Bench Racing & The Morning Reads

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[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][i]SBK[/i][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.leonhaslam.com/news-detail.cfm?id=152]leonhaslam.com[/url]
BMW's Leon Haslam is hoping to make progress with the treatment for a suspected broken lower leg when he visits specialists in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday.

Haslam crashed heading into the final corner of the Victoria state circuit after a highside which left him with a number of injuries including the broken leg and with both feet broken.

"It's really disappointing as we were making really good progress with the machine," said Haslam. "I can only hope that I can arrange the necessary surgery or whatever it's going to take to get me back on the machine for Sunday's races."


[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/5-sbk-news/12116-sykes-interrupts-checas-dominant-run.html]worldsbk.com[/url]: Sykes interrupts Checas dominant run

[url=http://xmedia.ex.ac.uk/details.php?cid=177 ]xmedia.ex.ac.uk[/url]: World Superbike set to kickoff

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1329727803-checa-pushes-on-to-head-up-the-timesheets/]fim-live.com[/url]: Checa pushes on to head up the timesheets

[url=http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/176876/1/checa_difficult_to_improve_further.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]crash.net[/url]: Checa ÔÇô difficult to improve further

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wo8kkWrN6PI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[SIZE="1"][url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/home.html]WORLDSBK[/url]: 2012 Race Calendar | [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/season/standings.html]Championship Standings[/url] Rider / Manufacturer[/SIZE]

[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][i]motogp[/i][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/First+day+of+private+testing+in+Jerez]motogp.com[/url]: [Monday] First day of private testing in Jerez

[url=http://www.motomatters.com/results/2012/02/20/2012_jerez_crt_private_test_day_1_de_pun.html]motomatters.com[/url]: Jerez CRT private test day 1 ÔÇô De Puniet leads as development continues for CRT bikes

[url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/Surtees+and+Agostini+inducted+into+Motor+Sport+magazine+Hall+of+Fame]motogp.com[/url]: Surtees and Agostini inducted into Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame


[SIZE="1"][url=http://www.motogp.com/en/calendar+circuits ]motogp[/url]: 2012 race calendar | [url=http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics]Results and Statistics[/url][/SIZE]


[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][I]Formula 1[/I][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2012/2/13027.html]formaula1.com[/url]: Barcelona test preview ÔÇô The search for speed begins

[url=http://www.pirelli.com/corporate/en/press/2012/02/20/p-zero-white-medium-tyres-the-most-popular-choice-in-barcelona/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PirelliPress+%28Pirelli%3A+Press+Release%29]pirelli.com[/url]: P-Zero white medium tyres the most popular choice in Barcelona

[url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/2/13026.html]formula1.com[/url]: New Mercedes private Barcelona test

[url=http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/massa-says-ferrari-must-complete-more-laps-at-barcelona/]jamesallenonf1.com[/url]: Massa says Ferrari must complete more laps at Barcelona

[url=http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-new-hrt-still-hasnt-passed-crash-tests/]speedtv.com[/url]: HRT still hasn't passed crash tests


Bahrain Grand Prix officials began selling tickets for April's Formula One race yesterday, offering an indication that the government is determined to hold the race despite ongoing protests that have paralysed parts of the capital, Manama, where at least 40 people have died... MORE [url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/tickets-on-sale-for-bahrain-gp-7213920.html]independent.co.uk[/url]

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9094534/Bahrain-Grand-Prix-staging-may-help-put-troubled-countrys-reform-in-the-fast-lane.html]telegraph.co.uk[/url] Bahrain Grand Prix staging may help put troubled country reform in the fast lane

[SIZE="1"][url]Formula 1[/url]: 2012 Race Calendar | [url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2011/ ]Results Season/Team/Driver[/url]
[url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2012/Pages/f1-race-info.aspx]fia.com[/url]: 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship - Race Information & Event Starting Times for the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship[/SIZE]

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]Other Racing[/b][/size][/FONT]

SUCCESSFUL START TO THE MOTOCROSS SEASON IN VALENCE FOR LUPINO
The season for Husqvarna Motocross Racing Team By Ricci started on Sunday with the International race in Valence (France). Husqvarna rider Alessandro Lupino finished with his TC250 4th overall in the MX2 class after 4th place in heat 1 and a 6th place in heat 2...[url=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=366867289997656&set=a.201499303201123.52191.198286320189088&type=1]MORE[/url]


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[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]On the Street[/b][/size][/FONT]

[url=http://www.webbikeworld.com/2012-dealer-expo/dual-sport-motorcycle-tires/]webbikeworld.com[/url]: 2012 Dealer Expo | Dual sport motorcycle tires

[url=http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2012/02/20/dangerous-thoughts-about-the-future-of-motorcycles/]thekneeslider.com[/url]: Dangerous thoughts about the future of motorcycles


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2SLKhlTdGH0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Qc9jjT05HlQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sjg5fK1ZMTk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][B]The Mothership[/b][/size][/FONT]


BMW Corporation (NYSE: Kim Hyo-Joon) is the first six-cylinder touring bike BMW K 1600 GT and the appearance of an upgraded Middleweight Roadster motorcycle, two kinds of models, such as the F 800 R and got on sale release...[url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/pressclub/p/kr/pressDetail.html;jsessionid=vQ19PCPYKbyNrLLXNjgdVvlFJJHb1141LbgsgqzHSGDY7hJRqhkF!16015623?outputChannelId=27&id=T0124962KO&left_menu_item=node__6628&status=published]MORE[/url] ÔÇô just remember to bring your translater


This popped up on one of the Mothership's video channels. IIRC it's a repeat but worth another look.
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[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5] [b]FWIW[/b][/size][/FONT]

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[FONT="Arial Black"][size=4][b]Reference:[/b][/size]:[/FONT]

[SIZE="4"][url=http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally12 ]BMW MOA 2012 International Rally[/url][/SIZE]

[SIZE="4"]SBK[/SIZE]
[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/images/stories/documents/2012_fim_superbike_championship_calendar.pdf]2012 FIM Superbike Championship Calendar[/url]

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/Codes_et_reglements/SBK_fr.pdf]FIM [/url]

[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/images/stories/documents/Superbike%20Commission,%2027%20October.pdf]Changes to the FIM Superbike, Supersport and Superstock regulations for 2012[/url]:
Some more details of changes to the championship regulations were delivered by the FIM in a press release.

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/en/fim/fim-official-documents/]FIM[/url]: Official Documents
Link to the current year official documents for all classes and search tool for other years.

[url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulations/Pages/FIAFormulaOneWorldChampionship.aspx]FIA Regulations[/url] ÔÇô Formula 1 World Championship

WEATHER
US:
[url]http://www.weather.gov/[/url] | NOAA's National Weather Service
Select to go to the NWS homepage. National Weather Service - or - Follow the National Weather Service on [url=http://www.facebook.com/US.National.Weather.Service.gov]FaceBook[/url]

[url]http://www.weather.com[/url] | [url=http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Sedalia+MO+65301 ]Sedalia, MO 65301[/url]

CA:
[url]http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html[/url]

ROAD CONDITIONS
US:
[url]http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/[/url] : National Traffic and Road Closure Information
511 - America's Traveler Information Telephone Number; Construction Related; Local and State Transit Links; Traffic Conditions; Regional Links; Weather/Road ...

CA:
[url]http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/drivebc_supp/canada_map.htm[/url] :
Canada Road Condition Information: Links to provincial highway condition websites across Canada..

[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=33345]Shameless Trolling For Touring Tips[/url]

NHTSA.dot.gov [url= http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/rss/feeds/rss_recalls_V.xml]Vehicle Recalls RSS[/url]

[url=http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=12V031000&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=rss]NHTSA Recall ID no. 12v031000[/url]
Dated: JAN 30, 2012 WILDFIRE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 WF650-C MOTORCYCLES, MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2008 THROUGH JANUARY 2009 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDAR...


[url=http://www.sportrider.com/motorcycle_riding/techniques/index.html]SportRider.com[/url]: Motorcycle Riding Skills Series ÔÇô Street bike and motorcycle riding skills techniques articles at Sport Rider

BMW-Motorrad.com: [url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vorderfahrt.html]Service[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/web_epc/web_epc.html&notrack=1]Electronic Parts Catalogue[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.dk/dk/da/services/downloads_service.html]Download Manuals[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/breakdown_dictionary/index.html]Breakdown Dictionary[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tyres/tyres_main.html]Tyre Options[/url]
Tips
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vorderfahrt.html ]Before every journey[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_aufderreise.html ]Before a log trip[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vordemwinter.html ]Before winter[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/service-and-maintenance/hints-and-tips/cleaning.html]How to clean your motorcycle[/url]

[url=http://www.ascycles.com/bmw_motorcycle_service_and_maintenance_schedules.aspx]ascycles.com[/url]: BMW Motorcycle Service and Maintenance Schedules

[url=http://www.mic.org/TireGuide.cfm]mic.org[/url]: Motorcycle Industry Council | [url=http://www.mic.org/downloads/MIC_Tire_Guide_2011.pdf]Tire Guide 2011.pdf[/url]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Bench-Racing-and-the/carobenzina01/1224188747_KnFmX-Ti.jpg [/img][url=http://www.gasbuddy.com/]Gasbuddy.com[/url]: Search for local gas prices along your trip route.

[url=http://pure-gas.org/]pure-gas.org[/url]: Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. And Canada

[url=http://cycle-ergo.com/]Cycle-ergo.com[/url] motorcycle ergonomic simulator.
[url=http://youtu.be/f8_4lpAFLqk]Video[/url]: BMW Final Drive Disassembly

[url=http://www.woot.com/ ][b]Woot of the Day[/b][/url]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Bench-Racing-and-the/msfprofilelogobigger/1248585279_iDbKX-O.jpg[/img] [url=http://msf-usa.org/downloads/mom_v16_color_hi_res.pdf]MSF Motorcycle Operators Manual[/url]

QOD: What should you do when riding in fog? [url]http://t.co/hDSVqivP[/url]

QOD: The greatest potential for conflict between motorcyclists and other traffic is in what situation? [url]http://t.co/WVnL2mVy[/url]


[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]Bike Candy[/b][/size][/FONT]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-JDsBGn7/0/L/i-JDsBGn7-L.jpg[/img]

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[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/calendar.php?do=getday&day=2012-02-22&sb=1][size=4]Members with Birthdays Today[/url][/size]

Something a bit different.

Next Monday the gang down at the Official-Fly-Overland coffee shop will be benchracing the SBK season opener at Phillip Island. Since the end of the 2011 I have been collecting notes, thoughts and even a rough draft to put together a prize winning preseason post. This ain't it.

I think I threw the notes out in a fit of clean related to a, now failed, New Years resolution related to cleaning and organization. The draft was no doubt garbage even our esteemed

[B]The Bike | BMW S 1000 RR [/B]

The press has picked up on BMW marketing's line that it has been just two years since the introduction of the RR and we are getting a new bike. COOL...but I think there is more to the story. The Enigma Riders will be racing that new bike. In a few installments leading up to the Phillip Island WorldSBK opener lets look at how we got to the racing bike they will be riding.

[B]IN SEARCH OF BIKE ZERO[/B]

With the outbreak of a new disease epidemiologist search for patient zero for a number of reasons. They look for the first version of the disease and in turn seek to understand how it has evolved and spread. In the process they hope to understand the disease, what defines it, how it was originally built compared to the current version and how it may evolve and expand in the future.

In 2009 World Superbike racing broke out at BMW. I'm not an epidemiologist and with all do respect to anyone who is what I propose to do is use this crude model to look at back to the outbreak's beginning where it has come and where it may be going.


Bike ÔÇô 0.0X ?
[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-x6LNPzk/0/M/i-x6LNPzk-M.jpg[/img]

Picture caused a great deal of speculation when it appeared in the press. Was BMW going to race? Would they go racing in MotoGP or WorldSBK? BMW dismissed the news claiming to be using the 0.0X in the picture as a test bed for their F1 efforts.

I remember being more than a bit skeptical of their dismissal. A motorcycle seemed a strange test bed for development of F1 technology. The rolling and yawing of a motorcycle are very different than that of a F1 car presenting a very different set of problems to deal with. I was also dubious of the benefits of testing traction control and other electronics on a bike given the state of F1 rules at the time. Others dismissed the comment for their own reasons and all of us speculated on and on.

I doubt this is a picture of Bike Zero. I will leave finding that to another or at least another time. Yet we can learn something about the S 1000 RR's ancestry from the picture and comments. By sometime in 2005 the company was, if not committed to, developing a chain driven four cylinder option to take racing. The other point is in the dismissal. BMW had trouble with chassis design in F1 yet consistently produced compact incredibly powerful engine designs. Some of that design expertize would make it into the RR's heads and overall engine layout. But I may be getting ahead of myself.


[B]R DNA in the RR[/B]

Around the same time 0.0X's pictured appeared there was great speculation about how the boxers. Could they go racing? Would they be competitive? The debate raged on but for many the answer hinged on two things. Could BMW design a overhead cam boxer engine that everyone seemed to think they would need to race and secondly how much weigh handicap would the new regulations put on two cylinder racers of any layout.

Twins are allowed more displacement to offset the theoretical advantage bikes with more cylinders have in creating horsepower. The rules assume engineers and designers will continue to develop their engines. To allow the general set of a particular rules to last more than one season handicapping weight is added or subtracted to balance the advantages gained or lost during development. The lithe Ducati twin is the benchmark for twins. Any rule would have to address them as its primary concern.

We would learn that yes the boxer engine could be developed and what a engine and bike resulted. The problem with the boxer and shaft drive combination was was the weight of the design before any handicapping weight was added.

BMW would send engineers and other representatives to the FIM meetings that would set the racing regulations for MotoGP and WorldSBK. It is safe to say these discussions made the decision for the company. They could and would build a elegant and powerful R racer but the weight the new rules would add was too much to overcome. The die was cast and BMW would go racing with an F1 inspired , chain driven four cylinder bike.

BMW would race their R 1200 HP Sport in endurance racing. Some would have us dismiss this as the other bike that did not survive the evolutionary cycle or racing. They have a point but a good helmet would cover it. If we do our epidemiological research properly we will see that the S 1000 RR has some R dna and both the race and production bikes owe a good deal to lessons learned with the racing boxer.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/145497443_aNPaP-M.jpg[/img]

BMW had been hanging around with the F1 crowd and had learned more than a bit about the importance of aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing in racing. Combine this with the success it had with wind tunnels back in and around 1975 contributing the design of the R 100 RS released in 1976 and it should come as no surprise they would use them to develop their new race bike. Both boxer and four cylinder design teams would spend time in the wind tunnel. Their body designs wrap around very different bikes but shared the aerodynamic thinking of the day.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-hpJF2wp/0/M/i-hpJF2wp-M.jpg[/img]
Leon Haslam getting the layout of his racer just right. This picture is from 2010 but by this time the bike had clocked many hours in the wind tunnel.

Development of the S 1000 RR bodywork would continue in the wind tunnel. The R racer would provide real world feed back on those design ideas.

The R contributed to the chassis development too. The rear subframe is a critical component for any bike. Both bikes would share similar thinking in this area. Again development would carry on at BMW while endurance racing would give real world testing. Feed back from the endurance pilots would impact the layout of the subframe. The extended on track demands of this kind of racing would go a long way to fleshing out design faults and weaknesses.

The production run of the R 1200 HP Sport was all to short but in its own way very critical to the production of the RR. Hand layup of racing body panels is one thing; however, these are racers that will have street going serial sort of clones going out by the thousands. Taking the R into low volume production allowed BMW to develop much of the technology and skills to turn those lovely racers into street going bikes.


Next Post:[B] BMW S 1000 RR v 1.0 | Out of Africa
[/B]
[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/WSBK-6-November-2008/15200811061408027220/411540847_5etJa-L.jpg[/img]

Thursday, 23 February

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[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/calendar.php?do=getday&day=2012-02-23&sb=1][size=4]Members with Birthdays Today[/url][/size]

leonhaslam.com: [b]Haslam prepares for surgery on Thursday[/b]

BMW's Leon Haslam will have surgery in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday morning to repair the broken lower right leg injury sustained at Phillip Island during testing on Monday.
"I met with the orthopaedic surgeon earlier today and we've made a plan to get a couple of screws inserted," said Haslam on Tuesday. "I'm not sure if I'll be able to race and won't really know what's possible until Friday and Saturday when I see how much pain and swelling there is from the surgery."


Yesterday I had some fun looking for Bike Zero and how BMW came to race a I-4 chain driven bike. Today I want to talk about the first BMW S 1000 RR racing bike. Fist two bits of explanation for you.

[b]The v1.X numbering[/b]
I have used a software type numbering system in my notes about the RR. In that system Bike Zero would be 0.0, the first version of the RR which we will discuss in a moment is v1.0 and the first bike in the 2012 season begins the 2.0 series of bikes. Within a racing season v1.1 would be the bike raced in the first race of the season and v1.13 the last race of the season. In my notes the three year run spans v1.1a to v1.39b. The a and b designations indicate race 1 and 2. I will leave it at that, to try and explain more would leave you as confused as the four of us inside my helmet.

[b]Superbikes v Superbike Racers v WorldSBK[/b]
What a Superbike is has evolved since the R90S took the first AMA Superbike Championship. The evolution of the class of bikes has been in two ways. First the size of the Superbike has evolved from a 750cc I-4 and its varying sized counter parts to what we have today. The second is the direction of development of this class of bikes has changed from street – to – track to a track – to – street process.

With the advent of WorldSBK (which we'll get to in a moment) Superbike Racers at the various national levels such as the AMA, BSB etc. have inhabited a netherworld between the street and the WorldSBK bikes. Superbike Racers are clearly racing bikes but retain a much closer link to their street counterparts.

WorldSBK touts its SBK rules make the bikes a street racing class but the factory teams have used the fine points and loopholes of those rules to turn it into a prototype class. The SuperStock 1000 bikes are more closely tied to the street than the SBK bikes.

The WorldSBK rules also allows for the development of 'racing' parts. These parts turn the class into an interactive hybrid series. In way the continuous development makes this a prototype series creating degrees of separation from the showroom models in another, to the extent these parts and what is learned from them make it back to the street, it is a developmental and refining series.


[b]BMW S 1000 RR v1.0 | Out of Africa[/b]

The search for the racing S 1000 RR v1.0 is far simpler than the search for Bike Zero. We only need to go to the archives for late 2008. There we will find the first releases for the bike at the Kyalami Race Track in South Africa. There is where we get the first look at the S 1000 v1.0 in testing.

Kyalami would be added to the WSBK calendar for 2009. In November and December of 2008 teams went there for private and public testing rounds. This allowed the teams to become familiar with the new track. It was on this stage we find Troy Corser on the the much anticipated BMW challenger.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/WSBK-6-November-2008/15200811061408027220/411540847_5etJa-M.jpg[/url]
This picture comes from a smugmug file of mine date November 6 2008.

We were also treated a data panel for the race bike.

BMW S 1000 RR SBK racebike.
Technical Specifications.

Capacity: 999 cc, 4-stroke, 4 cylinder, liquid-cooled
Gearbox: 6 speed
Power: 200 + hp @ 14,000 + rpm
Bore & Stroke: 80 x 49.7 mm
Compression ratio: 14:1
Fuel system: 48 mm Dell?? Orto injection system
Fuel tank capacity: 23 litres
Lubrication: Wet sump
Dry weight: 162 kg
Wheelbase: 1,428 mm
Length: 2,056 mm
Width: 532 mm
Front suspension: ?ûhlins upside down telescopic forks, 43 mm diamete
Rear suspension: ?ûhlins TTX
Front brakes: Twin disc 320 mm, Brembo, 4 piston calliper
Rear brake: Single disc 220 mm, Brembo, 4 piston calliper
Wheels: Front 16.5 inch x 3.5 inch, Rear 16 inch x 6.25 inch
Tyres: Pirelli

The S 1000 RR would not be released to the common man for over another year. Given the time it takes to get past all the safety and emission tests required for street bikes this process was well underway when the race bike hit the Kyalami tarmac. It is also the closest the race bike and its street going counterpart would be until the Portimao testing introduction of the S 1000 RR v2.0 after the last race for the S 1000 RR v39b.

Lets break down the bike into major components and to look at the underlying assumptions of what BMW took racing. We'll keep it simple and chunk it into chassis, tyres, engine and electronics.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/BMW-WSBK-2009/P0043996/369311348_3Az44-L.jpg[/img]


[b]CHASSIS[/b]

The data panel gives very basic information about the chassis.

Wheelbase: 1,428 mm
Length: 2,056 mm
Width: 532 mm
Front suspension: ?ûhlins upside down telescopic forks, 43 mm diamete
Rear suspension: ?ûhlins TTX

What is perhaps more interesting is what it doesn't tell us. We don't have track, trail, steering angle or other information for the race bike for example. Remember those racing parts. Some of the numbers that we think are written in stone such as wheel base are in fact variable.

Strip away the bodywork and the racing RR looks like this.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-h8jmXvc/0/M/i-h8jmXvc-M.jpg[/img]
October 2010 Magny Cour testing. Leon Haslam on a v1.26 or 27.

Most of us don't spend much time thinking about our chassis. Sure we change shocks/springs etc. But when is the last time you changed your swingarm to increase or decrease the wheelbase for a particular ride?

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/534365556_8EqYn-S.jpg[/img]

The chassis characteristics designed into the RR v1.X have more in common with the touring bikes than you may think. The pilots describe it as very stable. It quickly gained a reputation for liking high speed (read long straights) tracks and its chances being discounted on more technical tracks (the ones with lots of squiggly lines on the track map). Playing with the wheelbase is one way to deal with either. Longer wheel bases on the high speed tracks to increase stability. Short wheel base bikes turn quickly so back to the parts bin for the shorter swing arm.

On the other end there are changes that can be made with how forks could change steering geometry. How about changing yokes? All the parts and potential combinations give an incredible number of variations available to improve or confuse the situation.

[b]TYRES[/b]

Wheels: Front 16.5 inch x 3.5 inch, Rear 16 inch x 6.25 inch
Tyres: Pirelli

Add wheels and tyres to a chassis and you have a rolling chassis. Duoh. As obvious as this is it would turn out to be the bane of the v1.X.

The series provides the tyres to the racing teams. Teams are allocated a fixed number of racing and qualifying tyres built and supplied by Pirelli. Team mangers draw lots to decide the selection order and the teams head down in that order and pick their weekend allotment. The RR has never liked Pirellis.

In 2009 it was the major complaint/excuse each weekend for the lack of performance. In all fairness up and down the paddock teams were complaining about Pirelli's quality control. Many complained there was none. Friday to Saturday the same bike with the same setup, same tyre compound, at the same time of day and weather conditions could have drastically different performance with the only difference being tyres.

Chassis setup contributes to tyre performance. Get it right great, get it wrong and that big box of racing parts sets you back. As the bike developed over its life the tyre performance did improve. Credit Pirelli yes. Credit the mechanics and engineers definitely.

The remaining problem seemed to be the tyres would fade past the midway point faster than the competition. In part we can blame the touring heritage the chassis tends to display. This puts a greater forces on the bike than other bikes. In part we can look to the engine and our next chunk of the bike.

[b]ENGINE[/b]

The RR's engine rocked everyone's socks when it appeared for the 2009 season. There was a new horsepower sheriff in WSBK and it was wearing a Roundel.

Capacity: 999 cc, 4-stroke, 4 cylinder, liquid-cooled
Gearbox: 6 speed
Power: 200 + hp @ 14,000 + rpm
Bore & Stroke: 80 x 49.7 mm
Compression ratio: 14:1
Fuel system: 48 mm Dell?? Orto injection system
Lubrication: Wet sump


[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/534398877_oRHcA-M.jpg[/img]

BMW didn't pull any punches. The engine is very narrow for a 1 liter I-4. The head design does draw on the F1 engine experience at BMW. The 14k of rpm may not be its limit. Theoretically it could spin up into the 16,500 range but doesn't for a number of reasons.

In 2010 Aprilia responded and reportedly cranks out more horsepower than the RR. BMW did not get involved in a horsepower war with Aprilia or anyone else. It was have enough trouble wrangling and putting those horses and the related torque to work to get involved in a war.

The chassis may have handled like an arrow underway in a straight line; however it did not like how it made power. Again the data panel does not tell the entire story. Peak horsepower may give you bragging rights but how does the engine produce it over its entire rpm range? In road racing it is how much torque is available at any given time. [url=http://largiader.com/articles/torque.html ]Anton Largiader[/url] does a better job of explaining the relationship between horsepower and torque than I am able.

At the beginning of the 2011 testing season hints that the team was focusing on engine development with an eye toward the torque and horsepower curves. The promotion of the BMW Italia team to SBK status allowed for two track development. The Motorrad team would develop the full 2011 design package. The Italia team would use a combination of the 2010/11 motor and chassis.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/534471700_tysgS-S.jpg[/img]


When I started racing in the sixties we took off air cleaners and filters to 'uncork' an engine. The idea was we were increasing the airflow available. Then came various ram induction systems that helped funnel more air into our engines. Airboxes on bikes became more sophisticated to the point you lost power by uncorking an engine.

The air induction and airbox in this picture spark my curiosity. The Torque and Power article points to a number of mechanical components that affect an engines ability to make torque. It also points out the importance of air induction systems in that lacking air torque begins to drop. I would like to know how much development has gone into changing this component.

[b]ELECTRONICS[/b]

The electronics on a superbike are key to pulling all the elements together. The electronics on the street going RR have received great reviews. Conversely the race bike has suffered at the hands of the bits and bytes. A picture is worth a thousand words.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/WSBK-6-November-2008/6200811062078633101/411537631_K9C9r-M.jpg[/img]
Ruben Xaus showing off at Kyalami in 2008

In the first day of the WSBK Kyalami test round the RR flirted with leading the pack. Troy Corser was excited because they had run without the electronics being fully turned on. What would day two have in store for them? Did they have a world beater in their hands.

No.

The times on day two were substantially worse. By the end of the final day Corser was 10th and Xaus 13th in a field of 15 bikes. Bikes 14 and 15 were SuperSports not SBK bikes. They were only a second off Xaus's pace. Since that day and over versions v1.0 to v1.39 the engineers have struggled with the development of electronics.

In the early races wheelie control was a major issue. The electronics for wheelie control were turned off after wheeling race starts and the riders would start the old fashioned way and feather their clutches to launch.

Once launch control was fully mastered we were treated to Corser executing a great start leading the field at the end of turn three only to give up the lead at some not to distant point due to unpredictable electronic power control.

The v1 bike has come a very long way in this area. Yet, for my money, the most important person in the pits right now is the programer for the race bike's electronics.


[b] Superbikes v Superbike Racers v WorldSBK[/b]

The S 1000 RR Superbike has been a Bike of the Year winner and is regularly used by the press as the benchmark bike to measure other bikes in its class. To the delight of dealers and the people who buy them the RR rules the showroom. Superbike Racers have taken national titles with the bike on every continent. BMW Team Italia and Aryton Badovini took the Superstock 1000 manufacture and rider crowns for 2010. French Team 99 contended for the 2011 Endurance Championship right to the very end of the last race. Yet the WorldSBK bike has yet to make its mark.

Tomorrow I'll babble on and on... talk about: The S 1000 RR v2 | The Mulligan Bike

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-5vLhbh3/0/M/i-5vLhbh3-M.jpg[/img]
Leon Haslam at Potimao testing of the v2.0 in October

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-4jqHfbw/0/O/i-4jqHfbw.gif[/img]
[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/calendar.php?do=getday&day=2012-02-24&sb=1][size=4]Members with Birthdays Today[/url][/size]


[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][i]SBK[/i][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/201202236153/Honda-nuove-strategie-per-moto-unica.html]gpone.com[/url]: Honda ÔÇô New strategy for a single bike

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f86pC8ep6mM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Kawasaki ÔÇô The big question mark in 2012
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2uIGSR9XxvA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mSrNDPZ-c24" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

WorldSBK.com takes a look at the numbers of the FIM Superbike World Championship, which gets underway at Phillip Island (Australia) on February 26.

1 - the most successful number: 80 races have been won by the bike carrying the number 1 plate

2 - the manufacturers present in every race run so far: Ducati and Kawasaki

11 - the bike manufacturers with at least one race started in the Superbike World Championship

11 - the race number most used, present in 514 races

14 World Champions

18 years old: the youngest winner, Yuichi Takeda in Japan, 1996

25th championship, starting in Phillip Island this year

25 hosting countries so far. Russia will be the 26th

40 - the only rider able to win at 40 years old so far has is Max Biaggi (Brno 2011)

41 - the races run in Phillip Island, the most visited track

41 - the highest number of race finishers (Zeltweg 1989, race 1)

44 - the tracks visited by the Superbike World Championship

59 - Carl Fogarty's wins, the most successful rider

67 different winners, from Davide Tardozzi (Donington 1988) to Tom Sykes (Nurburgring 2011)

118 - the wins by Australia and United States, the two most successful countries

204 - the highest speed ever reached for pole position (Max Biaggi, Monza 2011, 204.405 km/h)

306 wins by Ducati, 51% of the total

377 races run by Troy Corser, accounting for more than 60% of the total

590 races run so far

940 riders with at least one race start, 1150 in total, from 42 different countries

1,356,498 kilometers raced so far by all the riders in all the races run

Statistics compiled by Michele Merlino
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6Wx7yPAY9iM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[SIZE="1"][url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/home.html]WORLDSBK[/url]: 2012 Race Calendar | [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/season/standings.html]Championship Standings[/url] Rider / Manufacturer[/SIZE]

[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][i]motogp[/i][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/CRT+testing+final+day+jerez]motogp.com[/url]: CRT testing final day at Jerez

[url=http://www.ducati.com/racing/motogp/news/ducati_test_team_completes_test_in_jerez__spain/2012/02/22/828/index.do]ducati.com[/url]: Ducati test team completes test in Jerez


[SIZE="1"][url=http://www.motogp.com/en/calendar+circuits ]motogp[/url]: 2012 race calendar | [url=http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics]Results and Statistics[/url][/SIZE]


[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][I]Formula 1[/I][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17146175]bbc.co.uk[/url]: Ecclestone predicts a Hamilton exit

[url=http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/the-deal-that-changes-f1-forever/]jamesallenonf1.com[/url]: The deal that changes F1 forever

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9i7oh0iF-PU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fUH3PCQbEj0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[SIZE="1"][url]Formula 1[/url]: 2012 Race Calendar | [url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2011/ ]Results Season/Team/Driver[/url]
[url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2012/Pages/f1-race-info.aspx]fia.com[/url]: 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship - Race Information & Event Starting Times for the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship[/SIZE]

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]Other Racing[/b][/size][/FONT]


John Renwick and Ed Wallbank testing Epimetheus, the 1665cc Vincent, on the dynamometer. Nitrous oxide, air operated auto gear change, 7,000rpm and 180bhp from a 1950s British V twin.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NQIhqazUHg8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]On the Street[/b][/size][/FONT]

[url=http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2012/02/22/erik-buell-racing-partners-with-hero-motocorp/]thekneeslider.com[/url]: Erik Buell Racing partners with Hero Motocorp

[url=http://bmwmcmag.com/2012/02/bmw-maxi-scooters-delayed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bmw-maxi-scooters-delayed]bmwmcmag.com[/url]: BMW Maxi Scooter delayed

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z-OZK3_isHQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Jurgen Fuchs burning up the N??rburgring on the new BMW S1000RR.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yewnYinT1I4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bdPas8bFWZc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5ub2EJt_uFs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][B]The Mothership[/b][/size][/FONT]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Yc4koQkQuNE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5] [b]Cage World[/b][/size][/FONT]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/56-aQV3DJ3g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5] [b]FWIW[/b][/size][/FONT]

A [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulligan_(games) ]Mulligan[/url] in a game is a do-over. Screw up your first tee shot and you put out a new ball and take another swing. It took BMW three WorldSBK rounds before pulling out the Mulligan bike.

Once again the street S 1000 RR v2 is a hit with the press. They are making comments like ÔÇ£the best got betterÔÇØ. That is the street bike they are talking about.

Last season Checa and his Ducati gave a demonstration in balance over coming muscle. Rarely the fastest bike on the track but in 2011 it was arguably the smoothest by balancing straight line speed with the ability to carry that speed smoothly through the corners. The balance between speed and handling allowed Checa to repeat the same times lap after lap.

When you get a Mulligan do you press harder or back off a bit and go for smooth? BMW appears to have chosen the latter with the S 1000 RR v2 race bike.

The Chassis: The early reports have the goal to be a more nimble bike. Without some design numbers we can only speculate how they are planning to achieve that. The early signs are promising. It is not uncommon for new racing machines to give ground to the competition before gaining it back. Before his accident Haslam was in third in test times minimally off the leaders while do it with some consistency.

Tyres: Pirelli continues to bring the racing donuts. How they hold up to the new chassis and the power plant it carries will determine just how far up the rankings BMW and the riders can climb.

Engine: The engine of the v2 will no doubt continue producing in the 200+ range. The + may be a bit smaller but more importantly is the shape of the power curves. The emphasis appears to have shifted from straight line power and resulting speed to balancing top speed with roll on power once the riders had dealt with the squiggly parts of the track map.

Electronics: Managing the engine and mating it with the chassis to control wheel spin, wheelie contorl (except after victories) and all the other things required is still a question mark for me. Malandri's concerns for front end feel may be part of it. The bike and several of its riders have crashed.

Overall the the most important guy in the paddock remains a geek.

Predictions -

Rider Championship: The injuries and the one bike rule screw everything up here. For example I was very keen on how Haslam would do but not so much now after the crash and surgery. Dang injuries. But a rider could be having a stellar season run only to have the one bike rule allow the field to catch up after a crash even if it did not result in injury.

Checa is the favorite to take the title; however, the title nod some are giving him is not as big as you might guess after his string of victories last year.

Any of the four BMW riders could give him a run for his crown if the v2 is the bike I think it may be. If BMW could take a historical mulligan and start its 2009 WorldSBK run with a v1 with the approach the v2 appears to be taking BMW would have a bigger trophy case.

The biggest question mark is Sykes and his Kawasaki. The question mark has do with tyres. The Kawasaki was often an early contender in the first half of a race. In the process it seemed to use up its tyres and begin to fade and fairly quickly.

My head says Sykes and the Kawasaki, my heart says Checa and the Ducati and I hope for an Enigma Rider. Honda will do well be does not seem to have come as far as the others. Aprilia seems to be pressing and that is never good. Suzuki is just hanging on.

Manufacturer Championship:
Ducati
BMW
Kawasaki
Aprilia
Honda
Suzuki

Maybe :laugh

That's what we came up with at the Official Fly-Over-Land coffee shop.

Keep in mind the afternoon we came up with this we were using real Irish Cream not that stuff in those little green plastic tubs.


[FONT="Arial Black"][size=4][b]Reference:[/b][/size]:[/FONT]

[SIZE="4"][url=http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally12 ]BMW MOA 2012 International Rally[/url][/SIZE]

[SIZE="4"]SBK[/SIZE]
[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/images/stories/documents/2012_fim_superbike_championship_calendar.pdf]2012 FIM Superbike Championship Calendar[/url]

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/Codes_et_reglements/SBK_fr.pdf]FIM [/url]

[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/images/stories/documents/Superbike%20Commission,%2027%20October.pdf]Changes to the FIM Superbike, Supersport and Superstock regulations for 2012[/url]:
Some more details of changes to the championship regulations were delivered by the FIM in a press release.

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/en/fim/fim-official-documents/]FIM[/url]: Official Documents
Link to the current year official documents for all classes and search tool for other years.

[url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulations/Pages/FIAFormulaOneWorldChampionship.aspx]FIA Regulations[/url] ÔÇô Formula 1 World Championship

WEATHER
US:
[url]http://www.weather.gov/[/url] | NOAA's National Weather Service
Select to go to the NWS homepage. National Weather Service - or - Follow the National Weather Service on [url=http://www.facebook.com/US.National.Weather.Service.gov]FaceBook[/url]

[url]http://www.weather.com[/url] | [url=http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Sedalia+MO+65301 ]Sedalia, MO 65301[/url]

CA:
[url]http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html[/url]

ROAD CONDITIONS
US:
[url]http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/[/url] : National Traffic and Road Closure Information
511 - America's Traveler Information Telephone Number; Construction Related; Local and State Transit Links; Traffic Conditions; Regional Links; Weather/Road ...

CA:
[url]http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/drivebc_supp/canada_map.htm[/url] :
Canada Road Condition Information: Links to provincial highway condition websites across Canada..

[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=33345]Shameless Trolling For Touring Tips[/url]

NHTSA.dot.gov [url= http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/rss/feeds/rss_recalls_V.xml]Vehicle Recalls RSS[/url]

[url=http://www.sportrider.com/motorcycle_riding/techniques/index.html]SportRider.com[/url]: Motorcycle Riding Skills Series ÔÇô Street bike and motorcycle riding skills techniques articles at Sport Rider

BMW-Motorrad.com: [url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vorderfahrt.html]Service[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/web_epc/web_epc.html&notrack=1]Electronic Parts Catalogue[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.dk/dk/da/services/downloads_service.html]Download Manuals[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/breakdown_dictionary/index.html]Breakdown Dictionary[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tyres/tyres_main.html]Tyre Options[/url]
Tips
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vorderfahrt.html ]Before every journey[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_aufderreise.html ]Before a log trip[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vordemwinter.html ]Before winter[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/service-and-maintenance/hints-and-tips/cleaning.html]How to clean your motorcycle[/url]

[url=http://www.ascycles.com/bmw_motorcycle_service_and_maintenance_schedules.aspx]ascycles.com[/url]: BMW Motorcycle Service and Maintenance Schedules

[url=http://www.mic.org/TireGuide.cfm]mic.org[/url]: Motorcycle Industry Council | [url=http://www.mic.org/downloads/MIC_Tire_Guide_2011.pdf]Tire Guide 2011.pdf[/url]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Bench-Racing-and-the/carobenzina01/1224188747_KnFmX-Ti.jpg [/img][url=http://www.gasbuddy.com/]Gasbuddy.com[/url]: Search for local gas prices along your trip route.

[url=http://pure-gas.org/]pure-gas.org[/url]: Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. And Canada

[url=http://cycle-ergo.com/]Cycle-ergo.com[/url] motorcycle ergonomic simulator.

[url=http://youtu.be/f8_4lpAFLqk]Video[/url]: BMW Final Drive Disassembly

[url=http://www.woot.com/ ][b]Woot of the Day[/b][/url]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Bench-Racing-and-the/msfprofilelogobigger/1248585279_iDbKX-O.jpg[/img] [url=http://msf-usa.org/downloads/mom_v16_color_hi_res.pdf]MSF Motorcycle Operators Manual[/url]

QOD: What is a way to remember the pre-ride inspection steps? [url]http://t.co/rLbvzrFh[/url]


[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]Bike Candy[/b][/size][/FONT]

The S 1000 RR v2 at Portimao.

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-csrdZRZ/0/O/i-csrdZRZ.jpg[/img]

Interesting testing strategy. Test upside down in Portugal to have the riders simulate right side up racing in Australia.

FWIW

As I put post together for this thread a scene from the 1952 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizzy_Dean ]Dizzy Dean[/url] bio-pic [url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045049/ ]The Pride of St. Louis[/url] often comes to mind.

As best I recall - The setting is a beautiful day at the ball park. The game is well underway the Ace of the Gashouse Gang is on the mound. We see him unexpectedly wave his catcher to the mound. In a background voice over a radio announcer wonders what is going on. The catcher and umpire exchange a quizzical look as time is called.

The shot shifts as he makes his way to the mound to a couple in the crowed stands. A a dotting girlfriend asks the same question the radio announcer had of her bespectacled boyfriend. The young man's chest puffs a bit as he begins to show his baseball geek side by explaining in detail the nuances of the strategy that will no doubt unfold in the mound conference. She looks up at him starry eyed hanging on his every word when the scene shifts once again.

The catcher arrives at the mound.

Whats going on?

A pregnant pause to allow build the movie audience's sense of anticipation then Dean speaks.

Does your grandfather still want to sell that shotgun? I was thinkin about goin duck hunting this weekend.

Totally befuddled the catcher replies, Yes as other curious teammates join the mound conference. The deal is struck, a weekend of hunting is planned and finally someone says lets play ball.

Dean assumes his pitching stance, hurls the ball delivering the final strike and the inning is over.

Back in the stands the awestruck young lady looks befuddled. 'All that talking for that?' His chest deflated the young baseball geeks looks at her and tries to recapture her awe. 'It's a complicated game dear.' She shrugs then cuddles up to him again.

:laugh

Racing weekends are complicated.

:rofl


[size=4][b]SBK[/b][/size]
[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/5-sbk-news/12176-rea-honda-heads-the-ducatis-in-q1-on-the-island.html]worldsbk.com[/url] Rea (Honda) heads the Ducatis in Q1 on the Island

[url=http://www.ducati.com/racing/superbike/news/giugliano_and_checa__althea_racing__third_and_fourth_in_first_sbk_qualifying_at_phillip_island/2012/02/24/830/index.do]ducati.com[/url]: Giugliano and Checa Althea racing third and fourth in fist SBK qualifying at Phillip Island

[url=http://www.suzuki-racing.com/first-qualifying-for-crescent-fixi-suzuki.30407.cms]suzuki-racing.com[/url]: First qualifying for Crescent FIXI Suzuki

[url=http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2012/02/24/2012_phillip_island_wsbk_round_up_rea_du.html]motomatters.com[/url]: Phillip Island WSBK round up

[b]BMW Motorrad Motorsport - WSBK - Phillip Island - Qualifying Practice 1[/b]
24.02.2012


Phillip Island – Free Practice & Qualifying Practice 1.
Friday, 24th February 2012.
Weather conditions: Sunny.
Temperature: Air: 25 – 27 ??C, Track: 41 – 53 ??C
Number of riders participating: 24/25 from 15 teams
Fastest lap Free Practice: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:31.973 min
Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: Jonathan Rea (Honda WSBK Team) 1:31.959 min

Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Marco Melandri (ITA) will go into Sunday’s season opener of the 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship after setting a time that would put him on the provisional third row. Marco finished today’s qualifying practice at Phillip Island (AUS) in ninth position. His team mate, Leon Haslam (GBR), underwent surgery on his fractured tibia on Thursday morning. The operation went according to plan. After being declared fit in the morning to take part in Friday’s first free practice session by the circuit’s medical officer, the team management and team doctor, Dr. Vincenzo Tota, made a joint decision to let Leon complete two flying laps in qualifying practice later in the day. The circuit’s medical officer will review Leon again before a final decision is taken to let him ride on Saturday. BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team rider Michel Fabrizio (ITA) finished qualifying practice in tenth, and his team mate Ayrton Badovini (ITA) was 18th.

[B]Marco Melandri:[/B]
Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:32.888 min (P11)/Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 1:32.553 min (P9)
“Today was difficult. We worked a lot on the bike, and improved it in some areas, but went in the wrong direction in some other areas. I still cannot carry good speed going into the corner. It seems we need time to get this fixed. Thanks to everyone for working so hard.”

[B]Leon Haslam:[/B]
Fastest lap Free Practice: DNS/Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 1:33.532 min (P21)
“The surgery went really well. A big “Thank You” to surgeon Dr. Blackney, to Dr. Vincenzo Tota, to the guys at the circuit and at Clinica Mobile for sorting me out. I only did two flying laps today to see how I felt on the bike. That was the objective, and we will now leave it until tomorrow. I did not want to do anything silly. Actually I was not pushing at all, but rather cruising around. If it is the case that I feel well enough and we believe we can be in the points then I would like to race.”

[B]Andrea Dosoli (Head of Race Operations)[/B]:
“We jointly decided to let Leon go out today in order to see if he can safely ride the bike. This test ride was not about performance at all. We did not want to take any risks, as Leon only underwent surgery on Thursday morning. He felt well on the bike. The circuit’s medical officer will review him again later. A decision as to whether he will ride tomorrow will be taken then. Marco worked on setting up his chassis and his engine brake during this morning. Although we have improved compared to Monday and Tuesday, it is not enough to be competitive at the moment. We are working hard to be there tomorrow.”

[b]BMW MOTORRAD ITALIA GOLDBET SBK TEAM - PHILLIP ISLAND - PRACTICE DAY 1[/b]
24.02.2012
The BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team completed practice day one at Phillip Island, which hosts the 2012 World Superbike debut round this weekend. Michel Fabrizio and Ayrton Badovini finished 9th and 13th in free practice session one, and 10th and 18th respectively in qualifying session one.

The team continued to focus on race set-up for the BMW S 1000 RR and successfully tested the brand-new Pirelli B compound rear tyre. Michel Fabrizio continued his work on his bike set-up and improved his lap times during the course of the day, ending qualifying practice in 13th. The afternoon session was held in very hot conditions (27??C in the air, 53?? on the track).

Ayrton Badovini experienced a slightly more difficult day, as he was held up by traffic on his optimum fast lap during qualifying one. The delays meant that his best time was only good enough for 18th at the chequered flag.

Serafino Foti, BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team, said: "It's not been a completely satisfactory day. Michel has done a good job and he ended up in a fairly good position. We can't say that we're happy with the 10th place, but things are shaping up well. Ayrton, on the other hand, had difficulties as he doesn't have the right feel with the front of the bike. We'll try to sort that out to allow him to move up the classification tomorrow morning."

M[B]ichel Fabrizio #84 - FP1 9th (1'32.790) - QP1 10th (1'32.609)[/B]

"Today went quite well. We're still working on the bike set-up. We've had some grip issues with brand new tyres. After a few laps the tyre behaviour improves a lot, but race wise we need to find a solution so that we don’t lose too much time in the beginning of the race. I'm happy about the new front tyre though. It gives me a very good response."

[B]Ayrton Badovini #86 - FP1 13th (1'33.029) - QP1 18th (1'33.136)[/B]

"I can't say I'm happy, as I'm still not comfortable with the front end of the bike and I didn't manage to be as fast as I wanted to be. I also came across traffic on my quick lap. My combined best sectors put me at the same pace as my team mate. We need to do some more work. Tomorrow morning I will get one more tyre and the temperature will be lower which I'm sure will help."

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-Gn8dvCW/0/L/i-Gn8dvCW-L.jpg[/img]

I looked on the WSBK site & could not find anything about TV coverage... Any clue?

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-4jqHfbw/0/O/i-4jqHfbw.gif[/img]
[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/calendar.php?do=getday&day=2012-02-25&sb=1][size=4]Members with Birthdays Today[/url][/size]


[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][i]SBK[/i][/FONT][/SIZE]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NHCrm7FsCAY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/motorcycling-sykes-trains-sights-on-champion-checa-7440569.html]independent.co.uk[/url]: Sykes trains sights on Champion Checa

[url=http://bmwmcmag.com/2012/02/2012-wsbk-opens-with-six-s1000rr-racers-on-the-grid/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2012-wsbk-opens-with-six-s1000rr-racers-on-the-grid]bmwmcmag.com[/url]: WSBK opens with six S 1000 RR racers on the grid

[url=http://www.twowheelsblog.com/post/9201/eugene-laverty-suffers-slight-head-trauma-but-will-try-to-race]twowheelsblog.com[/url]: Eugene Laverty suffers slight head trauma but will try to race

[SIZE="1"][url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/home.html]WORLDSBK[/url]: 2012 Race Calendar | [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/season/standings.html]Championship Standings[/url] Rider / Manufacturer[/SIZE]

[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][i]motogp[/i][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/de-puniet-closes-crt-gap-to-motogp/20151.html ]visordown.com[/url]: de Puniet closes CRT gap to MotoGP

[url=http://www.teamaspar.net/2012/02/23/aspar-riders-top-in-crt-testing/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TeamAspar+%28TeamAspar.net+%7C+News%2C+Features+%26+Interviews+-+MotoGP%2C+Moto2%2C+250cc%2C+125cc%29]teamaspar.net[/url]: Aspar riders top in CRT testing

[url=http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/ellison-completes-first-aprilia-crt-test/20150.html ]visordwon.com[/url]: Ellison completes first Aprilia CRT test

[SIZE="1"][url=http://www.motogp.com/en/calendar+circuits ]motogp[/url]: 2012 race calendar | [url=http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics]Results and Statistics[/url][/SIZE]


[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][I]Formula 1[/I][/FONT][/SIZE]

[url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/2/13050.html]formula1.com[/url]: Barcelona day 4

[url=http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-mercedes-hiding-new-double-diffuser-concept/ ]speedtv.com[/url]: Mercedes hiding new 'Double Diffuser'concept?

[SIZE="1"][url]Formula 1[/url]: 2012 Race Calendar | [url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2011/ ]Results Season/Team/Driver[/url]
[url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2012/Pages/f1-race-info.aspx]fia.com[/url]: 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship - Race Information & Event Starting Times for the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship[/SIZE]

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]Other Racing[/b][/size][/FONT]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/W_UlRWRfU88" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cUsv1Aa37AI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]On the Street[/b][/size][/FONT]

[url=http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/bmw-f900s-concept-luca-bar-design/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AsphaltandRubber+%28Asphalt+%26+Rubber%29]asphaltandrubber.com[/url]: BMW F900S concept by Luca Bar design

[url=http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2012/kelley-blue-book-teams-with-cyclechex]ultimatemotorcycling.com[/url]: Kelley Blue Book teams with Cyclehex

[url=http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2012/02/24/millray-v4-another-diy-motorcycle-engine-design-from-the-past/]thekneeslider.com[/url]: Millray-v4 another DIY motorcycle engine design from the past

[url=http://motorcyclesuspensionblog.com/?p=426]motorcyclesuspensionblog.com[/url]: How motorcycles could eradicate traffic

[url=http://www.sportrider.com/features/146_1203_2012_sportbike_buyers_guide/index.html]sportrider.com[/url]: 2012 Sportbike buyer guide

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mCJIAI172Jk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4UA5PRBUNeU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5] [b]Cage World[/b][/size][/FONT]

[url=http://www.carsuk.net/1929-bentley-4-12-litre-supercharged-set-to-be-the-most-expensive-bentley-ever/ ]carsuk.net[/url]: 1929 Bently 4 ?¢ litre supercharged set to be the most expensive Bently ever

[url=http://blog.roadandtrack.com/leaked-online-2013-ferrari-f620-gt-2012-geneva-auto-show/]roadandtrack.com[/url]: Leaked onlin ÔÇô 2012 Ferrari F620 GT

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s6lvtHmAdMo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ThjYcG9H3Ys" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5] [b]FWIW[/b][/size][/FONT]

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[FONT="Arial Black"][size=4][b]Reference:[/b][/size]:[/FONT]

[SIZE="4"][url=http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally12 ]BMW MOA 2012 International Rally[/url][/SIZE]

[SIZE="4"]SBK[/SIZE]
[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/images/stories/documents/2012_fim_superbike_championship_calendar.pdf]2012 FIM Superbike Championship Calendar[/url]

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/Codes_et_reglements/SBK_fr.pdf]FIM [/url]

[url=http://www.worldsbk.com/images/stories/documents/Superbike%20Commission,%2027%20October.pdf]Changes to the FIM Superbike, Supersport and Superstock regulations for 2012[/url]:
Some more details of changes to the championship regulations were delivered by the FIM in a press release.

[url=http://www.fim-live.com/en/fim/fim-official-documents/]FIM[/url]: Official Documents
Link to the current year official documents for all classes and search tool for other years.

[url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulations/Pages/FIAFormulaOneWorldChampionship.aspx]FIA Regulations[/url] ÔÇô Formula 1 World Championship

WEATHER
US:
[url]http://www.weather.gov/[/url] | NOAA's National Weather Service
Select to go to the NWS homepage. National Weather Service - or - Follow the National Weather Service on [url=http://www.facebook.com/US.National.Weather.Service.gov]FaceBook[/url]

[url]http://www.weather.com[/url] | [url=http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Sedalia+MO+65301 ]Sedalia, MO 65301[/url]

CA:
[url]http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html[/url]

ROAD CONDITIONS
US:
[url]http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/[/url] : National Traffic and Road Closure Information
511 - America's Traveler Information Telephone Number; Construction Related; Local and State Transit Links; Traffic Conditions; Regional Links; Weather/Road ...

CA:
[url]http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/drivebc_supp/canada_map.htm[/url] :
Canada Road Condition Information: Links to provincial highway condition websites across Canada..

[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=33345]Shameless Trolling For Touring Tips[/url]

NHTSA.dot.gov [url= http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/rss/feeds/rss_recalls_V.xml]Vehicle Recalls RSS[/url]

[url=]NHTSA Campaign ID No. 12V064000
Dated: FEB 17, 2012 KAWASAKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 NINJA ZX-10R, AND 2009-2012 NINJA ZX-6R MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 14, 2007 THROUGH JULY 26, 2011. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR, THE REG...


[url=http://www.sportrider.com/motorcycle_riding/techniques/index.html]SportRider.com[/url]: Motorcycle Riding Skills Series ÔÇô Street bike and motorcycle riding skills techniques articles at Sport Rider

BMW-Motorrad.com: [url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vorderfahrt.html]Service[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/web_epc/web_epc.html&notrack=1]Electronic Parts Catalogue[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.dk/dk/da/services/downloads_service.html]Download Manuals[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/breakdown_dictionary/index.html]Breakdown Dictionary[/url]
[url=http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tyres/tyres_main.html]Tyre Options[/url]
Tips
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vorderfahrt.html ]Before every journey[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_aufderreise.html ]Before a log trip[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/services/tipps/tipps_vordemwinter.html ]Before winter[/url]
[url= http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/service-and-maintenance/hints-and-tips/cleaning.html]How to clean your motorcycle[/url]

[url=http://www.ascycles.com/bmw_motorcycle_service_and_maintenance_schedules.aspx]ascycles.com[/url]: BMW Motorcycle Service and Maintenance Schedules

[url=http://www.mic.org/TireGuide.cfm]mic.org[/url]: Motorcycle Industry Council | [url=http://www.mic.org/downloads/MIC_Tire_Guide_2011.pdf]Tire Guide 2011.pdf[/url]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Bench-Racing-and-the/carobenzina01/1224188747_KnFmX-Ti.jpg [/img][url=http://www.gasbuddy.com/]Gasbuddy.com[/url]: Search for local gas prices along your trip route.

[url=http://pure-gas.org/]pure-gas.org[/url]: Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. And Canada

[url=http://cycle-ergo.com/]Cycle-ergo.com[/url] motorcycle ergonomic simulator.

[url=http://youtu.be/f8_4lpAFLqk]Video[/url]: BMW Final Drive Disassembly

[url=http://www.woot.com/ ][b]Woot of the Day[/b][/url]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Bench-Racing-and-the/msfprofilelogobigger/1248585279_iDbKX-O.jpg[/img] [url=http://msf-usa.org/downloads/mom_v16_color_hi_res.pdf]MSF Motorcycle Operators Manual[/url]

QOD: If you must swerve to avoid a crash, what should you do? [url]http://t.co/aJLV5aT9[/url]


[FONT="Arial Black"][size=5][b]Bike Candy[/b][/size][/FONT]

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-nstW6NL/0/M/i-nstW6NL-M.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=JStrube;754393]I looked on the WSBK site & could not find anything about TV coverage... Any clue?[/QUOTE]

SpeedTV is carrying it. It is on a delay so check you listings for times.

[size=4][b]SBK[/b][/size]

Tragedy Strikes at Phillip Island

From telegraph.co.uk

Race organisers said Queenslander Oscar McIntyre was competing in the opening round of the 2012 Superstock 600 c.c. championship.

The crash, which also involved two other riders, occurred on lap two of the scheduled 12-lap race.

A medical team worked unsuccessfully to revive McIntyre, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Luke Burgess was treated at the circuit's medical center and released. Michael Lockhart remained under observation with non life-threatening injuries.

The Superpole session for Sunday's two Superbike races was not held, with the grid to be based on Saturday's earlier qualifying session.


WorldSBK.com
Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes will start from pole position for the third time in his career at the opening round of the year by heading the field after combined qualifying. Tissot-Superpole today was cancelled after a fatal accident suffered by young Australian Superstock 600 rider Oscar McIntyre in a support race before the session was due to start.

Second on the grid for Sunday's two 22-lap Superbike races will be Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) who was 0.54 seconds behind Sykes. World Champion Carlos Checa secured third spot while another Ducati rider, Jakub Smrz on the Liberty Racing machine, completed the front row.

Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli was fifth on his Effenbert Liberty Racing vee-twin, and Leon Camier was sixth on his Crescent Fixi Suzuki. Niccol?? Canepa (Red Devils Roma Ducati) was an impressive top seven qualifier, with the last place on row two being taken by Honda World Superbike official rider Jonathan Rea.

[url=http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp?p_Round=AUS&p_Anno=2012&p_Manifestazione=01&p_Gara=01&p_Sessione=Q2A&p_Stampa=RIE]Results - Second Timed Session[/url]

[size=4][b]SBK[/b][/size]

FIM.com

Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes will start from pole position for the third time in his career at the opening round of the year by heading the field after combined qualifying. Tissot-Superpole today was cancelled after a fatal accident suffered by young Australian Superstock 600 rider [url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/teen-dies-in-racing-crash/story-fn6bfm6w-1226281524797]Oscar McIntyre[/url] in a support race before the session was due to start. Second on the grid for Sunday's two 22-lap Superbike races will be Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) who was 0.54 seconds behind Sykes. World Champion Carlos Checa secured third spot while another Ducati rider, Jakub Smrz on the Liberty Racing machine, completed the front row. Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli was fifth on his Effenbert Liberty Racing vee-twin, and Leon Camier was sixth on his Crescent Fixi Suzuki. Niccol?? Canepa (Red Devils Roma Ducati) was an impressive top seven qualifier, with the last place on row two being taken by Honda World Superbike official rider Jonathan Rea.


Sykes takes third pole of his career
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pqi90iSgSzc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


[b]BMW Motorrad Motorsport - WSBK - Phillip Island ÔÇô Saturday[/b]

Phillip Island ÔÇô Qualifying Practice 2 & Superpole.
Saturday, 25th February 2012.
Weather conditions: Sunny.
Temperature: Air: 33 ÔÇô 34 ??C, Track: 42 ÔÇô 51 ??C
Number of riders participating: 25/23 from 15/14 teams
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) 1:31.323 min
Fastest lap Superpole 3: cancelled

Leon Haslam:
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:32.082 min (P12) / Fastest lap FP: 1:32.971 min (P7)

Marco Melandri:
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:32.123 min (P13) / Fastest lap FP: 1:32.585 min (P3)
Today saw a sad start to the 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island in Australia. The Superpole qualifying session was cancelled after a tragic accident in a support race. Young Australian rider Oscar McIntyre was fatally injured in a crash in the Australian Superstock 600cc Championship race.

This incident has deeply saddened every member of Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport. We send our sympathies to Oscar McIntyreÔÇÖs family and want to show our respects for them and the young rider at this difficult time.

Under these circumstances, the sporting aspects are secondary to the loss of such a young life. With the cancellation of Superpole, the combined qualifying times from Friday afternoon and Saturday morning will determine the line-up for tomorrowÔÇÖs two 22-lap races. Leon Haslam (GBR) will start 12th from the third row on the grid, just in front of new team-mate, Marco Melandri (ITA), who qualified in 13th for the fourth row.

BMW Motorrad Italia Goldbet SBK TeamÔÇÖs new rider Michel Fabrizio (ITA) qualified tenth fastest today and will start from the third row, while Ayrton Badovini (ITA) qualified on the fifth row in 20th place.

[b]BMW MOTORRAD ITALIA GOLDBET SBK - PHILLIP ISLAND ÔÇô SATURDAY[/b]
25.02.2012
The BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team would like to express its deepest sorrow for the tragic loss of the young rider Oscar McIntyre. The 17 year old Australian died today following an accident during the Australian Stock 600 race, supporting the first round of the 2012 World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island.

Due to this event, the Superpole session scheduled for 3pm was cancelled by the Race Director. As per the rules, the starting grid for the two races taking place tomorrow will be derived from the combined results of the two qualifying sessions already held.e on the grid, on the third row, whileAyrton Badovini will take the 19th slot.

Serafino Foti, BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team Manager, said:
"It's been a tough day because, despite the racing, when a young boy passes away nothing else matters. Unfortunately this sport is as wonderful as sometimes unfair, albeit all the riders know the risks of being involved in it. We agree with the Race DirectorÔÇÖs decision to cancel the Superpole session. It wouldn't have made any sense to let the riders go on the track without perfect concentration."

Melandri takes P2 in Race 1. He ends the weekend second in the rider standings behind Biaggi.

Haslam puts in two gritty performances and leaves P8 in the standings.

BMW is P3 on the Manufacturer Championship edging Kawasaki


[size=4][b]SBK[/b][/size]

[url=http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp?p_Round=AUS&p_Anno=2012&p_Manifestazione=01&p_Gara=01&p_Sessione=001&p_Stampa=CLA]Race 1[/url]: worldsbk.com [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/5-sbk-news/12202-aprilia-and-biaggi-score-early-glory.html]Aprilia and Biaggi score early glory[/url]


[url=http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp?p_S_Campionato=SBK&p_Anno=2012&p_Round=AUS&p_Sessione=002]Race 2[/url]: worldsbk.com [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/5-sbk-news/12214-checa-wins-as-biaggi-makes-incredible-recovery.html]Checa wins as Biaggi makes incredible recovery[/url]

[SIZE="1"][url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/home.html]WORLDSBK[/url]: 2012 Race Calendar | [url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/season/standings.html]Championship Standings[/url] Rider / Manufacturer[/SIZE]

I don't know which amazes me more. Melandri's rise from 13th to 2nd, or Biaggi's recovery from last to 2nd.

I admit i am not that much of a Biaggi fan, but that was impressive to say the least.

The only other ride i have seen that compares was Mike Baldwin at Daytona one year , he started dead last and was running 4th by lap 4.

[QUOTE=JStrube;755323]I don't know which amazes me more. Melandri's rise from 13th to 2nd, or Biaggi's recovery from last to 2nd.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=40427;755337]I admit i am not that much of a Biaggi fan, but that was impressive to say the least.

The only other ride i have seen that compares was Mike Baldwin at Daytona one year , he started dead last and was running 4th by lap 4.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree with both of your observations; however, I remain flabbergasted by Haslam. Cracked bone, surgery and he comes back in [u]Race 2[/u] to take a 5th. Most healthy riders are fading going into the second race. Going to be an interesting season.

Monday, 27 February

[img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/i-4jqHfbw/0/O/i-4jqHfbw.gif[/img]
[url=http://forums.bmwmoa.org/calendar.php?do=getday&day=2012-02-27&sb=1][size=4]Members with Birthdays Today[/url][/size]


[SIZE="5"][FONT="Arial Black"][i]SBK[/i][/FONT][/SIZE]

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[b]BMW Motorrad Motorsport - WSBK - Phillip Island ÔÇô Races[/b]
26.02.2012

Phillip Island ÔÇô Races.
Sunday, 26th February 2012.
Weather conditions: Overcast at noon, sunny in the afternoon.
Temperature: Air: 31 ÔÇô 34 ??C, Track: 42 ÔÇô 54 ??C
Number of riders participating: 24 from 14 teams
Fastest lap Race 1: Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) 1:31.785 min
Fastest lap Race 2: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:32.846 min

It has been a historic day for BMW Motorrad: Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport celebrated its best ever result in the FIM Superbike World Championship. Factory rider Marco Melandri (ITA) finished second in the first race of the 2012 season opener at Phillip Island (AUS), despite only starting 13th on the grid after SaturdayÔÇÖs Superpole qualifying had to be canceled, preventing the chance to challenge for a better grid position. In race two he came in sixth. His team-mate, Leon Haslam (GBR), also put in a strong performance. Only four days after an operation to insert two screws to fix his fractured right tibia, Leon bravely fought the pain barrier, scoring a 12th and a strong fifth place. Overall, Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport collected 45 points this weekend, more than ever before.

In his first ever race on the BMW S 1000 RR, Marco gained several positions in the first corners, working his way further up the field as the race went on. On lap 18 he had improved to second, and defended this position against Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) right to the finish line. Leon had finished 12th in the two qualifying sessions. In race one, despite his injuries, he was fighting for the top ten until the very last lap. At the start of race two Leon catapulted himself up to third, and fought for the top positions over the next laps. Marco meanwhile had a steady start, but improved his position lap by lap. Halfway through the race he found himself directly behind Leon in fifth. From then on, the two factory riders had an exciting inter-team battle, changing positions several times. In the end, Leon was able to hold on and finished fifth in front of Marco.

BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK TeamÔÇÖs rider Michel Fabrizio (ITA) came home sixth in race one, but wasnÔÇÖt able to finish race two. His team mate, Ayrton Badovini (ITA), had to retire in both heats. The races were won by Max Biaggi (ITA) and Carlos Checa (ESP). In the ridersÔÇÖ championship, Marco lies in second with 30 points. Leon is eighth with 15 points. In the manufacturersÔÇÖ standings BMW is third with 31 points.

Marco Melandri:
Result Race 1: 2nd / Gap to 1st: 00:07.104 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:32.224 min
Result Race 2: 6th / Gap to 1st: 00:18.831 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:33.379 min
ÔÇ£I am really happy! Giving BMW its best ever result in only my first race on the RR is awesome. I still cannot believe that. The guys at the circuit and in the factory are working really hard, and they have done a great job. We didnÔÇÖt quite know how we would perform in the race as we hadnÔÇÖt done any long runs in pre-season testing. During the race I just tried to keep my rhythm and tried not to override as I knew I would have to look after the tyres. I had to wait for the right moment to pass Tom Sykes and Sylvain Guintoli. In the final two laps Sylvain was pushing very hard again, but I kept focused on my race and defended my position.

Race two was very difficult. It was warmer, so I had to push harder to catch the guys in front of me, and it was not easy. But we finished the first weekend second in the championship, and that is better than expected. Now we have one month to analyse the data and try to make even more improvements. We will go testing in Spain and all the guys are working hard. We all have the same goal and I very happy to see the motivation is high. Last, I want to send my sympathy to the family of Oscar McIntyre who we lost yesterday.ÔÇØ

Leon Haslam:
Result Race 1: 12th / Gap to 1st: 00:35.648 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:33.127 min
Result Race 2: 5th/ Gap to 1st: 00:18.179 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:33.432 min
ÔÇ£Overall IÔÇÖm really happy. We had a problem in race one, which I couldnÔÇÖt ride around. Even though just scoring points was the objective, I knew I could have done better. The boys worked really hard between races: They changed engines, electronics and the balance of the bike, and straightaway we were able to fight for a top five position. ItÔÇÖs a big credit to all the team and the medical staff who managed to get me out there in the first place! I also want to express my condolences to the family and friends of Oscar McIntyre, who died in that tragic crash yesterday.ÔÇØ

Bernhard Gobmeier (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director):
ÔÇ£Overall the weekend was very positive ÔÇô MarcoÔÇÖs second place means the best result for BMW Motorrad in World Superbike so far. The weekend was a bit of a roller coaster, but in the end we proved that our work over the winter paid off. Still, we are not where we want to be, and we have some areas to work on, and this is what we will do over the next couple of weeks.

I am very happy about the performance of our riders: Leon having finished the second race in the top five is very impressive and makes everyone at BMW Motorrad very proud. MarcoÔÇÖs second place in the first race has been the best result for BMW Motorrad in this championship so far. Considering the grip issues Marco faced in race two, which unexpectedly showed up from the beginning of the race, his performance cannot be valued high enough. He did an outstanding job, demonstrated his qualities, and is now lying second in the World Championship.

On behalf of the entire team and BMW Motorrad, I wish to pass my condolences to the family and friends of Oscar McIntyre, who lost his life in yesterdayÔÇÖs crash at Phillip Island.ÔÇØ

[b]BMW MOTORRAD ITALIA GOLDBET SBK TEAM - PHILLIP ISLAND - RACE [/b]
26.02.2012

BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team competed in the 2012 World Superbike Championship debut round of Phillip Island today. Michel Fabrizio finished 6th in race one but unfortunately crashed and ended race two prematurely. It was a tough weekend for Ayrton Badovini, who retired from both races.


In race one, which started at noon local time, Michel Fabrizio had a difficult race start and entered turn one in 15th position. Thanks to having good race pace, he managed to overtake numerous riders, getting into 7th by the last corner on the last lap, right behind Jonathan Rea. After getting a good exit, Fabrizio got into his rival's slipstream and took 6th place just before crossing the finish line. It was a tough race for Ayrton Badovini who withdrew from the race due to a lack of rear grip.

Race two was problematic for the team. Michel Fabrizio lost the front of his BMW S 1000 RR at the "Honda" corner (turn four), during the fourth lap. At the time of the crash he was running in 10th position. After an attempt to rejoin the race he retired. Ayrton Badovinistruggled again in race two and also ended race two prematurely.

Serafino Foti, BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team Manager, said:
"It's been a tough round and we're not happy with the results, apart from Michel's first race. If his start had been a better one, he would have had a higher finishing position. We have to work on that for the next event, as we cannot compromise the race in the early stages. Ayrton hasn't yet found the right set-up for the bike. We'll try to find the right solution for him so that he can get his competitiveness and motivation back. We will start afresh and do our best to overcome the difficulties that came out here in Australia, so that weÔÇÖre ready for next round at Imola."

Michel Fabrizio #84 - Race 1: 6th - Race 2: RET
"With the exception of the start IÔÇÖm very happy about race one. On the other hand in race two after not starting well again, I lost the front at turn four. I donÔÇÖt know what caused the crash. I took a slightly different line to usual, but the speed was the same. It's a shame, because I felt comfortable riding the bike as never before. That's racing. We'll bounce back at Imola.ÔÇØ

Ayrton Badovini #86 - Race 1: RET - Race 2: RET
"It's been a hard weekend. I struggled riding the bike a lot. The goal is now to solve those problems in the break between now and Imola. The team worked hard to find a set-up that worked for me, but unfortunately we didnÔÇÖt get there in time."



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