Phillip Island is an anomalous race track in terms of results and no predictor of a season’s form. It’s an odd place that allows the weaknesses of bikes to disappear and the strength of riders to come to the fore, and this weekend’s World Superbike outing was no exception with the centuries-old Honda Fireblade on the podium twice ahead of newer and more powerful opposition.
In years past, Jonathan Rea had to ride the cock off his CBR1000RR in order to get a whiff of the podium. Now, with young gun Michael Van Der Mark and Nicky Hayden, the Ten Kate-run outfit have youth and experience but a bike still long-in-the-tooth. So what went on Down Under?
The new-for-last-year technical regulations lessened Honda’s disadvantages with a lower level of electronics bringing them back into the game. The top speed charts showed that Van Der Mark at least was no slouch but slipstreaming on the Gardner Straight will mask whether the Blade has the legs to stay with the Kawasakis - it would seem the Ducati hasn’t. Thailand’s long straights will be more of an indicator as to the form.
Phillip Island is a rider’s track. And Michael Van Der Mark showed he is not shy, barging the series’ established stars - current and former world champions included - aside in his attempt to get to the front. Two podiums later, he is a star of the show.
Nicky Hayden made his debut and took fourth in race two, only losing out on the podium to a move by Davide Giugliano who is also part of the not-shy brigade. But is the Phillip Island factor at play here?
Don’t forget that Eugene Laverty won on the Suzuki in Australia a couple of years ago and then didn’t trouble the podium again as he was comprehensively outgunned for the rest of the season. Ten Kate’s factory ties will ensure they put out the best Fireblade available in the world. Is it good enough to cope at the power tracks?
Yes, it is. And so are the riders. Van Der Mark is in his second season, so has experience and the data he didn’t have last year. Nicky Hayden is Nicky Hayden. The bike, although originally designed before all this was fields, is at the top of its particular game.
OK, so it’s not going to challenge the Kawasaki at every track but it looks like the Ducati is again lacking top end. The Yamaha is also challenged when the 200mph marker appears but makes up for it on corner speed. So, if the Honda can be pretty good in all areas, it doesnt’t need to excel in any. Setup is always a compromise…
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