| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Edwards is right now the highest ranked non-factory rider so if I had to choose between the two... bye bye James! That's the thing, I don't think it will come to choice between the two but a complete clear out. Highest ranked non factory rider means diddly squat when it comes to contract time. Wins, or the prospect of wins is what matters, and Edwards doesn't seem able to tick that important box even after years of trying. Maybe Assen will be his best chance, as that is the closest he has ever got to a win in the past. Yamaha direct support for Tech 3 is due to expire this year (and was only guaranteed for this year at the last minute), other than supplying the bikes in much the same way as Gresini, Scot etc get from Honda. The only way that they are likely to retain any meaningful factory support is by signing somebody that Yamaha believe will be a good long term prospect, and Yamaha don't seem too interested yet. At present the Yamaha hierarchy are pretty pleased with the combination they already have at the factory squad, and don't seem to be too worried about bolstering it with anyone for the Tech3 outfit. Rossi was apparently quite vociforous in trying to get Simoncelli on a Yamaha at Tech 3 for next year but the bosses weren't interested, hence his signing for Gresini. They are keeping Spies future close to their chests at present, but he has already said he wants another year in WSB so maybe that is the deal he already has in place. If Yamaha don't want to play ball with factory support then Tech 3 will have to look at signing riders who can bring some serious money to the team, such as Gabor Talmacsi or some of the current 250 Spanish riders. They just can't afford to keep Toseland or Edwards without factory backing or unless one of them starts to turn in some stellar performances in the second half of the season this year. James Toselands agent was at the Misano WSB round touting for suitable teams for 2010, and Edwards is already strongly linked to Aprilia WSB next year, so they both know their days at MotoGP are numbered. Interestingly, Rossi was also at Misano taking a close look at the second Superbike race. It may be that he is just a fan and wanted to go and watch (he lives just up the road after all), but more likely that he took the opportunity to watch Spies in action. | ||
| Spectrum |
So what happened with Spies bike it race two? | ||
| Trojan |
So what happened with Spies bike it race two? Apparently the clutch was slipping and he had to adjust it as he went round. There is quite a lot of conjecture and discussion at the moment that Spies is very hard on his bike/tyres compared to other riders using the new R1, as he is the only one to be suffering from mechanical failures. The bike is dominating British Superbikes (top two riders and have one 9 out of 10 races so far) and Tom Sykes (Spies team mate) hasn't had a single failure or crash all year. It will be interesting to see how the two BSB leaders fare as wild cards at Donnington this weekend  | ||
| Jaimec |
He never had those problems with the 2008 GSXR1000 in AMA Superbike, and I'm reasonably sure he rode just as hard in that series. He HAD to in order to beat Mladin three years in a row. | ||
| P_squared |
I'd say his "very hard on his bike/tyres compared to other riders " riding has contributed to a LOT more wins for Yamaha in WSBK this year than any other Yamaha riders. As for Sykes not having a single failure/crash, has he had a single win yet? Sounds like a poor excuse to me. It's the 1st year for this R1, and it looks like Spies is riding it hard enough to win. As a result, he's pushing the machine harder than any of the other R1 riders. I'm sure Yamaha will work out their problems in due time. | ||
| Trojan |
has contributed to a LOT more wins for Yamaha in WSBK this year than any other Yamaha riders There are only two Yamahas with any chance of winning in WSBK. If you look further afield you'll see that the new R1 is pretty much cleaning up in every series it is running in. 9 out of 10 wins in BSB, a clean sweep in South African Superbike, leading in German Superbike.... Spies is undoubtedly a special talent, but it is a fact he is harder on the R1 than other riders. | ||
| Jaimec |
I suspect the bike doesn't have to face the same level of competition in BSB as it does in WSBK. It hasn't done any better in AMA Superbike either. It NEEDS to be pushed. And in the pushing, it will be made better. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Spies is riding the R1 like a wild bull. That is why he is my No1 rider at the moment. Rea is definately a great talent and very spectacular sliding the rear end of the bike. This win is all he needed to have the confidence to push everybodu for the win. Look what happened after Fabrizio won in Monza. Fabrizio suddenly turned into Superman. It is great news that the switch to Ohlins finaly made the Hondas able to win. I think the WSBK championship has just started. I am also tired about this Spies-Mladin thing and how good AMA is-was. Give it a rest ...Take 2-3 riders out af AMA and the rest are below average. | ||
| Trojan |
I suspect the bike doesn't have to face the same level of competition in BSB as it does in WSBK. That is what they all think, until the Brit wild card entires get podiums every year at Donington & Brands Hatch. I think that the BSB Airwaves Yamaha will surprise a few WSB regulars this year and will definitely be running at the front. The BSB Yamaha is exactly the same spec as the WSB bike that Spies rides (they share techincal information between the two teams) and Leon Camier is at the top of his game, so I think it will be closer than you think It hasn't done any better in AMA Superbike either. That no longer counts as a 'proper' full fat superbike series though  | ||
| Jaimec |
Vagelis: AMA Superbike WASN'T all that exciting... it was the "Ben and Mat Show" with no one else even close. But Ben and Mat were the cream of the crop. No one outside the U.S. believed it, but Ben is now showing the whole world just how good the two of them were. Interesting article on the Speed site, by the way, on how the 2009 GSXR is apparently a giant step BACKWARDS from the 2007-2008 bike. After 53 consecutive wins in AMA Superbike, it has been beaten twice this year. Gotta love Honda. They'll do ANYTHING to win, including buying components from a competitor (Ohlins is owned by Yamaha). | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Every team uses Ohlins. GP and WSBK have the same forks. It was a stupid for Ten Kate to use WP so far. I think they found out in Misano. The Brits seem to think very highly of the BSB riders, but so far their results in WSBK were poor. Lavilia, Byrne, Haslam, Sykes..... | ||
| Trojan |
The Brits seem to think very highly of the BSB riders, but so far their results in WSBK were poor. Lavilia, Byrne, Haslam, Sykes..... Toseland, Hodgson, Fogarty, Kiyonari, Kagayama.......and of course that bloke Bayliss, and now Johnny Rea. All BSB/UK riders before going to WSB to win races and titles. Haslam and Sykes were both on the WSB podium at Donington last year as wild cards, and Haslam is developing a bike with a new team that has far less resources than the other top WSB teams. Byrne has already won at WSB in the past as a wild card, but is hampered by a complete lack of development from Ducati since the season started (and no new parts). If Ben Spies sees him as a threat than who are we to say otherwise? Johnny Rea has shown he has the skill to run right at the front of WSB, and if Crutchlow and Laverty get promoted from WSS I think the Brits will certainly have strength in depth Traditionally the British Wild Cards have done well at home WSB rounds, and invariably there will be one on the podium. It is one of the few WSB rounds where the wild card riders have a chance of winning, and I can't see this year being any different. | ||
| Jaimec |
Just remember: Ben has raced at Donington before. And we've seen how he does on tracks he knows. He wins on tracks he's never seen before. He downright DOMINATES on tracks he has (assuming the bike holds together, that is). | ||
| Smoke |
i think Matt has some bias.(as most of us do) i hope that the racing continues to be awesome in WSB!! tim | ||
| Palerider |
So where did Spies finish in race two? And Haga? Fabrizio? I had a power outage and missed it after viewing the first one. Thanks. | ||
| Trojan |
i think Matt has some bias.(as most of us do) i hope that the racing continues to be awesome in WSB!! tim Of course I have some nationalistic bias towards home riders, and it has been a long time since us Brits have had so many top class riders to cheer for on the world stage However, it is still historically true that the wild card riders do very well at the British WSB rounds every year. Leon Camier and James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) also have an advantage in that they have already raced at Donington this year and have setup data for the new R1 to start from. All the other teams will be starting from scrtach again with just last years outdated settings to start at. Spies will certainly be amongst the front runners as he is at every round, along with Haga and Fabrizio, but I fully expect to see a few locals messing up the established order too Leon Camier may be a local BSB runner, but he is almost certainly in line for a top WSB ride next year and is my tip for the future | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Hopefully the Brits wild cards, Ten Kate, Haslam, will run at the top, take some points away from Haga, and Spies will have the chance to close the gap to Nori. I hope for the racing, that Spies will have a mathematical chance to win the championship until the last race. Otherwise, the glory and interest will reduce.... | ||
| Trojan |
FP1 times: 1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'30.962 2 22 Camier L. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.180 3 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.209 4 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'31.604 5 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'31.702 6 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'31.709 7 121 Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.894 8 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.954 9 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'31.981 10 27 Ellison J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'32.118 11 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'32.148 12 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'32.171 13 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.307 14 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'32.363 15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.538 Told you Camier was good | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Any questions-doubts about who is going to win on Sunday ????? | ||
| Trojan |
Any questions-doubts about who is going to win on Sunday ????? Until the chequered flag drops it could be one of 8-10 riders. Spies has shown more than once that he is of throwing away a good lead by falling off or mechanical failure this year, so I wouldn't count my chickes yet, especially as the rest are all very close. It looks like Haga didn't even try a soft tyre today in FP, just concentrated on race rubber. I think that the front of the pack will look different by Sunday morning. | ||
| Jaimec |
Haga has proven time and time again that starting position on the grid (for him) has no bearing on how he'll finish. But naturally, I'm pulling for the Texan Terror (but to me he'll ALWAYS be ELBOWZ). | ||
| Trojan |
1st Qualifying times: 1 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'30.775 2 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.191 3 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.294 4 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'31.401 5 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'31.436 6 22 Camier L. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.454 7 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'31.584 8 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'31.705 9 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.736 10 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'31.760 11 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.838 12 27 Ellison J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.890 13 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'31.913 14 121 Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.007 15 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.103 | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Haslam looks good...... Maybe after this round, with so many British riders able to have a good result, Spies will get close to Haga for the title. | ||
| Trojan |
Haslam should be good at Donington. He has done thousands of laps around there instructing at his dads race school since he was 14 as well as racing. He must know every inch and crease in the tarmac by now He was in line for a podium last year before being taken out by another rider, so hopefully this year he can make it stick. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Haslam for 1st then !! Let him get his performance boost !! | ||
| Duggram |
Did Spies just get superpole? How could that happen? | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Try this for live WSBK race http://racing.skai.gr/ | ||
| Duggram |
Access Denied You don't have permission to access "http://racing.skai.gr/" on this server. Reference #18.1520b144.1246189382.3bdb145 | ||
| Duggram |
Thanks anyway. At least live timing comes through. BTW great results on race 1. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Great race. Nice to see Ben win & close the gap. Aprilias are looking good too. Hopper had a good performance. |
