| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Maybe not as exciting as MotoGP coming to Indy, but exciting nonetheless: http://tinyurl.com/2cscnd Tell you what... I'd sure LOVE to see an 1125R on the grid for that, wouldn't you? | ||
| Trojan |
I think you'll see a huge improvement since the WSB guys were there in 2004, particularly in the development of the Pirelli control tyre. Are there any teams in AMA Superbike that run Pirellis that could run as wild cards? | ||
| Jaimec |
Matt, I might've jumped the gun on that posting. If you look at the comments, there is a response from John Gardner, who identifies himself as the Media Manager at Miller Motorsports Park. He says the article is NOT true, and that no decision has been made. MCN also recently reported that Loris Capirossi was CONFIRMED for Rizla Suzuki. NOBODY else backs up that story, and now in their article regarding Ben Spies they even say the Capirossi will NOT ride for Rizla Suzuki. I'm beginning to wonder about that publication... | ||
| Trojan |
MCN usually get it right, and are sometimes weeks ahead of the official announcements, so don't mistrust them completely. There is a lot of rumour and conjecture at this time of year, which has sparked into even more frenzied action by the announcement that Hopper has signed for Kawasaki. At present it appears that Stoner and Melandri are definite at Ducati and that Capirossi has allegedly signed for Suzuki at Laguna but is holding off making the announcement. Ducati do though apparently have an option on keeping Capirossi and running a third bike for 2008. An option also being considered by Kawasaki & Suzuki. Also hot rumour is that Edwards will eventually be ousted from the factory Yamaha garage to make room for Jorge Lorenzo, and will move over to Tech 3 using Michelin tyres. However, due to some internal politics it may be that Lorenzo runs in a completely separate Fortuna backed Yamaha works team, which would end the lengthy court case between Yamaha and the owners of Gauloise/Fortuna. Edwards is rumoured to be joined by James Toseland at Tech 3, although James is also rumoured to be joining almost every other MotoGP team including D'Antin and Gresini as well as staying with Ten Kate/HRC in WSB! I predict that Anthony West will get the second Kawasaki berth alongside Hopper, with De Puniet getting relegated to one of the other mid field teams or running the rumoured third Kawasaki. Rossi and Stoner at least stay where they are, as do Pedrosa, Hayden & Vermuelen. It is anyone's guess what will happen at D'Antin, Suzuki & Gresini Honda. Latest rumour for cash strapped KR is that they will leave MotoGP altogether and run a Fireblade in WSB instead. This would make sense as they now manufacture a lot of parts for other WSB/BSB teams ncluding swingarms etc. Barros, Elias, Hofman, Checa, Nakano, Tamada and Guintoli may all get the push (and deservedly so in most cases), so look out for more young guns in 2008, including Chas Davies hopefully  Clear as mud | ||
| Jaimec |
Now I know why they call this "Silly Season." | ||
| Jaimec |
Francis Batta was true to his word: http://tinyurl.com/2ba735 So whither "Mad Max" now? | ||
| Trojan |
Francis Batta alluded to moving to MotoGP in a previous interview, although without his title sponsor that may prove difficult now. I am sure that if he did go to GP's then Biaggi would remain with the team. I feel more sorry for Yukio Kagayama, as I think he will find it a bit more difficult top pick up a top ride. | ||
| Jaimec |
I thought I saw an interview with Max where he said he had no interest in returning to MotoGP and that he was perfectly happy where he was? Or maybe he was just saying that at the time but didn't mean it? | ||
| Trojan |
It appears that early stories of Batta's retirement or defection from WSB were wide of the mark. Corona have withdrawn their entire motorsport sponsorship package in 2008, including as title sponsor for WSB itself and of the Alstare Suzuki team. Batta/Alstare will apparently stay in WSB and is currently negotiating with Suzuki for full on factory bikes for next year. With the popularity of WSB now bigger than ever the title sponsor position has already been filled and I'm sure Batta will find a big money backer before long, especially if they can keep Max on board. I'm not sure what effect if any the Corona announcement will have on the Corona sponsored AMA Honda Superbike squad (full of British exiles), but hopefully that is a separate arm of Cotona and James Ellison, Gary Mason and maybe even Neil Hodgson will still have a team next year. | ||
| Jaimec |
World Superbike returns to the US! http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Aug/070822mmp. htm Utah isn't quite as convenient at Indianapolis, but it is closer to me than Laguna Seca. Sure wish there would be an 1125R on the grid... | ||
| M1combat |
Sweet... I'll make it . | ||
| Jaimec |
Toseland missed out on the podium twice today. MotoGP occupying his mind these days? | ||
| Jaimec |
Is Toseland setting himself up for a "New York Mets" collapse at the end of the season? Max is in striking distance... | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Good Luck James Toseland! I hope he is 07' WSBK champion tomorrow! | ||
| Trojan |
I hope he is 07' WSBK champion tomorrow! LIkewise He has pole for the two races, with Biagi back in 5th, so he has every opportunity of wrapping it up today (although I thought the same for Lewis Hamilton until two hours ago) | ||
| Trojan |
Toseland couldn't have made for a more nail biting finale if he had scripted it himself! Haga took race one after Toseland was skittled into the gravel on lap one, remounting to finish a creditible 7th. Race two Haga once again took the bul by the horns and took the win, doing everything he could to take the title, but Toselands 6th place was enough to win the Englishman the series by a mere 2 points! I don't know if I can take any more excitiment this weekend, with Lewis Hamilton seemingly throwing away the F1 crown this morning, England unexpectedly beating Australia at Rugby to qualify for teh world cup semi finals, and now Toseland scraping to his second WSB title at last. All we need now is a British MotoGP star.....OK that is probably asking too much maybe ;) | ||
| Jaimec |
Yamaha takes the Constructor's title with Honda and Ducati tied for second. I have to admit, I've been a fan of Yamaha's since I first started riding so I'm happy to see this. Now if only they could dethrone Yoshimura Suzuki in the States... | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Well done James Toseland. A well deserved title, although he was not at his best the last 2 races. It is good to have a 2-times WSBK champion, joining motoGP at his prime age. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Also it is very good for Ducati to get the Supestock 1000cc title. A stock 1098 is competitive against the stock IL4s, in its first year in competition. This is really important V-2 power !! | ||
| Jaimec |
I couldn't help but notice that Matt's favorite MotoGP racer has joined the Hannspree ten Kate Honda squad in World Superbike for 2008... | ||
| Trojan |
I couldn't help but notice that Matt's favorite MotoGP racer has joined the Hannspree ten Kate Honda squad in World Superbike for 2008... A decision swayed by filthy lucre I suspect ;) Ten Kate had a choice of some of the world's best young riders lining up at their door, so I think money or Honda had a hand in this. Team Manager, Ronald ten Kate, said: "After such a successful 2007 season, we wanted to build a team that brings the same kind of success for 2008 and beyond. This is why we have chosen to go with some very young riders in both the Superbike and Supersport class. “We are confident that we can do well in developing these riders.” Obviously Carlos lied about his age then Still, good luck to Careless in his twilight years as a racer. I think he'll find WSB harder than he imagines though, especially against his own team mates. My prediction........Checa gets dropped from the team mid season after disapointing results. He is replaced by Johnny Rea or Andrew Pitt moving up from the WSS team. Both have more Superbike experience than Checa. (Message edited by trojan on October 09, 2007) | ||
| Jaimec |
From the BMW Rider's Association website: BMW to enter World Superbike (10/15/07) BMW has confirmed its long-awaited entry into World Superbike competition for 2009. The race machine will be based on the K1000 RS chain-drive K190/190 project bike slated as the sportiest BMW production bike since the "Walter Zeller" RS 54 of the mid-50s. That bike, in turn, was an ultra-pricey King-cam bevel-drive Boxer sold only in sufficient numbers to meet the to the series requirement and even then. only the well-connected could buy one. The "RS" in that case truly meant Rennsport (racing) rather than Reise Sport (touring sport). This K1000 RS bike will once again be a racer, but a series version is likely to be sold under a more democratic marketing plan. More in OTLs to come. | ||
| Trojan |
It is also 99% sure that KTM have a team ready to start race testing the new RC8 immediately after it's launch at the Milan show. The RC8 engine has been completely redesigned since it was changed from a 990 to an 1190cc capacity, including new crankcases, barrels & heads. The street version is said to produce around 160bhp at the rear wheel with the race version up at around 210 so far. Aprilia are also in the final stages of testing their V4 Superbike, and this appears to have even more power available at around 220bhp rwhp in the race version. Both factories will enter WSB with full on factory backed teams in 2008. Looks like WSB will get a lot more interesting next year These bikes also make it more unlikely that the Buell 1125 would be competitive at Superbike level unless it had a major capacity and power increase. Another interesting development on the Superbike scene has been the withdrawal of the factory Ducati team from British Superbikes next year. Having been successful in getting the 1200cc capacity increase introduced, Ducati then said that they would need to fit different 2 ring pistons to the 1098 in order for it to be reliable. The BSB organisers decided that, as Ducati had provided no evidence to back this up, and that the stock bike was fitted with race pistons anyway, they would not allow it. Ducati threw their toys out of the pram and left. Nice to see they don't get their own way sometimes | ||
| Rocketman |
John Hacket backed up Ducatis claims according to MCN. Given he's one of the best Ducati tuners in the business, and he's campaigned a 1098 all season, no one has reason to doubt Hacket if he says Ducatis can't rev high enough with stock pistons to produce enough power to be anywhere near competitive in Super Bike. It is not Ducati who said they won't be racing in BSB is it? Isn't it Darrell Healey, the GSE Racing (Airwaves) team owner who's pulled the plug? He says he runs his favoured Ducatis, and they've always paid for their works bikes and equipment from Ducati. So Ducati aren't really in the argument are they as they don't strictly speaking run a works team do they? Healey's decision is made because he knows they can't compete anywhere near the performance the fours will achieve if the Ducatis are restricted in RPM by running showroom stock three ring pistons. What a pity, but since the rules changes in BSB favouring the fours, it's become more like a Japanese superbike race series anyway. Rocket | ||
| Jaimec |
Wonder what's next for Max? http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Oct/071018a.ht m | ||
| Trojan |
So Ducati aren't really in the argument are they as they don't strictly speaking run a works team do they? Healey's decision is made because he knows they can't compete anywhere near the performance the fours will achieve if the Ducatis are restricted in RPM by running showroom stock three ring pistons. Ducati wanted the 1200 limit so that they could run their bikes in a lower state of tune than the present rules allow with the 999. The rules are now the same for everyone next year and none of the others are having to fit special pistons. It would be very easy for Ducati to come up with a homologation special fitted with 2 ring pistons for the UK market and to qualify it for BSB next year. I think that they are not doing it because they want to concentrate all of their efforts on WSB and MotoGP instead of building a bike to fit yet another set of rules. Personally I agree 100% with the stand of the BSB organisers on this. They have bent over backwards to accomodate Ducati demands over the years and agreed to the 1200 limit despite objections from elsewhere in the paddock. Then Ducati move the goal posts and want more concessions in order to remain competitive. Darryl Healey may say that he has to pay for all his bikes & parts, but the factory decide who is able or allowed to buy them in the first place. Last year the GSE team were the only team outside of WSB to have the level of equipment that they enjoyed, and if the factory were not willing partners then no amount of money could have bought that. I thought John Hackett was going to race one 1098 in BSB and one in Superstock next year regardless of the ruling on pistons? | ||
| Blake |
"since the rules changes in BSB favouring the fours, it's become more like a Japanese superbike race series anyway." That really is a shame. We have the same situation here with the AMA. I wouldn't have been near as interested in the series this year if not for local boy (Longview, Texas) Ben Spies who cut his racing teeth at good old Oak Hill Raceway; you know the one.  Matt, KTM is known for bold marketing claims that don't pan out, yes? With the standard Duc street bike and the Buell 1125R putting down around 130 RWHP, it seems a bit of a stretch that KTM have managed to find an additional 30 RWHP. Maybe they are talking about a limited production version akin to the Duc 1098S? If not, and it is priced with the baseline 1098 and 1125, then KTM will likely have a real marketing hit on their hands. Did they say how much it will weigh? | ||
| Vagelis46 |
It is great to see all these Europeans manufacturers entering WSBK. I wish we see a 3-cylinder entering soon. Also Triumph entering WSS with the 675 and a factory backed efford is great news. | ||
| Blake |
"Also Triumph entering WSS with the 675 and a factory backed effort is great news." Yes it is! Woohoo! Go Ducati and Triumph! | ||
| Trojan |
Matt, KTM is known for bold marketing claims that don't pan out, yes? With the standard Duc street bike and the Buell 1125R putting down around 130 RWHP, it seems a bit of a stretch that KTM have managed to find an additional 30 RWHP. I think KTM are one of the most honest manufacturers when it comes to power claims, and certainly wouldn't doubt their claims on this bike given the time it has taken to reach production readiness. I would also rate their chances of success in WSB pretty highly from the word go, given their commitment and previous record in every race series they have entered (with the exception of MotoGP). According to the article in MCN the road version is likely to give over 160bhp at the rear wheel in order for the WSB version to be around 240bhp. No weights have been given yet but you can bet it will be at the leading edge of current development. Everything that I have read sees the RC8 being priced on a level or even slightly higher than the base model Ducati 1098. Apparently the RC8 will form teh basis for two other bikes in 2008. The Venom streetfighter that we have all seen will be released and also an RC8-R WSB homologation special. Final versions and prices will be unveiled next month at the Milan show. Aprilia will alledgedly price their V4 superbike at GBP12000+ (US$24000) here in the UK, although it will probably be cheaper in the US as usual  RWHP on the Aprilia is apparently around 180bhp. |
