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Post by Carl on May 29, 2019 17:16:31 GMT
That was a great weekend for the Redding family  . Three brilliant wins by Scott at Donington, and boy did that lad enjoy himself. He mentioned after race win number two that he is now beginning to feel like he did when back on the Moto2 bikes and using a similar riding technique; wide sweeping turns with his leg dangle to pull the bike in (that is his quote). I haven't seen him so happy in years, this is the best move he could have made, and seems like a no brainer now. Impressive to take all three heats/races! Congratulations! A question to all RRT members: Do you think Formula 1 and MotoGP would become better (more watchable / exiting) if the format was changed, from one long race to, say, two shorter heats/races, similarly to the BSB ? The one-race format of Grand Prix's - implying an "endurance-aspect" - is an old tradition, but I don't think the one-race format is what defines a Grand Prix. In motocross, for example, the rounds counting to the World Championship are also called Grand Prix's, but they are (and have always been) split up into two heats/races/motos. The heat race format is familiar, as the excellent (although not profitable) Questor Grand Prix at Ontario Motor Speedway and the very first Long Beach Grand Prix, a Formula 5000 event, both had two heat races and an aggregate winner. Having two shorter races can indeed be better for everyone concerned. |
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Post by charleselan on May 29, 2019 17:32:12 GMT
what great racing, tight so competitive and fair, seeing now 3 ex-MotoGP racers there now, is this saying something? but Scott was magnificent, its not just getting his mojo back that is brilliant but his thought process, apparently he was already asking Shakey about the next meet at Brands, i was scheduled to go to Donington yesterday but high winds and torrential rain put paid to that idea, maybe next time... the supporting races were great too and Steve Day turned up as the commentator for the young talent race, but quite a subdued Mr Day and he seems to be calming down and I don't recollect one mention of Marquez, but Jack and James are just the best commentators going, really witty and knowledgeable with tempered enthusiasm, I do like Niall McKenzie as a co-commentator and would like to hear more of him- sad to hear Gino Rea commentating and not racing, what I am puzzled by is how people like Tarran and Scott Dixon are winners in every category they have been in but struggle on Moto2 bikes, why is that? Chris, I have just read that Danny Kent will be riding an ex-Leon Camier MV Augusta from the Snetterton round onwards. It appears that his planned ride for this season fell through, no doubt the Halsall Suzuki he rode at Brands Hatch tail end of 2018. JC |
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Post by chrisb on May 30, 2019 22:01:31 GMT
Mikael, what an interesting thought, as JC mentions a great many non-championship F1 races were made up of heats, my second ever F1 race was the 1965 race of Champions at Brands with the late great Mike Spence winning, I think for me - it's as if we cannot get enough of the excitement of BSB but quite frankly even one race is at times too much in F1, but in saying that I quite like the idea of heats and a final, but only if they can overtake, interesting,
Ah, saw that Danny was going to announce something but didn't know what it was, well, that might be interesting, hope he goes well, I do think he deserves more than he is currently getting,
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Post by chrisb on Jun 15, 2019 6:13:05 GMT
Brands hear we come! sadly not in person as a trip to the Emerald Isle beckons, but looking forward to some great racing at Brands and with Scott up there in 3rd and 2nd in the two practice sessions I am really looking forward to this! along with MotoGP at Spain and Le Mans, this could be a bit overwhelming, shame it is supposed to be raining most of the weekend, means I will just have to stay in and watch this veritable feast of motor sport, not forgetting of course that there is also a rally on in Italy,
seems Danny Kent is to race in BSB as from Snetterton onwards on the MV, this should and will be great - good luck Danny
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Post by chrisb on Jun 16, 2019 20:42:48 GMT
a very wet 1st race and a very interesting 2nd race, well done to Josh - hopefully Taz will be raring to go at Knockhill and I do wonder what Scott will make of this wonderful idiosyncratic circuit
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Post by charleselan on Jul 2, 2019 15:50:17 GMT
Last weekend BSB visited the wonderful nation of Scotland and the quaint little circuit at Knockhill with its undulations and tricky corners. The weather was pretty sour compared with the conditions we were experiencing on the nearby continent, it came as a real shock to see race one being run in damp conditions let alone Saturdays qualifying getting seriously delayed due to heavy rain and violent thunderstorms. We here in France were seeing temperatures reach mid to high 30 degrees C, which were a stark contrast.
Many had predicted that Scott Redding would find Knockhill to be a real challenge as it was nothing like anything he had raced upon previously. However when his team boss Paul Bird was interviewed at the end of the last round at Brands Hatch he stated that Scott had already been around the track and actually liked it and what it had to offer. So little surprise that on his second lap out in practice he was right on the pace.
As a result of the delayed and very wet qualifying all of the Ducati Panagalé V4's were well down the grid, Scott included. In race one Scott rode superbly to carve through the field in wet/dry conditions ( most on slicks as there was a dry line, but off line it was very slippery) to a brilliant second place behind the excellent and now much more mature Danny Buchan.
In race two Scott traded places with Danny for the lead until the latter lost the front and crashed, leaving Scott two win a superb debut win at this unique little track. After the race his Italian factory Ducati technician repeated Paul Bird's earlier remark that Scott is a "quality act", and added that he is like a young child in that he absorbs information in huge quantities.
Not the best weather conditions for this brilliant series but some great racing none the less.
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Post by chrisb on Jul 3, 2019 21:15:38 GMT
Scott was seriously impressive, but what I am incredibly respectful of is his manner, self-effacing and enjoying himself, none of this preening or how great am I stuff, just real down to earth responses, he really has been very impressive, and next stop Snetterton with that scary corner or three, and the return of another MotoGP champion, Danny Kent, hope it goes really well for him, he does deserve a good break
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Post by René on Jul 4, 2019 15:27:15 GMT
I cannot follow the BSB here but I am very happy to read that Scott is doing so well!  |
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Post by Carl on Jul 5, 2019 4:37:17 GMT
I cannot follow the BSB here but I am very happy to read that Scott is doing so well! The same is true here. Scott's success proves that talent will show itself when given a fair chance, something often haphazard and arbitrary. I won't pay to watch MotoGP or World Superbike and there's almost no mention of British Superbike here. For years American Superbike was greatly successful and nurtured the talents of Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Nicky Hayden and many more. The current state of American motorcycle road racing is moribund and several potential world-class riders have only a backwater series to hone and demonstrate skills. Cameron Beaubier has phenomenal talent and races because he loves it, probably the best reason. www.cyclenews.com/2019/06/article/road-america-motoamerica-results-2019/ |
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Post by chrisb on Jul 5, 2019 6:35:25 GMT
the price of following one's passion is increasing, I had a great deal with Eurosport for a number of years but then they must have realised it and raised the prices, but I figure £7 pcm is a worthwhile investment for BSB, WSB, Squash, tennis, WEC, European saloon cars, athletics, and various others, but it is playing havoc with my suntan so must rethink this,
Carl, Motor Racing sans Americans is a real negative for me, F1 without an American superstar is not truly international in my view, but on the good side Indycars is seeing more and more American drivers doing well, but MotoGP, et al with no truly top riders is just not right, and soon we will have no Brit's no Americans, Germans, Finns etc in the tope echelons of MotoGP or F1, and that is a travesty -
actually that is a question Carl, I wondered how motorcyclists are viewed in America? does it change from state to state or is it a collective view? In England the majority of opinion is that we are either hooligans, hells angels, boy racers or 'people who should grow up and not hang on to our youth' but abiding view is that we are dangerous, where it is actually 99% the other way around, thinking about it may I extend that question to all please? Scotland north of the Clyde are fantastic with bikers, South Wales is also said to be great, Ireland seems much more biker friendly, and I'm told South-West England in good as well, but I do wonder how in each of our respective countries attitudes are towards bikers
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Post by charleselan on Jul 5, 2019 15:48:48 GMT
It is very, very unfortunate that some of you guys cannot get to see coverage of the BSB series as it is truly the best race meeting(s) on the planet. Of course there are many national championships around the globe but none come close to BSB which is more competitive than even WSBK and better rules with regard to electronics and machine parity.
The Eurosport coverage is outstanding but I am entrenched in my ideas and will not pay to view anything, fortunately with the WWW one can more often than not one can get good streams on a computer which allow watching live coverage. BSB also is shown as a highlights package on the independent UK TV channel ITV4 during the week (last evening in fact a Thursday).
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Post by Carl on Jul 5, 2019 16:37:49 GMT
Harley-Davidson defines motorcycle to most people here, and most Harley riders pretend to be outlaws. There are real outlaw biker gangs who live in an imaginary wild west and deal drugs and contract murder. Occasional social media swarms of cafe racers will seize control of roadways to perform stunts. Both are dangerous exceptions to the norm, but the attention they crave and receive affects public opinion more than the majority of riders who simply love the freedom while avoiding stupidity.
When Honda first arrived in the early 1960s, they marketed the Honda 50 to upper-class prep school types in cashmere sweaters rather than leather jackets, and were enormously successful. I still recall the progression from Honda 50 to Honda 90 (essentially scooters) to a small motorcycle powerful enough to take onto freeways, the Honda 125, then the 250 and 350, culminating for me with the wonderful 500-4, one of which I bought and learned to ride fast through canyons, wearing neither cashmere or leather.
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Post by Carl on Jul 6, 2019 3:06:00 GMT
It is very, very unfortunate that some of you guys cannot get to see coverage of the BSB series as it is truly the best race meeting(s) on the planet. Of course there are many national championships around the globe but none come close to BSB which is more competitive than even WSBK and better rules with regard to electronics and machine parity. The Eurosport coverage is outstanding but I am entrenched in my ideas and will not pay to view anything, fortunately with the WWW one can more often than not one can get good streams on a computer which allow watching live coverage. BSB also is shown as a highlights package on the independent UK TV channel ITV4 during the week (last evening in fact a Thursday). John Charles, As an occasional adolescent, my brain is still developing, often to my embarrassment.  Your first sentence reminded me that the British Superbike Series was shown for years on the Velocity Channel and then dropped without explanation a couple of years ago. Of all the motorcycle road race series, it was and must still be, as you say, truly the best.
Recall arrived when the name Shane Byrne wandered to the forecourt of my mind. If I once took for granted the great riders and close competition, having been reminded, both are sorely missed. Shane Byrne, Josh Brookes, Leon Haslam are all familiar names. Riders equally famous in BSB and on the Isle of Man are Peter Hickman and Ian Hutchinson. All have been as familiar as the best riders in American Superbikes, which apparently imploded from mismanagement. I don't watch and would gladly trade the sped-up, edited for fender bending broadcasts of British Touring Cars and Australian Supercars for complete broadcasts of British Superbike. "You don't know what you've got till it's gone..."
- Joni Mitchell
- Sleepyheaded, Carl |
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Post by charleselan on Jul 6, 2019 12:06:33 GMT
It is very, very unfortunate that some of you guys cannot get to see coverage of the BSB series as it is truly the best race meeting(s) on the planet. Of course there are many national championships around the globe but none come close to BSB which is more competitive than even WSBK and better rules with regard to electronics and machine parity. The Eurosport coverage is outstanding but I am entrenched in my ideas and will not pay to view anything, fortunately with the WWW one can more often than not one can get good streams on a computer which allow watching live coverage. BSB also is shown as a highlights package on the independent UK TV channel ITV4 during the week (last evening in fact a Thursday). John Charles, As an occasional adolescent, my brain is still developing, often to my embarrassment. Your first sentence reminded me that the British Superbike Series was shown for years on the Velocity Channel and then dropped without explanation a couple of years ago. Of all the motorcycle road race series, it was and must still be, as you say, truly the best.
Recall arrived when the name Shane Byrne wandered to the forecourt of my mind. If I once took for granted the great riders and close competition, having been reminded, both are sorely missed. Shane Byrne, Josh Brookes, Leon Haslam are all familiar names. Riders equally famous in BSB and on the Isle of Man are Peter Hickman and Ian Hutchinson. All have been as familiar as the best riders in American Superbikes, which apparently imploded from mismanagement. I don't watch and would gladly trade the sped-up, edited for fender bending broadcasts of British Touring Cars and Australian Supercars for complete broadcasts of British Superbike. "You don't know what you've got till it's gone..."
- Joni Mitchell
- Sleepyheaded, Carl Carl, It is very sad that you cannot see British Superbikes in America, made even more so when you are given BTCC & Australian Supercars both of which are shadows of their former incarnations. There is live coverage of BTCC on free to view TV in the UK which i can access here in France, but I haven't watched it for years as I find it terrible. I also used to watch full race re-runs on UK TV back in the past and thought it was a fantastic series, the cars sounded and looked incredible, but now it isn't compelling. The state of Superbikes in the USA is desperate, as is the lack of opportunity in getting an American rider(s) into mainstream world championships. Talking of BSB riders I see that Peter Hickman has been draughty into the factory WSBK BMW team for this weekends round at Donington Park and straight out of the box was 7th fastest in yesterdays practice. Peter has not ridden the bike with full on electronics before so this is a very impressive performance and illustrates the talent within BSB to its fullest. Scott & Josh Brookes were originally going to "wild card" for PBM Ducati at this round but the entry was scratched as the team wished to concentrate on the BSB campaign. I would have loved to see Scott up against Bautista on the factory Panagalé there, would have been interesting. John Charles |
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Post by mikael on Jul 7, 2019 12:41:39 GMT
Harley-Davidson defines motorcycle to most people here, and most Harley riders pretend to be outlaws. There are real outlaw biker gangs who live in an imaginary wild west and deal drugs and contract murder. Occasional social media swarms of cafe racers will seize control of roadways to perform stunts. Both are dangerous exceptions to the norm, but the attention they crave and receive affects public opinion more than the majority of riders who simply love the freedom while avoiding stupidity. When Honda first arrived in the early 1960s, they marketed the Honda 50 to upper-class prep school types in cashmere sweaters rather than leather jackets, and were enormously successful. I still recall the progression from Honda 50 to Honda 90 (essentially scooters) to a small motorcycle powerful enough to take onto freeways, the Honda 125, then the 250 and 350, culminating for me with the wonderful 500-4, one of which I bought and learned to ride fast through canyons, wearing neither cashmere or leather.
As to Japanese motorcycles, it's easy to get the impression that there always were just four manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha), but I recall reading somewhere that at some point (in time) after WWII, there were about 140 of them. Except for the "big four", they all folded ...
Likewise, a large number of car manufacturers have survived only a limited number of years. The (in Japan) most well-known of the now vanished manufacturers is "Prince", which was merged with Nissan in 1966.
(Sorry that this post has absolutely nothing to do with the 2019 BSB season.)
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. Three brilliant wins by Scott at Donington, and boy did that lad enjoy himself. He mentioned after race win number two that he is now beginning to feel like he did when back on the Moto2 bikes and using a similar riding technique; wide sweeping turns with his leg dangle to pull the bike in (that is his quote). I haven't seen him so happy in years, this is the best move he could have made, and seems like a no brainer now.
