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| 09 Jun 2009 10:46:35 pm |
 MotoGP Goes to Catalunya, Spain |
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Following an end to Valentino Rossi's formidable run of form at Mugello 10 days ago, the MotoGP heros travel to Spain this weekend. The 2009 championshiop is wide open with Rossi, Stoner and Lorenzo all with just a few points, Dani Pedrosa already seems a distant 4th following his crash in Mugello.
Let's hope for some close racing, sadly with the introduction of more 'rider-aids', there seems to be less overtaking, believe it or not it is over 4 years since we saw an change of lead on the final lap, I hope this is not a sign of the future meaning the ultimate motorcycle racing championship becomes more of a procession, similar to that seen on the Formula 1 circuit!
Rossi interview;
"Hoping for a second Spanish win!"
"Mugello was disappointing but still we took some good points and now, entering one of the most important phases of the championship, this is very important. We still haven't found the perfect answer to make my M1 exactly how I want but Barcelona is a good track for us so hopefully we can make the final step there, also since we will finally have a chance to test on Monday. Barcelona is, along with Mugello and Phillip Island, one of my favourite tracks and I always love racing there. I have taken one Spanish win so far this season so I am hoping for another this weekend. We need to keep focused and use what we learnt in Mugello to put us in the right shape. Finally I am hoping for good weather because I don't think these flag-to-flag races in the wet and the dry suit me very well!"
Brit James Toseland will be looking to justify a MotoGP ride for a third year, following a disappointing start to the season.
Montmelo': Record Lap
D. Pedrosa (Honda) 2008, 1'42.358
Montmelo': Best Lap
C. Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1'41.186
Grand Prix Results: Montmelo' 2008
1. D. Pedrosa (Honda) 43'02.175
2. V.Rossi (Yamaha) +2.806
3. C.Stoner (Ducati) +3.343 |
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By : admin
| Category : MotoGP |  Comments [0] |  Trackbacks [0]
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| 06 Jun 2009 12:18:29 pm |
| Motorcycle Blog |
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Welcome to our blog, after months of pressure we finally gave in and here it is, if you would like to blog here yourself then just contact us, webmaster@motorbike-search-engine.co.uk and we'll consider your request.
If you specialise in a specific field then we can set up a category just for you, let us know what you would like. |
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By : admin
| Category : General | Comments [1] | Trackbacks [0]
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| 06 Jun 2009 12:14:17 pm |
| The New Motorcycle Test - Fifteen Accidents in 3 Weeks! |
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The Conservatives are calling for part of the new motorcycle test to be suspended as the number of learners who are crashing while taking it continues to rise . There have been 15 accidents in the first 3 1/2 weeks alone of the new test coming into force, according to the DSA.
Tory Shadow Roads Minister Robert Goodwill said: "We've called for a suspension of the swerve test until a proper assesment has been carried out."
The test has been plunged deeper into controversy as the DSA admitted riders who weren't good enough were highly likely to lose control while attempting it!
Give us your views and experiences............... |
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By : admin
| Category : Motorcycle Training | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [0]
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| 05 Jun 2009 07:35:00 am |
| How hard can the DSA (Double Standards Agency) make it! |
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Firstly the legislation from the 2nd European directive which insisted on 4 mandatory exercises has on the DSA’s interpretation turned into 11. That is how many are included on the off road part 1 test.
Secondly the part 2 road ride has effectively been extended by remaining the same duration. The examiner no longer stops to carry out a U turn and emergency stop, so it was expected part 2 would be shorter. Not so, which means it will now include around 6/7 minutes of extra observed riding which will equate to covering a couple of extra miles. On a normal 30 to 40 minute ride that is a 20% increase. Extended tests are usually for bad ones who have had a ban or their licence revoked, well now it’s for everyone!
Finally the DSA have reduced the amount of minor driving faults that can be committed by a massive 30% from 15 to 10. There has been no consultation over this dramatic reduction. It is not anything to do with the EU directive that has imposed this ridiculous new test on us; it is purely the DSA’s decision. They have not given any valid reason for the change. Their only defence was to say it should not influence pass results too much (so don’t be nervous and twitchy on the day and commit too many minor faults) they also stated that anyone committing 10 minor faults should not be given a licence any way. If so why is that not the rule NOW!
This is not a vocational test like LGV or PCV. The nearest comparison is the car test. So a motorcycle rider has to take 87 minutes worth of testing, 60% more than cars 57 minutes. Do an extra 20% observed road ride (car remains the same) and have their margin for minor errors reduced by 30% to 10 (car allowed 15). It would be much simpler to just ban motorcycles all together, which seems to be what some of the people behind these unfair decisions want! 
Loz Williams - Bike instructor - Mag member |
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By : admin
| Category : Motorcycle Training | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [0]
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| 08 May 2009 12:47:35 pm |
| Response to the DSA pushing blame onto the training industry |
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Issue 14 of the Motorcycle update which can be found at http://www.dsa.gov.uk/LatestNews.asp
The DSA have published a Newsletter which seems to have been written as a direct response to the terrible incidents on day 1 of the new modular test.
It is firstly a defence of 2DLD the legislation that brought this about. It claims that the avoidance exercise is paramount to rider safety. I disagree I think basic road craft of planning, observation, approaching high risk hazard areas at the right speed and in the right position would be a much better test. The aim is so that you don’t need to swerve in the first place! Secondly they defend their interpretation of how and at what dimensions the avoidance exercise should be conducted and finally an appalling attempt to apportion blame onto the training industry and specifically motorcycle instructors.
I have no evidence to confront their claim that the students braked heavily whilst in the swerve, if that is true even at low speed they would probably have lost control. However I believe it was because this test is unsafe. The DSA make claims that their sites have some form of super grippy tarmac that performs the same wet or dry. Forgive me for questioning this but if moto gp circuit lap times drop so dramatically when it’s raining maybe they should be made of this stuff.
I believe they have got the dimensions wrong and the swerve is too severe when the sites are wet. These are road tyres, usually stone cold, you are not allowed any warm up runs and they cannot cope with the sudden load put upon them.
They claim to have done exhaustive research and consultation. I have never been consulted over the layout and dimensions of MPTC’s. Where are the findings of this exhaustive research, where are the written reports, the dates and times, records of bikes used, rider experience, weather reports etc… I have been invited to 1 Instructor only MPTC open day last summer, if these events are included as part of their research then they should have their authority to act as the Governments road safety agency immediately removed. This is a test for novice riders, using many different types of bikes and in a huge range of weather conditions.
I am in the process of experiencing the DSA’s preparation and research. The only casual test site for part 1 testing currently operating in West Yorkshire is at Cleckheaton. The first and only time the examiners visited this site prior to testing was on Saturday 25 Apr 09. On Monday 27 Apr 09 they were supposed to commence testing. The whole programme was cancelled due to puddles forming and oil spillage. I have had 10 tests cancelled there in the 5 days it has been operational that is more than the entire amount of tests I had cancelled all through 2008.
The same is about to happen at Patrick Green in Leeds. The examiner will see it for the first time on Sat afternoon 09 May and on Sun 10 may he is supposed to start testing. This is more like the DSA’s idea of research and development, trails and preparation.
The final paragraph focuses the reason for the incidents at the training industry. It suggests the incidents occurred because the students had not received adequate training. This could well be the case, without interviewing the four students involved I cannot say, however neither can the DSA, so how can they publish such a smear against those training schools and the industry as a whole. What exactly does it mean by the Agency supports a modular structured approach to training over time? Are they going to build an MPTC for each training school so we can replicate this manoeuvre? Are they going to fund our huge expense in replacing damaged bikes, are they going to offer us a training course, so instructors can learn how to teach positive counter steering? I am afraid this agency and this governments support for the training industry amounts to a big fat zero. It always has and always will. We have to find a way of teaching students to pass an unsafe test in our own way, within our own budgets and with our own very limited resources.
A very interesting point raised in this letter is that even the DSA recognise that the reason motorcycles crash is because other road users pull out on them. Their words not mine. So why is the emphasis not placed on their training and testing! |
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By : admin
| Category : Motorcycle Training | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [0]
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