The Racing Thread - THIS THREAD CONTAINS RESULT INFO

Basket it's all about handling and drive out of the corners. The GSX,R1 and Fireblade have power to burn over the Ducati, but they can't lay it down as quickly as Troy can.

Felt sorry of Colin but was surprised he was even able to ride the bike after it went down.

TB, well what can you say, he's happy as a pig in the proverbial.

Name a worse title defence, ok, how about JT's last year?

Originally Posted by The Basket

About WSB...Bayliss is really dominating but look closer.

The Ducati is one of the slower bikes in the speed traps and Bayliss' team mate Lanzi? Should be doing better than that.

Barros did well.

Bayliss is an outstanding rider. The 999 is better suited to some tracks than others, hence why some races it looks close, and on others he just leaves everybody to fight for the other podium spots.

I still think JT is in great form, he's riding better for Ten kata than he ever did for Ducati. The Honda is not as fast as the GSXR either....

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jelster wrote:

he's riding better for Ten kata than he ever did for Ducati

Based on the fact he rode the Ducati to the championship I find that difficult to accept? Don't tell me it was just the bike that won it?

2 years ago he had the best bike but had to work hard because he wasn't fully supported by the team manager. This year he has a "competative" bike at best, he's just riding better.

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Sorry Steve but your argument is flawed. Yes he was taken on board by Ducati just to make up the numbers in the first year, but blow me he went and won the championship! Much to the chagrin of the team manager who obviously had winning aspirations for his home boy.

His second year with Ducati was very shabby indeed from the team's point of view. Toseland did not help himself with some of his pre season antics though.

But to suggest he is now riding better than when he won the title is barmy to my mind. He is riding extremely well, but better? Remember Vermuellen pushed Corser very close last year on the Blade and so for you to suggest that he is riding an inferior machine does not hold much water either tbh.

Talking about BHP and engine config is forgetting what a brilliant rider Troy Bayliss is.

He had a good first year in motogp on the Ducati but it went sour after that. A shame as I thought he would do so much better.

The package of bike and rider is obviously working well.

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

But to suggest he is now riding better than when he won the title is barmy to my mind. He is riding extremely well, but better? Remember Vermuellen pushed Corser very close last year on the Blade and so for you to suggest that he is riding an inferior machine does not hold much water either tbh.

In his 2nd year, even though world champion, he got a raw deal with Ducati (almost as if he was told "how dare you beat our number 1 rider"). By your own admission feel that his performances were not good in his last year with the Duke.

The year he won it the bike was the best in the field. Last year Ducati got complacient and Suzuki showed them the way. This year Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Ducati are all pretty close, with the Ducati and Suzuki edging it (IMO).

However, this year JT has looked more determined and more mature in his racing. Just look at how he's come from the back after a problem and how he's kept up with the front runners. In 2004 he won the Championship with just 1 pole position and (I think) just 5 race wins when the competion was not as good.

This year we have a number of GP stars back in the series and I honestly think he is riding much better than he was previously. Mind you, he's now got a silky Fireblade

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Jelster wrote:

he's now got a stinky Fireblade

We all have our crosses to bare! :P

I want to know what Edwards has been eating for breakfast.

I also want Toseland's traction control on my bike. Now.