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Post by philthewindsurfer on Jan 25, 2019 8:00:57 GMT
Cheers Neil. I'd seen pics of the BMW bikes at Jerez but seemed weird they weren't on the timesheet. And a strange decision for Honda to miss the tests, unless they're doing their own thing elsewhere? The BMWs put the transponders on towards the end of day 2, didnt look too fast. They race at Jerez on 7-9 June, so very odd that the Honda team didnt test there. Another sign of things not going so good? |
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Post by norbs on Jan 25, 2019 22:25:05 GMT
Tom reckons he was third fastest but then had a reasonably big crash towards the end of day 2.
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Jan 26, 2019 8:13:30 GMT
Next test is Monday/Tuesday at Portimao.
edit. Sunday/Monday
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Jan 27, 2019 10:06:46 GMT
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Jan 27, 2019 10:55:55 GMT
Last years pole was ELav 1:40.705, fastest race lap Rea 1:42.304.
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Post by Droog on Jan 27, 2019 13:05:40 GMT
I know it is early doors still and only testing, but Ducati have failed to shine so far. For a new bike with lot's of proven MotoGP development behind it, I'd say things are not looking so good.
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Post by Droog on Jan 27, 2019 15:54:30 GMT
Looks like BMW have hit the ground running though and Alex Lowes is showing that this might be the year he is a real title challenger. Haslam also looking good.
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Post by mekon on Jan 27, 2019 16:57:16 GMT
You think? Lowes is one of those fast but inconsistent types imo. Can't see him holding a season together.
Bautista will probably race better than he tests. I wish Rea and Kawasaki would fuck off to gp though.
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Jan 27, 2019 17:25:37 GMT
The Yamahas are looking good, but the times are still a bit off the race times from last year. I think Lowes has stopped crashing so often than what he used to but the bike isnt consistent at every track. vd Mark will still beat him over the season, he is more than a racer than qualifier/fast testing. Last year he qualified in the top 5 just once.
Sykes/BMW are impressive considering its a new bike. Davies has been suffering from a bad back and Bautista hasnt raced at Portimao. I got the impression he was doing a lot of long stints from the timing, just picking the pace up at the very end. Toprak seemed quick throughout, it would be good if him & Bautista gave the Brits a hard time.
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Post by Droog on Jan 27, 2019 17:59:27 GMT
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Post by Droog on Jan 27, 2019 18:03:32 GMT
To be fair, Lowes put a season together in 2013 against the best British Superbike rider ever. And arguably on inferior machinery. I think the gulf between the Yamaha and the Kawasaki has narrowed enough for Lowes and VDM to regularly podium in 2019. I still see Rea as Favourite but I can see this being a tougher year for him. I don't see him winning more than five titles. Not that that is a criticism though.
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Post by norbs on Jan 27, 2019 19:24:24 GMT
Bautista is going well, I didn't think he'd be in front of Chaz so soon, especially at a track that's new to him.
Hope Tom goes well on the BMW, not a massive fan of his but another rider and team at the front has to be good.
I reckon Toprak will get plenty of top 5s and the odd podium this year and then replace Leon on the factory Kawasaki next year.
Shame that Eugene's team didn't get the Ducati in time for the previous tests, they're going to be playing catch up for a chunk of the season. Plus on day one in Jerez they only did a few laps as they were saving mileage on the engine which doesn't sound so good. Hope they've got the backing and support from Ducati in place to give it a real go this year but I think there'll be a fair few races gone before he starts to show what he's capable of.
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Post by Droog on Jan 27, 2019 19:32:19 GMT
The last thing you need when running Ducati's is a lack of budget. They need constant rebuilds and attention. Got this horrible feeling that ELav has another bad year that is not down to him and ends up back in BSB riding a Honda. God I hope I'm wrong. Same for Leon Camier. He desrves so much more. Hopefully now Big Chris is the guvnor he can get Honda back up there in WSB.
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Post by Droog on Jan 27, 2019 20:00:34 GMT
Anyone else know Pete Benson was Crew Chief to Markus Reiterberger?
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Post by norbs on Jan 27, 2019 22:39:48 GMT
Nope I didn't.
Phil Marron who's been with Eugene for years is now Toprak's crew chief so another change for Eug to get used to.
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