RACE STUFF THREAD

[dallas2r]

Here's a pretty cool article on the history of WSBK for those like me who are clueless.

http://www.autoevolution.com/sport/world-superbike/history/

[Cher]

Why the heck are 600s racing in the Daytona 200??!!??!! That is supposed to be the premier US SUPERBIKE race!  That means the big bikes!

And how the heck is a 1125(?) Buell equivalent to a 600? That should mean a 1098 and an 848 are eligble. So confused. Where's my beer

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't read unless you've already watched the race 


Yeah, that had me goin' too, it's like one giant "open-class."  I guess it doesn't matter if the AMA can get even half that many bike entries for the rest of their races this season it will make for tons better racing. The rule makers will probably want to do something with the twin-cylinder bikes to bring a bit more parity there tho.  And those 675s too - that would be cool to see Triumph up at the sharp end of the grid. 

I watched the whole race (which was kind of weird for me since I usually don't make more than the opening lap on most of this AMA stuff... Don't get me started  ) and thought it was excellent.  That pace car crap with Bostrom there at the end was bad, but other than that, good close racing.

And one other thing for those "in the know"; did I understand the commentators to say anyone could show up and race Daytona?  I think that's the way it is in the Rolex 24hrs at Daytona for sports cars and Prototypes but there's a 107% rule (all qualifying times must be within 107% of the pole sitter's time) to make sure you don't have dangerously slow people out there.  Is there a qualifying rule like that for AMA's Daytona race?

[Ronr]

ANOTHER SPOILER ALERT!!!!!! DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE DAYTONA 200!!!!!

Totally sux for Josh.  I really wanted him to win it straight up this year.  Glad Boz got it though.  It was a good race.  Loved the hookup crash where the bikes got stuck together like two spaniels, and the rider was sliding backwards on the track on his hands and feet.  That's gonna be a classic!

[Cher]

ANOTHER SPOILER ALERT!!!!!! DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE DAYTONA 200!!!!!

Totally sux for Josh.  I really wanted him to win it straight up this year.  Glad Boz got it though.  It was a good race.  Loved the hookup crash where the bikes got stuck together like two spaniels, and the rider was sliding backwards on the track on his hands and feet.  That's gonna be a classic!

Yeah, all he needed was metal toe sliders and he would have sparked     

[Giannis]

Here's a pretty cool article on the history of WSBK for those like me who are clueless.

http://www.autoevolution.com/sport/world-superbike/history/

This is a bit better http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbike_World_Championship

And Scott Russell won on a ZX7R (ZXR 750 in Europe) not a ZXF 

And a bit more info, WSBK was the result of the World Formula 1 Series. That was a bike series where manufacters could enter with no limits 4 stroke machines only... last bike to win F1 was Bimota...

[calscrazy]

well at least it was competitive and not the yoshi show.

[Giannis]

OK, ANOTHER RACE SPOILER!!! WORLD SUPERSPORT... GO AWAY IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT!!!

Holy s#@t! As always great Supersport racing at the world level! Damn, less than a second covers the top 10-11 riders!! Guess Kenan Sofuoglu had all the World SBK he could handle last year? Poor dude made no splash at all... zero. I can only imagine that the death of his brother while racing had to have a heavy hand with his mental state. How could it not? Thankfully he is back home in World S-Sport and kicking ass. He hung in 9th for a long time then all the sudden he's in the lead. I suppose he has found his favorite class and has regained his form. Good for him! [moto]

here comes the saying

Among the blind the one-eyed man is king

[AndreRA3]

 Here's a nice shot of the BMW getting sideways...  I think that's Corser (Xaus is 111, right?) and Smrz on the 1198

[AndreRA3]

BTW, the above photo is courtesy of a belgian bike magazine's website

But just to show Xaus some love (this one is courtesy of Soup):

[calscrazy]

andrae great pics!!!

just saw an interview with ben bostrom and he says that he believes the 600 class will thrive with the new management but is still not sold on the pace car. as i am not after still trying to figure out why they waved him by. they still need to get some serious fan input and consider it. maybe try to go to a few more tracks rather than the same ones. dont get me wrong miller, road atlanta and etc are great tracks but they are missing everyone on bikes from eastern az. to ark and louisiana up to ok. they got what 13 total races and 3 are in cali with 2 at daytona. with the money that the ownership has an investment in a track closer to the southern middle states seems very wise to me.

[Giannis]

andrae great pics!!!

just saw an interview with ben bostrom and he says that he believes the 600 class will thrive with the new management but is still not sold on the pace car. as i am not after still trying to figure out why they waved him by. they still need to get some serious fan input and consider it. maybe try to go to a few more tracks rather than the same ones. dont get me wrong miller, road atlanta and etc are great tracks but they are missing everyone on bikes from eastern az. to ark and louisiana up to ok. they got what 13 total races and 3 are in cali with 2 at daytona. with the money that the ownership has an investment in a track closer to the southern middle states seems very wise to me.

To go in those places they have to have decent tracks, AMA wouldnt never race in Cresson, too small not so safe.

they go to California because there where the Motorcycle world in US lives (magazines, Corporations, Clothing and part companies and a Shit load a lot more people who ride bikes and follow racing, sadly but true!)

They also race

Utah
Alabama
Atlanta
Wisconsin
Ohio
Kansas
Virginia
New Jersey

for 2009

[muskrat]

and why the hell not in TX? 

[Giannis]

and why the hell not in TX? 

Where in TX? Cresson? to small... Eagles Canyon in the middle of Nowhere and  lack of Stands etc.....

[muskrat]

I'm sure if they showed interest stands would be added and/or a new track built.  didn't some guys try building a track near Denton a while ago?  I remember getting something looking for investors; like I had the cash for that.

[Cher]

Where in TX? Cresson? to small... Eagles Canyon in the middle of Nowhere and  lack of Stands etc.....

Houston. 



This picture was taken several years ago right after MSR-Houston opened.  It's been further developed since.  Several configurations possible - just like Cresson.  All the hotels and major airports are close.

I remember when Texas Motor Speedway opened in 1999, a marketing research company had said Texas had the largest untapped motorsports market in the country.  If the Cresson tracks don't pass muster for major-league motorcycle racing, it won't be long before someone steps up to the plate and sorts it out. 

I also have heard that the 1.1 mile infield road course at TMS is getting reconfigured so the facility can attract more racing series - not just NASCAR and IRL.  I always assumed they were shooting for the sports prototype endurance series (like American Le Mans, etc.) but maybe they're ultimately shooting for bikes... Something along the lines of the night race at Daytona    If you put the infield together with all the banking and front straight of the NASCAR track, it's a 2.9 mile lap...

Make it so!!!!!!!!!