Like the other general threads....post anything you want to say about the pinnacle of our sport....motorcycle racing....becuase without it....we would still be on mopeds....or god forbid British or Italian bikes.....
yes dodgyiti....stoner is doing very well on the new bike, but then Honda have been working on that bike for years....i think lorenzo did well last year in part becuase he dominated the start of the year with an older bike...they caught up half way through and then he clung on....so to me it is all about timing and luck.....Spies is a class rider...he will do very well on a top yamaha...fully spoec'd bike...but maybe not this year....Rossi......he has a lot of work to get that ducati up to "his" speed.there being such a gulf between Stoner and the Rossi styles ...but come race time i wouldn't bet against him....Pedrosa is the man to watch...he seriously only had bad luck between him and Lorenzo.....just my opinion of course....
The 2010 campaign is still fresh in the memory but already the focus has turned to 2011. With the first Official Test in preparation for the new season coming immediately after the final round of the year in Valencia back in November, the excitement at the final 800cc season before the introduction of a 1000c engine capacity limit in 2012 is merely adding to the anticipation that the 2011 season will be one to savour. Looking at the leading contenders for the 2011 MotoGP title the defending World Champion Jorge Lorenzo will be at the forefront, as he aims to underline his status as the new dominant force. Having been so consistent in 2010 and finishing 16 of the 18 rounds on the podium on his M1, the factory Yamaha rider displayed a level of maturity that was vastly improved in comparison to his previous premier class campaigns. As Lorenzo opts for continuity with Yamaha two of his chief rivals ride with new teams in 2011. Casey Stoner becomes a factory HRC rider and his display in the Valencia Test hinted at what was an immediate affinity with the RC212V, whilst Valentino Rossi has filled the Australian’s seat at Ducati as an all-Italian match-up adds to the fascinating grid. Rossi may not have enjoyed as comfortable an introduction to his new machine as Stoner did to the Honda, but such is the nine-time World Champion’s proven track record he can be expected to be pushing hard on the Desmosedici come March 20th at Losail. Along with Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa will hope to benefit from the stability of remaining with the same set-up in 2011, and for the 2010 runner-up it will be his sixth season on the factory Honda team. Having been Lorenzo’s longest challenger until injury struck towards the end of 2010, Pedrosa’s sights will be firmly set on a first premier class title. As much as the ‘top four’ continue to be spoken of in one bracket, the gap behind them is being closed all the time and there are a number of riders who will not only be confident of breaking into that elite, but who have proven they have the ability to run at the front. Andrea Dovizioso enjoyed his best premier class season to date in 2010 and will remain on the factory Honda team, Ben Spies was Rookie of the Year and earned a factory Yamaha ride as well as serving notice of his talent in what was his debut year, and of course Nicky Hayden is a former World Champion who displayed a much-improved feeling on the Desmosedici in his second season with Ducati. Marco Simoncelli was also highly impressive in his first campaign in the MotoGP class, and in 2011 will ride a factory supported RC212V on the San Carlo Honda Gresini team. Colin Edwards has a wealth of MotoGP experience and will continue with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, whilst Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet are both seasoned campaigners and will compete to adjust quickest to the Desmosedici of the Pramac Racing team. Returning for their second seasons respectively and eager to make progress will be Héctor Barberá (Paginas Amarillas Aspar), Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini). Great interest will also be stoked by the introduction of three new riders to the category. Toni Elías, winner of the inaugural Moto2 World Championship, makes his return to the premier class with LCR Honda whilst rookies Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Karel Abraham (Cardion ab Motoracing) make the move from superbikes and Moto2 respectively. The Official MotoGP Test at Sepang on February 1st will give further indications as to the progress of each individual rider and team, and you can follow the pre-season on motogp.com.
Some Moto GP gossip; Andre Dovizioso "They build the thing for Dani and that Australian rides it quicker!" Nicky Hayden "Glad to see the back of him. I nearly killed myself every round trying to qualify in the same half of the field"
Last time Stoner was on the same Honda as Pedrosa he couldn't stay on board to finish a race - who will have the advantage,the long time Honda rider,or old boy returning having learned new tricks? Great to see Rossi going to Ducati,I wish him well,but fear it might be Schumacher revisited.
Kawasaki wins the Springfield Mile - gotta be the biggest upset of the decade I reckon.
yeah yeah..so who will win the NZ superbikes championship.......
Some Aussie
Depends on what class you're talking about
aye??...the superbikes are the superbikes...........i thought they was in a class of their own......
The whole series is called the NZ superbike championship or NZSBK, regardless of class
ahh gotcha.......ok...i meant the superbikes....
What dates and where are the NZSBK National rounds happening ?
2011 NEW ZEALAND ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 ~ January 29th & 30th - Levels Raceway - South Canterbury Club Round 2 ~ February 5th & 6th - Teretonga Park - Southland Club Round 3 ~ February 12th & 13th - Ruapuna Park - Motorcycling Canterbury - GP titles Round 4 ~ March 26th & 27th - Hampton Downs - Auckland Club - TT titles Round 5 ~ April 2nd & 3rd - Manfield - Manawatu Orion Club
I wonder if there doing SS150 like they did last year, Might enter Tyler on his KR for Manfeild Nothing like chucking him in the deep end aye ;-)
