WSB on the decline

[Leadfoot]

Had a great weekend at Brands (despite getting a soaking on Sat - ride home was a real laugh....not), but afterwards it occured to me that without the BSB entries the whole affair would have been a bit of a damp squib.
Compare the current situation with that of a few years ago when all the Jap manufacturers were there along with ducati, and the series was full of big name riders & you can't help but wonder what the future holds for the championship.
The fall out between Flamini & the manufactures that's been reported might be the death of it all.

[bikerkeith]

Had similar thoughts when I was riding home yesterday. It was more like a BSB round with some international guests, not WSB with some British wildcards. Future for WSB is looking very poor, now that the Flammini's have come out with their control tyre idea and the manufacturers have indicated their intentions of not returning. Even Ducati have said its stupid.
Not sure if I'll be going next year.

[rossncath]

Its not world superbikes any more its the Ducati cup... can't remember the last time i watched it.
the wife and i just stick to MOTO GP......MUCH BETTER!!

[FourWheelDrift]

rossncath said:

Its not world superbikes any more its the Ducati cup... can't remember the last time i watched it. the wife and i just stick to MOTO GP......MUCH BETTER!!

You watch the Honda cup instead then?

[rossncath]

VERY GOOD... i know whaty your saying but it just doesnt seem the same any more what with less manufacturers in it and not so many of the big names. dont get me wrong there is still some great riders in there but that exitement of the past few years has just gone!.

[FourWheelDrift]

Yep, I think it's all to do with complacency, WSB has had the success and have been dining off it since the Foggy years but if WSB does get a bit "quite" next year the Flamini's will soon sort things out to get the action back, they have started by trying to encourage more variety by boosting the restrictors on the 1000cc machines, although alienating the manufacturers by talking about a control tyre. But if they can be shown how it can give a level playing field for all manufacturers I'm sure they will come back, even bringing others with them.

I think it will get back to where it should be as it's still the series that sells bikes, until Honda sells a RCV211 for the road that is

[tl1000gussie]

I think it will be good to have a single tyre for WSB, and to allow the full power 1000cc 4cyl bikes in, the idea of this is to make it cheaper for manufacturers to run in WSB and GP.

They need more teams out there, apparantly Honda dont want to put new blade in, due to GP commitments, but an AMA team want to run the blade it WSB.

Suzuki (hooray) this year for 1 rider have a bigger budget than anyone, £10 million. FPR have this for two riders, and ducatis budget was £6 million and they have to pay for Xaus.

They should in my opinion spend more on WSB as it sells bikes, I dont know anyone with a GP bike like rossi's, but loads with a GSXR1000.

Kawasaki I think will put eric bostrom out on the new ZX10r, a little new blood will spice things up, hopefully.

>> Edited by tl1000gussie on Tuesday 29th July 00:16

[A J]

I agree that we should welcome the engine mods on the 4 cylinder machines, not really sure on the controlled tyres though. I think one make race series incl. tyre are great for racers and spectators, level playing fields etc. Is controlling tyres one step closer to controlling / restricting the series. They have to give the teams the choice to choose which tyres best suit the individual bikes and set ups.

I know last yr Bostrum and Baylis / Xaus ran different tyres but how will the other Makes get on?

I for one would like WSB to stay. For me up to last yr it has been far better than GPs.

>> Edited by A J on Tuesday 29th July 12:25