Re: The I(inline-4)mpire Strikes Back
If you believe all the press releases spewing out of Mladin's shop, you would think they already have the title, or at least the race, sewn up and may as well cancel the race and replace it with parade laps for the Harley guys who are in town for the festivities.
If the big gixxer is, in fact, that fast, I will be hoping that Yates is up to kicking his teammate's ass, because I really don't want to see Mat win again. Taleted rider, but a real jerk!
It will be interesting to watch and compare how the AMA rules compare to the WSB rules. WSB allows almost unlimited internal mods, then makes the big 4s breath through a straw, while AMA limits internal mods but leaves breathing pretty much open.
My impression is that the AMA gixxers are producing more power than Lavilla's WSB bike. On the other hand, the heavier rotating mass (no crank or rod lightening allowed by AMA) will make the motor rev up slower, as well as probably making it harder to turn.
From reports I have read elsewhere, this is a bigger limitation for the R1 and the 954 than for the gixxer, as the gixxer apparently comes from the factory with a very light crank.
Should be an interesting season.
Bob