2012 WSBK No-Spoiler Catch-All Thread

Some rule changes for 2012: http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/Superbike_Commission,_27_October.pdf

All well and good on a track that is practically their home track. Outside the UK, they might find the going a bit harder.

By the way, if Samsung sticks with them, and they don't keep John Kirkham on the team, at least at the national level, I'd be really pissed if I were John. He brought that sponsor to the team.

So true, and undeniably a good team and rider, (well, better than just good...). But budget's, team stickiness, and a lot of other things start to get stretched when you have to lug it round the world. But by all means, good luck to 'em! The more the merrier as they say, especially when you're talking talent such as this.

Leon Camier to Crescent Suzuki?

Crescent Suzuki Signs Camier For 2012 Superbike World Championship Effort

Sounds like a two bike team. Good on them for snagging Leon. Hopefully they can feature Hopper alongside. That would be a pretty formidable twosome. No clear #1.

From twitter,
List of confirmed riders and provisional teams for WSBK 2012:

ParkinGO Aprilia?

I like that! Go Chaz!

Kenan Sofuoglu goes back into the Supersport World Championship

boo...



$?

Interesting developments, indeed!

I know he's had more than his fair share of tragedy in his life and I freely admit to not really knowing the guy and therefore it's entirely possible I'm completely wrong, but . . . he's always struck me as a headcase. Fast on the SS bikes certainly, but also prone to ridiculous hissy fits (remember him punching Josh Hayes at Portimao?) and a non-performer on anything other than a SS bike.

He didn't actually punch Hayes.

I thought that incident was ridiculously blown outta proportion.

Nobody backs it in like Sofu. And he provided an awesome fight with Laverty for an extremely entertaining title fight in 2010.

The new bike 1199 I'll test soon but 2012 I'll race with 1198.

Let's see how his magics gonna work next year.

Eye-opening interview with Frankie Batta on, among other things, the corporate culture at Suzuki, why Alstare won't be back in 2012 and the economic realities in the WSBK paddock.

Thanks for the link Mike.

Thanks Mike. Dam that was a depressing read.

I think it's crap he's not taking up another marque's team. As I understand it there's some kind of corp link between Alstare and Suzuki, outside superbike racing. So it sounds more like politics keeping him out, that he's spinning as showing respect for a long time parter. Lame, and a shame that's what is preventing a good team from coming back next year with a manufacturer that might actually support them. 3 year old bikes!?!? That's not support.