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The 2010 MotoGP season gets underway with a night race. This season should be fantastic!

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The Prophet

I watched most of this last night on the Speed channel.

Actually... kind of boring. This new track is so clean, so antiseptic, so colorless, so... new.

From the camera angle/view, you never even see fans, or people (are there any?). Not a tree or shrub, nor any greenery whatsoever in site, just a brand spankin' new track, that is obviously designed with all the safety features, correct angles and curves, and correct banking. That said, boring as heck.

Track lighting also resembles a mall parking lot. This particular track needs more light to brighten things up.

Lacking.. something(?). maybe something colorful in the infields? Some shots of folks in the stands? Let the fans into the infield? Some shots of live (Vs dead?) action in the pits?

Track design should also be such that it is easier to pass once in a while. If the curves are too tight, and the turns are too often, it is near impossible to pass the leader. Keep this in mind when designing tracks, and provide decent straight-aways and wider, gradual turns to allow for more "action".

Watching guys go 'round and 'round for two hours gets lame, you need to liven it up with something else.

Lastly - is it a law that announcers MUST have high-pitched overly excited tenor voices? Do they also require British accents only? Do they also need to have uncomfortable man-crushes on the riders? Just sayin'...

Other than THAT... it's always fun to watch bikes racing!

Ride Safe (and exciting)!

Bob

__________________

• A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu
• Motorcyles are not my whole life, but they make my life whole. ` me

Jamie

A trifle irked, Bob mate, are we not?

And to dare think that there are 17 more, equally annoying rounds to go until Valencia on Nov. 7. Dear me!

Jamie

The Prophet

Me? Irked? ...

O.K., yeah, I'm venting, and in the end, taking it out on shrill voiced TV announcers.

Mostly I was steamed because I was looking forward to an enjoyable race, and ... it wasn't.

My day yesterday:

1.) Spent all yesterday morning out back cleaning up our land, cutting grass, removing dead tree branches, trimming brush and trees.. We had hired a Landscaping outfit to do the work Saturday, but no one showed up. My wife called about every 2 hours, to be told "They should be there in about an hour". No one ever showed, nor called. We called Sunday Morning to tell them "forget it", or as Donald Trump would say... "you're fired". Oddly, these guys have done great job for us prior to this. All you need to do is call and keep us informed, period. Easy.

2.) Spent the beautiful, sunny afternoon taking my wife Furniture Shopping. Something I have zero interest in. Oddly, we've been married nearly 36 years, but having 100% different taste in many things. Opposites attract? Once again we are giving away perfectly good sofa's and chairs to my kids, and buying new stuff because of... dunno, I was fine with it.

3.) Tried barbecuing Porkchops on a Gas Grill we purchased last year (Blue Ember) that was rated #1 by "Consumer Reports Magazine", which is usally reliable, but this thing is a piece of garbage. Uneven cooking, no char capability, meat temperatures all over the place from one piece to the next. Finally got it, but what a pile of junk, and it was expensive. I'll take our old Weber Grill anytime (that we gave away!).

4.) Just after dinner I took a short, one hour ride on the bike through the countryside to get some Zen, and realign the karma magnetism. Decent ride, weather is nice now here in Illinois, about 70 F, clear and sunny, but a little windy. Ride was fantastic if uneventful, but I HAVE noticed a huge downturn in motorcycle riders compared to last year, and then again to two years ago. Maybe it's just around here. At any rate, I've also noted that what I DO see are mostly Sportbikes now, and tremendously fewer "weekend Warrior" Harley cruisers and clone types.
Say a year ago I might encounter about 25-30 Bikes on an afternoon run through the country. Now, I'd guess at about <10 tops. Where is everybody?

5.) Got home just in time for the MotoGP on the Speed Channel. Made Popcorn and a tall glass o' Lemonade. Ready.

Read my original post for the rest o' the story.

So, in the end, I was really ticked off at the (ex) Landscapers, spent an afternoon doing stuff I really can't stand, then had a heck of a time cooking dinner.

That said, gimme a break, not much that would have pleased me, so I struck out at the announcers. Still, they reminded me of Jackie Stewart doing the old Grand Prix auto races, and come on - his voice was definitely irritating after awhile, albeit Scottish, which has it's own special merits!!

Maybe we could get Morgan Freeman to do the announcing? THAT would be interesting?

Ride Safe (and with a deep, calming voice)!

Bob

P.S. - Next race I'll watch with the sound off. Maybe some good jazz instead?

Speedtrip

Hell, I thought it was good race. Taped the GP and the two WSBK races. Just when Stoner started to check out he crashed out. Rossi and Pedrosa had a good battle till the midgets bike started to fade, but Hayden and Dovizioso went after it the rest of the race. I was hoping that Nicky would get a podium and he deserved after the pass he put on Dovizioso but the Duc couldn't hold off the Honda down the last straight. I thought the Repsol Honda team was supposed to be down this year but they looked strong.

Ben Spies in 5th and Colin Edwards in 8th put three Americans in the top ten, been a while since that has happened.

__________________
-Shaun-

The Prophet

Sorry Guys, I was in a very deep, dark, moody funk Sunday night. The tirade against the announcers I do apologise for. That was my bad.

Still think the overall lighting was bad, and boring / exciting is very subjective(?). I get very excited going to swap meets and rummaging through wet and moldy cardboard boxes of rusty and broken bike parts!

I still think Cheryl Ladd is up there in the "top ten".

At least now you get a clearer picture of what you're dealing with!

Anyway, I'll give it another chance Sunday, April 25th at Motegi in Japan.

Some nice info:

Japanese MotoGP 2010 - Motegi, Twin Ring Motegi - Moto GP Tickets, Motogp Tickets, VIP Tickets 2010, Grand Prix Ticket Agency, Buy Motorbike Race Tickets - gpticketshop.com

I like this track design, love that loooong hairpin.

Again, sorry to all for the nasty tirade, but hey... isn't that part of what this forum is for?

Maybe not?

Ride Safe (and calm down)!

Bob

Jamie

That sure is an extenuating circumstance

Best Jamie

Speedtrip

Qatar is the only night race on the schedule. Been doing it for three years now, I remember before all you could see were the heat waves and sand. The hottest race on the schedule may be Laguna now.