Click the book link above to see more, this image is just for the blog...I hope you like it. Ben Spies, IMO, deserved to be on the cover.
Just a short update. Did I mention that I am really looking forward to this season? Both Hodgson and Duhamel are back. Miguel Duhamel is fit and ready after his nasty accident during testing at Road Atlanta last year. Neil Hodgson looks relaxed, focussed and ready to get underway. Funnily enough, Duhamel looks just as he did when I last saw him (he obviously knows where the fountain of eternal life is located...)...
That's all for now.
On the Monday I did some preliminary factory shots. On Tuesday I covered the official press launch and presentation. A large number of journalists from many of the top motorcycle magazines in the US were invited to the factory to be shown the new helmet and all it's (very cool) features. 
They were also given a factory tour following the presentation, finishing up with a helmet fitting and the plan was to have a bike ride to try the helmet out. Sadly the rains didn't respect the launch and the ride was cancelled for the afternoon. However, from my own perspective, not withstanding the fact that I was covering the launch, I found the whole process of how a helmet is designed, engineered, tested and constructed incredibly interesting.
Speaking from experience (I've trashed a few in my time), a helmet is one of the most important safety items you can wear when riding a motorcycle or bicycle, and seeing the level of engineering that has gone into this helmet impressed me.
Make sure you wear one!
It's really the last "event" of the season. The annual Daytona tyre test is where teams are invited by Dunlop (for three days) and Pirelli (for the following two days) to come and test and prepare for the 2008 season, moreover, it gives those teams that will be entering in the Daytona 200 (along with the Superbike teams, however, there is only one Superbike race during this event) the chance to tweak settings and so forth before the Christmas break. Normally the test is closer to Christmas, however, this year it happened during the last weekend in November, first weekend in December. As is the case, the weather on the first day was dodgy, and it rained. Thus not much happened until the last couple of hours in the day.
However, during the subsequent days the weather was a lot better and all of the teams managed to get out on track and do their work....For me, I really do enjoy the trip to Florida for the tyre test. The teams are relaxed, there is a good friendly vibe as most of the riders are getting itchy feet (wanting the season to start again), and of course, there's the wonderful sounds and smells of bikes on track.....
Yes, I am a little biased...
His ears are almost up and since this shot was taken (about a week ago) he has grown to nearly 20lbs (at 11 weeks...) He's a German Shepherd and absobloodylutely gorgeous! Onto the tyre test....
After having 2005 MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi on my 2005 cover, and 2006 MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden on the cover of my 2006 book I felt that it was only right to have the two time AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies on the cover of my 2007 edition, especially as my primary job is to cover the AMA Superbike Championship here in the USA.
Valencia Circuit QTVR
More to come.
Well, it's taken me a few days more than usual to overcome jet lag. Typically it's just a day back home, some sleep re-adjustment and life is back to normal. I think it's more to do with having a few days to acclimate "down under" then all is normal. However, on this trip, I didn't get my couple of days R&R "on the Island". I was fortunate enough to be contacted by Kawasaki US/AUS and was offered the chance to do a shoot in the Australian Bush. 
Thursday night, I was fortunate enough to miss the bad weather, catch an earlier flight to Melbourne where I was met by good friend Ken Lyons. A nice steady 2 hour drive to our house on Phillip Island and it was off to bed. Where, in a few hours I'd be working the track covering Casey Stoner's homecoming in the GMC Australian Grand Prix.
Three wet, windy, wet windy, wet windy, sunny days later, Casey Stoner won the race.
Then on Monday it was a little rest, a lightning tour of the Island, some dinner and then off to bed to be ready for the trip home the following morning. 20+ hours later we roll into our parking space in Capitola and I'm home.
It was a good weekend. Only two days of racing vs your typical three because one of the AMA Superbike races was run during the USGP back in July. There were two Championship titles on the line, AMA Superbike (between Mat Mladin and Ben Spies) and AMA Supersport (which was down to three possible winners, Josh Hayes, Roger Hayden and Jamie Hacking). 
Once again, that's the AMA racing season done until Daytona in March 2008. That said, MotoGP still has two races to go, Phillip Island and Valencia. Both of which I will be covering. Stay tuned for updates!
Laguna update coming shortly...
I'll update my thoughts on Road Atlanta in a separate post, however, for now I'd also like to congratulate Erion Honda rider, and good friend Josh Hayes on his second Formula Extreme Championship win that he locked in at Road Atlanta. Fortunately I was in the the right place at the right time to capture this little gem.
Amazing. It's why I love this sport.
With that in mind, I'll bid you adieu, finish packing my gear and start getting dinner. Gumbo tonight!
Most were just sitting on the armco, some were watching the track drying efforts, and in general the atmosphere felt pretty good. Then it was time to go racing. 6.30pm rolled around and the big boy's hit the track for their warm up. 15 minutes later the warm up was over, then a 10 minute break, and we're racing. No grid girls, no pomp and circumstance and a hurried National Anthem was sung and it was green for go....
Time for bed said Zebedee...
Patrick Long coming off the "Key Hole" at Mid Ohio....
..and a goofy picture of yours truly "drafting" a Porsche transporter
More from the USGP to come....
