Big fish stories…
OK, I’m a week into my summer vacation and so far not a single “chore” on the decade old “need fixing” list has been done. Now that’s what I call a good start to a lazy month of July! I think the only constructive thing I’ve accomplished so far is writing “The Experience” blog for my friends out on West 16th Street the past two weeks.
I have managed to spend a fair amount of time on two wheels in-between spouts of rain, storms and cutting grass. Two Sundays ago, Ducati Indianapolis and Commonwealth Motorcycles in Louisville, Ky., hosted a track day out at Putnam Park Road Course. I picked a nice, twisty back road route out to Mount Meridian, Ind., and spent the afternoon watching the guys play.
It’s always fun to hear the stories from the day of exploring the limits of man and machine. One of the guys from Ducati Indianapolis experienced his first knee plant during the day. We’ve all seen the pro’s dragging their knees around a road race course but the first time you plant and drag your knee pucks on a set of race leathers is a big story to share with your friends. If Mike could only get his elbows on the pavement, we could call him “Elbowz II.”
This past weekend saw the MotoGP teams journey over the big pond to central California with the running of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on July 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Our local MotoGP hero, Nicky Hayden, had the best event yet in his maiden season aboard a Ducati, qualifing in eighth position and finishing fifth behind his teammate, Casey Stoner in fourth place. Check out the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Race Report by Paul Kelly at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com.
The big story of the Laguna Seca weekend was the unveiling of the 2010 Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Edition by Ducati North America. This US-exclusive model features an American inspired paint scheme, aptly fit for its introduction on the 4th of July and personally autographed on the gas tank by Nicky himself. You can visit the Nicky Hayden Web site to get all the details; www.nickyhayden.com.
Well, like all big secrets, this one was all over the motorcycle forums for weeks before with photos popping up during the preceeding week. Given my passion for very special motorcycles, several friends were immediately teasing me that this could be the next addition to the collection. The power of digital photo editing dangled one big fish that took several of my buddies hook, line and sinker. Gotcha, Paul!
I think my stable of bikes is max’d out for now, and I’m not sure Greta over at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum would let me order any more specialty license plates! If you want to check out the 2010 Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Edition, rumor has it Ducati Indianapolis is uncrating one today up in Zionsville, Ind., and that’s not a “big fish” story.
I’ll see you all next week with more vacation experiences at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg