Bench Racing & The Morning Reads

“The rideability of the bike has improved a lot and I have the feeling that we made good progress over the course of the tests."

This one quote has my hopes up for a BMW Superbike revival. Over the past couple of months, the fact that once the riders get to the ragged edge, the bike tosses 'em like an 8 second bull rider whose been on for 2 seconds was a concern. I was wondering if BMW would ever get this bike to a point where the rider felt like he was in control.

Mika, in your opinion, does BMW have a chance of being on the podium in say four or five of the upcoming races?

I was very impressed with the fact that for a first year go-fast, the BMW showed well. Yet many have expressed dissatisfaction that Troy and Ruben were not on the podium in many of the races. Personally, I am happy that the BMW is coming of age. Can it handle the DUC, YAMY or any of the other ground pounders?

And... how soon will we know? After this race? Next year?

The honest answer is I don't know.

My best guess is as they get to the mid season break things will start coming together they will move up in the standings. New management will present more problems than it will solve in the begining. I still hope they have a programer that rides. Then they have to figure out the black box and get everything hooked up.

[QUOTE=Mika;554305]
[img]http://motorcycledaily.com/022410bottom.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

uh-oh......

[QUOTE=Visian;554681]uh-oh......[/QUOTE]Man, that is one fugly bike. Looks like a GS mated with a rhinoceros. :ha

[QUOTE=tessler;554683]Man, that is one fugly bike. Looks like a GS mated with a rhinoceros. :ha[/QUOTE]

one doesn't buy these bikes for how they look..... :evil


[SIZE="1"](actually, people buy these bikes because it make them look like they're tough off-roaders...)[/SIZE] :burnout

[QUOTE=Visian;554713]one doesn't buy these bikes for how they look..... :evil


[SIZE="1"](actually, people buy these bikes because it make them look like they're tough off-roaders...)[/SIZE] :burnout[/QUOTE]Then the rumor is true... They buy them for how they [I]taste!
[/I]

Corser and Xaus pick up the new season much as they left oft the last. They have made it to the superpole but are on the outside of the top ten. The surprise is Haga and Biaggi had been fifth and sixth respectivley on Friday and now sit 14th and 16th behind Corser who holds down 13th.

The start of the season is always full of surprises.


Saturday, 27 February 2010 04:15
After heavy overnight rains and cool track conditions visited Phillip Island, Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) held on for the fastest combined qualifying time, with only Superpole for the top 20 riders set to determine the shape of the final starting grid.

On a dry but cool track surface today, Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) also had to rely on their Friday best times for second and third best overall lap times.

Cal Crutchlow (Sterilgarda Yamaha) was the best of the riders who improved in the final qualifying session, fourth fastest, while Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) also found a bit more pace today, to go fifth. Despite a painful crash on the first day, James Toseland (Sterilgarda Yamaha) bounced back to score a top six finish in the pre-Superpole charts. Local rider Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) qualified eighth. The top 17 riders qualified within 0.729 of each other.

All the factory riders made it into the final Superpole 20, with the privateer riders who missed out being Josh Brookes (Honda), Vittorio Iannuzzo (Honda) and the Kawasaki pairing of Matteo Baiocco and Roger Lee Hayden.

1 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1'32.155 1'32.227 1'32.155 173,642 45
2 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1'32.162 1'33.099 1'32.162 0.007 0.007 173,629 39
3 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'32.373 1'32.436 1'32.373 0.218 0.211 173,232 41
4 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1'33.038 1'32.446 1'32.446 0.291 0.073 173,096 45
5 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'32.902 1'32.448 1'32.448 0.293 0.002 173,092 47
6 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1'33.422 1'32.455 1'32.455 0.300 0.007 173,079 25
7 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.884 1'32.460 1'32.460 0.305 0.005 173,069 52
8 77 C. VERMEULEN AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'33.389 1'32.500 1'32.500 0.345 0.040 172,995 45
9 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'33.296 1'32.548 1'32.548 0.393 0.048 172,905 44
10 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1098R 1'32.905 1'32.571 1'32.571 0.416 0.023 172,862 38
11 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1'33.454 1'32.620 1'32.620 0.465 0.049 172,770 34
12 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1'32.635 1'33.695 1'32.635 0.480 0.015 172,742 47
13 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1'33.512 1'32.684 1'32.684 0.529 0.049 172,651 39
14 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1'32.703 1'32.751 1'32.703 0.548 0.019 172,616 48
15 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'33.492 1'32.806 1'32.806 0.651 0.103 172,424 36
16 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'32.850 1'33.637 1'32.850 0.695 0.044 172,342 46
17 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1'33.960 1'32.884 1'32.884 0.729 0.034 172,279 40
18 123 R. RESCH AUT Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 1'34.065 1'33.390 1'33.390 1.235 0.506 171,346 24
19 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1'33.984 1'33.396 1'33.396 1.241 0.006 171,335 23
20 88 A. PITT AUS Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 1'33.940 1'33.396 1'33.396 1.241 0.000 171,335 44
21 25 J. BROOKES AUS ECHO CRS Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.663 1'33.901 1'33.901 1.746 0.505 170,414 44
22 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA S.C.I. Honda Garvie Image Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.417 1'34.248 1'34.248 2.093 0.347 169,786 37
23 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'35.892 1'35.297 1'35.297 3.142 1.049 167,917 48
24 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'36.113 1'35.614 1'35.614 3.459 0.317 167,360 46

BMWÔÇÖs press release after free practice on Friday.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport - Superbike World Championship - Phillip Island - Qualifying Practice 1
ÔÇó 26.02.2010
ÔÇó Press Release
Weather conditions: Sunny, hot.
Temperature: Air: 29 ÔÇô 33 ??C, Track: 43 ÔÇô 54 ??C
Number of riders participating: 24 from 14 teams
Fastest lap Free Practice: Leon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1:32.468 min
Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:32.155 min


Programme:
An unlucky start to the 2010 season for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport: In total, Ruben Xaus (ESP) was only able to complete ten laps today as he fell off his BMW S 1000 RR three times. Like most of the riders, Troy Corser (AUS) struggled with the grip level during both the Free Practice and the Qualifying Practice 1 session. Troy crashed shortly before the end of todayÔÇÖs Qualifying Practice session. Neither Troy nor Ruben suffered any major injuries. While Troy finished the first Qualifying Practice session of the year in 16th position, Ruben made it to 19th overall.


Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:34.008 min / Fastest lap Qualifying Practice: 1:33.512 min
ÔÇ£We had some problems with the grip and with the position of the bike in the first session. We basically changed the settings of the rear shock and the front fork. We also changed the clutch to something we used last year. My confidence was better immediately. Still, we lacked grip at the beginning of the second session. Again, we changed the shock setting. The bike then felt easier to control and the grip was better. At the end of the Qualifying Practice we fitted new race tyres to the bike. I had more grip immediately. I just arrived a little too fast in turn 10 and lost both front and rear at the same time.ÔÇØ


Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:33.692 min / Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 1:33.984 min
ÔÇ£Today simply was not my day. During last weekÔÇÖs testing we completed nearly 150 laps without any major issues and today I crashed three times. Usually you crash when you push to the limit, but I did not risk anything when I fell off. I braked at the same points as before. We now have to look into the data and see what we can find out. However, I feel really sorry for the team.ÔÇØ


Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager):
ÔÇ£It is obviously difficult to see something positive on a day you have four crashes. However, Troy crashed on his quickest lap during todayÔÇÖs Qualifying Practice. He was on to finish in the top eight. Ruben crashed right at the start of both sessions. At that time he was fifth and sixth respectively. It is good that the riders are confident with the sitting on the bike. We trust in them.ÔÇØ



This is a working weekend for me I will post updates when I can.

[QUOTE=Visian;554713]one doesn't buy these bikes for how they look..... :evil


[SIZE="1"](actually, people buy these bikes because it make them look like they're tough off-roaders...)[/SIZE] :burnout[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=tessler;554683]Man, that is one fugly bike. Looks like a GS mated with a rhinoceros. :ha[/QUOTE]

Fugly or not if it comes to this market it is going to give the GS a run for its money especially if they price it right.

Corser holds at P13 while Xaus moves up to P15 in the Superpole round. The satellite team of Pitt and Resch hold down P19 and 20.

[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/1548-haslam-takes-his-first-ever-superpole-win.html]Haslam takes his first ever Superpole[/url]

1 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'31.229
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'31.245
3 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.642
4 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'31.671
5 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'31.696
6 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'31.757
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.912
8 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'32.019
9 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.205
10 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'32.229
11 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'32.293
12 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'32.398
[b]13 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.430[/b]
14 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'32.561
[b]15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.842 [/b]
16 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'32.895
17 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.782
18 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'32.823
[b]19 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'33.207
20 123 Resch R. (AUT) BMW S1000 RR 1'33.390 [/b]
21 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'33.901
22 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.248
23 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'35.297
24 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'35.614

[b] BMW Motorrad Motorsport - Superbike World Championship - Phillip Island ÔÇô Superpole[/b]
ÔÇó 27.02.2010
ÔÇó Press Release
Weather conditions: Overcast, windy.
Temperature: Air: 22 ÔÇô 26 ??C, Track: 28 ÔÇô 41 ??C
Number of riders participating: 24 from 14 teams
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:32.155 min
Fastest lap Superpole 3: Leon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1:31.229 min

Both BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Troy Corser (AUS) and Ruben Xaus (ESP) qualified for the inaugural 2010 World Superbike Superpole. Troy finished the Qualifying Practice as 13th, Ruben set the 19th fastest time. In Superpole, both riders made it to Superpole 2 and set their fastest laps on race tyres respectively. While Troy qualified for starting position 13, Ruben qualified 15th.


Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:32.684 min / Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:32.985 min / Fastest lap Superpole 2: 1:32.430 min
ÔÇ£We made good steps forward with the bikeÔÇÖs settings today, and I feel more confident. We also slowly improved our lap times over the course of the day. We just needed to set quicker lap times as we mostly were in the 1:34s and 1:33s.In the first session of the Superpole we had to use a qualifying tyre just to make sure to stay in the competition. Actually I set my fastest time of the Superpole on race tyres. Of course, I am a little disappointed with the starting position, but if I get a good start I am confident to set good lap times.ÔÇØ


Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:33.396 min / Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:33.583 min / Fastest lap Superpole 2: 1:32.842 min
ÔÇ£With every session this weekend we have been making positive steps forward. The championship is really tight this year with a lot of fast young riders coming through, but this only makes me try harder, and itÔÇÖs good for the championship. If I get a good start tomorrow I am confident we can come away from here with a good set of results. A big Thank you to my crew. They did a fantastic job so far.ÔÇØ


Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager):
ÔÇ£We made a step ahead although todayÔÇÖs qualifying times donÔÇÖt reflect that too much. For some reason we struggled with the qualifying tyres, and both riders set their fastest lap in todayÔÇÖs Superpole on race tyres. Apart from the starting position we are in a comfortable situation for tomorrow. The team will do their best to finish the races in the best possible positions.ÔÇØ

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/WSBK-2010/P90057529-zoom/798104407_dGcvp-O.jpg[/img]

t took a look at the photo finish image to split Leon Haslam from his race long rival Michel Fabrizio, but by only 0.004 seconds the Alstare Suzuki rider was given the win.

Haslam added his first career win to his first ever pole position start, to take an early championship lead.

Fabrizio was originally given the win but after close inspection of the finish images, the victory was awarded to Haslam.

Noriyuki Haga took his Ducati to third, following the leading battle closely throughout.

Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi, Sylvain Guintoli and Carlos Checa battled over fourth, with Jakub Smrz, Troy Corser and Lorenzo Lanzi completing the top ten


Sunday, 28 February 2010 03:07
1 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 34'13.435 (171,442 kph)
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 0.004
3 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 0.769
4 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 10.201
5 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 10.782
6 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 11.079
7 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 11.208
8 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 16.522
9 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 20.291
10 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 26.352
11 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 29.775
12 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 30.155
13 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 31.951
14 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 31.957
15 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 55.082
16 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'10.932
17 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'11.237
18 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'17.357
19 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1
RET 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1

SUNDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2010 07:45
Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) won a thrilling race two at Phillip Island, by only 0.307 from Leon Haslam, who he passed on the final section of the track.

Third went to seasoned rider Michel Fabrizio, but a great ride from new SBK rider Sylvain Guintoli put him fourth on his Suzuki in only his fourth ever SBK event - 0.837 from a win. Noriyuki Haga was fifth, Jonathan Rea heading up a busy and exciting midfield battle in sixth.

Sunday, 28 February 2010 07:16
1 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 34'16.428 (171,192 kph)
2 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 0.307
3 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 0.434
4 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 0.837
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 3.453
6 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 11.530
[b]7 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 12.026[/b]
8 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 13.068
9 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 14.401
10 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 14.707
11 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 14.743
12 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 14.851
13 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 15.143
14 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 30.947
[b]15 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 41.855 [/b]
16 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 48.844
17 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'06.866
18 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'07.751
RET 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R

[b]World Superbike[/b]

An exciting start to the WSBK season with Haslam taking a photo finish victory in race one and privateer [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/1562-privateer-checa-wins-second-race-at-pi.html]Carlos Checa[/url] taking race two. The [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/1567-fabrizio-and-haga-power-their-ducati-1198-bikes-to-three-podium-finishes.html]Ducati Xerox[/url] team was on the podium three times this weekend. Noriyuki Haga, picked by in every preseason pole I read to take this yearÔÇÖs title, was rear ended by Ruben Xaus in the warm ups for race 1. Xaus sat out for the weekend while Haga was able to race but only took a fifth in the first race.

On the bright side for the BMW team [url=http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/157305/1/corser_almost_repeats_fastest_lap_feat.html]Corser was one of only three riders who scored their best lap time in race conditions[/url]. Qualifying is incredibly important for race results but races are what score championship points. On the down side as you read the reports from BMW and CorserÔÇÖs web page you will hear echoes of last seasons problems still lingering as this season begins. If we are to believe Corser the bike has made great progress but the disconnects between power potential and race results linger.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport - Superbike World Championship - Phillip Island - Races
ÔÇó 28.02.2010
ÔÇó Press Release
Weather conditions: Overcast in the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon, windy.
Temperature: Air: 19 ÔÇô 21 ??C, Track: 21 ÔÇô 33 ??C
Number of riders participating: 22 from 14 teams
Fastest lap Race 1: Leon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1:32.193 min
Fastest lap Race 2: Sylvain Guintoli (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1:32.236 min


A good end of a tough start at the 2010 Superbike World Championship season opener for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport: While Ruben Xaus (ESP) did not race today, Troy Corser (AUS) finished twice in the top ten.

Warm Up: Ruben collided with Ducati Xerox Team rider Noriyuki Haga (JPN) just before turn 1. Luckily, neither of the riders suffered any serious injuries. However, Ruben felt disoriented after the collision. After consultation with team doctor Dr. Vincenzo Tota and the team management, Ruben decided not to participate in todayÔÇÖs races.

Race 1: Troy started well into the race, moving up six positions from 13th to 7th. The Australian ended up in 9th position, while Leon Haslam (GBR, Team Suzuki Alstare) won the race in a photo finish four thousands of a second in front of Italian Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team).

Race 2: At the start, Troy tried to ride on the outside of turn 1, but had to go wide in order not to touch the competitor in front. Troy finished the race in 7th position. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) won the race.

Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Result Race 1: 9th, Gap to 1st: 00:20.291 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:32.820 min
Result Race 2: 7th, Gap to 1st: 00:12.026 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:32.256 min
ÔÇ£I had a good start in the first race and gained a couple of positions. Unfortunately the tyre dropped quite quickly, and I was unable to push as much as I wanted but it was still a good result. We changed the position of the bike a little bit before the start of the second race and things were a lot better. The grip was a lot better immediately, and it was easier to do consistent lap times. I was able to push and fight in the second race like I wanted to in race 1. I had to work really hard to pass James Toseland towards the end of race 2 but I did and managed to pull away slightly. Overall, we can be happy with what we achieved here today at Phillip Island.ÔÇØ

Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Results Races: Did not start.
ÔÇ£During Warm Up, when I was behind Nori just before turn 2, I felt aspiration. When you hit the brake there, normally you have head wind from the sea. This time I was unable to avoid him and hit his bike. This weekend things went completely wrong. I feel sorry for Nori, for my team and for BMW, as I was not able to manage the situation well over the course of the weekend. I now have to recover.ÔÇØ

Berthold Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director):
ÔÇ£The weekend was like a roller coaster. We had a lot of difficulties to fight with: We had to manage the pressure on the team, we faced some technical issues and of course I feel sorry for Ruben who decided not to race due to his crash in todayÔÇÖs Warm Up session. However, the team kept focussed and did a fantastic job. We are definitely closer to the top teams than last year. Thanks to everybody in the team, and thanks to Troy who had a great race in race 2. We can now travel back to Europe with our heads held high. Also congratulations to Reitwagen Racing who did a really good job this weekend.


Troycorser.com: A pair of top nine finishes for Troy

Troy started this yearÔÇÖs Superbike World Championship with two solid top nine finishes at Phillip Island today. He took a hard-fought for ninth in race one and then improved to finish seventh in race two. But almost more importantly, Troy felt comfortable with bike in race two for the first time this year and is now looking forward to continuing that feeling in the next race in Portimao at the end of March.

Briton Leon Haslam (Suzuki) won the first race, by the narrowest of margins - just four thousandths of a second separated him and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) at the flag. Third was Noriyuki Haga (Ducati), with Jonathan Rea (Honda) fourth - some way behind. Haslam led the last lap of race two, but Spaniard Carlos Checa (Ducati) dived underneath him at the bottom of Lukey Heights and held on to take the win. Third was Fabrizio, with Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki) fourth.

Troy - Race 1: 9th, Race 2: 7th
I suppose you could say I am half happy. I wasnÔÇÖt so happy with the first race because we struggled a bit with the settings of the bike and the way the tyre worked. I wasnÔÇÖt comfortable on the bike and didnÔÇÖt feel confident about pushing it. The last thing I wanted to do was crash in the first race and mess up the second.

We made some changes to the settings and balance of the bike for race two and the tyre felt much more consistent and I could actually race the bike! I havenÔÇÖt felt that recently and so it was a good feeling to get to that situation again and just focus on the racing.

I think my results today, particularly race two, were important for the team, but I wanted more. I know that there is more to come and the good news is that we have discovered a lot of useful info about which directions to take and hopefully we will see the fruits of all this work in the next race in Portimao.

I feel sorry for Ruben today, because he has lost some of his confidence with all the crashes he had yesterday. He had a heavy fall in the morning warm-up today and it was decided that he sat out the races. I think this was the right decision and I hope he will be back and fighting fit for the next round. As a team we are further forward than last year. Our lap times are faster than last year. We have a lot more experience under our belts and although there is still lots to do, I think that the new technician (Max) is already working very well with the team and coming up with ideas and some solutions. Physically I felt pretty good after the second race, so good that I think I couldÔÇÖve done another one! I have been training a lot recently and although IÔÇÖm staying in Australia for a few weeks, my trainer friend Kayo and our BMW doctor have worked out a programme for me and thatÔÇÖs what I will be doing, as well as spending time with my family and friends of course.

See ya, Troy

[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/motorsports/superbike/news_reports/news.jsp&id=548&notrack=1]bmw-motorrad.com[/url]: Super seventh for Troy at Phillip Island!
201 Superbike World Championship, race report from Phillip island, Australia

Kawasaki-Racing Team
[b]Sykes Scores In First Race Of 2010 Season[/b]
WSBK, Phillip Island, Australia, 28 February 2010
Kawasaki Racing Team riders Tom Sykes and Chris Vermeulen found the opening race weekend a challenging one, but Sykes got into the points in the first leg after qualifying on row three.

Sykes was a fighting 13th in the 22-lap race, but Vermeulen fell while trying to move forward from seventh, crashing out on lap four. Tom was forced out of the second race when a small technical issue caused him to enter the pits, restart, and finally retire.

Chris fell in race two after being in fourth for a period of time, sliding off at high speed at the Hayshed corner on lap eight.

Chris was checked over by the track medics, and was found to have suffered heavy bruising to his right leg and had also damaged a finger.

The team now goes to Portimao for the next round knowing that it has made great progress in real terms on track, and hoping for a change in raceday fortunes. The team has previously tested at Portimao, which will help their pre-race preparations greatly.

Tom Sykes: ÔÇ£In race one we made some changes to the set-up and but it didnÔÇÖt suit the tyre we used. In race two we got a good launch, but got boxed in and pushed out on to the dirty stuff, along with another couple of riders. So I went from thinking I would be sixth to being 15th. The bike was feeling good but when I went into the final two corners it felt like someone was pushing me from behind. I came back in and checked the bike, then went back out again before retiring. It was just a ten cent o-ring for the steering damper, causing the steering to feel strange sometimes. Otherwise, the bike was very good and giving me a strong race pace in race two. This whole Australian experience has been a good test period for us and I know that we go to Portimao having learned a lot. I would like to thank Kawasaki and the team for the amount of effort they have put in.ÔÇØ

Chris Vermeulen: ÔÇ£I was feeling positive for the race after our two-day test and qualifying sessions. In both races I had really good starts but in the first race I lost the front early on when lying 7th and in race two I had a problem that resulted in a high-speed crash. IÔÇÖm bruised and battered but am feeling OK, considering the speed of the crash. I had heavy impact on my lower right leg and my finger is pretty smashed up. The preliminary X-rays have shown no breaks but for a precaution I am heading to Melbourne for a more detailed MRI scan. IÔÇÖm glad we have a month before Portimao, so I can ensure that I am back to full fitness.ÔÇØ

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1267367013/]fim-live.com[/url]: Rea takes fourth in opening race of 2010 season

[b]World SBK[/b]

[url=http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/157329/1/encouraged_pitt_scores_on_reitwagen_debut.html]crash.net[/url]: ÔÇÿEncouragedÔÇÖ Pitt scores on Reitwagen debut

[url=http://motoaus.com/race/race-news-and-features/wsbk-2010-phillip-island-gallery.html]motoaus.com[/url]: WSBK 2010 Phillip Island Gallery

[b]MotoGP[/b]

[url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/Dovizioso+after+Sepang]Dovisioso is happy with HondaÔÇÖs progress[/url]. Honda has changed everything about the bike down to even the riding position. With changes come ambitious sorting tests to verify what made sense in CAD program works on the track. [url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/Pedrosa+after+Sepang]Pedrosa[/url] is less sanguine about his Honda see improvements with electronics while calling for a lot of chassis work.

While the bike boys were busy with machines [url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/Bridgestone+pleased+with+Sepang+test]Bridgestone[/url], the series tyre supplier, was testing new slicks at Sepang.

[b]Formula 1[/b]

[url=http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/3/10481.html]Brawn[/url] says Mercedes is targeting victory in Bahrain. Winning is the ultimate goal every time you enter a race so that seems self evident. Yet while Brawn is stating the obvious Schumi has been telling the press not to expect much in the opener.

USF1 has petitioned the FIA to be allowed to miss the first four races. The car is still progressing and Speedtv is reporting that they had signed Rossiter as a driver in addition to Lopez. The tone of the article makes me chuckle. Is Speedtv finally catching up with a story that passed and lapped them more than once?

[b]On the Street[/b]

[url=http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/02/motoczysz-electric-d1g1tal-dr1.html]hellforleathermagazine.com[/url]: MotoCzysz electric D1g1tal Dr1ve: plug and play 100 hp electric power train.

[img]http://hellforleathermagazine.com/assets_c/2010/02/MotoCzysz_D1g1tal_Dr1ve-thumb-415x281-7870.jpg[/img]

I LOVE engine pictures but have difficulty imagining this showing up as a Bike Cruller. I REALLY want to ride and electric sport bike and experience the linear power they are said to have from the time you crack the throttle to the time you reach top speed. The motors just donÔÇÖt do it for me visually.

2010 Ducati Multistrad 1200 (4mode) official video.
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Newsletter news:

Feet forward bikes continue to dominate the US market. HondaÔÇÖs latest [url=http://powersports.honda.com/street/cruisers/1300-custom-line.aspx]newsletter[/url] pushes its new 1300 Custom line of cruisers for 2010.

[url=http://ibmadison.com/ibtv?video_id=45]Coffee break[/url] with the CMO (Chief Mustard Officer) of the Mustard museum.

[url=http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/]Zero MotorcyclesÔÇÖ[/url] newsletter reminded me that they have dirt street and dual purpose machines. The newsletter had a direct link to a dealer locator. I havenÔÇÖt filled out the form yet. If and when I get around to it IÔÇÖll let you know what I find out.

[b]Bike Cruller[/b]

[img]http://www.erikbuellracing.com/_media/images/home/american-racing-sportbikes.jpg[/img]

This is the image that greets you when you visit [url=http://www.erikbuellracing.com/]ErikBuellRacing[/url]. The site lists all of the motorcycles and components that he is offering in his new effort to resurrect his dream once more.

Dig into the site and you come to the their 1190RR

[img]http://www.erikbuellracing.com/_media/images/motorcycles/1190rr-bike.jpg[/img]

The siteÔÇÖs text begins to mark the turf Buell plans to race on.

ÔÇ£The 1190RR is the first new motorcycle from Erik Buell Racing. Based on the 1125R and 1125RR, the 1190RR brings engine displacement close to the AMA American Superbike (ASB) class limit for twins and the WSB limit overall. Although it is not currently approved for AMA ASB class racing, this bike can be raced in many classes around the world and should add new excitement racing against other premium street-based twin roadracers.ÔÇØ

ÔÇÿÔǪest riding of the 1125RR by Alex Barros, Jeremy McWilliams, Chris Ulrich, Taylor Knapp, Cory West, and more ÔÇô plus the 1190 motor and a winter of further engine and CFD development ÔÇô means we can finally deliver an exotic American racing motorcycle that will deliver world-class track performance and excitement for sponsors and fans.ÔÇØ

Engine Type: 72˚ V-Twin, 4-Stroke, 4-valve DOHC FF valvetrain
Displacement: 1190 cc
Bore and Stroke: 106 x 67.5
Compression Ratio: 14.25:1
Heads: CNC ported
Valves: Titanium, 42.0mm intake, 35.4 mm exhaust
Power: 185 RWHP @11,500 RPM (Dynojet Rear Wheel)
Torque: 93.0 Ft-lbf @ 9,500 RPM (Dynojet Rear Wheel)
Piston: Forged alloy slipper type
Rod: Forged H-beam high strength alloy steel Crankshaft: Lightweight forged steel
Fuel System: IDS Technology DDFI 3 electronic fuel injection and engine management system, fully programmable, 61mm throttle bodies, dual injector with showerhead, PWM fuel pump
Exhaust: Titanium ultralight 2 into 1 system.
Clutch: Multiplate Slipper
Primary Drive: Straight cut gear, 1.806 ratio
Transmission: 6 speed Ratios: 6th - 24/25 (0.960:1)
5th - 25/24 (1.042:1)
4th - 27/23 (1.174:1)
3rd - 29/21 (1.381:1)
2nd - 28/16 (1.750:1)
1st - 32/13 (2.462:1) Final Drive: 520 Chain Chassis Frame: Light alloy large section beam with integral fuel cell Subframe: Light alloy tubular Wheelbase: Adjustable - 1400 to 1460 mm (55.1 to 57.4 in.) Rake: Adjustable - 21˚ to 22.5˚ Front Suspension: Showa Race 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable with BPF technology providing true separation of rebound and compression damping. Front Wheel Travel: 120mm (4.72 in) Front Brake: 387.5 mm (15.25 in) semi floating ISO multi-fin rotor with 8 piston ZTL2.5 caliper
Front Wheel: 6 spoke ZTL magnesium, 3.50 x 17
Front Tire: 120/17 ZR-17 Pirelli Diablo Corsa III
Rear Suspension: Light alloy swingarm with Showa Race damper, adjustable compression, rebound and ride height.
Rear Wheel Travel: 127 mm (5 in) Rear brake: 240mm lightweight disc, 2 piston caliper Rear Wheel: 6 spoke magnesium, 6.00 x 17
Rear Tire: 190/55 ZR-17 Pirelli Diablo Corsa III
Fuel Capacity: 4.6 US Gal
Battery: Buell Li-tech Lithium Nanotech
Dry Weight: 360 lbs (wet, no fuel)

[url= http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=kiwimarkmorrison%40gmail.com&ctz=America/New_York]World Superbike/MotoGP/AMA Calendar[/url]

[b]WSBK et al. [/b]

[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/1571-haslam-comes-of-age-in-wsbk.html]worldsbk.com[/url]: Haslam comes of age in WSBK

Corser feels there is more to be had from both the bike and him. Xaus will fight the dark demons of confidence after his Phillips Island crash.. [url=http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/157345/1/biaggi_i_was_at_my_limit.html]Max Biaggi[/url] on the other hand seems to think he was at his limit.

Individual races may offer BMW riders the chance for a podium. The fight for BWM fans to watch is for who occupies fourth and fifth slots in the manufacturers standings.

Championship Standings after Phillips Island

Riders Championship:

Leon Haslam, Suzuki
45

Michel Fabrizio, Ducati
36

Carlos Checa, Ducati
34

Noriyuki Haga, Ducati
27

Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki
23

Jonathan Rea, Honda
23

Max Biaggi
Aprilia
19

Troy Corser, BMW
16

Leon Camier, Aprilia
10

Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati
9

Jakub Smrz, Ducati
8

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha
7

James Toseland, Yamaha
6

Shane Byrne, Ducati
6

Max Neukirchner, Honda
4

Tom Sykes, Kawasaki
3

Joshua Brookes, Honda
2

Andrew Pitt, BMW
2


Manufactures Championship


Suzuki, 45

Ducati, 45

Honda, 23

Aprilia, 19

BMW, 16

Yamaha, 7

Kawasaki, 3

[b]Formula 1 and [/b]

[url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6220HB20100303]uk.reuters.com[/url]: Campos F1 team changes name to Hispania Racing

Mission creep in the wrong direction:
[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8547335.stm]bbc.co.uk[/url]: US team apply for Formula 1 entry deferral
US F1 had originally requested exemption from being required to appear in the first four races. Now that request has been upped to an exemption from the entire 2010 season.

Team principal Ken Anderson told BBC Sport: there was "a sprinkle of truth" in reports that US F1 had investigated "partnering up with another new team."
He added that a deferral would allow the team to rebuild and, depending on the testing regulations, get track time in preparation for an entry in 2011. ÔÇ£

Campos was the team in rumors for USF1 to partner with. That was off the table when Spanish money came to Campos and they became Hispania Racing. The Spanish continue to see the world as theirs; thus they do not need a partner from that British colonial back water of North Carolina.

At first blush the options for the FIA are simple and could be quickly dealt with.
- Grant USF1ÔÇÖs request and get on with a reduced field for 2010. This would allow for the most time deal with this messy issue.
- Deny the request and start the season a team down.
- Deny the request and anoint Stephan GP, who has a car and at least one driver ready, to fill the grid.

Fans in many cases are calling for the last option; however, the issues facing Jean Todt the new FIA president arenÔÇÖt as simple as the ones listed and covered by the press to date.

[url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81820]USF1[/url] paid the required $400,000.00 entry fee for the 2010 season. It is a member in good standing with FOTA. It has signed the Concorde Agreement that binds teams and the FIA in Formula 1. How USF1 is handled impacts every team and sets precedent for how they could be handled in the fragile future of F1.

The FIA and FOTA have gone to war before over teams changing hands (most recently as Honda GP became Brawn GP) and impacting payouts from television contracts and impacts on the two championships themselves. The FIA has not had a good record in court of late. The Dark Lord Briatore was able to spank the FIA in the French courts and have his life time ban overturned. The courtÔÇÖs decision in that case was based on the published sporting rules of the FIA. A court case involving USF1 could bring the entire Concorde Agreement into the light of day and put it and every part of it under legal scrutiny. This will not be lost on Todt as he and Bernie Ecclestone reflect on what to do next.

[url=http://www.crash.net/f1/news/157373/1/stefan_gp_will_be_in_bahrain__with_villeneuve_hurley.html]Eddie Jordan[/url] believes Stephan GP will be racing in Bahrain but I expect the season will start with the grid one team short and without a formal resolution to the issue. Resolution will not come until the FIA Ferrari Mercedes McLaren reach a d?®tente agreement that is then blessed by Frank Williams.

[url=http://www.crash.net/f1/news/157382/1/lpez_manager_blasts_main_culprit_andersons_deceit.html]crash.net[/url]: L??pez manager blasts 'main culprit' Anderson's 'deceit'


[b]On the Street[/b]

BMW PressClub Canada announced the best February sales on record for Motorrad Canada. The numbers are not huge in absolute terms but the continued growth of this market is impressive.

BMW Motorrad: Best February on record.
BMW Motorrad Canada achieved an all time February record with 70 unitsretailed,an increase of 46%over the same period in 2009, bringing Motorrad YTD retails to 124 units.

BMW NA does not report motorcycle sales in its monthly press releases. It did report increases in sales for the cage side of the organization.

BMW Group U.S. Reports February 2010 Sales
ÔÇó 02.03.2010
ÔÇó Press Release

Woodcliff Lake, NJ ÔÇô March 2, 2010... BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) increased its February sales 13.7 percent selling 17,971 vehicles compared to the same month in 2009. Both the BMW and MINI brands improved performance with BMW reporting a sales increase of 16.3 percent to 15,100 units and MINI a 1.6 percent increase to 2,871 vehicles.

Results were driven by the excellent performance of the BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, up 75.5 percent, and the X6 increasing 97.6 percent. In the large premium sedan segment, the BMW 7 Series has led the category for the last two months.

ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs a positive market sign that sales for both BMW and MINI, as well as some other premium brands, continued to improve in February,ÔÇØ said Jim OÔÇÖDonnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. ÔÇ£Led by the 7 Series just one year ago, we are now beginning to renew the heart of our model line-up, and believe as we do so over the next couple of years, our market strength will continue. For example, just today we unveiled the all new BMW 5 series at the Geneva motor show and it arrives in the US in June.ÔÇØ

On the used car side, sales of BMWÔÇÖs Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles were down 9.4 percent to 8,469 vehicles versus 9,350 vehicles reported in a very strong February 2009. Year-to-date, CPO sales were down 17.8 percent to 15,912 in the same period of 2009.


[url=http://motorcycledaily.com/02March10_TriumphAdvantage.htm]motorcycledaily.com[/url]: The Triumph advantage
It is hard to argue with Motorcycle DailyÔÇÖs analysis yet I see more to it than heritage and triples. Triumph has beaten the competition in pricing. The question of value for the price may be open for discussion but the company has taken away price as an entry barrier. The second thing it has done is to define new market niches. The Speed Triple draws on Triumphs heritage for its name but it defined the hooligan bike market for the press public and the competition. Triumphs willingness to redefine the focus of the Tiger from an ill-equipped GS competitor to an urban adventure bike defined a narrow market niche that has caught on and brought the public other bikes from the competition like the new Ducati Mulistradda.

[url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2010/February/feb2610-yamaha-super-tenere-to-cost-13500/]motorcyclenews.com[/url]: Yamaha Super Tenere to cost ₤13,500
Pricing will vary from market to market so it is difficult to estimate what we would pay for one. With this price Yamaha seems is being competitive with the GS while demanding a strong entry free from buyers. Still no news on US availability.

Here is one to ponder as you beat up BMW the MOA and other rider organizations: [url=http://motoaus.com/news/latest/honda-australia-to-close-riders-club.html]motoaus.com[/url]: Honda Australia to close Riders Club

From Dealersnews.com:
[url=http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/LATEST+NEWS/Dealers-Revive-Layaway-Programs/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/658969?contextCategoryId=48447]Dealers revive lay away programs[/url]
[url=http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/LATEST+NEWS/The-Ups-and-Downs-of-Layaway-Programs/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/658985?contextCategoryId=48447]The ups and downs of lay away programs[/url]
[url=http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/LATEST+NEWS/Online-Layaway-Outsourcing-the-Headaches/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/658973?contextCategoryId=48447]Online layaway ÔÇô outsourcing the headaches[/url]

[b]Bike Cruller[/b]

From [url=http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/concept-ducati-desmosedici-atv-trike.htm]Bikes in the Fast Lane[/url] and motorcycle designer [url=http://petit-motorcycle-creation.over-blog.com/]Nicolas Pettit[/url] a Ducati based three wheeled concept.

[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/motorbiker/newspics3/Ducati-3-Wheel-ATV-Concept-1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/motorbiker/newspics3/Ducati-3-Wheel-ATV-Concept-2.jpg[/img]

The FIA has issued two press releases today.


[b]Press Release
FIA Formula One World Championship
03/03/2010 [/b]
The USF1 Team have indicated that they will not be in a position to participate in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. Having considered the various options, the FIA confirms that it is not possible for a replacement team to be entered for the Championship at this late stage.

In the coming days the FIA will announce details of a new selection process to identify candidates to fill any vacancies existing at the start of the 2011 season.

-end-

[url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81830]USF1 will not be part of the 2010 grid[/url] nor will there be a replacement team including [url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81828]Stephan GP[/url]. The closing line promises a decision soon on how things will proceed for the 2011 season team selection but there is much wiggle room in the wording. DonÔÇÖt expect a definitive process to be announced until well into the season.

Hispania racing is the only team with a seat open at this late date. Speculation has centered on USF1ÔÇÖs Lopez moving to fill that seat. Bruno Senna was signed first by the team but is listed as the second driver. Senna had agreed to second billing with the expectation the team would sign an experienced driver as team leader. Jacque Villeneuve has been signed by Stephan GP but could end up in the Hispania seat for this season on a loan basis.

F1 is full of things that make me wonder. BMW will be on the grid in 2010 if in name only. In a previous incarnation of this list anticipated changes to team names were noted. Brawn GP appeared on one list with the notation that they would become Mercedes GP once the paper work had been filed. BMW Sauber was to be renamed at some latter date but before the seasons beginning. Oops. The teams name will go down in the official record as BMW Sauber Ferrari to start the season. BMW is incredibly protective of its name and the Roundel. How did this slip by? Did it slip by?


[b]Press Release
FIA Formula One World Championship - Entry List
03/03/2010
No. Driver Team Constructor[/b]
1 Jenson BUTTON (GBR)
2 Lewis HAMILTON (GBR) VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES (GBR) McLaren Mercedes

3 Michael SCHUMACHER (DEU)
4 Nico ROSBERG (DEU) MERCEDES GP PETRONAS FORMULA ONE TEAM (DEU) Mercedes Benz GP Limited

5 Sebastian VETTEL (DEU)
6 Mark WEBBER (AUS) RED BULL RACING (AUT) Red Bull Racing Renault

7 Felipe MASSA (BRA)
8 Fernando ALONSO (ESP) SCUDERIA FERRARI
MARLBORO (ITA) Ferrari

9 Rubens BARRICHELLO (BRA)
10 Nico H?£LKENBERG (DEU) AT&T WILLIAMS (GBR) Williams Cosworth

11 Robert KUBICA (POL)
12 Vitaly PETROV (RUS) RENAULT F1 TEAM (FRA) Renault

14 Adrian SUTIL (DEU)
15 Vitantonio LIUZZI (ITA) FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM (IND) Force India Mercedes

16 S?®bastien BUEMI (CHE)
17 Jaime ALGUERSUARI (ESP) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO (ITA) STR Ferrari

18 Jarno TRULLI (ITA)
19 Heikki KOVALAINEN (FIN) LOTUS RACING (MAL) Lotus Cosworth

20 TBA
21 Bruno SENNA (BRA) HRT F1 TEAM (ESP) HRT Cosworth

22 Pedro DE LA ROSA (ESP)
23 Kamui KOBAYASHI (JPN) BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM (CHE) BMW Sauber Ferrari

24 Timo GLOCK (DEU)
25 Luca DI GRASSI (BRA) VIRGIN RACING (GBR) Virgin Cosworth