2009 World Superbike Round 3 - Valencia (Race 1+2 Spoilers)

[BastrdHK]

ben was overriding the bike a tad due to an electronics issue. it's a shame he couldn't use that bike for race 2 since it was slightly faster than his other one.

Derby,

Did they mention this in post race interviews?  I didn't get to see interviews from race 1 b/c Eurosport didn't show them.  I don't think Spies could've found 5 more sec out of either one of his bikes.

Haga was on a mission this round!!!  Post superpole interview was the freaking biz...and he backed it up!

I'll summarize:  (Insert Haga's thick Japanese accent at your discretion...love it)

Interviewer:  "Xerox Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga starting from 3rd position on the grid."

Haga:  "Yes, I'm very happy to be on the front row.  I have a good package, and I have already chosen my tires for the race b/c my lap times are quite consistent with these tires."

Interviewer:  "Looks like another tough weekend battling Spies at pole position."

Haga:  (Sharply) "Qualifying doesn't matter!....My setup/tires are for the race!  We are going to have a good weekend, win two races, and go to the next round."

Interviewer:  "Thank you Nori.  A very confident Noriyuki Haga starting from third position on the grid."


He really had me pumped up after that interview......I could not wait to see what would go down on the track 

I wish I could have been in the team meetings after Qatar.....someone lit a fire!   

[gm2]

Did they mention this in post race interviews?  I didn't get to see interviews from race 1 b/c Eurosport didn't show them. 

it was talked about after superpole, when he had to switch to the B bike

[derby]

Derby,

Did they mention this in post race interviews?  I didn't get to see interviews from race 1 b/c Eurosport didn't show them.  I don't think Spies could've found 5 more sec out of either one of his bikes.

i think ben mentioned it after the race 2 interviews.

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Apr/090405qm.htm

"Race one was unfortunate for me, I was pushing really hard to make up for an electrical issue going into the corner and crashed.


fwiw, you don't find 5 seconds, you find >0.2s a lap for 23 laps. ben said that the bike he used for race 2 was 3-4 tenths slower than the bike he crashed in race 1.

[ZLTFUL]

And Nitro Nori is still my favorite rider in SBK.

Unfortunate for Ben. I enjoy watching him finish second to Nori. 

But then any race where the Empress finishes outside of the top 5 is a good race. Keep it up Max. 

[BastrdHK]

fwiw, you don't find 5 seconds, you find >0.2s a lap for 23 laps. ben said that the bike he used for race 2 was 3-4 tenths slower than the bike he crashed in race 1.

Really!?!.....thanks for the quick math lesson.  I know your feelings are hurt, but your reaching man...your reaching.

Let me put it bluntly,  Spies would not have challenged for the win on either bike.

Nori called the double after Superpole and backed it up.  I would give any rider credit for a weekend like that 

[derby]

Really!?!.....thanks for the quick math lesson.  I know your feelings are hurt, but your reaching man...your reaching.

nah, no hurt feelings. i was actually being serious. believe it or not, some people really don't get that.

Let me put it bluntly,  Spies would not have challenged for the win on either bike.

i'd have to look at the lap sheet, but i think he actually had the pace to catch nori in race 1.

notice i said "catch," not "pass."

Nori called the double after Superpole and backed it up.  I would give any rider credit for a weekend like that 

yup.. nori had a great weekend.

and before you label me a nori-hater, here's a pic of an old bike of mine:

[gm2]

NORI HATER

[BastrdHK]

nah, no hurt feelings. i was actually being serious. believe it or not, some people really don't get that.

I took offense to that comment, but I know you were trying to be informative....you always are.




Probably never have a chance to stradle one, but from what I hear (James Whitham) the R7 had one of the sweetest front ends of any bike ever.

[EvilSteve]

Haga was using his R7 front end for a while on the R1 I hear.

[OT]

"Race one was unfortunate for me, I was pushing really hard to make up for an electrical issue going into the corner and crashed.

OK, all the bikes have traction control, but......this sounds too much like he crashed because the autopilot malfunctioned, which triggers the old debate....

[Speeddog]

"Race one was unfortunate for me, I was pushing really hard (to make up for an electrical issue) going into the corner and crashed.

That's how I read it.

[ducpainter]

OK, all the bikes have traction control, but......this sounds too much like he crashed because the autopilot malfunctioned, which triggers the old debate....

"Race one was unfortunate for me, I was pushing really hard (to make up for an electrical issue) going into the corner and crashed.

That's how I read it.

I say tomahto...

[Speeddog]

OTOH, perhaps they're using an electronic throttle control instead of a slipper clutch, and it wasn't working.

[gm2]

or maybe an electrical issue isn't an electronics issue at all...


(yeah, it probably is)