I have a confession I have paid no attention to American motorcycle racing since DMG bought out the AMA for the rights to AMA roadracing but this makes me sad. (and I know I’m late, like I said I haven’t been paying attention) Superbike Planet notes that Kevin Cameron wasn’t at Daytona this year his reasons are sound but it’s still a sad day for Motorcycle racing. Not as sad as Honda not being involved in the sport anymore but still pretty sucky.

In MotoGP news (Spoiler Alert)

Ben Spies finished 7th on the Sterilgarda Yamaha team at Valencia today. Pretty good for his first ride on the Yamaha GP bike and only third race with the big boys. He said Friday he would be happy if he could get a top ten and stayed on the bike. Spies teammate Colin Edwards finished 4th with Nicky Hayden on the Ducati in 5th.
Oh and for weird race news Casey Stoner high sides himself on the warm up lap, WTF over?

Kool

Spies To Race Valencia MotoGP
Saturday, October 03, 2009

This just in:

BEN SPIES TO MAKE 'WILD CARD' ENTRY INTO VALENCIA GP

If you haven't seen Spies race now might be a good time, check your local listing for Sundays time on Speed channel.

In the world of non politics

I am still feeling ambivalent about riding motorcycles after last year. I didn't get any really, really good scars but I got a couple little ones and a hand that by the grace of the flying spaghetti monster works almost as well as before punching the ground at 80ish.
I'm not sure what is going to become of the RC I sold the Ohlins Forks off it to put some money down on a Browning O/U because I tried trap shooting (oops). I think I am going to sell the Ohlins rear shock too so I can finish buying the Browning before the snow flies.
Speaking of trap shooting from a post I put up on TwinCitiesCarry/forum.com

Not being a hunter due to laziness and living in civilization I've not really thought about shotguns much beyond having one for HD. About a month ago I was supposed to get together with some Artistic type shooters (It's a weird attempt at changing hearts and minds) and try trap shooting with a Mossberg 500 I had bought at an auction two or three years ago thinking I'd use it for trade bait or sell, instead it has quietly rested in a closet. Well someone got hung up and the time got pushed back to the point I couldn't go so I decided to go to the Hudson Gun Club to do some pistol shooting, at the last minute I decide to bring the shotgun with figuring maybe I can find someone to give me a pointer or two and it isn't busy I'll still try hitting clay frisbees.
WHY THE HE double toothpicks has no one told me in thirty years of shooting that frisbee shooting is damn fun. Jeez people.
I've now become a member of the Hudson range (which has by the way a rifle and pistol range, trap, skeet and 5 stand ranges (fields?) as well as an archery range and cheap dues) all so I can (attempt) shoot little clay discs and burn up 12gauge ammo at a prodigious (for me) rate. I've also apparently become okay at the gun store because I mentioned I was thinking about buying a trap gun and suddenly Neil and Dave both got pretty animated (well for them) and started actually chatting, I've been stopping in there and buying stuff for 5 years.
I put a late seventies Browning Citori Trap on layaway and now have several hundred rounds of 12 ga ammo floating around the house and car. I've joined the shotgunworld.com forums and am busy soaking up how to approach the various shotgun games. Can you tell I have an addictive personality? I'm gonna need another 12 step program I can tell.

The Song of the Sausage Creature

There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them - but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one. That is why they are dangerous.

I got to ride my wife's 98 Ducati 900SS FE today as we went for a wander. County road AA and E were sublime, that bike demands commitment in all things. Because of the front end geometry it demands you pick a line, just one line. It demands to be treated right, the throttle must be opened as soon as you are done with braking and continuously fed more gas as the bike is straightened on corner exit. Other bikes like our Honda Hawks are more forgiving, they don't demand perfection, they let you get away with being sloppy and casual, the Duc much like my RC51 demands all your attention and is intolerant of mistakes. One of the differences between them is about 50 RWHP making the Duc a little easier for me to not get in over my head. It's a good bike to use to get over the nerves that are lingering from crashing last year at BIR (there is also the nerves that come from not having proper leather pants right now). What an excellent day.

Action pron

This one was fun to fiddle with.

This is my friend and riding partner Dan.
Both photos were taken at a newish racetrack in Hasting, NE .

More surgical fun

Tuesday I get my collarbone plated since it is what's known in doctorland as a non union. Blech. I suspect it's going to end up being another two months till I get on a motorcycle again. It will also be at least a couple weeks before doing anything fairly entertaining.

Hat tip to the Liberty Sphere

http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2009/02/czech-president-takes-on-goofy-algore.html

I do not want to give up my way excessive motorcycles and I don't much care what Al Gore thinks about it until he gives up his jet and gets his house under control.

What bike should I buy?

I am thinking after much reflection that the RC51 is more bike than I know what to do with. So I need to figure out a replacement. The candidates in my mind are:
Buell XB12R with racekit and Ohlins rear shock
Buell 1125R
Triumph Speed Triple
or my RC51 in Street fighter trim
I don't want to deal with Ducati maintenance I fix cars all day, I don't want to come home to a needy bike which is why it a Duc isn't on the list. Actually that's why a Buell X1 is off the list too, I liked it a bunch but it was impossible to keep an exhaust system under it.

Comments welcome.