Features 3 Feb 2017

Deadline

Recalling this week in road racing, presented by Alpinestars.

How good was this week in regards to racing? With MotoGP testing underway in Malaysia and Phillip Island hosting the official Australian Superbike test on Monday, it was a case of all systems go from our perspective.

Beginning with MotoGP, retired dual world champion Casey Stoner sent the internet into overdrive with his spectacular pace on board the Desmosedici GP17, setting the fastest lap of all on Monday and then eventually ending the test seventh overall after sitting out day two.

Stoner’s capabilities to come from the sidelines with minimal riding – on any form of motorbike, let alone MotoGP – and essentially match the sport’s current best is mind-blowing. No matter what way you look at it, it’s incredible of him to lap within a few tenths of the best time.

And not only that, but the man pegged to deliver Ducati its first premier class crown since Stoner won it in 2007, Jorge Lorenzo, was unable to go as quick as Casey. Sure, he’s new to the bike, but he won the last time out that they lined up in Valencia! That type of comparison really puts things into perspective, since the Aussie hasn’t raced in four full seasons.

Source: Supplied.

Many are asking the question, as the do, why doesn’t Stoner keep racing? As he said at Sepang, he didn’t retire because he wasn’t fast enough – he retired for his own reasons and seems more than content with his current situation and role as Ducati test rider. He probably gets a real buzz, doing what he’s doing when he does show up.

Aside from that, as he was at the Valencia test to end last year, Maverick Viñales was the pace-setter when all was said and done, boding well for a real title challenge in 2017 with Movistar Yamaha. But the overriding factor was that there’s 15 riders who managed to lap within a second of his laptime and that shows just how hard-fought this year will be.

And Jack Miller was right there, next in line at 16th on Wednesday, 1.071s from Viñales. He was understandably happy after finding increased confidence in the front-end of his Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda RC213V on day three and that could very much be the turning-point in his premier class career.

On to ASBK testing at Phillip Island and it too was especially entertaining. With Motorcycling Australia (MA) investing in timing at these official tests these days, it really adds to what would otherwise be a pretty low-key affair and we enjoy tracking the progress of the front guys.

Rain put a dampener on the morning sessions, but it thankfully cleared up for the final two sessions and Yamaha privateer Michael Blair wound up quickest. It’s a great storyline and really impressive to see from one of the sport’s young talents and we hope he can carry that type of form into the opener.

Yamaha was the talk of the test with Blair, Yamaha Racing Team’s Glenn Allerton, JD Racing Yamaha’s Daniel Falzon and YRT’s Wayne Maxwell filling the top four placings on the charts, however the Hondas of reigning champion Troy Herfoss and a returning Bryan Staring were also there in fifth and seventh.

Image: Keith Muir.

Splitting them and possibly the biggest surprise of all – for some – was newly-crowned Australasian Superbike Champion Robbie Bugden on his Kawasaki BCperformance ZX-10R. The experienced Queenslander was on the pace in sixth and, given the confidence he has and competitiveness of the Kawi, we’re tipping him to be a factor at more than a few rounds in 2017.

All seven of those guys mentioned were within a second of eachother and behind them further down the order came some additional very capable youngsters on good machinery in the field – the highly-rated rookies of Callum Spriggs, Troy Guenther and Kyle Buckley. Watch them as they get more laps to their credit.

Anyway, it’s all shaping up nicely both here nationally and abroad, so we’re counting down the days for Phillip Island’s World Superbike and ASBK double-header on 24-26 February. It’s going to be massive! And one more thing, Supersport 300 riders were lucky enough to share the track with Troy Bayliss as he guided son Oli around during the test, which was mega in itself.

That’s it from me for this week, thanks for stopping by as usual! Make sure you check out all of CycleOnline.com.au’s social networking channels and be sure to Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for even more behind the scenes insights. Just search CycleOnline.

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