Monday, August 30, 2010

Scooters invade Speedway


(Team Honda/Moriwaki Moto2 Motorcycle; Source: American Honda)

URGH! In my haste to poond aways upon ze keyboard last week... In order to complete this story “Just-in-Time” for my departure to Indianapolis, I managed to delete the whole FREAKIN’ story; SHEISA! But I digress...

Yeah, that’s right; you’re Humble Scribe is currently in Speedway, Indiana... Having just taken in the MOTO GP event at The Brickyard! But I don’t have NO way to post from my remote locale, nor can I TWITTER miize Hearts-away... So Y’all will just haveda wait ‘til I return later this week, right?

And as I mentioned before, I originally chose to record Wind Tunnel over the Indy Car Series race from Sonoma in order to capture the interview with the mercurial Ben Spies, also known as ‘ELBOWZ – allegedly due to his elbows-out riding style... As I’ve been enthralled by Messer Spies since watching him rocket onto the World Superbike scene enroute to capturing the title in his Rookie campaign before making the jump to MOTO GP.

As I liken to contrast the FIM MOTO GP as the Formula 1 of Motorcycle Road racing... It was entertaining to listen to myself trying to explain what just exactly MOTO GP was to a complete novice who most likely has ZERO interest in Motorsports... Oh? Is that like Motocross? NO! Hmm? How do you explain what F1 is to somebody who’s only ever heard of RASSCAR – BARF! Nah, they’re the Primadonna’s ‘O Road Racing Motorcycles; Carbon fibre frames & Swingarms... What’s a Swingarm? Uhm... They go over 200mph and AREN’T Street legal... Probably could go faster but I believe they’re designed for going fastest from corner-to-corner... So they’re like Streetbikes accept NOT legal – right? Correct... And this concludes my attempt at explaining what a MOTO GP ‘Scooter is!

Thus I’m metaphorically ‘GEEKED! Over getting to attend my very first ever MOTO GP event during my weekend at Indianapolis, where I’ll get to check out Messer Spies going Mano-e-Mano against the other luminary riders “The Doctor, (Valentino Rossi) the “Texas Tornado,” (Colin Edwards) Casey Stoner, “The Kentucky Kid,” (Nicky Hayden) Randy de Puniet, George Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso and the rest of the supporting cast at the Brickyard! Albeit they’ll most likely just be pebblish-sized coloured specs to your Low Vision ‘Vurd Botcherer BloodHoond...

Meanwhile much has changed since the beginning of the season way back in April, albeit Spies seemingly has had the most impressive campaign of the three competing ‘Yanks; scoring his maiden Podium on the new ‘Supersized Silverstone Circuit and then capturing his maiden Front row start at the last round in the Czech Republic. While I’m guessing Teammate Colin Edwards of the newly christened Monster Yamaha Tec 3 Twah – per SPEED’s Greg Kramer hasn’t exactly had the season he’d want to remember... While once again Nicky Hayden seems to be getting dusted off by soon-to-be ex-Teammate Casey Stoner.

As the ‘Aussie (Stoner) started the 2011 “Silly Season” Dominoes falling by announcing his decision to move to Repsol Honda next year before Valentino Rossi was lured to Ducati, whilst it should be confirmed at Indy that Hayden will remain as the Italian’s Teammate next year. Thus, Yamaha declared that if The Doctor left, it would immediately elevate Spies into his vacated seat alongside soon-to-be newly crowned MOTO GP World Champion George Lorenzo...

Meanwhile the MOTO2 category is getting much press with the FIM allowing 1993 GP500 World Champion Kevin Schwantz to use his retired number 34 plate for his Team Honda/Moriwaki’s MOTO2 entry, as Roger Lee Hayden (Nicky & Tommy Hayden’s younger Brother) will race at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on a Wildcard entry...

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