| These modern 1000cc IL4s can be evil things, I rode Dallas's ZX10R and after a few laps parked it as I felt it was going to bite me big time, I was not impressed. He has now seen the light and has got himself a 996SPS and has the ZX10R for sale. He pulled out of the Thruxton NG meeting after letting Whitham out on the ZX10 at Donny and after a few laps which weren't that fast Whitham also decided to park it as he thought it evil and advised Dallas not to race it at Thruxton or Catle Combe as he would end up getting seriously injured. And all this was with a top spec Ohlins shock fitted.
Whele also got bit by his new R1 which he had replaced his 996SPS with, hence his cast at the Apex trackday at Brands GP, he has since spent a fair few quid on having the suspension sorted.
So as I see it these latest offerings from Japan are not the be all and end off of motorbikes as the majority of riders can't make use of what they have to offer. The Isle of Man production TT is proof of this where international licence holders struggle to put in fast lap times. A case in point was in 2004 my mate Adrian on my ZXR400 lapped quicker than some riders on GSXR1000s.
Alos back at Pembrey the other week a guy I know who started racing at the same time as me lapped eight tenths quicker in his 1st race on his ZX10R than I did on my 583 Desmo Due racer.
I also notice that Phil Bevan has not bettered his Pembrey outright lap record set on his EX INS BSB Ducati dispite now being on a EX BSB GSXR1000.
If I was looking for a newer and faster bike I would have to test a 999S first and see if it offered me what I was looking for.  |