| Author | Message | ||
     Fast1075 |
The postings on this board are mostly facts as they are perceived, and pain from long time enthusiasts, myself included. On other boards, the postings are figurative icepick through the eye stuff. Something the PR guys need to take to heart. | ||
| Xb1125r |
It sucks to see ebr not doing better, but they are getting air time. Experience and respect, because every one thinks Americans get things handed down to them. This shows that we fail but don't quit. Things will only get better. Ebr has good hard working people | ||
| Ezblast |
Concur | ||
| Trojan |
but they are getting air time. Experience and respect, Actually of the three things you mention they are only getting experience. Air time is almost non existent outside specialist forums such as this, and TV time virtually nil. The only mention they get in commentary is to say that they have either broken down or won't make the second race. That does not garner respect from the wider motorcycle community unfortunately, rather the opposite. having entered as a factory team with a huge sponsor they have kind of made a rod for their own back now, adn anything less than being competitive with other factory entries will be deemed as a failure outside of the Buell/EBR community. every one thinks Americans get things handed down to them That isn't a point of view I have heard. In fact most people outside the US seem to think that America can just buy what they want. Whatever the view, actual nationality of manufacturer has very little to do with racing and isn't a factor in the criticism of EBR so far in my opinion. | ||
| Hughlysses |
http://www.sportrider.com/news/wsbk-team-hero-ebr- skips-assen-race-two-to-analyze-engine-issues?src= SOC&dom=fb Notoriously a difficult track, Assen did not turn out to be too kind on Team Hero EBR. During the third WSBK round, Geoff May and Aaron Yates' hopes of a rematch after a difficult Superpole were shattered by engine failures during Race One, which was eventually stopped by red flags because of the smoke (and possibly oil) coming off May's 1190 RX. As a consequence, the team decided to opt out of Race Two and return to the race shop to examine the engines before returning to the track at Imola in two weeks. "It's the kind of decision that hurts," said Team Manager Giulio Bardi. "It wasn't pretty but it's the right thing to do. We decided to skip the afternoon race for two reasons. First, with only eight engines allowed per rider in the season, we want to make sure we understand what caused the failure before breaking a new seal. This, of course, wasn't something we could do in just an hour and a half in between races. Also, we want to make sure our riders are able to finish the race once we send them out there." EBR's twin-cylinder engines will be taken to Verdello, Italy (where the team's workshop is based), and thoroughly analyzed. "We won't send the engines to Wisconsin, since we already carry out their development in Italy," Bardi added. "We are in touch with the factory on a daily basis, so we will talk with them and decide the next steps together. The positive thing is that, before being forced to retire, both riders were able to reduce their gap by one second compared with yesterday. Aaron and Geoff were both having fun. We've surely made another step forward over the weekend." Meanwhile, the crew will keep developing the bike to narrow the gap from its counterparts, mainly focusing on outright power. "It's the price to pay when you're the last one joining the competition," Bardi reasoned. "Our development is non-stop. Here in Assen, we were forced to tweak the tail section of our exhaust pipes to match the noise requirements, but managed not to lose top power. We're still working on optimizing the output at lower regimes, but we're getting there." Imola's layout, which favors rideability over sheer power, should theoretically help EBR to get closer to the front. In two weeks' time, the first answers will come. (cross-posted from EBR in the News forum) | ||
| Trojan |
Imola's layout, which favors rideability over sheer power, should theoretically help EBR to get closer to the front. yeah right, because all the other Superbikes are unrideable aren't they? Unfortunately there isn't a bad handling bike in the series now and electronics have pretty much solved tyre wear issues, so rideability is pretty much the same for everyone. I don't see any bike having a distinct handling advantage these days that can make up for lack of sheer power and electronic strategy. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Team Hero/EBR Aragon highlights video just posted to Facebook: | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
"We won't send the engines to Wisconsin, since we already carry out their development in Italy," Bardi added. "We are in touch with the factory on a daily basis, so we will talk with them and decide the next steps together." There's your answer Matt. This isn't a EBR factory team or effort. It's Bardi running a team with EBR bikes and EBR doing a token shouty bit down the phone is all. Rocket in England | ||
| Hughlysses |
Matt and/or Rocket- what's Bardi's history in WSBK? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Not sure this has been posted before; from a Sportrider interview with Bardi in February:
article: http://www.sportrider.com/sportbike-news/ebr-world -superbike-debut-to-slow-start | ||
| Trojan |
Matt and/or Rocket- what's Bardi's history in WSBK? From my blog page  Rather than being a factory run team, it appears that the team will run from a base in Italy and will be run as a separate entity by experienced personnel, similar to most factory WSB teams these days. In fact the only personnel mentioned so far as being from the US are the two riders. Claudio Quintarelli -(team owner) Has been team manager for Martini racing in Italian CIV and World Supersport competiton, so is very experienced in European and world championship racing. Giulio Bardi - (Team manager) Is currently the official starter at WSBK events and has also been the rider/team representative on the WSBK safety commission. I believe he was involved in the Yamaha Italy WSBK squad prior to this. I have no idea of the other important team personnel such as data techs and crew chiefs, and assume that they made the move with Quintarelli from Italian CIV racing? | ||
| Gschuette |
It almost seems as if those of use claiming the EBR effort was woefully unprepared for the task at hand were on to something. Go back to the scientific method. Controls and variables. The EBR has introduced variable after variable in situations where there should be controls. WSBK caliber riders should be a control not a variable (obviously you can't control 100% of rider issues but someone that has seen the track seems important) WSBK spec forks should have been on since day one. Feel under braking is too important to ignore. Quit bragging about stock crap on the bike when it is clearly a hindrance. The McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari are amazing machines but they would be spanked around a F1 race by a purpose built Red Bull. I'm impressed by results, not nonperformance twisted to try and appear favorable. Stock parts in WSBK is not a bragging right. You don't see privateers in Supercross claim "Well we have the closest to stock bike out here so being lapped by Villopoto on his works bike isn't a big deal." Hell no, they do everything they can to get better, make the bike better, and close the gap as much as possible. I'm sure the streetbike is a riot but this is embarassing. | ||
| Hughlysses |
It almost seems as if those of use claiming the EBR effort was woefully unprepared for the task at hand were on to something. Well it seems highly unlikely that Claudio Quintarelli and Giulio Bardi, and certainly not Erik Buell, were surprised by how things have gone. They chose to proceed on this basis; we just don't know why. | ||
| Classax |
I would suggest that all you guys who have all the answers simply email your expertise to the team. Better yet just whip up the CAD files for how to make the needed parts or better yet take them down to the local machine shop and have them made, I'm sure the team would gladly buy your solutions. I'm glad there's a work ethic that is willing to endure being the worst while you are striving to be the best, otherwise we'd have no one who stuck around long enough to be good at anything. I'm not saying stock parts are the best thing for a WSb effort but its what they have and the fact that they are able to qualify on the grid with them is a triumph in that even the evo bikes are race specific kit. Its what they are starting with, not what they will end up with. Everyone keeps saying they should be or do this or that. A) almost none of us are qualified to or capable of mounting a similar "embarrassing" effort. B) Few of us have the technical expertise to fully understand let alone fix the issues they are facing. C) Very few if any of us have the talent to lap a track within 6 seconds of the lap records after only 5 hours of practice. D) Just about every "factory" team these days is a proxy effort by mostly private team under the factory banner. The reality is you have to start somewhere and sometimes you have to be last before you can work you way to first. That said its not a good showing when an engine blows mid race but its part of racing. Prep, Race, Learn, Repeat. That's the game, sometimes it takes a few rounds or years to reach the middle, let alone the top. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Professional critics are what they are, professional critics. They sometimes have valid points, but in the whole scope of things it's the people doing, falling, getting up again, and building things that get my respect. | ||
| Bads1 |
Some of you don't like to hear any Criticism when it come to Buell or EBR in any way so you lash out. there are professional critics and then there are Fan base critics. Which one do you think its more listened to?? Many years coming here to this forum and it still is funny.lol | ||
| Ljm |
You know, I think everyone gets their opinion. But after the first 5000 times, it just gets tiring. Got it, some members think that it is an incompetent effort. Say something else. Add new information. | ||
| Trojan |
even the evo bikes are race specific kit. The EVo bikes are Superstock engines in WSB Superbike chassis. You can buy all the suspension and brake parts to make your road bike into an EVo spec bike ready for WSb. This is just one of the reasons why I and others think that EBR SHOULD have entered as an EVO team rather than as a factory team. | ||
| Firstbuell |
where's that "beating a dead horse" gif? | ||
| Hughlysses |
 There you go.  | ||
| Bads1 |
Ok lets change subject. Many have come to now talk about racing because EBR is now there. Cool .... Who's gonna win the championship?? Who's looking good this year?? Funny thing is not all posting here follow the sport close enough I bet to talk about anything other then the EBR effort. Who's it gonna be Sykes??? Or?? | ||
| Classax |
Sykes is the man! The guy is just in the zone on race days. That said I really feel like Rea or even Lowes could really have special seasons this year if they can be consistent. Lowes may be the next big thing. I really like what he's doing. Rea may win a MotoGP seat if he's not careful. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I would like Guintoli to get his first WSBK title.......... Nice rider....and likableperson | ||
| Bads1 |
I think Rea has already had offers. Sykes is awesome but Im just wondering if hes not quite on his "A" game this year or if others including his team mate Bazz has stepped up. | ||
| Albert666 |
i think sykes is still good for the title although it'd be good to see guintoli get it. wouldn't it have been beneficial for team ebr to go out in the second race and get some wet weather data? might be handy somewhere along the line?? | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
I always want the best to win. That's what racing proves. Who's the best. Rocket in England | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
I would suggest that all you guys who have all the answers simply email your expertise to the team. Better yet just whip up the CAD files for how to make the needed parts or better yet take them down to the local machine shop and have them made, I'm sure the team would gladly buy your solutions. At this level of competition the team would do better with closer ties to EBR and Hero seeing as this is where the engineering and financial solutions lie. Rocket in England | ||
| Jumbo_petite |
All I know is I like Erik Buell, his bikes, the employees working for him and commend him and the team for the effort, drive and determination they are putting into the SBK series. Would I like to see better results, most definitely. I think unless you have fielded a SBK team for a season or more, no one here has the full understanding of the challenges they are facing. Stand by them. Root for them. If you want to criticize or belittle their efforts. find another forum | ||
| Ljm |
Sykes. But it is a long season. | ||
| Trojan |
If you want to criticize Yeah, we only want blind unquestioning obedience here thank you  As for who will win the championship....It will take a lot to beat Tom Sykes at the moment. When he doesn't win he is in the top 3 or 4 every week and that is what wins championships. Guintoli shows flashes of brilliance then makes silly mistakes, as does Melendri. Alex Lowes is a name for the future but maybe not just yet (and not on a Suzuki). Laverty won't win a championship on the Suzuki either although may win a few races along the way. Johnny Rea has spent too long being loyal to Honda and is now too old to be condidered for a full time MotoGP ride. It is hard to see him being a title winner unless he jumps team pretty soon (likewiswe Haslam although I think his chance has long gone). Ducati? not yet. Who is left to challenge Sykes for the title? That just leaves the next strongest rider on the best bike and that is Loris Baz. He has shown how strong he is in the wet and is now a force in the dry too. Kawasaki may have to enforce some team orders before long or they will be taking points away from each other instead of making a clean sweep of the championship. In the EVO class it is hard to see anyone beating Kawasaki and Salom over a full season, although if Leon Camier keeps his ride he could challenge on the BMW. If Bimota could score points they would be very strong too. There...not a mention of how poorly EBR are doing so far.......Doh! |
