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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Buell RACING & More » Racing - Circuit/Road Racing » Archive through December 19, 2008 » The XB is in Moto-GT 2009 « Previous Next »

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Rrrrrrrick
Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 05:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

new rules are posted,
http://www.amaproracing.com/prorace/pdf/2009_AMA_P ro_Road_Race_Regulations.pdf
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Benm2
Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 06:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

They still seem to be a work in progress, but they are MUCH better than they were. Its odd that I didn't see a single mention of the rules change in RRW, Superbikeplanet, cyclenews, etc.

All of the classes still have "If we don't say you can change it, it must be stock" at the top of the page, but list the seemingly contradictory infomation ON the same page, under GT2:

1. GT 2 is two-cylinder only (yea!!)
2. stock bore and stroke not required
3. 800cc max 4 stroke /2 cyl liq cooled, 80 hp, 370 lbs.
4. 1100 cc 4 stroke/2 cyl air cooled, 90hp, 380 lbs
5. UNLIMITED max 4 stroke / 2 cyl, air cooled, push rod, 90hp, 390 lbs

Seems great, right? Except for the disclaimer at the top. The ONLY listed allowable engine mod is STILL only the ECU. How you are supposed to change the bore & stroke using only as-homologated parts is a mystery to me. Does that mean that 9 pistons in a 12 is legal, for example?

Also, still no updating or backdating. So no ZTL2 unless you have the right VIN.

Still no mention of a chain drive conversion being allowed.

Aftermarket exhausts ARE allowed.

The wierd thing is the requirement that parts appear on the eligible equipment list. It costs MONEY to get on that list, and you have to post contingency to get on it. So if you want to make your own lightweight can for your XB, can't do it. Same for everything else your allowed to change too, from rear subframes to rearsets.

I understand the idea that its supposed to keep the factory teams from showing up with unobtanium parts, but it also prevents privateers from fabricating their own parts to save dough. Seems to be a good idea in factory supported classes, but could be more expensive. Like if you know someone that can fab you a trick XB aluminum rear subframe, you can't use it unless he spends a MINIMUM of $500 AND posts a contigency. How big is the market for a lighweight solo racing XB subframe anyway?

The rules seem to be making progress, but still need work, imho.
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Redbuelljunkie
Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 10:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Like if you know someone that can fab you a trick XB aluminum rear subframe

I think that's the point- no one will be running "trick" parts... factory or privateer. It's an equalizer- unless it's stock, it has to be homologated, and if it's homologated, anyone can use it.
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Benm2
Posted on Friday, December 05, 2008 - 06:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Trouble is it isn't consistent with the rules from last year, and the rules are still contradictory. Why even list "stock bore and stroke not necessary"?

Plus you ARE allowed to change the subframe, its in the rules AND on the contingency form.

The equalizer rules in MOTO-GT are already there, stock wheels, stock brakes, and the weight & hp limits. Strictly-stock class racing is a one way street to LESS competetition between brands, not more, as only one bike will be fastest out of the crate. Old production racing classes were proof of that, as are current SCCA SOLO rules, for example.

The Grand-Am series car classes are byzantine, allowing various modifications based on WHAT car you're running. Those rules allow for more modifications to a Chevy Cobalt than they allow on the Subaru Legagy Turbo, for example. The allowances are adjusted to ensure that the racing is close throughout the season. I would guess that this is the direction that they want to take this in, as witnessed by last year's rule that SV1000 riders could use GSXR front forks & brakes. That was a specific allowance so that the SV could remain competitive with the Buell and the Aprilia.

Still, as the rules are now, many of last years ST bikes would be illegal for next year. I don't believe that to be the intent. I suspect they're getting so much schist from the J4 on the other classes that adjusting the GT rules is low on the priorities list. When Suzuki & Kawasaki boycott the Daytona tire test, things aren't going well.
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Redbuelljunkie
Posted on Friday, December 05, 2008 - 09:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Plus you ARE allowed to change the subframe, its in the rules AND on the contingency form.

Yes, with a homologated part, or it can be stock. That means everyone will be using stock or homologated- not a "trick" custom-fab part.

Rear sub frame may be modified or replaced, but the material must remain as homologated and appear on the Eligible Equipment List.

This is what makes it an equalizer- you have your choice of stock or homologated, anything else is illegal.


Strictly-stock class racing is a one way street to LESS competetition between brands, not more, as only one bike will be fastest out of the crate


That may be true, but then it places the impetus on the manufacturer to make a better bike in the crate to be competitive- instead of passing the buck to the race teams. It's also important to remember the role the rider plays... know of anybody who won championships on the best bike, and then won it again on the third best bike?

Lastly, the fact that the rules are still amorphous is also an equalizer, everyone's in the same boat- no one knows for sure what going on. Yes, change is difficult- but it's sure to be exciting (and anything beats the old AMA way of doing things).


(Message edited by redbuelljunkie on December 05, 2008)
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