2012 WSBK R7 Misano *spoilers*

[MiniNinjaMk5]

Hey guys,

Another weekend's racing coming up! Last year saw Checa get a double victory, with Biaggi second in each case. But is that likely to happen this year with Checa seemingly struggling more on the Ducati?

The championship rankings going into this round:



Biaggi seems to have 'ghosted' his way into 1st, despite not being out and out fastest at most rounds, the others have suffered from various mechanical problems and/or on track incidents and don't seem to be able to put points on the board with any consistency.

Sykes did well last year at this track, on a bike that was arguably less competitive. It's quite a twisty track, so again the Ducati might well go quickly here and Checa can try and bounce back from the relative disappointment of Miller. Will Haslam and Melandri be able to muscle the BMW around the track and, in the case of the Italian, carry the momentum from the last round back to Europe?

Hoping for some close racing in any case!

[Gustav O]

I think the extra 6 kgs added to teh Ducati is part of Checas problem as well as BMW making the final step with Melandri who I think is the dangerman from now on and I hold him as favourite to the title.

Misano Adriatico - FIM Superbike World Championship - Free Practice

1. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1'36.613
2. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'36.735
3. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'37.135
4. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1'37.175
5. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'37.229
6. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1'37.448
7. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'37.523
8. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.627
9. David Salom (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.641
10. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1'37.713
11. Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) Ducati 1098R 1'37.740
12. Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1'37.778
13. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.807
14. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1'37.936
15. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'37.937
16. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.943
17. Matteo Baiocco (Barni Racing Team Italia) Ducati 1098R 1'37.967
18. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'38.022
19. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'38.053
20. John Hopkins (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'38.403
21. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.478
22. Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'38.730
23. Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'39.242
24. Federico Sandi (Grillini Progea Superbike Team) BMW S1000 RR 1'40.781

[Cam D]

Marco is looking pretty solid lately, I hope he can keep it up for the rest of the season. So many guys could win in SBK, it's going to be hard work!

[Gustav O]

1. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'36.521
2. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1'36.568
3. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'36.703
4. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1'36.795
5. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'36.806
6. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'36.829
7. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'36.957
8. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1'37.009
9. Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) Ducati 1098R 1'37.022
10. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.044
11. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'37.280
12. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1'37.295
13. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'37.340
14. Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1'37.406
15. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1'37.439
16. John Hopkins (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'37.514
17. Matteo Baiocco (Barni Racing Team Italia) Ducati 1098R 1'37.523
18. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1'37.614
19. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.733
20. David Salom (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.948
21. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'38.112
22. Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'38.198
23. Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'39.038
24. Federico Sandi (Grillini Progea Superbike Team) BMW S1000 RR 1'40.251

[MiniNinjaMk5]

Marco is looking pretty solid lately, I hope he can keep it up for the rest of the season. So many guys could win in SBK, it's going to be hard work!

Me too.. but I can't help but feel that he robbed Haslam at both home rounds at Donington. Race 1 they almost came together at the esses, and then Race 2 the 'see God, wait a little bit, then brake' manoeuvre on the penultimate corner that threw the poo into the fan with what would have otherwise have been a well deserved victory by Haslam.

So I love Melandri's attitude and there is no doubt that he brings a lot more entertainment to the races, but I hope Haslam can get some karmic balance to swing back a bit towards him

[MiniNinjaMk5]

Final QP heading into Superbowl. Sykes was not the fastest Kwakka in the previous one, but has obviously got his set-up sorted.


1TOM SYKESKAWASAKI RACING TEAM301'35.935
2CARLOS CHECAALTHEA RACING381'36.098
3DAVIDE GIUGLIANOALTHEA RACING251'36.273
4JONATHAN REAHONDA WORLD SUPERBIKE TEAM371'36.315
5LEON HASLAMBMW MOTORRAD MOTORSPORT271'36.378
6JAKUB SMRZLIBERTY RACING TEAM EFFENBERT291'36.486
7MATTEO BAIOCCOBARNI RACING TEAM ITALIA281'36.495
8LEON CAMIERFIXI CRESCENT SUZUKI321'36.623
9SYLVAIN GUINTOLITEAM EFFENBERT LIBERTY RACING291'36.648
10MAX BIAGGIAPRILIA RACING TEAM331'36.703
11EUGENE LAVERTYAPRILIA RACING TEAM271'36.714
12LORENZO ZANETTIPATA RACING TEAM281'36.724
13MARCO MELANDRIBMW MOTORRAD MOTORSPORT281'36.749
14AYRTON BADOVINIBMW MOTORRAD ITALIA GOLDBET321'36.778
15MICHEL FABRIZIOBMW MOTORRAD ITALIA GOLDBET281'36.820
16LORIS BAZKAWASAKI RACING TEAM281'36.854
17MAXIME BERGERTEAM EFFENBERT LIBERTY RACING241'36.934
18JOHN HOPKINSFIXI CRESCENT SUZUKI291'37.168
19NICCOLÒ CANEPARED DEVILS ROMA261'37.202
20HIROSHI AOYAMAHONDA WORLD SUPERBIKE TEAM321'37.250
21CHAZ DAVIESPARKINGO MTC RACING271'37.312
22DAVID SALOMTEAM PEDERCINI261'37.688
23LEANDRO MERCADOTEAM PEDERCINI311'38.674
24FEDERICO SANDIGRILLINI PROGEA SUPERBIKE TEAM161'40.251

[Gar]

Grid:

1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′35.375
2. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′35.991
3. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′36.083
4. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′36.147
5. Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) Ducati 1098R 1′36.183
6. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′36.283
7. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′36.365
8. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′36.559
9. Matteo Baiocco (Barni Racing Team Italia) Ducati 1098R 1′37.509
10. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′37.686
11. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′37.704
12. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′37.796
13. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′37.806
14. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′37.985
15. Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1′38.078
16. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′38.977
17. Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′36.934
18. John Hopkins (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′37.168
19. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1′37.202
20. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′37.250
21. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′37.312
22. David Salom (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′37.688
23. Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′38.674
24. Federico Sandi (Grillini Progea Superbike Team) BMW S1000 RR 1′40.251

[MiniNinjaMk5]

Well, bit of a cock-up there for Checa! From his reaction coming back into the pits I would say undoubtedly a mistake by the team, and his job is going to be that much harder now tomorrow when he must surely have thought he had a chance here to haul back some points after the relative disappointment of Miller.

All of the guys who made it into SP2 had been out for a number of laps, gradually building up their pace and especially getting used to the damp section of the track.

Very, very impressed by Badovini on the privateer BMW and also Giugliano. Biaggi and Melandri are also going to be fighting back from the 3rd and 4th rows respectively, so a real chance tomorrow for Sykes, Rea and Haslam to get some points back in the championship!

Anyone know what the weather forecast is likely to be?

[Cam D]

Max and Carlos are class. Those guys look so solid and made everyone look like amatuers, and their bikes were so well set up! I love watching Max ride... every bike he rides is a 250 GP bike, doesn't matter how big it is Off the turn he is magic. Well done to Davide (for his racing... not for his shocking hair cut ) and good effort for Tom to hang onto 4th. BMW .... wtf? Bit soft for Marco to pull in, if it was just tyres. I'd say plenty of them had rooted rear hoops, he could have brought home some points. Excellent race!

[Cam D]

Some of the side on shots of the track showed how much rubber they were leaving behind. Watching the slow mo replays, Max and Carlos had so much more choice of line, could be just good bikes but they both use 250GP moves and it helps with passing.

[Hayshed]

Some of the side on shots of the track showed how much rubber they were leaving behind. Watching the slow mo replays, Max and Carlos had so much more choice of line, could be just good bikes but they both use 250GP moves and it helps with passing.

I much preferred this place when it went left.

Good observations. Max has certainly always clung to the vestige of his 250 style and if that has inhibited him at any stage of his career I would suggest no more so than 500cc. Not sure about 250cc lines helping with passing - I guess what you are suggesting is that they differ markedly to those of a superbike and doubtless the smooth style helps with tyre preservation.

I think it's irrefutable the way Checa's Ducati gets the power down in contrast to Sykes's Kawasaki manages the Pirelli better throughout the course of a race.

Similarly, I was watching Jorge recently and it similarly struck me the extent to which his riding style betrays his 250 pedigree. Elbows tucked in - in line with the bike at all times. If the new litre class in GP has afforded a greater variety of lines Lorenzo doesn't need them.

Similarly Max has always liked to inscribe a classic line into a turn and is happiest up front mono-railing racing the circuit. Often when he overcooks a corner in a battle or is forced off line he tends to get flustered loose his race rhythm takes time to recover.

[MiniNinjaMk5]

Some great racing today, even though it was a little difficult to overtake on the track which lead to some rather tough overtaking moves.

Nice surprise of the weekend for me was Giugliano, whose lose style reminded me of Bostrom on the Ducati. Really trying hard when he went down in race 2, but think he is still young and definitely will be one to watch in the future.

As for Biaggi, what can you say? He got 1st place in the championship through consistency but he was on fire today. Shows that he is still the man to beat when he puts his mind to it and the Aprillia is working well.

And what in God's name was going on with Melandri? 2 moves (on the same corner, IIRC) he took out both Guintoli and Checa. I defended his moves at Donington as optimistic but safe; these were far, far worse and when he hit the late apex on both occasions it was always going to result in trouble for the other guy. For some reason the director didn't seem to want to show either move again, but for me they were both really poor moves.

[Gustav O]

Damn Biaggi schooled them today. Very impressive and when he rides like this he is sublime and soooo smooth.

[Gar]

And what in God's name was going on with Melandri? 2 moves (on the same corner, IIRC) he took out both Guintoli and Checa. I defended his moves at Donington as optimistic but safe; these were far, far worse and when he hit the late apex on both occasions it was always going to result in trouble for the other guy. For some reason the director didn't seem to want to show either move again, but for me they were both really poor moves.

You must have seen more than me - on Eurosport they showed almost nothing of the Guintoli incident, and I don't believe that there was enough of the Checa incident to pass judgment.

[Cam D]

I was waiting for the replay .... but nothing. An Italian barging in Italy... mmmm maybe they didn't want to show it. Dave thought it was Dodgy!

Marco Melandri started his aggressive charge near the front by knocking Carlos Checa off in what can only be described as an overtake of dubious quality.
&
Melandri, however, finishes his weekend under the shadow of an official investigation into his on-track antics.

[Gar]

I will say this - there were a lot of hard moves today, but by many riders. Guintoli commented on being hit by Checa and Carlos isn't exactly known as a dangerous rider. It's a tight track and passing is difficult, Melandri seems to be the current whipping boy.

I am no Melandri fan, it's just that some quarters (no one here) seem to be judging every move Melandri makes in negative fashion - if one rider makes a move it's fair but tough racing, if Melandri makes the same he should be banned. One person described the Donington incident as Melandri taking out Haslam! Yeah, right...

[Cam D]

I don't think Carlos could have seen Marco until he was hit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO3-0O3lNuo - Race 2 about the 12 sec mark
Race 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwN-vZsEer4
http://www.youtube.com/user/SBK

[MiniNinjaMk5]

And what in God's name was going on with Melandri? 2 moves (on the same corner, IIRC) he took out both Guintoli and Checa. I defended his moves at Donington as optimistic but safe; these were far, far worse and when he hit the late apex on both occasions it was always going to result in trouble for the other guy. For some reason the director didn't seem to want to show either move again, but for me they were both really poor moves.

You must have seen more than me - on Eurosport they showed almost nothing of the Guintoli incident, and I don't believe that there was enough of the Checa incident to pass judgment.

With Guintoli, it happened in the bottom corner of the screen (I rewound using tivo ! ) Marco came flying through from miles back just as Guintoli was turning into the apex but had to stop. I commented at the time "Guintoli won't make it round the corner" and sure enough a few moments later the camera cuts back to the Ducati lying in the sand.

Exactly the same thing happened again with Checa, and I believe Melandri has since apologised to him about the incident.

For whatever reason the director didn't show the Guintoli incident again (with the exception of the on-board shot once, which didn't really show anything), despite the fact that the incident could be seen in the bottom corner of one of the shots.

[tz250w]

Not a Biaggi fan by any stretch, but he rode two very good races. I was really expecting him to get knocked off or run off in the first race though and was a bit surprised when he kept his cool. Smooth riding, a good setup and a V4 really seemed to make those tires last.

Doesn't look like Checa's not going to repeat. Kinda sad seeing him get so much bad luck (though he did toss it himself at Miller) while trying to defend his title. He's starting to look desperate. I can only see that lead back to the "Chucka" days if things continue.

[Gar]

I can't stand Biaggi based on his past, but oddly enough Laverty says he's been a great teammate - and that wasn't to the press.

Yeah, he looked fast and smooth yesterday.

[Faster1]

all I have is ,,,, Race one was one of the best races in a long time,, and props to all who participated.. dam shame that the tires were THE determine factor for many.

thoroughly entertaining !! if you haven't seen it,, find a feed.

[tz250w]

Actually, I like to see tires come into play like that. Back in the day, ours were "good" for 6 laps, then "progressively" went off. It's all part of the game as far as I'm concerned.

[Gar]

I agree. Perfect tires for the duration of the race aids processional racing.

[Cam D]

600's were a little ho-hum. Keenan seems to have 20 more horse power than anyone else (jks) and Lowes has a bad habit. No one pressuring him and he puts it into the gravel. Not sure if it is a talent disparity, or if it's down to the machines, but it isn't a tight race like it used to be.

[MiniNinjaMk5]

You mean Lowes? Yes I know what you mean, to be fair he was trying to catch the leaders. Although one wonders (especially considering their very good pace) whether it was feasible. He does only seem to have two speed modes (flat out or nothing) and was the same when he was in BSB. But, as they say it's sometimes possible to stop crashing and keep going fast, but not keep not crashing and then go faster (or something like that?! )

I suppose the issues with the tyres was that the BMW and Honda seemed to go off far faster - the BMWs especially, Haslam went from fastest lap and threatening a podium to about 10th in the space of a few laps. As such, the tyres didn't so much gradually degrade as they did fall off the edge of a cliff! The Aprilias seemed OK with it (obviously Biaggi, but also Chaz Davies who came from 21st to 6th!) and the Ducatis, who have always seemed to be a bit smoother in putting the power down. I do think this was a very hard track on tyres though - Misano reminds me so much of Valencia, the bikes seem to be on their sides for most of the lap.

At the moment the Kawasaki seems to be the perfect example of how a grand prix is not just outright speed over a lap. The bike is a missile and on sticky rubber no-one has come close to Sykes this year in qualifying - but on race rubber, and having to perform the same feat over a race distance it is still falling a little way behind. Admittedly I think they have improved a lot from last year, but it seems obvious that they still have some development work to do on the green machine. Good to see some factory involvement from Kawasaki though, hopefully they will put a bit of money into it for more development and testing.