British Superbikes 2018

justracing · 30 Mar 2018, 12:16 (Ref:3811914)

Kicks off this weekend, all races live on Eurosport, surely one of the best 2 wheel competitions in the world. Fast, competitive and for the most somewhat unpredictable, what's not to like? Over the last 10 years or so I have become a real convert with so many dull and boring 4 wheel series turning into a snooze fest, bring it on Shakey/Brookes/Haslam et al.

GORDON STREETER · 30 Mar 2018, 16:51 (Ref:3811971)

Agreed justracing, you only have to look at the crowds at BSB meetings to see what a pull it has, it would be interesting to see the gate figures compared to the BTCC .
I used to go to most of the local bike race meetings back in the 60/70s at Brands and Crystal Palace when you had a job to get a decent vantage point !

justracing · 30 Mar 2018, 18:13 (Ref:3811984)

I stiil attend most BSBK rounds at Brands since I have a season ticket every year and it's still a scrum on race day but thinking back to when Brands used to host the WSBK as well, I remember parking up and walking round to South Bank around 7am on race day to find most of the decent vantage points had already gone. I think it was 2000 when Bayliss/Edwards/Corsa/Haga etc were racing and by 9am there wasn't a blade of grass to be seen anywhere. The crowd was in excess of 100,000 I think and it took me 2 hours to get out of the car park and back on the A20. A few years later when Toseland did the double I think the attendance was much the same and even the current BSBK rounds in particular the final, always attract massive knowledgeable crowds, a far cry from most of the club meetings I usually attend.

GORDON STREETER · 31 Mar 2018, 09:23 (Ref:3812080)

I also watched the Aussie Superbikes and it was amazing to see Troy Bayliss out of retirement at 48 almost win !!!

E.B · 31 Mar 2018, 10:53 (Ref:3812097)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I also watched the Aussie Superbikes and it was amazing to see Troy Bayliss out of retirement at 48 almost win !!!

Yep, for all the world titles he has won, he never won the Aussie Superbike title, best finish was runner up and a third, so he has made his comeback in an attempt to tick that missing box.
Also his son Ollie is doing ok in the supporting Aus Supersports 300 class. Last year at age 14 Ollie came 4th in the title and is leading this years title race after the opening two rounds.

justracing · 31 Mar 2018, 15:14 (Ref:3812133)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I also watched the Aussie Superbikes and it was amazing to see Troy Bayliss out of retirement at 48 almost win !!!

Just caught up with Bayliss at Philip Island, first 2 races he was right up there as well. Living legend on a Ducati, now we know where Marquez learnt his trade of rear wheel slide!

cg7aa · 12 Apr 2018, 20:04 (Ref:3815083)

Not a word about the Donington opening races? Anyway, it was great to see a new face do a brilliant double! Dominating performance. This season could be very interesting indeed.

On a different note, does anybody what Guintoli is up to this season?

justracing · 13 Apr 2018, 08:00 (Ref:3815156)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cg7aa

Anyway, it was great to see a new face do a brilliant double! Dominating performance.

Absolutely agree, Bradley Ray does the double on a Suzuki! What odds could you have got on that one? Peculiar first race for Leon Haslam with no real explanation as to his lack of pace and Shakey's wheelie didn't do too much for his race start but as you say the series has all the ingredients for one of the best years racing yet.
Sadly, I can't make the Brands meeting this weekend but for sure I'll watch the tv coverage avidly. Fantastic race series as always. Mind you after the shenanigans of last weekends Moto GP it will be hard act to follow!

cg7aa · 14 Apr 2018, 20:34 (Ref:3815494)

Quote:

Originally Posted by justracing

...Peculiar first race for Leon Haslam with no real explanation as to his lack of pace and Shakey's wheelie didn't do too much for his race start but as you say the ...

By some accounts, Leon was having problems with his tyres and was, shall we say, extremely unimpressed with the tyres the tyre maker had supplied him.
Rogue tyres are still ending up in the batches supplied (apparently) and if you're issued with those, you're pretty much screwed.

chunder · 15 Apr 2018, 12:59 (Ref:3815730)

The issue is that the 2018 tyres are not the same it appears as the 2017, despite assurances they are.

They haven't tested on them and it will likely mean a lot of work to get the bike to work on them

Yet another stupid decision from Pirelli who routinely do things like this in their racing.

Taken on too much I think.

justracing · 17 Apr 2018, 18:27 (Ref:3816230)

Great to see Leon get that win in the 2nd race in really treacherous conditions at Brands.

cg7aa · 15 May 2018, 20:10 (Ref:3822687)

Quote:

Originally Posted by justracing

Great to see Leon get that win in the 2nd race in really treacherous conditions at Brands.

And a double at Oulton Park. I hope Bradley Ray can still mount a challenge. What on earth brought Kiyo back to the BSB?

GORDON STREETER · 19 May 2018, 10:22 (Ref:3823361)

Shane Bryne injured at Snetterton in practice !
https://www.crash.net/bsb/news/89628...etterton-crash

justracing · 19 May 2018, 21:21 (Ref:3823438)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Shane Bryne injured at Snetterton in practice !
https://www.crash.net/bsb/news/89628...etterton-crash

That's disastrous, I do hope he takes his time to recover fully before riding again, he's not getting any younger. Talking of which Troy Bayliss had a tumble in the Aussie SBK's and although he wasn't visibly injured I do wonder if he's having second thoughts about his comeback to try and win the only title which eluded him.

GORDON STREETER · 19 Jun 2018, 09:53 (Ref:3831841)

This is Shane Bryne at the moment !

Click image for larger version

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justracing · 20 Jun 2018, 08:35 (Ref:3832043)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

This is Shane Bryne at the moment !Attachment 51445

I don't know how he's managing to keep a smile on his face, these guys are made of some pretty strong stuff! I hope for his sake he quits riding.

snailpace85 · 21 Jun 2018, 09:40 (Ref:3832294)

Quote:

Originally Posted by justracing

I don't know how he's managing to keep a smile on his face, these guys are made of some pretty strong stuff! I hope for his sake he quits riding.

As racers I think we all know the problem - it's like an addictive drug! Worse than heroin. The things that the Dunlop family have been through and the Haslams and many others - but they still keep going. I think the most remarkable effort at keeping racing has been Ian Hutchinson. I couldn't believe how determined was his recovery from his Silverstone accident and he was winning TTs again until he broke his leg again....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/44083363

Utterly remarkable.

Having said that, we all know that we'll have to quit some time. That's not stopping me from celebrating my 65th birthday by doing a trackday at Snetterton on Tuesday though! I'm a whimp - cars not bikes but did consider bikes many years ago.

Scott

cg7aa · 1 Jul 2018, 22:05 (Ref:3834219)

Quote:

Originally Posted by justracing

I don't know how he's managing to keep a smile on his face, these guys are made of some pretty strong stuff! I hope for his sake he quits riding.

They are made of something else! The first I saw of him post-accident was him in the Eurosport studios for the Laguna Seca world superbike races. I couldn't believe my eyes!

cg7aa · 1 Jul 2018, 22:10 (Ref:3834221)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cg7aa

... I hope Bradley Ray can still mount a challenge...

It's beginning to unravel a little bit for Bradley, two DNFs at Snetterton.

Formo · 8 Oct 2018, 12:32 (Ref:3855415)

It's the showdown this weekend.

a 61 point advantage surely means that Leon will be heading to WSB as the champion if he just stays on his bike for all three races.

steve_r · 8 Oct 2018, 12:33 (Ref:3855416)

Yes, the title is Leon's to win. What could possibly go wrong...

chunder · 8 Oct 2018, 13:17 (Ref:3855423)

Something, we can all hope lol!

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