WSBK - Round 1 - Phillip Islands (Superpole Spoiler)...Race Spoiler

[Spidey]

And to think that I was worried that without Spies in the mix, a bit of my WSBK enthusiasm might have waned.  Man, that was good stuff.  

Race 2 was just awesome.  When was the last time a satellite Duc won a race over the factory machines?  Also, I haven't been paying attention to Guintoli at all.  'til now.  I hope those Suzukis are legitimate threats at other tracks.  I can't wait to see Rea (nice comeback, Johnny!) and Haslam banging fairings this season.  

Race 1 was awesome b/c of the look on douchebrizio's face afterward.  Seriously, WTF is wrong with that guy?  He couldn't act like pretty much everyone else does -- be happy with a podium and at least pretend that he's not heartbroken that he didn't win?  It wasn't like he gave it up in the last minute.  He took a last minute shot which almost worked, but didn't.  Don't be all butt-hurt about it, you ass.  I dislike that guy the more I see him.  And learn to speak f'n English already.  

I'm finding it heartbreaking to see good riders on second-hand machinery.  Vermulen on the Kawi and Corser on that BMW (to a lesser degree) just kill me.  The mole is gonna break himself into pieces this season if he tries to consistently run up front.  In it's current iteration, that bike just can't do it.  In all, not a good day for recent MotoGP boys.  At least Vermulen isn't too beat up.  That crash looked nasty.  

If I'm gonna root for Haslam this season, things have to change in the paddock.  I am bitterly disappointed that Haslam's girl was hiding her assets under a jacket, particularly considering that this is the first time she's gotten any camera time for a long while.  Let those babies breathe, Olli.      

JT's gotta be hurting right now.  And Crutchlow beat him.  Ouch.  

Haga was pretty quiet after taking a 150 mph detour in practice.  He got lucky Xaus didn't totally screw the the beginning of his season.  (seriously, Xaus crashed 4 times that weekend?  Yooooouuuccchhh!)

Hayden is gonna make me cry all season long.  He doesn't have the skill, the track familiarity, the team or the bike to be even remotely competitive.  That sucks.  

Anyone know what happened with Biaggi in Race 2?

[derby]

I'm finding it heartbreaking to see good riders on second-hand machinery.  Vermulen on the Kawi and Corser on that BMW (to a lesser degree) just kill me.   

you want to see heartbreaking seasons? go rewatch 2000 and 2001 with an eye on corser and the developing rsv1000.

If I'm gonna root for Haslam this season, things have to change in the paddock.  I am bitterly disappointed that Haslam's girl was hiding her assets under a jacket, particularly considering that this is the first time she's gotten any camera time for a long while.  Let those babies breathe, Olli.      

jack and james were commenting that it's unfortunate that she's so "generously proportioned" that she couldn't fit into the brolly girl outfit they had for her and that everybody would be impatiently waiting to see her pop out of it.

[Spidey]

jack and james were commenting that it's unfortunate that she's so "generously proportioned" that she couldn't fit into the brolly girl outfit they had for her and that everybody would be impatiently waiting to see her pop out of it.

Was that on the Eurosport feed?  I can't be havin' other doods are horning in on my boobies.  Harumph. 

[EvilSteve]

Anyone know what happened with Biaggi in Race 2?

He ran wide at Honda. One of many examples where the commentators are too busy masturbating to notice what's actually going on in the race. Apparently you were too busy masturbating too...

I know a lot of people love the English commentator guy but he's an idiot as far as I'm concerned. He misses too many things in the race with all his melodramatic BS.

Rea is such a tool, he's fast but he runs off track all the time. I'd like to see the guy calm down a little and maybe he'd be winning races rather than scaring the shit out of the front runners and doing a bit of yard work on the side.

The make the beast with two backsing camera work drives me nuts too, switching to pictures of concerned looking people in the pit, who gives a make the beast with two backs? I watch to see racing not some dopey SO or relative sitting in the garage biting their damn nails.

Race two was so good.

[gm2]

And to think that I was worried that without Spies in the mix, a bit of my WSBK enthusiasm might have waned.  Man, that was good stuff.

with 8 less hp last year and a heavier bike, supposedly a lot of the same chatter problems, does make what he did even more superhuman. 

Race 2 was just awesome.  When was the last time a satellite Duc won a race over the factory machines?

dunno really, but before nearly killing himself last year laconi was certainly winding it up for that.   

Also, I haven't been paying attention to Guintoli at all.  'til now.  I hope those Suzukis are legitimate threats at other tracks.

guinty has always been fast but stuck behind circumstance.. he did ok in 250s, then came up to GP on the tech 3 team... on dunlops.  no worky.  then he got moved to pramac ducati in 2008, the year that everyone wanted to be on a duc.  also the year everyone learned they did NOT want to be on a duc.. he actually did ok a few times that year once he turned off all the electronics.  then he goes to BSB and josh brookes takes him out, breaks his leg.  so finally he's healthy and on a good package.

JT's ... And Crutchlow beat him.  Ouch. 

that's gonna keep happening, imo.

(seriously, Xaus crashed 4 times that weekend?  Yooooouuuccchhh!)

he really did destroy 3 bikes in 7 laps.  that must be some kind of record.

Anyone know what happened with Biaggi in Race 2?

went wide.  the same thing he does in 25% of all corners.

camier starting to figure it out tho...

Rea is such a tool, he's fast but he runs off track all the time.

you're less of a tool if you can run off track and then catch up that much.  =)

[EvilSteve]

went wide.  the same thing he does in 25% of all corners.

He ran off track, he didn't just run wide, he went straight at Honda.

you're less of a tool if you can run off track and then catch up that much.  =)

Maybe so but he's riding dangerously IMO, he's nearly taken people out plenty of times. Not the "oh, that was a good one" kind of taken out either, the t-bone "I hope they can both walk after this" version. He needs to pull his head out of his ass. Despite my comments, I actually like Rea and would like to see him doing well but he's riding like an idiot. A fast idiot but an idiot none the less.

[Spidey]

Maybe so but he's riding dangerously IMO, he's nearly taken people out plenty of times. Not the "oh, that was a good one" kind of taken out either, the t-bone "I hope they can both walk after this" version. He needs to pull his head out of his ass. Despite my comments, I actually like Rea and would like to see him doing well but he's riding like an idiot. A fast idiot but an idiot none the less.

I'm a bit torn on Rea's riding.  Sometimes (there was one particular stretch last season IIRC) where I thought he was just a menace.  Other times, I think he's just pushing hard and going fast.  Blowing turns happens.  Running off track happens (especially in practice).  All part of the sport.  Either way, I like watching him.

[gm2]

he's both a little out of control sometimes and over-riding the bike when necessary.  either way, i can't fault the guy.  he came in last year as a 22-yr old rookie and established himself the same way he did in WSS: WFO.  the kid ain't afraid.

[Spidey]

His backin'-it-in passes on the brakes are a blast to watch.  Best backin-it-in in WSBK right now.  True, sometimes he can't make the turn, but it's still worth watching him shoots up the inside of the turn all sideways.

[bdfinally]

Race 2 was just awesome.  When was the last time a satellite Duc won a race over the factory machines?

Lanzi won ahead of Troy at Valencia back in 2008...infamous Checa takes out Neukirchner in last corner.

Great racing yesterday, knock on wood for the rest of the season.

[ducpainter]

I'm a bit torn on Rea's riding.  Sometimes (there was one particular stretch last season IIRC) where I thought he was just a menace.  Other times, I think he's just pushing hard and going fast.  Blowing turns happens.  Running off track happens (especially in practice).  All part of the sport.  Either way, I like watching him.

Should we talk about Xaus?

Talk about a menace.

[Spidey]

And what do they have in common?  They both just love running into Nori. 

[ducpainter]

And what do they have in common?  <snip> 

excitable boys.... 

[TiNi]

wooohooo wsbk!  [moto]

i don't think i've ever seen a photo finish in moto gp 

[Turf]

wooohooo wsbk!  [moto]

i don't think i've ever seen a photo finish in moto gp  

There was that Elias/rossi thing in 06 i think it was...wsbk seems to have more though

found video (skip to 5:00)
Toni Elias Estoril 2006 (Musical)