Well it all happened today ! Qualifying 1, the usual suspects. Qualifying 2 Leon Haslam has a huge step off after the right hand handlebar breaks and ends up 17th. Qualifying 3 and it rains. Shakey tries to qualify on a slick and is unable to capitalise on Leon's misfortune. Race 1, red flagged for an horrendous accident, 5 riders fall off in 3 separate incidents. Race 1 start 2 gets red flagged for rain. Race1 start 3 declared a wet race and Haslam highsides all on his own coming down from Druids. Shakey has a 3rd mare of a start and is mired in 8th until attrition leaves 14 riders still standing and Shakey finishes 6th and 27 points to the good for the 2 races tomorrow. Haslam declared fit although bashed and bruised. Weather looks shit for both races tomorrow - game on. Unsure of what will happen to the tri options cup as it's too late and too dark to race. Hopefully cram it into the race card tomorrow. Bar then bed for an early start and an exciting day. Andy
Just finished watching on catch up. Brad Ray did awesome job, shame he as knocked off at Assen or he'd still be in with a longshot. BSB ended up being a bit of a farce alas. But shit on a stick, how lucky was Parkes and how unlucky was the Dr that got clobbered by the flying bike as it exited the circuit thru the bush!!
Carole is having second thoughts about training as a Dickies Track Safe marshall after that incident . Andy
Did anyone pick up on the JG Speedfit claim that Shakey's fuel tank was illegal ? We watched the petrol tank from the stock 1299 Panigale outside the Ducati hospitality tent being removed and handed to an official (obvious now for comparison). Thrown out by the stewards but sour grapes or childish or what ? Andy
Wait til you see the interview (if you've recorded it) with Bird and where Whitman says it's clutching at straws lol
Saw the interview and then ran in to Mr Whitam in the hotel bar. Sadly our conversation got highjacked by a hanger on before I could ask the question. Andy
Name dropper That fella who runs the kwak outfit has been making noises about PBM since mid way thru the year. Special treatment, illegal parts etc
Believe me, no-one was more surprised than me when he said hello at the bar. We've been running into him at breakfast over the Brands weekend for the last 3 or 4 years. Just lucky I guess . Andy
BBC weather saying dry from 11ish on. Decided to watch from couch now. GF doing brunch and fosters in fridge.
Awful start to the day weather wise but a great day of racing. Just got back to the hotel having had far too much to drink in hospitality with the whole evening still ahead. Rumour has it, the beers are on Paul Bird . Andy
Awesome Glad kiyo is smiling again ! Met shakey a fair few times and he's always been a top top guy, deserving champion! Next year is shaping up to be great
Really great to see Kyo scrapping at the sharp end even if it was the last race of the season. Great results for Hopper and Ellison as well. Hoping to see a few riders in the bar later. That is if I don't fall asleep on the bed first. Andy
Great to see Ducati win its first proper championship for ages. Is it the first pukka championship win for the Pani? How long did that take - 4 years? Compare to 916, 996, 998, 999, 1098 - does anybody know how long it took them to win a championship? Still, great win for Shakey, well deserved!
Yes pani took 4 years to win a national championship. I didnt think it would do as well as it did. I was expecting a few podiums with it possibly being sorted for the shootout. Tbf moto rapido weren't getting much help from the factory in the 3 years prior, also 1 rider team most of the time. Almost all the belt and frame ducati's have won wsb and bsb championships straight out the box. A lot with equal size motors.
