World Superbikes

Ronald ten Kate: "Once We Know The Rules, We'll Build A Bike"

Fri, 2008-10-31 17:27
When Dorna and the FIM first announced the provisional rules for the new 600cc four-stroke formula to replace the existing 250 class, the first thought that crossed most racing fans' minds was: "Ten Kate". The Dutch team has dominated the World Supersport – the world's premier 600cc four-stroke formula – since 2002, constantly managing to stay at least one step ahead of the competition, despite not enjoying the kind of factory support that other teams have had.
 
Today at Portimao, Ronald ten Kate confirmed to MotoGPMatters that the team is extremely interested. "It's definitely a class that we think that we should be in," ten Kate said. "We're just waiting for the rules to be announced so we can start building a bike." 
 
With Moriwaki already having built a prototype, more as an engineering demonstration than as a competitive item, interest is starting to grow in the new class. If Ten Kate do build a bike and enter the class, then they are likely to start the series as the team to beat. With their current record in the World Supersport and World Superbike series, beating Ten Kate is going to be a pretty tall order.

 

Portimao World Superbikes - Friday Morning Report

Fri, 2008-10-31 13:32

Heavy rain overnight on Thursday meant the inaugural day of practice got off to a late start here in Portugal. There are still problems with drainage, and parts of the track were flooded. What was worse was mud on the track, which had to be cleaned off before proceedings could start.

While the track was fixed quickly, facilities around the circuit are a little more problematic, with power being alternated between the pit garages and the hospitality area, the electricity supply blowing fuses with alarming regularity. And because the outside of the track is still basically a construction site, vast quantities of rich brown mud is being tramped everywhere. At least there is an army of cleaners keeping the buildings almost spotless, but they are having to work for their money.

When practice commenced, times dropped rapidly as rubber started to be laid on the brand new surface. During the first free practice session of World Supersport, Joan Lascorz started quickly, before Parkalgar Honda's Josh Hayes took over the top spot. The Mississippian was making good use of the track knowledge acquired here during testing last week, and was getting quicker when he crashed going into turn 1. He ended the session in 5th place. Joan Lascorz took back the top spot while Hayes limped back to the pits with a damaged bike. 

Lascorz finished the session on top, ahead of Matthieu Lagrive, Kenan Sofuoglu, clearly much happier on a Supersport bike than he was on a Superbike, and the Dutch Hoegee Suzuki rider Barry Veneman.

Live From Portimao - It's Wednesday And The Roads Aren't Done Yet

Wed, 2008-10-29 22:19

MotoGPMatters.com is in Portimao this weekend, to cover the World Superbikes finale, but mostly, to seize the last chance of seeing Troy Bayliss out on track. This morning, we headed out to find the circuit and give it the once over, and we have to say that it's an impressive facility. 

 
 
Look at a track map, and it looks just like another modern go-kart track, a mix between Valencia and Barcelona. Any such notions are completely dispelled once you see the circuit in the flesh, though: the track is stuck against a hillside, with the front straight mostly level, before taking off and snaking over the ridges and mounds of the valley. Walking around the track, I couldn't help but think that the track was like half of Mugello, thanks to the high narrow sections, blind crests and the odd precipitous drop. If the racing is half as good as the track, it should be stupendous.
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