By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

There’s tough, and then there’s how tough you have to be to run in MotoGP. Evidence? After making some nasty contact with Joan Olive in the final corner of the 125cc German Grand Prix, Marc Marquez flips over the bars of his machine and still manages to get up and finish the race. Seriously, the dude is on his feet before he’s even come to a stop! Before this spill, he was fighting for third, but he wound up finishing 16th. At least he avoided a DNF…

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

Like Ewan McGregor explained in Faster, during a MotoGP race, your teammate isn’t your friend. He’s the guy you want to beat more than anyone, because he’s got the same equipment as you do, and only one rider can demonstrate how to best use it. But while there are some great battles in that flick, none of them illustrate the competition between teammates better than this clip. During last weekend’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya, Fiat Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo were locked in combat from the green flag, and the last lap saw some absolutely spectacular racing. Why the hell does Rossi drag his foot?

Beginning today, drivers in California and Washington who want to yak on the phone will have to use a hands-free device. Since almost nobody in Seattle can drive even when all their attention is focused on the road, I think this is a good idea. Unfortunately, the law ignores the fact that drivers are more distracted by the conversations they’re having more than juggling the phone. Nice try, legislators. Here’s the news:

• Tesla has announced it will release an all electric sedan for under 60K. While I like the idea as much as anyone, maybe the company should finish up the Roadster before it starts hyping another ride. I’m not hating, just saying… Jalopnik
• New spy photos of Jag’s XK-R have been released, and it looks like the already pretty kitty is going to be drop-dead gorgeous when it hits showrooms. But can I make one request? How about a six-speed manual option? World Car Fans
• Need any more proof that American’s are shunning gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient rides? Ford’s SUV sales fell more than 54% last month. Wow, that’s ugly, but if you can afford the gas, it’s a great time to buy an Expedition. Freep
• Hyundai and Kia are on the way up! Sales of the sister companies vehicles have put them in the top five for global sales. For those who can remember the Excel, that’s big news. Motor Authority
• After years of being relegated to odd hours on channels far north of the regular networks, MotoGP will be shown on CBS and NBC. It’s about time! Motorcycle News

Between all the racing on the tube this weekend—two NASCAR races, MotoGP in Qatar—I didn’t spend as much time as I wanted to outside. But I still managed to work in a pretty sweet bicycle crash. Anyway, here’s the news:

• There’s still no been no movement in the negotiations between the management and workers at American Axle, and GM is saying 29 of its plants have been affected. That translates to over 18,000 less cars produced every week, not to mention the hardship the workers and their families have to be feeling. Ouch. Auto Observer
• The Solstice Targa is good looking enough to stop traffic. But are the drop-top models already on the road able to stop themselves? The Feds are getting curious. Automotive News
• Audi hasn’t decided whether or not to race in the 2008 American Le Mans Series yet, as the company is still waiting to hear the verdict on a rule change it has been petitioning for. Auto Week
• Looks like Porsche doesn’t actually want to drink VW’s milkshake after all. The company just released a statement saying rumors of a takeover are "speculation." Is that the end of the story? World Car Fans

While it’s still a long-shot, it’s not a complete impossibility. Back in November, the seven-time F1 champ took MotoGP champ Casey Stoner’s factory Ducati around Spain’s Valencia course at a pretty good clip—a mere five seconds off the lap record—which had onlookers amazed. At the time that he said he had no plans to race, but his longtime manager recently refused to dismiss the idea, saying "anything is possible." While 38 seems a little old to start a motorcycle racing career, if he decided to join the MotoGP fray, Schumacher would surely be a formidable opponent. What do you think? Should he get on a bike? More info over at Winding Road. Photo: Motorcycle News.

Even with the burly spiked tires, around a corner, a decent speed skater could probably hand this 200MPH MotoGP bike its ass. But the ability to ride one of these monsters on clean, dry pavement is something even an extremely experienced biker wouldn’t take lightly. So watching this maniac take a race-prepped Duc onto an ice rink is beyond impressive. Wow. Thanks Bikes in the Fast Lane!