Sepang: it could have even better if …

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

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

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

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

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 …

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

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?

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 …

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)

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