caferace

Not to commandeer a thread, but my good friend did an interview with Keith this week, and a really long and deep one. Nearly an hour. *I* think it's great, and you might enjoy it. Catch it here: http://motogpod.com/episode/episode-204-fantastic-mr-code -jim

IIRC, levels 1 & 2 do that same right, left, middle drill. If it's being done on a track you're really familiar with from track days or racing, it's VERY, VERY odd the first time. And then it saves your ass in a race, and you're thankful you did it. -jim

That's a turn I like to get all my braking done just in time, then be on the gas early enough to keep the front end pleasantly loaded, gradually increasing lean to get the best drive into the esses. The only time I trail brake there is when I'm gonzo passing someone up the inside, and that's a sketch move anyway. There are a lot of people that get confused by that turn, but to me it seems natural and easy despite the relative lack of (or constantly changing) reference points. The width of it makes for some very amusing passing possibilities and you follow people getting lost there in their own mental maps.

I ride an underpowered bike, and as such prefer real technical tracks. There is where one seperates the real riders from those with a penchant for point, squirt and park it antics. A few years back I woudn't have picked Sears Point (don't you DARE call it Infineon) but these days, and especially after the repaving last August it is as challenging and fun a track as any I've ridden. Sure, there are still some rough patches, and the carousel still gives me the willies come race day but us small displacement riders can run circles around hooligans on big bikes there, and that always puts a smile on my face. Right now they're in the process of moving yet more mountains, and with the decent runoff in 1 and 6 soon to be completed it really will be a true riders track, with not too much solid and unmoving to slow a rider down except for his or her own fears. -jim

My guesses: 1) Sete Gibernau 2) Valentino Rossi 3) Colin Edwards 4) Nicky Hayden 5) Max Biaggi I thik Valentino will fight valiantly to keep the Yamaha on top of the box, and win more than a few through sheer skill and determination. In the end though the untried bike will spit him off enough to DNF his way out of the top spot. Sete is poised to take it, and will through consistent finishes and a proven racebike. Colin will dominate the middle of the season after getting his bearings with the bike and team, but falter as the big boys get serious. He'll only take firsts through attrition, and then not too many. Nicky will come on strong, and win at least one of the first five GP's. He'll have a very successful and consistent mid-season, but start DNFing later as he begins pushing too hard in search of the top spot. Max. Oh, Max. Max and Xaus will butt heads from the first race on. The animosity and constant battles between them will take their toll, with Biaggi beating Ruben after a bizarre late season legs and arms a'flyin fall takes Xuas out for several weeks. Of course, I could be completely wrong. -jim

Hmmm. Tough call. Might be Jimmy Filice, with the variety of bikes he's won on and his great personality. Or... Joey Dunlop comes to mind, with his IOMTT ownership, longevity, yet suddenly gone-too-soon. It's possible Nicky *may* be someday. It's been far too long since the U.S. had a world champ both in terms of riding skill and a down-home personality. Come to think of it, have we ever had one? Freddie was incredible with a milk-toast way about him. Kenny Sr. won hands down, and no one really wanted to sit down and have a beer with him. If eBos was (may be) good enough, he'd be a hands down all-time fave. What is the real question? Who is our personal favorite, or who is the best roadracer of all time? -jim