First of all, a quick note about last weekend’s American Grand prix at Indianapolis. Fact is, the track is the worst circuit on which the circus competes all year. Secondly, it has been the subject of numerous complaints about the surface, the facilities and just about every thing you could name. Thirdly, the American organisers have chosen to do exactly nothing about the situation. Riders need to boycott Indianapolis and say enough is enough. Let’s look at the toll. Hector Barbera in hospital with three damaged vertebra, Nicky Hayden in hospital with multiple fractures to his right hand, Ben Spies beaten up beyond any definition of pain, Casey Stoner, showing his true colours, racing with a fractured ankle. How long will they continue racing at this goat track? Until somebody ends up in a wheelchair?
OK, rant over. Dani showed that he is a true title contender, Lorenzo’s aura of invincibility slipped just a little and Dovi on the podium again on a satellite bike. The race itself? A boring procession. Say no more.
In jigsaw-land, Andrea Dovizioso has pre-empted a formal announcement from Ducati by revealing that he has signed in an interview with gpone. News this morning that Leon Haslam, unwanted at BMW for 2013 now that Ben Spies is almost certain there, is looking at a seat at Ten Kate. Replacing who, you might say? Well, nobody’s saying, but the crazy rumour out of Britain this morning (note its source) is that Johnathan Rae is off to MotoGp on a Gresini Honda. I don’t know what sort of glue the journalist who wrote this was sniffing when he sat down at the keyboard, but it must have been potent stuff. JR65 isn’t ever going to be a serious MotoGp contender, despite his speed on a WSBK bike. He’s too much “win it or bin it” for any team to contemplate that. Now his team-mate? That MIGHT just be a different story. I know Hiroshi had a horror season in MotoGp but he’s still a 250cc world champion and he might just be worth another try at the top level.
Another successful outing for ASBK at PI on the weekend despite the usual arctic (Antarctic) conditions for which the Island is famous. Wayne Maxwell put the Honda back on the map and, with one round to go, is pressing Josh Waters on the Suzuki for the title.
The weather looks beautiful this week where I am, around 20 degrees during the day, perhaps Spring is coming early. I sure hope so. Hope it’s nice in your part of the world today as well, get out there and enjoy it, with this thought for the day…
“The first five days after the weekend are always the hardest.”