PI Superpole

[binking]

Very interesting to see Biaggi right up there. Dissapointing for Corser. Hopefully tomorrows race will be a cracker.

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.069
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1'31.402
3 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.596
4 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'31.600
5 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'31.837
6 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.112
7 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.537
8 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098 RS 09 1'32.649
9 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 1'31.843
10 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.860
11 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'31.867
12 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.881
13 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'31.907
14 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'31.916
15 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'32.119
16 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'32.719
17 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.873
18 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.997
19 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'33.152
20 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'33.363
21 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1'33.588
22 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'33.709
23 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'34.174
24 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'34.194
25 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'34.341
26 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'34.390
27 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.767
28 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'36.363

[mag57l]

Don't know if i like the new format for Qualifying. Makes it a bit more exiting i spose but we wont be able to watch anymore rounds.

[Cedric]

Top Kwak 16th with Parkes, all the rest are back markers including Tamada.. Looks like the BMW needs some work with both Xaus and Corser well down the order..

[Turtle]

I reckon Spies will do well........

[Mozzie]

Yeah different wasn't it, but good. It will be different tomorrow though, but good.

[Captain]

Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDF_amTK2dc


and problems for Aprilia
Bombshell! Aprilia RSV4 isn’t a Superbike, it’s a Prototype!

Controversy has hit Aprilia after Max Biaggi took second place in the Superpole shoot out.

It happened early this morning during the Superpole when Alstare Suzuki owner and team manager, Jean Francois Batta told Italian network La7 that: “Everyone knows that the RSV4 is a prototype and shouldn’t be racing here in SBK. After the race I’m going to the technical commission and lodge a complaint.”

What exactly is in RSV4 that made Batta want to lodge a complaint? According to paddock gossip the Alstare techs seem to have had a tiny peek at Aprilia’s fuel system and saw something that did not convince them. Fuel systems according to Superbike regulations have to be identical to the road bike version.

Since Aprilia’s return to the series, several teams have quietly expressed concern regarding Aprilia’s new superbike, deeming it not yet a true production bike. Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi seems to be one of those most worried but has yet to openly admit it as Batta did. When Aprilia wanted to continue testing at Phillip Island also on Saturday and Sunday last week, Tardozzi came up with : “Aprilia is investing a huge amount of money on its bike and is capable of winning the title in their debut year and that everyone should think of the current economic situation and that the teams should all sit at a table and discuss how to stop escalating costs”.

Obviously this situation also includes BMW’s S1000RR but since Corser and Xaus did not exactly shine and beat the competition during the past tests and the superpole, open critisism has been low keyed.

Just last Friday evening the FIM presented the list of superbikes to be homologated for 2009, which naturally also includes Aprilia and BMW and certified that by January 30, Aprilia has to produce 250 bikes since they have previously competed in the series and BMW only 125 since they are newcomers to SBK racing.

If Biaggi should win tomorrow, you can bet that you’ll be hearing more about the differences between prototypes and production bikes than how wonderful the Superbike Championship is with 7 different manufacturers.

[WET4URacing]

this is 100% true. there are no finished road bikes. and may never be, same same as the petronas effort a huge amount of almost finished bikes sitting in a wharehouse.

[Dave75]

sounds great

[Turtle]

Its starting NOW !!!!!

[James]

And what a race :clap:

[slow bro]

Couldn't be any closer.

[dazzler]

what a race!!!!!

suzuki could be the surprise package huh??? got some tickle there

also good result from Corser too

[binking]

What happened to Spies? Did he just fade or have a drama? Knew I should have signed up for foxtel a week earlier :dohsmiley:

[Captain]

Nasty stuf ....

[James]

What happened to Spies? Did he just fade or have a drama? Knew I should have signed up for foxtel a week earlier :dohsmiley:

They didn't show exactly what happened but it appears they grouped up and he got pushed wide and onto the grass - so he joined the back of the pack

[DanFX]

600 race was better!!!! what a screamer

[wonnaride]

600 race was better!!!! what a screamer


Who won???

McCoy do any good??

[Dunno]

600 race was better!!!! what a screamer

Too right. Good to see Westy on competetive machinery.

[James]

Who won???

McCoy do any good??

1.Sofoglu, 2. Pitt, 3. West
McCoy 11th

[Specs]

Too right. Good to see Westy on competetive machinery.

Westy would have won if his bike was a little faster on the straight

[Cedric]

Too right. Good to see Westy on competetive machinery.

Westy put in a solid effort, great to see him smile and be happy for a change.

[slow bro]

Westy would have won if his bike was a little faster on the straight

+1

[DAVID]

That R1 sounds so sweet

[Mr.Ed]

Watched the race with a few other RATs at the Coogee Bay Hotel Sports Bar and I have to say I liked it! :ayyy:
The race was awesome, both WSBK and WSS. Great to see 3-4 manufacturers with a decent shot of the victory on the same race!! Plus there were some hot chicks around and even my food seemed to be poop-free.:lmao:
Only complaint I have is that they stopped showing the race on one of their BIG ARSE TV (honestly, that thing's got like 85" or something) to show some stupid rugbi game (Ireland vs whatever I think) and left us to watch it on a small 46"... But once the game finished (about 5 min on the second race) they switched it back to race on the B.A.T.V. and it was all good again!
How freaking awesome was West today?? That dude is amazing... unbelievable. Like Specs said, a little more speed on the main straight and he'd have won the thing!:mod_smilie_rockwoot
Haga is looking good too...

[Captain]

It seemed to me that West did have a little more speed ... and yet he couldn't win. How much more speed than the others should he need?

Also, I view it a little differently. Maybe his poor performance in motoGP was not all his fault, but to do so poorly in motoGP, then move to WSS and nearly win it doesn't say much for the skills of the WSS riders. I don't necessarily view it that way myself (i think it's more complicated) but at face value it doesn't look good.

[Mr.Ed]

I'm sorry if I didn't express myself properly Cap! West did have plenty of speed, but his bike would lose badly to the Ten Kates and a few others on the straight. He went from 1st to 5th on the straight alone at one point...

[Captain]

That's true, some of those movements were surprising. On a few ocassions they were nicely spread out only to bunch up around T3. I haven't ridden PI, but it seemed a little odd at times.
But didn't West overtake down the straight at one point, and the commentators were suprised at just how much quicker his bike was down the straight? If I remember right, they said something to that effect on the last corner, expecting him to move to 2nd place on the run to the chequered flag.

More importantly .... I'm so keen to ride PI :ayyy:

[Bigdog]

Mr Ed is correct, Westy got hosed down the straights every time. A little extra speed would have made a world of difference. Those Ten Kate bikes are pretty quick.
I'm sure his team will sort out the top end issues in future.

[dazzler]

yeah but the commentators said that you can be 1st and by the end of the straight 6th with the slipstreaming there!!!

the hanspree's were doing it to each other too,
and westy wasnt alone in the straight either other bikes were doing it too....

they did say it was geting a bit gusty with the winds too!!! maybe a factor???

westy mochine has got heaps of guts anyway, the were also saying his is a shit qualifier but a far better racer as his times were equal and sometimes better than hanspree boys... he'll be in the mix this year for sure

and another 3rd for the enigma team too in WSB race 2.... could be the team to keep an eye on

[Captain]

here's the WSS highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IplBO62XETI

[Specs]

3rd or 2nd last lap Westy was about half a second infront of Sofoglu only for him to close it up on the straight, no way has that to do with slip streaming

[Bigdog]

3rd or 2nd last lap Westy was about half a second infront of Sofoglu only for him to close it up on the straight, no way has that to do with slip streaming

+1
Yeah it was pretty obvious to anyone who watched the race. Westy tried on numerous occasions to slip stream them but they were still faster than him.

[Mr.Ed]

I do see slipstream playing a major part there too... but West only managed to maintain the gap most of the time. He would make most of his time on the turns and especially under brakes. Awesome guy to watch...
Lascorz looked good at the beginning on the ZX6R but then lost by almost 10sec. Shame really as I wanted the kwaka to do well...

[WET4URacing]

that whole 1.55min of tape showed how westy was gettin hosed on the straight bits and how good he is everywhere else. pushin thru on T12 is big

[ozducati]

Impressed with how well Laconi was riding with the Ducati... Haga also seems to have refined his riding style from last year...was pretty smooth, as was Fabrizio... it's going to be close this year...

[Captain]

Max Biaggi, race 2

http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/max-biaggi-fuori-pista-di-gara-2-a-phillip-island/big_max_biaggi_incidente_phillip_island.jpg

[Cedric]

I do see slipstream playing a major part there too... but West only managed to maintain the gap most of the time. He would make most of his time on the turns and especially under brakes. Awesome guy to watch...
Lascorz looked good at the beginning on the ZX6R but then lost by almost 10sec. Shame really as I wanted the kwaka to do well...

Yeah absolutely.. I was willing Lascorz on through the telly but clearly it wasn't enough as although he hung with the big boys to start with, he soon started losing places.. Tyres perhaps?

Honda clean sweep.. Westy rode like a hero!

[Cedric]

Max Biaggi, race 2

http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/max-biaggi-fuori-pista-di-gara-2-a-phillip-island/big_max_biaggi_incidente_phillip_island.jpg

Biaggi, riding like a devil again I see :lmao:

[triumph]

lucky he has a helmet on . by the way that he head butted that sign .

[Captain]

Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDF_amTK2dc


and problems for Aprilia
Bombshell! Aprilia RSV4 isn’t a Superbike, it’s a Prototype!

Controversy has hit Aprilia after Max Biaggi took second place in the Superpole shoot out.

It happened early this morning during the Superpole when Alstare Suzuki owner and team manager, Jean Francois Batta told Italian network La7 that: “Everyone knows that the RSV4 is a prototype and shouldn’t be racing here in SBK. After the race I’m going to the technical commission and lodge a complaint.”

What exactly is in RSV4 that made Batta want to lodge a complaint? According to paddock gossip the Alstare techs seem to have had a tiny peek at Aprilia’s fuel system and saw something that did not convince them. Fuel systems according to Superbike regulations have to be identical to the road bike version.

Since Aprilia’s return to the series, several teams have quietly expressed concern regarding Aprilia’s new superbike, deeming it not yet a true production bike. Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi seems to be one of those most worried but has yet to openly admit it as Batta did. When Aprilia wanted to continue testing at Phillip Island also on Saturday and Sunday last week, Tardozzi came up with : “Aprilia is investing a huge amount of money on its bike and is capable of winning the title in their debut year and that everyone should think of the current economic situation and that the teams should all sit at a table and discuss how to stop escalating costs”.

Obviously this situation also includes BMW’s S1000RR ....

Batta tries to explain (or rather, backpedal)

With the 2nd round of WSBK race just aroung the corner, Francis Batta of Alstare Suzuki has tried throw water on his bombshell statement regarding Aprilia’s RSV4 1000 Factory status and explain his position on the matter.

“I’m not against Aprilia or even BMW. The two manufacturers have interpreted the regulations and rules, but it’s the way the regulations are made that are wrong. It shouldn’t be possibile to race in the series if the bikes are not available on the market. I’m trying to have the rules changed and that the Superbike Championship returns to its original spirit.”

“We have to modify the homologation system. In 2010 according to the present rules each manufacturer will have to produce 3000 road bikes, and with the present economic crisis and the fall in motorcycle sales this amount is absurd, it will keep out all the small and medium size manufacturers and it could also be a problem for the big Japanese companies.”

“Suzuki Italy is expecting to sell about 700 K9’s, so it will be necessary to lower the number of units to be produces and add other cost cutting measures to the rules.”

[zRoYz]

Max Biaggi, race 2

http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/max-biaggi-fuori-pista-di-gara-2-a-phillip-island/big_max_biaggi_incidente_phillip_island.jpg

I was standing just back from the 2 guys at the fence when that happened max flipped over the handlebars holding the clutch in & was quickly on his way again spraying gravel everywhere.