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Post by René on Aug 21, 2018 16:11:28 GMT
Can Ducati continue their strong form and challenge Marc Márquez for the championship? To have a realistic chance, Ducati should focus on one rider only but I don't see that happening. And let's hope for a good result for the home boys, especially Scott! 
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Post by charleselan on Aug 21, 2018 16:52:33 GMT
Can Ducati continue their strong form and challenge Marc Márquez for the championship? To have a realistic chance, Ducati should focus on one rider only but I don't see that happening. And let's hope for a good result for the home boys, especially Scott!
Great photo of days past Renè, I was there that day with the Dutch man in white Will Hartog leading Bazza Sheene and Kenny Roberts. We were there to see Barry win, but as with all previous years he did not. A huge crowd lined the "real" Silverstone, one had to almost fight to get a prime position anywhere on the circuit it was that full. I am going for another Lorenzo win, just lovin' what he is doing at the moment  . Scott will probably get a Moto2 engine this weekend after his comments about Aprillia last week  . |
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Post by René on Aug 22, 2018 17:31:22 GMT
Can Ducati continue their strong form and challenge Marc Márquez for the championship? To have a realistic chance, Ducati should focus on one rider only but I don't see that happening. And let's hope for a good result for the home boys, especially Scott! Great photo of days past Renè, I was there that day with the Dutch man in white Will Hartog leading Bazza Sheene and Kenny Roberts. We were there to see Barry win, but as with all previous years he did not. A huge crowd lined the "real" Silverstone, one had to almost fight to get a prime position anywhere on the circuit it was that full. I am going for another Lorenzo win, just lovin' what he is doing at the moment . Scott will probably get a Moto2 engine this weekend after his comments about Aprillia last week . Wil Hartog, 'de Witte reus' (the white giant) as he was called in the Netherlands. A very good rider who won of course the TT in Assen in 1977. I can still remember that and I had a scale model of his Suzuki bike! A nice anecdote: after Hartog won the 1980 Finish Grand Prix, he was congratulated by Stefania, Graziano Rossi's wife who had her 6 month old son on her arm; young Valentino!  |
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Post by chrisb on Aug 22, 2018 19:03:23 GMT
Rene, love that story of Will,
I've gone for Dovi, on the basis i reckon the more he thinks about it the more he is going to resent Lorenzo, and would Ducati really want a future Honda rider as a WRC? for all the rhetoric I doubt it - mind you what about Petruchi?
I do think the weather may well play a big part in this race, and wouldn't it just be a dream should someone else called Rossi or Redding won!
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Post by charleselan on Aug 23, 2018 12:32:57 GMT
As Chris has mentioned, great story René about the man in white leathers Wil Hartog. Wil had a unique riding style as show in the photo; it can be seen that Barry Sheene's is very much a forerunner to that adopted by many today. Barry was a brilliant rider in my opinion, and far too many pundits today underrate the guy. He was a very quick rider, but also very clever. He would sit behind for most of the race, and then when the moment was right he would surge to the front, completely unstoppable.
Oxley goes on about all the American's from the 80's, but believe me Barry was as good as any of them, easily the equal of Kenny Roberts and often on inferior machinery.
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Post by chrisb on Aug 25, 2018 16:45:46 GMT
Hear hear JC, a very exciting session with all 3 categories exceeding their hopes, except for Danny Kent, do wonder what is happening there? Scott looked good and was close, but the best was Smithy and the worst - team Yamaha - not making many friends at the moment - looking forward to tomorrow's race - the weather up here is forecasted doom and gloom and I am about 200 miles from Silverstone, so if it is a wet race we could have a shock result! we hope,
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Post by charleselan on Aug 25, 2018 17:37:20 GMT
Hear hear JC, a very exciting session with all 3 categories exceeding their hopes, except for Danny Kent, do wonder what is happening there? Scott looked good and was close, but the best was Smithy and the worst - team Yamaha - not making many friends at the moment - looking forward to tomorrow's race - the weather up here is forecasted doom and gloom and I am about 200 miles from Silverstone, so if it is a wet race we could have a shock result! we hope, Chris, Even Heuwen on BT Sport was saying he hopes it would be wet as Scott could spring a surprise. He rode really well in the changeable conditions and on a bike that is just plain not good enough. Whoever his management are they have made some grossly bad decisions in handling him, and his career; everyone with half a brain knows that a ride with Aprillia is career death knell. Nationality plays a big part also, not only with the selection by the manufacturers of who rides for them, but also the "support" given by the Commercial Rights holders. So Scott and Bradley (he did ride well today and maybe KTM made the wrong choice in who they dropped) will be out of MotoGP and that is a crying shame fro the UK and the lads. Looking at the weather it was a typical August Bank Holiday for the UK, lovely day here in Northern France. Danny Kent; what can one say. No doubt he could do with some better management and or advisers. JC |
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Post by chrisb on Aug 26, 2018 15:14:58 GMT
JC
unfortunately, as I write it has been too wet, a real shame and one I can totally go with the riders, having ridden at modest speeds in torrential rain and aquaplaned on those beasts it must be terrifying, especially after what happened to poor Tito in practice. A real shame, especially as I do think as Scott has proved previously just how good he is in the wet and it would have been fun!- where he goes from here feels a real dilemma - BSB on the Bird Ducati I understand is a real option, but I don't think Scott will find it as easy as some people think, WSB? but on what? Aprilla, as you quite rightly say John, are hardly known for their loyalty and funny enough, it is the one bike manufacturer I have never wanted to own one of their machines. We talk of paid racing drivers aka Strolling but then, and I don't have the same problem with them as I do in F1, but we do have Karel Abraham who seems to get rides whereas quicker riders fail to, I just think it would be grossly unfair that someone who, with a bit of good fortune could have beaten Petrucci and ended up on a factory Ducati, is without a ride next year, still, I won't give up hope
It seems obvious John that Japanese, Spanish and Italian riders dominate. The Northern Europeans and now Americans don't seem so commercially viable or? but when you look at what Valle is doing with Sky46 [who is backing this one wonders?] and that doesn't seem to happen in France, UK or Germany, all with big biker populations you have to ask why? as for Bradders that would be a shame, I think he has finally endeared himself and I would tend to agree that KTM has made a mistake there. Hopefully, he can get a ride somewhere next year, but Lin Jarvis's comments seemed a bit unpleasant about British riders, maybe incorrectly interpreted but emphatic he didn't want a Brit in his team.
the weather is awful, yet tomorrow hopefully is supposed to be ok and hopefully, I will get out on the bike!
don't know about Danny, I do think he needs a nurturing team and maybe away from MotoGP possibly WSB, you don't win a WRC by being a chump, he must have some skill?
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Post by charleselan on Aug 26, 2018 17:18:13 GMT
Some great points Chris, and very well put. What an absolutely diabolical day at Silverstone and completely agree that it was impossible to ride on that track in those conditions. I too have ridden in some pretty heavy rain and gone through Puddles that were like lakes, as Kimi would say "not ideal"! One day i was caught out by the weather and had to ride 50 miles home in pouring rain in my leather trousers bottoms and kevlar top. Upon getting off the machine my "troos" fell down to my knees, good job I lived in an isolated location . I have been to too many wet race meetings at Silverstone and know how bad it can be, so my thoughts are with the poor spectators who have been deprived of any action. I sincerely hope they get a full refund, especially as the very precious team mangers voted not to race tomorrow on August Bank Holiday Monday, which is a disgrace. Hervé Poncheral said he was all for racing on the Monday but respected democracy, great bloke Hervé, but sometimes democracy isn't the answer. In my opinion Silverstone is not a good location for bike racing of any sort and this situation has confirmed as much. the resurface that was done earlier this year was apparently not done well and contributed to the problems experienced today. Also the bumps created by modern car racing is another major issue that should be addressed by all circuits that run both two & four wheels completions. These modern day aerodynamic devices that proliferate in car racing are the bain of all car racing and have huge ramifications for other categories. With regard to Aprilia I too have never been a big fan and have had no desire to purchase one of their products, although I did like their little 250cc two stroke they produced back in the 1990's, but it was a "toy" and not much good for day to day riding. Aprilia's MotoGP effort is lamentable, I say this as the main parent company are well funded, but have no interest in putting stock into the race team, they do not deserve to be in MotoGP with that attitude. Scott will find it a surprise if he moves to BSB, and that is without any doubt, the standard is far higher than most realise. His concern about UK circuit safety is also a worry to me. I look at it this way you are either a professional bike racer or you are not; it's not as if he is being asked to ride at the Isle Of Man. I have a feeling he may drop back to Moto2, but it would have to be with a top team, if not he will be yesterdays news within a season. |
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Post by chrisb on Aug 26, 2018 17:51:11 GMT
excellent John, my worst experience in the rain is one of 3, once going to the TT riding to Morecambe a deluge came down upon is on the A66 that just soaked us before we could stop to put on wets, second was down to Donnington and the guy I was riding with I was convinced he was not of a sound mind, he was on a Hayabusa and rode as if it was dry, it was my choice to follow him and whilst I cannot talk about the speeds we were riding at I still sweat about them. The third and on reflection the worst, I had been on an around European motorbike trip, encompassing some 23 different countries in 17 days, some 7000miles - leaving me a wee bit tired, especially as I had dropped the bike in Albania so it wasn't very happy and the clutch was definitely angry and would lurch every time you changed gear, oh and no rear brake.....on further reflection maybe I should have just abandoned it but - we hit the mother of all storms in Northern Europe, along the Belgium and French coasts to Calais and the water was at least 6inches deep and just lashed down with a howling gale, gosh how we laughed....
totally agree that these days the two disciplines do not mix, I was so pleased when I heard a few years ago Donnington was going to host the MotoGP, Mat Oxley may have preferred Silverstone but as a spectator, Donnington would always be my preference and shall remain so, but it was a real shame that it didn;t happen. I know two people who attend every year in some sort of pilgrimage and I do feel for them and everyone else, it would be nice if they revised the date so it was the last race of the year, but that is so unlikely
John, BSB is a very good series, I would like to see more of the other European championships like Germany, France, and Italy and have some sort of end of season 'European Cup' wouldn't that be a hoot? and a great way to end the year? but unlikely, Thinking about Scott Moto2 is probably his best option and hope he gets in with a good team, although it's taken Lowes a season to recover from the Aprilla experience but next year it looks good for him, I hope it is
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 18:40:12 GMT
The wet experience I will always remember was in 2004 in Alsace. On my way to Italy from Guildford on a Virago 750 (I liked its looks and didn’t know better…), my parents were waiting for me in Switzerland near Basle and found myself after Metz on the way to Nancy instead of Strasbourg [there is a stretch around Metz where it is still – as last year’s - easy to miss the right deviation and finding yourself going in the wrong direction, like Paris or Nancy, instead of Reims-Strasbourg].
Instead to turn back, I decided to carry on and make it through the Vosges mountains, through Saint-Die’, to get to Colmar. After Saint-Die’, towards Le Bonhomme, I found myself into the pouring rain, buckets really, heavy August traffic, in the middle of the mountains, climbs, downhills, switchbacks, the lot. It became an exercise of concentration, keeping cool head and restraint, the bike, brakes and tires not suited to the conditions. I got completely drenched, literally to my pants. The boots took the following full two days under the sun (great weather as soon as I crossed in Switzerland, needless to say…) to dry out, outside my mother’s garden window.
What I recall is not the stress of riding in those difficult conditions, but the exhilaration and elation in doing it, I just felt great. Would do it again tomorrow morning, if I could. |
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Post by charleselan on Aug 26, 2018 19:03:47 GMT
"On my way to Italy from Guildford on a Virago 750 (I liked its looks and didn’t know better…)," Brilliant, classic quote..............how many guys have been seduced by the looks of a cruiser, I know of many . |
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Post by charleselan on Aug 26, 2018 19:24:26 GMT
Chris my friend it sounds as though you have done some real riding, hats off mate!
Somewhat strangely I actually liked riding in the rain, probably as a result of my teenage days motocrossing where I loved it when it was wet and muddy, much softer when you came off the motorcycle.
It would be great if Scott could get on board with a good team in Moto2 next season as he has the ability to blitz the field, and that would make people sit up and take notice. Sam Lowes has not impressed upon his return to Moto2, for what ever reason. Personally I do not think he is in the same league as Scott, he crashes far too often for my liking, however he does have huge support from the British contingent and media within the paddock. Danny Kent is potentially far more talented but he needs someone to sort his head out, and quickly.
One can have all the talent in the world, but if your head is all over the place then it's goodnight Vienna.
P.S. Forgot to comment on this. I didn't like Jarvis' tone with regard to not having an English test rider either, here is something about that guy, always looks like a bulldog chewing a wasp.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 19:59:15 GMT
"On my way to Italy from Guildford on a Virago 750 (I liked its looks and didn’t know better…)," Brilliant, classic quote..............how many guys have been seduced by the looks of a cruiser, I know of many . Useless bike for what I wanted to do with it – and pretty much everything else - long distance touring and then commuting. Heavy, long, sitting low (pain in the muscles in the back of the thighs after one-hour riding), completely exposed to the wind, both head and legs. Pathetic fuel tank, something like 15 litres, at highway speeds I had to fill it up every other service station, a range of 150 km at best. Rear tires with the grip of soap.
Perhaps half-suitable in the American Midwest, not sure, but completely useless for real riding in Europe. Suitable for “posers”, those who show off a couple of sunny weekends a year (in the UK weather) and ride in town for a fashionable coffee. I have met quite a few in their shiny “Fatboys”, speaking like Harley’s adverts, obviously remarking they had the “real thing” while I had a lowly third-hand clone.
But to my disclaimer, I pushed it. In Europe everybody used to greet me raising a hand. It never happened in the UK. When it rained, invariably I quickly was the only one to be seen on the road, chugging along, all those Rossi lookalike riders in fashionable leather overalls on their crotch rockets disappeared, running for cover. Real bikers, indeed.  |
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Post by Carl on Aug 26, 2018 22:29:46 GMT
"On my way to Italy from Guildford on a Virago 750 (I liked its looks and didn’t know better…)," Brilliant, classic quote..............how many guys have been seduced by the looks of a cruiser, I know of many . Useless bike for what I wanted to do with it – and pretty much everything else - long distance touring and then commuting. Heavy, long, sitting low (pain in the muscles in the back of the thighs after one-hour riding), completely exposed to the wind, both head and legs. Pathetic fuel tank, something like 15 litres, at highway speeds I had to fill it up every other service station, a range of 150 km at best. Rear tires with the grip of soap.
Perhaps half-suitable in the American Midwest, not sure, but completely useless for real riding in Europe. Suitable for “posers”, those who show off a couple of sunny weekends a year (in the UK weather) and ride in town for a fashionable coffee. I have met quite a few in their shiny “Fatboys”, speaking like Harley’s adverts, obviously remarking they had the “real thing” while I had a lowly third-hand clone.
But to my disclaimer, I pushed it. In Europe everybody used to greet me raising a hand. It never happened in the UK. When it rained, invariably I quickly was the only one to be seen on the road, chugging along, all those Rossi lookalike riders in fashionable leather overalls on their crotch rockets disappeared, running for cover. Real bikers, indeed. Lucio,
Harley-Davidson is the best manufacturer of obsolete motorcycles in the world. For anyone to copy them would be like a restaurant making clones of Big-Macs.
Valentino Rossi is an extraordinary talent, maybe the best over the past two decades, but he's goofy looking and enjoys having his posterior shown in severe close-up as he rides. For anyone to copy him is equally baffling. No wonder those who do run and hide when they hear your approach.
Cheers, Carl
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