SBK, DID THEY GET IT RIGHT?
 

Got back from assen on monday, watched the moto gp and although I thought that the one make tyre rule was cr*p the racing was really close at assen but the moto gp was another procesion (excluding caparossi's amazing charge up the field). It appeared to us that there were more people at assen than we have seen since 1999 on race day, and the closeness of the first pack in both races was more like a 125 race than the fila first ritual of the last couple of years!

There are rumours that moto gp will have some form of tyre rule soon (although with rossi riding as he is perhaps blindfolding him is the only way to give the other riders a chance) and effectively bsb has had a one make tyre untill this year.
Perhaps the way to go is to allow all manufacturers to supply tyres BUT any team has access to all the tyres availiable to the top teams. This will allow wild card riders in sbk and allow non factory teams like renagade to fight for the championship.
Does anyone else feel that after a very ropey start sbk is improving and the racing is closer than it has been for a long time


dave
wishing he could skive off and go to rockingham:eureka:

It's been a much-discussed topic in Motorcycle Racer magazine, and although I too thought the one-make tyre rule was very bizzare, it does seem to have provided much closer racing.

I have remained switched to GPs from last year not only because of the (brilliant!) entrance of Ducati into the championship, but also because MotoGP has produced some of the closest racing as well - remember that Ross has won 6 races, Gibbers 3 with Biaggi and Tamada on one a piece. There has been many times that a race could have gone either way but Rossi just makes it look easy!

For me the big names just aren't in SBK any more, and this makes me think that the championship itself is very weak and that's why it could be anyone's at the moment. All the big names and best riders are in MotoGP, and it's having a "golden age" at the moment. If Rossi had stayed with Honda then it would be boring, but his switch to Yamaha has improved the "watchability" no end.

I must admit at first it seemed a daft idea to have control tyres but the racing is much closer with no preferential tyre deal as was the case before.
So my vote is a success albeit lap times are slower but so what its the close racing punters want.

It is turning out to be better than I first thought, but it really does need factory support from manufacturers other than Ducati.

Rollon next year and we'll see what that brings.....

altho the racing is closer, and poss more exiting, it does not help develop tyres for us....so I am still against these types of rules at world level, altho domestic would be ok.

Of course we could simply have all the tyre manufactures supply a pool of tyres which the teams draw lots for, now that would be interesting!!!

It sorted my Diablos

Let all teams have any choice of tyre provided that same tyre is available to everyone else.

If the rules make Sbk to "samey" it will get boring like F1. People want to see different types of machine with different engine configurations. If all the teams are "controlled" as to the type of engine and tyres etc it will just become a parade.

How about a no rules class like the formula USA series that was run a few years ago, no restrictions on engines, size, induction (turbo`s and super chargers) or tyres, Now that would be interesting to see over here!

Having watched motoGP and SBK on Sunday, I would have said that it's motoGP that's in danger of becoming more like F1. The last few GP's haven't exactly been the great spectacles we've seen in the past even if the bikes and riders are far superior to SBK
Regardless of the quality of the field, the lack of big names, SBK racing has been the best racing to be had just recently. There can't be a major championship in the world that wouldn't like to have 4 potential champions going into the last 2 rounds?

COME ON VERMUELEN!!!!

Had to laugh at the TV coverage of the WSB last weekend, at one point they had Vermuelen on a Ten-Kate Ducati, after the second race they had JT down as 13 points ahead in the championship then when the final results were shown it was down to 3 points.

The WSB racing was awesome, you could see fro JT's body language that he wasn't up for taking any prisoners, last couple of rounds should be really close, anybody tempted to take a ride down to watch the final round ???

I was there also, and the first thing that hit me was how quiet it was, I don't know if you have been before Dave, but this is my 3rd time in 4 years, and the crowds were down from my memory, the other big thing was it was sunny, every time I have been previously it's rained at some point, so that threw me a bit.

As for the racing, yes it was awesome, the top 5 fighting it out all of the race, in both races!

The single tyre rule isn't all it's cracked up to be though, apparently Haga/Renegade were denied the tyres he wanted by Ducati Corse, as the championship is too close to call, so first choice on tyres goes to Laconi/Toseland, and after that the remaining Ducati riders get what is left, ultimately a factory team is not going to be beaten by a satellite private team!

I think the main reason for the big difference in the quality of the racing (or its closeness) is due to the tracks themselves. Put a slow corner (or 2 as they did with Donington) in ( 1 in Estorill) and you will ruin the quality of racing. Pity Dorna and riders reps don't do something about that as well as the safety issues.

However tyre issues have for many years made racing have different levels, - for years in the WSBK series Michelin would only give their good tyres to Ducati Corse or HRC, - so they got there just reward.

For me, - tyre brand makes no difference to the tyre I choose to buy for my road bikes and I really don't care who wins on what tyres although i wish Dunlop would invest in some proper baseball caps!

The one tyre rule in WSBK was good, despite the bull coming out of Laguna about lap times it really does not matter. - It was also ok when WSBK caved to the Jap factory pressure by allowing in 1000 fours ( although only an idiot would say a twin and four of the same capacity are equal), just a big shame that the Jap factories caved in themselves under pressure from Michelin and pulled out of the series.

Next year potentially looks good with GSE back in WSBK (as their MotoGP request for D'Antins slots got turned down), although on Hondas, - and that as this year will be an undercover HRC team.
:)