Mladin Chasing Third Victory At Daytona
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Tire Developments
Dunlop have just announced that they will not provide special qualifying tires for Daytona or the remainder of the AMA series CLICK HERE FOR STORY.
I wonder if this is a trend. Reportedly, Michelin has declined to provide qualifying tires for any of the MotoGP winter tests, including the IRTA tests in Jerez and Estoril. There is a possibility that Honda MAY have had a few, but Yamaha, Ducati and Aprilia teams have confirmed that all tests to date were on race tires only.
We may be seeing an informal agreement among the tire manufacturers to eliminate the cost of providing special qualifying tires -- team managers would likely also approve, provided that everyone was in the same boat, as qualifying tires typically require different settings.
Bob
Dunlop have just announced that they will not provide special qualifying tires for Daytona or the remainder of the AMA series CLICK HERE FOR STORY.
I wonder if this is a trend. Reportedly, Michelin has declined to provide qualifying tires for any of the MotoGP winter tests, including the IRTA tests in Jerez and Estoril. There is a possibility that Honda MAY have had a few, but Yamaha, Ducati and Aprilia teams have confirmed that all tests to date were on race tires only.
We may be seeing an informal agreement among the tire manufacturers to eliminate the cost of providing special qualifying tires -- team managers would likely also approve, provided that everyone was in the same boat, as qualifying tires typically require different settings.
Bob
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
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
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Re: The I(inline-4)mpire Strikes Back
I'll still be rooting for Gobert so we can have another season of bleating about "unfairness." I think Daytona will be a tough place for the Duc though since it is a high speed track.
Perhaps the Duc will be easier on the tires. Bob do you know why the 999 isn't being raced in AMA Superbike?
I'll still be rooting for Gobert so we can have another season of bleating about "unfairness." I think Daytona will be a tough place for the Duc though since it is a high speed track.
Perhaps the Duc will be easier on the tires. Bob do you know why the 999 isn't being raced in AMA Superbike?
Re: The I(inline-4)mpire Strikes Back
As I recall GoShow WAS pretty quick in Daytona testing earlier, so maybe it isn't totally out of the question.
It looks like Ducati are being really stingy with the 999s -- WSB only has the 2, for the factory team. The HMPlant team (Hodgson's old team) apparently got Troy, Ruben and Ben's 2002 bikes and many of the rest were on 2001 spec 996s.
My guess is that it comes down to money. They have megabuck already invested in bikes that are only marginally different from the latest factory bikes and to provide the newest stuff to private teams, they would likely have to subsidise the price (for example, reportedly US Honda and Erion here bought the RC51s outright for far less than the annual lease payment that HRC charged to the WSB Castrol team last year -- which I hear is also the reason there are no private RC51s in WSB this year -- or last year).
The 999s did look better than the 998s at Valencia, but the extent to which that is because they have the 2 best riders and the best teams, vs inherent superiority of the 999 is not clear.
Cheers
Bob
As I recall GoShow WAS pretty quick in Daytona testing earlier, so maybe it isn't totally out of the question.
It looks like Ducati are being really stingy with the 999s -- WSB only has the 2, for the factory team. The HMPlant team (Hodgson's old team) apparently got Troy, Ruben and Ben's 2002 bikes and many of the rest were on 2001 spec 996s.
My guess is that it comes down to money. They have megabuck already invested in bikes that are only marginally different from the latest factory bikes and to provide the newest stuff to private teams, they would likely have to subsidise the price (for example, reportedly US Honda and Erion here bought the RC51s outright for far less than the annual lease payment that HRC charged to the WSB Castrol team last year -- which I hear is also the reason there are no private RC51s in WSB this year -- or last year).
The 999s did look better than the 998s at Valencia, but the extent to which that is because they have the 2 best riders and the best teams, vs inherent superiority of the 999 is not clear.
Cheers
Bob
Re: What about Gobert
Can anybody tell me if they think a Duc can last 200 miles? That might be what decides whether KPaul's in-lines do win or not if the Honda guys fall by the wayside too. I have no doubt Mladin's bike will go the distance unless he crashes.
Can anybody tell me if they think a Duc can last 200 miles? That might be what decides whether KPaul's in-lines do win or not if the Honda guys fall by the wayside too. I have no doubt Mladin's bike will go the distance unless he crashes.
Re: What about Gobert
That is the question. Ducatis have usually been fast at Daytona, but 200 mi of racing, plus the extended time at full speed every lap are unique conditions in the world of superbike racing, and they have had more than their share of DNFs.
Durability of Ducati race motors has improved considerably, but at Daytona, it still could be an issue.
As much as I hate to admit it, Mladin is looking good for the fast time, and if he can manage tire wear and get any lucky breaks, for the win.
Bob
That is the question. Ducatis have usually been fast at Daytona, but 200 mi of racing, plus the extended time at full speed every lap are unique conditions in the world of superbike racing, and they have had more than their share of DNFs.
Durability of Ducati race motors has improved considerably, but at Daytona, it still could be an issue.
As much as I hate to admit it, Mladin is looking good for the fast time, and if he can manage tire wear and get any lucky breaks, for the win.
Bob
Re: The I(inline-4)mpire Strikes Back
Interesting article from AMASuperbike.com by a former Vance & Hines crewchief discussing pros and cons of the different AMA configurations.
CLICK HERE FOR STORY
Be interesting to see if his predictions pan out.
Interesting article from AMASuperbike.com by a former Vance & Hines crewchief discussing pros and cons of the different AMA configurations.
CLICK HERE FOR STORY
Be interesting to see if his predictions pan out.
December Tests
I double checked and GoShow was 3rd fastest in the December tire tests -- BBoz first on the RC51, then Mladin on the 1000 gixxer, then Gobert.
Of course, the gixxer was in early stages of development then and may be faster now. Also the bored out 750 Kwackers were not ready then so EBoz tested at 750cc, not the 770 he will use for the race.
I double checked and GoShow was 3rd fastest in the December tire tests -- BBoz first on the RC51, then Mladin on the 1000 gixxer, then Gobert.
Of course, the gixxer was in early stages of development then and may be faster now. Also the bored out 750 Kwackers were not ready then so EBoz tested at 750cc, not the 770 he will use for the race.
A lesson for the world ??
If they're getting 200HP from the Suzuki, and they are directly competitive with the twins, maybe the WSB officials should pay the USA a visit and take back the rule book.....
After the weekend at Valencia, it seems BSB and AMA will be more exciting to watch unless something happens.......
If they're getting 200HP from the Suzuki, and they are directly competitive with the twins, maybe the WSB officials should pay the USA a visit and take back the rule book.....
After the weekend at Valencia, it seems BSB and AMA will be more exciting to watch unless something happens.......
Re: Kawasaki ZX-8R ????
If Flammini (head of WSB) had pulled his head out of his ass and followed AMA lead, it could have happened. Unfortunately, it looks like the 800cc rule is gonna be just an AMA rule, and possibly a transitional one at that.
I have heard that AMA may extend the 1000 4 rules (which allow fewer internal modifications than the 750s and Twins get) to all sized/configurations for 2004. Probably a step in the right direction, but it would make the 800cc Kwackers lame ducks (pun intended).
I think the biggest differences in the 1000 rules vs the 750/V-Twin rules are:
Crankshafts cannot be lightned
Stock size and material for valves (ie no Ti)
Stock cam lift (can change duration and timing)
Bring on the racing
Bob
If Flammini (head of WSB) had pulled his head out of his ass and followed AMA lead, it could have happened. Unfortunately, it looks like the 800cc rule is gonna be just an AMA rule, and possibly a transitional one at that.
I have heard that AMA may extend the 1000 4 rules (which allow fewer internal modifications than the 750s and Twins get) to all sized/configurations for 2004. Probably a step in the right direction, but it would make the 800cc Kwackers lame ducks (pun intended).
I think the biggest differences in the 1000 rules vs the 750/V-Twin rules are:
Crankshafts cannot be lightned
Stock size and material for valves (ie no Ti)
Stock cam lift (can change duration and timing)
Bring on the racing
Bob
Re: A lesson for the world ??
There are a whole bunch of folks making that point on every race-oriented BBS I have seem since the Sunday race.
Personally, I am a little skeptical about the 200 hp number, as reports are that the 990cc Suzuki MotoGP bike is only getting that. Maybe 200 at the crank, but not rear wheel.
Do you follow BSB? Curious as to what their rules are compared to AMA.
Bob
There are a whole bunch of folks making that point on every race-oriented BBS I have seem since the Sunday race.
Personally, I am a little skeptical about the 200 hp number, as reports are that the 990cc Suzuki MotoGP bike is only getting that. Maybe 200 at the crank, but not rear wheel.
Do you follow BSB? Curious as to what their rules are compared to AMA.
Bob
Re: A lesson for the world ??
Lets hope they (and they know who they are....) are listening!
Haven't followed BSB as closely for a while. They also have heaps of inline fours - R!, Blade etc. They are smart enough to adjust the rules to give different bikes a chance.
In OZ, virtually the whole field is 1000cc - twins are only competitive if they're top line WSB spec -- and it's simply too expensive. The mods for 1000cc I-4's are limited compared to the WSB spec bikes (750's, and the twins) and this keeps the cost WAY down, but they have as much power, more torque, equal chassis- and many people can afford to build one.
BTW - a top racer recently lapped Phillip Island on a stock 02 GSXR1000 in under 1:40...
Lets hope they (and they know who they are....) are listening!
Haven't followed BSB as closely for a while. They also have heaps of inline fours - R!, Blade etc. They are smart enough to adjust the rules to give different bikes a chance.
In OZ, virtually the whole field is 1000cc - twins are only competitive if they're top line WSB spec -- and it's simply too expensive. The mods for 1000cc I-4's are limited compared to the WSB spec bikes (750's, and the twins) and this keeps the cost WAY down, but they have as much power, more torque, equal chassis- and many people can afford to build one.
BTW - a top racer recently lapped Phillip Island on a stock 02 GSXR1000 in under 1:40...
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