Not sure how I feel about this. There IS something about being able to operate a clutch, match revs on a down shift and be smooth that is appealing. On the other hand, I can see how on touring and commuter bikes this could be attractive. Not sure how well it will work for sport bike and racing applications, but I’m sure we will find out very shortly.
Two Wheel Tuesday Brno WSS Last Lap
The last lap of the World Supersport race from Brno this past weekend was just about one for the ages! Want to show people why motorcycle racing is SO much better than cage racing, this would be a good place to start. Maybe not as good the the Assen WSS race last year, but still quite good.
Happy 50th Birthday To Honda
Honda sent this time line over today in a press release to show where they have come from, it’s pretty cool.
American Honda 50th Anniversary Timeline
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RumblestripRadio #95
Time for a little cross promotion. It’s been a while but a new episode of RumblestripRadio is now posted. It features and extend conversation with Chris Jonnum, the Editor of Road Racer X.
Check it out at www.rumblestripradio.com remember to subscribe to the show via iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.
Insight On The Honda Insight
Our friends Mark Charmer and Joe Simpson of The Movement Design Bureau have spent some significant time with the new Honda Insight. They offer the European perspective on the whole hybrid movement. Some really good thoughts here, and why I’m not alone on the island thinking that modern diesels are a far better solution than hybrids.
Enjoy!
2009 BSB Series Set To Launch
Once again for 2009 the British Superbike Series looks to be the premier domestic Superbike series in the world. With many of last years championship contenders now gone to World Superbike and Supersport, there are many names looking to step up and take the title. Leon Camier looks to be a favorite, along with Sylvan Guintoli joining the series from MotoGP and the return of Chris “Stalker” Walker to the series as well.
With the American Superbikes series becoming a joke, do to the organizers, not the level of talent, the BSB series will be a can’t miss for those of us here in The States. Have a look at the official launch video for the BSB Series.
And as OBTW, the BSB series will have 55 hours of LIVE TV coverage. Live racing, what a novel concept. Hello SPEED/DMG!!!!
Two Wheel Tuesday Toby & Julian Announce Duck Racing
A BRILLIANT promo put out by British Eurosport to promote the return of the MotoGP season. As many of you may know, at the end of last season it was announced by DORNA that British Eurosport would not be offered a contract to continue it’s coverage and that for the UK, it would be covered exclusively by “The Beeb”
This was a HUGE shocker to everyone as even “The Beeb” acknowledged that they wouldn’t and couldn’t offer the same level of coverage that British Eurosport had. On top of that the triumvirate of Moody, Ryder and Mamola were recognized BY EVERYONE as THE BEST broadcast team in the business. Even His Holiness Pope Valentino the 46th ordained a day of fasting and prayer that this team was being banished by DORNA.
Thankfully a public outcry from around the world has fixed most of this. Toby and Julian will be back again, sadly sans Mamola, and they will not be at every race, but doing some of the long flyaway races for the studios in the UK. Better this than nothing at all I say!
With that I give you this gem that was shown after GP Zero at Jerez this past Sunday, and in a conversation with Toby on Monday he said there are more of these come come, and from the description he gave me, they only get better!!
An Irish Two Wheel Tuesday
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone!
So in the spirit of everyone being Irish for a day, how about featuring a real Irishman. Eugene Laverty brought home the first win ever for the Parkalgar Honda team in Qatar this past Saturday, it was a fantastic race and here is the last lap.
Philip Island Classic
In the late 90’s MotoGP was on a downswing and World Superbikes were THE big thing in motorcycle racing. With the 2009 season just a couple days away from kicking off, how about a look back at one of the classic WSBK races from Philip Island. Race 2 from 1997
Imola 2002 Edwards v Bayliss
Two Wheel Tuesday for this week is MASSIVE! With the opening round of the World Superbike series less than two weeks away, I thought something to get you revved up for the season is called for.
There was a lot of talk about a “Duel In The Desert” between Rossi and Bayliss, but I ask you, could it live up to the “Throwdown At Imola”? Remember the WSBK title battle between Edwards and Bayliss? Troy had dominated the first half of the season opening a huge lead in the Championship, but come just past mid season at Laguna Seca, The Texas Tornado caught fire and went on a winning streak and come the last round of the series there were just a couple of points separating the two, the championship would be decided in the final round at Imola.
What we got were maybe two of the greatest races ever as these two went at it with everything they had and left it all on the track! I’ve watched this clip of race two maybe a hundred times (no joke) and I still get excited to watch the pass and repass moves.
Sit back and crank it up as we relive real Days Of Glory!
Imola 2002 Edwards v Bayliss from Eric Trytko on Vimeo.