WSBK Phillip Island tests conclude-results

[john]

Get ready for the Ducati Cup again!

Overall results (two days)

• Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1:31.650,
  
• Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 1:31.652
  
• Smrz (CZE-Ducati) 1:31.680
  
• Checa (ESP-Ducati) 1:31.959
  
• Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:32.175
  
• Haga (JPN-Ducati) 1:32.247
  
• Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki Alstare) 1:32.279
  
• Sylvain Guintoli (FRA-Suzuki Alstare) 1:32.869
  

[will]

Did they change the rules to favor the Ducs again, or is Spies just that good?

[john]

I think Spies is that good.

Another member on here (witman) was arguing with a AMA race winning tuner who insisted that Spies was a flash in the pan his first AMA Superbike championship winning year. Looking back, it was pretty funny.

[mookie]

Feb 22, 2010 23:45:01 GMT -5 will said:

Did they change the rules to favor the Ducs again, or is Spies just that good?

I was just reading one of those Brit moto mags where a writer rode on each of the Factory superbikes and compared them all.

In his mind the Yamaha was only better than the Kawasaki and the Suzuki while being much worse than the Duc, the Ape and even the BMW. He said it didn't handle nearly as well as the others and was well down on power too. Said he had much more respect for Ben's riding than ever after sampling the comparatively shitty ride he won on.

[will]

So, it's going to be interesting to see what happens between Spies and Rossi this year. If Spies is challenging Rossi, even though Spies is on a support team, you know Rossi will find a way to get into his head. The problem Rossi may have is there may not be a way to get into Spies' head like he has done to so many others.

It's going to be fun to follow, no matter.

[john]

Feb 23, 2010 20:25:04 GMT -5 will said:

So, it's going to be interesting to see what happens between Spies and Rossi this year. If Spies is challenging Rossi, even though Spies is on a support team, you know Rossi will find a way to get into his head. The problem Rossi may have is there may not be a way to get into Spies' head like he has done to so many others.

It's going to be fun to follow, no matter.

I don't know if Rossi will get into his head. Mladin tried to get into his head and pretty much failed.

That being said, he's learning this year. I don't think he's going to win, unless it's at an American track (probably Laguna).

I hope he does, but I think will learn, get on the big squad and then challenge. Rossi on a Ducati racing Spies and Lorenzo on Yamahas. Not to mention, Stoner on the Ducati.

I think not this season, but next season it is going to be very interesting. New motors, new bikes and a free for all.

[bizarro]

You really think Rossi will move to Ducati eventually?

[baldrick]

I don't think they can afford him, and I don't know that JB would go with him to Ducati. I just don't see it happening, unless there's some huge sponsor deal, and they give a completely stand-alone team setup.

[bizarro]

I think if Rossi leaves Yamaha JB is likely to retire.

[john]

Feb 24, 2010 10:18:57 GMT -5 baldrick said:

I don't think they can afford him, and I don't know that JB would go with him to Ducati. I just don't see it happening, unless there's some huge sponsor deal, and they give a completely stand-alone team setup.

Marlboro sponsors Ducati already, combine that with Italian companies like Sterilgarda, Peroni and others that can be quite nationalistic, and they could put it together.

Plus, everyone talks about how only Stoner can ride the Ducati, I think Rossi would be happy to prove them wrong. 11 Championships on 4 brands sounds nice too.

[bizarro]

It would be awesome, but I really don't think it's likely.

[will]

Sure, it's going to be a learning year for Spies, but so was last year. It didn't turn out so badly. I doubt he will win a championship, but he has an amazing ability to learn tracks almost instantly while riding a bike he hasn't ridden much before. There's no way he should have won SBK last year, but he did anyway. My guess is he's going to be consistently improving over the course of the year, starting mid-pack at the beginning of the season and then challenging to win races toward the end. He's raced on most of the MotoGP tracks now, so he will be learning the bike more than the tracks this season.

No, Rossi won't get into his head. He'll sure try to, and it's going to be fun to see what happens. If Spies does win a championship in the next few years, he'll put up a better defense than anyone lately except Rossi.

[john]

I think his biggest issue will be getting used to the tires in GP. Once he gets that solved, he'll be golden.