| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Just saw the official announcement. Old man Pegram will not only be the manager of the team, he'll be half of the riders too (the other being Niccola Canepa (sp?)). I'm not sure about this. Granted, Pegram is the only rider to score a point on the EBR in WSBK, but he pretty much goes into this series with the same handicap May and Yates did, doesn't he? The lone point he scored was on an American track on which he was very familiar. Canepa is a good addition though. He is at least familiar with the tracks and just has to learn the bike. 2015 should be an interesting year. | ||
| Jscott |
Baby and bathwater... | ||
| Jscott |
Although we don't know what 2015 has in store for Geoff and Aaron, it would have been nice to have thanked them for their efforts in this press release. | ||
| Court |
>>>> it would have been nice to have thanked them for their efforts in this press release. Like this?
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| Jscott |
Thanks Court. I missed that. Good luck Geoff, hope to see you land a good gig for 2015. Hope you heal up soon Aaron and good luck to you also! | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Congratulations to EBR...... 2015 is going to be BIG ! It cannot get any better than this..... Canepa is a TOP CLASS Rider ! ! ! ! | ||
| Court |
This is going to be a FUN year. EBR has done some very amazing things, not the least of which, is that THEY ARE IN IT. It's really pretty amazing. If you can get past your " . . . if they'd done this, they'd been on the podium" thinking . . . and see that a guy with less than $5k in his pocket, started with a few folks in a barn and is now on the grid in Australia, France, Italy and Japan. You can not do this with money. It has to be done with heart and a team imbued with s myopic focus on a goal . . folks willing to sacrifice. Comments about ".....well, with Hero's money" are mindless. I know how much work went into putting the HERO deal together and I was there for the myriad of failed attempts with other firms from shoe companies to BBQ joints. HERO "gets it". Pawan and his team are just as passionate and focused. But, HERO's investment in EBR is a business in vestment not a discretionary "gift" without limits. The racing budget is an entirely different set of transactions. The deal is good. EBR is making money and they are not having to rely on the sale of motorcycles to do so. That would be a fatal business model. HERO has derived benefits, beyond their wildest imagination, from the association. Racing, win . . loose . . or draw . . ., bears fruit for many. HERO (those of you who knew HERO was the largest manufacture of 2 wheel vehicles in the world . . prior to their association with EBR . . hold those hands high . . my point is made) is suddenly becoming a household name on the world stage of 2 wheeled fun. They are transitioning from a market where motorcycles are pure utility tools to where they are a discretionary recreational purchase. EBR has gone from being kicked to the curb to a world power (they are doing things you can't imagine . . and the best hint was when Dane, in his interview, revealed that of the nearly 200 employees, a total of 5 are dedicated to motorcycle design for EBR) I'd have loved to have seen better results last year. But, data, good or bad, is nonetheless of great value. Geoff may have ended his tenure aboard the seat of an EBR but I suspect he'll be intimately involved, either officially or unofficially, going ahead. He, and his family, have been incredible ambassadors for EBR around the world. They may not have acquired a shelf of trophies, but you need go only to one race and listen and watch the EBR-buzz to see folks are taking the firm and the bikes seriously. It's been . . . as I reflect back 5 years when I was trying to decide which fax machine . . the $80 or the 300 to buy and I was sending my 2 spare Dell monitors to East Troy, an amazing last 5 years. You may not . . YET . . .have the motorcycle your aching for from EBR . . but you DO have a company. Imagine if you'd been waiting on your Motus? As the year winds down and the news of the exciting season next year comes . . . . I am thrilled to see what The Elves have done. I, as may of you know, have not been slow to take them to task. They can not survive doing "good" . .they must be AMAZING. It takes more work and dedication than most can imagine, it takes a capacity to get slapped on the nose and return to the fight. As 2014 winds down . . . . I am thrilled to see what Erik, EBR and The Elves are doing and I am grateful and thankful for having known and become friends with Geoff May and his family and for the wonderful way in which he has represented EBR and American Innovation. Court | ||
| Neutrum |
"It's really pretty amazing. If you can get past your " . . . if they'd done this, they'd been on the podium" thinking . . . and see that a guy with less than $5k in his pocket, started with a few folks in a barn and is now on the grid in Australia, France, Italy and Japan. You can not do this with money. It has to be done with heart and a team imbued with s myopic focus on a goal . . folks willing to sacrifice. " just don't make an evening with liza minnelli out of it... and why weren't they testing when they could? now is test ban on the tracks they will be racing next year... they aren't ready...again. and if old man pegram as teamboss and rider is a clever idea...i might doubt that. | ||
| Tpoppa |
Wholesale changes were needed to the race teams. I personally haven't followed Canepa previously, hopefully he's fast on the EBR. | ||
| Hughlysses |
and why weren't they testing when they could? now is test ban on the tracks they will be racing next year... they aren't ready...again. and if old man pegram as teamboss and rider is a clever idea...i might doubt that. I'd guess the contracts with Pegram and Canepa hadn't been finalized yet. Unfortunate, but possibly unavoidable. OTOH, EBR (and Buell) have always been very talented at doing in-shop testing and simulation. Perhaps with the field data they collected this year, they can make major strides in the performance of the 1190RX before it ever sees another track. I'm sure Canepa also needs time to adjust to the bike, and that might be more easily done at a non-WSBK track. Regarding Pegram, it is hard to see how one guy will be able to provide the attention necessary to do both tasks well. OTOH having a major player wearing two hats should stretch the team's budget quite a bit. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'll be a Geoff May fan regardless of what he does or rides. A great guy and a class act. I like the Pegram plan too. Intuitively, it feels right. | ||
| Classax |
They are still in marketing mode. Pegram traditionally had more pace than Yates and May in the AMA despite his awfully archaic body position  not to mention he is very good in the wet.( Personally I think they would have done better on track with Herin, but Pegram certainly brings way more to the table than his riding skills) Having the team boss be the rider guarantees you will not get a repeat of last year's "silly riders, we know better than you how to set up this machine" What the riders want they will get.( at least from within the team. Who knows when it comes to factory support) Pegram has proven he can get major sponsors, run the financials and his team is comparatively cheap yet well experienced with the bike. Pegram has his own reality show so EBR and Hero will get more TV time than just about any other team, particularly here in the USA. Now what they have to do is find some HP and make superpole, with both riders finishing every race, just in the points to call it a truly stellar year. All that said NOT testing is a HUGE mistake!! AGAIN!!! | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Canepa was the icing on the cake...... Convincing an established rider like Canepa to join EBR, shows that the team is serious and that there is belief that they will get results...... Canepa was riding for Ducati all his career, so he has a lot of experience with V-2 engines, and also he knows the performance of the 1199 Panigale, so that he immediately can tell the team where they need to make improvents, either Hp or chassis setup or brakes, etc | ||
| Jaimec |
I think Pegram's "Archaic body position" stems from his archaic body, Classax... he ain't as young as he used to be! | ||
| Hootowl |
Maybe it's not too late. This article says testing has been extended. http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/wsbk/world-superbi ke-test-ban-lifted-2015/ | ||
| Hughlysses |
Let's hope they have some bikes with changes ready to test. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The twin rules are still bogus (IMHO). Arbitrary limits on displacement, but with no limits on other critical factors like cumulative piston speed or RPM. The EBR should be allowed to add a supercharger and just declare it a third cylinder and follow the triple displacement rule. | ||
| Classax |
I think Pegram's "Archaic body position" stems from his archaic body, Classax... he ain't as young as he used to be! He's a year younger than me!  but then again I'm old, fat and slow so let's hope we're wrong. (Message edited by Classax on December 04, 2014) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Posted by Canepa to his Facebook page today (Facebook translation from Italian); "Just happy to announce that in 2015 I will run for the Team Hero EBR in the Superbike World Championship!! For all Ducatisti that I have followed over the years, I hope that you will continue to follow this new challenge! But as you know them, there was no more room for me. Better so, the big challenges they give me more loads!" | ||
| Neutrum |
"Maybe it's not too late. This article says testing has been extended. " yep, but there is something called winter in europe. even here in spain it's too cold (magny-cours, assen, donington...you name it), too rainy and/or tracks not in operation these two months due to maintenance (like aragon or jerez or portimao). so basically it's the same...i've heard of nobody going to sepang or australia or thailand for testing. | ||
| Ljm |
Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida. All reasonable places to do some non-WSBK track testing at this time of year. We'll see if they do any since there is some chance that they will be able to secure bikes here. | ||
| Jscott |
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl= en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. moto.it%2Fsuperbike%2Fsbk-canepa-hero-ebr-una-sfid a-che-mi-affascina.html&edit-text=&act=url Very good article… Looks like Nicco will be testing on a couple of American tracks in January. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Things are looking much better for 2015 ...... Great news ! ! I am looking forward to see the changes they will to to the EBR...... Canepa spoke , if I understood correctly, that he has 100% freedom to make the changes that he feels that are needed to the EBR... He will test in December, yes ? (Message edited by vagelis46 on December 05, 2014) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Anyone here fluent in Italian? Here's a video interview with Canepa from his home discussing his move to EBR: http://www.sportreview.it/motociclismo/canepa-delu so-dalla-ducati-sbarca-alla-ebr | ||
| Hughlysses |
Full version of the video interview with Niccolo Canepa posted this morning: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=it&tl=en &js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sp ortreview.it%2Fmotociclismo%2F10-domande-niccolo-c anepa&edit-text= There is some accompanying text; the interesting thing appears to be a list of questions that he was asked in the interview. Unfortunately, his answers aren't provided in the text so on-line translation is no help. Surely somebody here speaks Italian? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Another article from German magazine Speedweek about EBR in WSBK; this one appears to mainly address their difficulties in 2014: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en &js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sp eedweek.com%2Fsbk%2Fnews%2F67946%2FBuell-%28EBR%29 -Wir-haben-keine-Ressourcen-wie-BMW.html&edit-text = | ||
| Jscott |
Looks like Ben Fox is going to be on the 2015 WSBK team also. http://www.foxperformanceengines.com "In 2015 I will be on the EBR team again as Nicolo Canepa's Data Engineer. The EBR team uses Marelli ECU engine controls and riders aids. Keeping up with Motec and Marelli keeps me on my toes…." | ||
| Hughlysses |
Niccolo is apparently in the US right now testing or getting ready to test. From his FB page on Tuesday, December 16, labeled "traveling to New York, New York":
(Message edited by Hughlysses on December 18, 2014) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Another update from Niccolo, posted to his FB this morning. Location is Jennings, FL.  Caption (translation by Facebook):
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| Reepicheep |
That makes a lot more sense than New York this time of year!  |
