After the finale at Valencia it was hard to accept that the season had finally finished and that there is so long to wait before it's return. I was intrigued to read all the post season comments from all the riders until I stumbled across a story in MCN about Valentino Rossi wanting to keep the wall between him and Lorenzo up in the Fiat Yamaha garage.
Disappointed is a light way of putting it if I'm honest. I am a huge Rossi fan and one of the main things I love about him is his refusal to be arrogant. However this unnecessary divide in the Yamaha garage has really put a dampener on my admiration for the Italian. At the end of the day Lorenzo is a young and very talented rider who could do with some advice from Rossi, and I thought Rossi could accept in good faith the threat the Spaniard poses to him. Even so I still see this act as a little pitiful.
I have followed Rossi through most of the controversy, such as switching tyre manufacturer, knocking Sete Gibernau off the circuit at Jerez 2004 to name a couple, but I thought he was better than to go about his business in such a manner. I'm sure Lorenzo won't lose any sleep over it and he shouldn't either. If anything the likeable Spaniard will see it as a compliment that the eight times World Champion wants to keep himself to himself out of fear.
Never the less a Rossi fan I remain and unless James Toseland or Nicky Hayden are fighting for the Championship next year then he will have my unconditional support. Lets just hope that Lorenzo doesn't come back to bite Rossi and give him a real good reason to keep that wall up.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Single make tyre rule is here!
Last week marked the end of yet another era in Moto GP as the paddock headed to Jerez for their first test at the Spanish circuit with the single make tyre rule in place.
It has already had praise from Valentino Rossi, which can't be a bad thing and if it means closer racing as a result then bring it on! I just hope that everyone adapts to the tyres as well as Rossi otherwise there will be an even bigger gulf in the field and the whole concept would be a waste of time for 2009.
I'd like to think that it won't be a problem seen as how Dani Pedrosa adapted so well with his mid-season switch from Michelin tyres to Bridgestone last season but it is too early to tell. Andrea Dovizioso certainly got a chance to see what the Repsol Honda can do with the new Bridgestone tyres at Jerez by his team-mate, but I cant see it being long before the Italian gets to grips with them and starts giving Pedrosa a hard time.
The Jerez test concludes 2008 so now we all have to wait for February to get our next dose of what we can expect next season. Roll on Spring!
It has already had praise from Valentino Rossi, which can't be a bad thing and if it means closer racing as a result then bring it on! I just hope that everyone adapts to the tyres as well as Rossi otherwise there will be an even bigger gulf in the field and the whole concept would be a waste of time for 2009.
I'd like to think that it won't be a problem seen as how Dani Pedrosa adapted so well with his mid-season switch from Michelin tyres to Bridgestone last season but it is too early to tell. Andrea Dovizioso certainly got a chance to see what the Repsol Honda can do with the new Bridgestone tyres at Jerez by his team-mate, but I cant see it being long before the Italian gets to grips with them and starts giving Pedrosa a hard time.
The Jerez test concludes 2008 so now we all have to wait for February to get our next dose of what we can expect next season. Roll on Spring!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Not bad, not bad at all!
Last month I found myself at Mallory Park again this time on an ACU Wednesday with RSR racing for a test. All this still being new to me I was as usual quite nervous and seeing most of the British superstock setups next to us in the garages didn't help.
After passing the initial trial the aim was to get down to a 1 minute dead lap consistently and anything beyond that would be fantastic. However first session out came close to a nightmare. I was put into the faster of the two groups and I couldn't help but feel a little bit out of my depth. Superstock riders came past me like I was on stop and I started asking myself, "what am I doing here?".
It wasn't long before I found myself riding my luck more than the bike as I came out of the last corner well and truly out of the seat. Coming out of the tight chicane and down the hill I hooked third gear as the rear was fighting for grip, however the kick up to third was not hard enough and the R6 slipped out and back into second.
I have only high sided once before on circuit and that was at Donington park due to a wasted rear tyre and my ignorance in coming in to get it changed got myself a one way ticket to the gravel trap that day. So here I was at Mallory Park and thinking here we go again but the R6 relented and let me back into the saddle for another chance.
I got back to the pits disappointed, angry and with my confidence shot. After a prep talk from my team boss Roger Stuart and a good kick up the backside from my dad I was ready for session two. I had met my target of a 1 minute dead lap in session one but I done a good job of nearly ending the day early at the same time. Plenty of room for improvement then.
Second session went well as I got more confident and conversant with the Yamaha. Knee planted around Gerrards always gives you confidence and from there on I didn't look back all day. I ended up lapping consistently in the 59's which was fantastic. Best thing of all I was passing a few people which I didn't think would be happening that often.
Overall it was a big learning curve but I learnt more there in one day than I would learn in a year of trackdays. The ACU Wednesday give me a good perception of what is expected of me next season and from January onwards my training regime is going to get serious. I have another test coming up shortly and yes, I am nervous!
After passing the initial trial the aim was to get down to a 1 minute dead lap consistently and anything beyond that would be fantastic. However first session out came close to a nightmare. I was put into the faster of the two groups and I couldn't help but feel a little bit out of my depth. Superstock riders came past me like I was on stop and I started asking myself, "what am I doing here?".
It wasn't long before I found myself riding my luck more than the bike as I came out of the last corner well and truly out of the seat. Coming out of the tight chicane and down the hill I hooked third gear as the rear was fighting for grip, however the kick up to third was not hard enough and the R6 slipped out and back into second.
I have only high sided once before on circuit and that was at Donington park due to a wasted rear tyre and my ignorance in coming in to get it changed got myself a one way ticket to the gravel trap that day. So here I was at Mallory Park and thinking here we go again but the R6 relented and let me back into the saddle for another chance.
I got back to the pits disappointed, angry and with my confidence shot. After a prep talk from my team boss Roger Stuart and a good kick up the backside from my dad I was ready for session two. I had met my target of a 1 minute dead lap in session one but I done a good job of nearly ending the day early at the same time. Plenty of room for improvement then.
Second session went well as I got more confident and conversant with the Yamaha. Knee planted around Gerrards always gives you confidence and from there on I didn't look back all day. I ended up lapping consistently in the 59's which was fantastic. Best thing of all I was passing a few people which I didn't think would be happening that often.
Overall it was a big learning curve but I learnt more there in one day than I would learn in a year of trackdays. The ACU Wednesday give me a good perception of what is expected of me next season and from January onwards my training regime is going to get serious. I have another test coming up shortly and yes, I am nervous!
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