WSB and BSB 2020

[charleselan]

Chris, 

That as a bit bizarre of James Whitham to get heated about a comment you made regarding other less useful commentators. I am adamant that they are a disservice to motor sport in general and are complete clots. I cannot abide the high pitched screeching in their voices and the adolescent nonsense they come out with.

JC

[chrisb]

I think he was being very protective, all I was saying was that the other commentator didn't need to be so excitable - the racing is - just report what is happening

in MotoGP the chap who commentates in the Moto2/3 is another excitable younger person who I wonder if his Mother knows he is out, he is quite high pitched but at least he doesn't lose his sense of perspective when talking of Marquez,

[charleselan]

Yes I am aware of that individual also Chris, and to continue the theme they have a similar person doing Formula Two which i have only very briefly watched.

Dare I say this but there is such a thing as being protective or just plain stupid which is surprising in James case. However these guys do tend to stick together, the media is what it is!

[charleselan]

WSBK at Portimao in Portugal this weekend, great new circuit that will host F1 later this year for the first time.

Looks like being a cracking weekend, I hope Scott can carry on with his impressive riding, might be a bit more of a challenge for the Ducati's however.

What a weekend for racing WSBK; MotoGP and F1, not going to be a lot done outside in this heatwave.

[chrisb]

I have cancelled any plans this weekend, not only do we have the above as you say JC but BSB and the cricket as well, although the way England are going I may skip the cricket this time.

Portimao is that a circuit Scott is familiar with? I do think it will be a scorching race and that is a good circuit worth watching - I don't think Johhny saw Bautista as a long term threat last year but I genuinely think he fears Scott and the Ducati, also I wonder if Alex is going to make more of an impression this time

For BSB, i think it will be a lot more open this year and it would be good if Christian Iddon and the sons of Mac do very wellI 

[charleselan]

Goodness me I forgot that there was BSB this weekend as well, bit like a London bus scenario now.

I think I will be concentrating on the bikes this weekend, cannot get worked up about the cars with this infernal MB dominance as it is past a joke now.

I like Christian Iddon and hope he comes good on the Ducati, but Brookes will be very strong in my opinion as he ran Scott hard most of the time last year. Also do not discount Tommy Bridewell, just depends on his confidence from the beginning.

The Honda's could be the dark horse, I expect more from them than the factory team in WSB, and if Glen Irwin can wind his neck in he should be very quick.

[Carl]

I was able to watch Race 2 at Jerez, again most likely because NBCSport has broadcast space available. This was the first time I've been able to concentrate on Scott Redding over race distance and his riding style seems straightforward, no stunts or flourishes, just an abundance of skill.

I was surprised by how many names were also familiar:  Jonathan Rea, Alvaro Bautista, Marco Melandri and several others whose names I've heard here or there.  Curiously, the very fast and only American in WSB, Garrett Gerloff, isn't one.

 

                                Garrett Gerloff

American Superbike is in bad shape with only two consistently fast riders and wealthy dilettantes padding the grid.  Cameron Beaubier clearly doesn't need to beat the best.  He and teammate Jake Gagne are both highly talented, but Beaubier is lazy and disinterested in going to Europe or Japan where wins would be harder.  Hopefully, the glory days will return but right now it's a sad joke. 

[charleselan]

Aug 6, 2020 21:35:22 GMT Carl said:

I was able to watch Race 2 at Jerez, again most likely because NBCSport has broadcast space available. This was the first time I've been able to concentrate on Scott Redding over race distance and his riding style seems straightforward, no stunts or flourishes, just an abundance of skill.

I was surprised by how many names were also familiar:  Jonathan Rea, Alvaro Bautista, Marco Melandri and several others whose names I've heard here or there.  Curiously, the very fast and only American in WSB, Garrett Gerloff, isn't one.

 

                                Garrett Gerloff

American Superbike is in bad shape with only two consistently fast riders and wealthy dilettantes padding the grid.  Cameron Beaubier clearly doesn't need to beat the best.  He and teammate Jake Gagne are both highly talented, but Beaubier is lazy and disinterested in going to Europe or Japan where wins would be harder.  Hopefully, the glory days will return but right now it's a sad joke. 

Carl,

I had not come across Garrett Gerloff before, he did in fact ride very well and I shall be viewing his progress this season with interest. Sad the state that bike racing is in currently, but these things tend to go in cycles where certain nationalities have a high level of presence one minute and then another comes along.

Britain is pretty thin on the ground in MotoGP, but not so in WSB.

JC

[chrisb]

Garrett did well yesterday but it was Joe Roberts who did better today, I do think the world of motor sport is lessened by the lack of American drivers and riders, I suppose as I grew up with the likes of Dan, AJ and then the glorious days of Indycar and MotoGP, of Fast Freddie etc it just feels a bit bereft without their likes. But then so as John says we go around in cycles, the Brits are better represented in F1 than for a few years, we are very poorly represented in MotoGP/2/3 with Cal and Bradders, Sam and Jake and of course John, but we are very represented in WSB and I still don't understand why someone as successful as Jonathon isn't in a top MotoGP team, but then why should he bother. The domination of the Spanish and Italian riders isn't healthly but at least the French are fighting back, with Zarco really going very very well, gosh wouldn't it be great if he won tomorrow! Vive Le France

[charleselan]

Two good races in WSB & BSB today, the BSB race being by far the most entertaining with a brilliant one two by the Irwin Bros on the factory Honda's. In WSB Johnny Rae dominated from Toprak but the Ducati's were at sea with very poor front ends and braking. Scott tried hard with what he had underneath him but the bike was pants.

Interesting seeing the systems in place in BSB for Covid 19, seemed to be at a variance with what all the international racing series are doing. Listening to Stuart Higgs talking about what they were doing he appears to be following UK "Government" guide lines. Masks were not worn by everyone because according to Higgs some teams and Marshall groups  were in their own "bubbles"so did not need to wear them! The same appeared to be true of the presentation team who although distanced to a degree were not wearing masks. Also it appears to be the only series conducting grid walks of sorts with James Hayden doing it with mask and clear visor and an assistant with long pole microphone.

Maybe they are keeping James Whitham away from that due to his health issues last year, from which he may still be vulnerable. I did also notice that there were people walking around the spectator areas behind the presentation team (must have been friends/family of competitors) not distanced or wearing face coverings.

Maybe I am being hyper critical her but this pandemic is far from over and seeing this sort of things disturbing.

[charleselan]

Three wins this weekend for Johnny Rae which puts him into the lead of the championship. However Scott's ride into second place in race three was magnificent, damage limitation of the highest level. Good to hear Greg Haines & Julian Ryder doing the commentary on Eurosport, much more like it.

What a disaster with BSB; I could not get a stream all day today so have not seen the races, worst ever performance by the streaming services that I have used for years now. So will have to catch up with highlights packages.

[chrisb]

Johnny was the class of the field, but Scott rescued a pretty tough weekend, so many falling off didn't help, Toprack is looking the best of the Yams, the Honda's will look good in a couple of races time, Alex was disappointing, but what a circuit, MotoGP will have fun there, a really good viewing and competitive weekend, 

but BSB, John I would encourage viewing it, especially the last race, I'll not comment until after you've seen it,

[charleselan]

Aug 9, 2020 17:21:13 GMT chrisb said:

Johnny was the class of the field, but Scott rescued a pretty tough weekend, so many falling off didn't help, Toprack is looking the best of the Yams, the Honda's will look good in a couple of races time, Alex was disappointing, but what a circuit, MotoGP will have fun there, a really good viewing and competitive weekend, 

but BSB, John I would encourage viewing it, especially the last race, I'll not comment until after you've seen it,

I will have to wait for a highlights package Chris sadly. But thank you for keeping up the suspense . I did read a comment elsewhere last night that suggested the younger Irwin was up to his old tricks of taking an opponent out, that wouldn't have been Josh Brookes by any chance?

[chrisb]

funny you say that John

[charleselan]

Aug 10, 2020 16:47:55 GMT chrisb said:

funny you say that John

Chris, I have just seen the incident on YouTube, the mind boggles........

All I had seen previously was the actual race result, and then some comments underneath on Crash where a commenter mentioned Andrew Irwin was up to his tricks. No mention of Josh being involved but I put two & two together after seeing Mr Brookes had retired!!

Andrew came very close to getting chinned by Scott at Cadwell Park last year, an amazing amount of self restraint was shown that day even if he ranted like crazy.

Andrew is a lovely lad actually and very quick, but he suffers all too often from a rush of blood to the head, he could easily have seriously injured Josh yesterday with that move. he claims that he was past him in that move, total balls, he shouldn't even have been making the move at that point.

John Charles

P.S. Thanks for the suspense, it was worth it.