Buell At Daytona

American SportBike Roadracing Series Thunderbike National



it would be good to know what the machine restrictions are for this series. is it similar to the previous thunder series in that it allows:



- 2-valve twins up to 1200 cc?

- three-cylinder engines up to 900 cc?

- any motorcycle as long as the manufacturers' initials are "H-D?"



what's the scoop? and thx.

crap don't pop champagne yet. from Roadracingworld.com:

German rider Rico Penzkofer, 30, became the first man to win a race on a Buell XB-RR with a victory in the CCS Supertwins race at Daytona International Speedway Saturday.

Penzkofer took the lead on the first lap of the six-lap contest but was passed mid-race by Dario Marchetti, a former World Superbike regular who was riding a Ducati 999RS Superbike.

Thanks in part to the top speed advantage of his motorcycle, Marchetti led the second half of the sprint, but Penzkofer was able to stay close. On the final lap, Marchetti led into and out of the chicane and looked sure to hold his lead to the checkered flag. Marchetti was forced to back off, however, when his helmet visor began fogging as he approached a group of slower riders on the run from NASCAR Turn Four to the finish line. This allowed Buell of Hanover's Penzkofer to sneak through and take the XB-RR's first victory in its debut race weekend.

"I hope it is not the last win for this bike - or for me," Penzkofer told Roadracingworld.com.

The race at Daytona was Penzkofer's first competitive event in the U.S.

Penzkofer has previously tested twice at Daytona, the first time in December 2005 and the second time in January.

Earlier in the day, Penzkofer qualified the Buell XB-RR eighth for the ASRA Superbike race, which is scheduled for Sunday. Penzkofer turned a 1:47.202, about five seconds slower than polesitter Jason DiSalvo and his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 at 1:42.290. Steve Crevier, also riding a Buell XB-RR, qualified first for the ASRA Thunderbike race, turning a 1:49.695 but was disqualifed because he had not actually entered the race.

The lap times turned so far by Penzkofer and Crevier may indicate that wild Internet speculation that the two-valve, pushrod, air-cooled twin-cylinder Buell XB-RR will steamroll next week's AMA Formula Xtreme race against four-valve, DOHC, water-cooled four-cylinder 600cc machines is somewhat premature.