Now, here are the race highlights, from the FIM Superstock 1000 European Cup's opening race of their season (they only run, in Europe), from Motorland Aragon in Aragon, Spain.
Lorenzo Savadori, the 2015 Superstock 1000 champion, has moved on to World Superbike. So, we have a whole new group of riders, looking to win the championship trophy, this year, as we bring you, live, Superstock 1000 round one, from Motorland Aragon, in Aragon, Spain, next! This is the last race, on the agenda, for the weekend. This class has seen many great names come through it and move on to World Superbike, and MotoGP. Folks, this will be a challenge. 39 riders, are starting this race. That's a bigger field than the World Superbikes, or the World Supersport championship had. This could be quite the race, even though it is the third tier division on the cards, for the weekend.
39 riders and their motorcycles, will start this race. 1999 series title winner, Carl Harris, is sadly, no longer with us. Many great riders have won titles in this division though, such as Xavier Simeon, Ayrton Badovini, Davide Giugliano, Sylvain Barrier, Leandro Mercado, and Lorenzo Savadori. There is a real mix in this class, of riders, who maybe didn't get the break they wanted for the season in World Superbike, so they fall back on what they can do, in races, by competing in Superstock 1000. Then, as always, there are the young lions, who want to break into the sport of motorcycle road racing, at a high level.
There is an age range in this division, according to the FIM. You have to be between the ages of 16 and 28 in order to compete. These motorcycles are like the Superbikes, but, they are less advanced, and are more based upon the road going version, of a 1000cc high performance motorcycle. These motorcycles, use production based, road (what in America, would be called DOT Approved, or Department of Transportation approved), tires. Pirelli provides the tires. World Superbike, has the ability to tune the motorcycles. But Superstock 1000, allows teams, running on a budget, to get involved, with similar equipment, again, in the form of a big, 1000cc motorcycle.
Certain parts on these motorcycles, can be changed, and upgraded, for better performance, such as the front fairing, the shocks, and the exhaust system. Bad news. Kenan Sofuoglu's protege, Toprak Razgatlioglu, who is in the Kawasaki garage, has had an injury. Razgatlioglu, crashed, in the warmup for STK1000, and has hurt himself. He has hurt himself in some way. Back in Australia, he also injured himself, as a stand-in rider for Josh Hook on the Grillini Racing Superbike. This starting grid, was supposed to feature, 41 motorcycles. Now, we are down, to 38. Still a healthy number. But, other riders, have also hit trouble.
Belgian rider Gauthier Duwelz, had an engine let go in Friday practice, on his D.K. Racing BMW S1000RR. They had another motor available for the bike, but chose not to use it. So, Duwelz, has been scratched, from this race. Swiss rider, Thomas Toffel, on the #34 Motos Vionnet BMW S1000RR, did not qualify, as he was not within 107% of the pole position qualifying time. This rule, was used, a few decades ago, in Formula 1 car racing, as well. So, yours truly, is familiar with it. With Toprak Razgatlioglu not making the grid due to injury, we now see 38 motorcycles, in position, for the start.
A number of the top riders, now move up, one spot, due to Razgatlioglu's withdrawal from this race. Who are the top riders in Stock 1000? You ask. Yours truly, answers. According to the commentary team on the race broadcast, look out for these names:
#59 Andrea Mantovani ITA. Guandalini Racing Yamaha Yamaha YZF R1
This is a satellite Yamaha STK1000 squad. The official Yamaha team info, follows.
#21 Florian Marino FRA. PATA Yamaha Official Stock Team Yamaha YZF R1
Florian Marino, is on the front row, for this race. Marino's team mate, is Riccardo Russo.
#84 Riccardo Russo ITA. PATA Yamaha Official Stock Team Yamaha YZF R1
More riders to look for include:
#12 Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA. Aruba.it Racing Junior Team Ducati 1199 Panigale R
He is racing for the Aruba.it Racing Junior Team and is sort of a team mate to Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano. He came up from Superstock 600. He is paired up on this same team, with Leandro Mercado. Mercado has won this championship and did so in 2014. The bikes are on their sighting lap. We will look at some of the other notable riders. On the front row of the grid are Marino, Rinaldi, Marco Faccani, Ricardo Russo, and another Italian, Roberto Tamburini. Faccani was in the old Superstock 600 class. Roberto Tamburini, is on an Aprilia, and he has moved to a bike that Lorenzo Savadori raced for.
Tamburini used to be on a BMW. Florian Marino, raced in the Moto2 World Championship a couple of years ago, in 2014. You may have heard his name, mentioned here, on 2 Wheelin'. Marino ran six or seven Moto2 races that year. The bikes have done their warmup lap, and are forming up on the grid. Remember, that these motorcycles, are the same one that you can go to a dealership, buy, (for a good sum of money of course), ride on the road, and also, race, in a stock championship series. The old adage in racing, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday", is true, for this particular division.
That is the big difference, between World Superbike, and MotoGP. World Superbike, and it's fellow classes, are based on road going motorcycles. MotoGP, are the thoroughbred racing motorcycles, built by the factories, to specifically be race winners, and are not street legal whatsoever. Ricardo Russo, starts fourth. Russo, is a fan, of snakes, as scary as that sounds. Maybe, here on 2 Wheelin' we ought to dub Russo, "The Snake" much like legendary drag racer, Don Prudhomme. Ricardo "The Snake" Russo.
Russo is just a few tenths off Florian Marino's pole lap. He is only starting his third or fourth race, though. A definite rookie. Michael Ruben Rinaldi lines up alongside Florian Marino. Rinaldi is nicknamed "The Beautiful Boy". We'll get to the explanation of that nickname, folks. We have "The Snake", and "The Beautiful Boy". What a contrast. Ricardo Russo and Michael Ruben Rinaldi, were on camera, before a race. Rinaldi asks Russo, "do I look nice? Is my hair straight?" Russo assured him, "yes, Michael. You're a beautiful boy." Thus, the nickname, "Beautiful Boy", stuck.
In third, is Marco Faccani, on another Ducati Panigale, for Triple M Racing. We have 21 Italian riders, in this race. Faccani was in World Supersport, last year, teaming with Kenan Sofuoglu. Of course, Faccani, has been replaced on the Kawasaki World Supersport squad, by Randy Krummenacher. Italian Roberto Tamburini, rides an Aprilia RSV4 RF for Nuova M2 Racing. Tamburini is one of, if not the favorite, to win the 2016 Superstock 1000 championship. He was second in points last year, 22 points in-arrears of Lorenzo Savadori. In eight races last year, he finished six of them.
More names to look out for. Raffaele De Rosa, on the #6 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW S1000RR. This is the same team that runs Jordi Torres in World Superbike. Leandro Mercado was outperformed by Michael Ruben Rinaldi. They are team mates for Aruba Ducati. De Rosa ran with Althea last year, with a Ducati, and they've switched to BMW for STK1000. Look out for another BMW mounted rider. Chilean Maximilian Scheib is a wildcard rider for Targo Bank Easyrace SBK Team on a BMW S1000RR. Scheib is making his debut in this division. Right behind him is Italian Kevin Calia on the #74 Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia RSV4 RF, a team mate to Roberto Tamburini.
Watch out, also, for another Italian. This is Federico D'Annunzio, on the #41 FDA Racing Team BMW S1000RR. Starting eleventh is Frenchman Jeremy Guarnoni. Guarnoni has switched from Yamaha, and is racing for Kawasaki on the Pedercini Racing Kawasaki ZX10R. He's done well in this class. Also, watch out for, in 12th, Luca Vitali, from Italy. He is riding the #70 Team 2R Racing BMW S1000RR. Next up, another Italian rider. Andrea Tucci, on the #44 Berclaz Racing By MotoX Racing Yamaha YZF R1. More riders to cover. Luca Marconi of Italy, on the #87 Team Trasimeno Yamaha YZF R1.
One rider, ended up at a track day, on a Spanish speedway, with general motorcycle riders, with street bikes with mirrors and lights. It may have been at Valencia. In fifteenth place on the grid, another Italian rider. This is Emanuele Pusceddu on the #58 SK Racing Team by Barni Ducati 1199 Panigale. We will look at the remainder of the grid. Sixteenth place, goes to a rider mentioned a little earier. It's Italy's Andrea Mantovani, on the #59 Guandalini Racing Yamaha YZF R1. We have 13 laps scheduled, for this race. 66 kilometers, equaling, 41 and a quarter miles. Statistics alert. Raffaele De Rosa, scored six podium finishes, in eight races, in 2015. That's a 75% success rate! Congratulations, Raffaele De Rosa!
On the front row. Let's review. Marco Faccani, starts third. "Mr. Smiley", Michael Ruben Rinaldi, is second. In pole position, it's Florian Marino. Can Marino convert Yamaha's 40th STK1000 pole, to a win? We'll see, soon. Thomas Toffel, missed the 107% mark in qualifying. But, he will start the race, via special dispensation, from times set, in the morning warmup. The bikes are on their warmup lap. A number of riders in STK1000 are running also, in the Italian Superbike Championship, such as Roberto Tamburini, Ricardo Russo, and Florian Marino. They join the likes of World Superbike rider Matteo Baiocco, and Michele Pirro, a veteran MotoGP test and race rider.
It is interesting, because there isn't really a ladder system, between the classes. A Superstock 1000 rider, could easily, move to World Superbike, as a wildcard rider, later on in the year. With this huge field, the first corner, will be tricky. It does not bode well. Last year, in the STK1000 race, eleven riders retired, and six of them, (a full half dozen), didn't complete lap one. This massive field of motorcycles, is ready, for a start, at Motorland Aragon. European Junior Cup graduate, Emanuele Puscedu has put his bike on the wrong grid place.
OK, folks. We are ready to rumble, in Stock 1000! The race, is on, now! Florian Marino, gets the jump, and pulls away from this massive field. Roberto Tamburini is into second, but, it's happened, just as predicted, and just as in last year's race. A crash! Oh my gosh! Chaps, we're going to have to throw a red flag for this thing. There's a literal motorcycle junkyard down in the first corner! Right now, we are still racing. Will the marshals throw a red flag? Florian Marino leads, and that's interesting, since he was confused, on the grid, and maybe, his motorcycle didn't go into gear or something.
Poor Andrea Tucci! The Italian, may have had his motorcycle, land on top of him! Lets hope, that he is not injured, because a fully fueled motorcycle, with a big engine, like these bikes have, is very heavy. Of the 39 riders who started, just 13 got away cleanly off the starting blocks. This is amazing, and we do not have a red flag. Race direction, and the marshals, must be doing something right. Meanwhile, we've got a heck of a motorcycle race on our hands! The Ducati ridden by Michael Ruben Rinaldi, slams his way past Florian Marino! Leandro Mercado says, "hey, I want a piece of this pie, too!" Mercado, wants the lead, and wants by Rinaldi and Marino.
Marino runs wide, and more drama! OK. Another crash, and definitely a red flag, for this race. The lead rider, (Michael Ruben Rinaldi), puts his hand up, saying, "chaps, slow down. It's too dangerous." Another wreck has occurred in turn 12. So many bikes, on a race track, (39 of them), maybe isn't such a good idea. A boatload of riders went down with their bikes. At least ten motorcycles, fell like dominoes in the first turn. Some riders were so far back, they didn't even finish the first lap, after the crash happened. All they could do, was to pit, when the red flag appeared. Sebastien Suchet and Max Scheib, among them.
Max Scheib has rejoined the race. Andrea Mantovani is in the lane. Marc Moser, pits. We have a red flag. Every rider will coast into the pits. Be careful, Florian. A dozen riders, have crashed. Emanuele Pusceddu and others, have fallen. It is easy for a chain reaction, misjudging your braking point into a tight first corner. A lot of these riders, only race, in Europe. They don't go to the overseas races for World Superbike. Thus, they haven't raced, since last September, and are rusty. Right into the first corner, this wreck, bites nearly everyone. One after the other, motorcycles, and their riders, are falling, like dominoes.
One of the riders to take a hard smash on the pavement was Federico D'Annunzio, on a BMW S1000RR. He was a rider, mentioned, in the opening, before the race began. D'Annunzio, made a horrid error, by applying too much front brake, and being thrown over the handlebars of his BMW. Ouch! That's one of those, sore in the morning, kind of deals. The marshals have a lot of work to do to clean up the track, down in turn one. Everyone comes back into the pits. This race may be null and void, folks. No one, may win it. A few years ago, there was a race, that was called without being finished. That was last year, when Roberto Tamburini, crashed into another rider at Assen in Holland.
They'll start again, from the original grid spots. No spare bikes in Stock 1000. We'll restart, with a reduced field. We shorten this race, to eight laps. It will be a Saturday night shootout. How many guys will make the start? Eight laps, will be 2/3rds race distance. The race distance comes down to keep TV schedules in order. If the race were stopped after 2/3rds distance, then, it would be official, and full points would be rewarded. Another rider to go down in the wreck was South Africa's David McFadden. He is riding the #69 Agro On-Benjan Kawasaki ZX10R. He is on a three rider team, with former MotoGP competitor Bryan Staring, from Australia, and #19 Julian Puffe, from Germany.
This is a new team. David McFadden, is here, with his dad, and has the same time zone in South Africa as in Europe, so he has no jet lag. But, it is game over for McFadden. If you cannot ride the bike back to pit lane, to repair it, you'll either start from pit lane, or, it's game over. Ricardo Russo, made a really bad start, zigzagging across the grid. He'll get a second chance, and progress from fourth place. This quick start procedure, will be a mad dash. This is also in MotoGP racing this year. Luca Vitali from Italy, is running well right now. But, these guys, have to hustle. There's only one minute, to get out of the pits, and get back on track.
If you do not get out, start the race, from pit lane. This most recent accident, is more reminiscent, of a pileup, that happens, in cycling. We should be ready, for the eight lap sprint, to the flag. A lot of these riders, have come up, from the 1000cc championships in their home countries, and have united, in the European Superstock 1000 championship. Watch for Leandro Mercado. He should be fast. The second crash, at turn 12, triggered the red flag. Pit lane is open, to get the bikes back out on track. Let's hope people don't get caught out by the red light. Two things to watch. One is, how many riders leave the pit lane. Secondly, how many will line up at the end of pit lane? Add to that, a third caveat. How many won't be restarting?
If some bikes are too badly damaged, it will be, game over. We are off on the sighting lap. Max Scheib got stopped at the end of pit lane. The green light was still on. But, maybe, he missed the window. We look at the #6 bike ridden by Italian Alessandro Simoneschi. It's a Kawasaki ZX10R. This is a cup as opposed to a championship. But, all the motorcycles in this series, are the same as those run in World Superbike. The bikes reform on the grid, and then, will be sent on a warmup lap, before we restart the race. Marco Facani, on the #5 Ducati 1199 Panigale R is reported to have a problem.
Faccani should be third. But, he's in turn eight. Faccani has stopped, at turn eight, the reverse corkscrew. It's game over, for Faccani! Oh dear! More yellow flags. This race, has gone totally pear shaped, as Kevin Calia has problems. Calia may have had issues, or, another rider. Hard to tell. My apologies. It was #70 Luca Vitali on the BMW S1000RR. The bikes are on the warmup lap. Jeremy Guarnoni, on the Kawasaki is perhaps in trouble. He is on the Pedercini Kawasaki ZX10R along with team mate Christophe Ponsson of France, on motorcycle #23. Bryan Staring, who ran in MotoGP, Leandro Mercado, and Roberto Tamburini, are three former winners of the STK1000 event here at Motorland Aragon, in today's field.
Florian Marino predicted tire wear towards the end of this race. These bikes, produce 200 horsepower. They are on street tires, and hot weather, would have affected the tires. Well, clouds have blanketed Motorland Aragon, and we've deleted five laps off the race distance. Here we go, again. For the second time, we are underway, with the Superstock 1000 bikes! Luca Marino and Kevin Calier are side-by-side. Leandro Mercado, actually takes the lead! We have the two Aruba Jr. Ducati's and the two factory Yamaha's at the front. Nine bikes are out. But, we still have 30 riders in this contest, at the restart.
Jeremy Guarnoni has restarted this race as well. We watch Ricardo Russo pressuring Florian Marino. Leandro Mercado leads. But, it's game over for Jeremy Guarnoni. Right now, we have a top five that is Mercado, Russo, Marino, Rinaldi, Tamburini. Give a call to Italian rider Alessandro Andreozzi. The Team Pedercini Kawasaki rider, has moved up eleven spots from his original qualifying place. Definitely game over for Jeremy Guarnoni. No jumped starts. Thank goodness! Oh dear! More drama. Florian Marino, slowing! The pole man, may be in trouble. It appears that the bike, was not in gear.
Mercado, Russo, and Rinaldi, are the top three. The pole man falls back. Rinaldi is being chased, by Russo. Rinaldi sets fastest lap. Have to check the time. Marino is now tenth. Ricardo Russo forces the issue against Florian Marino. On a production motorcycle, the transmission is a lot more sensitive, and it does operate as fluidly as that of a true racing bike, like a World Superbike or MotoGP bike. Luca Vitali, meanwhile, has dropped, from sixth, to tenth place. Rinaldi goes inside Ricardo Russo.
Russo runs wide at turn 16, and Michael Ruben Rinaldi, sets fastest lap so far at a 1:53.394. Rinaldi and Mercado are dicing for the lead. Rinaldi is on the move, but loses time, coming through the Carlos Checa corner. Roberto Tamburini runs third. Raffaele De Rosa, on the #35 Althea BMW has Ricardo Russo, all over him, like a cheap suit. Russo is fast, and aggressive. Not sure I would want to be in a race with this guy. He's going for it. Mercado, Rinaldi, and Tamburini, are all flying. So, it may be that Ricardo Russo, won't be able to catch the blokes in the top three.
Leandro Mercado has punched in his best lap of the race and he is up by 3/10ths of a second over Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Halfway home. Four laps, complete. A good battle shapes up for eighth spot. It's Andra Mantovani vs. Maximilian Scheib. The bikes plunge through turn ten, and rumbling exhaust note is music to the ears of motorcycle racing fans gathered around Motorland Aragon. The bikes sound fabulous. A mechanical symphony. Wildcard Spanish rider Lucas De Ulacia is down the order, but still running. Game over for Julian Puffe. He's crashed in turn six.
Leandro Mercado is fighting with Michael Ruben Rinaldi, with three laps to go. Good news, for Aprilia fans. Roberto Tamburini, may finish this race, on the podium. We have yet to see Aprilia get on the podium, in World Superbike. But, they could in STK1000. Tamburini has a decent gap to Raffaele De Rosa. The two Ducati's are going to scrap for the win here. Mercado has won three STK1000 races. He won here, at Aragon, when he was champion in 2014. His first race win was here in 2013.
Whoa! Michael Ruben Rinaldi, takes the lead away, from Leandro Mercado! Will Mercado win? He was dropped from the Ducati World Superbike team, in favor of Xavi Fores. Ricardo Russo runs wide in turn seven. Could Raffaele De Rosa on the BMW, pass the Aprilia of Roberto Tamburini? That's not a concern to the Ducati boys. Ricardo Russo will be fifth. Florian Marino will only muster a sixth place on the Yamaha. It's the final lap. Mercado sets fastest lap at 1:54 flat. 1:54.055. But, Mercado wiggles, and Rinaldi, is coming, fast. The second scrap to watch, is for third. Roberto Tamburini vs. Raffaele De Rosa.
Last year in this race, there was a surprise. Lorenzo Savadori had led for the whole race, was passed by Roberto Tamburini. Raffaele De Rosa, slides past Tamburini. BMW takes third. Mercado still leads Rinaldi, as they head for home. Mercado is making his 31st STK1000 start. This is the first race for Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Don't do anything silly, Michael, with four corners left in the race. Oh no! With three corners left, Roberto Tamburini, ditches the bike! This is Leandro Mercado's race. He wins it! Wow. A short race. But, a good race.
Superstock 1000 Race: #36 Leandro Mercado ARG. Ducati 1199 Panigale R
Some well known riders, again, have passed through Superstock 1000. Leandro Mercado is just one. He now has four wins in STK1000. Other names, with four wins, on the stock motorcycles include Davide Giugliano, and Danilo Petrucci (who is in MotoGP). The next race in Superstock 1000, is this weekend, in Holland, at "The Cathedral of Speed", Assen. The greatest motorcycle racing track, in the world. Stay tuned, for a race report, when there is time, to make it available.
No comments:
Post a Comment