| Author | Message | ||
     Xb1125r |
I like your thinking jaimec | ||
| Trojan |
I would like to see a race top 10 AMA superbike and top WSB teams. I would bet the an AMA would win it Not under current regulations they wouldn't, regardless of talent involved. WSB bikes are allowed a LOT more tuning in both engine and chassis than the AMA bikes are (AMA spec is closer to FIM Superstock rules). Unless it rained hard the WSB bikes woudl clear off no problem. That is the problem with the various Superbike rules run by different domestic championships now. Once upon a time a local wild card rider could (and did) enter his home round WSB race and win on a 'domestic' spec superbike. That is now impossible because of the huge difference in rules between AMA/BSB/Etc and WSB. The only way to do it would be to get the riders onto each different championships bikes, and that is never going to happen because of sponsor and manufacturer pressure. Some of the major manufacturers such as Ducati and BMW would not be too keen to run their WSB teams under AMA tuning restrictions thats for sure. Getting the various teams/manufacturers/sponsors to agree a race on 'neutral' machinery would be nice, but almost impossible to achieve I would think  | ||
| Xb1125r |
thanks for the explanation Trojan | ||
| Blake |
Then there is the spec tire issue, not to mention the choice of venue. We can hope that the rules will once again converge. It was fun to watch the local boys school the WSBK racers at Laguna Seca. | ||
| Jaimec |
That's why I said the only fair competition would be the best 2-of-3 I proposed above. | ||
| Saxon59 |
How about an IROC type race with spec bikes etc.just to see who is truelly the best? | ||
| Jaimec |
Put 'em all on XR1000's!! | ||
| Trojan |
How about an IROC type race with spec bikes etc.just to see who is truelly the best? Something we would all like to see except the various promotors/sponsors/manufacturers who have a vested interest in keeping riders on different machinery and in different competitions. As they are the ones who give the racing can't see it happening unfortunately. The IROC is a 'one off' event that has a few years of history behind it, and I think if they tried to organise it from scratch now they would find it very difficult to do. | ||
| Blake |
FIM Speedway GP. | ||
| 46champ |
seems like an IROC like series in Australia and New Zealand would be the perfect series if ran while the rest of us were weathered in. It wouldn't matter much what bikes they ran just as long as they were not dumbed down too much. | ||
| Jaimec |
If they're all dumbed down identically, it wouldn't matter. Let them race identical 50cc Chinese scooters!! | ||
| Trojan |
Once upon a time, back in the days of Mike Hailwood/Read/Ivy etc this could have happened simply because the riders were not tied into one manufacturer or class. Usually even if they had a contract to race for a particular manufacturer in 500 GP they could still ride other bikes in other classes and in domestic events. It wasn't unusual to see Hailwood/Read turn up at a UK domestic meeting and ride in 4 or 5 different classes on 4 different makes of bike. This lasted well into the 1970's and I remember seeing Barry Sheene race a 125 Suzuki, 250 Yamaha and (I think) a 750 Norton in the same meeting at Brands Hatch. Unfortunately this ended when sponsors came into the sport, and manufacturers tied their riders down to their brand exclusively. They also stopped most riders from competing in non championship events, which stopped world stars racing in events like the 'Race of the Year' at Mallory Park and even the Daytona 200. Much as we would like to see the worlds best GP/WSB/AMA/BSB riders in the same race on equal machinery, it just ain't gonna happen now unfortunately because the commercial pressures are too high and contracts are too tight  The best we can hope for these days are races like the Macau GP, where riders make deals for just one race, and I think even this is living on borrowed time because of safety concerns. | ||
| Xb1125r |
is a chinese scooter the one where a chinese guy carries me | ||
| Jaimec |
Asphalt and Rubber is reporting today that John Hopkins broke his hand AGAIN testing at Philip Island. When is he just going to pack it in and give up? Would anybody blame him? They are also reporting that Nitro Nori has resurfaced in British Superbike racing for Yamaha again. | ||
| Trojan |
They are also reporting that Nitro Nori has resurfaced in British Superbike racing for Yamaha again There was a strong rumour last week that Nori would take Ian Huthinson's place in the Swan Yamaha team after Ian broke his leg (again) at a bike show event last week. Nori could be a temporary replacment only though until Hutchy mends, although if he is in a goo dplace by mid season he may be able to stay Be good to see him racing in the UK too | ||
| Blake |
Jaime, Left or right hand? | ||
| Jaimec |
Right hand (AGAIN). http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/wsbk-hopkin s-breaks-hand-highspeed-crash-phillip-island/ | ||
| Trojan |
Testing times from this week sugges that nothing much will change at the front when the WSB season starts Tom Sykes on the Kawasaki seems to be the only surprise package (although to be honest he deserves to be at the front). We will just have to see how that translates into race pace. Laverty appears to have also suffered an injury on the final day that may put him on the sidelines with Hopper already, which is a shame as he was quicker than Biaggi on both days before his crash. 'Official' testing starts this weekend so we will get some proper times rather than relying on teams to provide them, so things may look very different then  | ||
| Blake |
>>> Tom Sykes on the Kawasaki seems to be the only surprise package (although to be honest he deserves to be at the front). Why?  | ||
| Trojan |
Tom Sykes is a very talented rider who has spent most of his WSB carrer playing second fiddle to other riders and getting second best equipment. He did a good job at Yamaha but was unlucky in having a superstar as a team mate and completely overshadowed by Spies. Ordinarily 6th in your first WSB season would be considered a good result, especially considering he missed a few rounds through injury. Tom Sykes is capable of winning WSB races on competitive machinery but has so far not been given the tools to do the job on a regular basis. He defintely deserves to do well this year. | ||
| Blake |
Would be nice to see Kawasaki win again. | ||
| Jaimec |
Leon is good, but I think Marco is BMW's best hope of standing on the top step at last. Go Marco!! And get well soon, Leon! | ||
| Trojan |
Leon is good, but I think Marco is BMW's best hope of standing on the top step at last. Go Marco!! I think Leon and Marco are very well matched in terms of ability, although Leon now starts the season with a big handicap unfortunately. It always amazes me just how hard these guys are in the way they continue racing carrying injuries that would see us off work for weeks (if not months!). Leon is apprently having a screw put in his ankle/leg today so that he can race this next weekend, and Laverty is back at Philip Island ready to race following is big crash last week! Hard men indeed. | ||
| Trojan |
2012 Racing has started!!! At last..... Jonathan Rea pulled off a surprise last minute fastest lap in QP1, ahead of a batch of Ducatis (Checa only 4th at the moment). The walking wounded managed to get a couple of laps in just to test their mobility. Leon Haslam did 3 laps on his BMW, setting the 21st fastest time, while Eugene Laverty managed 22nd place but crashed aagin, bumping his head (again). Hopefully both will be fit enough to race, but it is a big ask, especially for Haslam who only had his broken leg pinned on Tuesday! WSS looks really close, with just a few hundredths separating the top 3 (all Honda mounted). | ||
| Svh |
Wonder what happened with Sykes. I expected him to be faster than 7th. Always Q2 I suppose. So happy moto roadracing has started again. | ||
| Jaimec |
Football season is over... let the REAL SPORTS begin!! | ||
| Court |
Indeed  http://www.brm.co.nz/articles/india-hopes-for-wsbk motogp-races.html | ||
| Crusty |
Wonder what happened with Sykes. I expected him to be faster than 7th. Your expectations have been met, Tom Sykes is on the pole. Australian Superstock 600 rider Oscar McIntyre was fatally injured in an accident in a support race, which caused the cancellation of Superpole. RIP Oscar McIntyre. | ||
| Jaimec |
Would be nice to see a Hero/EBR entry in an Indian round of WSBK... | ||
| 46champ |
Trojan I was looking thru the results for the WSS race from Philip Island. How come an English motorcycle company can't put an English rider on an English bike? I'm not slighting Scottish Welsh or Irish riders any one of them would do. |
