guys the winds of change are a blowin'. here we have combined test days. what you are seeing is a pre-cursor to combined racing. more specifically what i outlined a while back in the new world order (NWO). cost savings by WSB and MotoGP racing on the same weekend ticket. strategically, they haven't said anything about it. right now they're monitoring and guaging how we fan-sumers react. they like what they see.

Just bite the bullet and put them both together, sure there will be a small void between WSBK and prototype but not as big as CRT. Some fans may moan but thats the nature of the game, when all the riders are scraping fairings and we see masses of riders, manufacturers and talent they'll shut up.

Jerez lap record on a gazillion dollar prototype with supersticky bridgestone tires with a horse jockey I mean lightweight rider
on top with proper rubber laid on track 1.39.731 sec.

Lap by aprilia superbike which costs less than a good set of electronics plus technicians in motogp with a regular weight rider, slippery pirellis 1.40.185 sec on a dirty track not superpole day and without the pressure to qualify.

Difference 0.454 sec.

Forget about Hayden times let's compare to the real world. I think the aprilia and kawasaki with the bridgestones and carbon brakes would be on the first 2 rows in motogp and shake their glass bubble pretty well.

WSBK vs Moto GP is one debate, Ducati'S performance is another.

What's funny is that Hayden said there isn't a challenge for him in WSBK because the old refugees were winning there and here he is getting b1tchslapped by the younger WSBK riders on a track they don't race and put as many miles as he does.

Did it ever occur to Hayden that the reason the motogp renegades win in WSBK is because there are several excellent packages in WSBK vs 2 in motogp?

Plus Checa, Melandri and Biaggi were not exactly backmarkers in motogp.

I'm glad they're making eat some crow.

"Hayden said there isn't a challenge for him in WSBK"

Please show me where he said this. I remember him saying that he didn't want to go to WSBK just yet, wanted to stay in GP a little longer but I've never seen him say what you claim.

If the the Ducati ever comes right, I believe Nicky will be right up there challenging for podiums, etc. Just like Silverstone this season, Nicky was running 4th until the Duc chewed the rear tire to bits and there was nothing he could do but maintain and he ended up 7th.

It's not the riders, it's the bike, genius.
Just watch Rossi this season, he'll be back up front and the trolls who said "ROSSI SUCKS NOW11!!" will vanish.

@Kindergarten Cop, re: Nicky clearly stated that the Ducati he is riding now is the best Ducati he's EVER ridden so yes, Rossi's input has made a positive impact on the development..

it is still POS even if it is the best POS it had ever been

WSBK bikes is most ridable bike for all riders. So, Rossi was turn the Ducati into a street bike, not a MotoGP bike.

That is all what were people said about Rossi ruined the Ducati MotoGP bike.

Even me and you too can do the same provided being given the same privilege Rossi get while on Ducati.

From speedtv.

MOTOGP: Hayden Doesn't Want To Live Like A Refugee

tinyurl.com/d8pvq8e

That sounds like he's saying there's no challenge for there IMO.

The whole 'WSBK is a retirement home' is bu11shet. It is not WSBK's fault that the good bikes in Motogp are only available to the golden few.

If the manufacturers in motogp decide to throw full support behind 2 riders and milk the satellite teams out of their money forcing decent riders to under perform because they don't want their star riders to be challenged by the satellites and forcing them out of the series then motogp and the MSMA are guilty of manipulating the championship outcome. Watch how they'll throw all effort to make sure Rossi is at the front while the satellites and CRTs fill in. That's their golden goose.

First it's interesting to see that the WSB bikes are not that far off the Duc motogp bike but on other faster tracks that gap would be greater plus if you had the Honda's or Yamaha's out there the gap would have been greater. And for haters like somenobody you wouldn't be in the same universe if you had to compete with Rossi even on the same exact bike so put your hate aside for a second a be realistic. You'd be laughed out of the paddock.