BSB to WSB: A leap too far?
Added on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
BSB to WSB: A leap too far?
Now that the superbike season, both for the British and World superbike riders, has drawn to a close, the time comes for riders to finalise their rider line-ups for 2010.
World Superbikes had a strong British contingent in 2009, after three riders, 2008 BSB champion Shane Byrne, Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes, made what many regard to be the natural step up from British Superbikes to the world championship. They joined Jonathan Rea, who jumped up from World Supersport into WSB, whilst Cal Crutchlow went from BSB to WSS.
Whilst Rea has had an outstanding end to the season, with Crutchlow demonstrating superb form throughout on the Yamaha R6, clinching the World Supersport championship, it has been another season of relative struggle for the BSB graduates. Despite many fans on these shores having high hopes for the trio, many have been left with the feeling that they have struggled to demonstrate what many know they are capable of.
Few would have argued that we could expect three championship contenders, but could we have expected more. After all, in the past, we have seen BSB riders put in podium performances in wildcard rides whilst on BSB spec machines – bikes which should, on paper at least, be slower than their BSB counterparts. Last year saw Tom Sykes and Cal Crutchlow both secure 2nd place finishes at Donington, with Sykes also on course for a podium as a wildcard at Brands Hatch before a mechanical failure, in addition to Haslam finishing third at Portimao.
Leon Haslam, a rider with previous WSB experience, has been the stand-out performer of the three. Despite riding on the satellite Stiggy Honda, a team with its share of problems behind the scenes, he has managed to two second and two third place finishes, one of which coming in the opening round in Australia, to stand sixth in the championship. He has a factory Suzuki under him next season, which also bodes well.
Tom Sykes on the other hand, has arguably had the most disappointing time. Hopes were high for the Yorkshireman after he secured the best ride out of the three, signing to be Ben Spies’ teammate at the factory Yamaha team.
The promise failed to translate into results however. Of the Brits who have been entered into every round, Sykes is the only one not to have stood on the podium, with a fourth at Assen his best result. It’s that lack of results that has seen him lose his ride to Crutchlow for 2010.
“Shakey” Byrne has had a more difficult time of it. After signing with the Sterilgarda Ducati team, the then-defending BSB champion lost his teammate before his own 1199R had even been fired up for the first time. A second in San Marino was the clear highlight, as were two fourths at Donington but five retirements, three to accidents, tell their own story.
The problems aren’t unique to this crop of BSB graduates either, given that 2006 and 2007 BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari has also failed to make an impact in WSB and is currently looking for a ride in 2010 after being cut by Ten Kate Honda.
Some will of course point to a lack of track knowledge as a factor behind the relatively disappointing results, although it doesn’t appear to have been a factor for MotoGP-bound Ben Spies. It also hasn’t been a major factor for Crutchlow who is also seeing many of these circuits for the first time, just in a support series.
Others will point the finger at travel, a factor that can have adverse effects on all sportsmen, let alone bike riders for whom the longest journey last season may have been the round in Knockhill.
We could go on to list a host of reasons; language barriers, the strength of the competition, the manner in which riders go from top BSB teams to satellite WSB teams, and still not come up with a sole factor.
Let’s not get all doom and gloom however. Britain has a record in World Superbikes that is only bettered by the Americans. Carl Fogarty has four championships, more than anybody else, Neil Hodgson has one and James Toseland is likely to be the bookies favourite to add to his two championships when he returns to the championship next season.
What can be said however is that the performances of Crutchlow and Rea demonstrate that World Supersport is an ideal place for riders to serve their apprenticeship. Perhaps that’s the message to WSB-bound Leon Camier?
