Time Changes All Things - Dr. Costa Passes the Torch

Dr. Costa and the Clinica Mobile Staff

The Clinica Mobile will never be the same, but it may be better. Dr. Claudio Costa, the long-time head of the mobile clinic which offered the best trackside medical care outside of a world-class hospital for the riders in the MotoGP World Championship, is moving into a new position at the Clinica Mobile. His usual duties will be taken over by Dr. Michele Zasa, who will head the clinic, and Dr. Guido Rosa Prati, who now runs the European Diagnostic Centre. Assurances have been given that the relationship with Dorna will continue as normal and the capabilities of the medical center itself will only improve. Dr. Costa will be missed, but he deserves some time with his family and being in charge of his own health, primarily in enjoying it.

http://tinyurl.com/lzvty7y

A Pair from New Zealand Arrive in Alaska

They call themselves "Two Moto Kiwis" and they are on an 'epic mission' from Prudhoe Bay in the great US state of Alaska all the way to the southern-most point of South America at Ushuaia, Argentina. The pair on this incredible motorcycle trip are Andi and Ellen Delis (44 and 43 years of age, respectively) and they are riding the entire route on two Suzuki DR650's with a wide assortment of adventure gear bolted on. Now that they have arrived in Alaska - about a week ago now - they will be on to build up their mounts for the trip; the bikes are new and showroom fresh, so they must be outfitted expressly for this trip. Next, it's a trip around Alaska and then a drive to make the Laguna Seca round of the 2012 MotoGP Championship. Check their site for the latest and see if you might be able to catch them when they come through your town!

http://www.twomotokiwis.com/

Aprilia-Powered Norton to Compete at Isle of Man TT

Norton will not be bringing their own V4 to a MotoGP circuit anytime soon; no one has any doubt that they want to, and as soon as they are able. As a stop-gap, and a very good learning experience, they will field a kit Aprilia RSV4 engine - not too different from what the CRT teams have access to - in a Spondon frame in this year's Isle of Man TT. That last connection is interesting as Spondon used to frame many racing Nortons in its previous incarnation. And, Norton's new owner, one Stuart Garner, also happens to own Spondon. It's better to keep the program in-house as much as possible so as to learn everything it is possible to learn when using another marque's engine. In this way, Norton can prepare to create their own future MotoGP CRT engine. Since Norton already has some designs for this, I doubt very much that they will make a duplicate RSV4 engine - they will want their own. Norton has a reputation to protect if they plan to stay connected to their heritage in a meaningful way.

http://tinyurl.com/7xogr79

Lorenzo Legally Allowed to Ride a Motorcycle on the Street

Jorge Lorenzo has officially passed his motorcycle license test in Spain, his home. Although he can only ride a bike with less than 47 bhp, I'm sure he'll get around just fine - as long as he wears a full-face helmet. The Spanish are Moto-Mad, and we all love that great nation for that...and so much more. Anyone want to lend me a place in Spain?

http://tinyurl.com/86s6s24

Casey Stoner's Wife Gives Birth - on Rossi's Birthday!

Yes, the news is all about Casey Stoner becoming a father, but it was his lovely wife, Adriana, who had the difficult part; Stoner's contribution was far more fun. Even so, his firstborn will share a birthday with MotoGP great, and current competitor, Valentino Rossi. This means very little in the long run, unless you are into astrology, but it will sure make Stoner's child's birthday easy to recall...and Rossi's easier for Stoner.

http://tinyurl.com/87prpgg

Catch You on the Other Side #58; Marco Simoncelli 1987 - 2011

Well, likely not...he's a fair bit faster than I.

Marco Simoncelli #58

It's a very sad day in motorcycle racing today as FIM MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries he received in a crash on the second lap of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Some details are finally beginning to become available, but the footage is online...and it is painful to watch. I can barely write about it, actually. The link is below, but be warned that it is horrifying.

This will be another life given to the gods ruling this sport we all love so much. It happens all around the world far too often; it is the loss of such a promising young athlete, a 'youth' by many measures, who dedicated everything of his being to be the best motorcycle racer he could be which makes this one so significant. His second season, and his best yet, and we all knew he was to be a great...to become legend.

Nothing I can write here will make this any easier for this it has an effect upon, so I can only say: Marco, you will be missed, and I will never forget you nor who you were to the universe. Ride in Peace. See you on the other side.

MotoGP link (not much information): http://tinyurl.com/3hca8zb

MotoGP: Race Direction Press Conference (more information): http://tinyurl.com/5uprsvt

Video of the Crash (Be Warned): http://youtu.be/FkInpkx1hFE

#58

Stoner Wins Another One - 2011 MotoGP Champion

OK, so I do like to say, "...told you so." And, I do it often. I guess that means that one more time won't be adding too much fuel to any fire of hatred anyone has for me...

Casey Stoner is the FIM MotoGP World Champion once again! On board the mighty Honda RC212V, he fought the best on the surface of this planet and beat all comers to the title. Vale, though, is not doing so well this season. It turns out that the Ducati is a bit more of a handful than many thought. I wonder how things would be different if Hayden were to jump into another factory's machinery; Yamaha, or Suzuki anyone?

http://tinyurl.com/3b3d476

P.S. Congratulations Honda, too. After all, the engineers there built the bike.

A Look at Something We Like...The MV Agusta 500 Triple & Agostini

Just because it is there and I an direct some traffic that way - a short piece on the history of the MV Agusta 500/3 which Ago ran starting in the FIM Grand Prix starting in 1966. Hold on for the ride beyond the link...the images on the other side are potentially dangerous...

http://tinyurl.com/5tk3b6d

Hey, that's looks somewhat similar to the lid I wear now...I wonder why?

King Kenny Rides His 1980 Yamaha YZR500 at Laguna Seca

I missed this...and it really did hurt somewhat. It was like dreaming of a lover far away while I sit here working and MotoGP was running at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Of course, the type of love differs significantly...but the feeling of longing was the same. Enjoy...and turn up the volume!

Gran Premio de Motociclismo regresa a la Argentina!

On Tuesday (Euro time) it was announced that Dorna had signed a three-year deal with the Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo will host the Grand Prix of Argentina beginning on 2013. That will make it a 14 year absence, so you can be sure that motorcycle racing fans there will be celebrating tonight...and anxiously awaiting ticket sales!

http://tinyurl.com/5w6ftqq

Bradley Smith to Remain in Moto2...Instead of MotoGP!

It really takes a level of maturity rarely seen in people his age (especially motorcycle racers) to hold yourself out of the premier racing level in order to continue developing your skill set. MotoGP is the goal of everyone in Grand Prix racing, but Smith is being smart and biding his time until he feels he is ready - genius!

http://tinyurl.com/3pof7na

WHEW! Indy Retains MotoGP Until 2014

That was a close one for many fans of the MotoGP event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They usually make these announcements during the event, but this one came during Misano. OK, people of Indiana (and those who travel there) you can stop holding your breath...relax and get to work on your hotel reservations!

http://www.tinyurl.com/3ze75oc

Dani Pedrosa Deserves More Respect!

The article linked here, "Why the Hate for Dani Pedroosa", is something I was actually working on for some time - around two years ago I thought of writing my feelings down. They are just that, my feelings, and I am aware they mean very little overall. However, if you do enjoy MotoGP, I do suggest you read the piece as Pedrosa deserves it from every fan.

It is even more true now that the unfortunate Spaniard has a broken collar bone...it's like he's cursed; maybe Rossi does know some voodoo sorcery...

Please have a read and feel free to share!

http://tinyurl.com/6zpkgnq

Valentino Rossi Sells Out - Will Ride Ducati in 2011

Since it seems that very few people on this side of the pond know this, I figured it would be a good idea to post it. It seems that the big and exclusive 'secret story' which MCN (UK) had been prepping us with over the last 24 hours is that Yamaha MotoGP racer Valentino Rossi has fled Yamaha and will ride on a Ducati for the 2011 MotoGP Championship. The details are not clear as of yet, but you can confirm this by taking the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/2buctow

MotoGP Japan Grand Prix at Motegi is POSTPONED

Dorna and the FIM announced last night that the Motegi round of the 2010 MotoGP Championship - the Japanese Grand Prix - has been postponed due to the ash covering the European airspace. The race weekend was to be 23 - 25 April 2010, but it will held 1 - 3 October instead. The large Icelandic eruption has caused most flights to be cancelled in Europe for safety reasons and it has now pushed the MotoGP management to push the Japan Grand Prix back to later in the year when the teams will be on a fly-away trip to Malaysia and Australia. Be glad you are not in F1, though, as they seem to be trapped in China for the time being - at least the MotoGP teams are close to home in Europe!

http://tinyurl.com/y3ml538

Big MotoGP News for Speed Viewers in North America

Dorna and Speed (TV) have reached an agreement which will allow the US-based channel to air the 2010 - 2012 MotoGP Championship seasons in high-definition (HD) LIVE! It's the first of its kind for North American fans of the world's greatest sport, the Motorcycle Grand Prix. The agreement begins this weekend with the Qatar round of the series - a night race in the desert. Speed will show the event live at 4 PM (ET) on 11 April 2010. They will also put some of the races online at speedtv.com. For all the very cool details, please take the link...Amazing!

http://tinyurl.com/yegaq6e

Easton Crashes Hard at Cadwell Park Test & MotoGP in HD, Finally!

Swan Honda rider, and British Superbike Championship favorite, Stuart Easton went down in a rather nasty way while testing for the 2010 season at Cadwell Park. He was airlifted to the hospital where they are going to do some exploratory surgery around his knee. So far it looks like he will be OK, but they want to be sure everything is in fine order before they let him get back on the track...

http://tinyurl.com/ye7jz3t

MotoGP has finally entered into the 21st century by way of broadcasting the races in Hi-Definition! Some races have already been filmed in HD, but those were not broadcast to the public. In 2010, all MotoGP races will be available in HD and will be initially broadcast in HD, though your provider may not send full HD signals to your TV. Check with your local MotoGP broadcast channel to see if you will get the full experience!

http://tinyurl.com/ye8p9x2

Interesting Op-Ed on MotoGP

This is not the usual 'news' fare here. This is an opinion piece - 'serious journalism' as stated in the column - from MotorcycleUSA online from Frank Melling. If you have ever heard of Thundersprint, you know one of the more interesting components of our sport today, and you know what Melling is responsible for. In this piece he speaks from his own side where MotoGP may go towards in the coming years, or where it might go if he were to make the rules. It is worth a read...check it out. There is more to it than what I can write here...

http://tinyurl.com/yddpg4j

Some More MotoGP Post-Qatar Test Stories

Well, it seems that Dani Pedrosa is not too happy with where his team is at present. Much more needs to be done before the racing can start for Repsol Honda.

http://tinyurl.com/yzff56f

In other Repsol Honda news, Andrea Dovizioso is more than happy to face his first race in 2010. Dovizioso has been the top Honda rider through the testing and his season looks on track.

http://tinyurl.com/ygzqrlu

Gresini Honda riders Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli had a bad test at Qatar as well. The team has now called on Honda to help them out and discover why these two could not break the top 10 during practice...something is not right.

http://tinyurl.com/yk8pjt5

And, well, Valentino Rossi is quite happy with the Yamaha YZR-M1 so far this year. After all, he has led just about every preseason test so far...

http://tinyurl.com/yj2xgcp

More MotoGP Qatar Test News

There are more stories from the recent night-time Qatar preseason test this past Thursday and Friday, and they will be posted here for your perusal. We all know that Casey Stoner finally took the top spot on the final day of practice, but he was only a few hundredths of a second ahead of Valentino Rossi, and Rossi is well-known to sand-bag. So, let's have a look...

More on Casey Stoner: http://tinyurl.com/yhm6wtx

If you head to this landing page today, you will get all the MotoGP team reports on the Friday practice: http://tinyurl.com/yznyogq

Randy de Puniet: http://tinyurl.com/yfogl7n