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World Superbike
WSBK: Top Ten Riders Of 2011
#1 is a no-brainer but ranking #2-10 is no easy task following the '11 Superbike World Championship.
(Photo: Althea Racing)
10. Ayrton Badovini
Young Badovini fell just short of landing on the podium in his rookie season but he's clearly on the rise. The Italian was often the fastest BMW pilot despite the vastly more experienced Superbike stars also straddling the fast but finicky S 1000 RR. Badovini was able to shine when the others were stymied thanks to an unwavering belief in the bike's electronics, something Leon Haslam, Troy Corser, and James Toseland had difficulty wrapping their minds around. Ultimately, Badovini got the edge over (new teammate) Michel Fabrizio and (Crescent Suzuki-bound) Leon Camier -- who both scored podiums in '11 -- for this spot due to his potential and relative performance.
9. Nori Haga
Haga hasn't been the same and likely never will fully recover after Ben Spies crushed his spirit and edged him for the '09 title in what was about as perfect a season that Haga could have hoped for. The Japanese pilot rarely flashed his old form on the Aprilia RSV4 but did still manage to have enough fire to claim four podiums and threaten for wins.
8. Chaz Davies
Ex-AMAer Davies stepped up big time with his dominant World Supersport Championship season. Now he'll look to make instant impact in World Superbike the way former WSS aces Cal Crutchlow and Eugene Laverty did. His early testing form shows real promise.
7. Tom Sykes
The world is finally coming around to the fact that Sykes is an underrated talent. He was almost one-and-done in World Superbike after being unable to match the rookie heroics of former teammate Spies, but in hindsight, no one else in the paddock would have either. Sykes scored Kawasaki's first win with the current generation ZX-10R this past season and that was enough for Kawasaki to do an about face and invite Sykes back to their revamped '12 effort after earlier informing him his services would not be required.
6. Eugene Laverty
6th may be a little low for the up-and-coming Laverty who scored a pair of rookie wins with a Monza double and set the pace at the most recent '12 test session as he showed an immediate affinity for the works Aprilia. Laverty took fourth in the championship chase for the lame-duck Yamaha effort but was largely overshadowed by teammate Marco Melandri.
Young Badovini fell just short of landing on the podium in his rookie season but he's clearly on the rise. The Italian was often the fastest BMW pilot despite the vastly more experienced Superbike stars also straddling the fast but finicky S 1000 RR. Badovini was able to shine when the others were stymied thanks to an unwavering belief in the bike's electronics, something Leon Haslam, Troy Corser, and James Toseland had difficulty wrapping their minds around. Ultimately, Badovini got the edge over (new teammate) Michel Fabrizio and (Crescent Suzuki-bound) Leon Camier -- who both scored podiums in '11 -- for this spot due to his potential and relative performance.
9. Nori Haga
Haga hasn't been the same and likely never will fully recover after Ben Spies crushed his spirit and edged him for the '09 title in what was about as perfect a season that Haga could have hoped for. The Japanese pilot rarely flashed his old form on the Aprilia RSV4 but did still manage to have enough fire to claim four podiums and threaten for wins.
8. Chaz Davies
Ex-AMAer Davies stepped up big time with his dominant World Supersport Championship season. Now he'll look to make instant impact in World Superbike the way former WSS aces Cal Crutchlow and Eugene Laverty did. His early testing form shows real promise.
7. Tom Sykes
The world is finally coming around to the fact that Sykes is an underrated talent. He was almost one-and-done in World Superbike after being unable to match the rookie heroics of former teammate Spies, but in hindsight, no one else in the paddock would have either. Sykes scored Kawasaki's first win with the current generation ZX-10R this past season and that was enough for Kawasaki to do an about face and invite Sykes back to their revamped '12 effort after earlier informing him his services would not be required.
6. Eugene Laverty
6th may be a little low for the up-and-coming Laverty who scored a pair of rookie wins with a Monza double and set the pace at the most recent '12 test session as he showed an immediate affinity for the works Aprilia. Laverty took fourth in the championship chase for the lame-duck Yamaha effort but was largely overshadowed by teammate Marco Melandri.
WSBK: Monza Race 0513
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