Former Cycle magazine Editor/Superbike racer Cook Neilson was the Grand Marshal for this year's Daytona Bike Week. Hearing his name took me back—oh, a couple of years—reminding me of the day I met up with Cook and the NCR Ducati crew at Barber Motorsports Park. Cook and I were each treated to several laps aboard an NCR-crafted replica of Old Blue, the fabled California Hot-Rod Ducati that Neilson rode to a Daytona Superbike win 30 years earlier.
While that story can be found in the June, 2007, issue of Cycle World, here's another from that day, better suited to bloggage.
After returning my rental car and proceeding to the airline ticket counter, I learned that my return flight out Birmingham had been postponed to the following afternoon. A need for a hotel offering free shuttle service put me at the downtown Sheraton located adjacent to the convention center. When I arrived, the place looked like a NASCAR paddock with decaled-up dually trucks, vans and fifth-wheel rigs filling the parking lot.
Further evidence of some form of motorsport activity greeted me inside, as several folks in the lobby were dressed in team shirts covered with sponsor logos. While dining alone at the hotel bar that evening, the fella on the neighboring stool inquired if I was going to the weigh-in? The weigh-what? Turns out, this particular hotel was headquarters not for racers but for a Bass Masters National Championship event. A big deal, it seems, with ESPN coverage and all. Each angler brings his day's catch up to the scales; the heaviest haul wins.
While I passed on attending the weigh-in, I can appreciate the anticipation of fishing fans. Here at Cycle World we have our own weigh-in ritual. It involves rolling the latest two-wheeled lunker onto a length of aluminum channel straddling an Intercomp weigh pad connected to a digital control box. From time to time, I hop on the scales as well, just to be certain that all those press luncheons are not adding up. With a watchful diet and a bit of luck, I hope to reach Cook's slender age of 65 and, like him, still fit into 30-year-old race leathers worn in my youth.
—Don Canet
AMAZING PACE Watching Troy Bayliss run with the big dogs at Monza in 2000. 03.11.2009
Hard to believe it was a decade ago when I was in Italy at the famed Monza circuit watching World Superbike newbie Troy Bayliss (shown above on his "retirement ride," the 2008 championship-winning Ducati 1098R Superbike) suddenly run with the big dogs. The Australian had been signed up to ride for the Vance & Hines Ducati team in the AMA series that year, but WSB Ducati factory rider Carl Fogarty had crashed and injured his arm severely earlier in the season, so Bayliss was brought up.
The Australian had a go at Sugo, Japan, but was twice taken out on the start, by the same rider! Bad luck, for sure. In Italy, nobody really expected him to contend, what with being on a differently tuned bike and running on Michelin tires that he'd never really raced with before (V&H was running Dunlop). But there he was, a revelation, consistently amazing on the brakes while running with the leaders in qualifying and both races.
In fact, he even took the lead in race two with serious style, passing four of the best factory riders in the world while braking for one of the chicanes. It was amazing to see, the kind of riding that seems divinely inspired and surely the work of a two-wheeled god who is utterly unapproachable.
Turns out Troy's just a regular guy, one of the most down-to-earth dudes ever to cruise the paddock. I asked what he owed his braking advantage to and he simply said, "I reckon I just squeeze a bit harder, mate!" and sort of downplayed his performance, despite an impressive pair of fourth-place finishes that earned him a full-time spot on the factory squad for 2000.
The rest, as they say, is history. Farewell, Troy, it was a pleasure watching you work. Especially that day at Monza.
—Mark Hoyer
ASK NICKY HAYDEN Putting the champ on the spot. 03.02.2009
Tissot's latest Nicky Hayden Limited Edition model, based on the quartz-movement steel T-Race, retails for $775. Only 4999 examples will be produced for sale worldwide.
"Two minutes, Matt. Then we need to get going." I nodded, acknowledging the request made by Phil Baker, manager for 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden. I then turned my attention back to Hayden, who was wrapping up a photo shoot in Newport Beach, California, for personal sponsor Tissot, a Swiss watchmaker. A few days later, the factory Ducati rider would join his new teammate, 2007 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner, and the rest of the MotoGP regulars in Malaysia for the first preseason test of the year.
"Looks like we have time for one more question," I said.
Hayden smiled. "Shoot," he replied.
"I would like short responses—a couple words at most, whatever comes to mind—to a few names. Okay?"
Hayden nodded affirmatively.
Dani Pedrosa? "Do I have to keep it 'PG?' I'm just kidding. When he's on, he's very dangerous."
Jorge Lorenzo? "A contender."
Casey Stoner? "Fast."
Sete Gibernau? "I was going to say 'old.' Ask me after that question after the first race."
Kenny Roberts Jr.? "He's good. Underestimated."
Valentino Rossi? "The guy to beat."
Thanks, Nicky. "No problem."
For the complete interview with Nicky Hayden, "Destination Ducati," pick up the May, 2009, issue of Cycle World magazine, on newsstands April 7.
—Matthew Miles
AUCTION ETIQUETTE A Spondon gets sold. 03.02.2009
I don't count myself as an expert but I have learned a few things by attending car/bike auctions of the past few years. The first is to know your limits, then stick to them.
At the Steve McQueen auction in 2006, prices were crazy but I was able to walk away with the least expensive thing (of any real value), a 1920s wooden curio case in which the actor kept his toy motorcycles. Cost $600, a bit pricey for an otherwise inconsequential piece of furniture, but downright cheap compared to the fool who ponied up $60,000 for a pair of sunglasses allegedly worn in The Thomas Crown Affair.
Another trick: Always look for the item that is out of place. At the Bonhams auction held in conjunction with the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours last year, I spied a modern Spondon aluminum frame amongst the vintage lots. Closer inspection showed it to be in pristine shape, never used, tailored for a mid-1990s Triumph Triple. Included were Marvic wheels, a WP fork, Works Performance shock, black-anodized rearsets, Brembo rear caliper, and Spondon aluminum tank, clip-ons and tubular single-sided swingarm.
In essence, a streetfighter chassis kit just waiting for a motor, tailsection, twin headlights and front brakes. It's so light, it practically needs a tether to keep it from floating away. The British company was one of the major players in the 'fighter movement, though lately things have been tough and apparently Spondon is now owned by the same fireworks magnate who purchased the rights to Dreer Norton.
Anyway, only myself and one other person even bid on the chassis, and he dropped out pretty quickly. I won the lot for $1600 plus fees. For that kind of money I may just hang it on my office wall and admire the scrumptious welds!
Turns out the frame was owned by Mike Corbin, of seat fame, who was cleaning out his impressive collection of motorcycles and memorabilia. I told him I was the new owner of the Spondon. "Good for you," he said. "Do you know I paid $9000 for that, dealer cost, back in the '90s."
Complete the bike, Mike offered, and he'd treat it to one of his custom seats. Such a deal!
