Wayne Gardner, the 1987 500cc World Champion and four time winner of the Suzuka 8 Hours and motorcycle icon of the ’80’s alongside the likes of Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, got to try seven different Superbikes marques at the Portimao track.

Gardner who turned fifty October 11th, gave his first impressions to Italian website GPone.

What did you think about these bikes?

“Each of them has a different personality and most of all the characteristics are very particular. I was impressed by the Yamaha which was very difficult to ride: my compliments to Ben Spies that brought it to victory, he did a great job. I was also impressed by the BMW’s, while the Kawasaki is the one that has the most potential. On this circuit, I had fun on the Ducati, it seemed made for those up and down hills that remind me very much of the English tracks, like Brands Hatch.”

Source | gpone

Continue reading: Wayne Gardner tests Superbikes at Portimao

Mick Doohan was one of several athletes that was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame last Thursday evening in a lavish 25th anniversary gala dinner in Melbourne.

Doohan, who last year he opened a nightclub the CatHouse Restaurant and Lounge at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, will become just the third motorcycle racer to be inducted into the hall of fame, behind Kel Carruthers and once rival and teammate Wayne Gardner.

Carruthers was world 250 GP champion in 1969, Gardner was 500cc champion in 1987, and Doohan who was 5 times GP World Champion from 1994 to 1998.

When recently asked by Australia’s Herald Sun why Aussies have made such an impact in motorcycle racing at an international level, Doohan replied:

“The motorsport capital is Europe and that’s a long way to go for Australians, so there’s no point in doing it half-heartedly. If you’re going to go you’ve got to give it your best shot - I think that’s the attitude most Australians have when they go overseas for anything. It’s a big effort to get there and a long, lonely journey back if you haven’t succeeded.”

Source | bikenews

Continue reading: Mick Doohan inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame

Casey Stoner returned for the Estoril GP and with his 2nd place and showed everyone that he hadn’t lost any of his talent and speed after his ‘mysterious’ illness and three race break, and that all the rumors surrounding his absence were unfounded.

During the Estoril press conference Stoner chastened the press and media and how they reacted to his break and the rumours that it caused, especially sighting out Kevin Schwantz saying he had lost respect for the 1993 world champion after the American appeared to criticise him for pulling out:

“You know something that really upset me a lot and I’ve lost a lot of respect for him is Kevin Schwantz. After what he said, I had a lot of respect for that guy, he’s been one of my favorite riders and probably one of the most exciting riders to watch throughout my career. When somebody like that says something like that, it shows you that experience counts for nothing, which is what I’ve been trying to tell people for a long time now. They’re always looking to the older riders to give their points of view, but unfortunately, their points of view are very hard and there’s no changing them.”

Adding:

“I saw the Kevin Schwantz thing and things like that, and it really made me laugh. It pissed me off at the same time, because I had a lot of respect for those riders, Jeremy McWilliams as well, I mean, what the hell do they know? Really, what do they know? Everyone’s sitting their with an opinion when they know nothing, and they don’t know the situation.”

You’d think that after these subduing comments, everyone would now tread very softly around Stoner and try not bring up the story anymore, but not Wayne Gardner.

Continue reading: Wayne Gardner: Stoner's Absence 'Very Suspicious'

Those were the days! Here is a video of the 1987 Gran Prix of Argentina in the 500 class, with three riders on the track that have made history in this sport: Eddie Lawson, another great American in Randy Mamola and Australia’s Wayne Gardner.

Take a look at the video from times gone by to see a mix-up in the start, and Mamola having a pee right in front of the crowd (for which he was subsequently fined, apparently). A bit of nostalgia on Thursday for you.

Continue reading: Amarcord: vintage videos of Lawson, Mamola and Gardner

Nothing like the comparison to a dentist visit to give you an idea of what a crash at full speed on a motorbike can be like. Enjoy this older video of Barry Sheene and Wayne Gardner discussing Frankie Chili’s “spin out”.

Continue reading: Barry Sheene and Wayne Gardner talk Franki Chili's crash