Well I've just come home from Eastern Creek where I had a really, really fun day. I hadn't been to the track for a while so it was great to hang out with mates and ride bikes. I had the Twenty20 cameras set up on my 'Blade and was playing around getting footage of tyre distortion and all sorts of fun stuff. I also managed to test a few bikes, namely the new Ducati 1098, Yamaha R1 and Kawasaki ZX-6R.
It's always fun testing at the track; you can push much harder than on the road and you can feel the idiosyncrasies of each bike straight away. I have my 'Blade set up just the way I like a bike to be, and I'm used to the bike, so I can use it as a comparative tool and feel the behaviour and character of other bikes versus mine. Although it's not the fastest or most powerful bike in its class, I'm yet to lap faster on anything else. A possible match could be the new R1, though. That bike really impressed me and is a giant leap forward over last year's model.
Another bike that really blew me away was the ZX-6R. Wow! How much can one bike change from one year to the next? The new ZX-6R is a thousand times better than last year's bike. In fact, it is by far the best Kawasaki I have ridden and I rate it up there with the 2006/7 Yamaha R6. The new Kawasaki just promotes confidence and communicates so well. If the ZX-10R handled like the 600 then Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha would be working very hard to catch up...
The Ducati 1098 failed to impress me. Sure, I agree with most that it is very stylish and the quality of build is there, but it tied itself in knots and Wazza, Jeff and I all struggled to tame it on the track. It was just way off the mark.
The 1098 engine is by far the most powerful Ducati engine I've felt, but the chassis needs a lot of work and I can't see the bike doing a faster lap time than a Japanese four-cylinder. Still, hats off to Ducati for building such a strong engine...
I've also been kept busy following all of the racing lately, with ASC, WSBK and MotoGP testing all happening at once.
Jamie Stauffer is a level above the rest at the moment and has set the benchmark in the Aussie titles. His domination last year looks set to continue throughout this season and hopefully his speed is enough to make everyone lift their game and leave their comfort zones.
Although he's fast, there's got to be more speed in those bikes still, so I'd like to see someone take it to the next level again. It'd take commitment, but I'm sure it can be done...
Max Biaggi did a fantastic job at the WSBK opening round in Qatar. Winning race one and chasing Toseland down in race two. Biaggi is going to have a strong year and lift the level of the championship this season, lift everyone's game. He can be very hot and cold, though, so I won't speculate on the championship.
MotoGP testing has been fascinating. I've been following the times and the gap has really closed up over the past four or so years. Of course the Honda's are strong but Rossi is too. And as usual he's staying lowkey in testing. He tends to keep a low profile then show his true speed and form at the first round, so I can't wait to watch the race, which will have run by the time you read this.
The speed of these 800s is incredible, but it's still the peanut that controls the bike that counts, and my money is on Rossi this year... Well I mentioned in my last column that I was looking forward to WSBK at Phillip Island but unfortunately my timing was all wrong. Toni has taken off to New York for a holiday with friends and I'm back home with the kids. Not that I really mind, in fact it is fun. Although I'm not going to WSBK I am taking the boys to get their Kickstart MNSW mini bike race licenses on the weekend, then to a mini bike race meeting.
I've been having fun all week teaching them about flags and all the rules of racing. It has been great...
See you sideways,
Wayne Gardner
www.wgardner.com
www.rapidbikes.com.au
|
| |
