Well, Bautista decided to make the championship a bit more interesting during Race 2. Toprak has two consecutive wins on the stat sheet now, and we're headed to Most, where Toprak tends to be competitive.
Unsure what Bassani found in Race 2, but maybe it's something he can carryforward. He went from midpack to front runner somewhere between the Superpole race and Race 2. Maybe he decided to experiment with Bautista's settings and it worked for him. If that's the case, it could set an ominous precedent for WSBK. Bassani is young. If he cracks the code, WSBK could be in for another 5 years of Ducati Cup.....or maybe it will merely ensure the championship has another frontrunner in the future.
Rea had a good weekend. He runs at the front consistently, but he's 200 points from Bautista, and well over 100 points behind Toprak. Hard to believe, but a series of minor issues have led to an insurmountable points deficit. Still unsure what Kawasaki are doing with the competitive adjustment. Maybe they need to make sure the bike is still reliable, and can make the mileages before they change the engine tune, which will also affect the satellite teams.
Honda, ugh, what can you say about them. Vierge and Lecuona post another weekend points haul in the single digits. Super concessions don't appear to be helping them at all. Maybe the engine is the problem. Trying to tame an 81mm bore 180-degree inline four might be a waste of time. BMW could be having similar problems. Kawasaki have a much more modest bore-stroke, and it could make the bike more rideable with the allowable engine management and rider aids.
Hat tip to Loris Baz. First BMW in all 3 races, IIRC. Good performance. Maybe enough to save his job in WSBK?
