Watch Moto GP riders pass each other 15 times in 2 laps.

(Photo: Repsol)

Because Moto GP

Marc Marquez and Andrea Iannone swapped positions an amazing 15 times in the closing stages of the 2015 French Moto GP race at Le Mans.

The Honda and Ducati riders were scrapping for fourth in a race which was dominated by Jorge Lorenzo from championship leader Valentino Rossi. Third place went to Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso.

Strange seeing Honda off the podium and Marquez off balance and down in the points. You almost have to wonder if Honda's F1 effort might in some way be weighing on their Moto GP development this season.

Of his game or not, Marquez did put on a hell of a show with "Crazy Joe" Iannone. Marc eventually built enough of a gap and finished fourth.

Amazing.

Valentino Rossi: Back to the Future with Yamaha

Back to the future for the Doctor after his disastrous time at Ducati.  Promises of Audi endurance seats could not keep the seven time champion in Borgo Panigale,  Valentino will ride a Yamaha for 2013-14.

Rossi won four world championship on a Yamaha YRZ M1 and frankly,  as cool as it was to see an Italian champion on an Italian bike, watching him struggle was not much fun and probably bad for the sport's popularity.

Valentino Rossi tests the Ducati Desmosedici

Valencia, November 8. Love the question mark helmet. (photo: REUTERS/Heino Kalis )




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Valentino Rossi will ride for Ducati, writes love letter to his Yamaha

The worst kept secret of the MotoGP season has been made official today: The Doctor will ride a red Ducati for the next two seasons. In parting Valentino hand wrote a "love letter" to his Yamaha M1 and the team.

"It's hard to explain in a few words what my relationship with Yamaha has been for the past seven years. Many things have changed since that far away 2004 but especially her, my M1. At the time she was forlorn mid field MotoGP, derided by most riders and experts. Now, after having helped her grow and improve you can see her there, smiling in her stall, sought after and admired, treated like the belle of the ball...."

You could say it might be a parting note to Jorge Lorenzo too, enjoy the bike I made for you buddy, see you next year!end of post

Superbike SeasonStarts at Phillip Island

The 2009 Superbike season started at Philip Island today. SBK's are a bit like the two wheel equivalent of tin top racing, production based bikes. There is some debate there as to exactly how you define "production based" but generally these are much closer to what you might go out and buy at your friendly motorcycle dealer than MotoGP prototypes.

Ducati, Aprilia, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and, this year for the first time in decades, BMW who entered their new S 1000 RR with Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus riding. Corser did well in the first race after a disaster in qualifying, in the very first race he started 17 and finished 8th. In race 2 Xaus had the highest top speed at 312 km/h. Nice to see BMW really come out of their super conservative road bike reputation.

The first win went to Haga on a Ducati in race 1 and Ben Spies the Yamaha R1 in race 2.

You can find the race after the jump (use "sbk")






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Moto Schumi

Michael "Grandpa" Schumacher sure is keeping busy in his retirement years. On Monday he lapped the Valencia circuit on a 2007 Ducati GP7 Desmosedici, the same bike used by Casey Stoner to win the 2007 MotoGP title (and sporting the Ferrari magical number 27!)

Michael Schumacher rode for 58 laps and turning in a best lap of 1:37.89 which is only 5 seconds slower than the new track record set by Dani Pedrosa!


"An exceptional result for a 38 year old man who has never raced bikes" according to Ducati tester Vittoriano Guareschi. "What a missile! He demonstrated once again what a fantastic professional he is" were other comments from Ducati staff.

" I had not come here to score a good lap time. I had tried a Ducati before but that time I was much slower" said Schumacher referring to his 2005 test at a very cold Mugello track. "This time my times were closer to the professionals and that's not too bad."

Next week Schumacher will be in action in Barcellona testing the Ferrari F1, then he's off to Brazil for Felipe Massa's invitational kart race for charity. Then I think in December he is at Wembley Stadioum for the International Race of Champions where he will represent Germany along with Sebastian Vettel.

Not bad for and "old guy"!