| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Here's a question for Erik and crew: In a recent interview, Michael Jordan was lamenting that his Superbike team doesn't have access to the same parts and support as Mat Mladin and Ben Spies. Suzuki wouldn't even let him buy the winning bike from last year ("You can't afford it"). Now here's my thought: How AWESOME would it be to have a factory Buell team on the grid for 2009 with Michael Jordan running the team? That would be an "All American" team for sure! My problem would be that I would hate to have to wait that long to see it happen? | ||
| Chadhargis |
Yep...that would be awesome. I've always wondered why Spies and Mladin had such an advantage. Heck...even Hayden, who is supposed to be a teammate, isn't up front. | ||
| Socalbuell |
I like that idea not only would gather lots of media attension but it would just rock | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Someone should talk to MJ about that..... Maybe someone should let him have a demo bike for a couple months? | ||
| Jaimec |
Sure hope this discussion gets some wheels turning in the heads of some elves in East Troy... | ||
| Kenneth |
I don't see MJ ditching Suzuki for anything. He could have had Spies at the end of last year if he didn't want to keep Suzuki. Now Joe Gibbs on the other hand... oh wait, I hear he is going into dirt bikes. | ||
| Dwiggs |
From the interview: "Q: Would you be interested in taking over a factory team? Say if Ducati came back -- running their factory team for them, something like that? A: I'm not opposed to that. At all. As long as I can win. If I can win, I play. If I can't win, it's not worth playing. Nobody wants to play a game where you know you can't win." | ||
| Jimidan |
dream on... | ||
| Jaimec |
Jake Holden finished 8th and Aaron Yates 6th in the first practice at Laguna Seca. Way off Spies and Mladin (almost two seconds!!). Think MJ might be getting just a little frustrated? He wants to WIN, and he'd be happier with a factory team behind him... | ||
| Kenneth |
Sorry, but I just don't think that ANY manufacturer is going to field a bike that is capable of beating the Yosh Suzukis under the current rules. That team has the whole field covered, usually by more than a second per lap. I don't think it is the bikes or the riders exactly, but the whole package. No other manufacturer can come close. There is no parity. Why do you think Ducati is still running WSB and not AMA... they didn't have a chance... Ducati! I would love to see Buell field a WSB team, where more than 1 manufacturer has won this year. Honda was the last manufacturer to beat the Yosh guys and that was over a year ago now. Jordan isn't unhappy with his team or with Suzuki... he's unhappy with the rules package that keeps him from winning no matter which manufacturer he chooses. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
why is it that ama does not do something about the suzuki team? I love ama superbike racing but i does not have any apeal anymore because it only caters to those 2 bikes. I think they should put some rules in place that give the rest of the feild a better chance. You cant make me for one minute make me belive it is just the 2 riders. I am willing to bet money that if they was on any other bikes besides the ones they are on they would be somewere in the pack with every one eles. Not saying they are not good riders just saying they have some huge advatage in those two bikes that not even there teammate or other suzuki riders have. | ||
| Jaimec |
Do you seriously believe Honda isn't trying everything in the book to beat the Suzukis? They have deeper pockets than Suzuki, so why aren't they winning? As a factory team they have the same rules applying to them as to Suzuki. Ducati pulled out because AMA rules wouldn't allow their 1000cc twins to compete fairly with the 1000cc fours. WSBK allows far more tuning modifications for twins than AMA Superbike, THAT'S why they pulled out. Mat and Ben are just leagues above everyone else, that's it. Can't wait to see what Ben will do in MotoGP! | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
if they are that good like you say then why doesnt mat move up dont you think if it is all him then he would move to motogp. The only person to steal his chapionship from him besides ben is now in motogp and is currently riding around with the number one plate there this year. I think mat knows that he has an advatage in the ama that he would not have in wsbk or motogp thats why he wont move up to the higher levels. | ||
| Pwest |
I have to agree, I think suzuki is the smallest of the jap factories, but they have been around the longest in the AMA. honda just started doing there own superbikes 3 years ago,kawisakis in there 2nd year yamaha in there first. I hope buell does get into superbikes but they will have to put in a full factory effort with top riders to even make a dent no matter how good a bike they have. | ||
| Spatten1 |
honda just started doing there own superbikes 3 years ago,kawisakis in there 2nd year yamaha in there first. Honda's been in it forever, so has Kawi. There were just a couple of years that they didn't compete because the AMA keeps F'ing up all the classes and rules. | ||
| Kenneth |
I think all the manufacturers are trying everything they can to win. I think the Yosh boys undoubtedly had traction control long before anyone else and that is a big part of it. Even Miguel says that he doesn't consider his engine management to be "traction control" yet. Yes, the rules here don't allow Ducati to be competitive like they do in world superbike... hence they can't win... hence they only run WSB. The ducati's were just as competitive as any other bike, just couldn't beat the factory suzukis. I think it will take a Burgess-Rossi type combo to dethrone the Suzuki's, either that or Ben going to Motogp AND Mat retiring. | ||
| Jaimec |
Basically, Mat is too old for MotoGP at this point. Besides, he likes being at the top in AMA. No reason for him at this stage of the game to go to the bottom rung in a brand new series. Ben is a different story... he is just at the right age to make the jump. | ||
| Gregtonn |
why is it that ama does not do something about the suzuki team? Why should a team be penalized for good performance? Racing should be about improving performance, not reducing it to the lowest common denominator. That could get really boring! Just one mans opinion. G. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
Well I think that in road racing the rider should have a even playing field to a certian point. look at moto gp most of the time the only advantage a rider had on the bike is tires. Sure sometimes one engine will be bettter than another but in moto gp it is more times than any its based on rider ability. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Great quote from Laguna today on SuperbikePlanet: Another rider challenging for best in the non-Yosh class is Jordan Suzuki's Aaron Yates. His team has some new suspension links for him this weekend, and Yates is sitting pretty on the timing charts, in front of several factory riders. | ||
| Jimidan |
why is it that ama does not do something about the suzuki team? Well, they are...they just allowed v-twins to go to 1200 cc. That should even things out a bit. But what do I know about it...I am but a "troll". jimidan | ||
| Kenneth |
I wonder if that is going to induce the big 4 into building some 1200 cc twins to go racing with. Obviously it will bring Ducati back into the fold, but will the other manufacturers jump on the bandwagon. I wouldn't mind seeing some more big displacement twins on the market, they sound cool. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Kenneth may be onto something. Will the broader flatter power curve of a big twin win out over the peakier high revving fours? Will the Big Four abandon the horse power wars and give riders more useful power curves? Has Buell forced a paradigm shift? Time will tell. I'm getting goose bumps, this could be BIG! G.  | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
Well Honda did this before. Thats why they came out with the rc51. Ducati was domintating at the time with there v twins so honda wanted to beat them at there own game. It will be interesting to see if they try it again since we have ducati and buell makeing competitve v twins. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Suzuki built a big twin too. Had some strange quirks. Rotary rear shock. On at least one model the oil cooler was mounted just behind the front exhaust header. Made me wonder about the rest of the design. | ||
| Kenneth |
MJ's man Yates finished 3rd today... 30 seconds down from the leader, but still in front of every non-Yosh factory rider. | ||
| Jaimec |
World Superbike is coming to Miller Motorsports Park in Utah next summer: http://tinyurl.com/2cscnd Wouldn't it be AWESOME to see an 1125R on the grid? WSBK will already allow 1200cc twins in 2008. It will take a whole 'nother year for AMA to allow them. | ||
| Jimidan |
Wouldn't it be AWESOME to see an 1125R on the grid? WSBK will already allow 1200cc twins in 2008. It will take a whole 'nother year for AMA to allow them. AMA has allowed 1200 twins for next year too...I posted it above, but you are probably one of those who don't read my posts anymore.} | ||
| Jaimec |
I only remember seeing a press release from the AMA regarding 1200cc twins in 2009... where did you see that they were allowing them in 2008? That would be great! Hang on... let me give your last post 1 star now... | ||
| Jimidan |
A few posts ago, I stated that the AMA had approved 1200cc v-twins for Superbike racing in the 2008 season. My post was based on a thread in Speedzilla a week or so ago, that had a link to a story stating the same. I went back to where I thought it was and I could not find it. So I did a search and found nothing about it on AMA's site, SPEED Channel, and others, and found nada. I am beginning to think that either it was a hoax, or maybe I took too much acid in college. Can someone verify whether the AMA has or has not approved the 1200 cc v-twin configuration for the 2008 Superbike season? If the info I posted was incorrect, then I want to apologize for posting it. That was not my intention. (Message edited by jimidan on July 26, 2007) | ||
| Jaimec |
2008 you're still limited to 1000cc. 1200cc twins will not be allowed in AMA Superbike till 2009. See http://tinyurl.com/2mtbbf |
