Ducati Monster Forum

Nothing to do with Ducati, I know, but it's not often I see a statement like this that hasn't been watered down for the press:

http://forums.13x.com/showpost.php?p=3336199&postcount=5 (http://forums.13x.com/showpost.php?p=3336199&postcount=5)

I never liked hopper.  What a douche

Youch.    Not to worry, cuz his career is pretty much over unless he does something stunning. 

not really news, either.  this came out at the time.. hence JU  Never.  Saying.  Anything.  about hopper during last season.

would be ironic if the "anglo-american" did end up in BSB tho.

Guess I missed it the first time around.  I was surprised to see such a frank statement.

all you really missed was the silence.  that was loud enough.

the whole thread is full of win:

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?p=3336199#post3336199 (http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?p=3336199#post3336199)

i knew this was going to be "bad" for hopper when ulrich mentioned on the wera board (early in the season?) that hopper's upcoming surgery was a surprise to him.


exactly...

yeah...all kinds of a full of win...and your quoting in the thread of that surprise mentioning was nicely placed....


personally...I think Hopper has potential to be top of the second tier....but his credibility would be stretched to get his ass on a 2nd tier bike right now if any of that whole debacle really holds water as to how things REALLY went down....

search function sucks on that board... took me forever to find that thread.  ;D

huh?  i think you can take JU's word as being how it went down.

hopper started getting pretty good results toward the end of the season.  and neither he nor the team said a word about it.  bridge dun burned. 

sad really, considering Ulrich is where john-john got his start and there was all that homecoming hoopla pre-season.

I was wondering if something like this would happen  :-\

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/john-ulrich-john-hopkins-injury-contract/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/john-ulrich-john-hopkins-injury-contract/)

wrote that whole article from following the conversation on the wera board and evidently didn't even bother to call ulrich and interview him directly...

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?p=3338411#post3338411 (http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?p=3338411#post3338411)

all I was getting at was from a general perspective on how there are 3 sides to every story...person 1's, person 2's, and the truth that lies somewhere in between...in this case...Hopper hasn't said a thing, which everyone is implying his guilt by a lack of defense, when in reality...he has as of yet to publicly say anything in admission or defense....

don't get me wrong...I am not defending him...just sayin...

there's not a lot of upside to him opening his mouth. it's either "ulrich is lying," "i misled ulrich," or "i didn't realize how injured i was..."

he couldn't move his wrist, so the latter wouldn't really hold weight in my eyes.

furthermore, given that hopper (apparently) arranged surgery himself without first speaking to anybody on the team speaks volumes.

i'd like to say id be surprised if we hear anything from him but, on the other hand, i suppose something will have to be said to convince potential future rides/sponsors for hopper.

his performance at the end of the season probably started to do that.  but yeah, i'm sure he'll have to discuss his fitness, sign something, etc

wonder if monster will keep him around.  i suppose if he gets a BSB ride, why not

One part of me thinks it's pretty cool that a professional sports team owner is accessible and open to my direct communication on an internet forum.

Another part of me thinks that its not very professional of Ulrich to air dirty laundry in a "chat room", regardless of the circumstances.  ?? 

Hopper is a tool so ultimately he gets what he got! 

Losers all around.  :-\

he can be a ear model

Maybe Crest needs a spokesman.

+11ty billion.

but was he?  yes, in some respects talking about it at all is doing just that.  my guess is he would say that what he said was simply fact.  and given that it's JU you can be quite sure that he didn't know about the wrist and feels like he got screwed over by someone who owes his career to him. 

if you're going to respond to the issue at all, "I thought he was ready to win AMA Pro Superbike races in 2010.  That's not how it turned out and I won't be working with him again." is very mild.

maybe it was just laundry. 

yeah...bu given the forum where JU came out with his comments...WE all here know the WERA forums and so forth...because THAT is the core of the racing community in a lot of ways...but it is no where near being mainstream IMHO...the whole motorcycling world isn't on that board or watching things go on there...so there are a lot of AMA fans or racing fans that will continue to remain clueless as to thw whole thing...

it's kinda like making a posting on FB to a limited amount of friends or on a blog with sorta restricted access....it isn't totally public....but gets out publicly enough within the circles of comfort you are okay with saying it around....

exactly.. if he really wanted to "air" it, he would've published it in his magazine!

which is somewhat ironic. if it didn't involve somebody on his racing team, and one of his reporters had investigated the story and corroborated it with a team owner interview, we'd be giving his magazine kudos for good journalism.

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=43096 (http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=43096)

okay...so...how badly does he get his ass handed to him?

Assuming he doesn't crash out and injure himself in the first race...

20 bucks says he won't win it all, but I reckon he'll be a regular top 5 finisher.

New tracks and lots of rain racing?  Dunno. 

I've pretty much given up trying to figure out Hopper.  He'll do whatever he does.  At the end of the year, he'll--like usual--have some results, but will otherwise remain forgettable except for the fact that he'll never live up to the billing that Faster (and John Ulrich) gave him.

IF he's really 100% he's on a good bike.  and while it's certainly not the same bike, he was on a gix1k sorta-superbike last year and once his hand started to work he was on the podium.  so it's not like he's starting from scratch.  ..is guinty back this year?

he really IS very fast.. he's also just way way too emotional.  but maybe he's gotten beat up enough the last 3 years that he just wants to keep his head down and win some races.  for his sake i hope so.

It's a shame he's not still will with JU, at least in the UK he can use his title: Lord John Ulrich.... oh wait.
 ;D

hopper  kinda (majorly) make the beast with two backsed that up himself.

hopper can be fast, but the real question is whether or not he can be as scrappy as the bsb regulars.

hence why I asked about him getting his ass handed to him...

scrappy = don't get all headfuqued when they start pushing you around at 150mph.  i've never really seen him handle that one way or the other yet.

yeah, he really kinda went from 750ss to fx to 500gp. woulda been nice to see him against a tight 600ss field.

so what are the odds she does better than the hop?

http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/166334/1/tinmouth_makes_history_as_first_lady_of_bsb.html (http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/166334/1/tinmouth_makes_history_as_first_lady_of_bsb.html)

I bet that she's more accustomed to the fairing bashing that goes on than the Hop...as to doing better than the Hop...man...that is a tough bet...

...i was mostly kidding

keyword there...

From the "Well....it *could* happen file":

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/166421/1/will_john_hopkins_make_suzuki_motogp_return.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/166421/1/will_john_hopkins_make_suzuki_motogp_return.html)

well, denning did also promise a gsv-r ride to elena myers, too.

funny, i honest to god nearly made a comment the other day about predicting he would be back in GP in 2012 on a 1000cc suzi.

I would hinge that as dependant on how bad them Brit boyz bash him around in BSB and if he comes out relatively unscathed....meaning no injuries that sideline him for several races or needing operations or what have you...

so you're saying if he gets injured it may impact his ability to be competitive.  dang, ya think?




 ;D

On the topic of BSB, I am catching up on the 2010 season.  I haven't really followed the series before, but what fantastic racing!
A couple of questions, if any one can help.
Watching round 8, Brands Hatch GP, there are 3 rounds, not 2.  Is there a specific reason?
And the same round, they had Tom Sykes as a guest rider.  Is there a reason behind this and does this happen much in BSB or other series?
I am familiar with wildcards, but this seems to be the opposite (WSBK to BSB instead of BSB to WSBK).
Thanks!

sykes is/was a BSB regular.  BSS/BSB from 2004-2008

Brands and Oulton are both 3-race weekends in BSB since '09

Late to the party, but Denning is smoking crack if he is still trumpeting Hopper's skills.  What, cuz he almost did ok for one year on the Suke after being in GP for an eternity??  Melandri's better and he just got sent to WSBK.

Besides, half of Hopper's appeal to MotoGP sponsors as one of the few uh-mur-i-kans is largely gone now that there's Hayden (the pretty boy), Edwards (brash redneck/GP elder) and The Ben (fast and upcoming) taking up all of Hopper's marketing niches.  What good does another American (ok, half Brit) do for a sponsor?

Apparently, we'll get to see how Hopper does on a MotoGP bike:

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/02/10/john_hopkins_to_get.html (http://motomatters.com/news/2011/02/10/john_hopkins_to_get.html)

More of the same. What are they thinking??? [bang]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Feb/110210a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Feb/110210a.htm)

IN SHORT....Bautista gets hurt...who do they have in their reserves that is willing and possibly able to ride the Zuke....maybe if they had massaged the idea of Elena Myers a little more, possibly...otherwise...

he did finish 4th in 2007, a darn sight better than any gsv-r rider since.  and obviously he still has a good relationship with denning if the guy is willing to sign him to his BSB team.  and you know that they can pay him peanuts.  plus he brings Monster money, which they need. 

at the end of the day who do you want as a back-up rider, willing to get on the bike any time at a moments notice?  someone who's already familiar with it.  he brings a high profile personal sponsor with him?  bonus!



"Rizla Suzuki has long deluded themselves into believing or purporting that Hopkins is somehow British, even though he's not a British citizen and was born in California."   [laugh]

He makes perfect sense as a backup rider for Bautista.  I just can't believe that Denning still wants to suck his dick with such fervor. 

need to remember that suzuki is thisclose (at least, supposedly) to being sued by Dorna.  promising to come back in 2012 with 2 bikes saved their butt. 

if the cost of the insurance policy against suddenly having zero bikes in 2011 is stroking john john's ego, rather than spending real money.. looks like paul already owns kneepads.

You guys are cracking me up.

http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/167134/1/john_hopkins_rides_first_crescent_bsb_laps.html (http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/167134/1/john_hopkins_rides_first_crescent_bsb_laps.html)

hmmm...makes me wonder how far off the pace he was....

Hopper to be riding for "PR filming" at Qatar MotoGP test.

It doesn't make any more sense now than it did when I first saw it.

Maybe that's what they're telling Bautista.

WTF.

http://motomatters.com/press_release/2011/03/08/rizla_suzuki_press_release_bautista_and_.html (http://motomatters.com/press_release/2011/03/08/rizla_suzuki_press_release_bautista_and_.html)

i've seen a couple of those.  they all say he'll be there, none of them say he will ride.

i guess if your other option is sitting around in rancho santa fe watching tv.... why not fly to the middle east and take some pictures.

If i were in his shoes, yeah, I'd do it.

Just not sure why Rizla's doin' it.  :P

hell, it's probably denning's dime.

Back to the fervor.  [laugh]

Maybe the Monster money is talking.

probably.  i'm sure they want something for their investment, one of these days.  PR photos at the first GP of the year.. it's a start.

It'd cost the same to fly Elena Myers over, and the ROI on that would be epic.

And it'd go a long ways toward making Denning look like less of a turd (if he was the one that made the as yet unkept promise).

they only said they would let her ride the gsv.. the word 'test' wasn't used.  and i suspect that was not during a time when they were actively trying to avoid being sued by Dorna.  don't recall the actual source but even if it was denning, i'm sure the idea wasn't his.  or it required some authorization...  hopkins is insurance against that suit until they get to 2012.  probably free insurance, at that.

I just don't see Carmelo caring at all unless there's a 2nd bike on the grid starting at Qatar.

I'm getting more and more annoyed that Hopper is making the news.  Jebus, he finished 78th in AMA last year, and his BSB testig laptimes so far are 23 minutes per lap off the leaders.   [bang]

he basically agreed not to sue them as long as they are back to 2 bikes in 2012

The Real Reason Hopper is doing PR shots in Qatar (http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=284393) <~~ clicky

[laugh]

More Hopper PR... Zzzzzzzzzzz.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=43657 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=43657)

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/hopkins+at+Jerez+GP (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/hopkins+at+Jerez+GP)

Wonder how Hopper's BSB schedule and the MotoGP will blend? What series will take precedent over the other one? Wouldn't this ultimately piss off the BSB team with hopes of a championship if he does too many MotoGPs? And does the Hopper get double pay? Does he get BSB pay even though he's riding a MotoGP bike during a BSB weekend? Just wondering... ???

british superbike will get precedence.

i doubt the team would care (they're both run by the same guy), but i'm sure the sponsors would.

That's what I really mean. It's always about the dudes in the suits with the checkbook. Starts and ends there. Always.

From the link...

“John isn’t happy with what happened to Álvaro, but I know he will do a solid job for us in Jerez and we are hoping to arrange a shakedown test beforehand. Álvaro’s comeback timing isn’t clear, and John has BSB commitments that clash with Estoril and Le Mans, so we need to wait a while before any decisions for those races are made.”

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=43833 (http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=43833)

I hope John does well, shit he could do with some good fortune.

define doing well....is doing well just keeping within a half second of the last guy or being ahead of the last guy?....I truly don't expect much at all from him in this endevour.

i'm not sure what i mean by this, good or bad, but i think he's going to surprise us.

I still somewhat think "doing good" for Hopper is going to be "Not Crashing"....if he does better than 13th finish, I'll be absolutely freaking amazed....

i know that 2007 was a long time ago, and while he was not on spec 'stones he was on 'stones and an 800cc machine (that hasn't changed much since)... and in 2007 he rode that thing pretty well.

like is said, i dunno.  i can't decide if i expect him to bin it or ride around in the back with karel.  his record at jerez is not stellar.

Somewhere mid pack would be great, I would cringe if he was .5 second behind the last guy. I think to finish mid pack after this amount of time away on the Suzuki would blow most people away. Good luck to him what ever happens
Don

A good day on the zuke with Bautista is pretty much mid-pack.  To expect Hopper to do the same is asking a bit much.  And he can't spell "a bit much" either, so there's that. 

Not sure if surprised or impressed is the right word.

Not bad for the first time out in a few years.

I'd be worried if I was Bautista.

I wouldn't....attricion had more to do with his results than his own performance...he had a steady head about him to just keep it upright and bring it home, which I will completely give him 100% credit for...on a different day, he might go back to the "bin it or win it" mentality!

^^ dp posted that on Sat., so I think he was talking about qualy not the race. (?)

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/hopkins-battled-pain-with-alcohol/17677.html (http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/hopkins-battled-pain-with-alcohol/17677.html)

@ Brands Hatch yesterday the Hopper finished here in race 1

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=44131 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=44131)

and then improved to here in race 2

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=44132 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=44132)

Nicely linked with lack of spoiler.  [thumbsup] credit where credit is due

no problemo!

Saw this thread down near the bottom...figured  'ol Hopper deserved some props for doing rather well.  [thumbsup]

Hopper with Zemke and Byrne ( not sure the other 2) prepping for to race in Scotland this weekend...

(http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/maninskirts.jpg)

That's just wrong in so many ways. [laugh]

YEAH...especially since maybe only 1 or 2 of them is probably wearing it right....

I'm thinking the tall socks just ruin the whole look. [laugh]

I wonder if they are letting it hang free under those kilts.   ;D

Gotta give some props to Hopper.

IMO, he's done much better than expected so far.  [thumbsup]

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/171401/1/suzuki_confirms_hopkins_brno_wild-card.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/171401/1/suzuki_confirms_hopkins_brno_wild-card.html)

"As far as the Suzuki goes, I think it's a great bike and the package is a lot better than when I last rode it in 2007."

<blinks>

"and it's even better than the 2006 bike!  you know, that one i was kicking on tv"

I know why they're wearing the kilts......the sheep can hear a zipper a mile away [laugh]

Hopkins is off to a good start for this weekend: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Jul/110729a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Jul/110729a.htm)

Hopkins has been impressive in BSB.

Did the double at Donnington (round 10), and a first and a third (under red flag) at Silverstone (round 11).

Hope he can take the championship. [thumbsup]

he'll have another go on the GP bike at sepang

Unbelievable! [bang] Bummer of biblical proportions for Hopper!! >:( Was hoping he could pull this off.

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2011/10/09/hopkins-comes-up-006-short-of-title/ (http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2011/10/09/hopkins-comes-up-006-short-of-title/)

Well shitbiscuits... :P

Also, shouldn't have clicked into this thread. Still waiting on the third superbike race from this weekend to be uploaded so I can watch it.

Guess we can all play "what if?" and ask how it might have gone if race two hadn't been killed for him by an electrical glitch that forced a bike restart.

Sadface... was really pulling for him all through this season of BSB.

yup.  those 9 points were the title.  bummer.

it's already been spoiled, but... spoiler:

http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/video/173853/1/watch_the_the_epic_final_lap_of_bsb_2011.html (http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/video/173853/1/watch_the_the_epic_final_lap_of_bsb_2011.html)

Hey folks, I'm sorry about the spoiler. My bad big time. I'm just used to the race threads having spoiler alerts and just wasn't thinking straight on this Hopper thread. Again, apologies extended. [bang]

Wow, that was a ball buster of a last lap. Holy shit! :o Feel bad for Hopkins but hey, that's racing. [beer] [popcorn]

Just got the last race downloaded and watched.

Holy. make the beast with two backsing. Shit. :o

Absolutely amazing. That last lap was about as good as racing can get. [thumbsup]

Yep, again, ball buster of a lap!! [thumbsup] [clap] [popcorn] [bow_down]

no kidding!  i'm pretty sure race tech should have checked tommy hill's tires for pine tar or something.  he should not have been able to hold those passes   :o

No Hopper at Sepang. [thumbsdown]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111021219.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111021219.htm)

But maybe we'll see him riding for Crescent Suzuki in WSBK next season. [thumbsup]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111020hopkinsoption.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Oct/111020hopkinsoption.htm)

JHopper21: '2012: Nothing is confirmed yet by any means but I'm pretty sure what manufacturer I'll race for but which championship yet to be decided ...'

Hopper is an idiot.

Figuring he's about to be left without a prom date, like the high school nerd who's been helping with Suzuki's homework and thinks he has a chance?

Good luck Hopper. The opportunities are thinning and the number of riders to pick from is growing. Make that the number of riders without issues or injuries is growing. He will be lucky to be back in BWSK next year. Which isn't a bad thing. 

I'd hope Crescent would have a place for him, as he did pretty well for them this past season.

Hope to see him somewhere, and if that place ends up being another year in England, well, that's not so bad.

Yeah, and he speaks the local language. ;D

finally gave up on that infected finger..

(http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg737/scaled.php?tn=0&server=737&filename=u6wtu.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640)

Like the olde song by Albert King said...if it wasn't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/wsbk-hopkins-breaks-hand-highspeed-crash-phillip-island/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/wsbk-hopkins-breaks-hand-highspeed-crash-phillip-island/)

enough with the hand already.  sheesh.

at least he gets to turn right around and fly back from australia.  yuck.

Same story different rag.

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/02/13/hopkins-championship-hopes-dealt-a-blow/ (http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/02/13/hopkins-championship-hopes-dealt-a-blow/)

Is there no end to Hopper's bullshit. Nothing but bad news and more bad news. No offense but give it up, work at Wal-Mart! [bang]

I don't think Hopper would pass the Wal-Mart IQ test, which isn't saying much.   ;D

29 surgeries.  christ.  http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/176788/1/john_hopkins_anticipating_29th_surgery.html (http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/176788/1/john_hopkins_anticipating_29th_surgery.html)

 :o

One for each IQ point.  

or each eyebrow wax appt

fixed.   ;D

http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/178006/1/john_hopkins_gets_all-clear_for_imola.html (http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/178006/1/john_hopkins_gets_all-clear_for_imola.html)

he better get some kind of armored glove. 

Maybe he should phone Capirex.  That dude had some pretty massive gloves by the end of his career.

maybe one of the suits from Full Metal Jousting adjusted for mounting a bike?

maybe he should stop crashing and effing himself up?

STOP MAKING SENSIBLE COMMENTS!!!...lol...I mean...we somewhat like to make a conversation at his expense...otherwise more than half this thread would be null and void or something....

What part of throwing in the towel and quiting does the Hopper not get? Gee... wonder how crippled up he will be in his mid 40s? He will walk with a limp and his hands will be so make the beast with two backsed up he won't even be able to hold a beer bottle. Doesn't life kind of suck after that?

Dude. Give it up. It's not worth it. You've had more surgeries and broken bones than Evil Knievel. What's left to prove? [bang] :P [roll]

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/05/09/hopkins-out-for-donington/ (http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/05/09/hopkins-out-for-donington/)

so he did break his foot in that crash...

poor bastid...he has absolutely no luck.

No luck indeed.

Nate,

You and I are old enough to know the damage that's being done... no offense by the age reference. ;D I look at all those older/retired NFL football players (hell, look at the retired boxers!!) hobling around way before they should. Was it worth it? Did you make so much money that you can suffer the rest of your life in pain and some how feel that is OK?

I suffer and have huge pains... and no, I got not money from it. You couldn't give me enough money to make it OK to feel the way I do. You could certainly pay be a lot of money to NOT feel this way! [laugh]

I just think Hopper's day has come and gone. He's had a good run although he never really had any noteworthy GP results. Certainly nothing worth what he has been through. If Monster would just drop him and go elsewhere it would add years to his life. Like Clint Eastwood said... "a man has to know his limitations." ;)

Just saying.

i would support the give it up idea if he hadn't absolutely killed it in BSB...

Yeah, he did do well last season. Not throwing rocks at his riding skill, just the damage he keeps doing to himself. Like a NFL quarterback that throws TDs all game long but keeps getting concussions. How much ouch do you want to put up with today and 20 years from now?

no doubt.  he's going to be a crippled 40yr old at this rate.

I know that feeling! [laugh] [bang] [bacon]

Things don't seem to be looking any better:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/May/120516b.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/May/120516b.htm)

on a scale of 1-10...how likely do you think the announcement is going to come that he is done?


I say 8.5

A&R is reporting he'll be back at MMP

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/john-hopkins-racing-miller-motorsports-park-wsbk/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/john-hopkins-racing-miller-motorsports-park-wsbk/)

my guess is he'll show and up pull a Vermulen and try and ride the bike and say that he isn't healed enough to race....

Wow, just never guess I would see this coming! [bang] [roll]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Oct/121007b.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Oct/121007b.htm)

Hopper should consider racing wheelchairs in 2014!! ;)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Apr/13041621hip.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Apr/13041621hip.htm)

I think it's honestly time to wave the white flag at this point for him...

Might be too frightening, especially if he has nothing else on the other side of racing....

Pretty sure that his issues extend outside of physical...lol

OBVIOUSLY part of him is still functional though...which I guess bodes well for Ashleigh....since she'll have him almost captively....

with those ears the hopper was never hip

http://superbikeplanet.com/2013/Oct/131031b.htm (http://superbikeplanet.com/2013/Oct/131031b.htm)