BMW Superbike Update

[JerryMather]

Just in: Pushing Ahead ....

"We are much closer to competitive lap times then previous tests (we didn't use any qualifiers and Troy got into the 1:35s on race rubber) and we know, from the riders, the things we have to do to improve."

 

Valencia Superbike pole '08 Results

 

Times

1) Neukirchner, Suzuki 1'33.805

2) Kagayama, Suzuki 1'33.928

3) Bayliss, Ducati 1'33.975

[russell_bynum]

Impressive lap times.

[swmckinley]

What is going on with the AMA Super Bike series and DMG. Have classes and manufactures been decided on?

[russell_bynum]

What is going on with the AMA Super Bike series and DMG. Have classes and manufactures been decided on?

 

Yes.

 

Rules have been finalized and all manufacturers are onboard.

 

Basically we have Superbike, FX, and Supersport (Superbike is called American Superbike, FX is called Daytona Sportbike, Supersport is called Supersport). Spec tires and fuel for everyone.

 

Max age limits for Supersport and you can only ride in that class for 3 years then you have to either move up or go somewhere else. This should keep the factories from slumming in the "support" class.

 

We know for sure that Spies is in World Superbike. Eric Bostrom is taking a year off to go be a sheep farmer in South America or something like that. Josh Hayes has been pushing hard for a ride in Europe, but no idea where he'll land.

[swmckinley]

Thanks for the info. So what will be class racing at the Daytona 200? FX or American Superbike?

[russell_bynum]

Thanks for the info. So what will be class racing at the Daytona 200? FX or American Superbike?

 

The 200 will be FX, and it'll be run at night under the lights.

[markgoodrich]

Thanks for the great update, Russell, I was wondering about this today. Still sounds to me like WSBK is going to be more interesting and more competitive. Spies is amazing already, having tested super fast at Portimao, and both Corser and Xaus are excited about the BMW.

 

I hope Hayes gets to stay in Europe. I thought he looked fast and comfortable at Portimao, despite scaring the crap out of Sofuoglu.

[russell_bynum]

Thanks for the great update, Russell, I was wondering about this today. Still sounds to me like WSBK is going to be more interesting and more competitive. Spies is amazing already, having tested super fast at Portimao, and both Corser and Xaus are excited about the BMW.

 

I hope Hayes gets to stay in Europe. I thought he looked fast and comfortable at Portimao, despite scaring the crap out of Sofuoglu.

 

I haven't seen the World Supersport race from Portimao....we just changed DVR's and I guess I forgot to add supersport. Dang. I know how it turned out, and I heard there was some fun between Hayes and a few of the top guys. And he's on an inferior bike. I'd love to see him with a World Superbike ride, and if the way to do that is by going to world supersport first, then that's what he should do. Seems like if Melissa (his wife) really wants to get serious about racing 2-strokes, Europe is the place to be, so meethinks they should go for it.

 

 

From Superbike Planet:

Here's a synopsis of the classes: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081024d.htm

 

And here's the nitty gritty of the Superbike rules: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081024e2.htm

 

Personally, I think the rules are a positive thing. Spec tires and fuel and tighter restrictions on what mods you go do mean that the teams like Erion and Jordan who can afford great riders, but can't really do all the development work that the factories do will have a better chance. And I like the rules to prevent the factories from slumming in supersport. If it's a support/feeder class, then it should be for the privateers, not the factories.

 

What does surprise me is we haven't heard much about the riders...who's riding for who? I mean...there are some guys who are still on contract (Hodgson, Mladin, and a few others), but there are a bunch of guys who left Laguna Seca without a job for 2009.

 

We know Eric Bostrom is going off to be a nerf herder in Tierra del Fuego or somesuch. Is Yosh going to run 3 bikes next year and if so, who gets Ben's ride?

[hopz]

I will toss in my $0.02...

 

I like moto racing but I find it really difficult to figure out the various acronyms, classes, and regulations. I guess this yet another sign of my assuming old fart status.

 

Apparently there is AMA racing, and rest of the world racing, and sometimes the rest of the world guys come to America and play. Nascar uses restrictor plates to hold the speed down... is that the reason for smaller and smaller engines?

 

Is there a guide somewhere?

[russell_bynum]

I will toss in my $0.02...

 

I like moto racing but I find it really difficult to figure out the various acronyms, classes, and regulations. I guess this yet another sign of my assuming old fart status.

 

Apparently there is AMA racing, and rest of the world racing, and sometimes the rest of the world guys come to America and play. Nascar uses restrictor plates to hold the speed down... is that the reason for smaller and smaller engines?

 

Is there a guide somewhere?

 

There's basically production-based racing and prototype racing.

The car racing analogy would be Touring Cars (or what NASCAR used to be) vs. Formula One.

 

In Moto Racing, the Forumla One equivalent is MotoGP. There's three classes: 125cc (2 stroke), 250cc (2 stroke), and MotoGP (800cc 4 stroke). These are prototype machines with very few limits on what you can do. There's a minimum weight limit, max displacement, and max fuel capacity, and that's about it.

 

In the production classes, there are several National series (British Superbike, AMA Superbike, Aussie Superbike, Japanese Superbike, etc.) and the World Championship series (World Superbike).

 

Each series has several classes, with different rules. A summary of the AMA classes for 2009 are in one of my posts above.

 

World Superbike has Superbike (Similar to our "American Superbike" and Supersport (Similar to our Supersport).

 

On TV here (mostly on SpeedTV), you'll see pretty decent coverage for the AMA classes, the World Superbike class (but crappy coverage for World Supersport), and MotoGP (and usually 250cc, but crappy coverage of 125cc).

 

Smaller engines are usually intended to slow the machines down, for rider safety. (And to save money with the track owners who're always having to modify the racetracks for safety to keep up with faster and faster bikes.) Of course...MotoGP switched from 990cc bikes to 800cc bikes and the laps got faster at most of the tracks that they go to.

[Paul Mihalka]

Looks like MotoGP should go back to the tradition of 500cc being the top class. That might slow them down a little Except it would not relate at all to the bikes the manufacturers want to sell - Not that there is much relation now...

[JerryMather]

Looks like MotoGP should go back to the tradition of 500cc being the top class. That might slow them down a little Except it would not relate at all to the bikes the manufacturers want to sell - Not that there is much relation now...

There's one manufacture that's stepped up and made one for the pubic to buy.

Desmosedici RR

 

 

[90%angel]

There's one manufacture that's stepped up and made one for the pubic to buy.

 

What about the rest of her?

 

(I think you mean public)

[lvnvbiker]

Pubic... Now thats a Freudian slip if I've ever seen one! You guy's kill me sometimes, now I've got to go get the screen cleaning wipes.

[JerryMather]