So it begins...WSBK 2015 PI!

5372 Views 66 Replies 22 Participants Last post by freighttrain, Mar 2, 2015

rubbish

Discussion Starter · Feb 20, 2015

FP 2 about to start in 25 minutes or so. Not looking good for Bayliss so far, but it's only the first practice session. I have faith that he will improve his times!

There's a few things I'm wondering about the current line-up.

1. Is the Red Devils Aprilia team a factory team or not?? They ran last year with Elias, and before with Fabrizio...not sure how similar those bikes were with the factory ones, but neither of them ever made it that close to the front. So I'm just wondering whether the new RSV4's are just that good?? Or are Haslam and Torres that good??

...I'm pretty surprised to see them at the front, even though it's just a practice session for now.

2. Is the Althea team a factory team? I'm pretty sure Mercado's Barni bike is not a factory one...but not sure about Althea.

3. Are there still superbikes and EVO bikes this year? Or are they only fully merging into a single class next year? Last year it used to say EVO next to the name of the bikes that were in the EVO class, but I'm not seeing that now.

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rubbish

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 20, 2015

oops...can't read apparently...WSP FP2 is on now, not SBK.

Aussie_Bob

· #3 · Feb 20, 2015

Aren't they all EVO now?

TB21 only lasted 3 laps of his first practice

rubbish

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 20, 2015

Oh shit, you're right! I didn't even realize that on the results sheet. Do you know what happened?? I wish they would broadcast this stuff, like the MotoGP website does!

But that's why we got you Aussies to report directly from the track

Reactions: 1

Aussie_Bob

· #5 · Feb 20, 2015

Assume he crashed.

He was lamenting the 1 bike rule on FB.

rubbish

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 20, 2015

Bummer....well I hope he's ok. I'm sure he doesn't bounce as well as he did 20 years ago

Tuned

· #7 · Feb 20, 2015

Yea, poor TB has some issues with the bike. He's been incapable of putting together any laps in FP2.

Dang! Lots of crashes in practice so far.

rubbish

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 20, 2015

Actually he did quite a few laps now in FP2. Still pretty far down the list but he improved his time. He's 2.6 seconds off the leader. Most of the riders were slower this session...same was the case in WSP.

Tuned

· #9 · Feb 20, 2015

Yea odd huh? Weather must have changed.

I kinda expected him to be in the top 10 easily. Ohh well! Tomorrow should be good. Few more sessions on the bike should be good for him.

Tuned

· #10 · Feb 20, 2015

Ahh, Ducati had some technical issues in FP1, no crashes:

Troy Bayliss said:
“I think I've only done about 19 laps all up. We lost almost the whole session this morning due to a technical issue which was a pity, but then this afternoon we were able to make some progress and I really started to feel good on the bike.

“I'm not feeling very confident with the back of the bike right now, in maximum lean, as there's some sliding there, but I'm sure we'll be able to sort that out tomorrow. I can say that we're definitely making progress.

“There's a lot we still need to do tomorrow of course, but we're taking baby steps and we're getting there. The important thing is that I'm really enjoying riding the bike and overall I'm very happy for the 'short' Friday I've had.”

Tuned

· #11 · Feb 20, 2015

Ohh and another bit of interesting news… Giugliano has been told he will need to sit out for 90 days. His T1/T2 have cracks in them and the Doctors are saying, if he were to crash again, he could be paralyzed. Marinelli already hinted that Troy is open for further wild cards. Troy himself… well he smiled when asked the question, but is of course focused on the 25th anniversary of PI, rather then thinking about the next round.

Tuned

· #12 · Feb 20, 2015

This is the way I understand how things are going…

rubbish said:
1. Is the Red Devils Aprilia team a factory team or not??

Aprilia spent millions developing an all-new homologation special for World Superbikes. It's literally an all-new engine from the ground up, producing substantially more power. As a consequence, all the Aprilia's on the grid are the same bikes this year. The definition of "factory bike" has changed, no longer are manufacturers race divisions building one-off race specials.

rubbish said:
2. Is the Althea team a factory team? I'm pretty sure Mercado's Barni bike is not a factory one...but not sure about Althea.

They are running 2015 Panigale's, but they are configured differently, because the new "kit" rules, prohibit any one team from making special parts only they can use. Also, with the single ECU rules, everyone runs the same electronics package. So the days of GPS mapping the track to build a better traction control and fueling map, are long behind us.

rubbish said:
3. Are there still superbikes and EVO bikes this year? Or are they only fully merging into a single class next year? Last year it used to say EVO next to the name of the bikes that were in the EVO class, but I'm not seeing that now.

We are now racing "kit" bikes, like back in the days of World Supersport. Part manufacturers like Öhlins and motorcycle manufacturers like Ducati produce kits for other teams which include standard bolt on parts. The only significant engine mod's allowed are camshafts, which are "open". If you run a Ducati, they are forced to supply your team the same parts as the factory team. This doesn't include body work or things like fuel cell's or subframes. Those aren't part of the kit package unfortunately, so that's why the factory bikes and the non-factory bikes look different.

There is only one class this year.

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rubbish

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 20, 2015

Ah, so then all Ducati's should be very similar in performance. From the only 2 FP sessions they had it would appear that the field has been evened out more, without really slowing down the lap times. I took a look at the first few FP sessions from PI from last year and results are very similar. After the first one (in the dry), lap times were in the 31s...then in the next one, a few got in the high 30s. So pretty much the same now. Obviously the single ECU and the "kit" rules you mention are working alright.

The biggest noticeable difference was in top speed. Last year the Aprilias were getting up to 320 kph down the straight whereas most were in the 305-310 range. Now they pretty much all seem to be around 300-305 (except EBR and MV).

Tuned

· #14 · Feb 20, 2015

Yep, trap speeds are much closer. That's why the rules were changed, so far it seems like they achieved their goal.

Pirate 1198SP

· #15 · Feb 20, 2015

The weather is going to awesome today and hope that Bayliss gets a full day on the bike and get up into the top 10 at least. Would love to see the old champ dominate again on the Duke.

W17

· #16 · Feb 20, 2015

From the track report is exciting

Reactions: 3

Jaffa

· #17 · Feb 21, 2015

Say Hi to Eltwin for me....and Soz.

W17

· #18 · Feb 21, 2015

TB just had a dirt nap . Seems OK .

rubbish

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 21, 2015

Well that was the lamest Superpole session ever...both of them really! Sitting there waiting for a restart with 3:52 on the timer, and then all of a sudden they just end it as is. Bummer for Davies and Terol who would've been 1 and 2 if their times would've counted.

I think I saw wilks at one point.

Reactions: 1

W17

· #20 · Feb 21, 2015

I waved. Hot day at the track playing real havoc with tyres so many red flags . Troy looks unsettled up through the Hayshed but still fast . Felt sorry fir Davies he was on the pace for sure . The Panis sound awesome .

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