World Superbike 2015 Review, Part 6: Kawasaki

"It was a shaped charge aimed at blowing a hole through every barrier to success, and it worked ..." 

Click the "Words" tab above ...

World Superbike 2015 Review, Part 5: The Rest

"With that hand-me-down powerplant system gone, the satellite squads that made up such an important part of the WSBK paddock are now truly the poor cousins of the factory teams ..." 

Click the "Words" tab above ...

World Superbike 2015 Review, Part 4: Ducati

" ... it is completely defensible to argue that a change in results was solely due to the changes in the rules. And the results did change ..." Click the "Words" tab above ...

World Superbike 2015 Review, Part 3: Aprilia

"But this year, the company's engineers were AWOL, busy wasting effort on a hopeless MotoGP machine and a Superstock 1000 effort. Indeed, the company's entire 2015 racing effort seemed schizophrenic ..." Click the "Words" tab above ...

World Superbike 2015 Review, Part 2: Honda

"World Superbike 2015 Review, Part 2: Honda" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

World Superbike 2015 Review - Suzuki

"World Superbike 2015 Review, Part 1: Suzuki" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

What More Can I Say? A Bit More About The Mad Doctor, And A Few Thoughts About What Went Wrong And How To Prevent It In The Future

"Rossi made a critical mistake - he started to think he'd earned the championship lead. He chose to dismiss the fact that others were faster than he was, and that when they got their stuff together, they'd come past. So instead of enjoying the moment in the sun, he chose to believe he was the Sun God ..." Click the "Words" tab above ...

Conspiracy Theorists, Zapruder Aficionados and Fans-Turned-Fanatics: The Sad Story Of The Mad Doctor, The Latest Chapter

"Examining the data on Marquez' bike, or looking at his lap times, is like measuring the length of the skirt of a rape victim to see if she was 'asking for it.'" Click the "Words" tab above ...

The Doctor Is Out Of His Mind, And The Amphibiosan Strikes Again

Had to get this off my chest. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Hiatus For Now, And Thanks For All The Fish

With the changes in my family's life, my responsibilities are changing, and as such I will not be able to devote time to MotorBike RoadRacing for the foreseeable future. It has been a ball. I do intend to keep doing "Deep Thinking, The Podcast" with Sorbo; that level of aggravation actually has cardiovascular benefits.

I hope you were entertained. As my wife Sandy says, be safe and have fun. And I hope at least once in your life, you'll look at someone and say, 'OK, we'll skip the whiskey' and then crack the hell up, whether anyone else is laughing or not ...

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 32: Victory At Last!

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? To the Interwebs to listen to Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 32: Victory At Last! Racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis discuss the MotoGP race at Assen with a surprising amount of agreement, perhaps due to the fact that the conversation takes place while devouring a package of listener-provided Hickory Farms goodies. Having wheedled delicious food snacks out of the listeners, Gougis starts working on getting someone to send him an Aprilia (the one below would be nice), then offers a touching memory of his recently-departed mother.

 

Ducati And Reality

"Ducati and Reality" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Three Reasons Rossi's "Win" At Assen Never Was Going To Be Overturned ...

"Three Reasons Rossi's 'Win' At Assen Never Was Going To Be Overturned ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Fantasy And Science Fiction

"Fantasy And Science Fiction" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 31: Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun ...

In a crushing blow to your hopes and dreams, it's back. In Episode 31 of Deep Thinking, racers Michael Gougis and Ed Sorbo pick apart the tiny changes that make the difference between winning MotoGP races and finishing fourth. A discussion ensues about dam construction, salt, man caves and wine tasting. Sorbo warns Gougis not to pick on Tony Serra. Gougis makes a prediction about Cal Crutchlow winning MotoGP races and the death of the sun.

This Honda RC212V sucked.

This Honda RC212V did not.

Best. Race. Ever.

"Best. Race. Ever ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

More On Yamaha's MotoGP Success And Success Penalties

"More On Yamaha's MotoGP Success And Success Penalties" now available. Click the "Words" tab above. To speed the loading of the "Words" page, I've moved more of the older stuff to the "Archived" tab. Load that one, too, and search for "whiskey" ...

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 30: Follow The Money ...

It's really just a minor aggravation, but still, it's back! In Episode 30 of Deep Thinking, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis discuss the pace of motorcycle technological development and what the next revolution will be. A discussion ensues about some of the more scandalous creative methods of financing race teams (and if you know the story behind the picture below, you really are a MotoGP fan). Sorbo answers his phone during the podcast and tells the caller, "I'm in the middle of Deep Thinking!" Gougis comes up with a new and deeply disturbing use for a helmet-mounted GoPro. Click the "Deep Thinking" tab above ...

Random Thoughts From Catalunya

"Random Thoughts From Catalunya ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

The Sound Of One Door Slamming ...

"The Sound Of One Door Slamming ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Variety Is The Spice Of Racing ...

"Variety Is The Spice Of Racing ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Signs Of Life ...

"Signs Of Life" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

More Racing Karma

"More Racing Karma ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 29: You Say You Want A Revolution ...

Like Christmas, but without the bad music, it's back. In Deep Thinking, Episode 29, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis discuss the development of data gathering and analysis technology for motorcycle road racing. Sorbo suggests that the entire industry was founded by a crew chief who had suffered through one too many arguments with riders - and wanted data to prove that the knucklehead wearing the helmet was completely, utterly and incontrovertibly wrong. A discussion ensues about a Customs official on the East Coast who is still bitter about the Revolutionary War (or the War of 1812) and kept Gougis from getting his really cool stickers for weeks. Click the "Deep Thinking" tab above ...

Thoughts From Portimao

"Thoughts From Portimao" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Speed And Survival In Portugal

"Speed And Survival In Portugal" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

U.S. Racers Abroad, Part Two:

"U.S. Racers Abroad, Part Two:" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

U.S. Racers Abroad, Part One:

"U.S. Racers Abroad, Part One:" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 28: The Bike, The Bike, The Bike Is On Fire ...

Really? Really? Yes. Amid the backing sounds of clanging and banging, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis re-spring a shock while swapping burning racebike stories with a state of accuracy that may or may not bear any relationship to reality. Any deviation from truth is blamed on a man called Mongo. A discussion ensues about a hypothetical condition of existence, much like absolute zero, in which something reaches the state of "Ed Clean."Click the "Deep Thinking" tab above ...

 

 

Thoughts From Mugello ...

"Thoughts From Mugello" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

 

Marquez, Mercedes, Mistakes ...

"Marquez, Mercedes, Mistakes ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Crew Chiefs And Crew Cuts ...

"Crew Chiefs And Crew Cuts" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Kenan And KTM ...

"Kenan And KTM" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 27: There Is No Turn Seven, Grasshopper ...

Seriously? Again? Yep! In Episode 27 of Deep Thinking, the motorcycle road racing podcast, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis talk about resurrection, Jorge Lorenzo and Tom Sykes. National-level racer Reno Karimian chimes in with an observation about World Superbike. Sorbo observes that on tracks on the West Coast, Turn Seven is never a turn. Gougis cites the wisdom of the owl in a Tootsie Roll commercial first aired decades ago. Click the "Deep Thinking" tab above ...

Ryde On ...

"Ryde On ..." now available; click the "Words" tab above. Photos from WERA West at LVMS now available for sale at motorbikeroadracing.smugmug.com ...

Podcast In Print #3 - Still Racing

"Podcast In Print #3 - Still Racing" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Why Are We Here?

"Why Are We Here?" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Profiles In Madness; New Hot Shot

"Profiles in Madness Courage" now available; click the "Words" tab above. Also, new image added to "Hot Shots." And check out my Smugmug page at motorbikeroadracing.smugmug.com to purchase images; I swear, the first profits go directly to ordering something from Hickory Farms ...

Photos For Sale - MWGP, May 2015

Hey all. Help me earn money for Hickory Farms purchases. Action photos from the Moto West Grand Prix round in May at Streets of Willow are available for purchase at my Smugmug account:

http://motorbikeroadracing.smugmug.com/

I was shooting for Sergio Olivas this weekend. His shots can be found at:

http://shop.photoxsplosion.com/ 

Buy some of Sergio's shots, too!

Thanks, and be well - M

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 26: The Twelve Intangibles Of Racing ...

Oh no. Oh no. This time on Deep Thinking, the motorcycle road racing podcast, racers Michael Gougis and Ed Sorbo discuss World Superbike, inter-team dynamics and why the new guy on the Kawasaki squad is kicking the snot out of the World Champion who has been with the team for years. Sorbo, a top-level crew chief who's worked with top-flight riders, offers his insights from the inside. A discussion about sea cucumber ensues, with Gougis and Sorbo in complete agreement that it tastes awful. Click the "Deep Thinking" tab above ...

 

The Enemy Mind ...

"The Enemy Mind" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Whither Lorenzo, Part Two ...

One more thought on Jorge: If he does well this weekend, we'll know that his head is in the right place. This is the kind of weekend - changeable weather, busted sensor, not on pole - that messes with his head. If he can overcome that and win, he'll be a real challenge for the title. If not, expect to see more of the mysterious lack of form from 2014 ...

Karma, The Good Kind:

"Karma, The Good Kind ... " now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

WERA West, April 2015, Auto Club Speedway, Part Three: Little Bikes ...

"WERA West, April 2015, Auto Club Speedway, Part Three: Little Bikes ..." now available. Click the "Photos" tab above ...

Piecing It Together

"Piecing It Together ..." now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Moto West Grand Prix, April 2015, Part Four:

 "Moto West Grand Prix, April 2015, Part Four:" now available. Click the "Photos" tab above ...

Deep Thinking, The Podcast, Episode 25: Breakfast At Sorbo's ...

Let's see if Gougis can count! In the real Episode 25 of Deep Thinking, the motorcycle road racing podcast, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis talk about the MotoGP race at Jerez as Gougis eats breakfast. A discussion ensues over Marc Marquez’ newest and most committed fan, the guy who is hoping against hope that the Honda rider wins the championship – the guy who ran over his finger! A guy named Robert behaves in much the same manner as Sorbo’s cats, in that he makes a cameo appearance at the podcast but refuses to comment. Click the "Deep Thinking" tab above ...

Done And Dusted

"Done And Dusted" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Showdown At Imola

"Showdown at Imola" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Factories And Courtesy

"Factories and Courtesy" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...

Moto West Grand Prix, April 2015, Part Three:

"Moto West Grand Prix, April 2015, Part Three" now available. Click the "Photos" tab above ...

 

Road Racing Mini-Thoughts, Post Jerez

"Road Racing Mini-Thoughts, Post-Jerez" now available. Click the "Words" tab above ...