WSBK round 11 - Imola (spoilers!)

[Matt_P]

Well Checa is off to a good start in FP1, with almost half a second lead over his nearest title rival Melandri.

If Checa outscores Melandri by 26 points this weekend (difficult, but he's done so twice this year) he is automatically crowned champion.

FP1 times:

1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 1min 49.294s
2. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 49.531s
3. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1min 49.782s
4. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1min 49.910s
5. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1min 49.966s
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1min 49.993s
7. Michel Fabrizio ITA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 50.070s
8. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR 1min 50.086s
9. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 1min 50.197s
10. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1min 50.402s
11. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1min 50.442s
12. Alessandro Polita ITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1min 50.593s
13. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 1min 50.617s
14. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R 1min 50.632s
15. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 50.713s
16. Federico Sandi ITA Althea Ducati 1098R 1min 50.741s
17. Matteo Baiocco ITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1min 50.787s
18. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1min 50.825s
19. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 50.942s
20. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 51.481s
21. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1min 51.859s
22. Javier Fores ESP BMW Italia S1000RR 1min 52.516s

Imola official WSBK lap records
Best lap: Michel Fabrizio ITA Xerox Ducati 1198 1m 47.735s (2009)
Race lap record: Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 48.966s (2010)

[NYSport]

Go Carlos!

[va duc]

I just saw that speed tv isn't broadcasting the race until Tuesday here in the USA. Bastards.

[dburkland]

Originally Posted by va duc

I just saw that speed tv isn't broadcasting the race until Tuesday here in the USA. Bastards.

Lame however I prefer EuroSport's coverage (which I can only watch via the files posted to racingfor.me)

[Matt_P]

QP1 results:

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1min 48.241s
2. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 1min 48.400s
3. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 48.701s
4. Michel Fabrizio ITA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 48.726s
5. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1min 48.844s
6. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1min 48.884s
7. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1min 49.003s
8. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R 1min 49.023s
9. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 1min 49.041s
10. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1min 49.072s
11. Federico Sandi ITA Althea Ducati 1098R 1min 49.125s
12. Alessandro Polita ITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1min 49.134s
13. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 1min 49.282s
14. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR 1min 49.394s
15. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 49.665s
16. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1min 49.781s
17. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1min 49.855s
18. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1min 49.991s
19. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 50.011s
20. Matteo Baiocco ITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1min 50.104s
21. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 51.086s
22. Javier Fores ESP BMW Italia S1000RR 1min 51.790s

[jfusaro]

Someone's who's smarter than me please chime in. What did Ducati do this year to put them in such a position that they are in now coming off such a disappointing season last year with factory machine's? Is Carlos that good? Was Fabrizio and Haga having issues with support from the factory? Seems a bit funny the way Althea Ducati have dominated thus so far

[slug996]

I don't think I'm smarter than you are, but I'll tell you what I've seen in every race I've watched this year in WSBK....Yeah, Checa's that good!
He's riding a machine that is obviously lacking in horsepower, but he's getting the most from what it does give him. He's earlier on the throttle, drafts great when he's behind and is able to ride a little different line through the close-quarters stuff...even passing on the outside...because the bike lets him do these things really well.
All the commentators have noted his smooth riding style and the ability to make tires go further because of it. He seems to be as consistent at the finish as at the start.
And...I think he's just in a ZONE. Focused and unruffled and in control, even in less-than-perfect conditions.

Yeah, he's that good

[bpracer]

Originally Posted by va duc

I just saw that speed tv isn't broadcasting the race until Tuesday here in the USA. Bastards.

I just sent SpeedTV a nasty email. I'm getting fed up with their programming lately.

More importantly, va-duc, did your subscription to biker chick photos run out? No avatar photo? You can be banned for such oversights.

edit - back on subject: Go Checa!

[Matt_P]

Q2:

1. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1min 47.799s
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1min 47.973s
3. Michel Fabrizio ITA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 48.103s
4. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 1min 48.168s
5. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 1min 48.210s
6. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 48.396s
7. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1min 48.528s
8. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1min 48.551s
9. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 1min 48.624s
10. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1min 48.691s
11. Federico Sandi ITA Althea Ducati 1098R 1min 48.715s
12. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1min 48.727s
13. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 48.879s
14. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R 1min 48.935s
15. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR 1min 48.935s
16. Alessandro Polita ITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1min 49.027s

Will not progress to Superpole

17. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 49.159s
18. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1min 49.185s
19. Matteo Baiocco ITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1min 49.378s
20. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1min 49.595s
21. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 49.668s
22. Javier Fores ESP BMW Italia S1000RR 1min 50.888s


Looks like the inline 4's are enjoying the grip provided by the new surface, but will their tires last through race distance???

[va duc]

Originally Posted by bpracer

I just sent SpeedTV a nasty email. I'm getting fed up with their programming lately.

edit - back on subject: Go Checa!

I will send them an email today, thanks for reminding me to do so!