Friday 21st January 2011

PH2: Brundle On Bikes

Talking two wheels with BBC F1's leading man

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Brundle. Not Yonah

Yonah, our resident man-on-two-wheels, managed to catch up with the face of F1 commentary, Martin Brundle, the other day for a few words. Turns out that the Beeb's newly installed lead F1 commentator is a bit of a bike nut, so rather than chat about boring old F1 we've quizzed him with questions of a more two-wheeled variety... Over to Yonah and Mr Brundle...

What was your first bike?
A Garelli 50 in 1975. The exhaust used to get glued up the with unburnt two-stroke oil so I spent most of my time cleaning it out. Rode it without the exhaust once and it went like a rocket. Not a proper bike, but it got me about.

And the first proper bike you rode?
The first was an RC30 in California and the second was Randy Mamola's 500cc Yamaha race bike at Barcelona. I hadn't got a clue what I was doing. Couldn't get it to go around a corner because the back tyre was so fat. Worked it out eventually though.

Brundle's first bike was a 50cc Garelli

Silliest crash?
Chasing after Noel Edmonds for an autograph on a monkey bike at Brands Hatch and falling off after colliding with another monkey bike coming in the opposite direction.

Does a superbike feel as quick as an F1 car?
Sometimes quicker. An F1 car has so much drag that once you really get going the acceleration feels disappointing. You don't get the sensation that you do on a really fast bike that the acceleration is never-ending.

Best biking moment
It's either my regular anti-clockwise lap of Norfolk that I sometimes do early on a Sunday or the ride back from the French GP at Magny Cours to Epernay. Not classic roads, just quiet, challenging and fast.

Was Schumacher crazy to race superbikes?
Since I told him at the time that he was, I'd have to answer yes.

K1200GT: Brundle's current ride

What bike do you own?
A BMW K1200GT. You can wind it up to 130mph and go for 200 miles without needing to stop for fuel.

And your dream bike is?
No one makes it. I quite fancy a go on a Ducati Multistrada but what I really want is a super sports tourer. Something fast, but light and with a low centre of gravity.

^{Brundle pic: Greenmashup}

 

 

 

[cod man]

This man is

[edwardtjones]

Surely the Hayabusa or Blackbird suit Martin's description of his ideal bike?

[edwardtjones]

And surely going from a Garelli to an RC30 is like going from a pogo stick to a bungee jump - and to handle Mamola's 500cc GP bike - the guy must have a shed full of talent

[toxgobbler]

cod man said:

This man is

+1

[heebeegeetee]

toxgobbler said:

cod man said:

This man is

+1

+lots. He is a top bloke.

Looking forward to him and DC in the new season.

[bob1179]

Definitely a bloke I'd like to have a chat with over a pint.

Very cool.

[BlackPrince]

Good work Goodwin! I love how your stories bring out aspects of racers' lives that are not usually covered in the media but are still relevant to petrolheads - like your story in TWO about Rossi racing in the GB Rally.

Now, all you have to do is find Sebastian Loeb and ask him what kinda bikes he rides.

[Flat2theMat]

BlackPrince said:

Good work Goodwin! I love how your stories bring out aspects of racers' lives that are not usually covered in the media but are still relevant to petrolheads - like your story in TWO about Rossi racing in the GB Rally.

Now, all you have to do is find Sebastian Loeb and ask him what kinda bikes he rides.

[hornetrider]

Martin Brundle said:

Best biking moment is either my regular anti-clockwise lap of Norfolk that I sometimes do early on a Sunday or the ride back from the French GP at Magny Cours to Epernay. Not classic roads, just quiet, challenging and fast.

Awesome. I'm doing Magny Cours to Reims in April!

[RemaL]

another good read


and not a repost

[RB Will]

article said:

Does a superbike feel as quick as an F1 car?
Sometimes quicker. An F1 car has so much drag that once you really get going the acceleration feels disappointing. You don't get the sensation that you do on a really fast bike that the acceleration is never-ending.

5th Gear/ Honda did a race on London City airport with their F1 car, racing superbike and a powerboat. The car and bike were about level upto 80-100mph then the car fecked off at an alarming rate.

Suppose high speed on a bike just feels really fast

[sprinter1050]

edwardtjones said:

Surely the Hayabusa or Blackbird suit Martin's description of his ideal bike?

He says they don't make his ideal bike. I suspect he means summat lighter & leaner but still a super fast tourer-so no-there isn't one really.

bob1179 said:

Definitely a bloke I'd like to have a chat with over a pint.

Very cool.

I'd join you Bobski- but for more than just 1 pint.
My ex-neighbour's son used to race karts when both Alex (?-MB's son) & the Mansell boys were racing them. Brundle turned up in his M5 with practically a full works team to support the lad. (mind you Mansell bought 10 new karts for his 2 & then had his mechanic go over them with a fine tooth comb to pick the best to keep !) Oh to have that sort of backing.

[owencosworth]

Martin your now a God before you where purely a F1 driver whi is fantastic on TV you know what your talking about not just imaging it on Xbox you done my MAN . Now throw and rc 30 in the mix and some bike stories well your now a GOD . Though you say your not to good knowing how you drove an F1 car I would not like to compete with you I would say your nuts . Nice one Martin ! Regards Owen www.muckandfun.com

[mrmaggit]

owencosworth said:

Martin your now a God before you where purely a F1 driver whi is fantastic on TV you know what your talking about not just imaging it on Xbox you done my MAN . Now throw and rc 30 in the mix and some bike stories well your now a GOD . Though you say your not to good knowing how you drove an F1 car I would not like to compete with you I would say your nuts . Nice one Martin ! Regards Owen www.muckandfun.com

Can't see you lasting long on here, Owen.

[Forbes82]

Excellent and interesting interview. Brundle has a great way of finding very interesting replys to simple questions, i'd love to see an in depth interview about his past and life now on Parkinson or something.

Good to see him doing some racing again this year too, he was simply outstanding at Goodwood Revival.

[Chilli]

sprinter1050 said:

I'd join you Bobski- but for more than just 1 pint.
My ex-neighbour's son used to race karts when both Alex (?-MB's son) & the Mansell boys were racing them. Brundle turned up in his M5 with practically a full works team to support the lad. (mind you Mansell bought 10 new karts for his 2 & then had his mechanic go over them with a fine tooth comb to pick the best to keep !) Oh to have that sort of backing.

Never. Bobski's a 15 pinter or none man.
I like the guy and has certainly gone up in my ranking for his love of bikes.

[mybrainhurts]

Silliest crash?
Chasing after Noel Edmonds for an autograph on a monkey bike at Brands Hatch and falling off after colliding with another monkey bike coming in the opposite direction.


...love to have witnessed that, the daft truncheon

[Shurv]

Brundle is super talented.Don't forget he used to beat Ayrton Senna in F3.Never got the right machinery in F1 but was world sports car champ.Top bloke.

[heebeegeetee]

Forbes82 said:

Excellent and interesting interview. Brundle has a great way of finding very interesting replys to simple questions, i'd love to see an in depth interview about his past and life now on Parkinson or something.

Good to see him doing some racing again this year too, he was simply outstanding at Goodwood Revival.

In fact i'm amazed he hasn't had Lunch With Simon Taylor yet. Or done a Motorsport Magazine podcast yet. 'Cos they're the best.

[Mr Cerbera]

Sorry to be boring but I liked the bloke when he called the Tuscan (I think it was) lary on his 'Sipercars' DVD.

Now, however, he has ascended to the stratosphere or respect with his well-chosen meanderings.

Never has the BBC spent better money !