The short, redheaded, freckled-faced kid looks more like a candidate to carry your groceries to the car at Publix than for superstardom, but that’s what Ricky Carmichael is: His nickname is “GOAT,” as in Greatest Of All Time, which in the world of motocross motorcycle racing he may well be. He’s the only rider in the AMA motocross history to have an undefeated season — and he did it twice.
Carmichael — a 29-year-old native of Clearwater who lives with wife Ursula and their twins near Tallahassee — has been busy making the transition from racing on two wheels to four. This afternoon, he’ll be behind the wheel of the Kevin Harvick-owned Monster Energy Chevrolet, starting 23rd in the 43-car grid for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, the ARCA race that officially kicks off the oval track portion of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway… More info
LONDON
— What would be the ideal address for Iron Maiden’s new hotel in London? How about 666 Satan’s Passage, or 1 Louder Than Ten Lane? Alas, it’s located in one of the quieter corners of Soho, with the city’s largest toy shop and a rather nice Zara around the corner.
On a recent morning, workmen unloaded vans outside the two genteel Victorian townhouses that have been knocked together to create the Sanctum Soho Hotel. The workers’ cigarettes were pretty much the only indication of antisocial activity: No champagne bottles crashed to the ground, no one was peeing out a top-floor window, and the only vinyl platform boots in sight belonged to gentlemen who can usually be found in that corner of Soho anyway…
…There was a time when you could drive a motorcycle down a hotel corridor, if you were on that month’s cover of Creem. Keith Richards could set fire to his hotel room, and Keith Moon could take the screws out of the furniture in his so that it would fall apart when the next guest arrived, and they’d still be invited back…Â More info
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… immediately thought about Dan Pastor. I knew that Dan had been riding here and there because ESPN contribution photog Garth Milan told me that he had done a photoshoot with him recently. I also knew that Dan’s been surfing his ass off, but I that’s about it. He’s obviously been out of the spotlight as far as FMX goes, so I decided to hit him up and see what the hell he’s been doing to pass the time… More info
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Michelin has announced its participation in three motorcycle speedway racing competitions in 2009. It will take part in the Endurance World Championship as well as in national speed championships in Spain and Italy.
This year, Michelin will provide tires for the Yamaha Austria Racing Team, which finished second over all in the six-race 2008 Endurance World Championship. The partnership will enable Michelin to measures its tires against its competitors’ products… More info
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