Tom Reynolds to race Factory Honda in 2009 Motocross series

DSCN1896, originally uploaded by thomasrdotorg.

-------------PRESS RELEASE----------

Woodstock Thor Honda and Thomasrdotorg are pleased (some might say "fully stoked") to announce a one year deal for Melbourne motoring journalist Tom Reynolds to race in the factory Woodstock Thor Honda team aboard a special one off Japanese prepared CRF450X.

Team owner Yarrive Konsky: "After Tom's startling performances in last year's Dirt Bike Master's we were ready to look at a full year deal. His performances showed us we had found a rider for the over 50's. Of course he's 'only' 37, so that did make things a little difficult- but we'll sort that out in due course. All jokes aside, we were pleased with the races he competed in where he didn't crash- and that was a special one. The race where he crashed and broke two ribs showed us that he was a special rider. Very special. Of course at the time, we didn't know the full extent of the damage and we were very, very worried. It was only later we discovered that it was a triple clamp setup, a set of handle bars, a full set of plastics, an exhaust and two marshals."

Yarrive continues:
"After looking at the team members for 2009, it was clear we were going for a youth policy, so bringing Tom into the team will help to raise not only our spirits, but also the average age. We've gone from an average of 18 to 29 by adding just one rider."

Tom Reynolds:
"There will naturally be some people who see this as a decision that is not based around talent, but more around whether I can get Yarrive a drive in an Aston Martin for the weekend. The answer is yes; anytime Yarrive wants a drive in an Aston I can organise it for an hour or two."

While the deal has only just been finalised, Reynolds rejects any suggestions that he will not be fit enough for this weekend's opening round at Albury Wodonga. "I won't lie, at 37 it's a struggle to get to a racing weight and Honda have been very supportive by providing a rear suspension setup straight off a Gold Wing. Meanwhile I've been hard at it for months. I'm on a semi strict diet of hops, barley and wheat delivered by liquid infusion. In time I've been on said diet I've gone from 72kgs to a race ready 97kgs."

At time of writing, the final hurdle is an ASDA supervised drug test, due to be completed this afternoon 1 April 2009...

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11:59am STOP PRESS UPDATE:
Woodstock Thor Honda regret to announce that Tom Reynolds has been released from his racing contract for 2009 effective immediately after failing a drugs test. Details at this time are sketchy, but it is understood that an excessive amount of oestrogen was found in his system, rendering him not only unable to compete in the men's division, but a threat to other team members safety.

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Thomasr's Twittering gets him in Mainstream Media

the-age-30-3, originally uploaded by thomasrdotorg.

Wait, yr doing it backwards!

Thanks to Suzanne Carbone for having the vision to include a few paras about me at the F1 GP tweeting like an OCD sufferer (without the suffering bit!)

No... where are those offers of Social Media work? HUH?

My new hero

Lord Paul Drayson:

With a seat in the House of Lords, a biotechnology fortune in the bank and good sight in just one eye, Paul Drayson is an unlikely candidate to become Britain's next motor-racing hero. But yesterday the 47-year-old minister for defence equipment and support wrote one of the most unusual resignation notes in political history and told Gordon Brown he was standing down to pursue his dream of winning the Le Mans 24-hour motor race.

More here

Pic Post 2: Rally of Melbourne- my ride

With Adrian Rowe in tow, we went up to the Toolangi state forest for a visit to the testing site for the Rally Of Melbourne where Neil Bates took me for a wild ride in his Toyota Corolla S2000 class rally car. I have been in cars with several race drivers and I have never, ever seen a driver as busy as a rally driver. Sawing the wheel back and forth like Mr Miyagi's "wax on wax off" scene and more toe tapping than a blues gig, it's a busy office for the rally folk.

I would hasten to add, that until you experience travelling through the bush at warp factor ludicrous... well maybe you haven't lived.

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg's Rally of Melbourne photoset

MotoGP weekend at Phillip Island

What a busy, insane, fun, triumphant, and satisfying weekend.

Broadcaster, producer, news reporter, interviewer, host, MC, commentator and- above all else- MotoGP fan.

www.flickr.com

More pics here.

Off to Bathurst we go

In this:


Ford FPV R- Spec Typhoon Turbo.

Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) has released its new limited edition F6 R-Spec Typhoon, featuring FPV's innovative R-Spec suspension and handling package. The F6 R-Spec is the first of FPV's six-cylinder models to feature the R-Spec suspension. The stylish new addition to the FPV stable is identified with distinctive R-Spec badging, and ''Dark Argent''gunmetal accents on the wheels and rear spoiler as standard. With production limited to just 300 units, the new F6 R-Spec will come with a unique build certificate of authenticity.

Simply Awesome

Was a pleasure to witness this moment:


Casey, well done. Many said you couldn't do it- including me.

I have never been so glad to be so wrong.

Casey Stoner- MotoGP champ this weekend?

casey-poster copy, originally uploaded by thomasrdotorg.

Oh Spring- how lovely thou art! Now while the single horsepower spring racing carnival is looking shaky, the machine based high horsepower racing season is looking more exciting than ever. Alonso vs Hamilton: too close to call! V8s- Bathurst looking as exciting as all get out.

To top it all off, we are perhaps a week or so away from having Casey Stoner crowned MotoGP world champion: our first in the four stroke era and our first since Mighty Mick Doohan. While the GP corporation would ideally have this Championship decided at Phillip Island (and so would the fans no doubt) it looks more likely that the Japanese round at Motegi on the weekend of 22/23 September looks the likely round (trust me, we've sat down and done the points scenarios!).

To celebrate 3AW has organised to have the Station Hotel in Greville st Prahran booked out for MotoGP fans to watch the race on the Sunday 23rd. Being in Japan, the race is one hour earlier- so no late Sunday night! From midday, join Australian Superbike Champion and 3AW commentator Adam Fergusson (and other guests) and me as we preview the race, review the season and watch the race on the multiple projectors and plasma screens at the Station hotel. Numbers will be limited, so get along early!

Entry is FREE, so get along from midday Sunday 23rd September! Here's the poster link.

Valentino Rossi: a beaten man?

Sportal > Motorsport > News
Valentino Rossi:

"'We'll need to find new motivations because we've already won everything,''Rossi, a five-time world champion, told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport."

I think this is the first sign that he is beaten. When you talk about how you are satisfied with your achievements, you show the present is not that important to you. When you say you need new motivations when you are not even leading the championship as you so comfortably have done so in the past, you show you are beaten.

Casey Stoner, now is the time to play the very same game as Rossi has played on so many before him. Get into the press talk about someone else as your main rival. Talk about how you think other riders believe they can take it up to Rossi. Press home this psychological advantage. Remember: Rossi would break you like he broke Gibernau, Biaggi and any one else who tried to get on the same anthill. It's Karmic retribution, but it's also how this sport works.

Elfin video!

Vermuelen wins!

I'm sure it came as some relief to Chris Vermuelen to win his first MotoGP race yesterday at Le Mans

As a second year rider, the pressure would be coming on mid-to-late season to get a podium or a win. Last year he achieved at Phillip Island (2nd) along with two pole positions that did not convert into wins.

So the hoodoo is broken. He went the right way at his press conference (as he so often does) by basically admitting he's very good in the rain but now wants a dry win.

For some reason the global press consider the rain win as something that does not cement you as a good rider. I think the opposite is true. As Darryl Beattie said "Take the horsepower out of it (ie when it rains) and Chris is The Man." Too true!

For the sport of motorcycling (especially in Australia) this could not come at a better time. Chris is one of Australia's most level headed, thoughtful and eloquent sports people at the moment. He will make a great ambassador for Australia and for MotoGP back into Australia. Sponsors: get aboard the V-train!

I've followed his career since '99 when he first raced in Oz Superbikes before the visionary that was Barry Sheene snagged him a British Superbike ride. I've also been fortunate enough to interview Chris on several occasions- the first being in his first (guest) MotoGP ride at Phillip Island on a Honda in 2005 when rode really well and showed he was not over-awed by the occasion.

I was a little skeptical when he first when to MotoGP with Suzuki. It seemed that another year in World Superbike would be best- he would have been favourite and a WSBK title would sit well next to his WSS title. That said, it also might have poisoned his technique- and there is no doubt that MotoGP (esp in the 800cc era) needs a different technique to WSBK and the failure of most WSBK riders in MotoGP is proof.

But Chris knew something that the rest of us jumped over. Honda have been poor to bad in the 800cc era, so waiting in WSBK (in '06) for a chance to ride a satellite 800cc Honda would have been a very bad move. Suzuki have shown a steady determination to succeed and I think this win will give them the confidence that they really can dice with the best. I think the belief has always been there, but now they have the proof as well.

So, huge congratulations Chris- now get that dry weather win!!

Sportal.com.au - Motorsport

Wishing Kusty a speedy recovery...

DVS Honda star rider Adam "Krusty" Fergusson is in a stable condition in the Launceston General Hospital after a very nasty crash during testing at Symmons Plains,Tasmania yesterday. The 2004 dual Australian Champion suffered multiple fractures across his body and lost consciousness for a short time after the crash and is out for the remainder of the season. He is scheduled to have his first surgery this afternoon to plate both legs. Further surgeries are expected.

More details will be released as they are confirmed.

The entire team at DVS Honda wish him a full and speedy recovery and would like to thank the track staff and in particular the other teams and riders for their support and assistance at the trackside.

It goes without saying that I hope Krusty is up and about and back on deck in a timely and healthy manner.

This accident, from all reports, was humongous and has badly broken both his legs.

But it's hard to keep a good man down and harder still to keep a hard man down, so I full expect Krusty to rise up and walk across Bass Straight to M-town.

Get well soon mate.