Racing On Two Hemispheres - Phillip Island to Daytona

I did wonder how I would fare. I was fine until 11.15 pm Friday night after the Daytona finally finished. My body decided that it was still somewhere over the Pacific and wasn't going to take no for an answer. I had to leave the media centre at the Daytona Speedway and get back to the house so I'd at least stand a chance of waking in the morning and catching my flight to come home...I did manage to wake up!

Within 6 days I travelled to Phillip Island to witness Ben Spies first victory in World Superbike and then hopped on a plane, had a surprise upgrade to Business (THANKS QANTAS) and was home for less than 10 hours before jetting off to Orlando for a quick drive to Daytona for the"new" incarnation of the AMA. I'd be lying if I didn't mention that witnessing Ben win wasn't a thrill for me on a personal level. In his first weekend in a new series, on an untested bike, the new Yamaha "Big Bang" R1, on new tyres (Pirelli's instead of Dunlops) and with a new team, but with his old AMA crew cheif Tom Houseworth by his side Ben did really well in race two. Race 1 didn't go to plan, but then again I think everyone was raring to go. And so it was all hands on deck and something had to give. Sadly it was Ben that got pushed out into the kitty litter, but he kept it up and kept on pushing to get back to front. Race two, however, was simply magical. I had gone to Phillip Island to write a "fly on the wall" story for RoadracerX about Spies' first foray into the world of World Superbikes. How he thought, how he felt and so on. I was amazed to see such a transformation in Ben. Relaxed, confident and unhurried, we chatted on the Wednesday before the race and I asked him questions that were more about him, his thoughts on how he would do and things a little more personal. I found, contrary to my initial an entirely different person than the Ben I had known in the AMA for the last how many years. I have to admit I had a really nice time chatting with with Ben, and you'll get to see the article, entitled "Spies Around The World" in the upcoming edition of RoadracerX. I hope you like it and I'd appreciate any feedback.So then onto Daytona. Sublime to the ridiculous? Daytona isn't my most favourite place in the world. In fact, none of the teams like Daytona. The saying goes, that the best thing about Daytona is watching it disappear in the distance as the planes wheels leave the runway. Arriving Tuesday I drove to my house in New Smyrna Beach. Daytona is more about folks having a good time on Main Street. The racing is really secondary to everyone who is there and the crowds in the stands and at the track reflected that. Even British rider Neil Hodgson commented that there were more riders on track in the Superbike race than fans in the stands. Still, it was good to see bikes racing back in the USA and also good to see Mladin win, and Hodgson coming in third. That said, it does look like the Suzuki's are dominating again. So no change there. That was Thursday. Next up the Daytona 200, under the lights (see first image above for the race start).For the life of me I just can't see the point of this. I'll agree that from a working point of view it's actually rather comfortable, no need for sunscreen, it's cool and comfortable but it's a novelty that on a personal level doesn't add anything and I'll admit to not being too keen on the "Pacety Car" and the rolling starts. I suppose things change, but bike racing, any form of racing, the start, knowing how to feather the clutch and let it go is a skill and one of those things that makes a racer, a racer, having the skill to anticipate the lights going from red to green (or out) and then letting it go.Well, that's all from me for now. I'll add my Fontana update Tuesday along with images to my site when I'm in Valencia prior to covering the World Superbike races from the Circuito Ricardo Tormo. My website has been updated and there are images in the archive. Bye for now!

Lights! Cameras! Action! - Daytona Tire Test

Tire testing into the night and under the lights. A couple of firsts.I arrive Friday morning at the Daytona International Speedway knowing only a handful of teams would be testing. Due to a multitude of reasons Yoshimura Suzuki and Kawasaki would not be in attendance. Yamaha would be there along with American Honda as would Buell. For the first time this test is being run by AMA Pro Racing, not Dunlop and what amounts to be a really big surprise, there's a pit lane speed! All new.9am until noon, and evenings from 6pm until 9pm are scheduled for for the newly created "Daytona Sportbike" class. They will use a newly configured track running from the infield onto NASCAR turns 1 and 2, then down the back straight of the Speedway, through the infield chicane and back onto NASCAR turns 3 and 4. From 1-5pm the track was reconfigured and the "American Superbikes" would run the infield pretty much as they have done in recent years, and then take their turn after the last chicane onto NASCAR turns 3 and 4.With a sunset on the horizon, and darkness approaching, the lights are turned on.Massive MUSCO light trucks are scattered around the infield like mechanical giraffes and the main track lights are all on. The lights are so bright the Speedway had to drape light shielding tarps to avoid over lighting the neighboring airport! You cannot see the ugly backgrounds that surround the track and oddly enough it creates a rather intimate and somewhat cosy feeling. Watching the bodywork of the bikes glint and shine under the lamps as they pass is rather interesting, then as they leave you there's the glow of a small red LED tail light that streaks into the night.This should be visually interesting in March. Josh Herrin actually mentioned that he had gotten a headache first time out due to an increased level of concentration. As a photographer you have to pick and choose and use your judgement as to what you're going to capture as you have to adapt your methodology due to the darkness and lack of ambient light. Nonetheless, I can honestly say I really did enjoy the evening sessions which is saying something. Why the AMA is running the race in the evening I have no idea. As we know, the first Formula 1 race at night from Singapore and the MotoGP race from Qatar were both run in the evening for TV, allowing viewers in Europe to watch these races at a more normal time.The other first? Saturday afternoon I was down at the far end of the track, when I heard a squawking sound that I didn't recognize, I look up and see two bald eagles "dancing" with each other. How cool! I have never seen bald eagles outside before, let alone two of them flying together.The Daytona 200 takes place on Friday evening March 6. As this is the last Friday of "Bike Week" everyone is on Main Street in Downtown Daytona, so we'll have to see how many are going to want to watch racing, or leather clad biker babes. Both of which will be "under the lights".....

Have a Cool Yule everyone.

Chaz Wins The 200 - One More Cover Shot!

Just a quickie before I head off to Barber for more AMA Superbikes. Tooting my own horn here (well, I guess it is all about self promotion!) but I finally received my copy of Motorcycle Racer Issue #107 with my photograph of good friend and British Attack Kawasaki rider Chaz Davies on the cover. The first British rider to ever win the 200 (even if it was over a month ago). It never gets old really. I love this sport.See you after the Barber rounds (PLUS, it's my wife's birthday on Sunday too!)

Daytona - Sleep, Rain Dances And Chaz Davies

Well, it was with some trepidation that I headed off to Daytona for the first round of the AMA Superbike Series and the Daytona 200. In years past sleeping in the evening just hasn't happened with some folks who are less than thoughtful thinking that it is good fun to ride back to the hotel at 3am with straight through exhausts, The lack of consideration given to folks who might just be sleeping during those early morning hours has made this annual working trip to Daytona somewhat less enjoyable than it should be. NOT THIS YEAR!

Two factors were at play this year that made this the most enjoyable and productive trip I have ever had to Daytona ever. First, one factor I could control was the accommodations. I found a lovely house to rent in New Smyrna Beach (thank you D&C). I slept like a KING!Plus it was far enough away from the madden(ing) crowds and in a residential district that it made the evenings simply perfect. The second factor that was out of my control was the weather. It rained in the evenings that pretty much kept many off the road and as a result assisted in making the evenings even quieter! Hopefully it's rain in the evenings next year. As long as it doesn't rain during the days when there is practice, qualifying and then race days I'm happy. I'm in Daytona for the road racing only. Speaking of road racing, Josh Hayes won the Daytona 200, only to have it taken away due to a technicality (it is under appeal so who knows), however, the race win was given to Chaz Davies who was originally second. I was happy for Josh and I'm also happy for Chaz, but it's a shame that these things happen bearing in mind that both Josh and Chaz are good friends of ours. In fact during the whole week, with Hodgson taking pole for the 200 vs Chaz and then Josh winning and losing to Chaz it was a mixed emotions week one way or another. The upside, it was good to be at the races again....I'd just like to share a shot from Thursday's SuperSport race. The weather was rolling in and it just got darker and darker....Oh, and maybe it's time to review and re-write my "who has the best media hospitality" guide. Not quite sure where I'd put Daytona...Next up, we have some testing and then it's off to Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham in Alabama.