NOVEMBER 2008

MACAU GRAND PRIX PAGE HERE!

There have been quite a few updates since the weekend...check it out...

DOHA 8 HOURS LIVE TIMING HERE

...I have heard that Al Jazeera will be covering the start live...don't know if that's the satellite channel that's available in the UK but I have my fingers crossed...

JOB HUNTING...

Fabio Martinelli, who was working for the SC Factory Triumph World Supersport team in 2008, is on the lookout for a Chief Mechanic's position with a good UK race team for 2009 - email me HERE for more information.

WORLD SUPERBIKES - BMW TESTING AT VALENCIA

Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus had the opportunity in a two-day test in Valencia to try out the new BMWS S1000RR with both riders taking very positive impressions home.

Troy Corser: "I am a bit surprised. The basis is very good, I've had two days with the bike now and already feel well-connected with it and I didn't think I would be this early. The team has now received loads information and telemetry data which we can build on in the next test. The understanding between all of us in the team is outstanding and there were no problems – except that I hit a bird in the last session between the first and the second session. It caught me right under the neck, just above the breast protector. That ruined my practice...and the bird as well!"

WORLD SUPERBIKES - 2009 TESTING AT PORTIMAO

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER TURNS UP FOR A QUICK BLAST:
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher had a busy couple of days in Portugal on Sunday and Monday as special guest of the Superbike Championship at the Portimao circuit. Michael has been devoting considerable time to his bike racing hobby since retiring from Formula 1, arrived at the circuit in the early afternoon and was accompanied onto the starting-grid for the second Superbike race, where he met the riders and exchanged greetings with Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi, amongst others.

SCHUMACHER LOOKS FOR A GAP IN THE TRAFFIC

Then on Monday, during the FGSport-organised tests for international media, Michael Schumacher was able to try his hands out on the latest generation of Superbike machinery. He spent all morning testing the Yamaha Motor Italia WSB’s R1 machines raced by Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser and in the afternoon he was given an opportunity to ride the championship-winning Ducati 1098 F08 of Troy Bayliss. The Ferrari champion truly enjoyed the experience and praised the new International Circuit of Algarve as being both technically demanding and safe. Schumacher was also delighted with the reception he received from the two top SBK teams, who were able to give him tips and suggestions and an insight into top-level Superbike racing.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, PAOLO CIABATTI AND TROY BAYLISS

SANTANDER YAMAHA TESTING 3rd/4th Nov:
Day one of testing was spent with new riders Ben Spies and Tom Sykes mostly riding the 2008 WSB machines, giving a chance for both riders to learn the Portimao track..

Day two saw the riders lapping on the all-new for 2009 Yamaha WSB R1. The new 998cc bike, featuring a high tech powerplant closely linked to the M1 MOTOGP bike, is currently at the very beginning of its development for the 2009 WSB season and is still relatively close to production specifications. However with the 2009 production R1 crossplane crankshaft engine and a unique uneven firing order giving linear torque and greater traction rider Ben Spies was able to come within two tenths of the race lap record set by Troy Bayliss during the inaugural race weekend two days previously.In a validation of the team’s belief in the potential of the new bike both riders put in fast lap times, Ben Spies lapping consistently in the low 1.44s on the second day.

So far the team’s minor modifications to the standard bike include a modified cam-shaft, an enlarged radiator for extra cooling and the addition of an oil cooler. The new bike has no rear sub-frame but incorporates a strengthened frame. The exhaust is unique, and was developed in partnership with Akrapovic. The standard fuel tank has also been replaced with an aluminium tank with increased capacity. The bike features the latest Magneti Marelli electronic systems. The new swing arm is also developed purely for the WSB race bike based on knowledge taken from the 2008 racing season.

Ben Spies (1’43.9)
“The whole Superbike weekend has been great for me. Having my own crew chief here from the US joining the team is good, he really understands me and it’s great to see him working well with the Yamaha Motor Italia Technical Chief Silvano Galbusera. Getting out on Nori’s bike we made a couple of changes and got going, it answered a lot of questions for me on the different tyre manufacturer and riding new circuits. The 2009 bike is at the beginning of its development, but for where it’s at now compared to where we will be when we line up at Philip Island it’s hugely exciting. The team worked really hard on the bike this weekend and it’s just going to get better and better. I’m really looking forward to next year.”

Tom Sykes (1’44.5)
“For me it’s been a very good test. Having done two days I now feel fully part of the team. It was quite difficult arriving on Tuesday morning for the 1st day of the test, facing a new bike, a new circuit, and a new team. It was important to me to get it right from the start. We are developing well together and we have a good understanding. I was very happy with my time on the 2008 bike, and happy with a good race pace. For the 2009 bike, considering it’s at a very early stage of development, I think it’s a fantastic package. The feeling coming out of the corner is unbelievably smooth, the power is so controllable, the whole bike remains incredibly stable. There is still lots to be done but the outcome is already very good. All in all it was a great weekend for me, I was really happy to get started and learning, getting on with the new team and feeling part of it.”

Yamaha Motor Italia Team Manager Massimo Meregalli said, “As a first test, I think it went very well. We didn’t have any problems and both riders did a very good job. The test gave us a very good feeling because the bike is very good now and we know how we can improve it even more, there is still a big gap to where we can get to, so we are just very happy. Everything went very well with the riders and the team, there’s no better way to end a test for us, we are very excited about the next stage.”

The Yamaha WSB team now move on to South Africa for the second test to take the next steps in the development of the bike.

PARKALGAR WORLD SUPERSPORT HONDA:
EUGENE LAVERTY completed his first test for his new Parkalgar Honda team today at the Parkalgar Algarve Motor Park Circuit near Portimao in Portugal. The Irishman from Toomebridge in Northern Ireland spent the day getting to know his Parkalgar Honda team and the CBR600RR race bike. As well as having the bike fitted for him personally, he asked for adjustments to the balance to suit his riding style. By the end of the day he was lapping fast enough to have been competitive in the race despite having limited track time and experience.

Eugene: “I am so happy to be out on a track again. The Parkalgar Algarve Motor Park is a wonderful track, one of the best in the world, if not the best in my opinion, and I’ve been everywhere with MotoGP recently. The 2008 Parkalgar Honda is quick and once we dialled my set-up into it, now feels really fast on the turns and confident through the corners. It’s not quite there yet but it is only our first day...there’s a lot more to come but one thing is for sure, we have a great package and these Irish eyes are smiling.”

Eugene tested on the 2008 Parkalgar Honda at the 4.592km circuit and his next outing will be on an evolution version of the 2009 race bike early next year. Parkalgar Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “That was a very successful test and the team and Eugene go away from here with a lot of optimism for the future. We have a rider, bike and team that can go for the Championship in 2009 and we can all feel the excitement building already. The team is back to England now to concentrate on developing the new 2009 CBR600 race bikes. Once they are complete it will be winter testing, it will all happen very quickly.”

For more information on Parkalgar Honda, visit www.parkalgar-honda.com.

APRILIA WSB:
Max Biaggi has been testing and just getting to grips with the new RSV4 at Portimao track, doing laps of around 1min 45.4secs. Awaiting times from Shinya Nakano, who was due to test on the 5th Nov.

MAX BIAGGI, THE NEW APRILIA - AND A GUY WITH A KNACKERED LIGHT-SABRE...

2009 WORLD ENDURANCE CALENDAR

WORLD ENDURANCE RULE CHANGES...WE'VE GOT SUPERPOLE!

OFFICIAL:
Qualification “Superstage style”
On the condition that an agreement is found for the TV broadcast of the events: to create a qualification system (such as “Superpole or “Special Stage”) for the fastest 10 teams of the qualifying practices.
This additional qualification stage would take place on the day prior to the race.
The choice of the rider participating in this stage would be given by the team manager.
This stage could be run under dry or wet conditions.

First reactions from a number of teams to the idea of the "Superstage" are pretty enthusiastic, as everyone realizes this will add to the spectacle and have a specific event for the final qualification session. The announcement by the FIM leaves a lot room to arrange the best way for this to happen and initial discussions in the World Endurance community are throwing up quite a few additional ideas. The idea is good for TV, good for the sponsors (as the cameras can concentrate on one bike for at least one flying lap, as in WSB) meaning a better show and more money all round.

With the consistent domination over the past few years by the SERT team,  the other contenders have realized that beating SERT over a Superpole-type event would be well within their reach, as there are quite a few teams able to beat SERT over one lap.

Instead of a single flying lap, there could be a two-lap Superstage where the first designated rider comes in from a flying lap, the wheels and rider are changed and the second designated rider completes one more lap. The problem with this scenario is that it would count out the Stocksport class...

There could be World Championship points available for the top three, four or even all teams in "Superstage".

"Superstage" will create stars of riders and pitcrews.

The pitcrews as well as the riders can be rewarded for their performance - the "Superstage" pitstop can be a new and sponsored part of the qualifying show, with the fastest crews rewarded...in a few years the pitcrews could be almost as famous as the riders!

The "Superstage" idea seems to be a "work in progress", part of a discussion with TV (who, we don't yet know) to increase the spectacle of World Endurance and make it more TV-friendly. With ongoing discussions with the FIM, terrestrial and satellite broadcasting over where MotoGP will be seen next year and the consequent storm over its possible loss to the satellite channels, there seems to be a growing realization in the broadcasting camp that motorcycle sport is indeed a "big deal" and executives are looking for additional offerings to take the place of MotoGP...

...I'm sure you lot have even more ideas....post to the FORUM and I'll put the best on here...

WORLD SUPERBIKES - PORTUGAL

TROY BAYLISS SAYS GOODBYE TO WORLD SUPERBIKES

With only a drenched Superpole and no full dry sessions, the SBK teams had difficult choices to make on bike setup, so it was a tense start waiting to discover who had made the right choice. Bayliss, whose team had selected the medium-soft tyre, switched the rear option to a medium-hard tyre just before the start of the race.
The No.21 Ducati of Troy Bayliss made it quickly to the front, and ran a pace which the rest of the field was unable to match. The fury of lead changes behind Bayliss was surprisingly led by the newcomers: Jonathan Rea, who had swapped bikes with his predecessor Sofuoglu and the wildcard riders from Great Britain: Cal Crutchlow & Leon Haslam. Carlos Checa found the right lines on the track, and was able to challenge Troy Corser during the 2nd half of the race for the next spot on the podium.

The last race of the season and the last race of his career for Ducati Xerox’s Troy Bayliss, who had already won pole position on Saturday and the first race on Sunday. This round was the last for Troy Bayliss before his upcoming retirement from World Superbike, but not without having reached his ultimate goal, to “Capture Three world titles with Three generations of Ducati.”
Bayliss couldn’t have asked for a better world, having won both of his last two races at a brand new racetrack, and finished with a grand reception from a crowd of 91,000 spectators a team filled with emotion.

Race 2 was a great battle for the remaining positions where Michel Fabrizio, the second Ducati Xerox team rider, maintained a strong pace throughout the race and secured an important 2nd place. To complete the podium of this race was the British wildcard Haslam, of HM Plant Honda which was transferring from the BSB Championship and who was present in last year’s World SBK.

Meanwhile, in World Supersport...young Turk Kenan Sofuoglu was back to winning ways...
With Hanspree Ten Kate’s Andrew Pitt collecting the Championship after the race at Magny-Cours, the team decided that Kenan Sofuoglu should practice for his return to Supersport class for 2009. American Josh Hayes, who has been available to join Parkalgar Racing Team after being awarded the 2008 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion, was just behind Pitt in the early part of the race.

Sofuoglu felt like a champion again on his Supersport bike, passing Hayes and Pitt to reach the front spot on the ninth lap of the race. Behind Pitt was a fierce battle for third place between Hayes and Lascorz, with a finish just 0.42 seconds apart as they crossed the finish line.

Welcome back, Kenan!