World SBK Qualifying Results

[Sticky]

The results from Valencia, over here:

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=5&nid=86237

and report here:

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=5&nid=86236

Great to see Chris Vermeulen up there this early in the Ten Kate team. I think Ducati are in for a torrid time from Honda in both WSBK and MotoGP. End of the day, it's going to be great viewing.

Vermeulen in WSB, Colin Edwards in MotoGP. Hell, stick me down for Michael Rutter in BSB too.............. umm, yep, and i'll go for Ben Bostrom for the AMA championship too.

Honda fanboy? Moi? Hell yes! :D

[TazUk]

Good to see Leon Haslam up there in 4th and the prospect of Haga v McCoy:D

[Sticky]

Really good to see Leon Haslam up in 4th. Hodsgon reckoned he could be the "surprise package of the season" in MCN this week.

BBC2 coverage tomorrow, 11:00 for race one, and 16:00 for race two.

Tomorrow!!!

[Fireblade]

Watched the qualifying on Eurosport today... can't wait for the races tomorra! I'm a 4-wheel man meself, but I've soooooooo been looking forward to the Superbikes now that Hodgson + Xeous (sp?) have moved on to MotoGP! It leaves the field more open... although I suspect the (awesome) Ducati 999 will again take some beating... no matter who was/is on it ;)

It's also good t' see a couple o' new teams in the reckoning as well. Zongshen could be a dark horse (given their endurance racing experience), and I seem to remember mention of a private concern in the field too (the name of which I've forgotten already :rolleyes: )? It would be nice to see them giving some of the factory bikes a run for their money too ;)

Yep... could be a(nother) cracking season ahead of us :D

And Formula 1 starts next month as well :woot: :p

[Sticky]

:mad: Rrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggeeeee!!!! :mad:

Unbelieveable. I sit down wi a cup of tea, and a huge pillow to watch the racing.

What do I see? "River City"............ not only one of the worst telly prog's on, but no bikes!

Stomps back upstairs to rig, checks BBC2 schedule online, Superbikes at 11:00.............. until I select Scotland for the region, and what appears at 11:00? "River City"........... :mad:

2nd class........... blah blah blah..............

Right i'm off out on the bike instead, weather is lovely :)

[TazUk]

Both races were pretty cool, specially from a British perspective.

Big shock was Laconi not scoring a single point, where most people were expecting a double win from him :eek:

Toseland did what was expected of him and leads the championship, which is nice :)

Walker on the podium for Foggy Petronas's first cup, hopefully not their last.

Spirited performance, as ever, from Chili. Steve Martin gets a well deserved podium.

Haga shows he's most definitely back :D

So a good day alround, unless your name is Regis Laconi :p

[Fireblade]

I fair enjoyed em both too :D

The track conditions certainly made things 'interesting' (as they always do in any form of motorsport), coz it often boils down to simple tyre choice, rather than rider skills, and gives those riders who might not otherwise have a hope, a chance of being/getting up there wi' the front runners.

But... even tho' that was only the first race of the new season... I'm still slightly concerned at the size of the time gaps between front runners - middle of the pack, and middle of the pack - back of the field!

I like t' see close-fought battles throughout the field, but the differences in speeds/abilites are all too obvious at this early stage, and it might spoil it somewhat as a spectator sport if those time differences don't close up somewhat throughout the season :rolleyes:

Still... I'm already looking forward to the next one! Phillip Island is one of my favourite overseas)tracks - Laguna Seca being my all-time favourite :D

[Sticky]

Hopefully Grandstand will get their act in order for the next round, too.

I was not at all impressed on Sunday with the coverage on BBC2 (ahhh, the joys of council telly :rolleyes: )

My tip for the top, Chris Vermeulen, well his start in the second race was tremendous, dumped the clutch, lifted the front wheel, thought better of it, and dropped back about 10 places as a result. Top ride to get back up there, though :).

Chris Walker, met him last year at the Scottish bike show. Top bloke all round, and a great ride in race 1, (if I only got to see it live, BBC2!!!!!)

[Sticky]

.... stick me down for Michael Rutter in BSB too..............

Well, that's me one one down for certain, although must be said a great season for Michael on the first run out for the Fireblade (.... Edwards and Bostrom look like they won't quite nail it for me either - still maintain Vermeulen for the WSB title though!)

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=18&nid=99747

Well done John Reynolds :)

[TazUk]

...still maintain Vermeulen for the WSB title though!

He's in with a good chance after all Ten Kate aren't used to coming second ;)