Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

First FP washed out due to the rain. One thing you forgot to mention.

Mahi Racing Team India will be racing in WSBK this year with an Z1000 Evo. First time an Indian team in the pinnacle of production motorcycle racing. Rider being French 44 year old Fabien Foret.

Aprilia's are expected to go slower this year, because of the engine restrictions. Guintoli was impressive last year on the Aprilia, Giugliano was crashing all the time. Fast, but crashes all too often.

Man to beat will be Tom Sykes, though the Suzuki's are looking good this year, but let us see what happens at the power tracks after PI.

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

It took me sometime to recognize Sylvain Guintoli, he looks really different and old now! He had a decent season last year hope he has a better one this year.

And what can I say about the other guy in the pic! I just wonder why on earth has he settled down here just because of that wretched season in Ducati, a guy who consistently challenged the likes of sete and vale in 2005 & 2006. Another victim of non-availability of factory seats and a big victim of the only one which is always available for promising riders

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

^^^ Guintoli better look old, he is the father of five children

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Whoa!!! That's something, but these frenchies i tell you!

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Kenan Sofuoglu sets the pace in the second free practice. With the next guy six tenths of a second behind. Go Mahi Racing!!!!

Good to see that there are 4 manufacturers in the top 5

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

For the part in bold - you mean it's the Z1000 and not the ZX10R? The Z1000 is the naked one, are they using a fairing with that?

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

My Bad ZX 10 R. Am not very good at multi tasking apparently!!!

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Father of 5 Sylvain Guintoli takes pole at season opener Phillip Island on board his Aprilia RSV 4, Davide Guigliano takes second on his Ducati Panigale, while the front row was rounded off by new man on the Aprilia Marco Melandri, with Sykes crashing during Superpole

WSS saw Mahi Racing's Kenan Sofuoglu taking pole, with Michael Van Der Mark a quarter of a second behind him.

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Damn Giugliano took the panigale to 2nd, it wasn't that good last year was it?
Our king of poles Sykes down the order. But Philip Island has been good to aprilia last year as well and this is only the 1st round

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Dont go by the achievements of the Ducati at PI. Last year, Checa took Pole at Philip Island, but the success didn't materialize after that!!!

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Dman, I stood up late last night doing office work and slept just to watch the race at 6AM.

As expected Aprilias were strong, had a smile watching Laverty go through for the win on the Suzuki. Alas Sykes down at 7th in Race1.

I actually slept before getting up for Race 2
Again Aprilia 1st. Happy to see Kawasaki's back on podium, but what's worrying is that Baz out performed Sykes in both races.

But the way Aprilia passes by on the straight is always fascinating
Further down I guess that was Elias on the Red Devils Aprilia passing the Kwaker and Duke on the straight

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Hey can somebody post the results?

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

Sorry for the delay:
Race 1
1. Eugene Laverty IRL Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 22 laps
2. Marco Melandri ITA Aprilia Racing RSV4 +2.959s
3. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Aprilia Racing RSV4 +3.034s
4. Davide Giugliano ITA Ducati SBK 1199R +6.972s
5. Loris Baz FRA Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +11.132s
6. Jonathan Rea GBR Pata Honda CBR1000RR +11.718s
7. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +15.612s
8. Chaz Davies GBR Ducati SBK 1199R +25.724s
9. David Salom ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +37.407s (E)
10. Niccolo Canepa ITA Althea Ducati 1199R +37.468s (E)
11. Glenn Allerton AUS BMW Italia S1000RR +39.271s (E)
12. Fabien Foret FRA MAHI Kawasaki ZX-10R +45.212s (E)
13. Claudio Corti ITA MV Agusta RC Yakhnich F4RR +50.249s
14. Jeremy Guarnoni FRA MRS Kawasaki ZX-10R +1m 17.134s (E)
15. Sheridan Morais RSA IRON BRAIN Kawasaki ZX-10R +1m 23.686s (E)

16. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR +1m 30.651s
17. Aaron Yates USA Team Hero EBR 1190RX +1 lap

Race 2
1. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Aprilia Racing RSV4 15 laps
2. Loris Baz FRA Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +0.283s
3. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +1.103s
4. Davide Giugliano ITA Ducati SBK 1199R +2.052s
5. Jonathan Rea GBR Pata Honda CBR1000RR +4.951s
6. Leon Haslam GBR Pata Honda CBR1000RR +5.673s
7. Chaz Davies GBR Ducati SBK 1199R +9.664s
8. Marco Melandri ITA Aprilia Racing RSV4 +10.574s
9. Toni Elias ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +11.682s
10. David Salom ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +15.065s (E)
11. Niccolo Canepa ITA Althea Ducati 1199R +16.294s (E)
12. Fabien Foret FRA MAHI Kawasaki ZX-10R +16.919s (E)
13. Alex Lowes GBR Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.694s
14. Sheridan Morais RSA IRON BRAIN Kawasaki ZX-10R +27.266s (E)
15. Glenn Allerton AUS BMW Italia S1000RR +27.845s (E)

16. Jeremy Guarnoni FRA MRS Kawasaki ZX-10R +29.431s (E)
17. Alessandro Andreozzi ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.393s (E)
18. Claudio Corti ITA MV Agusta RC Yakhnich F4RR +37.018s
19. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR +54.093s
20. Aaron Yates USA Team Hero EBR 1190RX +1m 13.385s

Courtesy: Crash.Net | F1 & MotoGP | Motorsport News

And look what Giugliano has to say:

“We've shown that, as far as the chassis and my riding is concerned, that we've arrived. We were consistently fast throughout the weekend and this gives us confidence for the next races. The results are very encouraging for me, for the team and for Ducati.”

WSBK Phillip Island: Ducati has arrived, says Giugliano | WSBK News

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

^^^ Thanks man! I would love to see Toni Elias (one of my favourite racers) improving and win races this season. It would have been a good battle between Slyvain and Marco in race1

Re: WSBK 2014 Championship - Update

For those who missed the Philip Island Race -