Quote:
Originally Posted by TIGGER
What I don't understand is why someone doesn't buy a 999R and wipe the track with the entire class.
Oh and the Buell is FAR from stock Bro... really.
|
Read this...
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/s...d.php?t=176482
From Mr Buell to Mr Dewan
Dear Mr. DeWan,
I do not read Superbike Planet, so am not aware of what they published and cannot comment. It appears that your comments are aimed at the Buells racing in the AMA, so to that I can respond.
The Daytona Sport Bike class was created by AMA Pro Racing as a class that would enable many brands to compete. This is similar to what has been done in the automotive Grand-Am series where Porsche, Pontiac, Cadillac, BMW, Jaguar, etc. all compete together with different displacements and engine types. During the season if any brand should appear to have an advantage, rules changes will be adopted to slow down that brand, It has worked in Grand-Am, and hopefully, will work in the AMA.
The factory backed 600's in DSB are very refined, as the top speeds of 180 mph at Daytona show. Great application of technology from huge companies, and out of reach for all but a few chosen riders. On the other hand, the 1125R's running in the class are very close to stock, and they make a very economical ride for talented privateers like Danny Eslick, Michael Barnes, Shawn Higbee, Taylor Knapp, etc. As an es-privateer AMA racer, I applaud what the AMA has done to break the stranglehold of highly funded factory teams. I am also quite happy to see the Buell patented American innovations like fuel in the frame and ZTL brakes be shown as competitive on the track.
If you check the facts of split times, you would see that other brands have higher top speeds, and that Danny's split times show he is quickest in the handling sections of the track. That would certainly indicate e don't have a power advantage. Of course the 1125 can make more power, but we are not pushing that at all since the goal is to have competitive racing between many brands. After Road Atlanta, the weight was shifted to add 15lbs to the Buell and remove 5lbs from everyone else. We are fine with that, as we understand the AMA is learning what makes the competition most close.
So how do I feel about my company and racing? Well, all of Buell is only 200 people, including design, test analysis, accounting, IS, HR, assembly, shipping, maintenance, etc. Ducati has more than that in their race department, and Honda has thousands in the racing alone - 170,000 total. Our race department is six people. So I'm proud of this little team. I'm proud that our patented innovations work. I'm proud to be part of enabling guys like Danny to prove their skills.
We at Buell are working towards getting a Superbike version of the 1125 ready. Yes, we'll be under the displacement limit, but the 1125 is all we have. Yes, our staff is tiny, but they work harder than anyone else. So, what are our chances when even a company like Ducati is a behemoth compared to us? Pretty slim admittedly, but we deserve respect that at least we we will be out there. No one in the US has tried harder, and we'll continue to do so.
signed by Erik Buell