Archive for February, 2009

Rookie Spies Takes 1st Superbike Pole at 1st Attempt

Rookie Yamaha Italy rider, Ben Spies secured his first pole position at his first attempt for Sundays first round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship season at Phillip Island today. Spies posted a best time of 1′31.069 to take a new qualifying record.

Superbike Qualifying 2 – Rea Vaults to the Top

English rider Jonathan Rea took provisional pole position from Jakob Smrz after the conclusion of the second qualifying session of Round 1 of the 2009 World Superbike Championship season at Phillip Island today. Rea posted a best time of 1′32.161. Max Biaggi brought the new Aprilia RSV4 into 2nd place with Smrz just pipping factory [...]

Smrz Knocks Haga off the Top in Qualifying

Czech republic Rider, Jakob Smrz stopped the clock with the fastest time on his Ducati 1098R around the 4.4km Phillip Island circuit after the conclusion of the first qualifying session of the 2009 World Superbike Championship season. Smrz just got in his fastest lap as the checkered flag was shown, knocking Ducati’s Noriyuki Haga from [...]

Ben Spies Talks about World Superbikes

At the Thursday Press Conference preceding the first round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island, Ben Spies talked about his impressive pace in pre-season testing. Spies was modest, pointing out that now he has to race 10 guys every weekend instead of one, in a reference to his 1 on 1 battles [...]

World Superbikes Kicks Off! – Spies Fastest in 1st Practice

Competitors in the 2009 World Superbike Championship took to the track in anger for the first time this year at the spectacular Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia for the first Free Practice Session. Series rookie, Ben Spies, led the way on the new Yamaha R1.

Broken English: Haga at the Phillip Island Press Conference

At the Thursday Press Conference preceding the first round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island, Noriyuki Haga gave his impressions of the difference between the Yamaha and the factory Xerox Ducati he now rides. Haga not known for his strong English mentioned the engine character and the easy acceleration of the 1200cc [...]

Will Haga Finally Hit the Top in 2009?

He almost did it in 2000 on the Yamaha R7 superbike but Colin Edward, his Honda VTR1000SP-W and controversy over a banned drug in his system (ephedrine) meant it wasn’t to be. In 2007 he finished second once again. So long associated with Yamaha, last year he was the only credible threat to Troy Bayliss’ [...]

Ducati Act to Dampen Down Debate on Stoner’s Wrist

Ducati MotoGP project director Livio Suppo has acted to dismiss speculation about Casey Stoner’s fitness for the 2009 MotoGP season by claiming that further surgery on Stoner’s wrist will not be necessary. Earlier this month, reports circulated that Stoner still had issues with his wrist following the Sepang test where finished fastest.

Wallpaper Wednesday: Ducati 1198S

Welcome to the first Wallpaper Wednesday. Every week I will post up something beautiful from the world of Ducati that you just might like to have grace your desktop.

Countdown to Phillip Island: 2009 World Superbike Championship Preview

2009 is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly anticipated seasons since the series began 21 years ago. The loss of the extremely popular reigning champion, Troy Bayliss, should see the championship reeling. Instead, just as Bayliss himself filled the vacuum for Ducati and the entire series following Carl Fogarty’s retirement in 2000, [...]