World SBK | ROUND 11 | Pirelli Portuguese Round | 29 SEP - 01 OCT

One round to go after this one:

POLE POSITION: Right
LENGTH: 4.592 Km
CORNERS: 15
RIGHT CORNERS: 9
LEFT CORNERS: 6

Times are Eastern

 

I got Bautista.

 

You really went out on a limb there, Stan. I will stick with Rea. I am an old guy and us old guys have to stick together

 

GG off to a good start. Fastest overall and fastest BMW by almost 1 second in FP1. It is early of course, but better to be at the pointy end than farther back.

 

So, he didn't improve his time in P2, but still sitting second fastest overall behind Bautista and 0.4 up on VdM for best BMW.

 

Seemed to me he was working long runs/race pace in FP2. He was fast out of the gate which typically follows with a strong showing all wknd for him. He seems to have really turned a corner. Go GG31!

 

I think Bautista makes a mistake this and then things get really interesting. Although evidence suggests he was out there in practice playing with his food

 

Solid race 1. Really good race by GG!

 

In my book 4th is a win for GG and anyone else not named AB, TR or JR. No one is touching the top 3 riders right now. Unless they crash out, the podium is set.

Wonder if there is any thought at BMW to move GG to the factory bike next year with TR. If racing next to TR doesn’t mess with GGs head. He might benefit from having the best WSBK rider as a teammate.

 

They were saying that all 4 bikes next year at BMW are going to be full factory bikes and support

 

I agree. That was a solid race. He held a much better start (and has been in recent races), and fought back from 13th to 4th! And he was confident on his passes at the end of the straight on Lowe, and up the inside on a tighter line in the corners on Vandermark. I'm pumped to see him with the confidence to make those passes.

I wouldn't mess with a good thing. He gets on great with Pearson and his current crew. If he's already going to have full factory support anyway...I'd leave him right where he is.

 

Pearson is not only a crew chief but a mentor. He went to bat in the media big time for GG31 when Yam fucked him. Was good to see him making hard moves. While the bike still needs to be improved, I’m wondering how important the pre-season rule of locked in gear ratios have hampered them. No different than here like Cam & PJ on season long different setups.

 

I completely agree. Garrett is passing with confidence again. And giving him a full factory bike in his current team is probably the best of both worlds for him.

 

Not sure having Redding as a teammate next year is ideal. It could be fine, but I have reservations.

 

good run GG! best luck tomorrow!!

 

Great day for GG!

Excellent race 2. Alvaro complaining about Toprak being aggressive is a bit laughable. The best bike will win the title but not the best rider.

 

Hell yeah! Way to GG31. Keep riding the wheels off that BMW...and another go around as the best BMW.

 

Also, GG is 13th in points. But he is now only 5 points behind 8th. Hope he goes well at Jerez!

 

Insane how much he and the team closed the gap today while the other Beemers went backwards further away than yesterday.

 

Doesn’t he like Jerez, can’t remember?