Superstock 2008 - a glimpse of the future

[patnicholls]

In a couple of weeks' time the Superstock classes get running when WSB & WSS begin their European season.

And...there's some very good news, as a new manufacturer will be joining the grid as mentioned elsewhere. It's the new KTM 1190 RC8 machine:

http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/news_ext.php?id=2146

which of course will be coming to WSB most likely in 2009. The riders are to be Austrian Rene Mahr and Finn Pauli Pekkanen. The full Superstock entry list (40 riders for the big stock class, plus a very decent entry for the 600s) is on the WSB site.

Very promising for the future, all I can say!

[ChrisS]

KTM in, MV Agusta out, I'd rather have MV Agusta to be honest. reading the RC8's specs I must say I'm not impressed, I don't see how the bike can be competitive

as the article says Ducati won last year with the 1098S so the R with extra 99cc and more power could dominate, I hope not

[NinjaMaster]

I'd rather have both MV and KTM in superstock 1000 but like everyone else, I love this championship and am excited about this years season. The great thing is the unpredictability of so many young riders as to who the next up-and-comers will take the next step and the bold and brash way they go about doing it. With most of the top riders from last year remaining it can only get better. Brendan Roberts is my educated stab in the dark at taking the title but it will be tough work and require a bit of luck for whoever gets there.

[maxu05]

It bids well for the future of the sport to have KTM getting into the fray. I just hope they do well, and step it up into the WSBK field next year :up:

[patnicholls]

Hmmm, I hadn't noticed about MV, but yeah it's a shame they've gone. Looks like virtually their entire programme has stopped, as there don't seem to be any in AMA either (Luca Scassa and Matt Lynn ran MV Superbikes last year - mid-pack). There's er, one in BSB for Chris Burns - who ran against the odds for WCM in MotoGP in 2003/4 - but that looks to be about it.

I guess the company wanted to dip their toes in but decided against a long-term effort. Shame.

Still, from KTM's approach to GPs, they will hopefully be in for the long run with their Superbike.

[NinjaMaster]

Kev Curtain is racing for MV in the Aus Superbike Champs this year. There was talk of him riding some WSB wildcard races this year. Do you reckon he could sneak into STK1000? He may need to lie about his age. ;)

I wonder if BMW will take the same approach to blood their new superbike in through the superstock ranks?

[maxu05]

Maybe a little left field of the subject, but, I think related non the less. Why don't some of these manufacturers that are looking to break into superbike/Motogp etc, look at some of the top end tuners or some teams that have now become defunked ? For example, MV are pulling out, as, obviously they are not confident that they can mount a serious challenge, so why not outsource the development work ? If you look at who is sitting on the sidelines, Sito Pons, Mariwaki etc, then why not approach them and have them boost the chances of some success. This could also apply to superstock, as it would be a great stepping stone for a manufacturer to get involved in the sport, and perhaps a leg up into the big league of WSBK/Motogp in the future. Maybe I am dreaming :D

[NinjaMaster]

I guess MV (or any other manufacturer for that matter) still have to invest quite heavily with testing and race kits even for a lot of these tuners, as well as pride can get in the way if they are made to look like they can't be competitive without getting outside help in. And then if it falls flat then they can look bad also.
Is there any rumour of a new model MV F4 anytime soon? It styling has been around since about 1998 and it became a 1000cc in 2005. Perhaps that's why they might pull out, to invest in a new model? :facelick:

[ChrisS]

Maybe a little left field of the subject, but, I think related non the less. Why don't some of these manufacturers that are looking to break into superbike/Motogp etc, look at some of the top end tuners or some teams that have now become defunked ? For example, MV are pulling out, as, obviously they are not confident that they can mount a serious challenge, so why not outsource the development work ? If you look at who is sitting on the sidelines, Sito Pons, Mariwaki etc, then why not approach them and have them boost the chances of some success. This could also apply to superstock, as it would be a great stepping stone for a manufacturer to get involved in the sport, and perhaps a leg up into the big league of WSBK/Motogp in the future. Maybe I am dreaming :D

Though I would love to see tuners like Moriwaki, Yoshimura, Muzzy in SBK, I'm not sure that approach would work, especially with small manufacturers like MV Agusta. I believe small manufacturers that want to enter SBK should do what Ducati is doing for years now and what Aprilia also seems to be doing with their new bike, make a racing bike, then detune the engine, put lights, rear view mirror and numberplates on it and call it a road bike

An example of full factory development vs tuner development is happening this season. The Ducati bikes are developed race bikes while the new Honda bikes are basically road bikes with an HRC kit, I'm sure Ten Kate will be able to develop the bike into a race winner but it will take more time.

Also a reason tuners take part in races is to sell tuning parts and I dont think there is much of a market for tuning parts for small manufacturers.

[Mach24]

Superstock put up some of the most exciting 2 wheel racing going around. BRING IT ON!

With KTM joining the series, the loss of the long in the tooth MV is no concern (yet disappointing).

[ChrisS]

I guess MV (or any other manufacturer for that matter) still have to invest quite heavily with testing and race kits even for a lot of these tuners, as well as pride can get in the way if they are made to look like they can't be competitive without getting outside help in. And then if it falls flat then they can look bad also.
Is there any rumour of a new model MV F4 anytime soon? It styling has been around since about 1998 and it became a 1000cc in 2005. Perhaps that's why they might pull out, to invest in a new model? :facelick:

If I understand things correctly MV Agusta were hopping that with the money from the sale of Husqvarna to BMW MV could expand with new models and a racing program, but things didnt go as well as predicted and the racing program took a back seat.

Their new 2008 model is the F4 1078 RR, 1078 as in 1078cc and RR as in race replica of last year's competition bike. So it's a race replica of an undeveloped mid field superbike with a high horse power engine that can't be homologated for racing.

[neninja]

The 1098R is currently not elligble for National Superstock in the UK due to not enough units sold.

I hope it stays that way as I see no place for £20,000+ Homologation specials that are only a whisker away from SBK spec in a 'stock' production class.

[ChrisS]

It looks like KTM is just a single bike entry with Rene Maehr as the rider, they are doing OK so far making it in the top 10

[Mach24]

1 71 C. CORTI ITA Yamaha Motor Italia J.T. Yamaha YZF-R1 1'37.513
2 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 1'37.602
3 53 A. POLITA ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098R 1'37.897
4 155 B. ROBERTS AUS Ducati Xerox Junior Team Ducati 1098R 1'38.284
5 89 D. COLUCCI ITA Ducati Xerox Junior Team Ducati 1098R 1'38.441
6 19 X. SIMEON BEL Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'38.466
7 51 M. PIRRO ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha YZF-R1 1'38.493
8 7 R. MÄHR AUT KTM Mähr Superstock KTM 1190 RC8 1'38.567
9 132 Y. TIBERIO FRA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'38.671
10 23 C. SEATON AUS Celani Team Suzuki Italia Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 1'38.715

[Mach24]

Aussie Brendan Boberts shoved his 1098R on pole and has gone quickest in morning warmup.

It really is the year for Brenny if he is going to go much further.

1 155 B. ROBERTS AUS Ducati Xerox Junior Team Ducati 1098R 1'37.114
2 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 1'37.425
3 51 M. PIRRO ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha YZF-R1 1'37.502
4 71 C. CORTI ITA Yamaha Motor Italia J.T. Yamaha YZF-R1 1'37.513
5 21 M. BERGER FRA Hannspree IDS Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR1000RR 1'37.678
6 53 A. POLITA ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098R 1'37.897
7 72 J. TORRES ESP Team Honda Merson Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.976
8 89 D. COLUCCI ITA Ducati Xerox Junior Team Ducati 1098R 1'38.118
9 19 X. SIMEON BEL Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'38.176
10 7 R. MÄHR AUT KTM Mähr Superstock KTM 1190 RC8 1'38.229
11 132 Y. TIBERIO FRA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'38.429

[Mach24]

1 155 B. ROBERTS AUS Ducati Xerox Junior Team
2 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia
3 19 X. SIMEON BEL Team Alstare Suzuki

Will Brenny replace Bayliss next year?

[ChrisS]

Results


1 1 155 B. ROBERTS AUS Ducati Xerox Junior Team Ducati 1098R 13 1'36.681 276,9 1'37.114 281,2 25 25 1
2 2 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 13 3.795 1'37.149 276,9 1'37.425 279,0 20 20 2
3 9 19 X. SIMEON BEL Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 13 6.865 1'37.300 279,0 1'38.176 279,0 16 16 3
4 6 53 A. POLITA ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098R 13 7.272 1'37.601 282,0 1'37.897 274,8 13 13 4
5 4 71 C. CORTI ITA Yamaha Motor Italia J.T. Yamaha YZF-R1 13 7.680 1'37.423 276,2 1'37.513 276,9 11 11 5
6 3 51 M. PIRRO ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha YZF-R1 13 11.646 1'37.757 280,5 1'37.502 276,2 10 10 6
7 5 21 M. BERGER FRA Hannspree IDS Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 13 13.281 1'37.991 273,4 1'37.678 270,6 9 9 7
8 13 23 C. SEATON AUS Celani Team Suzuki Italia Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 13 17.294 1'37.803 277,6 1'38.515 276,2 8 8 8
9 17 77 B. BURRELL GBR MS Racing Honda CBR1000RR 13 17.487 1'37.665 277,6 1'38.847 270,6 7 7 9
10 12 119 M. MAGNONI ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha YZF-R1 13 18.254 1'38.163 277,6 1'38.455 279,8 6 6 10
11 15 111 F. PEROTTI ITA Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 13 19.910 1'38.789 278,3 1'38.771 274,8 5 5 11
12 24 78 F. FORAY FRA Coutelle Junior Team Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 13 24.142 1'38.808 281,2 1'39.497 280,5 4 4 12
13 18 88 K. FORAY FRA Zone Rouge Yamaha YZF-R1 13 24.451 1'39.064 274,8 1'39.053 275,5 3 3 13
14 20 20 S. BARRIER FRA YZF Yamaha Junior Team Yamaha YZF-R1 13 24.896 1'38.375 281,2 1'39.075 278,3 2 2 14
15 11 132 Y. TIBERIO FRA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 13 24.934 1'38.647 275,5 1'38.429 277,6 1 1 15

Crazy racing, guys making moves everywhere on the track, going sideways, I only watched a the few superstock races Eurosport showed but now with the races live on the website, I think I will follow the cup