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*Liam's Wild Ride*

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Comunicato Stampa // Press Release // Comunicado de Prensa
sponsor 2008 MotoGP World Championship
Alice Team
Valencia, Spain, eighteenth MotoGP round
Preview, Wednesday October 22nd 2008


LAST ROUND OF THE MOTOGP SEASON FOR THE ALICE TEAM

As it happens from many years, the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia will host the last round of the MotoGP World Championship. This is one of the most spectacular circuits included in the calendar because it allows the fans seated on the circuit’s stands to see almost the all track, a unique characteristic between the long tracks included in the World Championship. Last year Sylvain Guintoli made it to qualify with the fifth best lap time and concluded the race in eleventh position. Toni Elias, who started from the fourteenth position, has instead concluded in tenth position. The Spanish rider has obtained his best results on the Valencia circuit in the top class in 2006 by finishing in sixth place.

Fabiano Sterlacchini, Alice Team Technical Director, is expecting the maximum from his riders in this last race of the season: “I know that they will take different directions next season, and I am sorry about it, but I expect the maximum from them even if this is the last race with us. Toni didn’t go too well in the last two races and I want from him, as we are racing in his country, a strong reaction. Sylvain will leave, at least for next season, the MotoGP world and I hope that he will do it by conquering a good result.”

Toni Elias will have the support of many fans during this Spanish weekend: “Sincerely Valencia isn’t one of my favorite tracks, but been in Spain it is always a special event for me. The supporters are incredible and they always help me to give a little more. I would like to conclude this season with a good result also to thanks Pramac Racing, Alice, Ducati and the all Team for the opportunity given me this year.”

His teammate, Sylvain Guintoli, will move to another championship next year and wants to leave in the best way the MotoGP: ”Next year I will compete in another category, I am sad to leave the MotoGP paddock, but I will do my best to be able to comeback in the future. This will be an important race for me to show that I can do well also in this category. Last year I have done a good performance here and I hope to do even better this year. I really like the Valencia circuit and my principle objective will be to enjoy in the best way this weekend.”
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-jim
 
do tell, pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeee

From BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7678562.stm

"As for Kallio, his championship implosion has not deterred the Alice Ducati team from officially confirming him as one of their MotoGP riders for next season, with Italian youngster Niccolo Canepa making the step up from factory test rider to join the Finn.

As well as two new riders, the satellite team will undergo a clear out of the largely Spanish crew hired by disgraced (and sacked) team manager Luis D'Antin.

They will be replaced by Ducati factory employees, who will be tuning two spanking new GP9 machines, featuring the revolutionary carbon chassis that Casey Stoner will test following the final race of the season at Valencia next week."
 
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MotoLiam said:
The 2008 MotoGP World Championship season comes to a close this weekend at the Circuito de Ricardo Tormo, just outside the picturesque, seaside city of Valencia.

A tumultuous year to say the least, with official changes being announced for every category in Grand Prix racing, including the bombshell that Bridgestone will be the sole tire supplier for all 800cc machines in the top class. Effectively, this ends the blue sky engineering that has always dominated the prototype racing in GP, that propelled the Factories into creating whatever they could in order to win, with whomever they worked with. Now I fear that everyone will be targeting the same formula, "build a Bridgestone bike". And they will all be Bridgestone bikes . . . . what remains to be seen is whether or not the teams and riders will be offered more than just a few, simple choices like Soft and Hard - maybe a Medium? Perhaps, and this is only a wish, we will once again see healthy competition within the category, but for now this is looking to be the last race for Michelin . . . .

In the 250 series, many teams have opted to close citing sponsorship difficulties, and more pragmatically and to the point, they have opted to close because there is no sense in continued investment and development in the 250cc two-stroke when the series will be switching to a "hybrid" 600cc four-stroke incarnation in 2010 (Polaris World, Caffe Latte, Repsol KTM, Factory KTM, and more, are out). Who wants to spend millions of Euros to race for a neutered cup? At last count, many paddock insiders believe there will be 14 bikes on the grid next season, which is even less than in MotoGP. However, I am aware that several riders and sponsors are looking to put together some last minute deals, so it's very likely that this number will grow towards 20 bikes. I hope.

Which brings us to the lowly 125's. The eighth liter wonders. Want to reduce costs even more (the reasoning behind the tire move, the 250 four-stroke push)? Let's cut the feeder class a little - hopefully more riders will enter the series . . . . . if each rider is only allowed to field ONE bike. Half the mechanics and technicians in 125 are now searching for something to occupy their time with, and unfortunately there are only two new manufacturers headed into WSBK next season, Aprilia and BMW. Still, I know that some of the guys are headed over to the "OWS - Other World Series", and I wish them much success in their endeavors.

In every event, time keeps on ticking, the wheel keeps on turning, and in four days the 2008 season will be finished and 2009 begins on Monday. I'll be testing on Monday and Tuesday with current Red Bull KTM 250 Factory rider, Mika Kallio, the Finn, and also with longtime Ducati test rider, Nicola Canepa. It looks like we'll have an interesting test, and then we'll see . . . .

Lots of options on the table, but how and where I chose to extend myself remain to be finalized. I'm excited by all the opportunities that I've been given, those that I have made, but in particular, I'm excited by something very special in the works. I have clear targets in front of me, but I'm looking for fresh, new challenges and adventures . . . .

I'm hungry for living, and life is my priority. The quality of my life is the priority.
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Liam I have not properly thank you for everything (so thanks for everything):thumbup
It was great to see you at Laguna and hang with Kristi, Morgan, Michelle, and you.
I wish you many successes:thumbup
 
Liam......

Thanks for the great work keeping us informed. Your perspective, as an "insider" gives us a glimpse into the "world" of MotoGP......and it IS a crazy world!!

I'm deeply saddened.....and more than a little pissed at the decision to rid Grand Prix racing of the 250s. Can the 600s be anywhere near as interesting? :thumbdown

As for the single tire issue. Initially I wasn't in favor of it.....but I think it's the right move to make at this time.

As for YOU! What is in the cards? Do you have any idea where you'll be next season? Lastly.......looking forward to seeing you in S.F. during the off-season.....hopefully for another MotoGP Q&A.

Cheers,

Graystroke
 
Thanks again for keeping us informed throughout the MotoGp year, Liam. It's so good having someone on the "inside".

I hope that 2009 is even better to you than 2008 was.
 
busy busy :)

Sorry I haven't written lately, I'm in Bologna working on things at the Factory. Today and tomorrow we'll be prepping some brand new GP9's for the upcoming Jerez test later this month.

I simply can't be more clear here - the GP9 is absolutely amazing. A truly impressive piece of innovative machinery with thinking and concepts that push even further than I would have thought possible from the little factory that could. It's based on the GP7/8 but it continues beyond in terms of radical development and I honestly can't believe it's only a few years behind the initial 800cc design from Ducati. It's that awesome in person, and I hope one day that details of the design make it out. The GP9 blew me away, and that hasn't happened in quite a while.

Anyway, I'm off and I'll check back later to give you guys a better update. It's like a super store in here, hahaha, along with teh Barf (it's everywhere you want to be, hahaha). :cool
 

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My kinda super store :teeth
 
Woo hoo! Seriously, what a parts department! :drool

I'm really glad you posted. I was just talking to Rhythm Rider about how we didn't know what was up with you 'cause we hadn't really heard anything since the end of the season.

Rock on, Liam! :thumbup
 
MotoLiam said:
Sorry I haven't written lately, I'm in Bologna working on things at the Factory. Today and tomorrow we'll be prepping some brand new GP9's for the upcoming Jerez test later this month.

I simply can't be more clear here - the GP9 is absolutely amazing. A truly impressive piece of innovative machinery with thinking and concepts that push even further than I would have thought possible from the little factory that could. It's based on the GP7/8 but it continues beyond in terms of radical development and I honestly can't believe it's only a few years behind the initial 800cc design from Ducati. It's that awesome in person, and I hope one day that details of the design make it out. The GP9 blew me away, and that hasn't happened in quite a while.

Anyway, I'm off and I'll check back later to give you guys a better update. It's like a super store in here, hahaha, along with teh Barf (it's everywhere you want to be, hahaha). :cool
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Nice Shirt Liam!
 
I'm finally coming home.

Guys,

I've decided to leave the Championship at the end of this season. Technically, it's already over, but for my position, I'm involved months before, and for some time afterwards. All the rest of my team finished up on Sunday at Valencia, a few hours after the race. On Monday, we tested with Mika Kallio and Canepa, keeping five of the youngest members of our team. Their job next year will be to drive the semi-trucks, build the garage, and maintain the machines. Most of the staff went elsewhere, my track engineer from SG50 moving over to WSBK to be the man behind Tom Sykes on the Factory Yamaha team, Jose headed over to WSS to help build and run Kawi's electronics, Lele moving over to Aprilia in WSBK to head Nakano, Martin over to work with Sete, pretty much everyone was able to secure a spot in a championship series for next year. In the past year, I've been looking at my part in the racing and coming to a decision that would change everything. I'm sure some of you felt this along the way, that things just weren't really clicking, but the bottom line for me is that I loved working with my crew, I loved the energy that we all shared. When that changed, it was never really the same, and I wasn't sure I wanted to start again with another team. I have been in contact and heavy talks with other teams, both in WSBK, MotoGP, 250 and 125 even, haha.

For me, to stay in the big leagues would have meant compromising myself in ways I was not comfortable doing. With the GP7 flat out dominating when it debuted, and continuing the trend through '08, many of the other teams I spoke with wanted detailed information about the bike, it's components, and also about the GP9. It put me in a strange place, because I would love to contribute my professional opinions about things, but when someone straight up asks you for dimensions and weights of components, that crosses a line that I'm simply not capable of.

Mostly, I just want to be Liam again. I want to ride motorcycles again. Looking back on the past three years, it's perhaps the one thing I've missed the most, and it's only gotten worse as the years have gone by. At first, I was content to be in a different city, a new place, watching the wheels go by. I always stop and check out the bike wherever we go, they're always parked outside our hotels at the races. I love seeing the moto-culture in all these countries. The highlights of the last two years were coming back to SF and actually riding again, putting on the helmet and just going, whether it was on my little monkeybike or getting onto a Ducati Superbike. Just twisting the throttle and letting everything go, off into the wind. I miss it.

And I miss my girlfriend. I miss building a life together. I don't want the years to pass us by while we hold on to a partial life filled with skype, emails, phone calls, and small vacations a few times a year. There comes a time in a man's life when he has to make the choices that are not only best for him, but for those around him, those he loves. It's time for me to grow again, this time in a more personal direction instead of a professional one. But rest assured, the adventures and experiences will continue, and we have new goals and bright ideas that have the power to change the world.

I still have the fire, and it's quite possible I will come back to racing at some point in the future. I am heavily connected in both world series now, with years of experience and knowledge, but for now, I want to bring it all in. I want to take my focus and apply it where it's needed. I want to work on what's fun and creative, and continue sharing my love for life and living.

I'll probably be closing this thread down within a few weeks. It was a real wild ride, coming out to Europe, not really knowing anyone or anything, and just finding a way to make it all work. I did it! Three years in the WC with some great people. The memories and experiences will last a lifetime, and I've seen the series go from VR to NH to CS and now back to VR. Quite a wild ride, and I'm proud to have shared it with you all. Thank you all for being here and for all your support over the years. It's helped me get by on so many occasions, so for everything, Thank you. I'll be around . . . :ride
 
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