RACE STUFF THREAD

[AndreRA3]

No race spoiler here. Just read the results of both races. Wow, just wow! Can't wait to see them!!! This is going to be an awesome year in WSBK, it's going to make MotoGP look like AMA SBK. Enjoy the show! I know I will.

Yeah, great races!  This year will be freaking amazing!   

I was just browsing crash.net, and they have some nice photos of the weekend.  Here's a few:

[fastwin]

Hmmm, guess Hopper found something to do this year afterall. Looks like we'll be seeing him next weekend at Valencia. The plot thickens...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Mar/090319m01qa.htm

[calscrazy]

too late titty baby. hey lets play a game. it's called go outside, hide and go screw yourself. forget hopper he had a chance to do the right thing until something better came along.

[muskrat]

you're not going to believe this but I saw this VERY setup in McKinney at my friend's shop yesterday. Guy comes in with mountains of stuff that's not even on the market and the exact same exhaust on his 09 R1.  anyway, heard the new bike and it sounds like a twin.  I'm gonna drop by his shop again and check the dyno numbers on the bike but there was no less than $10k worth of performance goodies from the GP guys. 

[bryant8]

$10K worth of performance goodies from Race spec bikes isn't much.  The SBK spec forks (Ohlins FGR900)are like $10k alone

[muskrat]

uhm, it already had Ohlins  .  talking computer gadgets and engine hardware

[bryant8]

I highly doubt a stock '09 R1 comes with SBK spec forks.  All I could find that comes in regard to the R1 forks/shock are that they are made by SOQI, a Yamaha subsidiary.

I guess my point is $10k in race spec parts isn't much... YMMV

[muskrat]

it's a hell of a lot to me    that'll pay for my wedding at least.

BUT it did have Ohlins, I asked and checked.  still, the bike sounded amazing but it was Yami's puke blue.

[bryant8]

Oh I agree completely, that's a lot of money to put into a streetbike.  But race-bikes are purpose built and shaving 1/10ths of seconds comes at a cost. 

I'm sure that R1 was sweet to see/hear. 

[muskrat]

still nothing like a twin wide open though.  I'll trade torque for HP anyday!

[fastwin]

It will be interesting to see how the US/AMA neutered Yamaha SBKs perform vs their World SBK brethren. Not head to head but within their respective series. Actually the magazine dyno numbers have been down on the new Yammi compared the the ZX10R and Gixxer but the "way it puts is power down" is the God send. Not high end HP numbers. Isn't that always the case? Personally I am very interested. If a new SBK is in my future it very well could be a new Yammi over any Duc that's offered. Just saying. I have all the Ducs I could ever want. They have nothing in their line up I want at this stage in my life. Just my devalued two cents. Which is probably worth like one cent.

[muskrat]

well you better let me know if your "devalued" cents applies to pricing of Ducs in your stall. just saying

[bryant8]

Hah, get in line bub!

BOT, though.  That's a good question, Brian.  I'm not up-to-date on the spec differences between WSBK and AMA rules

[calscrazy]

who cares if someone (haga) doesn't get handle on spies this thing could be over quickly.

[fastwin]

Yeah, don't want to see that. Not that it wouldn't be cool for Spies but these aren't a bunch of yahoos. These are the best in the world and every week someone always steps up to the plate. It may be their favorite track, best bike set up, whatever. Spies will have his work cut out for him at every race... make that both races at every track. Look at what Checa did at Miller last year. Granted, Bayliss threw it down and almost got run over by four bikes at a 100mph+. But that was Checa's day, he was unstoppable. Wasn't it Kiyonari's last year in England. Was that Donington Park? He kicked everyone's ass. Damn near everyone at that level has their day in the sun at some point. I just don't see Spies, as good as he and the bike are, walking away with it. Gonna be a killer season for sure.