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I have been wondering a little about the MotoGP standings so far..or really how the field of tops finishers has changed this year.  In particular, Hayden and Melandri have probably made the biggest moves backwards.  There is no doubt that Hayden hs all the support he needs, but Melandri claims he is lacking.  From his own website, in his own words (its a Flash site so there is no direct link => click Diary, 2007, March, 26.3.2007)

Melandri: Honda has abandoned me.
Gresini’s Marco Melandri has vented his frustration at Honda after finishing just fifth and eighth in the opening rounds of the 2007 MotoGP season.

“I’m very disappointed and angry as I spent more than half the race literally coasting around, thinking

One would think that this would be due to the silly, in my opinion, strike from this past February.  The article suggests otherwise, but I am not so sure.  While I have read that there is a slow down in the overall industry sales, HD has a special kind of sales slow down.  It was greatly assisted by the lack of building the damn bikes in the first place.

Although Harley-Davidson’s 2007 first-quarter sales report won’t be released until April 19, the company’s stock took a tumble in Monday trading on fears of a disappointing report.

Shares of Harley-Davidson closed Monday down 45 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $60.75 after UBS analyst Robin Farley said there are indications of weak sales for

As I was daydreaming on my long but easy commute home, I recalled an experience I had with my previous insurance company involving my 1997 Honda Valkyrie.  This was probably back in 1999 or 2000 when I was living in Michigan doing the ‘Royal Oak Bike Night’ thing.  To this day, I simply cannot convey the degree of douche bag of someone I was forced to meet.  Let me explain…

Said douche bag was leaving as the night was winding down on his CBR 929RR.  See, the way Royal Oak bike night works is that bikes line the parallel parking spots by backing the rear wheel in perpindicular to the curb…and my Vakyrie was the last bike before the cars started.  Anyway, said

The following is a Letter to the Editor I sent to Motorcyclist Magazine in reference to the April 2007 article “The GS Papers”. This piece of prose traces Suzuki’s journey from quirky 2-strokes, through competitive 4-strokes to the legendary GSXR line. As an avowed Suzuki fan, this summary gave me perspective of how far Suzuki have come! The multiple photos of a pristine ‘79 GS1000 alone are worth the cover price.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +

Thanks for the trip down Suzuki Memory Lane. My second motorcycle was an ‘81 GS1100E and it dragged me from practical transportation to lifelong addiction. I finally parted with it after 17 years and 55,000 mile, but immediately bought the first generation Bandit 1200 to replace it.

Just

I don’t mean due to ill-handling or from being overweight (that’s a joke to all the Buell loyal), I mean on purpose.  It seems that Burll is expanding into a new market - off-road “closed course competition”.  I have to wonder why.  Is it trying to capitalize on the fact that there is no mainstream American designed and manufactured dirt bike?  Will the be as odd looking (unique for those Buell loyal) as their street bikes?

Back in 1985, I was the pround owner of an overstocked new 1984 Yamaha IT490.  It was about $2000 and it was arguably the best al around enduro that the Japanese produced (Husky’s were still bad-ass back then).  That leads me to another question:  PRICE.  Buell

I spent today in a bass tournament on Lake Pleasant here in Arizona.  While I landed an almost four-pounder, we didn’t do very well.  Today’s big boy was 9.53 lbs .  That said, it was still a great time…and we could have been working. 

It’s the first time that I ahve been on a lake in Arizona for an extended period and the scenery (coming from my native Detroit mind you), was incredible.  Lake Pleasant is supposedly a man-made lake via damns, etc.  As for the bass fishing, its pretty good I am told.

In a couple ways, fishing reminded me of my motorcycle sport.  You pick you partners wisely.  You need to be on the same wavelength in terms of

     It was a normal, late afternoon weekday just after I got home from work when the doorbell rang.  By the time I got to the door, opened it and looked to see who was there, the two-feet-square box on the front stoop was the only strange object in sight.  The UPS truck that delivered the package caught my eye as it powered up the road and rounded the corner at the end of the block.  I don’t receive many parcels, so this was a rather unique experience.  Who in the world would be sending something to me?  I hadn’t ordered or purchased anything of late.  As I picked up the box, I noticed the name in the return address as that of a

Over the years, I have not been shy about bashing “bikers”.  Some of it is very legitimate in my opinion.  I have seen firsthand coolers full of beer tapped during pit-stops not the end of day refreshment.  For that, there is no excuse and no tolerance.   That said, I have also grown a soft spot for bikers - their patriotism.

I have been  member of the Patriot Guard Riders for over a year now and have went on one of their rides.  Yeah, on my Futura donning my textile, armored jacket, let’s just say I didn’t blend.  Didn’t matter though, as I was easily accepted as one of the Guard.

I am too young to recall the Vietnam War firsthand.  I know

This link is being circulated around for the amusement of us fellow riders hopefully not affected by Darwin.  One word comes to mind:

WOW.

http://www.sidcupmotorcycletyres.co.uk/shame.htm

Well actually the team’s attendance at MotoGP races “are suspended for the immediate future”.  Damn.  I haven’t followed them too closely, but I’m always for the little guy.  As a Detroit native, it had to be with the Lions as your football team and my alma madder being Michigan State University (oh yeah…I migrated to the AZ Cardinals & Phoenix Coyotes).  Anyway, this is just more proof that the privateers are an endangered species if not now extinct.

Take a look at the press release from Ilmor Racing:

<blockquote>Brixworth, Northampton, UK - March 15, 2007

Ilmor GP Team Principal Mario Illien today announced that the team will not be attending the second round of the MotoGP World Championship next week in Jerez. The teams’ race