The Long Road to the Race
The 2013 WSBK season was filled with ups and down, and the kind of on-track drama that fans live for. A first time champion was crowned, new blood was injected mid-season that shook up the order, a manufacturer's racing juggernaut fell and a new one rose. Then there was the silly and off seasons, where so many musical chairs were swapped that the head spins and some good riders were left without seats. Which brings us to 2014.
Team: Kawasaki Racing Team
Riders: Tom Sykes (1) and Loris Baz (76)
Status:
Kawasaki Racing Team had a dream year in 2013. This is not to say that it was easy, the road to the top rarely is. Yet despite the setbacks and amidst the blood and tears, team green managed to pull a rabbit out of their hat and accomplish what no other team had been able to for Kawasaki's motorsports division, with not only Tom Sykes ending the season as the 2013 but Kawasaki claiming the manufacturer's title as well. For 2014 the team enters competition with an evolution of the ZX10R motorcycle that they campaigned successfully last year, having finally developed the platform from a tire shredding beast to one of the most dominant bikes on the grid.
Race Prediction:
Unhampered by the injuries that plagued him at the start of 2013, Tom Sykes ultimately leads practice and claims pole position. Over the winter break Tom has wined and dined the data engineers responsible for the phenomenal gains to the ZX10R's traction control. There are unsubstantiated rumors that involve him promising to have one their babies. The off hour liaisons result in an ECU update that allows Sykes to scamper away from the field and claim the hole shot in both races. The Aprilia's give chase but are ultimately unable to keep pace. Sykes claims the double.
Team: Aprilia Racing Team
Riders: Marco Melandri (33) and Sylvain Guintoli (50)
Status:
There are a lot of bruised egos coming from the Italian factory following the 2013 season. Before the season was done they had lost their head of technical development and the public face of the championship winning RSV4 project - (he who shall not be named). Then, despite winning the opening races at Phillip Island, with one win coming by way of complete podium shutout, they watched both the rider and manufacturer championships gradually slip away. Then to add insult to injury after maneuvering to replace veteran team rider Eugene Laverty for 2014 they watched him finally blossom aboard the factory to end the season as the championship runner up, earning multiple double wins on the way. With veteran Guintoli now joined by GP exile Melandri Aprilia hopes to recapture the success they enjoyed with retiree Max Biaggi, the RSV4 Factory being notoriously responsive to those with 250 GP experience.
Race Prediction:
Despite somewhat lackluster performances during off-season testing, Team Aprilia enters the fray with a point to prove. Race 1 sees both riders jostle for position but eventually fall back into the lesser podium positions. Melandri does an inside block pass to push Guintoli wide and take second place. Guintoli pays him back by slapping his model girlfriend's booty in parc ferme. Flustered by the confrontation, Melandri bogs the start of race 2 and Guintoli battles Sykes for the lead, eventually coming ahead to steal first place.
Team: VOLTCOM CRESCENT SUZUKI
Riders: Eugene Laverty (58) and Alexander Lowes (22)
Status:
If as the saying goes, "It ain't easy being green," then it must be a nightmare being blue and white. Suzuki hasn't won a race in the highest production class in 94 starts, and it certainly hasn't been from lack of trying. The addition of 2013 runner up Laverty would seem to give the Japanese manufacturer some chance, and they will certainly need every advantage that they can come up with this year.
Race Prediction:
Used to the sublime power and handling of his previous steed, Laverty over rides the GSXR in race 1. While he doesn't crash, he loses time and finishes outside of the top 10. Visibly distraught he is escorted back to his camper by his girlfriend where they remain sequestered for an unreported amount of time. Free practice sees a more relaxed Laverty tame the Japanese beast, and he claims a top 5 finish in race 2.
Team: Team Hero EBR
Riders: Aaron Yates (20) and Geoff May (99)
Status:
It's been a long time coming but a Buell motorcycle has made it to the world stage. I recognize that you may be in a state of shock so I'll repeat it. Eric Buell, the mad genius that made a sport bike out of Harley Davidson's air cooled sportster engine that was good enough to be labelled the best handling motorcycle ever, has put not one but two motorcycles on the starting grid of World Superbike competition. Suck on those eggs Fischer. And Harley. And naysayers, doubters and haters. And especially Harley.
We're all thinking it.
Now comes the hard work. Eric has proven that he lives by the axiom of competition improving the breed, with previous generations of Buell XB sportbikes being given notable upgrades as a result of competition in the US' AMA series'. While the offspring of Eric's newest venture, EBR, is not expected to run full bore with the usual suspects on the grid his riders will have plenty of competition to match their wits against. Legendary manufacturer Bimota rejoins competition in 2014 and MV Agusta returns for another shot with rider Claudio Corti. If Eric's team can stand up to at least these established manufacturers that in itself will be a win.
Race Prediction:
Yates is given the Spies treatment in race 1, and is jostled off track. Yates rolls out of the spill and throws a Hadoken which misses the field and splashes harmlessly into the water. May completes the race but finishes just inside the top 20. Undeterred the riders regroup for race 2. Both men complete the race just outside of the top 10. The EBR suffers no mechanical failures in its first outing on he world stage.
The 2013 WSBK season was filled with ups and down, and the kind of on-track drama that fans live for. A first time champion was crowned, new blood was injected mid-season that shook up the order, a manufacturer's racing juggernaut fell and a new one rose. Then there was the silly and off seasons, where so many musical chairs were swapped that the head spins and some good riders were left without seats. Which brings us to 2014.
Team: Kawasaki Racing Team
Riders: Tom Sykes (1) and Loris Baz (76)
Status:
Kawasaki Racing Team had a dream year in 2013. This is not to say that it was easy, the road to the top rarely is. Yet despite the setbacks and amidst the blood and tears, team green managed to pull a rabbit out of their hat and accomplish what no other team had been able to for Kawasaki's motorsports division, with not only Tom Sykes ending the season as the 2013 but Kawasaki claiming the manufacturer's title as well. For 2014 the team enters competition with an evolution of the ZX10R motorcycle that they campaigned successfully last year, having finally developed the platform from a tire shredding beast to one of the most dominant bikes on the grid.
Race Prediction:
Unhampered by the injuries that plagued him at the start of 2013, Tom Sykes ultimately leads practice and claims pole position. Over the winter break Tom has wined and dined the data engineers responsible for the phenomenal gains to the ZX10R's traction control. There are unsubstantiated rumors that involve him promising to have one their babies. The off hour liaisons result in an ECU update that allows Sykes to scamper away from the field and claim the hole shot in both races. The Aprilia's give chase but are ultimately unable to keep pace. Sykes claims the double.
Team: Aprilia Racing Team
Riders: Marco Melandri (33) and Sylvain Guintoli (50)
Status:
There are a lot of bruised egos coming from the Italian factory following the 2013 season. Before the season was done they had lost their head of technical development and the public face of the championship winning RSV4 project - (he who shall not be named). Then, despite winning the opening races at Phillip Island, with one win coming by way of complete podium shutout, they watched both the rider and manufacturer championships gradually slip away. Then to add insult to injury after maneuvering to replace veteran team rider Eugene Laverty for 2014 they watched him finally blossom aboard the factory to end the season as the championship runner up, earning multiple double wins on the way. With veteran Guintoli now joined by GP exile Melandri Aprilia hopes to recapture the success they enjoyed with retiree Max Biaggi, the RSV4 Factory being notoriously responsive to those with 250 GP experience.
Race Prediction:
Despite somewhat lackluster performances during off-season testing, Team Aprilia enters the fray with a point to prove. Race 1 sees both riders jostle for position but eventually fall back into the lesser podium positions. Melandri does an inside block pass to push Guintoli wide and take second place. Guintoli pays him back by slapping his model girlfriend's booty in parc ferme. Flustered by the confrontation, Melandri bogs the start of race 2 and Guintoli battles Sykes for the lead, eventually coming ahead to steal first place.
Team: VOLTCOM CRESCENT SUZUKI
Riders: Eugene Laverty (58) and Alexander Lowes (22)
Status:
If as the saying goes, "It ain't easy being green," then it must be a nightmare being blue and white. Suzuki hasn't won a race in the highest production class in 94 starts, and it certainly hasn't been from lack of trying. The addition of 2013 runner up Laverty would seem to give the Japanese manufacturer some chance, and they will certainly need every advantage that they can come up with this year.
Race Prediction:
Used to the sublime power and handling of his previous steed, Laverty over rides the GSXR in race 1. While he doesn't crash, he loses time and finishes outside of the top 10. Visibly distraught he is escorted back to his camper by his girlfriend where they remain sequestered for an unreported amount of time. Free practice sees a more relaxed Laverty tame the Japanese beast, and he claims a top 5 finish in race 2.
Team: Team Hero EBR
Riders: Aaron Yates (20) and Geoff May (99)
Status:
It's been a long time coming but a Buell motorcycle has made it to the world stage. I recognize that you may be in a state of shock so I'll repeat it. Eric Buell, the mad genius that made a sport bike out of Harley Davidson's air cooled sportster engine that was good enough to be labelled the best handling motorcycle ever, has put not one but two motorcycles on the starting grid of World Superbike competition. Suck on those eggs Fischer. And Harley. And naysayers, doubters and haters. And especially Harley.
We're all thinking it.
Now comes the hard work. Eric has proven that he lives by the axiom of competition improving the breed, with previous generations of Buell XB sportbikes being given notable upgrades as a result of competition in the US' AMA series'. While the offspring of Eric's newest venture, EBR, is not expected to run full bore with the usual suspects on the grid his riders will have plenty of competition to match their wits against. Legendary manufacturer Bimota rejoins competition in 2014 and MV Agusta returns for another shot with rider Claudio Corti. If Eric's team can stand up to at least these established manufacturers that in itself will be a win.
Race Prediction:
Yates is given the Spies treatment in race 1, and is jostled off track. Yates rolls out of the spill and throws a Hadoken which misses the field and splashes harmlessly into the water. May completes the race but finishes just inside the top 20. Undeterred the riders regroup for race 2. Both men complete the race just outside of the top 10. The EBR suffers no mechanical failures in its first outing on he world stage.
Hello ....... daddy is back! Mmmm I love the smell of race fuel in the morning!! Its good to have moto racing back!! ... I just hope I can find a decent live streaming for free cause I am not dropping 100 bones on their site.. 
