My aunt was out with friends riding twisty roads on her Aprilia a couple of years ago and stopped in some roadhouse. Some weekend know-it-all was telling her all about how to really ride the bike, when she looked down at his tires. The center rib was bald but out toward the 45° the little nibs from the tire mold were still there. She looked back up at him and said "mm-hm," and he looked at her tires and it was just the opposite: lots of tread down the middle but the outsides were totally scrubbed down.
For those of you who don't know what you're looking at—this is current world champion Marc Marquez setting the pole at Circuit of the Americas this weekend.
The video is not a trick of perspective. He really is sliding a 200+ HP motorcycle while leaned over far enough to drag his elbow, which is why he is the current world champion.
For those of you who don't know what you're looking at—this is current world champion Marc Marquez setting the pole at Circuit of the Americas this weekend.
The video is not a trick of perspective. He really is sliding a 200+ HP motorcycle while leaned over far enough to drag his elbow, which is why he is the current world champion.
OK, back to people kicking things.
My aunt was out with friends riding twisty roads on her Aprilia a couple of years ago and stopped in some roadhouse. Some weekend know-it-all was telling her all about how to really ride the bike, when she looked down at his tires. The center rib was bald but out toward the 45° the little nibs from the tire mold were still there. She looked back up at him and said "mm-hm," and he looked at her tires and it was just the opposite: lots of tread down the middle but the outsides were totally scrubbed down.
I think it was early 90's and Wayne Rainey that first started the sliding style. I remember thinking it was insane then, and it was. It's only gotten better since.
Early '80s, Kenny Roberts. He grew up in flat track and schooled the Europeans.
Now they all train on flat tracks, and Marquez hosts an annual invitational race at his ranch that Spanish TV goes nuts for.
For those of you who don't know what you're looking at—this is current world champion Marc Marquez setting the pole at Circuit of the Americas this weekend.
The video is not a trick of perspective. He really is sliding a 200+ HP motorcycle while leaned over far enough to drag his elbow, which is why he is the current world champion.
OK, back to people kicking things.
I think it was early 90's and Wayne Rainey that first started the sliding style. I remember thinking it was insane then, and it was. It's only gotten better since.
For those of you who don't know what you're looking at—this is current world champion Marc Marquez setting the pole at Circuit of the Americas this weekend.
The video is not a trick of perspective. He really is sliding a 200+ HP motorcycle while leaned over far enough to drag his elbow, which is why he is the current world champion.
It's sad that so little of the race was televised. Highlights for the early stages were shown past my bedtime, I guess because the earlier time slots were taken by Big Bash League cricket and the Asia Cup and some tennis thing. It's been a crowded sports month. BBL cricket is done and dusted in less than 2 months - I guess so the players can go play in India where the real money is. But the Aussies did well in the cycling and Cadel Evans got to stand on the podium for the final time.
On Sunday Alex Marquez came in 3rd in the last Moto3 race of the season in Valencia, clinching the championship. His lead was so big the runner-up, Jack Miller, had to not only win (he did) but keep Marquez from finishing any better than 5th (he didn't).
Remarkable as it was he joined his older brother Marc, who had clinched the premier MotoGP class championship three races before—the first time brothers have won championships in the same season.
Marc's season was also a first—he won 13 of the 17 races, breaking Mick Doohan's record from 1997. He repeated as champion, having become the youngest premier class champion in history the previous season at age 20. He had already sewn up the championship; he didn't even have to start the last race, but won anyway, beating 7 time premier class champ Valentino Rossi, who took 2nd and came in 2nd for the season as well.
The younger Marquez (18) will move on to the second-tier Moto2 class next year, while the man he beat (Miller) moves on to MotoGP. It seems only a matter of time before the two brothers face off in the same class.
I'm not big on motor sports but those guys can ride. It's mesmerizing, watching them corner - like watching a fire or a Zamboni.
On Sunday Alex Marquez came in 3rd in the last Moto3 race of the season in Valencia, clinching the championship. His lead was so big the runner-up, Jack Miller, had to not only win (he did) but keep Marquez from finishing any better than 5th (he didn't).
Remarkable as it was he joined his older brother Marc, who had clinched the premier MotoGP class championship three races before—the first time brothers have won championships in the same season.
Marc's season was also a first—he won 13 of the 17 races, breaking Mick Doohan's record from 1997. He repeated as champion, having become the youngest premier class champion in history the previous season at age 20. He had already sewn up the championship; he didn't even have to start the last race, but won anyway, beating 7 time premier class champ Valentino Rossi, who took 2nd and came in 2nd for the season as well.
The younger Marquez (18) will move on to the second-tier Moto2 class next year, while the man he beat (Miller) moves on to MotoGP. It seems only a matter of time before the two brothers face off in the same class.
Australian Rules Football is into the finals season (playoffs) now. And the North Melbourne Kangaroos won their first finals match since 2007. They essentially stand no chance at the premiership but I'll try to have fun while it lasts.
I saw a documentary on a retired footy player travelling around the world to promote the sport. The South Africans were awesome, dancing and singing at each match.
Rugby doesn't get much attention in Victoria but it's the Australia Wallabies vs the New Zealand All Blacks so I'm half watching. Of course I'll barrack for the Wallabies but you do have to love the haka.
I'm sure a lot of you are upset that I haven't been keeping up on posting the Australian Rules Football updates. Or maybe you just resigned yourselves to checking the Aussie websites every week.
We are into round 16 and it is turning out to be very evenly matched at the top of the ladder. The top 3 teams had each lost 3 at the start of this round with Freemantle and Geelong one loss behind. Hawthorne Hawks are still the favourite for the premiership but they lost to my North Melbourne Kangaroos last night (although Hawthorne had two of their best players out with injuries). This is after the Roos lost to second last place Brisbane last week. Consistency isn't their strong point.
But that was then and this is now. And your weird tidbit of Australian culture: at the end of the match the winning team stand in a circle in their locker room and sing the team song.
It's the week of the annual Australian Rules Football indigenous round, where the league honours the players from aboriginal backgrounds and raises awareness of racial discrimination - with a healthy dose of marketing thrown in. The Port Adelaide - Melbourne match was played in Alice Springs in the centre of the continent where there is a proportionately large indigenous population. For the first time, all clubs had special Guernseys designed by indignenous artists. You can see many of the designs here. I have to say I was tempted to buy an North Melbourne Guernsey but I have better things to do with $120 - for that much money they should at least give you sleeves.
All in all it is a good thing and I wish more sports took an active role in confronting prejudice.
Oh yes, the footy: Port Adelaide who are surprisingly good this year held off an improving Melbourne to win by 20 points, Sidney gave Geelong a shocking thumping of 22.16.148 to 5.8.38. North Melbourne Kangaroos play tonight but and barely hanging in the top 8 teams.
I feel your pain little man. Went to the restroom with a minute left and was looking forward to the blues game, came back to overtime - Dubinsky wtf? And then the Blues game went the same way.
