WSBK – MNC analysis of World Superbike in the United States – Ducati, Honda and Yamaha put on the show

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MNC analysis of World Superbike in the United States

WSBK - MNC analysis of World Superbike in the United States - Ducati, Honda and Yamaha put on the show

Beyond the points distributed, each race weekend brings its share of remarkable feats and poor performances, good and bad surprises. In its analysis, Site reviews the highlights of the WSBK in Laguna Seca.

Ducati, Honda and Yamaha put on the show

With riders of the caliber of Sykes and Rea, Kawasaki naturally multiplies the exploits and approaches records. Without the package of its ZX-10R n ° 1 on Sunday for example, the Akashi Kawasaki firm would certainly have won a fifth double (first and second places on the podium) in a row.

Last year already, the Greens had lined up five consecutive doubles. In the category, only Ducati was stronger with 6 consecutive doubles in 1991 at Hockenheim, Magny-Cours then Mugello. The top pilots were Doug Polen and … a certain Raymond Roche !

In total this year, Kawasaki recorded eight doubles, already one more than last year (with Sykes and Rea) and two more than in 2015 (with Sykes and … a certain Loris Baz!). In this area too, Ducati is at the top of the table: the Bologna brand won ten doubles in 1995 and in 2003, nine in 1992.

However Kawasaki has four rounds (so eight races) to improve its 2016 record. For this, the factory ZX-10Rs will not have to repeat the blow to their riders … They have enough to do to ahead of the current Ducati "Top Guns": Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies.

The Welshman arrived at Laguna Seca on doubly conquered ground: in 2015, Chaz had signed a masterful double in front of the two Kawasaki officials. Conversely, his teammate Davide had returned empty-handed from his American campaign.

Worse, the Italian had been evacuated from the circuit in a stretcher, his back severely damaged following a huge highside … Eliminated from the competition for the rest of the season, Giugliano left Davies the de facto title of first driver in of the Ducati squadron.

More regular – and less injured! – that his teammate in 2015, "Chazie" had made a memorable end to the season, ultimately reaching second place in a championship largely dominated by Jonathan Rea. This year, however, the n ° 7 is not as efficient.

Giugliano competes with Davies

Brilliant certainly, the author of seven race lap records (5 for Rea, 3 for Sykes) recorded too many bubbles lately to continue to covet the 2016 title. Especially since his teammate, on the contrary, wins consistently…

Before his fall in the race on Saturday, the Roman – emperor of the Superstock 1000 in 2011 – had chained nine results in points, unheard of since his arrival at the Bologna Reds. Fortunately for him, his bowl in the first round was not serious.

Small problem, however, about his fall: it occurred when he was not attacking more than that. Chaz Davies, also victim of a sudden loss of the front a few moments earlier, does not hide his lack of understanding. We will have to take advantage of the summer break to closely analyze the data collected on the official Panigales.

On Sunday, however, "DG34" had one of the best races of his career, finishing two tenths of a second behind the winner "TS66" … and half a second ahead of his teammate "CD7", with / against whom he fought a memorable battle in the final loops.

"#USWorldSBK: the race was really tough … but it was also one of the most fun of my life", concluded Sunday evening a beaming Davide of happiness, delighted to erase from his memory the nightmare of Laguna Seca 2015 and the following months.

In the provisional standings, Davide Giugliano has half the points of leader Jonathan Rea (185 against 368) and 75 less than his teammate Chaz Davies. But he is above all perfectly tied with Michael van in Mark, and 12 points ahead of the "rookie" Nicky Hayden…

In terms of pure speed, the two Honda riders are not at the level of the factory Kawasaki and Ducati. But their perseverance and their extreme consistency in the race allowed them to covet fourth place in the 2016 WSBK championship..

This is how the "Kentucky Legend" secured a third podium in World Superbike, effectively taking advantage of the double abandonment of the official Ducatis, but also firmly resisting the pressure of very recovered outsiders such as Xavi Fores, Jordi Torres or Alex Lowes, thanks to his perfect knowledge of the Californian route.

"Lots of people talk about the Corkscrew, but no one talks about the first corner", observed Nicky by presenting last Thursday" his "World Superbike event."This one is really demanding and important for the lap times, mentally too".

"The first part of the track is quite flat and it is important to really attack and maintain good cornering speed. Then once you’re on top of the Corkscrew and come down it it’s smoother. The last corner is a good place for overtaking", concluded the famous n ° 69.

Attacks in the last corner

This last indication did not fall on deaf ears … On the podium during the previous WSBK event in Misano, Michael van den Mark tried to overtake his teammate in the last corner of the first round !

Having started too far, the 2014 Supersport world champion only managed to cross his trajectory with that of the 2006 MotoGP champion, raising the hearts of many American spectators (a quarter more than last year according to WorldSBK.Com commentators) to support Nicky.

Third in the first heat, Hayden finished fifth in the second: the local of the stage would have been restrained after the second start (red flag after the fall of Szkopek) by a front end which had become curiously less engaging than at the start of the race..

Hayden, who hoped to get back on the podium on Sunday, should not be disappointed, however: "It was not a bad event, Nicky is behind Sykes in terms of points scored this weekend", calculates Honda technical director Pieter Breddels (27 points for the American, 45 for English).

Like the officials of the Honda team (Ten Kate) on Saturday, those of the Yamaha team (Crescent) came close to cardiac arrest on Sunday when they saw Alex Lowes launch an attack on his teammate Niccolo Canepa in the last corner of the second race..

"Niccolo passed me on the last lap and I had to try to reclaim my place in the last corner, as it should", justified the n ° 22 after the race,"but i made a mistake and unfortunately lost the front".

Embarked by the 2013 British Superbike champion, Sylvain Guintoli’s replacement miraculously stayed on his two wheels and was able to keep his freshly acquired eighth place until under the checkered flag. Mamma mia !

Lowes for his part, was able to get back on his R1 and lead it to a disappointing 14th place. "Honestly, we have to fight for places much higher than the ninth", says Sam’s twin – 2014 WSS champion contender for the Moto2 title…

"We saw some spectacular races this weekend at Laguna Seca and it was great to be a part of it", retains for his part Paul Denning, director of the Yamaha Pata team."We would have preferred the YZF-R1 to be a bit closer to the outposts, but we have to remember that we are only at the beginning of our project.".

An ambitious project – to beat Kawasaki and Ducati in WorldSBK, while continuing to dominate MotoGP! – which was slowed down by the injuries of the two titular pilots: Alex Lowes … and Sylvain Guintoli who will be back for the next scheduled event at Laustizring (Germany) in two months.

Our second representative, Sylvain Barrier, will find his ZX-10R prepared by the private Kawasaki Pedercini team. Roll on back to school, so we can encourage the Blues again … in blue and green !

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