The best of the best

I had a difficult time thinking of a title for this post.  Whenever I'm talking to people about my interests, MotoGP is almost always mentioned and all too often the response is, "What is that?"  WHAT IS MOTOGP?!?!?  It's only the best of the best motorcycle racers racing 18 races in 13 countries and it may be difficult to tell just how much talent it takes to do what they do if your just watching it on TV because the speed isn't obvious.  But if you've ever ridden and tried to improve your cornering ability you'd know this stuff is amazing.  Could you imagine sitting atop a machine that is about the same size as you, going approximately 120 per hour while your knee (protected by a hard plastic) is sliding on the pavement?  Or how about 190 mph about 4 feet above the pavement with another guy right next to you doing the same speed, close enough to touch each other and not letting off the gas till the last possible second so you can get into the corner first?  That's what MotoGP is!!  :)
The just finished the last of their 'testing' before the season starts.  Honda is looking amazing this year.  All three of their factory three man team (usually each factory team is only 2 riders) are doing an awesome job.  Casey Stoner is such a great rider and now that he doesn't have to ride a Ducati he may have a real good chance of taking the championship once again.  Valentino Rossi (An absolute great) isn't going to be so hott this year but I wouldn't count him out of being in the top 5 still by the end of the season but it's going to be a challenge because the first few races I'm not so sure he'll be in the top 10.  Between his shoulder situation and having to develop the Ducati to truly be competitive, he's going to have a tough time.  If someone can do it, it's him.  And the man I will be hoping to see win, Ben Spies, is looking extremely good as well.  Add in Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, Nicky Hayden, and even Collin Edwards this year and we're going to see some stunning racing this year!  SO EXCITED!!!  This Sunday I finally get to watch the first race of the year and I may just piss myself with excitement.  :)

Here is a list of the races.

March 20th Qatar* (Losail)
April 3rd Spain (Jerez)
May 1st Portugal (Estoril)
May 15th France (Le Mans)
June 5th Catalunya (Catalunya)
June 12th Great Britain (Silverstone)
June 25th Netherlands** (Assen)
July 3rd Italy (Mugello)
July 17th Germany (Sachsenring)
July 24th United States*** (Laguna Seca)
August 14th Czech Republic (Brno)
August 28th Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
September 4th San Marino & Riviera di Rimini (Misano)
September 18th Aragón (MotorLand)
October 2nd Japan (Motegi)
October 16th Australia (Phillip Island)
October 23rd Malaysia (Sepang)
November 6th Valencia (Ricardo Tormo – Valencia)

Hang out with me this year, have a beer, watch some racing and be happy!  It's 2011 and life is way too short to let all the depressing, upsetting, deranged things that happen in life slow you down.  So, keep on the gas and always wear a smile.  Until next time, Yeehaw

James