After a storm warning comes in from the National Weather Service, TomByrne, the commissioner of the city's Streets and Sanitation Department, watches it move in on cameras in nearby states and at the four outermost corners of Chicago.
Rep. Frank Pallone (D) has also formed an exploratory committee to test the waters for a possible Senate run, and former state party chairman TomByrne and former congressman Herb Klein are among a number of other Democrats still said to be considering the race.
Defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, Jonathan Rea and Gregorio Lavilla have all left the championship but Laverty faces stiff competition from the likes of Shane Byrne, Tom Sykes, Leon Camier, Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow.