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Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

Alvaro Bautista talks Phillip Island testing and his pace…

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Alvaro Bautista reviews the WSBK Test

With Mark Bracks

Alvaro Bautista is the new kid on the block of the WSBK and he is certain to get into some pretty heavy street fights as he establishes himself in the World Supers gang. He is definitely not adverse to a good old brawl after his days in the tiddlers of 125cc and 250cc GP racing ascertain, before his graduation to the cauldron of MotoGP.

WSBK Test PI Final GB Bautista
Álvaro Bautista – Image by Geebee

Of those that have switched from GP to World Supers, Bautista, at 34 years old, has arguably the second best resume behind Max Biaggi: A 125cc World Championship in 2006, second in the 2008 250cc championship behind the late Marco Simoncelli and three podiums during his nine years in MotoGP.

Not too bloody shabby.

Last year he scored 12 top ten finishes in MotoGP. An impressive result on what was a second, or maybe third-tier Ducati, so it is somewhat of a surprise to see that he was squeezed out of the MotoGP paddock.

However, with such impressive stats, Ducati showed faith and offered the seat in the factory WSBK team, at the expense of Marco Melandri. After two days testing and topping the sheets on both days with consistent sub lap record performances Bautista was, naturally, upbeat.

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Alvaro Bautista – TBG Image

His best lap of the two days (1:30.303) would have put him eighth on the grid of last years Oz GP (in front of Petrucci). In reality last year he qualified 12th, some two seconds slower with a 1:32 lap, although he progressed from Q1 to Q2 with a blistering time of 1:29.851.

Trivial statistics, yes, but remember what Carlos Checa did when he dropped back to the World Superbikes with no where near the record of Bautista?

Bracksy joined the media scrum to get the low down on his two days of testing.

Alvaro Bautista Interview

Alvaro Bautista: “It was a positive day for us, we worked in the morning to make another step forward with the setup, like we did yesterday, but we didn’t find what we expected, so at the end we came back in the afternoon to try and see how the bike works after the same laps. In the afternoon we tried to do a long run and we did it, but I had to stop after three laps because it’s starting some sprinkling.

“Then I restarted again with the same tyres, the same spec, and I’m quite happy because the feeling with the bike was good, the pace was quite fast and at the end I felt the drop off of the tyre, especially in the last four laps. The tyres went down a lot. But you know, normally in the race you try to always manage the tyre consumption and also your energies. Today it was not necessary to manage, so I tried to push hard from the beginner and I didn’t have a big big problem until the last four laps, specially at the tyre, when too much drop.

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Alvaro Bautista – Image by TBG Sport

“But in any case I’m happy because also, we get some data for the weekend, for the electronics to try to save a little bit more of the tyre, and to try to don’t feel last a big drop from the tyre. So we work with the electronics to help me to manage this situation.”

“The only question mark for me is, I mean to say something of the tyre, because the pace is I think good, but then when the tyre comes down/drop, but I think the problem is for everybody not just for me, no? Also you know at the beginning of the long run I was more than half race, I was doing 30s, faster than the lap record of the track, so I think when you are so fast, the tyre is more used and at the end you have more problem. But in normal race, maybe you can manage specially in the first half of the race, to push more at the end, or depends how you feel. So today nothing to manage, just tried to push the maximum as possible and I did, and I saw the results.”

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Alvaro Bautista – TBG Image

“There was less strong wind than yesterday, but the track today was a bit cooler, and with this tyre if it’s too hot, the tyre is worse. Yesterday the track temperature was over 40 degrees, today it was in between 30-35 degrees, so the condition was better for the tyres. For that I think the other riders can improve. I didn’t try to improve my lap time from this morning, because our target is to do the long run.

“In the afternoon I did one exit before the long run, just to understand the front tyre, because in the morning, I had to use the soft compound in the front, but for me it’s not the best tyre for the race. In the afternoon I did one start, with the hard – to see that everything was good, and then the long run as we didn’t have enough from the hard tyre to try in the morning. So for this, I didn’t try to push in the afternoon to make a better lap time.”

Do you think 29s possible if you push?

Alvaro Bautista: “At the moment, no more riding and yesterday nobody can make a 29, but I think nothing is impossible, with tyres or with qualifying tyre, we’ll see.“

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Alvaro Bautista TBG
Alvaro Bautista – TBG Image

Is the feeling better here than at Jerez? With the heavy braking into turn four, with the tyre strength?

Alvaro Bautista: “In Jerez I don’t know if because it’s a new surface or what, but the feeling with the bike, was not really good. The most important was Imola was a new track for me. But also here we started to work here with the bike, just yesterday the bike was from Ducati and I ride the same bike. But with some data we decided to make some modifications, the geometry here, and for sure today we did nice step forward. Maybe with this tyre now I arrive at Jerez and can go faster. But when you don’t know the bike and you don’t the tyres, you have to adapt and start to work and understand, so for me, I think we don’t arrive today the maximum yet, so we are on the right way, but still much work to do.”

But it’s not impossible to win?

Alvaro Bautista: “We’ll see in the races, everything can happen no? At the moment I feel very comfortable and my target is try to give to the riders that in the past of the superbikes, to give them a bit more stress *laughs*.”

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Alvaro Bautista TBG
Alvaro Bautista – TBG Image

You’ve started already.

Alvaro Bautista: “Exactly that’s my target at the moment, win a race, we’ll see, that would be my first race in superbike and my first race for these bikes, so for sure we’ll try our maximum, at the moment, and the pace is quite good and the race is saturday or sunday, so not now.”

Mark Bracks: This might be a stupid question but the main different between this and the MotoGP bike.

Alvaro Bautista: “The power… you feel it especially in the track like this one, that are very fast, exit from the corner I remember with the MotoGP, just the bike push a lot. This bike seems like it seems like you are stop. So that’s the biggest difference.”

WorldSBK Australia Promo

WorldSBK  Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Event Schedule, 22 – 24 February 2019
Thursday 21 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
9:00 10:00 1:00 World SSP Riders Briefing
10:00 FIM Track Safety Inspection
10:00 11:30 1:30 All Riders Riders Track Familiarization
12:00 13:00 1:00 Safety Car Test Track closed
13:50 14:20 0:30 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 1
14:25 14:55 0:30 Aus SS Free Practice 1
15:00 15:30 0:30 Australian Sup Free Practice 1
15:40 15:50 0:10 Parade Laps Black Dog Ride
14:30 15:30 1:00 WorldSBK Riders Briefing
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSBK Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSSP Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSSP Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSBK Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
18:00 All 1st Time Riders Riders Briefing
TBC All Classes Tyre Stickers Distribution Technical Bay
Friday 22 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:30 8:40 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
9:10 9:25 0:15 Aus SS Free Practice 2
9:30 9:45 0:15 Aus SBK Free Practice 2
9:50 FIM Medical Inspection
10:00 FIM Track Inspection
10:30 11:20 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 1
11:30 12:15 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 1
12:25 12:55 0:30 Pit Walk 1
13:15 13:30 0:15 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 2
13:35 13:50 0:15 Aus SBK Qualifying
13:55 14:10 0:15 Aus SS Qualifying
14:15 14:30 0:15 Aus SS300 Qualifying
15:00 15:50 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 2
16:00 16:45 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 2
Saturday 23 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:15 8:25 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:45 9:15 0:30 Australian SSP Race 1 10 Laps 
9:20 FIM Medical Inspection
9:30 FIM Track Inspection
10:00 10:20 0:20 WorldSBK Free Practice 3
10:35 10:55 0:20 WorldSSP Free Practice 3
11:05 11:25 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 1 8 Laps –
11:30 12:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 1 12 Laps 
12:15 12:40 0:25 WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
12:55 13:20 0:25 WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
13:40 14:10 0:30 Pit Walk 2 & Safety Car Laps
15:00 WorldSBK RACE 1 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:45 0:30 Aus SBK Race 2 12 Laps 
16:50 17:10 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 2 8 Laps 
17:15 17:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 2 10 Laps 
Sunday 24 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
7:45 7:55 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:15 8:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 3 10 Laps
8:50 FIM Medical Inspection
9:00 FIM Track Inspection
09:30 09:45 0:15 WorldSBK Warm Up
09:55 10:10 0:15 WorldSSP Warm Up
10:30 11:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 3 12 Laps
11:05 11:35 0:30 Pit Walk 3 & Safety Car Laps
12:00 WorldSBK S-pole Race 10 Laps Pit Opens: 11:45
13:15 WorldSSP Race 18 Laps Pit Opens: 13:00
15:00 WorldSBK Race 2 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:35 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 3 8 laps
1 Lap 4,445 km Issued: 28 November 2018 13:00h

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

WorldSBK Rev Limits with Technical Director Scott Smart

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WSBK Technical Director Scott Smart

on WorldSBK Rev Limits

With Mark Bracks

As the dawn of a new season beckons in the Superbike World Championship there has been a lot of focus on the rpm limits imposed on the various new models in the title chase this year.

Much of that focus has been aimed at the new Ducati Panigale V4 R, and how high it is allowed to rev compared to other machines in the class, and/or whether the bike appears, again, to have an “unfair” advantage compared to the rest of the field.

WSBK Test PI Day Bautista
Alvaro Bautista proved dominant at the official Phillip Island Test on the Ducati V4 R

To get the low down, Bracksy hunted down the FIM WSBK Technical Director, Scott Smart, to get the inside story on the process used to achieve the results that were implemented into he new Tech Regs for 2019 season.

Scott Smart is the FIM WSBK Technical Director, and was born in to a family of motorcycle racers and is related to the late, great Barry Sheene. He has a degree in Physics and has raced in the British Superbike Championship, World Supersport and Grand Prix in the 500cc and 250cc categories.

Over the years he has run his own teams and been involved in both the mechanical and electronic aspects of motorcycles, from building and tuning engines, to producing the wiring harnesses for a number of BSB teams. He has also acted as a crew chief in MotoGP, whilst continuing to race. But since 2014 he has been the FIM Technical Director for the Superbike World Championship.

Scott Smart GeeBee
Scott Smart – Image by GeeBee

Scott Smart Interview

Mark Bracks: So the changes for the year, what do they entail and what do they mean?

Scott Smart: “Basically we’ve got a bunch of new riders on a bunch of new bikes and as a result they need starting points for the revs. The way the revs starting point works; you take the street bike, check where the rev limiter is, which is the most horrifying thing on the dyno runs in the factory, and that gives us standard street bike max revs, and we add three per cent to that and it gives us a figure.

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The V4 R in the hands of Alvaro Bautista and boasting the 16,350rpm rev limit was the talk of the town – Image by TBG Sport

“We also do a bunch of dyno runs and step tests to let us know to the nearest 100rpm to where the maximum power is. We then add 1100rpm to that, and of those two figures we use the lower ones. That way none of the manufacturers can put a fake really high rev limiter in it. We get basically a sensible point of the power curve to define the rev limit, relative to the street bike.”

Mark Bracks: That answers the question everyone is asking me, why the Ducatis have so many more rpm to play with…

Scott Smart: “So basically when you rev that thing on the dyno, it’ll go to 16,500rpm in top gear, unreal – you’ve never seen it before in a 1000cc superbike. So in most gears it’s 16,000rpm, and top gear is up to 16500rpm. Almost like over-run, I don’t want to even think what speed you could do on the thing, and it also makes quite a lot of horsepower doesn’t it.

“If we based it on 16,000 or 16,500rpm plus 3 per cent we’d be 16,500-16,600 plus, or 17,000 in top, but that would be unrealistic, as the bike makes its peak horsepower at 15,250, so we add the 1100 to that, and get 16,350rpm, which is where we set the rev limiter and that seems pretty reasonable. But it does seem to be ripping down the straight quite quickly.”

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Alvaro Bautista – TBG Image

Mark Bracks: So nothing can change this weekend, but is it still a three meeting thing?

Scott Smart: “The official way we do it is every three meetings, unless we rock up at the first race and realise it’s a complete disaster. If you actually look at the time sheets the Ducati does have the highest top speed, but looking at the lap times it’s only in the hands of one rider. It’s not all four Ducatis are romping away by a second a lap.

“It’s just one Ducati that’s quickest and the next best is 10th at the moment, so it’s obviously a hard motorcycle to ride. So as a result there’ll be no knee jerk, emergency reaction. It’s in the rules in case the starting point is completely wrong, but from the results I’ve seen so far, that’s not going to be needed. It’s looking like it’ll shape up to be a pretty good race.”

WSBK Test PI Final GB Rea
Jonathan Rea – Image by Geebee

Mark Bracks: With tyres you always have a problem here, but the weather isn’t going to be the same today as it will be on Sunday, it’ll be warmer.

Scott Smart: “If it gets really hot, the grip will actually be going down, which is actually easier on the tyres. But looking at the weather report we’re looking at 25-27 degrees and maybe a bit of a clearer sky, so it’s going to be tough on the tyres. They developed a bunch of different new tyres, but that’s all been done in overcast quite chilly conditions, and like we said, it’s going to be warmer, and until they test the tyres on Friday, nobody really knows. The idea was – every year since I’ve had this job – that this would be the first year without problems…”

Is there any suggestion that Pirelli just make a special tyre for here?

Scott Smart: “They basically do make specials for here, the question mark has been, can you make one that’s two seconds a lap slower that lasts, and I think that’s been the aim, but it’s a really grippy aggressive surface here, so it doesn’t seem to matter, even if you take away all the grip, it still grips, as the surface is so grippy, so it just tears the tyre to pieces. Unfortunately it looks like we’ll have problems again.”

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Mark Bracks: With that 10 lap sprint race, will they be running a softer tyre so they can go harder?

Scott Smart: “In Europe there will be a softer tyre, here it’s still the normal race tyre.”

Mark Bracks: Tyre allowances, because of the extra race?

Scott Smart: “It changes slightly, but it’s quite dynamic anyway, it’s not the same every weekend, as it’s not the same tyres every weekend. Some championships like BSB have a soft and a hard, the same every week. MotoGP it’s not actually the same tyres there either. But here Pirelli has developed tyres more for the circuits and usually there should be eight of the two favourites, and five or six of the other options. Actually what they thought was going to be the allocation for the weekend, will be shuffled up a bit now, as they’ll try and provide more of the harder wearing tyres.”

WorldSBK Australia Promo

WorldSBK  Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Event Schedule, 22 – 24 February 2019
Thursday 21 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
9:00 10:00 1:00 World SSP Riders Briefing
10:00 FIM Track Safety Inspection
10:00 11:30 1:30 All Riders Riders Track Familiarization
12:00 13:00 1:00 Safety Car Test Track closed
13:50 14:20 0:30 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 1
14:25 14:55 0:30 Aus SS Free Practice 1
15:00 15:30 0:30 Australian Sup Free Practice 1
15:40 15:50 0:10 Parade Laps Black Dog Ride
14:30 15:30 1:00 WorldSBK Riders Briefing
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSBK Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSSP Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSSP Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSBK Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
18:00 All 1st Time Riders Riders Briefing
TBC All Classes Tyre Stickers Distribution Technical Bay
Friday 22 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:30 8:40 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
9:10 9:25 0:15 Aus SS Free Practice 2
9:30 9:45 0:15 Aus SBK Free Practice 2
9:50 FIM Medical Inspection
10:00 FIM Track Inspection
10:30 11:20 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 1
11:30 12:15 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 1
12:25 12:55 0:30 Pit Walk 1
13:15 13:30 0:15 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 2
13:35 13:50 0:15 Aus SBK Qualifying
13:55 14:10 0:15 Aus SS Qualifying
14:15 14:30 0:15 Aus SS300 Qualifying
15:00 15:50 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 2
16:00 16:45 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 2
Saturday 23 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:15 8:25 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:45 9:15 0:30 Australian SSP Race 1 10 Laps 
9:20 FIM Medical Inspection
9:30 FIM Track Inspection
10:00 10:20 0:20 WorldSBK Free Practice 3
10:35 10:55 0:20 WorldSSP Free Practice 3
11:05 11:25 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 1 8 Laps –
11:30 12:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 1 12 Laps 
12:15 12:40 0:25 WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
12:55 13:20 0:25 WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
13:40 14:10 0:30 Pit Walk 2 & Safety Car Laps
15:00 WorldSBK RACE 1 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:45 0:30 Aus SBK Race 2 12 Laps 
16:50 17:10 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 2 8 Laps 
17:15 17:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 2 10 Laps 
Sunday 24 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
7:45 7:55 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:15 8:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 3 10 Laps
8:50 FIM Medical Inspection
9:00 FIM Track Inspection
09:30 09:45 0:15 WorldSBK Warm Up
09:55 10:10 0:15 WorldSSP Warm Up
10:30 11:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 3 12 Laps
11:05 11:35 0:30 Pit Walk 3 & Safety Car Laps
12:00 WorldSBK S-pole Race 10 Laps Pit Opens: 11:45
13:15 WorldSSP Race 18 Laps Pit Opens: 13:00
15:00 WorldSBK Race 2 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:35 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 3 8 laps
1 Lap 4,445 km Issued: 28 November 2018 13:00h

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

Pirelli’s Giorgio Barbieri talks Phillip Island WSBK & tyres

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Giorgio Barbieri, Pirelli Head of Motorsport Operations Interview

With Mark Bracks

Mark Bracks catches up with Pirelli’s Head of Motorsport Operations, Giorgio Barbieri, to discuss the unique stresses that Phillip Island puts on tyres, tyre solutions for 2019 and how testing panned out this week.

Mark Bracks: Giorgio, so the solutions, what did you bring this year?

Giorgio Barbieri: “We didn’t forget Phillip Island! It is impossible to come here, to not make an interesting test. We are always looking what’s happening in the Aussie championship and we are quite happy because we had the majority agree the results are good.

WSBK Test PI Final GB Bautista
Alvaro Bautista topped the official WorldSBK Test at Phillip Island

“The competitive national championship is growing, and I saw some riders participating in an international race out of Australia as well, which is good, including the Suzuka 8 Hour.

“When we come here for WorldSBK we always meet the same problems, usually in the first two day test session, things are OK. While yesterday (Monday) we started seeing something strange already as far as blistering, not a problem with temperature – I wouldn’t try to give you an excuse – but what I can consider is that this is the first race of the year for everyone, not all the teams work during the winter, so they are not so used to preparing certain bikes for the race.

“Probably if you came at the end of the season the bike riders and teams are perfect and the work is easier. The first race of the season is very difficult so you can see some very different performance from the teams, not only in lap time – as yesterday the lap times were already too fast. But also to run the tyres under a lot of pressure, so they’ll run longer, so we can see what we can do for the race weekend.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Pirelli TBG
Tyres have historically been an issue at Phillip Island… including last year

“To be frank, I was so excited about the flag by flag race last year, it was a very big show. We tried to put this formula into the WorldSBK [the pit stop] as it’s very interesting, but the teams are not all agreed on this form. I don’t know what we’ll do for the weekend, I wouldn’t like to arrive at the decision at the last moment because someone has problems and someone does not. So it’s a matter of preparation. But if the field is not ready… We’ll discuss after two days of evidence, and the conditions may change, the track may improve. It’s not just a case of 15 to 20 laps, it’s all about everyone using the same formula.

“We take all of the last season, in order to have a bigger campaign to study for the race tyres, we analysed all the tyres from every single race, to understand the level of fatigue and stress after the race, so we have some numbers now in mind. That’s why we prefer to prepare the special solutions for when we come here, considering what spares we got.

“But as usual when we come here, everything is changed around.

Mark Bracks: How many tyres did you bring for the test and the weekend?

Giorgio Barbieri: “We brought for the teams two rear Superbike and two rear Supersport, in reference to the last year’s race, and one new one. Nothing asymmetrical. This is part of the reason why the approach to this race is always difficult for us. We would like to make this race just like everywhere else around the world. But this is not the place so common.

WSBK Test PI Final GB Rea
Jonathan Rea – Image by Geebee

“Our philosophy is this one, we would like to give your riders here a different type of tyre for Phillip island and another tyre for the rest of the races in the national championship. They need a range that works over the national championship. So if I have to improve my range in my work on WSBK, I can’t consider the race different to all the other fields, this is one point of strength, and one point from the other side.

“Pirelli has to decide, like MotoGP has different tyres every race, playing with the compound, or with WSBK the tyres have to work here, the United States, Africa, and this is the problem.

“For the race, it’s just a matter to see what happens here today. We have other specification already for the race, Superbike and Supersport, but before we put something different it creates more confusion with the team’s work.”

Mark Bracks: The latest spec’ we have for the Aussie Superbikes were bigger.

Giorgio Barbieri: “We developed the new sizes in Imola and Misano, and then we tested here. Last year we brought a new size, a 265, slightly bigger than the standard 260 for Phillip Island. The teams said, it seems fine, seems interesting, so after the race, they use 50/50 old and new ones, SC0/SC1, so it seemed like it was something more than just a tyre for Phillip Island. So we brought it to Imola, then from Imola to all the races.

WSBK Test PI Final GB Lowes
Alex Lowes – Image by Geebee

“So all the teams moved from the old size to the new one. From Misano we improved the front as well to balance, and by the end of the season everyone used the big one. So for Phillip Island from this point of view, I had to ask to develop new tyres from the range, and as soon as the result were so fine, so far, we put it into production, the new sizes as a SC1 and SC0, and given to all the markets. Now we make our development in the World Superbike Championship, but we would like the markets to test the new sizes to understand how much they prefer this to the standard ones.

“So now we have all the standard range [260] and the new ones [265]. This year we’ll work to create the whole range of compounds in the new sizes, and at the end of the season we can decide whether to keep the old one or the new one. Australia was the first country all over the world to tell me that they would like to have this as the range of tyres and homologate for the championship and I trust my riders.

“So it’s interesting to me that the country with just three choices of sizes decided to homologate and take the new one.”

Mark: In the ASBK test, the feedback was that it would want to fall into the corner quicker.

Giorgio Barbieri: “After Imola the riders asked for a different front, as the rear was pushing more the front, so we needed a bigger front, and stiffer front, so now all the WSBK are using the bigger front. Why are people using the little one? Because they aren’t confident yet. So I asked Gary [Crilly] when the other guys arrive, like Bayliss, Ducati, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki they will have the chance to ask the WSBK technician what to do to the bike to prepare for the new sizes, and they will immediately make upgrade to their performance. If they start from nothing it will take time, if they take the experience gained in WSBK, they’ll gain time.”

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Troy Bayliss TBG
Troy Bayliss testing the new Pirelli tyres in the earlier ASBK test- Image by TBG

Mark Bracks: The Australian Superbike tyre is the same as the WSBK then?

Giorgio Barbieri: “Absolutely.”

Mark Bracks: What about Supersport? In the last couple of years we’ve seen, delaminating, more-so in the race and more critical.

Giorgio Barbieri: “Supersport is more so difficult, because of the size rims. We can’t make a bigger tyre due to the rim sizes being too narrow, so we make it bigger but then it stretch on the rim. We don’t have so many tester, Superbike has many testers more than Supersport.

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Aussie Tom Toparis is wild carding in Supersport – Image by TBG Sport

“So we agreed with Dorna to do one test in Portugal in August for Supersport as well, and we’ll concentrate the test on Australian tyres. In order to have more experience in Supersport about this. In Supersport they lean more, less electronics, and higher temperature on the tyres than the Superbikes sometimes, which is why they cook the tyre more.”

Mark Bracks: So in Portimao in August, you’ll be testing there because it’s a little bit similar to Australia?

Giorgio Barbieri: “Portimao we know is very hot and the long corner, brings you down in the lane, is where we see the next highest temperature to Phillip Island, but 20-30C less, but more than all the other circuit in Europe, so this is something, not enough but something. If you come here [Phillip Island] in December and you make a test, you might not have any problem, but come in February and *click*…

World Superbikes at Portimao
World Superbikes will head to Portimao for a test later in the year, including for Supersport

“Several years ago we brought the Ducati’s from Europe, and we brought Troy Bayliss to test, we made a test here in December, the test were perfect, we tried to race and… I don’t really know what to do in this place.

“It’s almost impossible to find the right condition to test. Or we have to convince ourselves to make something completely different than what we normally like to make to suit these conditions for the laps we need.”

Mark Bracks: How different are the Supersport tyres, do they have a stiffer sidewall?

Giorgio Barbieri: “Yes and some of them do and are testing now. In Superbike as well they have a carcass stiffer than the usual one, and it’s a little heavier than the usual one as we make some reinforcement inside. But the thing is, is this the point or not?”

Mark Bracks: I was going to say with the extra weight, more inertia, more heat…

Giorgio Barbieri: “That might be why it’s not working. I hope to see some long run testing in the afternoon session.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Pirelli TBG

Mark Bracks: Have you seen the difference in temperature between today and Sunday?

Giorgio Barbieri: “Yes, I saw the forecast but I’m not worried about this. It’s the heat generated into the tyre, it’s a matter of operative temperature, during the use. If the bike is loading the rear tyre in order to reach a certain level of temp, and overclimb this level and keep this higher level, you destroy the compound.

“So which way to keep this temperature down, is more in the team’s behaviour and the riders, and race administration. I know quite well how the MotoGP riders are used to managing the tyres, in the last lap they use it. But if they use this lap time in the beginning…

“In this championship they aren’t used to administrating the tyres, and in this place, this causes the problem. But yesterday we saw Bautista use an intelligent way to run very fast but keeping within the range and average temperature.

“This is the right attitude, I remember several years ago we tried with Troy Bayliss, he had the best Ducati, he was the man in this place, and he won the Race 1 with 12s advantage, and we saw some blister on the tyres. I said Troy, if we make like this in the second race, when the temp is higher, you will meet problems at the end of the race, try not to take 12s, but just the right amount, which was foolish to say to the rider. But he did, he came first on the second race, it was by 3s and the tyre was perfect. But it’s not my job to ask the riders and teams to administrate.”

Mark Bracks: So with the Supersport tyre, have you gone harder compound all over?

Giorgio Barbieri: “No, it’s always the same compound as used in Superbike, the mother of SC1, I don’t trust giving another compound will save us from the problem, because the more slip you’ve got the more temperature you’ve got. Here it’s always a combination of mechanical and chemical stress, one of the two creates the problem. So you have to keep the right amount of grip, and at the same time, not too much. More grip is the compound and more heating from the tread, but if you don’t give enough tread you get heating because of wheel spin.”

WSBK Test PI Final GB Bautista
Alvaro Bautista – Image by Geebee

Mark Bracks: It’s the never ending chasing of the tail as they say… Is there any plan B for the tyres for the weekend?

Giorgio Barbieri: “We will discuss on Thursday in order to make a decision on the morning, rather than waiting for anything to happen on Friday. We will decide what kind of race we’ll have then!”

The count down is on for this weekend’s (Feb 22-24) season opener of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, Yamaha Finance round at Australia’s spectacular Phillip Island. Racing looks set to be hot; and the weather is forecast to be perfect for fans and for on-circuit camping with 25-28 degree days predicted.

WorldSBK Australia Promo

WorldSBK  Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Event Schedule, 22 – 24 February 2019
Thursday 21 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
9:00 10:00 1:00 World SSP Riders Briefing
10:00 FIM Track Safety Inspection
10:00 11:30 1:30 All Riders Riders Track Familiarization
12:00 13:00 1:00 Safety Car Test Track closed
13:50 14:20 0:30 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 1
14:25 14:55 0:30 Aus SS Free Practice 1
15:00 15:30 0:30 Australian Sup Free Practice 1
15:40 15:50 0:10 Parade Laps Black Dog Ride
14:30 15:30 1:00 WorldSBK Riders Briefing
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSBK Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSSP Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSSP Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSBK Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
18:00 All 1st Time Riders Riders Briefing
TBC All Classes Tyre Stickers Distribution Technical Bay
Friday 22 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:30 8:40 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
9:10 9:25 0:15 Aus SS Free Practice 2
9:30 9:45 0:15 Aus SBK Free Practice 2
9:50 FIM Medical Inspection
10:00 FIM Track Inspection
10:30 11:20 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 1
11:30 12:15 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 1
12:25 12:55 0:30 Pit Walk 1
13:15 13:30 0:15 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 2
13:35 13:50 0:15 Aus SBK Qualifying
13:55 14:10 0:15 Aus SS Qualifying
14:15 14:30 0:15 Aus SS300 Qualifying
15:00 15:50 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 2
16:00 16:45 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 2
Saturday 23 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:15 8:25 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:45 9:15 0:30 Australian SSP Race 1 10 Laps 
9:20 FIM Medical Inspection
9:30 FIM Track Inspection
10:00 10:20 0:20 WorldSBK Free Practice 3
10:35 10:55 0:20 WorldSSP Free Practice 3
11:05 11:25 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 1 8 Laps –
11:30 12:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 1 12 Laps 
12:15 12:40 0:25 WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
12:55 13:20 0:25 WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
13:40 14:10 0:30 Pit Walk 2 & Safety Car Laps
15:00 WorldSBK RACE 1 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:45 0:30 Aus SBK Race 2 12 Laps 
16:50 17:10 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 2 8 Laps 
17:15 17:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 2 10 Laps 
Sunday 24 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
7:45 7:55 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:15 8:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 3 10 Laps
8:50 FIM Medical Inspection
9:00 FIM Track Inspection
09:30 09:45 0:15 WorldSBK Warm Up
09:55 10:10 0:15 WorldSSP Warm Up
10:30 11:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 3 12 Laps
11:05 11:35 0:30 Pit Walk 3 & Safety Car Laps
12:00 WorldSBK S-pole Race 10 Laps Pit Opens: 11:45
13:15 WorldSSP Race 18 Laps Pit Opens: 13:00
15:00 WorldSBK Race 2 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:35 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 3 8 laps
1 Lap 4,445 km Issued: 28 November 2018 13:00h

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

Riders reflect on WSBK Testing at Phillip Island

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WorldSBK 2019 Phillip Island Test
Quotes

Álvaro Bautista
Aruba.it Racing Ducati – P1 – 1’30.303

“Today was another very positive day. This morning we made a change to the bike’s geometry but we didn’t find what we were looking for so we went back to yesterday’s setting. In the afternoon the aim was to do a long-run, to see how the tyres behaved after a number of laps in race trim. I’m pleased because I kept a very good pace throughout the entire long-run. These have been two very positive days, and I’d like to thank the whole team, which did a perfect job. We’re ready to tackle the first race, and I can’t wait to start!”

WSBK Test PI Final GB Bautista
Álvaro Bautista

Tom Sykes
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – P2 – 1’30.539

“Testing has gone really well and after these two test days here at Phillip Island, I want to thank the whole BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team because we worked very well, we worked through a comprehensive list of items and possibilities and certainly boxed off a lot of things. So I am very happy and I really feel that given the limited time on the project everyone has been doing an incredible job. I don’t think that we could have asked for anything more during this testing period. Going into the race weekend now we know that it’s not going to be easy, obviously we need to work a little bit more in some areas, but I really do feel that we are heading in the right direction. We will go out on track, work on further improving the package on our BMW S 1000 RR and enjoy the racing. I feel that the potential is higher than we could have expected when starting the project.”

WSBK Test PI Final Tom Sykes
Tom Sykes

Leon Haslam
Kawasaki Racing Team – P3 – 1’30.668

“Up until today we probably used the least amount of tyres compared to anyone else. We were just looking at race set-up and looking at a real specific plan of what we wanted to do, hence we were not posting really good one-off lap times and putting new tyres in. Our race times have been pretty competitive over both days. I had a bit of a go for a lap time at the end there but I got traffic on my first two laps and I think it was my fourth flying lap I did the 1’30.6. I think if we could have maximised the early laps, like everyone else seemed to be doing, we could have been a little closer. The biggest thing about this test for me was the average of the base pace, looking after the tyres, and managing that side of things. We are in a good place, I think. I am not looking to the races just yet; I am looking to the practice session on Friday, because there are still a few things we want to try. I feel good and we are making the steps.”

WSBK Test PI Final GB Haslam
Leon Haslam

Jonathan Rea
Kawasaki Racing Team – P4 – 1’30.722

“This has been a really positive test and we have been able to analyse a lot of items and changing things in the bike to see exactly what the track requests. This track is so unique because of the energy and load we put into the rear tyre, because of those fourth and fifth gear corners. Now we have a lot of data but unfortunately today there were a lot of red flags and we were not able to complete a long run or maximise a time attack. So this has been a huge data gathering two day test and it will prove very valuable for race weekend. With three races this year we need to be clever with the timetable and Sunday will be very a tight day for many reasons. The racing itself, trying to take on board food and – being in a factory team – the media commitments. So Sunday will be busy. From a racing point of view, I am quite happy.”

WSBK Test PI Final GB Rea
Jonathan Rea

Markus Reiterberger
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – P12 – 1’31.376

“I am pretty satisfied with the two test days in Australia. I immediately had a good feeling on the bike, and we worked well through our testing programme, so we can soon focus on fine-tuning the performance. The anticipation for the first race weekend is of course huge, because racing is always something special. On the other hand, I would not mind having a few more test laps to really get the maximum out of myself and the BMW S 1000 RR. We just need a little bit of time to understand the whole package, but I’m pretty happy so far, and I feel great in the team. The guys really give everything and work extremely hard. We also continuously get new options and things from Munich that we can test. You can really see how things are progressing well. Personally, I worked intensively on my fitness during the winter, and I am ready to kick off the season.”

WSBK Test PI Final Markus Reiterberger
Markus Reiterberger

Leon Camier
Moriwaki Althea Honda Team – P13 – 1’31.443

“We are working really hard on different aspects of the bike, from the electronics to the chassis’ setup. The feeling on the bike is not at all bad but we need to keep working hard on the setup. It’s important to work methodically because we want to be sure that every change we make is taking us in the right direction. The bike has a lot of strong points and is very nice to ride, very stable. The team is working really hard and I’m sure things will improve though it may take a little time.”

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Leon Camier TBG
Leon Camier – TBG Image

Chaz Davies
Aruba.it Racing Ducati – P14 – 1’31.796

“We’re not quite there yet to be honest. We made some strides this morning and I was quite happy with that. In the afternoon we wanted to change a few things but we ended up going back to this morning’s setting because everything we tried didn’t give me the right feeling. We have to put all the data together in the next two days and hopefully on Friday we’ll turn up with a better setting. The good news is that last year we also had a difficult test, but then I raced a lot better than I did at the tests. We’ll take the weekend as it comes and prepare for the race in the best possible way.”

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Chaz Davies TBG
Chaz Davies – TBG Image

Ryuichi Kiyonari
Moriwaki Althea Honda Team – P15 – 1’31.860

“Today I feel better compared to yesterday. This morning especially, we worked well on the suspension and electronic settings and I immediately had better feeling. Of course, we are still a bit far from the front, but all in all I’m happy with the progress we’ve made. During the afternoon session, we had some grip issues to deal with but in the end, we were able to sort that out, even if we did not improve on the morning’s best time. I’m highly motivated to improve and know that I am asking a lot of my team, so I wish to thank everyone for their effort and all their hard work.”

Alessandro Delbianco
Althea MIE Racing Team – P18 – 1’32.979

“I’m pleased with the work we’ve done here, despite finishing up the test a little earlier than everyone else. I feel as if I’ve got on much better than I did during the Portimao and Jerez tests. This is one of those tracks that requires courage and I feel comfortable riding here, I find the wide turns really help me. Compared to the last tests, I’m closer to my rivals and know that I can only improve, so I’m feeling optimistic about the upcoming race weekend.”

Team Quotes

Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Leon Haslam

“We had a very good winter test programme and this final test was all about preparation for race weekend. We wanted to give Leon as many laps as possible to give him more time to adjust to this bike. We made an agreement together that in every session we needed to improve our pace and that is what we did. I think we were the only riders to improve the lap time and the pace, session-by-session. To be third right now makes me very confident but I am more convinced about our consistency. We have no problems with rear tyre endurance. We are, after ten or 12 laps, at least as fast or faster than our competition so I am looking forward to the weekend. With three races the weekend will be as busy as usual, but more exciting.”

WSBK Test PI Final GB KRT Duinker
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Leon Haslam

Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea

“The test has been the same as each previous year in Phillip Island. This is a unique track, completely different and we have been preparing the base bike and the starting point for 2019. In the winter tests it has been very good and then when we arrived here, as we expected from previous years, everything has been different. So we started to focus on the base setup for this track and then focus with the tyres. This is one of the main things we have to focus on here, especially the rear tyre. This has been the target to try to find a good balance for Johnny and also for durability for the rear tyre. As for race weekend we have to analyse everything, and I already have some ideas. On Friday we still want to try something to give Johnny a little bit more confidence and understanding.”

WSBK Test PI Final GB KRT Riba
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director

“The results of the two days of testing at Phillip Island are very positive. They confirmed the performance at the test days that we had over winter. We are very proud of the collaboration within the team, which first had to gel in this new configuration. We have all pulled together over the past few months, and we now can see the result of this good teamwork. That’s motivating! But we have to stay realistic and look ahead to the first race. That will be the first time for us to see where we really stand in race trim. We also know that we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but the base of the new BMW S 1000 RR offers a lot of potential. We are happy to be back and we really can’t wait to start the first race.”

WSBK Test PI Final BMW SRR Logo
BMW Motorrad Superbike Team – BMW S 1000 RR

Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team

“We left the European tests in a very good position and a lot of hard work was carried out to make further improvements at Phillip Island. At the two days of testing here we could clearly see the benefits of the small but very significant improvements to the chassis. Tom went through all the things he wanted to test and had his best package which he ran on Tuesday afternoon in its final configuration. That is a very good base setting for him now to start the season. Markus has taken a big step forward after Portimão and is in a very strong position where we feel he can definitely compete for the top ten in the races at the coming weekend.”

WSBK Test PI Final Tom Sykes
Tom Sykes

WSBK Phillip Island Test February 2019
Final Combined Times

  1. BAUTISTA Alvaro – Ducati 1’30.303
  2. SYKES Tom – BMW 1’30.539
  3. HASLAM Leon – Kawasaki 1’30.668
  4. REA Jonathan – Kawasaki 1’30.722
  5. MELANDRI Marco – Yamaha 1’30.760
  6. RAZGATLIOGLU Toprak – Kawasaki 1’30.840
  7. VAN DER MARK Michael – Yamaha 1’30.911
  8. CORTESE Sandro – Yamaha 1’31.077
  9. LOWES Alex – Yamaha 1’31.168
  10. TORRES Jordi – Kawasaki 1’31.224
  11. MERCADO Leandro – Kawasaki 1’31.328
  12. REITERBERGER Markus – BMW 1’31.376
  13. CAMIER Leon – Honda 1’31.443
  14. DAVIES Chaz – Ducati 1’31.796
  15. KIYONARI Ryuichi – Honda 1’31.860
  16. LAVERTY Eugene – Ducati 1’31.986
  17. RINALDI Michael Ruben – Ducati 1’32.083
  18. DELBIANCO Alessandro – Honda 1’32.979
  19. HERFOSS Troy – Honda 1’33.130

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Source: MCNews.com.au

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This has been a really positive test and we have been able to analyse a lot of items and changing…

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This has been a really positive test and we have been able to analyse a lot of items and changing things in the bike to see exactly what the track requests. This track is so unique because of the energy and load we put into the rear tyre, because of those fourth and fifth gear corners. Now we have a lot of data but unfortunately today there were a lot of red flags and we were not able to complete a long run or maximise a time attack. So this has been a huge data gathering two day test and it will prove very valuable for race weekend. With three races this year we need to be clever with the timetable and Sunday will be very a tight day for many reasons. The racing itself, trying to take on board food and – being in a factory team – the media commitments. So Sunday will be busy. From a racing point of view, I am quite happy. http://jonathan-rea.com/news/positive-final-test-rea


Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook

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Alvaro Bautista dominates Phillip Island pre-season test

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Bautista dominates Phillip Island pre-season test

WorldSBK 2019 Phillip Island Test
Day 2 – PM Report

Alvaro Bautista has used the power and poise of the new Ducati Panigale V4 R, and a hefty dose of skill and bravery, to top every session of the two-day official World Superbike pre-season test at Phillip Island this week.

WSBK Test PI Day Bautista
Alvaro Bautista

Come conclusion of the afternoon session on Day 2, there was five riders under the lap record in an impressive turn of events, while some problems with tyres had been noted, with blistering occurring.

The new Ducati was also fastest through the speed traps by a considerable margin. That might cause organisers to question their recently released RPM limits for season 2019. If a single brand of machine looks to have much of an advantage these limits will be reduced further during the season, as has happened to Kawasaki in recent seasons due to their domination of the class.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Alvaro Bautista TBG
Alvaro Bautista – Image by TBG Sport

The new BMW will start season 2019 with a 14,900 rpm limit while the Kawasaki will be pegged to 14,600 rpm. The new Ducati Panigale V4 R will start with a 16,350 rpm limit, but with both Bautista and Davies clocking by far the fastest speeds during this Phillip Island test, one would expect that the Ducati rev limit to be reduced in due course…

Somewhat curiously BMW’s Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger are amongst the slowest bikes in the field through the speed trap. One would imagine that lack of top end speed would stem from poor drive off turn 12, and thus a deficit of rear grip from their current set-up with the new bike, with Tom Sykes claiming he’s still got a standard engine in their current test machines, and has given him inspiration for when the bike’s fully spec’d.

WSBK Test PI Day Sykes
Tom Sykes

It is early days yet with the new bike though and the lap-times are already quite encouraging, for Sykes in particular, who completed the final session of the day in second place, after putting in a 1’30.539 late in the session.

Many of the fastest times over the two days were set this morning, despite a few red flags because of Cape Barren Geese on circuit. This afternoon though there was wind, along with a few fine sprinkles of rain from time to time, with only a late push by Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam propelling them up the charts into second and third respectively, while Rea shaved his best time down to 1’30.722, a 0.038s improvement and retaining the number four position. Bautista also noted that he was going for race distance this afternoon, rather than outright fastest time.

Yamaha have looked strong across the two days with Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes quick out of the box on Monday, but it was Marco Melandri that ended up quickest overall for the tuning fork brand on a GRT Yamaha.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Marco Melandri TBG
Marco Melandri – TBG Image

The weather this afternoon put dampers on any sort of time attack from Jonathan Rea to gain bragging rights but he has been right there across both days, and on race pace it would be a brave man to bet against him, especially after he shaved down his time in the afternoon session. Leon Haslam also looks to be adapting to the WorldSBK spec’ ZX-10RR well and is in the hunt, coming in just ahead of Rea on the sheets.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Jonathon Rea TBG
Jonathan Rea – Image by TBG Sport

The new Althea Moriwaki Honda squad will, I think, be mainly satisfied with the pace of Leon Camier and Ryuichi Kiyonari at this early stage of the game. The pair have started behind the eight-ball as the new look team did not have bikes ready for the earlier test sessions this year, thus it was the first real hit-out for the team and their riders.

Troy Herfoss had a disastrous day one with teething problems on the freshly built Penrite Honda on Monday but did make some headway this morning and at least now has a direction to follow. Herfoss though is yet to match the times he did here a few weeks ago on his lesser spec’ ASBK Superbike. Their eager anticipation towards this wildcard appearance may have waned a little on the back of their problems this week.

WSBK Test PI Day GeeBee Troy Herfoss
Troy Herfoss – GeeBee Image

WSBK Phillip Island Test February 2019
Final Combined Times

  1. BAUTISTA Alvaro – Ducati 1’30.303
  2. SYKES Tom – BMW 1’30.539
  3. HASLAM Leon – Kawasaki 1’30.668
  4. REA Jonathan – Kawasaki 1’30.722
  5. MELANDRI Marco – Yamaha 1’30.760
  6. RAZGATLIOGLU Toprak – Kawasaki 1’30.840
  7. VAN DER MARK Michael – Yamaha 1’30.911
  8. CORTESE Sandro – Yamaha 1’31.077
  9. LOWES Alex – Yamaha 1’31.168
  10. TORRES Jordi – Kawasaki 1’31.224
  11. MERCADO Leandro – Kawasaki 1’31.328
  12. REITERBERGER Markus – BMW 1’31.376
  13. CAMIER Leon – Honda 1’31.443
  14. DAVIES Chaz – Ducati 1’31.796
  15. KIYONARI Ryuichi – Honda 1’31.860
  16. LAVERTY Eugene – Ducati 1’31.986
  17. RINALDI Michael Ruben – Ducati 1’32.083
  18. DELBIANCO Alessandro – Honda 1’32.979
  19. HERFOSS Troy – Honda 1’33.130

WorldSBK – Tuesday AM – Times / Speeds

  1. Alvaro Bautista – Ducati 1m30.303 – 316.7 km/h
  2. Marco Melandri – Yamaha 1m30.760 – 306.8 km/h
  3. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki 1m30.761 – 310.3 km/h
  4. Tom Sykes – BMW 1m30.777 – 302.5 km/h
  5. Michael Van der Mark – Yamaha 1m30.911 – 312.1 km/h
  6. Leon Haslam – Kawasaki 1m30.947 – 309.5 km/h
  7. Sandro Cortese – Yamaha 1m31.077 – 308.6 km/h
  8. Alex Lowes – Yamaha 1m31.272 – 310.3 km/h
  9. Markus Reiterberger – BMW 1m31.376 – 301.7 km/h
  10. Leon Camier – Honda 1m31.443 – 309.5 km/h
  11. Toprak Razgatlioglu – Kawasaki 1m31.445 – 306.8 km/h
  12. Chaz Davies- Ducati 1m31.796 – 314.0 km/h
  13. Jordi Torres – Kawasaki 1m31.808 – 300.0 km/h
  14. Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda 1m31.860 – 306.8 km/h
  15. Leandro Mercado – Kawasaki 1m31.942 – 303.4 km/h
  16. Eugene Laverty – Ducati 1m31.986 – 303.4 km/h
  17. Michael Rinaldi – Ducati 1m32.428 – 314 km/h
  18. Alessandreo Delbianco – Honda 1m32.979 – 294.3 km/h
  19. Troy Herfoss – Honda 1m33.130 – 300.8 km/h

World Supersport – Tuesday AM – Times

  1. Krummenacher – Yamaha 1m33.111
  2. Caricasulo – Yamaha 1m33.417
  3. Cluzel – Yamaha 1m33.791
  4. Mahias – Kawasaki 1m33.872
  5. De Rosa – MV Agusta 1m33.935
  6. Gradinger – Yamaha 1m34.184
  7. Barbera – Yamaha 1m34.282
  8. Soomer – Honda 1m34.340
  9. Perolari – Yamaha 1m34.361
  10. Okubo – Kawasaki 1m34.374
  11. Vinales – Yamaha 1m34.491
  12. Sebestyen – Honda 1m34.784
  13. Fuligni – MV Agusta 1m34.864
  14. Van Sikkelerus – Honda 1m34.872
  15. Cresson – Yamaha 1m34.918
  16. Danilo – Honda 1m35.008
  17. Toparis – Yamaha 1m35.165
  18. Herrera – Yamaha 1m35.282
  19. Badovini – Kawasaki 1m35.437
  20. Ruiu – Honda 1m35.506
  21. Hartog – Kawasaki 1m35.783
  22. Calero – Kawasaki 1m35.855
  23. Coppola – Honda 1m35.909
  24. Van Straalen – Kawasaki 1m36.765

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WorldSBK  Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Event Schedule, 22 – 24 February 2019
Thursday 21 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
9:00 10:00 1:00 World SSP Riders Briefing
10:00 FIM Track Safety Inspection
10:00 11:30 1:30 All Riders Riders Track Familiarization
12:00 13:00 1:00 Safety Car Test Track closed
13:50 14:20 0:30 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 1
14:25 14:55 0:30 Aus SS Free Practice 1
15:00 15:30 0:30 Australian Sup Free Practice 1
15:40 15:50 0:10 Parade Laps Black Dog Ride
14:30 15:30 1:00 WorldSBK Riders Briefing
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSBK Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSSP Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSSP Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSBK Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
18:00 All 1st Time Riders Riders Briefing
TBC All Classes Tyre Stickers Distribution Technical Bay
Friday 22 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:30 8:40 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
9:10 9:25 0:15 Aus SS Free Practice 2
9:30 9:45 0:15 Aus SBK Free Practice 2
9:50 FIM Medical Inspection
10:00 FIM Track Inspection
10:30 11:20 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 1
11:30 12:15 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 1
12:25 12:55 0:30 Pit Walk 1
13:15 13:30 0:15 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 2
13:35 13:50 0:15 Aus SBK Qualifying
13:55 14:10 0:15 Aus SS Qualifying
14:15 14:30 0:15 Aus SS300 Qualifying
15:00 15:50 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 2
16:00 16:45 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 2
Saturday 23 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:15 8:25 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:45 9:15 0:30 Australian SSP Race 1 10 Laps 
9:20 FIM Medical Inspection
9:30 FIM Track Inspection
10:00 10:20 0:20 WorldSBK Free Practice 3
10:35 10:55 0:20 WorldSSP Free Practice 3
11:05 11:25 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 1 8 Laps –
11:30 12:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 1 12 Laps 
12:15 12:40 0:25 WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
12:55 13:20 0:25 WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
13:40 14:10 0:30 Pit Walk 2 & Safety Car Laps
15:00 WorldSBK RACE 1 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:45 0:30 Aus SBK Race 2 12 Laps 
16:50 17:10 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 2 8 Laps 
17:15 17:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 2 10 Laps 
Sunday 24 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
7:45 7:55 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:15 8:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 3 10 Laps
8:50 FIM Medical Inspection
9:00 FIM Track Inspection
09:30 09:45 0:15 WorldSBK Warm Up
09:55 10:10 0:15 WorldSSP Warm Up
10:30 11:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 3 12 Laps
11:05 11:35 0:30 Pit Walk 3 & Safety Car Laps
12:00 WorldSBK S-pole Race 10 Laps Pit Opens: 11:45
13:15 WorldSSP Race 18 Laps Pit Opens: 13:00
15:00 WorldSBK Race 2 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:35 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 3 8 laps
1 Lap 4,445 km Issued: 28 November 2018 13:00h

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

Tuesday morning wrap from WSBK Phillip Island Test

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Alvaro Bautista tops again

Marco Melandri makes progress

WorldSBK 2019 Phillip Island Test
Day 2 – AM Report

Cape Barren Geese put a temporary halt to proceedings with an hour remaining in the sessions, as so often happens when these big 4-kilogram birds start waddling around the track. The red flag then had to come out a few more times to clear the birds in the final hour of the morning session, frustrating riders and teams no end.

One thing riders did not have to contend with this morning was the blustery wind that plagued them on Monday afternoon. As a result we had four riders under the previous race lap record, and on four different brands of machinery. The outright qualifying record has not yet been broached though, the 1m29.573 set by Jonathan Rea here two years ago not yet threatened.

WSBK Test PI Day GeeBee Jonathan Rea
Jonathan Rea – GeeBee Image

Again it was Alvaro Bautista on the Ducati Panigale V4 R setting the pace, a 1m30.303 to the Spaniard, but the big improver this morning was Marco Melandri on the satellite GRT Yamaha. The hugely experienced Italian picked up seven-tenths to finish the morning session with a best of 1m30.760, besting Jonathan Rea by a thousandth-of-a-second.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Marco Melandri TBG
Marco Melandri – TBG Image

Fourth quickest was Tom Sykes on the new BMW S 1000 RR. The German machine obviously to the Briton’s liking as he adapts to a new motorcycle after many years on the dominant ZX-10RR machines with KRT. BMW have neven been known to be short of horsepower, but curiously both Sykes and his team-mate Reiterberger are amongst the slowest bikes in the field through the speed trap.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Tom Sykes TBG
Tom Sykes – TBG Image

Michael Van der Mark and Leon Haslam were also under the 1m31s barrier.

Alex Lowes did not make much progress this morning, presumably working on new developments after his great showing yesterday. The Pata Yamaha man eighth ahead of BMW’s Markus Reiterberger while Althea Moriwaki Honda recruit Leon Camier rounded out the top ten.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Leon Camier TBG
Leon Camier – TBG Image

Wildcard entrant Troy Herfoss made some progress after major problems yesterday fail to make any impact. A busy session in the garage overnight from the Penrite Honda squad has obviously started to allow them to find the right direction with their times now starting to drop, but are yet to match what Herfoss did here a few months ago on his lesser spec’ ASBK Superbike.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Troy Herfoss TBG
Troy Herfoss – Penrite Honda – TBG Image

WorldSBK – Tuesday AM – Times / Speeds

  1. Alvaro Bautista – Ducati 1m30.303 – 316.7 km/h
  2. Marco Melandri – Yamaha 1m30.760 – 306.8 km/h
  3. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki 1m30.761 – 310.3 km/h
  4. Tom Sykes – BMW 1m30.777 – 302.5 km/h
  5. Michael Van der Mark – Yamaha 1m30.911 – 312.1 km/h
  6. Leon Haslam – Kawasaki 1m30.947 – 309.5 km/h
  7. Sandro Cortese – Yamaha 1m31.077 – 308.6 km/h
  8. Alex Lowes – Yamaha 1m31.272 – 310.3 km/h
  9. Markus Reiterberger – BMW 1m31.376 – 301.7 km/h
  10. Leon Camier – Honda 1m31.443 – 309.5 km/h
  11. Toprak Razgatlioglu – Kawasaki 1m31.445 – 306.8 km/h
  12. Chaz Davies- Ducati 1m31.796 – 314.0 km/h
  13. Jordi Torres – Kawasaki 1m31.808 – 300.0 km/h
  14. Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda 1m31.860 – 306.8 km/h
  15. Leandro Mercado – Kawasaki 1m31.942 – 303.4 km/h
  16. Eugene Laverty – Ducati 1m31.986 – 303.4 km/h
  17. Michael Rinaldi – Ducati 1m32.428 – 314 km/h
  18. Alessandreo Delbianco – Honda 1m32.979 – 294.3 km/h
  19. Troy Herfoss – Honda 1m33.130 – 300.8 km/h

WorldSBK Australia Promo

WorldSBK RPM Limits

Dorna has released updated RPM limits for the 2019 WorldSBK season that will be in place for the start of the season. If a single type of machine looks to have much of an advantage these limits will be reduced further during the season.  The new BMW will start season 2019 with a 14,900 rpm limit while the Kawasaki will be pegged to 14,600 rpm.

The new Ducati Panigale V4 R will start with a 16,350 rpm limit, but with both Bautista and Davies clocking by far the fastest speeds during this Phillip Island test, one would expect that the Ducati rev limit to be reduced in due course…

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

WSBK Phillip Island Test Day One Times/Speeds/Report

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Alvaro Bautista fastest in both sessions

WorldSBK 2019 Phillip Island Test
Day 1 – PM Report

A stiff wind caused riders all sorts of problems this afternoon and of the morning top ten it was only Tom Sykes on the new BMW, and the man that replaced him on the KRT ZX-10R, Leon Haslam, that successfully battled the breeze to lower their markers this afternoon. Sykes moving up fourth quickest on combined times just ahead of Haslam.

Morning or afternoon, wind or no wind, the consistently fastest man of the day was Alvaro Bautista but it was his morning time that remained the fastest overall. The #19 Ducati Panigale V4 R the only machine to dip under the 1m31s benchmark today, a 1m30.743 the best of three laps in a row that the 34-year-old recorded in that 1m30s bracket during FP1.

Bautista’s best time is actually under the 1m30.848 race lap record set by Marco Melandri during last year’s second World Superbike race at Phillip Island on the V-Twin Panigale. The outright World Superbike lap record though belongs to Jonathan Rea who put in a 1m29.573 during qualifying here two years ago.

WSBK Test PI Day GeeBee Alvaro Bautista
Alvaro Bautista – GeeBee Image

Bautista’s Ducati team-mate Chaz Davies has not had such an enjoyable day. A technical gremlin this morning saw his Panigale V4 R roll to a stop at Siberia, then this afternoon the Welshman was plagued by agonising back spasms. The 32-year-old ending day one 13th on combined times.

Another rider not having any fun today was Troy Herfoss as the Penrite Honda squad try to get a handle on the new bike they have built for this one-off World Superbike wildcard effort. Proceedings are not going well at all thus far and the team will be scratching their heads. Herfoss rounded out the tail end of the timesheets today with a 1m34.961 in FP1. Worryingly he could only muster a 1m35.475 from his 13 laps this afternoon.

WSBK Test PI Day GeeBee Troy Herfoss
Troy Herfoss – GeeBee Image

The reigning ASBK Superbike Champion went more than two-seconds faster than today’s best in race trim aboard the ASBK, almost Superstock spec’, Fireblade here back in October. Some serious head scratching and spanner twirling going to be undertaken in that pit garage this evening…

WSBK Test PI Day GeeBee Troy Herfoss
Troy Herfoss – GeeBee Image

Alex Lowes is showing encouraging speed on the Pata Yamaha to clock the second fastest time of the day ahead of Jonathan Rea.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Alex Lowes TBG
Alex Lowes – TBG Image

Along with Tom Sykes in fourth, that made for four different brands filling the top four spots on the day’s combined times.

WSBK Test PI Day GeeBee Jonathan Rea
Jonathan Rea – GeeBee Image

Marco Melandri was sixth quickest ahead of fellow Yamaha riders Michael Van der Mark and Sandro Cortese.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Marco Melandri TBG
Marco Melandri – TBG Image

Markus Reiterberger and Toprak Razgatlioglu rounded out the top ten ahead of the leading Honda of Leon Camier.

WorldSBK RPM Limits

Overnight Dorna released updated RPM limits for the 2019 WorldSBK season that will be in place for the start of the season. If a single type of machine looks to have much of an advantage these limits will be reduced further during the season.  The new BMW will start season 2019 with a 14,900 rpm limit while the Kawasaki will be pegged to 14,600 rpm.

The new Ducati Panigale V4 R will start with a 16,350 rpm limit, but with both Bautista and Davies clocking by far the fastest speeds in today’s morning session, one would expect that the Ducati rev limit to be reduced in due course…

World Supersport

In the World Supersport ranks it was a Yamaha 1-2 in both the morning and afternoon sessions but while Caricasulo topped FP1 it was team-mate Randy Krummenacher that went fractionally faster in FP2 to top the day on combined times.

WSBK Phillip Island Official Test Mon FP WSSP Krummenacher GB
Randy Krummenacher – GeeBee Image

Goulburn youngster Tom Toparis had been inside the top ten in the morning session but on combined times this afternoon the 18-year-old slipped to 14th. Still a highly creditable results in the 24-rider field. We spoke to him at the end of proceedings today and that interview can be found at this link.

WSBK Phillip Island Official Test Mon FP WSSP Toparis GB
Tom Toparis – GeeBee Image

WorldSBK Testing Phillip Island
Day One Combined Times / Best Speeds

  1. Alvaro Bautista – Ducati 1m30.743 – 314.9 km/h
  2. Alex Lowes – Yamaha 1m31.146 – 308.6 km/h
  3. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki 1m31.189  – 308.6 km/h
  4. Tom Sykes – BMW 1m31.300  – 303.4 km/h
  5. Leon Haslam – Kawasaki 1m31.399 – 308.6 km/h
  6. Marco Melandri – Yamaha 1m31.445 – 314 km/h
  7. Michael VanderMark – Yam 1m31.458 – 304.2 km/h
  8. Sandro Cortese – Yamaha 1m31.639 – 304.2 km/h
  9. Markus Reiterberger – BMW 1m31.992 – 300.0 km/h
  10. Toprak Razgatlioglu – Kaw 1m32.050 – 302.5 km/h
  11. Leon Camier – Honda 1m32.459 – 307.7 km/h
  12. Jordi Torres – Kawasaki 1m32.670 – 300.0 km/h
  13. Chaz Davies – Ducati 1m32.706 – 313 km/h
  14. Leandro Mercado – Kaw 1m32.789 – 300.8 km/h
  15. Eugene Laverty – Ducati 1m32.797 – 305.1 km/h
  16. Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda 1m32.962 – 306.8 km/h
  17. Michael Rinaldi – Ducati 1m33.402 – 307.7 km/h
  18. A Delbianco – Hon 1m33.949 – 292.7 km/h
  19. Troy Herfoss – Honda 1m34.961 – 295.1 km/h

WorldSSP – Combined Practice Times

  1. KRUMMENACHER Randy SUI Yamaha 1’33.820
  2. CARICASULO Federico ITA Yamaha 1’33.882 +0.062
  3. CLUZEL Jules FRA Yamaha 1’34.198 +.378
  4. MAHIAS Lucas FRA Kawasaki 1’34.222 +0.402
  5. DE ROSA Raffaele ITA MV Agusta 1’34.293 +0.473
  6. OKUBO Hikari JPN Kawasaki 1’34.584 +0.764
  7. BARBERA Hector ESP Yamaha 1’34.751 +0.931
  8. GRADINGER Thomas AUT Yamaha 1’34.753 +0.933
  9. PEROLARI Corentin FRA Yamaha 1’34.850 +1.030
  10. VINALES Isaac ESP Yamaha 1’35.369 +1.549
  11. SOOMER Hannes EST Honda 1’35.516 +1.696
  12. SEBESTYEN Peter HUN CIA Honda 1’35.581 +1.761
  13. CRESSON Loris BEL Yamaha 1’35.588 +1.768
  14. TOPARIS Tom AUS Landbridge Transport Yamaha 1’35.690 +1.870
  15. FULIGNI Federico ITA MV AGUSTA 1’35.762 +1.942
  16. BADOVINI Ayrton ITA Kawasaki 1’35.974 +2.154
  17. VAN SIKKELERUS Jaimie NED Honda 1’36.150 +2.330
  18. HERRERA Maria ESP Yamaha 1’36.214 +2.394
  19. DANILO Jules FRA Honda 1’36.421 +2.601
  20. RUIU Gabriele ITA Honda 1’36.569 +2.749
  21. COPPOLA Alfonso ITA Honda 1’36.629 +2.809
  22. CALERO Nacho ESP Kawasaki 1’36.647 +2.827
  23. HARTOG Rob NED Kawasaki 1’37.043 +3.223
  24. VAN STRAALEN Glenn NED Kawasaki 1’37.273 +3.453

WorldSSP – Free Practice 2 Times / Speeds

  1. F Caricasulo (ITA) Yamaha 1’33.882 – 272.7 km/h
  2. R Krummenacher (SUI) Yam 1’34.226 +0.346 – 266.7 km/h
  3. R De Rosa (ITA) MV Agusta 1’34.293 +0.411 – 270.0 km/h
  4. J Cluzel (FRA) Yamaha 1’34.539 +0.657 – 266.0 km/h
  5. H Okubo (JPN) Kawasaki 1’34.584 +0.702 – 272.0 km/h
  6. L Mahias (FRA) Kawasaki 1’34.807 +0.925 – 270.0 km/h
  7. I Vinales (ESP) Yamaha 1’35.369 +1.457 – 268 km/h
  8. C Perolari (FRA) Yamaha 1’35.695 +1.814 – 264.7 km/h
  9. T Toparis (AUS) Yamaha 1’35.725 +1.843 – 262.1 km/h
  10. A Badovini (ITA) Kawasaki 1’35.974 +2.002 – 256.5 km/h
  11. H Soomer (EST) Honda 1’36.305 +2.423 – 260.9 km/h
  12. F Fuligni (ITA) MV Agusta 1’36.313 +2.431 – 264.7 km/h
  13. L Cresson (BEL) Yamaha 1’36.313 +2.431 – 272 km/h
  14. P Sebestyen (HUN) Honda 1’36.331 +2.449 – 265.4 km/h
  15. H Barbera (ESP) Yamaha 1’36.636 +2.754 – 265.4 km/h

WorldSBK  Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Event Schedule, 22 – 24 February 2019

FIM Track Safety Inspection

Safety Car TestTrack closed

All 1st Time RidersRiders Briefing

All ClassesTyre Stickers DistributionTechnical Bay

FIM Medical Inspection

FIM Track Inspection

Pit Walk 1

FIM Medical Inspection

FIM Track Inspection

Pit Walk 2 & Safety Car Laps

WorldSBKRACE 122 LapsPit Opens: 14:40

FIM Medical Inspection

FIM Track Inspection

Pit Walk 3 & Safety Car Laps

WorldSBKS-pole Race10 LapsPit Opens: 11:45

WorldSSPRace18 LapsPit Opens: 13:00

WorldSBKRace 222 LapsPit Opens: 14:40

Thursday 21 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
9:00 10:00 1:00 World SSP Riders Briefing
10:00
10:00 11:30 1:30 All Riders Riders Track Familiarization
12:00 13:00 1:00
13:50 14:20 0:30 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 1
14:25 14:55 0:30 Aus SS Free Practice 1
15:00 15:30 0:30 Australian Sup Free Practice 1
15:40 15:50 0:10 Parade Laps Black Dog Ride
14:30 15:30 1:00 WorldSBK Riders Briefing
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSBK Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSSP Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSSP Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSBK Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
18:00
TBC
Friday 22 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:30 8:40 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
9:10 9:25 0:15 Aus SS Free Practice 2
9:30 9:45 0:15 Aus SBK Free Practice 2
9:50
10:00
10:30 11:20 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 1
11:30 12:15 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 1
12:25 12:55 0:30
13:15 13:30 0:15 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 2
13:35 13:50 0:15 Aus SBK Qualifying
13:55 14:10 0:15 Aus SS Qualifying
14:15 14:30 0:15 Aus SS300 Qualifying
15:00 15:50 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 2
16:00 16:45 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 2
Saturday 23 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:15 8:25 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:45 9:15 0:30 Australian SSP Race 1 10 Laps
9:20
9:30
10:00 10:20 0:20 WorldSBK Free Practice 3
10:35 10:55 0:20 WorldSSP Free Practice 3
11:05 11:25 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 1 8 Laps –
11:30 12:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 1 12 Laps
12:15 12:40 0:25 WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
12:55 13:20 0:25 WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
13:40 14:10 0:30
15:00
16:15 16:45 0:30 Aus SBK Race 2 12 Laps
16:50 17:10 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 2 8 Laps
17:15 17:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 2 10 Laps
Sunday 24 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
7:45 7:55 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:15 8:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 3 10 Laps
8:50
9:00
09:30 09:45 0:15 WorldSBK Warm Up
09:55 10:10 0:15 WorldSSP Warm Up
10:30 11:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 3 12 Laps
11:05 11:35 0:30
12:00
13:15
15:00
16:15 16:35 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 3 8 laps
1 Lap 4,445 km Issued: 28 November 2018 13:00h

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

Tom Toparis reflects on opening day of WSS Testing at P.I.

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Tom Toparis talks Phillip Island Official WSBK Test Day 1

With Mark Bracks – Images by GeeBee

Tom Toparis kicked off Day 1 of the official Phillip Island WorldSBK Test today, setting the ninth fastest time in the initial session of the day, before finishing the day 14th overall on the combined timesheets.

Setting a final best of 1m35.690s on the Lambridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6, Toparis was still coming to terms today with the additional power of the World Supersport spec’ machine, and the difference that makes compared to riding the Australian Supersport machinery. He will compete on both bikes in the double-header WorldSBK and ASBK season opener this weekend at Phillip Island.

WSBK Phillip Island Official Test Mon FP WSSP Toparis GB
Tom Toparis

We caught up with Tom Toparis on the conclusion of Day 1 of the Official Test to see how we was progressing.

Tom Toparis Interview

MCNews.com.au: Tom Toparis talk us through your day, you ended up 14th fastest?

Tom Toparis: “I don’t know where I ended up actually, we didn’t finish the session. It wasn’t a bad day, just struggled a little bit with overall grip on every corner. If we sort that out, I think that I will be a lot faster. I was following a lot of the fast guys, and the place I was losing time was on similar corners.

“If we can sort out the issues we’re trying to fix… tomorrow we have Adrian [Monty] coming so hopefully he can come up with something. Hopefully we can just sort that little bit in every turn and obviously hope for a big gain. The bike feels OK and the conditions are obviously good as everyone’s going quite fast. We still have a bit of work to do and I know we can go a lot faster than we did today.”

WSBK Phillip Island Official Test Mon FP WSSP Toparis GB
Tom Toparis

MCNews.com.au: What’s your speed like compared to the others when you’re in a slipstream?

Tom Toparis: “I haven’t looked at the actual times, in the first session I think I was just under 10km/h off, but that was with different gearing, now we’ve gone longer with the gearing, so it should be closer. And in a tow and everything you don’t know where everyone is at.

“I don’t think I’ve been passed in the straight yet, not that I’ve been riding with anyone particularly. I think the bike is pretty much there, in terms of power… there’s no real excuses from my side.”

WSBK Phillip Island Official Test Mon FP WSSP Toparis GB
Tom Toparis

MCNews.com.au: What is it like with the new gearbox?

Tom Toparis: “It’s not been a problem so far, I think when I mix it with the Aussie stuff – hopefully I don’t make too many mistakes. Basically it’s just one extra gear going into first into MG and Honda. It’s a little bit different through the Hayshed, but we still haven’t actually sorted out what we want to do yet.

“In the Hayshed… it’s just a close ratio, so it’s definitely different, going back five gears into Honda. So it’s a lot of work to do and I’m getting used to it. Tomorrow if everything goes our way, I think we’ll be able to get into the 1:34s I hope.”

WSBK Phillip Island Official Test Mon FP WSSP Toparis GB F
Tom Toparis – GeeBee Image

MCNews.com.au: Has today refocused your ambition for the weekend?

Tom Toparis: “Not really, you know I really want to win the Aussie stuff straight away – that has to happen, but Sam and the guys are trying so hard to do well in the Worlds, I really want to do as good as I can.

“Obviously Aiden did really well when he was on the same motors – he was on the same motors as I’ve got, so if I can do something like he did on these motors, then I’ll be very happy. Still a little bit of work to do in certain places, but overall the bike is not too bad.

“I just want the bike to feel like it did the other day, when I was here on the Aussie bike. Just that little bit more power is upsetting me through the long corners with grip, at the moment, that’s pretty much the issue we’re having, but if we can get around that we’ll be sweet.”

MCNews.com.au: So you notice a big different in power from the [Australian] Supersport?

Tom Toparis: “Yep, it’s just that little bit everywhere. If you had an Aussie bike in there you could get away with it, but just that little bit extra power over an entire lap, that extra couple of km average across an entire lap, at the end of the lap it ends up being a second or two faster, so it’s definitely a different bike.

“We’re still trying to get comfortable. This weekend we have some new parts, new handlebars and rear sets and whatnot, so just trying to get comfortable with that. I think it’ll be alright.”

MCNews.com.au: The tyre you were using, is that new?

Tom Toparis: “Yep new tyre, same tyre, same compound as the Aussie one (190), but different carcass, because last year they had issues, people were blowing them up last year. So Pirelli made the same tyre with a much stiffer carcass, and the same compound.

“It’s not a lot different, but over the race distance it should be better, you would think – in theory. We didn’t use a lot of tyres today, so tomorrow hopefully I can come up with something, and see if we can do some good times.”

MCNews.com.au: Thanks!

Tom Toparis: “Cheers.”

WorldSSP – Combined Practice Times

  1. KRUMMENACHER Randy SUI Yamaha 1’33.820
  2. CARICASULO Federico ITA Yamaha 1’33.882 +0.062
  3. CLUZEL Jules FRA Yamaha 1’34.198 +.378
  4. MAHIAS Lucas FRA Kawasaki 1’34.222 +0.402
  5. DE ROSA Raffaele ITA MV Agusta 1’34.293 +0.473
  6. OKUBO Hikari JPN Kawasaki 1’34.584 +0.764
  7. BARBERA Hector ESP Yamaha 1’34.751 +0.931
  8. GRADINGER Thomas AUT Yamaha 1’34.753 +0.933
  9. PEROLARI Corentin FRA Yamaha 1’34.850 +1.030
  10. VINALES Isaac ESP Yamaha 1’35.369 +1.549
  11. SOOMER Hannes EST Honda 1’35.516 +1.696
  12. SEBESTYEN Peter HUN CIA Honda 1’35.581 +1.761
  13. CRESSON Loris BEL Yamaha 1’35.588 +1.768
  14. TOPARIS Tom AUS Landbridge Transport Yamaha 1’35.690 +1.870
  15. FULIGNI Federico ITA MV AGUSTA 1’35.762 +1.942
  16. BADOVINI Ayrton ITA Kawasaki 1’35.974 +2.154
  17. VAN SIKKELERUS Jaimie NED Honda 1’36.150 +2.330
  18. HERRERA Maria ESP Yamaha 1’36.214 +2.394
  19. DANILO Jules FRA Honda 1’36.421 +2.601
  20. RUIU Gabriele ITA Honda 1’36.569 +2.749
  21. COPPOLA Alfonso ITA Honda 1’36.629 +2.809
  22. CALERO Nacho ESP Kawasaki 1’36.647 +2.827
  23. HARTOG Rob NED Kawasaki 1’37.043 +3.223
  24. VAN STRAALEN Glenn NED Kawasaki 1’37.273 +3.453

WorldSSP – Free Practice 1 Times / Speeds

  1. F Caricasulo (ITA) Yamaha 1’33.882 – 272.7 km/h
  2. R Krummenacher (SUI) Yam 1’34.226 +0.346 – 266.7 km/h
  3. R De Rosa (ITA) MV Agusta 1’34.293 +0.411 – 270.0 km/h
  4. J Cluzel (FRA) Yamaha 1’34.539 +0.657 – 266.0 km/h
  5. H Okubo (JPN) Kawasaki 1’34.584 +0.702 – 272.0 km/h
  6. L Mahias (FRA) Kawasaki 1’34.807 +0.925 – 270.0 km/h
  7. I Vinales (ESP) Yamaha 1’35.369 +1.457 – 268 km/h
  8. C Perolari (FRA) Yamaha 1’35.695 +1.814 – 264.7 km/h
  9. T Toparis (AUS) Yamaha 1’35.725 +1.843 – 262.1 km/h
  10. A Badovini (ITA) Kawasaki 1’35.974 +2.002 – 256.5 km/h
  11. H Soomer (EST) Honda 1’36.305 +2.423 – 260.9 km/h
  12. F Fuligni (ITA) MV Agusta 1’36.313 +2.431 – 264.7 km/h
  13. L Cresson (BEL) Yamaha 1’36.313 +2.431 – 272 km/h
  14. P Sebestyen (HUN) Honda 1’36.331 +2.449 – 265.4 km/h
  15. H Barbera (ESP) Yamaha 1’36.636 +2.754 – 265.4 km/h

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News, WSBK

Alvaro Bautista tops opening session at Phillip Island

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Ducati Panigale V4 R makes strong debut

WorldSBK 2019 Phillip Island Test
Day 1 – AM Report

Alvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea traded places at the top of the timesheets many times during this morning’s two-hour practice session at Phillip Island but Alex Lowes eventually split the pair late in the session.

When the session wound up shortly after 1300 this afternoon, it was the Ducati man topping the charts ahead of Lowes while Rea made it three different manufacturers occupying those top three spots on the timesheets.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Alvaro Bautista TBG
Alvaro Bautista – TBG Image

Tom Sykes was the leading BMW rider in seventh place just ahead of the man that replaced him at Kawasaki, Leon Haslam.

Overnight Dorna released updated RPM limits for the 2019 WorldSBK season that will be in place for the start of the season. If a single type of machine looks to have much of an advantage these limits will be reduced further during the season.  The new BMW will start season 2019 with a 14,900 rpm limit while the Kawasaki will be pegged to 14,600 rpm.

The new Ducati Panigale V4 R will start with a 16,350 rpm limit, but with both Bautista and Davies clocking by far the fastest speeds in today’s morning session, one would expect that the Ducati rev limit to be reduced in due course…

Leon Camier was 11th quickest on the Moriwaki Althea Honda.

Chaz Davies suffered some mechanical gremlins this morning with the Panigale V4 R rolling to a stop at Siberia. Limiting the number of laps the Welshman could do at pace this morning.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Chaz Davies TBG
Chaz Davies – TBG Image

Wildcard entrant Troy Herfoss spent the majority of the session in the pits and will be looking to move forward in this afternoon’s second two-hour bout which finishes shortly before 6pm AEDT.

Earlier in the morning World Supersport riders had also hit the track and it was a Yamaha 1-2 for the 600cc machines headed by Caricasulo.  Wildcard entrant Tom Toparis was a highly creditable ninth in that opening session.

WSBK Phillip Island Official Test Mon FP WSSP Toparis GB F
Tom Toparis – GeeBee Image

WorldSBK – Free Practice 1 Times

  1. Alvaro Bautista – Ducati 1m30.743 – 314.9 km/h
  2. Alex Lowes – Yamaha 1m31.146 – 308.6 km/h
  3. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki 1m31.189 – 308.6 km/h
  4. Marco Melandri – Yamaha 1m31.445 – 314 km/h
  5. Michael Van der Mark – Yamaha 1m31.458 – 304.2 km/h
  6. Sandro Cortese – Yamaha 1m31.639 – 304.2 km/h
  7. Tom Sykes – BMW 1m31.740 – 303.4 km/h
  8. Leon Haslam – Kawasaki 1m31.886 – 308.6 km/h
  9. Markus Reiterberger – BMW 1m31.992 – 300.0 km/h
  10. Toprak Razgatlioglu – Kawasaki 1m32.425 – 302.5 km/h
  11. Leon Camier – Honda 1m32.459 – 307.7 km/h
  12. Jordi Torres – Kawasaki 1m32.679 – 300.0 km/h
  13. Leandro Mercado – Kawasaki 1m32.789 – 300.8 km/h
  14. Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda 1m33.171 – 306.8 km/h
  15. Chaz Davies – Ducati 1m33.204 – 313 km/h
  16. Eugene Laverty – Ducati 1m33.353 – 305.1 km/h
  17. Michael Rinaldi – Ducati 1m33.843 – 307.7 km/h
  18. Alessandrio Delbianco – Honda 1m33.965 – 292.7 km/h
  19. Troy Herfoss – Penrite Honda 1m34.961 – 295.1 km/h

WorldSSP – Free Practice 1 Times

  1. F Caricasulo (ITA) Yamaha 1’33.882
  2. R Krummenacher (SUI) Yamaha 1’34.226 +0.346
  3. R De Rosa (ITA) MV Agusta 1’34.293 +0.411
  4. J Cluzel (FRA) Yamaha 1’34.539 +0.657
  5. H Okubo (JPN) Kawasaki 1’34.584 +0.702
  6. L Mahias (FRA) Kawasaki 1’34.807 +0.925
  7. L Vinales (ESP) Yamaha 1’35.369 +1.457
  8. C Perolari (FRA) Yamaha 1’35.695 +1.814
  9. T Toparis (AUS) Yamaha 1’35.725 +1.843
  10. A Badovini (ITA) Kawasaki 1’35.974 +2.002
  11. H Soomer (EST) Honda 1’36.305 +2.423
  12. F Fuligni (ITA) MV Agusta 1’36.313 +2.431
  13. L Cresson (BEL) Yamaha 1’36.313 +2.431
  14. P Sebestyen (HUN) Honda 1’36.331 +2.449
  15. H Barbera (ESP) Yamaha 1’36.636 +2.754

WorldSBK  Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Event Schedule, 22 – 24 February 2019
Thursday 21 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
9:00 10:00 1:00 World SSP Riders Briefing
10:00 FIM Track Safety Inspection
10:00 11:30 1:30 All Riders Riders Track Familiarization
12:00 13:00 1:00 Safety Car Test Track closed
13:50 14:20 0:30 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 1
14:25 14:55 0:30 Aus SS Free Practice 1
15:00 15:30 0:30 Australian Sup Free Practice 1
15:40 15:50 0:10 Parade Laps Black Dog Ride
14:30 15:30 1:00 WorldSBK Riders Briefing
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSBK Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
16:00 17:00 1:00 WorldSSP Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSSP Official Photo Start/Finish Straight
17:00 18:00 1:00 WorldSBK Technical/Sporting Checks Pit Garages
18:00 All 1st Time Riders Riders Briefing
TBC All Classes Tyre Stickers Distribution Technical Bay
Friday 22 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:30 8:40 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
9:10 9:25 0:15 Aus SS Free Practice 2
9:30 9:45 0:15 Aus SBK Free Practice 2
9:50 FIM Medical Inspection
10:00 FIM Track Inspection
10:30 11:20 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 1
11:30 12:15 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 1
12:25 12:55 0:30 Pit Walk 1
13:15 13:30 0:15 Aus SS 300 Free Practice 2
13:35 13:50 0:15 Aus SBK Qualifying
13:55 14:10 0:15 Aus SS Qualifying
14:15 14:30 0:15 Aus SS300 Qualifying
15:00 15:50 0:50 WorldSBK Free Practice 2
16:00 16:45 0:45 WorldSSP Free Practice 2
Saturday 23 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
8:15 8:25 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:45 9:15 0:30 Australian SSP Race 1 10 Laps 
9:20 FIM Medical Inspection
9:30 FIM Track Inspection
10:00 10:20 0:20 WorldSBK Free Practice 3
10:35 10:55 0:20 WorldSSP Free Practice 3
11:05 11:25 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 1 8 Laps –
11:30 12:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 1 12 Laps 
12:15 12:40 0:25 WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
12:55 13:20 0:25 WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
13:40 14:10 0:30 Pit Walk 2 & Safety Car Laps
15:00 WorldSBK RACE 1 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:45 0:30 Aus SBK Race 2 12 Laps 
16:50 17:10 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 2 8 Laps 
17:15 17:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 2 10 Laps 
Sunday 24 February 2019
Time Duration Category Schedule
7:45 7:55 0:10 Timekeeping Racing Track System Test
8:15 8:45 0:30 Aus SSP Race 3 10 Laps
8:50 FIM Medical Inspection
9:00 FIM Track Inspection
09:30 09:45 0:15 WorldSBK Warm Up
09:55 10:10 0:15 WorldSSP Warm Up
10:30 11:00 0:30 Aus SBK Race 3 12 Laps
11:05 11:35 0:30 Pit Walk 3 & Safety Car Laps
12:00 WorldSBK S-pole Race 10 Laps Pit Opens: 11:45
13:15 WorldSSP Race 18 Laps Pit Opens: 13:00
15:00 WorldSBK Race 2 22 Laps Pit Opens: 14:40
16:15 16:35 0:20 Aus SS 300 Race 3 8 laps
1 Lap 4,445 km

Source: MCNews.com.au