That's why I'm starting to like world SBK: full races... For free on worldsbk.com!

* Last updated by: dragking on 4/1/2012 @ 10:10 PM *

I watched the race live on Speed channel yesterday. Sykes had the pole position and got a great start, and led on his ZX10R for 9 laps. But Checa and his Ducati just stayed close and when it was just right for a pass, he slipped inside Sykes on a turn and that was the end of it.

Actually, I'm surprised Sykes didn't get passed by the BMW that was gaining on him, another few laps and the podium would have been different.

I can't tell if its a bike problem or a rider problem. I'd love to see Checa on the ZX14R, or Rossi, or someone who can really ride.

The commentators kept talking about the tires going away on the ZX10R, whereas the Ducati wasn't having that problem. This is not impossible, Kawasakis have always had tire problems in racing, even when nobody else did.

And where is all this go fast we are supposed to see from the ZX10R in WSB form, fielded by the official Kawasaki Racing Team itself? I watched on the "straights" and the Ducati gained more than once on the ZX10R.

If the ZX10R is so fast, why couldn't Sykes continue to build a lead a few tenths a lap just on holding steady in the turns and gaining in the fast sections?

Bike, or rider?

* Last updated by: privateer on 4/2/2012 @ 6:44 AM *

Bike, or rider?

Rider.

1. Can't be the tires. Are they all spec (on the same tires)? Lets assume.
2. Is it the bike? How much engine (book spec) could they change the rr to and it is now on podium?
3. It says to me, 'Check-out' was champion last year. I saw his drive the year before (determination) in his riding.

You decide.

I can't tell if its a bike problem or a rider problem. I'd love to see Checa on the ZX14R, or Rossi, or someone who can really ride.

bike or rider?

I think it's both. Checa extra torqy engine has a definite advantage but he also has mastered the bike so you can't any other guys on the grip to jump and win on it. They made is bike heavier this year but so far that doesn't bother him.

I watched on the "straights" and the Ducati gained more than once on the ZX10R.

In his prime, did Bubba Stewart swap bikes, win on anything he jumped on? Know as the fastest rider out there? Wins or crashes.

Can we find one rider that took on multi brand contracts and still won with these piles under him?

Bubba is not a roadracer. But he does have a criminal history.

Imola 2012

I thought that James "Bubba" Stewart, (the Tiger Woods of motocross, lol) was African/American.

NINJA ZX-14 MotoVlog

If Gibbs does not give Stewart a shot at a cup car, I see only a fast talented racer.

Hey Dragking, thanks for the link to Imola 2012. We dont have cable etc (by choice). I dont know who the two commentators were ( other than Limies ) but one of them mentioned Croft Autodrome which was the local track in the North East of England where he used to race. That was also my local track for spectating and I watched Ron Haslam race there many a time. Brings back memories of when I was young and stupid. Now I'm old and not quite as stupid !
I never did race on the track but for one week a year I throw caution to the wind and run at Bonneville Salt Flats.
Once again thanks for the link, that was a great race.

* Last updated by: redboot on 4/3/2012 @ 10:06 PM *

Not a problem. I don't have cable (by choice) either. I believe in clean eating and watching/reading lol
I'll make sure to post each race here. They usually have them on worldsbk, youtube, or energy within a couple of days. MotoGP is charging a benjamin for a year pass!!!

Sykes took a rain-shortened win in Italy. He jumped out to a huge lead at the start, and just kept getting farther ahead each lap.

He was urked they stopped the race, even if they did give him the win.

Nice to see the real R bike performing well and doing so in a convincing fashion.

Yep it definitely makes me want to get a zx-10R. I know riders aren't equal etc but in a fast flowing circuit the Beemer seems to have the edge. Has anyone seen this weekend races? If it wasn't for Rea hitting Marco the beemers would have been 1 and 2. They dominated race 1 as well. If it was only one beemer in the top 3 I would say, the rider made the difference but 2 in the top 3... It just like Honda in MotoGP.

I think the germans really improved on the 1st generation, now they need some consistency.

How's you guys italian?

Assen 2012 Race 1

Assen 2012 Race 2

Donington 2012 Race 1

Donington Race2

* Last updated by: dragking on 5/14/2012 @ 1:06 AM *

The only Italian words i know are Ducati, Ferrari and spaghetti.

But was still good to look at,

Looks like BMW are keen to start throwing money at bike racing, especially now Audi has Duc

Money wins a lot of races

Thanks

Well you know the most important lol
I just like the way the bring drama and excitement to something... "derapata aaaaahhhh mama mia!!"

Yeah, they really wanna take over the liter class. Melandri is getting better and better and Haslaam seems to be over his injuries.

Note: The Panigale lost is its comparo against the "BMW Mille RR"

Jonny Rae, they have some fun tracks to ride on.

Was fun watching Sykes again this past weekend. He almost won the championship for Kawasaki, but couldn't hold the lead once again in either race.

As much as Kawasaki has tweaked his ZX10R (tank moved, battery moved, engine moved, radiator moved, etc. etc.) they can't get it to stop shredding tires.

Result: leads to halfway, then steadily loses position.

Discuss?

Sykes won the second race, and lost the title by 1/2 point. Seems like they've got the problem solved in some situations. (track / condition) I always wonder if it's Sykes and not the bike. He pulls a nice gap in the lead in the first half of the race not because he's faster, but because everyone else is trying not to shred their tires too soon.

Oh so he did take second race? He had lost the lead when I turned it off, since I've seen the results many times.

I'm not sure if its Sykes or the ZX10R either, so I guess we have to find out next year.

But one thing is sure, Sykes is sick fast and smooth as silk as long as he trusts his tires. The second they start slipping on him, he loses positions.

Too bad he couldn't ride with Wayne Rainey and John Kacinski back in the 2-stroke GP days, those boys slid all the time, it was a way of life.

I think some modern WSB and MotoGP riders have forgotten, or never learned how, to slide and use it to their advantage.

Sliding the rear? Ask Gary McCoy.

Naw hagrid, I watch the kids today in WSB and MotoGP. They don't slide. Not like Rainey slid at Laguna Seca or at the Holland TT or Japan. Its like the difference between a 1 foot slide and a 20 foot slide through the entire exit of the turn.

The kids on the 2-strokes had to slide, they had no traction control, and there was no way to maintain momentum without either slowing down or sliding. So they slid.

With traction control today, the kids can go WOT and the electronics will pull them off the apex with just a tiny little slide and maybe a tiny little wheelie. If at all.

Nah Gary McCoy slid a lot. Watch the GP race in South Africa.