Superbike Round 3 - Valencia

[Mach24]

Free Prac 1

1 34 Kagayama Y. JPN Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'34.913 24
2 7 Checa C. ESP Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'34.955 0.042 26
3 21 Bayliss T. AUS Ducati 1098 F08PIT IN 1'35.338 0.425 17
4 76 Neukirchner M. GER Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'35.416 0.503 24
5 57 Lanzi L. ITA Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'35.437 0.524 20
6 44 Rolfo R. ITA Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'35.708 0.795 22
7 11 Corser T. AUS Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'35.767 0.854 20
8 111 Xaus R. ESP Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'35.792 0.879 21
9 31 Muggeridge K. AUS Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'35.887 0.974 20
10 23 Kiyonari R. JPN Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'35.901 0.988 26
11 96 Smrz J. CZE Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'35.954 1.041 24
12 3 Biaggi M. ITA Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'36.104 1.191 23
13 41 Haga N. JPN Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.107 1.194 23
14 10 Nieto F. ESP Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'36.146 1.233 24
15 16 Fuertes S. ESP Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'36.239 1.326 20
16 55 Laconi R. FRA Kawasaki ZX-10RPIT IN 1'36.340 1.427 18
17 36 Lavilla G. ESP Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'36.352 1.439 22
18 94 Checa D. ESP Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.523 1.610 18
19 38 Nakatomi S. JPN Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.612 1.699 23
20 131 Morales C. ESP Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.614 1.701 21
21 100 Tamada M. JPN Kawasaki ZX-10RPIT IN 1'36.727 1.814 17
22 54 Sofuoglu K. TUR Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'36.795 1.882 24
23 194 Gimbert S. FRA Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.977 2.064 11
24 84 Fabrizio M. ITA Ducati 1098 F08PIT IN 1'37.074 2.161 15
25 77 Napoleone L. FRA Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'37.214 2.301 20
26 37 Lozano Ortiz D. ESP Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'37.434 2.521 26
27 86 Badovini A. ITA Kawasaki ZX-10RPIT IN 1'37.811 2.898 19
28 83 Holland R. AUS Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'38.272 3.359 14
29 88 Aoyama S. JPN Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'38.516 3.603 24
30 22 Morelli L. ITA Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'39.281 4.368 20

[Roby44]

Free Prac 1

1 34 Kagayama Y. JPN Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'34.913 24
2 7 Checa C. ESP Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'34.955 0.042 26
3 21 Bayliss T. AUS Ducati 1098 F08PIT IN 1'35.338 0.425 17
4 76 Neukirchner M. GER Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'35.416 0.503 24
5 57 Lanzi L. ITA Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'35.437 0.524 20
6 44 Rolfo R. ITA Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'35.708 0.795 22
7 11 Corser T. AUS Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'35.767 0.854 20
8 111 Xaus R. ESP Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'35.792 0.879 21
9 31 Muggeridge K. AUS Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'35.887 0.974 20
10 23 Kiyonari R. JPN Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'35.901 0.988 26
11 96 Smrz J. CZE Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'35.954 1.041 24
12 3 Biaggi M. ITA Ducati 1098 RS 08PIT IN 1'36.104 1.191 23
13 41 Haga N. JPN Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.107 1.194 23
14 10 Nieto F. ESP Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'36.146 1.233 24
15 16 Fuertes S. ESP Suzuki GSX-R1000PIT IN 1'36.239 1.326 20
16 55 Laconi R. FRA Kawasaki ZX-10RPIT IN 1'36.340 1.427 18
17 36 Lavilla G. ESP Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'36.352 1.439 22
18 94 Checa D. ESP Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.523 1.610 18
19 38 Nakatomi S. JPN Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.612 1.699 23
20 131 Morales C. ESP Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.614 1.701 21
21 100 Tamada M. JPN Kawasaki ZX-10RPIT IN 1'36.727 1.814 17
22 54 Sofuoglu K. TUR Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'36.795 1.882 24
23 194 Gimbert S. FRA Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'36.977 2.064 11
24 84 Fabrizio M. ITA Ducati 1098 F08PIT IN 1'37.074 2.161 15
25 77 Napoleone L. FRA Yamaha YZF-R1PIT IN 1'37.214 2.301 20
26 37 Lozano Ortiz D. ESP Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'37.434 2.521 26
27 86 Badovini A. ITA Kawasaki ZX-10RPIT IN 1'37.811 2.898 19
28 83 Holland R. AUS Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'38.272 3.359 14
29 88 Aoyama S. JPN Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'38.516 3.603 24
30 22 Morelli L. ITA Honda CBR1000RRPIT IN 1'39.281 4.368 20

My Roby is doing good!! ;)

[Mach24]

Biaggi, Haga, Nieto outside the ten..... now thats depth!

Bring it on, the best World Championship in motorsport.

[ChrisS]

1st Qualifying

Superbike
1 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'34.806
2 34 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'34.932
3 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.042
4 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1'35.060
5 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1'35.080
6 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'35.085
7 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'35.262
8 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'35.278
9 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'35.424
10 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'35.548
11 23 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.550
12 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'35.598
13 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.634
14 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.756
15 194 Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'35.766
16 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'35.766
17 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'35.892
18 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.939
19 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'36.066
20 131 Morales C. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'36.070
21 38 Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'36.088
22 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'36.150
23 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'36.268
24 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'36.305
25 16 Fuertes S. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'36.711
26 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'36.749
27 77 Napoleone L. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'37.288
28 37 Lozano Ortiz D. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.381
29 22 Morelli L. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.660
30 88 Aoyama S. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.958

Supersport
1 88 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.773
2 18 Jones C. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.068
3 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'37.233
4 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R6 1'37.436
5 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.449
6 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.538
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.551
8 9 Walker C. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'37.810
9 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.899
10 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'37.985
11 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R6 1'38.007
12 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.042
13 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.108
14 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R6 1'38.211
15 81 Gowland G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.255
16 38 Leblanc G. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.263
17 47 Clementi I. (ITA) Triumph 675 1'38.315
18 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Triumph 675 1'38.565
19 17 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.604
20 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.628
21 31 Kallio V. (FIN) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.659
22 147 Rodriguez A. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R6 1'38.666
23 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph 675 1'38.739
24 121 Vincent A. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'38.791
25 37 De Angelis W. (RSM) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.872
26 15 Talmacsi G. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.083
27 57 Dionisi I. (ITA) Triumph 675 1'39.324
28 32 Giansanti M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.330
29 44 Salom D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R6 1'39.486
30 4 Alfonsi L. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.578
31 83 Van Keymeulen D. (BEL) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'39.661
32 75 Nedog L. (SLO) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.710
33 51 Barragan S. (ESP) Honda CBR600RR 1'40.070
34 82 Bonastre A. (ESP) Honda CBR600RR 1'40.431
35 199 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'40.628
36 72 Magda A. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 1'41.151

[ChrisS]

Nieto and Xaus that I expected to be right at the top are not doing that well especially compared to the other Suzuki and Ducati bikes. Biaggi isnt doing well either but he is recovering from an injury so thats expected.

Pitt the fastest in Supersport he said he talked to Charpentier before qualifying, and he helped him a lot

[maxu05]

I think it's great to see the field shuffled around a bit, it can only make for a more interesting race IMO, and will make sure that who ever wins the title this year will have certainly earned it. Good to see Pitty doing well in WSS, just hope it translates into a win on Sunday. Also Happy to see Fujiwara up there on the Kawasaki, just don't any of you tell him about my signature :laugh:

[Mach24]

Regis is doing OK in the WSBK times.

You would expect times to improve marginally today, can Regi go with them?

[Mach24]

1 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.418
2 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'34.546
3 57 L. LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'34.587
4 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1'34.607
5 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'34.762
6 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'34.922
7 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1'34.936
8 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1'35.004
9 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'35.008
10 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.148
11 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo's Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'35.193
12 100 M. TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'35.209
13 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'35.278
14 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'35.304
15 41 N. HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1'35.331
16 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1'35.380
17 36 G. LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.381
18 44 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.521
19 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.597
20 83 R. HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing - Bertocchi Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.692
21 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1'35.703
22 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1'35.766
23 16 S. FUERTES ESP Team Suzuki Motorrad Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'35.862
24 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr.Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.911

[maxu05]

The top ten is really different. What's with Nitro Nori ?

Yeah, what's wrong with my Nori? Corser's grid position not that good either so is it the Yamahas or the riders? Anyway, it's going to make for an interesting first lap, I can't wait!

[Mach24]

1 76 M.NEUKIRCHNER
2 34 Y. KAGAYAMA
3 21 T. BAYLISS
4 111 R. XAUS
5 57 L. LANZI
6 23 R. KIYONARI
7 7 C. CHECA
8 11 T. CORSER
9 3 M.BIAGGI
10 41 N. HAGA
11 84 M.FABRIZIO
12 100 M.TAMADA
13 10 F. NIETO
14 94 D. CHECA
15 55 R. LACONI
16 96 J. SMRZ

Full list including times available @ http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp?p_S_Campionato=SBK&p_Anno=2008&p_Round=ESP

Great depth in the 2008 field!

[The Phantom]

Thanks Mach,

Bayliss does it when it counts. Some fast guys starting down the order though!

Three races in and Alstare Suzuki are already having a vintage season!

[Mach24]

Lanzi, Bayliss, Corser.

Checa took out Max N on the last corner. Max lead all the way, bad move by Carlos Chucka!

[NinjaMaster]

How was the carnage!

Chubby is a freakin moron. My Dad said at mid distance when Carlos was picking his way through the field that his money was on him crashing. Clear proof that a Leopard can't change it's spots. :mad: (no offence Leopardsleeping. :) ) Unfortunately it took out a deserving winner in Neukirchner who rode extremely impressively. Congrats to Lanzi who had one of his irregular flash-of-brilliance rides to beat Bayliss. The mid-pack race was good too.

[maxu05]

Tried to watch on worldsbk.com, al I got was, Bayliss...blip..blop..aghhg...blip.........bufferi ng 26%..3%.35%........Blip........buffering...5%....6 7%.....2%...trying to reconect........blip.....blop.......buffering....6 %.. etc, etc. Damn it :angryfire

[ChrisS]

I've been watching worldsbk.com all day and didn't have a problem, I had a continues stream, even had the supersport stream in one window and ITV's F1 stream in another window at one point

Checa pulled some crazy passes today, shame what happened with Neukirchner though I dont blame Checa.

Lanzi seems to do better without the pressure of a factory team, Haga was nowhere all weekend ended up with a win. Bayliss went for points without pushing more than he had to.

In Supersport Lascorz leads the championship after his win.

[Roby44]

Poor Roby :( Better luck next time..

[patnicholls]

Eventful and good days racing although my team had an unfortunate disaster.

(the eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that Max Neukirchner is part of my team)

Aaaaaargh!

The guy's had one podium ever, three years ago, and never had a win. Takes pole, leads 22 laps and all but one corner of a 23-lap race. Checa's move wasn't at all malicious - in fact Checa had a brilliant weekend and without his last-corner error and race 2 engine cut-out it could genuinely have been a double win for him - but it was so unlucky for Max. Simply Checa's mistake which he couldn't avoid. It got worse as he broke his collarbone in the fall and missed race two. Here at PN Corse we're pretty upset about it, to be honest!

Joan Lascorz was excellent in the Supersport race for the win, and a special mention too for our former Fantasy League competitor Angel Rodriguez who took 8th in that race in his new guise as a Supersport runner.

[mx311]

and a special mention too for our former Fantasy League competitor Angel Rodriguez who took 8th in that race in his new guise as a Supersport runner.
Yeah Rodri did a great job in the Supersport race, I'm so proud of him. I was at the track for qualifying (couldn't attend raceday as I had an MX race to attend) and he was so disappointed with his qualifying effort but he had a fantastic race. Angel has really taken to Supersport, 3rd in the Spanish CEV championship last year and now a strong 8th in a World Supersport race. He's got a real shot at the CEV title this year and hopefully he can be full-time in WSS in '09, it's just nice to see him smiling again. :)

As for the actual WSBK races, well I only saw race 1 and I felt so bad for poor old Maxy N. Lead the race so well only to get taken out by a guy who should know better (and zero justice in the fact Carlos got up and finished 5th while Max DNF'ed). Good to see Lanzi win though, the guy's got so much talent, I'm just not too sure why he can't seem to put things together more often.

[Mach24]

This weekend further proved to me that WSBK is the best 2 wheel circuit racing action in World Motorsport at the moment.

With Supersport and Superstock 1000 on the card it makes for an impressive event!

[leopard]

How was the carnage!

Chubby is a freakin moron. My Dad said at mid distance when Carlos was picking his way through the field that his money was on him crashing. Clear proof that a Leopard can't change it's spots. :mad: (no offence Leopardsleeping. :) ) Unfortunately it took out a deserving winner in Neukirchner who rode extremely impressively. Congrats to Lanzi who had one of his irregular flash-of-brilliance rides to beat Bayliss. The mid-pack race was good too.
Who else at the table other than you and Dad when watching the race.? ;)

Anyone have the background of Max Neukirchner? I saw this guy strong also in the opening of this season, he only need better accomplishment at the end.
I don't think Francis will sign up a nobody rider.

[ChrisS]

Who else at the table other than you and Dad when watching the race.? ;)

Anyone have the background of Max Neukirchner? I saw this guy strong also in the opening of this season, he only need better accomplishment at the end.
I don't think Francis will sign up a nobody rider.

He is a very promising young rider that seems to never have luck on his side. He joined SBK with Klaffi Honda in 05 and had a good rookie season, he looked set to remain with the team in 06 but then Barros joined Klaffi. Initially Klaffi wanted to run two bikes and it looked like a good thing for Max because Barros brought extra support from Honda but then Klaffi said they couldnt enter two bikes and dropped Max only a short time before the start of the season.

He found a ride at Pedercini Ducati but the bike was not competitive. He left Pedercini and joined Alstare Engineering (Alstare Suzuki's 3rd bike) in the middle of the 06 season and that's the team and bike he has been using ever since, basically an older version of the bike the Alstare Suzuki riders are using

[Mach24]

He left Pedercini and joined Alstare Engineering (Alstare Suzuki's 3rd bike) in the middle of the 06 season and that's the team and bike he has been using ever since, basically an older version of the bike the Alstare Suzuki riders are using

Max's bike is the '07 Factory bike, fully prepared and maintained by Alstare.

(I'm not taking away from his effort in any way in stating this)

[ChrisS]

Max's bike is the '07 Factory bike, fully prepared and maintained by Alstare.

(I'm not taking away from his effort in any way in stating this)

Thats what I meant, not that he is riding the same bike he was riding in 06,

In 06 his Suzuki was an in house developed and maintained Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 non-factory bike.

In 07 his Suzuki was an 06 Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 in a separately run team funded by Suzuki Germany.

In 08 his Suzuki is an 07 Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 developed and maintained by Alstare

[maxu05]

Like getting your older brothers clothes after he's grown out of them :D Credit to him though, he is really riding well, pity that Chucka knocked him off though.

[leopard]

Actually Alstare can sign up two Maxs this year. The younger Max will get benefit from the older's popularity. I think that dynamic duo would be good to marketing Suzuki and all alstare product.

Biaggi might not be the fastest rider out there, but Suzuki is more friendly drive than the Duke, he's supposed to get stronger in the second season from last year's third.

Ah, don't cry over spiltmilk, Biaggi struggles again now.

[Roby44]

Like getting your older brothers clothes after he's grown out of them :D Credit to him though, he is really riding well, pity that Chucka knocked him off though.


You could see it coming though couldn't you!! :eek:

Poor Max, but at least he knows now that he can actually be at the pointy end of a race, so it may do his confidence the world of good. Let's hope anyway..

Roby was doing ok in the first race..Maybe he was missing me!! :p :

[Roby44]

Actually Alstare can sign up two Maxs this year. The younger Max will get benefit from the older's popularity. I think that dynamic duo would be good to marketing Suzuki and all alstare product.

Biaggi might not be the fastest rider out there, but Suzuki is more friendly drive than the Duke, he's supposed to get stronger in the second season from last year's third.

Ah, don't cry over spiltmilk, Biaggi struggles again now.

Was Max's bad day due to the bike or his injury?? :confused:


You have to give him credit for staying out there in the first race though. He could have easily come in and rested his wrist. But he is a racer at heart..Well done Max.. :)

[ChrisS]

Actually, Nieto brought the pepe sponsorship (that also sponsors Barbera in 250). Max Neukirchner brought the Dark Horse sponsorship and of course Kagayama is a Suzuki favourite so from a marketing point of view this is a better lineup

Biaggi's Ducati is a great bike, unfortunately it had one mechanical problem during superpole in Australia and everything that happened since then is because of that. Biaggi had to start from 16th and he pushed so hard to catch up that he crushed out, twice, as a result he got injured. Because he was injured he wasn't able to test like most of the other riders and wasn't fit for the race so he wasn't competitive.

[maxu05]

Max will be back, he doesn't know how to quit, I'll give him that.

[The Phantom]

Good to see Lanzi win though, the guy's got so much talent, I'm just not too sure why he can't seem to put things together more often.

The interesting thing about Lanzi winning is that now the Duc will get the weight penalty because of its success so far this year... had Checa and Max finished I think the weight penalty would have been avoided?

[Roby44]

I haven't heard the whole story about this weight penalty for Ducati if they came in 1 . 2..

What's it all about...

[ChrisS]

from what the commentators were saying Ducati had to finish 1-2 in both races to get the penalty.

I'm not sure the penalty is needed though. Ducati dominated so far but if you think about it they did their job right and had a race bike ready from round 1 while the rest (excluting Suzuki) didnt

Honda was running undeveloped bikes, now that got some testing and development done the bike was flying, and they can get more out of it. Yamaha went backwards and started the season with the same problems they had in the start of 2007. Kawasaki, despite some talk about more factory support during the pre season, PSG-1 is pretty much on its own.

[NinjaMaster]

from what the commentators were saying Ducati had to finish 1-2 in both races to get the penalty.

I'm not sure the penalty is needed though. Ducati dominated so far but if you think about it they did their job right and had a race bike ready from round 1 while the rest (excluting Suzuki) didnt

Honda was running undeveloped bikes, now that got some testing and development done the bike was flying, and they can get more out of it. Yamaha went backwards and started the season with the same problems they had in the start of 2007. Kawasaki, despite some talk about more factory support during the pre season, PSG-1 is pretty much on its own.
Not to mention that the depth of rider talent on Duc's this year is pretty handy.

[ChrisS]

worldsbk.com officially reports that the weight and the size of the air intake restrictors on the twins wont be changed.

http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/news_ext.php?id=2192&cat_id=1