adrenaline had been up since 4 am and, with so much going on around me, I didn’t want to be the guy pushing his bike around the grid because I lined up in the wrong spot. At this point, I still didn’t have my license and any bone-headed move could eliminate me. It’s a good policy and mainly there to ensure the maximum factor of safety on the track.

I went through the first race launch 100 times in my mind over the last day, but when I got to the starting line it was like nothing I had imagined. I thought a lot about my inputs to the bike to get a jump and keep it in control. What I didn’t think about was the heat, the noise, the people and the scenery of the speedway. It was surreal. The 3 card came up, spin the bike up, the 2 card came up, oh crap, my visor is up, flip the visor down, spin the bike up again…1 card…green flag!

I slipped the clutch well keeping my weight over the front. I had the jump and was leading the pack. When I went to shift into 2nd I missed it and dropped a few positions. After some creative language in my helmet I grabbed 2nd gear and got on the throttle. I managed to recover up into 5th position before leaning into turn one. As I rounded the apex there was a fall in front of me. I didn’t react to it other than consciously focusing op the track on my line.

As the raced progressed I knew I was near the front. I was passed approaching turn 3 in which I held too tight a line and didn’t carry enough speed through the turn 2. I kept my focus following the rider closely and made another mistake in turn 12. At the end of the straightway I overtook the rider ahead of me on the inside. This was the last lap and didn’t want to give up the position.

Coming out of 6 I went faster to 8 and through 9 than I had all weekend, noticeably faster. My turn through 12 and out to the straight was not great. I lost so much speed I was sure the rider following me would be by quickly. As I approached the finish line I was well on my way to 5th gear and the finish flag waved faster and faster. As I crossed the finish line I let off the gas and was passed quickly…whoahhh. He was right there. Neither if us was sure who finished first but we congratulated each other on a good race.

As I took my cool down lap it occurred to me that I had just earned my license. I buzzed around the track giving the thumbs up to the corner workers and with a smile they could probably see through my tinted visor.

When I got back to the truck friends we had made and my crew congratulated me and we talked about the race while enjoying the beautiful day it had turned out to me. I wasn’t sure what place I had come in but I had accomplished what I had come to do. Relaxation quickly turned into another cycle of race prep as I had entered the middleweight superbike race as well.

In that race I was in the 7-A grid, back of the pack. I got a good launch to the middle of the pack by turn 1. There were a lot of bikes there with me but with everyone holding their line, there was some spread by turn 2. Going up the hill into 5 there was a high-side in front of me and an immediate red flag. Restart.

I ran through the race with a good line but it felt a bit slower. 8 laps is a short race by many people’s standards, but the energy spent focusing is significant. After some passing and being passed I crossed the line at WOT and didn’t let off until the turn 1 early braking point based on my experience in the previous race.

I was done for the day and I was proud of myself. My bike performed exceptionally and the experience was beyond my expectations. Lessons I learned about riding, racing and myself won’t be forgotten.

We took a break form packing up to watch the MW Twins race. One of the new friends we made was running and ended up taking 2nd. Watching the race with Jen was tremendous as we chatted about our friend’s performance, the lines we were seeing people riding and what my next challenge will be.

As we made our way home a friend called to congratulate me on my 4th place finish. He had seen it online. That was the first time I had confirmation of my finishing place and it was an awesome feeling. In the MW Superbike I finished 21st, ahead of only 8 people, but the 3rd rookie and even better, my fastest lap times were within 2/10ths of each other for both races. That excited me more. I made mistakes in both races but pleased with my overall consistency.

Was this experience worth the time, cost and sacrifice? Absolutely!

Did it improve my riding? Without a doubt!

Will I do it again? If you have read this far you already know the answer to that!

Track map source

Our first PMP girl track rider

2007-09-06T15:37:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone,

My name is Krys and I am honored to be the first PMP female track rider. One thing a woman will never tell is her age. I believe age is relative to how you “feel”.
However wisdom and experience are two things I embrace with age.
I am the Service Manager at Global Auto Mall for the last thirteen years. I have 5 car lines. I have been with the company for approx 18 years and have had dealership service experience for the last 22 years. (I started young. Wink wink). My father owned a service/gas station for many years. When I was a little girl, I pumped gas for $2.00-$5.00/day. As time went by, I was managing the shifts at the station. Dad was no dummy. At 17 he had me pumping gas in shorts during the afternoon commute. Thank God he had more class than having me on stage and riding a pole. LOL! No Jerry Springer for me. Being around cars my whole life you’d think I’d be into Nascar.
Even then, I never ever wanted to be one of those provincial women with a conservative if not bigoted attitude.

When I was approx 12 years old, my brother came home with a Honda CR 125. I would sit on it in the basement learning shift patterns. This came easy for me because just a few months earlier, I had a dear uncle teach me how to drive a Toyota with a manual transmission. Not too much later, I was sneaking the CR125 out onto the street.
I eventually became friendly with some people who did trail riding at the Meadowlands landfill and invited myself. I started on I YZ80 and gradually up to a CR250.

Unfortunately, I was on my own at a tender age and was forced into taking on a lot of responsibility and not much room for fun. I had to find my place in the world. I don’t want to bore you so……

Jumping ahead, approx 6 years ago, I met Pete. Pete had a CBR 600 F2 and a Suzuki Bandit. Pete and I work at the same dealership. One day he rode to work. We were chatting and he asked if I knew how to ride. I told him of my earlier days. He handed me the keys and said,” here. Go. “ I instantly became so excited. Pete and I started dating and eventually got married and I became addicted to riding and watching AMA, MotoGp and World Superbike races. I took the MSF course and every bit of free time I had, I was on the bike, becoming better and more confident.

My friends went to Pocono for a track day and took the Lombardi School course. They came back from that day somehow different. I liked what I saw. I wanted it too.

In 2004 I had my first track day with the Robert Lombardi School. I didn’t know what to expect and I was very nervous. The instructors were so knowledgeable, kind, patient and perceptive. By the 3rd session I knew I wanted more, more, and more! I also knew I wanted to be around these people. Positive, helpful, and solid people. I instantly bonded with Rob Lombardi and became friends with him. I followed his career and kept in touch. I also adored Alex and Todd from day 1.

Unfortunately, with my crazy hours at work, I could not be aggressive with my track days and because of my job, I lost a whole season. I am now learning to put myself first and will not allow my work to dictate my life.

This season I have dedicated myself to be the best person I could be. Mentally, spiritually, and physically.

I am now traveling to different tracks, I have taken motorcycling vacations, and I am expanding.

I will be great at this!

I have a personal trainer and I do Bodyflow. (Copy write Les Mills…www.Lesmills.com) which incorporates Tai Chi, Pilates, and Yoga. I will be writing about this form of exercise for the PMP blog. It’s great for a solid core, balance, strength, and a clear and healthy mind. It balances blood sugar, cholesterol and helps you sleep better.

Whether at the track or just enjoying each other’s company during a meal or a couple of cocktails, the friends I have made from this sport are the best friends I have ever had in my life. I will never jeopardize these friendships. They have helped my riding skills. But more importantly, they are helping me to shape the real person I am. They have helped me grow as a person. Instead of sympathy, empathy or pity, they offer love guidance and solutions to whatever plagues me.

Rob, Alex 555, Todd…….Thank you for all your support, encouragement, guidance and love. I am eternally grateful to you guys: Mike, Naim, Frankie, Uncle Steve, Antonio, Pete, Maurizio, Diana, and a very gracious Bill Jones. Thank you for being so loving and generous. I couldn’t ask for better friends. Diana.. stop work enough to breathe and get on the bike! You’re the best girl!
The list continues. Almos, Mario, Alex, Alex, Dave……I can’t wait to get to know you guys. Thank you in advance.

All good things
Krys aka Gearheadgirl
Krysified@aol.com
Myspace.com/krysified

MotoGp Poll: Gp Cinzano di S. Marino e Riviera di Rimini

2007-08-31T22:39:00.000-04:00

Melandri was the fastest under the rain in the first day of practice in the new Misano circuit. I have been there once, many years ago when Randy Mamola used to race in 500cc for Cagiva, the Castiglioni brothers' creature. The race was stopped for rain conditions and with some discussion among riders I recall that it was won by Frank Chili (not every body raced afterwards). Also about Mamola I believe that year the American rider received a Ferrari Testarossa as present for winning a race with the Italian bike.

Rossi was second, with Stoner separated by the doctor only by a few tens of second. I believe for the first time in the season we find Capirossi right behind Casey (it must be a question of pride for racing at home)and then Edwards and Hayden. Curiously the rain specialist are not leading the time sheet, and as of now I have not clue why. Anyhow for the first time, following the new rules, the race will be held clock wise so the old circuit, that was recently up-graded, to host MotoGp it's really a totally new track for everybody. Who is going win the very special derby among the Italian DUCATI with Stoner, and the local riders Rossi, Capirossi and Melandri? No that some foreign guys like Pedrosa, Hayden or Hopkins are not hoping to ruin the whole Italian party, but somehow I believe that it's going to be "cosa nostra". As usual with the PMP poll we try to pick the second place so, as Italian, I will be happy with Stoner behind a revived Rossi

Picture source

PMP Event: VIR August 25-26-27

2007-08-30T22:01:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we were in VIR for a three-day event: South Course Saturday and Sunday, and the beautiful North Course on Monday.

NESBA was the organizer, and as usual this big club put together an impeccable service for the 100-150 riders attending each day event.
Saturday we experienced temperatures above 100F. The heat was brutal: I was working as CR with the club so I must have ridden 7 beginner and 5 advance seesions drinking at least one half liter bottle during each brake and I think that still I went to the bathroom only once, maximum twice all day. I cannot wait for the announced Dainese leather suit with the cooling system: in a day like Saturday I would have spent even 3K for such a luxury. By the way, as reported by MotoinSight next Sunday in Misano we will see some Dainese prototypes with the airbag system.
Going back to VIR, regardless of the heat, we had a blast, laughing and joking the whole trip. Naim and Frank, as usual, entertained the rest of us (Antonio, Steven, Almos, Rosa and myself) with their endless comical situations like those in the videos.

In the race track there was not too much to laugh about with the local riders flying in a full fledged open race-practice atmosphere.Until the new track, Thunderbolt in South NJ, is ready we will have to leave with only two present options, Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania or Summit Point Main in West Virginia, that I personally consider too dangerous. In these conditions it’s very difficult to be able to compete head to head with the riders from South who normally practice in racetrack as VIR or Barber.
Anyhow, we are not racing as of now, so the main goal it is always to have fun and you can bet that … we do have fun.

For the series ... that's how we instruct.

2007-08-29T00:08:00.000-04:00

In almost ten years of instructing or couching in road racing clubs, it's normal to receive positive feedbacks from students or riders, especially since the explosion of web sites forums. The following one was posted this morning on the NESBA bulletin board and I believe that the author wrote it with passion ... the same pure passion that we, in the Lombardi School, have always used in helping people to improve their riding skills and in general their track experience.
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"How I Became a better rider, Thanks Alex!"

Author: Littlefish
I attended my first track day ever at VIR on August 25, and it was even MORE fun than I had expected. While I did expect to enjoy it, I did not expect to learn so much about riding my bike. I rode a couple of sessions and then spoke with a control rider (Mike I think) briefly about trying to go faster, which helped. I rode another session and I was going slightly faster each time.
Then the miracle happened.
Towards the end of my first session after lunch I had a Control Rider (who I found out later was named Alex) signaled me to follow him. I followed him through five or so laps. He patiently waited for me to catch back up when I made mistakes. I was not only able to see his line, but I was able to get a solid idea of how late I could wait to brake and how fast I could go into the corner. The first time through Oak Tree, I started to brake at the same spot I had been, when I realized he wasn’t slowing down….I got off the brakes. I was amazed to figure out how fast you could enter the corner, and then lightly brake in the first section. I didn’t get it right, but “I GOT IT”. For the first time I was able to SEE how the two separate turns were best taken as one continuous turn. It wasn’t just Oak Tree; I followed him through better lines on every section of track. Just that information made riding the corners much easier to negotiate at speed.
I was also able to watch his riding position and his head position. Alex’s riding position was vastly different from mine, but I wasn’t able to figure out how it was different. Every time I noticed his head position, I realized he was looking much further ahead that I was (when he wasn’t looking back to see how I was doing). I started trying to look as far up the track and through the corners as he was. I was amazed at how much things started to slow down. I was riding as fast as or faster than before, but everything seemed to come at me slower, and I had more time to plan and execute my turns. Before I had been reacting to the corners, now I was riding the corners. After the session I spoke with Alex briefly, he gave me some advice and said he would follow me next time so he could observe my position and the way I ride.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to work with Alex the next couple sessions because he was helping other riders, and I could hardly begrudge someone else getting the same expert tutelage I had gotten. It was probably just due to good planning on his part, because in the next couple of sessions I worked on riding the lines, braking and looking ahead that I had learned from him. No one was behind me and I didn’t feel pressured to impress or do things right. I was amazed at how much more controlled I felt and I assume I was going faster because instead of getting passed into and out of every corner, I was almost never getting passed. I also put my knee to the pavement for the first time. The feel freaked me out a little, but as I’m sure you all know, it exited the hell out of me at the same time.
Luckily, on the final session of the day, Alex pulled up to me just before the start and told me to fall in behind him. The first several laps I followed Alex again. More comfortable with taking the corners at speed, I was able to pay better attention to when he was picking up the throttle, his position, and the exact line he was using. Following Alex was so much easier than riding on my own. I didn’t have to worry about when to brake, how fast to enter a corner or where the line was. On just the second lap of the session I dragged my knee through a couple corners. I didn’t panic and stand the bike up like the first time; I was too intent on what I was doing. The next couple of laps it just became another thing that happened when I managed to stay on Alex’s line and not slow down more than I should at the entrance. Like all good things, the time to follow came to an end.
Alex pulled to the right and signaled me past. I tried to continue to ride the same, but with the added responsibility of thinking for myself, my riding suffered a little, mainly on the corner entrance. It seemed that if I got the corner entrance right, the corner flowed nicely. I rode several laps with Alex behind me. About half way through the session I made a big mistake and ran off the track exiting Oak Tree. I stood it up and rolled through the grass, more than a little embarrassed but happy to still be rubber side down. Alex signaled me into the pit. He told me that my riding position wasn’t right and it was causing me to fight the bike. He started to explain what he meant, but I guess it was obvious I was confused. He told me to follow him and brought me to his pit.
He patiently explained and demonstrated the proper position. Then he showed me my position. I had to admit that he had it right, and I had to admit it was ugly. I knew that my position was bad, but I have become comfortable with it. I had looked at my pictures in the Pics Of You trailer, and I remarked to my friend that I wasn’t going to buy the pictures because I looked so bad. With my poor position established, Alex told me to climb aboard his bike (which was on a stand now). He had showed me how to lock me knee in, bend my elbows, lean parallel with the bike and get my body AND my head down, but when I got on his bike I immediately took up my bad position without thinking. Then he put me into the correct position as he explained why I needed to be in that position. It made perfect sense and it FELT RIGHT. He also pointed out that I was tall (6’3”) and that the bike was built for someone significantly shorter that me. He explained how I could compensate for this and still use the bike to lock myself in with my lower body instead of holding myself in position with my upper body. This let me lower my upper body into a good position, and allowed me to use my arms to steer. I watch great riders on T.V. all summer (I have for years) but I have never been able to emulate their positions. It wasn’t until Alex forced me into the correct position that I finally got it. By the time Alex finished getting me into the right position, the session was over, and I wasn’t able to practice using it.
I came to the track expecting it to be fun and expecting that I would figure out how to get faster. After the first session I was certainly having fun, but I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. At the beginning they announced that the Control Riders would regulate the traffic, keep it safe and help out the riders. It amazed me that someone would actually take the time to really teach me how to ride, but that’s what happened. My short time working with Alex has been more valuable than all my years of riding and watching Speed T.V. When I returned to my pit and told my buddy that about my last session, he said that it was too bad that I missed half of the track time for that session. I explained to him that I would have given up all the track time I had that day in exchange for Alex’s help.
There are just two things left to say. Thank you NESBA, and THANK YOU ALEX.

Grand Prix Ceske Republiky: Stoner crashes his competitors

2007-08-28T23:51:00.000-04:00

The Gp Cinzano di San Marino is only a couple of days away and the luckily all the expectations for the race in Misano are erasing the questionable taste left by the race in Brno. The trinomial Ducati-Stoner-Bridgestone has once again ruled against all the limits imposed by conditions and reasonable outlooks. As Jim has pointed out in his blog, next year it would be auspicious to have only one brand of tire to bring guarantee a “standard” field where are riders and motorbikes to win and not tire manufacture.
I watched the race in the middle of last week, and then I left NYC for a 3 day event in VIR, so, at this point I am not avoid to summarize the actual race because it would taste like re-heated leftovers. Anyhow, I still would like to post a couple of things that, somehow, are still vivid in my memory:

- I am still debating what it’s going on with hats among racers: Hopper and Hayden use these giant baseball type hats that look more like pots than a fashionable item. Unfortunately here in NYC that kind of hats are common among young kids brainwashed by rap music. In the future, the last think I would like to see it is MotoGp bikes with chromed rims used by rappers in their own videos.
- Anthony West had the umbrella girl next to him whose silhouette was so good to win the attention of the cameraman.
- Is Kawasaki paying Hopkins enough to renounce to his Suzuki, the best MotoGp machine after Ducati? Also, why Hopkins was using tighter lines than Stoner? His riding style or something Suzuki related? I am going to pay attention in Misano, to see if it was only my own impression or not.
- I have read that Ben Spies could have a shot in getting a MotoGp bike and if that’s the case I cannot wait to see his “gorilla” style on the new miniature 800cc bikes. Until then, let’s enjoy Elias’s unique if not questionable body position: he keeps his head against the tank but flipped on the opposite side of the turn. Anyhow, his performance was admirable after only 8 weeks from the terrifying accident in Assen.
- Last consideration, or better speculation, it is that I had the impression that initially Capirossi let Rossi to overtake him: for what reason? To let him to bridge the gap or because he didn’t want to steel precious point from his ex-friend? Maybe it’s crazy, but I think that he wanted to give Vale a chance to fight for the podium, and only when he realized that this was not a Rossi-Michelin day (as proved by Vermuellen) he re-took the position that belonged to him. Regardless, Capirossi is going to Suzuki and probably prefers to see Rossi on the podium than Pedrosa or Hayden. In these days both Rossi and Capirossi, once very good friends, are having problems with the government for taxes due and not paid in the last few years. Rossi, in particular, has had a very difficult summer, at professional and at personal level, with his life screened by the European media almost on a daily basis, to the point that two weeks ago he sent a video to two Italian TV with his own version of the facts and his obvious intent to eliminate rumors and lies on his person.

My 2001 GSX-R 600cc for sale

2007-08-22T13:49:00.000-04:00

My beloved 2001 GSX-R 6000 is for sale and it comes with:

Suzuki 750cc type up-side down forks re-sprung and re-valved by the Thermos-Man
Suzuki 750cc type swing-arm
Rear shock Penske with high & low speed compression adjuster
Brembo rotors
Brembo Master cylinder
Steel braided brake lines
Power Commander
Quick shifter
Slipper clutch
Scott steering damper
Woodcraft rear set
Woodcraft clip-ons
Engine covers
520 conversion, gold DID chain
Akrapovic exhaust system
Quick release tank cap
Double bubble windscreen
Completely safety wired
Pirelli Supercorsa tires good for another full day.

Extras: complete set of well maintained painted plastics with a brand new tank and a few spare parts ..

If interested, please email me at aletalian2000@yahoo.com

MotoGp Poll: Grand Prix Ceske Republiky

2007-08-17T21:42:00.000-04:00

Second place to Capirossi: I watched an interview on the Italian news after the FP1 and he seemed very confident and relaxed. At this point of the season and with the new contract with Suzuki signed, he can just go and see what happens. He knows and we know that given the right conditions he is a tremendous fighter. On the front tires, I imagine another difficult weekend for Michelin and his riders, lead as usual by Valentino Rossi. Thumbs up to Guintoli: in the tire war between Bridgestone and Michelin he was able to lock a great time on qualifying tires. Capirossi was my first choice but he is 8th in the championship and we need to choose a name among the first 7 riders so my pick is another Bridgestone man ...Hopkins! Or maybe Stoner behind Vale ... (in that case Monday night at 8:00, when we will meet at Matchless we will have another round of beers while watching again the race)

That's how we ... ride

2007-08-16T12:04:00.001-04:00

In the last few years I have been reading of more and more professional riders that have made of bicycling their favorite form of training . Indeed, Robert Lombardi and I met because of our love for bicycles. Back in 1996 Robert was already a NJ mountain bike champion and a mutual friend of ours told him that there was a new “ginny” in the neighbor who used to road-race bicycle professionally in Italy. So one day I was in front his shop making eights on my Italian Scapin and Rob while looking at me thought “that guy is fat, but his legs …. and the way he keeps the balance on the pedals ….he must be the famous ginny!!!”: Robert approached me and here we are …
Today we race at local level (yes, recently he has convinced me to compete again after 23 years) and we consider bicycling as the best tool to improve our physical condition. There is not other sport that you could practice for hours with such precise control of the aerobic/anaerobic stages. Yes, running is easy, cheap, and quick but heavy onyour feet, ankles, knees and back and it doesn’t really matter how slow you go because it still causes physical stress. A long list of riders has chosen bicycling to control weight, strength their legs and improve their stamina, all critical variables in racing motorcycles at professional level. I definitely recall Bayliss, Stoner, Melandri, Capirossi, Hopkins, Biaggi, the Haydens, Mladin, Duhamel as passionate riders hitting the road 3 to 5 times a week as part of their training program.
Personally I integrate bicycling with rowing in order to maintain a healthy muscle balance between legs and torso. A few years ago I had a surgery to fix a dislocated shoulder and our “Dr. Costa”, Dr. Hausman told me that several weighlifters end up with arthritis on their shoulders because of the excessive stress caused by that type of exercise.
Anyhow, the road bicycle fever has been spreading among the PMP crew and recently Antonio, Naim and Mike have committed to start riding with us: someone to loose a few extra pounds, others to stop smoking. Either way, once they start enjoying the results of their training they will joint the increasing group of motorcycle racers in love with the way we …. ride.

Picture source: ctbkgroup.com, camorani.com, velocitynation.com

A special thank to: Tichetti, BVF Team, Bay Ridge Bicycle,

Isn't she beatiful?

2007-08-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

Our friend John Glass has just sent me this beautiful picture of his Ducati 999 and of … his cat along with a very interesting link of a video with the Ducati Xerox Team mechanics at work.
The other cat on the dirt bike belongs to Diana Sliwa from JS Typography: her cat must have sit on all our bikes while she was working on the PMP graphics.

When is time to bail out?

2007-08-13T09:43:00.002-04:00

The picture of Dennis Cuevas’s Jeep climbing another Jeep’s front tire and a spectacular accident in the FUSA course in Pocono(red course on the map) have suggested me a few considerations. Yesterday our friend and CR Greg broke the return cable of the accelerator and when he went to blip the throttle to down shift while already braking he lost control of the “now accelerating” bike that fortunately “got rid” of him before hitting the guardrail: Greg was very lucky because did not suffer any injury.

When Valentino washed out his front end at the beginning of the race in Germany, everybody praised the seasoned champion for having kept the engine on by holding in the clutch while sliding with his M1. On the other end there are other situations that would require the rider to jump out of the bike like our friend Lenny Santangelo did a few years ago in VIR. He had lost his rear brake in a previous race crash and after two laps into a new race, at the end of the straight before T1, when he went to pull his front brake lever, there was nothing because he had lost the brake caliper pin! At 150+mph he literally jumped from his bike letting it to continue its ride like a torpedo that exploded once it hit the trees at the edge the T1 run-off. Fortunately Lenny suffered only a fractured leg, not too much for that type of crash. To be honest it was not the first time that Lenny bailed out from a bad situation, because he already did it in Pocono Raceway after loosing control of his bike in the grass knowing that soon he would have run into one of the famous ditches crossing the field to collect rainwater.

Some time nothing can be done because the centrifugal force would abruptly eject the unfortunate rider off his bike. A couple of days ago the 39-year-old Duhamel crashed in T12 of Road Atlanta, in the most dangerous corner of the AMA Superbike Championship calendar. A sudden high-side that threw off the veteran rider: the bike went up in the air after hitting and displacing the air-fence while Duhamel slid until hitting the hay bales. He has suffered some internal injuries but it could have been worse after hitting a wall at that speed.

Personally I have bailed out in the mist of a crash only once, but while riding a dirt bike, and I am not even sure if I would be able to pull a similar action on a road-racing bike given the high speed involved. At professional level riders crash quite often developing the necessary experience to manage properly the unfortunate situation.
At my level, and for anybody else attending club events, crashing is something that we try to avoid as much as we can. Even a stupid low side can be costly financially and physically, especially when on Monday you have to go back to work.
My rambling has not provided a clear answer to the original question, but it did suggested that in difficult circumstances we shouldn’t exclude the option of … bailing out.

You never know ....

2007-07-30T22:19:00.000-04:00

As posted by our friend Todd Cuso, under the comment section to the US red Bull Gp:
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not1scar aka Todd Cuso --
After the wonderful day teaching at Pocono Monday the 23rd I left on a red-eye flight to L.A. -- My wife and I both had business in town. My meeting was lucky enough to be done poolside at the Mondrian Hotel where we were staying. Between the perfect weather (after the Mon. rain) and the "beautiful xxx scenery" all was good. Had noticed directly across the pool from me not 12yrds away the most incredible dark haired, tanned, toned, tattooed Italian speaking woman. Not long after a thin curly haired guy joins her and her girlfriend. Holy Shit! Is that Valentino? Raised my shades and YES it was! I am never one to go oooooh a star but I felt I had to say something. After another hour of lounging I packed up and headed around. I stopped and introduced myself "Valentino? Hey I'm Todd Cuso -- I road-race and instruct on the east coast, NOT even close to your level; I know, but wanted you to know the great impression I have of you. -- A class act all around." We shook hands and he thanked me for my words. We spoke for about 15mins about the Laguna track surface, tires, his pinky was bandaged from the practice crash, his celebrity (nobody there knew who he was), living in England -- just a very easy chill moment. A quick take care and good luck and I was off. I left with an even greater admiration for his down to earth demeanor and friendliness. What a fantastic surprise that afternoon was. BTW the girl he was with was Elisabetta Canalis (insane!)
8:20 PM
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Dainese buys AGV from the Belgian group Imag

2007-07-30T11:07:00.000-04:00

As reported by Il Sole 24 Ore on 7/28/2007, Dainese has concluded the acquisition of AGV from the Belgian Imag, bringing back to Italy the ownership of the company specialized in motorcycle helmet. Indeed Dainese has had for a long time its line of helmets but they has never reached volume of sales similar to those attained by the apparel line. Dainese and AGV has been Valentino Rossi’s brands for as long as I remember, so, from a marketing perspective, it was the most logic move to make for Dainese to improve the return of image from its own investments. Other major brands are ARAI used by Hayden and probably the most fashionable; Nolan used by Stoner and then Suomy, Shark, Z-Lite. The helmet, more then the leather suit is linked to the rider’s personality, as matter of fact often we have to pay almost twice the price to buy a specific graphic used by our heros.
Dainese now can count on 2300 stores world wide, a number that it’s going to increase in the future: in NYC, a new store will be open in 2008. As of now, in the west coast we can order Dainese suits from any supplier that carry the Italian brand, but only a few people are so lucky to enjoy a perfect fit right out of the box. This is most likely the reason why the custom-made Vanson leather suits have been the choice of most American riders. In Vanson they use a very thick cow leather that is definitely sturdy but, at the same time, a bit too heavy. I have never weighted mine, even thought I am positive that it’s not even close to the Rossi’s 7.7-pound Dainese leather suit or the Pedrosa’s 6.6-pound made by Alpinestar: both of them are in kangaroo skin leather, a much lighter material that also offers more resistance and flexibility than cowhide.
Together, Dainese and AGC have almost 100 years of experience in creating and manufacturing products aimed to reduce the risks involved in motorcycle racing, a tremendous amount of knowledge now available under the same umbrella.

PMP Event: Pocono Raceway 7/23

2007-07-27T22:13:00.000-04:00

We had hoped for beautiful weather but we were told that it was going to be overcast all day with some rain late in the afternoon. Then on Monday morning we heard that we would have had a few drops in the morning followed by a break leading to the afternoon shower but … we got not break, just a long shower.
The event was hosted by Absolute Cycle, a new club that in a short term has already position itself as one, or maybe the best, NYC road-racing club. Unfortunately the rain has ruined the party so in the morning we had a limited number of people that took the chance to drive up to the Pocono Raceway to gamble with the volatility of the weather conditions. In the Robert Lombardi school we had only 5 students, a situation that would have been perfect for them under dry conditions, given the instructor to student ratio of 4:5, typical of more advanced classes. Anyhow along with Steven Lombardi, Todd Cuso and Naim Behdzet, I tried to give the school hoping that the sky would open but in reality it got worse by the hour: after only two sessions we decided to call the day and issued a credit for the class to be used in one of our future school events. In the Lombardi School we believe that a course should be thought in fair conditions, the only way for the students to refine and improve their skills while achieving the “Basic Level” goals.
A special thank to the control riders Frank Aluzzo and Joe Russo for riding with the participants to the event under such inclement conditions.
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US Red Bull GP: another victory for the Aussie Red Missile

2007-07-26T13:14:00.000-04:00

Another victory for Casey Stoner, another step to lock the 2007 MotoGp World Championship before the end of the season.
It’s Thursday and I have just finished watching the race. Over the weekend I was away and so I have learned the results by phone. Normally I would watch the race as soon as I come home, staying up late at night or by getting up early in the morning and sipping a couple of cups of Italian espresso in front of the pc. Well this time it didn’t happen. With Hayden, Hopkins and Capirossi out of the race and Rossi and Pedrosa getting 30 to 35 sec by Stoner, I knew that I had not missed such a great show. Casey “stormed’ again the race by conquering the lead and cruising his way to the checker flag. Behind him Vermeulen proved that he is able to finish in the top three positions even in dry conditions, as Jimmy had already speculated in our MotoGp Poll. Melandri got a third position, an impressive result in consideration that he rode with an ankle dislocated in a scary high-speed crash caused by Guintoli during the QP.
A podium with three different bikes on the same Bridgestone tires … Yes, even Sunday, the outcome of the race was determined by the tires. With the exception of Rossi, who finished 4th at almost 31’ from Stoner, every other Michelin rider finished the race in a worse position versus what he had done in qualification. Pedrosa started in second position with a gap of .209 but in the race finished the race with 35’ from the winner! Edwards started in 8th position, conquered a 5th position that he maintained until he fell backwards in 11th position. Edwards had high expectations for this race and he knows the track like his pockets but there was nothing he could do to solve the problem: he and his team had changed everything they could to offset the lack of grip going into the race but, evidently, with no success.
By bringing up the tire topic I am not aiming to diminish Stoner’s dominance: there are other 3 Ducati riders and no one of them is even close to his performance. The red Italian bike has been shining only for the Aussie rider’s skills: his ability to open the throttle while still edging the tires, his consistence from race to race and the self-confidence have made the difference. At this point only bad luck or …the Bridgestone/Michelin saga could subvert his leadership.
Two days ago during an interview with the Italian media, Rossi bluntly claimed the now the most important variable in a MotoGp race is …tires . In Laguna he took 30 second from Stoner while in Germany it was Casey battling for the 5th position well behind the winner. Also, he said that fans want to see riders or teams winning and not tire brands.
His comments have been highly criticized because he didn’t bring up the issue when he was winning championships with Michelin tires supposedly built and delivered two hours before the race while Ducati was struggling with Bridgestone. That’s true but at the same time I cannot forget the breathtaking battles with Biaggi, Gibernau, Capirossi, Barros and others. Today the combination of electronics and tires creates a situation where races are finished with the group of participants all stretched out over the field. No more adrenaline in the last few laps with tires smoking on brakes and throttle. Today MotoGp top riders lean vertiginously their bikes and whack-open the accelerator while edging their … tires: if these are not in the money they will be lucky if able to finish the race in the first 10 places.
Our friend and PMP member Almos took a coast to coast trip to California to watch the race: he has sent me some pictures that I am posting but I am sure that I will add more material once he is back in Brooklyn.

Main Picture: Source

MotoGp Poll: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix

2007-07-18T11:11:00.000-04:00

Everybody should agree on Nicky Hayden's victory in Laguna Seca, but who is going to take the second place? Logic wants that I pick Edwards, always faster than Rossi in USA, but my heart goes to Valentino, to an epic victory in a track so difficult to an European rider born and raised in circuits that are totally different at least in width and run-offs. The Tavullia Champion is a rider who learns quickly from his own mistakes, someone able to change his riding style according to the conditions even during the same race by processing continuously the information collected from lap to lap. As much as I try to be rational, when it comes to MotoGp, I like to imagine what it would excite me and so, my pick is Hayden, second behind an irresistible Rossi. Unfortunately we have to choose among the first 7 riders in the World Championship, so I will be even more naive, Edwards (again like logic wanted) but again behind Rossi, for a historic Yamaha podium!!!!!!!

Grand Prix Deutschland: a strange race

2007-07-17T16:41:00.001-04:00

Only on Saturday I pointed out that Honda had been suffering one of the worst years of the last decade and on Sunday Pedrosa and Hayden took the first and third steps of the podium in the Sachsenring circuit. Indeed at the same track last year Pedrosa had the fastest time and Hayden took another third position. So the surprise was not much about the riders but the bikes and the …. tires. Once again in this championship tires were the critical factor. The Bridgestone squad, Stoner, Melandri, Capirossi, Hopkins and De Puniet chased Pedrosa for more than half of the race until the deterioration of their tires forced them to slow down the pace. Very strange weekend: if in the qualifying practice on Saturday we had 16 riders wrapped in .81 of a second, at the end of the race we had several seconds of gap from one rider to the other one with the exception of Stoner, Melandri and Hopkins that fought for the fifth position up to the end. I had expected a tight race with a lot of dicing and we got just the opposite. In reality the race was quite boring with just a few moments of thrill or, if you want, disappointment. On the fifth lap Rossi crashed after passing West on a long double right. He lost the front end and even thought he held courageously the clutch to keep the engine on until the bike stopped sliding into the gravel trap, a bent clip-on didn’t allow the Italian champion to jump back on the bike. After the race he apologized for his mistake with his team and his fans, all of them frustrated by the accident. After all, in 2006 he won the Gp starting from the 11th position, in the same way he did in Assen two weeks ago, and his record in the Sachsenring was certain one of the reasons we were expecting from him a better weekend. Personally my disappointment was mitigated once I learned that Valentino was suffering the effects of a bronchitis with fever at 38C (100.4 F): not too much but enough to dull the skills of our hero since it was a hot day, 33C (92F).
Rossi has spontaneously admitted his mistake, but was his crash really caused by an objective oversight? He had been trying to pass West unsuccessfully with his Yamaha overheating behind the opponent’s bike, when the Kawasaki rider went a bit wide into the turn and opened the door to him. Rossi, in grabbing the opportunity, was forced to connect the two apexes of the double right in a very tight arch that eventually overpowered the front tire grip. His desire to reach the race leaders had induced him to force the pace and gamble a race that, after the Bridgestone’s debacle, I say that he could have won.
Strange race for a strange podium … Pedrosa wins in his manner, riding the RC212V like a 250cc, and leading the whole race without being seriously challenged by anybody. I am sure that his miniature body must be an advantage in a track characterized by turns where the riders use the edge of their tires for a long time. Same comment goes to Capirossi who, for the first time in 2007, was able to precede his teammate Stoner. Sometime ago I read that Capirex carries more speed into the corner up to the apex than the Aussie but then he cannot match Casey on the throttle at the exit. Well this time Stoner’s aggressiveness didn’t pay because he worn too much his rear tire and trashed a potential second place.
For Nicky Hayden another third place before the Laguna Seca race was like shots of testosterone for his ego: he will be the man to set the standards in California.

Honda or ... not Honda?

2007-07-14T19:53:00.000-04:00

With Hopper emigrating to Kawasaki along with Capirossi, Melandri to Ducati, and Pedrosa getting most of the pressure and the blame for the lack of results of the new bike, I have yet to read something explaining how Honda intends to solve its 2007 flop. Last year, the Honda- Repsol Team was able to win the championship with Hayden’s podiums, Rossi’s misfortunes and with a competitive bike that was evolved earlier by Valentino and his boys. Indeed so far the RC212V has not won a race and even if someone will be able to do it before the end of the season, the bike remains a lemon. For years, if not forever the HRC Team has been considered the ultimate Team, the team that has been behind most of the world champion stories of the modern era, but today the same team doesn’t seem to be as appealing as we think and the lack of rumors in the pre-market season seems to confirm it. Probably the Japanese will end up importing new talents from the 250 or from WSBK but with what promises? In fact they too could turn to be other Pedrosas ….

MotoGp Poll: Grand Prix Deutschland

2007-07-12T18:31:00.000-04:00

Who is going to get the second place Sunday in Germany? I say Stoner. Why? Because last year Rossi won the race starting from 11th position, as he did in Assen 2 weeks ago. The Sachsenring circuit has 14 turns, it’s tight, bumpy and with change of elevations that tend to upset the bikes. Also by being a short track usually the lap times are very close so we should expect some close racing for Sunday. Having said that I believe that in dry conditions Rossi should be able to win in front of the 2007 matador Stoner and, why not, Hayden. Indeed Nicky has taken third place at this circuit for the past three GPs. He is very excited for his recent improvements and looking forward for a winning in Laguna Seca, but in Germany last year he fought for the victory right up to the end of the race so he knows that this is a track where his style could make the difference.
Anyhow, I speculate a very tight race, with a lot of dicing and Stoner getting even more determined in closing the doors to contain Rossi, so in such a scenario anything could happen, and we should not be surprised to see “strangers” on the podium.

PMP Event: Pocono Raceway, June the 19th

2007-06-28T21:24:00.000-04:00

On June 19th, another Absolute Cycle event brought us to Pocono, but this time on the North Course (lower right corner of the picture). The Lombardi School (Robert Lombardi, Steven Lombardi, Todd Cuso, Naim Behdzet and myself) had ten students that challenged themselves on the North banking of the raceway and on the famous cement patches that characterize the infield of the North and FUSA courses. They are famous because every time we teach a class we are asked the same question: “ Why there is cement in the middle of the turn” and our typical answer is “ …because in the past the asphalt turned to be rippled because of the cars, so a few years ago Pocono Raceway decided to eliminate those bumps, at that point too severe, with cement to avoid the repetition of the problem…but in doing that they have created another issue because the cement starts 3 feet from the inside of the turn and runs parallel to it, so now we have to make other decisions that go beyond what would be the racing line …".

Anyhow the weather was great, we had a very smooth day with all the students improving substantially from session to session while the rest of the riders enjoyed the high speed of the banking while friendly dicing with others. Later on I was told that in the advanced group our PMP control riders Mario Pires and Alex Berrera along with the well know racer Joe Ribeira put together a nice show with repetitive passings.
A special thank you goes to Mark and Roy from Absolute Cycle Performance for organizing another superb event; Pocono Raceway in the person of Bill Jones; the track Marshall Speedy and his excellent corner workers PA POSSE; Dennis Cuevas from Racedayphoto for the photo coverage and finally our sponsors for their continuous support:
Mario Pires from AJS Autowerks, Diana from JS Typography, Techline Constructions, United Watermains, 666 Cycle, Stucco Antico, SilverLining, Pasticceria Tichetti, MadeinItaly NYC, Strawberry Shakes & Grill, Brooklyn Bike Works, and Lee Miles Transmission in Brooklyn.

MotoGp Poll: A-Style TT Assen

2007-06-28T05:48:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, Colin's second place was somehow a surprise considering that we would have imagined a better performance by Rossi or by Vermeulen, the Suzuki Rizla specialist. I have read that even in Assen there could be rain conditions, a critical situation for Valentino considering that his Michelin rain compound do not seem as good as those for dry conditions. Anyhow, MotoGp.com has posted the results of the FP#1 with Stoner preceding Rossi with a gap of .04, Hayden with .18 and Edwards with .41. Also they reported their top speed: 290kmh for Stoner against 281 for Rossi and 285 for Hayden. Ok, we have to pick who is going to get the second place in Assen and even thought there are several possible candidates, I choose Stoner. Rossi needs to fill the gap separating him from the leader; he needs to win in Holland while Stoner is still the best rider at this point.

Michelin recalls some Pilot tires

2007-06-26T22:13:00.000-04:00

Valentino and the other MotoGp Michelin riders are not the only ones to suffer from the quality of their tires. Our PMP friend Almos has found the following picture of a Pilot, showing the consequences of some sort of manufacturing defect. As reported by autochannel.com the recall affects the 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) Michelin Pilot Power 2CT and Michelin Pilot Power front tires with the label "Made in France" and the marking DOT 6UCW 980T or DOT 6UCW 979T.
Last night we were watching again the Donington race in Matchless sipping some charming Stella Artois when Naim shouted ... I swear that my Supercorsa are better than those Michelin, and I bet that I could hook Vale up with a better price ...(LOL).
A company wants to be in MotoGp to give worldwide visibility to its products and services but when at racing and street level people start losing trust, it's a major strategical problem to face for any corporation even for one of the biggest in the industry.

Picture source: gsxrboyz.com

Casey "Stormer" conquers even Donington

2007-06-25T12:34:00.000-04:00

Casey “Stormer” wins even in a soggy Donington Park, in a track where, theoretically, his red Missile shouldn’t have outperformed the rest of the competitors.
Indeed on Saturday during the qualifications he had made a mistake on his fast lap and for that reason he ended up in 5th position in the final grid. A grid that had 4 Michelin riders in the first 4 places: Edwards, Rossi, Pedrosa and Hayden. The qualifications results prompted all different kind of speculations given this unusual grid but we were in Donington, England, where they have the greenest run offs of all the all the MotoGp circuits so it was not surprise that on Sunday it was raining. At the beginning Pedrosa led the group for 4 laps but as soon Edwards passed him and he had to ride in the clouds of water created by the front riders his start losing positions. The Texas Tornado seemed very comfortable under the rain in a track that he knows very well and maintained the first position for 15 laps, or until he started suffering Stoner's pressure, he went wide on a right turn and left the door opened to the Aussie. Casey had been riding behind him for 10 laps at a pace very similar to the leader, but when the rain stopped and the riders formed a dry line, his Bridgestone turned to be the winning cards for the day. The Michelin tires of Edward & Co. started to overheat and losing pieces of thread as the camera mounted under Valentino’s tail showed very clearly. The analysis of the fastest lap for each rider shows 5 Bridgestone riders leading before Edwards and Rossi, the fastest Michelin men. Curiously the best time for the Bridgestone group was achieved between the 23rd and the 27th lap, when they were riding in dry conditions.
Let’s face it: Rossi never looked very comfortable Sunday. He was already more than 4 seconds behind the leaders when he started matching their lap times. On top of that he mistakenly went into the grass in a double right for which he lost precious time that could have been useful in defending his third position against Vermeulen. The young Aussie took advantage of Rossi’s rear wheelspin when the track started drying out and passed him with four laps to go relegating the Doctor in 4th position.
Now with other 10 races, Stoner has extended his lead to 26 points: not too many, but still quite a bit considering that he has won 5 of eight MotoGp races, in pretty much any condition. Right now the trio Stoner-Ducati-Bridgestone seems irresistible with Rossi, the only other contender to the World Championship, still working hard with the Fiat-Yamaha and Michelin engineers in order to improve the performance of his YZR-M1. With 2 of the last 3 races in wet conditions where he suffered the dominance of the red Casey “Stormer”, I am sure that for Assen he is hoping for a sunny day, like he had in Mugello for his last victory.

Picture Source

Who's this person?

2007-06-21T22:39:00.001-04:00

Nowadays it’s easy to go at a race event and see the PMP “That’s How We Ride” shirt and ask yourself: who is this person?

Any clue?

Answer: Bill Jones, Pocono Raceway Manager in charge with the leasing of track facilities or in other words the person with whom every club renting the track has to work elbow to elbow for a smooth and flowless event.

Stoner like Gibernau?

2007-06-21T22:13:00.000-04:00

Stoner has already been compared to Gibernau and people seem to agree that the Aussie is a better rider, someone who seems not to crack under pressure or when jinxed. Almos, one of our PMP members, has found a very interesting video from LeMans, 2003 World Championship.
Rossi and Gibernau are both riding Hondas, same engines, same speed … only different wrists
Enjoy the show

Video source

Rossi and his feelings at the beginning of a straight

2007-06-21T16:23:00.000-04:00

Today, as reported by the Italian medias, Valentino participated via telephone at a prominent radio show, Vivaradio2. Initially Rossi acted as he was just one of fans calling to talk to the singer invited for the day, but then he went on talking about the World Championship and ventilating his concerns about the extra power for the Ducati engines. Among other things he said “…the Japanese companies were not ready to the change of engines, while the Ducati it was… Unfortunately the speed gap on the straights is almost embarrassing …” and then added “ I almost cry at beginning of a straight … but I will compete hard against the Ducatis and Stoner, who is riding like a God …”
Anyhow, the serious topics and comments left space to irresistible laughing when Rossi agreed to participate in a play during which he imitated the engine sound of his race bike, even during the gear shifting and at … the beginning of the straights (LOL).

Good luck Champ …. we will be watching you.

As matter of the fact, next Monday at 8:00PM the PMP crew will meet at Matchless, a bar in Williamsurg, NYC, to watch again the 250cc and the MotoGp races along with other local motorbike lovers. See you there, hopefully drinking on Valentino’s victory in Donington.

A fast lap on the legendary Nuerburgring

2007-06-17T15:58:00.000-04:00

This video is suggested by Almos: a fast lap on the fabulous Nuerburgring.
Thank you to jmlwalker67 who has posted it on YouTube we learn that the rider is Helmut Dahne, bike lap record holder on a RC 30. In the video he is riding a R1 and commenting his lap with a voice that I would have never linked to a damn fast guy!!!! His lines, throttle control and braking are just perfect! He rides with the confidence and smoothness of a champion knowing perfectly the challenges of the Ring, maybe the most difficult racetrack built in the world.

Video Source

Gran Premi De Catalunia: 7th round to Stoner

2007-06-11T11:36:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday we watched the 7th round of the match between Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi, the only two contenders to the 2007 MotoGp World Championship. Stoner has won this bout but without a knockout, a clear triumph that wouldn’t leave space to different interpretations.
Rossi had the pole, but as usual, a slow start relegated him in fourth position so it took two laps for him to pass Hopper and another eight, almost half race, to overtake Pedrosa. Only at this point he was able to start giving pressure to Stoner: initially he tried a few times in a double left turn and then at the end of the long straight of the Catalunya circuit. I have said “pressure” because he didn’t have enough speed to build a real gap from the Australian kid. Rossi’s M1 seemed extremely stable on the brakes and able to keep the line even under heavy trail braking but more than once the Italian went a bit wide as result of his overtaking and Stoner grabbed the opportunity to pass him again. Everybody knows that Ducati is the fastest bike, even when the Italian factory team limits its top speed for gas consumption reasons in certain racetrack, but Sunday we noticed the extra acceleration too. So far Stoner has been able to master the acceleration of his bike by edging tires and throttle to the perfection. Vice versa Capirossi, his teammate, has been struggling with the extra power: it seems that on the high speed turns he carries more speed up to the apex but then he is slower than the Aussie in opening the throttle .
Going back to our match, until the end Valentino tried to induce an error from his competitor and even when, at three laps from the end, he was able to gain a few bikes from Casey, the small advantage was immediately filled on the following long stretch. The 21 year old Ducati rider is living a magic moment with flawless performance on the best bike on the grid. Sunday, Capirossi on the Ducati was able to go from the 17th place to 7th, an incredible performance but the same couldn’t be said for Edwards who started in 5th position to end the race in 10th. Curiously Edward was the first Michelin rider after Rossi and Pedrosa.
The Spaniard got the third position, a great result considering that he was the only rider able to stay with the two leaders the whole race but, honestly, I was surprised that he didn’t try to mix his cards again with an aggressive move whenever he had the opportunity. Unless Pedrosa was hoping in a contact or big mistake by Rossi and Stoner that could have opened the road to an easy victory, something that it could have happened after all ….
Randy De Puniet was the big surprise of the day: fourth with a broken collarbone and a knee swollen to the point that he could barely walk!!!!! I do not know what kind of fracture, if any, he has suffered but last fall I broke my collarbone and I couldn't ride my bike for several weeks so, once again, I praise the magic work performed by Doct. Claudio Costa’s Clinica Mobile.
Finally, let's give a standing ovation to the fast and courageous John Hopkins: he stormed to a well-deserved fourth place after setting the fastest lap during the race and an unofficial lap record at the testing session held at the Catalunya track the day after the MotoGp race. Hopper is really getting confident with his Suzuki and the Bridgestone tire package so I am positive that he will be one of the protagonists of the end of the season, one of those riders that will be stealing precious points to the leaders of the World Championship.
Ten days to Donnington, to the next round …..Only 14 points separate the two contenders …..I am betting on Rossi

Gran Premio D'Italia: The Doctor rules for the 6th time in Italy

2007-06-09T14:04:00.000-04:00

I have just came back from Arizona and last Sunday race in Mugello already belongs to the past, to the history of an amazing 2007 World Championship. Today, June 9, 2007, Valentino won the pole for tomorrow’s race in Catalunya and it’s obviously too late to elaborate on what happened in Italy 6 days ago. Anyhow I would like to ask a question: how is possible to live without MotoGp? While 85,000 people were screaming and yelling, laughing and crying creating a live and colorful frame to the gorgeous race track in Tuscany, Italy, in Phoenix, Arizona …..nothing!!!! There, to find a sport bike is as difficult as to find some shade in the desert. The majority of riders are Harley Davidson guys riding with no helmet, no gloves, or any sort of protection. They do not look happy, indeed most of them display tough expressions on their faces, that are not softened at all by their round and big bellies.
I have to admit that I had access to Speed Vision but a long time ago I decided to avoid to watch my favorite show in a channel that constantly chops the race with commercials. So I watched the race on MotoGp only when I got back in Brooklyn, a couple of days ago. I already knew the final result but I must admit that I was impressed by the dynamic of the competition. Once again the tires, more than anything else, affected the race: all the Bridgestone guys were not totally comfortable with their rubber and Melandri more than everybody else: he was flying in the first part of the race and it looked that he could have battled for the podium, but then vibrations, lack of grip and proper feed-back forced him to slow down. Rossi had a slower bike, slower than the Ducatis, the Hondas and Hopper’s Suzuki but the Fiat-Yamaha jackass on french hooves seemed to follow the inputs of its rider perfectly in the twisty parts of the race track, so once Vale decided to overtake his competitors, he did it with a confidence and an authority that does not find equals in the rest of the circus.
He is the King of Mugello and the only one able to keep writing pages of epic racing over the years.
Today’s pole position in Spain was won with the heart, but Stoner is right there in 4th position and, once again, he seems to have the fastest race pace: to win, Rossi would need to pull a rabbit out of his hat for a second time … or better to find more of those carrots for his jackass like in Mugello.

PMP Event: Pocono Raceway 5/20

2007-05-23T22:51:00.000-04:00

Pocono Raceway is our backyard, the closest racetrack to NYC. At beginning, back in the 90s, Robert Lombardi and I used to ride our bikes there with a bag on our shoulders. I still remember the first time when at 5:30 am we took a desolated Verrazzano bridge at increasing speed so by the time we reached the highest point I thought I was going to jump directly in the sunrise of a memorable day.
I can not recall how many times we have been in PR, too many, or just enough to know that up there any thing can happen with the weather. I have rode under snow flakes in October, or got caught under epical torrential rain in the summer, but regardless you can bet your money that in a matter of a short time the conditions will improve maybe because we are stirring the wind with our beloved bikes, a wind that is constantly sweeping the sky above Pocono Raceway.
Again, last week the Cassandras of the weather forecast were calling for ominous rain, something that it’s not well accepted for an event at the end of May, so Sunday morning it was not surprise that we took our time in wearing our leather suits: the sky was gray and the temperature unpleasantly cold, but right after the first session, Mr. PR Wind woke up and magically remove the blanket of clouds to reveal a beautiful blue sky. From that point on it was downhill: a little adjustment on the never perfect suspensions, a little bit more rubber on the asphalt and the lap timer start proving that the heat was on. The inevitable dicing prompted excitement inside and outside the track. Beside the PMP guys Naim, Antonio, Mike, Almos and myself, we enjoyed the company of our friends Peter Dave, Gabor, Rob and Jerry.

I want to take the opportunity to thank SBTT for organizing a flawless event with the help of Pocono Raceway in the person of Bill Jones, the track service offered by the PA POSSE and its Marshall Speedy, and finally our sponsors and friends that have been helping us in putting together the PMP concept:
Mario Pires from AJS Autowerks, Diana from JSTypography and Dennis from RaceDayPhoto, beside Techline Construction, United Watermains, 666 Cycles, Stucco Antico, SilverLining, Pasticceria Tichetti, MadeinItalyNYC, Strawberry Shakes & Grill, Brooklyn Bike Works, and Lee Miles Transmission in Brooklyn.

Grand Prix de France: Rain Soaked Only Someone's Dream

2007-05-22T23:13:00.000-04:00

Viva la France, Viva la France …Vermuelen, Melandri and Stoner must have thought at the end of the race from the podium. This is the land where back in 1789 a revolution, that in a few centuries has changed the political configuration of the rest of Europe, started. Last Sunday in Le Mans we had a race that most of us could have never imagined: with Edwards and Rossi right on the front grid, we could have never expected such a debacle for the Yamaha – Michelin team. The threatening clouds hovering over the track at the beginning of the race became the different bets of the MotoGp Roulette: while the riders were scrambling to position themselves during the first few laps of the race, their teams were still trying to foresee the next hour weather. With the new rules under rain conditions it’s up to the rider to decide when to go back to change his bike in order to optimize his position and the choice of tires. The tendency is to delay as much as possible the decision to play the best set up for the final leg of the race, but not necessarily this is the best option. Since the beginning Rossi had jumped to the front of the group with the authority given by his seven world titles and his desire to finally play his game after having suffered Ducati top speed in the first four races. Le Mans with its short straights and spiky turns was supposed to give him the opportunity to catch back Stoner in the World Championship. Who knows what he must have thought when the first few rain drops appeared on his windshield ... I know for sure what I was thinking: "...Rossi is one of the best riders in the rain and he is going to prove it again today!..." As soon as the pace was reduced as result of the initial rain the French riders Guintoli and DePuniet gave the spectators a few minutes of national pride: they launched themselves in a sort of kamikaze's charge to the front of the field with the attitude typical of those Japanese wild cards racing at their home track trying to impress the Honda managers with a result that could change their lives. Both of them crashed while still riding slick tires, challenging smarter competitors that in reality had already cautiously reduced their speed.
Indeed, among them Rossi had lost his lead and seemed to suffer under the rain. As soon as he changed the bike he charged back in third position but after a few laps I understood that it was again one of those days. While Vermuelen took the lead of the race in front Melandri, Rossi was passed by Stoner, Pedrosa, Hayden and Hofmann. He was struggling; his body language was the same one that he had in Turkey while dealing with a shredded rear tire. I was expecting him to glide graciously into corners and coming out of them with impressive power slides but none of this happened. With the exception of Stoner loosing suddenly and dangerously the rear a few times, I do not recall anybody riding with the old 990cc style. Both, Rossi and Michelin, have claimed to make a mistake with choosing a rear tire with hard compound: strangely last Sunday Rossi was passed in the corners while having problem in hugging the apex of the turns! But normally this is the result of a lack of reliance on the front tire and not the rear! Maybe it’s just a coincidence but in front the press Melandri has claimed that once he had changed the bike the good feeling with the front end of his bike boosted his confidence. By gathering all these information together my speculation, or better, my guess is that the electronics of the new bikes must have confined Rossi’s well-known throttle control skills. I suppose that the performance of the traction control systems of his M1 along with the Michelin hard-compound rear tire must have affected simultaneously the handling and the power delivery of his bike. Today Rossi, the same guy that a few years ago everybody thought could win even with a scooter, has become the victim of the MotoGp evolution, where the combination of tires and electronics has become more important of the rider: exactly what Honda declared three years ago, convincing Rossi to go to Yamaha a brand that had not won a title in the last twelve years. Rossi has won a title with the new bike but in the mean time Honda has given its own spin to the evolution of MotoGp.
The 800cc, an odd size for the market, it’s was supposed to be a fraction of their old winning engine. And to weaken the Rossi’s effect on the masses Honda has been betting on Pedrosa, a real “factory rider”. But even the biggest corporations and their strategies can fail in front the creativity and passion of the single individuals: Ducati, a small Italian company, has been ruining their plans since the beginning of year.

Picture source: (1), (2), (3)
Video Source

MotoGp Poll: Grand Prix de France

2007-05-15T21:43:00.000-04:00

It's already Friday, and normally I would have already posted our PMP MotoGp poll but I haven't been able to look at my computer in the last few days. Anyhow, this morning in FP1 and FP2 Pedrosa and Melandri were the fastest while everybody else was running off the track searching the new brake markers for the 800cc. LeMans is a Michelin track, somehow tight and with short straights: we expect Rossi to win but who is going to take second place? For Stoner it is going to be the track where he has to prove that his results have been achieved because of his skills and not only the extra top speed of his Ducati. So far Yamaha seemed to be very fast in qualification so I will not be surprised to find Edwards on the front row tomorrow, but Sunday, in the race, it is going to be totally different: I see Melandri to take second place and you?

Grand Prix of China: Math is not an opinion

2007-05-07T08:03:00.001-04:00

“ …It was another perfect day …” Casey Stoner - 1st place

“… I have never raced in my career against a bike with such a difference of speed versus the rest of the competition …” Valentino Rossi - 2nd place

What happened in China? Very simple: Stoner with his Ducati has smoked the ex Camel Boy. Rossi's perfectly balanced FIAT Yamaha looked almost like a Toyota sedan challenging a red Ferrari. The difference in speed and in acceleration between the two bikes was huge. If we agree that at the end of the 1.2 km stretch Stoner was giving 30 meters or so to Rossi after 20 laps the gap would be 600m! And I am not taking in consideration the other straight! On Saturday the qualification with super sticky Michelin made all of us to dream. We thought that Rossi’s bionic skills along with some good rubber could offset the huge advantage in speed that the Ducatis had over the rest of the field. At the end of the day Stoner won but even Capirossi had very easy time to go from the 14th place to the 6th place and probably Barros would have done better without the accident at the beginning of the race. In a racetrack designed for a F1 where you do not see anymore a single overtake, the incredible speed of the Italian red missile Ducati made once again the difference. Stoner has won 3 races out of four; he is not that American Kid that won a Championship with just a couple of victories during the year. He is proving to be a mature and damn fast 21 year old “man”. It seems that he is not suffering the responsibility of the moment, inside and outside the track: he just goes out and does the job with his red missile, plain and simple. Yes, it looks so easy that I really wonder why Capirossi has not been able to do the same so far. On the other end the stress is only for Valentino. Again, once again, last Sunday he proved to be the best, absolutely the best rider in MotoGp. He could have set for the second position since the start of the race without fighting too much because it was evident that he had not chances against the Aussie. Still he tried to win, with the best strategy? I do not know. In USA the commentator at a certain point asked what Rossi had in his mind given the fact that his passes on the brakes were regularly wiped out with no effort by Stoner on the following straight. He looked more like a club event with the 1000 passing on the gas the small 600s than a MotoGp race! Indeed the commentator has never suggested an answer to his question, because he didn’t know or he couldn’t voice what he thought. His awkward situation was then solved when Rossi missed a turn point on the brakes ending up on the run off: a mistake that gave Stoner the chance to win the race by himself.
Rossi has too much experience and brain to waste front tires and brakes in those stunts. Someone can think that he wanted to make Stoner nervous and so more prone to make a mistake, but what kind of mistake he could have made in those types of hairpins? Personally, I think that the last accident with Elias had somehow suggested to Rossi his Chinese game, a very typical strategy in any type of racing: carry a lot of speed into the inside of your opponent and if he closes the door you can be sure that he will go for the tangent. Do you remember his pass on Gibernau, with the Spaniard going for daises? He would have been criticized, but the at the end of the day it was the only way to challenge a mathematical certainty: Stoner first, Rossi second place.

Video Source

PMP Event: Pocono Raceway, May 3rd

2007-05-06T22:57:00.000-04:00

After going to Jennings in Florida, last Thursday the PMP crew had its second event hosted by Absolute Cycle, but this time in Pocono Raceway in PA. Luckily, given the unstable temperatures in the North East, we were blessed with a blue sky and a warm sun that made even more pleasant a racetrack day where we started our engines in the morning a turned them off, who knows at what time, in the afternoon.
The PMP crew & Friends have done a wonderful job in helping this new club in organizing a really professional event. While Naim Behdzet, Steve Lombardi, Todd Cuso and I were instructing in the Lombardi School, Mario Pires and Alex Herrera guaranteed the Control Riding in the Intermediate Group and characterized the Expert Group with some exciting dicing.
The school itself was a success because the entire class, 11 riders, improved dramatically from one session to another one. A round of claps definitely goes to Michael and Kevin: these guys were able to push hard their German and British “Cows”. When in the morning I saw their touring bikes, a BMW and a Triumph, I feared the situation where we had to commit an instructor just for them, instead they end up rolling those machines as fast as their colleagues with sport Japanese bikes.
During the day I had the opportunity to leave the classroom to show my face and/or my wheels to all my friends around the track and I have to say that Roy and Mark from Absolute did a wonderful job in putting together a real “stress free” event: their boutique-style club has in its dimensions and care for details a unique combination that has not competitors at local level. Of course on the field we have to give credit to the professionalism of the corner workers, PA POSSE, guided by our friend Speedy and to the passionate work performed by our Control Riders.
I am going to let the email received from my friend, and pure motorbike lover, John Glass, to summarize the event:
*********
Alex, I would like to thank you for being so helpful and going out of your way to check out my progress yesterday at Pocono. Also, my thanks to Alex Herrera for the generous use of his time! My main concern yesterday was to get a good track day behind me without trying to go too fast, and that is exactly what I accomplished. Remember. this is only the second time I have ridden a motorbike since last Fall, but it did wonders for my confidence. I now feel ready for more track time. Also, I really enjoyed the way the event was run by Absolute. It seems to me that Roy is doing this simply for the love of the sport, which makes for a much different atmosphere than an event being run by an organization that is simply trying to make money. I also appreciate that they had an Advanced Life Support unit there. Something that we hope is not needed, but is very important to have if necessary.

Getting back to Alex Herrera, following him was a great experience! He is so quick and smooth and being behind him I saw how late he could turn in to a corner which gave me the necessary confidence to try it. I certainly can't do it like him (or you) but it gives me a good learning base to build on. We are never too old to learn! I spent some of my time between sessions watching the fast guys, and especially Alex H. I saw some very fast and excellent riding.

Lastly, I am sorry I missed you at the end of the day. I waited a while but did not see you and as it was getting late, me being tired and a long ride ahead, I decided it best to get started.

Best wishes to you and all the PMP guys. Hope to see you soon

John Glass

*********

Also I wish to Eliecer Montoya, PMP rider and owner of “Strawberry - Shakes and Grill”, our headquarter in North NJ, a quick recover from the accident that will keep him away from the race tracks for a few weeks.
I have attached a few pictures kindly offered by Dennis Cuevas, from Racedayphoto. The Lombardi School instructors are wearing blue shirts while the students are in red. The control riders were wearing orange shirts.

PMP bikes: Painting by Mario Pires, Decals by Diana

"Bionic" Rossi and Imatra RC Inc.

2007-05-02T13:26:00.000-04:00

The Imatra brand that Rossi has been promoting in and outside the track is more than a simple brand of sunglasses produced by Safilo and advertised by Rossi. The Gilmar Group owned by the Gerani family uses the same brand name for a line of street-style clothing. What is interesting about the whole marketing operation is that the IMATRA RC Inc. name is the same name of a mysterious Imatra Rehabilitation Clinic. As explained by the Gilmar Group, the clinic was founded in 1965 in Tampere, Fynland by a certain doctor Bernie Rhodes and then transferred to Savan River in Tasmania. The expensive and luxurious centers are used by rich and famous people to recover from “the temporary excesses ..”: their clients range from rock stars to Hollywood actors, from sport champions to powerful politicians.
According to Spot and Web, Media Communication Magazine, last fall Rossi along with the tennis-hippy Ion Tiriac, the adventurous Mike Horn, and others met the Indian doctor Ali and the photographer Monty Shadow in the Prague Imatra Clinic to promote the 2006-2007 winter clothing line inspired to the most prominent and original clients of the clinique.
Almost to confirm the “special” services provided by the Imatra Centers, I have not been able to collect further information about the clinic: I am just wondering if some special medical secret is behind the bionic skills of the 7 times World Champion.

Picture source

MotoGp Poll: Grand Prix of China

2007-04-26T13:56:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday the second place for Elias was spectacular and totally unexpected, as matter of the fact his name was not listed as one of the first seven in the World Championship Standing. In China, next week it’s going to be even more difficult for the characteristic of the circuit with two long straights, one of which measure ¾ of a mile, the longest in the MotoGp calendar. Stoner and Capirossi are the favorite with their red Italian missile, but the resurgence of the Team Gresini with Elias and Melandri on improving Honda, could challenge the possibilities for the other contenders, Rossi, Pedrosa, Edwards and Hayden to get on the podium. Stoner has accumulated 10 points of advantage on Rossi and 25 on Pedrosa, he feels strong and absolutely not pressured by Rossi. It’s Rossi that has to prove that he is still the best, while Stoner has already done even more that his team was expecting from him. Anyhow, who is going to stand on the second step of the podium in China?

Grand Prix of Turkey: "Michelin Impossibile" ... even for Rossi

2007-04-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, back from the weekend in Pennsylvania, I went to check the results from Istanbul and it didn't take much to understand that something went wrong, very wrong if nobody out of the first three riders from the qualifications were able to make the podium. Stoner, the 21 year old Aussie on Ducati, won his second race of the season in a manner absolutely authoritative. After a crash on the first lap caused by Olivier wiping out Pedrosa and Edwards, Stoner took the lead on a mistake committed by Rossi, and maintained it to the end. Behind him, everything happened: Rossi, after taking a tour in the grass on the fastest turn of the circuit, found himself in 5th position. From there it took some time for the seven time World Champion to gain the second position: he seemed to struggle a little bit in making ground on the leaders of the race, maybe because he didn’t have the typical that extra corner speed that we had noticed in the first two rounds of the season. Probably the vibration that has churned the rear tire and forced him back to the tenth place was already challenging his confidence on the brakes. As matter of the fact when he was aggressively overtaken by Elias he did not reply. I would like to open a short parenthesis about the Spaniard who finished in second position at 6 seconds from Stoner but with 2 seconds on the rest of the group. Some people have pointed out that after what Rossi has done to Gibernau and other riders, last Sunday he shouldn’t have raised his elbow to fence off the young Honda rider and he should have avoided to comment (italian video) the accident with the press . About the first issue I am positive that raising the elbow and converging towards the other rider is totally normal in such a situation because there is a tendency to support each other in a moment of contact. Elias reached his side only by the turn point when Rossi was going to release the pressure on the brakes and dive toward the apex of the turn. It seems to me that Elias had never showed his front tire to the Italian, and he did gamble a little bit in a maneuver that, if not successful in its timing, would have sent Rossi out on the tangent compromising his race and in case of a bad accident even his championship. Also, Elias is the rider that knocked him down at the first race last year and he is the same guy that after some rough passing won by a couple of inches a race on Valentino that could have made him to win the 2006 MotoGp World Championship!
Anyhow, last Sunday the real show was for the third place: Capirossi at the end prevailed on the 37 year old Alex Barros and on the last year winner, Marco Melandri. Macho looked very aggressive but he was worn out by an extremely tough Hopkins, protagonist of a spectacular performance. Hayden, first Michelin rider, finished in a mere 7th position, definetely not enough for someone who is supposed to defend the crown.

Next appointment in China: another fast track where the Ducati will show off the extra speed. At this point all the attention is on Michelin: we have not forgot the faulty front tire that stopped Rossi last year and in consideration of the work done by Yamaha and its riders, the Michelin man has to be sure not to fail again ….
Video source

PMP Event: Pocono Raceway 4/21 – 4/22

2007-04-24T21:56:00.000-04:00

We could have not dreamed a better weekend than this one! Last week started with torrential rain that has caused severe flooding in the Tri-State area. On Monday, Pocono International Raceway was covered by more than 11 inches of snow, and when we learned that the forecast was calling for a warm and seasonal weekend we were obviously skeptical about it. Well, the bleached smile people were damn right, because April gave us a memorable weekend.
The two-day event was organized by SBTT, Sport Bike Track Time, a club that has absorbed the former local Red-Duc organization that we had already used in the past. My impression is that the new club has somehow maintained the same warm and pleasant atmosphere, with a relaxed but well regulated organization that was able to guarantee a flawless weekend.
Even missing all the guys from NJ, the PMP crew had more than 10-15 riders from NY that along with friends and family members made a nice thick group of people eager to enjoy these two wonderful days. The dicing in the track and the playful mocking around the trailers have entertained everybody causing loud laughing and big smiles on our faces. In a club track event, there are obviously people faster than others, but somehow the interpretation of the facts is always very “personal” especially without the support of a lap timer. It goes from “..I didn’t want to stuff you …” to “ I could have passed you in that turn but I didn’t want to embarrass you” or ”… let me ride your bike and I will show you how you are supposed to ride it …” The historical situations between Rossi and Biaggi were nothing when compared to those created by our Frank and Naim, especially when you had everybody else pouring “gasoline over the fire”.

A special thank to Diana (JS Typography) for bringing the PMP shirts to us; Tina, Diana and Benny for the trays of freshly brewed coffee; Dave and Dima (Lee Miles Brooklyn) for offering their ethnic delicatessen; Almos (666 Cycle) and Rob Lombardi for the mechanical help to fix my GSX-R, and John, Peter and Antonio (Techline) to spare their bikes with me on Saturday.

For more action pictures visit RaceDayPhoto

PMP bikes: Painting by Mario Pires, Decals by Diana

Rossi is still involved with .... poultry

2007-04-19T13:04:00.000-04:00

And we ended up with real chickens on the Yamaha … Do you remember last winter when Rossi decided to re-use the “old” Polleria Osvaldo sponsor while his team was searching for a new one replacing Camel. Well, today as per SuperbikePlanet.com, AIA a leading Italian poultry brand has formalized a new sponsorship with Fiat Yamaha Team: someone must have seen in Rossi the famous Hen and the Golden Eggs …

MotoGp Poll: Grand Prix of Turkey

2007-04-19T08:26:00.000-04:00

In the last MotoGp Poll for the race in Spain the majority of people (83%)were correct in picking Pedrosa: the fastest rider … after Rossi. Sunday it is going to be totally different with several riders that could win the race, starting from Melandri, the winner of the past two editions, Stoner, Pedrosa, Rossi …. But the in the PMP MotoGp Poll, as usual, we try to guess the name of the rider that will finish in second position, and in Istanbul anything could happen ….

May You Rest In Peace: Sal Benanti

2007-04-13T08:43:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, on March 30th, our friend Sal Benanti passed away while sleeping in his house. Sal was 70 years old and he was still racing motocross every weekend during the season. As matter of the fact the following day he was expected to attend an event upstate in New York.
Our initial surprise and pain for the loss of our friend have left us now with a sense of emptiness because he was always around in our whereabouts, helping in fixing bikes or just entertaining us with his unique manners.
In memory of our beloved friend I want to write again why he became a living legend, why he was able to do what most people even forty years younger cannot do even in their dreams:
“What’s his secret? You would expect some sort of special diet, magic pills or strenuous workout. Wrong! Sal is a witty person who doesn’t like to hang out with complainers (most of people of his age) and negative people. He is not afraid to try and he does not fear failure because even that it’s part of the game. He would tell you to live your present and not to worry about the future: deal with that when it comes.
Sal would tell your that whatever it is your age start the engine and just …do it.”

Rest In Peace Our Friend

Gran Premio de Espana: Asphalt Roller Fiat-Yamaha #46 dominates

2007-03-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday in Jerez the Doctor won in a way that reminded to most of us the victories of his “beloved” competitor, Max Biaggi. Pedrosa had a good start but in a few turns was overtaken and relegated to a comfortable second position for the rest of the race. Since the first few laps I noticed the little Spaniard eagerly spinning the rear tire right from the mid corner revealing that he was trying to get closer to Valentino to gain back what he had lost at the entrance of each turn. In the same way we have already noticed in Qatat, despite his weight advantage and the smaller bike, Pedrosa is not able to match Valentino’s entrance corner speed: they start braking together but Rossi seems to apply less pressure on his brakes and use a bit more the last part of his line going to the apex to scrape the extra speed. I would not be surprised by the difference in skills if we were comparing Valentino to Hayden, but not to a former 250cc World Champion matador. My reading is that Dani is still not very comfortable with the front end of his bike and, also, that he is aiming to win the crown by being extremely consistent. He wants to collect each and every possible point, hoping to capitalize his strategy if Rossi should suffer some sort of problem during the season.
Colin Edward got the third place, a result that confirms the successful winter development of the new Yamaha and pleases greatly FIAT, the new Yamaha sponsor.
In fourth position we had Elias: a great race for Toni, too bad that he started cranking fast laps too late to remain attached to the front train. Stoner got 5th, enough to maintain the second place in the Championship with Pedrosa. It’s interesting to notice that both of them are 21 year old, and with Jerez they have took away respectively from Capirossi and Hayden the role of team main riders. To be honest the Kentucky Kid had an incredible start and fought for the 4th position for some time until the deteriorated tires started to slow down his pace and affecting his lines.
My praise goes to Checa for an incredible weekend that unfortunately didn’t produce the deserved podium. After the race, very philosophically, he explained that Sunday the temperature were lower than expected and he didn’t have a good feeling from the bike for the fist half of the race.
Finally a big clap for Hopper: he was the protagonist of a great race with increasingly faster laps that unfortunately ended when he washed the front tire right after passing Hayden for the fourth place.

In three weeks the MotoGp will be in Turkey, a track where Rossi want absolutely to win after last year experience. At that time he started in 11th position, overshot a turn losing almost 3” and getting a final 4th position. Melandri won that race over an impressive Stoner. I personally see again the Asphalt Roller Fiat-Yamaha #46 to crash his competitors, in order, Pedrosa and Stoner.

Video source

MotoGp Poll: Gran Premio de Espana

2007-03-23T13:41:00.000-04:00

As per our poll rules I could not include Capirossi as potential candidate to the second place, but after his crash in Qatar and Stoner's victory on "his" bike we know that the big little italian man is going to fight hard to prove that he is still the first rider in the Ducati team.

Grand Prix of Qatar: Australian "canguru" wins on Italian red missile

2007-03-13T10:13:00.000-04:00

In the first race of the season we could have had a final classification with riders stretched in longer time span if it wasn't for Rossi slowing down, somehow, the Australian rider on his new Italian missile. The Ducati was much faster than any other bike: in practice Stoner reached 324.7 km/h, much faster than Rossi’s 309.9 km/h and Pedrosa 317.9km/h. The red bike from Borgo Panicale has always been fast over the years, but the extra speed was seldom matched by appropriate stability and grip. Last year, after winning his first race with a bike sliding sideway in every turn of the circuit,Capirossi was compared to a red crab by his fans.
Last Saturday, instead, Casey Stoner looked outstanding on a bike that seemed solid, precise, reasonably quick in changing direction and … fast, very fast. On every lap he stormed Rossi on the front straight: it didn’t matter how many bikes of distance the Tavullia champion had on him at the exit of the last turn, because regardless, Stoner was able to pass his opponent in half straight and gain, maybe, another 70-90 ft by the end of the fornt stretch. Only because of Rossi’s immense talent and his desire to re-conquest the lost World Champion title, we were able to actually see some dicing in the infield. Indeed Rossi, strong of an impeccable Fiat-Yamaha was able to carry much more speed at the entrance of turn 1 so that at the exit of the same turn he was already back on the tail of the young Ducati rider. From there, during the race Rossi has launched his assalts passing the Australian youngster several times: on the brakes or on the outside of a turn leading to an opposite twist. Well, anytime Rossi has been able to pull in front the Ducati, his lead was then wiped out on the front long straight as if Stoner was still riding last year bike.

On the other end Pedrosa’s extra speed was not enough to challenge either Stoner or Rossi, but good enough to put him on the third step of the podium. In a few occasion it seemed that he had passed Rossi toward the end of the front straight but once on the brakes he could not match Valentino's higher entrance speed. As we have already noticed last year, it seems that Pedrosa is still not used to “Rossi’s confidence” when it comes to tight passing. Someone has claimed that Danny is still paying his easy years in 125cc and 250cc when he often won after passing his opponents and taking off to lead the race until the end. Conversely last Saturday he ended up suffering even Hopkin's pressure who, fighting the pain of the recent injuries and a poor performance in his last winter test, pulled out an incredible race for which he almost won a final third place.
There is not much to say about the rest of the riders, including the World Champion Nicky Hayden for his meager 8th place that looks even worse if we consider that two riders have crashed in front of him: Ceca and … Capirossi. Last year, Bayliss stole a secure victory from Capirossi and last Saturday his new teammate was doing it again. Maybe this situation was really bothering him, anyhow after a bad start due to a contact with another rider, Capirossi had unleashed the extra power of his bike to try to catch the front riders but unfortunately he low-sided when in 5th position. Was he pushing too much? Did he trail brake to much? Or was he exploring faster lines? In any case he wasted a secure podium and 16 points that could have been useful for the Championship especially now that the even the young Aussie is in the list of potential winners. As matter of the fact, Stoner has already displayed a cocky attitude: after being asked "... how does it feel to have a 7 time World Champion attached on your tail for the whole race?"... he said something very similar to “ …It was like to have anybody else behind”.

Picture source
Video source

MotoGp Poll: Grand Prix of Qatar

2007-03-08T07:54:00.000-05:00

Like we did last season ...., I don't want to ask who is going to win Sunday because it will reduce too much the number of potential riders. For every race I am going to suggest the first 7 riders in the championship as candidates to "miss the victory", and in case we have the same rider classifying 2nd twice consecutively, in the next poll we will try to guess the 3rd place rider's name. Scroll up and down to read the whole list and click on one of the choices. The poll will be immediately updated.

FIAT-Yamaha: a venture at 6 wheels

2007-03-07T08:59:00.000-05:00

And after at least a couple of months of speculation the strangest marriage in town has taken place. To my knowledge this is the first time that in Motogp 4 wheels leverages 2 for promotional purposes. I have recently learned that in Italy, Opel, the European GM division, has been buying commercial time during motorcycling races at least to improve the brand positioning among millions of Italian MotoGp viewers. If anything, to me cars are the most immediate link to motorcycles because they share at least speed and technology. I would see myself more prone to switch from Nissan to FIAT because of their new testimonials than to start smoking cigarettes because of the yellow Camel that we have seen in the recent years. Or, I would see myself suddenly interested in rally because of Valentino racing with a new FIAT car, than to follow the latest oil drilling adventures of the Repsol Group because of the Spaniard talent, Danny Pedrosa.
Anyhow, the bikes look great: they have chosen a graphic where the classic blue Yamaha recalls at the same time the classic color of the World Champion Italian soccer team outfit. For the logo FIAT they have used the simple “old” font characterized on top by the green-white-red colors of our flag. If we look at the graphics that Vanjey Design had recently speculated, I am under the impression that FIAT & Yamaha have agreed for a graphic solution that leaves more representation to the Japanese company.
In an interview, even this one unfortunately in Italian, Rossi has mentioned that because of the bad luck suffered last year he has chosen different superstitious solutions but, I want to add, that he has not changed the use of his favorite color, yellow, on the bike and on his leather suit.

Only a few days to go for the first race of the season: good luck to everybody hoping that the best, only the best wins the 2007 World MotoGp Championship

Max Biaggi is still very fast

2007-02-23T11:27:00.000-05:00

Today Max Biaggi just missed a pole position for his first WSBK race in Losail, Qatar, by 0’322 thousand of sec. The pole was won by another veteran, Troy Corser. After Biaggi, in order we have Toseland, Haga and Lanzi. Bayliss only sixth … but with him anything can happen.
At this point can I speculate/hope a podium for our Roman Emperor? After two difficult years he deserves a bit of luck and reward for not giving up in his career.

Forza Biaggi!!!

Luca Scassa: an Italian Champion in AMA

2007-02-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

A month ago when with the PMP guys I was in Jennings, I was in the race track facilities when I noticed, among others, a picture of an aggressive rider stating "Luca Scassa, 1:14.81 new track record". This morning I went to read again the post about our winter trip to Florida, and in the picture of the race track lay out I noticed that at that time the record belonged to the canadian Pascal Picotte with a time of 1:15.4 ……
The difference is substantial, so out of curiosity a made a quick research on line to discover that Luca Scassa is the 2006 Italian Superstock Champion that has signed a contrat with Claudio Castiglioni , President of the MV Augusta, to race the AMA Superbike in USA under the colors of the Ferracci Team.
Luca is only 23 year old: a tall, slim guy from Arezzo, Toscany, with undisputed technical skills that are going to be tested and sharpened in the difficult American tracks.
For more info and pictures of Luca, check his website lucascassa.com

Good luck Luca!

Picture source topmoto.it

Max Biaggi 's bet in WSBK

2007-02-13T12:04:00.000-05:00

We can call it a bet, the bet of someone who wants to show to himself, his competitors and to the whole world that he is still able to go fast and win. His last victory goes back to 2004 in Germany in frontof Barros when he was still racing with the yellow Honda Camel of the Pramac Pons Team. In 2005 with the official factory Honda Repsol Team led by the legendary technical director Erv Kanemoto, Biaggi
thought that he could be one of the contenders to the World Championship but lack of results brought Biaggi and Honda to a bitter divorce that, indeed, marked the end of his career in MotoGp and the beginning of another one in WSBK. Yes, Biaggi was supposed to start racing with the Corona team last year, but the limited amount of time to create another two bikes for the Roman rider and Troy Corser’s dissent to share the team with another prima donna, it convinced Batta, Suzuki Corona Team Manager, to wait another year to bring Biaggi in Superbike.

The last 12 months have been extremely busy for Max Biaggi: training with the bicycle, in the gym, on the soccer fields, with the supermotard bike and with his new tool, the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K6 and then K7. He has always been almost maniacal in getting mentally and phisically ready to the racing season, but at his age of 35 and after such a long career the effort and the passion infused in the last 12 month of training measures the size of his bet: new championship, new competitors, new team, new technicians, new bike, new brakes, new tires ….a lot of variables in an equation that can be solved only with winning in WSBK. Indeed the expectations are so high among fans, media and sponsors, that any results that should fall short of the victory would raise tons of criticism. Last Monday Biaggi finished the tests in the Losail circuit at 3/10 of a sec behind the new Yamaha rider Troy Corser, riding as much as 80 laps to include a race simulation with the 2006 Pirelli.
I believe that this one was his last test before the first race of the season on February 24th, when he will have to compete again with the fastest riders in the world.

Do not forget to periodically check Jim’s blog, Armchairbikefan, for overseas insides on the WSBK.

In the first video (source) Kagayama and Biaggi training in Phillip Island
In the second one (source) he is in California where he often goes during the winter to train with other supermotards riders

Ice road racing: a specialty for the boldest bikers.

2007-02-09T09:33:00.000-05:00

After a couple of months of unusual mild temperatures, the North East winter has shifted its gears with blasting cold winds pushing our thermometers down in the low teens. Regardless in NYC the wintry weather is never long enough to make people overcoming their natural tendency to cocoon in their homes and other indoor places during the coldest time of the year. If anything, we challenge ourselves with winter sports, and in my case, along with others PMP guys, I go skiing to Vermont. Very often during these weekend trips I have seen people riding their snowmobiles in polar temperatures to get to the local restaurants and bars for a “hot date” or to meet their friends. They looked like the Michelin man with their huge specialized outfits that contain infinite layers of Gore-Tex garments to guarantee enjoyable time at high speed in the farm fields or iced rivers and lakes. I have always looked at them with some sort of admiration, but they suddenly became normal people once I stumbled on this video of roadracers challenging themselves on icy tracks. They are Swedish, people that have a long tradition of speedway (flat track) on ice, but I have never heard about iceroadracing …. These guys have some guts: it looks that they are wearing “normal” leather suits and also it seems that they are constantly on the verge of a huge high-side: I wonder how they would ride under ordinary conditions on a race track after training in “cold blood” temperatures and extremely dicey conditions.

Video Source

Valentino Rossi: a real artist in road racing

2007-02-06T09:08:00.000-05:00

Video Source

Valentino Rossi from Camel to Fiat?

2007-02-02T21:50:00.000-05:00

A rumor becomes truth in the moment everybody starts believing in that! Well, it has been more than a week that the media claim FIAT to be the new sponsor for Valentino. Several fans, including myself were not happy when Camel abandoned Biaggi for Rossi: it was not fair for the Roman rider and even from a marketing point of view it was questionable to see two declared enemies to end up with the same colors. Also it could be just a coincidence, and it’s the feeling of a slightly superstitious person, but Biaggi, Barros and Rossi had “difficult” seasons under the Camel sponsorship. Luckily last fall we had the opportunity to change the cards on the table and after a few months of speculations and poultry producers displayed on the # 46 bike it seems that we have an Italian sponsor!!!! It seems that the Italian automobile manufacturer will sponsor him for …another two years in Yamaha (read Jim's article in Armchair Bike Fan) .
FIAT owns Ferrari and it has been very successful over the years in WRC, a sport that Rossi has been taking in consideration as new profession once he will leave MotoGp. The Italian company has been searching a good testimonial for his cars and in particular for the new 500, and who could be better than Valentino?

The NYC Motorcycle Show 2007

2007-02-01T09:17:00.000-05:00

Recently I was at the Motorcycle show held at the Javits Center in NYC with the purpose to promote the Lombardi Road Racing School. By going there I have really broke an old promise to pass over a show that it has been totally unappealing to me especially when compared to the Motorcycle Exhibition in Milan or the Motorshow in Bologna, Italy: countless pavillons organized by type of vehicles and brands, race tracks with competitions all day long, stunning exhibits, breathtaking models, tons of fashion all around you and a very good chance to obtain your favorite champion’s autograph. Yes ... Rossi, Melandri, Capirossi and Biaggi among the most famous Italians and others from different countries attending the shows to promote their sponsors and build or consolidate the relationships with their admirers flocking to the events from all around Italy and the rest of Europe.

Unfortunately I have never been able to experience those emotions at the NYC Motorcycle Show. The place is small, with no scenography, but only a bare jumble of stands set up around the middle space taken by the biggest players of the sector. Then, when you look at the content, it really looks like a “low-ride bikes show”. If a husky visitor in leather pants and jacket or a young wheelie stuntman is the target for the NYC event, the absence of amusing displays about road racing, motocross and supermotard bikes would be justified.
New York city doesn’t reflect customs and trends more typical in New Jersey, Connecticut or Pensylvania, but in the recent years the growth of road racing clubs, scooters and supermotard bikes, has become frantic. And if the European markets could be an indication of where we are heading, why didn't we have the opportunity in the NYC Motorcycle Show to see and enjoy the presence of professional riders along with their winning machines?
It’s understandable that the organizers could not have over the Italians, the Spaniards, the English, the Australians or the Japanese riders but what about the Americans? Where was the MotoGp World Champion Nicky Hayden or the Texas Tornado Colin Edwards? Where was the AMA 2006 champion Ben Spies or Jamie Hacking? How come their sponsors didn’t force them to attend such a stage where to promote products and services? How it is possible that the rich Honda’s budget and its sophisticated marketing resources could not provide us with one of the 2006 Kentucky Kid's bikes? If Honda doesn’t support his top rider here in the United States, where does it want to do it, in France?
At the Javit center I saw Rossi’s bike in between two blue AMA bikes: unfortunately it was deprived of all his personal decals to the point that most of us wondered if the Tavullia’s champion had ever ridden it. I also recall Ben Spies’s bike, but no one of these winning machines were presented with any sort of videos or special merchandising, or even models or better “umbrella girls”: nothing that it could really generate some sort of excitement.

Once again the NYC Motor show had disappointed me, so, between a conversation with a friend and an explanation of the Lombardi Road Racing School program to potential “customers”, I wondered around to take a few pictures of the young models working at the event: I have put together a short slide show that I am comparing to a video portraying something “similar” on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean: some time a picture is worth thousand words.

Those …“decals” in Brooklyn: JS Typography

2007-01-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

When a couple of weeks ago we went to pick up our new plastics painted by Mario Pires at AJS Autowerks Body shop we were very excited but back in Brooklyn a few guys raised their eyebrows when looking at the flamboyant rainbow flakes of a wonderful paintjob that, to them, it seemed more appropriated on a chromed-up low ride than a race bike. Personally, I was convinced that we had a good combination of colors with a very effective design so we had only to balance those glittery flakes with some original and precious decals.

With our luggage of thoughts and the first of the 5 bikes, Antonio, Naim and I went to see our friend Diana Sliwa. Along with her parents she owns JS Typography, a very successful graphic studio, located at 8659 18th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11214 (718 676-6098 or 718 234-6847).

In the late 90s we were going for bike numbers and decals to another local shop but it was like to go to see a dentist with a terrible toothache: we had to do it, it was going to be expensive and we knew that we were going to satisfy our needs but not our emotions. Let’s be honest … our first few race plastics were just ok, nothing wrong with them, but overall blah, like a dish with no salt! Then, one day, I guess five or six years ago, Robert Lombardi met this young girl, Diana. At that time she was studying fashion design and helping her father in the new typography business. She had probably never seen a race motorcycle in her life, neither her father, but she decided to produce decals for who became her first road racer customer. In the following months her enthusiasm, immense creativity and patience in understanding each client’s need, made the rest: all the motorcycle riders in the neighbor started rely on her expertise to repair, personalize and improve the overall look of their bikes.

In this project we knew only: that we were going to use the PMP and PurePassion logos (trademarks designed by me and developed by Diana a couple of years ago) and that per Mario’s suggestion we should have tried orange pin stripes. We had no clue about what colors and font to use for the numbers, sponsors, and various logos … and how to “manage those flakes” ….

In similar situations Diana is the best: she has a proven method to collect, screen and organize the customer’s ideas to satisfy his or her mode of expression while guiding emotions towards feasible solutions that always remain tasteful.

It took several hours, more than a few espresso macchiati and several attempts to come up with the right combinations of colors to dress up Naim’s bike. We started with the pin stripes, then the numbers, next the Pure Passion decals. For those, as for the front fender PMP logo Diana did a really great job, something that I could compare to a piece of bijouterie: layers of special reflective material that was finally able to counteract the relentless game of rainbows created by Mario Pires’s flakes. At that point it was like to go downhill with the rest of decals ….. the motorcycle ying yang, Lombardi School’s logo, various personal designs, sponsors decals and so forth.

Diana is a multi talent woman. You could never guess what she is doing when you enter her store: printing or painting tee shirts, drawing mysterious women, air brushing helmets or creating sign for her customers.

So, the next time you have a graphic design project, do not forget … those “decals” in Brooklyn.

PMP in Jennings Gp, Florida: Jan 13 & 14

2007-01-17T07:26:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday the PureMotorbikePassion crew & friends left their homes in NY-NJ to travel down south to Jennings Gp, a race track located in Florida at the border with Georgia. After 16-17 hours trip we arrived in Lake Park, a little town a few miles away from Jennings.

On Friday we were able to visit the track, unload the trailers and to walk the circuit: 2 miles long, with 2 straights and 14 turns. The in-field of the track starts right after the longest straight (characterized by two kinks) with a very tight double S leading to the first of the 9 twisty, but well connected, turns: it’s here where the rider’s technical skills along with a good suspension set up can transform a simple dice in a breathtaking show with riders constantly switching the inside-outside lines. The track has been specifically designed to racing specifications with extremely safe run offs, excellent asphalt grip and slightly cambered turns to boost rubber contact at the entrance of the fastest turns.

The two day event was the first one organized by the boutique-style club, Absolute Cycle: Roy and Mark were “absolutely” right in limiting the number of riders to 50 and having an “opened track” instead of the typical 3 group format required in the North-East circuits: indeed we had just a few beginners in a track reasonably wide, with very light braking involved, and where the accidental excursion in the grass, to avoid a slower rider unable to keep the line, is a trivial occurrence.
Absolute Cycle event in Jennings has been a total success inside and outside the track: people were smiling, laughing and helping each other. The club provided free lunch to everybody for both days, great discounts on tires and blended its services to the others offered by the track and the other vendors. A special gratitude goes to the photographer Ken for his wonderful pictures and to Rick, the suspension set-up specialist from the Suzuki Hooters Team, for his ability to improve dramatically the handling of our bikes.

As we have already announced , the PureMotorbikePassion crew had chosen the Jennings weekend to unveil the new paint scheme of our bikes. The new PMP plastics became an event within the event stirring the curiosity and the interest of the majority of the people surrounding us. While the rays of the warm Florida sun were playing with the metallic flakes of the three-color painted plastics and the reflective decals of our logos, more than one time we caught people standing by our bikes and moving their heads up and down - right and left to seize with their eyes elaborated rainbows created by the surrounding colors ……

As Rick, Parts Manager of Absolute Cycle, has commented on my MySpace page:

“Jan 16 2007 2:11P

awesome weekend alex...the new bikes look absolutely great! ……”

Photo Album provided by Almos, Mark, Alessandro

PMP bikes: Painting by Mario Pires, Decals by Diana

The new PMP bikes soon in Jennings: update.

2007-01-10T08:43:00.001-05:00

Last night we had the first 5 Pure Motorbike Passion bikes lined up in front our trailers ready for Jennings. They looked striking with their mix of bold colors perfectly balanced by a smart and unique graphics: the final result is an awesome, modern-looking bike that is going to turn a lot of heads at the race track events in the same way it did on the Brooklyn sidewalks in these past few days.

The new PMP bikes soon in Jennings.

2007-01-06T00:35:00.000-05:00

In one week from today, the Pure Motorbike Passion crew will unveil the new PMP bikes in Jennings, Florida. Our "artists" Mario Pires and Diana Sliwa have done a gorgeous job playing with these three colors.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2006-12-31T18:12:00.000-05:00

I want to wish a New Year of health, love, peace and personal success to the Pure Motorbike Passion crew, my fellow riders and anybody else reading our blog.

Let's just keep that throttle wide-opened.

Absolute Cycle Performance and Lombardi Road Racing School-NYC

2006-12-15T11:50:00.000-05:00

The Lombardi School in 2007 will offer its services at the events organized by a new local club, Absolute Cycle, part of Absolute Cycle Performance LLC, long time supporter of trackday riders and racers. Last fall, Roy Cadoo, CEO of Absolute, and Marc O’Connor saw the opportunity and the need for a boutique style road racing club where weekday events, professional coaching offered by long time racers, ex racers and expert riders, along with a very reasonable number of people attending the events, should guarantee a flawless, safe and exciting day for everybody.

In such a contest after the positive feedback by everyone who attended our Basic Level in 2006, the Lombardi Road Racing School has decided to add another course, the Intermediate Level. The new class will be run by me, Alessandro Matteucci, with a format of 2 max 3 students per instructor. With this course the Rob Lombardi School’s goal is to take an intermediate rider and provide him/her with all the techniques necessary to build a solid foundation to become a smooth, consistent, elegant and yes, fast advanced rider. By focusing on such a small number of students we will be able to personalize the teaching & riding experience with different drills according to the needs of each and every students. Also, we are planning to use videos to pin point areas of improvement and accomplishments to our students.
As I have recently explained in the Absolute Forum:
******************************************************
Question:
Originally posted by tsd345

OK, I'll start......

So Alex, I plan on attending your advanced school this year, however I haven't attended the basic. Are you going to recommend that I attend the basic?
****************************************************************
Answer:

TSD345,
It really depends on your acquired technical skills. The course is for an intermediate rider: someone who comfortably rides at that level. The Basic school is specifically for someone new at the race track even though it can correct bad habits for some experienced street rider. In the Second Level I go back to certain concepts already introduced in the first course and from there I explain, practice and review in details, with each and every student, different techniques that should have a terrific impact on his/her riding skills. Now the question is: can you find a line and can you keep it through the turn? Do you accelerate enough at the exit of a turn to the point that you are really using brake-markers to deal with the next one? Ideally a rider should start with the Basic school, ride a few club events to mature and absorb what has already learned and once he/she can ride at the intermediate level take my class. At that point he/she will be able to enjoy a boost in his/her learning curve due to the fact that I tailor my teaching to his or her expertise, leveraging on the skills while working on the inabilities.
****************************************************************

Absolute Cycle “boutique style” road racing club, along with the Lombardi School and Absolute Cycle Perfomance store, offering the lowest prices in the market, are definetely going to be one the most interesting new addition in the Tri-State&Pensylvania road racing club arena in 2007.
Absolute Cycle is in Linden, NJ, conveniently located right off the NJ Turnpike and the Goethel Bridge, ph. # 1-877-382-9800

See you at the Motorcycle Show in the Javits Center, NYC

Where to dynotune your Power Commander in Brooklyn

2006-12-13T10:22:00.000-05:00

Healthy food habits and daily phisical activity can help us in gaining a couple of HP and maybe lower our bad cholesterol but they can not do too much in improving throttle response. How many times we have seen a similar bike gaining immediately a few feet at the exit of a turn for not apparent reason if not a crispier throttle? With big engines, even at the race track, we have the tendency to use the mid range RPM more than we want and with mixed results. In effect the whole execution of a turn can be affected by how the power is delivered once we start feeding again the throttle. In similar situations the solution can be found in purchasing a Power Commander and optimizing the air/fuel ratio in order to obtain a linear erogation of power that could correspond to the maximum possible horsepower for any given combination of air/fuel at any level of RPM.
For such a critical engine set up, the Pure Motorbike Passion crew in Brooklyn relies on Mike Lavista, manager of Brooklyn Bike Works. The shop has a dyno-dedicated room where the magic happens: just close your eyes, listen to the engine revving and shifting and smile because with a few clicks of mouse Mike, aka The Power Commander Whiz, will unveil the full potential of your beloved bike.

As Artur Clarke once was quoted: “Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced”.

In the pics and the video Mike working on Naim Behdzet‘s 2005 GSX-R 600.

Boost your brain power ... boost your riding skills

2006-12-08T10:26:00.000-05:00

Riding well, riding fast means to be able to optimize a myriad of variables internal and external to the rider given certain circumstances. Prepping our bikes, physical training, even track training are not going to pay their dividends in terms of a better lap time unless our brain is able to recognize the extra potential and actually use it. If AT or any other meditation exercise can help to create a focused, alerted and efficient “mind set”, a healthy brain can actually make it happen. Without going into complicated matters of cognitive science, I want to bring to your attention an interesting article that I read today with the appealing title “22 Ways to Overclock Your Brain”, a list of simple suggestions on how to boost you brain power and … your track performance.

Picture source

News: MotoGp Armchair Awards

2006-12-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

The MotoGp Armchair Awards have been assigned: a lot of winners from Hayden to Gibernau. With humor and elegance our friend Jimmy has recapped the 2006 MotoGp riders’ season.

Don’t miss reading his Armchair Bike Fan blog for exclusive perspectives and comments about MotoGp, WSB and BSB racing.

Mental triggers ...Do you have any?

2006-12-06T10:09:00.000-05:00

Racing motorcycle calls for total concentration, because the aftermath of a minimal distraction can cause one to crash. Especially at club events I have seen so many times riders that suddenly miss their brake mark, for apparently no reason. My finding are that normally it’s extremely difficult to maintain the same focus from lap to lap, from session to session. Also the same rider that as beginner was so tense to the point that he could not see more than 30 feet ahead of his bike, later on he could experience the risk of zoning out while riding. It’s like the majority of us experience every day with the car, when a series of thoughts, a phone call or conversation with someone takes away our focus from driving. On the bike is the “meditative effect” that can cause the problem: the repetition of the same actions, over and over, becomes like a mantra, a special form of meditation that if clears totally our minds from other thoughts, at the same time it can leave our minds “empty” and so proned to be filled with other distractions.
If at the race track, during a club event, the best way to keep focus and remain alert is to rest at frequent intervals, what can we do to improve our concentration when at home?
In the same way we train our muscles we should train our brain. Personally I use Autogenous Training (AT), a technique aimed to reach an inner harmony through different exercises of relaxation. I know only the foundation of it, something learned as teenager in Italy when road-racing professionally with bicycles: my team hired a psychologist to teach us how to reduce the anxiety and tension normally experienced before a competition.
After all these years I still find myself to close my eyes and doing my meditation every time I feel stressed or under heavy pressure. At the race track I have created a series of mental and physical actions that help me to recall the proper mental status needed to stay focused and on the alert through the day, especially while teaching in the Rob Lombardi’s School or Coaching for different clubs. In effect the risk of loosing the concentration is higher when we go “slower”, at a pace that is “too” comfortable, a pace where the adrenaline leaves more space to the endorphins developed by the throttle-brake-throttle mantra.
Everybody is different, so I don’t think that AT is better than any other type of meditation training as long as the person finds what it does works to properly tune his or her mind to the challenge. As you can notice in TV, at the start of a MotoGp race, each rider has his own set of actions to get mentally ready for the challenge. Rossi has a very particular one that starts with some sort of leg stretching, followed by a sort of pray (I am just guessing) holding the left rear set, followed by the adjustment of the underwear while riding and standing up on the pegs and finally checking over and over the alignment of the front tire on the grid.
It has probably started as a superstitious act but I am positive that now Valentino uses these “mental triggers” to recall the required mind set to race in MotoGp. I specify MotoGp because there is no way he could adjust his underwear when strapped on a seat of a rally or F1 car ...

Picture source

Are you in the market for a new leather suit? Part II

2006-12-03T18:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Frank and I headed North to Massachusetts to visit Vanson Leathers. They are located in Fall River, a small industrial city located on the Rhode Island border. Supposedly it was once the foremost cotton textile center in the United States and it was not surprise to discover that the Vanson’s factory is located in a former mill built almost two centuries ago. Sadly the gorgeous building, with gray thick walls made of stone, it seems totally abandoned from outside to the point that initially I was wondering if I had wrote down correctly the address of the factory. And even when we saw the sign and the main entrance we could not imagine we were in front of the famous Vanson’s factory, the largest manufacturer of leather motorcycle apparel in USA.
Well, once we open the small, aged yellow door, our original expectations were finally matched by the large amount of leather suits, jackets, pants, leather accessories displayed all around this big warehouse. Dozen of custom made leather suits were hanging from the ceiling: they belonged to famous road and drag racers. The most famous name was definitely Freddie Spencer: it seems that Vanson has created a blue-red-white Honda leather suit that the former World Champion uses when riding for his well known school.
Frank and I spent more than two hours in the store, with Mike, Jessica and her mother (I've forgot her name) offering a unique, warm and professional service to both of us. Frank ended up ordering a custom made suit similar to that one used by Colin Edward when he won the WSB with the Castro-Honda. Instead I had them to re-size my beloved blue-yellow-white leather suit: after loosing more than 35 pounds it became so big on me that when I fell in Summit main, my right sleeve flipped around my elbow exposing the Kevlar fabric to the ground, for which, after almost three months, I still carry the “pink memory” of the deep abrasion suffered by my forearm.
The trip was a bit long but definitely worth the effort. The surrounding area is beautiful, only an hour away from CapeCod with its remarkable coastal towns and villages. Vanson store is conveniently opened 7 days a week, so I would definitely suggest to buy or repair your leather motorbike suit in the contest of a memorable weekend in Massachuset

Normally he would make a long wheelie but ...

2006-11-29T21:32:00.000-05:00

And after a very respectable 11th place at the World Rally Championship event in New Zealand, Valentino has just won the Monza Rally Show in Italy (a non WRC race) in a very competitive field with some former world champions. During the interviews after the race Rossi made clear that most likely he would try a full time career in rally once he quits MotoGp racing. Is it going to be in 2008 or right after winning his 8th title? I believe once he has accomplished his mission ...

Video source (1) and (2)

It would not belong to PMP if it wasn't for ....

2006-11-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

Rally videos are finding space in the Pure Motorbike Passion blog only because it's Valentino Rossi behind the steering wheel. In his last rally experience Vale had crashed right at the beginning but this time in New Zealand he had a more cautious approach that paid off its dividends with a very respectable 11th place overall.
I have read that Rossi claims that rally has improved his motorbike skills and we can guess how, but what about changing tires? I have never seen changing a bolt on the bike because the only time he works on it, it's to apply the stickers, a ritual that has been going on since the beginning of his career.
By looking at the car, a Subaru Impreza sponsored by Imatra, I have noticed, once again, how good Rossi is at marketing himself. The Imatra brand was created by him some time ago and recently has been used to promote at least a line of sunglasses produced by the Italian company Safilo. This kid is a marketing genius: in the past 5-10 years his victories and after-race shows have attracted millions of people in front their TVs to watch the MotoGp events, no wonder that Ferrari before,and Mercedes recently, have been dreaming to import him to F1 or DTM.

Video source (1),(2), and (3)

2006 ... a difficult year for the Tavullia Champion

2006-11-17T08:05:00.000-05:00

Video Source

The kings of wheels

2006-11-17T07:25:00.000-05:00

Ayrton used to be an avid collector of Ducati and MV Augusta, and after his death both companies have dedicated several models to the late World Champion F1 driver. Senna and Rossi are definetely the kings of wheels of our recent past.

Video source

Practice, practice ....mental practice

2006-11-16T12:59:00.000-05:00

Last Monday I went to see Dr. Hausman to confirm that my collarbone is healing correctly. My good impressions were supported by his X-Ray reading. Even though he wants me to use freely my right arm,I am not allowed to lift or to practice any sport that could jeopardize the curing process. To stay in shape he suggested me to do some running starting from next Sunday, so 4 weeks after fracturing the bone in that low side in Summit, VA.
About the trip to Florida on Jan 13th, he will give the ok only after evaluating my healing process at the end of December, after another 4-5 weeks ...It’s ok because it could have been worse or it could have happened at the beginning of the season, so I consider myself lucky.
I am not the guy that can idle for 2 months so I am looking forward to running again. I am going to start with a 3 mile run and add more distance a little bit at the time. Running can be boring, but I have always used that time to “meditate” on things and one of them it’s going to be the memorization of the Jennings circuit, the sequence of those 14 unknown turns!

Picture sourceVideo source