2011 WSBK-RD1-Phillip Island...now with spoilers

[Scotzman]

Wow. That's more than a win.

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

Well, looks like a few bikes picked the wrong tyres in the Supersport race? But still a great race!

I've been looking forward to racing season for so long! It's back baby! 

[techno]

Looks like the weather was much better than the GP when I was there last year.

Phillip Island weather can be fickle.

[duccarlos]

Looks like the weather was much better than the GP when I was there last year.

Phillip Island weather can be fickle.

This is exactly why they want to move Phillip Island to earlier in the year for MotoGP instead of towards the end.

It's good to see Melandri up there!

[Triple J]

Great races by Checa!  Haslam looked great on the BMW in race 1. Super battle between Melandri/Biaggi in race 2. 

The Ape is still silly fast, gear drive or not.

[fastwin]

Yeah, I was wondering if going back to stock from gear driven sticks would make a difference. My guess is Biaggi could make a wheelbarrow look good! [moto] Glad Haga did better than a 14th in Superpole made him look!

[Jester]

Great races by Checa!  Haslam looked great on the BMW in race 1. Super battle between Melandri/Biaggi in race 2. 

The Ape is still silly fast, gear drive or not.

Yeah I think they said the Ape had a 18kph trap speed advantage over the Duc, but the Duc's chassis and drivability suits PI better.

[gm2]

The Ducati money is going to the new bike development.  Rossi is getting most of his money through Marlborough and other sponsers. Ducati is still chipping in big time no doubt but not at the expense of another team. It's more of a new bike thing I'm sure.

i wasn't really being serious....


awesome for carlos!  and max.  what is this, the seniors tour?

yay for marco, glad to see him get sorted.  i really hope nori gets that bike working... i really miss watching him race millimeters from ppl.

james who?

[Spidey]

WOOHOOO!!! RACING IS BACK!!!!

Wow, big difference between top 4 in qualifying and the results in race 1.  

I'm really psyched to see the Yammies up there.  I'd pretty much given up on that team after last year.  And Melandri, who I've always liked, did what he *should* do.  When his shoulder heals, it'll be great.  I can't believe Laverty pipped him right at the end of Race 1.  And Race 2 with Biaggi gave me wood.  I wish he wasn't so down in speed.  

Damn, those BMWs are fast in a straight line.  For all their hype, they haven't lived up to it on the track.  Until now.  It's good to see Haslam finally make the bike look competitive.

I'm still annoyed at the Aprilia.  It's no fun to watch Biaggi walk away from everyone one the straights and at the start (that is, when he doesn't almost drop the bike).  He's gonna crush it again this year.  

CHECA!!!! So, in order for Ducati to have success, they just needed to get rid of their factory team, ramp down their involvement in the series, and save $ in the process?    

Interesting that the MotoGP old guys dominate.  Not surprising, but still . . .

I know we always pregnant dog about the feed, but they cut away from so many good passes (including passes for the lead) in order to watch people in 7th place circulate, it made me wanna punch babies.

Where are the Kwaks we heard so much about?  I guess it's a new bike, so we shouldn't expect immediate results, but I wanted a bit more green in the picture.

[gm2]

WOOHOOO!!! RACING IS BACK!!!!

Where are the Kwaks we heard so much about?  I guess it's a new bike, so we shouldn't expect immediate results, but I wanted a bit more green in the picture.

http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/167036/1/sykes_it_is_early_days.html

[Spidey]

james who?

Seriously.  What happened to that guy?  Is it his brain or have the injuries started to take their toll?

i really hope nori gets that bike working... i really miss watching him race millimeters from ppl.

I've kinda written him off, but I'd be psyched if he found his prior form.  A Biaggi/Haga fairing bashing session would be AWESOME!!!!

[Cider]

Very good racing this weekend, but I'm getting a little tired of hearing the announcers talk about how fast the Aprilia is.  They make it sound like it's some kind of unfair advantage. 

[gm2]

I've kinda written him off, but I'd be psyched if he found his prior form.  A Biaggi/Haga fairing bashing session would be AWESOME!!!!

tbh i think he's permanently broken.. but i can still wish for the old nori to show up.

[fastwin]

Very good racing this weekend, but I'm getting a little tired of hearing the announcers talk about how fast the Aprilia is.  They make it sound like it's some kind of unfair advantage. 

I know this is a WSBK thread but folks said the same thing when Stoner and the Duc were walking away from other racers on the straights in MotoGP a couple of years ago. This year they might be saying the same thing about Stoner and the Honda!

Still, I just LOVE the fact that Checa doubled!! I remember when he doubled at Miller on the Honda a few years ago then got robbed last year of another Miller double by late race gremlins on the Duc. Maybe PI was a karma do-over for the Miller mess!

[Triple J]

then got robbed last year of another Miller double by late race gremlins on the Duc. Maybe PI was a karma do-over for the Miller mess!

Last year...in front of the grandstands where we were sitting. I really felt bad for him, but the picture is kinda funny.