Kevin Kane

Kai and Hugh (welcome my good man); I started watching superpole for the first time this year which makes the races the following day even more interesting. In the US we have beINSports, a new (to us) network that televises SBK; All 3 Moto's and Moto America including the KTM Series. They include superpole in each of the series so I am swimming in racing on TV. I would watch this stuff and then find NOTHING being said up here so now we have at least a three man crew; Awesome! Good God I was wondering what had happened to race announcer Jonathan Green once we could watch SBK again (wasn't available here for a couple of years here) only to find out he is calling the KTM Series in the US this season. Who knew? Green and Nick Harris are like my two best friends. As Hugh says, the Moto3 series is amazing. I don't know how Binder can find his way through that School of bike fish on the last two laps but somehow he does. How do 8 bikes stay in contention until the second from the last corner and in Mugello, the run to the line? Hey it's all good for sure but nice to see some dialogue once again. BTW, who would have thought that Lorenzo could survive that Kamikaze like last lap attack that Marquez launched at him at Mugello. Marquez' last pass on the rumble strip had me averting my eyes. I couldn't see how that wasn't going to end up badly for him (and maybe Lorenzo). Enjoy Assen; the last US MotoGP race I saw was at Laguna Seca and what a spectacle it was. For anyone who can get to a MotoGP event, find a way to get there. Kai, we will look forward to your observations after the weekend. Kevin

Kai; I don't think anybody has commented on MotoGP since a response to my query as to where was the interest but the silence after Mugello [OMG were those races amazing] was still puzzling. Seeing nothing today (so far) I figured that I would jump into it thinking that at least you and I could discuss these races. Now to be fair, I haven't watched today's Moto2 and 3 yet but the main event was such a shock after watching superpole that I knew at least you were watching and must have some thoughts on them. Mugello was just incredible; I marveled at how hard the top two GP bikes raced to the end and even more so as to who won it. Especially after the energy the trailing rider expended to catch and then take the lead - and then the out of his mind moves he made to maintain it - only to get clipped at the line - was draining. The Moto3 race was phenomenal, I have no idea how these young men can ride like they do, in such a giant pack for the entire race and then have drafting passes at the line that are virtually impossible to predict the outcome makes for some very entertaining TV at least to me. Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I did and have some thoughts to share. Oh and for that other series, you know the one Yellow Duck is killing it in - just crickets.

Hugh; It's the halfway point in the (US anyway) racing season and your silence was deafening. The New York Chapter of the Prairie Dog Racing fan club was getting restless and at some of the meetings people were getting demoralized that maybe the Dog's had seen their day so to speak [obligatory "Go Dogs " inserted here] But they're back! With a [sPOILIER ALERT rules don't allow results to be posted within 48 hours of an original post so everyone is going to have to read the whole report to find out] - OMG - GO DOGS! And thanks for identifying a new season villan to root against but I almost died when I saw Brodie's name again. We're never going to forgive that guy - or Bob for that matter. But did you guys dress up that PDR GSXR or what?!!! Welcome back!

Kai; I don't remember where I saw it but another interview with Rossi talked about his need to change his overall race strategy and to attack to the front from the line, something he did in Jerez. His race start strategy was like Lorenzo's and also like Lorenzo, he defended his lead at every corner until he had a gap of almost a second. For him to dominate a race like he did here at 37 no less speaks volumes of his passion for winning. It would be fun to learn about the thinking behind tire compound selection and it's effect on tire management especially for late in the race. Rossi was able to up his pace when JL closed the gap to 2 seconds like the grip in his tires wasn't an issue. The 2016 season has become as interesting as '15 was (as long as the hole shot winner doesn't also win the race).

Kai; The answer was in your Wikipedia link. You are a true Jedi, even when you don't realize what you know. BTW, I am perplexed why so few Forum members don't jump into these threads. Despite being physically unable to ride a track bike anymore, I follow it like I still can. I also believe that everyone who participates here is just as passionate about riding or they wouldn't be here right? Racing is the ultimate extension of our track riding experiences so I it seems to me that every track rider must have at least once, thought about doing it ergo my confusion. I know Yellow Duc (Go Dogs!) is racing (or did last year) so he's focused on repeating so clearly he's got an excuse but where are the rest of you? Kevin

Now that you mentioned it, back in the day, I seem to recall Rossi complaining that Ducati had an unfair advantage over Yamaha because of the Bridgestone tires that Stoner had, and indirectly led Dorna to adopt the Spec tire rule. I do remember watching (on TV of course) Stoner running away from the field at Qatar as the trigger to the chatter about the B'Stones. Did I remember this correctly Obi Wan?

Kai; Didn't Bridgestone go through a similar start up problem when they took over from Michelin a number of years ago? As the resident Jedi Knight of all things MotoGP, you are the man to ask. BTW, I finally got a chance to watched the Moto2 race last night - what a spectacle. Kevin

Kai; Huge Rossi fan here but you nailed it - winning like Lorenzo is like (yawn) winning like Lorenzo. How about those Suzukis both beating the factory Ducatis? Lorenzo should make it more interesting on one next year. Kevin

Did I understand your comment correctly - you found a profile problem with the Dunlop GP-A not fitting your bike but the Dunlop Q3 did fit?I ask because the GP-A is a remarkable tire and if the Q has worked so well for you so far, the Sportmax is the next level up in Dunlop anyway.

Subisti;If you're getting 12 days out of Q3's at Mid-Ohio (a high speed track BTW) why switch so dramatically? If you want to dip your toe into the deeper end, you could try the GP-A'S first? Kevin

Hugh I LOVE Sears Point; of all the tracks I've been to (Streets, Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, VIR, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Mosport, Shannonville, Nelson Ledges, Beaver Run, NJMP, NHIS, NY Safety Track), Sears was my favorite. The School doesn't go to Mid-Ohio anymore as that would be my second choice. Regardless...go dogs! Kevin

Mazur; Interesting comparison and amazing that you and your friend could find the exact same spot on the track AND the photographer caught these images - but that's beside the point. If you are running near exact lap times it would suggest to me that it's riders preference. I have been told by Cobie among others that I get too far off the bike when I corner (much like your friend does in these pics) but I found I could see thru the turn better by getting lower. Hopefully one of the coaches will chime in here. Kevin

Hottie; I was trying to watch the Daytona 200 Saturday (on fanschoice I think) and the streaming froze at lap 23 or so. I tried rebooting a couple of times and finally just turned it off. I was happy to read at Road Racing World.com who won - but I won't spoil it for anyone who has this copied to view later. Kevin

DLH; It might be too big; there is a limit to the size of the image that can be used here. Kevin

Hottie; We have SBK and MotoGP on beINSports via Time Warner cable in Central New York State. It didn't have the Daytona 200 and I am not sure it will be carrying any USA racing but I have watched the first two rounds of SBK (yawn) on their channel 417. Kevin

Hottie; I am going back a bit here (by a decade) but the RC-51 was the coolest sounding bike I have personally ever heard. And that's coming from a Ducati guy. Rainman

Connor; As a corner worker at NJMP for the last five years or so, I was usually assigned to the garage with Will. With refueling the fleet coupled with taking Bob's truck into Millville for gas or repairing the School's bikes whenever they needed repairs or changing tires between sessions, track time was a precious commodity for me. I always appreciated the help that you and Trevor provided me as my track time was always limited. Now that you're up here I can offer you my thanks directly and Welcome to the Forum. Rainman

Holy Cow Hottie! Your did it girl! Congratulations on the podium and free track days. Rainman

Traceyz; Welcome to the Forum! You have thought this out pretty thoroughly IMHO. I have both but only use the one-piece at the track if I am only riding. If I am corner working, I wear the two piece so I can shed the top when manning a corner station. Perforated suits are nice in July and August but otherwise, let in too much cooler air in the spring and the fall. Just make sure your two piece suit has at least a 300 degree zipper connecting your jacket to your pants. I have a Joe Rocket two-piece set and the zipper starts close to the vertical zipper on one side of the jacket and ends near the opposite side of the same zipper. I have also crashed twice in the Joe Rocket suit and the zipper held both times. Rainman

Hottie; Everybody has your back. You go girl!

I also fogged the motors. I pulled the tanks up on my Ducati's (and removed the air filter) and revved the motors while spraying fogging oil directly into the throttle bodies.

There is a simple fact that Kai mentioned earlier; on a dry track Rossi could not match Lorenzo or Marquez in speed. If it had rained in any of the last three races Rossi would be the 2015 champion but it wasn't meant to be. I'm not sure of the rumor that Marquez, Pedrosa or HRC would "help" a rival team but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Rossi had a great season but he made his own bed here and now he has to think about losing the championship because of things he did that cost him points. Hopefully he has learned something this season about squandering opportunities that ultimately cost him his 10th title.

Maybe it's just me but I have ridden Laguna Seca 3 or 4 times with the School and the corkscrew is over as soon as you enter it. It looks great on TV but to me it is snap left - snap right and you're on to Rainey Curve.

These sound like the terminology that they use at the Penguin School run by Eric & Jeff Wood. Their home track is New Hampshire International Speedway and they are involved in the Loudon Road Racing Series - the place where I got my Competition license.

I like the contrail - it looks pretty cool.