World Superbike Testing: South Africa

[Hoss]

Spies looking good on a track he's never been to! Great to see the Aprillias and BMW's in the mix too.


1st day Testing at Kyalami, the final times

1. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) – 1’41”204
2. Ben Spies (Yamaha) – 1’41”599
3. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) – 1’41”713
4. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) – 1’41”730
5. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) – 1’41”755
6. Shinya Nakano (Aprilia) – 1’41”846
7. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) – 1’42”446
8. Riuichi Kiyonari (Honda) – 1’42”744
9. Troy Corser (BMW) – 1’42”975
10. Ruben Xaus (BMW) – 1’43”274
11. Carlos Checa (Honda) – 1’43”418
12. Jonathan Rea (Honda) – 1’44”496
13. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) – 1’44”500
14. Andrew Pitt (Honda) – 1’44”502
15. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) – 1’46”780

Source gpone.com

[BMFR6]

i think this is going to be a great season. one of the guys i work with is already stating spies will take the champinship. i started thinking that was a long shot, but i'm starting to think theres a chance. i think he very well could be the best rider in the wsbk paddock, but not knowing the tracks could be a problem.

[Hoss]

i think this is going to be a great season. one of the guys i work with is already stating spies will take the champinship. i started thinking that was a long shot, but i'm starting to think theres a chance. i think he very well could be the best rider in the wsbk paddock, but not knowing the tracks could be a problem.

Tom Sykes (the other Yamaha rider) only did a few laps before calling it a day because of being sick. I'd be interested in compairing his and Ben's times.

[jcbell1007]

I know its early but wow.

No hondas in the top 10, but there was BMW and Aprillia.

should be a good season to watch.

[JohnnyV]

Kiyonari in 8th on a Honda

[jcbell1007]

my b.

my tires eyes lied to me (maybe its what I wanted to see anyways)

I stand corrected.

[fromario]

i am very curious to see how the BMW's and Aprillia's fare. This could be an awesome season

[R-S-V]

Good to see the new players in the mix already. As for Spies, lets not get too ahead of ourselves, the fact no one has experience in this track goes in his favor. His pace is still impressive, looking forward to this season!

[nmendell]

Good to see the new players in the mix already. As for Spies, lets not get too ahead of ourselves, the fact no one has experience in this track goes in his favor. His pace is still impressive, looking forward to this season!

Biaggi has won races there before, and Checa has been on the podium, too. Unless they redid the track?

Kyalami, South Africa Grands Prix
1992 Kocinski, Biaggi, Martínez
1999 Kenny Roberts Jr., Carlos Checa

Kyalami, South Africa World Superbikes
2002 Bayliss, Bayliss
2001 Edwards, Bostrom
2000 Edwards, Edwards
1999 Fogarty, Fogarty
1998 Chili, Chili

[Hoss]

Quick update from the WSBK website:

Times Drop Quickly As Day 2 Begins
Update: December 11, 2008, 11.10 PM ET Comment Email Print

Even before midday on the second day of Kyalami tyre testing, the previous best lap times had been obliterated by the top riders.

On an even hotter track surface than on day 1, Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio was the first under the 1 minute 41 second barrier, setting a best of 1m40.700s.

Soon after Suzuki regular Yukio Kagayama put in a 1m40.980s, then Ben Spies came next with a 1m41.049s on his Yamaha, just ahead of the second Suzuki of Max Neukirchner, on a 1m41.106s.

The track temperatures had already climbed to 45°C in the morning and even hotter temperatures were expected in the afternoon, making this a valuable session for Pirelli to evaluate their tyres in the most extreme conditions possible.

[Brian675]

I really can't wait for next season. Spies on a Yamaha, then Haga on a Duc, BMW's, Aprilia, and all the rest.

[GixerJockey]

Spies looking good on a track he's never been to!

...and I SO want to route for Ben.

[Hoss]

Final times from Day 2


Test a Kyalami, i tempi finali

1. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) – 1’40”256
2. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) – 1’40”688
3. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) – 1’40”709
4. Carlos Checa (Honda) – 1’40”725
5. Jonathan Rea (Honda) – 1’40”842
6. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) – 1’40”959
7. Shinya Nakano (Aprilia) – 1’40”968
8. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) – 1’41”041
9. Ben Spies (Yamaha) – 1’41”049
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) – 1’41”412
11. Troy Corser (BMW) – 1’41”986
12. Ruben Xaus (BMW) – 1’42”438
13. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) – 1’42”933
14. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) – 1’43”755 (Supersport)
15. Andrew Pitt (Honda) – 1’44”101 (Supersport)

[Hoss]

From Cycle News:

... Ben Spies, crashed and damaged his best bike. Rider and team opted to sit out the rest of the day, even the part when the track had gotten cooler again, as he had already put in a lot of laps. Spies' other bike was not quite the same spec as the one he crashed, so they opted to pass until Friday. Spies was unhurt in his fall, finished eighth fastest on the day, and will be back on day three.

[Paul_E_D]

Is he the only yamaha rider this year?

[BMFR6]

sykes as well i think

[scottieducati]

Having trouble reading are we???

Final times from Day 2


Test a Kyalami, i tempi finali

1. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) – 1’40”256
2. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) – 1’40”688
3. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) – 1’40”709
4. Carlos Checa (Honda) – 1’40”725
5. Jonathan Rea (Honda) – 1’40”842
6. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) – 1’40”959
7. Shinya Nakano (Aprilia) – 1’40”968
8. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) – 1’41”041
9. Ben Spies (Yamaha) – 1’41”049
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) – 1’41”412
11. Troy Corser (BMW) – 1’41”986
12. Ruben Xaus (BMW) – 1’42”438
13. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) – 1’42”933
14. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) – 1’43”755 (Supersport)
15. Andrew Pitt (Honda) – 1’44”101 (Supersport)

[Hoss]

Yeah, Tom Sykes is his teammate. Factory Yammi is sporting two rookies to WSBK. He's raced a few wildcard racings in WSBK, and was rookie of the year last year in British Superbike.

[s a x m a n]

Final Times from SOUP
1. Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1'39"714;
2. Spies (Usa-Yamaha) 1'39"978;
3. Haga (Jpn-Ducati) 1'39"984;
4. Rea (GB-Honda) 1'40"035;
5. Checa (Spa-Honda) 1'40"170;
6. Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki) 1'40"394;
7. Kagayama (Jpn-Suzuki) 1'40"657;
8. Biaggi (Ita-Aprilia) 1'40"768;
9. Nakano (Jpn-Aprilia) 1'40"968;
10. Kiyonari (Jpn-Honda) 1'41"067;
11. Corser (Aus-Bmw) 1'41"102;
12. Sykes (GB-Yamaha) 1'41"562;
13. Xaus (Spa-Bmw) 1'41"996.

Final times from Day 2


Test a Kyalami, i tempi finali

1. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) – 1’40”256
2. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) – 1’40”688
3. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) – 1’40”709
4. Carlos Checa (Honda) – 1’40”725
5. Jonathan Rea (Honda) – 1’40”842
6. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) – 1’40”959
7. Shinya Nakano (Aprilia) – 1’40”968
8. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) – 1’41”041
9. Ben Spies (Yamaha) – 1’41”049
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) – 1’41”412
11. Troy Corser (BMW) – 1’41”986
12. Ruben Xaus (BMW) – 1’42”438
13. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) – 1’42”933
14. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) – 1’43”755 (Supersport)
15. Andrew Pitt (Honda) – 1’44”101 (Supersport)

[a13x]

I'm impressed with the competitiveness of the Aprillia and BMW out of the gate.

[Evil_Weasel]

i still can't belive yamaha let haga go...he is one of my favs. and he goes with yamaha like peanut butter goes with jelly.

[GMAN226]

1.7 seconds between 1st and 13th and the brand new factories are only 1.2 out.. Should be the best racing again this year...

G-man