Rossi says shoulder progressing well

The Italian rider, who struggled with his shoulder since injuring it in a training accident in April, has been recovering since he underwent surgery following the end of the season.

On Tuesday, ten stitches were removed from his right shoulder and Rossi will now begin "passive" rehabilitation work before he starts the active phase in two weeks' time.

 

"I'm doing the rehabilitation at the shoulder, the situation is improving," said Rossi on his website. "Two weeks have passed since the operation and this morning Dr. Porcellini took away the stitches.

"From today I will be back to work in the gym - at least for the rest of the body - and to make the rehabilitation of the shoulder, even if 'passive'; above all not to lose mobility.

 

"In about two weeks I will begin to work actively in the pool and gym to be ready for the three days of testing in February. We must make haste, but we hope to be fit for the first test with Ducati in 2011 in Sepang."

Cal Crutchlow to undergo shoulder surgery

The British rider has been troubled by a left shoulder problem for over a year since he damaged ligaments and tendons during his factory Yamaha R1 WSB debut in Portimao in 2009.

Damaged suffered to Crutchlow’s shoulder includes the supraspinatus tendon that is part of the rotator cuff group of muscles and the glenoid ligament that surrounds the shoulder socket. 

It is the exact same injury that dogged Rossi throughout his final season at Yamaha and the nine-times world champion underwent corrective surgery earlier this month after a low key Ducati debut in Valencia.

Crutchlow will need his left arm strapped to his chest for three weeks and with a normal recovery period of three months, he has only 62 days before he is due to make his second MotoGP appearances at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on February 1.

Crutchlow, who made a confident start to his MotoGP career with an encouraging Monster Yamaha Tech 3 debut in Valencia, told MCN: “I’m confident I’ll be fit for Sepang. It is a three-month recovery normally but I’ve got unlimited access to a hyperbaric chamber on the Isle of Man and I’ll be using that as much as possible to speed up the recovery process.”

Spies: MotoGP podiums up there with WSBK title

The American underlined his potential as a future MotoGP star by putting in a series of strong performances on the satellite Tech 3 Yamaha, Spies claiming a maiden podium at Silverstone before scoring a popular pole position and second place finish at Indianapolis.

Urging him on to sixth position in the overall standings, while some had predicted Spies would challenge for wins at times in 2010, the man himself plays down the weight of expectation, insisting he was merely hoping to break into the top five.

“We were the top satellite bike, but I honestly didn't think we'd see the podium this year,” he told the MotoPod podcast website. “If we were going to get a few top fives, then I would have been happy. At the end of the season I look at who is around me and behind me. The guys in front of me, you know their credentials, but me and Nicky battled it out at the final race, and he has a world title. 

“We finished on the podium twice and at Indy I beat both of the factory bikes, but if anyone honestly expected me to win in my first year, they are a little crazy. To learn half the tracks, be on a satellite bike and to win in the first year, I don't think anyone can really do that. It wasn't on my agenda.

“The finishing on the podium part was up there with winning a World Superbike title for me.”

Spies, who has been rewarded with a full factory Yamaha ride in 2011 as the replacement for Valentino Rossi, was also pleased to be pairing up with Jorge Lorenzo, claiming he is the ideal candidate to learn from.

“We get along as well as any team-mates can in MotoGP.

MotoGP eyes new global venues

The Dorna chief said that while European circuits - which currently host 12 of the 18 rounds - would remain the backbone of the calendar, he was eager to expand MotoGP's global reach, and to cut the number of races in Iberia. After the collapse of the Hungarian GP project, Spain has ended up with four races in 2010 and 2011, with the Aragon track becoming a stand-in. 

 

"We'll go to new countries, even though I think we must keep our European roots," said Ezpeleta in an interview with Motosprint. "For sure we don't want go on for long with five GPs in the Iberian Peninsula: five races between Spain and Portugal are too many."

AUTOSPORT revealed last month that Abu Dhabi F1 venue Yas Marina was in talks with MotoGP, and Ezpeleta identified this track as one of four potential non-European options. 

 

"All the countries we are talking to are outside Europe," he said.

"Singapore is designing a new track, India is already building one, Abu Dhabi is interested. "Also, we are in contact with an American promoter who is planning construction of a circuit in Texas, where F1 will race too."

Moped riders - new rules to improve safety

Moped riders across the state could be required as soon as next year to wear brightly colored vests, have strobe lights on their cycles and carry liability insurance.

Several state lawmakers said they are planning to introduce moped-related legislation in the wake of six Upstate deaths this year, including two in a month on U.S. 123 between Greenville and Easley.

Mopeds are among the smallest, slowest and most unregulated vehicles on the road, with some operators legally taking the handlebars as young as 14. Laws in other states vary with some, such as North Carolina, making youths wait until they are 16 to start driving mopeds.

Tracking how many mopeds are on the road can be tough. They don’t have to be registered, and state law leaves murky what constitutes a moped.

In some ways, golf carts are more regulated than mopeds. Golf cart drivers need a valid license and liability insurance to travel on state roads, while moped operators don’t.

Drivers with suspended licenses can operate mopeds for up to six months before having to get a moped license, and they don’t ever have to ever get liability insurance.

Scooters aren't cars

If you have a mobility scooter, do you need insurance? In my vehicle, I have to carry liability, have a mirror, lights and registration. How about those driving scooters?

— Brett H., via e-mail

Brett, by mobility scooter, we assume you're referring to what Medford police Lt. Bob Hansen calls an "electric, personal-assistive device." They're also referred to as electric scooters and essentially serve the same purpose as an electric wheelchair — but they're much cooler for cruising about.

Since they are classified as motorized vehicles, Hansen says, they do have to meet certain guidelines — even though they are not specifically addressed in the Department of Motor Vehicles handbook.

The mobility scooter falls somewhere between a moped and a Segway. They must yield to pedestrians, not exceed 15 mph on bike lanes or paths, travel in the same direction as traffic and have a front light and rear reflector.

No title, registration or liability insurance is required for this kind of device.

David House, spokesman for DMV, says the only vehicles that require title and registration are those that meet U.S. Department of Transportation standards and have a vehicle identification number.

Bicycles, ATVs, mini bikes, scooters — and mobility scooters — don't fit into that classification.

Liability insurance is mandatory only for titled and registered vehicles, operating on public roadways.

"It would be really hard to do that much damage with something that small that doesn't move that fast," says House.

Nonetheless, Hansen says, anyone driving a mobility scooter while impaired could suffer legal consequences.

"If they are impaired, and they are on a motorized vehicle or even a bicycle, they can be arrested for driving under the influence," said Hansen.

Hansen said police are more concerned about other drivers than about the scooter operators. He urges drivers to be careful and suggests that scooters be equipped with a very visible flag.

Source: www.mailtribune.com