WSBK/WSS - Assen - Practice, Quali, Race

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Apr 27 2009, 04:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Is the Duc really that much better than the Yamaha. Nori's poise, pace, and complete race package has got me very confused What's going on??
A 200cc cushion propped under your arse makes for a very comfortable position

Was there this weekend, excellent day it was, got a nice tan to, superb weather.

Spies falling of the 2nd race did affect the race a bit in terms of excitement, but seeing as i'm a Haga fan it couldn't bother me too much. Muggeridge crashed pretty hard in front of me and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Having heard nothing about it though makes me think hes gonna be alright.
Was a bit annoyed too that Veneman screwed up his start for the first time in 2 seasons and had settle for 8th again.

But excellent weekend nontheless!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (heyhuub @ Apr 27 2009, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Was there this weekend, excellent day it was, got a nice tan to, superb weather.

Spies falling of the 2nd race did affect the race a bit in terms of excitement, but seeing as i'm a Haga fan it couldn't bother me too much. Muggeridge crashed pretty hard in front of me and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Having heard nothing about it though makes me think hes gonna be alright.
Was a bit annoyed too that Veneman screwed up his start for the first time in 2 seasons and had settle for 8th again.

But excellent weekend nontheless!
agreed

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Apr 27 2009, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>A 200cc cushion propped under your arse makes for a very comfortable position

You said it, not me Not to take anything away from Bayliss of course.

I wonder if Spies is a little unsettled. He is really showing some rookie vulnerabilities although this is completely unlike him. I think in 3 years in the AMA, he didn't have one DNF (too lazy to look it up). Of course this didn't count where he crashed and red flagged the race purposely or not. I mean new track, new bike, and new tires his mistakes would seem to point to these excuses, but I wonder if mentally Haga has rattled him mentally or if he is just being a rookie and making the usual rookie mistakes. I am looking for big improvements from Ben in the second half of the season although its still a ways off.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Apr 27 2009, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>For the sake of great racing we all hope Spies can keep it together. Haga has been very "un-haga" this year, staying smooth and calm. I think he may have visited some hidden Shinto shrine, where the master taught him the ways of winning.

I loved the parc ferme shots of Haga after race 2, Tardozzi was talking to him about how he was asking him to slow down at the end part of the race when he had a considerable lead. Haga just shook his head, no, no, no.
haga has had the Tardozzi influence to thank for his more settled approach to this championship push...think the j.burgess of wsb.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Apr 27 2009, 11:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Missed the second race, but holy .... the first was amazing! Spies has really taken the series by the scruff of the neck, he may not win the title his year, but the guy has got a future. Looks to me like we may be watching the next American World Champ.

Haga?, I did say in the off season that getting the factory Ducati, the title was his to lose. Hopefully Spies will get the consistancy to make Haga work for it.

Pete
Well the 2nd race was a disappointment (if your a Spies fan). Funny, I usually am never at a loss for words, but this weekend left me a bit speechless. The first race was an instant classic, the second race was gut wrenching. Keep in mind, here in the States, we were treated to MotoGP after Spies crashed out in race two. So it was down hill from there. I could drink enough to get thebad taste out of my mouth.

On a side note, damn, nobody told me this kid Haslam was this good. WTF, all I heard about was Sykes and Bayne, but Haslam has turned out to be the real threat coming from Britland. That three turn sequence between him and Spies was a thing of true beauty! Ah, and how gracious was he in the post race interview. I'm a fan!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigAl @ Apr 27 2009, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>haga has had the Tardozzi influence to thank for his more settled approach to this championship push...think the j.burgess of wsb.
Excellent point!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (heyhuub @ Apr 27 2009, 01:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Was there this weekend, excellent day it was, got a nice tan to, superb weather.

Spies falling of the 2nd race did affect the race a bit in terms of excitement, but seeing as i'm a Haga fan it couldn't bother me too much. Muggeridge crashed pretty hard in front of me and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Having heard nothing about it though makes me think hes gonna be alright.
Was a bit annoyed too that Veneman screwed up his start for the first time in 2 seasons and had settle for 8th again.

But excellent weekend nontheless!
The crash looed awful on the Teli. Did you snap some good pics?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marijke @ Apr 27 2009, 12:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>you all should come to assen next year 2nd year in a row that WSBK has been this good
Can we stay at your place?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Apr 28 2009, 08:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>On a side note, damn, nobody told me this kid Haslam was this good. WTF, all I heard about was Sykes and Bayne, but Haslam has turned out to be the real threat coming from Britland. That three turn sequence between him and Spies was a thing of true beauty! Ah, and how gracious was he in the post race interview. I'm a fan!

I think most of us are a little surprised to be honest. Most people like Leon, he's a pretty decent guy, but after he didn't manage to win the BSB title with airwaves Ducati despite a couple of late season charges everyone thought he was a shoe in for last year with HM plant. For most of the season Crutchlow was quicker and Leon started to look a less impressive than in the past. As it happens Leon snuck up and beat him in the final standings, and it's easy to forget just how experienced Leon is, he's ridden in all 3 GP classes and WSBK in the past. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Apr 28 2009, 09:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Can we stay at your place?
funny but no

That's three races where Spies hasn't scored any points, one outside the points and two DNFs, and this has helped Haga build his 60 point lead. I could count on one hand the number of crashes I remember seeing Spies have in four years of AMA Superbike racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Apr 26 2009, 12:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Great ride by Leon btw, after he was nearly taken out by Neukirchners runaway zook. That Honda front end looked planted..a memorable first podium for Stiggy Honda.
The Eurosport commentators said the same thing about it being Stiggy's first podium, did they not watch the opening round at Phillip Island, in particular Race 2 where Haslam was third.

http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp...mp;p_Stampa=CLA

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Apr 28 2009, 08:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The crash looed awful on the Teli. Did you snap some good pics?

Memory full when the second race started But made some nice pics and vids overall.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Apr 27 2009, 04:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You said it, not me Not to take anything away from Bayliss of course.

I wonder if Spies is a little unsettled. He is really showing some rookie vulnerabilities although this is completely unlike him. I think in 3 years in the AMA, he didn't have one DNF (too lazy to look it up). Of course this didn't count where he crashed and red flagged the race purposely or not. I mean new track, new bike, and new tires his mistakes would seem to point to these excuses, but I wonder if mentally Haga has rattled him mentally or if he is just being a rookie and making the usual rookie mistakes. I am looking for big improvements from Ben in the second half of the season although its still a ways off.

It's only the fourth round of the series. Spies is under a shitload of pressure in his rookie year in the series. Different bike and tires, new tracks etc. Give him time and he'll settle in. Too many people were expecting him to dominate the season start to finish. I don't see him ending the season in less than 2nd place - which wouldn't be too shameful - all things considered. I don't think it's a Haga issue. Just too many new factors all at one time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Apr 28 2009, 07:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I was surprised as hell to see that Speed TV was actually showing WSBK Race 1 and 2, as well as 250 and MotoGP. 4 Moto races on one day? Speed, what's gotten into you?
They ran out of Bullrun reruns is my guess.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Keshav @ Apr 28 2009, 06:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It's only the fourth round of the series. Spies is under a shitload of pressure in his rookie year in the series. Different bike and tires, new tracks etc. Give him time and he'll settle in. Too many people were expecting him to dominate the season start to finish. I don't see him ending the season in less than 2nd place - which wouldn't be too shameful - all things considered. I don't think it's a Haga issue. Just too many new factors all at one time.

Seriously. I was thinking about this today. I think we have overlooked much of this because he's had a phenomenal start. I was immediately disappointed to see him crash out. I was watching the race with a racer friend of mine and he said, well look, 'Ben has been on Dunlops made for American racing most all his life. Pirelli for the most part have zero market in racing in the States. He shows up to a new track, that is hard enough, but every track has certain traction characteristics in regards to tires. Now he is on Pirelli, so he is learning as he goes along. That means he is still learning the tires even during the actual race. Something that Haga knows already like the back of his hand. It takes years to figure out how tire brands behave, much less learning it on the fly at new track you've never been to.' I thought about this form a moment and realized, ...., Spies is amazing!

Seriously, think about this for a moment. There is no way Spies should be stuffing it in on Haga for the win in race one. That was an amazing performance and one for the classic record books. Haga, the top rider in WSBK, on the top bike (3/4 top 5 were Ducs in Assen) with a massive familiarity of track and tires, got beat straight up in race one!

Frabrizio tried to point to the Yamaha as the reason for Spies success, but lets compare where the other Yamahas are in relation where the similar Ducatis are too. Fabrizio has not beaten his teammate, but he’s come runner up twice, and twice he had to fend off another Ducati (Laconi/Smrz). There is no question that the Ducati is the best package in WSBK. The other Yamahas have been no where in sight. Not even a podium yet.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Apr 28 2009, 09:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Seriously, think about this for a moment. There is no way Spies should be stuffing it in on Haga for the win in race one. That was an amazing performance and one for the classic record books. Haga, the top rider in WSBK, on the top bike (3/4 top 5 were Ducs in Assen) with a massive familiarity of track and tires, got beat straight up in race one!

No doubt. How in God's name do you fly through that turn without lifting. As soon as he made the pass, he saw a field full of Dutch dandelions and a tombstone that said

Ben Spies

1984-2009

Somehow he pulled it back on line. I hope he closed his eyes b/c I wasn't even on the bike and I could barely watch.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marijke @ Apr 28 2009, 02:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>funny but no
Hey, where did the thread go with all the pics of the weekend?

Oops, found it.