WSBK/WSS - Monza(round 5) - Practice/Quali/Race

Monza coming up this weekend. One of my favorite tracks. Not a lot of corners, mostly long straights with some chicane's thrown in, lots of rights, but still a classic track. I love the cuts thru the wooded areas. I rank it up there with Assen as far as racing history goes. Surpisingly it has produced some good racing over the years.

Last year Race 1, Max Neukirchner took his first win, Haga 2nd, and Bayliss a 3rd. Race 2 Bayliss had a DNF (can't remember the details on it), but the win came down to a close one with Haga narrowly beating Max N. and Kiyonari in a last few laps battle.

Predictions for this year? Spies set the fastest time at the recent test. It's also a home race for the Italian based Yamaha team. Haga, Sykes, Fabio, and Neukirchner were all within a tenth of Spies time, looks like it could be tight. LINK

really stoked about this race. should be a barn burner!

Ah,Monza is a great place,not been too sterilised like they did to Hockenheim.Can`t wait to hear the bikes at full chat on the straights.

Monzaaaaa!!!
can't wait!!

Predictions.

1) Ryuichi Kiyonari

2) Shinya Nakano

3) Noriyuki Haga

will spies have another crash on by far most superior bike out there? probably not monza are easiest track to handle...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#27aus @ May 6 2009, 08:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>will spies have another crash on by far most superior bike out there? probably not monza are easiest track to handle...

I didn't know Pinky followed WSBK, awesome


I guess we will know how good the zooks eally are this year. If they don't get top 5 they are in big trouble with their new package.

GO ZEMKE!! GO SPIES!!

Yeah really hope for some great racing like last year. Haga is always good here so I'll put my money on him. But the Duc lacks some top speed so could be interesting on the straights. Think Max Biaggi will be in the top group aswell, that Aprilia is as fast as the Suzuki on the straitht.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SuperShinya56 @ May 6 2009, 04:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Predictions.

1) Ryuichi Kiyonari

2) Shinya Nakano

3) Noriyuki Haga
An all Japanese podium, that would be quite the sight to see. But I would put Kagayama as having a better chance then Nakano at this point.

My prediction:

Race1
1. Spies
2. Haga
3. Max N.


Race 2
1. Haga
2. Spies
3. Haslam

Qualifying Practice 1 Times:
LINK

1. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 45.447s
2. Tom Sykes GBR Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 45.758s
3. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 45.790s
4. Jonathan Rea GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 45.919s
5. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 45.962s
6. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 45.985s
7. Ben Spies USA Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 46.013s
8. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 46.054s
9. Carlos Checa ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.140s
10. Shane Byrne GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1min 46.164s
11. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.171s
12. Leon Haslam GBR Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.208s
13. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 46.363s
14. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 46.545s
15. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 46.565s
16. Luca Scassa ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 46.566s
17. Karl Muggeridge AUS Celani Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 46.690s
18. Regis Laconi FRA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1min 47.078s
19. Matteo Baiocco ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 47.220s
20. Makoto Tamada JPN Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 1min 47.317s
21. Tommy Hill GBR HANNspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1min 47.362s
22. Jake Zemke USA Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR 1min 47.751s
23. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki SRT ZX-0R 1min 47.955s
24. David Salom ESP Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 47.963s
25. Shinya Nakano JPN Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 48.284s
26. Brendan Roberts AUS Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 48.667s
27. David Checa ESP Yamaha France GMT 94 1min 48.920s
28. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA SCI Honda CBR1000RR 1mins 48.981s
29. Roland Resch AUT TKR Switzerland Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 49.119s


Fabio looking fast, great showing by Sykes, Haga just where he needs to be, Rea and Max N in there as well, Spies a bit off pace yet.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ May 8 2009, 10:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Fabio looking fast, great showing by Sykes, Haga just where he needs to be, Rea and Max N in there as well, Spies a bit off pace yet.

I'm wondering if Spies was more hurt than he let on after his crash last race . He has never been over half a second off the pace. They did test here so they know how to set the bike up or at least have a direction, so either Spies is off his game, or something is bothering him.

BTW Spies' best time during the Monza test was a 145.3

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ May 6 2009, 08:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I didn't know Pinky followed WSBK, awesome


No man, he just follows American riders. All of which he has a secret crush on. Come out of the closet already Pinky. You've been exposed.

Monza Superbike - Qualifying 2nd Session

Saturday, 09 May 2009 13:22

POS NO. RIDER BIKE TIME
1 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.974
2 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'45.224
3 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.373
4 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'45.448
5 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'45.748
6 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.755
7 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.758
8 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.919
9 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'45.985
10 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.988
11 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'46.103
12 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.140
13 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'46.164
14 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'46.264
15 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'46.319
16 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'46.426
17 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'46.477
18 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'46.545
19 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'46.566
20 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'46.946
21 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.032
22 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1'47.130
23 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.220
24 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.220
25 98 Zemke J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.751
26 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1'47.868
27 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.963
28 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'48.063
29 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'48.810


Monza Superbike - Free Practice 2nd Session

Saturday, 09 May 2009 14:56

POS NO. RIDER BIKE TIME
1 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.939
2 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.156
3 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.200
4 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'45.484
5 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.503
6 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.763
7 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.818
8 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'45.823
9 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.893
10 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'46.024
11 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'46.169
12 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'46.233
13 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'46.261
14 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'46.271
15 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'46.484
16 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'46.520
17 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'46.582
18 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'47.259
19 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'47.265
20 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.309
21 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.374
22 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.380
23 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1'47.420
24 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.490
25 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.783
26 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1'47.861
27 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'48.010
28 98 Zemke J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'48.263
29 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'49.580

And.. Superpole.. who could it be...

Monza Superbike - Superpole

Saturday, 09 May 2009 16:27


1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'44.073
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.270
3 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'44.642
4 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'44.900
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'45.096
6 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.170
7 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'45.605
8 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'45.861
9 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.166
10 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.383
11 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'45.543
12 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'45.663
13 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'46.368
14 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'46.571
15 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'46.593
16 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'46.928
17 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.250
18 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'46.372
19 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'46.407
20 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'46.522
21 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.032
22 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1'47.130
23 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.220
24 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.220
25 98 Zemke J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.751
26 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1'47.868
27 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'47.963
28 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'48.063
29 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'48.810

Looks like the factory bikes to the fore ,top speedwise.

http://www.justin.tv/allaboutbikes

damn ben again! stay off the grass tomorro ben...

Ryuichi Kiyonari will take both wins !!

Ben on pole?




Looks like the field is pretty tight and lots of guys were having trouble running the optimal line. I hope nothing stupid happens at the chicane unless it involves Haga lying UNHURT on the pavement while Spies runs clear for the win.