| Author | Message | ||
     Ebear |
OK...maybe not made in Heaven but a truly great first attempt! A brand new track barely out of the gate but showing great promise, NOLA did quite a job proving what she can do.Barely completed in time for this race, The Big Kahuna New Orleans Presented By Dunlop Tire And Leovince, Nola Motorsports Park Event was quite a happening and drew an admirable crowd for it's first Pro race. Managing a considerably sized group for an Inaugural event, New Orleans Motorsports Park and it's employees showed it's visitors that it can stand with the best of them and proved to everyone in attendance that the Louisianean's know how to have a great time at whatever they set their minds to! EBR also showed it's stuff with a Podium on Sunday under some very stiff competition.Still down on power, Danny overcame those odds and achieved an admirable second place on Sunday, however was moved to third following a penalty because of crossing a paint line at the final turn during the race. This line was added at the last moment to keep the racers away from the pit wall since it was an impact zone too close to the beginning of the Pit lane. Danny's bike slid entering this zone and would have put him in the wall had he not crossed that line. Seemingly unfair and unavoidable, this encroachment on the line gave him a 5 second penalty which placed him behind the next rider in line, Ben Bostrum. Not even finding this out untill arriving at the Podium also seemed unfair, however the track has suggested a remedy before the next Pro event. Nevertheless, a great time was had by all and I fully expect this venue to be on the schedule for next year.Well, so much for my verbalization, lets get going with some Images! (Message edited by ebear on October 08, 2012) (Message edited by ebear on October 08, 2012) | ||
| Ebear |
 Diana Dempsey watching Danny practice his racecraft  Danny Eslick rounding the last real turn.Following this is a kink in the track where the infamous "paint line" exists  Geoff May rounding turn 15  Mike Kirkpatrick,Mrs. Eslick,Michael Barnes and friends watch the Final Race in the Pit stall  Geoff May flying low  Sometimes you find innovative ways to warm your hands on a cold Bayou morning!  That infamous line comes so fast at the beginning of the front straight  Danny Eslick celebrates his New Orleans Podium  As Josh Hayes celebrates his!  Geoff May leading the pack on Saturday  Looks like the Mardi Gras head is sharing Ben Bostrums champagne  Geoff May pushing forward  Media center interviews with the winners  Seeing Nines  30 Seconds till start  Danny gets a winners circle hug from Mom  Geoff May keeping his eye on Aaron Yates on his #20 bike (Message edited by ebear on October 08, 2012) (Message edited by ebear on October 08, 2012) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Fantastic! Can't wait to watch it. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
Wish I could have stayed. When my reason for going was gone there were other things more important to do. Good showing by all on a new unseasoned track. | ||
| Fuzzz |
Great Pics!! Thanks for sharing! Watched the races yesterday on Speed and was pleased to hear Russel say he needed to eat his words from earlier in the season when he was criticizing the front brakes on the EBR's...I also enjoyed the commentators praising the efforts of Erik and company! The paint line rule bit a couple of riders, and seemed rather silly, why not fix the potential problem instead of a bad band-aid? BTW, did you see the last lap incident with Mike Barnes and Tyler O'Hara in the XR1200 race? WTH?? At least the AMA doled out an appropriate punishment for that BS...Congrats to Mike Barnes for his 1st AMA Championship ever! Thanks EBR for an exciting season!!! It was awesome to see an American motorcycle do so well against the "giants" of Superbike racing!! I sure hope the teams remain unchanged for next year, Go Geoff, Danny and the rest of the New Elves!!! | ||
| Dennis_c |
That was not appropriate punishment Barnes got beat fair and square. Barns is a big cry baby.  Tyler did not try to wreck him he just let him know that he was going to get beat and he was there. I have seen the same thing at Lima flat track a few yrs. ago. If I was Barns I would put my hands behind my back to the get my trophy.  | ||
| Court |
What a GREAT season from a GREAT group of folks at EBR and a GREAT group of fans . . . . Anyone getting the sense that next year could be huge? :-) I'm thinking the awards banquet tonight is going to absolutely ROCK ! Well done ! Court | ||
| Hughlysses |
Dennis- I don't know if you were there or not but I was and I think the punishment for that was lenient if anything. 2 bikes going WFO at 100+MPH side-by-side approaching the finish line on the last lap and you reach over and GRAB you competitor's throttle arm? Even if O'hara was going to pass Barnes (which didn't look likely) it seems like an incredibly stupid and dangerous thing to do. Back on topic, congratulations to EBR, Danny, Geoff, Erik, and all concerned. | ||
| Ljm |
I had a few questions that maybe someone who knows could answer. A few races back they were looking for a few more h.p. and were at a disadvantage on the faster tracks. I haven't seen them all but that was a long, long straight. And fast on the backside S curves. Did they find them? Tire wear: worse for them on the hotter day? For me, I tear chunks off my pirellis when ground colder. And they are slicker, than, well you know. Geoff's mechanical? It was a bummer as he was on the move. Glad he was still 5th in rider points. Did he lose all pts for not finishing? Btw, Erik says they are working very hard to get the new models out because they know we are all anxious out here. Thanks, Larry | ||
| Smoke4ndmears |
LJM: I stayed up and watched the 2nd race. I don't think Geoff had a mechanical -unless it led directly to his EBR collecting some dirt and grass. Bummer for him -not like him to be off the track so frequently. Danny and B-Boz had a nice scrap -the more and more 'Slick rides the 1190 the more entertaining he is that's for sure. He had quite a hot moment passing Ben that I'm surprised he made it out of. When is the official news that Danny is signed on for next year coming? May and Eslick is the perfect pair of riders! | ||
| Dennis_c |
I was not there watched it on TV saw the same thing at Lima flat track they were sideways coming out of turn 4 and he reached over and taped the other guy on the shoulder to let him know he was passing him. I watched it again on the VCR he wasn't trying to wreck him. I still say Barns is a cry baby do anything to get the #1 plate. Any one with a VCR let me know what you think. Go EBR next year hurry up with the new bikes I cant wait. | ||
| Dennis_c |
Ebear great pictures | ||
| Ulyranger |
No VCR, but i do have a DVR........and that sure looks more like a grab and pull by Ohara vs a simple "tap" on the shoulder. But what the heck do i know. congratulations to EBR, Erik, Geoff, Danny, the Elves and the whole team(s) for a job well done this year! A great foundation to build on next year, hopefully they can keep the same cast. | ||
| Elvis |
Any one with a VCR let me know what you think. It looked to me like O'Hara didn't tap but grabbed and pulled and gained an advantage not only by pulling himself forward and pulling Barnes back, but he also distracted Barnes and interfered with his ability to operate the throttle. It was unsportsmanlike, it gave O'Hara an advantage that may have been the difference in the race. It was clearly and unambiguously illegal and dangerous and the AMA should take strong action to make sure nobody does it again. I feel bad for Barnes because he had to have his championship marred by such a dumb act and I have no sympathy for O'Hara who completely forfeited any chance he had at a legitimate win with one of the dumbest things I've ever seen in AMA racing.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
I agree with Elvis and Ulyranger. We were sitting in the covered grandstands at the exit of turn 16 and we could clearly see them both as they accelerated onto the front straight away and we saw O'Hara grab Barnes arm and then watched the replay on the jumbo-tron Speed had at the end of the track. Everybody (me, my son-in-law, and a bunch of people we didn't know) all looked at each other and said "WTF was THAT?!!!!" I didn't have a dog in the fight and didn't care who won; it was an exciting, clean race up to that point. I don't get why he'd need to let Barnes know anything. They were on a straightaway and if O'Hara was going to pass Barnes for the win Barnes would have known it well before they got to the first turn. (Message edited by Hughlysses on October 08, 2012) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Alright guys, here's the Barnes/O'Hara XR1200 finish video- watch and make your own call: http://www.speedtv.com/video/moto-racing/ama-xr120 0-crazy-finish-new-orleans-2012-1884271537001 | ||
| Davegess |
That was very blatant but not the first time it has been done. Lots of guys (some of them big time racers) have grabbed the back of a seat or a bit of fairing but that was right in front of all the cameras and impossible to miss. | ||
| Hughlysses |
BTW- by the last few laps of the second superbike race, Eslick was consistently turning sub-1:40 laps, faster than he'd qualified or run all weekend, and nearly as fast as Hayes. I still haven't seen any info on Geoff's mechanical failure. If you watch the highlight video on Speed.com, at about 3 minutes left you can see Geoff riding across the track at slow speed at the exit of turn 3 (?) past the end of the front straight away. It'll be interesting to see what EBR turns up with next season. 10 more HP? Traction control? Both? Things could get REALLY interesting. | ||
| Sparky |
Also in the second race, Eslick did a spectacular recovery from what could have been a nasty highside while powering through a turn. Commentators praised Danny for saving it while attributing it to his 'loose' riding style. Anybody see that? Too bad he (and others) had to cross that "stupid" (his words) white line though. That's where appropriate adjustments in the track need to be made if they're going to continue racing there. Great race efforts, Danny and Goeff! Nice way to end this period of developing the bikes and fine-tuning the riders. Hope they both return with EBR in 2013 to showcase American talent and ingenuity. | ||
| Jetbuilder |
Geoff was badly injured on Sat. highsided and slammed his knee. When I talked to him Sat he was hobbling badly. He is one tough dude his knee was bloody and swolen.both Danny and geoff were super nice to all us EBR fans very accomadating and answered alot of questions. the Carbon Bike is a sight to behold. Red | ||
| Firstbuell |
finally! Tyler O'Hara Statement On Grabbing Michael Barnes' Arm http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=50032 | ||
| Blake |
What a year! Congratulation to Geoff, Danny, the Ice Man, Erik, and everyone at AMSOIL and Hero Motors! You are contenders for a 2013 AMA Superbike Championship! >>> As we exited the corner, I made contact with Mike’s right arm. I was not trying to be malicious or make a joke or gain an advantage. Liars and cheaters suck. Michael Barnes on the other hand is a class act. | ||
| Blake |
Great photos as usual EBear! Thanks for sharing! | ||
| Ebear |
Thanks Blake and All for the comments on my work. This has been an incredible year for EBR and everyone working with or around them! Seeing Geoff average a fifth place with a bike down on power has proven what a Gifted rider he is. Being there to watch Danny grow into the EBR Superbike and into the TOP class in America was more than exciting, and these last few races have shown he truly belongs here.Hopefully, we'll be cheering him on next year on an updated EBR! Please, all you readers go out and buy the next issue of RoadracingWorld, or better yet a subscription! The Story about the TylerOHara slash Michael Barnes incident will be discussed and I may get some credits! Thanks again to all of you readers and posters for your comments!  (Message edited by ebear on October 17, 2012) | ||
| 1313 |
Please, all you readers go out and buy the next issue of RoadracingWorld, or better yet a subscription! Since you mentioned RRW, I just got my latest subscriber copy in the mail yesterday. While this isn't normally a big deal, for the past 2 issues EBR has had a different full page ad in each issue! Some will say word of mouth is the only advertising that matters, but truthfully print advertising is a very important part of marketing a product. Having seen 2 ads in 2 months back to back in a national publication says that EBR is serious (there was never any question in my mind) and is another step in the right direction to having many riders (both track and street) on EBR Motorcycles in the near future. Step by step... 1313 | ||
| Firstbuell |
the boss' story: AMA Pro Racing Recaps The XR1200 Season Finale At NOLA Motorsports Park http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=50047 | ||
| Firstbuell |
AMA Pro evidence - dirt is different than pavement: http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cyclenews/20121023# pg7 -------------------------------------------- O'Hara on pitpassradio tonite ! |
