Steve Parrish
Good month folks? Mine’s not been bad by half, including zapping about on an Indian, believe it or not. The Indian range is actually based on the Victory bikes (which is now defunct), and while it’s big and heavy it’s not a bad bike at all, and they are way, way better than Harleys which are basically tractors. You can even grab it by the scruff and hustle it about a bit, within reason of course, though mine has been ground out fully on both sides already!
So then, Mr Rossi, well that must have been a nice straightforward break for him to have healed enough to race at Aragon. But that was still really impressive from the Doctor; if the unthinkable had happened he could have really screwed himself up, potentially career ending. And he’ll have to be a little cautious for the rest of the season, as I can’t see him having the pin removed before the last race, can you?
He’s done his bit of heroic riding, personally I’d have it taken out, give the fly away races a miss and come back for Valencia. But then I’m not Rossi, and he continues to surprise us even in his dotage. As for MotoGP, I still think Marc Marquez will do it this year. He’s coming into real form with nobody else in his league. Apart from Dani Pedrosa sometimes, though he and Jorge Lorenzo are the same in that all the stars must align and everything must be perfect for them to be competitive. Especially Jorge I think, but then I see him winning on that Ducati before the end of the year, it’s coming, he’s getting closer and I’m very impressed with his improvement. We also have two Ducati tracks coming up too, which could be the only fly in Marquez’s ointment.
Speaking of his title rival, Dovizioso, a seventh at Aragon wasn’t a championship ride especially being beaten by the Aprilia. That’s also coming on nicely, they just need a top rider to make the big difference I believe. And then there’s the Marquez to KTM in 2019 rumours. Why would he do that? He doesn’t have the same ego as Rossi, wanting to go win on another manufacturer, he’s happy on the Honda and they must be paying him well. Unless KTM or Red Bull come up with some stupendous wage for him, and the KTM starts winning next year (highly unlikely…), then I can’t see him leaving
HRC. In fact I think he’d be daft to.
I did the commentating at Portimao for WSB, and Rea was in a different league once again. He’s not going to MotoGP, I had a long chat with him and he said he’d think about going there if Kawasaki do, and he wouldn’t welch on his contract with Team Green. I guess after next year it’s not completely out of the question, but then his life is perfect and he’s no spring chicken. There’s no shame in being happy with your lot, or winning in WSB.
His rival, Chaz Davies, threw away a safe podium in the second race, and I wonder if he got a bollocking for that? He does crash too much, but then I guess he’s over-riding the bike to make up for its deficiencies, too. And on the subject of crashing, Alex Lowes, two big crashes again in the races. He and his brother do it far too much and I know it’s because Alex is pushing hard, but now his team-mate is starting to get the better of him he’s only going to push harder, isn’t he?
It must drive Paul Denning nuts, I used to run my own WSB team and you could always account for everything in your budget except crash damage. Even if the bike slides down the track in a gentle looking crash, I’m telling you that’s the best part of £10,000 once the bike is all patched up. It murders your budget, and yes crashing is a risk, but then it’s easier to stop someone crashing than teach them to be fast, er, apparently! Did you see Tom Sykes’ huge off? The entire bike went in the skip aside from a few parts from inside the engine. Tom himself got away with only minor injuries, it could have been really nasty. And all those crashes in BSB at Silverstone? Nuts!
I did the Goodwood Revival again, and it was fun. We came ninth overall which wasn’t bad given the youngsters up front, and our combined team age was 132! I did the fifth fastest lap though, which wasn’t bad given the Dunlop brothers et al were all there.
Lastly, I’m currently on holiday in Majorca and the place is ruined by cyclists everywhere, riding en masse in their bloody pelotons. So I get my knackered mountain bike out, dress like a tit with a backpack on with tennis rackets hanging out of each side and whizz after them to catch them up. Then I ring my bell, coming through style, and the look on their lycra addicted faces as I barge through them is utterly hilarious. I can only last about half a mile before I’m out of puff but, boy, is it worth it! Till next month!