Alex de Angelis fine $1000 by FIM today

Alex de Angelis was fined $1000 today by the FIM. The fined was imposed due to Alex doing practice starts after the checkered flag at the end of the qualifying practice session.

This seems to be a warning to other riders with a fine of $1000. I don't see why practice starts should be banned after the session is over. Would the FIM prefer the riders stop in the middle of practice on the home straightaway to practice the starts instead. Seems like they don't want practice starts at all. As everyone knows Valentino Rossi does practice starts all the time after practice sessions along with a lot fo the other riders. Let see what other little infringements come down the line to riders but not to Rossi.

Last second Malaysian Pole for Dani Pedrosa.

The sneaky Spaniard Dani Pedrosa last second effort knocked Valentino Rossi off pole position by .409 seconds. Final qaulifiying time for Dani was 2´01.548. Dani now the first rider in MotoGP history to get 2 podiums in one season on two seperate tire manufactures is finally coming back into form after a long absence from the front row. If Dani can produce his signature start and get a blazing lead from the first lap it is very likely he can walk away with this race. But sitting next o him on the front row is Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Also the soon to be Ducati ride Nicky Hayden is leading the secon row. Should be a good race.

Bridgestone set to be single tire supplier for MotoGP

FIM announced today that Bridgestone will be the single tire supplier for MotoGP until 2011. This is great news for MotoGP fans giving all teams the same tires should make the 2009 season a much more comptetive, more passing, and more action for the fans. We are waiting anxiously to see post season testing to see what kind of competitive advanatage this will give to other teams

Brad Pitt to ride Valentinos Championship winning Yamaha.

Valentino Rossi was quoted after practice for the Malaysian round of MotoGP today saying that ''We're looking at ways of letting Brad ride my Yamaha,'

Brad Pitt was quoted in a cover story this week for Riders Italian Magazine, the American heartthrob said ''we celebrities shouldn't worship idols but I have one who stands above all the rest: Valentino Rossi''. See even the celebrities have idols. Brad Pitt will be the luckiest guy in the world to be able to have a girl like Angelina Jolie and ride Valentino's 2008 Championship YZR-M1 Yamaha . I certainly hope they detune the bike for Brad as this Yamaha is a wild animal ready to bite you at any opprotunity. Brad I hope your insurance company payments are up to date.

Pitt has over a dozen bikes in his garage ranging from Ducati, MV Agusta, Suzuki, Vespas, and some Harley-Davidsons customs.

Michelin does not bid for single tire supplier for 2009 MotoGP

Michelin has decided not to bid for the single tire supplier for the 2009 MotoGP season. This season for Michelin started out really well then failed quickly towards mid season. It actually got to the point where Dani Pedrosa was so frustrated(or was complaining way to much) that Honda HRC decides to switch Dani to Bridgestone midseason which is unheard of. After this drastic move by both Honda and Dani this slowly signaled the end of Michelin in MotoGP. With the pending 2009 season running on a single tire manufacture Michelin opted out. Michelin is quoted on saying that the "The R&D resources allocated for MotoGP racing will be redeployed to support innovation, which is at the heart of Michelin’s customer focused strategy." I am guessing as well as many others that Bridgestone will be the single tire manufacture for 2009 but, wait until the Grand Prix Commission has the final say.

Harley-Davidson release European only XR 1200

The release of the XR1200 Harey-Davidson has a claimed 90 horsepower at 7.000 rpm and 73.8 ft-lbs of torque at 3.700 rpm. So with a nice torque curve this makes for a fun ride. But with a beefy claimed dry weight of 551 lbs keeps it still in the hog category. As we are starting to see the aftermarket companies making carbon fiber exhausts, different suspension, and brakes this could actually turn into the XR750 dirt track model which this is based from. It is actually nice to see Harley make strides into the performance arena for a bike. We will see if future models(fingers crossed) will be lighter with at least 100 horse power. I am going to see how the Harley hardcore take to this new model. It is an EVO V-Twin so that should make most happy.

Nicky Hayden going to Ducati

We all new the rumors were around the MotoGP padock that Nicky Hayden was in talks with Ducati for quite sometime. Well now about 3 weeks ago it has become official. Nicky going to team red. The major questions are how will Nicky and Casey Stoner work together on bike setup? Will the dvide in the garage be the same as with Dani Pedrosa. Well we do know that Nicky has special permission from Honda to begin testing the new Desmosedici GP9 after the final race. We hope that Nicky will have better luck with the Ducati than Marco Melandri. I am already looking forward to 2009 MotoGP