2012 WSBK No-Spoiler Catch-All Thread

Ducati is so sure of their awesome new machine that they are going to race the 1198 again!?!

Ducati is going to race the 1199 for a year in SS for development purposes.


Just like BMW did.

And, IIRC, Ducati, with the 1098?

Only couple of weeks left...

Those shiny new alpinestars look a bit :ymca and the hand on the hip is all teapot too.

Tasty, hope to see it at the pointy end of the results. But I am thinking that will be a rarity not a norm.

Is KTM doing anything in WSBK in 2012? I was hoping they would after winning IDM but I imagine we would have heard about it by now if they were fielding a team.

Well, yeah. But I'm happy to put my head on the block and back the young Irish lad for the Championship this year. ! Big call, I know, but there ya go....... (And many dummie spits from Max coming up, methinks )

Anyone else up for a prediction?

I'm in Laverty's camp, and I like that kid a great deal. I'll pick him for top 3 at the end of the year, and if Max continues his bone-headed ways and Ducati runs out of magic beans, he could take it all. The wild card will be the BMW's. If they finally get it sorted out they have two potent riders. That is a big IF though, lots of corporate arrogance to overcome.

Carlos for 2

More Crescent-Suzuki pics here: http://www.suzuki-racing.com/Gallery.aspx?SRS_ID=7&RND_ID=29561

Looks better than previous SBK-Gixxers

Hearing ya. Beemers have a REAL good team this year, both riders and staff. And they ain't in it for the laughs.
But I did ask Steve Martin at the Island Classic if he thought version 2 had THE changes to make the difference, and he wasn't THAT convincing.........Personally, I'd be rapt t see em right up there. Pissed that Yam have run away!

Should be able to supply a bit of info in real time from the tests next week. Stay tuned.

Zuki looks the goods. This is gunna be a great year.

Just read in Racer magazine this month that Alstare is almost signed as the new MV Agusta factory team in WSS and WSB. This year they may run some supersport races, and even a superbike race or 2, if they feel they're ready to make an on track comparison. Plan is to go full bore in 2013. Unfortunately they already released all their techs so Francis Batta is going to be scrabbling to put people in place. He's hoping to reassemble the team though.

That would be great if it happens.

It is good to hear Racer is still around. They were the best of the best back at the end of the print era. Pure motorhead p0rn. I would love to see them have a similar quality online presence.

Wouldn't like to be a spreading dodgy stories.....but wouldn't it be funny if Nitro Nori, the Sultan of Slide, turned up in the British Superbike Campionship on a Ducati Panigalli.....?

I'm pretty sure if he (Eugene) can get the better of Max in the first few races that'll be the last he see's of him. Top 3 for the Eugene in the final standings.
I'm really hoping Suzuki pulls this off and hit's the front. They really do need some encouragement. They could just be the underdog we all want to win.
How many days now till we find out what they've all got?

Not this weekend, but the next. Just down the road at a lovurly little venue called Phillip Island.

Here's the forecast; http://www.eldersweather.com.au/raindates.jsp?lc=v00&dc=disableCookies

May have live 'updates...' Stand by.

I think he's done. Poor Nori is old and beaten physically. He can still pull off the good ride now and then, but I think losing the championship to Ben (mostly because his idiot teammate) killed his spirit. He may go, but I fear he'll fade like Kiyonari.

I'd like to go back in time and get Nori, Chili, Edwards, Baylis, Hayden, Spies, and Mladin in their riding prime, put them all on superbikes, and let them have at it at Philip Island or Imola.