Ama Barber

[wfooshee]

Motortoad and I worked turn one today. Had a crashed bike the very first session, supersport qualy. I figured I was done after that, I've never had to pick up more than one bike on a day. Next session, sportike qualy, the Triumph cooked the turn, came into the gravel, spent the session with us. Then after lunch another supersport crash, turn one lap one of their race, handlebar and footpeg broken off. He spent the race with us. Sportbike race, turn one lap one, guy gets knocked off his bike, which proceeds by itself directly at me! Hits the barrier HARD right in front of us, we go out to clean up, rider is slow getting up so we call for medical, then find the steering head in 6 pieces. I have one of the steering bearings! There is also a pileup in the interior hairpin, and we have a red flag. Race is restarted, and not too long in, a bike sits up and comes at the barrier, bails just in time, and who is it but our buddy on the Triumph! One other bike, the Superike BMW simply lost the fire on lap one. So 6 incidents with 5 bikes. Busy day!

The races are on Speed tonight at midnight eastern.

 

[wfooshee]

Weather sucks this morning, thunderstorm rolling through, lightning delay. Didn't sleep well, rain drumming on the tent, couldn't find my earplugs. But no water in the tent!

 

[Bugnatr]

***SPOILER***Just finished watching the 600's race. The wet made for some real pucker moments. Really didn't care for Eslick's riding, some may call it racing but when he does those intentional moves against Herrin well that was dirty racing. If you have to resort to running a guy wide on purpose (more than once) to win is ******, Eslick lost my respect and I hope AMA sets him straight.

On the other hand Martin Cardenas is a class act and rode two great races and deserves to win the championship.

 

[dcarver]

I saw race one and you're right - the guy was running folks wide, and when passed made suicide inside re-passes.

Pretty cool you were there in the heat of the action! :clapping:

 

[ugar-6]

Had a blast there myself although I didn't have to move bikes out of the way.

 

[pmspaul]

Really didn't care for Eslick's riding, some may call it racing but when he does those intentional moves against Herrin well that was dirty racing.

+1

It sure seemed that Eslick's priority was trying to ensure Herrin lost the championship, rather than trying to win it himself.

Martin rode smart and deserves his championship.

 

[Rory]

Really didn't care for Eslick's riding, some may call it racing but when he does those intentional moves against Herrin well that was dirty racing.

+1

It sure seemed that Eslick's priority was trying to ensure Herrin lost the championship, rather than trying to win it himself.

Martin rode smart and deserves his championship.

and that's what I don't get. Herrin needed to win and then he would have needed both Cardenes and Eslick to be back at least 4 or 5 spots. He had little chance. So why would Danny want to piss away a championship? They're both a couple of numbskulls, Danny being the bigger *******.

 

[not2shabby]

Just watched the wet race last nite...wtf was Eslick thinking? If he doesn't at least get a slap on the wrist from the AMA, somethings wrong. I wonder if it was Herrin who interrupted his interview with Greg White. They cut the sound but you could tell Eslick said 'Bring it on'! I bet Herrin was super pissed.

 

[Cowcop]

Eslick's skills are completely surpassed by his lack of maturity. AMA and Suzuki had better publicly settle this child down before he causes a serious accident.

AMA's image is already taking hits and this conduct cannot be tolerated at any level. Suzuki makes great products but cannot afford to associated to a reckless youth on their product.

How's that for a rant? :yahoo:

 

[Randy]

I'm sure it won't be a popular statement, but, I thought it was a good race with an unfortunate ending.

Herrin said post race that Danny would enter tight and run wide every time in that turn. If he knew that's what he was going to do, why would he try to pinch him off? In the rain, no less! I've watched that pass over a dozen times. Danny does not change his line through the turn. Josh entered tight, drifted out and he and Danny came together. Danny held his line the whole way through. Passing on the outside is always dangerous. Passing on the outside in the rain and not giving any room to the rider on the inside is a recipe for disaster. Danny was practically on the paint and could not have gone in any tighter. After they touched, Danny's knee was still in tight to his bike, so, it's not like he gave him a shove. Josh went in tight and hit the apex very early. Rather than going in tight and drifting out, he went in tight, then tried to come back in. https://www.speedtv.com//video/moto-racing/last-lap-ama-sportbike-barber-2-618620877001/1

If you've seen racing on TV, regardless of what level, you will see riders going into a turn too hot and running wide. As soon as the riders behind see that the rider ahead is going wide, they shoot inside of them. The ones that run wide don't come right back in for this very reason.

Eslick was trying to win the race. He wanted as many positions between him and Cardenas as possible heading into the last lap. Westby was right there. If Josh and Westby finished 1-2 and followed by Danny then Martin, Danny would have lost the championship by 1 point. Danny wasn't trying to piss away a championship, he was trying to win one.

I think it was a dumb move on Josh's part. Danny got by Josh multiple times in that corner when Josh left the door open. However, prior to that, each time Josh lost a position there, he got it back later. So, if he knew he could get him back later, why even mess with him in that corner?

Regarding the post race interview on TV, it was unfortunate that the camera was on Danny when he was saying "bring it on" (he followed it with '*****', but, Speed edited it out). It's unfortunate that the camera didn't show that Danny was retaliating to Josh's dad who said "nice punt you piece of ****" when he knew there was a camera and microphone in front of Danny's face. I'd be embarrassed to have my dad fighting my battles for me.

And this dispute about who was right and who was wrong could go on and on forever. No one is right. No one is wrong. It's all just opinion.

 

[Cowcop]

Well put Randy, but I think the turn where ESLICK stood his Suzuki up in the corner and turned to face HERRIN while slowing down ( also give up positions) indicates that maturity was lacking with ESLICK's riding. I do not support some of the efforts of HERRIN, that just came across to me as poor judgement which you have documented well.

It still remains however that there are opinions from people who have also studied the race ,as you did, who do not reflect in a postive light towards ESLICK. The announcers were concerned, there were comments on sports talk shows about his conduct, and ESLICK is going to have to change his ways.

While I am not a huge fan of AMA , I am a fanatic about MOTOGP and World Superbike. I rarely see contact in the 'big leagues' and when it does occur, there is follow up by the sponsors and racing officials. While the coporate image is everything......can you say bottom line..... the potential for multiple bike wrecks is only increased when antics such as ESLICK's are mixed into a competetive drive that is already causing concerns, such as HERRIN's efforts you observed.

These young people are striving to make it to the 'big leagues' or at least have a long and happy time racing. No one needs to be stupid, just ride your butt off in a responsible manner! Then everyone rides to the best of the abilities & machines and the truly talented ones will rise to the top.

 

[wfooshee]

Haven't watched race 2, yet, but working turn one (if you saw the ghost-bike crash at the start of race 1, then you saw me and Motortoad on TV - I was the first one to the rider, and a couple minutes later I was the guy telling him to sit on the piece of barrier foam we dragged under our canopy - Motortoad had the radio) I have to say that Herrin's pass in turn one after the restart was brilliant, right up to nearly getting kicked off the bike. I can't believe he stayed on that thing!!! We were reaching for our gloves as they apexed thinking there's no way both of them are coming out of there, and just knowing we'd be picking up bikes from the pointy end of the field and maybe refereeing a fight . . . .

The one thing I'll say about Eslick is that he's apparently sold his soul to the brake gods. Nobody brakes deeper or harder than he does. Trying to pass him by taking away his line will get you punted, because he's COMMITED to his line just from the inertia he's still carrying. This is not a New Thing, it's been that way all year.

OTOH, forcing someone to sit up to get by them is very close to using them as a barrier yourself, as he did in the museum turn in race one.

 

[Randy]

Don't get me wrong. Motorcycle road racing should not be a contact sport. It's ******* dangerous enough. I wish they both would have finished on 2 wheels - would have been a helluva dogfight. I thank the racing gods that no one was injured in this melee. And I thank the racing gods, and whoever else had a hand in it, that Eric Bostrom is with us today. He was within 2cm of very possibly us reading his obituary Saturday night...more on that later.

Racing involves strategy. The point where Danny parked it inside of Josh was very strategic. As soon as I saw it the first time, I saw exactly what he was doing. He was essentially saying 'are you kidding me? keep giving me the inside line and I'll keep taking it'. Danny took a very similar line through that turn each and every lap. Josh even said so. Scott picked up on it while announcing it. Josh tried to shut the door on the lap where he went down, but, the problem was that he didn't hold the line tight. He apexed early, didn't hold the line, and when he tried to tighten up, too late, Danny was already there.

Congrats to Martin Cardenas on a well earned and hard fought championship

Now, onto Eric Bostrom. For those that haven't heard, in the last corner of the last lap, while fighting for 5th place, Brett McCormick went in way too hot and crashed taking out himself and Eric Bostrom. Watching the race, you never would have thought that there was much wrong with Eric. He jumped right up and was limping a bit. Seemed normal. Unfortunate, but normal. However, when they stripped his leathers off, this is what they found (note: gotta be on Facebook to view it and WARNING: not for the squeamish!!!! You have been warned). https://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/photo.php?pid=6706942&id=88396511912&ref=fbx_album scan through the pics in the album.

The gash was 2cm from his femoral artery. They're saying that if it would have cut that, he most likely would have bled to death factoring in the time it took the medical crew to get to him. It took 102 stitches to close it up.

By the way...McCormick also had a run-in with Josh Hayes during Sunday's race. Sent Josh out into the grass while Josh was just trying to mind his own business and win a championship. Him crashing could have very easily cost him his championship. Perhaps there is too much focus on Herrin and Eslick and not enough on McCormick????

BTW - wfooshee and motortoad, thanks for working the corners and keeping the riders safe. I did see you on TV - great job handling the situations. And as far saying nobody brakes deeper or harder than Eslick, watch the last motogp race again and keep an eye on Ben Spies

 

[Bugnatr]

Hey wfooshee I went back and watched the beginning again. I saw you and Motortoad out there bustin' ass to keep the riders safe. What, no FJR hats? Good job guys, your famous now!

Randy, while I do not agree with your assessment of Danny's riding your knowledge of motorcycle racing is always impressive. This class and Moto2 has been a hoot to watch with the some of the best motorcycle racing this year.

 

[Cowcop]

I think I may be lucky I cannot get your links to work Randy. Will this rider be able to ride again this year (one race left in this circuit, right?) or is he done for this year?

 

[Randy]

Randy, while I do not agree with your assessment of Danny's riding your knowledge of motorcycle racing is always impressive. This class and Moto2 has been a hoot to watch with the some of the best motorcycle racing this year.

Daytona SportBike has given us some of the best racing that I can remember in my years of being around racing. No worries about not agreeing with me. As I said, no one is right and no one is wrong. The banging between Eslick and Herrin is tame compared to the first laps of the Moto2 races.

I think I may be lucky I cannot get your links to work Randy. Will this rider be able to ride again this year (one race left in this circuit, right?) or is he done for this year?

This was the last race of the year. He ran a few select events as a Cycle World project and Sho-Air came on to help out the effort. Sho-Air has been big into sponsoring bicycle racing (both Eric and his brother Ben are avid cyclists - Ben often races competitively) and are now tapping into motorcycle racing. From what I'm hearing, EBoz should soon be announcing his plans for 2011 and it's looking like he'll be running the full Superbike series and there's a very good chance that it will be on the new Kawasaki ZX10 sponsored by Sho-Air and run by Attack.

 

[Rory]

Eslick was trying to win the race. He wanted as many positions between him and Cardenas as possible heading into the last lap.

not to drag this out, but just a quick comment -

Prior to the red flag, Danny pushed Josh out 3 or 4 times in that corner (corner 4 I think). Each time they lost ground, and often a spot or 2. I believe on the lap when Danny made the most blatant block, they were in 3rd and 4th. One corner later, Danny was 5th and Josh was 8th. Danny was unable to finish on the podium on Saturday so he was already 3 points down in the championship. If there had been no red flag, he was not helping himself at all to repeatedly tangle with Josh.

I was checking the AMA website yesterday. They have posted race results and championship standings for all races and all classes with the exception of Daytona Sportbike. They have saturday's results posted for DSB but not sunday. I read into that as the AMA / DMG is reviewing the final race and trying to figure out how they can stay consistent with past rulings or take some other course of action.

McCormick - crashed later on Sunday. He crashed at VIR too. I don't see him getting a ride next year. I'm kind of surprised he was allowed to race sunday after nearly killing EBoz. Yeah, that was not intentional, but he needs to get his head on straight.

 

[Randy]

Eslick was trying to win the race. He wanted as many positions between him and Cardenas as possible heading into the last lap.

not to drag this out, but just a quick comment -

Prior to the red flag, Danny pushed Josh out 3 or 4 times in that corner (corner 4 I think). Each time they lost ground, and often a spot or 2. I believe on the lap when Danny made the most blatant block, they were in 3rd and 4th. One corner later, Danny was 5th and Josh was 8th. Danny was unable to finish on the podium on Saturday so he was already 3 points down in the championship. If there had been no red flag, he was not helping himself at all to repeatedly tangle with Josh.

I was checking the AMA website yesterday. They have posted race results and championship standings for all races and all classes with the exception of Daytona Sportbike. They have saturday's results posted for DSB but not sunday. I read into that as the AMA / DMG is reviewing the final race and trying to figure out how they can stay consistent with past rulings or take some other course of action.

McCormick - crashed later on Sunday. He crashed at VIR too. I don't see him getting a ride next year. I'm kind of surprised he was allowed to race sunday after nearly killing EBoz. Yeah, that was not intentional, but he needs to get his head on straight.

Hey...bench racing is not fun if it doesn't get dragged (or is it drug?) out if we don't opinionate and speculate.

Prior to the red flag, Danny knew he was beat and didn't have the pace. Strictly opinion - Danny was a) trying to lock down 2nd in the championship and b ) trying to help out his (sort of) teammate. I say sort of because Danny's team outsources bike support to the M4 team who Cardenas rides for.

Regarding the lack of posted results, I saw that elsewhere. However, I'm also aware of a news release by the AMA that says that Martin won, and that Josh ended up 28 points behind Cardenas and 20 points behind Eslick. I'm guessing the lack of results is an oversight. They also don't have the 'Standings' page updated for DSB beyond the 1st race in March.

 

[ugar-6]

McCormmick is fast but has been riding like a bonehead the last few rounds. They had a good battle going in race one and it was fun watching them come through turn 4 time and time again while I was sitting on that hill. Those two had MAJOR lean angle going on, got pics. Yes, that was McCormmick that wrecked a couple of races ago trying to adjust his damn brake lever or something in a corner. I like the Bostroms and am really glad Eric made it through that. Didn't look bad on TV but apparently was. Yes, he should be running a full season next year.