Sunday Morning Moto News - Tommy Hill & Rene Cormier

On the second-to-last day of British Superbike Practice at the Cartagena, Spain, circuit, Worx Crescent rider Tommy Hill pulled the fastest lap of the day. The telling part of this feat is that Hill was setting consistent laps while working on many different aspects of race set up. This is a positive test for this team!

http://tinyurl.com/yj3yn8c

By the end of the test, Hill was still on top: http://tinyurl.com/yzs9fvt

Rene Cormier is another person who decided to take a motorcycle around the world. Seven years ago, Cormier sold just about everything he owned and packed up a BMW F650GS motorcycle and took off. The book he wrote about the journey is called "The University of Gravel Roads: Global Lessons From a Four Year Motorcycle Adventure" and Cormier will be in Calgary today discussing it. For all the details, please take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/ylmds3b

More Morning Moto News - Sweepstakes, Leon Haslam & Capirex

Over at the U.K. newspaper, the Mirror, is having a sweepstakes where you could win a Leon Camier autographed Pirelli British Superbike Championship book. All you have to do is join some panel of theirs and you are automatically entered...easy as pie!

http://tinyurl.com/yf8x2fl

On the first day of the Portimao World Superbike test, Leon Haslam has topped the time sheets at the track. Of course, they are not all there looking for fast times, most are chasing setup demons and trying to figure out how to tune their race machines for the team riders. But, it does show that Haslam is putting in his effort to win the 2010 series title. Jonathan Rea was in second place on the day...

http://tinyurl.com/yj4s7cn

World Supersport times at the same test: http://tinyurl.com/ybqod4f

Loris Capirossi has been in the news a great deal these last few days. He must have had an interview day or two recently. Anyway, Capirossi is quite happy to know that the MotoGP engine limit will move to 1000c.c. soon. In fact, he said he would be the 'happiest person on earth' if the powers-that-be were to move the date of this rule change forward to 2011. Can't blame him...

http://tinyurl.com/yfu79jd

Just Read It! Honda Road Racer Head from Road Racer X

The magazine Road Racer X is one of my favorites. I really like the coverage and the writers know how to present a story which is easy to read and leaves little out. So, if you want to know what is going on in motorcycle road racing which may not have made the big news story sections, take this link and learn about some amazing happenings behind the scenes.

http://tinyurl.com/y9q3q4t

Riding Men Book Tour Running Around the Left Coast

The Riding Men are Mark Gardiner and Ed Milich - and the left coast is the West Coast, just so you know. They will begin their tour in San Francisco on 11 December 2009 and will continue north through Portland and Seattle, Washington. They are both promoting new books - which we should all read - and will be signing copies for waiting fans. Don't miss it, I won't!

http://tinyurl.com/ybfb9b8

Scotts Valley Motorcycle Center to Host Female-biased Open House

This weekend, specifically on Saturday 12 September 2009, the Open House will be held at Scotts Valley Motorcycle Center in Santa Cruz, California. It will have a definite female rider bent as most of the activities are oriented towards that half of the population. This is a great idea as the number of women riders is increasing each and every year and they should be celebrated as any rider would be - so, if you can get there, do not miss it. Many local riding celebrities will be on hand to sign their books, a CPR class will be given, and much, much more! It doesn't matter what sex you are, it only matters that you ride!

http://tinyurl.com/yf4p7th

Charley Boorman Rides Australia to Promote 'On the Edge'

Mr. Boorman is on a trip to Oz now to promote his latest adventure - going form Sydney to Tokyo by any means (or By Any Means, as that is apart of the title as well) he can to get there. Charley is a true modern adventurer, and an opportunity to meet with him - or, in this case, ride with him - is not to be missed. He makes the most boring subjects interesting, and he does not let all of this notoriety go to his head - he's just like us, but with many more resources...

http://tinyurl.com/y8m2thj

Moto Book: 2009 MotoGP Series Review

The book is finally available - the 2009 MotoGP Series Review - and it nicely wraps up the crazy season which 2009 was for the MotoGP teams and fans. Of course, as you would expect, the focus falls on the top four or Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo and Pedrosa. However, the smaller events of the season are also well-covered and you will not regret buying and reading this book. If you are a fan, this is a highly useful and entertaining read.

http://tinyurl.com/y9nnenv

BBC Motorcycle Racing – Review 2009 Launches Next Week

BBC Motorcycle Racing –Review 2009 is a "bookazine" released from the BBC Magazines Bristol group and it will be available next week for £6.99 at WH Smith only. It covers all important motorcycle racing from the 2009 season - this includes MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike, and interview with Valentino Rossi and much more. If you can get a copy - please get me one as well; I will reimburse you for it!

http://tinyurl.com/y8qnuh3

Adventure Riding - Does Size Really Matter?

Well, yes, it does, but not in the way that you think. It turns out that when venturing into some of the wildest and most remote areas of the planet, Dr. Frazier (you may know him from Motorcycle Consumer News (US) or from his numerous books on motorcycling) says that sometimes a smaller motorcycle is best. Meaning that there is a replacement for displacement in this case. It turns out that you can be much more flexible and save some money by thinking smaller, not more power. Have a read - this is a very good article from which we learn about Dr. Frazier's experience in adventure riding all around the world!

http://tinyurl.com/yjze3ot

Café Racers and 60 Years of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing - Two New Publications

First of all, Veloce Publishing has come out with another winner, "The Café Racer Phenomenon." It is part of their new "Those were the days …" series. This one is full of everything that makes the café racer scene fun and so very interesting. It covers the early years, the motorcycles, the people, and several previously unpublished photos. There is even a video interview with the author...

http://tinyurl.com/yzft9by

Julian Ryder & Martin Raines bring us the stories from 60 years of motorcycle Grand Prix racing. It includes the people, machines, politics and a great deal of information about the last 60 years - all the way up to MotoGP in 2009. If you are looking for a very good comprehensive guide to all of this time, this is the book to purchase.

http://tinyurl.com/yjqyhtn

Book About Triumph Bonneville Takes Place in House of Commons Library

The book has been covered here before, "Save the Triumph Bonneville! – The inside story of the Meriden Workers' Co-op" by John Rosamond, but this news is special. The book has been put into the House of Commons Library in the U.K. by Hilary Benn MP. That's a huge endorsement!

http://tinyurl.com/yfu7bem

Ian Falloon Releases BMW Bible Covering Boxer Twins

If you have ever been interested in classic or historic motorcycles - and have worked on them - you will probably already know who Ian Falloon is. If not, just search your local bookstore, library or Amazon and you will see that he has written books about Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Laverda and BMW. He is also a prolific moto-journalist and has written over 20 books and for magazines all over the world. Have a look at his new work...

http://tinyurl.com/ykcl3vc

Double Red Will Have "Seeing Red 2009" Ready Soon - 2009 BSB Championship

The beautiful 'year in photos' book will be available at local moto shops and your local bookseller in the U.K. The book is an annual compendium of the photos taken by the professionals at Double Red of the 2009 British Superbike Championship series. Don't miss it - it's a great gift for the racing fan you know!

http://tinyurl.com/yfu3xj4

Good Read: "Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work"

If you have not heard about this book yet, you are not paying attention. It has been reviewed in at least three major motorcycle-related magazine and is all over the web as well. In this book, written by Mathew B. Crawford, we hear about the loss of shop classes from public schools which is not good for our children. Work, especially with your hands on a machine of some sort, is far more rewarding to our souls than the so-called "knowledge work" which today's world has celebrated. Seriously, this is a book worth reading...I may even review it for my readers once I get my copy from the library (too poor to buy it myself).

http://tinyurl.com/yzn3tka

A Book About Garages - "Motorcycle Dream Garages"

It has been said that people who ride motorcycles, like all gearheads, spend too much time in their garage. This book is about people who take it to the extreme. Yes, some of them are just millionaire playboys - weekend warriors, if you will - and some will make you slightly ill from either jealousy or pure gaudiness. But this book provides a peak into areas which most have never seen and is certainly a good place to find some winter-time DIY in the place you park your motorcycle...

http://tinyurl.com/nta28n

Book Launch: "Flying Finn" to be Launched in Ireland

The latest Stephen Davison book, The Flying Finn, will be launched at two special events in Ireland. The book is a tribute to the late great Martin Finnegan, and the release of the book is set to coincide with two special 'Martin Finnegan Days'. If only I lived on the other side of the Atlantic...

http://tinyurl.com/nfw8cl

Win a MotoGP Guide for Good Photo of Indy GP

A superbike/racing website has contest for those who attended the 2009 Indianapolis GP this year and took photos. If you have the best photo, send it to them and you could win the 2009 MotoGP Results Guide (I have a few of these and they are awesome resources for facts and stats).

http://tinyurl.com/mqgfby

Reprinted: Tales of Triumph Motorcycles and the Meriden Factory by Hughie Hancox

Plus, after the link , Veloce Publishing has video interview with the author, Hughie Hancox. Triumph fans rejoice!

http://tinyurl.com/ncs5ep

Does the History of Triumph Interest You?

If so, you will not want to miss this book. "Save the Triumph Bonneville! - The inside story of the Meriden Workers' Co-op" has just been released by Veloce Publishing to great reviews. If you like Triumph and you are into the marque's history, this is a book you must have!

http://tinyurl.com/kqnp6f