From a Deckchair on the Iceberg

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Personally, I'm torn between Chef José Andrés of the World Central Kitchen and Portland's Frog Guy 👍

PS, Announcement may be tomorrow, but the selection was already made on Monday... so the Lyin' King is SOL 😈

a black and white photo of a man wearing a pair of goggles . ALT: a black and white photo of a man wearing a pair of goggles .

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True that 😠

He built a bike based on Marc's extraordinary data. But as a result all anybody talks about is Marc, with Ducati reduced to an afterthought. I never understood the business decision to hire MM93. My guess is it came down to Gigi wanting the ultimate lab rat 🐀⚡👨‍🔬

😜 🇦🇺

Good to hear from you mate. This place has a great vibe...

... but it can be weak as American Beer on racing. Don't get me wrong: Lot's of really great people, but it needs to keep growing 😉👍

🇳🇴 😬

The US Ambassador meets with the Nobel Committee in Oslo:

'If you don't want to be counting the fingers you haven't got, I suggest you get him that prize... QUICK' 😟

🤔 The Limitation Game:

Q: How is AI imitating a human telling the truth fundamentally different than AI imitating a human telling a lie? It isn't 😟

Except the goal of server farms is to ensure: '1 x 10⁹ lies can travel 1 x 10⁹ times around the world before truth puts on its ONE pair of shoes' 😠

3/ 🤔

6. Pecco practiced w/o swingarm TMD, but raced with it.
Marc ALWAYS uses it. NO GP24's do.
7. MM93 = smallest r-rotor/caliper combo of any Ducati.
8. 4, 5 & 7 mean PB, MM, FA = VERY different F/R Hz.

PS, Only contact I've had w/Gigi was a note saying:
"If your phone doesn't ring, it's me" 😈

2/ 🤔

Motegi PB63 vs MM93:

3. I'm sure PB hasn't used GP24 at ANY GP.
4. Inclined to think he's on post Misano Test 'bitsa': Frame stiffer around steering head (and possibly rear ride height device modded for less travel).
5. PB runs a shorter bike (r-axle WELL fwd of MM). FA GP24 = in-between.

1/ 🤔

Thanks, mate 👍

1. As I've prattled about before, this is a bitch to sort, even for Gigi, and continue to think it's 90% oscillation Hz of the R-Tyre energizing a sympathetic oscillation Hz at the F-Tyre.
2. Both GP24 & GP24/5 are mix & match hybrids, with no standard definition of either 😟

🎭

Marcus IX:

"Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to praise Marco, not bury him.
The noble Massimo Hath told you Marco was ambitious:
'twas a grievous fault, but 'merda accidit'.
And twice hath Marco atoned it.
For Bezz is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men" 👍

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To paraphrase Twain:

“A setback can travel half way around the world while redemption is still putting on its shoes” 😠

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What a grid show in Mandalika. Brilliant !! 👍

YouTube video by shaneyboy3 Monty Python Bring out Your Dead

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Ducati's current strategy to help get Pecco sorted 😠

PS, Cameo by Marc at the end 😈

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"With freinds like these..."

In 1839 the Qing Dynasty went begging for fairer trade. Their benefactors 'rescued' them with opium at the business end of large Naval Guns. When they complained about that in 1854...

.. they got even more opium, and 150 year leases of their sovereign territory 🇬🇧 😟

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Hoi Polloi braying aside, Pecco hasn't forgotten which way to turn the throttle. He simply has a solution that ONLY works with std construction Tyre (Motegi), not the stiffer Mandalika/Misano spec (Misano post-race GP24 test grip > Mandalika grip).

So using Motegi or Misano set-ups = Useless 😕

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Why we love Bezz:
NOBODY enjoys just being a GP Pilot more than Marco.

He's LITERALLY the guy they need to chase out of the box at the end of the day so they can turn the lights out 😉👍

😠

If anyone wants to flog pickled beet-root flavored sports drinks...

.. I beleive we've found your spokesperson 😈

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"Well, Wilmer, I'm sorry indeed to lose you. But I want you to know I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it's possible to get another. There's only one Maltese Falcon." 😈

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Lesson 1: It's pronounced 'feck' 🤣👍

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The Aprilia brakes like a bastard...

.. and they won't shed too many tears over Jorge 😈

Quick Pertamina Circuit Reference 😉

EN - 2025 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia - Raceguide (EN) Mandalika is an extremely demanding circuit for drivers, machines and tires. For this fourth visit, we have slightly modified the Medium front compound, while the Soft and Hard remain unchanged. We co...

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Courtesy of those fine people at Michelin. Chapeau ! 👍

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Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia Preview:

1. It absolutely rocks with the passion of its fans.
2. Bit of a' Blue Groove' as it rubbers in. First two rows or naff-off.

📷 Arif Gumantia ~ @argum.loves.travel 👍

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Things that are ALWAYS better in Theory than in Practice:

1. Land Wars in Asia
2. Racing a CBX
3. Communism
4. Odd Numbered Ducati GP Bikes

👊😉👍

😂👍

🇮🇩 😉

Well, you know what the say, mate:

"When in Mandalika..." 😎

😉👍

Daniel Palencia checks ALL the boxes I use to judge a pitcher:

✅ Is he nasty as-fuck? ☄️😈

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AKA "knowing which side of the bread the butter is on" 😉👍

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I'm sure it'll be tip-top, mate 😉👍

😵‍💫

There was nothing to gain from that move in the first place 😠

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Scandalous & Irresponsible Theories:

1) Multi vacuum pumps directly lower press in crankcase, enabling piston rings w/less radial tension (> friction). Full or partial failure = bit of oil can enter combustion chamber past rings. Not good, but not immediately fatal.

2) Spotted Scharnhorst 😬