The Australian 125cc GP champion of 2008/9 has packed his bags and headed to a new home base in Barcelona, the spiritual home of European motorcycle racing, where he will be aboard a BRP Racing 2011 FTR Moto2 bike.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for me, I’m so keen to get started with developing the bike and getting out there”  said the 21 year old Gold Coast based racer. “BRP Racing is owned by Ben Reid who I raced for in 2009 in Australia and we won the Australian title together so I am confident we can develop a great package to challenge for podiums. The Spanish Moto2 Championship is a perfect springboard into the world Moto2 championship, so I want to give it my all.”

With the series first round not far off, Blake flew to Barcelona over the weekend and he will shortly have four days of familiarising and testing aboard the new 600cc Honda powered Moto2 bike. Though racing in Australian Supersport in 2010, aboard a 600cc Suzuki machine, the transfer to Moto2 will take some adjusting, despite the similarities.

Says Blake: “For my career, heading back to a ‘proper’ GP bike is a big step forward. This is where I want to be! As far as riding the FTR bike is concerned, while I haven’t raced this bike yet, I imagine the Moto2 bike falls somewhere between a 125GP and a 600 SuperSport bike.”

For Blake Leigh-Smith, this is not a year of merely participating- he wants to be a factor. “My goals will change over time, but for round one I am aiming for a top 15 finish. Beyond that I want to be up the front battling for podiums and wins!”

Round one of the Spanish Championship (CEV) kicks off at the world famous Jerez circuit across the weekend of 15-17 April.

Fans and sponsors can follow Blake’s progress via his Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/BlakeLeighSmith Blake Leigh-Smith would like to thank supporters Maritimo Australia www.maritimo.com.au,  BRP Racing and ThomasrDotorg Media Services www.thomasr.org

I’ve been damn busy!

Australian Superbikes

Shawn Giles and Koby Abberton head out

I accepted a job offer from Yarrive Konsky of IEG, the new oranisers and promoters of the Australian Superbike series. My job description is pretty loose, though it could be summed up thusly: “Get editorial press coverage, do special events and get the punters along”.

My first and major project has been a two seater ride program- not too dissimilar to Ducati (exclusively) does in MotoGP. Our club is slightly less exclusive- currently we have bikes from Woodstock Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki.

Steve Pizzati on air with Steve Price and Josh Dowling on 2UE.

Overall I was very pleased with the pillion rides at Eastern Creek. We received some great coverage after getting the Abberton brothers on board. Friday is my main focus- this gives us a chance to hit the Saturday papers and Friday websites.

At Eastern Creek one of the support classes for Australian Superbikes was the Aussie Racing Cars. I personally invited Steve Pizzati from Top Gear Australia along to race and he repaid the favour by going on Steve Price’s 2UE show twice. But where we owed him the most was his wonderful kindness in rolling the car 2 1/2 times and hitting most of the major daily papers in the process. Taking one fo the team- literally. Thanks man.

To step up our coverage, I have not only planned website and press release changes, but I have a few other ideas that I think will position our motorsport back in its rightful place as second only to V8 Supercars.

Details: www.asbk.com.au

Twitter: @asbk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AustralianSuperbikes

Twitter pic posted from the second podium of the day for HRT.

HSV/HRT
I’ve been helping Holden Special Vehicles and Holden Racing Team (more specifically Walkinshaw Racing) establish and grow a social media presence. Sarah W from HSV has been a great student of social media and with the genuine backing of senior HSV management, we’ve really set HSV/HRT apart from the “others”. I set up many Twitter and Facebook Fan accounts (some Twitter accounts simply to prevent squatting) and have advised them at every step about ways to grow the fan base and how and what to Tweet. We have rewarded fans (sent out signed prizes when we hit 1000 Facebook fans) and kept up the conversationand replies- especially on race weekends.

Speaking of race weekends, at the recent Sandown event I joined in the Tweet festival from inside the Walkinshaw pit- a fantastic insiders view.

A more ambitious social media program is envisaged in the future.

Twitter: @holden_racing, @HSV_news, @BundyRedRacing

Facebook: HRT HSV Bundaberg Red Racing

Thomasr and Fiona Mackintosh from Draggin Jeans- Fed Sqr, 2007.

Draggin Jeans
Having briefed in SharpSushi, their new site will be launching shortly. Fiona and Kris from Draggin and Adam and Kere from SharpSushi have collaborated really well. I did my part early on, offering a few ideas, but they have all  really taken up the running. The new site will offer a brilliant online experience, grow their very loyal fan base even more and have a conversion rate that I think will suprise even those inolved.

With new products, new designs, a new website, a new marketing manager and a more aggressive marketing approach, Draggin look good to go in the next year and beyond.

My involvement of late has take the form of some marketing strategy ideas with specific refence to Twitter and the “What is change?” concept. I also set up the fan page.

Beyond web, I am also going to do some “other” work for Draggin’, but for now this must remain a secret!

Web(new one launching soon): www.dragginjeans.net

Twitter: @dragginjeans

Facebook: DragginJeansAustralia

Josh Brookes

Superbike star and current British Superbike series racer Josh Brookes has recently come on board as a web/marketing client. He’s a great talent, though frankly having a very mixed year. I have written an all encompassing web strategy document that I am going to execute on (in collaboration with 50 Kaliber and SharpSushi), along with maintaining his social media presence and offering advice as we go.

Twitter: @joshbrookes

Facebook: JoshBrookes

SharpSushi

As one of the two web agencies I like to deal with, Adam and Kere- directors of SharpSushi- are two of the nicest and more importantly most switched on web people I have had the pleasure in dealing with. I have provided general web strategy and ideas for one specific client (whatcanyoudo.com.au) as well as general web strategy and social media ideas here and there. Eventually they will be building my own new site.

Eventually.

Web: www.sharpsushi.com

Igloo- Digital Strategy Agency

As the best mid sized (though growing so fast they may have gone past that stage) web agency in the country, Igloo can rightfully claim to have grown from a leading design agency into a leading strategy/all round agency.

Some months ago I assisted them as part of their pitch for the Mazda account, providing strategy ideas and on the ground assistance for their pitch. I also wrote a post for their blog site outlining my thoughts on social media with specific reference to the automotive market.

They subsequently won the Mazda account.

Since then I have been busy with my many other gigs, though I am really keen to get back to the Pelaco building and work on some fun stuff with Andy, Tony and the team.

Web: www.igloo.com.au

CarAdvice

Until a few months ago I was hosting a podcast for CarAdvice, Australia’s number one independent editorial site. While it was fun while it lasted, they have gone through a number of changes- from new offices, staff and a new CEO. It was agreed that the podcasts will go on hold for the rest of the year. While I was disappointed at the time, I’m hopeful we can work something out in the future.

Radio 3AW.

It’s hardly a suprise when I tell you I was cut from the Neil Mitchell show weekday lineup for 2009. Once the other 11am-12pm guests were cut, I suspected I was in strife- either they would move me to a new timeslot, or I would fall over utterly. At the time I received a very nice call from Program Director Clark Forbes telling me that I was still a required player for their F1 and MotoGP coverage as well as my summer sessions with Tom Elliott- a segment I really enjoy. Tom’s a terriffic bloke and a really good broadcaster. Summer will be fun!

The C-Word Vodcast

The irrepressible and likeable Dieter Kahsnitz has re invigorated his community TV award winning program as a 5 minute vodcast. At present the episodes are older ones recut for vodcast purposes. Shortly, we collectively head into a new era of the C-Word, with new concepts, segments and some really fun stuff. Stay tuned for that.

Web: www.cword.tv

Grand Prix Corporation

For the last few years I have been hosting the riders parade with Dieter at Federation Square. We’re shaping up to do it all again this year- though with a few extras thanks to my connections within Australian Superbikes.

As well as the Fed Square gig, We’ve also been asked to host a meet ‘n greet/panel show at the Island on the Friday night in the camp ground. This promises to be an cracking good night, so we’re rightly pumped about it. The whole weekend is going to absolutely rock, so book your tickets, do what you gotta do to be at Phillip Island this year.

So that’s me in a nut shell at the moment- busy, but still looking for more to fill my days with…

He was riding for Honda and was not on the factory team. In retrospect, I’m pretty sure he had already signed for Ducati, so when I was pressing him about whether he would stay with Honda (at that time I thought it was a good idea to stay with the number one team!), he was cagey…

Enjoy

Post chat about things film related, I moved on to chat about MotoGP this season and we wandered into a MotoGp v WSBK discussion and then the sparks started flying. I dared to suggest that that WSBK- with its field of 35, close racing and keen fans might eclipse MotoGP as a spectacle in 2009.To say Mick was NOT convinved would be an understatement.

Here’s how I saw the discussion:

Me: The fans want to see close racing, big fields and skill playing an important role (over say, traction control). MotoGP might struggle as there are just 18 bikes on the grid this year to get the fans fired up.

Mick: MotoGP is the pinnacle of the sport. World Superbike is not. Therefore MotoGP is better without even referring to field numbers, fan interest and closeness of competition.

Broadcaster, producer, news reporter, interviewer, host, MC, commentator and- above all else- MotoGP fan.

More pics here.

DSC_0074, originally uploaded by thomasrdotorg.

It was my pleasure and privilege to introduce Casey Stoner to an adoring Federation Square audience. It was fantastic to be offered this opportunity and Adam and I had a bloody ball.

More pics here

Casey, well done. Many said you couldn’t do it- including me.

I have never been so glad to be so wrong.

Other highlight – Darryl Beattie’s call when the camera showed Checa dusting himself off after yet another off: “DUCATI!!… GET USED TO IT!” classic! This followed Billy Woods’ call on RPM that he was, frankly, actually BUGGERED if her knew what Ducati was thinking. I wonder what Bazza would say? Probally a lot of blue work!

The season is over, and having seen Bayliss so gallent at his press conference I had a think about what the riders might say if they were brutally honest about themselves and their performances:

Biaggi: y’know you might be right, I might be the biggest whiner and choker ever… and thats a record that no one can take. yeah I had the bike, tyres, team and the timing could not have been better, but I guess I’m not good enough. Shit happens

Edwards: Look, I guess I as trying to be funny when I suggested we take forks off a 2000 model superbike and put them on a 2004 RCV. It chattered so much I lost two teeth. I knew they’d taken it too far when i suggested we try the rear shock out of a CX500 and the handlebars from an XR80- and there they were, ready to go on. On the plus side no one blew me up this year.

Checa: I regard MotoGP as a show, and part of that show is crashing as often as possible..

Melandri: Same goes for me.

Xaus: Me too!

Barros: …and for my next trick I will get an F1 drive with no track record, no prospects and no hope!!

Kenny Roberts: I’m actually quite in to MotoGP- from a spectating perspective.

Kurtis Roberts: No, fair enough to say that, this has been the worst year of my life and yes, it’s mostly my dad’s fault.

Hoffman: I can only put Nakano’s success down to the fact he is much better than me and I am way out of my depth.

Ellison/Ui/Fabrizio et al: We’ve had a great year in World Superbikes… err whats that you say?

Nakano: It’s been an interesting year, if you rate a tyre delamination at 200 miles an hour down the main straight as interesting.

Hayden: Some folks mighta said it was foolish to fall offa that there Supermoto bike. But I say it was damn foolish.

Gibernau: Just when you thought I was going ok, I show you the Gibernau of old! Thank you all! please try the fish and tip your waiteresses….

Hopkins: Yes, I’m well pleased to have signed with Suzuki for the next 100 years. A lot of people say “when you’re on a good thing, stick to it”. But I’m not a lot of people…

McWilliams: [no one can compete with what Jezza actually does say]

Rossi: This year has been really tough. Hardest, most difficult year of my life. It’s been quite unbelievable- the pressure, the expectation, the bike, the racing, the competitors.

Actually, just kidding. It was a piece of piss. As always..

~~~~~~~~

Roll on 2005~!

MotoGP official site

Troy Bayliss- official site

MC News Australia

Bikepoint.com.au