New job for this guy.

[Puppet]

Nice, dude...congrats!

We'll have to hook up for a drink in Daytona. When are you getting down there?

[The Snowman]

First Ducati and now this new gig. What a life! I'm jealous!

Congrats!

[Jank]

Congrats Dude!!!
You got to get Yikes to login here and post up a howdy!
That'd be cool!

Either that or get him to drop kick another guy!

[a13x]

We'll have to hook up for a drink in Daytona. When are you getting down there?

Shit yea! I get down to Daytona Monday. Gonna be a loooong week

[SVRACER01]

i want to see more dropkicks

[Uncle Snake]

Congrats Alex!!

[BMFR6]

Past that dude all that stuff you read about the Factory teams in years past is right on the money. The stuff the Factory teams get over the other guys is retarded, even guys with money like MJ. Everything from parts they won't sell you (for any amount of money) to the tires the Factory teams get. One of the non-Factory teams (I'm not saying which one) got some of the 'good tires' by mistake one race weekend like 2 or 3 years ago. It was worth 1 second a lap over the tires they had prior to the 'mistake'. Needless to say they went over to Dunlop and raised a stink, have gotten the good tires ever since.

yeah, thats the stuff i'm talking about. i remember an interview i read with MJ (maybe it was on SOUP) but word for word what you just said. in not so many words MJ said, "i have the money and they still won't sell it to me"

but to play devils advocate, do you blame the factory? if i was a top ranked guy and i KNEW i could be on the same gear under MJ as I could under the makita rockstar machine, where do you think i would go? i'd go work for the guy that gives a shit about the sport.

[Doc]

So what can you tell us about the National Guard team?

[Honclfibr]

yeah, thats the stuff i'm talking about. i remember an interview i read with MJ (maybe it was on SOUP) but word for word what you just said. in not so many words MJ said, "i have the money and they still won't sell it to me"

but to play devils advocate, do you blame the factory? if i was a top ranked guy and i KNEW i could be on the same gear under MJ as I could under the makita rockstar machine, where do you think i would go? i'd go work for the guy that gives a shit about the sport.

Sure, right? I mean, this is the AMA. They race with homologated bikes using homologated parts. The whole point is that the parts need to be available to anyone with the money to purchase them. If you're withholding parts, you're cheating. Is it in the factory's best interest to cheat? Probably. But it's still fucking cheating if they do. And yeah, I'd blame them for undermining the spirit of the race series. Wouldn't you?

[a13x]

So what can you tell us about the National Guard team?

What's to tell? It's Geoff May riding a American Superbike GSXR1000. It's his same crew and support staff from 2008 just running out of a separate race hauler. Geoff was riding the last two days and he was flying. Watch for the new issue of RRX.

Sure, right? I mean, this is the AMA. They race with homologated bikes using homologated parts. The whole point is that the parts need to be available to anyone with the money to purchase them. If you're withholding parts, you're cheating. Is it in the factory's best interest to cheat? Probably. But it's still fucking cheating if they do. And yeah, I'd blame them for undermining the spirit of the race series. Wouldn't you?

Well the homologation is new for 2009, just to clarify in seasons past it wasn't the same as now. For instance word is the Kawasaki ZX-10R's ran gas tanks that weren't stock in 2008. It greatly improved the handling of the bike. Kawasaki wouldn't sell those to any other Kawi riders. Only the Factory team got them. Another big change for 2009 is teams have to run stock suspension components up front. No more 20k Ohlins superduper forks. You can run different internals, but have to be stock legs. Same with shocks, have to be something the public can readily buy. Check all the stuff on amaproracing.com

IE: Approved parts for American Superbike - http://admin.amaproracing.com/assets...pment_List.pdf

[butcher bergs]

For instance word is the Kawasaki ZX-10R's ran gas tanks that weren't stock in 2008. It greatly improved the handling of the bike. Kawasaki wouldn't sell those to any other Kawi riders.

I think Hacking would disagree, no? Looks to me like he had his hands full during every race.

[a13x]

I think Hacking would disagree, no? Looks to me like he had his hands full during every race.

Hacking is the one who designed the new (2008) tank. Notice his results improved greatly part way thru the season

[butcher bergs]

Hacking is the one who designed the new (2008) tank. Notice his results improved greatly part way thru the season

Touche....but "greatly"?

The thing still looked squirrelly though...

[a13x]

Touche....but "greatly"?

The thing still looked squirrelly though...

Those ZX-10's had insane motors... I watched him wheelie that thing thru 3rd and 4th into 5th at VIR heading towards the kink. Was silly.

[butcher bergs]

Those ZX-10's had insane motors... I watched him wheelie that thing thru 3rd and 4th into 5th at VIR heading towards the kink. Was silly.

I'm not discounting the power of the Kawi mills, just making observation that the ZX-10 which Jamie Hacking was riding always looked like a handful in the turns....like it was undersprung with all the wallowing and bouncing.

[JRide]

Congrats on the new job!

[BMFR6]

Sure, right? I mean, this is the AMA. They race with homologated bikes using homologated parts. The whole point is that the parts need to be available to anyone with the money to purchase them. If you're withholding parts, you're cheating. Is it in the factory's best interest to cheat? Probably. But it's still fucking cheating if they do. And yeah, I'd blame them for undermining the spirit of the race series. Wouldn't you?

alex already answered the homologation part. thats all new this year. i like it, i dont however like the fact it took all the factories so long to get on board. to me that just proves things may not have been on the level prior to the new rules. i do agree with you and blame them for undermining the spirit of the series, thats why i say that on a level playing field, guys like MJ are going to have a better selection of riders. who wouldnt want to work for the guy that cares about the sport.

that brings up a good point and i'm not sure if you could provide any details alex but... i'm 100% confident MJ reaches deep into his pockets to keep his team rolling. does/has/will he see much of a return on his investment? it's fantastic publicity and marketing, but its a small population he is reaching. not many people i speak to outside of the racing spectator community even know MJ has a team.

[Degsy]

.. i'm 100% confident MJ reaches deep into his pockets to keep his team rolling.

Surprisingly, you are 100% wrong (I'm 90% sure, LOL). He invests nothing financially. That I have read from several sources that I trust. I believe MJ invests in name only and insists that the team stands financially on it's own two feet through sponsor bucks and prize money.

Waiting patiently to be corrected by Alex, but I'm pretty sure I'm right on this.

[BMFR6]

Surprisingly, you are 100% wrong (I'm 90% sure, LOL). He invests nothing financially. That I have read from several sources that I trust. I believe MJ invests in name only and insists that the team stands financially on it's own two feet through sponsor bucks and prize money.

Waiting patiently to be corrected by Alex, but I'm pretty sure I'm right on this.

hhmmm. interesting. guess i'm waiting patiently on alex as well

[seth399]

from what was written above, it seems to me like not much will change on the suspension side of things then? I mean, if you need to use the stock legs but can stick in whatever guts you want, you can still basically get a works fork. Bikes are to the point that I think all of them choose a decent fork setup (ie: tube diameter/rigidity etc) so the internals can make all the difference.

[a13x]

Surprisingly, you are 100% wrong (I'm 90% sure, LOL). He invests nothing financially. That I have read from several sources that I trust. I believe MJ invests in name only and insists that the team stands financially on it's own two feet through sponsor bucks and prize money.

Waiting patiently to be corrected by Alex, but I'm pretty sure I'm right on this.

Yawp.

Not going to get into details but it sure isn't a credit card linked to MJ's bank account that the team runs off In the early days it was a little different, but at this stage we are 'just like' any other team out there. (thou having MJ as a benefactor certainly helps open doors)



Seth: To your point, Neil Hodgeson had some interesting comments after one of the tests. He said the stock Showa forks with a available Showa kit inside it worked better than his super-duper $$$$ Ohlins forks from the year before. Ha.

That said, you should read up on what the Yamaha R1 World Superbike team is doing for front suspension this year. On the fly electronically controlled settings. Think traction control for your forks. They used it at the last round or two and the bikes were mooooving. So things like that aren't legal in the US (right now anyway) for 2009. Thank god.

[seth399]

Yawp.

That said, you should read up on what the Yamaha R1 World Superbike team is doing for front suspension this year. On the fly electronically controlled settings. Think traction control for your forks. They used it at the last round or two and the bikes were mooooving. So things like that aren't legal in the US (right now anyway) for 2009. Thank god.

that is quite crazy

[richw]

More rules equals more creative cheating

If your happy we are happy

If it was a real equal footing they would have claim money so they aren't
Golden Rule

[R1]

That said, you should read up on what the Yamaha R1 World Superbike team is doing for front suspension this year. On the fly electronically controlled settings. Think traction control for your forks. They used it at the last round or two and the bikes were mooooving. So things like that aren't legal in the US (right now anyway) for 2009. Thank god.

Leave it to Yamaha to do something completely awesome and innovative....

I find something more to love about the brand everyday, and this just went to the top of the list.

fuckin smart asians using their weird calculator things changing the way the rest of the world thinks about the dumbest and simplest shit.

[a13x]

Peter: gonna be able to race much yourself?

me: all the loudon rounds except 2, 2 conflict with AMA and MotoGP Indy and I miss 2 of Jen's Vintage Weekends =[ but I'm doing all Penguin and Boston Moto trackdays / schools so..
plus I'm the backup rider in-case May or Yates gets hurt.

Peter: bitchin, dude. sounds like ya got a great year comin up!
WHAT????
BACK-UP RIDER?

me: Yup. And testing.

Peter: holy effin shit dude!
i hope one of em sprains a wrist or somethin the day before a race
get those guys on minimotos asap!

me: i can't believe you just bought that.

Peter: faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag

me: hahaha