Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Kawasakis Still Suck
Not that I particularly dislike them on the street or anything, but come on. Kawasaki supposedly poured its heart and soul and lots of money into becoming a serious force in World Superbike.
They withdrew from MotoGP (after consistently running at the back of the pack). At the beginning of every World Superbike race for the past several years you could see a nearly comedic sea of neon green lagging 5 seconds behind everyone before the first corner. I can see why they wanted to just focus on this and get it right.
Yet what did was see last weekend at Philip Island? This was the all-new Ninja that's supposed to be tickling the BMW S1000RR's horsepower levels and has been relabelled "ZX" explicitly - a race bike - , while the new "Ninja 1000" assumes the former's former dual street/race role. This is a team that's been in Superbike since the early days in some shape or form.
Yet what did we see? A sea of neon green at the back of the pack. What is the deal?
They withdrew from MotoGP (after consistently running at the back of the pack). At the beginning of every World Superbike race for the past several years you could see a nearly comedic sea of neon green lagging 5 seconds behind everyone before the first corner. I can see why they wanted to just focus on this and get it right.
Yet what did was see last weekend at Philip Island? This was the all-new Ninja that's supposed to be tickling the BMW S1000RR's horsepower levels and has been relabelled "ZX" explicitly - a race bike - , while the new "Ninja 1000" assumes the former's former dual street/race role. This is a team that's been in Superbike since the early days in some shape or form.
Yet what did we see? A sea of neon green at the back of the pack. What is the deal?
Philip Island World Superbike Results 2011
Carlos Checa and Ducati rose like a pair of phoenixes at Philip Island, pulling off a double win and leading virtually every minute of both race one and two.
Carlos Checa came to World Superbike from MotoGP in the twilight years of his racing career (and probably in the the eyes of many pissed them away on a Honda he showed moments of untouchable speed on but mostly mediocrity). At the end of last year, The long-time headline attraction of World Superbike made the shocking and upsetting announcement that they were withdrawing factory support from the series (this was around the time they announced they'd hired Rossi for 90 zillion dollars).
None of that mattered on the opening weekend of the 2011 World Superbike Championship season. Checa simply walked away in both superbike class races. Mind you, as the announcers repeatedly mentioned, Philip Island is a historically Ducati-oriented track... but then again, in WSBK, what track hasn't been dominated by Ducatis? Checa was incredibly smooth - almost boringly - and the race for third place was some of the best I've seen in years. MotoGP continues to become more Formula 1-ish in its anti-climactic racing, but Superbike has been on the warpath for the past half-decade.
Max Biaggi had to be the second-best rider of the day, not only utilizing his Aprilia RSV4's monsterous power extremely well, but cutting through the field like a hot knife through butter after a poor start in race two. You could really see how unique and gradual his lines are compared to the rest of the field, and there were admittedly moments I were I thought he'd T-bone someone but he just cruised by like they weren't moving.
The whole time, Marco Melandari was getting the better of his Yamaha teammate Laverty and Leon Haslam was showing that last season was no fluke. Fellow BMW rider actually chased down and outpaced Haslam for a short stint, but headbanged in anger after offshooting a turn mid-race. Seeing all-of-the-above 4, even 5 wide through top gear chicanes was quite a spectacle.
The biggest surprise for me was in World Supersport. Luca Scassa isn't an old rider but seems nonetheless like he's been around forever. He's ridden a lot of bikes and been in some hellish crashes. I just didn't imagine him winning the opening supersport championship race in 2011,, but obviously I was wrong.
Supersport:
1. Luca Scassa ITA ParkinGO Yamaha YZF-R6 21 Laps
2. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki Motocard.com ZX-6R +0.009s
3. Sam Lowes GBR Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR +0.033s
4. David Salom ESP Kawasaki Motocard.com ZX-6R +0.272s
5. Robbin Harms DEN Harms Benjan Honda CBR600RR +16.969s
6. James Ellison GBR Bogdanka PTR Honda CBR600RR +23.943s
7. Florian Marino FRA Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR +31.788s
8. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Lorenzini Kawasaki ZX-6R +31.837s
9. Alexander Lundh SWE Cresto Guide Honda CBR600RR +31.870s
10. Danilo Dell'Omo ITA Suriano Triumph Daytona 675 +32.817s
11. Ronan Quarmby RSA Suriano Triumph Daytona 675 +43.799s
12. Ondrej Jezek CZE SMS Honda CBR600RR +56.116s
13. Bastien Chesaux SUI Moto-Academy Honda CBR600RR +1min 00.055s
14. Balazs Nemeth HUN Team Hungary Toth Honda CBR600RR +1min 05.909s
15. Imre Toth HUN Team Hungary Toth Honda CBR600RR +1min 06.318s
16. Vladimir Ivanov UKR Step Racing Honda CBR600RR +1min 14.472s
17. Marko Jerman SLO MD Jerman Triumph Daytona 675 1min 24.183s
18. Chaz Davies GBR ParkinGO Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
19. Luca Marconi ITA Bike Service Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
20. Roberto Tamburini ITA Bike Service Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
Not Classified
21. Fabien Foret FRA Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 15 lap completed
22. Massimo Roccoli ITA Lorenzini Kawasaki ZX-6R 15 laps completed
23. Miguel Praia POR Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR 10 laps completed
24. Pawel Szkopek POL Bogdanka PTR Honda CBR600RR 10 laps completed
25. Gino Rea GBR Step Racing Honda CBR600RR 5 laps completed
26. Mitchell Pirotta AUS Kuja Honda CBR600RR 1 lap completed
SBK Race 1:
1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 34mins 16.503s
2. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +4.365s
3. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR +10.719s
4. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +11.266s
5. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +11.293s
6. Michel Fabrizio ITA Suzuki Alstare GSX-R1000 +12.039s
7. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +20.294s
8. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki RTS ZX-10R +20.742s
9. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 +22.421s
10. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +25.822s
11. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +29.270s
12. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +31.059s
13. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +31.721s
14. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR +36.389s
15. Bryan Staring AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.470s
16. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +41.928s
17. James Toseland GBR BMW Italia S1000RR +55.239s
18. Josh Waters AUS Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1min 00.312s
19. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +1min 00.316s
20. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R +1min 30.125s
Not Classified
21. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 13 laps completed
22. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 6 laps completed
SBK Race 2:
1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 34mins 15.041s
2. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +1.188s
3. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +1.406s
4. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +10.563s
5. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR +10.885s
6. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +16.914s
7. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 +17.558s
8. Michel Fabrizio ITA Suzuki Alstare GSX-R1000 +17.679s
9. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki RTS ZX-10R +18.070s
10. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +19.053s
11. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +19.060s
12. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +23.771s
13. Josh Waters AUS Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 +23.956s
14. James Toseland GBR BMW Italia S1000RR +28.713s
15. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +32.673s
16. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +33.226s
17. Bryan Staring AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +42.598s
18. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R +51.819s
19. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +55.738s
Not Classified
20. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 14 laps completed
21. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR 0 laps completed
Did Not Start
Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R
Carlos Checa came to World Superbike from MotoGP in the twilight years of his racing career (and probably in the the eyes of many pissed them away on a Honda he showed moments of untouchable speed on but mostly mediocrity). At the end of last year, The long-time headline attraction of World Superbike made the shocking and upsetting announcement that they were withdrawing factory support from the series (this was around the time they announced they'd hired Rossi for 90 zillion dollars).
None of that mattered on the opening weekend of the 2011 World Superbike Championship season. Checa simply walked away in both superbike class races. Mind you, as the announcers repeatedly mentioned, Philip Island is a historically Ducati-oriented track... but then again, in WSBK, what track hasn't been dominated by Ducatis? Checa was incredibly smooth - almost boringly - and the race for third place was some of the best I've seen in years. MotoGP continues to become more Formula 1-ish in its anti-climactic racing, but Superbike has been on the warpath for the past half-decade.
Max Biaggi had to be the second-best rider of the day, not only utilizing his Aprilia RSV4's monsterous power extremely well, but cutting through the field like a hot knife through butter after a poor start in race two. You could really see how unique and gradual his lines are compared to the rest of the field, and there were admittedly moments I were I thought he'd T-bone someone but he just cruised by like they weren't moving.
The whole time, Marco Melandari was getting the better of his Yamaha teammate Laverty and Leon Haslam was showing that last season was no fluke. Fellow BMW rider actually chased down and outpaced Haslam for a short stint, but headbanged in anger after offshooting a turn mid-race. Seeing all-of-the-above 4, even 5 wide through top gear chicanes was quite a spectacle.
The biggest surprise for me was in World Supersport. Luca Scassa isn't an old rider but seems nonetheless like he's been around forever. He's ridden a lot of bikes and been in some hellish crashes. I just didn't imagine him winning the opening supersport championship race in 2011,, but obviously I was wrong.
Supersport:
1. Luca Scassa ITA ParkinGO Yamaha YZF-R6 21 Laps
2. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki Motocard.com ZX-6R +0.009s
3. Sam Lowes GBR Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR +0.033s
4. David Salom ESP Kawasaki Motocard.com ZX-6R +0.272s
5. Robbin Harms DEN Harms Benjan Honda CBR600RR +16.969s
6. James Ellison GBR Bogdanka PTR Honda CBR600RR +23.943s
7. Florian Marino FRA Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR +31.788s
8. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Lorenzini Kawasaki ZX-6R +31.837s
9. Alexander Lundh SWE Cresto Guide Honda CBR600RR +31.870s
10. Danilo Dell'Omo ITA Suriano Triumph Daytona 675 +32.817s
11. Ronan Quarmby RSA Suriano Triumph Daytona 675 +43.799s
12. Ondrej Jezek CZE SMS Honda CBR600RR +56.116s
13. Bastien Chesaux SUI Moto-Academy Honda CBR600RR +1min 00.055s
14. Balazs Nemeth HUN Team Hungary Toth Honda CBR600RR +1min 05.909s
15. Imre Toth HUN Team Hungary Toth Honda CBR600RR +1min 06.318s
16. Vladimir Ivanov UKR Step Racing Honda CBR600RR +1min 14.472s
17. Marko Jerman SLO MD Jerman Triumph Daytona 675 1min 24.183s
18. Chaz Davies GBR ParkinGO Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
19. Luca Marconi ITA Bike Service Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
20. Roberto Tamburini ITA Bike Service Yamaha YZF-R6 +1 lap
Not Classified
21. Fabien Foret FRA Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 15 lap completed
22. Massimo Roccoli ITA Lorenzini Kawasaki ZX-6R 15 laps completed
23. Miguel Praia POR Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR 10 laps completed
24. Pawel Szkopek POL Bogdanka PTR Honda CBR600RR 10 laps completed
25. Gino Rea GBR Step Racing Honda CBR600RR 5 laps completed
26. Mitchell Pirotta AUS Kuja Honda CBR600RR 1 lap completed
SBK Race 1:
1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 34mins 16.503s
2. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +4.365s
3. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR +10.719s
4. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +11.266s
5. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +11.293s
6. Michel Fabrizio ITA Suzuki Alstare GSX-R1000 +12.039s
7. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +20.294s
8. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki RTS ZX-10R +20.742s
9. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 +22.421s
10. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +25.822s
11. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +29.270s
12. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +31.059s
13. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +31.721s
14. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR +36.389s
15. Bryan Staring AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.470s
16. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +41.928s
17. James Toseland GBR BMW Italia S1000RR +55.239s
18. Josh Waters AUS Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1min 00.312s
19. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +1min 00.316s
20. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R +1min 30.125s
Not Classified
21. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 13 laps completed
22. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 6 laps completed
SBK Race 2:
1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 34mins 15.041s
2. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +1.188s
3. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +1.406s
4. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +10.563s
5. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR +10.885s
6. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +16.914s
7. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 +17.558s
8. Michel Fabrizio ITA Suzuki Alstare GSX-R1000 +17.679s
9. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki RTS ZX-10R +18.070s
10. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +19.053s
11. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +19.060s
12. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +23.771s
13. Josh Waters AUS Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 +23.956s
14. James Toseland GBR BMW Italia S1000RR +28.713s
15. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 +32.673s
16. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +33.226s
17. Bryan Staring AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +42.598s
18. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R +51.819s
19. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +55.738s
Not Classified
20. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 14 laps completed
21. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR 0 laps completed
Did Not Start
Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R
Monday, January 3, 2011
Chris Vermeulen Anxious to Return to WSBK
There was a lot of hype around the entry of former MotoGP star Chris Vermuelen (not to mention the even more ill-fated Hopkins) which failed to climax due to a serious knee injury not long after his debut. Vermeulen says that it's up to Kawasaki to decide when/if he returns to the series and team, but hopes to be back by Sepang. The Australian recently rode a motorcycle for the first time since his injury:
"I had my first ride on a motorbike today, on a little flat track circuit at my house, which has got a few left and right corners around it. Not motocross or anything like that, just a flat dirt track. I was pretty steady but it was good to get back on a bike. I only rode for about 20 minutes but I hope to ride every couple of days from now on. It wasn't actually that weird a feeling, but that was the first time I had ridden any motorbike since the Brno WSBK round."
"I had my first ride on a motorbike today, on a little flat track circuit at my house, which has got a few left and right corners around it. Not motocross or anything like that, just a flat dirt track. I was pretty steady but it was good to get back on a bike. I only rode for about 20 minutes but I hope to ride every couple of days from now on. It wasn't actually that weird a feeling, but that was the first time I had ridden any motorbike since the Brno WSBK round."
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