I was reading MCN magazine article on the Philip Island WSBK round. it stated that bautista only finished 1.5 seconds faster in his race 1 win than Melandri did in his race 1 win last year. This shows the WSBK field improved but not in leaps and bounds. This makes sense being the Yamaha R1 is in its 4th year of development The Kawasaki ZX10RR 5? years in development so you get less big jumps in performance every year. I was glad to see this as to give hope to the new BMW S1000RR catching up in Horsepower output/ Trap speeds. As for Camier and the Honda CBR1000RR is it THE slowest WSBK behind the BMW S1000RR? I have yet to look up but its SLOW . Camier put HONDA on the Spot saying ….. WE ARE HONDA HRC ! WE SHOULDBE ABLE TO BUILD A FAST ,COMPETITIVE WSBK1 BUT WE WILL KEEP TRYING . Camier is a fast consistent seasoned rider who is great at development so if anyone can make the CBR1000RR a competitive bike , he can. but being the CBR1000RR was 10KPH SLOWER than the MV F4RC they have a LONG way to go lol

May I ask why you always type these long stories in one go?

Why dont you build the story up in levels.

Just press enter button every now and then. So hard to read your comments.

*Anyway I cannot remember the 2018 race. Nor am I willing to rewatch it for a single comment. But Bautita got pushed wide by Rea in race 1 and lost some time.

So If the V4 of Bautista is only 1.5 seconds faster than last years race.
Does that mean the Kawakwakki of Rea became slower?!?!. Doesnt make any sense though.

1.5 seconds is EONS in race distance.

With the greatest respect, the comparison's irrelevant because of variables with track conditions, off-shore winds, and track temperature.

What is relevant is that Bautista was 17 to 18 seconds ahead of 2nd place in this year's race.

Silent 1.5 seconds difference over an entire race distance is not enormous/Eons ect??? NIGEL 17-18 seconds between 1st and 2nd???? I have to watch race again . I remember 3 then up to 4 seconds tey skipped a few laps then last 2 laps then checkered flag . 17-18 seconds I do not recall? And melandri was nowhere near 17 seconds ahead of 2nd place more like 3 . So lat years field was faster than this years field ? Did MSN mean 15 seconds off of last years win?

It is if you are the bike behind at the end.......

With apologies, I was a few seconds out:

Courtesy of: https://www.crash.net/

Full race one results for the opening round of the 2019 World Superbike championship at Phillip Island, Australia.

1. Alvaro Bautista ESP Aruba.it Racing – Ducati 22 laps

2. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team +14.983s

3. Marco Melandri ITA GRT Yamaha +16.934s


Full race two results for the opening round of the 2019 World Superbike championship at Phillip Island, Australia.

1. Alvaro Bautista ESP Aruba.it Racing – Ducati 22 laps

2. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team +12.195s

3. Leon Haslam GBR Kawasaki Racing Team +12.454s

At the risk of making this longer than needed

Race 1 2018 Temp 20°c 79%RH, track temp 31°c, race time 33'40.354
Race 2 2018 Temp 20°c 56%RH, track temp 29°c, race time 34'42.633

Race 1 2019 Temp 21°c 67%RH, track temp 41°c, race time 33'38.901
Race 2 2019 Temp 28°c 47%RH, track temp 45°c, race time 33'38.114


Race 1 2018 1st 33'40.354, 2nd +00:01.180, 3rd +00:09.265, 4th +00:09.821, 5th +00:13.896
Race 2 2018 1st 34'42.633, 2nd +00:00.021, 3rd +00:00.304, 4th +00:01.488, 5th +00:02.474

Race 1 2019 1st 33'38.901, 2nd +00:14.983, 3rd +00:16.934, 4th +00:16.984, 5th +00:19.179
Race 2 2019 1st 33'38.114, 2nd +00:12.195, 3rd +00:12.454, 4th +00:16.574, 5th +00:16.859



J Rea, Race 1 2018 33:54.250 (5th) Sykes was 2nd 33:41.534
J Rea, Race 2 2018 34:42.654 (2nd)
J Rea, Race 1 2019 33:53.884 (2nd)
J Rea, Race 2 2019 33:50.309 (2nd)

I'm not sure you can really compare as much as wind conditions is not listed and the overall race times are affected by overtakes, blocking etc

Fastest laps in 2018 were around 1'30.971 & 1'30.848
Fastest laps in 2018 were around 1'30.884 & 1'30.573

Race 1 in 2019 was 'only' 1.5 seconds quicker than race 1 in 2018. You need to watch both to see if conditions and racecraft affected the times much.

Jesus. Nice research. I would have said eff it.

I did and then thought eff it and dug out the numbers. Sometimes I just can't help myself.