McWilliams & Illmor

Interesting to see this reported on the text this morning.

I note that McWilliams is 42. Surely he cannot be a long-term choice
for the team, and I presume he's been hired for his experience and
development skills. Is he well respected as a development/testing rider?

 

actually i think that may be obsolete following a bad fall in texting that
left him with a broken femur. very unfortunate.

indeed mcwilliams seems to be a respected development and testing rider.

 

www.motogp.com is reporting that Ilmor have announced McWilliams and
Pitt as riders despite McWilliams' injury. The article is dated today.

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=18581&championship_id=3&section=1

 

McWilliams is an odd choice for a new team. You'd expect them to want
all new riders. Bike looks quite OK though.

 

probably you wanbt a very experienced rider in testing, then you want a very
aggressive-hungry-talented rider that somehow is able to convey what's wrong
with the bike at 120% pace racing. problem is the latter breed typically has
other options than racinf for a new team if they're truly acknowledged as
one of the best of the best. thus as an ilmor you'll get waht you can get as
long as they bribg in a loyal sponsor. i like mcwilliams - he's one of those
riders who would have deserved a better break with a better team, quite
possibly. he is an extremely capable rider. a very respected test rider many
companies call in (including BMW when they flirted with the motogp idea).

the fact he broke his femur in a crash shows he is still a hungry rider at
his venerable sporting age (and being 43 myself, i wish a guy my age would
put the kids in their place). life's not fair, and life in sports even less
so dammit.

now that ilmor's rolled the dice... go jeremy!!! may this be a year full of
rainy races, and may the ilmor be a linear bike!!! but that is probably an
overly emotional choice....

....p

 

How's the hand?

 

thanks for asking.

http://www.simplyhombre.net/paw.jpg

as of a few days ago - lowest pin was pulled out today. the pins have been
in for a while, so the body is really aggressive about rejecting them and it
is not fun: hand's sore as heck, i am *tired* of the little ordeal, but next
tuesday all pins get pulled out and then life hopefully goes on. out of the
whole thing, the worst has been putting up with the pins for the last 2
weeks as the body had started to reject them. when it didn't hurt, it
itched, and vice-versa - it affects one's sleep and gets damn exhausting.
it's only sunk in over time it was a worst case scenario break-dislocation,
but at least now the doc and the physical therapy person state they see me
truly getting back to a 100% - they hope, and we shall see, it still feels
not even close... and i am a sure bet for early arthritis in my right hand,
i am told.

i did go on 2 (short) motorcycle rides already - not very prudent, but one
only needs 2 finger to brake and grip strength is sufficient to operate the
throttle on my geriatrically friendly beemer - and the weather was too good
to pass

all i can say is i am *extremely* happy with the doctor i picked, anyone in
the bay area with hand issues can ask me for a pointer. the guy is stellar.

so a week down the line i will be pinless, and it'll be just about regaining
full mobility and strength... over the next 3-4 months, they say... hand
injuries, damn, finicky constructs.

....p

 

Of course the other question is who else would they choose if not
McWilliams? Ilmor had McCoy on it first time out but I don't rate him
as a credible rider. I think McWilliams is an easy choice for the team
but not a firm one. How good he will be for the next season is an easy
question, not very good. Breaking his Femur last year should put a big
question mark over his future. Don't kid yourself, if you break your
thigh bone you have got to have get to hospital quick or you are gojng
to be in trouble, that was a life threatening injury for the Irish man.
I think that will slow him a lot. I thought they would have a couple
of high profile riders ride one of the machines over 2007 with Andrew
Pitt as permanent rider. I am sure someone like Neil Hodgson, Micheal
Rutter or Gregorio Lavilla would make a great guest rider and don't
forget Troy Bayliss, he'll ride anything!