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A Racer Checks In - Mike Morgan |
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Thursday, 23 August 2007 |
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Our main man Mike Morgan was down in Virginia for the AMA races and sent us an update on his exploits. Virginia International Raceway
August 18-19
Finishing position 26th out of 33.
VIR was a new track for us this year in our effort to increase the number of national rounds we attend. I’m very confident in my ability to learn tracks quickly and I study every track to improve each year. So one goal was to qualify for this ever growing class and all the very fast riders in it. But that was a small goal, because after driving all that way I was not about to not qualify.
Getting to the track is half the battle and we had a few problems going down. Virginia has quite the mountain range. After coming down the mountain we had a brake failure from the steep grade. So that took most of Wednesday afternoon to get fixed. I had to finish fixing the RV at the track after some parts arrived at the local Advance Auto Parts.
I had a little trouble just before qualifying which is not the time to have issues. In morning practice I had a little low side in turn one. It was completely my fault, just trying to stay on the brakes to long. My Komodo leathers, boots, and gloves did a great job! Unfortunately they are now scuffed up now but nothing failed on the suit or gloves. It barely did anything to the bike, but I took a hit to the shoulder. I had no time to worry about my shoulder and it didn’t really hurt then. Rachel had to help me change the tires and as the afternoon wore on my shoulder started to hurt more. Out for qualifying I went. After a few laps I came in and looked at the monitors and I had done a 1:35. That was to close to the cut off time so it sucked up the pain and went back out. I was able to manage a 1:34 that was good enough for 31st on the starting grid. I sat out Saturday morning practice to try and help save my shoulder and tires. Dunlop gave me a great set of tires, as usual, that seemed to do well in qualifying. I wish I could have really put them to the test in the race. During the race I was unable to push very hard. VIR has a lot of direction changes and it takes a lot to muscle the bike around. It was disappointing to see the people I beat in Mid Ohio motor away in the opening laps of the race. I was confident I could have done much better without the injury, but we will get them next year. I was unable to transition on the bike the way I needed to. I did the best I could and was able to finish the race in 26th. Along the way I inherited several positions just by finishing. It was hard and now I’m resting up to try and will be ready for Atlanta.
Thanks to everyone!
Mike Morgan
RIM Racing & Engineering
Motul, Advanced Auto Parts, Yoshimura R-D, Lockhart Phillips, Dunlop Tires, Turn One Motorsports, Hyperpro, Komodo, Shark Helmets, EBC, Superior Body Works, Barnett Clutches and Cables, DID Chain, Fasttrax Media, Impact Armor Smart Dot, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers. |
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Duhamel back on a GP bike |
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Written by Jeff Feathers
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Sunday, 15 July 2007 |
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1992. That was the last time Miguel Duhamel was on a Grand Prix motorcycle. A lot has changed since then, but Miguel is still tearing it up on race days, just now it is on a 200 horsepower Superbike instead of a scary two stroke GP bike. When Toni Elias broke himself in Assen, Gresini Honda started looking for a replacement rider for the Laguna Seca round of the World Championship. Duhamel was a likely candidate and stepped up to the challenge. Aside from his American Honda duties, the Canadian Wonder will also be turning the wheels of a RC212v. He was kind enough to take time from his schedule to talk with us about his upcoming USGP. Racer Digest: How did this whole Gresini ride at Laguna happen?
Miguel Duhamel: Unfortunately it started with Toni Elias getting injured in Assen at the Dutch TT. He obviously got injured, broke a leg and they [Gresini] asked Honda US what they thought of having one of their riders ride the MotoGP bike and I had been after Honda for the GP thing, trying to get a wildcard ride in there, so finally they agreed to that and it worked out really well. Gresini knew who I was, most of their sponsors know who I am, so it was a good fit.  Miguel. Laguna 2006
RD: Have you ever had the chance to try out a MotoGP bike?
MD: No. Never. The first time I sit on it will be my first try. I am a little envious of Roger [Hayden] he was able to go to Japan and get one or two days of testing in. I am going to have to get over that hurdle really quick because time is limited at the Grand Prix.
RD: So you won’t get any testing time before the GP?
MD: No. Zero. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 15 July 2007 )
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It's official: Hopkins to Kawasaki in '08 |
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Written by Jeff Feathers
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Thursday, 12 July 2007 |
The Kawasaki Racing Team can confirm that John Hopkins will be one of the riders who will spearhead Kawasaki's assault on the 2008 MotoGP world championship, after securing the Anglo-American's signature on a two-year contract ahead of this weekend's German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
With his name at the top of most team managers' wish lists, Hopkins turned down a number of lucrative offers from other teams in order to sign with Kawasaki. Securing the 24-year-old Californian's services for the next two years was the culmination of weeks of negotiations between Hopkins' management company and Kawasaki's Competition Manager, Michael Bartholemy.
"We have had our eye on John for some time, so we didn't hesitate to open negotiations with him as soon as we heard he was considering his options for the next two years," explained Bartholemy.
"The discussions haven't been easy, as John is probably the most sought after rider in the paddock at the moment, but we are happy that, of all the options open to him for next year, he finally chose to join Kawasaki."
Hopkins, who hails from San Diego in California, made his Grand Prix debut in 2002 for the WCM Red Bull team, for whom he raced a 500cc two-stroke against the new breed of four-stroke MotoGP machines.
After impressing during his rookie year, for the following season Hopkins secured a seat alongside former 500cc world champion, Kenny Roberts, in the factory Suzuki MotoGP squad, for whom he is now in his fifth season.
While he's undoubtedly made progress during his time in the premier series, Bartholemy believes Hopkins will at last be able to fully realise his considerable talents aboard Kawasaki's rapidly evolving, and improving, ZX-RR. The American already has a head start, being familiar with Bridgestone tyres, which he currently runs, and on which the Ninjas have been making continuous steps forward this season.
"John has both the ability and the determination necessary to win races but, before this year, he maybe hasn't had the machinery necessary. I'm confident that the combination of John Hopkins and Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR will be a potent one next year, and we're looking forward to seeing John realise both his and Kawasaki's full potential," continued Bartholemy.
"For me, John's decision to join Kawasaki for the next two years is a clear indication of just how far we've come with the new team infrastructure and the 800cc Ninja ZX-RR. Just twelve months ago we wouldn't have been in a position to attract a rider of John's calibre, but the situation is very different now. We have proved that Kawasaki has a professional set-up and a competitive package in the Ninja ZX-RR, which is why we now have the option of also signing a proven MotoGP race winner to ride alongside John Hopkins next season.
"Signing two top riders to campaign our bike in 2008 was always one of Kawasaki's primary goals for this year and, thanks mainly to the trust shown in the team by our colleagues in Japan, we are close to achieving this target before the midseason break. Once we've finalised our rider line-up for next season we will then look closely at our current team set-up, to see if there is a way to improve even further the level of support we are able to offer to our two riders next year," concluded Kawasaki's Competition Manager.
The Kawasaki Racing Team expect to announce their full rider line-up for the 2008 season shortly after next weekend's U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, where Roger Lee Hayden will make his premier class debut as a wild card entry aboard Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR.
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