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Jaimec
| Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - 02:27 pm: |
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For a second there, I thought I dropped into "The Twilight Zone..." |
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Vagelis46
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 06:25 am: |
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After seeing the Superpole in Australia, I wonder... Is Spies really that good and at a different level than the rest ? Is Aprilia ready to challenge the rest at the top? It is going to be great for the race tommorow. Shame for BMW, they should have been higher at the grid with a chance for a podium |
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Sd26
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 07:13 am: |
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Yeah, Spies is really that good. And so is Mladin too. As for Aprilia, or maybe Biaggi, it seems like Biaggi is good at the beginning of the year. So, time will tell. Another thing to remember about Ben is that these tracks are pretty new to him. Just another dig on the riders and fans that bag on AMA riders. |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 09:48 am: |
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GO BEN!!! Takes the pole and smashes the lap record!! http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresul ts/mcn/2009/february/23-128/feb2809-spies-takes-po le-on-wsb-debut/ |
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Blake
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 12:58 pm: |
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"Spies is over rated. " That's a difficult opinion to support given the facts and his amazing record of success and now his performance winning pole position at a track he'd never seen before this week. I've not heard anyone claim anything about Ben other than he is a winning world-class motorcycle racer. So how is it you find him to be "over-rated"? I doubt that Neil Hodgeson (former WSBK champion turned AMA also-ran), or Ben Bostrom (former AMA SBK champion and multiple WSBK race winner), Nick Hayden (former AMA SBK champion, 2006 MotoGP champion) and others like them would share the opinion that AMA Superbike champions are over-rated in general. The current pool of talent in AMA SBK may not be as deep as in other venues, but the top talent is every bit as good as you can find anywhere. GO ELBOWZ!!! (Message edited by Blake on February 28, 2009) |
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Blake
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 01:19 pm: |
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Qualifying lap times and positions for WSBK at Phillip Island:
FIM Superbike World Championship Phillip Island, Australia February 28, 2009 Superpole ResultsPos. | Racer | Motorcycle | Lap Time | 1 | Ben Spies | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1:31.069 | 2 | Max Biaggi | Aprilia RSV4 | 1:31.402 | 3 | Jonathan Rea | Honda CBR1000RR | 1:31.596 | 4 | Jakub Smrz | Ducati 1098R | 1:31.600 | 5 | Michel Fabrizio | Ducati 1098 F09 | 1:31.837 | 6 | Leon Haslam | Honda CBR1000RR | 1:32.112 | 7 | Carlos Checa | Honda CBR1000RR | 1:32.537 | 8 | Regis Laconi | Ducati 1098R | 1:32.649 | 9 | Shinya Nakano | Aprilia RSV4 | 1:31.843 | 10 | Ryuichi Kiyonari | Honda CBR1000RR | 1:31.860 | 11 | Yukio Kagayama | Suzuki GSX-R1000K9 | 1:31.867 | 12 | Tom Sykes | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1:31.881 | 13 | Noriyuki Haga | Ducati 1098 F09 | 1:31.907 | 14 | Max Neukirchner | Suzuki GSX-R1000K9 | 1:31.916 | 15 | Shane Byrne | Ducati 1098R | 1:32.119 | 16 | Broc Parkes | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 1:32.719 | 17 | Troy Corser | BMW S 1000RR | 1:32.873 | 18 | Roberto Rolfo | Honda CBR1000RR | 1:32.997 | 19 | Ruben Xaus | BMW S 1000RR | 1:33.152 | 20 | Tommy Hill | Honda CBR1000RR | 1:33.363 | 21 | Brendan Roberts | Ducati 1098R | 1:33.588 | 22 | Makoto Tamada | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 1:33.709 | 23 | Ayrton Badovini | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 1:34.174 | 24 | David Salom | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 1:34.194 | 25 | Karl Muggeridge | Suzuki GSX-R1000K9 | 1:34.341 | 26 | Luca Scassa | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 1:34.390 | 27 | Vittorio Iannuzzo | Honda CBR1000RR | 1:35.767 | 28 | Matteo Baiocco | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 1:36.363 |
From a press release issued by FGSport Group/InFront Sports:
Rookie Spies (Yamaha) spices up Superpole at Phillip Island Texan WSBK rookie Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) powered to the first Superpole win of the season in an exciting opening round session at Phillip Island in Australia. The 24 year-old took the top slot on his YZF R1 machine with a time of 1 minute 31.069 seconds. In the new ‘knock-out’ formula, Italian Max Biaggi scored a second place grid slot, his best ever performance in Superpole, on the brand new Aprilia, the Italian manufacturer returning to Superbike after a seven-year break. The front row of the grid is completed by Britain’s Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Jakub Smrz of the Czech Republic, top Ducati rider on a private Guandalini machine. Spies, who had never even seen the Australian circuit before last week, set the first pole of his career in his first-ever WSBK race: “There was a lot of pressure on me today but first congratulations to these guys, I know how fast the lap time was and we all did a great job. The Superpole was really good, there was a lot of anticipation, a lot of nerves inside the pit box to get the first pole of the year. It’s going to be hard tomorrow, with 7 or 8 guys up front and the real race will start 8 laps from the end. Luckily we have a good starting spot, that’s all that matters and hopefully we can be there at the end. Just like Biaggi said, I was very surprised at how many people started doing 31s in the second session, we really had to grit our teeth in the last one and put together a good lap.” |
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Littlefield
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 01:28 pm: |
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Looks like it's a big advantage to into the last Superpole group. #9 qualifier has the 6th best lap. |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 03:30 pm: |
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I get a kick out of the fact that Ben initially learned this track the same way Rossi first learned about Laguna Seca: By playing a video game! |
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Bads1
| Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 10:25 pm: |
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Doesn't look like he did well 1st round. |
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Vagelis46
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 05:09 am: |
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I am glad Spies joined WSBK and not motoGP : 1. He is a first class rider and made an huge impact to the series. I hope Yamaha gets a WSBK title after so many years. 2. Americans now have a great interest in the series since there is an American rider fighting for the wins and the title. This is great news for racing, since a huge market is watching the WSBK, maybe H-D decides to do something with MV Agusta since MV already has a package ready to race at this level. MV won the Italian series last year, against Ducati, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda..... Win on Sunday, sell on Monday might convience H-D. Nori is turning 34..... It is time for him to get a WSBK title. Spies could wait for another year. |
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Crusty
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 10:04 am: |
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Spies won Race 2. He must really be over rated. |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 12:44 pm: |
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As I recall, Bayliss said the 2009 title would be between Haga and Spies. |
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Vagelis46
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 02:31 pm: |
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Watching race 2 was really great. This was the first time for me to watch Spies for a full race, not just AMA highlightes. Spies and Haga have completely different styles. Is it the bikes ? I think not... Haga takes the tightest line possible. As always. Spies takes really wide lines.Was he like this in the AMA, or is it the R1 ?? He looks soft on the tires. Maybe this is his secret to really fight all the way to the last corner. His style is so different to everyone's else, it is really amazing. Great race. Well done Ben !!! |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 03:11 pm: |
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We don't get to see Race 2 until TUESDAY for some stupid reason... |
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Vagelis46
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 03:23 pm: |
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Try www.worldsbk.com Live race there . |
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Vagelis46
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 03:27 pm: |
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Biaggi really "blew it" once more, but the Aprilia was realy impressive. Biaggi could get 3rd position, but once again he made a mistake on the final lap and ended 1815th.... |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 03:43 pm: |
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I didn't think there were 1,815 riders on the grid! Damn, but that IS a crowded field! |
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Crusty
| Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 05:18 pm: |
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I tried to view race two, but I got the message, "You are not authorized to view this content". Guess I'll have to wait until Tuesday to see it. In the meantime, racing is going on right now at Daytona, and the 200 is this coming Friday night. The Season has begun! |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 08:35 am: |
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Guess we have to wait till SpeedTV broadcasts Tuesday afternoon. I already have my DVR programmed. Even though I know the outcome, I'd still like to see the race. Maybe I can get out at lunch tomorrow and watch it at Hooters! |
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Smoke
| Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 04:59 pm: |
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visit the wera board and there is a link to the races sans commercials with added intro and interviews. tim |
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White79bu
| Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 06:20 pm: |
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+1 on the WERA forum. I watched both races on bad internet connections Saturday night. Then I found the link on the WERA forum and it was GREAT. I will watch the race on speed but with the link you get alot more info. GO BEN!!! I would love to go to Miller in May. |
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Blake
| Posted on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 06:44 am: |
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Way to go Elbowz! Sure was disappointing about the first race, but what a way to rebound. The man is a winner. I guess that may be under-rated for some folks though. ![: b](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/tongue.gif) |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 09:56 pm: |
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Blake, what the hell? It took him a whole race to win his first! I thought he was supposed to be GOOD?? ![](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/beatdeadhorse.gif) |
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Blake
| Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 08:53 pm: |
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I know. VERY disappointing! Sheesh! ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) |
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Jaimec
| Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 08:41 am: |
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Mladin picks Spies to win it all this year with rounds to spare: http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-mladin -spies-will-win-title-with-rounds-to-spare/ |
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Rubberdown
| Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 09:41 am: |
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Good pics of the BMW from PI:
![](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/158664/440549.jpg)
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Rubberdown
| Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 09:43 am: |
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another:
![](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/158664/440554.jpg)
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Jaimec
| Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 11:50 am: |
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Qatar this weekend, and it looks like this time SpeedTV will broadcast BOTH races on Saturday! GO BEN!! |
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Trojan
| Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 11:54 am: |
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Mladin picks Spies to win it all this year with rounds to spare: Mladin may know Spies, but he has no idea of the rest of the field, seeing as he never braved WSB himself! I think he forgets Haga, Biaggi, Haslam and co are in the same series, and although Spies has started really well and will undoubtdely be one of the front runners all year, it is definitely too early to be predict who will the series at all, never mind with rounds to spare. |
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Sd26
| Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 12:11 pm: |
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Well, actually, if you followed AMA and WSB, you'd remember that Mladin crushed everyone at Laguna in 2003 before the risks became too serious to AMA competitors. http://www.crash.net/World+Superbikes/News/124202/ 1/no_practice_no_problem_for_mladin.html Mladin hasn't been hired for WSB, so that's not for him to decide, but for his salaried interests. Ben is going to do fine. Don't bag on the AMA guys. They are faster than you think. Hodgson was a WSB Champion, right? |
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