2009 World Superbike Round 2 - Qatar (Race 1+2 Spoilers)

[SP3]

How is that possible?  This Ben's first time on that track and it was the first practice session.   

Edit:  actually, it was the second session.  He was only second fastest in the first session. 

We can quit going on about this. In this day and age, a rider at his level doesn't "learn" (m)any tracks. The vast majority of tracks the top level series race one today are flat and characterless. No change in radii/elevation/camber/surface - i.e. nothing to "learn" beyond the simple brake/turn/accelerate points. And these are almost commited to memory before the first turn of a wheel because of the data gathered relentlessly from prior events.

Tracks that have to be "learned" would be Laguna Seca, Mid Ohio, and Spa to name just a few. These places have most or all of the changes I mentioned plus sunned/shaded sections (MidO), cig-ignited hillside-scorching fires with driver-blinding smoke (Laguna), and different weather in one lap (Spa). Phillip Island is not terribly "character" packed though it is a favorite of many to watch. Qatar is just about as flat and featureless as it gets. The same goes for the other recently built venues (China, Bahrain, etc). As for the rest, most have been "safetyfied" over the last decade to the point that a lot of their character has been removed as a result (intended or not). I cannot think of a single track on this years schedule where Spies should have any problems that arrise from lack of track knowledge. Nor do I think that you will hear him say so even once.

This is not a cut on Spies. He has talent obviously but maybe more importantly, he has a good work ethic and determination (to get out from under Mladin's shadow for good?). More a comment on other's comments about "track learning" and on (my opinion of) the lameness of most of the venues used these days.

[Spidey]

You can't be serious.

[gm2]

You can't be serious.

your restraint is amazing. 

[gm2]

and, shadow..   .. he won 3 years in a row.  more specifically, he was forever out of any shadow mladin may have cast after the last round of 2007.

as for the rest of that...

[Grampa]

and, shadow..   .. he won 3 years in a row.  more specifically, he was forever out of any shadow mladin may have cast after the last round of 2007.

as for the rest of that...

Matts shadow is soooooo huge it covers first all the way from back at second   

[Bizzarrini]

I think there is a huge difference between learning a circuit meaning knowing which direction the next turn is going to be, and learning a track as in fine tuning your laps to the level of WSBK of MotoGP. Any monkey can do some nice laps on a PS3, but racing at this level requires a lot of knowledge of the track. Besides, Portimao is quite nice and challenging with all the up- and downhill parts, right?

[derby]

Matts shadow is soooooo huge it covers first all the way from back at second   

who's "matt"?

(you must mean mat)

[Grampa]

who's "matt"?

(you must mean mat)

the extra T is the reason for the big shadow



everybody knows that

[SP3]

You can't be serious.

Completely.

[zooom]

Bet you rossi wished he was racing WSBK this year instead of GP.

totally!

[Speeddog]

--------------snip-------------
In this day and age, a rider at his level doesn't "learn" (m)any tracks.
--------------snip---------------

There's the qualifying statement in red. 

It's much more than just knowing which way the corners go, where the braking and throttle-up, etc. occur from data acquisition....
It's stringing it all together at a competitive pace.

Seems he's getting along better at new tracks than some of his competition.

[SikDuc]

SP3......Wow

[derby]

SP3......Wow

i'm not giving him a complete pass, but if you know what sp3's background is, it gives his statement some much-needed context...

More a comment on other's comments about "track learning" and on (my opinion of) the lameness of most of the venues used these days.

[OT_Ducati]

wtf?
let Ben race.
he will answer your questions

[derby]

Superbike - Qualifying 2nd Session

Update: March 13, 2009, 09.45 PM ET

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'58.886
2 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.177
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1'59.499
4 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'59.632
5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.731
6 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'59.755
7 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'59.812
8 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'59.821
9 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.937
10 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'59.954
11 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'00.012
12 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.117
13 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 2'00.193
14 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 2'00.238
15 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 2'00.254
16 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'00.264
17 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'00.345
18 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.374
19 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.390
20 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 2'00.480
21 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'00.738
22 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'00.839
23 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.047
24 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 2'01.165
25 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'01.560
26 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.561
27 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.607
28 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'02.663