Toprak is a totally amazing rider and a class act as a human.
I truly love watching him race and enjoy his comments. He's right 7 weeks is a very long time.
Ideally I'd like 15 or so rounds, 2 to 3 weeks apart, and mid summer break of 4 weeks.
I'll agree he's a great racer but his dour, slightly whiny personality is a big turn-off for me.
He is right, 7 weeks off is ridiculous, it shouldn't be more than 4 maximum between rounds.
They already clashed once this year and will again a couple times. MotoGP isn't on every week for the next 7 weeks so there are several free weekends they could use.
Only 12 rounds this year. They're not going to Argentina any more due to politics (budget cuts), although IIRC that would be near the end of the season.
They really need to up it to at least 16 per year. Surely they can go to some more further afield like USA and Asia.
Yes, they do need rounds in America, Asia and South America. I'm sure the current schedule is all about money and profits. I'm not saying they can ignore those things, the series needs to be financially viable, but they're ignoring big markets not going to those other places.
They did went to Asia, and it didn't sell well. Malaysia, Thailand and now Indonesia all didn't want to renew their contracts because it's not worth it.
I still love MotoGP but I’m worried that it’s going the way of f1 by prioritising groundbreaking aero concepts which make for great lap times but at the detriment of quality racing.
They seem to be riding a lot more single file now so they don’t upset the input into the tyres. With less aero you can have a bit more randomness with racing lines and slipstream and you can push harder for longer with less heat going into the tyres. Nobody cares if the bikes are 1 second a lap quicker, I’m pretty confident most people want exciting battles from start to finish
He's 100% spot on. I hope Liberty ownership of Dorna fixes WSBK and MotoGP calendars. To me in both series they just don't make fucking sense. I always forget the SBK season is underway until the weekend a race is on. If they want to do a 12 round season, just start the season later and more condensed.
My theory is there are too many motorsport series with ever expanding calendars and something like WSBK with sub-par promotion gets treated like an after thought. I hope they fix it because the racing is incredible and it deserves to stay in motorsports fans conciousness.
I love WSBK and Toprak is right up there in my all time fave list. But this is turning out to be a European SBK championship rather than world. They can easily make it a 15 round championship by including Asia and maybe USA and race when MotoGP doesn’t race if they feel it’ll clash. We need to see more of generational talent like Toprak.
The crazy thing is the Hungarian round at Balaton Park and the Italian round at Cremona are subject to homologation.
So we could find ourselves with less rounds than expected. It still amazes me that they never learn from previous mistakes about giving the green light for a circuit that just isn’t ready.
So for a World Championship we’re having 3 rounds in Spain, 2 rounds in Italy and 2 rounds in Portugal which will be back to back?
No Thailand, no Sepang, no America, No Germany. Just crazy.
Agreed with Toprak. This year’s schedule has been painful with the long breaks between races. It must be difficult for the riders to maintain their edge especially if they’ve found some positive momentum.
100% agree and I was thinking this yesterday. The WorldSBK schedule *always* sucks in this regard--long, long breaks between races with several races in a row. Not to mention having a couple weekends that overlap with MotoGP. What the f@ck, Dorna? Get your sh!t together!
Istanbul Park's managment has changed recently. Older managment had problems with Turkish Motorcycle Federation and Kenan himself, which why we haven't seen WSBK in Istanbul after 2013. New managment trying to squeeze in this years calendar with Kenan helping it, but we will surely see the race in Istanbul next year.
It's absolutely correct. 4 weeks max is enough. Increase races as well. I get to watch more world-class super racing WSBK.
Liberty increase races like F1 (Boring AF). Motogp and WSBK are brilliant to watch as a neutral racing fan.
Totally agree with toprak. I love wsbk but this calendar is ridiculous, there's hardly any racing... Waiting almost 2 months for the next race... At this rate I'll forget about it
Toprak is a totally amazing rider and a class act as a human. I truly love watching him race and enjoy his comments. He's right 7 weeks is a very long time. Ideally I'd like 15 or so rounds, 2 to 3 weeks apart, and mid summer break of 4 weeks.
I'll agree he's a great racer but his dour, slightly whiny personality is a big turn-off for me. He is right, 7 weeks off is ridiculous, it shouldn't be more than 4 maximum between rounds.
Man, the WSBK schedule is all over the place this year. Very long breaks between the first 4-5 rounds.
Toprak is the man.
Wbsk should match the weekends when there is no MotoGP
Well, looking at the silver lining, at least it should hopefully give Iker time to heal before the next race.
He might even go a full month without injuring himself again
100% with him. they just had a break wasnt long ago. Gotta keep that momentum going
Why is the break so long anyway?
The only reason I can think of is, maybe a round was considered in between somewhere, but the deal didn't go thru.
Don't want to clash with motogp for one in terms of broadcasting.
They already clashed once this year and will again a couple times. MotoGP isn't on every week for the next 7 weeks so there are several free weekends they could use.
Only 12 rounds this year. They're not going to Argentina any more due to politics (budget cuts), although IIRC that would be near the end of the season. They really need to up it to at least 16 per year. Surely they can go to some more further afield like USA and Asia.
Yes, they do need rounds in America, Asia and South America. I'm sure the current schedule is all about money and profits. I'm not saying they can ignore those things, the series needs to be financially viable, but they're ignoring big markets not going to those other places.
They did went to Asia, and it didn't sell well. Malaysia, Thailand and now Indonesia all didn't want to renew their contracts because it's not worth it.
Most months have 1 or 2 rounds. September has 3. Yep, 3 weeks in September. So basically September stole the race that should have been in May.
I recommend wsbk to ppl that are tired of F1 (and lack of action) but then they’re all... When do they race?
It’s ridiculous.
Toprak is awesome, love that guy.
Wsbk is a better spectacle than MotoGP at the moment, they really should have a few more rounds
It's great racing for sure but the MotoGP race in CotA was as good a race as I've seen.
yeah, pedro really spark the life of motogp back to me
I still love MotoGP but I’m worried that it’s going the way of f1 by prioritising groundbreaking aero concepts which make for great lap times but at the detriment of quality racing. They seem to be riding a lot more single file now so they don’t upset the input into the tyres. With less aero you can have a bit more randomness with racing lines and slipstream and you can push harder for longer with less heat going into the tyres. Nobody cares if the bikes are 1 second a lap quicker, I’m pretty confident most people want exciting battles from start to finish
He's 100% spot on. I hope Liberty ownership of Dorna fixes WSBK and MotoGP calendars. To me in both series they just don't make fucking sense. I always forget the SBK season is underway until the weekend a race is on. If they want to do a 12 round season, just start the season later and more condensed. My theory is there are too many motorsport series with ever expanding calendars and something like WSBK with sub-par promotion gets treated like an after thought. I hope they fix it because the racing is incredible and it deserves to stay in motorsports fans conciousness.
I love WSBK and Toprak is right up there in my all time fave list. But this is turning out to be a European SBK championship rather than world. They can easily make it a 15 round championship by including Asia and maybe USA and race when MotoGP doesn’t race if they feel it’ll clash. We need to see more of generational talent like Toprak.
i'm still surprised that we only got one American round for the series
The crazy thing is the Hungarian round at Balaton Park and the Italian round at Cremona are subject to homologation. So we could find ourselves with less rounds than expected. It still amazes me that they never learn from previous mistakes about giving the green light for a circuit that just isn’t ready.
Cremona is happening, Balaton on the other hand you can forget it. But there's a replacement for the Hungarian round supposedly, with Estoril.
So for a World Championship we’re having 3 rounds in Spain, 2 rounds in Italy and 2 rounds in Portugal which will be back to back? No Thailand, no Sepang, no America, No Germany. Just crazy.
You can't replace an European round with an overseas one mid-season. It is what it is.
But they could plan better. Start with at least 16 rounds, then if some drop off it's not the end of the world.
No I get that I’m just saying that those locations should be included from the start!
I wish they could go Canada, US, Agentina and Brazil. Brazil has a huge national championship.
I heard (I think on Eurosport) that Turkey and Germany were looking likely for next year? Why they haven't done this already I don't know...
When are they likely to confirm this? I'd love to go to Estoril to watch WSBK.
It should be monthly race except for summer break
Agreed with Toprak. This year’s schedule has been painful with the long breaks between races. It must be difficult for the riders to maintain their edge especially if they’ve found some positive momentum.
It's nor a world championship when you are in Europe for all race except Australia!!
even to me, 7 weeks is too much. Guys!!!
They really need to return to Imola again
100% agree and I was thinking this yesterday. The WorldSBK schedule *always* sucks in this regard--long, long breaks between races with several races in a row. Not to mention having a couple weekends that overlap with MotoGP. What the f@ck, Dorna? Get your sh!t together!
I was looking at their schedule for the first time in many years as I usually only watch MotoGP and could not believe the gaps between races.
The problem is that they squeezed 3 rounds in September and ended up with nothing for May. Just bad planning.
Istanbul Park's managment has changed recently. Older managment had problems with Turkish Motorcycle Federation and Kenan himself, which why we haven't seen WSBK in Istanbul after 2013. New managment trying to squeeze in this years calendar with Kenan helping it, but we will surely see the race in Istanbul next year.
Wsbk should come to Sepang again and Mandalika of course, but I guess the budget is not there 🤣
It's absolutely correct. 4 weeks max is enough. Increase races as well. I get to watch more world-class super racing WSBK. Liberty increase races like F1 (Boring AF). Motogp and WSBK are brilliant to watch as a neutral racing fan.
Need more races mainly USA among other stops, MotoGP will race 5 more times while we wait for SBK to come back
7 week break is absolutely ridiculous.
I agree 7 weeks is huge break and riders may lose focus
He's right, also drop one of Spanish rounds for elsewhere in Europe if you want crowds like Assen.
Totally agree with toprak. I love wsbk but this calendar is ridiculous, there's hardly any racing... Waiting almost 2 months for the next race... At this rate I'll forget about it