| Author | Message | ||
     BadS1 |
I was at Hal's this past Wednesday and was talking to one of the guy's on the race crew.Since next year the FX race is gonna be the featured race that means tire changes during the race.The Superbikes had to do 57 laps this past 200 and there refiguring the track for next year but FX will have to do not 57 but 67 laps for the Daytona 200 next year.So when I was talk'n to one of the crew I saked how fast can they do a tire change he said the fastest they can do is about 28 sec. The factory teams are under 10 sec.What can they do to the XB swingarm to make the times required??This is gonna be interesting to see them get ready for this.I know they will figure something out. | ||
| Coolice |
Gotta bring binoc's or a good zoom lense for the camera BadS1! I got a flyer in the mail today from Daytona Intl about skybox, wonder when BRAG knows it's schedule? Last year was the SuperX with Erik and Co. This year will be AWESOME! March 12th.... counting down...They will figure it out or maybe a tire to go the distance? The track changed so the west banking is out for 05. | ||
| BadS1 |
Yeah I know but the distance will be the same.Man is gonna be awesome. | ||
| Blake |
The ultra high speed, big HP, and incredible g-forces coming around the high banking are what really killed the life of the tires. Mladin stopped twice for new tires did he not? WILL definitely be interesting. One of us should prep a bike and try to qualify.  | ||
| Crusty |
A Buell could win the Daytona 200! I hope that the Mothership does the right thing and gives Buell enough money to do the racing effort right. A quick change rear wheel setup shouldn't be that hard to design and build for the amount of talent in East Troy. I see the biggest problem to be coming up with a rider who can beat Miguel, Zemke, Bostrom & Co. I mean no insult to Barnes, Ciccotto, or Higbee, but on equal equipment, it would be almost impossible to beat Miguel DuHamel at Daytona. | ||
| BadS1 |
That raises anther Question will Duhamel race next year???? | ||
| José_quiñones |
They will have to setup the Florida National Guard all the way around the the Speedway to keep him from going in and racing. If he wins one more he's up to 5, matching Scott Russell's wins. Honda is in the best shape right now, they have the best riders/bikes in that class. Hopefully Kawasaki/Suzuki/Yamaha join Honda/Ducati/Buell and bring their Supersport bikes/riders over to the FX class and make the FX class the "Factory" 600 class and leave Supersport 600 class for the privateers. The current FX rules make no mention of quick change hardware. I actually hope the AMA bans that equipment, Daytona is the only race it is used and its expensive equipment that only has to be used at one race, so the cost is hard to justify for just one race. Make everybody change wheels/tires the old fashioned way. | ||
| Slaughter |
We watched Vesrah pitting during the WERA 6 hour and saw they use a double sided swingarm which somehow allows you to remove and replace the rear wheel and the chain/sprocket and the brake don't move. Still can't figure out how that works. Single sided swingarm does it but are TONS heavy compared to a double-sided. I think FX doesn't allow swingarm mods except for stiffening/strengthening. I know there was a big deal about mods done to DuHamels because it may have changed wheelbase. It'd be kinda schweeeet to see a Muell doing decently but compare the $$$ that Honda has available and then consider what Hals can throw at it... (Message edited by slaughter on August 21, 2004) | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Go Buell!!!!  I applaud how well they have done already against teams with much more backing! | ||
| Crush63 |
I think it will take a full factory effort from Buell to do well in the 200. I would be willing to bet that Honda will not be the only factory effort in FX at the 200 next year. The 200 is too big a show for them to miss. Also I would be suprised if the AMA bans quick change gear. If they don't, any one who hopes to compete will need it in order to match the the factory teams who can change both tires/refuel in 8-10 sec. With such a long race engine reliability and fast pit stops (2 ea)will be the deciding factor. I would love to see Pascal Picotte and Mike Smith riding for a Buell factory team. There are some talented privateers riding Buells but it's going to take someone with major talent to chase down Duhamel at Daytona. Hey it's a long race and anything can happen. History Reminder: in 1998 Pascal Picotte was running as high as 2nd on the VR1000 before two botched pit stops ruined his day! | ||
| Crusty |
I don't know about Mike Smith, but I think Pascal would be a great choice to ride the XB at Daytona. I also think that Erik would love to do a full Factory effort. I don't think that Harley will cut loose with the necessary funds to do it right, though. Look at how they handled the whole VR program. The whole time they raced it was always a case of "a Day Late and a Dollar Short". If the Mothership wouldn't spend the money on their own racing effort, I don't think they'll spend it on Buell's. Unfortunately. | ||
| Norcal_blast |
From the AMA press release: "... However, it’s no secret that Formula Xtreme equipment may one day form the basis for Superbikes. This possible ‘peek into the future’ was the ultimate factor in determining the best long-term solution.” | ||
| José_quiñones |
The AMA is spinning a bit with that statement, here's what allegedly really happened, from RoadRacing World:
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| Blake |
I'm really starting to like this. Thanks for posting that JQ. | ||
| Crusty |
The Speedway does not want 200-mph motorcycles, and does not want a catastrophic crash set off by a rider at the front of a 7-bike drafting train falling due to an exploding rear tire. I was at the DuQuoin Mile in '99 when Shawn Russell's engine exploded while he was leading the train. It was the worst accident I've ever seen. Davey Camlin died, Kevin Atherton almost lost his leg, and all the ambulances left the track carrying injured racers. If making the FX race the premier class prevents another disaster like DuQuoin, I'm all for it. The fact that it gives Buell a chance at winning the 200 makes it that much sweeter. | ||
| Xbduck |
I hope HD will take a lesson from Chrysler and go all out with full factory backing. The pencil pushers at Chrysler didn't understand what they were loosing until they were bought out by a company that understood the race factor in boosting sales. It won't be long before the Koreans (Alpha Sports a.k.a. Hyosung Inc.) start eating into their market share. They have already started importing 250's with the "Harley look", and more power than Yamaha's little Virago at less cost. Don't think that there isn't someone over there crunching the numbers and watching HD's profit margin closely. I'm sorry if this is a little off the beaten path, but I thought it needed to be said. | ||
| José_quiñones |
HD took all their VR1000 budget and put it into the NHRA VRod team. The bike is winning races, leading the points, it helps them market the VROD, it helps the NHRA get more fans into the stands. Everybody's happy, as long as you like drag racing.... A lot of those HD fans at NHRA events use to go to the AMA events to see the HD Road Race team. The AMA sure misses them, especially at Daytona. I don't know if these fans will go see Buells. I think most will not, they would rather be partying Saturday Night. HOG/BRAG could help with promotion in their ENTHUSIAST/FUELL magazines, dealership promotions & discount speedway tickets for a HOG/BRAG Grandstand/Infield area. A "Hog Pen" I thik they used to do that in the past. | ||
| Xbduck |
Jose, I think your right that most of the die hard HD fans would probably want to see a HD race bike. I also believe that it truly is a shame that they are not working harder to show people that Buell is their track bike. If they don't soon get the branding loyalty for Buell that HD has now, things are going to get rough. The HD riders aren't getting younger. You could be right on with the idea that they might have to push it as a party to get things going in the beginning. I really don't see why the AMA hasn't tried to organize a push to buy air time on T.V. (major networks) to get more visibility for the sport. If they went to the factories and split the cost evenly I for one would love to see something other than info-mercials on saturday and sunday. It would probably fit well on FOX with their demographics. |
