WSBK » Byrne confirmed with Sterilgarda Ducati

Now wouldn't it be a good way to tie BSB and WSBK together a bit more (after all, BSB is so obviously the main feeder class for WSBK) and set up the mouthwatering prospect of WSBK_2009 by having Shakey Byrne on a 3rd Sterilgarda Ducati at Portimao for the last round of the season !! He's sewn up the BSB crown already, plus Brands Indy would be all done by then too, so he'd not be in any contract with GSE at that point, plus I don't believe WSBK has been to Portimao before, so it would be the perfect 'level playingfield' for Sterilgarda and Ducati, (cos lets face it, they are partly behind him going to GMB racing / getting a WSBK Ducati ride anyway) to showcase Shakey's ability on a Duke...

If he pulled off an upset i.e. by getting on the podium or even winning, well... it wouldn't actually matter would it, cos Bayliss would have sewn up the WSBK title by then anyway, and Xerox could simply claim that Bayliss had achieved the main objective and was now retiring !!! Xaus and Biaggi wouldn't be adversely affected either seeing as they're all signed up for 2009. Maybe I should become an SBK spindoctor !!! Any jobs going out there ? :0)

Personally I would rather have seen Gregorio Lavilla get the ride. I still think he has alot to offer at world level and is his best on a ducati.

Great to see all these brits in wsbk :oD



Honestly though I think shakey has left it a little late (not that he won't do well)

Plus the tracks he will obviously be best at (brittish ones) for aslong as Kiyo is around no one stands a chance lol

Can't wait for next season though.

Lavilla get the ride? wasn't the only reason airwaves took him firstly as a sub to james haydon was because he didn't have a seat after years in wsb as nobody wanted him.

James Haydon... Goodness me, what a catalogue of disasters that bloke has had, together with more opportunities than the rest of the BSB / WSBK paddock put together. I have to admit he works well as part of the commentary team on Eurosport with Carter and Whitham, but honestly... from WSBK on the Foggy Petronas in 2003, Virgin, Rizla, Hawk Kawasaki, GSE in BSB after that, and now just a 'presenters stooge' on Eurosport BSB coverage. Surprised he's got the neck to appear on TV to be honest. Gets paid a wage I suppose. He's a bright bloke though, so given that, personally I'd rather have stayed out of the TV limelight and worked my way into team management somewhere to maintain credibility...

Stan,

Lavilla was only out of a job because Suzuki pulled out of World Superbikes when the control tire rule came in. He also never had a bike capable of winning a championship, as he was on 750 four when the 1000 twins were dominating and when he got on the GSXR1000 Suzuki it was restricted and he was in a one man team developing a new bike.

As for him being a sub, he was a very good one - not even Troy Baylis could win the British Championship at his first attempt.

Still don't see that Lavilla deserves the Sterilgarda ride next year more than Shakey. Alongside him maybe, as this Polita kid seems like a bit of an unknown quantity, although probably cheap. Sterilgarda can't be hard-up having run Biaggi and Xaus last year...

Oh yeah. Nearly forgot the key ingredient... Polita is an I-tai !!! They do like their home grown riders those Italians, but if they haven't got one that can actually win / challenge for the title, then they'll gladly accept any old Tom, D1ck or Harry so long as he wins !! Faint tinge of hypocrisy by any chance ...?

The rumour was that FGSport were paying Biaggi's wages this year, so I'm not sure how much money Sterilgarda have. Xaus wouldn't be cheap to have in the team in terms of his bike repair bills!