SBK Japan

 It was the first round of the Area Championship today. This year one track has been removed from the schedule essentially robbing 3 races from the series. So now it's down to a 6 race series. This, while making things cheaper for the riders also means that not only is each race more important points wise but also experience wise. 

Todays grid was a decent turn out with around 20 riders signing on. Including a few of the All Japan privateer teams. The other noticable and enjoyable part of today was the variety of bikes on the grid. The standard Japanese makes, but also a few Ducatis and a KTM 1198 and MV Augusta.

The cold temps in the morning kept the times down to a best of 59.4. which was suprisingly slow considering the standard of competition. By race time things had warmed up, but the times were still comparatively slow compared to other years. One of the factors would have undoubtably been yesterdays downpour, which would have had the dual effect of removing rubber from the surface and adding other other debris all which would have lessened the available traction.

I grabbed a few shots, here is most of the bikes on the grid.

Dunlop reigns supreme!