Being a pleb with no satellite or cable, I've only just managed to watch the recording I made of C4's highlights, and I will make no predictions, cos I'm not much good at following riders form. I did think that the Dukes went well, Laconi on the podium in both races can't be bad and Toseland put in a steady performance and a few brave passes despite the practise highside that left him battered. The Suzukis are very quick, and look like favourites, but wasn't this the year when the fours were set to stomp on the twins with a big horsepower advantage? I expected the fours to come sailing past, especially on a circuit with a 1 kilometre straight, but the Dukes held up very well, Laconi was only losing out a little bit to the Suzukis down there and made up for it a couple of times with huge drive out od corners. Get on some more twisty circuits and the 999 looks better balanced this year. Could be closer than many people think |