| Author | Message | ||
     M2typhoon |
Now that the RX is about to go into production, EBR needs to meet production goals, logistics for a hauler and team, allocate funding and Geoff has to move to Europe. With that said, has EBR done any testing or R&D for the RX to race at all in WSBK? The RS is close cousin to the RX but, in race terminology, it's apples and oranges. So here's the short of it. Is it possible for EBR to produce a set of race bikes and be prepared for the 2014 season? It's already nearly December and being a racer myself, I know many of us who have a long road to preparing for the 2014 season. If they can do it and be mildly successful, I will have much respect for the EBR crew. Maybe some spy shots of the RX race machines will show up. Discuss.. | ||
| Classax |
May was on Pit Pass radio and said he would be traveling to house hunt the week of Dec 1st, that they would test the new bikes at Jarez on or about the 15th of January. He also said his likely team mate will be Yates and thus far they had only tested various WSBK parts but not the entire package. It doesn't appear that they intend to race EVO and are gonna go whole hog, but admit it will be a development year for the bike. He also stated the team will be composed of a virtual dream team of experienced wsbk staff. Very informative yet cryptic interview. | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
We're not gonna know jack about anything to do with the RX until the summer. Can't wait though! | ||
| Court |
I expect to be amazed . . . . | ||
| Jdugger |
> I expect to be amazed . . . . In WSBK or by what will no doubt be a wonderful machine to own, ride and enjoy? | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Both | ||
| Trojan |
I expect to be amazed . . . . I'm sure we would all love to be amazed too. However while Kawasaki, Aprilia, Suzuki, MV etc are knocking out lap record times in testing in Spain day after day you expect to be amazed by a bike that has so far not turned a wheel in testing, by a team/rider combination that nobody yet knows and haven't even tested the complete bike yet let alone against the opposition on the tracks they will race on. Optimism is always a good thing. However it should be tempered by a large slice of reality when it comes to racing. The more testing a team does the more 'amazing' they tend to be on race day. EBR just needed to get across the pond and at least start testing before January. Now there is a test ban in place so they cannot legally test at all until January, by which time every other team has had weeks to fine tune the bikes they tested in November. I'll be happy to see the EBR bikes even get into the top ten in WSB next year. That would be amazing in itself. | ||
| 46champ |
Why would they be effected by the testing ban they havn't officially entered yet. | ||
| Trojan |
Why would they be effected by the testing ban they havn't officially entered yet. I thought there was a cutoff point last month where entries had to be confirmed? I amy be wrong but I'm sure Iread it somewhere. Even if they have not officially entered yet they would still be subject to the testing ban from 1 December if they want to enter for 2014 surely? Otherwise everyone could leave theri entries until February and test their little socks off in complete contravention of the rules. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Miller is running quicker times on the EBR then he did on his Aprilia last year. | ||
| Trojan |
Miller is running quicker times on the EBR then he did on his Aprilia last year. Who? | ||
| 2kx1 |
The guy who raced at Macau. | ||
| Trojan |
Ahh OK, I thought we were talking WSB/AMA riders so Mark Miller didn't register. We don't know the spec of his Aprilia last year, but if it was a Splitlath bike then it would be a LONG way from WSBk spec that is for sure. Splitlath did run an Aprilia RSV4 in BSB under the EVO rules if I remember correctly, and it never remotely bothered the top ten all year. I would think that the EBR 1190 that Miller rode at Macau is a better spec than a customer RSV4 Aprila in BSB Evo spec. | ||
| Classax |
1. Teams have until February 1st to enter and designate a single testing track. They are not allowed to practice on any tracks that will be apart of the series. They may test if the wish as long as its not on a course scheduled to host a WSBK event. per(1.11.1) 2. Per the handicapping rules we will likely never see a championship on twin again because they get penalized for their success. 3. In reality it will be a HUGE success if the EBR team can consistently beat the Reds: The Ducati Superbike Team and the Russians aboard their former Harley Davidson stable mates MV F4. If they finish ahead of these two teams even if its for 19th place it will be a success in the media. 4. The RX has a 11.5K redline and is geared very tall in 6th but it still will be down on top end against the I4's and likely on par with the RSV4. It will shine on the tighter tracks but will suffer greatly down the straights. That said a top ten is not out of reach based on the what we know of the RS and the current testing times so far. | ||
| Trojan |
In reality it will be a HUGE success if the EBR team can consistently beat the Reds: The Ducati Superbike Team and the Russians aboard their former Harley Davidson stable mates MV F4. If they finish ahead of these two teams even if its for 19th place it will be a success in the media. Ducati will throw everything they have at improving the Panigale and with the quality of riders they have it will be a tall order for EBR to beat them with any consistency I think. The MV is an unknown quantity at the moment and they have had a couple of previous attempts to enter WSB/BSB that have been unsuccesful. However the Yaknich team is experienced and have a LOT of money behind them, so I would expect them to hit the ground jogging if not at full sprint. Unfortunatly 19th place may be deemed a success for the team and for EBR fans, but the media won't see it like that(they never do). The media tedn to judge success as being in the top 3 and the rest as failure. They don't see (or ignore) the work that goes into a small team just to get onto the WSb grid in the first place, which is actually a success in its own right, so judge success only on the narrow vison of the results sheet (as do a fair proportion of the public). | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
I predict EBR will be consistently in the top 10. I'm betting they feel the same. | ||
| Trojan |
I predict EBR will be consistently in the top 10. I'm betting they feel the same. I wish I was as confident as you are. However at the moment we don't even know if they are entering as a 'full WSB' spec team or an EVo team. If it is as an EVO team then a top ten overall result would be extremely difficult against full fat WSB spec bikes. If they are in the EVO class then they will probably score some good results within the class but top ten results overall is hard to see at this point. Just look at the opposition in the full WSB class: Kawasaki Aprilia Suzuki Honda (although plagued with electricl problems at the moment!) Ducati That is just factory supported teams with 2 riders each, which should fill out the top ten each week. Then add in factory MV Agusta and some fast privateer Aprilias, kawasakis and ex factory BMW's and you can see how hard it will be for a new team to get a foot into the top ten. | ||
| Classax |
It doesn't look like EBR have any plans to run in the EVO class. The WSBK media is always happy to announce where us Yanks finish. Ducati is throwing a lot of money at the bike, which frankly is already near the zenith of development and performance for the the Vtwin platform. I concur an EBR May/Yates team will be at a severe rider talent disadvantage despite them being great development riders. Racing is just different. The media will turn it into a battle of the twins. As long as they can finish in front of the boys form Bologna it will be considered a near coup. As for the inlines and V4s top 10 will be tough but attainable. Normal goal would be score points in every round with no DNF's or DNS's without getting lapped, so (15 or better) Stretch goal, finish in front of Ducati and they will walk away a success. I feel it important to state that an OVERWHELMING success for first year EBR and MV would be to beat Ducati and crack the top 10, not win the championship. A single podium for either of them would be earth shattering. For every other FACTORY team, nothing short of either a MFG or rider Championship could be called success, for EBR it would hearld armegedon and the end of life as we know it. (Message edited by classax on December 02, 2013) | ||
| M1combat |
"and the end of life as we know it. " I'm armed. We're good to go. Now EBR just has to do their part. | ||
| M1combat |
Seriously though... If all my jumping up and down in front of my TV screaming GO BUELL only propels them to a top ten once or twice throughout the year I'll be stoked. On the money thing I have a feeling Buell will see a decent chunk of it through Hero (and already have) so they may or may not be behind Ducati on that front. Keep in mind that the side of the EBR does indeed have a fairly sizable "Hero" sticker on it. Which is just plain brilliant... to be honest. We have no idea how that's being marketed in India so we don't really know how important this WSBK thing is to them. | ||
| Jdugger |
> I feel it important to state that an > OVERWHELMING success for first year EBR and > MV would be to beat Ducati and crack the top 10 Reality. Right there. EBR is at so, so, so many fundamental disadvantages. They have a very good, not a great rider. They are trying to do this on a twin. They have no WSBK experience. They have precious little set-up data and experience on these circuits. .. and so on. Let's just call the fact the Unites States has its first motorcycle entering mass production that isn't a total piece of shit in many years a huge success in itself and wish EBR the best in what's going to be a learning year. | ||
| Classax |
Let's just call the fact the Unites States has its first motorcycle entering mass production that isn't a total piece of s**t in many years a huge success in itself and wish EBR the best in what's going to be a learning year. ^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^ If an EBR meets all the qualifications to be on the grid every race of the 2014 - production numbers - No DNS's/ DNF's - race team budget capital - lap times inside 107% of the fastest experienced factory supported superstars with 4x to 5x the budget it is a tremendous accomplishment! For it to be the effort of a resurgent man and his company after being purposefully scuttled, is nothing short of EPIC! If it pulls this off, EBR will be Steve Jobs of motorcycle racing. I'm rooting for them all the way, enough so to consider opening my wallet. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Maybe it's just me, but I'm much less interested in the winner of a race than I am in the story that is the race. Having a winner is what makes the story compelling, but being the winner isn't always the compelling point. EBR has one HELL of a good story already, and racing WSBK will only make it better. I hope they do great, but I know it will be interesting regardless! | ||
| Sparky |
Dates Announced for World Superbike. From Laguna Seca's Corkscrew Newsletter:
Boy, if AMA SBK & DSB are going to race there that same time, that'll be another annual exciting weekend of camping & spectating, maybe not as crowded as when MotoGp was here though. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Something's apparently happening on this front. Geoff May posted this photo to his Facebook page yesterday with this caption: "We ain't in Kansas anymore! Potential view from my apartment."  | ||
| M2typhoon |
Hmm... What kind of architecture do you think that is? German, Spanish, Italian.... | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Lucky Bastard.... | ||
| Jdugger |
> Lucky Bastard. Eh, rural Europe... no thanks | ||
| Bads1 |
Italy | ||
| M1combat |
Lol  ... That would be perfect and exactly the sort of thing I'd expect EBR to do... take up residence in Italy and join WSBK . LOL | ||
| Bads1 |
Don I'm serious. Geoff stated when asked where that pic was taken. Hes in Bergamo,Italy. | ||
| Classax |
Well if you look at the specs or Instrument Cluster of the RX, you can clearly see its aimed squarely at the folks down the road in Bologna. EBR is "literally"(in the figurative use of the word) moving into Ducati's back yard. | ||
| Ak_addict |
It will be interesting to hear how he gets along with his neighbors. An American riding an American made bike that's taking aim at Ducati. I need to send him a shirt.  | ||
| Court |
You really don't . . . Italy has a REALLY rich Buell history. The Tribu6800 and Devilstars are among, rivaled only by the "Real Men Ride Twins" folks friends in Brazil, the most passionate in the world of Buell. I've written extensively by and for the Italians (even when they suggested they'd handle the translation on their end) over the years and they are amazing people. All the Buell rockets are on course, per plan, headed in the right direction at the right time. I am thrilled for the May family. Geoff has proven himself to be among the best. My personal guess is that he will rise to the level of competition quickly and with the same level of class that he had demonstrated, consistently, over the years. Geoff is not only a fine rider, he's about the most powerful marketing tool you can put on two wheels. These are exciting times. | ||
| Ak_addict |
Actually I love Italy, been there once and I'm planning on going again next September, the people are great and so much to see. If everything goes right I plan on catching a Moto GP race and renting a Multistrada to do some touring of the countryside. I bought a similar shirt to poke fun at my two buddies with Ducati Monsters, it's all in good fun.  (Message edited by AK Addict on December 05, 2013) | ||
| M1combat |
"Don I'm serious. Geoff stated when asked where that pic was taken. Hes in Bergamo,Italy." Understood . I was mostly referring to the part where it says it's a "potential" view. I figured that left the door open for locations other than Italy. If you say it's definitely Italy though... AWESOME!!!!! | ||
| M2typhoon |
Court, I couldn't agree with you more. Geoff embodies the initials EBR now. He is EBR, he has raced everything Erik has thrown at him with reasonable success. Not to mention he's a family man, all out nice guy and he's from Georgia... throw some apple pie in there and he's absolute representation of the US and it's people. Great things happen to good people. Something we all need to remember. | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
"Let's just call the fact the Unites States has its first motorcycle entering mass production that isn't a total piece of shit in many years a huge success in itself and wish EBR the best in what's going to be a learning year." So say we all.... | ||
| Hughlysses |
Apparently Aaron Yates has been confirmed as the second WSBK rider for EBR: http://www.onenewspage.com/n/Automotive/74w6358hx/ 2014-WSBK-Erik-Buell-Racing-World-Superbike-Team.h tm Nice to see two Georgia boys make the big time! |
