WSBK 2025 Season Discussion
Discussion
Pretty sure we need a thread for this?
My 2 pence.....
From the first race it looks like rule changes have helped Ducati in a big way. I misunderstood and thought the pit stops where all season, not just the first round. Which is a relief, as based on last year that would really favour Bulega. But its only the first race and apparently a “Ducati track”......
Toprak showing a lot of frustration, perhaps a lot of that is his finger injury. As he was doing pretty well compared to what he was saying about the BMW.
Honda look to have gone backwards….
I think Locatelli must be riding the wheels off the Yamaha.
Very much hope that despite the Ducati domination of the first round, that isn’t how the season is going to pan out. Prepared to postpone judgement a few rounds…
I remember Iannone making some noise last year about wanting more factory support. Does anyone know if he got his wish this year?
My 2 pence.....
From the first race it looks like rule changes have helped Ducati in a big way. I misunderstood and thought the pit stops where all season, not just the first round. Which is a relief, as based on last year that would really favour Bulega. But its only the first race and apparently a “Ducati track”......
Toprak showing a lot of frustration, perhaps a lot of that is his finger injury. As he was doing pretty well compared to what he was saying about the BMW.
Honda look to have gone backwards….
I think Locatelli must be riding the wheels off the Yamaha.
Very much hope that despite the Ducati domination of the first round, that isn’t how the season is going to pan out. Prepared to postpone judgement a few rounds…
I remember Iannone making some noise last year about wanting more factory support. Does anyone know if he got his wish this year?
It’s a Ducati Cup in the making. Straws I’m going to clutch are that PI is a Ducati track and doesn’t favour Toprak’s style of heavy braking anywhere. Plus the fuel allowance changes that Ducati will be hit with if they dominate Portimao in a similar way.
Concerns are that the top 10 was dominated by Ducati and the only rider capable of getting involved at the sharp end is Toprak.
A wider concern for me is that Ducati could be about to ruin motorbike racing for a long time. They dominate the two world championships and people can get bored watching it, whilst manufacturers are much keener to walk away in modern times than they were when Honda was overly dominant and making its name.
Concerns are that the top 10 was dominated by Ducati and the only rider capable of getting involved at the sharp end is Toprak.
A wider concern for me is that Ducati could be about to ruin motorbike racing for a long time. They dominate the two world championships and people can get bored watching it, whilst manufacturers are much keener to walk away in modern times than they were when Honda was overly dominant and making its name.
bergclimber34 said:
Last year at PI was exactly the same if you recall, the damn thing dominated the top 10, it will at certain venues as it is a very fast bike. Toprak will be there, he is just angling the pressure to try and get something done.
I didn’t really watch a lot last year or the previous one, as the Ducati speed dominance, where Bautista just held back and let the others race then picked them off with ease on the straight meant it didn’t make for a spectacle for me. I’m hoping for better this year, or I’ll bin it off again. It’s not started well for me. I would give it a chance, Toprak is worth watching on his own, especially if he is on a slightly slower bike, I almost hope he dies quit then he can go where he should be.
PI is a very Ducati track, always has been really so dont be put off, if it's the same at Portimao I would be astonished.
PI is a very Ducati track, always has been really so dont be put off, if it's the same at Portimao I would be astonished.
rhamnousia5 said:
bergclimber34 said:
Last year at PI was exactly the same if you recall, the damn thing dominated the top 10, it will at certain venues as it is a very fast bike. Toprak will be there, he is just angling the pressure to try and get something done.
I didn’t really watch a lot last year or the previous one, as the Ducati speed dominance, where Bautista just held back and let the others race then picked them off with ease on the straight meant it didn’t make for a spectacle for me. I’m hoping for better this year, or I’ll bin it off again. It’s not started well for me. makes it sound like he ran off.....he didn't...he just put that BMW in places it was not normally in.
The only downside to last season as a Brit was Rea and Sam Lowes being off the pace, as was Redding but Alex Lowes bothered the top 3 regularly.
bergclimber34 said:
I would give it a chance, Toprak is worth watching on his own, especially if he is on a slightly slower bike, I almost hope he dies quit then he can go where he should be.
PI is a very Ducati track, always has been really so dont be put off, if it's the same at Portimao I would be astonished.
That was pretty much as uncomfortable as I've ever seen Toprak. He certainly wasn't able to ride the bike in his normal way. I hope its the PI factor else it may be a dull season. PI is a very Ducati track, always has been really so dont be put off, if it's the same at Portimao I would be astonished.
Interesting vid from REPerformance on YT flying over to Turkey to rebuild Topraks R8 gearbox plus a tour around Kenan’s museum and a trip to the local track with the Oncu brothers.
https://youtu.be/YtVzfWl4VaQ?si=-LW4XXnFqeG0Sz6n
https://youtu.be/YtVzfWl4VaQ?si=-LW4XXnFqeG0Sz6n
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