I agree. That´s the hardest one. Not much to chose between them TBH.

Much as I love Max, though, his mental state is a bit of a question mark, isn't it? If his head is OK, then they should be pretty even by the time a third of the season has gone, but I'm going to give the nod to Rea just because he really came into his own toward the end of last year, and he's been with them longer. I'm actually going to go out on a limb and say he's my pick for the title.

Did I mention I met the Maxmeister at Valencia? Yeah, I did, but now I'm mentioning it again.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80401

I still think they should go to a mad 1.2 litre V6

Just take your 800cc V4 and add two more cylinders

Haga on the Duc, Michel might be faster at a few tracks but Haga's new found consistancy will score more points over the year

Crutchlow on the Yammy. He was so fast last year, and it seems like Toseland is a broken man. Maybe JT will suprise, but I'd be a bit suprised.

Rea and Max N on the Hondorks should be a good battle. If forced to pick one I'd choose Rea. I think Rea could battle for the title if he settles down a bit.

Haslam on the Suzuki.

Chris V on the Kwaker. Why does Sykes have another factory ride?

Biaggi on the Aprillia. It's his team and untill proven otherwise Camier dominant performance last year in BSB was good riding, but also no real competition. Wasn't he going to pass Spies at Donnington? How'd that work out? Home track+Same Bike=mid pack.

Corser on the BMW. Xaus hasn't really jelled with that bike, and Corser was fast a few times last year. If they can make improvements and get the tires to last they might get a few top 5's. I'm not sure Corser has it in him anymore. BMW need a fast young rider, or (shameless favorite AMA rider plug) Josh Hayes.

I don't know about that. Camier ballsed up his qualifying, but he was passing people all day in the races. If he'd started nearer the front I think he'd have stayed there. Spies was just visibly quicker than everyone at Donington, though, he looked different the way the Ducati twins *sound* different. Calling Spies a phenom is a bit of a commonplace these days, though...

Homologable.

I think Haga's got 2010. If he can just not injure himself. The only time Haga wasn't there at the front was when he was hurt, and even then he had some impressive performances. New-found consistency with a consistently good Ducati and his 'doesn't matter where I start on the grid' reputation, and he's my favorite for the title.

But I think Crutchlow is gonna be there with him. We've seen that the bike is certainly capable of being dominant at many tracks, and I think Crutchlow's good enough to make use of that, even if I dont think he's going to be quite as impressive as Spies was.

And maybe Aprilia can make a real fight of it this time, instead of just being up there on occasion?

Best team-mate battle is going to be Neukirchner vs Rea. I wouldn't want to call it. I think they'll both push each other hard. I just hope that Max being out for so long hasn't affected him too much.

In other categories, this one is from last weekend's final ASBK race at Philip Island. Look carefully at the track adjacent to the pit entry....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJrC9c2rD0

Looks like a creek. Is that dry most of the year?

Nasty high side, good to see him get up and walk off, even if he looked a bit banged up.

Im not so sure about Ducati this year, I think they will be there but I think others will be stronger next year, its clear to me that if other riders like Rea, Max N, Biaggi, Corser, Vermulen (maybe)...etc can get sorted with there machines that they can take the fight to Ducati. I think it was shown more times than not that Ducati was down on top speed compared to the others: Yamaha and Aprillia, especially Aprillia which was clear at Imola and France. I can not forget Yamaha, Crutchlow was on the pace and Toseland is as capable as any rider, and I think testing time showed they could get on better than Sykes, who imho made Ben look like Jesus.

There is going to be much toy tossing from Ducati next year - could already see they were being killed on power, the rumblings have already started. I think Cal will show how good the Yamaha really is. Aprilia will befinately be there but I still think Biaggi although fast lacks the ability to pass cleanly and Camier hasn't convinced yet. Why are Honda making such an issue about the lack of factory involvement? Never write Rea and Ten Kate off. Suzuki - who knows? BMW, Corser did OK, Xaus got the ride out of pity imo, their improvement over the season has been consistent. Kawa, anyone's guess.

I'm not sure how it will turn out but I hope Haga wins so he doesn't end up like another Jimmy White.

Andy

I wouldn't rule out Toesland, Cal was impressive last year but James, albeit had a frankly awful season, is very capable in WSBK. I predict a battle between Yamaha and Ducati. If Fabrizio can get some sort of consistency going throughout the season, he could put in a challenge.

Sith said it had rained heavily the day before and the morning of the race. Although the rest of the track was dry, there was still this water running over the track. Talking to the organiser yesterday, he said that the riders had been given two laps to get a feel. He spoke to the crasher afterwards who said: "I thought I could take it flat no worries."

It just goes to prove you can't win on the first lap but you can sure as hell lose it.

Ezpeleta: "The Bike Makes A Prototype, Not The Engine"

* My English is quite poor so please try to understand what I mean.

Hello everyone in this thread

I’m Thai. Moto GP might not be popular in Thailand but we have a small group of fans who loving the sport too. The past 3 years in the Moto GP World Championship, we have a Thai rider who was competed in the 250 category. He is Rattpak Williarot (the bike no 14). Even though he never got a podium or won a race championship but indeed he is our proud and our hero.

Even still no official launched about the next project at the moment but it seems like he will continue riding in the Moto2 class next season (might be the same with Stop and Go team).

I have one question to ask you all.
How do you think about Williarot’s pace? If anyone knew him pleases kindly tell me your opinion.
IMO, Just he has an opportunity to ride in the World Championship that’s good enough for rider from a third country national like us.

Thank you very much.

Wilairot is getting better with every race. I will be interested to see how he performs in Moto 2. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.

I'd agree with that, at the last race he out qualified the champion on the same bike, he's developing well, and Thailand should be proud of him.

+1

I wouldn't be surprised to see him a race winner next year.

Yeah, seems like Daytona are trying to kill off the Superbike class with trademark subtlety. Standard France move, abolishing prize money for the smaller entries finishing behind third place -- 'We're open to privateers, now do exactly as we say'.

It was only because of manufacturer pressure (or uproar) that 'American Superbike' happened at all in 2009 -- it wasn't in the initial blueprint. Although with Eslick signing up for Suzuki, presumably Buell aren't going to embarrass themselves and motorcycle racing by competing in Sportbike this year; there'll be a (nearly) genuine 600 class again. Whether people will want to watch privately-entered, unfashionably-small displacement bikes buzz around is another question. In stock car racing the approach works because there's no alternative, right down to the weekly Whelen All-Americans you're racing under Daytona Beach's jurisdiction. Aside from the Daytona 24 Hours no one cares about Grand-Am; when you're being overshadowed by a series called 'American Le Mans', something's gone very wrong. It's just a shame it had to happen like this, I've been hoping for a main-event 600 series for awhile.

Day one for Valencia, only 8 bikes?

Good showing from Haslam, and JT.

1 Leon Haslam Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1:34.5
2 Max Biaggi Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1:34.7
3 James Toseland Yamaha World Superbike Yamaha YZF R1 1:34.8
4 Jonathan Rea HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1:34.9
5 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha World Superbike Yamaha YZF R1 1:35.1
6 Leon Camier Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1:35.8
7 Max Neukirchner HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1:35.8
8 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1:36.1

you'd never have believed you'd see 5 brits in the top 6 at a wsb test 3 years ago!!!!

They aren't even going to bother building any bikes either.

Wasn't there going to be a Race Shop kept open for Buell customers in AMA? You get the feeling that if it's still possible to ride a Buell onto the starting grid (or pace lap formation?), DMG'll find a way to let them win. Obviously not, the recession seems to be hitting racing extremely hard. BSB champions closing down, Superbikes on the MotoGP grid, runaway Formula One champion constructors being unable to land a single sponsor...

Good to see Michele Pirro just 0.3s off Sofuoglu's time on the 600s.

There is a shop building Buells, including a wsb spec bike

http://www.erikbuellracing.com/race-bike.htm

I don't think you'll see to many Buells running in the AMA, maybe in some club racing, guys running for fun and not chasing $$

And how did Buell embarass themselves by running in DSB last year? They won the championship, they played by the rules and won. Those pesky 600's won a lot more races than the Buell, and only one guy won on the Buell, maybe, just maybe he is a good rider, worthy of the number one plate.

Eslick is a good rider, and he'll have to be, since he's Cardenas's teammate next year. But running engines twice the size of the 600s? Triumph have shown that a Triple can be competitive with 75cc extra, needing a 600cc advantage to make the V-Twin run with four-cylinder bikes is stretching it. It sort of gave the impression that Buell weren't able to build as good bikes as the Japanese, and weren't prepared to try and catch up. And that was terrible publicity.

Not to most people watching, they only see a Buell beating the Japanese bikes. Eslick will be on a Suzuki, built by Team Hammer, but he'll still be racing with RMR, not on Team Hammer. I think TH will field a second bike and the details are still being worked out. They were real happy with DiSalvo and I'd expect to see him there again.

With Donington losing the Formula One contract, but not before tearing up half the circuit, what becomes of the World Superbike round? It's been sort of overlooked, as everyone's concentrated on Formula One going to Silverstone, and the bright (and less muddy) new future for MotoGP in Britain. We're told that the track's likely to remain an option for 'national and club events', although whether that means World Superbike, and whether that means this year, isn't exactly clear.

Many thanks to Rob, Youichi and Bonneville

Nice Interview With Graziano Rossi

The presenters for Supersport (the sports channels for a large part of Africa) have noted Wilairot as a rider to watch.

Mladin, Yoshimura, WSBK, 2010?

They don't call it silly season for nothing

I'd love it if it happened, but probably not enough money.

Alex Hofmann says...

"The word is that the Pirelli Supersport tire performs around a second faster then the Dunlop Moto 2 version. Problem seems to be the rear end!"

The supersport bikes at Valencia (Ten kate) are running over a second faster than Ant West on his MZ (which is actually a Dunlop shod Stiggy CBR600RR). Impressive for the Pirelli as its a treaded tyre you can buy for your street bike, but also remember Keenan was probably that much faster than Ant when they were on the same tyres. Dunlop will have the definitive moto2 tyre available in March. Some teams are running Yamaha supersport bikes to get the riders used to the tyres and a 4 stroke machine. Honda will only start supplying the actual 600cc engines in March so the engines being used are a complete spread ranging from tricked road engines to full spec Supersport engines.

Aspar ran Kalex (borrowed from Pons) and BQR frames and tested with Ohlins and Showa suspension, suppose thats the benefit of big name and big budget, get to cover all the bases.

Aspar will be running the FTR frames today

Now they're connecting him to the new BMW privateer team.

Which seems strange if he wants a title-contending bike....

MSV drop Donington from BSB calendar. And World Superbike are 'monitoring the situation carefully', which sounds like code for flipping through the address book for Brands Hatch's phone number.

Does this mean that liter bikes are back in MotoGP?

Did Honda give the OK?

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Info

This seems to point to the fact that the balance of power has shifted from the teeny hope of the future on the Repsol bike to the taller (Italian) beacon of the past and new (Texan) hope of the future on the Yamahas, perhaps? Besides, other than a few selected rounds, the racing on those 800s has been utter crap. (Note to DMG in the US: listening to fans and manufacturers is really OK sometimes.)

I wonder how Casey will adapt? Has he ever raced a big bike? I think Jorge will probably be OK, based on the fact that he adapts himself to whatever he's riding (rather than adapt the bike to his style), but he should probably get a title in during the next two years just in case.

In other news, Valentino Rossi is never going to retire.

Yeah! Pedrosa has been dominating MotoGP racing for too long ... oh, wait.

Joking aside, while the move away from 800ccs is good, I have many doubts it will be a return to the good old days of '02-'03 -- the electronics have progressed a lot since then, and with the allowance of ANY 1000cc, 4-stroke, 81mm bore engine (including production-based), the lower short-term costs for the machines make be offset by the lack of exposure for bikes that are getting lapped by the factory prototypes.


Looking at 2006, it's safe to say Stoner, Pedrosa and any other talented rider will adapt just fine. Stoner's biggest problem in '06 was probably the second-rate Michelins.

If Casey can ride the beastly Duke im sure a "big" bike won't be a problem. I think everyone will adapt quite easily but im sure it suit some people better then others.

I think the argument goes that larger displacement engines will produce a much smoother power band, and the less peaky delivery will therefore lessen the importance of electronic rider aids. The theory does make more sense than the assumption that there was a huge leap in technology and the development of rider aids between November 2006 and March 2007.

Who's assuming that? I'd say there was a notable difference in the way the 990s were sliding in 2002 and 2006, though even an 800 will slide a lot in the right circumstances (Stoner PI 2009).

I'm assuming setting the bore at 81mm will place a practical limit on RPMs, which may obviate the need to increase fuel capacity along with displacement. That remains to be seen.

Okay, but I assumed you were referring to the level of competition and quality of the racing in the 990 formula. Which if anything was higher in 2006 than in any of the preceding years, despite the small grids. It's true about the rear tyre-lighting slides, but I could do without them so long as the racing doesn't suck.

The assumption does seem to be made by the people who blame electronics for all the ills in MotoGP, whose number happens not to include yourself.

I might argue 2004 was better, but the standings at the end were closer in '06 than the previous 990 years, sure.


The 21 liter tank is higher on my public enemies list.

Same. Casey rode the Honda fast, but Ducati is a different story since supposedly, the Desmosedici works in a different bore stroke setting than what is going to be in the future, but they agreed to it non the less, but I think when the time comes it will be interesting if Stoner is still what we have known.

Also about this stuff in the future, electronics will continue to progress which is something that must be remembered.