WSBK 2013 - Round 1 - Phillip Island (02.24.13) | Official Tests 02.18 - 19.13

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With the first round of this year's World Superbike Championship set to be on the way in just two weeks, I thought I'd start the thread early since the teams will have official testing days at this circuit the Monday and Tuesday before race weekend.

I thought it would also be good to list the (provisional) line-up for this year's teams and riders. With reigning world champion Max Biaggi having retired (but will return as an SBK commentator for Italian coverage), the championship is that much more free-for-all.

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[table="head"]No.|Rider|Nat.|Motorcycle|Team
2|Leon Camier|GBR|Suzuki GSX-R1000|Fixi Crescent Suzuki
5|Alexander Lundh|SWE|Kawasaki ZX-10R|Pedercini Team
7|Carlos Checa|ESP|Ducati Panigale 1199R|Team Ducati Alstare
16|Jules Cluzel|FRA|Suzuki GSX-R1000|Fixi Crescent Suzuki
18|Ivan Clementi|ITA|BMW S1000 RR|HTM Racing
19|Chaz Davies|GBR|BMW S1000 RR HP4|BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team
23|Federico Sandi|ITA|Kawasaki ZX-10R|Pedercini Team
27|Max Neukirchner|GER|Ducati Panigale 1199R|MR-Racing
31|Vittorio Iannuzzo|ITA|BMW S1000 RR|Grillini DENTALMATIC SBK Team
33|Marco Melandri|ITA|BMW S1000 RR HP4|BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBKTeam
34|Davide Giugliano|ITA|Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory|Althea Racing
50|Sylvain Guintoli|FRA|Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory|Aprilia Racing Team
58|Eugene Laverty|IRL|Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory|Aprilia Racing Team
65|Jonathan Rea|GBR|Honda CBR1000RR|Pata Honda World Superbike Team
66|Tom Sykes|GBR|Kawasaki ZX-10R|Kawasaki Racing Team
76|Loris Baz|FRA|Kawasaki ZX-10R|Kawasaki Racing Team
84|Michel Fabrizio|ITA|Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory|Red Devils Roma
86|Ayrton Badovini|ITA|Ducati Panigale 1199R|Team Ducati Alstare
91|Leon Haslam|GBR|Honda CBR1000RR|Pata Honda World Superbike Team
[/table]​
 
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I'm going to be keeping an eye out especially for Checa and the Panigale.

With Biaggi retired, Checa's now officially the grid geezer in status, and while he's shown no problem remaining competitve having won the title in 2011 on the long-in-the-tooth 1198, he's now on a completely new bike. It will be interesting if Ducati has done enough of their homework to make the Panigale as competitve as its predecessor, and maybe remain so for as long as the previous incarnations did.

I'm glad the Alstare squad is back in the paddock, but having an old guy in a brand new bike...should make for an interesting season for them.
 
Squidly McSmearstain

Squidly McSmearstain

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I'm VERY curious to see how the Panigale does.

Laverty seemed to figure out the RSV4 by the end of the year and seemed faster than Max.

I'm thinking the championship ends up a battle between Melandri and Sykes.

Then it's.....

Laverty, Baz, Checa and Rea in some order. Rea has a legit chance because he's fast and because he doesn't give a shit who he hits or crashes on his way to the front.

How do we get to watch here in the US?
 
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None of you have torrent accounts? I'm going to end up talking to myself around here! :laughing
 
mel3535

mel3535

Well-known member
I will upload the race to my YouTube if I get a chance, post the link here afterwards.

Man, I am all gitty and happy inside to see some racing again, too bad it is like a over a month long wait after this race.

Oh, am I the only one that thinks put fake headlights of a race bike is stupid.
 
J

jgard

Active member
What's sad? I'm about to vacation in Australia. Spending a week in Melbourne and a week in Sydney. The wife and I will be going to Phillip Island next Monday to do other stuff, then we leave Melbourne on Thursday, three days before this race. Dammit. If only I had thought to check ahead, I would have stayed there longer and dragged her to this race. haha
 
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jgard said:
What's sad? I'm about to vacation in Australia. Spending a week in Melbourne and a week in Sydney. The wife and I will be going to Phillip Island next Monday to do other stuff, then we leave Melbourne on Thursday, three days before this race. Dammit. If only I had thought to check ahead, I would have stayed there longer and dragged her to this race. haha
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You should look into admissions during the testing. If they allow it, it should still be worth it. :thumbup
 
deanzaZZR

deanzaZZR

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Only 2 Hondas, 2 Suzukis and of course 0 Yamahas. Odds are that a European mark will win again.

Melandri has figured it out. He says that he has to minimize mistakes. Laverty, Guintoli and Davies are all wildcards. Of course I'll be pulling for Sykes.

It will be interesting to see how everyone gets on with the 17" wheels. Has Pirelli made substantial changes to the tires?
 
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