Assorted Race Crap, etc.

[Giannis]

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)

[shadowcougar1]

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.

[fastwin]

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. I suppose if I lost my brothers or the government wanted 130 million dollars in back taxes it would effect my riding too. Just hope Sofuoglu can find his stride before seasons end. I was really hoping for better results.

[Giannis]

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. I suppose if I lost my brothers or the government wanted 130 million dollars in back taxes it would effect my riding too. 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

[shadowcougar1]

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...

[fastwin]

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. Sad.

[never2loud]

So it'll be 250, 600, then 800cc?

[fastwin]

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.

[never2loud]

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




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.

[fastwin]

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? [moto]

[fastwin]

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.

[Giannis]

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? [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....)

[fastwin]

Kicking this thread back to life... with all the hoopla over BMW getting into World SBK with Xaus and a cloned jap bike 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.

[Kevin848]

Kicking this thread back to life... with all the hoopla over BMW getting into World SBK with Xaus and a cloned jap bike 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.

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. 

[never2loud]

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