Nicky's broken :(

Early last week it was reported by a not-so-dependable news outlet that Nicky Hayden had suffered a shoulder injury during his tangle with teammate Dani Pedrosa in Estoril. I was intrigued by this news, but I was waiting for a more solid source to report on it as I am not one to pass on "tabloid" fodder. It has become official over the course of the week... trickling out slowly from the recesses of the MotoGP news vaults. Nicky did indeed sustain an injury in the crash in Estoril.... a shoulder fracture. He kept it on the "down-low" (if you will) so as not to hand Rossi any more of a psychological advantage than he already had leading up to Valencia. Props to you Nick! He went in with his "All In" poker hand represented on his bike and the mental attitude of "Crash or Win".... no excuses. I must say I have gained some respect for The Kentucky Kid in light of this news. In all fairness though, none of us know what would have happened if Rossi hadn't crashed. Did anyone check Nicky's leathers before the race to see if he had a banner tucked in there prepared to be unfurled at the finish had he not won? Something along the lines of "I am riding injured somebody hug me". Me thinks the news would have been shouted from the rooftops during the post-race interview had the victory escaped him. Alas, this is merely speculation. Nick will miss the final testing session in Jerez, and fly home to have the injury assessed by a doctor and possibly schedule surgery.

The 800cc testing is going well. Suzuki, to everyone's surprise, has found a lovely spot at the top of the time-boards. It looks like they may have gotten it right this time around. Ironically, Honda .... (yes, the same Honda who proclaimed that, in the interest of safety, the machines should be slashed down to 800cc) is struggling a bit with their set-up. Nicky has been quoted as saying the bikes "need more power". Maybe so, but Suzuki has managed to find themselves a second quicker than the track record, set by Loris Capirossi on the liter-class Ducati, in Sepang. There is still much more testing to do before the season cranks up for 2007.... then the tale will be told ;)

Valentino Rossi has been droppin' the proverbial hammer as a contestant in the WRC (World Rally Championships). He finished an extremely respectable 11th in his privately entered '05 Spec Impreza in NZ. Seriously.... where does the coolness end with this guy? He was considering a switch to F1 for 2006 (which never happened... but he still got out there and drove the thing like it was his duty to God and country) and now he's dabbling in the world of rally racing to gauge it as a possible post-MotoGP profession. *** Post MotoGP*** Translation.... after he tires of being THE fastest man on two wheels. I heart me some Valentino Rossi.... he does NOT lack awesome.... and he accomplishes all of this while being at least one nugget short of a Happy Meal.

Tech 3 Yamaha's new edition, Sylvain Guintoli, has managed to injure himself during a tire-testing run on one of the 990cc M1's. They were wet-weather testing and Guintoli was "kicked off" after a sudden loss of rear grip at nearly 145 MPH. He fractured his bone of the collar variety in the accident, but sources say it does not require surgery, and he should be fully recovered in 6 weeks.... ready to get back to testing after the ban is lifted in January.

That's about all I have in me for today.....

Until next time......

Rubb'er Down :)

Fare thee well Sete

Fare thee well Sete

Well, I have said it before, and there's no denying the truth behind it... "all good things must come to an end. " Sete Gibernau officialy announced his retirement this morning at a press conference that he called a few days ago. I hate to see him go, but after hearing what he had to say, I will agree that it's for the best.

“I am not enjoying my racing any more and I do not want to keep going just for the sake of money.”

That's it right there... he's not enjoying it anymore. Yes, he's had a fantastic career... he was a formidable presence on the track and basked in the glory of many wins. He doesn't enjoy it anymore. It's become a "job" to him. It's time to get out.

I can relate to his feelings 100%. The moment you realize that your passion has turned into a laborious task is a sickening one. No one pours every ounce of heart into a "job" unless they are passionate about what they do and are lucky enough to be paid to do it. Although that would technically deem it a "job"... it's really not..... until you stop enjoying it. When that happens, you stop putting 100% of yourself into it and it's time to walk away. In Sete's case, ripping down the front straight at 200 mph and tipping into corners at a blinding pace while dodging 20 other riders doing the same thing, is not something that should(or can) be done with half a heart. There is a VAST difference between riding to win and riding to survive and I give Gibbers "mad props" for recognizing this and bowing out now. He did the right thing.

Granted, he wasn't offered a ride this year after Ducati replaced him with Casey Stoner, but if he still had that passion to ride he would have found a way to stay in the mix.

Godspeed Sete! Enjoy your retirement.... you earned it! I thank you for the years of stellar entertainment that you provided and I wish you nothing but the best in life wherever it may take you next.

Until next time......

Rubb'er Down :)

Back to the Drawing Board

For many years, I have claimed to be an "artist" in my spare time. It's something I found at a young age that filled a certain void, burned up some time and allowed me to escape everyday life for a few hours here and there. Last year, I was introduced to doing portraits of bikes on the track through Scott, an amazing man (who happened to take equally amazing pictures). Scott raced... Scott LOVED to race.... Scott LIVED to race.... and race he did! So, as his birthday rolled around last October, on the same weekend he was racing at Daytona, I thought he might very much like a portrait of himself on his rocket as a gift. It was my first attempt at such a portrait, and Scott lit up when I gave it to him.... mission accomplished :) Happy birthday Scotty!

After that portrait was done, I wanted to do another, so we poured through many many pictures until we found one we could both agree on.... Nicky Hayden in the '05 American GP at Laguna Seca.....

The Nicky portrait did well in the public marketplace. I turned it into a limited edition of 50 prints, and sold quite a few before I pulled them off the market. So, in continuing with the Repsol theme, I did one of Max Biaggi to follow it up.....

Scott didn't agree with the Max choice... mostly for the fact that he didn't have much of a following. He was right.... the portrait didn't do so well in the marketplace. So, the next one was Mr. Mac's choice. He suggested Rossi, and had some fantastic pictures of him from Laguna on the 50th Anniversary Yamaha... and so the work began. I got the portrait sketched out and "approved" by Scott ;)

It wouldn't fit on my scanner bed, but you get the idea. I was working on this picture on January 7th of this year (while recovering from minor cancer surgery.. in a pleasant pain-pill induced fog) when I got the most horrible news of my life. Scott had been killed in a tragic accident while working at his job as a motorcycle escort....

I put my pencils down, closed the pad and walked away from it..... I actually walked away from reality that day too, and it took me a while to find my way back.

I didn't pick it up again. I didn't want to. I couldn't even look at it again until July.... and that's all I did, looked at it and put it away.

This morning it hit me. I don't know what it was exactly, but all I wanted to do was flop on the couch, break out all of my art crap and work on Rossi's portrait. It had been ten months (to the day) since I had held a pencil. I had honestly thought I would never put pencil to paper again.. I just didn't care about it anymore. So, when I felt so strongly compelled to draw today, I was not going to ignore it.

I picked up right where I left off in January. It was a personal victory for me, hence the reminiscent content of this entry.

Anyway, here is what I accomplished today, and I will scan in and update from time to time as I get more done..... in between the REAL entries ( I promise, no more of this personal triumph garbble :) )

Until next time......

Rubb'er Down :)

Sponsors and such

We established in the November 3rd post, most of the teams have confirmed rider appointments for the 2007 season of MotoGP. There are a couple of undecideds still floating around, but I am confident all i's will be dotted and t's crossed before too long. Team Roberts may take on a second rider next year. It's not officially confirmed, but there are rumors (wink, wink). Sete still hasn't signed with anyone as far as I know. This still saddens me, and will continue to do so unless someone picks him up. I don't want to see retirement looming for the Gibbers, but I understand that all good things must come to an end. Still, a shot at ending his career on a higher note would be well-warranted for Sete.

Gresini Honda has cut Fortuna loose from their sponsorship agreement for 2007. The only speculation I have heard thus far is the possibility of Telefonica returning to the MotoGP scene and picking up where they left off. Telefonica (Movistar) withdrew from MotoGP last year after Dani Pedrosa signed with HRC and Repsol refused the request to share sponsorship. They took their money and turned their attentions toward F1 and Alonso. Alonso is going to McLaren next year who is sponsored by Vodafone, thereby leaving Telefonica out in the cold... With Gresini sponsorless at the moment it is certainly possible..... nay, probable, that Telefonica will make nice-nice with the MotoGP kingdom and pick up a team.

Yamaha chose not to renew their contract with Camel in 2007. Rumors abound as to who might sponsor Vale and Colin. It's not likely that Telefonica would bid to sponsor them, however Gauloises might be poised for a return.

I find it quite ironic that many of the major sponsors of our beloved MotoGP teams are well recognized members of the tobacco industry. The rules are changing in many countries as to the advertising of tobacco products, prohibiting the companies from displaying their names on the bikes for the public to see.... yet they continue to sink gobs of money into these teams. The advertising restrictions are silly... mmmm hmmm.. just silly. Just because they remove the actual words from the bikes doesn't mean we (the public) suddenly become ignorant as to who is sponsoring the riders or from what industry they hail.... after all, the color schemes and logos don't change... they are merely blank. I just don't get it.... but it's not for me to get, so I digress......

As I was wading through the sea of past, present and future sponsors, I realized that many of the logos and names were very familiar after seeing them on countless bikes through countless races, but I was unaware of what a few of these sponsors actually represented in the real world. So, off on my little tangent I went, to read up on the sponsors and gain a grasp on what they contribute to society. Then I decided it might be fun and even mildly educational (don't panic) to post my findings right here. Mind you, I have included some obvious sponsors, as well as a few of those that were not so obvious to me... it is a sparse list that represents only a handful of sponsors. I did not run-down every last one....that would be a daunting task and one that I am not willing to take on for the sake of useless trivia. Some of you may grow tired of this little adventure as you may well know the societal impact of the entire expanse of sponsors.... you are now excused.

	A familiar sight on those big Ducs, Alice is the name of a Telecom Italia communications package
	Also spied on the shiny fairings of the Ducs, but more prevalent on the Pramac d'Antin sponsored rides. This logo belongs to BNL, or, Banca Nazionale de Lavoro.... the banking industry (appropriate!)
	Ding ding ding! Here's a familiar sight. Although the Camel contract will not be renewed with Yamaha for 2007.... I thought they deserved mention.
	You can find Elf, a member of the lubricants industry displayed on the bikes in the Kawasaki Racing Team paddock (Yay! Randy)
	Another sponsor that has not been renewed for the 2007 season, Fortuna of the tobacco industry will not be backing the boys of Gresini Honda next year.
	A fine representative of the lubricant industry.... and fun to say!
	The familiar blue check plastered all over the likes of Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa belongs to none other than Gas, a representative of the clothing industry
	Although not active in 2006, this familiar logo is the trademark of yet another member of the tobacco industry. Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau are a couple of the riders that have straddled their logo on the track. They are rumored to be making a return to MotoGP for 2007.
	Here's one that you'll see smacked across the face of Rossi's helmet and sewn onto his leathers. KeraKoll has taken quite an interest in The Doctor. They manufacture modern construction chemicals.
	You may have seen this logo tagging along on Melandri's bike this season. It belongs to Valsir which deals in waste and water supply systems.
	Also rumored to be making a comeback to MotoGP in 2007.... who will they sponsor?? Telefonica Movistar (the official sponsor name...sometimes seen seperately, but they are the same company) is a Spanish telecommunications giant.
	Proud sponsor of Ducati as well as one of the most recognized names in that big, controversial tobacco industry. Set to be sponsoring Loris Capirossi and Casey Stoner in 2007
	The Pramac Group... recognizeable in the sponsorship of Ducati through Pramac d'Antin. They are makers of generators and handling systems (i.e. forklifts, etc.)
	If you have watched one MotoGP race, you are familiar with this logo. Repsol Lubricants proudly sponsors Honda riders Daniel Pedrosa and the 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden
	The company for which Suzuk riders Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins can thank concerning not only their opportunity to pilot some of the top bikes in the world, but also that obnoxious blue color scheme. Rizla manufactures rolling papers... ummm... for cigarettes, of course
	Breil, a maker of fine watches can be found prominently displayed on a Duc here and a Duc there.

So, there you have it.... the results of my weak look into just a few of the companies that help make MotoGP happen. I have succeeded in boring myself at this point, so it is well past time for me to move on to another project. I am off to stalk the various forums and racing news sites until I can gather up enough new information to warrant another round of incessant yammering :)

Until next time......

Rubb'er Down :)

Who's riding what for 2007?

Nicky Hayden walked away from Valencia with the coveted title of 2006 World Champion last weekend. We all watched as his cup runneth over with excitement as he rolled across the finish line and solidified his victory. Would things have played out the same if Valentino hadn't crashed? Many think not it seems... including Nick. He was interviewed incessantly in the days following the final race of 2006, and although most of his comments were wrapped in confidence and tied with a ribbon of merit, he made mention of the fact that he believed Rossi was angry over the outcome of the championship as well as his (Nicky's) feeling that he had taken something that didn't belong to him. The latter comments were followed up by the vow to ride harder next year and repeat his win.... to prove that he is indeed deserving of his title. The buzz around MO headquarters following Hayden's victory was speculation as to whether or not he would run the #1 plate next season, or stick with that old familiar 69 that we all know so well. I saw a snapshot from the 800cc testing following the Valencia race, and he had the big numero uno strapped to the front of his rocket for all the world to see. So, I guess that's that :)

2007 will bring us new bikes in the premier class, a new defending champion, an extra race added to the schedule (YAY!) , a new team (Ilmor), several new riders, the axing of a legend, and an exhausting game of sign-my-contract. Some of the teams have already signed their rocket jockeys for next year, and some are as-of-yet undecided. Of those that have riders in place, only a few have stayed the same. Here are the team line-ups as reported by MotoGP.com:

Camel Yamaha: Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards

Repsol Honda: Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa

Ducati Marlboro: Loris Capirossi and Casey Stoner

Gresini Honda (Fortuna): Marco Melandri and Toni Elias

Kawasaki Racing: Randy de Puniet and Olivier Jacque

LCR Honda: Carlos Checa

Rizla Suzuki: John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen

Pramac d'Antin Ducati: Alex Barros and Alex Hofmann

Konica Minolta: Shinya Nakano

Tech 3 Yamaha: Makoto Tamada and Sylvain Guintoli

Team Roberts: Kenny Roberts, Jr.

Ilmor, the new team on the block, has not officially signed any riders for the 2007 season. Their 800cc bike was piloted by Garry McCoy in Estoril and Valencia for it's debut. Andrew Pitt and Jeremy McWilliams did some testing for them, and Chaz Davies and Shane Byrnes have also been hovering around the camp.

I was not surprised by any of the shuffling. Those that have switched teams seem to have made wise moves. I am disappointed that Ducati signed Casey Stoner... mostly for the fact that Sete has been left out in the rain. Nobody has mentioned "retirement" for him yet, but I have a feeling that's the direction he's headed. He had a rough year this year, plagued with crashes, broken bones and surgeries. Maybe he'll take next year off to balance his Chi, cleanse his aura, rekindle his karma and come back for 2008? I would very much like to see that!

The SBK scene has been blessed with the return of Max Biaggi for 2007. He has signed with Suzuki and will be racing their Alstare Corona rocket. Max was not a favorite for many.... actually, I think I have yet to meet a fan. I will be so bold as to say I like him though, and I'm glad to see he's back. There's no doubt once he gets his rythm back, he'll bring a certain "spark" to SBK. He's a fiesty one... I like that... he's got moxie :)

Okay, I think I have rambled on enough for today

Until next time......

Rubb'er Down :)