Super/Bike/Sport?

Question

I have just been looking at the times being clocked by the superbike boys.

I noticed that in 10th Neukirchner 1.35:5 time was bettered and equaled by the supersport riders Parkes and pitt. Parkes time 1.35:2 Pitts time 1.35:5

Are the supersport bikes really as close to the superbikes as that ?

and just to top things That man Troy Baylis is scareing the competition allready.

I may even watch a few races this season

Answer 1

Hi Proc

You always see the top Super Sport boys almost as fast or faster than the tail markers of Super Bike. And in some cases at certain tracks the top WSBK boys as quick as the slower Moto GP lads.

Having said that, I'm surprised that Max is as low as he is. I think he's shown a lot of promise for the last few seasons, considering the equipment he's had. Maybe the bug he's supposed to have got has affected him. I fully expect him to fight for a few podiums in the coming season.  

Should be a cracker, It's just a pity there are no Brits to shout on in WSBK (still we have a few in WSS), so I'm gonna be putting money on Nori Haga (adoptive Brit) taking home the trophy (he deserves it). At least I'll get better odds than on Bayliss, coz you're right. He's looking scarily quick already.

Answer 2

Well this is a tricky one in some ways. In my opinion what you are seeing is more a reflection on the respective abilities of the three riders, which does not reflect well on Max. In the hands of mere mortals like say - me - I should imagine that if I were to ride a Supersport bike and a WSBK bike round my local track (Brno) then there would not be a great deal of difference in time. However stick Troy Bayliss, for example, on the same two bikes and you would see a big difference as he could take both to the limit. This would be a more accurate representation of the difference in machinery.

However as you have pointed out a top fettled Supersport machine in the hands of a great rider will equal and possibly better a WSBK machine in the hands of a not so great rider.

To make the point again, I bet if I was to try and race Bradley round Brno, him on his new 125 and me on my 999 then he would whup me and I don't want to sound big headed but I am no slouch (at least for an old man).

Answer 3

Hey Proc,

No doubt a fast rider will make all the difference, but what I found pretty heartening was seeing that the Triumphs were only 1 second off the pace! To do that day one amongst such a seasoned field as the R1's and CBR's makes me think there could be hope for them this season.

and waddaya mean "may watch a few" ! You will really be missing out if you miss this series!

Answer 4

Yeah i think it's more down to the fact that Max was off the pace somewhat. His Suzuki teammate Yukio Kagayama posted a best lap of 1:32.9.

The site i've linked to has a quote from the Suzuki riders and Max says he wasn't feeling too good and wasn't happy with his times.

NOTE:

Just as a side note Max Neukirchner didn't test today due to laryngitis so maybe that accounts for him being off the pace

Answer 5

I'm going to kill this this one, really fast.

TYRE'S.

All the the top brands [ including Dunlop, who I knew tested at this event ] are looking at making there Super Bikes go that bit quicker.

My [ for whats its worth .............. leave the WSB and just follow thge MotoGP. R & D is already at least 1 year behind ] ......... out look is as normal, wait and see.

"Road Legal "  rubber can be bought at any price  .

Answer 6

i think shuggie nailed it. you could put me on any of those race prepped bikes and Stoner, Rossi, (any of thos guys) on a 250 ninja and I would get smoked. talent skill and set of really big balls is the difference more so than the power of the bikes