Today is a very important day for me. It is five years today since I did my first Half of my Life blog entry. In that time I have posted over 1200 posts, received and replied to over 800 comments and posted over 250 page entries (longer articles). The site has nearly 100 registered users and has attracted anywhere between 70 and over 200 hits per day in that time. I am very grateful to every person who has viewed and read my stuff over the last five years and especially to those who have taken the time to provide feedback and encouragement. Needless to say, I hope to be ale to type something like this again in another five years and with your on-going support, I see no reason why this shouldn’t happen.
In other areas, we have the USGP (West) this weekend at Laguna Seca. Another weird time zone problem. No Moto3 and Moto2 of course, but the big race will be broadcast at 0730 next Monday morning. I wonder how many people will be getting to work late on Monday? The injury fun and games continues. Lorenzo has all-but ruled himself out of the event, needing to recuperate after bending the plate that had just been inserted in his collarbone. Dani Pedrosa also has a hairline crack in his collarbone after his big “off” at the Sachsenring, but, of more concern is his blood pressure issues that seem to stem from the concussion that kept him out of the event last weekend. The team is saying that they are taking Dani’s bike to Laguna Seca, but, whether he rides or not is going to be entirely dependent on whether the doctors clear him to do so.
Pedrosa’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for him, leading the championship, his best-ever (some say his last-ever) chance to clinch the elusive title, injury-free for the first time in years and looking good. How easily that can come crashing down, literally. We know from past experience that Dani is a slow healer and that he tends to allow his injuries to mess with his mind on race day. Add to that the problem that he has with his new team-mate who has leap-frogged into the championship lead and he may have to race this weekend, injured or not.
The mid-summer break is traditionally the beginning of the silly season but it seems to start earlier and earlier each year. Already speculation is rife that Nicky Hayden’s MotoGp career will be at an end and mutterings about him going to Alstare Ducati in WSBK to replace Carlos Checa are emerging. It doesn’t really matter one way or the other, as, if it happens, he will be going from one uncompetitive bike to another. Not the way you’d way to end your career. His leaving would clear the decks for Crutchlow to take his seat at Ducati having been told in as many words that there is no “works” seat at Yamaha in the foreseeable future. The conventional wisdom is that a factory ride is better than a privateer ride, but I am of the opinion that a factory ride with Ducati is the kiss of death to any rider’s career and I am being proved right again with the demolition of Andrea Dovizioso’s fine talent at the hands of the MotoGp bike as we speak.
WSBK heads to Moscow this weekend but, since I don’t get to watch it any more on TV I am not really “up” with what is happening.
On Saturday night I attended the MRRDA/RBMA dinner in Sydney. It was a great night and a great opportunity for the MRRDA people to raise some much-needed cash for the series through the auctioning off of many items of value. In my impoverished state the auction was of academic interest only. Of greater interest to me was the fact that I was able to record a half-hour interview with Chris Vermeulen, the guest of honour, in which he summed up his career and let slip some pretty interesting information about Suzuki’s new MotoGp bike. The interview will be run in an upcoming episode of MotoPod, so stay tuned to the web site for that one.
MotoPod, the internet radio broadcast about motorcycle road racing.
That’s all for today. Catch you next time.
sanoptic says
Congrats on the 5 years of doing your blog Phil ,a very fine achievement !!
I think it’s a big mistake if Yamaha drop Cal as he has now matured into a great Motogp rider but if he does go to Ducati i’m in total agreement that he will [ like all the others except maybe Casey ] struggle to be competitive .
I too don’t get to see the Superbike races live as we have cut back on pay Tv channels,the way foxtel keep increasing fees & adding more & more commercial breaks we might soon drop it all together.
But at least channel 10 or One do show the Motogp races & they do a good telecast with minimal add breaks which is good.
This time of year do you suffer problems with your injuries due to cold at all,? i know i get pain in my right leg due to a previous break & pinning & that occurred in 1981.
Seeya
Phil Hall says
Thanks, Joe. Yes, I am finding that the cold weather is a real problem. You know, I always used to think that this business about people’s rheumatism being affected by the weather was an old-wives tale, but it’s not. I am using one of those wheat packs quite a lot and I do find that it helps. But, yeah, I will be glad when the warmer weather rolls around. Thanks for your support and your feedback, mate, greatly appreciated.