Category: Superbikes

1. Tough day in the office for Pata Honda duo‏

   Posted on 5:00pm Sunday 12th Apr 2015

   The third-round of the World Superbike championship this weekend has been a challenging outing for Michael van der Mark and Sylvain Guintoli at Aragon, Spain.

   Over the weekend the team strived to improve and find the optimum setting for the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP around the 5.077km circuit.

   In the first of two 18-lap races, van der Mark was forced to retire due to a small technical problem on the tenth lap. The second race saw the SBK rookie make a gallant attack moving up from his starting grid position in 11th to sixth place, but on the last lap had to settle with eighth.

   Meanwhile van der Mark’s teammate Sylvain Guintoli finished race one within the top-ten taking ninth place after making his way forward from his qualifying position in 14th. During the second installment he had made his way up to tenth but crashed out of the running on the sixth lap after loosing the front.

   The team will now take and analyse all the data collected from each session this weekend in preparation for its home race at Assen, the Netherlands next weekend 17-19 April.

2. BMW Motorrad España partners with World GP Bike Legends‏

   Posted on 9:39am Saturday 11th Apr 2015

   For bikers the journey is in the destination. It’s about experiencing the here and now. But it’s more than that. It’s a way of life. It’s our attitude.

   World GP Bike Legends is pleased to announce BMW’s latest destination – Jerez Circuit. The 19-21 June 2015 will see the inaugural weekend festival aimed at reliving the Golden Era of grand prix motorcycle racing.

   BMW Motorrad España is partnering with the festival to offer visitors the opportunity to compare classic icons to the present day models. The full range of BMW motorcycles will be on display complemented by an extensive exhibition of motorsport machinery from decades passed. Successfully competing in World Championship series since 1924, BMW’s have won everything from Superbikes and Grands Prix to the Dakar Rally!

   Nick Wigley, CEO of Goose Live Events Worldwide, the event promoter, remarked “We are hugely excited to announce the involvement of BMW Motorrad España in the first ever World GP Bike Legends – it’s an iconic brand with over 90 years of motorcycle racing history. Visitors will no doubt enjoy the opportunity to get up close to both the classic and current BMW models on display.”

   BMW Motorrad has had an emphasis on sophisticated design and clever functionality throughout its history – be sure to read up on its development of pre-war supercharged boxer engines that went on to dominate sidecar grids. Today, reliable and powerful engines complemented by sublime suspension create a ride so enjoyable they inspire adventure and it’s now the focus message. MAKE LIFE A RIDE.

   World GP Bike Legends. 19-21 June 2015 Jerez Circuit, Spain.

   How will you get there?

   Visit www.worldgpbikelegends.com for all information on the Legendary riders, support grids, live music and festival entertainment.

3. A step in the right direction for Smith in Spain‏

   Posted on 8:38am Saturday 11th Apr 2015

   Pata Honda’s Kyle Smith set the sixth fastest overall time in today’s two free practice sessions for the third round of the 2015 World Supersport Championship at Aragon in Spain.

   The two sessions proved tricky for the team who struggled with finding the right set-up for the Honda CBR600RR, but after a modification made towards the end of the last session Smith improved his lap time by a second.

   The 23 year-old will return to the track tomorrow morning for Free Practice 3 before the afternoon qualifying session, where final grid positions for Sunday’s 16-lap race will be determined.

4. SAROLEA ANNOUNCES NEW SP7 ELECTRIC SUPERBIKE

   Posted on 9:22am Friday 10th Apr 2015

   Belgium outfit Sarolea has launched its new 2015 Saroléa Electric Superbike at Autoworld, the vintage car museum in the centre of Brussels.

   The new Saroléa is an evolution of the 2014 model and has been modified and enhanced on a number of levels. The Belgian team is now targeting a podium place at this year's SES TT Zero Race on the Isle of Man. The talented Scottish rider Robert Wilson, who flew over for the presentation, will once again ride the Saroléa SP7.

   Team Saroléa are using the data obtained during last year's race and testing to optimize and improve its motorcycle. The new design has improved aerodynamics, which will provide higher top speeds. The motorcycle is considerably slimmer which also enhances the position for the rider.

   Modifications to shift the centre of gravity will also increase the bikes handling. Saroléa has also managed to reduce the bike's weight. The modifications are mainly related to the use of more Carbon Fibre and more Titanium parts as well as the use of 3D printed parts.

   A proprietary Vehicle Control Unit and Battery Management System have been implemented. All communication is now flowing through fibre optics.

   The biggest improvement however is the new motor. It has been entirely developed in house and it has a major increase in torque. Early tests by Saroléa are demonstrating a 50% increase.

   With the launch of the new SP7, it is clear Saroléa wants to become one of the major brands on the electric motorcycle racing scene. Saroléa is using the extreme racing conditions presented by the TT Mountain Course as a research and development platform for its propriety Saroléa Electric Drivetrain.

   

    

   Bike specifications

   
   SAROLEA SP7 ELECTRIC SUPERBIKE

   Total Weight (kg) - 190
   Acceleration 0-100 kph (0-60 mph) - 2.8 sec
   Maximum Speed (kph [mph]) - 270 [168]

   
   TYRES:
   Front - Bridgestone Racing Battlax V02 120/600R17
   Rear - Bridgestone Racing Battlax V02 200/655R17

   
   BRAKES:
   Front - Beringer 320mm Aeronal discs with Aerotec Radial Calipers
   Rear - Beringer Aerotec 2D1 caliper

   
   Maximum Output (KW [hp]) - 110 [150]
   (Isle of Man configuration)
   Maximum Torque (Nm) - 900
   Battery Output Voltage (V) - 370 or more

   
   PARTNERS

   Bridgestone Europe
   Beta Tools
   DQ Advocates
   Punch
   Motokouture
   Seco Tools
   Beringer
   Autoworld Brussels
   Benton Apps
   Atelier Noterman
   Stoddart Racing

5. Smith seeks ‘home’ success in Spain‏

   Posted on 8:32am Friday 10th Apr 2015

   Pata Honda World Supersport rider Kyle Smith returns to Europe this weekend for round three of the 2015 World Supersport championship at Motorland Aragon in Spain.

   Although born in Huddersfield in the UK, Smith, 23, has lived in Spain since the age of six and knows the 5.077km Aragon circuit well having scored a podium finish in last season's Superstock 1000 series on a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.

   For this season he has switched to the World Supersport Pata Honda CBR600RR and just missed out on a debut podium during the opening race at Phillip Island in Australia. Smith crashed out of the last round at Buriram in Thailand so will be looking to make amends during Sunday’s 16-lap third-round encounter.