MotoGP have to use a race tyre for qualifying but WSB has a qualifying tyre.
British GP: Silverstone
MotoGP: 2'03.308
WSB: 2'04.091
Dutch GP: Assen
MotoGP: 1'34.515
WSB: 1'34.944
They are the only ones i can find where the two classes race on the same track, they race Phillip Island but MotoGP has that race towards the end of their season.
EDIT: looking back at the season where they had to use a qualifying tyre in MotoGP (2008/9 season) they are slower then this years pole time
Even still Moto GP is meant to be the Formula One of bikes. Only being a couple of seconds slower than a world superbike is pretty poor. But they are going back to 1000cc in a couple of years so they will get faster but that doesn't change grid sizes and quality of racing.
From memory the fastest WSBK lap at silverstone was in the 2'05 range with the MotoGP fastest lap at 2'03.526. Imagine if Formula One had another series lapping a circuit this close to their times!
It's good because MotoGP has a story to keep people's interest! Yesterday's race was so boring it just acted as a filler until the real story arrived post chequered flag.
Despite the fact the Yamaha is dominate this season and there isn't many bikes in the field, there is soo many riders in the feild now that are capable of getting a title given they Have a decent bike.
Imagen if the top 3 Teams are equal in speed next season and you got:
Lorenzo
Spies
Rossi
Stoner
Pedrosa
Dovizioso(possibly)
All fighting for the title, its pretty much the Golden Gen.
rossi has his own company now "VR46" which holds his image rights, personal sponsorship and merchandising. ducati cant touch that. but jus rossi being associated with ducatis you will prob see a rise in their sales etc.. u cant see what ducati profit is now as they have been off the market since 2007.
did u see rossi do very many adverts with yamaha bikes? sure he flew to places and demonstrated occasionally, but yamaha were not allowed to use his image rights for very many things. rossi dictates how his image is used.
so it is imperitive that they get it right, of course people will prob buy it anyway, but they want to make it look good and get the combinations right.
rossi earns equal/more from merchandising and personal sponsors than what ducati are paying him.