BSB 2010 Rnd 1 Brands Hatch

Thanks Pigeon,looking forward to this,Eurosport usually give good coverage of the support races too.

I've got Kiyo on my MCN Fantasy team, so I'm routing for him!

I watched the full season of BSB last year via downloads of Eurosport. Honestly the best coverage of any series I have seen yet. Great pre and post race interviews with not just the riders but the team managers, engineers and so on. Also the in-race coverage was great as they would follow other battles going on through out the pack. Although, this might have been due to Camier's dominance.

Although I'm not up on the current news with BSB, I'm going with Easton for the championship win this year, although it could easily be Ellison. Brookes was hella fast last year when he wasn't playing scud missile. I don't have any idea how Kiyo, Kagayama, or Hodgson will do but they all have vast experience and should be up there with the front pack. Tommy Hill looked pretty strong last year as well, he could pose a threat. I'm curious to see how Simon Andrews goes again on the Kawasucki, he was about the only guy in the world last year that managed good results on that joke of a race bike. Cool to see Gary Mason on a full ride, he's a top bloke and well deserving of some support after hearing his story of racing struggles last year. It's just too bad he signed up for the green career killer bike. Having two Laverty brothers in there should be fun to watch as well as they battle to see who's the best of the family.

Are they starting things off with the Brands Indy (small version) track?

Not the expected guys at the front, but then again its just the first practice. What's up with Suzuki this year, could they be the Yamaha of last year, doing well all over the superbike world? On that note do any of the BSB Suzuki teams buy bikes prepared by Alstare Suzuki? Much like how last years Airwaves Yam's were bought from Yamaha Italia.

Yes and where is Hodgson? Didn't show up for practice?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Apr 2 2010, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Not the expected guys at the front, but then again its just the first practice. What's up with Suzuki this year, could they be the Yamaha of last year, doing well all over the superbike world? On that note do any of the BSB Suzuki teams buy bikes prepared by Alstare Suzuki? Much like how last years Airwaves Yam's were bought from Yamaha Italia.

Yes and where is Hodgson? Didn't show up for practice?

His teammate Dan Linfoot wasn't present either.

Has David Anthony left the AMA? He raced the Fontana round last weekend and now he's at Brand's Hatch riding for MIST Suzuki in the Evo class.

I think I`m going to ignore the points algebra and just enjoy the racing.Hurry up Monday!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Apr 3 2010, 12:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>9302:bsb2.jpg]
Both Tommy's top of the pile. Even this early on that's impressive. Reflecting recently on Crutchlow's current success, it really is testament to the power of the old R6 Cup. What a great supporting series that was. In addition to the brilliant racing it provided, looking at the timing sheet, I can spot at least eight riders in the series that were graduates from Rob Mac's championship, propelled onto better things, which may not have happened had they not have been afforded the initial opportunity in a BSB supported championship.

I hate Brands Indy. Such a glorious circuit - and they can only race it in its entirety at selected times of the year due to Nimby regulations imposed on the organisers and owners

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Apr 3 2010, 02:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>dont forget this ....

"For 2010 MSV is now going to increase the appeal of BSB even more with some exciting rule changes designed to keep fans captivated right to the very end of the championship with a dramatic title battle finale," it stated.

"A new format and points scoring system will virtually guarantee that the title will go down to the wire and create a new, thrilling spectacle for television and trackside audiences.

"The championship will be divided into two parts. The first nine events form the main season, with the standard points scoring format of 25 for a win, then 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 awarded for each of the 19 races from the nine events.

"From their total points at the end of the main season, all riders then drop their two worst scores, which must be from events they have at least qualified for.

"From this points order, the first six riders in the championship standings will be elevated to a new base level and become the 'title fighters' for the final three events and seven races of the championship.

"Each title fighter will start the showdown with 500 points, plus additional points for each podium position they have obtained in the main season; three for a win, two for a second, and one for a third. These are termed 'podium credits'.

"For example, a rider placed in the top six of the standings at the end of the main season who scored three wins, two seconds and a third would start the showdown phase with 514 points.

"The standard points scoring format from the main season then continues for the showdown, with all points scores from the final seven races counting.

"All riders outside of the title fighters continue to race for the BSB Riders' Cup, continuing to add to their points total from the end of the main season. This also applies to the new BSB EVO class.

There will also be a shakeup of the qualifying system in 2010.

"The popular, Formula One 'knockout'-style Roll for Pole remains, but this now just sets the grid for BSB Race 1," MSV continued.

"All riders first take to the track for Q1 over 20 minutes. The field is then whittled down to 20 riders in Q2 over 12 minutes, and then the final eight-minute shootout for pole position by the top 10 riders in Q3.

"The Race 2 grid will now be established by the order of the riders' best lap-times set during Race 1. This will give a greater reward to riders making a charge through the field, perhaps as a result of a bad qualifying performance or a bad start.

"Significantly all the riders will be on race rubber, rather than softer tyres that favour certain qualifying specialists.

"The new qualifying regulations are sensitive to riders who unfortunately suffer a crash or mechanical failure before the end of the first lap in Race 1. Their bad fortune is not compounded further as the rider can line up for Race 2 in their Race 1 starting grid position plus eight 'penalty places', emphasising the necessity for a good initial qualifying position.

"As an example if the rider in pole position for Race 1 crashed on the first lap and was unable to continue, he would start Race 2 from position 9 on the third row of the grid.

"At a three-race BSB meeting the procedure follows on to the best lap-times set in Race 2 establishing the grid for Race 3. Similarly those riders who don't complete a single lap in Race 2 get to start Race 3 in their Race 2 starting position plus eight 'penalty places'."
Everybody seems to be following NASCAR down the rabbit hole. Nascar started it, NHRA followed, now the BSB. Who will be the next series to .......ize their sport.Nascars popularity has taken a nose dive since the "Chase" was introduced.

Virtually guaranteeing that the title goes down to the wire is fixed racing to an extent. Its not racing,its a perception of racing

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Apr 3 2010, 06:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Everybody seems to be following NASCAR down the rabbit hole. Nascar started it, NHRA followed, now the BSB. Who will be the next series to .......ize their sport.Nascars popularity has taken a nose dive since the "Chase" was introduced.

Virtually guaranteeing that the title goes down to the wire is fixed racing to an extent. Its not racing,its a perception of racing

Yeah, it's sad, but the BSB system is too complicated for NASCAR. NASCAR is run by one group of people who have free reign. The horrible Showdown scoring system looks like it has been brokered to the satisfaction of many political factions within the sport. If you read between the lines, MSVR has basically said that the manufacturers have defied all of their attempts to change the sport so MSVR felt justified to arbitrarily shake up the scoring system in an attempt to save the sport.

This scoring system is a really terrible idea, but I'm hopeful it won't interfere with the action on the track.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Apr 3 2010, 06:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, it's sad, but the BSB system is too complicated for NASCAR. NASCAR is run by one group of people who have free reign. The horrible Showdown scoring system looks like it has been brokered to the satisfaction of many political factions within the sport. If you read between the lines, MSVR has basically said that the manufacturers have defied all of their attempts to change the sport so MSVR felt justified to arbitrarily shake up the scoring system in an attempt to save the sport.

This scoring system is a really terrible idea, but I'm hopeful it won't interfere with the action on the track.
It was introduced by Stuart Higgs purely to avoid what happened last year when it was felt that following Camiers runaway 19 victories the 'down to the wire' reputation of the series was damaged. However, imo Leons excellent season can be attributed to a multitude of factors including some other inherent inequities within the series that have not been redressed. GSE have always proved to be the best outfit in the paddock with nowhere near the level of factory support that Tuxworth and Honda have enjoyed for so many years. That they arrived at Brands with no testing under their belt and proceeded to do what thy did for the rest of the season is testament not only to the competence of the team, but also Camiers outstanding riding last year, and the all round excellence of the R1 as a racing package. The elimination of Guintoli did not help the spectacle either.

Irrespective of our views, the new point scoring system peculiarly has the backing of the majority of the riders and team bosses in the paddock

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Apr 3 2010, 10:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It was introduced by Stuart Higgs purely to avoid what happened last year when it was felt that following Camiers runaway 19 victories the 'down to the wire' reputation of the series was damaged. However, imo Leons excellent season can be attributed to a multitude of factors including some other inherent inequities within the series that have not been redressed. GSE have always proved to be the best outfit in the paddock with nowhere near the level of factory support that Tuxworth and Honda have enjoyed for so many years. That they arrived at Brands with no testing under their belt and proceeded to do what thy did for the rest of the season is testament not only to the competence of the team, but also Camiers outstanding riding last year, and the all round excellence of the R1 as a racing package. The elimination of Guintoli did not help the spectacle either.

Irrespective of our views, the new point scoring system peculiarly has the backing of the majority of the riders and team bosses in the paddock

The teams and riders are supporting it b/c MSVR have made a bad solution look preferable to the status quo. Leadership 101, if you want change make the status quo look like a disaster (maybe it was worse than we know).

Imo, the Showdown was simply created to make sponsors, track owners, and TV execs happy. They won't tolerate the damage that occurs from an early clinch. Sad thing is, the Showdown doesn't change anything on track and it doesn't change peoples expectations. If the Showdown had been in place last year, most people would still have been yawning all the way until the end. Why do sponsors and TV execs care about retaining bored fans? B/c the entire TV advertising industry has been condensed into one number--ratings.

Fans get nothing. TV and sponsors get a number on a piece of paper. The riders and teams get nothing b/c expensive uncompetitive racing is still as possible as it was last year.

The Showdown simply calls the authenticity of the contest into question b/c it was created to meet a business need, not to decide a worthy champion. BSB never should have told the fans that the Showdown was designed to create a crescendo of competition. That type of BS is reserved for the advertising executives and the TV stooges.

http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/re...ying_times.html

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda 45.565s
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki 45.691s
3. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 45.799s
4. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha 45.843s
5. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 45.861s
6. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda 46.087s
7. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 46.107s
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki 46.258s
9. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda 46.371s
10. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda No Time

11. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati 46.304s
12. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati 46.321s
13. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki 46.339s
14. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 46.389s
15. Chris Walker GBR CW Racing Suzuki 46.595s
16. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW 46.649s E
17. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki 46.754s
18. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing M/C & Moore Yamaha 46.906secs
19. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda 47.425s E
20. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda No Time

21. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha 47.048s
22. Neil Hodgson GBR Motorpoint Yamaha 47.121s
23. Steve Mercer GBR SMR Racing Yamaha 47.212s
24. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda 47.224s
25. David Johnson AUS Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki 47.291s E
26. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki 47.392s E
27. David Anthony AUS MIST Suzuki 47.430s E
28. Pauli Pekkanen FIN RR Motorsport Suzuki 47.576s E
29. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki 47.677s E
30. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia 47.716s E
31. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki 47.820s E
32. Michael Howarth GBR Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki 48.598s E
33. Steve Heneghan GBR Quattro Plant Honda 48.802s E
34. Peter Ward GBR Astro-Chase SST Kawasaki 48.999s E

Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki No Time
Joe Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia No Time E
James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM No Time E

E denotes Evo class entrants

Kiyo should still be in WSBK. His performance last years was lack luster, but Honda didn't do a great job with the satellite squads last year. Althea don't even bother with their bikes anymore.

I hope he can make his way back to the global stage, although, 3 time BSB champ would probably make him a very happy person.