*Liam's Wild Ride*

[whorenet]

what is that thing snaking into the lower exhaust. o2 sniffer?

 

[jrace]

I read something today about the new Duc 800 that perplexed me. It said:

The concept of the engine as a load-bearing structure, with a shorter chassis and the sub-frame mounted directly on the engine and no longer on the frame, has also been optimized, thus allowing a strengthening of the entire foot-peg area. Major attention has also been dedicated to a lightening and further refining of all components.

Now, if I'm reading this right it means that the relationship (read: distance) between the seat and the footpegs will never change. I see both pluses and minuses in that, but it's certainly a unique (as of late) idea.

Am I reading that right?

-jim

p.s... I LOVE the raw CF look of pre-season bikes. They look like they're ready to kick some serious ass. The KR212V most of all.

 

[MotoLiam]

I read something today about the new Duc 800 that perplexed me.

The concept of the engine as a load-bearing structure, with a shorter chassis and the sub-frame mounted directly on the engine and no longer on the frame, has also been optimized, thus allowing a strengthening of the entire foot-peg area. Major attention has also been dedicated to a lightening and further refining of all components.

Now, if I'm reading this right it means that the relationship (read: distance) between the seat and the footpegs will never change. I see both pluses and minuses in that, but it's certainly a unique (as of late) idea.

Am I reading that right?

No, the seat to peg distance is changeable, in various ways - forward, backwards, up, down, in, out - whatever you want, with onions, lettuce, and tomato, too, . It basically means there's more rigidity to the rear structure, which will enable better rider feel and provide a more stable platform to use when transitioning from side to side. This is direct feedback from the Ducati riders, who requested that this area be "beefed-up" so they could use their feet more when cranking the beast over. It provides a more direct feel and a better connection for the rider. Not like anything was breaking before, but if you can make something better, why not? Oh, and bear in mind that the word chassis, used above, refers to the frame. What we view as a chassis in the states is a little bit more than what a chassis is in Italy.

what is that thing snaking into the lower exhaust. o2 sniffer?

I think it's just a low-res photo, because the sensors are usually mounted mid-pipe somewhere. That tail section on the KR212V really gives the bike an "old-school" look, like an RGV or some other 2-stroke.

Here's a nice two-smoke picture I found in one of my camera's yesterday. It might be hard to see, but even here there's a rear wheel speed sensor in place.

 

[MotoLiam]

Time to Git!

I'm off to Roma tomorrow morning (flying out at 6:30AM, which means I'll have to leave for the airport at 4:30 in the morning, ARGH! incidently, in Spain, this is when I would start to think about going to sleep, har har har), and there I'll meet up with the rest of the team. We're then headed to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then another 45 minute drive to get to our hotel. I'm excited, nervous, and just ready to get this season started! There's still so much I need to learn, but I'll be speaking at length with the chief technical director during the flight, and we should be able to figure out how to make things as smooth as possible. I'm fairly certain I'll have a few free hours in both Malaysia and Australia so if any of you barfers are around, give me a shout.

Fezzick - that's a heck of a long way to drive/ride/fly just to shoot the breeze, but if you make it down to Melbourne/Phillip Island area, I'll be arriving on the 26th/27th of January and my flightboxes will be a day or two behind me. There are a few other people I'd like to meet up with as well down under, but you're more than welcome if you're in the 'hood. From what I understand, it shouldn't be to hard to get into the racetrack during the testing period, which runs from Jan 30th - Feb 1st.

Almost immediately after that, I'm bombing back to Europe. Not sure if I'll have to visit the raceshop in Madrid to prepare for the IRTA tests in Qatar and Jerez later in February or whether or not I'll be able to complete my duties in Barcelona. I don't think I'll be doing the second test at Sepang, because 1) it's expensive, and 2) the Duc/Bridgestone combo already works well there so we could be better off saving the money for other important things. Things are still flexible and a little up in the air, which only adds to the drama and excitement. My boss always says that we need a little suspense in our lives, haha, and to help him practice his English more, I gave him a Tucker Max book for Xmas, "I hope they serve beer in Hell". It's an easy, funny read, with some Bay Area connections.

Yeah, Buddy! Less than 12 hours before it's game-on time! I'm so pumped. One thing I haven't stressed enough is that every day working is like a job interview. Maybe not with your team, but everyone kind of watches one another and takes note. It's tense because you never really get a five minute break, you're always doing or thinking about something, and I expect the next couple months to really put me through the ringer.

I'm also very happy in my new place (French girl's manners notwithstanding, the Spanish girl is a.o.k.). I've been cooking a lot more and revelling in the fact that I have a good spot here in BCN and I've got the internet at home! Woot! At the moment, all my peripherals are charging (two camera batteries, PSP, iPod, both computers - work and personal, bluetooth earpiece, and I think that's about it). I still have to pack my clothing and uniforms, and yesterday kicked off a week long fashion festival in Barcelona, the Bread and Butter thing. There are tons of people on the street and in the disco's. . .

Here's a shot of some Mochi I just made, using ingredients I bought at a Chinese market. It came out a little different, but still great!

 

[shw911]

Great pics Liam. Keep them coming. I like KR because he's like the American Underdog. One day...one day...

Beautiful aftermarket pipe.

Mochi? Damn, Liam is a talented brutha. Great photographer, great mechanic, great writer and reporter...great chef? Ladies, are you reading this?

 

[johnc]

Here's a nice two-smoke picture I found in one of my camera's yesterday. It might be hard to see, but even here there's a rear wheel speed sensor in place.

i can see the speed sensor ... and i even know where you took that there photo liam-san.

 

[firstbuell]

Hail Mr. evoluzione !

please help - whose wonderful, repainted 1000GT [ bronze-&-black 750GT-style] moto & foto, as seen on your site??

that entry-level special is my recent favorite - thanx for creating that site....

 

[weak_link]

Found this buried in the wrong folder while cleaning some things up- I think this is one lap pre-wipe out for our hero.

Liam and I having fun

 

[MotoLiam]

2007 MotoGP Preaseason starts Now!!

It's on!

Eric, nice photo. You see how far I had to sit back to keep some weight on the slippery rear? Couldn't choke up on her like I wanted to! Rats!

 

[MotoLiam]

No rest, for the wicked.

It's the kind of sticky hot that makes peeling off your wet clothes harder than removing the melted saran wrap from an over-microwaved burrito. The new Kawasaki is sporting a gorgeous green, and pretty much all the riders are in town and getting ready for business. Bikes hit the track in less than eight hours.

 

[johnc]

ciao liam -

i want one of those wicked cool looking motoliam tee shirts you are posin' in.

they be bad.

who is selling them for you these days?

ciao,
johnc

 

[slydrite]

hmmmm......sepang testing should be going on right now.....motogp.com has no mention of it or live timing.....

 

[RaoulDuke]

Day one times

1. Hopkins (Suzuki), 2'02.277
2. Vermeulen (Suzuki), 2'03.049
3. Rossi (Yamaha), 2'03.184
4. Edwards (Yamaha), 2'03.337
5. Hayden (Honda), 2'03.413
6. Capirossi (Ducati), 2'03.537
7. De Puniet (Kawasaki), 2'03.542
8. Pedrosa (Honda), 2'03.620
9. Tamada (Yamaha), 2'03.785
10. Stoner (Ducati), 2'03.944
11. Hoffman (Ducati), 2'04.003
12. Barros (Ducati), 2'04.011
13. Roberts (KRV), 2'04.088
14. Checa (Honda), 2'04.101
15. Nakano (Kawasaki), 2'04.138
16. Melandri (Honda), 2'04.270
17. Ito (Ducati), 2'04.641
18. Elias (Honda), 2'04.710

 

[blueninja]

Liam,

I love the red katakana shirt. I can't find it on your merchandise section, is this a secret swag item? Anyway, let us know when it's available to purchase.

Charles

 

[jrace]

Nice work on day one at Sepang, Liam! Your boys are right there.

-jim

 

[rzypvs]

Day one times


15. Nakano (Kawasaki), 2'04.138

15. Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda)

 

[jrace]

15. Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda)

Tell Marlboro Ducati that, as it's from their press release.

-jim

 

[rzypvs]

Tell Marlboro Ducati that, as it's from their press release.

-jim

I was wondering where the source was. I checked a few other sites and they got it right.

 

[com3]

wow....both zooks on top...that's impressive.

 

[dubels]

There is a new ducati team? Wow looks like a build up to a crazy season. I thought Pedrosa would be doing better than Hayden on the smaller bike.