SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 5
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THE MOLE
FIRST LOOK
New bike rumours from MCN’s man in the know... Foot pegs are adjustable to suit the rider’s needs
Rear shock has two-way compression adjustment
Yamaha’s Deltabox frame features three different alloys
WHY BIG BANG?
All new and contains the widest bore pistons (78mm) of any 1000cc Yamaha sports bike
Triangular cans have titanium end caps. Catalytic converter is situated by the downpipes
A BIG BANG R1 is not an entirely new concept – the idea was first as seen on the 2005 Virgin Yamaha R1 British Superbike ridden by Sean Emmett and Tommy Hill (see p6-7). In BSB the crankshaft cannot be changed from its standard configuration, meaning the Virgin bike had to rely chiefly on camshaft timing and electronics to reproduce the uneven firing order of a big bang. The idea was to break up the four firing pulses to reduce the slow down and speed up effect of a pair of pistons at top dead and bottom dead centre, twice every revolution of the crankshaft. This ‘inertia torque’ is very noticeable on high-revving race bikes where small throttle openings impact the stop-start effect of the
crankshaft and cause the crankshaft/rear tyre to shake. And where do small throttle openings normally occur on a race bike? Usually when the bike is at maximum lean in a corner. This ‘shake’ effect then turns into engine vibration which then affects tyre grip when accelerating. Yamaha’s answer to this is a new ‘crossplane’ crankshaft with the crankpins (where the conrods attach) off-set to give an uneven firing order. In the new R1 the firing order is a staggered 270°, 180°, 90° 180° whereby each rod and piston has its own individual movement and not paired. This not only minimises ‘inertial torque’ but the asymmetric firing order boosts low-to-mid drive with linear delivery.
NAKED GSX-R1000
I’VE heard several interesting rumours about Suzuki naked bikes recently. One was that the GSR600 is to be replaced by a 750. But more intriguingly it has been suggested that the GSX-R1000’s engine may power a new super-naked to take on Yamaha’s FZ-1 and Honda’s CB1000R. The name GSR1000 was suggested, but the GSR600 isn’t a big seller, so Suzuki may want to distance the new bike – and I can’t see it looking like the 600, because the B-King that inspired it has gone into production. If it appears with the rest of the Suzukis on September 24, I expect it to stand out from both the B-King and the GSR.
MYSTERY KAWASAKIS
WHILE underground information for most manufacturers’ new bikes has reached my ears in recent weeks, I’ve heard little on the Kawasaki
front. A rehashed ZX-6R is fairly obvious, but the rest of the new model presentations have been kept very quiet. That could mean something big – a Z1400 B-King rival has been rumoured, as has a Versys 1000, and the ER-6 could be due an update, too.
WHAT’S HONDA’S GOT UP ITS SLEEVE?
HONDA’S new model launch (see pages 6-7) wasn’t particularly exciting – but I’ve heard they’re keeping something special tucked aside for one of the major bike shows later this year. My friend says one of Honda’s recent Tokyo show concepts is due to appear as a full production machine. He says the bike is half-faired, which suggests the retro CB1100R. But there’s also the CB1100F and E4-01 due to reach production, so I’ll still be hot-footing it to the Honda stand when show time comes around.
Honda CB1100R: to be announced as a production model?
54 ❘ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
SPORT
Cal stakes his WSB claim Crutchlow finishes fighting second to Kiyo michael.guy @motorcyclenews.com
C
AL Crutchlow staked his claim to a World Superbike berth when his finished runner-up to Ryuichi Kiyonari in Sunday’s second WSB race at Donington. With rain lashing down, Crutchlow overcame the disappointment of a first race DNF, to get within 2.2s of the Ten Kate Honda rider at the finish of race two. And while Kiyo looked to be riding the ragged edge, Crutchlow impressed all the right people with a classy, calculated performance. Crutchlow had been top three on his HM Plant Honda in all the practice and qualifying sessions until Superpole when he wound up a disappointing ninth, struggling for grip on the damp but drying track. The HM Plant Hondas have run all year with few electronic rider aids. This isn’t an issue in perfect dry
conditions – or even lashing rain – but on a fast-changing damp track where it’s hard to pick out the slick spots, a full traction control system, like those fitted on the top WSB bikes, comes into its own. Crutchlow said: “We used a different map to calm the power delivery but we’ve nothing like the electronics on some of these bikes. We went for a smoother bike but we did use WSB-spec engine this weekend. When I topped free practice I was on my BSB-spec engine so it shows we’re still competitive. The BSB engine’s torque was better (for the wet) than the WSB-spec one but we had more top end with new engine.” Things didn’t go well in the first race when his quickshifter malfunctioned, cutting the ignition and forcing him into the pits after just two laps. But Crutchlow was determined to make amends in race two and harried Kiyo all the way. “I’m chuffed,” he said. “I
Crutchlow tucks in on his way to second place in race two
Crutchlow shares the glory with Kiyo and Corser
reckon I could have been on podium in dry as well as the wet no question. I didn’t get a good start in the first race but I was on my way up when we had an electrical problem. The bike was misfiring and Lavilla nearly hit the back of me. It was getting dangerous so I pulled in.” Crutchlow had posted the fastest time in the heavy rain of Saturday’s morning qualifying so when the heavens opened seconds before race two, he was rubbing his hands with glee. He said: “I didn’t have to push as hard in the race as I did in qualifying. I just had to stay on the bike. I enjoyed the race and came through from seventh on the first lap. I especially enjoyed passing Biaggi. On the out lap to the grid, when we were still on
slicks, he smashed into the side of me for no reason. I was at the apex of McLeans with my knee on the floor and he smashed into me. So I thought: ‘He’s having a portion’ and took the oppor-
‘The closer I got to Kiyo, the more spray hit my visor’ CAL CRUTCHLOW tunity to pass him as close as possible in the rain.” The rain was especially heavy just before the start and visibility was appalling as the riders set off on the first lap. And it was not being able to see through the spray
that effectively ended Crutchlow’s bid for the win. He said: “When I could close Kiyo down I thought maybe I should win the race but the closer I got the more spray I got on my visor.” Despite that, Crutchlow kept within striking distance for most of the race and said: “To be out there with these guys is good and I look forward to doing it all next year but we’ll definitely be at Portimao. I’ve made no secret I want to come to this series next year. I want to come with HM Plant but whether they come or not is another thing. “I want to keep my relationship with Honda because they’ve done a good job for me this year. Superbike is where I want to be but I love supersport as well.”
HASLAM’S WET WEEKEND Being taken out by an out of control Roberto Rolfo in race one and a crash in race two ruined what looked set to be a great weekend for Leon Haslam on the second HM Plant Honda. Haslam came through from 12th on the grid in race one to fourth place when the red flags came out. From the restart, Haslam was running second only to find himself involved in Rolfo’s crazy out-braking at the Foggy Esses. “I thought I could close down Bayliss and the next thing this idiot takes me out. I lifted when I saw him coming but he fell right in front of my front wheel.”
Out of luck: Leon Haslam In race two Haslam came from seventh on the first lap to fourth but rear came around on him at the old Hairpin and flicked him off. “I’d had a problem with the rear from the first lap. I didn’t do anything different that lap but as soon as I shut the throttle it came around on me and that was it.”
56 ❘ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
SPORT
Bayliss sets himself up for WSB title
‘That’s another thing I wanted to do crossed off the list...’
First Donington win puts Ducati star in frame for third WSB crown michael.guy @motorcyclenews.com
T
ROY Bayliss moved a step closer to his third WSB crown with his first-ever victory at Donington Park. The 39-year-old Australian outscored his title rivals comfortably in Sunday’s first race by taking the win, but it all went wrong in race two when he was lucky to walk away from a fifth-gear crash while pushing for the lead. Despite his race two DNF, Bayliss extended his lead to 101 points with just 150 points remaining. His massive advantage boosted by storming performances from Ryuichi Kiyonari and Brits Tom Sykes and Cal Crutchlow who took valuable points away from his main title rivals, Troy Corser and Max Neukirchner. Bayliss said: “In race one I was racing Sykes and I thought about settling for second but I pushed really hard, got the win and that’s another thing I wanted to do crossed off the list.” In race two Bayliss suffered a 100mph crash at Schwantz when the rear of his Xerox Ducati came around on a closed throttle. It was the most common crash of the weekend with most of the top men suffering a lack of side grip from the rear Pirelli, which caused numer-
TITLE TABLE
WSB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Donington Park ROUND 11/14
Bayliss Corser Neukirchner Checa Haga Nieto Biaggi Kiyonari Fabrizio Xaus
AUS AUS GER ESP JPN ESP ITA JPN ITA ESP
359 258 254 240 230 192 192 190 172 156
ous big highsides in the miserable wet conditions which prevailed all weekend. The biggest victim was Troy Corser who highsided six times over the weekend (see separate story). The rear Pirelli grip problem was exacerbated by the impressive front Pirelli wets which gave the riders the confidence to push on the way in to corners. Bayliss held off Sykes in race one
Bayliss said: “Pirelli are doing a good job, especially if you look at the times we were doing last year. I think they’ll find something soon with the rear tyre in the rain and they’ll make another step. Something is a bit out of balance at the moment. “At the corner I crashed it’s easy to catch yourself out and the rear came around so fast I couldn’t do anything about it. It’s fifth gear there so it’s pretty fast, but I was lucky enough not to do any damage to myself. The bike seemed alright but the throttle was all bust up and the bike wouldn’t rev.” In addition to taking his first-ever win at Donington during his final performance at the British track, Bayliss also extended his points lead and will now head to next week’s Vallelunga race with a realistic chance of wrapping up the title there.
BAYLISS IMPRESSED BY THE BRITS Bayliss got a good look at the UK’s top talents at Donington and says the future is bright for Brits in WSB. Having spent the last two seasons dealing with James Toseland, Bayliss had encouragement for Tom Sykes, Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam. “There are a few really fast young guys,” he said. “Sykes and Crutchlow are the guys on the move at the moment. Haslam has been around for a while and is always quick. I asked Tom if he has a job in WSB for next year, but he didn’t know. They all did a good job today.”
SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 57
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Pitt second after traumatic month
Xaus went on a sit-down protest after race one
Confusion rains! CONFUSION reigned in race one when third place finisher Ruben Xaus was disqualified after crashing his Sterilgarda Ducati at the end of the race. When heavy rain began to fall and the race was stopped during the second heat of the first race, Xaus was holding third place on aggregate timing. The Spaniard didn’t see the red flags and continued to push, resulting in a highspeed spectacular crash at Schwantz corner. He made it back to the pits and went to the podium, but was subsequently disqualified, gifting team-mate and fierce rival Max Biaggi the podium spot. Xaus, however, didn’t go quietly and staged a sit-down protest on the third step of the podium before being forcibly removed by security.
On his way down he passed Biaggi and launched in to a vicious verbal and physical attack, throwing his helmet at his team-mate. Xaus’s disqualification wasn’t the only controversial ruling of the day. ■ When Haga stayed on the racing line after dropping oil in race one, he was given a ride-through penalty in race two. He chose to complete his ride through on lap three, but was then immediately called back into the pits for another ride through. The reason for his second trip through the pits was that it is the Race Director’s decision when a rider completes a ride through, not the rider themselves. Haga, thinking he had already completed the ride-through correctly, carried on racing until he was shown the black flag
which meant he had to pull out of the race. ■ The second race was delayed for five minutes due to torrential rain and excessive surface water, but although the conditions didn’t improve any, the race still got underway during the downpour, with a continual stream of water running across the Craner Curve sector of the track. ■ Riders including Troy Corser, Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi continually raised their hands during the opening lap to try and get the race stopped due to the appalling conditions, but the race continued. The Race Director’s controversial decision was ultimately proved correct with no crashes in the opening laps and the conditions improving as the race progressed.
Corser shrugs off six crashes to take podium TROY CORSER rode to the most heroic podium finish of the weekend after suffering six highsides, taking third place in race two. Corser’s uncharacteristic crashing spree started on Friday morning in free practice where he crashed his Yamaha twice, battering his right foot and hip. On Saturday he compounded his injuries by crashing in qualifying and then again metres from the line in Superpole while on target to take the 43rd WSB pole position of his career. Corser crashed again in a wet morning warm-up when he lost the rear of his Yamaha Italia for the fifth time. His final crash came in the opening race when he was in
Corser beats the pain barrier
third position. This time it was due to oil dropped by team-mate, Noriyuki Haga. By the end of race two the Australian could barely walk but remained philosophical about a weekend that incred-
ibly saw him move up to second in the championship. He said: “It’s fair to say I’m pretty beaten up. But I came here with the aim of going to second in the series and I’ve achieved that.”
Pitt was back in the thick of it a month after Brands tragedy ANDREW PITT’S impressive second place in the Donington World Supersport race went some way of putting the tragic events of Craig Jones’ fatal accident behind him. The Australian unavoidably collided with Jones after he crashed at Brands Hatch and has had four weeks to contemplate the accident. Pitt revealed that it’s been difficult since Brands but has received vital support from family and friends including Craig Jones’ father Steve. “It’s obviously been a tough couple of weeks. There have been a lot of people worrying about me but I just had to get on with it. “First of all after Brands it seemed good that there was such a long break, but then for the last couple of weeks I’ve really wanted to get here and get back on a bike. “I spoke to Craig’s dad a few times, which was good and he’s been really supportive towards me. I saw him this morning and I was also on the circuit with him for the memorial today.” Pitt made it a tough weekend for himself on the track, having qualified 15th after failing to find the right tyre or chassis setting for the wet track conditions.
Despite his fourth-row grid position the 2001 World Supersport Champion showed his class by scything through the field to get to the front runners Jonathan Rea, Josh Brookes and Barry Veneman by lap two. Pitt spent the majority of the race fighting with Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate Rea before yield-
‘Craig’s dad has been really supportive towards me’ ANDREW PITT ing to eventual race winner Brookes in the final lap. He said: “To come from where I was on the grid, it’s a good result. There were a few idiots I had to pass on the way to the front who tried to have a go back at me again, but I got rid of them pretty quick. “I thought I’d done enough to win it but I just couldn’t get the bike stopped and turned because of a lack of side grip on the rear tyre. I had to brake earlier and earlier to hit the apexes and Josh [Brookes] just had a little bit more at the end.”
JONES TRIBUTE The WSB paddock and Donington crowd honoured the fallen Craig Jones with a minute’s silence followed by a parade lap from his best friend Tommy Hill. He put on
his racing leathers for the first time since re-breaking his femur at the Nurburgring and rode Jones’ Parkalgar Honda around Donington to the applause of the crowd.
An emotional Tommy Hill rode in tribute to Craig Jones
58 ❘ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
SPORT WSB
Donington Park, Leics / 7 September, 2008 ROUND 11/14
RACE ONE
° 16°C 87 16 C
Pos Rider
Race time
Top speed
Best lap
Grid
1
T Bayliss, Australia (Ducati)
29:55.384
159.506
1:31.814
1
2
T Sykes, GB (Suzuki)
+1.266
162.613
1:32.292 7
3
M Biaggi, Italy (Ducati)
+28.636
162.240
1:32.272
4
G Lavilla, Spain (Honda)
+33.566
158.015
1:33.348 15
5
Y Kagayama, Japan (Suzuki)
+35.966
161.432
1:33.283
6
J Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati)
+36.034
158.015
1:33.001 16
7
F Nieto, Spain (Suzuki)
+36.442
162.986
1:33.155
8
L Haslam, GB (Honda)
+41.633
162.240
1:33.059 12
24 23
9
K Muggeridge, Australia (Honda)
+42.075
156.896
1:33.239
J Ellison, GB (Honda)
+43.476
160.687
1:33.542 5
11
D Checa, Spain (Yamaha)
+1:12.578
154.038
1:34.492
19 17
12
A Badovini, Italy (Kawasaki)
+1:13.147 157.641
1:34.994 21
13
S Nakatomi, Japan (Yamaha)
+1:34.664
1:34.680
14
S Aoyama, Japan (Honda)
+1:56.726 156.523
1:35.176 29
DNF
R Xaus, Spain (Ducati)
19 laps
1:33.141
160.686
30 4
DNF
V Iannuzzo, Italy (Kawasaki)
19 laps
156.523
1:35.113 28
DNF
C Zaiser, Austria (Yamaha)
19 laps
154.349
1:37.268
31
DNF
L Lanzi, Italy (Ducati)
14 laps
156.151
1:34.471 18
DNF
R Rolfo, Italy (Honda)
12 laps
161.059
1:33.261
DNF
M Fabrizio, Italy (Ducati)
10 laps
158.760
1:35.780 10
DNF
T Corser, Australia (Yamaha)
9 laps
159.133
1:34.494
DNF
M Tamada, Japan (Kawasaki)
9 laps
154.038
1:37.211 27
25 8
DNF
N Haga, Japan (Yamaha)
9 laps
160.687
1:34.951
DNF
C Checa, Spain (Honda)
9 laps
157.269
1:35.755 3
11
DNF
S Gimbert, France (Yamaha)
6 laps
154.721
1:35.778
DNF
M Neukirchner, Ger (Suzuki)
5 laps
159.133
1:35.965 14
22
DNF
C Walker, GB (Honda)
5 laps
159.879
1:36.707
DNF
R Laconi, France (Kawasaki)
5 laps
153.292
1:40.049 26
13
DNF
M Lynn, USA (Honda)
3 laps
146.270
1:43.606
DNF
L Morelli, Italy (Honda)
3 laps
149.191
1:42.373 33
32
1:47.078
DNF
C Crutchlow, GB (Honda)
2 laps
154.037
DNF
R Kiyonari, Japan (Honda)
1 lap
154.467
2
DNF
K Sofuoglu, Turkey (Honda)
1 lap
152.665
20
RACE TWO
9
° 18°C 70 20 C
Pos Rider
Race time
Top speed
Best lap
Grid
1
R Kiyonari, Japan (Honda)
40:26.508
149.785
1:43.614
2
2
C Crutchlow, GB (Honda)
+2.261
152.517
1:43.786 9
3
T Corser, Australia (Yamaha)
+9.727
152.517
1:43.993
4
J Ellison, GB (Honda)
+20.227
152.145
1:43.405 5
5
M Fabrizio, Italy (Ducati)
+27.475
150.095
1:44.070
6
M Biaggi, Italy (Ducati)
+28.051
148.481
1:44.571 6
7
G Lavilla, Spain (Honda)
+30.922
148.481
1:44.632
8
R Xaus, Spain (Ducati)
+38.353
148.481
1:44.322 4
8 10 15
9
C Checa, Spain (Honda)
+50.196
149.785
1:45.193
10
T Sykes, GB (Suzuki)
+57.346
149.785
1:45.499 7
148.108
11
L Lanzi, Italy (Ducati)
+1:03.093
12
J Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati)
+1:06.697 149.102 146.493
1:43.920
3 18
1:45.724 16
13
R Rolfo, Italy (Honda)
+1:08.057
14
M Neukirchner, Ger (Suzuki)
+1:15.276 149.102
1:45.766 14
15
R Laconi, France (Kawasaki)
+1:38.848
1:46.518
146.804
1:45.729
25 26
16
M Tamada, Japan (Kawasaki)
+1 lap
144.941
1:48.246 27
17
S Aoyama, Japan (Honda)
+1 lap
140.097
1:49.431
18
S Nakatomi, Japan (Yamaha)
+1 lap
148.791
1:49.306 30
29
19
Y Kagayama, Japan (Suzuki)
+1 lap
146.183
1:51.708
DNF
K Muggeridge, Aus (Honda)
21 laps
145.562
1:46.432 19
24
DNF
L Haslam, GB (Honda)
20 laps
152.415
1:44.259
DNF
D Checa, Spain (Yamaha)
18 laps
144.630
1:47.457 17
12
DNF
F Nieto, Spain (Suzuki)
18 laps
145.872
1:48.162
DNF
M Lynn, USA (Honda)
18 laps
139.476
1:51.848 32
23
DNF
C Walker, GB (Honda)
16 laps
146.804
1:47.993
DNF
T Bayliss, Australia (Ducati)
12 laps
149.474
1:43.972 1
DNF
N Haga, Japan (Yamaha)
9 laps
146.804
1:47.101
DNF
C Zaiser, Austria (Yamaha)
7 laps
143.078
1:55.404 31
DNF
A Badovini, Italy (Kawasaki)
6 laps
138.048
1:50.483
13 11 21
DNF
L Morelli, Italy (Honda)
3 laps
127.801
2:03.918 33
DNF
S Gimbert, France (Yamaha)
2 laps
127.553
1:59.809
DNF
V Iannuzzo, Italy (Kawasaki)
2 laps
113.456
2:07.154 28
WORLD SUPERSPORT
22
° 88°C 38 88 C
Results (18 laps – 60.14 miles): 1 J Brookes, Australia (Honda) 34:53.607 – 94.508mph, 2 A Pitt, Australia (Honda), 3 J Rea, GB (Honda), 4 B Veneman, Holland (Suzuki), 5 H Kennaugh, South Africa, (Yamaha), 6 R Harms, Denmark (Honda), 7 J Lascorz, Spain (Honda), 8 D van Keymeulen, Belgium (Suzuki), 9 M Lagrive, France (Honda), 10 B Parkes, Australia (Yamaha), 11 G Vizziello, Italy (Honda), 12 E Laverty, Ireland (Yamaha), 13 M Aitchison, Australia (Triumph), 14 K Fujiwara, Japan (Kawasaki), 15 C Martin, GB (Kawasaki). British: 20 G Gowland (Honda). Fastest lap: Brookes 1:34.079 – 95.59mph. Championship positions after 10 of 13 rounds: 1 Pitt 169pts, 2 Brrookes 137, 3 Rea 133, 4 Parkes 119, 5 Jones 100, 6 Foret 97, 7 Lascorz 92, 8 Veneman 61, 9 Harms 60, 10 Roccoli 48. DRY RACE
DRY/WET RACE
WET RACE
GROUND TEMP
HUMIDITY
Japanese star given an option to inherit the top factory Ducati ride
6
10
162.613
Haga handed Bayliss GOLD AND GOOSE
RESULTS
AIR TEMP
michael.guy @motorcyclenews.com
N
ORIYUKI Haga will ride for Xerox Ducati in 2009, replacing Troy Bayliss who retires at the end of the season. Although there has been no official confirmation or denial from either Ducati or Haga, MCN understands that Haga was given a proposal from Ducati Corse on Friday at Donington Park. If Haga signs the proposal, he will become the first Japanese rider to race for the factory Ducati squad, with a massive expectation to win. Since joining WSB full time in 1998, Haga has finished second in the championship standings twice, and third three times. Although there has never been any dispute over Haga’s pace and natural talent, his consistency has so far prevented him from becoming World Champion. MCN first revealed that Haga was speaking to Ducati at the Brands Hatch round a month ago. Initially the tieup between the Japanese star and the Italian factory looked an unlikely partnership with riders including Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa and Chris Vermeulen ahead of him in the pecking order but Biaggi is out of the frame (see separate story), Checa is under contract at Ten Kate and Vermeulen is staying in MotoGP with Suzuki. Paddock insiders have revealed that Haga remains desperate to clinch a WSB
Is Haga headed for Ducati?
title and sees riding with the might of the Ducati factory behind him as the best way of achieving his goal. Another motivating factor is that Haga was offered less money to stay with his current Yamaha team. Haga’s departure from Yamaha ends four consecutive years with the Japanese factory. During his world
‘Our team is nearly fixed for next year’ DAVIDE TARDOZZI championship career Haga has ridden for the Japanese manufacturer for eight years including a year in 500GP on the Red Bull Yamaha. His only years spent away from the marque have included a spell on Aprilia in WSB and MotoGP and for Ducati when he rode for the British Renegade Ducati squad on a 999RS in 2004. During that season Haga finished third in the championship despite suffering a number of untimely breakdowns. However he still won six races,
including an emphatic double at Brands Hatch. Haga’s most likely teammate would be current Xerox Ducati man Michel Fabrizio, holds ninth in the standings with five podiums in his rookie season. The young Italian is managed by WSB legend Frankie Chili and is seen by many as having the natural ability to one day become an Italian WSB champion. As MCN went to press the deal wasn’t officially confirmed, with a Ducati spokesman maintaining that both Biaggi (see separate story) and Checa were still in the frame for the ride. Checa is currently one year into a two-year deal with Ten Kate, but the team have an option on retaining him, which will have to be taken by mid-September. Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi said: “This weekend things have accelerated. Something changed on Friday and our team is nearly fixed, but I can’t say more.” While Haga was in the spotlight all weekend over his new Ducati contract, he wasn’t making the right sort of headlines on track. In race one the engine on his Yamaha Italia R1 let go, dropping oil around the track, causing multiple crashes. Because Haga completed the lap knowing his bike was dropping oil, he was penalised with a ridethrough penalty in race two, which he did early on, but was then black-flagged for coming in too soon (see separate story, page 57).
Haga was given his Ducati option prior to a mixed Donington weekend
Yamaha Italia race in MCN bodywork NORIYUKI Haga and Troy Corser got to use an exciting new livery on their factory Yamaha R1s at the Donington Park WSB race, thanks to some seriously creative MCN readers. In association with Yamaha, MCN ran an exclusive competition to design a one-off livery for the two riders to use at the British race. We received thousands of designs, which were finally whittled down to five by a panel of judges including Haga, Corser and members of the Yamaha Italia team and Yamaha Europe. MCN readers were then given the chance to vote
‘It’s amazing to actually see the design on the bikes on track’ BEN LEEVES online for their favourite design, with this fresh and original livery from 23-yearold Ben Leeves receiving the most votes. He said: “It’s absolutely incredible. I spent a lot of time coming up with the design and to actually see it on the bikes out on track is amazing.”
MCN winner Ben Leeves shows off the drawings for the R1 livery used by Haga and Corser
SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 59
www.motorcyclenews.com
s ride for ’09
Ducati pass up Biaggi option Uncertain future for ‘difficuilt’ Biaggi
THE move to sign Haga for Bayliss’ factory Ducati ride has come as a major shock to the paddock, with most pundits expecting Italian Max Biaggi to replace Bayliss. MCN has learned that discussions between Biaggi and Ducati broke down last week after months of negotiation. The two parties had until Tuesday of last week to agree terms but, despite frantic efforts, the deal foundered.
‘The biggest disappointment of my career’ MAX BIAGGI Quite why remains unclear, although paddock rumours suggest that top-level Ducati management vetoed the move, based on Biaggi’s chequered relationships with manufacturers in the past. Biaggi said: “I thought I would be riding for the factory Ducati team next year and this is the biggest disappointment of my career. I had an option with them and they had an option on me but this has now expired.”
Ducati’s expected decision to sign Noriyuki Haga and retain current Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio has left BSB series leader Shane Byrne’s chances of a factory WSB ride looking grim. Shakey will have to look at other Ducati options including Sterilgarda Ducati and the all-new American Boulder Ducati squad if he wants to race one of the Italian V-twins in WSB next year, unless his British Airwaves Ducati team make the switch to WSB. The factory Alstare Suzuki team have expressed some interest in Shakey in the past but look set to run only two riders in 2009. German Max Neukirchner has already signed for the team and Suzuki Japan are keen to
DOUBLE RED
WSB BLOW FOR SHAKEY
Put the pen away, Shakey keep a Japanese rider in the squad, meaning Yukio Kagayama could get the ride for another season. The Yamaha Italia squad will have space following the expected departure of Haga, but MCN understands that discussions with the Italian team have stalled.
MICHAEL GUY
PIT PASS
Biaggi and Ducati tie-up wasn’t the no-brainer we all expected
During his career Biaggi has gained a reputation for being difficult. His GP career spanned over a decade and saw him fall out with Honda and Yamaha, leaving him virtually exiled from the paddock at the end of 2005. After missing a full season of racing, he arrived in WSB in 2007 to ride for the Alstare Suzuki squad but parted company with the team in acrimonious circumstances at the end of the year. However, since signing for the privateer Sterilgarda Ducati squad, Biaggi has been well-behaved, publicly at least, not once criticising his bike or team. Biaggi said: “It’s logical for me to move to the factory team. I’ve no idea why it hasn’t happened.” Biaggi’s 2009 options are now incredibly limited. With no chance of returning to Alstare Suzuki or becoming a Honda rider, he could even be facing retirement. The factory Yamaha Italia team remains a long shot, but he would also need Troy Corser to sign for BMW to free up the necessary budget needed to run the Italian. His only other options would be Aprilia or BMW.
THE WSB rumours finally began to fall into place at Donington, but it wasn’t what we were all expecting. Although I was tipped off at Brands that Haga had worked his way onto Ducati’s short list, I didn’t think it was going to happen. For me Biaggi’s profile, Italian fan base and endless support and financial backing from FGSport made the Xerox Ducati and Max Biaggi marriage a no-brainer. In the end it seems that despite Biaggi’s good behaviour this season, his chequered past in both MotoGP and WSB has caught up with him once again and someone in Ducati simply said ‘no’. With Biaggi’s numberone option now gone there is a lot of headscratching about where he can ride next season. For sure Ten Kate Honda won’t take him and, even if they wanted to, I’m pretty sure HRC would have a few things to say about it, given his bitter parting with the Repsol Honda squad in 2005. Alstare Suzuki brought Biaggi to WSB, but by the end of last year the relationship had crumbled, so an Alstare return has to be another no-no. Yamaha seem an unlikely employer given a bitter departure after he rode for them in GP500 and MotoGP. Paddock
rumours suggest that even Valentino Rossi has had something to say about Biaggi joining the Yamaha family. The MotoGP and WSB workshops sit side-by-side in Italy which means the two might actually come face-to-face on occasion! There is one slim chance, and it all depends on Troy Corser moving to BMW. That would mean Yamaha losing both its big guns for 2009 and starting again from scratch with a new R1 to develop. There aren’t many men able to head up a factory team with the pedigree of Yamaha Italia, and Biaggi could be their only choice. The other option is that Biaggi signs for BMW or Aprilia, but I don’t think he wants to spend one of the last years of his career developing a new bike. While Haga’s move to Ducati is exciting for WSB, it does have a negative side for British fans. Haga’s arrival at Ducati will see Michel Fabrizio stay in the team, so the chances of Shakey getting a factory WSB bike have taken a big knock.
‘Rossi is said to have blocked a Biaggi move to Yamaha Italia’
CANEPA INJURED BUT MOTOGP BOUND WITH ALICE Niccolò Canepa, the Ducati WSB and MotoGP test rider, has endured the most turbulent week of his career. In the last seven days the 20-year-old Italian has crashed a Ducati Desmosedici in testing at Mugello breaking his elbow, fracturing his tibia and dislocating his ankle, but is now rumoured to have signed for the Alice Ducati MotoGP squad in 2009. Canepa was due to ride at the final three WSB rounds on a 2009-spec 1098, having already tested it at Vallelunga in Italy and raced it in Brno. The 2006 Superstock 1000 champion was the main test rider of the all-new Ducati 1098 and spent the entire 2007 season developing the
Canepa’s had an unlucky break bike. His crash means that it is unlikely he’ll be fit enough to race in any of the final three WSB races. Ducati are yet to announce if they will field another rider as a replacement for Canepa, with a number of riders already trying to secure the
highly desirable ride. Briton Shane Byrne could be a contender for the three wild-card rides, given his domination of this years BSB title chase, especially as there are no clashes between BSB and WSB for the remainder of the season.
Biaggi may have burnt just one too many bridges in racing
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