Track - WSBK Silverstone Race 1 - Baz takes first win

After a rain drenched superpole session, Loris Baz (Factory Kawasaki) took his first win in WSBK, becoming the second youngest winner ever.  Drafted in hastily after Joan Lacorz's terrible accident at the beginning of the eyar, Baz showed his wet weather prowess on a drying track to beat the BMW Italia bikes of Michel Fabrizio and Ayrton Badovini.  Badovini and Jonathan Rea (fourth) took the battle right up to the line and came together at the chequered flag, leaving their bikes on the track for other finishers to dodge. 

Reigning champion Carlos Checa was fifth, and championship leader Max Biaggi was a late faller.

Track - WSBK Silverstone Race 2 - Red flag sees Guintoli revenge

As if there wasn't enough drama during race 1, the start of race 2 was delayed as the officials changed the race status to wet, which should have given us an indicatino of what was to come.  Massively trecherous conditions rewarded those willing to risk the limits of grip, with many falling victim to the heavy showers and aquaplaning through multiple sections of the track.  The race belonged to Sylvain Guintoli, who was dumped from the Effenbert Ducati squad just 2 weeks ago for 'poor performance'.  How a race win earlier this year qualifies as 'poor performance' is beyond me.  Anyway, now riding for PATA Ducati, Guintoli, a wet weather master stayed upright and won when the red flag was brought out with a few laps to go.  Sweet revenge for the rider, particulary given he beat former Effenbert team-mate Jakub Smrz in 3rd.  Following up a great race 1 victory, Loris Baz one again proved his wet weather mastery to take second and 45 points for the round.

Important to note however, that the final results were taken from before when the red flag was put out, with Carlos Checa, Tom Sykes, David Guigliano etc. all falling to prompt the red flag.

Track - retraction, Rossi NOT seen at Yamaha HQ

It seeems the rumous yesterday that Rossi was seen by Niall Mackenzie at Yamaha were false.  Mackenzie's twitter account had been hacked.

Update - Roadtrackdirt.com registered!

Track - Rossi spotted at Yamaha HQ

Just to add more fuel to the 'Rossi to Yamaha' fire, former racer Niall Mackenzie (who was at the factory to negotiate a deal for his son to race next season) tweeted that he saw a 'well known Italian' wearing 'a big smile on his face'. Mackenzie then tweeted 'Done deal! A well known Italian will definitely be on a blue bike next year, woo hoo!'

So let's look at the scenarios:

1. Rossi stays at Ducati.  Dovi and Cal fight it out to move up to the Factory Yamaha squad.

2. Rossi goes to Yamaha.  Cal goes to Factory Ducati, Dovi stays with Tech 3

We'll know soon...

ICE? - yes, ice......

Not sure if the terms R1 and Ice occur naturally in the same sentence, but they do apparently...yep there's Porsche in there for you too Shav.

...so all that's left for us to do is to find some ice and some tires??

JZ

Road - love free stuff, especially when it's this cool.

I came across this e-mag on one of my favorite cafe racer blogs. Stay True is a free photography magazine, and i think there's a little something for everyone who enjoy Road, Track or Dirt riding. Just like what we are trying to do here, Stay True is trying to capture the The True Biker Spirit. 

Road - Pure Joy?

A perfect way to cure a sleepless night? I think so. The three of us started riding on the roads until we soon released some things were better done off them. Nevertheless, road riding is the most accessible way for most of us to enjoy the pure excitement of riding. The feeling of speed, freedom, zen or just the ascetics. This SR500 by Lossa engineering of long beach, in my view, captures all the key elements of what we love about riding. It may look just like a painted up 40yo yama, but check out the specs...

Track - Yamaha Laguna Spoof (not as good as last year's but at least it has Monster girls)

Dirt - It's Okay to be Talentless

Unlike road and track riding, coming off your dirt bike provides cheap amusement, both at the time and at every subsequent visit to your Youtube video collection.  If you're considering hitting a dirt track on a bike, make sure you video it to show your friends.  Afterall, if you did something stupid and didn't get it on video....did it really happen?

Track - Ben Spies, how much bad luck can you have?

As a huge Ben Spies fan, this season has been tough.  As if things weren't hard enough already, this highside coming out of the corkscrew was caused by a collapsed swingarm.  Poor guy can't catch a break...

Track - Autosport Porsche GT2 RS v. Ducati 1199 Panigale

       

This is for you Shav...

Track - 12m reasons to stay friends

Del Torchio was at Laguna to present Ducati's final offer of 12m Euros per year for Rossi to stay at Ducati.

With Spies officially leaving the factory Yamaha squad, and Rossi committed to making a decision over the summer break, we should have an answer on Yamaha or Ducati soon.

No one will be watching more closely than Cal Crutchlow, who has publically stated he has an offer to go to Ducati.  Now that Nicky Hayden is re-signed, should Rossi elect to stay, Crutchlow will stay with Yamaha (although whether it is a black or blue bike is still a hot topic).

Track - Rossi the backseat rider...

After a strange highside coming into the corkscrew, Rossi hitched a ride back to the pits with team mate Nicky.  I guess it's the least he could do after securing a contract extension to stay at Ducati next year!