TK, the forum slowed down long before FB was even a gleam in Zuckerberg's eye.  The old MN-Sportbike site logged thousands of posts a week in the early days.  The FB isn't any more active than this forum.  Just keep reminding yourself when a "forum" was a monthly newsletter printed on some crappy word processor. 

Frankly since virtually none of those routes had associated GPS files, I find it easier to just create new routes.

All of mine are GPS routes and include mapped routes to western MN (Ortonville) and up north.  At some point I will re-upload them here.

MotoGP continues to be exciting but it's slowly creeping into drama sports (pro wrestling).   Looking back to the 80's, 90's, I just can't recall the top GP or AMA riders trying to take each other out, playing close proximity head games, or dangerous retribution acts.  They just raced and congratulated each other on the podium.  Sorry for the old man grumping but this is distracting to the point of not caring.

Also worth keeping in mind.  I lost an acquaintance when a rider in front of him braked hard for a deer and he hit the rider.  I have also heard of accidents by riders who were going around a rider slowing for a deer on the road and wound up riding right into the deer. 

These incidents are highlighting following distance and full visibility.  It's an obvious point that is often lost when riders are grouped too closely at elevated speeds.  It's one reason why I like to ride a bit separate from the pack and in split up groups.

People ask me if texters are leading me to reconsider riding at some point and I correct them by admitting it's deer.  Texters tend to be easy to spot and they are still more predictable in their movements than deer.

Hi Gerry!

I'm missing something.  Is it the green handle?  BP doesn't follow diesel convention.

.... the toughest thing in my mind is going to be bringing back the funding necessary to run full fields and competitive races.

The 1000 Stock class holds allot of promise in this area for rebuilding fields and funding. Maybe the makers will step up with enough contingency money for these classes to make it possible for an unknown privateer to emerge the way Doug Polen emerged in the GSXR Cup in 1986.

If you recall, Polen made $90,000 (in 1986 dollars) strictly from contingency.  You make a very good point that it's hard to imagine that kind of money being advanced for privateers today.  It was compelling for Suzuki to spend serious money while marketing their early GSXR's and probably no where as compelling today.

Best news involving stateside pro racing in probably 10 years now.  I hope they can figure out a way to work closely with Dorna.