| Author | Message | ||
     Hootowl |
Erik has said they are not operating under the illusion that they are going to win any races. Season one will be a learning experience. Finishing in the top ten will be fantastic for a first year team on a first year bike. I wonder how much power the RX will make in wsb spec trim? | ||
| Court |
I . . . all too clearly . . . recall the day when JUST being present in World Superbike Racing . . . was a dream. I'm not sneezing at any good fortune . . . but, I'm pretty much already Buellgasmic at this point . . . . just being in the dance. Couple that with the fact that there are sufficient numbers of eventualities that could yield great results (although new and inexperienced . . . neither the riders nor the bikes can be summarily dismissed as uncompetative) . . . . For me . . . it's ALL good. In addition . . . the chance to travel to Spain, Italy, France (in Oct nonetheless) and the United Kingdom England Great Britain . . . . is a hell of a lot more appealing than a Motel 6 in rural New Jersey. See ya at the races . . . | ||
| Classax |
I think we are forgetting that the componentry for these bikes has been track tested in various forms for the last 4 yrs. I stoked just see us getting a turn at bat in The Show. I don't expect a grand slam, anything other than a 3 pitch strike out is a successful first showing. | ||
| Trojan |
I . . . all too clearly . . . recall the day when JUST being present in World Superbike Racing . . . was a dream. It is also a dream that many factories have seen turn into a complete nightmare, including Ducati, Benelli, Suzuki and others..... If you go racing just to test technology then that makes engineers happy. However if you then trail around at the back of the field whilst learning and making mistakes (because you didn't learn from them when testing) it does absolutely nothing for your sales or reputation. Anyoen remember bungled pit stops at Daytona? That got more publicity than the actual race effort worldwide! If you go to WSB with the mind set that you can't be competitive and that you are just 'learning' then you may as well not go at all. Testing is hugely, massively, vitally important in top level racing, and is why EVERY team does it as much as possible before the season starts. Not just to get the rider up to speed but to make the team gel, iron out silly mistakes and firm up garage procedures. To arrive at the first round with no testing, limited spares and crossed fingers is NOT the recipe for WSB success unfortunately, especially with a new team and new bike. While we all your share your excitement and enthusiasm for the EBR team effort in WSb I would feel a bit more confident if I knew they were going into the first round with at least as much testing and confidence as the other teams, and certainly as much or more than MV (the only other new manufacturer this year). Matt, what is the structure for financial support from Dorna in WSBK. Not sure now that Dorna have taken over. I am sure that there may have been a carrot to encourage new teams to enter but I don't know if that would be financial, or just transport help etc. I thought that they had reduced help to teams that had not scored points the previous season, but I could be wrong of course... | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
There is another side to not testing. Testing everywhere else if not at the designated tracks. Who's to say the bike is not good enough to be good out of the box? With little info and no confirmation what Hero EBR intend before the first race, I'm gonna scream at the telly with joy as loud as any man if that bike so much as shows a competitive streak during the first round! I will feel like for the first time in more than 14 years I get to tell my Buell knocking mates, I ferkin told yer so! Rocket in England | ||
| Trojan |
Who's to say the bike is not good enough to be good out of the box? Exactly, but that goes both ways. With no testing against other WSB bikes at the same tracks over the winter there is nothing to compare against. They could turn up at PI and be 4 seconds faster than everyone else and blow everyone out of the water, or they could wobble around at the back and fail to qualify by 4 seconds.....who knows (and if they have not te4sted I would wager that they don't know themselves either yet). Like you I will be shouting for team EBR when the flag drops in Australia, although I would feel more confident if they arrived on the back of a full and succesful winter testing programme like kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda already have.......... Wil EBR take part in the pre race test at Philip Island even? What i REALLY don't want is for my Buell knocking mates to tell me I ferkin told yer so....again! | ||
| Classax |
They can test just not at any of the track in the series save for the one designated test track at designated days. They have been testing for 2 years in AMA and its not like they don't have running prototypes. The reality no one knows what the pace of the machine is except a select few EBR folks who are wisely NOT talking. #1 goal for the marketing team... Make every race, Finish every race... The engineers the same but with addition of understand and improve equipment every race. #1 Goal of the fans is the same except we want see them finish in front of the Ducatis and MV's. Wins and top tens are sparklers on the EBR story coffee cake. You may see them, but you wouldn't normally expect it for the situation. | ||
| Trojan |
They have been testing for 2 years in AMA and its not like they don't have running prototypes. The AMA spec bike is probably nothing like the WSB spec machine (otherwise they are in trouble!), so their AMA experience will not mean much when it comes to WSB. They need to test the machine they are going to race, on the tracks they are going to race at, with the team that are going to race it. Anything else is just background information and whilst useful doesn't provide any meaningful information for the coming season. if they can finish in front of the MV they will be doing very well, if they can finish in front of the factory Ducati it will be a huge achievement indeed. | ||
| M2typhoon |
I thought I read that the bikes were going to shipped to Italy for body work somewhere. Does anyone know who's doing the actual work? | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
What i REALLY don't want is for my Buell knocking mates to tell me I ferkin told yer so....again! I see what you did there, lol  Rocket in England | ||
| Firstbuell |
it's way cool to be discussing EBR & racing - anywhere - much less the world stage of SBK I can't wait for the test[s] & 1st race..... | ||
| Classax |
In just over 48hrs the winter testing ban will be lifted for WSBK! MV Agusta is rumored to be testing again at Jerez as we expect EBR to as well. The factory Ducati team has not yet declared an official test track, but there is a reason almost every one does Jerez, central location. We might even see the EBR and MV's turning laps on the same day. The excitement is building! GO EBR! (Message edited by classax on January 13, 2014) | ||
| Trojan |
MV Agusta is rumored to be testing again at Jerez as we expect EBR to as well. I thought EBR were supposed to be testing at Almeria? It would of course make more sense to test at jerez amongst other WSB bikes, and Jerez always seems to get better weather, which seems to affect testing at Almeria more regularly for some reason (maybe it is higher up?). Almeria isn't used for world class competition either, so is a bit of a waste as a test venue in terms of comparing times. The only advantage of testing at Almeria is that you are unlikely to be disturbed! | ||
| Classax |
They might use Almeria I don't know for sure, it just makes sense with such limited time to get the team, bikes, and riders testing on a circuit they can benchmark times on. I could be wrong(but I doubt it) | ||
| Classax |
OOHH woo! WSBK 2014 is really shaping up to be an interesting series to watch. Bimota has just announce they will be sending their top liter bike to the fray under EVO rules with team.... Alstare! Didn't see that one coming  http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/922/17749/Motorcycle -Article/Alstare-and-Bimota-Pair-for-WorldSBK-2014 .aspx That's 3 new( relatively speaking) MFG's to the series. Looks like there will be some real racing going on in the middle and back of the field as well. (Message edited by Classax on January 13, 2014) | ||
| Simond |
Christian Iddon to ride for them too. He would have been a good choice for EBR - I didn't think of him. He was very impressive on the MV last year. | ||
| Firstbuell |
those 3 manufacturers represent: 1 new EBR twin, 1 new MV-3, & 1 new BMW-4 | ||
| Reepicheep |
Nobody has the stones to campaign a 1000cc single huh?  | ||
| Court |
>>>Nobody has the stones to campaign a 1000cc single huh? Please don't start that discussion . . . Dave Gess would want to ride it! :-) | ||
| Crusty |
Why not just get a pogo stick? | ||
| Hughlysses |
If 4's are 1000cc, and twins are 1200, singles should be like 1500, right?  | ||
| Davegess |
Dave Gess would want to ride it! | ||
| Ezblast |
Here ya go Dave - frame and body pieces alone worth the price - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Other-Makes-Blast-Buell-Bl ast-Dirt-Tracker-/251413836079?forcerrptr=true&has h=item3a896eb12f&item=251413836079&pt=US_motorcycl es His first bike was bought by a British builder/racer and turned into a serious 44 mag engine developing a tad over 70 hp - at less than 305lbs - that could be a lot of fun - though it would probably gain 20lbs adding brakes, lighting and tags - lol - 2nd bike nuked racing - lol - and this was his show bike - all 3 had stroked cranks - Pete built nothing but quality though out - enjoy! EZ | ||
| Trojan |
1 new MV-3, The MV that will race in WSB is a 4 cylinder bike not a 3 cylinder unfortunately  The 3 cylinder F3 will race in WSS again as far aas I know, and the F4 will race in WSB under the Yaknich racing banner. Glad to see that Christian Iddon has got a decent ride too. he did really well on the WSS MV last year and really does deserve another shot. | ||
| Trojan |
MV Agusta is rumored to be testing again at Jerez I have just read in an interview with Claudio Corti that MV are testing in Portugal (Portimao) on 19-20 January, so it is unlikely that they will make an appearance at Jerez unfortunately. 2014 will be a stange year for WSB as some seemingly top teams such as MV and Alstare Bimota will be running under the Evo rules. This will undoubtedly skew the results for this year but the team that run EVO now will be most prepared for the rule changes in 2015 (and some factories may leave in a sulk when the rules change too). | ||
| Vagelis46 |
It looks like , this will be the most exciting WSBK season EVER ........ Bimota is back ! Erik Buell's bike is racing ..... Only Yamaha will not be there.... | ||
| Trojan |
Only Yamaha will not be there.... I am kind of xpecting to see Yamaha arrive in WSb with a new R1 and valentino Rossi in 2016 maybe ? (Depending on how they think they can perform under the proposed Evo rules). It should coincide with Honda throwing their toys out of the pram and leaving both MotoGP and WSB because they don't like the rules. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Remember when Rossi was recuperating, he did so on an R1. I recall he posted faster times somewhere than the factory riders. I'll do some digging to see if I can find / confirm such. What I really need to do is work out how I can watch WSBK and Moto GP on TV now the BBC have lost everything. Living in my unique area where the UK's only independent communications company exists, broadband, phone and related are a pain in the arse to subscribe to, if at all possible. BT Sport is likely not going to happen for me. Rocket in England | ||
| Trojan |
I think the only way to get to see MotoGp nest year is with BT Sport (Either online or via Sky or Virgin). I was annoyed about it until I found that my exisiting Virgin contract already includes BT Sport for next year. To be honest for what it costs Virgin should be flying me first class to every round with complimentary hotels and pit lane walkabout! I think (although I may be wrong) that Eurosport still have WSB coverage planned for next year along with full BSB coverage, so that hasn't changed (yet) I don't think. The only other way to get MotoGP is to subscribe to their own online channel at motogp.com (although this is more expensive than BT) | ||
| Court |
Matt: I need some help. Can you give me a Cliff Notes version of the "new EVO rules? and point me to where I can read them? Thanks, Court |
