rennie

Congratulations @Mississippi Bullfrog! I got up far too early today! no idea why less than 4 hours sleep I think I'm going to be struggling later

Good Morning

Good Morning

Quite a lead!

Good Morning

I won last year! I'd be very surprised if it happens again!

worked last night so haven't been up long Bikes back on TV this weekend! Skype/karaoke tonight

Good Morning

It's going to be an interesting year! at the moment I have no idea who might win! Will Marquez be as good as he used to be if/when he comes back? Has Rossi got another race win in him? Will Suzuki be as strong as last year?

Good Evening

Hello and Welcome

The 2021 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship is getting nearer to firing up for the year ahead and one of the title favourites, Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300), has undergone important changes in order for her to fight for the title again. Joan Lascorz has stepped in for the entire season as her race consultant, having already been present during some preseason tests. Already forming a strong relationship with Ana’s crew chief Nico Sartori and the rest of the team, it’s an exciting addition to the team. Working next to Sartori, Ana and the rest of the team, Joan will focus primarily on rider feeling and convert this into bike setting, the rider/machine interface, and technical aspects of Ana’s approach to racing in order to get the best possible result. Also part of the new team structure is new team manager Carla Grau, who previously dealt with communications surrounding Ana and was an assistant to her. Speaking about his new role for 2021, Joan Lascorz commented: “I’m very excited to do this, I've never done this role as race consultant, but I was with the guys recently at the Montmelo test and in other smaller tracks in the past weeks, I love the way Provec works with such excellence, I know Nico and "Fleky" from the past when I was a rider, and Ana is a great rider and super committed, but I believe I can help her to cover some aspects to get even better. I am doing this from a voluntary perspective, and I hope I can add some small improvement to this project while learning myself at the same time.” Guim Roda, manager director of Provec Racing and team manager for the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK squad, commented on the new appointment for Carrasco, saying: “It’s no secret that Joan is part of the fabric of the Provec Racing project and we see this as an exciting opportunity for him, plus a real performance benefit for the team. Like Ana, Joan started racing on minibikes. He has experience of many racing classes and valuable insight into the tactics of racing and getting the best out of a Ninja race bike.” Follow all of the action across all three classes in the 2021 season with the WorldSBK VideoPass![1] References^ WorldSBK VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)Let's block ads! (Why?) View the full article

The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will take another step closer to kicking off with a vital testing stint coming up at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. All five manufacturers are on track together for the first time in 2021, meaning there’s a direct comparison between them all on-track for the first time this year. However, with all of the ground-breaking stories that have come to light in other tests, there’ll be plenty to follow for each manufacturer, as well for a whole host of themes. We’ve condensed them into one place, so you know the hot headlines to follow at the Catalunya Test. Tech innovations: new looks, new intricacies, new possibilities There’s a whole host of technical innovations, from fairing modifications and redesigns, to new Brembo brake calipers, upgraded engines and evolved packages. At Kawasaki, the new ZX-10RR debuted back at Jerez last November with a new fairing and winglets, but other manufacturers are following suit, with BMW also having these on the M 1000 RR. At Yamaha, there’s a subtle change to the air intake, to generate less lift and more top speed, whilst the modified front fairing itself shields the rider from the clear-air turbulence generated by motorcycles ahead. The Brembo brake calipers will be tested again, with Catalunya hosting harder braking areas than Misano, whilst Yamaha will continue to test their 2021 engine. In short, there’s plenty to look for on the motorcycles. Five-way fight: all factory manufacturers on track together for the first time in 2021 The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will welcome all five factory teams onto the circuit for the first time in 2021; Kawasaki, Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and BMW will all stack up against each other in what promises to be the most insightful preseason test before the racing gets underway in May. Whilst the first four of the aforementioned manufacturers have all tested relatively extensively, very little time has been spent on track together. As for BMW, the team only got on track with the new M 1000 RR at Jerez last week[1], far less time than the other teams around them. All five factories on track together will offer a direct comparison against each other, a potential ‘Round 0’ and a strong indicator for the year to come for the 21 riders who represent all teams and constructors. The new generation: stamping their ground Following the recent Misano test[2], there was a very fresh (and young) feel to the head of the field; Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), whilst Rinaldi’s teammate Scott Redding was fourth ahead Razgatlioglu’s rookie teammate, reigning WorldSSP Champion Andrea Locatelli. With an average age of 25 (three of them just 24), there’s an exciting future for them and WorldSBK. There were other names however, with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) impressing in seventh overall, as he goes into 2021 as the youngest rider on the grid. Can they challenge again in Spain? Yamaha’s evolution, a 2021 revolution? Year on year, the Yamaha effort in WorldSBK grows stronger and stronger, with 2021 being no exception whatsoever. The PATA Yamaha squad have retained their star rider in Toprak Razgatlioglu, and the Turkish ace has already been on scintillating pace in testing at Misano. Andrea Locatelli joins him as reigning WorldSSP Champion and is learning quickly. On top of that, there’s the technical updates: an evolved engine, modified fairing and a redesigned air intake[3], whilst also putting the new Brembo front brake calipers through their paces. Another dynamic is the strength with the factory’s Independent effort from GRT Yamaha. 2020 sensation Garrett Gerloff remains in the team but gets the 2021 bike, the same as the Pata outfit. Exciting times for the crews in blue. The BMW mystery: expect the unexpected “It is clear that we are in a good area and we are happy to complete the test and move forward,” said Shaun Muir at the conclusion of the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s first appearance of 2021 on the M 1000 RR. The team principal has unequivocal excitement and well he might, with a partially refreshed line-up, a new motorcycle and a new team structure in place – the latter of which consists of double WorldSBK Champion crew chief Adrian Gorst, who is the team coordinator. However, one question remains, and it may well be answered at Catalunya: the project is young, so how does it stack up in comparison to the rest of the manufacturers? All of the ingredients are there for a far more prosperous year for BMW; can Catalunya shine a light on them as a serious threat for 2021? Make sure to enjoy all of the highlights from the test and watch the action unfold in 2021 with the WorldSBK VideoPass![4] References^ on track with the new M 1000 RR at Jerez last week (www.worldsbk.com)^ Following the recent Misano test (www.worldsbk.com)^ modified fairing and a redesigned air intake (www.worldsbk.com)^ WorldSBK VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)Let's block ads! (Why?) View the full article

The 2021 FIM Supersport World Championship promises to welcome one of the most exciting title tussles in the history of the Championship, with the whole paddock awash with unpredictability. One of the Championship favourites is Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who goes into his second season of World Supersport action with the same team. Consistency was key to his third place overall in the Championship last year and he aims to press forward in 2021. We caught up with him before the season started, as he spoke about his aims for the year, his new teammate in Can Öncü and where he sees his future within the WorldSBK paddock. Unable to hide his excitement for the year ahead, Oettl is raring to go: “I’m really excited for 2021 in WorldSSP! My first season was quite good, I was happy with third and of course, we would like to improve but it is a difficult target. I’m looking forward to this challenge, especially being back on the Kawasaki. “I think everyone thinks the Kawasaki is a bit of the underdog because everyone else is riding the Yamaha, but I think we have quite a competitive package at the moment. I’m quite happy to start the season soon and get back together with my team; they are almost like a family and I think we worked well in our first season together.” Commenting on the challenge ahead, he continued: “I think it is a very difficult title to claim. We have to work every weekend at 100% for the races and then enjoy them. We have to improve the bike a little bit and also the race craft. Last year, with Lucas Mahias as a teammate, he was a very strong racer, especially at Estoril where he was hard to beat. We have to win races in order to go for the title. First, we need to start winning races before talking about the Championship.” There is a margin to improve however, something Oettl looks forward to doing in 2021: “We have to improve the race pace a little bit too. In some Superpoles, we were really fast but then it was difficult to get a race result to match the Superpole. Our first season was good at points, there was not a big downfall or a mistake. The bike was very competitive at Estoril and I think we have more margin to improve than Yamaha, especially in the electronics. Last year was difficult with all of the races and the lack of time and it was good that Puccetti Kawasaki had enough experience with the bike. This year, we have the time to test things and to improve our complete package.” Joining him in the team is Turkish rider Can Öncü, something Philipp looks forward to: “With Can, he is very young and very talented. He’s a lot younger than Lucas of last year and myself too, so he has a different kind of riding style. Maybe some things from me can help him and things from him can help me; I hope that he’s really fast, so that we can achieve some double podiums like last year, and also push myself to be better. “Beating your teammate is always the goal. Last year, this was a big thing for us but after a few races, the fight calmed down a bit and, in the end, every rider has to look for themselves and I see it this way. I would like to finish as high up in the overall standings as I can and your first enemy is your teammate, but there are also a lot of other fast riders out there that we have to beat.” With Oettl staying in the team for a second season, is he now the team leader on-track? “Last year, some might look and say that Lucas was the number one rider in the team,” he began. “I really looked up to Lucas as he had so much experience and because he was very strong rider, especially in the races. I learned a lot from him in 2020 and in 2021, myself and Can have a similar amount of experience after one year in WorldSSP. However, I was riding for a long time in Moto3™ and also Moto2™ for one season. Material wise, there is no difference between the two riders, and I don’t think there is a number one rider or a number two rider in the team this year.” Looking through the 2021 grid, there’s plenty of riders he will be fighting with at the head of the pack: “Of course, Randy Krummenacher is a strong rider and has been a Champion in WorldSSP back in 2019. Dominique Aegerter will also be strong, Steven Odendaal too. Both the GMT94 Yamaha riders will be right there too, so in total probably around 10 riders and then maybe one or two you don’t even think of. Luca Bernardi will be one to keep an eye on at tracks he knows, also Michel Fabrizio; you never know, it is really difficult to predict a race winner, or a title favourite this year.” Oettl hopes to enjoy his racing again in 2021 and wants to win races before talking about a title tilt, saying: “I’m not someone who says ‘I would like to win the World Championship’ because I think every rider, no matter how far away from that target they are, wants to do that. I made a big change last year and my mindset was ‘whatever the situation is, or if it is really good or really bad, then I keep working’ and that led to a good result at the end of the year. I had no injuries, and I enjoyed my best Championship result at the end of the year in my whole career. I would like to be happy and have fun riding my bike, and then I think we will finish in a good position. As I say, the target is to improve on last year, but that will be a difficult one.” Concluding with a glance ahead to his future, Oettl aims to head to WorldSBK: “I would like to stay in the World Superbike paddock. I’d like to go to WorldSBK because it’s a class I’m very interested in. I’d like to ride a Superbike and although I don’t have so much Superbike experience, but I’d like to step up. At the moment, my focus is on this season and to finish as high as possible before moving up to WorldSBK; it is the highest class in the whole of the production bike Championships, and it is a class that I’m very interested in too.” Enjoy Oettl’s progress throughout 2021 and watch the WorldSSP title fight unfold lap-by-lap with the WorldSBK VideoPass![1] References^ WorldSBK VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)Let's block ads! (Why?) View the full article

Good Morning Not that keen on Fridays this week! Working tonight

I got a sticker! I just slept a lot the next day, no real side effects

Bump!!!! Anybody else? you need to be sorted before qualifying on Saturday to get full points (If it's the same as last year I haven't actually looked)

Good Evening

The 2021 FIM Supersport World Championship promises to be an exhilarating battle with a whole host of riders in with a shout of the title. In one of the most open Championship races in recent years, there’s talent merging from a whole host of paddocks. In 2020, Turkey’s Can Öncü stepped into the class from the Moto3™ World Championship and had some strong performances despite his difficult Superpole sessions. Now in his second season, a first with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit, he’s in a good place to grow and believes he may well be a contender as 2021 rumbles on. Starting with his rookie campaign, Öncü was left wanting more: “Last year was not such a good year for me, or at least not my expectation. What we got was not the perfect package, as we had some bike issues which made it a difficult season. However, for 2021, I will be with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team, which is more-or-less the factory team, and this is really positive. Hopefully we can have some good results; my target for every race will be the top five and I know I can do it if I can find a good rhythm. I’m super excited to start the season and I’m waiting like crazy!” “I know I can fight and if we find the confidence with the bike then I know we can aim for the podiums and hopefully, even look at the Championship,” continued the 21-year-old Turkish rider. “I know already that this team is one of the best teams in the Championship, as they have a lot of experience and knowledge. I’m riding in ‘Kenan Sofuoglu’s seat’ from when he raced in WorldSSP, so I have the confidence in the team without a doubt, even if I don’t know the guys really well.” The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit took the title in 2015 and 2016 with Kenan Sofuoglu and have remained title contenders since the Turkish legend’s departure. Sofuoglu won for them in 2017, whilst in 2019 they returned to winning ways with Lucas Mahias. The team won more races in 2020 but missed out on the title in both years. 2021 sees them retain Philipp Oettl from 2020 and promote Can Öncü, whilst Mahias graduates to the team’s WorldSBK project. Talking about his teammate Philipp Oettl for 2021, Öncü said: “I don’t know Philipp that well, so we will know what is going to happen as time goes on. I think if we have a good connection, then we will work together. Neither of us is 100% the best at every corner on every track, so we can learn from each other. I think this will be really good; maybe one of us will be the Champions, I don’t know. However, if that is the case then Kawasaki will be Champions and that is the most important thing.” Speaking about where he needs to improve the most, Öncü was clear: “I always have the pace in the race, this is not a problem for me. The problem for me is that I need to improve on the old tyre. In the first half of the race, I can make passes and follow riders in front of me quite easily. Another problem is my Superpole and the first three laps of the session on the new tyre.” 2020 saw Öncü finish 12th in the Championship, with a best result of sixth on two occasions. A poor mid-season run of form saw him miss out on what could’ve been a potential top ten overall but nonetheless, Can hopes that he will be able to battle his way to the front in 2021, although he’ll have some solid opposition to overcome. “In terms of biggest rival, it’s difficult to say,” he said. “Now in World Supersport, many riders have come to the class from other Championships or have returned, such as Federico Caricasulo, Randy Krummenacher and Dominique Aegerter from Moto2™. The races will be very close and very tight, but I don’t know who will be there 100%! For me personally, last year I was fast but with a lot less experience whereas for this year, I am fast with more experience and in a better team.” After all of that, the goal is clear for this year; nothing but a top three in the standings will suffice: “I want to achieve podiums and finish inside the top three in the Championship. This is very difficult and for sure, every rider wants this too. For me, the most important thing is the team, as they can use their experience to teach me more, in order to make me faster and us stronger as a package.” Watch the World Supersport drama unfold LIVE throughout 2021 with the WorldSBK VideoPass![1] References^ WorldSBK VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)Let's block ads! (Why?) View the full article

Good Morning

I'm in! Haven't got a clue this year!

Good Evening Working Friday night again this week!

The new BMW M 1000 RR hit the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for a three-day test over the course of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, with riders Tom Sykes and new recruit Michael van der Mark, were joined by MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rookie Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) as the trio tested the new machine in the south of Spain. The test got underway on Sunday with two of the three BMW teams in action, with Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) not present at Jerez. This meant Sykes, van der Mark and Folger would be in action as they looked to continue the development of the M 1000 RR ahead of it entering WorldSBK competition in 2021. For the upcoming season, BMW will be represented by two riders in the factory team with Folger and Laverty on BMW machinery in satellite outfits. Van der Mark will join the BMW factory outfit for 2021 after four years competing with the PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team outfit and got one of his first outings on the new machine as he aims to help the German manufacturer move back up the order in 2021 as they introduce the new bike. The Dutchman finished the 2020 season with four podiums in the final nine races of the season, as well as six top-five finishes, and will be looking to continue that form into 2021. Folger, like van der Mark, is switching from Yamaha to BMW machinery in 2021 after two wildcard appearances in 2020 where he consistently showed his ability as he fought to finish in the top ten at both the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Circuito de Estoril, despite a technical issue in the Tissot Superpole session in Barcelona. 2021 will be his first full-time campaign in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship after a commanding season in the German superbike championship, as well as claiming wins in Moto2™, Moto3™ and the 125cc World Championship throughout his career. Follow more action from WorldSBK in 2021 using the WorldSBK VideoPass![1] References^ VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)Let's block ads! (Why?) View the full article

The 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship went down to the final round of the season as Scott Redding (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) battled it out to take the 2020 World Championship. Rea came out on top as he made even more history with his sixth consecutive title, but Redding has not been resting on his laurels as he looks to go one step further in 2021. Those who follow Redding on Instagram would have seen the vast amount of cycling he has been doing over the winter, alongside training on a stock bike Ducati Panigale V4 S. The British rider has cycled across vast distances in America and Europe throughout the off-season, including riding up The Alps as he looks to extract every ounce of performance he can ahead of the new season. Discussing his training, Redding said: “My preparation is to be World Champion, so I dedicate my life to that. It’s what I do. It’s something I’ve changed in the last couple of years, adapting my way of thinking and my approach to seasons – how I can be in the best shape possible. For me weight is a big thing, because I’m over the threshold to everyone else. I’d like to be at least in reaching distance to the other guys. So, I’m cycling a lot, I do some other training as well. Due to the situation we have, I haven’t been doing much motocross unfortunately. I just dedicate every day to be on the top step at the end of the 2021 season.” His weight is something Redding mentioned throughout the 2020 season, particularly when it came to other riders being able to use the SCX tyre, designed for the Tissot Superpole Race, in the longer Race 1 and Race 2. Redding felt lighter riders, like 2021 teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi, had an advantage by being able to use the SCX tyre in the longer races.[1] He said: “It’s a good tyre to have for the Superpole Race because we can literally go all out, full gas, for ten laps. Smaller, lighter riders are able to use the SCX tyre for the full race distance of around 20 laps and a bigger ridder cannot use that tyre, so they have an advantage. There is no combined rider and bike weight limit here in WorldSBK which I think will be important to add in the future.” While Redding will still need to contend with being a bigger rider when it comes to using the SCX tyre, the British rider will be hoping the riding across Europe, including a gruelling trip through the Alps, Redding will be hoping he will be in the best possible shape as the new season approaches. After a stunning rookie campaign where he claimed five wins and 14 podiums, will Redding be able to go a step further in 2021 and claimed the World Championship? Follow action from WorldSBK in 2021 using the WorldSBK VideoPass[2]! References^ Redding felt lighter riders, like 2021 teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi, had an advantage by being able to use the SCX tyre in the longer races. (www.worldsbk.com)^ VideoPass (secure.worldsbk.com)Let's block ads! (Why?) View the full article

The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship enjoys the return of an iconic name to the class this year as the Alstare Racing outfit are back. Francis Batta’s iconic marque collaborate with the Gil Motorsport Team and will field Christophe Ponsson on the Alstare Yamaha. However, they first stepped into WorldSBK back in 1999 to take over the factory Suzuki effort, with Pierfrancesco Chili. Going on to take the title in 2005 with Troy Corser and then welcoming Max Biaggi as a rookie race winner in 2007, the team had the iconic Corona Alstare Suzuki livery, before partnering with Dark Dog in 2008, where they won more races with Fonsi Nieto and Max Neukirchner. They were second in the title in 2010 with Leon Haslam, taking three wins. They joined with Ducati in 2013 and with Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini, enjoying moderate success. For 2014, they joined up with Bimota, before leaving the paddock until their 2021 return. Enjoy the gallery of some of the best Alstare Racing colours of years gone by at the top of the article! Make sure you follow the team’s return to World Superbike and watch all of the stories unfold LIVE throughout the season with the WorldSBK VideoPass![1] References^ WorldSBK VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)Let's block ads! (Why?) View the full article