I bet you were all thinking about another motorsport piece on Lewis Hamilton. After all, he's just won again in Indianapolis on the world-famous Speedway, and extended his World Championship lead at the same time as turning the screws on his team-mate Alonso. But no.
I want to celebrate the maiden victory for Jonathan Rae in his home race at Mondello Park today in the British Superbike Championship. Young Rae is only 20 years old, and has had a rather dodgy record of recklessness and crashing in his brief senior career in motor-cycle racing. To be honest, his junior record was mostly about crashing too! But Honda have shown faith, and this is now being repaid.
HM Plant are accustomed to nurturing champions - Neil Hodgson maybe the best known of these - after all he became World Superbike Champion just a few years ago. Don't you just remember the celebrations when he won? It was glorious - Who's The Daddy? on his T-shirt over the leathers as he did his celebration lap.
Well this boy from Ballyclare may be the next big thing. No British biker has made an impact on MotoGP - the highest level of racing - but next week young Rae will be guesting at Donington and after his win this weekend, who would be prepared to say that he will be out-classed?
And in a postscript, the winner of the first race was Leon Haslam - Rocket Ron's son. He's still only 22 even though he's been around forever. Wait til the MotoGP bosses come calling for him.
I have written all of this from memory and can nothing to back up my stats! All I can find is that Neil won for Ducati. So now a chance for everyone to weigh in and put me right on facts.
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7 comments:
Mimi
didn't he just win the 300km marathon in Japan... and then hightailed it home to Ireland to win again!
crikey.
sunshine indeed (though he won in the rain in the Suzuka)... was it wet at Mondello?
keep us posted Mimi...
Mimi,
I didn't know much about Jonathan Rae, but Lewis Hamilton got all the attention in the world- Twice in a row, only Graham Hill and Nigel Mansel had done it before becoming world champions.Alonso who?
For the casually interested:
Championship standings
After seven races
1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati 140pts
2. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 126
3. Dani Pedrosa (Esp) Honda 98
4. Marco Melandri (Ita) Honda 75
5. Chris Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 72
6. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 72
7. Loris Capirossi (Ita) Ducati 57
8. Alex Barros (Bra) Ducati 51
9. Toni Elias (Esp) Honda 45
10. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 45
Does Rae replace anyone or have the team just got a spare bike?
Can Rossi come back from his psycholigically damaging defeat by Stoner in Catalonia?
If Rae joins Stoner at Ducati next year can will there be an article entitled:
Casey and the Sunshine band?
Doc: yep, Rea did indeed win at Suzuka.
Lev: he's got a wild card entry riding for Kenny Roberts team, so don't expect a great result for him, but there may be another of his stunning qualifying performances. At the least he's getting a chance to show off his wares to the great and good of the sport.
And that's a pretty awful Casey pun! But I like it.
a timely call for attention mimi, we'll be watching out for those shafts of Anglian sunshine and we won't forget to say we heard it here first
And I've just heard, Rae's not bloody riding at DP!
Grrr!
He's been told not to by Honda.
Honda are frightened of Rae showing up the works bikes.
I think he'll get a ride next season.
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