Wow, Ruben Xaus has signed a two year deal with BMW to race their new four cylinder Superbike in next year's World Superbike Championship and 2010! Guess he got tired of waiting to get back on the factory Xerox/Ducati team.
Also, the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council) here in the States is very seriuosly looking into the major manufactuers bailing on the AMA next season due to the new watered down... OK, let's call it neutered Literbike race bike rules. Why waste their money on a wanker club racing superstock type of class? It may work in the specialized and rarified air of the MotoST endurance series but no one wants to see all the freaking restrictions and limits on real Superbikes. Guess I'll be watching the World SBK races 3 or 4 times each next year to make up for the lack of decent US racing. :P
Talk amongst yourselves.
cant believe xaus is leaving. maybe he got tired of playing 2nd fiddle to biaggi. either way bmw needed to make a splash and that's a good one. not enormous but good!!
I think its perfect. He's a good resource to help develop the bike, and clearly that should be their starting focus. Get the bike competitive and then worry about whether the next shit hot wonderboy with no real experience but lightning fast us in your payroll. Xaus is a great choice for that, and, frankly, probably not too expensive these days...
Fastwin, are you saying that AMA racing used to be interesting? When was that?
There was a rumor in one if the bike rags that the AMA was going to ditch the racing business and stick to the motorcycle advocacy original concept...
Quote from: fastwin on June 26, 2008, 04:33:36 PM
Wow, Ruben Xaus has signed a two year deal with BMW to race their new four cylinder Superbike in next year's World Superbike Championship and 2010! Guess he got tired of waiting to get back on the factory Xerox/Ducati team.
They better build a whole bunch of those cause he crashes a lot. ;D
***
from superbikeplanet.com http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jun/080626a.htm
Stoner-Hayden 1-2 In First Practice For Dutch TT
results of session below
by staff
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:36.569
2 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team Honda 1:37.186
3 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda 1:37.398
4 Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:37.437
5 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:37.470
6 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:37.480
7 Andrea Dovizioso JiR Scot Team Honda 1:37.507
8 John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:37.652
9 Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:37.821
10 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1:37.951
11 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:37.987
12 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:38.082
13 James Toseland Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:38.198
14 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:38.341
15 Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team Ducati 1:38.435
16 Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:38.768
17 Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:39.020
18 Toni Elias Alice Team Ducati 1:39.805
Dry session.
Do you think Melandri will want out of the last year of his 2 year contract?
cdc
CDC
You might not want to post practice/qualifying/race results in a normal post without disclaiming it as a spoiler. Some people don't want to know until they've watched the practice/quali/race themselves.
While we're on it though, since its posted. 3 of the 4 bikes at the bottom? Ducati. Stoner's software is apparently working like last year now. Hopefully we won't have to bust out the ambien and snooze through the rest of the year while watching 10-30sec victories again.
QuoteAlso, the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council) here in the States is very seriuosly looking into the major manufactuers bailing on the AMA next season due to the new watered down... OK, let's call it neutered Literbike race bike rules. Why waste their money on a wanker club racing superstock type of class?
Very realistic. DMG is trying to essentially treat motorcycling like nascar. They want the factories to dump a bunch of money into a series that focuses on sponsors and does little to sell bikes. Motorcycle companies sell bikes that win races, they don't sell bikes because they are sponsored by Home Depot. I applaud the move. I'd love to see it happen and give DMG the shaft.
First, I never said AMA racing was interesting. Don't ever accuse me of that! [laugh] Better that Teletubbies? OK, yeah, I'll say that. But that's as far as I go!! >:( Hopefully they (the factories) can put someting together for 2009. I guarantee the tracks would want their races more than what DMG/AMA can offer. I bet the tracks are freaking out over what DMG is regurgitating as interesting Literbike racing. :P Maybe AMA made the sale of the decade in motorsports? DMG does a great job with NASCAR but bike racing isn't car racing. The old adage that racing is racing just isn't entirely true.
Yep, I agree with the Xaus move. It's a good one. [thumbsup] I don't think he was second fiddle to Biaggi. Max has been too banged up this year to be the #1 rider and get all the goodies. I think Xaus has tremendous experience, as good as most with bike development, is a damn good rider and probably a damn good deal for BMW. I think it's a win-win. He's a name brand rider with 10 years of World SBK under his belt and has a really good fan base. He's a player. I bet BMW will have some studs testing the shit out of that bike behind the scenes while Ruben does the racing. They've got the cubic cash to throw at this deal. Do they ever do anything half ass? I like the looks of it. [popcorn]
Quote from: JesterDFW on June 26, 2008, 08:07:11 PM
CDC
You might not want to post practice/qualifying/race results in a normal post without disclaiming it as a spoiler. Some people don't want to know until they've watched the practice/quali/race themselves.
Oopps, my bad! [evil]
cdc
QuoteThe old adage that racing is racing just isn't entirely true.
I can see it now! Mladin over his new radio helmet to the pit crew: "I'm gonna put this rookie into the wall!" [laugh]
That's good! Wonder if they'll bust out Waltrip and Petty to announce and relegate Freddie Spencer to color commentary in the pits? :P It's gonna be weird... I'm getting a feeling of dread. [roll]
Remember, Xaus was a multiple WSBK race winner before GP... if he had a factory team to support him, he would likely be top 4 every year since his departure from GP.
Bayliss, Corser, Haga, Toseland, Checa, German boy,... all have full squads (from electronics techs to suspension techs)... second tier teams like Sterilgrada rarely have the luxory of a dedicated suspension technician or factory part upgrades... much like D'antin team in GP.
No Assen race spoiler crap here but DAMN!! Just saw the results online and can't wait to see the race on TIVO tonight after Swanny's dinner gig and the fastwin household is asleep and peaceful! That shouldn't be too hard since we didn't get home from Boy Scout Camp until 1:30AM after a full day stomping around in the dirt in 101 degree heat and not leaving until after 11:00PM. Jennifer was ready to be hospitalized. [laugh] Colin will probably sleep for two straight days and never leave the AC again after more than a week in boot camp! It was a lonely drive home with a car full of sleeping people. :P Anyway, can't wait to see the race! It was a good come from behind race for one of my favorites and an injury to another during qualifying. That's all I'm saying. :-X
Look forward to watching the Misano SBK races today too! Great results that you might not expect. Yes, I cheated and looked online! No spoilers here but once again World SBK just rocks! So many different riders capable of winning on so many different brands! Hey, AMA/DMG you might want to catch a World SBK race on SpeedTV sometime if you want to know what makes good bike racing!! [bang] Was going to watch the MotoGP race last night after Swanny's dinner but I forgot it's showing today. Oh well, guess I'll brew some coffee and stay up late and catch MotoGP and both SBK races tonight after the Rockwall b-day dinner extravaganza. Funny how already knowing the results never seems to dull the thrill of watching the races. That's good racing! [thumbsup]
Quote from: shadowcougar1 on June 28, 2008, 08:03:07 AM
Remember, Xaus was a multiple WSBK race winner before GP... if he had a factory team to support him, he would likely be top 4 every year since his departure from GP.
Bayliss, Corser, Haga, Toseland, Checa, German boy,... all have full squads (from electronics techs to suspension techs)... second tier teams like Sterilgrada rarely have the luxory of a dedicated suspension technician or factory part upgrades... much like D'antin team in GP.
Let me just say, without spoilers, that I may need to order a second set of skins and some sterilgrada stickers... Holy mother of god...
[thumbsup] [moto] [wine]
Quote from: shadowcougar1 on June 28, 2008, 08:03:07 AM
Remember, Xaus was a multiple WSBK race winner before GP... if he had a factory team to support him, he would likely be top 4 every year since his departure from GP.
Bayliss, Corser, Haga, Toseland, Checa, German boy,... all have full squads (from electronics techs to suspension techs)... second tier teams like Sterilgrada rarely have the luxory of a dedicated suspension technician or factory part upgrades... much like D'antin team in GP.
TenKate is a Privater team also without HRC support... (Carlos Checa,Kionari,Sofoglu,Rolfo)
Giannis,
My understanding was that you were correct for until the half-way point of Toseland's championship year. An interview during the US round seemend to confirm that the Ten Kate team has received factory support since then (still a privateer team, but they do have factory support)... Not to take anything away from the team or Toseland, awesome rider and Ten Kate has always put the money and effort in it.
I just want Smrz to get a better ride. That dude could put in a fight if he had a more capable package.
And what is up with Kionari? major let down this year.
Speaking of let downs... poor Sofuoglu. I can't imagine his bike is worse than Checa's bike. No way. Kenan's talents are obvious and I am shocked that he hasn't done better in World SBK. Ten Kate does not build bad, slow bikes. Could he be that upset over the loss of his brothers that it's effecting his riding?? Certainly a personal tragedy of huge proportions. They even say Rossi's tax problems with the Italian gov't effected his riding last year so it's possible that could be Kenan's issue. Bad head case. [bang] I suppose if I lost my brothers or the government wanted 130 million dollars in back taxes it would effect my riding too. :P Just hope Sofuoglu can find his stride before seasons end. I was really hoping for better results.
Quote from: fastwin on June 30, 2008, 07:49:08 AM
Speaking of let downs... poor Sofuoglu. I can't imagine his bike is worse than Checa's bike. No way. Kenan's talents are obvious and I am shocked that he hasn't done better in World SBK. Ten Kate does not build bad, slow bikes. Could he be that upset over the loss of his brothers that it's effecting his riding?? Certainly a personal tragedy of huge proportions. They even say Rossi's tax problems with the Italian gov't effected his riding last year so it's possible that could be Kenan's issue. Bad head case. [bang] I suppose if I lost my brothers or the government wanted 130 million dollars in back taxes it would effect my riding too. :P Just hope Sofuoglu can find his stride before seasons end. I was really hoping for better results.
maybe he was just a good supersport rider... lots of guys tried WSBK after SS and very few successed
Quote from: giannis on June 30, 2008, 05:15:08 PM
maybe he was just a good supersport rider... lots of guys tried WSBK after SS and very few successed
That is a good point. And some guys just take longer to get used to a new class...
Anyone else hear that the MotoGP support class is changing to maybe a 600cc 4 cylinders four strokes class and will no longer be 250cc GP bikes? There was an article about it on Superbikeplanet the other day that I had missed. It was some interview between the MotoGP press and some Honda executive. Everyone seems to be leaning toward all four stroke racing, even mentioned the 125ccGP class going four stroke! The reign of two stroke GP racing may be at an end. :P Sad.
So it'll be 250, 600, then 800cc?
No, I get the impression that 250GP will somehow run on it's own, maybe with the 125GP. I'm not sure. They are making it sound like MotoGP will have only one support class, the new 600+cc four strokes. They mentioned that the motors might be bigger than 600cc, maybe 625cc+, to avoid conflict with the FIM 600cc Supersports that support the World SBK class. It was kinda sketchy and not real clear.
Heck I even heard that DMG/AMA may adopt the World SBK rules for the "Factory Superbike" class. I'm confused, first they talk about the Literbike class having spec tires, etc. which sounds like a nuetered Superstock class. Now they talk about a "Factory Superbike" class mimicking World SBK in addition to the wanker Literbikes...???? Huh? I guess I need to stop reading stuff during the "silly season" and just wait and see what lines up on the grid in 2009.
For those who have not already scoured the MotoGP and Soup boards:
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Melandri+in+talks+with+Kawasaki+and+Gresini+for+2009
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z234/n2f/213860_MarcoMelandriintheDucatiMarl.jpg)
Any bets on IF Ducati will retain him through the end of THIS season? I'd give him less than 2 in 10... Actually I'd say Melandri is gone during the GP summer break right after Laguna.
Anyone NOT see this coming... come on, raise your hand. Nobody? I thought so.
Really a bummer for Melandri, I feel bad for him. I always thought he was a good rider, definitely MotoGP material. And what a dream job! An Italian rider riding for Ducati at a time when they are current World Champs and really doing well... at least Stoner is doing well. I'm sure he is really bummed out. As a sign of how bummed out he really is he is not even making them buy him out of his contract ($$$) for 2009!! That is unheard of! Just a "let me get the hell out of here and it won't cost you a dime, no harm no foul" splitting of the sheets. Can you ever imagine something like that happening in American sports like football or baseball? Hell no. I think it shows some good sportsmanship on both sides. Nice to see. It will even be nicer when he lands a job on a team with a bike he can actually ride. He probably knows how Nicky Hayden feels being with Honda. The old red headed stepchild deal. Nicky is 2nd fiddle to Pedrosa and Melandri probably feels like chopped liver to Stoner. Never seemed that way publicly but I can see him feeling like that. I'd like to see him back with Gresini. He had some good rides with them.
Now, when does Nicky get to sign with Ducati? ;D [moto]
Wow, just watched the 250GP race and once again it proved to be some of the best racing. Won't say who won by a mile but the five way fight over second in the rain was just awesome! Those guys are the best! As much as I love World SBK and the MotoGP big bikes I am continually blown away by the 250s. [thumbsup]
Quote from: fastwin on July 13, 2008, 03:54:48 PM
Anyone NOT see this coming... come on, raise your hand. Nobody? I thought so.
Really a bummer for Melandri, I feel bad for him. I always thought he was a good rider, definitely MotoGP material. And what a dream job! An Italian rider riding for Ducati at a time when they are current World Champs and really doing well... at least Stoner is doing well. I'm sure he is really bummed out. As a sign of how bummed out he really is he is not even making them buy him out of his contract ($$$) for 2009!! That is unheard of! Just a "let me get the hell out of here and it won't cost you a dime, no harm no foul" splitting of the sheets. Can you ever something like that happening in American sports like football or baseball? Hell no. I think it shows some good sportsmanship on both sides. Nice to see. It will even be nicer when he lands a job on a team with a bike he can actually ride. He probably knows how Nicky Hayden feels being with Honda. The old red headed stepchild deal. Nicky is 2nd fiddle to Pedrosa and Melandri probably feels like chopped liver to Stoner. Never seemed that way publicly but I can see him feeling like that. I'd like to see him back with Gresini. He had some good rides with them.
Now, when does Nicky get to sign with Ducati? ;D [moto]
I would like to see Melandri on a cometitive bike, i dont think he will go to Cresini team, their split wasnt a friendly one last year so we have
LCR team already have two riders and Honda will not give them an extra bike..
Alice DAntin Ducati... Doubt that also...
Kawasaki? They have some extra bikes so he might land a position in Akashi
Suzuki already have Chris, Loris and extra bike for Ben..
Yamaha also have both teams covered for right now
Repsol Honda looks like strungling and i know Marco knows how to go fast on a Honda so i wouldnt be surpiced to see him replaces Hayden next year (Nicky might end up in Ducati or SBK....)
Kicking this thread back to life... with all the hoopla over BMW getting into World SBK with Xaus and a cloned jap bike :P did everyone forget that Aprilla is coming back next year to WSBK with their new non-Rotax, in house 1000cc V-4 Superbike, the RSV4? How cool is that? Like BMW they should have cubic dollars via Piaggio to support this effort. Glad all those Vespa scooter sales dollars are good for something. [thumbsup]
Quote from: fastwin on July 22, 2008, 08:36:52 PM
Kicking this thread back to life... with all the hoopla over BMW getting into World SBK with Xaus and a cloned jap bike :P did everyone forget that Aprilla is coming back next year to WSBK with their new non-Rotax, in house 1000cc V-4 Superbike, the RSV4? How cool is that? Like BMW they should have cubic dollars via Piaggio to support this effort. Glad all those Vespa scooter sales dollars are good for something. [thumbsup]
That BMW is hot (what, no boxer engine :)) and Xaus is fast, would rather see him back on a Duc though. Im not biased, I promise. ;D
Anyone have a link for the WSBK BMW? "cloned Jap bike" ? Say it ain't so... Kinda like the four-cyliber Triumph Daytona of old ???
S1000RR (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=6262)
[coffee] Cool! Perfect for the second cup of coffee...
Guess BMW decided to go with the flow and copy what is currently working... Ducati being the odd design out. Very unlike BMW. Those German engineers march to a different drummer. This is new ground for them. The bike is basically your standard issue inline 4, perimeter frame, normal Ohlins forks and shock set up, carbon fiber wonder with a Teutonic flair. Good to see the SBK interest. Figured they would head to MotoGP. Sort of the two wheeled F1 equivalent. Hope Xaus does well. He's a good choice for a racer/developer. Looking forward to it.
... now, who will Aprilla get??? Inquiring minds want to know?? [moto]
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. BMW's PR guy or who ever it was that was qouted in the article had it right; the Japanese manufacturers have a 20 year head-start when it comes to sport bikes. Why re-invent anything? Shamelessly swipe everything's that good from them and slap some suitably weird Beemer-esque (sorry Donald [evil] ) bodywork on the thing and be done with it. All that paralever (sp?) suspension shit is cool as hell and all but its gotta weigh a freakin' ton. And a horizontally opposed twin or the brick-four in SBK? Um, yeah [roll]
So copy an R1, sell a few hundred (you know they won't need to sell many cos it's a BMW - how could it be less than 30 grand?), then start working on their REAL superbike .
Makes perfect sense to me. But you're right - VERY un-BMW-y :P
OK, I just watched the Supersport support race on SpeedTV from this last week's WorldSBK race in Brno. Awesome, just awesome. Six guys dicing for the lead with two laps to go and you could throw a blanket over them! On the last lap the top two finishers both set the fastest lap of the race! How good does that get? You know, I keep harping about it, but the support races (both Supersport and 250GP) just keep blowing me away. I keep wondering every race which class is going to put on the best show. At least 50% of the time it's the support races. How much better can it be to have the support class as good as the main class, especially at the world championship level?? We are used to that here in the States since AMA Superbike is a two bike boring ass show. Hell, a wheelbarrow race is better than that! :P
Screw Rossi.
Oh wait - wrong thread...
Carry on.
[evil]
No, that's OK. This is an official "assorted" thread. That more than qualifies. ;D
When are the next races?
Next GP race is in Brno (3weeks), WSBK i'm not sure
Quote from: bryant8 on July 24, 2008, 10:14:27 AM
Next GP race is in Brno (3weeks), WSBK i'm not sure
Start planning the watching party now??
Quote from: bryant8 on July 24, 2008, 10:14:27 AM
WSBK i'm not sure
Aug 1-3 at Brands Hatch in England. We are into the "summer break" for both series.
The 2009 provisional calendar of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season is as follows:
Dates Grand Prix Circuit:
12th April Qatar Doha/Losail*
26th April Japan Motegi
3rd May Spain Jerez de la Frontera
17th May France Le Mans
31st May Italy Mugello
14th June Catalunya Catalunya
27th June Netherlands Assen**
5th July United States Laguna Seca***
19th July Germany Sachsenring
26th July Great Britain Donington Park
16th August Czech Republic Brno
30th August Indianapolis Indianapolis
13th September San Marino Misano
20th September Hungary Lake Balaton
4th October Portugal Estoril
18th October Australia Phillip Island
25th October Malaysia Sepang
8th November Valencia Ricardo Tormo Valencia
* Evening race
** Saturday
*** Only MotoGP class
We gotta make plans for one of the US GP races
Shameless race thread bump. Anyone know why SpeedTV is showing the WorldSBK Brands Hatch races on Tuesday (I think) instead of Sunday. Kinda threw me off when I was checking my TIVO since I'll be gone Sunday on vacation. No biggie, just wondering what wonderful thing was happening on Sunday for SpeedTV to throw WorldSBK to Tuesday. Sure, World Supersport but not SBK. :P Especially over the wanker AMA SBK. [bang]
make sure you bring me back a t-shirt, thx.
Man, 3 restarts at Mid Ohio due to crashes and track conditions! :o
Quote from: Kevin848 on August 02, 2008, 03:57:48 PM
Man, 3 restarts at Mid Ohio due to crashes and track conditions! :o
See. I'm telling you.... Ohio - BAD!