WSB Philip Island Australia this sunday :)

[Nick_69]

Cant wait for it. My money is on Rea to win it this year

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Was reading MCN today, I see Toseland has thrown a strop because they cant make the R1 handle, lots of chatter apparently, Crutchlow having the same issues to...

it would seem the R1 is a difficult bike to ride; it just so happens that Spies and Camier are good enough riders to hide that. James Ellison also had troubles with the yamaha.

For all the praise the bike received when it was launched, both as a road bike and as a race bike, it seems that now the hype has died down the R1 is not actually as geat a bike as the media would have had us once beleive.

I think it will be a Ducati benefit this year, hopefully Shakey can win it, if not i would like to see any of the Brits win but i reckon Haga will finally take the title this year

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

it would seem the R1 is a difficult bike to ride; it just so happens that Spies and Camier are good enough riders to hide that. James Ellison also had troubles with the yamaha.

For all the praise the bike received when it was launched, both as a road bike and as a race bike, it seems that now the hype has died down the R1 is not actually as geat a bike as the media would have had us once beleive.

I'd say second in the BSB for Ellison suggests it wasn't really all that difficult compared with the other bikes on the grid, even if he was always a long way of Camier's ultimate pace. It can't be that bad if Ellison was struggling to make it work to its potential and was still able to score more points than everyone bar his team mate. Although it could be a sign of a generally weak field since Camier was lightyears ahead most of the time, I think a fully fit Guintolli would have run Camier closer than any of the others managed to.

Tom Sykes really did struggle, though. I think he's probably a better rider than his season of results showed.

I agree, it seems the bike was over-hyped. Now there seems to be a consensus that the only thing the road bike has going for it over the others is the firing order, and that it isn't really all that necessary anyway.

dare say crutchlow n toes will have it sorted before race day ...mean time lets hope Haslam can stop the Dukes ....its really quite open this year altho Haga is bound to be in the mix - he always is

[Biker Biggles]

Out on a limb here but I reckon Haga is past his peak and wont ever win it.Thats not to say he's no good any more,just that he has had so many knock backs over the years he wont rebound again.He even won it ten years ago only to have points and the title taken away for a bit of puff.He's getting on a bit too.

I know what you mean BB and I been a Haga fan since he joined WSB, but, I think he has atleast 2 more good years. He was shown up a tad by Spies' 50% win record last year, but, as Crutchlow and Toseland are showing, Spies is something else.

I feel Haga is still #1 contender, but, he is closely chased by Rea, Byrne and Haslam.

Bloody dieting drugs that robbed Nori-chan, damn you!

Originally Posted by Cymraeg_Atodeg

I feel Haga is still #1 contender, but, he is closely chased by Rea, Byrne and Haslam.

Byrne's a bit of an outside shot on the Althea, Haslam, and perhaps more so Guintolli, have a good shot on the Suzuki if Neukirchner was anything to go by, there are lots of others, though.

Byrne will do well to be team mate Checa in the points tally, Biaggi will always be up there even if Camier struggles. Neukirchner's now on a Hannspree Honda, and don't forget Fabrizio. Then there's the Yamahas and the BMWs.

Well, checa is continuing his run of testing form in philip island. Haslam was thrid, but hints thre is more to come when he uses a soft tyre.

I'm not a big fan of shakey....

Spoiler





so look away













Haslam on pole

everyone looks so fast; im expecting more from toseland, and cal crutchlow was impressive during qualifying!

1am for the first race, 4:30 am for race 2

I want my bloody bike back so I can go out and play WSBK (albeit very slowly and carefully but with all the same sorts of ducati-esque sounds....i in no way endorse using the road as a race track)