In other news... Ben Spies' testing debut (FSA!!!)

[cdc]

The kid's got game.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Dec/081210b.htm

cdc

[svoloch]

Actually very surprised by this...  Good for him!

Also, really not a bad turnout at all for BMW...  Should be an interesting season...

[calscrazy]

good results but it's still early

[Jester]

He was ripping off fast times his last test as well... barely off Bayliss' times in the races.  The kid is quick, I just hope he has no problem fighting traffic all the time.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

my new year's resolution this year is to keep the WSBK riders straight from the MotoGP dudes.  yeah, i said it...my memory is horrible and i'm a noob.  let the roll eyes or tongue smiley commence to make fun of me.

[AndreRA3]

Elbows!!!









and a broken down beamer...

[cdc]

Update Day 2:

Day 2 times:
1. Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1'40"256 (44 laps);
2. Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki) 1'40"688 (50);
3. Haga (Jpn-Ducati) 1'40"709 (53);
4. Rea (GB-Honda) 1'40"842 (40);
5. Kagayama (Jpn-Suzuki) 1'40"959 (52);
6. Nakano (Jpn-Aprilia) 1'40"968 (42);
7. Checa (Spa-Honda) 1'40"995 (31);
8. Spies (Usa-Yamaha) 1'41"049 (38);
9.  Biaggi (Ita-Aprilia) 1'41"077 (56);
10. Kiyonari (Jpn-Honda) 1'41"412 (84);
11. Corser (Aus-Bmw) 1'41"986 (34);
12. Xaus (Spa-Bmw) 1'42"438 (40);
13. Sykes (GB-Yamaha) 1'42"933 (18).

Mckraut, you can use this list as your cliff notes for next season.   

cdc

[calscrazy]

looks like some folks made some adjustments

[cdc]

Last day of testing.

Final times:
1. Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1'39"714;
2. Spies (Usa-Yamaha) 1'39"978;
3. Haga (Jpn-Ducati) 1'39"984;
4. Rea (GB-Honda) 1'40"035;
5. Checa (Spa-Honda) 1'40"170;
6. Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki) 1'40"394;
7. Kagayama (Jpn-Suzuki) 1'40"657;
8. Biaggi (Ita-Aprilia) 1'40"768;
9. Nakano (Jpn-Aprilia) 1'40"968;
10. Kiyonari (Jpn-Honda) 1'41"067;
11. Corser (Aus-Bmw) 1'41"102;
12. Sykes (GB-Yamaha) 1'41"562;
13. Xaus (Spa-Bmw) 1'41"996.

1 sec between 1st and 8th.  Big movers Spies, Haga, Rea, Checa, Corser.

Good job kid!  Although they are not racing...yet.

cdc

[Jester]

Spies crashed on day 2 and called it a day early.  Just fyi.

[calscrazy]

i was just looking at the lap times on day 2. however big jump on the last day for the kid born in memphis raised in longview.

[cdc]

Spies crashed on day 2 and called it a day early.  Just fyi.

You're right!  Still good results for him.  It gives him a lot of early confidence.  It predicts nothing except that the bike and rider have a lot of potential.  On the otherhand, in MotoGP last year, Melandri had trouble during testing and was an early bust.  He could have gone home by mid saeson and no one would have noticed.   

Sorry to be so harsh on Marco but there was no improvement over the course of the season.  It was painful to see him at Indy bringing up the rear.  If the race had not been stopped, he would have been lapped by Rossi, maybe even by Stoner.

cdc

[ThelmaLou]

You're right!  Still good results for him.  It gives him a lot of early confidence.  It predicts nothing except that the bike and rider have a lot of potential.  On the otherhand, in MotoGP last year, Melandri had trouble during testing and was an early bust.  He could have gone home by mid saeson and no one would have noticed.   

Sorry to be so harsh on Marco but there was no improvement over the course of the season.  It was painful to see him at Indy bringing up the rear.  If the race had not been stopped, he would have been lapped by Rossi, maybe even by Stoner.

cdc

GO Fabrizio GO!