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Post by charleselan on May 21, 2021 15:40:30 GMT
This weekend sees the first round of the 2021 championship at Aragon and it shaping up to be a great year with far more teams being really competitive. As well as the all conquering Kawasaki team we have the Ducati's continuing on from last year. Yamaha have moved on from last year and have what appears to be a great package with two teams in the mix and BMW could well be right in the action with the new 1000RR.
I am sure that Honda will continue to make big inroads with the new Fireblade and make full use of its phenomenal top speed advantage.
The action starts tomorrow (Saturday) and should be fantastic.
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Post by chrisb on May 22, 2021 14:45:41 GMT
Well, Johnny Rea has certainly laid the glove down to everyone else on the grid, an exceptional race win, marking his 100th victory, that is certainly very special, does it put him up with other centurions? aka Rossi and Ago? Aragon is a spectacular circuit and one that seems to inspire competitiveness which each class seemed to revel in, my attention was held by WSB, with the Ducati's seemingly flattering to deceive one wonders what can they change for tomorrow's two races [Sunday] and Yamaha looked good, with a 3rd and 6th, with Turkey and America respectfully - Honda a bit mm yea, although Bautista was going well at one stage and the BMW not being up there, but not that far off either. yet the day was with Kawasaki and a great race by Johnny and a good fight by Alex who was mighty to begin with only to slip back and then have a great fight with Toprak who was quite - shall we say assertive when overtaking' -
really looking forward to tomorrow's races
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Post by charleselan on May 22, 2021 15:28:15 GMT
Yes, a great win by John Rea but one has to say how strong the Kawasaki's looked even though they have moaned all weekend about the rev limit imposed upon them for this year.
I really thought that Ducati would have been better than this, quite a poor show really but at least Chaz made a point with a very good ride on what is a non factory bike.
Gerloff was impressive early on but faded in the second half of the race probably as a result of tyre choice.
I hope that tomorrow will bring about a more exciting two races and that Ducati will up their game otherwise WSB is beginning to resemble F1.
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Post by chrisb on May 23, 2021 8:03:35 GMT
Warm up was wet, and a good show by Alex, I haven't seen it but all accounts suggest Scott who was second looked very impressive, but then he always does, if it is still wet then this afternoon's racing could be interesting otherwise as you say John here we go again,
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Post by charleselan on May 23, 2021 17:41:16 GMT
Could have bee a very disappointing day but something salvaged by a great tyre choice during the final race of the Superbikes at Aragon. Great gamble by Scott that paid off superbly with a beautiful victory after a pretty disastrous weekend for him and Ducati.
Interesting to read that Chaz has mentioned that he feels Ducati have not done enough over the winter, the emphasis being put on the MotoGP machines, think he has something there and it needs sorting.
The second WSS race was stunning in difficult conditions and what does Jules Cluzel have to do, his luck is truly shocking. yesterday he was "T" Boned from the lead in a mirror image of the accident that badly smashed his already damaged leg last year, fortunately without further injury. He was on pole for the second race only to be sent to the back of the grid for a tyre pressure irregularity. A stunning ride through the pack into the lead which was an amazing feat, he eventually dropped back to third after deciding on caution in the very damp conditions.
Estoril next weekend.
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Post by chrisb on May 24, 2021 10:08:13 GMT
Motorbike racing seems so dependant on tyres these days? Gutted for Scott in the 2nd race but what wonderful choices he made in the 3rd race, he really was the master in that race, rode carefully and with intelligence at the beginning =- then when the circuit is dry enough went for it and that was that, hopefully the 1st of many this year Scott, however, Ducati were not at the races generally, also what was good to see was some new faces or some from other series, like Jonas Folger -
Kawasaki, class of the field, lots of work put into this year's model, Johnny trying to stamp early authority, Alex very good and clever
Ducati, if what we read is true I fear for the Italians this year, if, Ducati are going to have 8 bikes on the MotoGP next year will they have enough resources to be as competitive with anyone else?
Yamaha, looked very good
Honda - didn't look so good
BMW - looked extremely good
Lots of independents with chances of points , going to be a cracker - what do you think JC?
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Post by charleselan on May 24, 2021 17:10:56 GMT
A great depth in the field now and interestingly Tito Rabat commented that the level of riding in WSB is very high. I have little doubt that had he been in a decent MotoGP factory team with the kind of support he gets from Kawasaki in WSB Johnny Rea would have been a MotoGP World Champion. As a rider he is more complete than any currently in MotoGP, he just has all of the tools.
I was also pleased to see Jonus Folger doing well Chris, he is a very good rider but health issues have hampered his career, hopefully that is all behind him now and he ca build a sound WSB career.
The BMW's were a revelation in race three and they have huge potential but have been held back by the rules restricting testing, something that Kawasaki made full use of when it was uninhibited. In many ways I think that testing restrictions are detrimental to all motor sport classes and lead to the current long periods of one make dominance.
Honda do not look so good this year which is hard to fathom as the bike has massive potential. Maybe they have the wrong riders on the bikes, from my perspective someone like Chaz Davies would have beeb a far better option than the two on the bikes now. Leon Haslam is a good little rider with vast experience but he should have stayed in BSB as his time in WSB is over; Bautista is always a crash waiting to happen and lacks consistency.
I like the look of Gerlof he is quick and ambitious, maybe a bit too much at times but he will calm down and be a major factor as the years go by.
Scott's ride in race three was outstanding, some might say that he was on slicks and the others not, but it was a gamble and to ride those early damp laps at the speed he did on slicks was a display of top class talent which showed restraint and skill. That salvaged something for Ducati which to be honest they did not deserve after an abysmal weekend. They need to put more effort into the WSB team if they are to challenge Kawasaki, and Chaz has said as much.
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Post by chrisb on May 25, 2021 7:13:19 GMT
John, I remember asking Mat O why Jonathon wasn't in MGP and he did respond - basically why should he go there, he is well paid - only has 12/3 races a year and its a comfortable life, I think the other point was that no factory teams came calling, which is a travesty given who some of the riders have been historically involved in factory teams, I have no doubt he would have been a champion - he certainly has everything - intelligence, speed and ruthlessness/ determination and it is a shame that he cannot get any 'wildcards' because of Kawasaki etc, as that would be interesting to watch - i mean when he was on the Honda I certainly think he proved many a point when he did so, and certainly would have done very well if that had continued- as I believe Scott would / could have - again he has the speed and the intelligence as he showed in race 3 demonstrates the intelligence. I certainly think a wild-card for Scott on one of the latest Ducati's at the British GP would be great for everyone concerned and he would stand a great chance of winning- which would be a hoot
Yes it was good to see Tito and Jonus, I always rated the pair of them very highly, and either would be good on the Honda, as would have been Chaz, I like Leon but he isn't in the 1st flush of youth and the BSB would be a much better bet for him, Alvaro always seems to go well when contracts are being negotiated, he can be very fast and I do think he suits the Honda provided they had another team-mate who was more at the front and consistent, in saying that they are probably going to prove us wrong.
Gerlof was quick, but that attempted overtake on Johnny was not clever, glad he finished and is looking good for the year,
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Post by charleselan on May 25, 2021 18:52:57 GMT
As much as I would like Scott to go back to MotoGP and be a success, I would prefer him to be a multiple WSB champion as I feel he would get shafted once again if he did go to GP. There it is all about Spanish or Italian talent, it is all geared for that to happen and you just have to see the young riders being bred to progress into the premiere category. Yes we have two top line French guys along with Aussie Jack Miller upsetting the apple cart a bit right now which is excellent, but to get a top line British rider into the series is a big ask even one as talented as Scott. The other thing is rider size and the big lads have no chance in MotoGP due to the regs that favour the little chaps. Maybe if the rules were changed and the bikes became bigger and heavier physically then it would make a difference, or just bring back the 500cc two strokes  . |
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Post by chrisb on May 26, 2021 16:49:11 GMT
Unfortunately I would have to agree JC, it is just it would be great to see a potential British champion in the MotoGP, I am not sure I can see Dixon or Sam in MotoGP and John needs to be in Moto2,
I did message Mat O about the leap from 250cc singles to 765cc triples seems a big leap, and wouldn't something like a 400 or 500cc intermediary class be helpful?
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Post by charleselan on May 26, 2021 18:58:54 GMT
Unfortunately I would have to agree JC, it is just it would be great to see a potential British champion in the MotoGP, I am not sure I can see Dixon or Sam in MotoGP and John needs to be in Moto2, I did message Mat O about the leap from 250cc singles to 765cc triples seems a big leap, and wouldn't something like a 400 or 500cc intermediary class be helpful? Maybe the time has come for three classes Chris, it would give more riders an option and make for a better transition through the ranks or allow a return to smaller bike specialists as in days past. How about 400 or 500cc twins in between the 250 singles to 765 triples. I think Sam Lowes is too old now to return to MotoGP and isn't really at the level anyway, so should concentrate on the triples or join his twin in WSB. Jake Dixon is someone I had high hopes of but his injury has knocked the stuffing out of his season and he seems all at sea with the bike as well after such promise last year. The lad is quick and when fully fit does not lack confidence, but whether he would cut it in MotoGP is another matter. |
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Post by chrisb on May 30, 2021 6:34:52 GMT
wow what a race! well done Scott - rode brilliantly on a tyre you were unsure of, Torpak and Johnny had a real scrap and it was a great race
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Post by René on May 30, 2021 11:09:26 GMT
JC, that nephew of yours knows how to ride a bike! Congrats! 
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Post by charleselan on May 30, 2021 12:00:01 GMT
JC, that nephew of yours knows how to ride a bike! Congrats!
Many thanks René, but not my nephew but my cousin . A brilliant ride yesterday and made a tyre work and last for him that he had little confidence in the past. Only third this morning in the short sprint race but the temperatures were much lower so hopefully he can repeat yesterday this afternoon in Race Two. |
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Post by René on May 30, 2021 15:46:17 GMT
JC, that nephew of yours knows how to ride a bike! Congrats! Many thanks René, but not my nephew but my cousin . Ah yes, a subtle difference. In Dutch they're the same, both called 'neef' (or 'nicht' for a girl/woman). |
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