WSS mandatory pit stop

so according to an article over at motomatters https://motomatters.com/results/2019/02/22/2019_philip_island_world_supersport_fp1.html
No one goes more than 10 laps without a pit stop. I’ve kinda strayed from WSBK and WSS lately, what has changed? Wasn’t the repave at PI several years ago now? Did they make race distance last year on the tires? Has the tire brand changed since last year? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

I'd bet tires.

 

I bet hipster millennials...

 

Yeah.....this happened last year as well. The track really hammers the left sides of the tire.

https://www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au/more/news/1257-worldsbk-sunday-mandatory-pit-stops






During testing last year a WSS Honda with 16 laps on the rear had it let go in tremendous fashion.

 

But yet the Superbikes manage to make it work without a pit stop. In the Silly Season thread I brought this up and they just need to move WSS to the slicks. When Intermediate track day riders and novice racers are running slicks, it just doesn't make sense to WSS to run race DOTs.

 

Although that makes perfect sense I kind of get the appeal of a lesser class but for god sakes just let them run slicks for this race so we don't have to deal with these pit spots.

 

Most likely too late at this point. They probably can’t procure enough slicks for the whole grid to use for the whole weekend.

 

Pretty much all club race orgs have adopted allowing slicks in the SS classes as well. I remember hearing that either Dunlop or Pirelli have stopped developing the DOT race tire and are mainly focusing on slick tire development.

 

That's true and I'm sure there are plenty more logistic issues with it we couldn't imagine.

 

Sure they couldn't get enough slicks today, but it's not like they didn't know this was going to be an issue.
They claim the pit stop is for safey reasons. Pit stops have their own set of safety issues. That seems like more risk than running the same slicks as superbike.

 

The Pirelli guys at the WSBK/WSS level do some interesting work. GMT 94 got the wrong tires during the first winter tests. They shipped them "regular" retail stuff.

 

Sorry I'm so stupid about this, never been to a Motorbike track or in the pits. So your saying after 10 laps, they come in and change out the wheels/tires?

 

Duuuuuuuuuuude..... yes, that's what it means. FFS come watch a race and/0r do a trackday this year.

 

FFS- OK! I just thought it would take a bit of time to change wheels DURING a race?

 

Glory days of Daytona:


Not quite factory level from a few years ago:


It doesn't take much time at all.

Watch some from the EWC factory teams, it's insane.

 

And to see the other end of the pit stop spectrum, come see Buckeye Racing in action at a WERA endurance near you... bring a sundial to time our tire change!

 

Thanks Mike. It looks like they brought a new rear to try to address this, but I guess it didn't work out.
I still love my Pirelli tires, even though apparently they can't get these right for the WSS bikes. Next year I am betting they bring a overbuilt rock that will be guaranteed to go the distance, but will be lacking traction. I would if I was them.

 

To be clear, I'm talking about a test in Spain, not Australia.

 

Nice, how do they get the chain on/tensioned and the wheel aligned that quick? I know they do it though obviously.