Don't forget that he led from flag to flag after qualifying second on the grid too... on a bike he hadn't ridden in several years.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Phantom
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Don't forget that he led from flag to flag after qualifying second on the grid too... on a bike he hadn't ridden in several years.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Phantom
Yep, and in a race which had two riders racing for a championship and a whole bunch of other riders trying to consolidate or lift their final championship positions... I don't think Bayliss has anything left to prove.
Having said that... I do think that the vast majority of Superbike riders (from all championships not just WSB) are going to struggle in MotoGP. Different tracks, different vibe, but it's mainly the bikes. Like going from a McLaren F1 racing series to Formula 1, the machine is so vastly different that it's hard to get your head around it.
Also corner speed has always been an issue for WSB guys going to GP. The tiddler classes help riders develop high cornering speed technique, and production classes that feed WSB just can't get near the handling of true GP bikes. Although, the gap is narrowing every year as production engineering feeds on prototype race success - no doubt the R6 is competitive these days due to the M1 program.
And this last sentence might hold the key for JT and Ten Kate - after all, if Yamaha can build a fast 600 with feedback from the MotoGP program to challenge Ten Kate, surely that means Ten Kate have a fair bit of what it takes to succeed in MotoGP? That would be half the battle for JT.
If guys like JT don't have a go, MotoGP will become largely a Spain vs. Italy affair, as there is a huge number of talented youngsters coming up to push the likes of Barros, KrJr, Checa etc. out the door. Dorna needs blood from other series to even things out a little.
Dorna is very keen on getting British riders on the grid, and I believe they played a part in getting McWilliams the (ill fated) Ilmor ride. In a time when sponsorship money is a thorny issue for the whole paddock, Dorna realises that British money is very much an untapped source of icome, and to get at that money they need British riders on the grid.
It certainly is, and in a sport which rates pretty highly in the British conscious.Quote:
British money is very much an untapped source of i(n)come
Triumph is doing ok, perhaps they should sponsor a MotoGP team! ; )
They can't even be bothered to put a factory British Supersport effort together!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Corny
I would not bet against you and feel the same but maybe this time.........
Yes! He should.. Ten Kate should start a customer Honda team and give rides to Jimbob and Kenan Sofalofawhataever :D Then bring on a customer Corona Suzuki team with Max Biaggi and maybe one other and the grid will be filling up in no time..
This sounds call Kenan with a bit sentiment :D
Ten Kate should stay at World SBK since they are production bike (Honda) tunersQuote:
Originally Posted by tha_jackal
I would love to see famous tuners going head to head at World SBK, Ten Kate Honda, Moriwaki Honda, Yoshimura Suzuki, Muzzy Kawasaki ...
I agree, that would be cool. Add Castrol Honda (Neil Tuxworth's team) to the list - I believe they are still a going concern, running one of the BSB Honda teams?Quote:
Ten Kate Honda, Moriwaki Honda, Yoshimura Suzuki, Muzzy Kawasaki