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Captpete
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 05:30 pm: | 
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None of the controversial Buells finished the race, much less proved to be a contender for the win.
That's all Superbikeplanet.com has to say about it at this early date.
I'm not gettin' much help from the BadWeB Community either.
I know it’s a disappointing jolt back to reality, but can some of the rational minds out there drop an objective line or two in here and let the boonie contingent have some idea how it went down?
Capt. Pete
Still in the dark |
Captpete
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 05:48 pm: |
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NOTE:
Fairweather Buell fans and negativte ranters please abstain from posting on this topic.
Start your own thread. |
Mountainrider
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 06:09 pm: |
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LIke I said before it is a long season. What did you all think that Buell was going to do great in their first race? They will get better unless the AMA decides to make some rules changes but after today I do not see why they would. |
Buellrcr
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 06:19 pm: |
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the bike probably had clutch problems. when i was down their for the ccs race. they smoked the clutch a few times during testing |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 06:36 pm: |
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As a Buell consumer (two so far, and if my local dealer ever touches a used Uly, it might be three), I'm thrilled they made it to the race, was thrilled with how the bikes did, and expect far better results in future races this year, and expect far better results for the next 200.
I was not able to tune in until late, and at that point never got to see any Buell anything being done in anger, which was my only disappointment with the whole affair.
I can hardly wait to see what comes out of the elves applying the force of their intellect and labors to solving pitting issues. |
Guzzimon
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 06:42 pm: |
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Let's try and remember the credo of Buell -- not to build repliracers, but to build bikes that are fun and spectacular in the REAL WORLD.
For them to go racing is -- in essence -- reverse engineering. Not so for the Japanese.
Bottom line, it was an exciting race -- congrats to Jake -- he deserved it.
However, when tomorrrow inb ATL it's 70 degrees and dry -- perfect riding weather -- I'll pass over a DUCATI and several GUZZIS and take my BUELL out for a couple hundred miles.
Keep the faith -- and keep having fun.
GUZZIMON |
Nedwreck
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 08:30 pm: |
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I wonder if the problems would have surfaced at all on a regular road course.
Wait 'til next race, y'all. I firmly believe you will see some American style asskicking going on.
Bob
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Robr
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 10:45 pm: |
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Jeremy McWilliams had the best run of any of the Buells. He was actually holding up well in 8th-9th place halfway through the race and then a very slow pit stop put him down to something like 42th. It appeared they had touble getting the front wheel on and the brake pumped up. McWilliams was visibly upset. Several laps later the banner showed him like 52th or something with an "out mechanical." |
Gowindward
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 10:50 pm: |
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Number of bikes that didn't run 68 laps.
Honda 8
Yamaha 22
Suzuki 13
Kawasaki 11
Ducati 1
Buell 4
Keeping it in perspective. It's a tough race!
Go Buell!!! |
Cochise
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 11:32 pm: |
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CaptPete, I five starred you, there's no place for Fair Weather Buellers. Also, like they said today on Speed Channel, the Ducati's didn't fair so well either when they went a racin' |
Blasterd
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 11:44 pm: |
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I was there and I could not be any more happier with the effort that was put into the race from the Buell teams today!
We owe them a huge thank you, did you guys see the leap McWilliams was getting out of the turns? And running racers down in the Chicane?
I was very pleased, things will get better and better.
Ken |
Ortegakid
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 11:52 pm: |
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Maccrazy was F%&^% awesome!, I would be disheartened also after a pit stop like that, heard it was primary drive probs, put him out,very sad. All in all, fantastic to see a rider that talented on one of our bikes! It'd be like watching Schwantzy on one! I'm proud of the effort, and can't wait to see them at the next race!! |
Captpete
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 01:17 am: |
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Well, damn!
We done pretty good.
Just gotta do it longer. |
Eeeeek
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 02:56 am: |
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"Number of bikes that didn't run 68 laps. "
C'mon, you're counting bikes that got lapped and still finished the race.
Vik |
Mr_cuell
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 06:42 am: |
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No place for fair weather Buellers? How about fans who care enough to get pissed when an embarrassing performance is displayed? Who are competitive to enough to be angry when they don't do well? Is this only for the types that think we're all winners just for trying?
I am a fan, and I think we sucked. Not fairweather, just an actual fan, not a mild observer without any actual passion unless we do well. THAT is a fair weather fan . . . |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 08:55 am: |
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"I am a fan, and I think we sucked. Not fairweather, just an actual fan, not a mild observer without any actual passion unless we do well. THAT is a fair weather fan . . . "
What is this "we" stuff. I did not see you out on the track today, at least not on my TV set.
Lets be rigorous here. BMC fielded a team of race bikes, fought the good fight and I am sure, learned a great deal about their bike and themselves.
I for one enjoyed the whole thing immensely. And, I look forward to these guys learning and getting better. It is nice to see Buell in there mixing it up instead of working on chrome accessories like the rest of HD (save the drag bike that is!).
I am amazed that anyone really thought that Buell would simply walk all over the Japanese in their first race? What are you guys smoking anyway? Honda is and has been world class for many years, no?
Lets just let Erik and the guys diagnose and move on. Having a guy run in 8th place shows that the bike is plenty fast and will get faster. That is the way of racing.
Hey, if you paid attention to the BMW-F1 debacle, you know that there are NO guarantees in world class racing, even if you are BMW and you have the big bucks! |
Gowindward
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 09:21 am: |
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"C'mon, you're counting bikes that got lapped and still finished the race."
Yes some of them did finish but so far behind that they didn't run all the laps.
Again keeping it in perspective. It's a tough race!
GO BUELL!!!! |
Eexb
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 10:14 am: |
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Brucelee,
"What is this "we" stuff. I did not see you out on the track today, at least not on my TV set."
"I am amazed that anyone really thought that Buell would simply walk all over the Japanese in their first race? What are you guys smoking anyway?"
AMEN !!!
EE |
Jackbequick
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 10:42 am: |
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Anyone remember Greg Pridmore and his BMW's? That was a guy that did pretty good with no factory support. He had a lot of fun and earned everyone's respect.
And I seem to remember the senior DuHamel going through a very similar thing with some of the early Ducatis.
But the Japanese makers had the big market share, made more money, and put more of it back to feed the process. They got better because they tried harder. Now there is a minor threat that H-D/Buell may dilute their market share a tiny bit and they are acting like a bunch of two year olds.
So it is Buell's turn to give it a try and I hope they both persevere and become competitive. If it gets the fans out to the track and sells some bikes, it is a success without winning a race. Buell and H-D fans will show up because it is our bike and you can't count an American out while he is still on his feet.
Jack |
Pupu
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 10:47 am: |
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"So it is Buell's turn to give it a try and I hope they both persevere and become competitive. If it gets the fans out to the track and sells some bikes, it is a success without winning a race. Buell and H-D fans will show up because it is our bike and you can't count an American out while he is still on his feet."
feel same here, i dont need a victory, top ten is fine with me, i would love to go see them race and show my support, just the fact that they were there is enough for me. |
Captpete
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 10:53 am: |
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No place for fair weather Buellers? How about fans who care enough to get pissed when an embarrassing performance is displayed? Who are competitive to enough to be angry when they don't do well?
Mr_cuell, I think you are confused. I believe all that falls in the negative ranting part.
Really, you can start a new thread. It's not that difficult. Just one click, and follow the directions. |
Southern Marine
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 12:04 pm: |
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Yes, I was embarrassed to sit there in the stands watching McWilliams going into turn 1 at the start dropping to about 12th to only get back up to 8th before coming back around, then to move up to 7th place. You have to be kidding me, I wasn't embarrassed, I was proud. Yes it was disappointing, but things happen.
Our riders stayed in the top 15 and they were ALL moving up, then they started having the problems. We all have our mistakes and we learn from them. Buell learned from theirs. They know they have things to fix on the bike and they know they need to work on their pit times. (28 seconds is too long, especially when Honda is doing it in 13).
McWilliams knows how to ride and Buell has learned A LOT from him. McWilliams was awesome on the RR and at times he was just as fast as or faster than Duhamel. You could see that he seemed to be taking it easy on the clutch, especially on the start. If they can get that fixed, work on their pit times and those few other small bugs, you will see him, Rico, Crevier, or even Mike win. For those who don't want to believe it, I don't care. I was there and this bike is FAST. |
Mr_cuell
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 12:57 pm: |
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The "we" stuff is from the fact that "we" are here typing away, and have been, for weeks supporting the effort, voting on web sites that had Buell related polls, responding to haters on sites that had forums, and doing what little we can to support the effort.
Ever been a fan of something like a football team and said "we're going to make it to the Superbowl this year" or whatever? Did you mean you were going to actually be one of the guys on the field, or did the "we" mean on the sidelines or watching TV cheering on "your" team?
I'm a Buell guy if for nothing else than having bought the bike. So thats what I meant.
As for negative ranting, call it what you want. 4 DNF's is what it is. I didn't expect to see a top five, but I did think most of the bikes would at least finish . . . I don't think that is an unrealistic expectation, given the build up -
I am not here to bash the brand or anyone that was a part of the effort. I am glad to see the development that has taken place so far and I look forward to the future, but I don't see any problem with the frustration that comes from poor results being commensurate with the elation that would have come from excellent results.
(Message edited by Mr_Cuell on March 12, 2006) |
Eeeeek
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 02:25 pm: |
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Gowindward,
You said: "Yes some of them did finish but so far behind that they didn't run all the laps. "
Have you never watched an AMA race before? Much of the field gets lapped in a normal lenght race, so it stands to reason that if you make the race considerably longer, more bikes will get lapped. These bikes still finish, though.
Next, the non factory backed teams can not pull off 10 second pits, so they loose more time in the pits. My buddy Kenny Carlotta was out there and his pit crew consisted of his dad. He still finished the race.
Also, take into account the pace car snafu. The pace car came out in front of the wrong bike and allowed Zemke, the leader, to basically get ahead a lap by coming all the way back to the pace car that was sitting in front of DuHamel and Bostrom, who were in 4th and 5th place.
So, in the end there were only three bikes on the lead lap.
Vik |
Jon
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 04:56 pm: |
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Although I am not involved in racing, I am involved in building multimillion dollar building exteriors using custom designed systems and components. Your mind might be blown to find out what goes on during design, engineering and actual construction. But for all the experience my firm, me, the architect, and general contractor have, the only way to really get a handle on what we are going to do is to do a mock up. We do calculations, drawings, extrude, fabricate, build and then test for seismic, water and air infiltration, etc. THEN we build. NO ONE does it differently at that level.
Sure, this was a real race. But in my view it was also a mock-up with a view to the future. This whole shebang was put together pretty suddenly (please correct me if I have the facts wrong) and that means who was going to ride as well.
Perhaps an experienced racer can agree that preparing to race a new beast with new riders is not quite as simple as loading a gun. ANYTHING new has a start as only a start...it's a journey in the middle and the end. Buell will work out bugs, the pit crews will do scenarios, etc. This is true in any technical and dynamic enterprise. Whether it's racing a bike, or building a skyscraper high rise on schedule and under budget.
Right on Erik! You've got my attention. No apolgies or explainations are required here. Looking forward to the next time. |
Honu
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 05:14 pm: |
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Well said Jon!!!
Thank you Erik and the entire BMC team for a great weekend! |
Brotherbuell
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 05:50 pm: |
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I have spent much of my career in R&D for military and commercial jet engines. That's a business where a DNF for a trans-Atlantic flight is not an option. This is different. Buell, HD and the rest of the Japanese manufacturers have the racetrack as there development program. It cost my company more than a billion dollars to bring a jet engine to production...and rightfully so. That would bring the motorcycle industry, and our hobby, to its knees. I see the Daytona 200 as a development run....not a certification run. I would have been thrilled to have brought a prototype to it's first full-on development run this close to certification. Solutions to these driveline issues are all within the grasp of the excellent engineering team at Buell. I have enough experience not to predict these things but I'm so encouraged by the results of this test, that I'll buy Court all the beer he can drink if we don't see a top 10 finish at Barber. We're close guys. You need to look no further than the picture of below to see the determination that makes success inevitable.
(Message edited by Brotherbuell on March 12, 2006)
(Message edited by Brotherbuell on March 12, 2006) |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 06:25 pm: |
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This weekend was feedback. Most of it was positive with regard to how fast the bike is and can be.
The pit stops and component failures can be dealt with. Imagine if the bike was simply slow?
Lets move on and improve.
How simple can it get? |
Ortegakid
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 09:56 pm: |
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Also well said; brucelee, well said, We will be on the podium soon, very soon, and then EVERYONE can be satisfied with BMC and the XBRR! |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 10:58 pm: |
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"I am not here to bash the brand or anyone that was a part of the effort. I am glad to see the development that has taken place so far and I look forward to the future, but I don't see any problem with the frustration that comes from poor results being commensurate with the elation that would have come from excellent results."
Hey man, you did NOTHING but watch. You don't get to criticize until you suit up for the game and then play in the game.
Otherwise, enjoy the action of the player and appreciate that they are WAY MORE TALENTED than you are.
You, only have to TYPE! |
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XBRR Threads Consolidated Here! »
None of the controversial Buells finished the race, much less proved to be a contender for the win. »
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