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

[Spec-ECU]

here is to hoping WSBK will allow us to watch the internet stream:
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130212wsbkonspeed.htm

I think we might have to MASS email infront requesting they allow us to stream just like in the EU.

Who is up for writing something good?

First up, make sure to send it to Dorna, not InFront.

 

[Leanit]

What options are there for watching WSBK? Help out us noobs.

Fast running out of reasons to own a television.

 

[Spec-ECU]

Unofficial times from a private test in the Island today, another one for tomorrow. The grid will still have an official test Monday and Tuesday.

Apparently, crash-fest galore due to the resurfaced track and lack of rubber, including Sykes who possibly fractured his wrist.

[table="head"]Pos|No|Rider|Team/Bike|Time|Diff|Prev.
1|58|Eugene Laverty|Factory Aprilia|1:31.7|
2|2|Leon Camier|Fixi Suzuki|1:31.9|0.2|0.2
3|65|Jonathan Rea|Pata Honda|1:32.0|0.3|0.1
4|91|Leon Haslam|Pata Honda|1:32.0|0.3|0.0
5|33|Marco Melandri|Goldbet BMW|1:32.2|0.5|0.2
6|50|Sylvain Guintoli|Factory Aprilia|1:32.3|0.6|0.1
7|16|Jules Cluzel|Fixi Suzuki|1:32.4|0.7|0.1
8|34|Davide Guigliano|Althea Aprilia|1:32.7|1.0|0.3
9|86|Ayrton Badovini|Alstare Ducati|1:32.8|1.1|0.1
10|27|Max Neukirchner|MR Ducati|1:32.9|1.2|0.1
11|19|Chaz Davies|Goldbet BMW|1:33.0|1.3|0.1
12|76|Loris Baz|Factory Kawasaki|1:33.2|1.5|0.2
13|84|Michel Fabrizio|Red Devils Aprilia|1:33.7|2.0|0.5
14|66|Tom Sykes|Factory Kawasaki|1:34.5|2.8|0.8
[/table]

Checa out with a stomach bug. Won't get too excited over the times right now, boys are probably still having a shakedown. But it's promising to see Haslam up there on the CBR, since his last stint on it in 2009 with the Stiggy squad.

 

[Dmitriy]

I f-ing hate speedtv, good riddance I say:
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130213kqa.htm

 

[TTTom]

Crikey... Sykes down with a broken wrist after 5 laps, Checa in hospital with a possible intestinal blockage.

If they were horses we'd have to shoot them.

 

[RaptorFA]

Intestinal blockage? What horrible timing. Probably worrying himself to death over this 1199! Seriously, I hope they don't have to do anything serious to him to resolve it.

And terrible news for Sykes. That's the kind of thing that could dog you all year. Wow. On a positive side, look at Leon go! I'd like to see the Suzukis do well this year. They had a rough time of it last season.

 

[Ducky_Fresh]

Well if no one buys the rights in the USA , not sure why they would still block us?

 

[Spec-ECU]

A quick lap around the Island onboard Rea:


youtu.be/bStDeWsvuhg

 

[TTTom]

Well it could be a good year for Suzuki fans, Camier finishes day 2 with the fastest times. The GSXR has always been a good handling bike, now Yoshimura is giving them the HP to match.

 

[Spec-ECU]

Well it could be a good year for Suzuki fans, Camier finishes day 2 with the fastest times. The GSXR has always been a good handling bike, now Yoshimura is giving them the HP to match.

Took Yosh long enough...

Speaking of Camier, some pictures from his yardsale:

Between his and Cluzel's crash yesterday, figure about $50k of damage yesterday per Denning. Ouch.

 

[stangmx13]

A quick lap around the Island onboard Rea:

looks like Rea would be a lot faster if he took Stoner's line through Stoner corner

 

[Spec-ECU]

Overall times from both of the unofficial test dates, via Motomatters.com:

[table="head"]No|Rider|Team/Bike|Day 1|Day 2|Overall
2|Leon Camier|Fixi Suzuki|1:31.9|1:31.2|1:31.2
50|Sylvain Guintoli|Factory Aprilia|1:32.3|1:31.3|1:31.3
65|Jonathan Rea|Pata Honda|1:32.0|1:31.4|1:31.4
33|Marco Melandri|Goldbet BMW|1:32.2|1:31.6|1:31.6
58|Eugene Laverty|Factory Aprilia|1:31.7|1:32.1|1:31.7
84|Michel Fabrizio|Red Devils Aprilia|1:33.7|1:31.7|1:31.7
91|Leon Haslam|Pata Honda|1:32.0|1:31.8|1:31.8
34|Davide Guigliano|Althea Aprilia|1:32.7|1:31.9|1:31.9
19|Chaz Davies|Goldbet BMW|1:33.0|1:32.1|1:32.1
86|Ayrton Badovini|Alstare Ducati|1:32.8|1:32.2|1:32.2
16|Jules Cluzel|Fixi Suzuki|1:32.4||1:32.4
27|Max Neukirchner|MR Ducati|1:32.9|1:32.6|1:32.6
76|Loris Baz|Factory Kawasaki|1:33.2||1:33.2
66|Tom Sykes|Factory Kawasaki|1:34.5||1:34.5
[/table]

Even more crashes from Day 2 testing, with the track grip being unpredictable in some places. More rubber will be laid during next week's official tests, hopefully enough before next weekend's race.

 

[TTTom]

CL ad: "Never crashed, few minor scratches from one small tip over in driveway"

I'm glad he walked away from that one.


On a totally different note, isn't it kinda funny how Dorna takes over WorldSBK and next thing WorldSBK doesn't have a TV contract any more?

 

[Spec-ECU]

On a totally different note, isn't it kinda funny how Dorna takes over WorldSBK and next thing WorldSBK doesn't have a TV contract any more?

Only in the US. :nerd

Personally, amidst the uncertainty of what it means for WSBK now that Dorna's in charge, I've kind of been hoping that WSBK would benefit from Dorna's excellent media packaging.

 

[RaptorFA]

Regarding the suzuki's... When you have a bike that good and then you basically destroy it, do you guys think it will ever be the same? That particular build seemed to have something kinda special going on.

 

[Spec-ECU]

Some riders can or do differentiate between bike A and bike C (and so forth), but there are others who don't or can't. Sometimes it's probably on the arrow, but I think most of the time it's on the Indian.

Case in point: Camier already crashed a bike yesterday, so whether or not he used that same bike today or Bike B, he still went quicker than he did yesterday.

 

[RaptorFA]

Gotcha. Thanks. I don't think the guys in the garage get enough credit for the amazing work they do...

 

[Spec-ECU]

By the by, Park N Go is back in WSS, fielding a pair of MV Agusta's F3:

I dig. :cool

 

[stangmx13]

is that a baby Checa on the left?

 

[Spec-ECU]

is that a baby Checa on the left?

:laughing

You know, younger (David) Checa competes in the FIM Endurance Championship though. :cool