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Post by truenorth on Jan 16, 2019 10:54:40 GMT -8
Jonathan Rea: Anything other than a fifth World Superbike title would be a disappointment #anybodybutkawasaki
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Post by truenorth on Jan 17, 2019 15:45:30 GMT -8
Winter tests: WorldSBK returns to Jerez and Portimao for the first outing of 2019 Thursday, 17 January 2019 Riders and teams prepare for the final two winter tests on European soil ahead of the 2019 season opener. WorldSBK and WorldSSP are ready to return to the asphalt next week for the first time in 2019, for the final two winter test sessions to be held on European soil, before they will head “Down-Under” for the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season opener that will be held in less than a month in Australia. Resuming at the same circuit where the last winter test was held in November eleven WorldSBK teams and eight WorldSSP squads will take to the track around Circuito de Jerez from 23rd-24th January for two days, and some of them will then travel to Portugal for other two days of testing around Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimao from 27th-28th January.Preparing to bring on the battle to reigning four-time World Champion Jonathan Rea and his unbeatable Kawasaki, WorldSBK teams, and riders will be busy with plenty of on-track activities and a lot of work to be done during the overall four days of testing. With five factory supported teams as well as seven strong independent teams, new bikes, new faces, and the return of other illustrious names, the 2019 WorldSBK campaign is expected to be a very tough battle, and riders will be all relying on these final free practice sessions in order to get used to the new updates and come up with some astonishing racing action this year. Jerez and Portimao tests will not be the last chances for riders and teams to get their 2019 bikes fine-tuned for the first round of the season. Before heading into the race weekend, fans will see WorldSBK and WorldSSP having a final two-day official test from 18th-19th February in Australia. A final occasion for all the contenders to make their final changes and updates ahead of the opening round that will be held at Phillip Island from 22nd-24th February.
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Post by Pistola on Jan 17, 2019 17:16:37 GMT -8
The paddock is thin after Kawasaki and Rea.
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Post by truenorth on Jan 18, 2019 12:00:41 GMT -8
Markus Reiterberger and Tom Sykes prepare for their first 2019 winter test Friday, 18 January 2019 BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team duo share thoughts ahead of Jerez Test about their new season aboard the S1000RR of the German manufacturer. With the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season set to kick off in Australia in less than a month, riders and teams are all working to get to their first round of the year ready to perform at their very best. The new season will see a lot of new faces, new bikes, but also the return of illustrious names and manufactures, and new strong matches to keep an eye on. Returning to the championship after four years is the German manufacturer BMW. Partnering with the British Shaun Muir Racing team for 2019, the German giant has a successful past in the class and will now be counting on the strong line up of former 2018 STK1000 Champion Markus Reiterberger and WorldSBK veteran Tom Sykes in bringing their new S1000RR out on the field. Following a bad injury suffered at Misano in WorldSBK in 2016, Reiterberger had to take a long break from racing. After a short comeback with the BMW Althea Team in 2017 he then decided to stop again to fully recover, as he was still suffering from the consequences of the accident. Back at his full strength, in 2018 he returned to the WorldSBK paddock contesting in the FIM STK1000 Championship and after a dominant season that welcomed 4 wins and 6 podiums, Reiterberger was able to secure the title and a seat in the WorldSBK class for the 2019 campaign. The German will be sharing the garage with former 2013 WorldSBK champion Tom Sykes that after nearly 10 years competing on the ZX-10RR of the Kawasaki Racing WorldSBK team, he will now head into the new season with a completely new challenge set ahead of him. After a positive first private winter test held in December at Almeria, the new duo will now head into their first winter test session sharing the track with their competitors at Circuito de Jerez from 23rd-24th January and WorldSBK.com asked a few questions to both the two riders ahead of their first outing of the year. Working not just on their bikes but also in strengthening his body for the new battle, Reiterberger explained how has been keeping himself fit over the winter break: “I am trying to prepare myself for the 2019 season in the best way possible. I am mixing a bit of strength and endurance training, but I am also having a special treatment to the digestive system that Bernd Hiemer (former Supermoto World Champion) had suggested me. I feel fit and prepared as ever before but whether I have achieved my goals or not I would see it in less than a month!”. Speaking on the private tests done so far, both Reiterberger and Sykes shared the same option about: “So far we had just one test with the BMW S1000RR. It was not much more than a first shakedown to see if everything would have worked the way we were expecting. We didn’t have any crash and we took the opportunity to get acquainted with the new environment as well as get to know each other. I am happy with the way things are going” said Reiterberger. “We had our first test just before the Christmas period and I was impressed, even more so that it was everybody’s first time working with each other and that new parts were still arriving during the test. My first impressions of the S1000RR are very good and I’m very much looking forward to my new challenge and releasing the bike’s full potential” added Sykes. Joining the British based squad for their first time in 2019, the new duo shared their opinions about their new surrounding: Reiterberger said: “So far, everything went fine, and I can’t complain! I was lucky to be able to take some of my former crewmembers with me, like my long-term mechanic Wolfgang Kampe, or Werner Daemen, who is my manager and riding coach. I have also known the people from BMW for many years, at least the guys from the motorsports division. New to me are the people from SMR (Shaun Muir Racing), but I get along well with them. They know what they are doing, and everything is coming together”. “It has been a really pleasant introduction into my new environment with BMW. It was clear to see that from when we started talking that everybody involved shares the same goals. The Shaun Muir Racing infrastructure is at a very high level so obviously the partnership between BMW and SMR, the “BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team”, is a very strong one” added Sykes. Being crowned 2018 STK1000 champion aboard the STK1000 version of the S1000RR bike, Reiterberger explained his feelings aboard the 2019 SBK®: “The BMW S1000RR is a completely new bike that you can’t compare with the former stock motorcycle. It has more power, more electronic options, a new chassis and so on. Therefore, I have hardly any advantage over my team-mate. We both begin from zero. Maybe my long-term collaboration with BMW is an advantage, but that’s all about it” said the German, who looks forward to testing at Jerez to get an idea of where they stand after having done their first steps together: “There is always a lot to do after the launch of a new motorcycle, for BMW as much as for any other manufacturer. It is too early to predict how much work lies still ahead of us. The next tests will reveal where we’re currently at. The bike is far from ready, but I’m confident that we can reach a high level quite quickly”. On the other side of the garage, Tom Sykes has positive expectations too from the next test, as he declared to have a clear plan in mind for his final preparation before heading down to Australia for the season opener: “Jerez will be the first time we share the track with our competitors but for me that’s no issue. I have a clear plan of what I want to achieve and obviously it’s working on this very new project in preparation for arriving into Australia as strong as we can be. We actually achieved a lot in the last test so it will be basically working on this same plan”. His teammate Reiterberger is also very confident about their development with the new bike as he states his plans for the 2019 season: “It is difficult to predict my chances for 2019. It all depends on my preparation, and then we will see also what our level is in comparison to the others. My package is good, and I am sure it will allow me to fight for strong results. We haven’t set a specific goal yet. I just hope to get through the season without accidents. I will stay calm and try to improve steadily”. Pairing up with veteran Tom Sykes who first joined the WorldSBK paddock in 2008, the 24-year-old commented his relationship with the Briton after their first test at Almeria: “At the first test, everything was positive! Tom is a nice and friendly guy, with this certain touch of craziness for this sport that I have as well, so we are a good match!” said Reiterberger. “I like how open he is and how straightforward he is too. He is also an incredible talent. He is very meticulous, and I’d like to pick his brain for how he prepares for the new season!”. #anybodybut kawasaki
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Post by truenorth on Jan 31, 2019 17:30:15 GMT -8
2019 WorldSBK Testing Round Up: Panigale A Work In Progress, Rea Dominant, Lowes One To Watch Steve English on Thu, 2019-01-31 07:56
Testing paints a picture but it’s never a complete one. It shows only what the artist wants you to see with their work in progress. The winter is a time to work through your program and do it at your own pace. This year that has been even more the case. With new bikes for Ducati and BMW there is plenty of change in the air of the World Superbike paddock, and after eight days of testing there are arguably more questions than answers.
The Ducati V4R was billed as the weapon to finally end Jonathan Rea’s dominance of WorldSBK. It was a MotoGP-derived bike that didn’t pull punches. It was one that broke cover over 12 months before its competitive debut. It was expected to be a honed creation from the outset. It was expected to be seamless. But instead, Ducati’s introduction of their new machine has run aground this winter.
Circumstances have worked against Ducati. Four days of testing in November were ruined by bad weather in Aragon, and then a bad track surface at Jerez that would need to be replaced. With a brand new surface at Jerez, it was dirty for the opening test of 2019. It took time to clean and it was almost impossible for riders to do long distance stints without excessive tire wear. Coming to Portimao it was hoped that Ducati could get some information on the new bike.
Hampering progress
A freezing wind was blowing in Portugal, and as a result riders were struggling with unseasonably low track temperatures. It was treacherous at times, as shown by so many red flags on Day 1, and with Chaz Davies riding with an injured back, the red bikes were very much on the back foot. Alvaro Bautista gave them something to cheer about with the third fastest time on both days.
The Spaniard set his fastest times on the qualifying tire, but his pace throughout the course of the Portuguese test indicated that there was still plenty of work to do, with the V4R looking to be close to one second a lap slower than Rea.
“Tests are tests and races are races,” said Bautista. “I feel better than Jerez but I’m still not at 100%. I think we’re at about 85% with the bike and me. We need to improve the bike but there’s potential in this bike. I didn’t know Portimao so for sure starting the season at Phillip Island is better for me. Inside the garage and working with the team is the same as in MotoGP but the biggest difference is the tires. I feel worse in cooler conditions than when it is hot but I need to learn and understand how to manage different conditions.”
Banged up is bad for testing
For his teammate Davies, the tests were clearly tough. Sitting out half a day in Jerez didn’t help, and at almost every test he has found his mileage limited by one factor or another. The Welshman has never been a strong tester and admits that it’s something he could improve on, but also knows that when the lights go on race day he has always been able to get the most from his package. The feeling he had on opening the throttle on corner exit with the new Ducati was a problem in Jerez but the team made a step in Portugal. Getting fit is the goal for Australia.
“This was tough because you are jumping all over the bike here in Portimao,” said Davies. “The rear is kicking quite a lot and it felt like I was on a motocross bike at times. It jars up through the back. It is definitely the last thing I need, but now I need to focus on getting ready for Australia. Physio and rest are what I need but obviously we’re just before the start of the season so I’m training and trying not to put too much load on the back.”
With Eugene Laverty and Michael Ruben Rinaldi also on the Ducati, there are enough bikes on the grid to give an indication of its potential. Of all four riders, it was only Bautista that had a headline grabbing lap time. Overall though his pace dropped off, and while he was still comfortably the most competitive Ducati rider the challenge facing them shouldn’t be underestimated. Laverty talked about how “the effort needed to do my lap time was a lot more than the result shows. I’m having problems with the rear, and we need to address that before Australia. Portimao was always going to exaggerate our problems because of the hills, but we need to work hard for Round 1.”
The Irishman will use Bitubo suspension on his GoEleven machine, while Rinaldi will use Showa. With the factory riders using Ohlins, it’s a very strange situation, seeing a brand new motorcycle with so much variety. All three suspension manufacturers can work in WorldSBK - Showa are used by Kawasaki and Davies actually used Bitubo when he won his WorldSSP title - but adding additional variables to the equation seems to be adding more challenges than necessary. Of course, lots of factors go into making these decisions and now it is up to GoEleven and Barni Racing to make their bikes work for their riders.
Bang on schedule
While Ducati are trying to find their feet with their new bikes the updates that Kawasaki and Yamaha brought to the Iberian peninsula have given them a very stable base. Jonathan Rea continues to lead the way, and in every category he dominated in Portugal. His one lap pace, his race pace, and his consistency were a step above everyone else, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from Kawasaki and Rea. They've had the best bike on the grid and it’s only gotten better.
When working with Mick Doohan in 500GP, Jeremy Burgess always said that Honda didn’t need to reinvent the wheel each year; they needed to find 2% improvement. If they could do that they’d stay in front. Kawasaki looks like they’ve found their 2% for 2019, but Portimao was always going to be tough for Ducati, and with the freezing track conditions it skews the numbers still further.
Rea crashed at the end of the test; he was doing a practice start and on the way back to the pits was pitched off the bike in a big highside, but overall it was plain sailing for the four times champion.
“I thought that Portimao would be a better base for comparison compared to Jerez,” said Rea. “I feel good, set good times and I’ve a lot of confidence going to Australia. I’m happy with the bike but we can still improve it because you’re never at 100%. In Portimao I had some issues under braking at Turn 1 but it felt great on the last runs.”
Rea was the only rider to lap inside the 1'40s, and his fastest time was just under one second faster than Alex Lowes. While that qualifying tire lap grabbed the headlines, it was once again his consistency that emphasized how good Rea and the Kawasaki are as a package. He could lap in the 1'42s for fun and his average pace (for this purpose his fastest 15 laps from the test) was giving him a consistent edge. Lowes was Rea’s closest pursuer, but was four tenths of a second adrift but it was the margin to Haslam that will be setting off alarm bells.
Relearning old habits
The British champion is re-adapting to WorldSBK and has had to change his riding style considerably, he is looking to carry less corner speed and exit the corner better, but he was consistently over half a second slower than Rea. Testing is a time to improve yourself and get ready for the start of the campaign and Haslam is a proven WorldSBK race winner and front runner. He’ll be there again this year but it was surprising to see how much he appears to have left to do. Weather played a role in Haslam not showing his full potential in Portimao and he didn’t get to show his pace on the Q tire.
“I was second fastest behind Johnny on race tires,” said Haslam. “I've settled in very well with the team and they’re incredible. I'm learning something new every day and we're making steady progress with the bike. I’m running well on race tires already, but now I have to understand better the softer compounds and the Q-Tyre. There's a lot of work but the direction is right. Portimao is one of my favorite tracks, but there are still two or three corners here where I lose time. It was getting better and better but the time lost by red flags and the rain didn’t help. I have to adapt my style, but doing a 1'42.1 on a race tire gives me confidence.”
Alex Lowes, dark horse
While Haslam is building his confidence, Yamaha are looking very content with this week of testing. Lowes completed more laps than anyone, and at both Jerez and Portimao he was the closest challenger to Rea on the time sheets. Having broken his duck last year and registered a win at Brno last year, he’s used these tests to adjust his style. Looking to brake harder and spend less time in the corner, he’s attempting to make the Yamaha spend less time on the angle in the corner and more time upright. It’s working at the moment, and his form at both tests was something that made people sit up and take notice.
“This was a really good test because I’ve always struggled at Portimao,” said Lowes. “My times were consistently fast and my fastest lap was on the SCX tire, the sprint race tire, because there was a lot of traffic when I was on the Qualifier. I can improve that, but doing a single quick lap wasn’t important to me. I wanted to be able to hold my pace and we did that and we were able to complete our entire test program and we’ve got a good base for the test and the races in Phillip Island. We worked hard this winter and we’ve made no mistakes.”
For Michael van der Mark, this was another solid test, and while the Dutchman didn’t match his teammate’s times, there is little doubt that when the racing starts in Australia that he’ll be right there. After Portimao it was strange to see Marco Melandri struggling so much and the Italian was forlorn at times through the week. He was outpaced by his GRT Yamaha teammate, Sandro Cortese, at the end of the test and the Italian couldn’t match the times of Lowes and Van der Mark. With their top speed lacking and only having one bike, controlling their mileage could have been a factor.
Consistency beats headlines
While Yamaha has a solid platform to build off, the BMW looks to have a lot of potential. To be within a tenth of Haslam on race tires is very encouraging for Tom Sykes. The 2013 world champion didn’t use the qualifying tire for his times and his pace was quite solid and on race tires the Shaun Muir Racing run project seems to be within a second of Rea and Kawasaki. That’s very impressive and shows just how good a base package the BMW S1000RR will be for the team.
“When you look at the times everything depends on who went with which tires,” assessed Sykes. “I didn't use a Q tire. We had so much to do, we preferred to work through our tasks. I'm happy how it went and we’re all working in the same direction. We’ve worked on the electronics, the chassis and the spring elements and improved my seating position. It never stops! Portimao isn’t my favorite track and conditions weren’t ideal but we were very productive.
“The strong wind compounded some of our problems but it’s good to do that because it can be very windy on Phillip Island. We can handle the wind much better now. I am satisfied with our consistency, but it is really difficult to judge who is where because a lot of riders were using new tires on Day 2.”
That, in a nutshell, is why it’s a lottery, or a fool's errand, to read anything into testing times. There are so many variables and so few concrete answers. Testing is preparation but the exams will start on 23rd February in Australia with the first Superpole session of the season. It will only be then that every rider is pushing for a lap time with the same conditions at the same time.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 4, 2019 9:41:58 GMT -8
Cluzel set the fastest lap time at Portimao with a "special" Yamaha Friday, 1 February 2019 GMT94 Yamaha rider had his bike modified to be able to ride with the consequences left from the injury he sustained in Qatar. Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) returned into action during the last pre-season test held at Jerez and Portimao last week, after a long period that saw him forced to sit out from any on-track activity. The Frenchman was still recovering from the left leg injury he sustained at the final round of the 2018 season in Qatar, and which it was the same leg where he fractured tibia and fibula in 2015. Following the dramatic accident on the final lap of the WorldSSP race at Losail Circuit, the Frenchman, who was fighting there for the championship title, had to see his rival Sandro Cortese being crowned 2018 WorldSSP Champion instead. Cluzel had to undergo surgery and face a three-month recovery time before being able to stand on his feet again, and today he keeps suffering from the consequences of this injury. Despite this he was still able to take to the track around Portimao and begin his preparation for the 2019 FIM Supersport World Championship season, that will see him on board the Yamaha YZF 6R of the all-French team GMT94 Yamaha alongside compatriot Corentin Perolari. Riding in this condition, Cluzel had his bike slightly modified and his YZF R6 now features a modified braking system and the rider can change gears using his right foot instead than the left one.Still, Cluzel was able to put in a reassuring performance ahead of the season opener that will take place at Phillip Island in less than a month. The Frenchman set the fastest lap time among the WorldSSP riders who took to the track at the Portuguese race track and impressed by putting in a lap in 1’44.810, closing the two-day test at the top of the timesheets, more than half a second ahead of Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and almost one second ahead of Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). “I still feel some pain in my ankle, but it is quite normal. I went through a serious chirurgical intervention and I will still need some time before I will recover completely” explained Cluzel to WorldSBK.com “I don’t have the same feeling than before, but I will build it up step by step. I spent nearly three months in bed without being able to stand on my feet and my hip were also affected by this. I went through some difficulties at the beginning, but I am getting used to this situation. At Portimao I was gradually feeling better, and this made me relax a bit”. Speaking about the special bike his crew have prepared to let him be able to start his preparation for the new season the French rider said: “In general, I am a rider who gets used to everything. At the beginning, I wasn’t comfortable with it, because I had to change the habits I had been following for years. You need to get your head around this and make it automatic. It was difficult at first, but step by step I have started to feel much better with it”. “Now I can control the rear brake system with my thumb, but for now I am not using it at all” explained the rider. “There are a few things that allow me to change gears with my right foot, but we need to improve the system because right now it’s not that easy for me to use it”. Before hitting to the Portuguese race track, Cluzel took to the track for the first time with the modified Yamaha at Jerez, but it was only at Portimao that he was able to battle with his rivals: “Jerez test went well, but it was more a shakedown test for us” said the 30-year-old rider. “We proceeded step by step and the lap times were good. In Portugal, I immediately felt that my pace was strong even if I had a small crash on the first day. My manager Eric Mahé was there with me, and he helped me a lot. He perfectly knows me and helped the team to understand my needs, so that we were able to improve between the first and second day. On Monday I didn’t really try to make the fastest lap time, so I was really surprised to set the best time in 1’44.8. I was even faster than my qualifying time at Portimao last year, three-tenths of a second quicker than the record. It is quite a positive thing considering that I did that lap with chilly temperatures and in windy conditions”.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 4, 2019 12:01:29 GMT -8
Bautista: "The V4? The leap from the Desmosedici is bigger than you think ": Alvaro:" With this bike you get to the limit and everything is more predictable, but the Superbike has more aggression that is not easy to control "
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Post by truenorth on Feb 4, 2019 12:36:52 GMT -8
What have the Moriwaki-Althea HONDA Racing Team been up to? Friday, 1 February 2019 British media outlet MCN reported rumors about Camier and Kiyonari having tested closed doors in Thailand. Anticipation continues to arise as there are less than three weeks left before the 2019 FIM Superbike World Championship season will officially kick off in Australia this month. And, after the last four days of pre-season testing at Jerez and Portimao where we saw stiff competition, similar paces and determinate riders ready to bring on the fight to reigning World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), there is even more expectation ahead of the first round of the year that will be held at Phillip Island from 22nd – 24th February. Despite the Northern Irishman finishing at the top of the time sheets on both of the two tests many of his rivals also impressed, meaning that this year Rea and Kawasaki will probably have a harder time of it. The factory Kawasaki, Ducati, Yamaha, and BMW teams were all there in Southern Spain and Portugal to confirm the good progress they were able to make over the winter. But there aren’t just four manufacturers, which will be aiming for the title this year. Honda will also be there with a completely new structure directly supported from Japan. The newborn Moriwaki-Althea HONDA Racing Team, which will be backed up by HCR, will count on the strong line up of Leon Camier and Ryuichi Kiyonari for 2019, who are both riders with experience on the Honda CBR1000RR. The British rider will head into his second season with the Japanese machine, while the Japanese riders will return to WorldSBK this year after nearly ten years. For now, we still haven’t got the chance to see them on track, as the team didn’t take part to both the test held in November and the four days of test at Jerez and Portimao. So what have they been doing until now? According to the British media outlet Motorcyclenews.com the Moriwaki-Althea HONDA Racing Team took to the track at the end of January, testing behind closed doors in Asia at the Chang International Circuit, in Thailand, which will host the second round of the season in March. But, after this mysterious shakedown test for Camier and Kiyonari, we won’t need to wait too long to finally see them on track. From 18th-19th February, just before the start of the first race weekend of the year, we will finally be able to see where the Moriwaki-Althea HONDA Racing Team stand during the two-day official pre-season test which will be held at Phillip Island.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 4, 2019 13:36:05 GMT -8
Claudio Domenicali Driving back from Aruba Racing Superbike team launch. It’s an historical moment. The V twin leave the scene to the MotoGp inspired V4R. With 221 HP, the production version, is the most powerful homologated Superbike. All the best Chaz and Alvaro, make Ducatisti proud of you!
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Post by truenorth on Feb 9, 2019 5:42:45 GMT -8
Expectations continue to grow around Álvaro ... Carl Fogarty: "Bautista is the only one who can take the title away from Rea."
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Post by truenorth on Feb 14, 2019 7:43:37 GMT -8
Phillip Island Official Test: last chance to get ready for 2019! Thursday, 14 February 2019 Don’t miss the final pre-season test ahead of the first WorldSBK and WorldSSP battles of the season WorldSBK and WorldSSP teams will have one last chance left to make their final preparations ahead of the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season opener. In fact, from 18th-19th February riders will be taking to the track around Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for two more days of Official pre-season testing, just a few days before the Yamaha Finance Australian Round will take place at the same venue from 22nd-24th February.
The Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK will head Down Under with a lot of confidence after a strong winter period that saw reigning World Champion Jonathan Rea come out on top during both tests held at Jerez and Portimao. Testing some new items introduced on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, the Northern Irishman was pleased with his overall pace and showed off to be ready to defend his crown and hunt down his fifth back-to-back WorldSBK title. Providing reassuring feedbacks to his crew, Rea has also declared to be feeling stronger than ever with his green machine this year. On the other side of the garage, his new teammate Leon Haslam didn’t need a long time to get reacquainted with the WorldSBK machine, as he also had a strong pace over the winter. But the real revelation of the winter period has been Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team). The British rider closed in second position the two-day test held in Portugal and he declared to be ready to fight for the podiums in every race weekend this year. Sharing the garage with Lowes, Michael Van der Mark also has his goal set high for the new season after a promising performance during the winter tests. Making their debut in WorldSBK, the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team also showed off a good potential at the previous off-season tests. Joining the field with 2018 WorldSSP champion Sandro Cortese and veteran Italian star Marco Melandri, the supported Yamaha WorldSBK squad hope to make a further step forward with their YZF R1 at the official test ahead of the season opener. For the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team duo Chaz Davies and Alvaro Bautista, the Official Winter Test at Phillip Island will hold a lot of importance as the two days will be their final chance to fine-tune the all-new Ducati Panigale V4 R ahead of its first-ever WorldSBK race. During the winter tests held at the end of January at Jerez and Portimao, Bautista impressed everyone with his quick familiarization with the WorldSBK machine. Coming from an extensive career in the MotoGP™ paddock, the Spaniard was already third at Portimao after just a few outings with the red machine since he has joined his new team. Taming the new Panigale V4 R too, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) will race at Phillip Island for the first time this year, meaning that on the two days of testing he will also be working to learn the new layout. For Eugene Laverty, who starts his seventh season in WorldSBK this year, time will be precious at Phillip Island as he still looks to find a good base setup for the Ducati V4 R of Team Goeleven. Joining the battle for 2019 are not just the green, blue and red machines. 2019 will also see the return of the German manufacturer BMW. The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team took to the track for the first time with their competitors at Jerez and Portimao, impressing with their quick progression over the four days. Tom Sykes, who made the switch to the team managed by Shaun Muir for 2019, set the sixth fastest lap time at the Portuguese race track, and gave positive feedbacks on his BMW S1000RR. The same happened with Markus Reiterberger, who returns to WorldSBK after becoming 2018 STK1000 Champion. Working next to the BMW engineers at Jerez and Portimao, the German rider looks forward to making other steps forward with his WorldSBK machine during the Official Winter Test at Phillip Island. HRC will also return to WorldSBK this year as they will support the Moriwaki Althea Honda Team in 2019. All eyes will be on them at Phillip Island since we still haven’t seen Leon Camier and Japanese rider Ryuichi Kiyonari take to the track with their Honda CBR1000RR SP2. Rumors say that the team has been testing behind closed door in Thailand, and now at the two-day test in Australia we will finally be able to see where they stand as they will be facing their rivals for the first time. For Honda rider Alessandro Delbianco (Althea MIE Racing Team) this will be the first time riding at Phillip Island since he will make his debut in WorldSBK this year. The 21-year-old will take advantage of the two days to continue his approach with the new category, his new bike, and the new race track. Heading into his second season in WorldSBK, independent Kawasaki rider Toprak Razgatlioglu also impressed during the four days of testing at Jerez and Portimao, and at Phillip Island, the Turkish Puccetti Racing team aim to make a further step forward as they will be receiving here their final 2019 updates for their Kawasaki ZX-10RR. Also, Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Spanish rider Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing) will work hard during the final two days of Official Test to improve the setup of their ZX-10RR ahead of the first round of the 2019 season. WorldSSP teams will be back into action at the Official Test in Australia. At Portimao, Jules Cluzel (GMT 94 Yamaha) set the fastest lap time despite still recovering from the injury he suffered in Qatar last year. The Frenchman closed 0.573 s ahead of Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), who aims to bring the MV Agusta back to victory in 2019. 2018 runner-up Lucas Mahias will ride alongside Japanese rider Hikari Okubo for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team this year. As he aims to claim back the WorldSSP championship title this year, the Frenchman will work hard alongside his crew to be ready for his first round aboard the green machine.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 14, 2019 7:45:22 GMT -8
All you need to know about the Australian Round! Tuesday, 12 February 2019 Catch up with the facts and stats ahead of the 2019 Yamaha Finance Australian Round
1. For the eleventh year in a row, Phillip Island will be the opening round of the season. The Australian race track is where the most season openers in the Championship history have taken place so far, followed by Donington, Valencia, and Losail, at four each.
2. Phillip Island is the circuit with most WorldSBK races run: 55. The first appearance of the Australian race track in the calendar was back in 1990.
3. In the history of the Championship, in 17 seasons out of 31, the winner of the opening race has gone on to win the title at the end of the year. That was not the case for Marco Melandri last year. The Italian took his only two wins of the season in Australia and finished 5th in the standings.
4. Rea starts his 2019 campaign after having led the championship 100 times in total. Now he is on a streak of 20, began in Buriram 2018.
5. Last year Marco Melandri broke a string of 6 consecutive British wins at Phillip Island. The same record for a country goes to Australia with a string of 6 consecutive wins from 2004 Race 2 to 2007 Race 1.
6. Tom Sykes will start his 260th WorldSBK race at Phillip Island when the lights will go off on Saturday 23rd February.
7. Jonathan Rea is on a winning streak of 11 straight races, a record sequence. None of these wins came with the advantage of a pole position start.
8. The fastest ever top speed recorded at Phillip Island is 324.6 kph, set by Max Biaggi on board his Aprilia in 2012.
9. In all the 31 seasons run so far, the eventual champion always finished the opening race in the first five places, with Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea being the only champions to start their winning campaigns with a fifth, in 2013 and last year.
10. Australian riders have won their home race here 23 times out of 55, the last one in 2008 with a double win for Troy Bayliss. Since then, riders from seven different countries have won at Phillip Island.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 17, 2019 10:17:23 GMT -8
World Superbike race direction, stewards reshuffled Haydn Cobb 17 Feb 2019 The World Superbike race direction and FIM Stewards panel has been tweaked ahead of the 2019 season
The World Superbike race direction and FIM Stewards panel has been tweaked ahead of the 2019 season with Tamara Matko appointed FIM WorldSBK Safety Officer and Chairman of race direction.
The changes, announced in a short World Superbike statement, also confirmed Gerry Bryce has been named as FIM WorldSBK’s permanent Steward.
“Race Direction will continue to be primarily responsible for the efficient and safe running of events,” a WorldSBK statement read. “The composition of Superbike Race Direction will be as follows with three members; Tamara Matko Chairman of Race Direction and FIM WorldSBK Officer, Gianfranco Carloia (Race Director) and Stefano Carloia (Dorna WorldSBK representative).
“The Stewards panel will be comprised of three members; Gerry Bryce (FIM WorldSBK Permanent Steward) Tamara Matko (Representative of Race Direction) and one other member, appointed by rotation by the FIM CCR. Gerry Bryce will be responsible for coordinating the Stewards activities, maintaining records and communicating decisions.
“All issues and actions requiring further analysis, including any incidences of dangerous riding, will be reviewed by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards panel, who will exclusively be responsible for issuing sanctions and penalties for those matters. The FIM Stewards panel will also be responsible for hearing appeals and receiving protests.”
The 2019 World Superbike championship gets underway this week at Phillip Island with a two-day pre-season test (February 18-19) followed by the season opener (February 22-24).
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Post by truenorth on Feb 18, 2019 9:44:23 GMT -8
Feb 18, 2019 World Supersport: Randy Krummenacher Leads On Day One Of Testing At Phillip Island Roadracing World David Swarts FIM Supersport World Championship Test Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Australia February 18, 2019 Day One Combined Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Randy Krummenacher, Switzerland (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.820 2. Federico Caricasulo, Italy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.882 3. Jules Cluzel, France (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.198 4. Lucas Mahias, France (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:34.222 5. Raffaele De Rosa, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:34.293 6. Hikari Okubo, Japan (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:34.584 7.Hector Barbera, Spain (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.751 8. Thomas Gradinger, Austria (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.753 9. Corentin Perolari, France (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.850 10. Isaac Vinales, Spain (Yam YZF-R6), 1:35.369 World Superbike: Ducati's Alvaro Bautista Quickest On Day One Of Testing At Phillip Island Day One Combined Results (all on Pirelli tires) 1. Alvaro Bautista, Spain (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:30.743 2. Alex Lowes, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:31.146 3. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:31.189 4. Tom Sykes, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.300 5. Leon Haslam, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:31.399 6. Marco Melandri, Italy (Yam YZF-R1), 1:31.445 7. Michael Van Der Mark, Netherlands (Yam YZF-R1), 1:31.458 8. Sandro Cortese, Germany (Yam YZF-R1), 1:31.639 9. Markus Reiterberger, Germany (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.992 10. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:32.050 11. Leon Camier, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:32.459 12. Jordi Torres, Spain (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:32.670 13. Chaz Davies, UK (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:32.706 14. Leandro Mercado, Argentina (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:32.789 15. Eugene Laverty, Ireland (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:32.797 16. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:32.962 17. Michael Rinaldi, Italy (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:33.402 18. Alessandro Delbianco, Italy (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:33.949 19. Troy Herfoss, Australia (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:34.961
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Post by truenorth on Feb 18, 2019 10:04:44 GMT -8
The new Ducati is 6km/h quicker than the Kawasaki through the speed trap at the moment
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Post by truenorth on Feb 18, 2019 10:31:34 GMT -8
Andrew Gosling's Shots From The Phillip Island WorldSBK Test, Day 1 David Emmett on Mon, 2019-02-18 The Ducati Panigale V4R looked menacing in the hands of Alvaro Bautista on the first day of the test at Jerez Bautista Makes A Statement On The Ducati Alvaro Bautista has made his mark on the first day of the WorldSBK at Phillip Island, the Aruba.it Ducati rider blitzing the field at the final test before racing starts. Bautista was aided by the fact that the wind picked up in the afternoon, making it hard for anyone to improve their times, but he used the speed of the Ducati V4R to his advantage to top both sessions. Pata Yamaha rider Alex Lowes ended the day second, four tenths behind Bautista, and just ahead of reigning world champion Jonathan Rea on the KRT Kawasaki. Tom Sykes made a strong impression on the SMR BMW S1000RR, a tenth off Rea's quickest time, and another tenth ahead of the man who took his place in the Kawasaki team alongside Rea, Leon Haslam. Marco Melandri led a fleet of Yamahas from sixth to ninth place, Melandri finishing ahead of Michael van der Mark and Sandro Cortese, while Markus Reiterberger rounded out the top ten on the second BMW. Bautista's teammate Chaz Davies did not fare as well on the Ducati, the Welshman struggling with technical issues during the first session, and managing only twelfth fastest in the second session, ending the day thirteenth overall. The tricky Australian circuit saw a few fallers during the day, Michael van der Mark, Jonathan Rea, and Alessandro Delbianco all going down. Testing concludes on Tuesday, after which the riders get a brief break before the season kicks off in earnest with practice on Friday
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Post by truenorth on Feb 18, 2019 10:57:06 GMT -8
Camier: "We have ample room for improvement": Leon explains: "It won't be easy to grow right away, but I'm confident. It's all new to me and to the team, we have to keep working. "
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Post by truenorth on Feb 18, 2019 15:56:56 GMT -8
The session is halted after a crash for del Bianco52 at turn 2. Rider OK
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Post by truenorth on Feb 18, 2019 16:13:23 GMT -8
RESULTS WORLDSBK (Tuesday Free Practice 1 SESSION COMPLETED)
RIDER BEST GAP LAST
1 19 BAUTISTA 1'30.303 2 33 MELANDRI 1'30.760 +0.457 3 1 REA 1'30.761 +0.458 4 66 SYKES 1'30.777 +0.474 5 60 VAN DER MARK 1'30.911 +0.608 6 91 HASLAM 1'30.947 +0.644 7 11 CORTESE 1'31.077 +0.774 8 22 LOWES 1'31.272 +0.969 9 28 REITERBERGER 1'31.376 +1.073 10 2 CAMIER 1'31.443 +1.140 11 54 RAZGATLIOGLU 1'31.445 +1.142 12 7 DAVIES 1'31.796 +1.493 13 81 TORRES 1'31.808 +1.505 14 23 KIYONARI 1'31.860 +1.557 15 36 MERCADO 1'31.942 +1.639 16 50 LAVERTY 1'31.986 +1.683 17 21 RINALDI 1'32.428 +2.125 18 52 DELBIANCO 1'32.979 +2.676 19 17 HERFOSS 1'33.130 +2.827
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Post by truenorth on Feb 18, 2019 16:34:24 GMT -8
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