MORE Afternoon Moto News - Speed Dating & Dunlop Supports CSC

Road Racer X's Speed Dating column comes to us again...and I missed it earlier this week. Well, along with myself, Joe Petrali, Randy Krummenacher, Nicky Wimbauer, Takuma Aoki, Joey Dunlop, Toriano Wilson, Alex de Angelis, Joan Lascorz Moreno, Colin Edwards, Jorg Teuchert and Terry Rymer are all celebrating birthdays from this past week. Funny, Edwards and I share the same birthday and we were both born in Texas - but I am no MotoGP racer yet, why? Also, Triumph returned to racing during this week in 2003 in the British Supersport Championship.

http://tinyurl.com/ylq7h8t

The California State Championships (CSC) will now be supported by the Dunlop Motorcycle Tire company. It's a good thing for the three round series in this still bad economy...and they are quite pleased with how it has worked out so far. For more detail, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yz3g5t5

Alex de Angelis Will Race Scot Racing Moto2 Bike

It seems that Scot Racing will not be fielding a MotoGP team next season, but they will be putting de Angelis on a Moto2 bike for 2010. At least he found a place to land; a talent like his should be racing in the top series, and at least he is still in the same paddock.

http://tinyurl.com/ydadcs5

http://tinyurl.com/yaxsckb

Even more on the change; San Marino will support the Moto2 team. And, Niccolò Canepa will be joining him on the team, and that fills their slots for Moto2.

http://tinyurl.com/yjun9u2

Scot Honda Racing Withdraws from 2010 MotoGP Series

Scot Racing has not yet obtained the 2010 Honda MotoGP machine, so they are left with only one choice - withdraw from the top series. They will remain in the Moto2 series, so they will have a presence in the paddock, but not in the MotoGP Championship. Alex de Angelis now does not have a ride for 2010. Sad news...another team gone leaving only 17 riders confirmed for 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yg2ulzs

Photos of the Great Helmet Designs of the 2009 MotoGP Season

This came along and I found it to be interesting, so I thought I would share it with everyone. The author has collected images from just about every MotoGP race this season - that's not so different. But, what is different is that the images are all of riders' helmets in the series. Some of the best are here - Rossi's Drudi-drawn lids, Lorenzo's special lids, Nicky Hayden's various designs, Colin Edwards, Capirossi, and de Angelis...Enjoy!

http://tinyurl.com/yknzsux

Alex de Angelis Gets Help with MotoGP Contract from San Marino

Some of you may know that the Most Serene Republic of San Marino is actually its own nation within Italy. Alex de Angelis is a citizen of that nation. He has lost his ride on the Gresini Honda team, but the Secretary of Sport and Tourism of San Marino is working hard to secure him a ride at Scot Honda, which is also based in, you guessed it, San Marino. The state is promising to assist financially if necessary...

http://tinyurl.com/ykfe5zf

San Carlo Gresini Racing is Doing Well in 2009, Can it Continue at Phillip Island

Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis have had some differing fortunes recently; Elias has been improving most of the year and is sitting in 7th place in MotoGP Championship points. De Angelis, though, has had two DNFs in the last two races, yet he did score points in every race up to Misano. Both riders are competitive at Phillip Island, at least their past would indicate this. So, again, we are in for good racing!

http://tinyurl.com/yldmxql

Where Will Alex de Angelis Be Sitting Next Season?

De Angelis has nothing signed for 2010 and he is still turning in results - how odd. If he does not find something in MotoGP, he will move to World Superbike or a similar series. The crash at Misano has hurt his status, but that should really be taken in context with his many podium finishes over the last few years. Whoever picks him up will not be sorry!

http://tinyurl.com/lgrnox

Supposedly, he will announce his plans at Estoril in Portugal: http://tinyurl.com/kq54tr

MotoGP Misano San Marino GP Round-up

A summary of the ins and outs of the MotoGP weekend at Misano in Italy...de Angelis may have cost himself a ride next year...

http://tinyurl.com/l7ftpm

Gresini Honda also Near Home at Misano

Most of the crew of the Gresini MotoGP team are from the area around Rimini. Plus, rider Alex De Angelis is from the town next to the track.

http://tinyurl.com/lgfnqm

Of course, De Angelis is not happy about being let go from the Gresini team next year. He is fully supported in his argument by me - just look at his performance this year and remember that he is on a satellite ride!

http://tinyurl.com/lynqos

Elias and de Angelis are Both Looking Forward to Indy

San Carlo Honda Gresini team is on a high after Toni Elias scored a podium at Brno, and de Angelis has been improving steadily throughout the season. They should both do well at Indy.

http://tinyurl.com/m3ul9m