FX practice time

http://superbikeplanet.com/2006/Mar/sp2/060308i.htm

So much for the new Buell....



Chris  

I’m sure that it’s just some teething problems.  

Top 10 for a (more or less) brand new model? I don't think that's too bad.  

Let's also not forget that they are a group of private entries working with half the budget of the Hondas or the Yamahas.  

Yeah, and they don't do pitt stops either; best finish by Buell 52.    

I don't think any of them finished.
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=25249

Perhaps this picture sums it all up...
 

Considering the Buell teams all coordinated testing time before hand, I would say they had more of a budget than the true privateers like Eric Wood, Brian Stokes, and Daniel Ortega. At least those guys finished.  

They finished on bikes that have been tested for more than a couple of months.  

On a true privateer bike? Testing before hand is almost unheard of. Testing is running the same bike and motor at the CCS race the weekend prior to Daytona.  

I'm not talking about their individual bikes, I'm talking about the designs.  The Buell featured many new untested parts.  What were they riding Hondas, Yamahas?  I rest my case, well tested over the past two or three years.  

Yamaha was brand new this year. They both finished.

Oh yeah, that's right the XB-RR, which shares little in common with the production XB-12 which has raced the past couple of seasons.  

So just because the Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki are inline 4s, they should be expected to finish the race??  HDs been racing dirt trackers for years.  Those bikes finish just fine.  Shouldn't an air cooled V-twin be reliable?  If not, then I'll probably never get one.  And the new R6 shares nothing but the name with previous models--no interchangeable parts...  It will probably have some 'teething' issues this year.

Inline 4s have only been around since the late 60s.  Air cooled V-twins have been around for about 100 years...  Which should be more reliable?  Which is more of a proven technology?

What were these new untested parts?  They didn't run the slipper clutch that they were working on....  The XBRR is based on a street bike after all, so 200 miles should be a walk in the park for it.    Why would they run untested parts?  There is nothing revolutionary about any of the equipment on the Japanese bikes.  They are not mini-Superbikes...  Sport Rider entered a rider in a FX race last year.  I don't know what their $$ comitment was, but I bet it wasn't close to $31k.  It probably would have done better if AT was riding.    

I think it will do better in the rest of the races since they won't/don't need to stop for tires and fuel.  They'll at least finish top 10.  McWilliams seemed to hold his qualifying position until the pit stops...  They won't podium though.  And there should be a slightly better CBR600RR next year for Honda to race if they decide to stay in FX which will put the Buell further behind...  Probably need some rule changes to make it a contender for an ocassional win...

It did do better than I expected (when it was running.)  I hope Buell keeps trying.  

Who wants to see Ducati run their SS1000 with a 1340cc engine?  


Chris