Sorry Squigs and I get the feeling that it was a fishing expedition, but I have to respond.
In short, no bloody way would VR struggle against those guys and I will try to outline why I feel that way.
Firstly, a number of riders have 'gone up' from WSBK to GP and have done little in the way of results (note it says WSBK Jums and please read the lot first
). Edwards has had podiums but never looked like a championship contender (if we are fair), nor did Bayliss who only got a few results, Vermuelen etc etc, none produced with one exception.
That exception of course is Spies who went from a domestic US series to WSBK, smashed the butts of far more seasoned riders to graduate the next season to MGP where he produced good results only to produce serious results the following year with a race win and podiums. He is the exception.
Alternately, over recent years a number of riders have made the step from MGP to WSBK and near all (the immediate exception being Vermuelen who choose a poor option) have gone on to multiple race wins and/or a championship or near championship.
For example lets look at the three more recent examples of Biaggi (probably the best credentialled at MGP level), Melandri and Checa. All produced race wins and multiple podiums in MGP, but none to the level of Rossi yet when all have gone to WSBK they have either dominated or gone close and have won championships (Biaggi) or should not lose from here.
Coupling this with the well reported scenario of VR last year riding a WSBK Yamaha and producing supreme times I do feel that to suspect he could not compete is absurd.
That said, I would go so far as to say that all of the recognised aliens (and yes to the doubters - that includes VR) would be around 0.5 seconds per lap, yes per lap quicker than a WSBK regular within a short period of time of acclimatisation to tyres etc.
Rossi is an exceptional rider who is suffering at the moment, but no way has he forgotten how to ride a bike
Gaz
