2008 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive on 2040-motos

Moto blog

WSBK 2013: Portimao Race Report

Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty split a pair of victories at Portugal’s Portimao circuit while Sylvain Guintoli took advantage of some misfortune to his championship rivals to increase his lead in the 2013 World Superbike Championship standings. Guintoli has been leading or sharing the lead in the championship since winning the first race of Round 1 in Australia, but amazingly continues to lead despite having just that single victory after six rounds. The Aprilia rider has accomplished this through his consistency (Guintoli leads all racers with nine podium finishes in 12 races) and ability to finish each race (he’s the only rider in the top seven without a DNF).

Old boys up front and where are the new 600 Gixers?

As I’ve been gagging for the new race season to kick off so it was almost a pleasure getting up at stupid 0 clock to watch the World Superbike Championship  opener at Phillip Island last weekend. I have to say Messrs Burnicle and Whitham were on form although I was disappointed there were none of the usual verbal attacks on each other that always add to the entertainment.    I’m sure they will put things right soon but the world superbike regulars must have been disheartened that Moto GP veterans nailed five of the six available rostrum slots.

Oh hi there Mobil!

There was a time when Grand Prix racing was a lucrative affair, with the bikes and their riders resembling the fag packets that sponsored them. However, two unfortunate and costly blows hit the paddock; the banning of tobacco advertising in 2005 followed by the global economic crisis. The off-shoot saw grid numbers drastically dwindle with staple teams, like Kenny Roberts' outfit, and manufacturers, Kawasaki and Suzuki, succumbing to the events and disappearing.