All good, save for Kiyonari remaining. If they want another Japanese on the bike, there must be plenty of up-and-comers to choose from. (and Paulo, your box wasn't playing up. I also had the 'condensed' version with no superpole.)
Eurosport were playing silly buggers again with a lot of the WSBK on the app whilst BSB was on the TV. Colour me cynical but are they just trying to push up the app usage so people can be moved off Sky allowing them to walk away at the end of the chrrent contract?
Seeing how well Ten Kate are getting on with the development of their Yamaha in such a short period of time it does make me wonder if Honda are regretting treating them so badly. OK they aren't up to the Kwaks and Ducs yet, but they are biting at the heels of the more established factory/pata Yamaha team.
Superb Race 1 with some seriously close racing which we don't normally say about WSBK these days. Bautista showed his class carving through the field after qualifying badly...... Can't wait to see him on the Honda next year. Speaking of which Camier back from injury and notching up the fire blades best result of the season was it? well done Leon hope you get a good bike next season!
I have been thinking about this and first believed that Bautista would be a coup for Honda. Honda claims an 'all new' Fireblade for 2020 and run under the HRC banner. But hey, didn't we hear all about HRC last year of how it was going to inject funds and resources to regain its place at the forefront of WSB? All gloat and boast of how Ten Kate was not performing so it's time for HRC to up the ante? On this year's results (save for Camier's effort yesterday) the HRC/Moriwaki Honda has far under performed. Hell, they're doing better in BSB in the hands of Irwin and Fores!! Whilst I am Honda proud, I can't see the likes of Yamaha, Kawasaki and even BMW being trumped in 2020 - with or without Bautista.
That's because he doesn't have a ride at the mo. Another rider who has a lot to offer, but (in my opinion) can be a bit 'hot and cold'. Have seen some brilliant rides in the wet from him.
I'm in no position to disagree or challenge, but if I were Pucetti team manager I wouldn't employ him based on his results riding a supposedly superior Kawasaki. Makes no logic to me.
Spoiler: May Contain Race Info So what was your take on yesterday's reduced field? My first thoughts were that they should have ridden, and the race proved it was ok. On reflection though a full field cracking on in the first lap could have been dangerous, especially in the first few corners. I did wonder if they could have started behind the safety car, but then couldn't remember ever see them do that in a bike race. All in all it seemed a bit of a debacle but it all seems to point to the FIM homolgating a track that should never have been approved for racing at that level.
Spoiler: Does Contain Race Info I seem to recall MotoGP riding under worse conditions in Qatar. (desert sand etc) Not an argument I can confidently contribute to, but I sensed a lot of back stabbing for JR after her supposedly supported the boycott and then raced. It turned out to be an incident-free race, and as one commentator said, the result would probably have been the same had the others raced. I disagree with that because a bigger field means greater chances or rider error/incident. Was good to see Bautista back on form and even more interesting to see if he can do similar today. I just hope that we do get a proper race today and that this hasn't 'blown up' overnight.
Possibly, but he has the distinct advantage of familiarity with the bike. Scott will come in with all the hype, but Chas may well be the 'silent achiever'. Redding won't have it anywhere near as easy as BSB.
But Redding will have the benefit of knowing over half the tracks on the Calender on the world stage! Don't forget what he has achieved is quite something. Winning in your first year on a brand new bike against hardcore riders who know all the British tracks inside out..... I'd say he's had it hard..... He's just been super consistent. He's only crashed twice and that's because someone took him out!!
Ah, even better. I foolishly deleted my BSB recording. Was saving it to watch the support races but now have to wait for the replays.
