2012 WSBK Rnd 4-Monza ( Spoilers )

[Blue]

Interesting video regarding designing tires for Monza...



Cool stuff! 

[zooom]

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/wsbk-effenbert-liberty-racing-infront-sports-media/

WHOA.....

[ducpainter]

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/wsbk-effenbert-liberty-racing-infront-sports-media/

WHOA.....

The entire event was a clustermake the beast with two backs.

[Triple J]

The entire event was a clustermake the beast with two backs.

+1

I'm curious as to how WSS could run, but it was too dangerous for WSBK, even though the WSBK race 2 conditions looked at least as good as the WSS conditions. 

[ducpainter]

+1

I'm curious as to how WSS could run, but it was too dangerous for WSBK, even though the WSBK race 2 conditions looked at least as good as the WSS conditions. 

I think it was the tires.

The wets and the intermediates were both too soft to last for more than a few laps.

They were on slicks...when the rain started they were done.

Don't know what the WSS guys were on.

[desmoquattro]

I'm curious as to how WSS could run, but it was too dangerous for WSBK, even though the WSBK race 2 conditions looked at least as good as the WSS conditions. 

Maybe they hired DMG to run race control...

[Spidey]

I'm curious as to how WSS could run, but it was too dangerous for WSBK, even though the WSBK race 2 conditions looked at least as good as the WSS conditions.  

WSS wasn't run in a downpour (rains) or in drying conditions (slicks) that way WSBK R2 was.  I don't think the intermediates would have held up with how dry it was for WSBK, and the slicks meant that any rain had to stop the race.  Pirelli says that the riders make the beast with two backsed up and should have run the intermediates (which I *think* is what WSS ran).

Also, I'm not sure how safe that WSS was.  There were a lot of pretty scary--and unexpected--crashes.  Monza doesn't have a lot of run off and guys were following the bikes into the airfence.  Didn't someone even get hit when the bike bounced back off the wall.  Youch.  

[Spidey]

It was a make the beast with two backsed up weekend--a really bad combination of unpredictable and ever-changing weather, tire problems, and a super-high speed circuit that eats up tires, has little run-off, poor drainage, lots of shade and tarmac of radically different age and consistency (which lead to parts of the track being really dry and other parts soaking wet). 

[zooom]

my "whoa" though is that apparently Liberty Ducati might have lost Effenbert and may be in question about further participation in rounds beyond Donnington....that is pretty damn major IMHO if any of it is true...

[ducpainter]

my "whoa" though is that apparently Liberty Ducati might have lost Effenbert and may be in question about further participation in rounds beyond Donnington....that is pretty damn major IMHO if any of it is true...

yup

[thought]

I missed the races due to time warner dvr's sucking and not auto updating to record the late race...

but what happened that was so bad for liberty to lose effenbert?  becuase that's a lot of pretty solid riders to have drop out of a championship...

[Spidey]

I missed the races due to time warner dvr's sucking and not auto updating to record the late race...

but what happened that was so bad for liberty to lose effenbert?  becuase that's a lot of pretty solid riders to have drop out of a championship...

Here's how I understand it . . .

They were on pole.   Race 1 was scratched.

For Race 2, the riders did a warm-up and then gridded up.  On the grid right before the flag dropped, a bunch of riders raised their hands b/c they didn't want to race in the conditions.  Guintoli (on pole) wanted to go, but he was not considered a "senior" rider and didn't have much of a say.  They waited 15 mins and then decided to go forward with Race 2 with two warm up laps.  On the warm-up laps, Guintoli's bike died and he couldn't start.  Then I *think* Smrz crashed in the race. 

Basically, they were pissed that they have the largest presence on the grid (4 riders), riders who routinely are top 5 on the grid, yet didn't have any input in whether or how the races would be run.  And they believe they lost the opportunity to have their riders up front or win races for the weekend because Aprilia, BMW, and Checa's Ducati team run the show. 

[zooom]

here's 1 thing I am not clear on...and maybe Derby needs to chime in here with the regs or whatever...but who chooses the "senior riders" for that decision making body?...I know in GP, the riders vote for whom of their peers are to represent them on behalf of their safety concerns...but what about WSBK??....

and I understand Liberty and the feeling of unfairness...but what made Effenbert pull sponsorship?...

[thought]

Ahh... so it's not Liberty vs Effenbert but Effenbert vs WSBK.  So basically Effenbert is saying why the hell was our input less than the factories and if it's going to be like that, I'm going to pack up my toys and go home.  And Liberty just gets caught in the middle.

Really hope this doesnt come to pass... that's going to really mess with the grid... because I seriously doubt Liberty can find a new sponsor for 4 riders anytime soon.

[gm2]

here's 1 thing I am not clear on...and maybe Derby needs to chime in here with the regs or whatever...but who chooses the "senior riders" for that decision making body?

in this case, no one.  the issue was pecking order not an actual group.