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World Superbike has lit the fuse on 2013 with the opening round at Phillip Island. Here BMW rider and occasional Soup columnist Chaz Davies uncorks one. Davies is currently fifth-fastest in qualifying, just three clicks off pole. |
Possibly the biggest surprise of the first day was how quickly Leon Haslam was up to speed on the PATA Honda CBR1000RR. He was second-fastest in the first practice session and made it all look like a game of horseshoes in Derby. Clearly Ron's kid is running on all cylinders as the story goes he's also impregnated his wife, Oli, with child number two. He's not going fast--he's nesting. |
While Checa and Sykes seem safe bets for the '13 title, Sylvain Guintoli might be a rider to watch in that regard. He's ridden for more teams and more bikes and in so many different series now he almost--almost--rivals Checa for work experience. Plus he's French and they haven't done anything since 1943. Oh, fine, Raymond Roche won the WSBK title in 1990. |
Pre-season testing at the Island was glory and bloodshed for the Suzuki team. Crashes cost them over $50k in bent parts and bikes. Most impressively one crashed bike did the 'fall from the sky' bit and landed behind a trackside billboard. |
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It's been little more than trial by fire for Carlito Checa and the Alstare fellowship of the Desmo. He just got out of the hospital and almost put himself back in with a big crash in practice. The good news is that there's absolutely no way one can have a bowel obstruction after hitting the deck that hard, so that's cured. |
Phillip Island was re-paved in the off-season which bring the usual rider complaints as they try to find the racing line, or make new lines, and don't know where the slippery bits are. Judging by the on-board footage leaking out there is a ton of new grip at Phillip Island. Will the tires go 22 laps? WSBK is flag to flag now. Thus did Speed just dump WSBK in time for them to start doing some good old boy pit stops? |
WSBK Suzuki continues to use Yoshimura engines in 2013. In pre-season testing the four-cylinders were doing the legend of Pops proud--jaw-droppingly fast and pulling near three second hang time as they are launched to the clouds. No problem, more bikes in the truck, just go faster, as Pops used to say. |
WSBK uses the new Pirelli 17 inch tire now and most seem to be acclimating to it well enough. Rea was not happy after first qualifying, but made the mistake of watching the 'mayhem' of the Supersport session. No worries, Phillip Island will be about, as Rob Muzzy used to say, 'who can go the fastest the longest'. One fast lap might not be the key to Sunday success. |
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