| Author | Message | ||
     Bamaben |
Well, can't wait anymore. Going to bed with no new news. Oh well. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving! | ||
| Jscott |
Still no official announcement, but most of the foreign press is consistently saying that Larry Pegram will manage the 2015 WSBK effort along with being a rider. They also have secured the services of the runner up EVO champion Niccolò Canepa. No news on Geoff and Aaron. Maybe they will be in the MotoAmerica for 2015? | ||
| Classax |
They will absolutely want at least one United States Citizen in the field. Although Larry has typically been quicker than Geoff, I don't know that you gain that much with him at the bars relearning the tracks. If they could have stolen Filmore away from KTM or landed Herin that would have been better IMHO with Larry running the team. | ||
| M2typhoon |
Let's see... Scene 1: 2014 EBR spends a year with an Italian team running SBK, they have a tough go, a team cutting their team none the less. An ex Italian engine builder, who "quit" because he couldn't build a reliable engine. They go back to making spaghetti after the last race. Scene 2: 2015 EBR comes back with an American operated team and makes tracks to the podium in the EVO class. Sounds like a big Hero/EBR set-up to me. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Yeah I am sure that is what it was M2, Hero/EBR purposely blew all of those motors and had all those DNS/DNF this season just to make a big hit in 2015... | ||
| Hootowl |
Destroying sales of your brand new model by getting spanked on the world stage just to throw all the other teams off the scent is not a winning strategy, so I seriously doubt that was the plan. | ||
| Bads1 |
Whatever they do Pegram is not the answer either | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
I agree that having him ride isnt the answer to podiums. Same for May and Yates. Pony up and hire a great rider. "but May is so good for product development and relaying information about the bike..." whatever. I'm not saying he's a bad rider by any means, but not at that level. MANY riders can relay feedback, he isnt the only one. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Geoff has made two recent posts to Facebook on his current situation: Nov 21: "Another beautiful evening here in Bergamo. No testing or riding in the near future, so more pics of my stomping grounds till January" That sounds like starting January, he won't be living in Italy. Of course the EBR WSBK team could just be moving somewhere else in Europe. Today, December 1, about 3:30 PM EST, posted along with an article saying the 2015 Daytona 200 WILL run under ASRA sanction: "Uhh oh! Guess I know what I'll be doing that weekend." I guess these posts imply he's coming back stateside and won't be riding in WSBK, but anything's possible. | ||
| Classax |
They won't win unless they have an alien on the bike. Its like intermediate vs advance riders out there. The gap in skills and pace is simply huge! Since we are in rumorville I'd like to throw one on the wall as well, "Uhh oh! Guess I know what I'll be doing that weekend." could also mean EBR will unveil a 600 class machine.  | ||
| Neutrum |
the point is not who, it's when.... they should be using this precious time testing like the others on tracks they will race. testing new parts, engines...whatever. NOW! | ||
| Bads1 |
They won't win with an alien either. The bike needs alot more development and the bike needs to evolve in the coming years with changes. Having a top tier rider with great development skill in WSB would do amazing things | ||
| Classax |
Quite right Bads1 I was only implying that there is a certain level of rider required to compete near the front. In terms of the bike itself, 30 more HP are exactly easy to come buy. But that's what they need. I also agree they should have already been testing like everyone else. | ||
| Jaimec |
I think next year's rules mean that the bikes competing have to be far closer to stock than they've been in the past. Hence the manufacturers creating certain "limited editions" of their superbikes (like the new Yamaha YZF-R1M, over the standard YZF-R1). That should narrow the competition a bit. MCN mentions Pegram managing the EBR WSBK effort next year, but still nothing on riders... | ||
| Simond |
You'll never tempt a top rider onto an EBR - most don't want to ride Superbikes at all let alone one at the back of the grid. Canepa is a great choice because of his breadth of experience both racing and testing in MotoGP, WSB and superstock. Recruiting for 2015 can't have been helped by their 2014 results but getting a good benchmark rider takes a significant unknown out of the equation. | ||
| Bads1 |
I wouldnt say that.When BMW entered they were at the back but they did get top riders to develop and race the bike. They did quite well with the bike in due time | ||
| Simond |
BMW were scoring top ten finishes in their first season and had the reputation and resources to attract top riders from day 1. I'm not saying that EBR won't get there, just that it would be unrealistic for a top superbike rider (let alone an "alien") to jump onto a bike that was some way off of the back of the field this year. | ||
| Bads1 |
Hmmm I dont remember top ten finishes. And EBR has the resources with HERO.Its just not clear as to why they did things the way they did?? | ||
| Bads1 |
Corser did a best of a 8th place finish. Results came way better in the following 2010 season. None the less they did have a struggle. Not alot like EBR's. It'll be interesting to see where they go with this past season. | ||
| Bads1 |
Bad news lasts forever. Good new takes forever! | ||
| Simond |
In Corser they picked a good rider who was past his best but still had a good turn of speed over one lap at least. He was at a point in his career that a big pay check from BMW would have been attractive. All of this, added to his reputation as a good development rider and his wealth of experience, put BMW many steps ahead of EBR's entry in 2014. That's why I think that Canepa is a shrewd choice. | ||
| Simond |
....and Corser got a 5th at Brno and a 6th at the Nurburgring in 2009  . | ||
| Classax |
I think WINNING is not a realistic goal for EBR right now. Because A) the bike is down 30+hp to the competition, B) even if they could find the power, they tend to chew thru brake pads before the end of race distance at pace, and C)it takes an "alien" rider to even sniff the pace in the top 5. Making superpole and scoring points in the top 10 is a better SMART goal, for this year. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Sure wish EBR would announce SOMETHING. The Team Hero/EBR FB page promised to post news "shortly" about their 2015 WSBK plans a week ago. No updates there nor on the pages of any of the rumored participants in the 2015 effort. | ||
| Court |
"Shortly" . . you'' recall that the AX introduction was "imminent" . . . . you have to get your time line perspective in perspective.  I suspect folks will be amazed . . .I know I was. | ||
| Simond |
 | ||
| Firstbuell |
I can't believe that I'm the one posting this: Pegram both rider & boss of Hero EBR SBK squad ".....For 2015, the team will continue to have a European base in Italy, but will have a new team structure and riders. Larry Pegram and Niccolo Canepa will be the riders for 2015, bringing a new and international flavor to the Team Hero EBR bikes on the grid. In addition to his riding duties, Pegram will take on the role of overall team manager...... .....Pegram: Our points finish in WSBK at Laguna, and podium finish in the last AMA race weekend show the potential of this motorcycle, and also convinced me and EBR that Pegram Racing could play a major role in moving the EBR World Superbike effort forward....." http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/pegram-to-be-r iderteam-manager-for-team-hero-ebrs-2015-world-sup erbike-effort/ (Message edited by firstbuell on December 03, 2014) (Message edited by firstbuell on December 03, 2014) | ||
| Bads1 |
Good luck with that.lol | ||
| Hughlysses |
Erik: "For 2015, based on what we learned last year, we have made many changes and look forward to seeing how these all play out. " It'll be interesting to see what's been changed. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Geoff May just posted a link to the Roadracing World article on FB. Someone asked him what he'll be doing in 2015, and he replied "Currently exploring options.", so I guess Geoff's looking for a ride. |
