[mofferman]

Crap...was Picotte still on a H-D? He has to be having some vivid flashbacks right now. A DNF due to mechanical troubles after doing *very* well in the tire tests and qualifying.... Maybe Vance & Hines can still pick-up the Ducati banner which was left in the in-field dirt at Daytona and get us a winner? Ya think?

At least Bayliss pulled the double at Valencia and BBoz came away tied for third with that ignoramus Edwards. Haga was smoking....there may be some truth to the twins having an edge in WSBK (not real evident at Daytona), but then again, maybe it is alllllll RIDER.

 

[DUC748]

I finally saw Race 2 last night so I was allowed to venture into this thread. /images/icons/smile.gif Race 2 was fantastic! I couldn't believe how Bayliss and Haga were going elbow to elbow ducking it out off the starting line! /images/icons/shocked.gif What a start! Half way through the race I resigned myself to seeing Bayliss finish in 3rd (but still on the podium) but man was I excited to see him move back up to his rightful spot out front. /images/icons/smile.gif I have to wonder if Haga and Bostrom were suffering from some tire degradation from battling it out so hard up front and that gave Bayliss (and Edwards) the edge to move up in the placings? This year is going to be interesting between Bayliss, Bostrom, Edwards and Haga. Too bad about Xaus in Race 2, I think he was all alone at the time but trying to make up some ground on Edwards. Great start to the season...I think he's going to do it again this year!

 

[gedwin]

Great pictures!

 

[DUC748]

Here's my new wallpaper.

http://esport.sportbikes.com/wwwthreads/files/20-9476-Bayliss_Valencia.jpg

Here is a quote from Nori...

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

“My feeling for the first race is that it’s very tough. After six laps my tyre starts sliding and while I fight with Bostrom, Troy gets away. I enjoyed the race very much. For the second race we changed some setting and the bike is a little better. The problem is that Troy [Bayliss] is too fast and I can not keep up with him”

<hr></blockquote>


Here is the reason Bayliss was running his spare bike in the second race.

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

Bayliss had a scare when his number one bike developed a fluid leak in the cooling system, and he had to use his spare machine, starting warm up from pitlane.

<hr></blockquote>

 

[desmo_dude]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

there may be some truth to the twins having an edge in WSBK (not real evident at Daytona), but then again, maybe it is alllllll RIDER.

<hr></blockquote>

I think it is all rider, but then Daytona is really an endurance race of I-4 engines (and Honda twins) than anything else, where they obviously thrive. It's a contest of who's engine can stay at full-throttle for 200 miles. 90% of that boring track is straightaway. And what about designing a tire that's stiffer on the left side? Sorry, that sounds too much like NASCRAP to me. No wonder half the AMA's riders are highsiding their way to the hospital every time they race there.

Most of the tracks in WSBK are tight and twisty, where twins rule. Where was the Gixxer at Valencia, one of the most demanding (of racers, not engine top end) tracks in the world? I think it placed 9th in race 1 at best, 30 seconds behind the leader. Race 2 it was nowhere to be found. Honda's RC51 (SP2) is definitely an all-around beast, getting podium finishes at both of these tracks.

Daytona (zzzz...)

Valencia (now we're talking real moto-racing)

 

[wsbk996]

Baylis was awesome, so was Haga and BB, but Haga was on a brand new (to him) bike and BB used up his tires early on. I just can't imagine what the next races will bring. Anybody know why Chili was black flaged?

 

[DUC748]

He jumped the gun on the start. That was sad, I wanted to see him improve on his result from Race 1.