MotoAmerica Round 2 - Road Atlanta - 5/2-4

I thought the way they worded it, Gillam was still waiting on more engine parts, not just the swing arm, but I could be wrong about that. He didn't look to have any significant HP advantage over the Stock 1000 Hondas on that long back straight, so if he has the HP parts already, that sucks.

 

Any word on Rocco, looks like he was holding arm/wrist for a moment.

 

Exactly what I was thinking. That said, Hayden’s fastest trap in Race 2 was 5mph over Ashton, but that was a one off. The rest of the time he and Ashton were similiar, so it sounds like it was from a huge draft (double draft off JD and Ashton?). That would leave me to believe it’s mostly a Stock 1000 build.

JD was consistently down 2-4mph to Ashton but he said they were geared wrong during the weekend and were still figuring it out.

 

And they won't let you jump it, either. Years ago some teams tried leaving steps on the pit side but they put the kaibosh on that.

The only logical solution is to qualify on the last row. That shows how much you care about your team!

 

I saw someone had a ladder out there for a short time they would pull back up. Only saw it a couple of times though.

 

Lucky and Ashton said the HRC kit didn't include much besides velocity stacks. Vic asked and they said the stacks are fixed length, not variable.

 

A hp number is just that...wonder if BMW have stepped up TC/engine management game which is enabling Cam to get it to the ground earlier. It seems Cam could rifle out of the corner and the Yamaha was losing a lot of ground. Even in the wet which surprised me.

 

It was said he has a new swingarm this year which is more compliant when the tire is on its edge. Looking at photos they were using a Suter. The one they have been using at Barber and RAtl this year is different.

I think we’ve seen over the years that the parts that are developed for the WSBK Pirelli’s sometimes don’t jive with the Dunlops. The Ducati guys grumble about this too.

Remember when Dunlop changed the rear tire starting at Road America and all of a sudden the Yosh bikes turned to crap? They tried like 2-3 different swingarms that year, made a million chassis adjustments, and pretty much neutered Toni and muted Roger’s last year (2018).



they’re even talking about the tire and Toni’s bike wobbling all over the place.

 

Whatever BMW found (with the swingarm/Dunlop tire) they better keep it top secret cause it's obviously an advantage.

 

I think it just unlocked the BMW to show what it’s capable of.

When was the last time the R1 and GSXR1000 had a new engine design? The head, etc. is a 2015 design. Even the Gixxer in 2017 had more stonk on it in a straightline.

The Ducati and BMW are 2024-2025 technology machines racing against a bunch of 2015-2017 designs from a motor standpoint. WSBK uses BoP rpm and fuel flow limits to level the playing field, otherwise, it wouldn’t be close.

 

See that what's surprised me that JH1 Duc wouldn't be right on that BMW's tail...but maybe it is the Dunlop tire

 

I think swingarms matter a lot. I think Stanboli is on his 4th iteration with the R1 going back to when Herrin was on it to now.

It all seems a lot harder than just calling up Suter or Ducati Corse and just ordering what they already have made and the Dunlop seems to want its own thing.

I should point out Cam was able to ride around whatever it was the last two years, but seemed on edge and we saw him go real fast but also crash a lot. JD last year looked like Toni and Rog in 2018 when the tire changed; unsettled, bike all over the place, having to pinch the corners, etc. so something with JD’s riding style just didn’t jive. He doesn’t look like that on the Honda.

 

Using your dog to chat up the hot babes, that's a old trick.

 

But nonetheless effective. Take a puppy on to a college campus. See what happens

 

I was surprised this time around. I could actually rewind, FF, and pause without any issues. I only have one gripe. The background music they play is like elevator tunes. Last year was way better.