Vo Knows

Don’t get me wrong, MotoGP is still the coolest series in the world. And like our Managing Editor Bart Madson pointed out, when you have Valentino Rossi you automatically have the world’s best rider – not to mention Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden, etc. Amazing machines, awesome looks, crazy technology, but it’s turning into Formula 1 – there’s just not enough scrapping for position. We pretty well know what four or five riders will be miles ahead of the rest, with some of them passing a few times. But so much comes down to the motorcycle these days.

Now World Superbike, there’s the series to watch!

While it can argued the same four-five riders will run at the front in that series, those four will be trading positions more per lap than most GP riders will in an entire race. Not to mention the talent runs much deeper, with seven – yes, seven! –manufacturers being represented on a full factory or factory supported level this year. And while the proven winners will be battling tooth-and-nail at the front, those new manufacturers will have plenty to prove all the way down through the field. And they have some big-name riders: Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus (when he can keep it on two wheels) on BMWs, Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano on Aprilias, etc.

If my predictions are right, World Superbike is going to look more like World Supersport this year, and that would be utterly amazing. I’ll be glued to my seat for every race cheering on our own Texas Kid Ben Spies. Too bad SPEED is only broadcasting one of the two races this Sunday, with the second not on until Tuesday. Whoever had that idea should be publicly stoned.