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Old 14 Apr 2011, 23:54 (Ref:2863530)   #1
jhansen
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jhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridjhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridjhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Round 3 - WSBK 2011, Assen

World Superbike is back in action tomorrow at Assen. Carlos Checa is on top and has a 19 point gap on Melandri. They are the only riders to win races so far this year. Haslam, a further 19 points back, has been more consistent than brilliant. Rounding out the top 6 and not far behind Haslam are Biaggi, Smrz, Camier and Rea.

This could be another good circuit for the Duc, so I look for Checa to be in the hunt. Rea loves this place and so does the Honda, so he may get back into it. I think Melandri and Laverty could also fair well here.

Supersport continues to be thrilling, and this is a great circuit for the category.
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Old 16 Apr 2011, 19:19 (Ref:2864395)   #2
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frostie is going for a new world record!frostie is going for a new world record!frostie is going for a new world record!frostie is going for a new world record!frostie is going for a new world record!frostie is going for a new world record!frostie is going for a new world record!frostie is going for a new world record!
Analysis of practice times from Assen

Even though Carlos Checa took another pole position in today’s Superpole session there is clear evidence that the championship leader could face stiff competition as he seeks to maintain his near perfect start to 2011.


The Althea Ducati rider has been the fastest rider throughout the weekend but surprisingly Jakub Smrz has been able to match Checa stride for stride. The data from practice and qualifying shows that Checa has, on average, been just 0.036s faster than his Czech rival. The data is slightly skewed by Checa having completed significantly more laps than Smrz, 65-49, but it is interesting that Smrz has completed a significantly higher proportion of fast laps in the opening two days of action.


Looking at Checa’s lap times from the opening sessions it is clear that he has found a fast setup but also a consistent one. His high number of laps around 1m37s clearly shows that he has a consistent handling bike and one that he is very confident with around the fast and flowing Assen circuit. As has been the case throughout the season thus far Checa has spent more time on track than his rivals and as a result he should a much greater understanding of how the bike will react throughout longer stints.


At the last round in Donington Park Smrz showed that he had the speed to challenge for a race win but his inability to maintain the life in his tyres ended his hopes of taking a victory. This weekend he has spent more time on track to try and understand how his tyre evolves during a race stint but it remains to be seen if he can translate his undoubted speed into a consistent race. This is a problem that has blighted Smrz throughout his career but it is encouraging that he is so close to matching Checa’s times and as a result he should not be discounted tomorrow.


Irish riders Jon Rea and Eugene Laverty have been the closest challengers to Checa and Smrz. The pair has been two tenths off the pace but both have shown good pace on longer stints with Laverty particularly impressive this morning. Last season Rea waltzed away from the pack to take a double victory in Assen but if he is to replicate that feat this weekend, and kick start his title campaign, he will need to get off to a quick start otherwise Checa and Smrz could open too big a gap.


While Rea and Laverty will feel confident of challenging Checa and Smrz for the win there has been a large gap between the leading four riders and Leon Haslam, Leon Camier, Tom Sykes and Nori Haga. This quartet has been almost 0.4s off the pace but it is interesting that they are consistently faster than Max Biaggi and Marco Melandri.


The Italian’s have struggled all weekend but it would be unwise to discount them because they will be able to get the absolute maximum from their bikes throughout the race whereas riders like Haslam generally struggle to match the consistency of the ex-MotoGP riders. This will one of the biggest challenges that Biaggi will face, a cursory look at his practice form shows just how much he has struggled throughout the weekend.


The reigning champion has had some fast times but the majority of his lap times have been considerably off the pace. It will be crucial for Biaggi, and the similarly struggling Melandri, to make a good start because if they can get into a wheel to wheel battle with other riders they will be in with a great chance of finishing in the top five even though their performance over the weekend would do well to merit a top ten finish.

From the opening days of action it is clear that, once again, the battle at the front will involve Checa but Smrz, Rea and Laverty are all in close contention to challenge for the victory.
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Old 16 Apr 2011, 22:17 (Ref:2864491)   #3
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chunder should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridchunder should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridchunder should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
Fascinating

But maths and charts were never my strongpoint.

Duscussions are though?
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Old 16 Apr 2011, 23:05 (Ref:2864504)   #4
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Dani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridDani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridDani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Assen .. a Ducati track?? .. neveeeeeeeeeer
the questions for now .. and probably for a while is .. Can Checa do it? win the championship?
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Old 18 Apr 2011, 13:34 (Ref:2865722)   #5
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Dani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridDani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridDani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
i'm starting to believe
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Old 18 Apr 2011, 19:10 (Ref:2865979)   #6
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I am sooooooo unsure
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Old 18 Apr 2011, 19:28 (Ref:2865993)   #7
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jhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridjhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridjhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
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Assen .. a Ducati track?? .. neveeeeeeeeeer
the questions for now .. and probably for a while is .. Can Checa do it? win the championship?
Aren't they all Ducati tracks?

And yes, Checa can.
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Old 19 Apr 2011, 07:13 (Ref:2866254)   #8
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chunder should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridchunder should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridchunder should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
How much more proof do you need.

Marinelli is in the garage every meeting in a plain jacket!

THe team runs two bikes in Superstock, just as Xerox used to!

This is a factory Ducati in everything but name!

And Carlos is a factory rider pretty much, and doing it justice.
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Old 19 Apr 2011, 14:46 (Ref:2866489)   #9
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jhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridjhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridjhansen should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
I have to say I was very pleased for Chaz Davies. It was a long time coming.

I hope this boosts him forward to a very successful year and hopefully a move to superbike.
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Old 2 May 2011, 17:59 (Ref:2873041)   #10
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I have to say I was very pleased for Chaz Davies. It was a long time coming.
Me too! Thoroughly deserved.

How hard was Gino Rea riding his bike though? He was clearly giving it his all but even an amateur armchair enthusiast like me could see the crash coming from a long way. What I don't understand is why his team seems to find themselves with such a mountain to climb at each race weekend so that Gino has so little time on track. What is that all about?

Excuse my ignorance but where did this Marino kid come from? He's got some talent.
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Old 2 May 2011, 18:37 (Ref:2873073)   #11
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Dani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridDani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridDani Filth should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
and there's another good young frenchie in the BSB too
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Old 2 May 2011, 19:46 (Ref:2873129)   #12
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Well so far Baz has flattered to deceive.

He qualifies well then slips way back in the races, but that speed is a good sign
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