WSBK » Crutchlow drops hints with Portimao pace

Cal has the speed and he simply needs to keep his head! I would expect Rea and Fabrizio to have matured a bit by next year. Both had the speed to run with Haga and Spies on occasion but their sporadic behavior and subsequent finishes undid them in the end. Last season was a tough one. Spies needed an average finish of slightly above 3rd place (16.5 points per race average)at every race to win the title! Due to all the problems he had that meant that he had to make up the numbers by winning a lot! That is just not realistic considering the depth of the field next year. Meaning you have to be there every race and if you cant win them all you better be able to manage the problems that arise!

WSBK » FIRST PIC: James Toseland on Yamaha R1

Any way you slice it next season will be a war! Ducati has a well proven duo in Fabs and Haga. Yamaha has a fast young firebrand and a proven veteran. Compared to last season they should technically have a stronger overall team. Both capable of running at the front where Sykes was not. Ten Kate Honda will have Rea and Neukirchener. Both are capable of running at the front. Aprilia will have Max and (I think?)Leon. Biaggi made major progress on the V4 Motogp wannabee Aprilia. And Camier did really well at Portimao on it. If they sign him? Alstare will have Haslam and Guintoli. Both are fast. Kawi is the only factory team in question for me. Sykes and motoGP winner Vermeulen? Shakey?

WSBK » Super Spies basks in WSBK title glory

When Ben was still in AMA the only competition he had was Mat and himself. Jamie Hacking had started to make inroads towards the latter half of 08, only to suffer at the hands of the Kawasaki two step(killing the AMA SBK squad). At that time I would have said that Jamie was the next logical person to make the jump as Mat has now retired. But then Jamie was forced to race in the Buell cup here in the US and had a miserable year finishing 4th. Hopefully this season will not determine Jamies fate as I still believe he is a top rider! As it stands the only other Americans that may(!) be ready to make the switch to the world stage are Hayes, and the youngsters Herrin and perhaps Aquino.

WSBK » Super Spies basks in WSBK title glory

Can you believe that it took Yamaha 22 years to win the title? They were the last of Japanese companies who hadn't. Now it is BMW or Aprilia's turn. Hope it is a sign that WSBK is more than just a Ducati Cup.

MOTOGP » 250: Aoyama one hand on title after Sepang thriller.

That race was a brawl! Man Simoncelli put everthing he had into keeping Aoyama behind him, to no avail. Bautista is folding like a cheap suit. Beginning of the year I would have picked him to win this thing, but every since he signed for Suzuki he has gone straight downhill!

WSBK » Spies crowned World Superbike champion

What a season! Congrats Ben and Nori!

WSBK » Haga forced to settle for second again

I was wondering who was paying Biaggi's salary in that second race. He was trying to stuff Spies multiple times in race 2. Amazing that no one is mentioning that.

WSBK » Haga forced to settle for second again

ROBDAGNALL If you really want to play that card look at the points Fabrizio took off Spies and handed to Haga at Brno! I give Fabrizio props for doing it man style and making both Spies and Haga earn it all! Instead of complying with F1 style Team orders and lying down for his team mate! Spies effectively didn't even have a team mate (as far as the title in concerned) this season.

WSBK » Super Spies basks in WSBK title glory

Congratulations Ben! 2009 World Superbike Champion. Can MotoGP Rookie of the year for 2010 be the next step? Great season long battle! One for the ages. A little anti-climactic perhaps but the inevitable outcome of this championship was never in my mind in question. Being the fastest man on track all season, setting numerous records along the way and handling it all with class! Big props to Rea for his podium comments in the second race. Also to Fabrizio for ignoring any "team orders" that may have been in place. Biaggi should be flogged for his antics towards the end of the second race though! Riding like an idiot and trying to foul Spies.

WSBK » Fabrizio charged with beating Spies

If Fabrizio were to take out Spies or interfere this weekend there would be no place for him to hide! Team orders are crap and one reason F1 is such a debacle.