M. A. Superbike / Stock 1000 "Rumor"

I remember the day I took a ride into Altus....1897 or was it 1987. I was an 1 stripe airman...no money and these guys go flying by me...one on a GSXR750 and the other on a GSXR1100.
I think I kinda wet myself.

Stroll into the dealership to buy a bike and they wouldn't finance me.

Now Altus Motorsports is at every MotoA event. Still haven't gotten any of my money

 

I honestly wouldnt care too much if they got rid of SBK. Stock 1000 class make it the premier. Still only going to see the top 4 racers on TV. I would rather see good racing and a different winner every weekend. What about a SPEC bike premier class? Just solid good riding and close racing. Leave the manufacturer racing to the next gen SS class. Im sure its not a popular idea but to me good racing is better then rooting on my Yamahas. Just like the Moto2 racing. Most entertaining.

 

I also like the idea of STK1000 being the top class except for maybe Hooligans with the factory teams there to help promote the most popular models they sell. Hooligans currently has 6-8 manufacturers represented. How about an Attack MT-09 with Bobby on it fighting it out with Jake Lewis on the HD. That would be entertaining.

 

What'll they try and push as the premier class? The baggers? Cool enough to watch but it'd be like making water buffaloes fucking as the premier class at the rodeo. Supersport? I guess it could work just just like mounting a screen door covered in flex seal in your john boat would work. Talent cup? I've been watching regional college summer baseball lately and although it totally sucks to watch on TV I do it 'cause my kid's friends play in it and that could apply to this if I knew any of the kids. Twins class? I've made my dislike of this class known enough.
Leaves the stock 1000 class and I'll through out a whatever on that.

Eh, get off ma' lawn!

 

I could be wrong, but the reason the rumor mill is churning, as Mongo mentioned, would be related to whatever FIM is doing in WSBK, etc. That rumor mill has been churning repeatedly in the direction of there no longer being a 1000cc class at all. They've been spit-balling the NGSS class as the premier class and the 1000cc bikes would fall by the way side. I am just guessing the decision may be pushing from the manufacturers who seem to be selling less and less superbikes and more and more smaller displacement bikes. NGSS may likely become the younger generation's premier class race bike outside of prototypes.

Something else that could be funny is how club racing tends to adapt slower (with good intention) to allow those of us paying our way to keep running the same machinery and have more advance notice to make adjustments and not have to always go buy the newest expensive thing. That means there will likely be a time where the premier class of MotoAmerica might run a slower lap time than the premier class of club racing! I mean the kids on NGSS will probably still be faster, but it "could" happen, haha.

Anyway, with Liberty Media taking control, I'm sure there will be at least some influence depending on which direction they want to take WSBK as a commodity as well. If MotoGP bikes "might" be a little slower starting in 2027, it follow suit that WSBK might get slower bikes for its top class also... whether STK1000 or NGSS.

 

I could be wrong, but the reason the rumor mill is churning, as Mongo mentioned, would be related to whatever FIM is doing in WSBK, etc. That rumor mill has been churning repeatedly in the direction of there no longer being a 1000cc class at all. They've been spit-balling the NGSS class as the premier class and the 1000cc bikes would fall by the way side. I am just guessing the decision may be pushing from the manufacturers who seem to be selling less and less superbikes and more and more smaller displacement bikes. NGSS may likely become the younger generation's premier class race bike outside of prototypes.

Something else that could be funny is how club racing tends to adapt slower (with good intention) to allow those of us paying our way to keep running the same machinery and have more advance notice to make adjustments and not have to always go buy the newest expensive thing. That means there will likely be a time where the premier class of MotoAmerica might run a slower lap time than the premier class of club racing! I mean the kids on NGSS will probably still be faster, but it "could" happen, haha.

Anyway, with Liberty Media taking control, I'm sure there will be at least some influence depending on which direction they want to take WSBK as a commodity as well. If MotoGP bikes "might" be a little slower starting in 2027, it follow suit that WSBK might get slower bikes for its top class a

 

With MotoGP dropping to 850cc, it world be weird for the production based class in WSBK to be faster than or maybe the same speed as GP bikes. They’re already really close as it is.

Let’s not forget that the current NGSS bikes are larger displacement than what SBK used to be anyways. The V2 is just under the 916 displacement and the R9 and GSXR 750 are right at older SBK sizes for 3-4 cylinders.

So NGSS morphs to the new premier class and Twins morphs into the new 95hp sport bike class with 2, 3 and 4 cylinder bikes all right around 95 hp.

 

They literally did this in 2009 and it had horrible results.. I swear the people in this sport absolutely REFUSE to learn lessons.

As of now teams spend a lot of money initially, but they can use the parts for years.. Stanboli stated that he has used forks, shocks, electronics, etc. for multiple years. OEM stuff has a much harder time taking that type of abuse for longer periods of time. Hell, I know a few STK1000 guys that replace their forks 2-3 times a year THE ENTIRE fork.. not just the cartridge. The shit just gets worn out.

 

WERA FUSA
2 rules, it must have 2 wheels and brakes, have at 'er boys!

 

Since Pirelli will be the tire supplier for both they could easily control the gap between the two classes.

 

As a casual fan (i haven't followed too closely in the past few years) i would rather see a SS1000 class with more close racing than 4 or 5 real superbikes lapping a bunch of not quite superbikes. Would give other teams/brands a chance to be more competitive and give the fans something exciting to watch. As far as alignment with BSB or SBK, who cares? I don't see any US riders going to Europe or motogp and setting the world on fire so why not make it at least interesting over here? 600 ss or whatever they call that class now is much better in terms of variety of bikes, close racing and potential winners IMO.

 

Michelin taking over WSBK

 

Did not realize. Thanks

 

I didnt think they would cover both. Isn't Michelin taking over WSBK?

Edit: I was too late

 

Why not a compromise? Get the costs under control with the Superbikes. Maybe 50% less on the tech? Imagine having 20 superbikes on the grid or more? With proper paid riders

 

I feel like you all are trying to re-invent the DMG era as if that wasn’t a disaster.

 

The economy is driving paid rides. If most Moto2 riders are paying to ride, it's not something we're going to see here.

 

Kinda leads into what I was thinking about yesterday while watching Race 2. Herrin. No idea on if Warhorse is paying him but he's one hell of a huckster. Selling his swag, selling his helmet space, social media up the ass and the perfect combination of rough around the edges and corporate as fuck.

Would he be my first choice to sell my widget to the fans of superbike racing if we were just looking at photos and press kits? Hells no, probably not top 5 (BoobieTitties would be #1) but if you look at all his shit, he's a wet dream if you're selling products that are not HOA beige boring.

next rambling. I have been wrong about Fong. I said I hoped I was wrong when I cast shade towards him in the past.

 

^^ I was not a Fong fan for awhile. Something about him during his M4/Hammer days especially just rubbed me the wrong way. Totally changing my tune recently. Mad props to the guys work ethic, attitude, and professionalism. REALLY impressed.

 

Also, I think JD this weekend makes a pretty solid case for not being super concerned about the SBK class moving to a STK1000 type class. If no one would have said anything and you didn't know about the number plates you would have no idea. Now granted JD was incredible this weekend but the fact of the matter is modern 1000s in STK1000 trim are still REALLY fast bikes.