BAM,Spies to the top of the charts

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Nov 5 2008, 04:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Spies will definatly impress next season, he's too talented for WSBK and I can't wait for him to duke it out for the title with Kiyo, Neukirchner, Haga etc.


Don't forget Rea, he definitely has a lot of promise. And the list goes on...

At the end of the test Spies sits 2nd overall, behind Byrne and a reduced 0.6 seconds ahead of Sykes. That is much more like what I expected things to look like. It'll be interesting to see how the new bikes come on over the winter, and what Haga will do when he roles out with Xerox

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Nov 6 2008, 11:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>At the end of the test Spies sits 2nd overall, behind Byrne and a reduced 0.6 seconds ahead of Sykes. That is much more like what I expected things to look like. It'll be interesting to see how the new bikes come on over the winter, and what Haga will do when he roles out with Xerox


Winning Testing gives no points and wins you no titles...it is all on the track, and no points are given for pole or fastest laps or leading lap....it is all about your position at the finish of a race....

So until Spies, Byrne, Rea, Sykes, Kiyo, Haga, Xaus, Biaggi, Corser and the other put their bikes on the grid for the start of the first race of the season, and the light go out and they barrel into turn one and two at Phillip Island we night want to reserve judgement...

Just think of the first time Spies or Byrne or Sykes have Haga sneak up under them at a turn no one else in the world can find a line in to pass....that is when we will find out how good the new field of riders is....

It is going to be a long winter!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Nov 6 2008, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Winning Testing gives no points and wins you no titles...it is all on the track, and no points are given for pole or fastest laps or leading lap....it is all about your position at the finish of a race....

I know. I said the same thing earlier in this topic!

No one is suggesting that testing gives points or titles.All it means is that it is apparent that Spies is up to speed right out of the box,which means something.A lot of us got excited about Nicky being 1 1/2 seconds within Stoner.Most agreed it was a good start on a new bike and tires.Being within 2/10ths of the best Superbike rider of the last generation on a new bike and new tires and a track he had never seen, says volumes.I had always known Spies was one of the special ones but he really got my attention with his performance in the 2nd Road Atlanta race this past year.He put on a show that hadnt been seen in a long time, coming from over 3 seconds down in basically 3 laps against one of the best Superbike riders ever,and won going away.You could see the speed difference when he decided to go and Mladin was defensless.He even said so in the post race interview.It wasnt tires,it wasnt a machine,it was as Mladin said,Ben was running a pace i couldnt match.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Nov 6 2008, 07:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Winning Testing gives no points and wins you no titles...it is all on the track, and no points are given for pole or fastest laps or leading lap....it is all about your position at the finish of a race....

So until Spies, Byrne, Rea, Sykes, Kiyo, Haga, Xaus, Biaggi, Corser and the other put their bikes on the grid for the start of the first race of the season, and the light go out and they barrel into turn one and two at Phillip Island we night want to reserve judgement...

Just think of the first time Spies or Byrne or Sykes have Haga sneak up under them at a turn no one else in the world can find a line in to pass....that is when we will find out how good the new field of riders is....

It is going to be a long winter!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Nov 6 2008, 07:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I know. I said the same thing earlier in this topic!
I certainly can't argue with that but what will we talk about for the coming months if we can't speculate on who will be fast?

Nothing. I guess we're supposed to be quiet all winter...

1. Shane Byrne GBR Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 43.6 sec
2. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 43.9 sec
3. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Racing RSV4 1min 44.1 sec
4. Tom Sykes GBR Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 44.5 sec

"I wonder how hard he was pushing? "

"Only a national level rider too"

You gotta account that Byrne has been riding on a Ducati with Pirellis all year in BSB, Spies is very impressive.

My thoughts, Spies will do well enough considering all the new stuff he will have to deal with. Also, those riders coming out of the Brit series are nails, wow, I have been impressed. Especially with that kid Johnny Rae.