| Author | Message | ||
     Vagelis46 |
Great ! ! Amazing ...... 1.32.0 ...... 0.2s slower than the factory Duc ! ! ! | ||
| Jscott |
Can't wait to hear what Nic has to say about the EBR - wonder how he would be positioned if still on a Ducati? | ||
| Jscott |
Looks like Rain is halting the remainder. Nic in 10th position, +1.154 from 1st. Incredible!!! | ||
| Fuzzz |
2nd 2 hour scheduled test underway... wish I understood all the notations on the SBK Live timing page... Like the split times, they don't seem to make sense, and the little red numbered box, what the heck is that? Still pretty cool to see the EBR listed with 10th best lap time, kinda reminds me of when Geoff kept whittling away at the Superbike field here in the AMA... | ||
| Ebmachine |
The little red number boxes appear to be posted when the driver is on track to move up to the position displayed in the box. | ||
| Fuzzz |
EBmachine, thanks! As I watched today's test, it occurred to me that if Nic is only 1.1 sec off the leader, and 10-11 mph down on top speed, this should be an interesting year. | ||
| Ebmachine |
We still have more practice runs just prior to each race. If Niccolo continues to find more advantages on the track, he will move up the field even more. This year is looking so much better than last year! | ||
| Classax |
10th!!! What the ?!?!?! I almost could find him, just not used to looking that high in the standings. A finish inside the top ten would be HUGE for Hero and EBR! I wonder if those times where on race rubber or qualifying tires. Nic was tenth on the grid on the Duc last year as I recall, I wonder how close he is to is SP2 time. I also wonder if they tested ZTL today or are going stick with the conventional set up? Larry is a full 3 seconds quicker than Yates was this time last year and a second quicker than Yate's best lap. I suspect he will run away from the back markers but have a dogfight the whole race to get inside the top 20. | ||
| M2typhoon |
I believe it is a wonderful thing Nic has gotten the bike in the top ten but, the real story is during a race. If Nic gets some air time, we will see the advantages and disadvantages of the RX. That is the part I'm waiting for. Superpole is nice but the race is the meat and potatoes. Maybe they can find ways to exploit some of these differences and put on an awesome show. Like, can the bike pass on braking, corner exit, middle. I also have to give props to Mr. Pegram. I spent part of my young life watching him flat track and for him to come to WSBK and be running the way he is, is awesome! I have much respect for Larry. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Still a little down on top speed, and still 10th. I can't wait to watch the races. He HAS to be eating up the corners. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Assuming that that EBR did not use the qualifying tires in the 2day Philip Island tests .......Canepa is faster this year on the EBR than last year on the Panigale, by almost 0.5s, despite being 10-12km/h slower down the straight... I think that EBR used the ISO brake for day2.... They realeased a picture of Larry on day 2 with the ISO setup , while the pictures from day1 were with 2-disc setups for both Larry and Nick... It was great to see the team being openminded and willing to test both setups back to back...So the ISO produced better times...great news That speaks a lot for the abilities of the EBR, and the pure speed of Nick ... I am looking forward to the races..Lets hope that Nick can use the slipstream of a more powerful bike and not loose much in the straight....Also it will be interesting to see how the slowrevving & twin pulse power of the EBR manages the tires especially towards the end of the race..... I think that this will play a big advantage to the EBR.... For me a question-mark that will be answered only during the race is the performance of the ISO brake setup for the entire race, if it will have a consistent performance from the first to the last lap.... So far in the tests it performs brilliantly, but testing and racing are very different... The WSBK community is pleasantly surprised by the performance of the EBR....... I hope that in the race we are about to see an even bigger surprise.... | ||
| Jscott |
http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2015/Team+Hero+EBR +delighted+with+progress | ||
| Classax |
"Also it will be interesting to see how the slowrevving & twin pulse power of the EBR manages the tires especially towards the end of the race..... I think that this will play a big advantage to the EBR" Hmmm I don't know... the top Ninjas and Apes last year used software with GPS traction control and allowed them to behave like twins in the corners. You could really hear it especially with Bas' and his riding style. I know the factories have to allow everyone access to their electronics, but I don't know if they have to hand over the software too??! The RX doesn't rev slowly at all. Its just as quick as the 1199 it just doesn't rev as high, since its making power way down in the range over a much longer period. What I'm shocked by is the fall in lap times with only a marginal increase in top speed both Larry and Nic have over last year. Larry is now right at May's very fast lap of the weekend. I pray they both avoid any get offs and stay un injured for the season. EBR scoring points on the regular would be big boost. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I do not think WSBK teams can use an exotic electronics package any more.... There is a price cap to level the field, 8.000Euros.... That is why they say that the new rules will play into Ducati's favour. One of the reasons might be that the less sophisticated electronics will favour the 2-cylinder bikes...well they forgot the chassis limitations of the Panigale.... Ducati's top rider (Guiglano) is seriously injured after a heavy fall... Now it is also obvious that they just forgot the EBR ! ! ! In my opinion (and hope) less electronics will play into 2-cylinder bikes strength. A few years ago , the bigger advantage the 998-999 Ducs had against the 4-cyl 1000cc bikes was the slow revving & twin pulse power being able to protect the tires and produce more mechanical grip, despite the power disantvantage. Then the sophisticated electronics came and all this changed. 4-cyl bikes were able to protect their tires and make them last the entie race.... It seems that this might change this year. Classax , you said the EBR doesn't have to be revved as high as the Panigale, and EBR also has a longer stroke (67.5mm vs 60.8mm) that means that it is a slower revving engine..... So over race distance it may prove to save the tires better .... It is very cool that the performance of ther EBR has improved so much that it gives us the opportunity to make this kind of discussions . It is amazing the level of a boost that a superfast rider (Canepa) can give to a racing efford I will say it again ... Nick is our Hero ! ! I have to admit that after following the WSBK class for 20 years..... This is the first time I am so excited for a race weekend ! (Message edited by vagelis46 on February 17, 2015) | ||
| D_adams |
I thought I saw mention of a limit on the cost of electronics to the tune of about $8000 on the bikes? Also, they're limited to stock connecting rods and pistons? It's about time if it's true. $1/2 million for a race bike that only barely resembles the street going version is silly. At least EBR's bikes are (for the most part) realistically obtainable. Sure, you'd probably spend $100k getting up to where they're currently at on cost, but still, that's a LOT better than spending 5x more than that to go all of 1.1 seconds faster around that track. I'm thinking some of the rules changes have leveled the playing field somewhat. That, and we've got one of those "alien" riders piloting now. Sure, May was fast/steady, but Canepa is on another level and it may be enough to get into the top 10 now. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Summary of the 2015 rules here : https://motomatters.com/news/2014/06/14/2015_world _superbike_regulations_release.html | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Nick's interview : http://www.worldsbk.com/en/videos/2015/2015%20Worl dSBK%20Jerez%20Test%20Niccolo%20Canepa%20ITW?from_ list=latest_videos | ||
| Hughlysses |
It would be very interesting to know what has been changed on the bike since last season. It seems one very critical thing (which shouldn't have been THAT hard to do early last season) was to re-route the exhaust to provide adequate right side ground clearance. Hopefully we will learn more about the changes. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Watch the video I posted (you have to subscribe) ...Nick explains that electronics were changed.... May and Yates were not using electronics that much... old school ...and 3s off the pace ..... (Message edited by vagelis46 on February 17, 2015) | ||
| Jscott |
Interview with Larry Pegram - he makes no bones about their goal to be in the top ten… http://racertv.com/2015/02/17/the-racer-x-show-7 (Message edited by Jscott on February 17, 2015) | ||
| Reepicheep |
What is the point of an $8000 price limit on software this year when you can reuse software you spent $2m developing last year? And how on earth would you police it anyway? | ||
| Hughlysses |
This weeks Cycle News has a good article on the upcoming WSBK season including a discussion of the rules for 2015: http://cyclenews.uberflip.com/i/464773 | ||
| Jaimec |
BAYLISS will race at the Philip Island round! Woah!!! | ||
| Vagelis46 |
The price limit is for the hardware+software...ECU+sensors+software maximum 8000euros... and they have to make it available to other teams if required.. Some teams were using systems that just the ECU had a price much higher than 8000 euros. That was not very good for competition for the smaller teams. Ducati were using the same system as the motoGP bikes... more that 100.000euros.... So the new rules make a loto of sense to me .. The "rich" teams have to download high tech software to less exotic hardware, which is a big challenge. The teams were given 2 rounds in 2015 to adjust their electronics to the new rules(Philip Island and Thailand race) ..after that they have to switch to the 8000euros platform... Kawa and Suzuki will use their 2014 electronics for Philip Island..EBR, Duc, Aprilia, BMW Honda have switched to the 8000euros platform.. So Kawasakis and Suzukis were fastest at the Philip Island test a couple of days ago....BUT they were using more advanced electronics than the other teams, so they hold an advantage to the other teams at the moment...... EBR is already using the 8000euros platform and had to start from the absolute zero a few months ago , since last year his factory riders went for extremely limited use of electronics, often running without anti-willie and with a traction control to the minimum. Nick said : "We did in a few months the development that usually takes a year and a half,". This is very impressive.... for the enginners and Larry's team..They are really "special"..... Also it means that if Kawa and Suzuki were using the 8000platform the gap of the EBR to the top would be less than 1sec.... Things are looking very good for EBR.... Nick also said to an italian interview that the chassis of the EBR is better than the Panigale.... (Message edited by vagelis46 on February 18, 2015) (Message edited by vagelis46 on February 18, 2015) | ||
| Bads1 |
Nice to hear that Bayliss will ride for Ducati this weekend | ||
| Slaughter |
Canepa at Phillip Island:  | ||
| Vagelis46 |
It would be great to know the whole story of the Philip Island test...for example was the ISO brake used by Canepa or only the 2-disc brakes ?? What tires did he use ? WHat does he think of the performance of the EBR when the tires are starting to wear ? I guess we will find the answer to these questions in 2 days..... Also , we will see Troy Bayliss riding the Panigale...... looking forward to that ! | ||
| Fuzzz |
Wondering the same thing, there was one photo on FB Jens posted of Nic with the ISO, and it appears to be Day 2 at Phillip Island....  | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Fuzzz , the photo you posted was from Jerez. In Jerez , Nick tried both ISO and 2-disc , and he did identical times. He said on camera on an interview on worldsbk.com that he likes ISO and that they will use both systems depending on the track layaout...So far ALL the photos of Nick from Philip Island has him using the 2-disc... I saw some highlights from day 2 of the PI test on worldsbk.com , and he was using the 2-discs. Maybe in Philip Island they will concentrate on 2-discs...OR they will also test the ISO to get a clear indication of its potential...They will never have the opportunity to test for 4 days on a particular track...Maybe they get analytical, and they will take their time to test both the braking systems for the PI... A few more hours and we will find out ! (Message edited by vagelis46 on February 18, 2015) | ||
| M1combat |
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