In Assen, Ben Spies took his fourth Superpole win in a row by besting the existing pole record by 7/10ths of a second, with back-to-back 1’36.6 laps. Nipping at the heels of Spies, and the only other man to break into the 1’37’s, was Jakub Smrz and his Guandalini Ducati. Continue reading for the rest of the front row, and the Superpole results.
Heavy lunchtime rain at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit led to the cancellation of all qualifying sessions for the Polini Grand Prix of Japan, leaving grid positions in all three World Championship categories to be decided according to Free Practice positions. Initially, the decision was to wait for an hour, and then assess if the weather conditions would improve enough for qualifying to be run later in the day. However with the rain being unrelenting, there was nothing left for Race Direction to do but to cancel the qualifying sessions for all three classes. As such, Valentino Rossi will start at the Japanese GP’s pole position for the first time in his career.
It looks like there will be a respite over about the temporary measure, and while they are pleased with the announcement, they urge Congress to step in and make a more permanent solution for children riders.
If you were to ask John Hopkins what his least favorite track is right now, we’d bet good money the American would say the Dutch track Assen. The last time Hopper was in Assen, he smash his leg in a huge crash, which left him sitting out of two races, and struggling in pain for the rest of the season. Now, after only four laps around the course this year, Assen has shown its teeth again for Hopper. During the free practice today Hopkins dislocated his hip in another big crash, and there is doubt surrounding his return to riding by Sunday.
Sometimes the power of the already insane ZX-10R isn’t enough. And sometimes, after a weekend ride, you look at your liter bike, and wish for a way that a mortal man can have GP bike performance in a stock chassis. If this is your case, then The Two Stroke Shop (TSS), makers of the that we told you about earlier this year, could well have the answer you’re looking for in the shape of their 1100cc two-stroke ZX-10R.
First quarter numbers for the powersports industry are coming in, and they don’t look good. New unit sales were down more than 30% compared to Q1 of 2008. This drop is attributed to both the economic slowdown, as well as the ban on youth-designed ATVs and motorcycles with lead paint.
Nicky Hayden is a go for Friday’s practice session for the Polini Grand Prix of Japan, although the American will not be fully recovered from his Qatar highside. Hayden still has several stiches from his practice session crash at Qatar, but they should not affect his ability to ride hard on Sunday.
The wait for the first official showing of the 2010 BMW S1000RR may well be over! Well, almost. BMW is expected to debut the road-going version of the S1000RR to the press and public at the World Superbike Championship being held at Monza May, 10 2009. That’s the buzz around the paddock, and it would seem to be confirmed by BMW’s changes to the S1000RR’s website.
Source: BMW via
UPDATE: We’ve gotten further information that Thomas Destories wasn’t on a motorcycle when he shot at the speed camera van, instead he was driving a truck at the time of the shooting. He was however on a motorcycle when he was arrested, and was armed with a gun and ammunition at that time. Thanks for the tip Stacey!
Thomas Destories, a 68 year old motorcycle rider, has apparently shot to death a speed camera operator in what police are calling a ride-by shooting. After opening fire on speed camera operator Doug Georgianni’s van, Destories turned himself in to the local police department. He has subsequently been charged with the first-degree murder of the 51-year-old camera operator.
“I’m sorry. I was going to turn myself in,” Destories, 68, told police. “I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt.”
During the incident five shots were fired at the marked Safety Camera van. Three were grouped on the window of Mr Georgianni’s seat. Police found a magazine for a .45-calibre pistol in Destories’ front pocket when they arrested him. The police haven’t said what Destories motives were for the attack, although it would seem obvious that the motorcycle rider wasn’t too fond of speed trap cameras.
Source:
Former Formula1 Champion, Michael Schumacher, has called off his plans to race this weekend at Lausitzring in Germany in the German IDM Championship on Holzhauer Racing’s Honda CBR1000RR. Schumacher had been team back in November, and prior to that has been seen taking laps on both Hondas and Ducatis in the past.
When the cost-saving measures were passed down this year for MotoGP, it reduced the time riders could lap around the track during practice sessions from one hour to 45 minutes. When the rule was put into practice for the first time at Qatar, the reduced practice time came under a lot of criticism from teams, who found themselves scrambling to setup bikes properly, and making bad decisions. Thus based on the feedback they received, the Grand Prix Commission is due to meet prior to the Motegi Grand Prix in Japan, where they are expected to restore the sessions back to their one hour format again.