WSBK & MotoGP Results from Assen and Misano

(Click images to enlarge)

Superbike Race 1, Misano:

1 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 39'27.918 (154,197 kph)
2 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 0.542
3 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 2.249
4 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 3.028
5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 5.408
6 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 5.518
7 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 6.202
8 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 18.279
9 38 Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 19.072
10 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 19.132
11 34 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 28.098
12 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 34.385
13 88 Aoyama S. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 34.572
14 23 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 34.902
15 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 39.979
16 194 Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 44.669
17 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 49.290
18 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR 59.304
RET 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08
RET 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08
RET 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 43 Pridmore J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 13 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R

Notes: What a race! Lots of passing throughout the race and throughout the field. This was as close as it gets and anyone could have taken it. Corser was on pole and Bayliss was also in top form; it looked to be a Battle of Troy in the making. From the start it looked like Ducati (not counting Corser on the Yamaha R-1) domination as Xaus, Biaggi, and Bayliss all looked very fast. After his great start, Bayliss faded a bit citing his choice of harder tires than other front-runners, but probably for the same reason surged back late.

Max Biaggi was blatantly taken out by Fabrizio and neither looked happy. Xaus barely missed out on a podium and Haga just didn't look himself winding up in 10th. The big story of course is German Suzuki rider Neukirchner, who took advantage of the race-long battles up front to win late. Corser made few mistakes, but just couldn't handle the young German.

Superbike Race 2, Misano:

1 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 39'19.710 (154,734 kph)
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1.035
3 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 4.158
4 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 5.466
5 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 6.759
6 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 13.468
7 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 15.221
8 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 16.687
9 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 17.030
10 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 17.681
11 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 21.356
12 34 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 28.676
13 23 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 31.304
14 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 32.339
15 38 Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 33.716
16 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 34.171
17 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 40.638
18 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 41.136
19 88 Aoyama S. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 49.699
RET 43 Pridmore J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 194 Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1
RET 13 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR

Notes: Another instant classic. One big story here was Haga coming alive literally out of nowhere, clearly having changed something on his bike. This was a faster race than the first, with first place Xaus finishing in 39:19 versus the winner of the first race's 39:27. It was a one-two (Xaus-Biaggi, respectively) finish for Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati- whom also took the win in Superstock 1000 with Alex Polita in the cockpit. A huge weekend for that team despite Biaggi being T-boned without a chance in race 1.

The surprise finish came when both of the Troys in turn went wide on the same corner (though not at the same time), leaving both the Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati teammates as well as Yamaha Teammates Corser and Haga to battle it out (in the case of Yamaha, for 4th) to the line with Bayliss alone in the middle.

A bit of a funny moment came at the podium when Biaggi took obviously too long with his post-race comments and thankyous and got a shove out of the camera from race winner and teammate Xaus (who is a lot bigger than Biaggi). If it were anyone else it looked like a joke and I'd leave it at that, but Biaggi has a history of not getting along with teammates... Anyway...!

Neukirchner couldn't pull off the same miracle as in race 1 and it was another tough break for Turkish rider Sofuoglu, who has plenty of excuses for a lackluster performance this season after equally plenty hype. Tough breaks for Kawasaki riders all around. The ZX-10s definitely haven't been the most reliable nor uncrashed bikes this year...

Checa, Lanzi and Smrz all made a good, consistent showing. Valentino Rossi was seen trying to watch the race whilst being bombarded by fans seeking photographs/autographs, etc. All around a very fun show and an example of why i think in '07 and '08 WSBK has been higher quality racing than MotoGP. With all the new brands coming into WSBK next year I doubt this trend will end too abruptly, either.

Misano Superstock 1000 results:

1 53 Polita A. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 23'37.092 (150,301 kph)
2 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1.471
3 21 Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2.382
4 155 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 5.234
5 19 Simeon X. (BEL) Suzuki GSX-R1000 6.999
6 8 Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 7.826
7 89 Colucci D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 11.349
8 78 Foray F. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 13.493
9 23 Seaton C. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 14.110
10 88 Foray K. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 15.238
11 45 Verdini L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 17.081
12 71 Corti C. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 17.546
13 77 Burrell B. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 18.799
14 20 Barrier S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 23.705
15 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 23.818
16 87 Jones G. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 25.024
17 132 Tiberio Y. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 29.595
18 16 Schouten R. (NED) Yamaha YZF-R1 30.075
19 12 Aldrovandi A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31.504
20 34 Giugliano D. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 38.389
21 117 Sacchetti D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 38.575
22 14 Backlund F. (SWE) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 39.211
23 5 De Boer D. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 40.034
24 18 Bond M. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 49.273
25 7 Mähr R. (AUT) KTM 1190 RC8 49.442
26 99 Ten Napel R. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 50.200
27 24 Jerman M. (SLO) Honda CBR1000RR 51.785
28 66 Srdanov B. (NED) Yamaha YZF-R1 52.191
29 90 Drobný M. (CZE) Honda CBR1000RR 59.213
30 92 Stibilj J. (SLO) Honda CBR1000RR 1'12.140
31 32 Baroni L. (ITA) KTM 1190 RC8 1'18.718
RET 119 Magnoni M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1
RET 111 Perotti F. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
RET 57 Stronach C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 58 Gianfardoni R. (ITA) Ducati 1098R
RET 30 Savary M. (SUI) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
RET 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 154 Lorenzetti T. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
NP 996 Gallina J. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R

Misano Supersport Results:

1 88 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 37'08.387 (150,198 kph)
2 18 Jones C. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 5.347
3 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 9.183
4 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R6 13.784
5 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 15.863
6 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Triumph 675 15.967
7 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R6 21.689
8 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 24.070
9 47 Clementi I. (ITA) Triumph 675 26.075
10 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R6 30.387
11 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 32.578
12 9 Walker C. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-6R 34.648
13 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 36.040
14 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 37.896
15 125 Marrancone D. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R6 40.167
16 113 Lunadei R. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 40.841
17 37 De Angelis W. (RSM) Honda CBR600RR 40.960
18 83 Van Keymeulen D. (BEL) Suzuki GSX-R600 43.302
19 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 45.275
20 199 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 47.944
21 4 Alfonsi L. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 49.173
22 38 Leblanc G. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 49.431
23 80 Brannetti A. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R6 51.984
24 81 Gowland G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 52.547
25 12 Hidalgo J. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R6 1'06.850
26 34 Nemeth B. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 1'10.227
27 51 Barragan S. (ESP) Honda CBR600RR 1'13.881
28 72 Magda A. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 1'29.572
RET 28 Scambia R. (ITA) Triumph 675
RET 31 Kallio V. (FIN) Honda CBR600RR
RET 17 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR
RET 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph 675
RET 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R
RET 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Honda CBR600RR
RET 44 Salom D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R6
RET 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR
RET 111 Tode A. (GER) Honda CBR600RR
RET 11 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR

Notes: I love seeing the Triumphs mix it up in the 600s this year!

World Superbike Championship points after Misano '08:

1

Bayliss

AUS

259

2

Neukirchner

GER

210

3

Checa

ESP

207

4

Haga

JPN

191

5

Corser

AUS

185

Bayliss has a significant lead, but it's still up for grabs. I'm extremely impressed with Neukirchner, and at his age with his riding level we have to assume by default that even if it doesn't happen this year; this guy will be a world champion.

_________________________

MotoGP from Assen:

Not the most exciting nor unpredictable race of the year... but a few surprises!

1	C. STONER	AUS	Ducati Marlboro Team	42'12.337
2	D. PEDROSA	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	+ 11.310
3	C. EDWARDS	USA	Tech 3 Yamaha	+ 17.125
4	N. HAYDEN	USA	Repsol Honda Team	+ 20.477
5	A. DOVIZIOSO	ITA	JiR Team Scot MotoGP	+ 27.346
6	J. LORENZO	SPA	Fiat Yamaha Team	+ 28.608
7	C. VERMEULEN	AUS	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	+ 32.330
8	S. NAKANO	JPN	San Carlo Honda Gresini	+ 34.892
9	J. TOSELAND	GBR	Tech 3 Yamaha	+ 38.566
10	S. GUINTOLI	FRA	Alice Team	+ 38.817
11	V. ROSSI	ITA	Fiat Yamaha Team	+ 46.025
12	T. ELIAS	SPA	Alice Team	+ 48.213
13	M. MELANDRI	ITA	Ducati Marlboro Team	+ 59.594

Notes: Yep, Stoner won everything throughout the entire ordeal... kudos to Ducati for building such an amazing bike and obviously to Stoner for his performance, but not to MotoGP for really lacking excitement these days other than the points race. Big moments came when Rossi crashed out early, and when Hayden's new Honda pneumatic valve engine, almost comically if it weren't so frustrating for him, cut power right in front of the finish line on the final lap, allowing Colin Edwards, whom rode well in his own right, to steal the podium.

Pedrosa came in 2nd and that puts him in the season lead on points. Here are the point standings:

Rider Country Team Points

1	Dani PEDROSA	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	171
2	Valentino ROSSI	ITA	Fiat Yamaha Team	167
3	Casey STONER	AUS	Ducati Marlboro Team	142
4	Jorge LORENZO	SPA	Fiat Yamaha Team	114
5	Colin EDWARDS	USA	Tech 3 Yamaha	98
6	Andrea DOVIZIOSO	ITA	JiR Team Scot MotoGP	79
7	Nicky HAYDEN	USA	Repsol Honda Team	70
8	James TOSELAND	GBR	Tech 3 Yamaha	60
9	Chris VERMEULEN	AUS	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	57
10	Shinya NAKANO	JPN	San Carlo Honda Gresini	57
11	Loris CAPIROSSI	ITA	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	51
12	Toni ELIAS	SPA	Alice Team	33
13	John HOPKINS	USA	Kawasaki Racing Team	32
14	Marco MELANDRI	ITA	Ducati Marlboro Team	32
15	Alex DE ANGELIS	RSM	San Carlo Honda Gresini	25
16	Sylvain GUINTOLI	FRA	Alice Team	24
17	Randy DE PUNIET	FRA	LCR Honda MotoGP	22
18	Anthony WEST	AUS	Kawasaki Racing Team	16
19	Ben SPIES	USA	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	2
20	Tadayuki OKADA	JPN	Repsol Honda Team	2

I enjoy both MotoGP and WSBK but watching the races back to back in the same sitting, I couldn't help but notice how alive and competitive the Superbike event seemed, and how spread out and uneventful the MotoGP race was. During WSBK the Aussie commentator joked that since Valentino likes watching superbike races, he's welcomed to ride here next year. Thinking back, that could be interesting... (Yes, I know it will never happen).

250 Assen results:

Pos.	Rider	Nation	Team	Total time
1	A. BAUTISTA	SPA	Mapfre Aspar Team	40'54.117
2	T. LUTHI	SWI	Emmi - Caffe Latte	+ 4.597
3	M. SIMONCELLI	ITA	Metis Gilera	+ 6.003
4	A. DEBON	SPA	Lotus Aprilia	+ 9.034
5	H. BARBERA	SPA	Team Toth Aprilia	+ 9.079
6	H. AOYAMA	JPN	Red Bull KTM 250	+ 11.515
7	M. KALLIO	FIN	Red Bull KTM 250	+ 12.874
8	Y. TAKAHASHI	JPN	JiR Team Scot 250	+ 13.622
9	R. LOCATELLI	ITA	Metis Gilera	+ 21.168
10	J. SIMON	SPA	Repsol KTM 250cc	+ 28.789
11	H. FAUBEL	SPA	Mapfre Aspar Team	+ 37.607
12	R. WILAIROT	THA	Thai Honda PTT SAG	+ 37.741
13	F. LAI	ITA	Campetella Racing	+ 38.729
14	A. BALDOLINI	ITA	Matteoni Racing	+ 39.165
15	L. PESEK	CZE	Auto Kelly - CP	+ 43.037
16	E. LAVERTY	IRL	Blusens Aprilia	+ 54.171
17	A. ESPARGARO	SPA	Lotus Aprilia	+ 54.334
18	F. WATZ	SWE	Jaap Kingma Racing	+ 1'24.430
19	D. PRADITA	INA	Yamaha Pertamina Indonesia	1 Lap
20	I. TOTH	HUN	Team Toth Aprilia	1 Lap
Not classified
	M. POGGIALI	RSM	Campetella Racing	7 Lap
	M. PASINI	ITA	Polaris World	13 Lap
Not finished 1st lap
	R. GOMEZ	SPA	Blusens Aprilia
Not starting
	K. ABRAHAM	CZE	Cardion AB Motoracing

125 Assen results:

Pos.	Rider	Nation	Team	Total time
1	G. TALMACSI	HUN	Bancaja Aspar Team	9'04.520
2	J. OLIVE	SPA	Belson Derbi	+ 0.128
3	S. CORSI	ITA	Jack & Jones WRB	+ 0.255
4	S. CORTESE	GER	Emmi - Caffe Latte	+ 0.340
5	B. SMITH	GBR	Polaris World	+ 0.425
6	E. RABAT	SPA	Repsol KTM 125cc	+ 0.568
7	M. DI MEGLIO	FRA	Ajo Motorsport	+ 0.846
8	A. IANNONE	ITA	I.C. Team	+ 0.928
9	N. TEROL	SPA	Jack & Jones WRB	+ 1.438
10	R. DE ROSA	ITA	Onde 2000 KTM	+ 2.554
11	S. BIANCO	ITA	S3+ WTR San Marino Team	+ 2.829
12	S. BRADL	GER	Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing	+ 3.021
13	T. KOYAMA	JPN	ISPA KTM Aran	+ 3.201
14	M. RANSEDER	AUT	I.C. Team	+ 3.600
15	H. VAN DEN BERG	NED	Degraaf Grand Prix	+ 4.547
16	D. AEGERTER	SWI	Ajo Motorsport	+ 4.592
17	S. BONSEY	USA	Degraaf Grand Prix	+ 4.819
18	J. CLUZEL	FRA	Loncin Racing	+ 10.548
19	R. KRUMMENACHER	SWI	Red Bull KTM 125	+ 10.643
20	P. NIETO	SPA	Onde 2000 KTM	+ 10.849
21	P. TUTUSAUS	SPA	Bancaja Aspar Team	+ 11.094
22	R. LASSER	GER	Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing	+ 11.854
23	A. MASBOU	FRA	Loncin Racing	+ 13.716
24	L. ROSSI	FRA	FFM Honda GP 125	+ 13.828
25	R. MURESAN	ROU	Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing	+ 16.155
26	M. VAN DER MARK	NED	Dutch Racing Team	+ 18.201
27	R. GULL	SWE	Ajo Motorsports Jnr. Project	+ 25.692
28	J. IWEMA	NED	Abbink Bos Racing	+ 29.208
29	E. DUBBINK	NED	RV Racing Team	+ 29.949
30	J. VAN DE BUNT	NED	Degraaf Grand Prix	+ 36.419
Not classified
	T. NAKAGAMI	JPN	I.C. Team	2 Lap
	L. ZANETTI	ITA	ISPA KTM Aran	2 Lap
Not started race re-start
	R. LACALENDOLA	ITA	Matteoni Racing
	S. GADEA	SPA	Bancaja Aspar Team
	S. REDDING	GBR	Blusens Aprilia Junior
	E. VAZQUEZ	SPA	Blusens Aprilia Junior
	J. LITJENS	NED	Abbink Bos Racing
	M. MARQUEZ	SPA	Repsol KTM 125cc