Moto-GP Rider of the year.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Crash.net has released the results of it's anual poll. Spoiler.. Ben made 3rd! Woo- Hoo!

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/165619/1/your_verdict_motogp_rider_of_the_year_part_2.html

We should run our own poll, to see if we agree with theirs..

Si.

[DarthRider]

Si, I didn't vote in that poll (I'd be a bit embarrassed to apply my rankings to racers of that caliber), but if I had, I would have voted for the top 3 just the way it came out.
Ben getting no. 3 is really getting No. 1 for a rookie.
Jorge getting No. 2 recognizes his amazing talent, drive, and competitiveness but keeps him in the shadow of Rossi...perhaps forever, perhaps not.
Vale getting No. 1 is predictable...who else could it possibly be? Even with the double injuries he was always No. 1.
Dani & especially Casey are sad cases in a way. Both, especially Casey being so much better than what they were able to show us this year.

As often discussed, there are many things "wrong" with Moto GP. But in my mind, the main one is the same in any & all race series, especially the top flight ones: If we could magically eliminate major injuries & DNFs, what wonderful things they would show us.
And how much more difficult would it be to "rank" them at the end of the season?

[panthercity]

I might have moved Hayden up a place.

And Collin will always be in my geocentric Texas Top Ten!

Figured Yourgay would be #1 butt have to agree with Rossi after his determined rides coming back.

[Sir Limpsalot]

If (oh, here we go again - the racing "IF") Casey had had the '09 Ducati this year I honestly think he would've challenged Jorge for the title. And, of course, if Vale hadn't injured his shoulder he'd have challenged the pair of them.. Although I like Ben and am pleased for you guys to have "your boy" up there, I really couldn't rank him above Casey. Or Dani come to that.

[DarthRider]

Sir Simon, you may well be right.
And although young Ben's fans might be forgiven for a bit of over-exuberance, Ben at least has his head on right!

Ben Spies: No excuses next year

From Crash.net:
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/165620/1/ben_spies_no_excuses_next_year.html

“This is the first year for me in a few years where I won't be the young kid, the rookie or the new guy learning tracks... I don't have any excuses next year so we need to step up for sure."

[Sir Limpsalot]

Ben always comes accross so well in interviews. He just seems like a nice chap and it's winning him fans as much as his riding skills are. Cool. I hope he does well. I think the real dark horse this year is Casey. Vale's switch to Ducati has taken the attention off Casey, which no doubt suits him just fine..

The switch back to litre bikes in 2012? Bring it on! The 990's gave us much, much more exiting and closer racing than the 800's have done (so far..).

[Tassie Devil]

From Super-bike Planet:

Respect
by dean adams
Monday, December 06, 2010

Jay Leno and Jeremy Burgess, two legends of comedy, at Indy.
image by gigi
Tonight Show host, scary workaholic and full time motorcycle collector, Jay Leno, came to the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP event, where he was bestowed the title "Grand Marshall".

Two small yet significant snippets from that day at Indy:
First, Leno and the boys from his shop flew in from California, were transported to the track and then led to Yamaha US's hospitality unit where they quickly settled into a stack of juicy steaks prepared for them by Yamaha US Racing Chief Keith McCarty and Co. The slab of beef was in front of Leno for maybe two seconds before he reached over, grabbed a shaker and gave it, untasted, a healthy dose of "heart medicine" (salt). Seeing this, I felt I spoke for every portly, older male in existence when I said to him, from afar, "God, I love you."
Later, after he'd driven every cool vehicle he came across, including the Red Bull MXT, talked to a bazillion fans, harassed Ben and Mary Spies, thanked the cooks and every cop he saw, Leno was afforded a meet and greet with Valentino Rossi. For some reason this would happen just moments before the start of the MotoGP race.

Leno came to the Fiat Yamaha garage and talked with all Rossi's mechanics, including Jeremy Burgess. Then Rossi came in, wearing his leathers, ready to put his helmet on; the warm-up lap for the Indy MotoGP race was minutes away. The two were introduced, and Rossi stretched his arm out to shake hands with the American comedy legend.

Leno did not shake Rossi's hand.
Instead, he dropped to his knees and bowed.

True story.

ENDS

cheers,

JQ.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Rossi's used to that.

The more I hear about Leno, the more I like him. He is rapidly assuming "National Treasure" status, or he would be over here.

[panthercity]

Rossi's used to that.

The more I hear about Leno, the more I like him. He is rapidly assuming "National Treasure" status, or he would be over here.

Unfortunately, over here he will have to have affairs with multiple partners and/or announce his gaydom for the general public to pay that much attention to him.

Which is alright by me, we get to keep him to ourselves!

[Deans BMW]

Unfortunately, over here he will have to have affairs with multiple partners and/or announce his gaydom for the general public to pay that much attention to him.

Which is alright by me, we get to keep him to ourselves!

+1

[Sir Limpsalot]

Unfortunately, over here he will have to have affairs with multiple partners and/or announce his gaydom for the general public to pay that much attention to him.


Really? How sad. The British love a good old eccentric, and Leno's love of internal combustion has taken him way beyond the "normal" and into easily into the "eccentric". I'd love to meet him.

[DarthRider]

I've talked with a couple of guys who have been to Leno's shop. They both said he's not "show-bizzy" at all, he just wants to talk about cars & bikes.
And is very knowledgeable on both.
Everything is a runner, or will be, and all get ridden/driven...even the jet & steam powered ones.
One of the guys got invited because he sent Leno one of Dan Peirce's art prints, which is on the wall.
I think it was the Black Shadow engine Doug picked as our opening image, but it might be the Brough Superior. We were talking Vincents & Broughs and beer may have been involved, and well...you know.:beer:

[Tassie Devil]

When it's wet outside, and I can't go for a ride I like to sneak in here and just fool around....
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/

Cheers,


JQ.

[DarthRider]

There are so many cool things on there...check this one out and see a Cafe' Bro and his motorcycle that is past Steve McQueen cool!:eusa_clap:
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/motorcycles/big-sids-vincati/

[Sir Limpsalot]

JQ, Dave, thanks.

[DarthRider]

JQ, Dave, thanks.
I first read the great "Big Sid's Vincati" book and a very pleasant surprise was what they talked about in the vid...a proper Vincati (10 or so in the world), is so very much more than just a Vincent lump stuffed into a Ducati chassis. That's what I first thought...what's the big deal? But if you read the book you see the almost spiritual connection between the Ducati 750 GT and the Vincent twin engine.
Si, did you notice the handwork & patina - to an almost organic level of perfection - of that bike? A more true labor of love does not exist, methinks!
And I feel that Mr. Davies & Mr. Irving would smile & understand if they could see it. Maybe they have?

[socalrob]

Leno is pretty cool. Saw him up at the Rock Store on his Jet Bike one Sunday. He spent lots of time talking to guys, shaking hands, getting pictures. Very friendly.

My favorite story about him is one I heard him tell. When he was a young guy in LA we was living in an apartment out in the valley. He is outside his building and spots a refrigerator out by the curb. Thinking that it was a hazard to kids, because the door was still attached, he literally attacks the thing until he rips the door off the hinges. Good deed for the day. Goes inside to his apartment.

Comes out later, and there is a guy standing by the refrigerator, just upset as all get out. Seems he was moving into the apartment, and had left the refrigerator on the curb for not more than 10 minutes, and some evil person, for no known reason, ripped the door off. Why would somebody do that? Leno said he just slinked away.

[Sir Limpsalot]

I first read the great "Big Sid's Vincati" book and a very pleasant surprise was what they talked about in the vid...a proper Vincati (10 or so in the world), is so very much more than just a Vincent lump stuffed into a Ducati chassis. That's what I first thought...what's the big deal? But if you read the book you see the almost spiritual connection between the Ducati 750 GT and the Vincent twin engine.
Si, did you notice the handwork & patina - to an almost organic level of perfection - of that bike? A more true labor of love does not exist, methinks!
And I feel that Mr. Davies & Mr. Irving would smile & understand if they could see it. Maybe they have?

Dave, I am exited to be able to report that my very own copy of the book is awaiting my attention as soon as I've finished the current one I'm reading (an autobiography of a British entertainer I previously hated, but now enjoy. I think we've both mellowed over the years, he's calmed down a bit and I've loosened up a bit, or whatever!). Better stil, my copy of "Big Sid's Vincati" was a gift from our Cafe brother jb44. Most excellent :)

[DarthRider]

Better stil, my copy of "Big Sid's Vincati" was a gift from our Cafe brother jb44. Most excellent

That's cool...way to go jb44!

[Tassie Devil]

[QUOTE=socalrob;
Comes out later, and there is a guy standing by the refrigerator, just upset as all get out. Seems he was moving into the apartment, and had left the refrigerator on the curb for not more than 10 minutes, and some evil person, for no known reason, ripped the door off. Why would somebody do that? Leno said he just slinked away.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Rob.....
Now I've got coffee coming out my nose......

Cheers,

JQ.