mika
Still Wondering
BMW MOTORRAD MOTORSPORT - SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - TEST AT PORTIMAO
01/21/2009
The BMW Motorrad Motorsport World Superbike team takes to the track for the first time this year in the stunning Portimao circuit in Portugal and riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus are all fired up and ready to start their new adventure this season.
This will be the first time Troy and Ruben have swung their legs over the
S 1000 RR this year and the action will all take place in front of all their 2009 rivals, instead of just a few as in the test last November. By the end of the three days, the team will have a better understanding of the task ahead and the four weeks or so afterwards will be taken up analysing the data and getting the bikes ready for the start of the season in Australia.
This yearÔÇÖs Superbike World Championship has attracted a record number
of entrants and no less than seven manufacturers will be involved, so
the challenge to the team is a huge one. The team will be at a
disadvantage this season because, unlike most or all of their
competitors, they will not have any previous data with which to work
with when they get to a track.
Each circuit this year will present a new challenge and so Troy, Ruben and the team will have to try and get up to speed with their bike set-ups in record time at every one of the fourteen rounds if they are to have any chance of a good result. This season is not just a ÔÇÿlearning yearÔÇÖ because everybody involved is determined to do the very best they can and try and pull off a surprise or two.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport - Superbike World Championship - Test at Portimao - Results.
01/26/2009
Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Troy Corser took part in the first trial of the year 2009 superpole procedure and ended up sixth quickest in the first official WSBK test at 4.592 kilometer Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal. His time, on equivalent rubbers, was just 4 tenth of a second slower than Briton Shane Byrne (Ducati) and a great sign of things to come.
Conditions throughout the three days were generally appalling and dry track time was very limited. But, despite the tricky conditions, the team gained a lot of useful information and continued to make good progress. The three-day tests also saw a try-out of the new Superpole procedure, in which three separate sessions are used to determine the grid positions. Troy finished eleventh fastest in the overall standings and sixth in Superpole, whilst Ruben ended 25th in both the general classification and Superpole. Briton Shane Byrne (Ducati) ended quickest overall, with a lap of 1:43.294, with Ben Spies (Yamaha) second and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) third.
Troy (overall best lap - 1:44.261)
Overall, it's not been too bad a test, though we could've all done with better weather and more dry track time. We had a chance to get through some of the stuff we hadn't managed to test before, including different links and geometry settings. The clutch is now fine and our main area of work here was to get the throttle response the way I want it. We just need to smooth it out a bit, but these are early days with the bike and we all know that we have a lot to do. Once we do that, I will be more comfortable on the bike and be able to push a lot harder. But I am already pleasantly surprised at how quickly I can go even though I'm not completely comfortable on the bike and that bodes well for the future. I did my best lap on race rubber and although we could've done with more general practice instead of trying out a new Superpole procedure, in a way it was quite good giving it a try-out because we all learned a lot about what has to be done and how quickly it has to be done. I hope our next test is dry and we can keep up our good progress.
Ruben (overall best lap - 1:46.128)
I started the tests with some ideas about which direction I wanted to go, but I soon realised that I have to adapt my riding style to this bike. It's been a long time since I've ridden a four cylinder bike and a long time since I've ridden a bike that's got real power. The BMW is very strong and I must learn how to best ride it so that I can get the most out of it. I had a couple of small get-offs but, apart from a slightly battered finger in my left hand, no injuries. Today's crash happened when I hit a wet patch on an almost dry track and I was highsided without any warning. I am not bothered at all about lap times at the moment, because I need to understand the bike more before I can push hard. I just have to be patient, continue working hard and everything will improve.
Berti Hauser (Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
Conditions were not easy during these three days, so all credit to Troy, Ruben and the team for all the good work they managed to do in this time. Troy is feeling a bit happier than Ruben at the moment, but that's normal because Troy has a lot more four cylinder experience. It is encouraging that our bike continues to show its potential. The whole team is looking forward to the next test, and hopefully better weather.
Test in Valencia
Friday, 30 January 2009
TROY, RUBEN AND THE TEAM LEAVE SPAIN HAPPY AND POSITIVE.
Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport concluded their two day test at the Circuit de la Communitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in a happy frame of mind after making good progress. Although there was no rain throughout the two days, conditions were far from ideal. Strong winds buffeted the circuit both days and there were not enough bikes circulating to lay down enough rubber for good grip. But, thanks to the commitment of both Troy and Ruben and a tremendous all round effort, the team left the circuit happy and in a positive mood ahead of the next tests. Troy comfortably got into the low 1:36s, with Ruben improving strongly throughout to finish with a 1:36.5 - all on standard tyres.
Troy (156 laps)
Generally weÔÇÖve gained a lot of useful information for the engineers and technicians during these two days and if I had to race the bike tomorrow, I wouldnÔÇÖt be unhappy at all. ItÔÇÖs been good to be able to do plenty of laps and now I feel very comfortable on the bike and I can ride it without thinking about it. We found a good set up for the suspension, both front and rear, improved the balance of the bike, the brakes and made the throttle connection more consistent.
I did a long run of 24 laps this afternoon and was able to do good consistent lap times and felt OK at the end of it. We used standard tyres throughout the test and, if the conditions had been a bit better and more rubber had been down, IÔÇÖm sure I couldÔÇÖve gone faster. I feel weÔÇÖve made big steps here and although thereÔÇÖs still lots of work to do, IÔÇÖm pretty happy and positive about the next time out on the bike.
Ruben (106 laps)
After Portimao, I wondered to myself how long it would take for me to understand this bike. Troy has many years of four cylinder experience, but for me, riding this bike was not so easy and I knew that I would have to adapt to the bike instead of the other way round.
The first day was not so good, but the team and I really worked hard and bit by bit we began to progress. I was so happy to get into the 1:36s because I know that is a good time for me here and also because I could do 1:36s consistently. At the moment, I am still not fully comfortable with the bike and I have to understand fully where the limits are, but today was a bit of a breakthrough for me and I was so happy that I was able to do it. Now, I think that things will come better and better. I always knew that coming to this bike and the team would be a challenge, but I have never regretted this decision and now I canÔÇÖt wait for continuing my progress on the bike.
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