Apologies for the infrequence of posting first of all. The latest batch of surgery has been a bit more debilitating than what I expected and it seems to be taking a while to recover this time.
Anyway, to the news.
1. Speculation is gathering pace that the new Hermann Tilke-designed circuit in Austin, Texas, is set to score a major coup by being granted an extended contract for MotoGp from 2012 onwards. The usually authoritative superbikeplanet is reporting that former GP ace, Kevin Schwantz, himself a Texan, has been able to wrangle (sorry about that) a TEN YEAR deal for the new circuit. With Abu Dhabi and India also slated to get a GP round and the possible return of Argentina as well, some European rounds look set to get the chop in order to fit them in. (Sachsenring and Estoril are the two most likely to be dropped.) As I predicted a long time ago, expect the universally-disliked Indianapolis venue to host its last GP this year. Press releases say that officials are still negotiating a contract extension, but it’s a lost cause, I’m afraid. Unfortunately, as I also noted a while ago, the new Austin layout is another boring Hermann Tilke-designed skating rink that should provide really exciting racing like all his other tracks do….NOT.
2. Dani Pedrosa’s post-operating examination has been done and the doctors are happy, no infection (always good) and rehab to begin almost immediately. Pedrobot is expected to be fit and ready for Estoril on the 1st of May.
3. Randy de Puniet has also undergone surgery to remove a screw from his left knee inserted after his horror crash at the Sachsenring last year (I know how he feels on both counts). He also hopes to be fit for Estoril.
4. I’ve not been following the electric bike story (and have been taken to task by a few readers because of it) but, frankly, it just doesn’t interest me, any more than electric cars do for that matter. Now, HYDROGEN cars, that’s a REAL technology worth pursuing ([youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QZLKcGkA-s[/youtube]) But news in this week that Californian, Chip Yates, ran a 190 mph (304 km/h) run in the Mojave desert aboard his electric bike. I’d be more interested if they could extend the RANGE of electric bikes rather than the speed.
5. No real reason for this old photo of Alex de Angelis except to admire his style and to hope that 2012 will bring about bigger fields and closer racing and more exciting stuff like this.
6. The usually-interesting visordown web site has an interesting article today that speculates about upcoming Honda models and draws a pretty long bow, actually, about what might be in the wind. What is REALLY interesting in the article, though, is an explanation as to how Honda’s NUMBERING system works as far as identifying models, (RC36 and so forth) is concerned. I do recommend that you read it, it’s very interesting.
7. In the wake of several serious accidents in MotoGp in the last few years, the FIM, the controlling body, is looking at mandating some more safety measures, specifically, air bag leathers and hand guards to try and prevent the infamous Loris Capirossi incident of a few years ago. The air bag suits have already proved their worth on a number of occasions, but there seems to be considerable resistance to the hand guard proposal on safety grounds. Watch this space.
8. Finally, the same web site has also done a good capsule coverage of the GP12 Ducati that is well worth reading as well.