Baylisstic In Valencia? WSBK Round 4

jhansen · 12 Apr 2007, 23:30 (Ref:1890081)

We have racing to discuss! Round 4 kicks off in Valencia this weekend. Troy Bayliss, sans his right pinky, will try to mount a comeback from his Donnington disaster. He obviously likes the track, having taught the Moto GP boys the quick way around at the end of last year.

James Toseland clings to a five point lead after suffering a DNF in race 2 at Donnington. Meanwhile, Max Biaggi would like to errase that last lap error from the same event. Haga and Corser showed better form with Haga claiming a win.

Oh yes, and there is a minor to do about whether Bayliss will be fit to race with one Neil Hodgson standing on the side line at the ready.

Top 10 in points look like this:

1. JAMES TOSELAND 115
2. MAX BIAGGI 110
3. NORIYUKI HAGA 88
4. TROY CORSER 81
5. LORENZO LANZI 66
6. TROY BAYLISS 64
7. MAX NEUKIRCHNER 46
8. RUBEN XAUS 45
9. ROBERTO ROLFO 36
10. FONSI NIETO 30

Crash.net preview:

http://www.crash.net/news_View~cid~5~id~146090.htm

Andrew Pitt will be replacing Sebastien Charpentier for the WSS round.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~146106.htm

Schummy · 12 Apr 2007, 23:42 (Ref:1890085)

I hope Bayliss goes to Valencia, otherwise we can find at the end of the season that the best rider doesn't get the title just because he lost two whole weekends (WSBK's points system are rather conservative). But on the other side, I am curious about what Hodgson can do in this bike.

I also am looking for Biaggi's races. He could be a worthy challenger for the title. And, as always, I want Haga do well. So, plenty of people to cheer!

Pro Racer · 13 Apr 2007, 02:45 (Ref:1890132)

i hope Bayliss is there although it will take him a while to get used to riding without his pinky.

rustyfan · 13 Apr 2007, 10:49 (Ref:1890312)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwr fan

i hope Bayliss is there although it will take him a while to get used to riding without his pinky.

Didn't take him very long it seems, as he was fastest during first free practice today

Gerben24 · 13 Apr 2007, 12:27 (Ref:1890376)

He's got a weight advantage now

BootsOntheSide · 13 Apr 2007, 13:16 (Ref:1890433)

Amazing stuff from Troy, especially considering how far behind Lanzi is. Everybody will be having that finger removed now...

I assume James Ellison is a typo on their part?

Schummy · 13 Apr 2007, 14:35 (Ref:1890479)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerben24

He's got a weight advantage now

Imagine the weight advantage of Pedrosa without any of his five pinkies!

jhansen · 13 Apr 2007, 14:58 (Ref:1890487)

Provisional Pole Results:

1. Troy Bayliss 1min 34.599 secs
2. Ruben Xaus 1min 35.023 secs
3. James Toseland 1min 35.147 secs
4. Noriyuki Haga 1min 35.440 secs
5. Max Biaggi 1min 35.453 secs
6. Troy Corser 1min 35.483 secs
7. Lorenzo Lanzi 1min 35.709 secs
8. Max Neukirchner 1min 35.767 secs
9. Fonsi Nieto 1min 35.804 secs
10. Karl Muggeridge 1min 35.814 secs
11. Josh Brookes 1min 35.856 secs
12. Yukio Kagayama 1min 36.012 secs
13. Giovanni Bussei 1min 36.016 secs
14. Carmelo Morales 1min 36.032 secs
15. Michel Fabrizio 1min 36.094 secs
16. Regis Laconi 1min 36.231 secs
17. Roberto Rolfo 1min 36.455 secs
18. Shinichi Nakatomi 1min 36.755 secs
19. Christain Zaiser 1min 36.757 secs
20. Jakub Smrz 1min 37.344 secs
21. Steve Martin 1min 37.403 secs
22. Luca Morelli 1min 37.653 secs
23. Dean Ellison 1min 39.434 secs

Records
Best lap: Neil Hodgson Ducati 1min 34.633secs (2003)
Superpole: Troy Bayliss Ducati 1min 34.814secs (2002)
Fastest race lap: Neil Hodgson Ducati 1min 35.007secs (2003)

http://www.crash.net/news_View~cid~5~id~146187.htm

jhansen · 13 Apr 2007, 15:01 (Ref:1890491)

Bayliss continues to impress. And how about Xaus! He's been pretty solid so far this year.

Ok, honest folks, tell me how long Rolfo can last at Ten Kate with these performances? Any rumors there?

jhansen · 13 Apr 2007, 15:05 (Ref:1890495)

Top 10 WSS times:

1. Kenan Sofuoglu 1min 37.521 secs
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara 1min 37.729 secs
3. Kevin Curtain 1min 37.885 secs
4. Pere Riba 1min 38.095 secs
5. Andrew Pitt 1min 38.478 secs
6. Fabien Foret 1min 38.524 secs
7. Barry Veneman 1min 38.532 secs
8. Gianluca Nannelli 1min 38.564 secs
9. Robbin Harms 1min 38.568 secs
10. Joan Lascorz 1min 38.649 secs

Knowlesy · 13 Apr 2007, 15:16 (Ref:1890512)

Toseland struggled here last year big time, I seem to remember. A damage limitation weekend methinks.

Impressive from Bayliss, but then again he is well 'ard. He was ready to go onto the grid for Donington race two until the boss/doctors ordered him not to, so this is not surprising.

D.R.T. · 14 Apr 2007, 01:24 (Ref:1890812)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

Ok, honest folks, tell me how long Rolfo can last at Ten Kate with these performances? Any rumors there?

He brings the HansSpree money with him doesnt he ?

But yes I agree he is rubbish on this bike. Actually apart from Yamaha, all the team mates have been no where next to the front guy.

chunder · 14 Apr 2007, 13:22 (Ref:1891073)

I think its a shame about Rolfo actuallt coz he is a really nice guy and he clearly has talent, he was runner up in the 250 championship on a dog slow Honda which cant be easy, beating the likes of Elias!

So why he cant transfer that speed on to a 4 stroke I just dont know, he was also ok on the Dantin bike aswell.

Is a mystery, think its most likely a Crafar type tyre situation, he was always a Dunlop runner in GP. So may be just cant get on with Pirelli, coz he should be right up there in reality

BootsOntheSide · 14 Apr 2007, 13:45 (Ref:1891089)

Hard not to have serious admiration for Bayliss on this performance. Valencia is a special track for him, but it's still impressive so far. Rolfo is really disappointing so far, but if he brings the funding he's probably going nowhere. Xaus is really impressing, let's hope he can stay on the bike.

Schummy · 14 Apr 2007, 14:35 (Ref:1891108)

Rolfo was not mega quick in 250cc, anyway. He was 2nd in the championship just by consistency (and because of FIM scoring system). He won 2 races and Elias won 5 of them. He even got less podiums than Toni.

When he was 3rd, he didn't won a race. The second position was Fonsi Nieto, who is not exactly a big star; Fonsi got 4 wins.

IMO, Rolfo is one of those good, competent riders who are not natural winners (Puniet, Angelis,...). When they are in a top category, they tend to be a bit lost. Anyway, he posibly can do a decent season out of consistency, but I never would expect very exciting things from him in WSBK (less in MotoGP).

bestfit · 14 Apr 2007, 15:20 (Ref:1891134)

Superpole results.

1. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 999F07 1min 51.982 secs
2. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Ducati 999F06 1min 52.085 secs
3. Josh Brookes AUS Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 52.199 secs
4. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF R1 1min 52.733 secs
5. James Toseland GBR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 52.801 secs
6. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA Ducati Xerox 999F07 1min 52.942 secs
7. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF R1 1min 52.961 secs
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSXR1000 K7 1min 53.634 secs
9. Michel Fabrizio ITA D.F.X. Corse Honda CBR1000RR 1min 53.750 secs
10. Karl Muggeridge AUS Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 54.108 secs
11. Giovanni Bussei ITA Sterilgarda Ducati 999F06 1min 54.972 secs
12. Max Biaggi ITA Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSXR1000 K7 1min 55.196 secs
13. Max Neukirchner GER Suzuki Germany GSXR1000 K6 1min 55.965 secs
14 Fonsi Nieto SPA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse ZX10R 1min 56.275 secs
15. Regis Laconi ITA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse ZX10R 1min 56.332 secs
16. Carmelo Morales SPA Team Laglisse YZF R1 1min 57.498 secs

Knowlesy · 14 Apr 2007, 16:16 (Ref:1891159)

Pinky? What pinky?

Schummy · 14 Apr 2007, 18:10 (Ref:1891252)

Except the first seven, big diffs there. Biaggi, Kawas Bros... Mixed conditions aparently have scared more than one rider.

Hazza · 15 Apr 2007, 02:41 (Ref:1891515)

Jooooooshhiiiiifuuuuummmmiiiiii!!

Dani Filth · 15 Apr 2007, 08:51 (Ref:1891613)

i bet you've been to church .. praying for rain this afternoon..

Hazza · 15 Apr 2007, 10:59 (Ref:1891709)

Good ride by Charles, and a great ride by Joshifumi, p8(?) will do.

Knowlesy · 15 Apr 2007, 11:30 (Ref:1891751)

Xaus? What the hell?

Knowlesy · 15 Apr 2007, 17:07 (Ref:1892135)

Toseland again!

He has won a race at each venue, it's the stuff championships are built on.

Troy looked uncomfortable. I can't imagine how he rides with such uncomfortable injuries, must be hideous.

DavidStHubbins · 16 Apr 2007, 03:15 (Ref:1892662)

Awesome racing - happy for Xaus in race one - and what a heart attack-inducing last few laps in race two?

I could barely look, and really, Toseland is getting so good at coming out on top in these final lap scraps. Awesome. He's like a fist on a bike. Tough as nails.

Bayliss must have been in some pain but he was always there, race one and race two, until he got on the white dust of course, so, he's still in there for the title.

My early predictions for end of year championship table:

1. Baylissterine (I think last year cannot be ignored at this moment, so Bayliss still looms large for this title.)
2. Toselandorator (If his Honda can be consistent, I think he could pip Bayliss)
3. 'Maxwell House' Biaggi
4. Haga Bear
5. 'Vauxhall' Corser

jhansen · 16 Apr 2007, 04:40 (Ref:1892675)

Way to go Xaus! A genuine 'privateer' win. Brilliant stuff!

Race 2 was mega! Race of the year so far, two wheels or four. Was hoping to see Haga take it though. But it was good to see how much Biaggi wanted to keep in touch with Toseland. Roll on Round 5.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
WTCC Predictions Comp - Round 9, Valencia	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	5	7 Oct 2006 14:14
GP2 Two Worlds Prediction Competition - Round 1, Valencia	Mekola	National & International Single Seaters	23	5 Apr 2006 05:23
FIM Winners Game --> Valencia (Last round!)	Schummy	Bike Racing	31	11 Nov 2005 00:35
WSBK History (Round 5)	ATF	Bike Racing	7	1 Jun 2004 16:04
WSBK Valencia: Race One	gsr	Bike Racing	7	4 Mar 2003 11:55