WSBK 2013 - Round 5 - Donington (05.26.13)

[kevin 714]

Seems all the sat Honda seats should be open.

And if Rossi doesn't win a race this year does he retire?

If Pedrobot doesn't win the ship (which he should on that bike and might be his last chance before MickyMarque figures out how to ride fast ) does Honda cut him loose?

And I know there's a Smith contract but there has to be a way out if that one.

Seems to me that it's way to early in the season and a lot of shit will shift and Cal will be just fine. Though maybe having a properly competent rider on another year developed CRT/lease/whatever bike will actually shake shit up properly and Cal on a CRT would be the best possible thing for MotoGP.

Edit:
Fuck sorry got drawn into MotoGP discussion in the wsbk thread. Though I do wonder who from wsbk would go to MotoGP next year. Hard to imagine Sykes - even if he won the ship - who has been through so much development with that kwak and team to switch out for MotoGP - just seems like a loyal guy who's loyalty has paid off big time. Does Davies still go if he puts together a good season? Maybe after next? Though his window might be closing. And who from GP ends up wsbk. The migration that way seems to have subsided...

None of the those seats are open. Every Honda rider is on a two year contract. As is rossi and Jorge, dovi, smith, iannone... Only spies and Nicky are on one year deals along with cal.

 

[kevin 714]

herve made a mistake signing Smith, Dovi had what, 3/4 podium on that bike and Smith is struggling to be in the top 10.

Dovi had six podiums last year. Cal had two

Anyway, I'm super glad to see see tommy get that double. The kwaker seems to finally have dealt with tire issues and making them last, and Tommy's ability to put in a fast lap is just insane. That team has finally gelled and all the pieces are in place, so cool.

 

[NTron3000]

None of the those seats are open. Every Honda rider is on a two year contract. As is rossi and Jorge, dovi, smith, iannone... Only spies and Nicky are on one year deals along with cal.

All true but in the spirit of BarfFanTrashTalking I did say 'should'... And I really would be surprised if there were not still some surprise movement.

And I am certainly with you on the Kwak. I have no affinity for green per se but I'm happy to see them bringing more competitive machines to the party. Have felt/hopes this was Tom's year with his talent/team/bike finally coming together but those apes make me nervous. He beat them last year (barring a half point award) when they had a better rider so this year, with even another year of development for that bike... I've got Sykes penciled in with the apes keeping him honest and Melandri(Matters?) cast as the dark horse. Had a glimmer of hope Davies would make the party more interesting (a double weekend will do that) but doesn't look like him and his team have the consistency quite yet.

 

[vato_loco]

Really impressed by Sykes's smooth riding style. He makes it look so easy, 7 seconds ahead... :ride

 

[Zerox]

Really impressed by Sykes's smooth riding style. He makes it look so easy, 7 seconds ahead... :ride

Thanks to the software traction control, the Kawi is programmed to act like a Ducati in the corners and doesn't run on all four cylinders. (said the announcer)

If you can't beat Ducati, copy them. Then beat them. :laughing

 

[TTTom]

also, its interesting to see a shrinking grid problem in wsbk. not so good for the cheap series.

meanwhile there's what, 40 bikes competing for a spot on the supersport grid because those bikes are cheap

DORNA need to make SBK more affordable by adopting BSB (basically superstock) specs. They'd run maybe a couple seconds a lap slower and the bikes would cost 1/5 as much

 

[Zerox]

DORNA need to make SBK more affordable by adopting BSB (basically superstock) specs. They'd run maybe a couple seconds a lap slower and the bikes would cost 1/5 as much

Sounds legit, let's run with that one. This shrinking grid thing is scary, WSBK has had some excellent momentum the past few seasons and we sure don't want to lose it.

When Michelin was still in WSBK, but then Pirelli became the spec tire, the laptimes were immediately 3 seconds slower on the spec Pirellis. Yet the series actually grew stronger because the "special" Michelin tires that some teams were getting became a thing of the past and the playing field was leveled.

 

[cencalballer]

Thanks to the software traction control, the Kawi is programmed to act like a Ducati in the corners and doesn't run on all four cylinders. (said the announcer)

If you can't beat Ducati, copy them. Then beat them. :laughing

They were speaking more of the BMW's but the Kawi's do it too. It just sounds like it is misfiring where as the beemers sound like a droner or v4 for a little bit. I have to wonder of modern electronics have relegated the v-twin to the past in WSBK.

 

[Zerox]

They were speaking more of the BMW's but the Kawi's do it too.

Yes, when the camera focused on Sykes, and the announcer talked about the Kawi as it seemed to misfire in the middle of the corner, I'm sure they were speaking of the BMW. :rofl

 

[deanzaZZR]

Yes, when the camera focused on Sykes, and the announcer talked about the Kawi as it seemed to misfire in the middle of the corner, I'm sure they were speaking of the BMW. :rofl

I'm not sure which broadcast you were watching, but the Eurosport broadcast with James Whitham reported that the BMW would cut down to 3 cylinders in the slower corners to preserve tires and I suspect fuel and sounds noticeably different, as one would suspect.

 

[EastBayDave]

meanwhile there's what, 40 bikes competing for a spot on the supersport grid because those bikes are cheap

DORNA need to make SBK more affordable by adopting BSB (basically superstock) specs. They'd run maybe a couple seconds a lap slower and the bikes would cost 1/5 as much

They already have the SuperSport 1000 race at each WSBK event. I believe it's nearer the BSB than anything? Bueller?

 

[Clem Kevin]

I'm not sure which broadcast you were watching, but the Eurosport broadcast with James Whitham reported that the BMW would cut down to 3 cylinders in the slower corners to preserve tires and I suspect fuel and sounds noticeably different, as one would suspect.

Seconded. Eurosport rules.

 

[Zerox]

I'm not sure which broadcast you were watching, but the Eurosport broadcast with James Whitham reported that the BMW would cut down to 3 cylinders in the slower corners to preserve tires and I suspect fuel and sounds noticeably different, as one would suspect.

Memory fail? Not that it matters really which bike, it's plain the four-cylinders put the power down so violently it must be tamed...to make it more Ducati-like. That's IRONY. :teeth

 

[RaptorFA]

It was interesting to get Steve Martin's take on the plight of the Panigale in Superbike. Every body is wondering why the Duc is sucking so bad in Superbike etc. etc. Well, Steve was quick to point out the stupid restrictors and how it's time to remove them, and I completely agree. And in fact, I have heard that they might just do that, as early as Portimao. But he then went on to point out that in Superstock the panigale is very competitive, but that is because the platform isn't as morphed as it is in Superbike. Even though Superbike is a production based racing series, these bikes are anything but production!

The Ducati guys are dealing with new suspension links, lightweight parts, different engine internals, electronics and so on. And there is going to be a very steep learning curve in how these new parts perform and how they can evolve into something better. It took over 2 years to get the Kawi up to competitive status but look at them now. I have reason to belive that the Ducatis will get there as well. They do need to re-evaluate their rider lineup though and make the needed changes. As much as I hate to say this, I believe that Checa is done. That shoulder is never going to heal before the end of the season so that is one whole team that will not be able to develop their bike because they have a rider on board who just cannot push the bike and compete. And I'm not sold on Badovini either. Canepa's results drive that point home.

So do not give up on the Ducs yet. You won't see anything dramatic happen this year perhaps but they are learning more and more with each race, and they will get better.

All that aside, I was very impressed by Tommy's performance. He made it look very easy and he put himself right back in the hunt. It won't be easy moving forward though. Those three points that are up in the air mean more than ever now. THe FIM international disciplinary court needs to get off their asses and put things right for what happened at Monza. Guinters needs to be awared third, there is no doubt about it. Nothing against Tom, I think he is a great rider and he is my pick to win the 'ship, but right is right. I kinda liked how they called that new run-off area "Route 66"!

 

[kevin 714]

nearly 40 year old men dont heal major joints like young guys, hell its flooring spies and hes like half carlos' age lol

 

[RaptorFA]

Copy that, Kevin. Unfortunately, the nature of the injury to his shoulder is such that it absolutely prohibits him from being able to really push the bike to it's limits or potential, and this is a critical time for Ducati right now. They just cannot afford this.

Perhaps a reasonable compromise would be to let Canepa finish the season as the second factory rider, and let Checa heal and try to come back next year. But I have heard it from more than one journalist that if Checa goes out for the year now that would effectively be the end of his racing career.

So what are Ducati to do? Hold onto a guy that cannot effectively develop their brand new weapon or get on with it and hope he can come back next season? I hate it for Carlos, but that is the reality of the situation.

 

[kevin 714]

I'm saying let canepa and pirro ride that thing this season and get testing done and make a huge push for a serious rider pair next season.

As you said, it took kawi two season to dial that bike in.

The panigale is an entirely new bike in which old data means nothing. In addition its a whole new team so they have a learning curb. Let the young guns ride out the rest of the year. Carlos is done

 

[RaptorFA]

:thumbup

 

[ratlab]

That would be the first time (WSBK) for a Frenchie, correct?

raymond roche on a ducati around 1990-just came across it in classic racer magazine.

 

[Zerox]

nearly 40 year old men dont heal major joints like young guys, hell its flooring spies and hes like half carlos' age lol

Only one of those guys you mentioned has earned a pole position this season...