Malaysian GP

Ciao Marco.

WSB Portimao & MotoGP Philip Island

WorldSuperbikes - Portimao, Portugal.

Lets start with WorldSuperbikes. I was there, where were you? Troy McLure had a retirement party, Noddy, Bel, Fluffy, Barry & Ez attended, as did Troy Corser, and much to his great joy he was introduced to Noddy who was described as a "great guy", well there's a first time for everything. Perhaps this means something else in Australian...

Leon: "I'm taller than you!".

Bel: "I really love you!".

Noddy: "I really love me!".

The Autodromo Nacional Algarve is a good spectator circuit, almost on par with Brands Hatch. Praia da Rocha, where we stayed, is lovely, sunny and warm, and apart from the bar Irish Eye, cheap. Happy hour generally started at about 9am, and went on till 9pm so a pint with breakfast seemed a sensible idea.

And there was some racing. And we were on telly, did you see us???

Noddy/Jamie: "I used to race."

Noddy/Jamie: "So did I."

Noddy/Jamie: "Let's talk about me."

Noddy/Jamie: "No, let's talk about me."

Noddy: "I really love me."

Unfortunately next year the last round is at Magny Cour, and Portimao is in September, so the plan at the moment is to go to Portimao and watch the last round on television. Sun, sea and s..beer in October can't be bad.

Noddy: "I used to race."

Troy: "So did I."

Noddy: "I'm a great guy."

Troy: "Really, keep you hands where I can see them!"

MotoGP Philip Island

Ten bikes finished the race. If I'd stuck a sticker on my bike that said "Prototype" I could have scored points, avoiding the sticky subject of actually qualifying within 107% of the Pole man. But Stoner proved that he is a worthy World Champion despite Jorge not being able to ride, all that did was bring the Championship result forwards, it seemed inevitable. A lot of people are now saying that Casey is the best rider in the World because Rossi can't ride the Ducati. I think this belittles his achievement this year, Casey has beaten Danni Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli, all of whom have had the same spec bike for the whole season, and it was his first year on the bike, the same cannot be said for any of the other HRC riders.

And did you see him drifting the bike? He has blurred the lines between sport and art.

Moto2 was interesting, with rat-faced little tosser Marquez deciding he didn't need to acknowledge the chequered flag at the end of qualifying by continuing to ride round flat-out. Despite every other rider riding slowly. He then, flat-out, rode into the back of an unsuspecting Ratapak Willairot, sending both of them to the hospital and just about writing off both bikes. He was put at the back of the grid for the race (38th) and then the young, handsome and debonair Spaniard showed that he is, and will continue to be, a riding god by finishing 3rd.

It did pose an interesting question. If this had been a different rider, let's say Marco Simoncelli (picking someone completely at random), would the punishment have been the same, or would he have been taken out at dawn and shot.

As for the race, apart from Marquez it was fairly standard, with Bradl unable to finish with a win, but we still have two championships left to be decided, or three if you include the SKBC Fantasy racing championship. Mathematically it's possible for Bel to be beaten, but unless I cheat (which is still a strong possibility) it's seems unlikely.

Next race is Sepang MotoGP, and Marquez is struggling to qualify. Could the championship be decided here.....

Noddy: "So what do you think of Josh Brooks?"

Sylvain: "I fink he eez a 'great guy', if you know what I mean!"

Motegi & Magny-Cours

Well, that's two championships decided. Carlos won the World Superbikes in the first race, with a t4rue champions ride by winning the race as well. And Chaz won the Supersport World Championship. A little known fact (or a very well known fact) is that this is the second world championship win for his bike, it was the bike Cal rode in 2009 - although I'd like to see what parts are the same....


Motegi, and the fear of radiation. A couple of Italian race engineers, who have decided to remain nameless, took a Gieger counter with them. They were very surprised to find that the back-ground radiation level at Motegi was not only lower than at their base in Italy, but lower than on the airplane that they flew to Motegi in.


As for the racing, Moto2 produced the usual excitement, so did MotoGP for the first 5 laps and then became a bit of a progression.  I must confess that I haven't watched the 125's yet so can't really comment.


And as for the important stuff... Bel may well be leading but there's still plenty of races left. Including this weekends Brands Hatch BSB Triple Header and Supersport Triple header. Anyone else going???