Bixxer (Suzuka)

[Chris Canning]

I'm at that age where I need to do things when I remember  this sunday is the Suzuka 8 hour on Eurosport.

[Sin_Tiger]

Phew, I was half expecting to read that you'd decided to go 

[John Stenhouse]

With Casey Stoner riding.........should be good

[Chris Canning]

Phew, I was half expecting to read that you'd decided to go 

God knows how many people I have spoken too about going and everyone to a man has said don't go and they've been 

For the non racers on here,this single race dominates everything motorcycle in Japan even WSB and Moto GP get put on the back burner,the Yamaha is the one too look at,they have really been up against it this year from Dunlop walking out on them at the TT to the bike that Josh Brooks rides in BSB is not much more than a road bike.

[Nick Calne]

What makes people say not to go Chris? 

[nickjtc]

Lucky you guys who can watch it on the telly.

[Chris Canning]

What makes people say not to go Chris? 

The killer is the humidity and they have all said the same along with it being a very strange place you want to buy anything from a drink to a tee shirt it comes out of a machine  and I guess I've spoken to at least 20 people mainly bike mechanics and a couple of racers working for teams and they have all be very negative.

The irony the Japanese factories throw the absolute kitchen sink at this race financially with the most trick bikes.

[Nick Calne]

Pity. I would have though a Japanese version of Le mans with 24 hour drinking, karaoke and geisha would have been a bloody good laugh. Oh well.

[Sin_Tiger]

it being a very strange place you want to buy anything from a drink to a tee shirt it comes out of a machine 

Including, Ice Cream, Curry & Rice, Pot Noodles, Pizza, Sake (hot or cold), Beer (up to 3litre keg size but that's a story for another day), Porny Mags and ............. used panties complete with a photo of the previous user ......... yes really  Strange place, you think you've got a handle on what's going on and then one tiny thing happens and you realise you haven't got a clue about it really.

Like you say, a lot of what goes on, like bike racing, is all about domestic sales in particular. Many, that haven't lived outside Japan, really do believe that Sean Connery buys Suntory whiskey and Leonardo Di Caprio drives a Suzuki Wagon R and that's why they advertise them (big money in it), if you haven't seen Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation" it's well worth a watch.

Rather than watch the GP, go to just about any large out of town shopping car park or industrial area after 1 am over a weekend to watch the nutters racing or drifting everything with wheels, 2T's are king with some absolutely outlandish bodywork creations, believe me a Steamer Trike wouldn't even get a look in, lots of fun

[Bixxer Bob]

Cheers for the reminder Chris 

It's on my record list but I'll probably get up and watch it.  Bradley and the Yam lads blitzed allcomers in the wet first practice today. The Suzuki team of Kagayama, Haga  and one other (was supposed to be Kyonari but he's not listed for some reason) should be entertaining.

[Bixxer Bob]

Wow! What an eventful 8 hours, always something going on.  Well done to the Yamaha boys Smith, Espagaro and Nagasuka and the brilliant new R1.  They made overtaking look easy!

Glad Stoner's not too badly hurt, that was a very nasty crash; broken left tib and right shoulder apparently.

Nearly forgot, well done to the old men team coming third, Kyo, Kaga and Haga

[Chris Canning]

Great race everything I'd hoped for and some,now that at long last it's been televised can only be good for bikes and endurance racing I look forward to being at the Bol in September at the Ricard

[Bixxer Bob]

 

[nickjtc]

Again, lucky you blokes who can watch on the telly. 

[NeilD]

first time i'd seen it on the TV.. fortunately i was on a nightshift so got to watch the first few hours, then home for a sleep and up in time for the finish :)  lots of bikes out there - looked like rush hour on the M25 at times...