If you look back to this time last year literally no one predicted Toprak would win the title first time out on the beemer, but as soon as it started to look like it might happen it was all because of the gremlin having a few extra kg added. On a ducati forum. You can see where I’m going with this can’t you?
Just looking back on last season J Rea Esq. didnt come out of PI last year without 2 horrible crashes either. Him and AB must be on borrowed time this year, surely. Especially when you consider some of the MGP riders that are going to be *available by the end of the year/"silly season".
my god man!!!!! 6 time world champion on Borrowed time…… he’ll be riding in one of the top teams until he decides not to! I think it’s just highlighting the Yamaha (as much as it hurts because I absolutely adore them, and having riding one a lot on track genuinely can see how they must be amazing in Superbike trim) is no longer up to scratch. they tried last year to up the revs and you’ll notice in one round they suddenly started absolutely detonating engines
Would never dispute his undoubted talent but age (and wages) always catches up. Would be interesting to see him in BsB now. Alongside a certain new champion on a Yamaha.
Look how Bulega has done since he came across. Absolutely walked the supersport title and smashing the time sheets in wsb for the second year running. And he was by and large very mediocre or at least hugely underperforming in the MGP paddock. And that’s before you get to the likes of ianone and petrucci with proven pedigrees who’ve come across since and beating JR on a weekly basis. No way he’s got the pick of the rides after this year. There’s going to be so many more younger cheaper options with a lot more to prove imo.
My prediction is the WSB grid will be completely taken over by Spanish and Italian ex moto gp/2 riders in a year or two. Why would you want to pay someone like JR a million a year or whatever to traipse around in mid pack? Only way he’s getting another title is on a factory ducati and they don’t need a 39 year old cripple who’s come off the back of two and a bit terrible seasons and injuries. They’d rather put their time ££ and efforts into someone like Canet or Apdegeur after he gets his arse slapped this year. Especially if they see Toprak go to MGP.
I'm not a gambler but I think the bookies odds mean a lot as they represent the likelihood of a particular event occurring. William Hill have the championship as a 1 horse race. Toprak is 1 to 2 (that's odd on), next is Bulega at 2 to 1 then Bautista at 7 to 1.
If youre with (fucking) VIrgin Media i suggest you check your schedule/record settings as mine didnt record last nights live action, rather last seasons highlights of rounds 11 and 12. Pathetic shower of shit that it is.
Zaidi is 6.6 seconds off the pace…. 10 seconds in first practice. Hate to say it but he looks like a trackday rider out there. also sad to see Tarran so far off, clearly the package and ‘extra support’ from Honda isn’t quite what was promised (as usual it seems) otherwise it will be an absolutely dominant season by Ducati
I believe you can also work back through the schedule to watch any previously missed sessions/races on demand. I often did this when I'd forgotten to record a BSB or SBK race on Eurosport. I've not paid for the premium offering, so will try and survive on ITV/Quest offerings for now...
!! BASTARDS !! As per another thread - my minimum subscription to Disco+ that started out about 5 years ago as a great Eurosport bargain (£40/year) deal - WSBK coverage has swapped to TNT this weekend instead of the 28th Feb. I'm too tight to pay ~£30 per month just to watch BSB & WSBK (& possibly MotoGP). Grrrrrrrr... I called a helpful bloke at Discovery+, who said I could have the required package half-price for 7 months as an I-want-to-leave-Discovery+ sweetener. That deal is available until end March. Maybe worth it to grab most of the season...
I recorded mine on Sky and at first i thought it was last years race but it was 5 mins of strange highlights at the start before the live practice. worth checking
Same here. I need to find that other thread now to see what others packages are being recommended. I got Eurosport originally to watch only BSB & WSBK (the snooker coverage was nice too as a bonus) as I don't really watch any other sport or the mindless crap TV shows, etc that I now have to scroll past on Discovery+. Urgh.
Not sure how many times ive mentioned this now but you don’t get the same experience with Virgin as you do with Sky and I have no access to discovery plus through my Virgin subscription. Discovery plus streaming is only available via Sky. Whether that changes on 28th Feb or not is anyone’s guess. Mine is it won’t because they’re fucking shit.
Dont know why i pay for sky sports anymore tbh, barring the odd lfc game i dont watch any tennis, rugby or the other posh sports that they seem to cover exclusively. Much rather pay for TNT and watch cycling, bikes, rallying, ufc and all the other niche sports they show (if/when its working as it should).
