seriously? the following sounds like he was first among the mortals last year. how does that stink?
In 2007 he finished third in the AMA Superbike Championship
Well it wasn't enough to keep his factory ride.
I would argue Jake would have finished 4th at best if Duhamel hadn't crashed in Atlanta. MD had 360 points through 14 races, while JZ had only 342. MD also had 6 podiums through 14 races while JZ had only 4 all year.
I wouldn't say he stinks. Duhamel would have certainly beaten him last year had he not been injured, no doubt about that. But the guy hardly stinks. 4th is better than Hacking, RLH, Bostrom, or Disalvo could manage last year. That said, I can see why he lost his factory ride. Miguel has beaten him in the championship every year they've raced together so it's no surprise that Zemke got the boot.
Gary, I don't think that Rolfo is a better rider than Toseland. Really I don't. But I don't think he is that far inferior, and so the amount of attention and hype that Toseland gets makes me nuts. Roby is hardly mentioned in the Italian press these days (although he is still very popular in Turin, where they don't turn out many bike racers). Toseland is the face of British biking in the meantime.
Zoot, it was Monza last year that Roby had his best races, challenging for the top spots in both legs. He was a sure bet for the podium in Race 1 when his bike ran out of gas (still hurts me), and in race 2 had a shot at the podium but didn't want to mess with his teamate (and, of course, in hindsight we see that had Roby beaten him in that race, it might have cost James the title).
Anyway, that is why this injury is such a blow. Monza is Roby's favorite a best track. He says it reminds him of a TT style track, and that is why he excells there. So it is a shame he will miss it.
He also ran very well last year at Silverstone in the wet.
Oh, and I just checked out the practice times. Who the f--ck is this M. Beck character subbing for Davide Checca? He is listed as USA, but I never heard of him. Anyone? Endurance guy maybe?
Kinda strange that this Beck kid can get it all done in a few days and make it to Monza on short notice, but Zemke's manager can't manage the same thing.
seriously? the following sounds like he was first among the mortals last year. how does that stink?
In 2007 he finished third in the AMA Superbike Championship
Well it wasn't enough to keep his factory ride.
I would argue Jake would have finished 4th at best if Duhamel hadn't crashed in Atlanta. MD had 360 points through 14 races, while JZ had only 342. MD also had 6 podiums through 14 races while JZ had only 4 all year.
Oh, and I just checked out the practice times. Who the f--ck is this M. Beck character subbing for Davide Checca? He is listed as USA, but I never heard of him. Anyone? Endurance guy maybe?
Michael Beck is an AMA Supersport rider. He is still one of those guys on the cusp, finishing around the top ten here and there. I think he has a top five or two somewhere along the line. I don't know how he got the call to come rider a superbike for the first time at Monza though. If he can beat a few guys that would honestly be a good result. He ain't gonna score points that's for sure.
Oh, and I just checked out the practice times. Who the f--ck is this M. Beck character subbing for Davide Checca? He is listed as USA, but I never heard of him. Anyone? Endurance guy maybe?
Rolfo....You do understand that the negative comments about Rolfo really are just shots back at you don't you. You're constant rants about JT and pretty much anyone American or British are SO OLD that it is just too hard to pass up an easy opportunity to try to point out how blind you are to the real world. I think anyone who follows racing realizes that Rolfo is a decent rider although I suspect he'll be unemployed after the season ends. I think he had a good ride at Ten Kate but he just didn't take advantage of it. His results were just not there. Yes, I know you are going to say his bike was not the same as JT's, doesn't matter, it was better than many on the grid but his efforts fell short of what were needed to elevate himself.
Gary, I don't think that Rolfo is a better rider than Toseland. Really I don't. But I don't think he is that far inferior, and so the amount of attention and hype that Toseland gets makes me nuts. Roby is hardly mentioned in the Italian press these days (although he is still very popular in Turin, where they don't turn out many bike racers). Toseland is the face of British biking in the meantime.
You have to recognize, RR, that Italy has many GP rider and Britain effective has Toseland and some kids on 125s. It's the first time in years that the British have had a decent rider on decent equipment on the big bikes and perfectly understandable that they'd be excited. If Italy had only one reasonably competitive rider in MotoGP you would never know that there was another rider in the championship by all the hype, and again understandably so.
Where I get aggravated is I hear 'Toseland doesn't deserve...', etc, etc, and poor Roby got screwed again. So we acknowledge that Toseland is the better rider but he didn't deserve the ride, while the lesser rider got the lesser ride - and at that remember Toseland is with Tech 3, not really the choicest of seats in MotoGP. I really don't know how bad Rolfo's ride is, I don't follow SBK that carefully, but I do think the bike he had last year was capable of more, equal to Toseland's bike or not. (and yes, he put in some good rides, I'm talking consistency)
once you figure out rolfo's schtick, you learn quickly to ignore much of what he says.
anywho, i am loving wsbk this year and monza looks to be more of the same. the grid's mixed up and there are some nice privateers up near the top of the timesheets.
someone give lavilla a factory honda ride. dude's just unreal. yammie's got some work to do. will jacob smrz podium this weekend? i sure hope so.
Kenan Sofuglu just can't seem to get a break this year, after completing his best qualifying session all season, he has to withdraw due to the passing of his brother in a racing accident in Turkey...RIP Sinan
The Yamaha Italia squad's recent testing @ Monza was scuttled due to inclement weather, but it is still disappointing for last year's double race winner to be outside the top 10 through the first qualifying session...is Corser ever going to win a race again in WSBK? Or is he just a glorified developmental rider for Haga now? I realize he is third in the standings, but unlike Haga who can turn it up race weekend & pull a victory out of the hat, don't get that same feeling with TC, even when he captures superpole...
Hope the good qualifying position by Tamada is a sign of things to come over the course of the race weekend for the green team, they need a shot in the arm after their lackluster start to the season.
seriously? the following sounds like he was first among the mortals last year. how does that stink?
In 2007 he finished third in the AMA Superbike Championship
Well it wasn't enough to keep his factory ride.
I would argue Jake would have finished 4th at best if Duhamel hadn't crashed in Atlanta. MD had 360 points through 14 races, while JZ had only 342. MD also had 6 podiums through 14 races while JZ had only 4 all year.
i wouldn't argue anything. third place to ben and mat says enough. not saying he's the best non suzuki rider but miguel screwed up to get his injury. jake didn't. just can't get sucking from that here
Zoot, it was Monza last year that Roby had his best races, challenging for the top spots in both legs. He was a sure bet for the podium in Race 1 when his bike ran out of gas (still hurts me), and in race 2 had a shot at the podium but didn't want to mess with his teamate (and, of course, in hindsight we see that had Roby beaten him in that race, it might have cost James the title).
dude, i thought about you that day. it was like you both were about to get on the box. didn't scream as loud as you i'm sure but i threw my arms up in frustration.
Oh, and I just checked out the practice times. Who the f--ck is this M. Beck character subbing for Davide Checca? He is listed as USA, but I never heard of him. Anyone? Endurance guy maybe?
Michael Beck is the kid racing at Monza in World Superbike this weekend while you are lying bed pining for Robbie Rolfo. You can slag Beck if you want, but he is a racer and you are a spectator.
