World Superbike

American John Hopkins’ debut on the Stiggy Racing Honda CBR1000RR didn’t go as planned, with rain affecting the test and setting back his progress in these early stages of his new SBK career. With just one day at Almeria in Spain, Hopper will now have to line up on the grid this weekend and hope that things fall into place, because a good start to the season for him will be vital for his confidence.

Following years in grand prix racing it must be relieving for a rider like Hopper to realise that he now has equipment capable of running up front, with his new teammate Leon Haslam already scoring a podium on debut at Phillip Island’s opening round just one month ago.

I world Supersport this weekend we will see Andrew Pitt and Kenan Sofuoglu use the 2009 model Honda CBR600RR for the first time with Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, although it won’t be the ABS braking version. The engine is slightly different which should give them a touch more power, which might be an answer for Eugene Laverty’s Parkalgar Honda that won in Qatar.

MotoGP
We spoke yesterday of James Toselands’ horrendous start to the 2009 season, and we’ve all seen the pictures in AMCN of him flying through the air at the Sepang test in Malaysia earlier this year. Check out this YouTube video of his most recent highside on the weekend, which took place right near where Mick Doohan’s career ended in the gravel traps of Jerez. Who said that traction control makes it impossible to highside these days?

Red Bull Rookies
The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup riders wrapped up their second round of testing overnight, with the three young Aussies in the field putting in a solid performance once again, although they are going to have to rise to challenge the European riders in their own backyard.

If any young riders are on track to emulate Casey Stoner it is these three, with Josh Hook, Arthur Sissis, and Dylan Mavin all looking to impress and get an opportunity to continue on in Europe after they finish their Rookies career.

The test over the last couple of days in Jerez, Spain, saw Hook 14th fastest, while Mavin was 20th and Sissis was 22nd. The thing to take note of is that Sissis is just 13 years old and hasn’t actually raced in Junior road racing in Australia. He has come from dirt track and speedway, so his progress his amazing at this rate.

Australian Superbike
Meetings in Tasmania this weekend are set to give us more of an indication if Calder Park’s ASBK round has been cancelled or not, and the pluses and minuses are difficult to exactly pin point out of Oran Park, NSW, and Barbagallo, WA.

While the long haul over to WA makes the Barbagallo round a massive commitment for competitors and teams alike, Oran Park hasn’t run an ASBK round since 2001 and is in its final stages of use as it will be bulldozed down in favour of a housing estate next year.

Like what the V8 Supercars did last year, a fitting ASBK finale in the circuit’s last full year of operation would be a fitting tribute for motorcycle racing at the historic venue. We’ll just have to wait and see what is decided at this point, although the reaction will be just as interesting.

Teams are testing in Tasmania today, so check Racing Insider tomorrow for the full run down.

American Superbike
American websites are reporting that Mat Mladin’s current AMA Superbike is for sale for $US59,000 ($AUD113,000) following the Road Atlanta round to be held this weekend. Mladin has won all three races so far this year, but has had to use the 2008 model Suzuki GSX-R1000 due to the late arrival of the production 2009 models.

Mladin is set to ride the ’08 model one last time, and then you could find yourself riding away on the exact bike following the races. The AMA’s new rules are obviously the reason for this, because the bikes are much more standard than in previous years.

Mladin has been vocal about his dissatisfaction of not riding full-spec Superbikes as in years past as this year’s rules morph them into a half Superstock, half Superbike special.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki selling off one of their bikes shows just how standard they really are because there would have been no hope of riding one of Mladin’s factory Superbikes away in years past.

On the other hand, it is 1 April today, so maybe it’s all just a big joke! Who knows?

Australian Motocross
Speaking to Jay Marmont for our Outdoor Defender Moto Talk yesterday gave us a pretty good indication of who he thinks will be is main competition this year when defending his MX Nationals title, and the surprise name that he listed apart from Andrew McFarlane, Craig Anderson and Cheyne Boyd was that of Todd Waters.

Waters has joined the Woodstock Honda team this year and has been fast in the pre-season races, so for the defending champion to acknowledge his speed in his rookie Pro Open campaign is a great achievement before they even hit the gates. This year will simply be too close to call at this stage.

Here are details for the round this weekend for those who are interested in checking it out:

Albury Wodonga Motorcycle Club Diamond Park Lincoln Causeway Wodonga VIC

Admission
Saturday: $10 per car. Gates open from 12pm – proceeds to help support those in motorcycle sport affected by Victoria’s recent bushfires.
Sunday: Gates open from 7am. Adult $30; Family (Two adults, two kids) $70; Kids (5-15 years) $15.