WSBK silly season 2008 thread

[Gerben24]

Here is the final WSBK calendar:

February 23 Qatar Doha/Losail
March 2 Australia Phillip Island
April 6 Spain Valencia
April 27 Netherlands Assen
May 11 Italy Monza**
June 1 United States Salt Lake City*
June15 Germany Nurburgring
June 29 San Marino Misano
July 20 Czech Republic Brno
August 3 Great Britain Brands Hatch
September 7 Europe Donington Park
September 21 Italy Vallelunga
October 5 France Magny-Cours
October 12 Indonesia Sentul**
November 2 Portugal Portimão

* Superbike only.
** Subject to contract.

No more Silverstone and Lausitzring, Hallelujah!

[chunder]

Shame about Silverstone, was a great track apart from teh chicane

But Lord only knows why they are going to Sentul, its God awful place and a God awful track

And why teh Nurburgring?? No one goes to watch and the marshalling is horrendous, people nearly died there in 99 when teh marshals were useless.

Think this calendar is a little bit of a botch for me, they have gained nothing and lost one of their biggest money spinners in Silverstone!

[Gerben24]

You got it totally wrong and I completely disagree with you. What they have gained is that they lost two of the most awfull tracks, namely Silverstone and Lausitzring.

Silverstone is Godawfull. They have never been able to fit it in the calendar properly and therefore it always rains or snows there. The layout of the track has been a complete joke since they have to race over the short cut. Yeah, maybe one or two people showed up...

I'm glad they've moved the German round to the Nurburgring. I know the riders like to race there and I think the track lends itself better for racing than let's say the Sachsenring. I do hope the Marshalling will be better than the Colin-Edwards-middle-finger-round all those years ago.

I don't understand why you call Sentul a God awfull place??? I know somebody that raced there (quite a few years back) and he loved it. He said the place reminded him a bit of Mugello. I just hope it stays dry...

I think this calendar is an improvement over the 2007 calender. I'm still missing a Japanese round and it is a shame Bernie wants so much money for a Turkish round. I think a lot of people will compair it with the Motogp tracks, but I simply don't think WSBK can afford a calender like that.

[chunder]

I just thinik that they are going to places that have been very unpopular with fans and riders. I agree that Silverstone and Lausitz especially the German round are truly woeful

Have no clue why they go to Germany when bike racing really isnt popular there, maybe its got something to do with BMW!!

As for Silverstone, the facilities are great the track is great apart from one turn!

And youa re guaranteed a huge crowd which you wont get at Sentul or Nurburgring, the German GP used to be there and the ONLY reason they stopped it was the lack of fan interest.

Oschersleben would be better and Donington for the UK round

Should lose Assen aswell as its a joke of a track now, go to Zandvoort instead

[racer69]

I can understand them dropping Silverstone (and wish they'd drop one of the Italian rounds), three rounds in the one country for a World Championship is abit much.

I'll tolerate Sentul for the fact that at least it is another round outside Europe, but a shame they're not going back to Japan yet.

It's a pity they don't give the new Hockenheim a go for the bikes, it'll be nothing like the old one, but still looks like it could be a bike friendly place

Finishing in Portugal is an interesting choice.

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by chunder

Have no clue why they go to Germany when bike racing really isnt popular there, maybe its got something to do with BMW!!

Bike racing is popular in Germany. The Sachsenring motogp always draws a crowd well over 100.000 people and there are always loads of Germans coming to watch at Assen, both during the GP and Superbike. We'll have to wait and see how big a crowd will be at the ring.

Originally Posted by chunder

Should lose Assen aswell as its a joke of a track now, go to Zandvoort instead

Hahahahaahaaa , so you do have a sense of humour afterall. Unfortunatelly there is some truth in there. Still Assen is a lot better than Zandvoort, not just the track and facilities, also the grandstands and parking etc.

[jhansen]

Some interesting changes. I'm glad to see Lausitzring off the calender. Two races in the UK is fine, but three in Italy (San Marino) is a bit much. I say toss Vallelunga for a second Spanish round, which would be well attended. You'd have six races in three countries that love their bike racing. Build the rest of the calender around that. Why must we continue with Qatar when nobody attends the race?

[duke_toaster]

Is there actually a track at Portimao or is it a temporary thing? I don't know about racing motorcycles on a street circuit, they do it at Macau but it sounds. ahem. Interesting. Or it might wind up being a Ceaser's Palace type job...

[Gerben24]

I believe the track is currently under construction. I believe the main contractor is actually the sponsor for the team Craig Jones is racing for.

I've not seen a layout for the track, but when googling Autódromo Internacional do Algarve this came up:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_47LO6gsE1-w/...%C3%A3o+II.jpg

As I don't speak any Portugees, I don't know if that is actually will be the final layout.

[Hazza]

How about Monza, San Marino and Enna.

That's a man's calender.

[chunder]

Reason why they are going to Italy is Biaggi pure and simple, thats why there was an extra round this year there

And Hodgson,Foggy,Toseland bring in huge amounts of fans to UK rounds, hence why that has now gone aswell.

And we go to Qatar I imagine coz they pay em!!

No otehr reason to go there, plus it gets huge tve audience coz ther is naff all else on!!

[racer69]

Originally Posted by chunder

Reason why they are going to Italy is Biaggi pure and simple, thats why there was an extra round this year there

That wasn't really an extra round for Italy, Vallelunga just replaced Imola. There have been 3 rounds in Italy each year since 2001.

[BootsOntheSide]

Italy has always been good territory for WSBK. The races have always been well-attended, whether there's an Italian rider up the front or not.

[chunder]

Haha, and the series is orghanised by let m,e guess...

Much like Moto GP where they ahve three sodding Spanish races!!

[Gerben24]

From Yamaha:

Yamaha GMT94 moves up to World Superbike After having contested in the World Supersport Championship for the last two years, the Yamaha GMT94 team will move up to the World Superbike Championship in 2008. In addition to this and following on from their Bol d’Or win in 2007, Yamaha GMT94 will continue to enter the world’s two most demanding Endurance races – the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Bol d’Or 24 Hours. The Guyot Motorcycling Team was founded in 1992 by Christophe Guyot - himself a former rider and passionate sportsman - with the aim of making motorcycle racing more accessible to the young people of France. In 2003, the team linked up with Yamaha Motor France to become a more professional concern and has since gone from strength to strength, including becoming Endurance World Champion in 2004. Now known as the Yamaha GMT94 team, the squad operates a strategy focused on two very different road race classes – sprint racing and endurance racing. For 2008, the team is moving into the World Superbike Championship, although they are continuing with the current team line up of David Checa and Sébastien Gimbert. 2004 Endurance World Champion David Checa, aged 27, has raced in World Supersport with the Yamaha GMT team for the past two seasons. The younger brother of Carlos Checa, David’s racing pedigree includes 250GP and European Supersport before he moved into Endurance racing in 2003. In addition, that same year he was Pirelli’s WSB control tyre tester and participated in a handful of WSB races. This WSB experience will stand him in good stead for 2008 as he re-enters the WSB fray once more. Sébastien Gimbert is also a long-time member of the Yamaha GMT94 Team, having first joined the team’s Endurance effort in 2004 and becoming world champion in the same year. Like many Frenchmen the 30 year-old has specialised in the Endurance scene, having won the Bol d’Or with Checa and the GMT94 team in 2007 as well winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2005. But to date he also has 45 WSB races under his belt. Gimbert achieved his best WSB result in 2004 when he scored two fourth position finishes at Magny-Cours. This success was enough to gain him a full-time WSB ride with Yamaha Motor France the following year, although a broken leg during the season prevented him from showing his full potential. As well as contesting the WSB Championship, David Checa and Sébastien Gimbert will contest the Le Mans and Bol d’Or races once again in 2008, this time with British rider Steve Plater. In 2007 the Yamaha GMT94 Team won the Bol d’Or for the first time in style with a five lap lead, after having already won as a team twice the Le Mans 24hrs and numerous other Endurance events. Yamaha GMT94 will receive some support from Yamaha Motor Europe.

So now there are 2No. Checa's. Oh my God, the confusion it will cause...

[Gerben24]

Official Pirrelli tests this week at Philip Island, thank God there is some action again.

Ten Kate will not be there with their superbike teams as the new Blades aren't ready yet. They will test in Spain at the end of the month.

Superbike:
1. Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1'32.5 (66 laps)
2. Haga (Jap-Yamaha) 1'32.8 (95)
3. Kagayama (Jap-Suzuki) 1'32.9 (70)
4. Nieto (Spa-Suzuki) 1'33.2 (65)
5. Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1'33.4 (72)
6. Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1'33.4 (77)
7. Biaggi (Ita-Ducati) 1'33.5 (69)
8. Xaus (Spa-Ducati) 1'33.5 (62)
9. Laconi (Fra-Kawasaki) 1'34.0 (70)
10. Neukirchner (Dui-Suzuki) 1'35.5 (85)
11. Tamada (Jap-Kawasaki) 1'35.8 (61)

Supersport:
1. Parkes (Aus-Yamaha) 1'35.2
2. Pitt (Aus-Honda) 1'35.5
3. Rea (GB-Honda) 1'35.8
4. Brookes (Aus-Honda) 1'36.3
5. McCoy (Aus-Triumph) 1'36.4
6. Foret (Fra-Yamaha) 1'36.6
7. Fujiwara (Jap-Kawasaki) 1'36.9
8. Harms (Den-Honda) 1'37.7

[jhansen]

And let's not forget that the 1098 is at the beginning of its development window.

[Gerben24]

yep, that is a bit worrying. Especially because the other Ducati's are not to speed (yet). So when it comes to restricting the air inlet (or however they want to restrict the 1200cc) Ducati might say: 'look at our other bikes, they struggle to get to speed'.

Offcourse Bayliss does have a weight advantage, as he only has to carry 9 fingers with him, where all the others have 10!

[BootsOntheSide]

Good to see the Triumph reasonably close to the pace in Supersport.

A lot of people are still well off the pace. At least Ten Kate should quickly be competitive. I'm surprised Bayliss hasn't sandbagged a bit more, given the fragile parity situation.

[Gerben24]

Times of the 2nd day of testing at PI:

Superbike
1. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 32.2 secs
2. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 1min 32.3 secs
3. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF R1 1min 32.4 secs
4. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 32.6 secs
=5. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF R1 1min 32.7 secs
=5. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098R 1min 32.7 secs
7. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098R 1min 32.9 secs
=8. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 1min 33.0 secs
=8. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX10R 1min 33.0 secs
10. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX10R 1min 35.5 secs
Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 no time

Supersport
1. Broc Parkes AUS Yamaha WSSP Team YZF-R6 1min 34.8 secs
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 1min 35.0 secs
3. Andrew Pitt AUS Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 1min 35.3 secs
4. Josh Brookes AUS Stiggy Motorsport CBR600RR 1min 35.8 secs
=5. Chris Walker GBR Gil Motorsport Kawasaki ZX-6R 1min 36.0 secs
=5. Fabien Foret FRA Yamaha WSSP Team YZF-R6 1min 36.0 secs
7. Garry McCoy AUS Triumph - SC 675 1min 36.2 secs
8. Katsuaki Fujiwara JPN Gil Motorsport Kawasaki ZX-6R 1min 36.7 secs
9. Robbin Harms DEN Stiggy Motorsport CBR600RR 1min 37.0 secs

If I remember correctly Troy Bayliss was fastest at last years tests as well, and he had a crap year after that...

The other Ducati's are getting to speed now, I wonder when (of IF) restrictions will come in place...

Seems like Tamada has a hard time getting used to a Superbike, the top 3 of the supersport class is quicker than him.

Finally, Jonathan Rea is being very impressive, already being quicker than Pitt!

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by Gerben24

Finally, Jonathan Rea is being very impressive, already being quicker than Pitt!

Being faster than Pitt doesn't make you impressive.

What do we think of the Triumph?

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by Hazza

Being faster than Pitt doesn't make you impressive.

What do we think of the Triumph?

Oi! How dare you slack off one of your fellow countrymen . Wasn't he once champion in World Supersport? And it was only last year when he tried to have a shot at the Motogp championship...

Triumph is 1.4seconds of the pace, not bad for an oldtimer manufacturer.

[Gerben24]

*TROY BAYLISS BREAKS COLLARBONE DURING LAST DAY OF TESTING.* He should be fit fro the first round at Qatar. 'Luckily' it happened during the last day of testing, not the first!

Combined Superbike times
1. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 1min 32.1 secs
2. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 32.2 secs
=3. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 32.3 secs
=3. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098R 1min 32.3 secs
=3. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 1min 32.3 secs
6. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF R1 1min 32.4 secs
7. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF R1 1min 32.7 secs
8. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098R 1min 32.8 secs
9. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX10R 1min 33.0 secs
10. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX10R 1min 33.4 secs
11. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 1min 35.5 secs

The times are really close, but there are 3 Ducatis in the top 4 . This at the beginning of their development and one of them even on 'standard' Pirelli's.

Combined Supersport times
1. Broc Parkes AUS Yamaha WSSP Team YZF-R6 1min 34.6 secs
=2. Jonathan Rea GBR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 1min 35.0 secs
=2. Andrew Pitt AUS Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 1min 35.0 secs
4. Fabien Foret FRA Yamaha WSSP Team YZF-R6 1min 35.2 secs
5. Katsuaki Fujiwara JPN Gil Motorsport Kawasaki ZX-6R 1min 35.6 secs
=6. Josh Brookes AUS Stiggy Motorsport CBR600RR 1min 35.7 secs
=6. Chris Walker GBR Gil Motorsport Kawasaki ZX-6R 1min 35.7 secs
8. Garry McCoy AUS Triumph - SC 675 1min 35.9 secs
9. Robbin Harms DEN Stiggy Motorsport CBR600RR 1min 36.4 secs

[Tazz]

I Think we're gonna see a lot of the Bayliss - Kagayama battle this year. That should be veeery interesting

[jhansen]

Neukirchner impressed a bit on the Alstare bike at Magny Cours, but has looked quite ordinary here.

One thing about Bayliss, he may be fit for Qatar, but I'd think Ducati were hoping he'd be developing the bike prior to the first race. Could be a blow.