Tony Elias-Moto GP 2008

Tony Elias new Ducati

Tony Elias is without a doubt my favorite rider in Moto GP. I always believed he could have a very promising career on the mecca of motorcycling but he never had the right support in the teams he is been involved with.

Tony's last season Honda RC 211 V Gresini team

The catalan lad just signed up to ride for Ducati in 2008 and despite its not an official team/bike [again] I really hope it gives him a better chance to display his top class and fearless driving style.

Tony new Ducati during last weeks trials

Elias reminds me a lot the good ol' Kevin Schwantz with those powerful two stroker 500 cc on the 80s and mid 90s, nothing to do with this days boring 800 cc 4 stroke ones, with the controversial traction control device and other sort of advancements in electronics. Yawn! But like I said Elias would have had lots of fun back then.

Kevin Schwantz

Moto GP 2008 Calendar

Date	GP	CIRCUIT
9th March	Qatar	Losail
30th March	Spain	Jerez
13th April	Portugal	Estoril
04th May	China	Shanghai
18th May	France	Le Mans
01st June	Italy	Mugello
08th June	Catalunya	Montmeló
22nd June	Great Britain	Donnington Park
28th July	Holland*	Assen
13th July	Germany	Sachsenring
20th July	U.S.A.	Laguna Seca
17th August	Checz Republic	Brno
31st August	San Marino	Misano
14th September	Indianápolis	Indianápolis
28th September	Japan	Motegi
05th October	Australia	Phillip Island
19th October	Malaysia	Sepang
26th October	Valencia	Ricardo Tormo, Cheste

Ducati Pramac-Dantin Team

I really wish him all the best, good luck Tony!

Exit Calm

Tour poster

They used to call themselves Lyca Sleep but after a short break and a new line up [new singer Nicky Smith] they are now Exit Calm . They are from Yorkshire in England.

I had the pleasure to meet them a couple of times in Manchester last year and they are top lads. Their reputation its increasingly growing amongst shoegaze and independent circles in Northern England. They are the next big thing!..

Exit Calm Tokyo 06

Rob Marshall [far right] is the best guitarrist I ve seen playing live for a long time. Top spacey& floating guitar riffs, even Mr. McCabe said he was very impressed with their sound. A full album release is expected very soon. Dont miss them if they play around.

It is also rumoured they could support The Verve in their upcoming tour and hopefully a full album will see the light very soon.

There are a couple of new demos in their myspace site:

http://www.myspace.com/exitcalm

Pals Girona Oct 2007.

Pals

Guillermo and Willy

Pals is a small Village located in the heart of Costa Brava. It a nice town with narrow stone made streets and medieval castle constructions everywhere. We reunited a bunch of friends last weekend there. It was the goodbye for 2007 summer. Now its time for mushroom picking.

Pals medieval streets

Pals local council. Are we missing a flag there? :-D

It was a quiet walk in town. Surprisingly there were no tourists around to be seen. I guess is very different in August.

Robert and Willy

Jordi looking to this posh house in the middle of the village

Yes man, we all dream sometimes too....

Nice garden

There is a church on the middle of the village. We tried to get a beer on the vending machine inside, but it was only for candles. Bummer.

The ecstasy of St. Robert

You can see the Medas Islands on the distance.

Medas Islands

They are a top place for scuba diving.

Willy haircut, back to the 70's?

We found the only bar open in town and we sat on the terrace for a quick beer.

Jordi and Guillermo

Well they were a few actually....

A proper paella at the end of the day was the cherry of the cake. And there was time for one more last swim too.

Jordi

Summer is almost gone

Ride to France

Port Bou

Llança Costa Brava

And Mission Complete!
Last sunday I drove all the way through the catalan coast in Costa Brava to the south of France.
Tossa de Mar, Empuries, Llança and then Port Bou right on the spanish border was the route. Amazing curvy roads shrouded by high cliffs and unspoiled wild beaches, the dream for any biker.

French border, on the way to Colliure

Bike performance was fantastic, so were the new competition tyres and the tunned exhaust [Akrapovic]. 700 km in two days and overall I can say it has passed the test. Althought a very different driving and a complete new experience than a two stroker I have to say, power is delivered in a very different way.
The Honda CBR 900 RR is a fucking missile!
I will post a full review&pics on the upcoming days.

Honda Fireblade 900 RR

Check out my new cutie. 150 HP of pure power.

Im planning next year to travel around Europe with it. Havent choosed places yet but there are some destinations on the cards. Will start this weekend with a trip to the south of France.
Might do some videos too.

Here is a short video I did record in Global Village fest in Tattershall [Lincolnshire] last July from Dave Fielding [The Chameleons] and his new band Coconut DF.. Not very good quality but there you go for those that havent heard the band.


Coconut DF Show Intro

Coconut DF Intro

Tossa St Feliu road

Ride to Tossa [Costa Brava] Part 1

Last saturday I went on a ride with my RD. Bikes have been always one of my top passions, since I was about 16 years old.

This time I wanted to test my Yamaha 350 F2 after all the changes I ve done to the engine on the last weeks and also try the new pair of racing pistons [Pro X] on full performance. It only needs to get fixed the front parts [faring] , maybe I will do this winter, as It does makes the difference for long trips and speed, but I like it naked too.

So a proper curvy road was the best choice for my trip.

Tossa Calas [Small beaches]

I decided to go to Costa Brava, considering its about 30 mins from my place in St. Pol it wasnt really a long journey.

Route from Malgrat de Mar , the end of Maresme

You drive through Malgrat, Blanes, Lloret de Mar and then its when things start to get interesting.

More Calas

Tossa de Mar coast road was the perfect location for my bike test.

Its been ages since I went there last time, maybe 10 years ago, or probably even more.

It used to be a perfect destination for bikers on the late 80s and the mid 90s, but apparently on the last years it got really really popular so I ve heard its normally pretty crowded, and sometimes cops are there althought mostly on sunday mornings.

As it was saturday I did not think that many people It would be there, so about lunch time I decided to set off.
I knew the roads would be empty by then.

The road goes all the way on the coast from Lloret de Mar to Tossa. High cliffs with a beautiful seenery.

All shrouded by pine forests and clean small beaches.
There werent any people on the road aside of me, I guess everybody was on the beach or eating, so the ride was pretty cool....and fast.

The perfect mediterranean atmosphere.

Brilliant curvy roads.

I tried the new tires too [Pirelli Sport Demon] and they were pretty good I have to say. They get better and better the more they warm up.


I finally arrived to Tossa, but I wanted a bit more, so I headed forward to St. Feliu de Guixols which its the next town, right before the popular and over crowded Platja D'Aro.

The road was brilliant too although It got a bit more narrow.

Few minutes later I got in St. Feliu, drove a bit through town and stopped for a drink. The place isn't really special, just another town in the coast. To be honest my appeal in the area goes more towards the quiet nice beaches I did pass before on my way. I remember the rave parties we used to do years ago in the odd hidden beach on this area. They were ace.

Few minutes later I thought was better to drive back.
I already tested my bike to the max [And didnt dissapointed me a bit], so I tried to drive this time more quietly and trying to enjoy more the beautiful seenery.
Pretty difficult task with a 2 stroke engine If you ask me.

Because I was driving a bit more slow, at some point I saw something I missed the first time:

I stopped and made a couple of pics.
Somebody seems had an accident and died right there not long ago.

There was a letter inside the helmet from his friends and family.

Makes you remember you are not alone in the road and to keep always your eyes open. A split second takes your far away from planeth earth.

Right before Lloret, around 6 pm I did my last stop, there was a nice cliff and I pulled over and had my funny smoke, that was compulsory and it was well deserved!

Few minutes later two more bikes stopped too. I had a chat with one of the lads. My bike unfortunetly, makes you be a bit noticed wherever you go [Perhaps for its acceleration: 100 km in 4 seconds, maybe because all the people died driving it here on Spain on the 80s], so we spoke a bit about our machines. He owned a Suzuki Rgv 250, another two stroker like mine.
I havent seen one for ages!

rgv 250

I ve heard pretty good reviews about this particular bike.

Rgv 250 2 stroke

But it has a big brother the rgv 250...which is the 500 one [2 stroke too]! Although I always liked more the Yamaha RD 500.

Couple of blokes came too few minutes later. One lad was driving a black 2005 Yamaha R6 the other one a brand new Suzuki 750r.

I took this photos and also one of the Pipe

Thats a proper Titanium 'Akra' pipe

He said he payed 2.000€ for it!
He also told me he runs circuit races. And few minutes later he left with an impressive wheelie, living everybody there in aw. [Yes I missed the shot!]

Nice one fella.

We saw other bikes passing through.

One was the Yamaha R6R, which is currently my favourite bike and hopefully pretty soon my next one.

Yamaha R6R 2007!

Cant wait to see the 2008 new one

More and more bikes were gathering there. It was a nice atmosphere. People chatted and exchanged engines&other parts knowledge. Finally somewhere you can exchange impressions with and not pissing&boring anyone off!

I enjoyed the chat with all the chaps there, it got more and more crowded, but it was time for me to go.

I wanted more and I thought to go back southwards on the way to Barcelona, but stopping in the Maresme area first. The Montnegre corridor was the the next destination.

Arenys de Munt, Torrentbó, Vallgorguina St. Vicenç de Montalt and St Andreu de Llavaneres too.

Great roads too....but that will go in part 2
If there is good weather this weekend will ride somewhere elses.