WSBK – MNC Analysis of World Superbike Malaysia – 69 and 34: winning and complementary numbers

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MNC Analysis of World Superbike Malaysia

WSBK - MNC Analysis of World Superbike Malaysia - 69 and 34: winning and complementary numbers

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 Sepang.

69 and 34: winning and complementary numbers

Although he enjoys the invigorating status of "rookie" this year in World Superbike, Nicky Hayden is not a beginner: crowned in 2006 in MotoGP against Valentino Rossi Himself, the "Kentucky Kid" acquired the year last the honorary title of legend of the Grand Prix.

Before becoming a "Kentucky Legend" – no link with ham, even smoked -, the n ° 69 had broken records of precocity in AMA Superbike (champion at 21 years old in 2002), piling up victories as some of his congeners piled up cheddar slices and steaks in their burgers…

In addition to his colossal experience – in speed motorcycles as in slides! – Nicky took advantage this weekend of some information gleaned from his compatriot Patrick Jacobsen: entered in the same Honda Ten Kate team, but in the Supersport category, "PJ" would have assured him that the grip of the new track in the wet was very important.

Sunday evening, Nicky added that "I know everyone says: "we won’t win a race in the first lap", but in the wet, it’s possible". This is also the method he used … and which led to victory !

Starting like an arrow at the very start of the race, Hayden was not even credited with the best time on the track: unlike him, his two neighbors on the podium fell below 2 ’17, in vain … The lead taken during during the first four laps was enough for Nicky to impose his good old Fireblade.

The new recruit of the Ten Kate team thus puts an end to almost two years of famine for the CBR1000RR which had not won in WSBK since Rea’s victory in the Portuguese second round in 2014 … There is an air of already seen: in 2005, the "Kentucky Kid" had revived the counter of Honda blocked for almost two years in MotoGP (read). It was a year before his coronation…

For the American rider, this first WorldSBK victory comes ten years after his last MotoGP success (). Always so emotional – and moving -, the native and resident of Owensboro (USA) could not hold back a few tears when he heard the American anthem resound in the stands of Sepang.

After a long crossing of the desert (on a too small Honda 800 cc, a too wild Ducati 990 cc and a too sluggish Honda Open), the Superbike, Sepang and its monsoons have finally quenched its thirst for victory. The "Sixty-Nine" must now prove itself in the dry. He will have to find that little extra something to join the very best. A new motorcycle for example ?

The tenth American rider to climb to the top of a WSBK podium, Nicky Hayden takes over from a certain Ben Spies, crowned in World Superbike during his first and only year … Passed in MotoGP the following year, the Texan ultimately failed to bring the two titles together. Can Nicky do it ?

Always in search of a first success in World Superbike, Davide Giugliano also took advantage of the track conditions not so tricky as that – only two falls! – to record a good result, his best of the year.

For the seventh time in his career, “D34G” has to be content with the second step of the World Superbike podium. In the lower category, in Superstock 1000, the promising Italian had posted his Panigale – then brand new – four times on the highest step. Doing it in WSBK is another "kettle of fish"…

This weekend at Sepang, the official Ducati () was unconvincing in the dry first round. For the tenth time in eleven races this season, his teammate obtained a much better ranking: 3rd place for Le Chaz, 6th for Davide.

In the rain the next day, the Italian did not hesitate to jostle his bulky Welsh teammate to get on the podium. He knows it: his employers expect better from him … They expect results at least as good as those of "Chazie", which is far from obvious since the latter is vice-world champion. !

Conversely, the Red transalpine affirms not to have tempted the devil to go for the victory. He also knows it, new falls and new injuries would reduce his chances of keeping his place in the official team….

Next event: the Donington Park round, which will mark the end of the first half of the 2016 season on Saturday evening (13 races out of 26). Winner of the last four races held there (doubled in 2014 and doubled in 2015!), Tom Sykes should once again be in great shape..

The n ° 66 Ninja will in any case have no trouble improving his result obtained at Sepang in the rain: as a reminder during this race, Tom had relayed Nicky (8th dry). The other British pilots will also seek to shine: Rea, Davies, Lowes, Camier … and with them, our national "Guinters" !

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