Go Max!

I just finished watching Race 2 of Round 4... my chosen rider isn't doing so well so far this year, but definitely some great racing goin' on!

 

I like Noriyuki Haga, he's been there forever and hes amazing to watch. I really thought he had it last year, and hoped he pick up right where he left off this season, but as yet, it hasn't happened.

I like Toseland as well, but I'm thinking Leon Haslam (sp?) might be the one this year...

 

It looks like Haga is over the hill now.

When he signed for Ducati at the end of 2008, when Bayliss retired, he said that "with the best bike, I won't have any excuse not to win the title".

2009 wasn't a memorable year as far as Haga was concerned, and he didn't fare very well.

This year looks even worse, with him just running in mid pack, and Checa's private Ducati quicker than him!


Move over Noriyuki, and give the bike to someone else!!

The revelation this year is Biaggi and the Aprilia.

 

Excuse me? There is NO WAY you watched the same 2009 World Superbike season as I did. Nori had double wins at Valencia and Kyalami and singles at Philip Island, Assen, Imola and Magny-Cours.
Haga finished the season 6 points behind Spies. 6 points. Third place Michel Fabrizio was 94 points back from Nori! Spies and Haga fought right to the last race.

I will admit that this season isn't going well for Nori, but saying last year wasn't memorable for him is absolute bullsh*t.

.

 

But for some diet pills back when, Haga might have been a multi time WSB champion....Edwards made the comeback of the century that year to spoil Haga's championship dreams. I always rooted for Haga except when he was battling Colin. Sorry, some of us Texans are just built like that, and although I did CMRA when Ben was around, I was a big fan of Colin in the day....showing my age.

The Brits (well, BSB grads) are looking strong in WSBK.....and their cousins. Haslam and Rea have been strong (Johnny still a bit erratic), but for those of us that appreciate the older riders, Corser and Checa have looked really good this year, too. The BMW will probably only get stronger. I know Corser is about done, but I was also a huge fan of his when he was in his prime and if he can get that Beemer up to the front more, I would definitely give him the thumbs up for a championship.....but that is not likely. Toseland really let me down in MotoGP......he started so well and then just flat lost his way, and I started to think he lost his fire to win, too, but that is probably not fair. He looked a bit more racy at Monza, but got burned in R2.

Now I used to really dislike Biaggi back in his GP days when he was running in to teammates, getting in pre-podium elbow slingfests, cutting people off on the track and spoiling qualifying runs and being a complete jerk. And I own and ride an Aprilia RS 250 Biaggi replica, but regardless, since Max left the GP world and 'settled' down a bit in WSBK, I have to say that I have really come to like the guy......he is a completely different person today.

Camier shows flashes of being fast, but still likes to take too many trackside soil samples.

For now, WSBK has the best 'racing' if you define it as close finishes and pleanty of passing and some drafting and 4-6 riders in the lead group for 1/2 race distance and at least 2-3 that could win it with 3-4 laps left.

So yes, lil squid, go Max works for me........

Axecent

 

Colin's dad is super friendly. I took the 550 out to the last CMRA races at TWS and he pulled up, parked, and talked with me for about 30 minutes, there in the carousel. He is Australian, and a salt of the Earth guy. Told me if I was coming through town, to give him a call and come visit.

Pretty cool.......and for the record, I have about 22 years on you and Colin. 8>)