WSBK test - Phillip Island

[wull]

I really hope he doesn’t fuck off in the straights like last season but I can’t see it not happening.

[weeksy]

I really hope he doesn’t fuck off in the straights like last season but I can’t see it not happening.

Oh man.... already ? They've not even started yet

Were you like this when the 916 won ? or the 999 ? or even when Lavilla did it on the GSXR ?

[wull]

Back then though the twins weren’t way ahead with regards to power etc, I mean that’s why they were allowed the extra capacity. But the V4 is so powerful and with Alvaro onboard the advantage he has on the straights is so noticeable, it’s not even a matter of opinion, it’s clear to see when he goes flying by without even the need of being in the slipstream.

[wull]

Thing is I’d rather see someone winning a race not because their bike is much faster down the straights, I like to see them make the moves in the corners.

[weeksy]

I'm not disagreeing with you.

However, look at the other Ducatis. They're not destroying everyone in the same way.

So logic says, if he was on the Kawasaki or Yamaha he'd still be fast in the straights. Would that be an issue ?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Hopefully they can move on a little. The new M1000RR was meant to be an improvement with more flex etc, but I remember awhile back reading a statement where Scott kind of slated BMW saying they’re maybe more concerned with road sales versus winning a championship, I’d have to look it out.

Why does he think BMW pay him to go racing?

[G.P]

I'm not disagreeing with you.

However, look at the other Ducatis. They're not destroying everyone in the same way.

So logic says, if he was on the Kawasaki or Yamaha he'd still be fast in the straights. Would that be an issue ?

Absolutely, Put another 50kg rider on any bike, maybe even a Honda and he's be on Bautistas tail down the straights, Its not rocket surgery,

[wull]

I'm not disagreeing with you.

However, look at the other Ducatis. They're not destroying everyone in the same way.

So logic says, if he was on the Kawasaki or Yamaha he'd still be fast in the straights. Would that be an issue ?

That’s exactly why I’ve said it many times before the combination of Alvaro and the Ducati are just perfect.

That’s also why I say the straight line speed down the straights is clear to see.

With regards to the Kawasaki or the Yamaha who knows, chances are the straight line speed might be there, he’d certainly travel faster in a straight line that what JR and Toprak does on the same bike as them but he’d probably struggle elsewhere on those bikes, he just gels better with the Ducati and goes well enough everywhere else then has that huge advantage on the straights.

I think last year proved he wasn’t better anywhere other than the straights, and if he was better anywhere else it was very negligible the difference, but at times he was making up 0.6s on the straights, that’s huge. You could count on one hand how many times he overtook either JR or Toprak going into a corner, whereas JR and Toprak that was more times than not where they made their move.

Again, it’s clear as day for all to see, it’s not like I’m being biased or making it up, the fact it’s literally what everyone spoke about and made the topic of rider/bike weight limits being discussed proves that point.

[wull]

In fact whilst on the Honda he was rapid down the straights, the Honda was fast he was just struggling everywhere else on a regular basis.