PI WSBK

So, day 1 is over, and here are the results from Q1:

1 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'32.155
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.162
3 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'32.373
4 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'32.635
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'32.703
6 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'32.850
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.884
8 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'32.902
9 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'32.905
10 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'33.038
11 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'33.296
12 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'33.389
13 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'33.422
14 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'33.454
15 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'33.492
16 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'33.512
17 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'33.940
18 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'33.960
19 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'33.984
20 123 Resch R. (AUT) BMW S1000 RR 1'34.065
21 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.417
22 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.663
23 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'35.892
24 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'36.113

I have to say I am pretty surprised by these results. Okay, keep in mind it is just day 1, but still...

Checa on provisional pole with a Ducati? And then the Yamahas are well down the grid with Crutchlow the first R1 in 10th? I bet they are missing Spies right about now! I am also disappointed by the Beemers that I would have expected to be much improved, but now even with four bikes they seem to be struggling. The Aprilias too are a bit of a let down having showed so much potential last year. I am however happy to see Haslam in third on the Suzuki, as well as Guintoli also doing well on a Suzuki.

Let's hope day 2 puts things in a bit better order...

Just finished watching the super pole, and man it was good to see race bikes on a track again!! Oh, and Phillip Island just looked so nice with perfect weather.

So, what of the results? Well for starters, the Suzuki is looking like a good bike this year. Leon Haslam certain seems to be enjoying having a proper factory bike, leading the whole super pole session, and keeping that number 1 spot until the end to clinch his first pole in WSBK. Well done Leon, and so his form last year on the Stiggy Honda was no fluke. His teammate, Guintoli, was no slouch either, and managed to get his Suzuki in fifth.

Fabrizio showed that the 2010 factory Ducati is a good bike placing it in second. This sort of puts Haga to shame who really did not seem to be on the ball at any point today. Hopefully he will pick it up for tomorrow, and given the type of racer he is I expect him to be out front in the race. Checa did well also with a 2 year old Ducati, showing that he still can ride.

So, the Yamaha crew did improve things from day 1, with Cal getting in 3. He is looking a bit ragged on it, but he is getting some results at least. Sure, it doesn't replace Spies, but at least it is a very respectable first showing for Cal on a big bike. Toseland was looking a behind at first, and I was expecting to have to think of some JT jokes. But he did okay in the end as well, even with his left arm hurting.

I would say Aprilia and BMW did not improve things from day 1, and they are still a big disappointment to me. Hell, they should at least have one bike each in the final 8! Xaus managed not to destroy any more bikes today after the three he totalled yeterday, which I suppose is an improvement...

I suppose Honda is also a bit under the water. For starters they have seriously reduced their budget for this year after having basically had 4 factory bikes last year. Rea did pull through to the final eight in qualy, but still he was never up at the pointy end.

For me there are some really good news though. Bike racing has started again, and there is a good mixture of bike brands capable of winning. I am sure Honda will be improving, and the same can probably be said for Aprilia and BMW too, so with the Ducati, Suzuki and Yamaha all up front there will be some really good fights throughout the season. Even the Kawasaki was not totally rediculous.

Xaus managed to trash another bike in the morning warm up, taking out Haga at the same time. In the end, Xaus was not able to take the start, but Haga was lucky enough to make there.

Anyway, Leon took the lead from the start with Fabrizio right behind him, and a surprising Haga slotted in to third. Not much else really happened up front after this although I think Haga was up in second for a while. However the final dash to the finish line was exciting, and they had to go to a photo finish to determine that Leon got his first WSBK win. Judging by his form, I expect several more from him this year.

The two MotoGP riders from last year, Vermeulen and Toseland, didn’t have much luck and both crashed out.

Race 2 was a bit more exciting, and the three front runners from race 1 were joined by Guintoli and Checa up front to spice it up a bit. Haga seemed to be a bit off the pace though, but Guintoli was really on good form. And Checa had an outstanding race, working on reducing the gap to the leaders first, and then coming through in MG at the last lap to take the lead and win.

Just watched the race's...

I gotta say that Leon is a man. Nice to see Guintoli come to the front.

But....but....Go Haga! Amazing starts...WOW.

Toseland did what I expected. Crashed, Complained, and Got beat by his teammate.

I wonder if Chris V. is sorry about the switch to Kawi.

Checa...awesome win for him. Man I was screaming!

WOOT!

Yeah I was thinking that Checa would take himself and Leon out at MG, a bit like he did with Neukirchner in Valencia a coouple of year's back, but no he made a great pass.

You think Yamaha are missing Spies?

Henrik wrote:
You think Yamaha are missing Spies?

I think Maio is crying behind closed doors....and that Tom Sykes is saying "I told you so!".

Hey guys...wow! The second race had a great finish in deed!

Henrik...I'm invious of you...that track looked like it would be a freakin' blast to run aorund on, all day!!! I bet it took a month to get the smile off your face after riding there.

Well, I'm anxiously watching the weather...lol, I signed up for my first track day (3/20), and the extended forecast shows an above average amount of rain for Texas this month. Wuff, you two cross your fingers for me, ok? ;-)

You all be good, or be good at it!

I'll cross my fingers for your RX.

This morning I took my bike for the first time this year! Many it felt good. I didn't get to ride it on Saturday as I had planned because I couldn't get it started due to the battery not having enough charge, but this morning everything was just fine. I took it really easy though as I haven't ridden since October and I need to get back in to things a bit, and the roads are still a bit dirty.

Oh, and RX, I STILL haven't wiped the smile of my face after riding around the PI track!

Ahhh...Henrik, I'm happy for ya! I've tinkered on the R6, but nothing worthy of reporting. My first real out will be my track day...LOL...nothing like diving right back into it!

I've picked up some new trinkets for the lady...some color coded svs levers (adjustable & supposedly non-breakable), and a set of sprockets: one down/two up for sprint speed. From what I understand, I'll lose a lot of top end, but it should be scarey fast out of the corners. The sporckets I picked up are "Vortex"...pretty sweet, the rears are Aluminum, the fron nickle plated. Now it's time to start saving for the titanium exhaust...that'll take some time...and eventually a Power Commander.

OK, I'll keep ya posted as things go...oh yeah, and check into a "Schumacher Battery Tender"....(I know the name will drive you nuts, but it's NOT the same Schumacher...LOL...I've had one since I bought the bike and they work fantastically! Never a dead battery, and it floats when the charge if full. Pretty inexpensive...about $20!

OK, drive safely, but drive!!!!! Don't be shy, send picks whenever you take any. I'd love seeing the roads & country side where you get to play! Awesome...just awesome...

Later,
RacerX

Hey RX! I promise to take loads of pics of the road behind my house as soon as I can. This morning it started snowing again.....aarrgghhh!

Good to hear you are fitting out the bike. I still need to take mine to the shop for last repairs after it was knocked over last year while I was at work, but I am waiting for the roads to be properly cleared. I have checked on trickle chargers, and those Schumacher ones look fine but they don't have them here. The cheapest trickle charger I have found is well over $100, but I think I will still get one soon.

Ouch...a fellow co-worker rides his bike to work, and it was knocked over just last month! Nothing too terrible...just has to replace the upper fairings, and the left side lower fairings. The actualy bike itself came through pretty much unscathed.

OK, I will be looking forward to those pics. I love country...

Have a great day,
RacerX