News

[The Architect]

I'm not so sure what too think of his conclusions, but an interesting read:
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2017/Jan/170103cutyourearoff.htm

That's a good article.  And I agree with the author, unless they work like the odd couple.  Two complete opposites but somehow together they balance each other out.  Time will tell. 

[duccarlos]

I like the idea of Spies coming back as a test rider, but not sure it would be with Ducati.

[Speeddog]

Meanwhile, at the Spies residence in Lake Como......

<RingRing.....RingRing......RingRing>

<Ben> "Hello?"
<Gigi> "Hey, Ben, how you doin', man! Long time no see!"
<Ben> "Ah, yeah, Gigi, doin' alright, bicycles and burgers keepin' me busy whenever I've got time free from the bambina!"
<Gigi> " Hey, that's great!"
<Ben> "Yeah, livin' the life!"
<Gigi> "We were wondering, maybe you might want to come back, maybe do some test riding?"
          "Y'know, get up to speed, do a bunch of hard laps, really push that front end, y'know really hard!"
          "It'd be a really big help to us, y'know, help us get a championship, and for Jorge too, of course, and... well.... uh.... you get to ride!"
          "Don't worry, the bike's way better than the last one you rode!"
<crickets>

<crickets>

<crickets>

<Gigi> "Ben? You there?"
<Gigi> "Ben? Hello?"

[duccarlos]

Meanwhile, at the Spies residence in Lake Como......

<RingRing.....RingRing......RingRing>

<Ben> "Hello?"
<Gigi> "Hey, Ben, how you doin', man! Long time no see!"
<Ben> "Ah, yeah, Gigi, doin' alright, bicycles and burgers keepin' me busy whenever I've got time free from the bambina!"
<Gigi> " Hey, that's great!"
<Ben> "Yeah, livin' the life!"
<Gigi> "We were wondering, maybe you might want to come back, maybe do some test riding?"
          "Y'know, get up to speed, do a bunch of hard laps, really push that front end, y'know really hard!"
          "It'd be a really big help to us, y'know, help us get a championship, and for Jorge too, of course, and... well.... uh.... you get to ride!"
          "Don't worry, the bike's way better than the last one you rode!"
<crickets>

<crickets>

<crickets>

<Gigi> "Ben? You there?"
<Gigi> "Ben? Hello?"

This is not accurate. It would go more like the above, except Ben would ask how much they're willing to pay him so that he can bankroll his bicycles and burgers.

[OT]

This is not accurate. It would go more like the above, except Ben would ask how much they're willing to pay him so that he can bankroll his bicycles and burgers.

Doesn't 'Mary' do all his negotiating?

[duccarlos]

Replace "Ben" with "Marie"

[ducpainter]

Doesn't 'Mary' do all his negotiating?

At one point that was true...then she disappeared.

Chick leaving the nest?

[kopfjäger]

http://m.crash.net/motogp/news/235776/1/circuit-of-wales-signs-partnership-with-extreme.html

[Speeddog]

Appears that Triumph is voluntarily diving under the bus for Moto2 for 2019.

https://motomatters.com/news/2017/01/07/triumph_set_to_become_official_moto2.html

[ducpainter]

At least one Brit commenter thinks he's gone to heaven.

[kopfjäger]

http://m.crash.net/motogp/news/236820/1/abraham-excited-by-ducati-return.html

[duccarlos]

http://m.crash.net/motogp/news/236820/1/abraham-excited-by-ducati-return.html

With this move Aspar is assured a sponsor. Karel has been a consistent backmarker since he arrived.

[kopfjäger]

http://m.crash.net/motogp/news/236845/1/bautista-ducati-best-balanced-bike-ive-ridden.html

[Speeddog]

That's a really great pic.

Makes me wonder what it'd be like with Marquie Marc on one!

[duccarlos]

http://m.crash.net/motogp/news/236845/1/bautista-ducati-best-balanced-bike-ive-ridden.html

Bautista top 5? Has he been following his own career?