Latest / B 4EVA Kool "Race A Motorcycle" Podcast / Off-season habits & prep routine plus MotoGP testing talk & a look at the season ahead in S6 Ep 08

Transcript

Off-season habits & prep routine plus MotoGP testing talk & a look at the season ahead in S6 Ep 08 · B 4EVA Kool "Race A Motorcycle" Podcast

1:44
Welcome back to another edition of the Be Forever Cool podcast.
1:47
My name is Rex 45. This evening we got more
1:51
motorcycle talk and more motorcycle talk and more
1:54
motorcycle talk. I don't think I can get tired of
1:57
talking about motorcycles this February. 2nd week in February
2:01
we got World Super Bike starting the weekend of the 20th.
2:04
We have Motor GP starting the weekend of the 27th.
2:09
We have Motor America, at least the Daytona 200 next month, a
2:13
little over a month away or less than a month away.
2:16
So we got a lot of talk about, we got club racing, we got track
2:21
day stuff to talk about. We got a whole lot to talk
2:23
about. So I'm definitely going to keep
2:25
it moving. Bring the gang in one at a time
2:27
and then choose, introduce them, see how everyone's doing.
2:29
TJ man. Welcome to the show, man.
2:31
How you doing this week man? Doing good, we're doing good,
2:35
we'll be doing better. As you know, we talked about my
2:38
Patriots. We didn't get it done, but you
2:42
know, a football season is over. To me, that's when bike season
2:45
starts. So now I can focus on
2:49
motorcycles and go forth and I'm ready for all the seasons to
2:53
start. So were you playing the size of
2:55
the snow? Were you one of these realistic
2:57
fans that knew the Patriots was fortunate that all the other
3:02
teams that should have been in the Super Bowl didn't do much
3:05
last season? Or you sitting here saying, man,
3:08
they should have won it anyway. I mean, we got that far.
3:12
It's just really not our nature. It's in our blood.
3:16
We had the chance. We just didn't perform well.
3:19
But I'm sorry for other teams like, you know, Philly, all
3:22
those guys that thought they should have been there, but.
3:25
You know. We should have had it.
3:28
It sounds like a dig at Reese. I'm thinking with the Ravens,
3:31
but you know, we're going. To have to.
3:34
That is, we're going to keep it moving.
3:36
Speaking of man, Reese, man, welcome to the show, man.
3:39
You think TJ is talking about your your Eagles man?
3:42
Yeah, man, I think I was a little dig at the the eagles
3:45
there, you know what I mean? But you know, we all know the
3:47
Patriots had a little easy way over there to the Super Bowl,
3:51
but we're not going to let that go.
3:53
It's 1 bird, 1 bird. Team got it done.
3:55
It was one of the easiest that we have seen road to the Super
3:58
Bowl ever. You know, it's, it's crazy to
4:03
watch, but it's not their fault. As we say in racing, you got to
4:06
show up and you got to finish. They they, they got seventeen
4:09
wins out of the season. I don't know how, but they they
4:12
did it quietly. That's it now football's over.
4:16
Like TJ said, football's over and time to go racing.
4:20
Right, the big show starts, as they say, around the world.
4:23
That's it. You're good, man.
4:25
You're good. I mean, I'm, I'm pretty sure
4:26
you, as you mentioned from last year, you, you know, the season
4:29
starts the the day after jersey. So what?
4:33
You know where you at in the world, man?
4:35
I'm actually at my parents house.
4:36
I'm in Jersey, you know, taking a little time off, a little
4:39
break, but you know, I missed testing this these past these
4:45
next two days. I'll miss testing but you know,
4:47
have meetings and I get the updates all day.
4:51
No doubt, man. We're going to talk about some
4:53
of those updates for sure. The real Luis Ortega.
4:57
What's going on, man? I mean, you're getting pulled
4:59
over right now. See the light in your face?
5:05
Oh, there we go. I got now I got the light on the
5:08
car because it's getting a little dark out here.
5:11
I'm on California doing some work, and so I'm working right
5:15
now from the car because a lot of movements, but all's good,
5:20
man. Weather's good out here.
5:22
It's going to rain the next couple days, but getting a lot
5:24
of work done, getting prepped for the season as well.
5:27
I mean, obviously you got regular work, you got fun work,
5:31
you got work work. And so we're trying to get all
5:34
the different stages of work done.
5:36
So, you know, we all have one question.
5:39
Which halftime show did you watch?
5:43
Actually, the only thing I watched was the halftime show.
5:46
I didn't watch the rest of the game because both teams I could
5:49
give two shits about. So I, I, I tuned in to to watch
5:55
my fellow Puerto Rican put on a show.
5:59
I thought it was AI, thought it was a great show.
6:01
I thought it was a real interesting way that he went
6:03
about it. I know there's a lot of
6:04
controversy, which to me is kind of a non starter.
6:10
Like, you know, a lot of the people are saying, well, I don't
6:12
understand what he's saying. Well, guess what, man?
6:15
A lot of people don't understand half of what Kendrick Lamar said
6:17
last year. And a lot of people didn't.
6:19
And a lot of people didn't understand what Busta Rhyme said
6:22
a couple years ago. And a lot of people don't
6:23
understand. It's more about a vibe.
6:25
You know, it's a, it's a party atmosphere.
6:27
It's a vibe kind of just enjoy it, man.
6:30
I, you know, it's crazy how divisive everything has to be,
6:34
Like everything has to be divisive.
6:36
And it's, it's, that's wild to me, man.
6:37
Like at the end of the day, we're all on the same route
6:40
together. We're all in the same country
6:42
together. We're never all going to agree
6:44
at the same time. But you know, we, we shouldn't
6:47
be stopping each other from enjoying things.
6:50
We shouldn't be kind of putting each other down all the time.
6:52
Like I, I think right now it's the most divisive I've ever seen
6:57
this country. And, and I hope we can get over
6:59
the hump soon because it's just starting.
7:01
It's starting to get old, man. I agree.
7:03
I agree. It's definitely starting to get
7:05
very old. Let me bring in the rest of the
7:07
guys, though. And did I do this the right way
7:10
or the wrong way? I'd be, you know, I'm getting,
7:13
I'm working it out. The rest of the gang.
7:15
I mean, you get, did you guys watch the Super Bowl halftime
7:17
show as well? You agree with Lewis.
7:20
You know, IA lot of people go to operas and they don't understand
7:23
what the singers are saying. A lot of people go to Catholic
7:26
Church and they don't speak Latin, but they still TuneIn.
7:30
What are you guys thoughts on on the halftime show?
7:33
And, you know, I kind of understood what what, what Busta
7:36
Rhymes, but he's my peoples. Yeah, yeah, I agree with Lewis.
7:42
I mean, I, I like the the halftime show.
7:45
I mean, it was just a, a vibe, you know, you got to take it for
7:48
what it is. Like, I don't speak Spanish.
7:51
I can understand a little bit, but like it was just a vibe.
7:55
It was more about the creativity and, and what was going on.
7:58
And it was actually a lot. And then it's more of like a
8:02
cultural thing and it's just more of just understanding.
8:05
So it's kind of just take it for what, what it is.
8:07
And, you know, it's usually every time after the Super Bowl,
8:11
you know, you see, like all the dissects of everything and the
8:15
meaning of everything. And so it just wakes people up
8:18
like, oh, I didn't know that. So, you know, it's just, like
8:22
you said, it's just a vibe, you know, just just take of what it
8:25
is and just experience, you know, the culture and what they
8:28
try to show us. So I thought it was pretty.
8:30
Cool. And there was an actual, real
8:32
wedding. Yeah, that's what I said.
8:35
Yeah. That was, that was actually
8:38
surprising. I didn't think that was actually
8:39
rebutting. I thought that was actually like
8:41
a skit. And I was like, wait, this is
8:43
real? No, man.
8:45
The bad part about it? This dude just set the bar real
8:47
high, right? Right.
8:48
Like, where'd you get wedding at the Super Bowl?
8:54
Real and and the crazy thing is they I think they reached out to
8:57
bad buddies camp to say to invite them to the wedding to
9:00
their wedding and he said no. Won't you have the wedding at
9:03
the halftime show? Yeah, Yeah.
9:06
That, that that's pretty crazy to see.
9:08
Yeah. I, I, I, I think, you know, for
9:11
people who want to make noise, find a reason to complain about
9:15
a halftime show or find reasons to complain about halftime
9:18
shows. But they're there for enjoyment.
9:20
They're there for to kill the time between the two halves.
9:23
And and, you know, at the end of the day, I mean, it's about
9:27
entertainment and, and, you know, a little bit of that.
9:29
So anything you want to add Reese before we dive into the
9:32
the two wheel world? I mean, I agree with TJ and
9:36
Lewis. I mean that that halftime show
9:39
was actually great and it actually had a lot of meaning
9:41
behind it if you actually paid attention to it and everything
9:44
that was on. There was a lot of culture
9:46
history. There was a lot of meaning and
9:48
it just people just, you know, you have a lot of people have a
9:51
mixed feelings about it because it's all in Spanish.
9:53
I'm like, I didn't really care. I was actually enjoying this
9:56
show more than anything. I was actually enjoying the the
9:59
show more than the football game, so you know more.
10:02
Than that ass whooping did the Patriots got.
10:05
Hey, hey, right, Wouldn't classify.
10:10
That as a ass whooping it was a respectful loss.
10:15
Listen, listen, AFC Champions. As they say, as they say, belts
10:20
to asses. 2nd place first. First loser.
10:25
Yeah. It definitely was tough, but.
10:31
Will still be remembered though. That's that's the thing.
10:33
Usually 2nd place don't be remembered, but they always
10:35
remembered. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
10:38
I mean, I think you think, you know, like, no, I think Bobby
10:42
Funk in the past of this. I think getting here the first
10:45
year and getting the taste of it.
10:47
I think these young guys, despite what the Patriots have
10:50
done in the past, you know, despite what Yamaha attack
10:53
Yamaha has done in the past, it's kind of like you taste it
10:56
now. This is your year now.
10:57
The next next season, I guess for for Bobby and the crew and
11:01
for the Patriots, it's going to be huge because it's hard for
11:04
people to repeat and get there. But if they get there, they
11:07
usually close out right. I mean, it would be easy for the
11:11
Patriots because, again, they got a weak division that they
11:13
got to go through. Oh.
11:15
Man, come on. Whose fault is that?
11:16
Come on, man, that's sitting here saying like, you know,
11:21
somebody, somebody got more money than me.
11:23
That's why they wouldn't. Come on man.
11:25
I mean, that was that was the case for a long chance for the
11:27
Yankees because they were the Champions.
11:30
They just had the biggest pockets.
11:31
Exactly. And we had to deal with that.
11:34
We couldn't sit there and talk about their finances.
11:40
No. Doubt.
11:43
I'll say this before we move on about the Super Bowl.
11:46
When I when I saw the bushes, I thought like somebody actually
11:50
moved all those in. It wasn't.
11:52
Until. People that was moving.
11:56
On right, I didn't know that was people.
11:58
I was like, holy crap, that was people.
12:00
I like, I like the, the, the picture that the the VR 4016 put
12:05
out today that at the at the bottom of one of the bushes was
12:10
Frankie Moore Bodelli's boots. So he was one of the bushes.
12:13
That's about right because Frankie does end up in the
12:16
bushes. A.
12:21
Lot and. We'll take it where we can
12:26
because there's a, there's a couple of items that I see
12:29
coming enough that we have nothing to do with that.
12:32
I'm like, man, is there any way I can get our products out of
12:38
that? There's a movie coming out that
12:43
has our products in it that we had nothing to do with it.
12:46
And God, I wish there was something I can do to like Stew
12:49
Sue the production company to get our products out of it,
12:53
because it's not, it's not a look that we want to be
12:57
associated with. Got you, Got you, Got you.
13:00
Yeah, Nothing you can do about that.
13:02
Nothing, they went out, they bought their own products and it
13:05
just happened to be Dionysia products.
13:07
And it's like some people won't catch it, but I'm I'm I, I'm
13:10
keen eyed and I'm like, wait a second, That's that's our
13:13
jacket. Holy shit.
13:18
Well listen man, hopefully the movie does really well.
13:21
Bombs. No, no, no.
13:22
Hopefully it bombs and nobody watches it.
13:26
Well, we'll talk about it after the show, but trust me when I
13:29
tell you what this movie is, you're not going to want to
13:31
watch it. Oh God, we'll wait till the
13:36
cameras stop, but let's jump into it, guys.
13:39
I mean, we, we, I, I, I'll put this on me.
13:42
We did a horrible job this offseason talking about prepping
13:46
for the track and stuff like that.
13:48
We've been talking more historic Moto GP wins and losses and
13:52
stuff like that. But I figure, you know, with the
13:56
season about the starting world super bike and also motor GP
13:59
motor America. I mean, if we're in where, where
14:02
is going to be starting soon, We got to see Azra is going to be
14:07
starting soon. If you're in the West Coast
14:09
already, Louis, you probably see people prepping to go to the
14:12
track this weekend because this is this is their season, while
14:16
the rest of us are kind of plotting and planning for the
14:19
for the year and stuff like that.
14:21
So guys, let's just kind of talk about, you know, what it means
14:24
to get ready for the track, whether through exercise or bike
14:29
prep and all that fun stuff. We'd like a quick melody of
14:34
that. We'll start with TJ, man.
14:36
How's your offseason going? I know you're going to be racing
14:38
this year coming up and stuff like that.
14:40
You out here running in the cold playing the Rocky theme song?
14:47
Yeah, man, like it's it's different up here.
14:49
Like now we got all the snow out here.
14:51
So let's see if I go to the gym or do some workouts at home.
14:55
But you definitely got to keep your mind on like racing.
14:59
So like we mentioned way back, like I'll do like some go Kart
15:03
racing or something like that or play ride video games as it
15:08
starts getting closer, you know, do some more bike riding.
15:13
But Moore is just getting my mindset, you know, into the bike
15:18
scene and just look over the bike started, see what I need
15:22
and all the tools, just mainly keeping everything close.
15:26
So, so you know, like when you got a race weekend, that's
15:31
that's next weekend, you think you have enough time, but like
15:35
those days go by so fast. So you got to like prepare
15:38
yourself at least two or three weeks ahead of time just to make
15:43
sure everything is there. And I just remember when we was
15:48
talking about preparing a while ago, you had one bolt that you
15:53
had to go all the way to like New York to go get us something
15:56
like that. And it like held you back.
15:58
And it's just like those little things.
16:00
You just got to get ready and prepare yourself to have
16:05
everything's in line so you can go out there and not think about
16:09
honest stuff. So.
16:10
Right, right, right. No, no doubt Reese man, you
16:14
know, what does it take to, you know that the professional
16:16
level, but what should us track guys be looking to do?
16:20
And besides staying in shape and that and that kind of stuff.
16:23
And you know, I'll be curious guys, what's the furthest you
16:26
have driven or travelled? I mean, I know Reese, you you
16:29
probably to get your bike serviced.
16:34
How many hours did you stay on, stay on the road to, to, to get
16:37
to that mechanic or whoever to, to get something done?
16:41
What do we need to what? What should we we be focusing on
16:44
in this offseason race? I mean, focus on, I mean, mainly
16:47
like TJ said, you want to focus on fitness and mental health.
16:50
I mean, that's, that's mainly the key, you know, focus, that's
16:53
the biggest key in your physical, your physical
16:55
strength, in your mental health. And then next thing you know,
16:58
you do want to focus on making sure your bike is up to par
17:01
service, making sure that it is ready to go for the track and
17:05
making sure you have all your preparations ready to go as far
17:09
as like your suit is not have any holes in it.
17:13
Make sure your helmet is up the spec, you know, making sure you
17:16
have your gloves don't have any holes in it and your boots don't
17:19
have any holes at the bottom of your, you know, at the bottom.
17:23
So that's the main, that's the main biggest things right there.
17:26
To follow cleaning just to clean the suits and everything you
17:29
just mentioned. Exactly.
17:31
Call Lewis. He'll come clean your suit for
17:33
you. I don't know about that.
17:39
Can't afford me bro I. Think that's how it starts when
17:45
you call. Yeah, if you calling for
17:49
services you can't afford me, please leave a message.
17:56
Well, for real though, Lewis, you want anything you want to
17:59
add man, as far as you know. And I, and I didn't preface by
18:02
saying new riders or experienced riders, but also new riders and
18:06
experienced riders. I think it's a little bit
18:07
different when you knew versus experienced because when you
18:10
knew you don't know anything. So you can't necessarily plan
18:14
for everything because as a new rider, you just you just unless
18:17
you were somebody that says, I got it, you're going to you're
18:20
going to miss some stuff. But you know, from a new rider
18:23
and experienced rider and you know, if touch on a little bit
18:25
on the mental side that that that Reese talked about as well.
18:29
And also you know it at at at the end, give a little tip how
18:33
we can keep our suit smelling fresh and clean.
18:36
I mean, on on the mental side, the first thing you really got
18:39
to do and actually the mental side does kind of go with the
18:41
physical side because if you're in good physical shape, your
18:44
mental shape is going to be a little better.
18:46
If you're not in good physical shape, you're already starting a
18:48
couple steps behind. So, you know, try to get out to
18:51
the gym, try to do some walking around, try to do some
18:53
activities, get your body back into that, especially if you're
18:56
in an area that's really cold and you don't get out much.
18:59
You become a little bit sedimentary.
19:03
During the offseason, we're just kind of sitting around the house
19:05
not doing a lot of activities. Start doing some activities,
19:08
start getting your health up, start getting your wind up.
19:11
And then from there, on the mental side of things, just
19:14
remember you're starting a new year.
19:17
You know, if you already know what you're doing, you know what
19:19
you're doing, but always start the year slow.
19:21
Don't try to rush yourself to do more than what you can
19:24
initially. You know, don't go out the first
19:28
track day and try to set your PV because all you're going to do
19:31
is end up in the gravel pit and putting yourself in debt.
19:36
You know, go out there, shake off the cobwebs like they say,
19:39
start working on your eyes, start working on your reflexes.
19:42
It's all muscle memory. It takes a little bit of time to
19:44
warm up and get it back. And, and then from there, the
19:48
next step is really going to be on the bike side of things.
19:51
You know, especially for new riders.
19:53
If you don't, if you didn't store your bike over the winter
19:56
the right way, go from one end of the bike to the other.
20:00
Check every single bolt, check your tires, check your slack,
20:04
check your chain, check all the links on your chain.
20:06
Look at your teeth on your sprocket.
20:08
I can't tell you how many people are out there with a sprocket
20:12
that looks like it's barely able to, you know, the chains barely
20:15
able to push it because the teeth are just rounded down.
20:21
If you have, you know, if you didn't do it before you put the
20:23
bike up for the season, change your oil if you want, you know,
20:27
change your brake fluid. That's something that a lot of
20:29
people don't do on a regular basis.
20:32
And brake fluid absorbs a lot of water.
20:35
That's why it's a closed system. But even as a closed system,
20:38
like humidity could still get in there and you get humidity into
20:43
the brake system, your brakes aren't going to be as effective.
20:46
And it's not that expensive to change brake fluid.
20:48
It's literally you buy brake fluid and you bleed it slowly
20:51
and that's it. It's you know, if you, if you
20:53
once you know how to do it, you could probably do the brakes in
20:56
less than 15 minutes. But these are the brakes.
20:58
So next to the gas, this is the next most important control that
21:01
you have on the bike. It's probably the most important
21:03
because it's what stops you from hitting the side of a car.
21:06
You know, look at your brake pads, go over the entire bike
21:10
just with a torque wrench, torque everything down.
21:14
Give yourself the time one day. Just spend a few hours in the
21:17
garage doing it the right way. So when it is time to ride, you
21:21
can go out with Peace of Mind because that's that's another
21:24
piece of the mentality. If you go out with Peace of
21:26
Mind, you know your bike is right.
21:27
You know you gave the time. You know you're already going
21:30
out there. You got this weight off your
21:31
chest, your weight off the shoulder.
21:33
You're not worried about something not going wrong.
21:35
You know that everything should be where it should be.
21:38
Yeah, that is the worst feeling, man, to go out and wondering if
21:42
a bolt is tight or wondering anything.
21:44
You might as well just pit because you can't really commit,
21:48
you know what I mean? It's the craziest thing.
21:51
Reese, man, you know, you're, you're the expert in this
21:53
situation. How should guys be storing their
21:57
bikes? So gals should be storing their
21:59
bikes. I mean, does it matter if you're
22:02
in New HAMP, New England, where it's cold right now versus down
22:05
in Florida? What do you guys do to to store
22:08
the bike and, and you know, in the offseason you just have
22:12
everything just sitting in oil? I mean, best ways to do the
22:17
store is somewhere warm because you know, fluids you want to
22:20
have warm all the time. But if you can't, you know, then
22:23
if you're up like in the new E, the northeast area, it's got to
22:26
be stored somewhere cold. You know, definitely put a
22:28
battery always, always. I always say put a battery
22:30
tender on it, you know, or you can pull the battery out and put
22:33
it to the side, put a tender on it.
22:34
You don't have to leave it in the bike.
22:37
That's one. You can always drain the fluids
22:40
and also make sure you definitely make sure you put
22:43
that stabilizer in the fuel to keep the fuel breakdown.
22:46
You know, you don't want that fuel to get moisture in it, to
22:50
get all types of crap in it. And a lot of people here, here's
22:55
the biggest false statement a lot of people do.
22:59
They'll go out in the winter time and they'll just go ahead
23:01
and start the bike and let it run.
23:03
Yeah, that's fine. But that's just leave it on a
23:06
tender and it'd be fine because you're actually not getting your
23:12
spark plugs hot enough to actually do any work.
23:16
You actually the best way we want to do it, you have to
23:18
actually run it and get it up to speed, get it up to get
23:22
temperature to get the oil up the temperature to get
23:24
everything up to temperature. But if you're not and you're not
23:27
creating enough heat in those plugs, all you're doing is
23:29
actually creating more moisture to go into your into the bike.
23:33
That's all you're doing. You're making it just have more
23:34
moisture come in there. And that's the worst thing you
23:37
can do. So the best thing to do is just
23:39
actually put on a tender. It's just the pigtails.
23:42
Plug it into a wall socket, leave it there.
23:46
And in summertime, as soon as the weather gets hot, go run a
23:49
thing and blow it out and get it hot enough.
23:53
Got you. Now do you recommend, you said
23:56
fluid, you recommend draining your tank as well or leaving
23:59
some gas in it and put the stabilizer?
24:01
In it, no, I would leave some gas in it and put some
24:03
stabilizer in it. And that would just that would
24:05
be justifiable because when you remember when you're, you take
24:09
that gas out, all that gas is just on the side of your tank
24:14
and you can start actually with the moisture, the cold air,
24:16
everything else start creating rust in there.
24:18
Not being you got a bigger problem and now we got to do
24:21
your whole tank. So just leave the leave the fuel
24:24
in there and just put it, you know, put the fuel additive, the
24:26
stabilizer in there and that'll be justifiable.
24:30
OK, All right. Now you know, what about, you
24:32
know, renewing licenses and, and planning out track days and,
24:36
and, and, and some of these race organization, you know, is now
24:40
the time to Start learning the rulebooks, plotting out your,
24:44
you know, your, your crew who's showing what you know, getting
24:48
the trailer sorted out or getting your tent repaired.
24:52
Because I mean, it's a lot when you, you know, when, when you
24:54
sit down and, and, and think about everything that you need,
24:57
It's, it's you think you can just show up with just gear your
25:00
bike and a trailer yourself. You'd.
25:05
Be asking people for stuff. You could just show up with
25:08
anything and then like back in the day when Lewis want to kick
25:11
you out and be like yo MO, you got to go.
25:16
You're costing too much, you're eating all the food and.
25:20
Sitting in my chairs. What, what we used to do before,
25:25
we like maybe a month or so before our first event, we
25:29
actually used to do a simulation of of going to the track.
25:34
So we would get the trailer, took the trailer up to the
25:37
truck, make sure that everything's working there, make
25:40
sure the lights are working. Then we would open the trailer.
25:43
We would take everything out. We would make sure that the
25:45
canopy is good. We make sure we have the chairs,
25:47
we have the cooler, make sure we have all the extension cords.
25:50
We plug in the bikes. We make sure that we have the
25:53
stands, We make sure the tire warmers are working.
25:56
Like we would literally have a fake track day in our driveway
26:00
so that when we packed everything back in the trailer,
26:02
we know everything is there. Everything worked.
26:05
We already tried it. We don't need to do anything
26:07
else. And that was our event.
26:09
That's our event set up. Right.
26:11
I mean, are you talking about propane for cooking salt and
26:14
pepper making? Sure.
26:17
Everything except the salt and pepper and and the grill.
26:20
But you know, make sure we have, like I said, the right amount of
26:25
extension cords, the right amount of connectors, make sure
26:29
that all the stands are good. And make sure, and when you're
26:32
doing that, you're also checking on the bike.
26:35
You know, did did one of my schools break or did one of my
26:38
schools fall off? You know, you're always looking
26:40
for anything on the bike that you need to fix.
26:42
There's nothing worse than a week or two before a track day
26:46
realizing, oh, I need a part, and now you got to try to find
26:49
that part. And you're running around and
26:50
every dealer is like, hey, I can't get that part for two
26:53
weeks. So now you're on a full room.
26:55
Like, hey, does somebody have a throttle tube for a 1998?
26:59
No, nobody has that shit. You should have thought about it
27:01
four months ago when your bike was in the garage.
27:04
Like not four days before your track day.
27:06
Come on man, I'm busy working to get to the track.
27:09
I can't. Think now you're busy working
27:13
trying to find that part. Oh yeah, been there, done that.
27:18
So now that part, that part that you could have got for 30 bucks,
27:21
now it's going to cost you 120 because you're either paying for
27:24
shipping or you're like desperate to get it, you know,
27:29
give yourself time and, and check everything over.
27:31
Like do a, do a simulation of a track day, get all your stuff
27:34
together, even check your tire warmers.
27:36
I, I don't know how many times I've gone to track days and
27:39
people plug in their warmers and their warmers don't work.
27:41
Guess what? It didn't work when it was your
27:43
house either. You could have figured that
27:45
shit. Out when you were home.
27:49
My computer doesn't work. You could have checked the
27:51
compressor at home. Now you got no air.
27:53
That's not my problem. Go buy a bike pump now.
27:59
Yeah, you're absolutely right, man.
28:00
Because, you know, when I went racing a couple of weeks ago, I
28:03
forgot so much and I thought I had everything laid out in the
28:06
garage and I thought I'd have everything.
28:07
And when I got to the track, I was just like, I don't have
28:10
this, I don't have that, like what's going on?
28:14
And, and it's the first day back.
28:15
So you, you know, talk about being rusty on the track, just
28:18
prepping for the track. You're kind of rusty because,
28:21
you know, you think you got it figured out and you got a
28:23
system. But like you say it, it you take
28:25
a few few months off and and it goes awry, you know, you know,
28:31
what about like the trailer service and and all that fun
28:35
stuff? You know that that's important
28:38
as well, you know, which is like just as important as the bike,
28:42
because if your trailer can't make it, then the chances are
28:45
the bike is not going to make it.
28:46
Right. Guys, what are your thoughts,
28:47
TJ? Yeah, I mean, I, I don't have a
28:51
close trailer, but yeah, you got AI got an open trailer, but you
28:55
got to make sure, you know, the tires are right.
28:58
You got a spare tire, got to make sure your connections work
29:02
like your blankets and all that good stuff.
29:04
So yeah, it's very important. I mean, obviously after a few
29:09
track days, it's just like second nature.
29:11
But right when you start, it's always something like, damn, I
29:15
don't, I don't feel like going back to get that or, or yeah,
29:20
just the little stuff. It's always something small like
29:22
a strap or a bolt or something. So, but yeah, definitely you got
29:27
to make sure you got your spare tire for your trailer.
29:30
The tires have tread, Yeah. Make sure everything is in line
29:35
out like greet the bearings if you can.
29:41
Yeah. Now if you're a new rider and
29:43
you're trying to figure out all right, what track days or not
29:46
just a new rider, but maybe you want your new to go into the
29:48
track and you're trying to figure out like what track day
29:51
should I go to? Or if you want to go racing,
29:53
where should I go racing? Should is is the default just
29:56
whatever is close, whatever is the shortest distance you know,
29:59
do you have you guys have any tips on you know how to how to
30:03
pick a good organization to to go mess with or just try by fire
30:07
go on if if they do something wrong, you move on to the next
30:10
one. Any any tips you guys?
30:13
Neymar's the best one. What?
30:16
Do you mean, hey, I mean, I say go to your home track.
30:20
I say go to your home track. That's where you're most
30:22
comfortable at. That's going to be your best
30:25
track that's going to be. So if you do like the track, you
30:29
can always keep going back there.
30:30
You can get familiarized with the track.
30:31
I mean my home track was Jersey and I just went and went and
30:35
went and got familiarized with it.
30:36
So now that's like second nature.
30:38
I know where the bumps are. I know since they haven't
30:40
resurfaced it. I know where like little dips
30:43
are, but that's where I went. That's where I started at.
30:45
And then I just branched out from there and started doing
30:48
other tracks Once I got familiarized a lot with Jersey
30:51
and it and I realized that this was something I wanted to do
30:54
back in O 8. Right, right.
30:57
And and and you know, in your case, did you just kind of like,
31:00
I mean, it's different back then?
31:02
Well, I don't know how many organizations were going to
31:05
Jersey back then, because now we have, you know, a few
31:08
organizations going to the same track different times of the
31:10
year, you know. So how do you, you know, pick at
31:13
the organization, just kind of do Google thing and and see what
31:18
ratings look like. Talk to your peoples, hit the
31:20
forms. I mean, you can hit the forum,
31:23
you can do ratings, you can just read their website.
31:25
I mean, I back then with NESBA and I was into, you know, here
31:29
and you know, now in Jersey, I think it's the writers club
31:32
that's got it with Ken Hill. Ken Hill just took it over.
31:36
But I mean, you just start listening to people, you kind of
31:39
go, I mean, it's it's just kind of going to be trial and error.
31:43
You know, like it was kind of trial and error with me.
31:45
I mean, I went NESBA team promotion, you know, a couple of
31:50
school and then you know, I've done a couple of days of Yamaha
31:53
day Champion school. So you just start picking trial
31:57
and error and where you want to go, and then you'll start seeing
32:00
where you fit in and what group is going to fit best for you,
32:04
Right, Right. And yeah.
32:06
Sometimes. Sometimes it's also just based
32:09
on your availability, like if you, if you know the only chance
32:12
you have to go, there's a particular school there, like
32:15
sometimes you just got to eat it.
32:17
That's when you're available to go.
32:18
So you kind of just go and hope for the best.
32:22
I mean, for the most part, most, I mean, to be honest with you,
32:25
like I feel that today for the most part, most track day
32:29
companies are at least competent.
32:33
I'm not going to say they're, they're all great, but at
32:35
minimum they're competent. If you get lucky, you got with a
32:39
track day organization that's more than just confident, like
32:42
they have a little bit higher level of service.
32:44
They're have a little bit more attention, especially if you're
32:46
a new rider to try to help new riders come along and give them
32:49
the right information. But you know, start there, see
32:54
if you like it, and then if you do like it, then start looking
32:57
at maybe other organizations that go to the track closest to
33:00
you and try other organizations until you find the one that has
33:04
the right vibe. Because even sometimes you go to
33:06
a track, the organization and just the vibe's not there,
33:09
either the other attendees or something, something about the
33:12
track is off for you and you're paying for it.
33:15
So you got to feel comfortable. And if you don't feel
33:17
comfortable, look at other options.
33:19
Right. Because like, I went with Nezva
33:21
when I first started and I felt at home with them.
33:26
And literally when I went there, it's like a lot of people had so
33:29
many, you know, praises and give some good stuff about them.
33:34
You moved up with them. You knew you was ready to move
33:37
up. Like I moved up to the advanced
33:41
group and I knew I was ready. So got.
33:43
You. I was.
33:45
So what do you say to riders that are first timers and they
33:51
have a OK, maybe not so great experience, maybe not because of
33:58
anything per per SE happening to them, but maybe, you know, a lot
34:02
of crashes, you know, and and and you know, I don't want to
34:05
get spooked by that, but maybe a little bit more like, you know,
34:08
is it is, is this is the track as safe as the street?
34:12
Because I'm here and, and I see a lot of people crashing when
34:17
you say new writers, you know, that code of the track that see
34:20
that and, and, and, you know, should that be their, you know,
34:25
one and only option to make a choice as far as like I saw it.
34:28
Now my mind is made-up. Or like you guys were saying a
34:31
little bit ago, maybe go to some more track days and, and kind of
34:34
see, because you know, not all track days are like that.
34:37
What you said you writers that have bad experiences at at the
34:40
track? Mean the the more times you turn
34:48
that key, the more chances you have of, you know, going down.
34:52
Unfortunately. I mean, it's part of the game.
34:54
It's you don't go, you're not going to this.
34:57
Yeah, we're all going to the track days, you know, not to get
35:00
hurt. We're not going there to crash.
35:02
We don't want to go to crash. We don't want to get hurt.
35:04
We don't want to do anything. But it's just like, you know,
35:06
playing basketball, playing any kind of sport, you know, it's
35:11
part of the game because it's just part of the cult.
35:13
It's part of the game. You're going to get hurt.
35:15
Maybe something may happen. It's a freak accident.
35:17
You know, none of our, none of the riders we have want to go in
35:20
there to go down. But you know, they have it in
35:23
their head. There is a likely chance that I
35:25
can get, I can go down. You know, you have to accept
35:29
that. And then once you can accept it
35:33
that it is a possibility, you can move on from it.
35:37
I mean, it's just something that's going to happen.
35:39
It can happen. We hope and pray to God that
35:41
never does. And if it does, it's something
35:43
we can walk away from, you know, But you can't go there scared
35:48
because I don't know, if you go there scared, you have a more
35:52
likely chance to go down and get seriously hurt or jeopardize and
35:57
hurt, hurt someone else bad. Yeah.
36:01
That's the quickest way to get tied, man.
36:02
Right around the track of 1 skid.
36:06
You know it, it does happen. You just, it's just something
36:11
that happened. It's part of the game, man.
36:14
It is. And you know, I think you learn
36:15
to talk yourself off the ledge the more you get out there.
36:19
If if you're if you're a younger person, I think it's easier just
36:22
to go out there and not have a care.
36:23
But after a certain age, you know you, you, you.
36:26
You have some consciousness of what could happen if it goes
36:29
horribly wrong. I mean, on the on the flip side
36:32
of that, it's back to your original question.
36:35
If you're not having a good day at the track, you should go go
36:39
speak to the people running the track day and have a discussion
36:43
with them and and explain your concerns to them and see what
36:47
they can do for you. You know, this goes back-to-back
36:50
in the day when, you know, I was coaching and whatever.
36:54
People would not have a great day, but they would leave and
36:57
then they would go on forums and start to complain about all the
37:02
things that went bad at that track day.
37:04
And if you had just gone and spoken to somebody that was
37:07
running the track day on that day, they probably could have
37:10
done something to make the day better for you.
37:12
Either move you to another group or you know, hey, since you're
37:16
not having a great DAC day, if you want to leave early, we'll
37:18
give you a 50% back discount so you can come to a different
37:21
track day. Because sometimes you go to a
37:23
track day and it has nothing to do with the organization.
37:26
It's just on that particular track day, a bunch of guys
37:30
showed up and decided this is the day I'm going to fuck my
37:33
bike up for whatever reason. They just decided I want to buy
37:36
parts. And you've seen it.
37:38
You, you, we've all been to track days where there's a group
37:42
of people that show up and they just all decide like, yo, my
37:46
bike is too shiny. I want to see how many parts I
37:48
can take home. I mean, I've been to track days.
37:58
I've been to track days. And I mean, Reese, I think maybe
38:01
it was I used to do like a little speech to the beginners
38:06
and you did at the beginning of the day, just by looking at the
38:09
people that were there, I already knew who was going to
38:11
crash. You're.
38:13
Going to go down, you're going to go down.
38:14
You're going to. And and by the end of the day, I
38:19
had like a good, like I would say like it was 80% accurate
38:22
because they had that look. They came with that look in
38:25
their face like I'm definitely crashing the day.
38:33
Full set, man, Full set. It's one of the few sports that
38:41
you have to do your best not to take things literally.
38:44
Literally or something. There was there were two guys
38:49
that came one day to an event. I called them the R1 brothers
38:58
and there were two guys from New York.
38:59
They both had R ones. And this is like the old, the
39:02
previous style. R1, the big mouth in the front,
39:05
giant headlight. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
39:07
R1. They both had, yeah, exhaust
39:11
under the sea. They had Valentino Rossi
39:13
stickers all over the bikes. Yeah.
39:16
So that was already, that was already a yellow flag.
39:18
I was, I was like, alright, there's a yellow flag.
39:20
These guys might be a problem. And then they started talking
39:24
about that, you know, like they just didn't listen in the group.
39:28
They didn't listen to the rules of the day.
39:30
They didn't listen to this, they didn't listen to that.
39:32
And even the first session, they were already starting to break
39:34
some of the rules. And I was seeing how they were
39:37
riding and you could tell they were St.
39:39
Rossis because going straight, they were fast, but going to the
39:43
turns, I mean, they didn't know what they were doing.
39:47
And I said, hey, you guys don't chill.
39:49
You're both going to go home. And those Yamaha Rossi edition R
39:53
ones are going home in a lot of parts.
39:56
And sure enough, man, both of them crashed that day total
39:59
their bikes. And I could have gone over and
40:03
be like, hey, I told you so. And I tried many times like, and
40:07
a lot of the other people working at, they tried to tell
40:10
them like, hey, you need to relax, you need to slow down,
40:13
you need to get off the bike. You're not leaning, you're not
40:14
doing like all the things that you try to tell them but you
40:18
couldn't get through to them. I don't understand why that is
40:21
like, what is so hard about like, you know, And is it just
40:25
because you're just so comfortable on the street that
40:27
you think it's the same? One word.
40:29
One word. Their pride.
40:32
Their pride. And pride.
40:34
And ego. That's it.
40:36
Their pride. He's the.
40:38
Fastest guy on the. Street, I swear I remember when
40:42
I first met Lewis back in the track day and he said in on a
40:46
novice that he's like, you need to check your ego and pride at
40:50
the door, He said. Because there's a 12 year, a 14
40:53
year old, 15 year old kid that's going to come by you on a 250.
40:57
And sure enough, it was a kid that was 15 year old that was on
41:01
a 250 and his name was Anthony Mazziato.
41:05
And that kid would blow the God damn.
41:14
That's when I was like, all right, let me check my ego at
41:16
the door. And then slowly but surely, I
41:18
just thought I got it and started bumping up.
41:20
I latched on the Lewis and it was history after that and I was
41:24
like, all right, I'm good. But then I love you.
41:27
Had to check that eagle at the door.
41:28
I was like, yo, this kid is coming by you quick.
41:31
Yeah, I thought I was a street Rossi too.
41:34
I mean, riding on the street for eight years before even thinking
41:39
about a track. You know, I met Rexy and then
41:41
got into racing before a track day and definitely humbled
41:45
myself quickly because instead of just a track day, I got
41:48
racers going by me and stuff like that.
41:50
So I know if you're having a bad day at a track, which usually
41:54
never really happens, like if you're on the track and have a
41:56
good time, just try to follow a coach, you know, and like, they
42:00
probably keep you up to speed or something like that.
42:02
And they probably switch to a group or like you shouldn't just
42:05
try to take it out on other riders or try to get in the way.
42:08
It's everybody's just trying to have fun.
42:12
But yeah, there's, there's always plenty of coaches out
42:14
there that can keep you in mind. And once I got to the track, I I
42:19
literally threw my street Rossi away and I'm now like, you know,
42:24
pay attention to like what's really important.
42:26
Like on the side you can fill the bike more and tires and it's
42:29
just a whole nother understanding.
42:30
So yeah, it's just definitely got to have a good time.
42:36
You go to China, if you have a bad time, there's something
42:38
wrong. You're Joe on Mia now, right?
42:41
No one being on Mia unless you go to a track game.
42:46
A lot of red flags. What are you talking about?
42:48
I'll take that real title. Yeah, yeah, of course.
42:52
And I. Believe.
42:55
It's going to be handed to somebody, so.
42:59
That is true. It definitely, it definitely
43:04
will. Speaking of, you know, mayor and
43:07
these guys testing just happened.
43:12
Should we take a lot from testing?
43:14
Is it just, you know, more food for thought until the season
43:17
start? Is it who is it more important
43:20
for? If you Mark Marquez and you're
43:21
showing up to shake, shake things down?
43:23
Are you sitting here trying to say pushing your your fastest
43:26
time the first weekend out or you just figuring parts out?
43:30
What's, what's, what's the deal with testing And, and who would,
43:33
who should we be looking out for if there's something to look out
43:37
for? Because it's testing, yeah.
43:40
Lewis, you know Lewis called everybody you know called bigger
43:42
shit box. There's, there's one, there's
43:47
one particular bike that has got an issue.
43:50
We'll talk about that. It is only the segment.
43:57
They ain't got nothing to do with me that's on that side of
43:59
the water. I see how you set that up so
44:06
that way you don't have to talk about it.
44:08
I understand you. Know.
44:12
We leave you. At that.
44:13
Station, you know, move to YMCA alone.
44:18
What's the what's the what's the what's the deal guys on on
44:21
testing TJ what's not with you, man?
44:22
I mean, you know, I'm I'm excited for it because this
44:26
means the season is so much closer.
44:29
I think the senior guys, I think they just kind of like making
44:32
sure the ergonomics and whatever parts they got to test, test and
44:36
and render approved thumbs up and thumbs down like Rick James.
44:41
Yeah, I mean, like, you know, like Mark for sure is just where
44:49
you know how the new bike feels and all that good stuff.
44:52
There's obviously some riders that didn't have a well enough
44:55
season last year that wants to be up to speed, so they'll
44:58
probably get some fast laps in and testing all their parts.
45:02
But it's good to see like Marco Bazzaki, you kind of want to
45:06
leave where you left off also. So, like, it's good to see you,
45:10
Marco Bazzaki, still trying to just be at the top, you know,
45:15
also the the rookies like top rack.
45:20
Yeah. I mean, like I know Reese's said
45:23
he's going to be top five real soon.
45:25
But I mean, like, I don't know if he's bluffing, but yeah, he
45:28
he has to get used to that bike and he's like a second off and
45:31
stuff like that. So it's really good for top rack
45:34
for him to per SE to get the most out of this, try to get it
45:39
up to speed as fast as he can. Try to set a fast lap opposed to
45:44
like, you know, Mark Marquez where he's just figure out
45:46
parts. So overall I thought it was a
45:48
really good test testing. So just can't wait for to see
45:53
that the next test very and then the season.
45:56
So unfortunately there was a lot of footage.
45:59
No, no, I I tried, man. I tried.
46:03
You know, Reece, what are your thoughts on Honda?
46:05
I mean, you know, mayor got the top spot, I think on the FP 3,
46:11
but Luca Marini overall, I think did better than than Mayor.
46:15
What are your thoughts on Honda? And you know, you know, it seems
46:19
like not that Fabio's one of the factory guys for 27.
46:24
What are you any thoughts on that?
46:27
I mean, what Honda's doing is actually great.
46:29
I mean, they're actually getting their stuff together.
46:31
I mean, testing is testing, as we all know.
46:33
I mean, you're trying, you know, as I do know.
46:36
I mean, you're trying new parts, you're trying new things.
46:38
You're seeing where it goes. See what's more comfortable.
46:41
New gas tanks, new new set up, new suspension, new rears.
46:44
You're trying a whole bunch of different, different things to
46:47
see what actually works and what's so comfortable.
46:50
Some guys I've learned are better at testing than racing.
46:56
Some guys are better at racing than testing.
47:00
So it just comes down on what what we're looking at and what
47:03
they're doing. They're just trying to get their
47:04
feet wet, trying to shake the cobwebs off from being off for a
47:08
couple of months now and and get the bike up to speed to where
47:13
they're comfortable at. That's what they're trying.
47:16
I mean, like I said, what Honda's doing is great.
47:19
What is going on with Cotterado or Fabio?
47:22
I have no idea. I mean, Honda, I read a couple
47:25
things. Honda's still in talks with a
47:27
bunch of different people. So is it set in stone?
47:30
No. Is it close?
47:31
It seems like it. I mean, at this point in time, I
47:35
always say everything's a rumor until it's something that ink
47:39
the paper. Once you think the paper, then
47:42
I'm like, all right, that's it. You know my eyes.
47:45
Right, right, right, Lewis, man, what what are your thoughts?
47:48
So you're going to talk about Yamaha KTM, you know, it seems
47:53
like Aprilia, Honda and Ducati, I think they from testing looks
47:59
like, you know, they got their their packages are in the top
48:02
ten. What's going on with Yamaha?
48:05
Is it just go ahead, say it just used to it?
48:09
Is it, you know, Quatreras disgruntled Rinz is still not
48:13
100. Jack is Jack.
48:16
I mean, what's happening? No, I mean you know they had,
48:19
they had one major mechanical where they had to stop all the
48:22
bikes cuz they found a flaw in like a motor somewhere or a part
48:26
somewhere that all the riders had to stop top speed.
48:32
You know, they had the slowest trap speed of all the bikes.
48:36
So even with this new V4 motor, they haven't more found more top
48:39
speed, which is not a great sign because that's been Fabio's
48:42
number one complaint is we don't have the speed and the V4 was
48:47
supposed to bring the speed, but obviously the V4 isn't bringing
48:50
the speed. So they're still have a deficit
48:52
in somewhere in in getting the either the power to the ground
48:55
or just generating the power at the motor.
48:57
I. Was going to ask because I mean
48:59
is it just a matter of gearing and and or electronics or do you
49:03
feel like the the engine is still underpowered?
49:07
I mean, there's definitely still some growing pains in that
49:10
engine. And I don't know if it's, you
49:13
know, an internal part. I don't know if it's a
49:15
transmission part. I don't know if it's something
49:17
else. If they're seamless gearbox is
49:19
not working right, If it's an electronics issue where the the
49:23
the engine is not performing optimally.
49:25
I think it could be so many different things and the only
49:27
way they're going to learn is is by putting it together.
49:30
But I it seems that the riders just say that the bikes not
49:34
generating enough horsepower, like we're not going faster and
49:39
that's the times are showing it. The trap speed is showing it and
49:43
it's early in the season. But even top rack, you know,
49:46
he's already a little bit flustered because he's not used
49:49
to being at the back end of the pack.
49:52
You know, yes, he still has to get adapted to this style of
49:55
bike and this type of riding into the tires and everything
49:58
else. But you know, there's already
50:00
been some things in the news there.
50:02
He's just not happy with the bike.
50:05
And that what he's asking for, Yamaha is not doesn't seem too
50:09
keen to give him what he wants because they think it's going to
50:12
make the bike go backwards because it's not a super bike,
50:15
it's AGP bike. So I mean, so I think they're in
50:18
the worst position of anybody right now.
50:20
It would be Yamaha. Is it, is it fear for top right
50:22
to be asking for changes and he hasn't had a whole season on
50:26
that? Play.
50:26
He ain't going to get no parts, man.
50:28
Ergonomic. He.
50:32
Got. No, he got.
50:35
I respect you know top Rock 100% but how long it take for for
50:39
Lorenzo to get Ducati to adjust his seat?
50:42
And and so they fired him. They fired him and then they
50:45
gave him the seat the the the week they fired him.
50:51
So you know what I mean, though, like I, I, I don't know how much
50:54
I mean, I can't imagine that. I mean, you know, I, I, I, that
50:57
may be more rumors than him really complaining the first
51:00
time, other than just, you know, like me, you know, saying I got
51:03
to get used to this, right? Because I saw something where
51:05
Miller is saying that he still, he needs to be top rack needs to
51:09
be smooth around the bike. He's still riding the bike and
51:11
too aggressive and, and that's not how you ride the Moto GP
51:14
bike. So what's the deal with KTMI?
51:18
Mean, we, we know, we, we, we talked last week about Vinales
51:22
and and Lorenzo, but what about the rest of the gang?
51:25
I mean is is who's going to have, Obviously we won't know
51:31
until the season is over, but this the setup right now, who's
51:35
looking to have a worse season, KTM or Yamaha?
51:40
Yamaha. Yamaha.
51:40
Yeah, I. Mean, you know, yeah, a Cochran
51:46
might be leaving and you got Vinyallas and you know the other
51:49
two riders Bastianini hopefully will come into his own, but we
51:53
don't know so between you know, I mean is is Vinyallas going to
51:59
be carrying the flag for the whole the whole the whole crew
52:01
it's. Probably going to be Vinyallas
52:06
and PEKKO. You know, I think Bastianini, I
52:10
think he's going to be out at the end of this year.
52:12
There's some opportunities that have been rumored of him leaving
52:15
to go to a different manufacturer.
52:18
Bender, I don't think I don't know where he's going to go past
52:22
this year unless he has an incredible year with KTMI, don't
52:25
see him staying around. And if I was KTM, I'd be trying
52:28
to resign Vinales because it doesn't seem like Acosta wants
52:31
to stick around. So KTM is in a weird situation
52:36
just rider wise, and Yamaha is in a weird situation bike and
52:40
rider wise. You know, Fabio Cuaderaro I
52:42
don't think wants to stick around for this rebuilding
52:45
process with Yamaha. Rings is probably going to be
52:49
leaving. I don't think he's even that
52:52
interested in staying in racing, to be honest with you.
52:55
Right, right, right, But you might be right.
52:58
He's he's had he's had a lot of I mean he's probably had about
53:02
not the same injuries as Pedroza, but his injury recovery
53:06
ratio. He's not recovered well Rinz
53:10
lately from his injuries, which makes it difficult if you can't
53:12
be healthy. Yep.
53:16
So yeah, both of those guys are on the back end, but I still
53:19
can't think KTM is more competitive than Yamaha at the
53:24
end of the day. So if I had to list it out, I'd
53:26
be Ducati. Still the bite to beat, but
53:29
very, very close behind it is Aprilia and then right behind
53:32
Aprilia. Now realistically I say it's
53:34
it's it's a split between Honda and KTM.
53:36
Like they're both knocking their.
53:38
I think Honda will be more competitive at more tracks as
53:42
the season goes on. Well, you got 3 happy guys on a
53:45
hunt. Well, four because all four
53:48
happy on a Honda. I don't know about all four.
53:50
Happy on the KTM which was 2. That's.
53:56
True, you know, we, we had thoughts on TJ on KTM and and
54:00
and and what's happening and. I agree with Lewis on on like
54:07
how they stand, you know, like hopefully A-Team can be more
54:11
consistent. You know, you rely on a
54:13
Maverick, but he could have a a Maverick tight season, you know,
54:18
and you know, Pedro Acosta, you know, like he's very aggressive
54:23
rider and obviously he wants to seems like he wants to leave,
54:26
but like how you know, it's all about how everyone starts.
54:29
That's that's what I'm counting on.
54:31
So after the first two or three races like it, it's just matters
54:36
because like you could be ready and like someone could just take
54:39
you out and now you're already like sort of out of the
54:43
championship race and that kind of changed your mood and
54:45
everything. And it's just you probably don't
54:48
get 100% accurate throughout the rest of the season, kind of like
54:53
giving up. So.
54:54
But Yamaha on the other hand, as long as like Jack Miller can
55:00
stay on twos and throw his bike away all the time and they have
55:04
more consistent season getting points.
55:06
So they could probably have a potentially better year if they
55:08
can figure out the BIG4. Yeah, there's, I mean, Fabio's
55:13
definitely going to hold it down, but they don't want to,
55:16
they don't want to lose Fabio so.
55:18
Yeah, I mean, you know, if you believe what you what what we're
55:21
seeing, it's already I mean for this.
55:22
Well, it doesn't matter for 26 because he's he's going to be in
55:25
Yamaha. So he they're going to have to
55:27
he going to have to earn that that keep.
55:30
But let's talk about the elephant in the room, the the
55:32
big red boys, the Ducatis. I mean, is it is, is it as Lewis
55:38
say, they're, they're the guys on top.
55:39
And we just got to show up and, and, and just, you know, figure
55:43
out which one of the Ducatis is going to take home the trophy.
55:46
What are we talking? About, I mean, we don't have to
55:47
figure, we don't have to figure out which one is going to take
55:49
home the trophy. There's only one in red that's
55:51
taking home that trophy. I mean, that's 93.
55:57
To be honest with you, man, I, I think if Alex, if Alex starts
56:01
the season and is able to maintain his mental strength the
56:04
whole season, I think Alex is going to be right at the front
56:08
because he got real close to, he tasted a lot of Prosecco last
56:11
year and it, you know, the latter part of the year he kind
56:15
of folded mentally. He started having a lot of
56:17
mental mistakes. He he did have an injury that
56:20
kind of didn't help either. But I think he's coming in this
56:23
year knowing like, hey, I got the potential to do this even if
56:27
I don't stay with Ducati after this season because there's some
56:30
rumors of him leaving Ducati to be a factory rider for KTM or
56:33
somebody else here. Here's an opportunity for me to
56:37
set my stock very, very high. So when I do get another
56:41
contract, it's not going to be some BS $300,000 a year contract
56:45
or 400,000. Like, he was one of the lowest
56:47
paid riders last year, of course, according to the data
56:50
that was released. And he was, you know, in the
56:53
hunt to the championship pretty much until 80% of the way
56:56
through the season. Right, right.
56:58
And is that, I mean, that's interesting too, because Cassini
57:01
wasn't paying Furman because that's a factory seat contract.
57:04
He was getting paid. So with all that money going man
57:08
Coco bread and and Patty's. Yo man, it's expensive to be
57:11
Grassini man. I do understand, man, that big
57:16
cost, big cost to play. That that that water they like
57:20
to drink with bubbles like that. That's expensive bro.
57:23
That Pellegrino is not cheap. Yeah, it's all right.
57:26
It's all right here. Maybe one day I'll, I'll, I'll
57:29
get to taste it. So what what are we saying?
57:31
VR46 Academy, even though they're not completely full red,
57:35
can't you know they they don't, they don't have a shot this
57:38
year, is it? Is it really just going to be
57:40
the Marquez brothers again? As far as Ducati is concerned,
57:46
we're going to say that Furman is not going to be there, Peko
57:51
is not going to be there, the VR46 boys are not going to be
57:54
there. Is this what I'm hearing?
57:55
From what I heard I heard Pekka is starting to film a lot more
57:58
of their front end on the 26th versus the 25.
58:01
I heard the same thing you text me the other day.
58:06
So he did like. I hope he test, I hope he tested
58:10
a bill on how much plastic So what that body work that he's
58:14
going to spend. On Marquez crashed more than he
58:17
did last year. So he paid.
58:19
He paid less. I I think Marquez boys is going
58:24
to be out there in front of Brendan again.
58:27
It's just like when it comes to testing, like you have your test
58:31
pace, but like there's, I think we mentioned earlier, but when
58:34
it comes to racing, like you don't do good in practice when
58:38
it comes to racing, like you're ready, like some of the people
58:41
do good in practice instead of racing.
58:43
So I just remember the first race last year when when Mark's
58:47
first time on Ducati, we all wanted to see what happened and
58:51
like he took off running and then he literally let his
58:54
brother pass him and then he passed him again.
58:56
Like he's playing with people like like considering how we
59:00
were watching, he wasn't really playing like that.
59:01
He's giving his all. But but yeah, I just felt like
59:05
they're going to be them two is they live together, so they're
59:09
going to be out running in my opinion.
59:13
Yeah, so some. People, it's going.
59:15
To be Mark Digitantonio, Alex and Pekko on a 26th bike, and I
59:20
don't know is Furman on a 24 bike because he's getting a 25
59:23
bike. So I know, I know that Frankie's
59:26
on a 24 bike for this season. What what do do anyone know if,
59:31
if, if, if Furman's going to be on a 25 or a 24 bike and four
59:36
guys on a 26 bikes? And, and you know, as, as you
59:40
guys were saying earlier, it looks like Alex already got the
59:43
pace. But again, is is Mark just kind
59:46
of just doing other things and he's not worrying about the pace
59:48
until the the red lights go out? I thought it was only 426 out go
59:53
out this year. Yeah, it's 411.
59:56
Yeah, I think it's only four. One for Alex and the two under 2
1:00:01
factory. Right.
1:00:02
Yeah, I think so. I think there's only four going
1:00:04
out this year. Right, but who is Furman going
1:00:07
to be on a 25 bike? And because Frankie's on a 24
1:00:10
bike again this year. It says 20. 5 bike.
1:00:15
So he'll have, so he'll be on a 25.
1:00:19
So that's going to be true. You have three different
1:00:21
Ducatis. Well, I guess all the bikes are
1:00:23
kind of different anyway, but you know, quote, UN quote three
1:00:27
different Ducatis on the grid that that's kind of, I mean,
1:00:29
that's that's going to be a a loss for Furman, right, because
1:00:32
there's no development on that bike And and the 24 they just
1:00:36
probably just going to leave the way it is, just keeps swabbing
1:00:38
parts. Yeah, but I mean, you know, Mark
1:00:41
did well on the 25 bike when he was on the bike.
1:00:45
Alex did well on the 25 bike. And I think Furman, you know,
1:00:49
since he's kind of more in aligned with Alex and Mark than
1:00:52
he is with Digia and Fabio, he's probably going to be able to get
1:00:56
a lot of insight in how to make that bike work from Alex and
1:01:00
Mark versus versus. I don't think Alex and Mark are
1:01:03
sitting down with Digi and Fabio telling them how to make a bike
1:01:07
work. That's unfortunate.
1:01:09
It is. It is the year of the.
1:01:11
Aldi's on the grid and everybody sharing information was a
1:01:14
beautiful thing. What happened?
1:01:17
I wanted to, yeah. It got expensive.
1:01:23
Our paycheck needs to be bigger than yours, Yeah.
1:01:25
Yeah. Yeah.
1:01:27
No, I mean it's, it's the county team wise.
1:01:32
I mean the factory team is still going to be the top team.
1:01:35
I think the Grassini team will be the second team and then the
1:01:38
VR 46 will be the the probably at the back end of the pack as
1:01:42
far as the team. But they're still going to be
1:01:44
competitive. They're still going to finish in
1:01:46
the top 10 on a regular basis, probably the top five a couple
1:01:48
of times on the on the previous side, you know, I still think
1:01:55
that Bazecki is going to be the number one rider.
1:01:57
You know, we'll see what happens.
1:01:59
The next test, I think is going to be a little bit closer to a
1:02:02
litmus test of what the beginning of the season is going
1:02:05
to look like, because this first, first Test, this was
1:02:08
really a shakedown test, testing parts and everything else.
1:02:11
So I, you know, you can take away like, hey, this guy's got
1:02:13
great race pace with this particular package, but there's
1:02:17
probably still more stuff to try.
1:02:19
I think the, the next event, since we're getting now closer
1:02:22
to the first race of the year, I think at the next event they're
1:02:25
going to do a lot more race simulations.
1:02:27
They're going to do a lot more, You know, let's see how many
1:02:30
laps we can get out of the bike with different setups and see
1:02:34
how the bike feels at the beginning versus the end.
1:02:36
And then that'll give us a little bit more of a litmus
1:02:39
test. Because I don't again, I, I know
1:02:40
Mark said, oh, there's like five guys faster than me out there.
1:02:44
If Mark wanted to go faster, he'll find that extra like 2-3
1:02:47
tenths of a second. You know, I think at the face he
1:02:50
was running, there were five guys faster than him.
1:02:52
But I think when the hammer drops, you know, the mentality
1:02:55
switches from testing practice mode to race mode.
1:03:00
That's where some guys will actually find that extra couple
1:03:03
of tents that they're not really pushing during practice or when
1:03:06
you get to like the last five laps of a full length race and
1:03:10
the tires are off and the fuel load is low and everything else
1:03:14
and you find that extra pace, you find that extra speed.
1:03:17
So that's the mental aspect of it.
1:03:18
And let's see who's who's coming into mentally strongest this
1:03:21
year. You know, Pekka had a rough year
1:03:23
last year. You know, his confidence was
1:03:25
shaken almost immediately last year and it really never
1:03:28
recovered. Hopefully he got a big reset
1:03:30
button over the winter and he comes back, He has a great first
1:03:34
two, one or two races and it kind of reinstalls his
1:03:37
confidence. He's got the feel of the bike
1:03:39
and all of a sudden he's going really fast.
1:03:42
I think the one that the only person that I don't expect big
1:03:44
things out of because again, he missed the first practice of the
1:03:47
year because he's injured again, is Martine.
1:03:50
Like Martine is not doing himself any favors by constantly
1:03:54
being injured, man, constantly not having time to test on a
1:03:56
bike. You know, he thinks he's just
1:03:58
going to show up and on pure talent, do what he wants to do.
1:04:01
And I don't think that's the case, man.
1:04:04
Is it safe to say like Melandry had a lot of injuries?
1:04:10
These guys that were really talented back then that could
1:04:14
have fought for championships, but they were plagued with
1:04:17
injuries to Danny Pedrosa. When you played with that many
1:04:21
injuries, it's really hard to have a good consistent season,
1:04:24
right? Yeah.
1:04:28
I mean, if you're, if you're sitting and watching people ride
1:04:31
your bike all the time and you're not riding it yourself,
1:04:33
you're not going to get better. Oh man, tough, tough, tough,
1:04:39
tough. Let's talk about the rookies
1:04:42
before we get out of here. Diego and and top Rock.
1:04:47
You know, we're hearing more from top Rock, but I, I, I can
1:04:49
understand why. Who you, you know, do you guys
1:04:52
have a prediction yet? I know actually Reese already
1:04:54
says Top Rock is going all the way, but you know.
1:05:01
Hey, I stand by my statement. What, what are you?
1:05:04
What are you, what are your thoughts on the on the rookies?
1:05:06
I mean, too soon to tell. They're looking comfortable
1:05:09
because their times are pretty close.
1:05:11
I think at the end of the season Diego will end up higher in the
1:05:15
standings than Top Rack for two reasons.
1:05:17
One, Diego's already been riding in Moto 2, Moto 3 in the
1:05:22
paddock, understands these tracks, has written all these
1:05:24
tracks. 2 he's on a better bike, so I don't care how good top
1:05:30
rack is in world super bike. Back then he was a big fish in a
1:05:34
little pond. And like I said before, now he's
1:05:36
not a big fish in little pond. He's a little fish in a ocean
1:05:40
full of sharks. And nobody here is going to give
1:05:43
him respect. Nobody here is going to be
1:05:44
scared of him. Nobody here is showing up like
1:05:46
oh, top rack is racing, like Marquez is showing up and like
1:05:50
oh look, a back marker for me to pass.
1:05:52
Right, right. You know, it it, you know, it's,
1:05:56
it's one of those things like, you know, like the NBA, you
1:05:58
know, even the guy that scored four points a game can still
1:06:02
kick your ass. Yeah, yeah, he's it's because.
1:06:05
He's scored a four, yeah. And here, I mean, I honestly
1:06:11
think at the end of the year, the rookie of the year won't be
1:06:14
top rack between the bike and his learning curve and
1:06:18
everything he's got to do is the cars don't, don't, don't stack
1:06:21
up well for him. Right, right, yeah, I mean, you
1:06:24
know, or or Diego gets hurt. Hopefully that doesn't happen.
1:06:27
But we saw that I grew, I grew and got hurt.
1:06:30
And I think if he didn't get hurt it that that rookie
1:06:32
championship rookie of the year would have been closer, you
1:06:36
know, if he didn't get hurt because he was showing up the
1:06:39
rest of the guys until until he got hurt and I and then he got
1:06:42
hurt again. So it's it's unfortunate when he
1:06:46
gets hurt. Yeah, go.
1:06:49
Ahead, I was fine. Oh no, I was going to say I
1:06:53
think if this rookie, these rookies make things exciting
1:06:57
because like 2 years ago, I think it was Pedro Acosta, he
1:07:00
was the only one. And then last year, you know, it
1:07:05
was Igorian and Furman. But now you got someone who's
1:07:09
hasn't been in Moto GP and then you got you know, a Brazilian.
1:07:14
So not that that matters, but it's just a, it's just too, you
1:07:20
know, ethnicities that haven't really been in the paddock
1:07:23
often. So I think it's it's going to be
1:07:25
interesting, but I, I think I agree with Luis that Diego RV.
1:07:31
So I want to pull it out. Right, right.
1:07:33
Yeah, No, I, I, I it's going to be interesting.
1:07:35
You know, I'm, I'm looking forward to, to the first round
1:07:38
of startup. I think like everyone else.
1:07:40
Before we get out of here, Reece, anything, anything you
1:07:42
want to talk about testing Motor America, what's happening and
1:07:46
any secrets you can divulge. No one's.
1:07:53
Listening. No, I mean, the only thing I can
1:07:55
say is pretty much both our guys are hungry, they're ready.
1:07:58
Both guys look great. You know, JD taken to the bike
1:08:03
very well. He's pretty much, you know, very
1:08:08
well at pace. Bobby's well over pace.
1:08:13
You know, he's doing very well. Bobby's had a pretty much a
1:08:16
reset. So I mean, this year, I mean, I
1:08:20
think we're coming in strong. I think we're coming in stronger
1:08:22
than what we were last year. And I think it's going to be, I
1:08:27
would say this year is going to be, at least it's going to be a,
1:08:30
it's going to be a battle. I mean, it's going to be a top
1:08:33
eight guys that's going first. It's going to be 8 guys at least
1:08:36
in the first place. That's what's up.
1:08:39
That's what's up. I'm looking forward to it.
1:08:41
I know you're not going to be at Daytona, but I'm not.
1:08:45
We're going to have to start asking the fans to send some
1:08:48
letters to say Attack needs to be at Daytona for 2027.
1:08:53
You said that tell them to tell them to actually send some money
1:08:56
for the kids. You know, I can tell you right
1:09:00
now that's at least $300,000 to build one, just one bike, just
1:09:03
one super sports for Daytona. Oh come on man, it's still a
1:09:06
stock bike out there. Come on.
1:09:09
Yeah, right. That stuff is.
1:09:11
That's a long way, man. I don't even think about this.
1:09:15
I'll be out there. I'll probably be out there.
1:09:16
Just visit and check everybody out, you know, coming through.
1:09:18
But as far as racing, thank God. Right, Right.
1:09:25
You know, Louis, I see Kayla's got some Dainese boots, man.
1:09:30
What was, is that an official thing, what's happening?
1:09:33
Is that just a personal preference?
1:09:35
Who, who? Who?
1:09:36
Kayla Yakov I. Don't know what you're talking
1:09:40
about bro. OK all.
1:09:43
Right. I don't know what you're talking
1:09:44
about. I know that word.
1:09:49
He pleased the 5th. No, we gave.
1:09:52
We gave Elena Dreyer. So that's what.
1:09:58
I'm thinking my bad. Maybe that's what I'm thinking.
1:09:59
Yeah, my bad. Yeah, yeah, She, you know, we,
1:10:02
we've, I got him confused. Yeah, we've helped out in Josh
1:10:07
Herron for AI mean Josh Hayes for a while now, because Josh
1:10:11
used to be in TCX boots when he was racing.
1:10:13
And since Diane is the own TCX, we've always tried to help him
1:10:17
out. And he kind of reached out to us
1:10:20
and kind of told us Elena had some just some foot issues, like
1:10:25
she got her foot or heel or something injured last year.
1:10:30
I don't know if it was on the track or dirt riding or
1:10:32
something like that. And they kind of reached out and
1:10:35
they're like, is there anything we can do about getting some
1:10:38
boots for her? And I was like, yeah,
1:10:39
absolutely. I have no problem helping him
1:10:41
out. You know, I have a lot of
1:10:42
respect for Josh Hayes. Just, you know, top, top guy in
1:10:46
the paddock, just a stand up kind of person.
1:10:49
Him and Melissa Paris having a program that kind of like helps
1:10:52
kids come along is, is, I think it's a great program.
1:10:56
So, yeah, we, you know, we're always looking, we're always
1:10:59
willing to help people that are, are just the right people, you
1:11:02
know. And so we reached out, they
1:11:05
reached out. And when you're like, yeah, so
1:11:07
yes, we got her some, some boots.
1:11:08
So she hopefully she likes them. She says she does.
1:11:11
And, you know, it's just one more kid that we're protecting.
1:11:14
You know, I don't have a problem that I actually enjoy doing
1:11:19
stuff like that. And as far as the rest of our
1:11:20
team, you know, the rest of our teams come together pretty good.
1:11:23
We have one person that's kind of pending.
1:11:26
I can't really talk about it right right now, but there's one
1:11:28
person that's pending that Hopefully if something comes
1:11:32
together, this person will be riding in Super Bike.
1:11:36
OK, OK, the podcast host that that's a really good friend of
1:11:40
yours, but. No, no, no, no.
1:11:45
Super sport, that's. Yeah.
1:11:47
So no, he he'll be in Super bike in Super Sport.
1:11:50
Last year we helped Gus Rodeo and unfortunately he had a
1:11:54
financial situation and the team that he was riding with just
1:11:57
couldn't finish the season. This year, like he's got full
1:12:01
support to make it through the entire season and so he's super
1:12:05
hyped up to to get back out there.
1:12:08
Obviously we've got a bunch of we got Bobby, we've got Jason
1:12:13
Uribe, we've got Hank Vosberg in the Twins class and I think he's
1:12:19
he might do double duty, but he hasn't said yet.
1:12:21
But he definitely wants to run into Twins class because he
1:12:23
thinks he can win the championship.
1:12:26
So a good a good mix of like young veteran returning riders.
1:12:31
So we're always trying to do stuff to to stay relevant in the
1:12:34
game and help the right people. Nice, nice.
1:12:36
That's what we love and and like to see.
1:12:39
My name is Rex 44 if it's the beef ever cool podcast.
1:12:42
I want to thank Reese from Attack, Yamaha, TJ from 2 Wheels
1:12:46
and Coffee, the real Louis Ortega, the numbers guy.
1:12:49
Peace, peace. He's out.