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I attended my first MotoGP race over the weekend at The Circuit of the Americas in Austin. I've been following MotoGP for years and I've seen many races on the Speed Channel. Believe me, nothing can prepare you for this experience. Until you see and hear those motorcycles in person you haven't an inkling of the power and acceleration. It was a Repsol Honda day. The rookie Marc Marquez won, followed by fellow Spaniards Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha). This was on my bucket list and I was tremendously impressed. The traffic was horrendous but I knew that going...

ROME, Italy -- Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi has reached an agreement with the Italian tax authorities and will hand over 19 million euros ($27.6 million) in unpaid tax for the years 2001-2004, Ansa reported. Rossi will move from London and return to live in Rome after agreeing a deal with the Italian tax authorities. The figure could rise to as much as 35 million euros when Rossi's earnings for 2005-06 are taken into consideration. In August the Italian tax office said it was investigating Rossi over allegations of tax evasion, linked to his decision to live in London in...

American Flyer! Hayden Wins USGP At Laguna Seca BOMBSHELL: ROSSI DNF by staff Sunday, July 23, 2006 Pos. Rider Team Bike 1 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team Honda RC211V 2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda RC211V 3 Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda Honda RC211V 4 Kenny Roberts Jnr. Team Roberts KR211V 5 Chris Vermeulen R izla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R 6 John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R 7 Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha YZR-M1 8 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Ducati Desmo GP-6 9 Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 10 Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro Ducati Desmo GP-6...

On the Fourth of July, a 160-pound Japanese man overcame an American nearly 75 pounds heavier in a hot dog eating contest. Silly? Sure. Symbolic, too. Whipped at Wimbledon, whomped in the World Cup, beaten in baseball, Americans can't seem to win much these days — whether it's on the pitch, the court, the diamond or a ridiculous eating contest. Coming soon: The World Basketball Championships, where the U.S. team is in rebuilding mode after an embarrassing bronze-medal performance at the Athens Olympics. And the Ryder Cup, where the Americans lost badly on their home turf two years ago and...