WSBK Round 6: Have a Miller!

[Gerben24]

It's been a few years, but finally they make it over the pond again, to the US. The last two rounds were cracking, with a classic photo finish in the last race at Monza (see my avatar). Unfortunately Haga has only woken up in the last 3 rounds but could only win some points back from Bayliss in Monza. Checa failed to score when Bayliss had a DNF in Italy, so the championship still doesn't look very exciting points-wise. So, although he is a top bloke, we don't want Bayliss to score in America.

Track info: http://www.hannspreeracingworld.com/...sp?article=428
Doesn't look very American...

RAIN has been forecasted.

Ben Spies did a pole lap of 1:49.405 in 2007.

[Shaun1981]

I know Spies is expected to wildcard for the US MotoGP rounds, does anyone know if he will wildcard for the WorldSuperbike rounds?

[Gerben24]

He won't. The AMA have their own race at Miller Motorsport circuit (I believe with a different layout, but I'm not sure on that one).

[chunder]

Plus he runs on Dunlop tyres and teh WSB series run on control Pirelli's

Not sure if anyone in AMA runs Pirelli, if so they might be able to run, but not sure if the regs are the same to be honest.

[jhansen]

A few of the smaller teams run Pirelli, but all of the OEM teams are on Dunlops. The AMA will run the long circuit while WSBK will be on the short circuit. They didn't want time comparisons. Would love to see how Spies and Mladin shape up lap time wise compared to the WSBK boys.

Wish I were going, but I can't make it.

[Gerben24]

So, WSBK do the 'outer' circuit which is 4.9km long (longer than average track if you ask me) and AMA do the 'outer' circuit plus the infield (around 7.24km long, a whole lot longer than average track!)?

[Gerben24]

American Jason Pridmore is taking over from Luca Morelli at the Alto team, as reported here. I know Morelli wasn't up to the job, but this Pridmore fella (who I don't know by the way ) doesn't sound like the most obvious replacement...

[jhansen]

He's not bad. He ran with the Jordan team until he retired after 2006 (I think). But he ran at Fontana this year on a loaned Jordan bike and did pretty well. He's fast, but hasn't spent much time on top equipment.

[Gerben24]

First qualifying times:

1. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 49.394 secs
2. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 49.636 secs
3. Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 49.732 secs
4. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo's 1098 RS08 1min 49.758 secs
5. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 49.872 secs
6. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 49.895 secs
7. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 50.135 secs
8. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 50.230 secs
9. Ayrton Badovini ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 50.269 secs
10. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 50.349 secs
11. Shuhei Aoyama JPN Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 50.413 secs
12. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 50.439 secs
13. Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing CBR1000RR 1min 50.481 secs
14. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 50.618 secs
15. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 50.929 secs
16. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 51.077 secs
17. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 51.229 secs
18. Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 51.318 secs
19. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA RG Racing 1098 RS08 1min 51.353 secs
20. Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha YZF-R1 1min 51.386 secs
21. Russell Holland AUS DF Racing CBR1000RR 1min 51.399 secs
22. Gregorio Lavilla SPA Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 51.418 secs
23. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 51.637 secs
24. Jason Pridmore USA Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 52.025 secs
25. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 52.300 secs
26. David Checa ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 52.490 secs
27. Loic Napoleone FRA Grillini PBR Team YZF-R1 1min 53.224 secs
28. Roberto Rolfo ITA Hannspree Honda Althea CBR1000RR 1min 53.804 secs
29. Scott Jensen USA On The Throttle.tv Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 1min 55.939 secs

First ten riders within a second, on a 1.50min track, not bad!! Bayliss only got the pole 7 minutes before the end, so it's not like he's walking away with it! Badovini in 9th, Aoyama 11th!!!

[Gerben24]

And this is how they line up, CHECA ON POLE FOR THE FIRST TIME:

1. Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 48.193 secs
2. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 48.504 secs
3. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 49.604 secs
4. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 48.800 secs
5. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 48.975 secs
6. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 49.181 secs
7. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 49.206 secs
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 49.394 secs
9. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 49.479 secs
10. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 49.735 secs
11. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo's 1098 RS08 1min 49.784 secs
12. Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing CBR1000RR 1min 49.858 secs
13. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 49.942 secs
14. Shuhei Aoyama JPN Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 50.007 secs
15. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA RG Racing 1098 RS08 1min 50.446 secs
16. Ayrton Badovini ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 50.807 secs

17. Russell Holland AUS DF Racing CBR1000RR 1min 50.353 secs
18. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 50.439 secs
19. Jason Pridmore USA Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 50.530 secs
20. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 50.624 secs
21. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 50.762 secs
22. Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha YZF-R1 1min 50.813 secs
23. Gregorio Lavilla SPA Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 50.861 secs
24. Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 51.019 secs
25. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 51.154 secs
26. David Checa ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 52.029 secs
27. Loic Napoleone FRA Grillini PBR Team YZF-R1 1min 52.430 secs
28. Roberto Rolfo ITA Hannspree Honda Althea CBR1000RR 1min 52.458 secs
29. Scott Jensen USA On The Throttle.tv Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 1min 52.601 secs

I must say that Laconi and Aoyama stand out for me! It must have been Aoyama's first superpole. That new teammate must have given him wings!

Kiyo and Lavilla

[Dani Filth]

Laconi was always a superpole specialist .. and with sticky tyres he can do magic .. too bad he doesn't have fast tyres to last the race ..

Checa... it had to come this year . he's been there from race 1 ..
along with MaxK he's the revelation of the year ..

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

Laconi was always a superpole specialist .. and with sticky tyres he can do magic .. too bad he doesn't have fast tyres to last the race ..

Very true! I don't have anything wth Kawasaki and I don't have anything with Laconi, but it would be good to see them at the front as well! Kawasaki is the only manufacturer lagging in WSBK. Oh well, wishfull thinking...
Off to watch 250 now...

[gomick]

it's always good if there is a bit of green racing up the front.... time for charlie checa to get a wsbk race win i be thinkin'

[Gerben24]

Haga is riding around injured I've been told. He broke his collarbone Saturdaymorning. So, still impressive to see him in 10th.

[Gerben24]

Bayliss has just 'lost' 50 points in the US. It's not good for him ofcourse, but it is good for the championship!

[Knowlesy]

[gomick]

great for the championship - spewing the yamaha's couldnt take full advantage of the bayliss problems...
well done to checa & another great weekend for the "new/good" max

[Gerben24]

I copied the results below from somewhere else of course. They did 20 laps in the first race and 21 laps in the second race...

RACE 1 RESULTS
1. Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 37mins 04.991secs 20 laps
2. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 +2.809secs
3. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 +6.546secs
4. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +7.764secs
5. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +16.475secs
6. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo's 1098 RS08 +17.126secs
7. Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing CBR1000RR +17.284secs
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +17.416secs
9. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 +18.117secs
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +20.467secs
11. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA RG Racing 1098 RS08 +21.742secs
12. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +27.533secs
13. Gregorio Lavilla SPA Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR +32.609secs
14. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 +33.165secs
15. Russell Holland AUS DF Racing CBR1000RR +34.182secs
16. Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha YZF-R1 +34.500secs
17. Ayrton Badovini ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R +36.155secs
18. Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 +41.685secs
19. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R +43.579secs
20. Roberto Rolfo ITA Hannspree Honda Althea CBR1000RR +54.195secs
21. Jason Pridmore USA Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR +1min 00.388secs
22. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R +1min 02.104secs
23. Scott Jensen USA On The Throttle.tv Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 +1min 09.953secs
24. Loic Napoleone FRA Grillini PBR Team YZF-R1 +1min 12.258secs
25. Shuhei Aoyama JPN Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 14 laps completed
26. David Checa ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 6 laps completed
27. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 5 laps completed
28. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 4 laps completed
29. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 4 laps completed

RACE 2 RESULTS
1. Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 21 laps
2. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +3.547secs
3. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 +6.613secs
4. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 +7.878secs
5. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +10.568secs
6. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 +11.539secs
7. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +18.381secs
8. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +20.646secs
9. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R +21.264secs
10. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA RG Racing 1098 RS08 +24.863secs
11. Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing CBR1000RR +25.672secs
12. Ayrton Badovini ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R +31.711secs
13. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R +35.628secs
14. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +42.816secs
15. Gregorio Lavilla SPA Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR +45.034secs
16. Roberto Rolfo ITA Hannspree Honda Althea CBR1000RR +50.220secs
17. Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 +50.653secs
18. Jason Pridmore USA Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR +51.188secs
19. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R +1min 04.533secs
20. Scott Jensen USA On The Throttle.tv Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 +1min 12.049secs
21. Loic Napoleone FRA Grillini PBR Team YZF-R1 +1min 19.221secs
22. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 +2 laps
23. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 17 laps completed
24. Shuhei Aoyama JPN Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 14 laps completed
25. Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha YZF-R1 13 laps completed
26. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 6 laps completed
27. Russell Holland AUS DF Racing CBR1000RR 1 lap completed

STANDINGS AFTER MILLER ROUND:
1. Bayliss - 194
2. Checa - 166
3. Neukirchner - 144
4. Nieto - 126
5. Haga - 122
6. Corser - 121
7. Xaus - 92
8. Fabrizio - 87
9. Biaggi - 85
10. Kiyonari – 80
11. Kagayama - 73
12. Lavilla - 63
13. Lanzi - 60
14. Smrz - 51
15. Muggeridge – 49
16. Sofuoglu - 32
17. Tamada - 31
18. Laconi - 28
19. Rolfo - 20
20. Nakatomi - 16
21. Badovini - 14
22. Holland - 14
23. Gimbert – 6
24. Checa. D. - 5
25. Beck - 1

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

along with MaxK he's the revelation of the year ..

Yeah, everybody is so surprised with Good Max (we shall now speak of Good Max and Mad Max). I'm not that surprised to be honoust. He has shown some good things last year as well. So when it was announced that he would ride for the Alstare team, to be teammate of Kagayama and Nieto, I didn't expect anything other than him being the quickest and most consistent of the three. I think Kagayama will be the quickest of them in Brno, but otherwise it's going be Neukircher to show the Alstare colours at the front.

His second race yesterday was very impressive, but Checa's performance was almost Rossi-esque, messing up the start and than pull off some hard overtaking moves.

I also thought Fabrizio's pace was very good. He was already quite good in qualifying but also messed up the start. At some point his lap time was a 1:49.8. Checa's quickest time in the race was 1:49.7 (Ben Spies' pole time in 2007 was 1:49.4).

It was good to see Sofuoglu getting some reasonable results after having such a tough time in his private life.

[BootsOntheSide]

Checa riding well with few mistakes this year - can he keep it up? Max N always had some potential, but has finally converted it into a full season with a good team. Nieto hasn't impressed in recent rounds, while Kaga has been hot and cold for a couple of years now.

[Dani Filth]

a reasonable result for Laconi and kwaka in race2 .. could've been even better in Race1 .. he's probably just overriding

[Knowlesy]

I haven't seen much of the races this year.

What is Biaggi doing?

[Dani Filth]

was in the top 5-6 in race 1 until a mistake dropped him under 15 .. recovered to finish 9th .
2nd race he did a bit better ... 4th place behind the factory ducati of fabrizio

[Knowlesy]

But in championship terms, he's ninth? On a big Duke? Madness!

[Dani Filth]

dropped it a lot in the last few rounds .. a lot