PPIHC: Carlin Dunne Sets Outright Best Motorcycle Time at Pikes Peak Tire Test on a Lightning Motorcycle

The competitors for the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have just concluded a two-day tire test at the Colorado road course, and it should perhaps come as no surprise that our boy Carlin Dunne has posted the outright fastest lap for a motorcycle during the tire test (the Santa Barbara native set the outright two-wheeled course record last year on his Ducati Multistrada 1200 S). What is surprising about Carlin’s result at the tire test is that he was on the Lightning Motorcycles electric superbike. That’s right, the fastest bike so far for 2013′s Race to the Clouds is a 200+ hp electric superbike that is refueled with solar energy. Petrol heads, eat your heart out.

Report: Indianapolis “Opting-Out” of 2014 MotoGP Race?

Talking to the Indy Star, Mark Miles (CEO of Hulman & Co, the parent company to Indianapolis Motor Speedway) has put some doubt into the historic venue’s commitment to host the MotoGP Championship. Having a contract to run the race through the 2014 season, Miles said that IMS might opt-out of the final year in its agreement with Dorna (IMS apparently has this option for a brief window after the 2013 Indianapolis GP). However while the news has focused so far on IMS’s ability to opt-out, both Dorna and Indianapolis Motor Speedway have options in their contract to go through with the 2014 round, and with a bevy of variables in the air, we may or may not see three American GP rounds next year.

2014 Yamaha FZ-09 – Three Cylinders of Naked

Surprise! America will be getting a 847cc three-cylinder naked bike for the 2014 model year, the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09. Replacing the Yamaha FZ8 in the Japanese company’s line-up, the FZ-09 is the first motorcycle from the tuning fork brand to sport the Yamaha’s new line of three-cylinder engines. The Yamaha FZ-09 comes about as the MIC is reporting its second-consecutive year of growth in the 751+cc sport bike segment, as well as increase in commuter riding over short-distance sport riding. With those trends in mind, Yamaha has punched out the displacement on its middleweight naked bike, and focused on giving riders a comfortable, yet stout, motorcycle. Priced at $7,990 MSRP, we think Yamaha hit the nail pretty much on the head with this one.

Trackside Tuesday: The Mind-Killer

In the past few years I’ve come to believe that, while superior physical differences (their reflexes and fine motor skills) are significant, it’s the mental differences that are the most interesting. I suppose anyone who has ridden a motorcycle even a bit beyond one’s comfort zone can appreciate some part of the physical aspect of riding a racing bike. For most of us, even the speed of racers in local events is impressive compared to our street riding. While the skills with throttle, brakes, and balance are on a level similar to the best athletes in other sports, I think that what really sets motorcycle racers apart is their ability to overcome fear.

Video: Still Think Electric Motorcycles Are Slow?

The progress in the last five years on electric motorcycles has been astounding. Taking their first laps around the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, a 87.434 mph pace was the best an electric motorcycle could do at the prestigious road race in 2009 — a pace that was on par with the 50cc record set in 1971. In just five years after the first laps were taken by electric motorcycles at Snaefell, these machines have grown their average lap speeds by over 20 mph at the TT Zero race, setting a new record of 109.675 mph in 2013, and boasting a rate of improvement of roughly 5 mph each year since 2009. If hitting 142.2 mph down the Sulby Straight speed trap wasn’t further proof of the speeds these bikes are achieving, maybe some visual evidence will help support the notion.

Here’s Your Feel Good Moment of the Week — Now, What’s Your Excuse for Not Riding Today?

Darius Glover is a dirt bike racer. Like you and me, he lives to ride, and when he is on two-wheels he feels the freedom that only other motorcyclists can truly understand. The thing is though, Darius is paralyzed from the waist down. Where others would give up their dreams and this sport, Darius at the age of 15 instead pushed onward. No pity parties, no excuses, just simply a daily example of where there is a will, there is a way, and a reminder that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to. It’s hard not to get a bit choked up listening to Darius tell his story, but you walk away feeling uplifted after feeling his attitude come across the screen.

Erzberg Rodeo – Red Bull’s S&M Playhouse for Motorcycles

Any race where 1,500 riders start, 500 qualify, and only 14 finish, has got to be an epic competition, and considering the fact that the Erzberg Rodeo starts in the excavation pit of an Austrian mine…well, it takes a special rider to be enticed by such an event. One such special rider is Graham Jarvis, who was the first of the fourteen men to reach the 20th and final checkpoint. Taking 2 hours and 52 seconds to complete the course, Jarvis made the 2013 Erzberg Rodeo look downright easy. However, with one look at the race-day conditions from this past weekend, we know it was anything but.

Controlling the Uncontrollable – The Role of Ritual in Racing

While normally, MotoGP fans never get enough of seeing Valentino Rossi on TV, there is one shot they would (for the most part) gladly be spared. As he leaves the pits, Rossi stands on the footpegs, and pulls his leathers from between his buttocks, before sitting back down again and leaving. These rituals – part useful limbering up, part invocation of Lady Luck – are something many riders perform, in their attempt to exert control over themselves, and over their environment. In a fascinating press release – by far the most interesting we have received in many months – the Aspar team today provided a discussion and explanation of what riders are trying to achieve through the use of these rituals.

Up-Close with the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc

Hoping to make it four wins in a row, it goes without saying that the MotoCzysz crew is working hard to close the gap to the John McGuinness and the Mugen team. However, having Team Principal Michael Czysz stuck back in the US, undergoing cancer treatments, must certainly add another level of motivation for the on-island MotoCzysz crew. Making time in their busy schedule, Asphalt & Rubber got to take some up-close photos of the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc. The most obvious changes made to the MotoCzysz E1pc for the 2013 TT Zero race are the use conventional suspension pieces. Of course, it’s not a completely standard suspension setup, as MotoCzysz has developed its own adjustable triple clamp that incorporates tunable lateral flex parameters.

MotoGP: Max Biaggi To Test Ben Spies’s Ducati at Mugello, Michele Pirro To Replace Spies at Barcelona

Max Biaggi is to make a surprise return to riding a MotoGP machine. The former 250 and World Superbike champion will take a seat on Ben Spies’ Ignite Pramac Ducati as part of a one-day test at Mugello, as part of Ducati’s testing program, according to Italian site GPOne. Spies was scheduled to stay on at Mugello to take part in a two-day test, but after the first day of practice at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, it was clear to both Spies and Ducati that his shoulder was still too weak to ride a MotoGP machine. With work continuing on the Desmosedici, it was important for Ducati to get as much data as possible on their bike, and so Biaggi was offered the chance to ride the machine.

Colin Edwards Makes CRT Debut at Jerez

11/25/2011 @ 3:46 pm, by Jensen Beeler5 COMMENTS

Likely to be marked as the start of significant chapter in MotoGP history, the claiming rule teams (CRTs) were out in Jerez the past three days testing their MotoGP machinery, which is comprised of production-motorcycle motors with custom-built chassis. While not the first time we’ve seen a CRT bike on the track, the outing was the first time that a”top-tier” rider was on-board the new racing format motorcycles, as Colin Edwards lead the charge with his BMW/Suter machine with NGM Forward Racing.

Many in the MotoGP paddock have been waiting to cast their verdict on the CRT endeavor, withholding their judgments until a top GP rider took to the helm of a CRT machine and properly put the bike through its paces. With tests earlier in the year showing Mika Kallio on-board the BMW/Suter to be over six seconds off the pace of the 800cc-era machines, the CRT future of MotoGP looked to be in jeopardy. Those lap times improved over the year to be “only” four seconds off that 1,000-era bike pace, showing improvement, yet a gap to the front-runners.

Now with Edwards finally swinging a leg over the BMW S1000RR-powered Suter prototype, surely more comparisons between the factory prototypes and CRT offerings are to ensue. Posting a best lap time of 1’40.188 at the Spanish GP earlier this year, Edwards was roughly 2.5 seconds off his own pace, finishing the three-day test with a best lap to f 1’42.6. That news seems discouraging on its face, though it should be noted that the team dropped 1.3 seconds between Wednesday and Thursday’s tests.

Edwards also rated the bike at about 65% of its potential, while the Texan’s own fitness was questionable, as Edwards was till recovering from the injuries he sustained at the Malaysian GP. WIth all those caveat, does this week’s test equate to excuses for a lackluster performance, or justify that more leaps and gains will be made before the start of the 2012 MotoGP Championship?

“Overall, it is better than I thought it would be, the potential is there. I think we are at about 65 percent right now,” said NGM Forward Racing’s Colin Edwards. “The chassis is set up, but the main thing is the electronics and getting the whole package to come together. With the electronics, every time we make a little change and make it better, everything just gets a little smoother and easier.”

“The bike reminds me a lot of 2003 when I went to Aprilia,” Edwards continued. “It’s got a screamer engine, lots of torque, somebody built the chassis, someone put an engine it, and it came a long way through the year. It was one of the first bikes with ride by wire and all the electronics. It reminds me a lot of that. But I know what I need, I know what I am looking for, I know what want, I know how to make the bike go faster, so the main thing now is just don’t lose focus and keep going down the right path.”

“I came here and I would have been happy with just yesterday’s times, being injured and all, but I did a ‘42.6 today, which is a little better than a second faster. I’m reasonably happy with that,” finished Edwards.

A second off the Moto2 bikes he was sharing the track with at the Jerez testing sessions, Edwards’ outing on NGM Forward Racing’s BMW/Suter machine is at best a mixed bag of good and bad news. It’ll be interesting to watch over the winter how the CRT effort progresses, not just with the BMW/Suter, but with all the CRT entries. With claiming rule teams seemingly the future of MotoGP, what that future will be now becomes the question on everyone’s mind.

Unofficial Best Lap Times from MotoGP/Moto2 Winter Testing at Jerez:
Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) 1’41”5 (WSBK Bridgestone Tires)
Colin Edwards (Suter-BMW) 1’42″6 (MotoGP)
Scott Redding (Kalex) 1’42″9 (Moto2)
Pol Espargaró (Kalex) 1’43″0 (Moto2)
Tito Rabat (Kalex) 1’43″3 (Moto2)
Iván Silva (FTR-Kawasaki) 1’43″5 (MotoGP)
Mika Kallio (Kalex) 1’43″5 (Moto2)
Bradley Smith (Tech3) 1’43″6 (Moto2)
Gino Rea (Moriwaki) 1’43″8 (Moto2)
Alex De Angelis (Suter) 1’43″9 (Moto2)
Yonny Hernández (FTR-Kawasaki) 1’44″0 (MotoGP)
Yuki Takahashi (Suter) 1’44″2 (Moto2)
Axel Pons (Kalex) 1’44″7 (Moto2)
Toni Elías (Suter) 1’44″7 (Moto2)
Nico Terol (Suter) 1’44″9 (Moto2)
Xavier Simeon (Tech3) 1’45”0 (Moto2)

Source: MotoWorld.es; Photos: MotoGP

Tagged under: BMW, BMW S1000RR, claiming rule team, Colin Edwards, CRT, Jerez, Jerez Test, lap times, MotoGP, NGM Forward Racing, photos, Spain, Suter, test, test results

Comment:

MikeD says:
November 25, 2011 at 4:28 PM
God Speed to the Early Adopters and Pioneers. They are going to need it to fight in the same ring as the “Heavy Hitters”.
Joey Wilson says:
November 26, 2011 at 7:04 AM
That this ‘kit’ bike is six seconds behnd the factory MGP machnes in its shakedown is not a big surprise. Imagine the shock if it was half a second behind with an injured rider at the helm ! And let’s be honest, BMW is still sorting these things out in WSBK.
I think that until you see back-channel ‘factory’ CRT bikes, there will be a gap. And I’d be surprised to see any, as the factories would be cutting their own throat vis-a-vis the M1′s and RCV’s. And the HRC CBR kits are not giant-killers, nor does Yamaha sell any ‘lightning-in-a-bottle’ parts for the R1′s. I just don’t see any Ducati / Althea ‘unacknowledged’ factory team situations with the Japanese. Although . . . . now that I think about it, Checa’s bikes from this year would murder the GP11′s ! !
I really feel for Colin, though. The sad situation with Simoncelli, and this obvious end of his relationship with Yamaha must make these difficult days even for a hard man. My best to him, and here’s to better days ahead.
Rob says:
November 26, 2011 at 8:40 AM
Very much a love/hate with these CRTs joining GP. I would love to see more bike on the grid, but I have a feeling this will turn into a ALMS race where there will be CRTs in a pack, and then 5 seconds ahead true GP teams/bikes.
Tiago Neves says:
November 28, 2011 at 4:14 AM
To be honest guys i don t tinck this is the end… The realaty its that this bikes can be bad ass!! I love this new Designs of some CRT Bikes…
And i also beliave in Colin and in Randy de puniet, for me great pilots and its like they said they now what they neeed to be fastest and for sure they will impreve this crt to very competitive times!! For sure will be history if we wach one CRT Bike winning a race but i tinck its not Impossible…
The realaty its that for exemple WSBk bikes are preety close on times and the CRT Bike have some advanteges in regulations in orther to allow more Power to this engines.. This bike are in Part prototipes at the least the Material on Chassi..
Prototipe engine or not what its need its Power and control.. Just take a loke at Randy de puniet Bikes it really seams like an evolution off the Aprilia RSV4 and for what Randy says he is only one secund Slower then its last Pramac Ducati Gp11
Bob says:
November 28, 2011 at 7:18 AM
Currently, GP tyres and brakes require a certain amount of heat in them to operate at their best performance. If the CRT bikes can’t put enough heat and stress into the tyres and keep the brakes hot enough, lap times will always stay down. They won’t be able to brake as late as they want, therefore corner speeds wil be lower, which means less heat in the tyres, which means less grip, which means less corner speed and less corner exit traction, which means less top speed between corners, which means less need to brake harder before the next turn, which means less heat in the tyres and brakes, and the cycle repeats.
I’m not hopeful in the least. Part of me is, admittedly, disappointed that the full-on prototype series is going to become a prototype-chassis-only series by 2014. I see myself no longer watching at that point since I’m really into the unobtanium hardware. I watch other series when I an interested in bar banging.
I also see GP becoming absorbed by WSBK or the other way around. WSBK production based frames already have enough adjustments that there’s not much benefit to having a prototype chassis, other than to make them physically smaller for a 120 lb jockey. No point in keeping a series where the only difference is basically tyres and brake material. But I also see a safety concern when the CRT guys start getting lapped. And they will.
Best of luck to Colin, really. By I really do hope the CRT concept fails miserably. You just can’t call MotoGP the pinnacle of racing when you aren’t running pinnacle quality hardware.

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