SBK Assen 2008

[ChrisS]

We didnt have a chance to talk about it before the races but the races were so good they deserve a thread.

Race 1 was a relatively easy win for Bayliss as Haga went out early on and took Xaus out with him. Kagayama and Neukircher could mix it up with Bayliss early on but following Yuki's mistake Bayliss took the lead and never looked back (well actually he was looking back a lot, strange for Bayliss). Checa was very careful in overtaking Neukircher but he did eventually for 2nd.

Race 2 was a much harder race for Bayliss. He took the lead from the start but Haga was keeping up. Bayliss tried to make a break for it but Haga was able to come back in the last 2 laps and the 2 riders past the finish line 0.082s apart.

Xaus and Neukirchner were fighting for 3rd as Checa was catching up with them. He ovetook Max with 2 to go and Ruben on the last lap to finish 3rd.
Move of the race was Neukirchner and Xaus passing Troy Corser into the final chicane, one from the inside the other from the outside.

The Supersport race may be one of the best races ever, in any category. Halfway trough the race the last rider of the leading pack was 16th :eek: The Ten Kate riders were always there but at least 4 other riders seemed capable for the win. There were to many great moves and moments to list.

Pitt won 0.014s ahead of Rea, top six were covered by less than half a second and top 10 by 10s. amazing racing. I had to go and watch F1 to calm my self down after that race.

[T-D]

what is wrong with us? all the attention to boring motogp meanwhile wsbk is putting on spine-tingling races. wss, wat to say but :wow:

i love that in wsbk the small teams can come to the fore fairly rapidly.

[Corny]

Bayliss took his advantage on the outcoming of the corners, while Haga was stronger on the brakes.. That was clear to see from my point of view in Assen :)

BTW, did anyone see the pass of Haga on Xaus? You simply DON'T pass there! No wonder he's so populair

[Wim_Impreza]

Yes, Haga was a bit too optimistic there. Anyway, the races were good. Biaggi was in both races behind Smrz, surprising news.

Bayliss is dominating, as I expected before the year. The 1200 Ducati is too strong and Bayliss is off course already a legend.

The Supersport was indeed so amazing.

I am looking forward to the races in Monza.

[patnicholls]

The Supersport race was one of the best races I've ever seen in anything, an absolute classic.

Yeah and the Superbike ones were very good too, race one was close until Yukio slipped back half-way through.

Good times for us as bike fans!

[T-D]

Yes, Haga was a bit too optimistic there. Anyway, the races were good. Biaggi was in both races behind Smrz, surprising news.

Bayliss is dominating, as I expected before the year. The 1200 Ducati is too strong and Bayliss is off course already a legend.

The Supersport was indeed so amazing.

I am looking forward to the races in Monza.i hope that you are not suggesting that the ducati are unfairly advantaged. despite lanzi's win, bayliss has been the only consistent ducati frontman. the hondas are faster in outright speed. the yams are race winners in haga's hand and the kwaks are much improved over past seasons.

this is not the wsbk "ducati cup" of years gone by.

[ChrisS]

The problem isn't only Ducati and Bayliss are too strong. Its also the rest. They keep giving away points to Bayliss

Ten Kate only got delivery of their 2008 bikes in February and were not ready in time for Qatar. Since then the bike is slowly being sorted and Checa is getting good finishes. Checa also gifted Bayliss a 2nd place in Spain when he took Neukircher out

Similarly Yamaha Italia and Hage had problems sorting their bike in the first rounds and then Haga crashed out of race 1 of the last 2 rounds. given his form in race 2 of those rounds Haga potentially gave away 50 points

In Suzuki, Kagayama already retired twice and missed 2 races because of injury. Neukirchner was taken out a few meters before a race win and had to miss 1 race because of injury. Nieto is inconsistent

[maxu05]

I thought the second race of the SBK was awesome, especially the last 2 laps with Nori hounding Troy, what an awesome finish, and you could see the respect they have for each other when they jumped off the bikes, great to see. The SS race was just the best race I think I have seen in a long, long time. Nostradamus couldn't have picked that one, it was amazing,close and full on racing. I can't wait for the next round.

I texted a friend after seeing the superpole results "who's going to take who out early in race one". Very disappointed that Nori and Xaus were the ones. Nori and Bayliss are just fabulous to watch when up front as in race two. :s mokin: My stress level rises rapidly when I see my favourite rider mixing it with Xaus, Kagayama, or Biaggi. I'd like to think it always their fault when there is an incident but my man Nori has to put his hand up sometimes. Anyway, great racing in SBK and SS.

[Corny]

Yes, Haga was a bit too optimistic there.


I mean race 2's pass ;) On the fastest corner of the circuit..

[Wim_Impreza]

i hope that you are not suggesting that the ducati are unfairly advantaged. despite lanzi's win, bayliss has been the only consistent ducati frontman. the hondas are faster in outright speed. the yams are race winners in haga's hand and the kwaks are much improved over past seasons.

this is not the wsbk "ducati cup" of years gone by.

What I would say here, is that Bayliss is absolutely brilliant. 39 years and still so fast.

Ok Corny, I didn't see that because I had visit by both races. ;)

[Corny]

http://video.google.nl/videoplay?docid=-8950148121232256761

My movie from Assen's WSBK.. There are some family and friends in, but it's almost all about bikes ;)