Ducati Monster Forum

Sykes-Checa-Laverty-Melandri front row

Biaggi-Haslam-Rae-Davies row 2

Sykes time beat Rae's fastest qualifier by at least a couple of tenths.

Plenty with good race pace. Should be great races tomorrow.

Just wish Sykes could put all those poles into to some podiums. The Portimao grid looks great and well mixed. Should be a rockin' race... make that 2 races. [thumbsup] [Dolph]

Noticed my beloved Directv isn't broadcasting both the WSBK races and the Supersport race until Tuesday. Guess that fills my TV watching calender for Tuesday! [popcorn] [bacon]

Sykes will finish in the top 3 this year...

he's had podiums.

Well shut my mouth. Check out race one results!!

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/09/23/sykes-wins-interrupted-first-world-superbike-race-in-portugal/ (http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/09/23/sykes-wins-interrupted-first-world-superbike-race-in-portugal/)

Sometimes it's hard to tell if I am a curse or a good luck charm! [laugh]

Poor Melandri... [roll] :P :'(

Edit... guess I am a little of both. :P

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120923b.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120923b.htm)

Supersport race results just for fun...

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=49796 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=49796)

Way to go Kenan!! [thumbsup]

Race 2 was kind of boring,

Laverty has the Ape figured out,

Rae is still on a relic...

and Max will win the championship.

Is there anybody (of significance) on the grid that Melandri hasn't hit this year?

He turned into a train wreck when the pressure was on.

comcast is the same way....well...I guess the carrier doesn't matter because it is SPEED channel, not the carrier....oh twell...

http://www.motomatters.com/results/2012/09/24/2012_portimao_wsbk_sunday_round_up_an_un.html (http://www.motomatters.com/results/2012/09/24/2012_portimao_wsbk_sunday_round_up_an_un.html)

I see by your post link that Portimao is questionable for next year's schedule. Is that true? It's only been on the calender for what... three, maybe four years since it was brand new? My impression since day one was that everyone loved it. Racers and fans alike. What happened to their "financial" situation to possibly boot them off the WSBK chart for 2013? Is it that damn world economic crisis that's still screwing around with my job prospects? >:( [bang] [roll]

WSBK in Laguna Seca is all cool beans and what not but even being a God fearing, flag waving American doesn't make me think Laguna Seca is better than Portimao. There, the gaunlet has been thrown down... talk amongst yourselves. [popcorn]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120924oo.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120924oo.htm)

Nice article and all but where does it mention Portimao's financial troubles (or Portugal's) and their possible exclusion from the 2013 calender? I know geographically Spain and Portugal could hit each other with sling shots and I know about Spain, Greece, etc and their Euro financial meltdowns. Just saying the ouster of Portimao is news to me and others. And no, even though Nate thinks I live under a rock I don't. [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] Just wondering what happened. [popcorn]

Portugal is on the same boat. Not sure if you could see the grandstands in the coverage, but most likely it looked empty, just as just about every event held in Spain and Italy thus far. The track is finding it hard to put butts in seats and a round od WSBK requires that you hire a small army. It's sad because it truly is a good track.

have you seen the prices of WSBK/MotoGP/F1? I would gladly take my whole family to every race, if it wouldn't cost a small fortune to do so.

Speaking of empty stands... have you looked past the track action at the March Daytona Speed Week and seen the thousands of empty seats? Breaks my heart. That used to be one of the biggest race events in the world. Euro/GP World Champs would come to the Daytona 200 to race. Hailwood, etc. would swim the ocean to race there.

I swear the only folks that show up at Daytona Speed Week now are the yahoos that cover the races for SPEEDTV and a couple of umbrella girls. I guess everyone else are in bars on the strip watching the races on TV and practicing their Harley poser acts. [roll]

 

Yep, been to the Daytona 200 a few times. Not sure if you could categorize me as the SPEEDTV yahoos or the umbrella girls.

Questions are now popping up about Carlos Checa and whether they will use the 1199 next year.

Link?

http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2012/09/is-checa-racing-a-ducati-panigale-in-2013-or-what/ (http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2012/09/is-checa-racing-a-ducati-panigale-in-2013-or-what/)

Silly season fodder.

It does bring up interesting points. I think we've all heard the rumors, but nothing is concrete. Do the riders in WSBK always wait until the very last second to announce?

Not all of them. It does create a bunch of drama though. ;D

It's all speculation at this point.

Checa hasn't even committed to riding next year.

We shall see.

I heard Checa might race V8s cages in OZ with Stoner next year. [laugh] [popcorn] [bacon]

Taking it from silly season fodder to stoopit season material? [roll]

Pretty much... [roll]

So the Apes are running 5spd gear boxes?  And did anyone else hear the announcers in race 2 mention that Honda is looking at fielding a V4 in 2014?

which announcers?

Eurosport?

The feed I got (from R4me) was from Dubai I think, but had the usual announcers.

the eurosport announcers last week were steve day and troy corser

i didn't hear that mentioned...

either part.

Interesting. I have heard thay plan on coming out with a V4 SBK...makes sense they'd race it.  [thumbsup]

The SPEED broadcast was Johnathan Greene and Steve Martin and the Honda V4 they mentioned is in re: the supposed RC213V based road bike that Honda CEO said they were going to build ala what Ducati did with the 990GP bike-Desmosedici, but could perhaps be a slightly larger number of bikes in comparo...will it be enough for homologation for racing?...no one knows...what is known is that Rae makes that ancient Fireblade move...

same announcers BTW were batting around that Checa had been in talks with Kawasaki to be seated alongside Sykes...

Speaking of Sykes...I was getting excited of the potential of him having a shot at the championship before his motor gave up the ghost.

Actually Checa is currently testing the 1199. That's a good indication that he will be racing it next year.

As far as the Apes, I suspect you mis-heard, or they mis-spoke.
Perhaps only using 5 out of the 6 gears on track.
AFAIK, the transmissions are homologated, I'd be shocked to learn that they had homologated a 5-speed.

There's rumors of a new V-4 Honda(s), both street legal and MotoGP production-racer.

Street legal one would be good, that Fireblade is legal for vintage class racing, I think.

Announcer might have mis-spoke, but he plain as day said that the Ape had a 5spd box just as Max was ripping it down the straight.

Zooom, I believe there was a post in the Silly Season thread a couple of days ago about Loris Baz inking a deal with Kawi for next year with Sykes. I see Checa on the 1199. [popcorn]

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/ducati-1199-panigale-clean-slate-weight-wsbk/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/ducati-1199-panigale-clean-slate-weight-wsbk/)

Honda V4. 

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/honda-v4-sport-bike/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/honda-v4-sport-bike/)

I had a V4 Honda... it was an '83 Interceptor, back when 16" front wheels were the cool thing. I'd like to think the latest version will be better. ;)

Is it just me or do I not need all the electronic traction control shit for a damn street bike? How is it that I have ridden for 48 years without it? Why pay for all that shit if you really don't need it? I've never ridden an ABS bike but that seems a whole lot better than TC. I'm calling bullshit. It's just an expensive sales tool. "Wow, look! We have traction control on our bikes!! It's like a MotoGP bike. Quick, come buy one!!"

I have some motor ECU bullshit on my '08 Busa and honest to God I have never touched the switch. I think I am old enough to handle full power... it's called the throttle. If you can't manage that you have no reason to be riding motorcycles. It's like the trigger on a gun. If you don't know how to use it then stay away from it. ;)

End of old fart rant. ;D

Another old fart votes      [thumbsup]      [thumbsup]