2012

Posted on January 1, 2012 by laurie

Today I entered all of the race dates for WSBK and MotoGP on my 2012 calendar. The first WSBK race of the year is only 55 days away!

The Vancouver Motorcycle show is coming up, and I’ll be working at it this year! I’m going to be helping out at Daytona Motorsports in accessories. I will be taking some time to go see all of the new bikes on display…here are the ones I’m most excited to see:

Honda :

Yamaha:

  • R1 50th anniversary edition
  • FZ8 (it’s not new, but this year it comes in the anniversary colours!)

Kawasaki:

Ducati:

Aprilia (if they’re at the show):

Other than these bikes, I’m not sure about what’s new out there and coming to Canada/North America.

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Looking back at 2011 (racing)

Posted on December 30, 2011 by laurie

MotoGP saw Casey Stoner show absolute dominance. I’m not a Casey Stoner fan but I do acknowledge that he is one of the most skilled riders of all time.

It was tough watching Valentino Rossi struggle on the Ducati. I knew it wasn’t going to be a fairytale like when he left Honda (best bike on the grid) to ride for Yamaha (arguably one of the worst). Is he the Greatest of All Time? Probably. But his reputation lost some of its shine when we saw how Casey could ride the Ducati, and that Rossi could not. It’s also tough listening to journalists talk about h0w old Vale is when we’re the same age!

Checa's bike covered in Tooele mud after his celebration crash

Conversely, seeing an  old-timer’s success in World Superbike is awesome.

I was so happy to see Carlos Checa take the double at Miller Motorsports Park after the disaster he had there in 2010. Seeing the “happiest crash of [his] life” first hand was hilarious!

A high point of WSBK has to be whenever Sylvain Guintoli is interviewed. We were lucky enough to hear him be interviewed live at Miller Motorsports Park. When he retires Eurosport should hire him to be a commentator.

I’m also very happy to see John Hopkins‘ amazing comeback. He has worked hard to get back to the top. I was looking forward to seeing him back in MotoGP, but due to Suzuki’s withdrawal from the series that seems to have been postponed. I think he’ll have a good year in WSBK.

Marco's memorial

The low of the year has to be the loss of yet another talented young rider. Marco Simoncelli was poised to become a shining star amongst the MotoGP elite. I didn’t follow the 250cc class very closely so I was just getting to know his talent and skill. Ride on in peace, Marco.

Other lows were the loss of Yamaha from WSBK and Suzuki from MotoGP.

We shall see how the Claiming Rule Teams work out for MotoGP. I like Julian Ryder’s cheeky name for them: Casey Rage Trigger

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Looking back at 2011 (personal)

Posted on December 30, 2011 by laurie

Meeting Nori Haga!

It seems like I should look back at the year when I put my bike away, or get back from the last trip of the year, but like everyone else I’ve fallen prey to using the end of the calendar year as a time to look back.

2011 was pretty exciting from a motorcycle point of view:

  • Found out on a ride with Paul and a friend that having a bum knee can cause you to miss a corner and nearly wipe out. Fun!
  • Went to seethe  World Superbike races at Miller Motorsports Park
  • Met Noriyuki Haga! Got to stand in his garage and touch his bike!
  • Met Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri at the Yamaha tent
  • Went to Yamaha Champions Riding School for a three-day course. By far the biggest bang for my buck as far as skill level and skill improvement.
  • Rode a supersport (2010 R6) for the first time
  • Sold the Ninja 250 and moved up to an FZ6R
  • Rode a dirtbike for the first time and nearly flung myself off of a hill and into the parking lot. (I would have landed on an F150…ouch.)
  • Attended another CLASS school and had a blast at Streets of Willow Springs
  • Graduated from the C/B group!
  • Graduated from the slow group on the local track…and I’m not the slowest in the next group up!
  • Got to see what a WERA/AFM champion can do on a Ninja 250 on a racetrack (it was impressive).

I think Paul would agree with most of these points and add one of his own: getting his first ever two-up ride. To make it even more exciting it was from Scott Russell at Miller Motorsports Park!

I ended this season/year with more skill and more importantly more confidence in myself, my bike and it’s components: tires, brakes, suspension, etc. I just signed up for and account at Fastersafer.com and I’m looking forward to more great tips and online instruction from Ken and Nick.

If you’re curious about YCRS I’d take a peek around the Fastersafer site. You’ll get a taste of how instruction at YCRS is. A lot of people ask me if it’s worth the (non insignificant) amount of money it costs to go: YES it is. No matter what your skill level is you’ll come out having learned enough and made a big enough improvement in your riding that you’ll be planning your next trip either to repeat the class or move on the their Graduate school.

It was a full year. I didn’t do nearly as much road riding in 2011 as I did in 2010 (I think I did nearly 17,000 kilometers in 2010; perhaps 18,000 – I can’t remember), but I improved a lot more. 2012 is going to be even better!

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Ciao, Marco

Posted on November 13, 2011 by laurie

Ci mancherai, Marco

It’s been nearly a month since the loss of Marco Simoncelli at Sepang. It’s a huge loss for motorsport, the Simoncelli family, and his friends. The tributes by the MotoGP paddock, Team Honda Gresini, and the Misano circuit are touching.

Julian Ryder again sums up my thoughts better than I can. Here’s his thoughts on the side of Super Sic that not everyone knew:

“The bottom line is that he was a thoroughly nice man. Mary Spies told me about a riders’ visit to a children’s cancer ward before one race. Guess who was down on the floor with over-excited kids riding on his back, pulling his hair and generally making a lot of noise. But when you look at the astonishing courage, dignity and humanity exhibited by Marco’s father, Paolo Simoncelli, you start to understand where he got it from.”

Michele Pirro salutes Super Sic

Seeing Michele Pirro win his first ever Moto2 race for Gresini was…well, there are no words for it.

Sete Gibernau pays tribute to Dajiro Kato

It was so similar to Sete Gibernau’s win after the death of his Telefonica-Moviestar Honda teammate Dajiro Kato that it seemed per-ordained.

I’d forgotten that both Simoncelli and Kato were riders for Fausto Gresini (the team names were different). I felt for Fausto. Watching him collapse into tears after Pirro’s win was seeing a man who was overcome the emotion good, bad, happy, sad, triumphant. It was all there.

Simoncelli was a bright rising star of MotoGP. I don’t doubt that he would have been consistently harassing the “aliens” given a little more time.

Vale, Super Sic. Ciao-ciao.

Posted in MotoGP, Racing | 2 Comments

CLASS @ Streets of Willow Springs

Posted on November 12, 2011 by laurie

Team PRS & Brian from Feel Like a Pro

Another trip with the PRS gang to California for a winter track school is over! We  attended CLASS, but this year it was at the Streets of Willow Springs track in Rosedale, California. Once again, we rented track-prepped Ninja 250s from Brian at Feel Like a Pro.

Here’s a link to a video of our track days: Pacific Riding School with Reg Pridmore of CLASS (Streets of Willow)

This year we decided to fly to LA rather than drive. Last year’s adventures with the snow, chains, and fueling costs were enough. We flew in to LAX and then drove out to Palmdale, close to the track.

Streets is an awesome track for the 250s. Laguna Seca may be an iconic place to ride, but Streets was more fun. The day was glorious, around 30 degrees, but with a slight breeze so we didn’t get too hot standing around in our leathers.  Reg and his instructors were great. We were lucky enough to be in on a track day with the “Force 5″ group who were all quite experienced. They made up the bulk of the A group. The B group was less experienced. I was in the B group but I could have been in A. When you’re on a 250 it doesn’t matter too much; you’re going to get passed on the straights either way.

I was happy that this year my concern was about making safe passes, rather than being passed. Being fast isn’t my number one objective, but it happens when everything else is in place. Gigi and Greg showed me some better lines around the track, which really helped. Gigi actually spent quite a bit of time with me, which I appreciated.

Getting my certificate from Reg Pridmore

The best part? Being told that I’m smooth by both Gig and Greg. Even better was when Reg himself told me that after following me around the track in the afternoon he found me to be smooth.

Once again, it was good times with good people. It was awesome to get to know some new people on the trip, as well as get to know some others better. Many thanks to Brian, Reg, Gigi, and everyone at CLASS, as well as Dat and Ambrose from PRS for organizing the trip. Also to Alex, Wayne, and Edwin for being great traveling companions!

Edwin, Wayne, Alex, Paul & me

Photos here.

 

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Famous last words

Posted on August 7, 2011 by laurie

Things I have said about racing in the past twelve or so months:

“Yes, I totally want to race! Just in the Novice class, just for fun.”
“I want to race in the 250 cup!”
“I don’t think I’m cut out to be a racer.”
“If I was going to race [at Mission] I wish I could just stay in the Novice class.”
“I don’t think my knee will hold up for me to race a motorcycle.”
“No, I’m not getting my race license.”
“I might get my race license just so I can pay reduced track day fees.”
“Hell yeah I want to race a Ninja 250 next year!”

The truth is, I really do want to race. Not because I want to win (well, I do, but let’s be honest, it isn’t going to happen!) but because I want the extra track time, and the camaraderie of being a part of a team.

So I’m back to considering racing a Ninja 250 next year. I know that if I decide to wait once I’m  watching Paul do it I’ll feel a lot of regret that I’m not out there too.

My massage therapist is going to teach me some stretches to keep my back and hips strong for riding a motorcycle. Part of what makes me painful on the bike are my trigger points and completely messed up knee. All of which are slightly related.  She says that I won’t ever be pain-free post race if I pursue it, but she can show me how to keep it to a minimum.

I’ll be so MotoGP with my own health team keeping my body from falling apart, heh.

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The future of WSBK & MotoGP

Posted on August 3, 2011 by laurie

Bad news all around: Yamaha is pulling out of WSBK in 2012, and Francis Batta says that if Suzuki drops their factory support he won’t work with another manufacturer, meaning the Alstare team would fold.

I’m really surprised by Yamaha’s move, considering that Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty are currently 3rd and 4th respectively. It’s not like Ducati where both of their riders were struggling and there was a satellite team that looked promising (so promising that they’re leading the championship race!)

I don’t know how they’re going to flesh out the grid for next season. Speaking of which…

I don’t agree with Dorna’s plan for MotoGP “Claiming Rule Teams”. I know that they have an even greater need for teams, but I disagree with the plan. You can’t win a championship without a factory bike. But where does this leave the satellite teams? They’re really getting the shaft because they don’t get full factory support (some get none) and they don’t get any of the concessions that the CRTs will.

My fear is that the CRTs will be glorified production-based superbikes, which will dilute what MotoGP is: “purpose-built, purebred racing bikes – ‘prototypes’ ” to quote MotoGP.com. And if Casey Stoner (and others) find the slow bikes on the racing line during practice and qualifying frustrating now, imagine what it will be like with CRTs that might be over half a minute off the pace?

I don’t know what the answer is. Valentino Rossi and others have called for less electronics, which may help reduce costs. I can’t offer any solutions. I’m just not happy with the CRT plan. But who knows maybe it will be interesting and add to the racing?

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Dirtbiking & California dreaming

Posted on August 3, 2011 by laurie

Paul on a Yamaha WR450F - the R1 of dirtbikes.

As I mentioned on a my other blog, we went camping last weekend and tried dirtbiking for the first time. It’s so different from street riding, but still really fun.

I wasn’t brave enough to do anything too crazy; my craziness was completely unintended. Let’s just say that I learned first hand what a whiskey throttle is. I have a couple of bruises, but I didn’t crash. It was still a blast though.

Team PRS!

Last night I got an email about this year’s PRS California adventure with CLASS. Paul and I are already confirmed! Last year was so much fun and most of that was because of the awesome company. We’re renting Ninja 250s again, but this time we’re going to the Streets of Willow. We’re going to fly from Bellingham to LAX, which is significantly less expensive than the caravan if mini-vans that we did last year.

It’s nice to have these trips at the end of the riding season to extend it a little further. Trouble is whenever I do a track lesson I always anticipate getting back out there (on a track) to try out my skills.

Reg Pridmore & the Pacific Riding School crew.

 

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Paul’s new bike

Posted on July 25, 2011 by laurie

Sold!

Last week Paul finally made his decision about what bike he was going to get (with a little arm-twisting from me!). He considered a Suzuki DRZ400 SM, a Yamaha WR250 X, a CBR F4i, and the Yamaha FZ8. We rode the FZ8 at Yamaha Champions Riding School and we both loved it.

Paul was having a hard time making a decision because I up and sold the Ninja with very little notice, and it took only three days to sell. While I like to play the what motorcycle would you buy if… game (and let’s face it, I like any sort of imaginary “what would you do if” type thinking) Paul’s quite a bit more deliberate than me. I know I can take a long time to make a decision, so I tend to make them quickly. Plus, given the option, I can list about 15 motorcycles that I would buy right now.

New friends, new adventures

So after deliberating for a couple of weeks, Paul took the plunge and got a 2011 FZ8 from our favourite motorcycle people at Daytona Motorsports.  We went in to pick up a seat cowl for my FZ6R and Patrick (the sales guy) and I decided that Paul was also getting a bike that day. The service and accessories gang was a little shocked when we traipsed back up the stairs to complete the paperwork.

Both Paul and the FZ8 are chomping at the bit to get through the break-in period. It’s an awesome bike, it sounds a lot meaner than the FZ6R. I rode it last night and even just around town at moderate speeds it’s super fun.

It’s also kind of funny that now we both have bikes that no one can recognize. Heh.

Thanks again to everyone at Daytona. You guys are awesome :)

Going home!

 

 

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Bye bye baby

Posted on June 26, 2011 by laurie

Last weekend the 250 left for a new home. I put it up for sale the day after we got home from the WSBK/YCRS trip. Paul and I went for a ride out to PRS and I just knew that it was time. After riding the R6 and the FZ8 the 250 felt dull and pokey. It would have been  good on the road for commuting, but I didn’t think I’d enjoy riding it on the track anymore. As soon as we got to PRS I knew it was time to move on.

Faye, a student from PRS bought my bike and is enjoying her new ride. I’m happy that the Ninjette is going on to help another new rider. I had a lot of great times over the past two years. I was sad to hear the Ninja leaving the driveway the last time knowing that it wouldn’t be back.

That being said, I’m excited to be taking on the FZ6R. Right now we’re down to 1 bike as Paul’s not sure what he’s going to get next.

I’m nursing a broken right index finger so there’s been no fighting over who gets to ride. I should be good to go soon…I hope.

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