SUPPORTING COMRADES IN THE DAKAR

Have you been watching the televised reviews of DAKAR? It’s the most gruelling, challenging motorcycle competition any rider could ever dream of riding—the top test of rider skills. Most wouldn’t last the first few hours. Have you seen the footage, the terrain, and the stage route details? This year the Dakar, a destination in Africa is still used as the name of the event, regardless of the race being moved to South America, finish line Buenos Aires. It was too dangerous to run the event in Africa due to political unrest which if you remember this caused the 2008 DAKAR to be cancelled! In watching the footage, South America looks even more challenging!

I am so proud to actually know and have motorsport comrades riding in this competition. These are Netherlanders-- Mirjam Pol one of the few women (officially registered as Gesina Maria Pol) riding Honda start number #48. Then there’s Gerrard Rond a former motocross champ and no stranger to Dakar where he rode his first in 1986. Gerrard and I ran the RaceGirl Motorsport off road days together hosted at his special 40 hectare (including lake) location. He’s on a KTM, start number #156. Then there’s the famed former Dutch MotoGP racer Jurgen van der Goorbergh. Jurgen has a strong motorsport background, very accomplished, on HONDA with start number # 57.

All my comrades are still in the game and at the time of this writing riding out stage #8 of the 15 stage competition. I’m so very proud and honoured to observe their fight in the DAKAR. Indeed I am jealous, as I too would love to add this competition to my list of motorsport accomplishments—who knows!

There were 235 motorcycles entered and started, not including the 44 participants not quad and not quite motorcycle sector that were bunched into the motorcycle start category—that’s 279 total. Sadly there has been one motorcyclist death, indeed there can be others before this race ends.

At the start of stage 8 today, 137 motorcycles remain—that’s less than half. THREE CHEERS to Mirjam, Gerrard and Jurgen—still in the game!

Each year, particularly for the past 8, I’ve enjoyed cheering on comrades in the Dakar (the Dutch have a strong presence in all categories) makes the DAKAR even more exciting bringing me even closer to this amazing race!
Check out the DAKAR website—exciting info available to view!

MOTORCYCLE NEW YEAR WISHES 2009

Someone once said-- the New Year is another chance to “get right” all the stuff you didn’t last year! Lucky us!
Looking forward at this new year, the fact that we're starting off economically challenged, observing more evidence of the not-so-positive reality causes me to recall a true Dutch and practiced value-- “less is more”. I think this “less is more” philosophy just might be the ticket to getting us through the concerns that surround us; prepare us for challenging times ahead. With Ducati not participating in the Canadian Thunder race series this year and cancelling out of BSB (British Superbikes)—Kawasaki announcing its discontinuance in MotoGP (can’t believe that one!) its proving to be a crazy year ahead in motorsport.

There’s such a buzz in the motorcycling industry, among others, reflecting concerns for motorcycling—some say it’s a luxury and will suffer, where others state motorcycling excels in tough times. These questions were put to me during a recent interview for a Clutch and Chrome podcast—how I personally felt it may affect the activity.

Well, we need it. Certainly we’ll elect common sense, caution and may not opt for that 2009 model upgrade or the new Akrapovic exhaust (darn!). Perhaps try to get another year out of our riding suit, even though we’d love a gear fashion upgrade. It’s my opinion we'll continue to enjoy our riding—its really our survival outlet and there’s no better way to get away from it all than when riding, absorbed, focused by the road.

Indeed a ride costs a bit of gas expense (thank goodness for the drop in gas prices!) and even if our rides might need to be shorter, our track days fewer, knowing that motorcycling is part of our life, seeing our bike standing in the garage or the driveway is a great inspiration of escape.

I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s the simple sensation--
the “less” that gives us all that “more”.

Best wishes to you and yours for a most joyful and healthy New Year!
May you continue to ride along the road of your dreams in 2009!
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And remember you’re the one steering!

HOLLY JOLLY MOTO GREETZ

Have a holly, jolly Christmas,
(Doesn’t that sound fun?)
It's the best time of the year;
(Sipping a hot chocolate with friends and talking motorbikes!)
I don't know if there'll be snow,
(Luckily we’re ready—ice skate?)
But have a cup of cheer.
(Cosmo, martini—Cin cin!)
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
(Laughing about your seasons fun ride moments)
And when you walk down the street;
(Looking chic in those motorcycle boots!)
Say Hello to friends you know;
(Right back at cha!)
And everyone you meet.
(Motorcyclists are so social!)
Oh, ho, the mistletoe;
(Romancing the tradition what fun!)
Hung where you can see;
(There’s nothing wrong with a surprise-hint hint!)
Somebody waits for you;
(Around the corner, or in your dreams.)
Kiss them once for me.
(Twice if you're French and three times if you're Dutch.)
Have a holly jolly Christmas,
(New Years Eve is days away!)
And in case you didn't hear,
(Trying on that new helmet are you?)
Oh by golly, have a holly,
(Does that sound better than gossip?)
Jolly Christmas this year! Best wishes for a happy holiday season!
Enjoy!








*Johnny Marks (November 10, 1909 - September 3, 1985) was a Jewish-American songwriter. He is remembered today for his Christmas songs which include "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (a hit for Gene Autry and others), "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" (first recorded by Bing Crosby), "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (a hit for Brenda Lee), and "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (recorded by the Quinto Sisters, then Burl Ives) -*thanks Wikipedia/source

KEEP THAT YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE—RIDE A MOTORCYCLE

Brad Pitt rides a lovely red vintage Indian motorcycle in his new movie. Brad is one of the world’s sexiest men and a personal fav of mine. Adding to his appeal is the fact that he is a motorcycle rider. We’ve seen him many a time featured in news clippings at various locations around the world, riding on sorted brands of motorcycles--in Europe, Asia, and more. Brad Pitt is a lover of the powered two-wheeler.Well, his skill and passion for riding has been incorporated in certain scenes within his new movie, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” scheduled for release on Christmas day.
The movie is about a man, “Benjamin” portrayed by Brad Pitt, co-starring the wonderful Kate Blanchett. Benjamin’s life seems to work backwards and most extraordinarily opposite to what we know. He is born old and reverts back to youth through the years to I presume a baby.

Personally what’s interesting, based on the trailer alone because certainly I’ve not seen the movie; as he becomes younger, to accentuate his youthfulness in this particular phase of his life, he finds a motorcycle--the bike becomes part of his lifestyle.

The motorcycle’s use in the movie represents and accentuates its usual stereotypical role of freedom, youthfulness and spontaneity.
Interesting wouldn’t you agree?

So--the secret to keeping that youthful appearance? Keep riding!

Visit the film's website and view the movie trailer!

RACEGIRL'S FINAL FINISH

Today is a heartbreaking day as the original RACEGIRL has been officially retired; removed from the Internet. True enough, she'll not entirely disappear, and we'll keep her history alive on MOTORESS, yet her decade of worldwide motorsport contribution has, and is now finished.

MOTORESS was created to replace RACEGIRL even so, it's not easy pulling the plug on a community that millions enjoyed.Its been thrilling and rewarding beyond expression bringing to the motorcycling community the first truly female motorsport focused website, the only one like it, ever, worldwide (we do our homework and research and with confidence can make such a claim). It was back in 1998 creation started which in January 1999 saw RACEGIRL launched into the world wide web. And what a gigantic hit she became, growing each year with interest and admiration by many. She did so well and became so popular that she even generated Internet traffic which assisted sales for the totally unrelated American t-shirt brand of same name RACEGIRL (introduced just after, and around the same time we did but with a focus on clothing and the famed American car cult of NASCAR).

Now a decade later, the world has many more "racegirl's" and woman's only motorcycle race disciplines--Canada's Women's Cup and the European Women's Challenge, France's Dream Cup etc. and websites abound.

MOTORESS was born to provide a broader community than RACEGIRL could since RACEGIRL rather obviously spoke of racing--admittedly not a realistic goal for most women. MOTORESS relates to all women and even though many saw beyond RACEGIRL'S reference to racing, appreciating the portrayal of women in a new light, one of no limits, of intelligence, of skill, sophistication—and femininity, MOTORESS speaks to all.

For one decade she encouraged, supported and motivated women of all ages, of diverse origins and countries worldwide to pursue and discover motorcycling. So as many bid farewell to RACEGIRL she'll never be gone from our spirits, especially mine as she was created from my own passion for racing--a true RACEGIRL'S soul.

Three cheers RACEGIRL and in the language of your birth country, The Netherlands —“Gefeliciteerd--Lang zal ze leven in de Gloria”.