1998 (I think)

Taken before our first show. Jay had just gotten off work from his temp job as a banquet server.

Boom goes the dynamite!

After years of torment from his highschool classmates, Matt finally set the record straight. (That's right, I had a camera phone back in the late 80's)

Vintage Scepters

Actually, 'vintage' is basically their whole schtick, but you know what I mean.

Motorcyles, UFOs, Dean Martin, girl-saving 'hover guns', and train tracks that conveniently run off the end of a cliff...I would expect nothing less. Shagadelic.

Don't Mess With Texas (The Sequel)

New track, new country, new camels...same result. Both races played out in basically the same way...Spies (19) shadowed Haga (41) and Biaggi (3) while the pair of them passed and repassed each other and basically wore out their tires process. About this time, Spies realized he had to take a leak real bad, passed Haga/Biaggi, and bee-lined it to the port-a-potty which was conveniently located right by the start/finish line. Game, set, match. It was fairly obvious that Spies' R1 was down a few MPHs on the long Losail straight, yet he still 'managed' to win both races by a Texas-sized (see what I did there?) margin. I'm sure Yamacrew will wring a few more ponies from that motor. When (not 'if') this happens, things are going to be really bleak for the rest of the grid. The pictures below (in order) pretty much sum up both races.

(photos from soup and crash.net)













I really expected Max NewKitchenAir to be at the front in these races. The massive straight line speed of the Suzuki fits this track just dandy. I think he lobbed it in race 1 and finished sixth in race 2...or the other way around. Biaggi did good to put the brand spankin' new Aprilia on the podium in both races. I think he could be the dark horse title contender on that bike. As for Haga, I think he is in shock at the cow pie (get it?) Spies has dropped on his assumed 'World Title Season'.

Don't Mess With Texas

Spies on pole in 'Cutter' (© Despain)

That's right...The Texas Tarantula has lassoo'd (he's from Texas, ya' know) his second pole position of the season. In the first loser spot we find Mr. Jakub "vowels are sooo last week" Smrz on the private Duck. Biaggi sits in third on the Aprilia that you can buy at your local dealer. Rounding out the front row is Haga. Starting position doesn't really have any bearing on where Haga will finish the race. Last time out at Phillip Island He won race 1 and bagged a second in race 2 from 14th or so on the grid. he could probably start tomorrow's race from the port-a-loo on pitlane and still make his way up the front within a few laps.

As for the races...you'd be a loon not to think Spies will take at least one win. I think him and Biaggi will split the wins. Haga is hit and miss at Qatar, and will probably hit the deck at least once (while waving at Biaggi). Then again, he could clear off, win both races, and make me look like a stupid dummy.

Methinks...

Race 1 Biaggi/Fabrizio/Spies
Race 2 Spies/Haga/Biaggi


T...out

There's a racetrack in my sandbox

World Superbike is in Qatar this weekend. So far, Texan Ben Spies and his elbows are on top of the time sheets...not bad for a series rookie on a new bike who has never been to the track before. Final qualifying tomorrow, and races on Saturday instead of Sunday (due to local religious nuttiness). Speed is even showing both races back-to-back on Saturday. Thank you baby Jesus.

Lousy service is no surprise...

Here's a 30 second song The Chezwicks did for a Big Tomato TV commercial a few years back.

cut-n-paste...

http://www.divshare.com/download/launch/6783301-1a1

Oonga Boonga

Red's latest creation...

Phillip Island

Finally...some racing! Race 1 saw Texas' own Ben Spies start from pole and then get punted into the gravel 3 corners later. Bummer. He kept the good ship Yamaha upright, reentered the race in last place, passed half of the field, and finish out in 16th. Good recovery, but no points. Haga and Newkershner exchanged the lead this many times (I'm holding up 12 fingers) with Haga eeking out the win. On to race 2...After letting Biaggi tag along for awhile in 3rd, Haga and Spies dropped their respective hammers and set off into the sunset to have their own little party. Spies sat on Haga's back wheel for most of the race and took notes. With two laps to go, Spies took his elbows past Haga. Haga countered with a roundhouse to the head. Spies then sealed the deal with a barrage of haymakers for the win. The flaptabulous British sensation Leon Haslam brought his Honder home in 3rd. Game, set, match. Thanks to Pat and Brenda for letting me watch the 2nd race on their laptop, and a big fuck you to SpeedTV for thinking that imagunna wait until Tuesday night to watch race 2. That's not how I roll.