Did Marco Simoncelli have on a chest protector?

I'm sure if you are here than you know about the tragic crash and resulting death of Marco Simoncelli during the last round of the MotoGp race. I have no desire to start a controversy, but I've been wondering if he was wearing a chest protector during the race.

I've watched most of the races, practices and qualifying on MotoGp.com and I've never seen him put one on. I know that Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards, and others use them. Nicky and Colin use the same protector as I do during my track days/Impact Amour brand.

http://www.impactarmor.com/ NOTE: I've found the statements on the site about Carlos Checa and Troy Bayliss interesting.

During the last week I've read and seen many reports about the crash and understand that his death was a result of chest trauma. I can't help but wonder if a properly worn chest protector would have helped. I'm also curious as to why these are not mandated in such a high level of competition as MotoGP, even some track days require their use.

If anyone has anything to add or can confirm that he was or was not wearing a chest protector please add a comment below.

Thanks

R.I.P. Simo

LAMINATED MAPS

I love to tour unknown locations with Mary and the BMW---BUT, I have to admit, I suck at directions- just ask anyone who's followed me during a ride. I can't tell my North from South, I don't remember where I've been in the past, can't remember any points of interest (I just claim that I never saw them when Mary screams at me "Steve, remember this place from last year?") "Yes dear" nodding--all the while I have no clue if we were there or not. I claim that I'm busy doing my job keeping a "spirited" pace and watching for deer and LEO's!!
YES, I have a GPS that works great, put I still have trouble. On top of this Mary is a "map person" before we leave she has to confirm that we have all the proper paper maps in the tankbag. Thing is, paper maps are difficult to use while riding- if she uses them in the back while enroute and relays the directions through our intercom it's fine but more often then not they are hard to read while riding (or stopped if your eyesight sucks like ours) and they either fall out of her jacket when we stop or when we're done they are ripped to shreds from constant folding/unfolding.
So on the last tour of CT. Mary got tired of me stopping to check the GPS, etc and at a lunch stop annouced that she was buying a map at the gas staion. What she returned with was the largest map of one state that I have ever seen!! We laid that sucker out on the grass and it was bigger than some blankets. She had bought ($5.99) a Rand MacNally Easy to Read map--and it was surely easy to read, but folding and storing it was another thing!!
So after a couple of days of thoughts of "There's gotta be a better way to use a paper map while motorcycling." I came up with the following project.
Let me know what you think.



Some of the equipment used for the project.

Here's all the sections of NY State.

This shows the marks I've added with a Sharpie making it easier to arrange the sections. When correctly positioned it will make an "X".

I used a Brother P-Touch label maker to label each map section.
Here's 6 states. Some are two sided.

The size of the printing on the "Easy to Read" maps means less of the state fits on the 9x11" laminate pouch, resulting in many sections making up each state and some are two sided. But I feel the fact that these maps are so much easier to read by us old-timers while on the road.

NY State.

The laminator does a great job of sealing the maps, but your have to really plan the sections and leave at least 1/8' around the edges so they seal.

I also print maps and directions of specific rides from Google Maps, add notes right on the map (you can also add arrows, text, etc from the site) before printing.

Here's a route from Waitsfield VT. to Tracy Rd. in NY. The notes on the left help with specfic roads that are too small to print when Zoomed Out to cover a larger area. As I noted eariler, you can also write right on the laminated sheet with a Sharpie and clean it later with alcohol.

It gets added to the folder.

The ole' laminator. I used the largest pouches that fit the machine. These sections only fit my large tankbag's map case, so that's what we'll be using on tours where we need a map. The sections also fit in the compartment under the tankbags cover for storage.
Markings showing the correct arrangements. We'll probably only need to put the maps together at night while discussing the route and planning another.
Some of the equipment for the project. I think the Laminator going to come in handy around the house. It was under $30 new from Amazon.

You'll need some room to lay the puppies out!!