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Rossi Considering WSBK after MotoGP

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During the rider debrief on Thursday we found Valentino Rossi looking in good form and ready for the race weekend at Laguna Seca. Noticeably better on his feet, the conversation actually turned from the Italian’s injury, and approached normalcy by centering once again on Rossi’s future.

However this time the speculation wasn’t about whether he’d ride for Ducati, but instead what Rossi would like to do after he finishes his MotoGP career. His answer? World Superbike. Read it for yourself in the Q&A after the jump.

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Racing

Ben Spies Talks About His Podium at Silverstone

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After taking his first GP podium at Silverstone during the British GP, OnTheThrottle TV caught up with Ben Spies to talk to the American rider about what it was like to achieve the next milestone in his young career. Talking about his highside leading up to Sunday’s race, Spies gives a tremendous amount of insight into heating up the Bridgestone tires, which helps to further explain Rossi’s highside at Mugello. Spies also gives us a perspective on the on-track communication riders have when it comes to catching up to other riders and fighting for position. Check out the full skype interview after the jump, and hang on through the technical issues.

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Rumors

Geoff May Outs EBR 1190RR Production Bike?

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Yesterday Pit Pass Radio interviewed Erik Buell Racing rider Geoff May, who answered some great questions about EBR and the problems the team’s facing racing a bike that was homologated for 2009, not 2010. With development essentially frozen, everyone is waiting for when Erik Buell is release from his non-compete agreement with Harley-Davidson.

Talking about the 2011 season, May shows some anticipation for racing an 1190RR in the AMA Pro Racing series, which could only occur with an exception from the AMA, or better yet…a production version that can be homologated for racing. We’re guessing it’s the latter, but listen to the interview yourself and make the call.

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Racing

Get to Know Team Texas: Edwards Interviews Spies

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In an effort to get to know Team Texas a bit better, BBC Sport sat down Monster Yamaha Tech3 riders Colin Edwards and Ben Spies, and had the veteran rider question the MotoGP newcomer about issues on and off the track. Team orders? Rituals? Mustard or ketchup? The pair cover all the bases on what makes Team Texas truly Texan, and at the end of the interview, Edwards even dives into silly season speculation, and asks Rossi or Lorenzo? Check it out after the jump.

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Racing

Michael Jordan Talks Motorcycles on ESPN’s E:60

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This week on E:60, ESPN’s Hannah Storm got a moment to interview Michael Jordan about his involvement in motorcycles and ownership of the Michael Jordan Motorsports team, which found its first victory ever while at this year’s Daytona 200 season opener. In the interview, Jordan talks about how he got into the sport of motorcycling, and the trials and tribulations of owning a motorsports team.

While motorcycle enthusiasts might not appreciate the surface-level treatment Storm and ESPN give motorcycle racing in the segment, it’s also important to realize that someone like Michael Jordan brings a spotlight on our sport and industry that has never before been seen by mainstream media and consumers. Check the segment after the jump, and let us know if you think this is a positive or negative publicity boost for motorcycles.

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Racing

Video: Ben Spies Talks About Being a GP Racer

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After his race as a fully-inducted MotoGP racer, OnTheThrottle got a chance to talk to Ben Spies about his first race under the lights of Qatar and as a full-fledged GP racer. Spies talks about qualifying etiquette, the difference in style between WSBK and GP bikes, and how he feels he’s stacking up against the competition. See Ben explains all this and take questions from OTT’s live audience in their video interview after the jump.

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Racing

Vito Ippolito Speaks on The Future of Motorcycling and the FIM’s e-Power Championship

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During at stop in Utrecht, Netherlands, David Emmett over at MotoMatters was able to have a sit down discussion with FIM bossman Vito Ippolito. In their conversation, Emmett gets a rare chance to ask Ippolito a variety of questions regarding the latest MotoGP rule changes, and inner-workings of the FIM, and its involvement in roadracing events.

The interview sheds terrific insight into how manufacturers, sponsorships, national and internationa pressures, and rule making shape the sport we all enjoy, and as the interview winds down, Emmett asks Ippolito about the role the FIM is taking in electric motorcycle racing, and how the FIM sees the future of motorcycling. With permission from MotoMatters we’ve reproduced this section of the interview after the jump, but recommend everyone to read the full interview transcript on MotoMatters.com. It’s well worth the read, and one of the best interviews we’ve seen in a while in the racing space.

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Banter

Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson Talk Competitiveness, Fame, & Being A World Champion

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After what felt like a thinly veiled R1 commercial in part one, Yamaha has released the second installment of its One on One series with Ben Spies and Eddie Lawson. The two famed Yamaha riders talk about what makes a professional motorcycle racer tick, including their competitive nature, reaction to fans, and being called a Champion. We’d say the first clip is a pass, but this second video is pretty insightful, and worth the 7 minutes of your time. Video after the jump.

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News

Chip Yates On SWIGZ.com Pro Racing Electric Superbike Progress

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Last week I had a chance to ask Chip Yates some questions over email about the progress of the SWIGZ.COM Pro Racing Electric Superbike program. Chip’s responses tell us his team’s ambitious performance goals are on track and they are quickly signing on sponsors. SWIGS.COM Pro Racing remains the only electric motorcycle race team to put the cards on the table for 2010 in regards to target performance.

In late 2009, Chip announced he had assembled a team including two MIT grads turned aerospace engineers to develop an electric superbike to compete in the TTXGP race series. The press release mentioned some very impressive and somewhat controversial goals for the SWIGZ.COM bike including the ability to turn AMA SuperSport lap times (GSX-R600) and a KERS system to return braking energy back to the battery.

Since the announcement, the electric motorcycle racing landscape has changed dramatically with the entrance of the FIM e-Power series and the TT Zero race replacing TTXGP at the Isle Of Man. Some races have conflicting schedules that will force teams to choose one event or the other. Chip explains what series the team will run and which they will not. Unfortunately the team is not releasing any of the electric drive specs and vendors yet but some details should be announced next month.

See the full Q&A with Chip Yates after the break.

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Racing

Video Interviews with Rossi, Lorenzo, & Jarvis

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In conjunction with the unveiling of the 2010 Fiat-Yamaha MotoGP team, a series of interviews with Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Lin Jarvis have been released for public consumption. Despite being released from the team’s PR firm, with cooperation from Fiat, the questions strike at the heart of many the issues that surround the Lorenzo/Rossi battle for supremacy. They’re quite long, but worth a watch, check them out after the jump.

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