This, race fans, is Danilo Petrucci, one of the brave souls trying his luck on the future of MotoGP hardware, in his case the doggedly underpowered Came IodaRacing Project machine. Not on a (relatively) zippy Aprilia ART, or a Honda-powered FTR, Petrucci qualifies on the same grid as Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo, and brings to this gunfight a knife that packs a whopping 185 bhp, compared to the factory prototype engines that are rumored to be around 260 bhp. As I photograph a race, I see a much different version of the event than TV viewers. I watch the recorded TV broadcast later, and can tell you that there is a lot going on with the Claiming Rule Team bikes that doesn’t make in onto TV.
We are now purely a “suck, squeeze, bang, blow” society, and while that suits many motorists just fine, there are some who enjoy the smell of pre-mix in the morning — you know who you are. You enjoy the sound of angry bees following you from apex to off-camber. You think a displacement for “serious riders” starts at around 250cc. You like your engine compression low, and your powerbands narrow. You sir (or madam), are a two-stroke junky, and we have just the fix you need. Having a bevy of intriguing two-wheeled projects within its walls, the Swiss bike that catches our eye today is the Suter 500 Factory V4: a two-stroke, 500cc, V4, track weapon that puts out over 200 hp and weighs 284 lbs ready to race — no, that is not a typo.
Blurred to protect against spoilers, we’ll just leave things simply by saying that World Superbike’s Race 2 at Donington Park is well worth a watching if you haven’t already seen it. Decided right down to the last few turns, race pundits surely will be discussing the race and its outcome over the next week. Unsurprisingly, geography is playing a major a role in how things are being viewed. Though in a race where a number of questionable passes occurred, it is hard to single out this one event from the plethora of others that occurred during the race, but of course this one had the biggest effect on the race outcome. Click past the jump for the he said, she said, and of course for some slightly sharper photos.
More news from Norton, as the British firm has begun track-testing its V4 road race bike, in preparation of the 2012 Isle of Man TT. Focusing on the bike’s handling, Norton has been working hand-in-hand with Öhlins and Dunlop developing the bike’s chassis. The trio has devised the highly sophisticated “165 mph no hands” test, which supposedly checks the stability of the bike, though we imagine Health & Safety would frown upon it. With the bike’s Aprilia RSV4 motor putting out 195hp at the crank, and with the total race package weighing 419 lbs (195 kg) when it is sopping wet, the Spondon-framed Norton may not be exactly what fans of the famous marques were hoping for after seeing the very appealing Norton NRV 588, though it does seem to be a potent package.
Launching in downtown Los Angeles, the 2012 Brammo Empulse R & 2013 Brammo Empulse broke their cover and officially debuted. Right off the bat from the designations, you can see that Brammo intends for the Empulse R to be a 2012 model, with the base model Emuplse coming out next year (more on that further down). As we expected, the Brammo Empulse R got quite the price bump after its 22-month marination, and will be $18,995 MSRP. Meanwhile when the Brammo Empulse becomes available next year, it will have a slightly more palatable $16,995 price tag.
While the EBR 1190RS race bikes were on the track, their $40,000+ street-legal counterparts were on display outside of the Erik Buell Racing garage. Rocking an American flag livery, I naturally took pictures of this show bike. Eye catching to say the least, nothing says “Made in ‘merica” better than a red, white, and blue color scheme, especially when it is laid over carbon fiber. And while I want to love this bike because of its nuances and outside-of-the-box technical design, I don’t.
If there’s one lesson we can take from Sunday’s race at Estoril, it’s this: “I’ve always said we know Casey’s the guy that’s the fastest guy in the world. Maybe over the seasons he hasn’t put the championships together, but by far he’s the best guy in the world.” Cal Crutchlow is not known for mincing his words, and his description of Casey Stoner pulls no punches. But given the fact that Stoner only managed to win the Portuguese round of MotoGP by a second and a bit, is that not a little exaggerated?
Brammo is back for electric motorcycle racing in the North American TTXGP series, as the Ashland-based company is set to defend it’s #1 plate this year with Steve Atlas on board ( Shelina Moreda is slated to join the team later in the season). Gaining a title sponsorship from Icon, Brammo arrived at Sears Point with some edgy graphics on the 2012 Brammo Empulse RR. Dropping roughly 35 lbs in weight, and gaining roughly 50hp over the bike they ran at last year’s season opener, Brammo is making most of those gains in its revised motor and power inverter for the newest Empulse RR.
As you can imagine, the bulk of the commentary, both from readers and from professional journalists, has centered around the absurdity of the claim, with even jokes being offered about how an aged BMW rider should be thanking the German motorcycle brand for saving him money on Viagra, etc. The situation reminds me of the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit. You know the story, right?. A woman buys a cup of coffee at McDonald’s, spills it on herself while in the car, and sues the bastards for her incompetence. True to litigious American form, the unthinkable happened, and a jury awarded this gold-digging woman millions of dollars. It is repudiating, and it stands for everything that is wrong with the legal system, or so we would be lead to believe — especially by the media.
Never say never, but few are expecting Valentino Rossi to hang up his spurs at the end of the 2012 MotoGP Championship. Going out on a career low-point is certainly not the Italian’s style, especially as it casts a particularly dark shadow on a career that has enjoyed the bright-light superlative of “Greatest of All Time” from some of motorcycling’s most knowledgeable sources. Hoping to cast that phrase with an underlined typeface, and not with an interrogatory question mark, there is sufficient evidence to believe that Rossi will want to end his career in a way that will leave no doubt about the nine-time World Champion’s abilities. The question of course is how those final seasons will play out, and who they will be with.
all in good fun…racing needs more of this in my opinion. Part of the reason AMA is so much fun to watch (aside from the crazy close racing) is because you get to feel the real personalities of the riders. And Colin ran a damn good race too! To win you must first finish.
What did Jorge say?
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Video: How Colin Edwards Got In Trouble with His Wife at Silverstone – http://aspha.lt/n4 #motorcycle
Jorge says ” we are in love”.
GP & AMA both would make excellent reality shows, much better than ANOTHER show seeking out singing/dancing talent.
Jensen I’m sure you can attest that there is some ridiculous drama going down any given Sunday within the ranks of any given AMA/GP/WSBK team.
I think would make for the best television, smaller paddock (relationship-wise). WSBK and MotoGP are more divided by country of origin…with most of it being Spain vs. Italy.
Somebody get the hook. Edwards is an embarassment and a fool. Not high?, Yeah right! Yep, he can ride a motorcycle and he’s great at that. When he retires from racing, I hear they have an opening on the show Jack Ass.
Who the fuck is Steve?
We know who Steve is, but I thought Jim Morrison was dead
Certainly not – and who’s we?
lighten up “Steve-O”
Robby…I’m good. But I don’t think old Jim liked what I said about his pal Edwards. I was referring to Jim Morrison of “The Doors” by the way. He must be a little sensitive. That’s ok, I understand.
Edwards is ok by me anyday. The guys speaks his mind and doesn’t hold back like the pussies of Nascar with their canned responses to the same question week in and week out. MOTOGP will thrive the more is stays fresh and fun without the suits coming in and putting people on notice for saying what they think. So Steve, relax and be thankful you are able to still hear a man speak his mind in a top level sport.
Well Steve, it looks like Colin’s got Jimmy Hendrix and Jim Morrison on his side so maybe this might be a good time to reconsider…………
On another note altogether I have to say there’s an impressively high standard of comment on all matters MGP on this site – are some of you guys journos or rogue mechanics?.
Please keep it up.
Steve,
Go watch “Good Morning Vietnam” and figure out which character you resemble.
I wish I had not read your negative comments on Colin or Ryan.
Ok, let me see if I have this right. Edwards is on stage admitting to taking pain meds and being so wasted that he misses his brake marks and saying how dangerous it was. Nice. It also looked like he was under the influence during the interview as he plays to the crowd who seem to be cheering him on. I thought he came off like a moron for most of it and was embarassed for him. And as far as having Jimmy Hendrex and Jim Morrison on his side….. that would make sense to me…. if you recall what happened to them.
All kidding aside….I didn’t mean to upset the hero worship jar here. I’ve been following Edwards from the time he rode 250′s in the AMA and later when he got screwed by Honda after winning the championship and will take nothing away from his talent as a rider. However, I wish I had not seen this video. I thought Edwards acted like a fool. I’m all for people speaking thier mind in any level of pro sports but not when they admit to being high on drugs when they do it. So how is Barry Bonds liking retirement these days?
And Jeff, OK…I’ll be Robin Williams… and by the way, I was in the draft during Vietnam…. Where were you? Watching TV?
shut up steve. go watch boat racing you tool.
Steve, you seem to be one of those unfortunates who suffer a complete inability to comprehend the subtleties of human discourse. This must make things difficult for you but perhaps you try harder not to process all inputs quite so literally?
Steve, you really take things way too literally and the way Colin is presenting himself is all in good fun and heart. Yes he was on painkillers, so are many riders when they ride with injuries. When he’s saying he got high and missing brake markers it’s a light/funny way of explaining to laymen that he prefers not to be on painkillers when he rides because it effects him too much. If he gets all technical and talks like Dani Pedorosa the crowd would sleep. It’s a PR event for christ sake.Some riders like to ride with painkillers. You on the other hand actually think he was high as a kite on “drugs” riding a motorbike, taking what he said the wrong way.
Colin is a super relaxed guy, probably the only one in the paddock that doesn’t have some rigorous workout routine and still rides top level, finishes top 6 on a satellite last year bike, podiums and develop bikes like no other. If you see his interviews that’s how he acts these days. Hell he’s even chewing tobacco.
Thankyou Chris. I know you spent a long time with that in depth response. I can see your trying to improve you writing skills while expressing yourself and it’s really coming through. Great work!
And Dave, you must be naturally smart, having the ability to convey abstract thoughts in your writing without even thinking about what it is you are trying to say. That’s a gift. I just had one question though. When you mentioned the term, “subtleties of human dicourse”, does that mean when Edwards takes pain medication to the point he has no idea what he’s doing then hops on his Moto GP bike without telling anybody…. then thinks it’s funny? You know your right it is difficult for me to understand, I should work on that. The term Moron comes to mind. Not you Dave, you’re smart.
SBPilot….
If you are too hurt to ride without taking pain meds (Narcotics, which are most pain meds) that impare your judgement, don’t ride. Period. I’m not questioning his ability to ride a motorcycle, I’m questioning his common sense and judgement of which he seems to have little of.
Ah Steve, you’re actually getting quite amusing now. Still sticking up for your fuddy-duddy opinion when all around you, everyone is saying lighten up, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Still not getting it, are you? Never mind. Everyone else is wrong, and you are right.
There’s a commonly used word for people like you. Troll. You are clearly too old to get this discussion, so kindly take your negativity elsewhere old man. We like Colin, we like what he does, we like how he acts, we like his straight talking, his joking, he is probably the guy in the paddock that most fans can relate to.
Are you getting it yet? The hole you have dug for yourself with your nanny state comments is plenty deep enough now. Kindly settle into it, there’s a good chap.
Well, I see I was wrong. It wasn’t a hero worship (jar) I’ve rattled…. it’s a bucket. This is getting interesting. Chris in “oz” So from the sound of it, you may be from England? That’s great. How’s that tan coming? You know when you refered to me as a Troll (“ouch”) I could only imagine you must be upset with my comments about Edwards using drugs and riding his moto GP bike while under the influence. Does this mean we’re not going to be friends?
Ok Chris, I’ll say this one more time and I’ll use small words so you can understand. Edwards acted like an idiot during most of that interview and thought it was a joke and funny that he was wasted on pain killers while riding his Moto GP bike. You like that and think it’s ok. We’ll… it looks like he’s in good company.
Troll, you’re making me yawn. *yawwwwwnnnn*
In case you hadn’t noticed, everyone thought it was funny. The crowd, the presenters, this forum – everyone that is, except you, old man steve, in your nursing home shaking your walking stick at the youngsters.
Now put your false teeth in a jar, and nod off to sleepy-bye byes.
Seeya!
Chris I understand that you have never raced a motorcycle on a racetrack and for whatever reason you’ve decided to enjoy a go at Moto GP from you couch while choaking down some didscusting warm beer to feed your love handles. How nice for you. As a matter of fact many people whom I’ve spoken with, thought Edwards acted like a fool And I’m Curious what Dorna’s possition would be. Maybe a little random drug test now and then. Oh, and if you hadn’t noticed the presenters were real nervous and tryed to get the mic back from Mr. comedian on several occasions. I guess as long as there are morons like you who lick the boots of you little heros they will continue to act and say stupid things. What a shame.
Why are we having this discussion when there are good solid guys like Hayden and Spies on the grid that present a good healty image for the sport. I’m sure Edwards is a solid guy too and capable of rational desisions when he’s not riding his race bike while taking too much pain medication endangering himself and other riders as well. You don’t see that do you. Ok Chris, put down the beer, get off the couch and get real close to the TV and watch the clip again. C’mon Chris I have faith in you. You can’t be that stupid, I know you can do it. While you’re doing that, I’ll come up with a fun nickname for you…….No, I just can’t get past “Bluberous Mass”. That’s too long but I’ll work on it as I’m sure it’s going to take some time for you to realize how shortsided and limited you are in your thinking. Kinda like sitting in a cart behind the horse watching it’s ass go down the road. Your not a forward thinker are you? That’s ok, don’t worry about it…… somebody has to do it. Good luck Chris and I respect that you have an opinion…. Just not much.
Wow, somebody needs to get to their nearest hospital to get the stick surgically removed out of their butt.
Ha ha. Richard I agree, but unfortunately this wanker can’t be told, no matter how many of us tell him. It’s to do with being senile, unfortunately.
Hey Richard….You’re right, And Chris, Here’s your bucket back. XXOOXX
Alyssia has nothing to worry about, she should know Colin’s personality by now… A loveable Larakin of the MotoGP paddock