Defending champ Carlos Checa (Ducati) took double race wins at Ducati’s home track of Imola Sunday, and Checa now leads the championship points. Second spot on the podium in both races was filled by Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes, with Leon Haslam (BMW) third each time.
For additional details, results and points, visit the official WSB site.
Awesome to see a Canadian in WSB!! Brett McCormick finished both races in 16th and did us all proud.
RET
Joan Lascorz was involved in an accident yesterday at Imola testing and suffered a spinal injury. Hopefully all news going forward regarding Joan is positive.
Kawasaki has to be thrilled to finally be in the mix in top level racing. Sykes seems to be the right rider at the right place and time.
As I understand it, Ducati will develop the Panigale in local racing series this year and next year it will hit the world stage. Besides, if the old bike is doing the this well, so much the cheaper to race. Its still a good bike.
Because it’s not yet homalogated to race. And im sure the old bike is faster as they have not had time to develop the new bike. Next year you will see the Panigale.
From what I’ve read at other places…
They are not racing the 1199 this year so that they can develope it a little more. They are also hoping that the 1000cc fours make big strides so that they won’t have to run such small restrictor plates. There is also some questions as to whether the computer controlled (selectable) suspension is legal or not since is OEM on the tricolor version…
There were a couple other reasons which escape me at the moment…
re: “There is also some questions as to whether the computer controlled (selectable) suspension is legal or not since is OEM on the tricolor version.”
it’s homologated so it’s legal. if there’s a question over it’s legality, it’s likely because ohlins DID test a system (fully automatic i think?) on-board haga’s santander R1 (pre-crossplane). when the officials found out they banned it because it wasn’t in the rules. ironically, unlike grandprix, wsbk rules DO allow for electronic systems. who’da thunk it right…?
I believe the Panigale is being developed in Superstock this year to be brought up to Superbike next year. It sounds like the 1199 is qualifying in the top 3 and finishing there as well.
This also happened with the 999/1098 change-over when the older bike was raced for a season in the WSBK after the introduction of the street bike.
Looks like Sykes has the pace but too much tyre wear.
Here’s a question: why isn’t ducatinracing their new superbike, the 1199 Panigale there? They’re still on the 1098R! What gives??
If I had to guess it’s because the old bike gets around the track quicker.
Something happened three years ago that is not happening now. I’d bet my bottom dollar they lost a central figure to the racing team. The guy is probably now working for Aprilia. I’ll bet he’s an engineer or a hot-@#$#% tuner. Some enterprising journalist ought to figure out who he/she is.
I can’t think of another example in motorsports where a three-year-old design routinely humiliates the latest hardware.
re: “I can’t think of another example in motorsports where a three-year-old design routinely humiliates the latest hardware.”
if it helps… try not to think of it as 3yrs old…? but much closer to 30yrs old.
the core elements of desmo, 4v water cooled twin, belts, and trellis are all STILL there, but have been refined now over almost 3 decades spent racing. the only other brand with a similar pedigree is suzuki’s GSXR. ducati is often compared to ferrari, but i say those people are wrong. in truth, the ducati superbike is the motorcycle equivalent of a Porsche 911…!!!
the ducati superbike is the motorcycle equivalent of a Porsche 911…!!!, very interesting thought, and pretty much true !!
3 out of 4 wins this season so far for Checa.
Is the whole season going to look like this?
BOOORING!!!! I hope GP has some parity, and if not at least the AMA races may have some battles at the front.
2.9 seconds from 1st to 3rd a little too big of a gap for you Brian. Race two was a great race in my opinion, and it really is early in the season. I think the Beemers are gonna come around. Haslam is looking real good. Just my 2cents worth.
re: “3 out of 4 wins this season so far for Checa. Is the whole season going to look like this?”
prolly not. imola’s simply a home track that ducati has wired. tracks like this and monza (where in contrast the duc is really going to suck @ +6) are at the extreme ends of the perfomance spectrum and should not be viewed as “typical” for the 12 other rounds.