Motorcycle Racing and Riding

Originally posted on 2009-09-21.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/ recently announced that a CMC Motorcycles is selling Ben Spies replica R1s.  Ben Spies!!!  They are also have the Kenny Roberts XJR1300, which is one of the greatest bikes not available in the USA.

They said:

The Spies replica costs £12,499 on the road and comes with the paintjob, twin Akrapovic carbon end cans, pillion seat cover and tail tidy.

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To come soon: more details on the dual-clutch transmission.

Honda made-available images and videos to-all interested in the VFR1200F. What’s the story that they really want us to tell? I think they were saying, yes, the new VFR is a large sport-touring bike: like the Yamaha FJR1300A, the Kawasaki Concourse 14, and numerous BMWs before it, but Honda also has a long legacy of:

1. Racing V-engined motorcycles
2. Building high-tech hot-rod motorcycles

…and they deserve to write their own history: one that doesn’t begin with the words: “Following in the footsteps of the Yamaha FJR1300A, the Kawasaki Concourse 14, and numerous BMWs, before it…”.

Honda has built other VFR (a/k/a Interceptor) models for a number of years, but over time, as other sport bikes became more knife-edged the VFRs became more touring focussed: some of this was due to design decisions, and some of it was due to the fact that every other sport bike was getting sportier. That said: this new VFR is so new, that we believe should be considered a completely new motorcycle, and not an updated VFR.

Here is how Honda’s New VFR story broke:

1) A couple of years ago Honda released a sculpture that I believed could-not possibly be a real motorcycle, but the motorcycle magazines believed that the sculpture was newsworthy. They were correct. I was not. My other thoughts about it were:

• Why is Honda so proud of this?
• I like art just as much as the next Justice Potter Stewart, but really: riders won’t appreciate a motorcycle that doesn’t work!
• Ooh! The fairing-sides look like the Honda Red Wing logo!

2) Then Honda told us all about their new dual clutch transmission, without reminding us that Honda has built motorcycles with special transmissions in the past: only to not have them sell (see: Hondamatic).  What’s a dual clutch transmission?  It uses one clutch for the odd numbered gears, and another clutch for the even numbered gears. The clutches are activated mechanically, so that the gears can be changed without the rider needing to use a clutch control. This allows a single transmission to be used as both an automatic transmission (without the wasteful torque converter), and a manual transmission (without the clutch control, but with the rider’s ability to choose a gear). It reminds me of Tiptronic transmissions, and similar, but is actually different in design, and implementation.

3) motoblog.it released spy shots of the VFR1200F.

4) Honda makes these photos, and videos available to us, and they look really familiar. That’s what was going on during the spy shots.

The Conceptual Model

The VFR1200F

Is a picture worth a thousand words? These images say so much about planned options, how to adjust the suspension, features, who provides the GPS (Garmin of Olathe Kansas), etc. Interestingly, I didn’t include every image here.

Honda’s V-Engined Racing History

Honda’s V-engined racing history includes all of their MotoGP bikes. Here are some images of historic Honda’s that Honda chose to share. Click on each image to see a larger version.

These 1979 Honda NR500 (OX) videos and text were shared on YouTube by litaisan.

A factory road racer fitted with revolutionary oval piston engine (containing 8 valves per cylinder.) 1979 British Grand Prix entry. Rider: No.5 Takazumi Katayama.

1979 Honda NR500 Part 1, 1979 Honda NR500 Part 2, 1979 Honda NR500 Part 3, 1979 Honda NR500 Part 4

Ben Spies, Tom Houseman (Crew Chief), and team, win Yamaha’s first World Superbike World Championship in 2009! This post includes an exclusive interview by OnTheThrottleTV, quotes from Yamaha Racing Europe, Ducati, and more.

Comments by Paul Danger Kile

Ben once-again downplays his chances of winning the MotoGP championship next year. He shouldn’t do that. Rossi began 2000 with similar goals, and rode more defensively in order to meet those goals. Rossi finished 2000 in 2nd but admitted that he might have finished in 1st had he set that for his goal. Ben, please stop saying “Top 10″. You did top 6 in MotoGP, on a Suzuki, in the worse weather (Hurricane Ike “remnants”) of any GP in history. Go for #1 in 2010!

Notice in the video below how even Ducati is celebrating Ben’s Championship on the podium, even Noriyuki Haga— the man who had the next-best chance of being World Champion this year— is celebrating Ben’s championship on the podium. An awesome show of sportsmanship from those Ducati guys. (See the manufacturer’s standings below to see how both Yamaha and Ducati can celebrate this year…)

Remember: WordSBK.com makes all of the race videos available 7 days after the race. Go here to see the complete season.

Here is the “Ben Spies 2009 World Superbike Champion Exclusive Interview” Video by OnTheThrottleTV

Rookie Ben Spies wins the World Superbike Championship, becoming the first American to do so since fellow Texan Colin Edwards in 2002. SpeedGreen was on location to capture the emotions as Yamaha celebrated their first World Championship.

Quotes from Yamaha Racing Europe’s Release

Ben Spies and Yamaha made history today, claiming the first ever Word Superbike title for the Yamaha World Superbike Team. In yet another Ben Spies Masterclass of riding, The American rookie sensation took a race win and a well executed fifth place finish to lift the title for Yamaha for the first time. Race one saw a textbook performance from Spies, taking the holeshot on the first corner and leading from the first lap. Perfectly executed lines and smooth riding saw him cross the line nearly two seconds ahead of a determined Biaggi who had stalked him for the entire race. Championship rival Noriyuki Haga crashed out six laps into the race, leaving Spies some breathing room for race two.

With the extra points behind him and less pressure for an outright race win Spies kept himself in check for race two, monitoring Haga’s position and keeping a steady race pace as he counted the laps down to victory. The American let a couple of riders passed then tucked in behind Biaggi for a number of laps. After the Italian rider ran wide a couple of times, Spies turned on some extra speed to pass him and brought his championship winning Yamaha R1 home in fifth place to take victory.

Spies can now claim 14 Superbike race wins and 11 pole position race starts in his rookie year, breaking all records since the championship began. He leads the standings with 462 points, six clear of rival Haga.

Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team, (1st, 5th)

On the first race: “It was actually a really tough race. At first I was just going for the win, getting to the front and not worrying about anything. Then when Haga was out I had to win to get as many points as possible for race two. Once you have a gap, you don’t want to be stupid and throw it all away.”

” I’ve got to thank Yamaha for giving me the bike I need to win. We had a really good first race, in the second we did what we had to do to win. It was quite difficult to keep it in check as the pace was pretty fast, I saw I had a couple of people behind me and I knew that if Nori won I had to be in sixth and that’s where I was so I tried to get a bit of a gap on them and stay out of trouble. Max came through the inside of me and ran off a couple of times which really freaked me out so I went to get past him and then settled in for some nice fast laps to the end. It’s been a spectacular day and I can’t thank those people enough that have been behind me. It’s been incredible to do it for Yamaha, and especially in my first year here. I don’t think I really realize what’s happening right now but I’m sure it’s going to hit me in a couple of days!”

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager

“I feel great! This is the first time I’ve had this victory feeling. I was so nervous for this whole weekend. Ben showed us that the speed he had was ok but I know Nori very well and Ducati as well so I was always worried that something was going to come. Fortunately we finished very well. I want to thank everyone, not just the people here in the team and Yamaha but the people at home, mine and the team’s families, they give us a lot of support and are patient, I think it is hard for them to so thank you to my wife!”

Laurens Klein Koerkamp, Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe

“A fantastic day for Yamaha! Today was the crown of a year’s hard work for Ben and the team. From the first moment we started to work with Ben it was clear he was something special. He did an amazing job in his rookie season, not knowing many of the circuits in Europe. This victory is also very well deserved for the team who have given 100%. I know how hard we have all been trying and coming close for such a long time. This championship success is a clear testimonial of the competitiveness of the new R1 and a validation of Yamaha’s vision of production bike development and so is also shared with the engineers in Japan.”

Quote from Noriyuki Haga

“All weekend I have had problems with the set up of the bike, mainly with the tyres that didn’t give me total confidence. Usually we have a package that works well at every track and here too we didn’t change so much with regard to the setting, only really tyres. In Race 1 we mounted two hard tyres and they didn’t perform as we’d hoped, they didn’t give me the necessary grip so it was hard to brake and unfortunately I fell even though I wasn’t pushing so hard. We changed bikes for Race 2, just to be sure, as well as changing tyres of course. This time I had more grip and was able to make a good race. Unfortunately second in the race was not enough to take the title and it’s a real pity, but I must say that I have had a great first year with this fantastic team that always provides me with a good bike. I thank my whole technical team, Ducati, the sponsors and the Clinica Mobile who have taken good care of me throughout the season. My compliments go to Ben who has been such a strong rival this year and even though he is going to MotoGP next year, I am sure we will remain friends. This week we’ll start testing in preparation for next year. This year was a new adventure with Ducati and we’ll continue to give 100% in 2010.”

Results

RACE 1

1. B. Spies (Yamaha WSB)
2. J. Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
3. M. Biaggi (Aprilia Racing)
4. S. Byrne (Sterilgarda Ducati)
5. M. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team)
6. L. Camier (Aprilia Racing)
7. C. Checa (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
8. R. Xaus (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
9. M. Lagrive (Honda Althea Racing)
10. M. Baiocco (Guandalini Racing)

RACE 2

1. M. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team)
2. N. Haga (Ducati Xerox Team)
3. J. Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
4. S. Byrne (Sterilgarda Ducati)
5. B. Spies (Yamaha WSB)
6. M. Biaggi (Aprilia Racing)
7. L. Camier (Aprilia Racing)
8. J. Smrz (Guandalini Racing)
9. T. Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
10. S. Guintoli (Team Suzuki Alstare)

Final Points

1. Spies 462
2. Haga 456
3. Fabrizio 382
4.Biaggi 319
5.Rea 315
6. Haslam 241
7.Checa 209
8. Byrne 192
9. Sykes 176
10. Smrz 169.

Manufacturers Standings

Yamaha wins the championship, but Ducati wins the most points…

1. Ducati 572
2. Yamaha 505
3. Honda 431
4. Aprilia 329
5. Suzuki 173
6. Bmw 141
7. Kawasaki 76

Ben Spies said:

“I can’t wait to get to the circuit and get set up for Sunday’s races. We’ve been fighting hard for race wins all year, and as a rookie on a new bike I think we’ve achieved some pretty good results. My focus is completely on going for two race wins on Sunday, I would love to be able to deliver the title for the team as they really deserve it and have worked so hard to make it possible. We do go well on the Portimao circuit, so I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to challenge Nori for the wins. There will be a few fast guys up there as always so it should be an exciting race day.”

Tom Houseworth,  Crew Chief said:

“We will start with our baseline setting on our primary bike and a modified test setting on the back up bike. Though we have quite a lot of data from testing, the engine and chassis spec has changed quite a lot from pre-season so there will be some variables to work on. We will be looking for maximum grip and quick direction change as Portimao is quite a twisty circuit with elevation changes and a variety of corners. Our goal is to be set up quick and then pick race tyres so we can get time on them in an attempt to find the ‘perfect’ race set up. Once traction and wheelie control are dialed in we will hope for good weather on Sunday and see if we can get it done.”

Massimo Meregalli, Team Manager said:

“We have only one choice, to go there and try to win both races. Both the tests we’ve had at Portimao with Ben were really good and also I’m confident that he knows how to win both races so I think it is very possible we will have success. We can’t do anything about the weather but we know Ben is ready to give it everything he’s got regardless.”

Ben Spies shared the following image with us via Twitter and TwitPic, and he had this to say about it: “My form is coming good…”  Please follow this link to see Ben demonstrate his form. (“Form” refers to how a rider positions themselves on the bike.) The image below is not from the previously-mentioned TwitPic; you will need to click on this link to see that.

Thank you, Ben!  You are our two-wheeled hero.  Good luck, and good hunting, during your future in MotoGP!

Not property of dangerismymiddlename.com. Image owned-by, linked-from, and linked-to www.benspies.com. Click on image to go to www.benspies.com.

Ben stayed-late during last-year’s Red Bull Indianapolis GP autograph session.  The person in front of me said, “I am not going to wait for this.  I can get his autograph at any AMA race.”  To which I replied, “Not if he goes to MotoGP next year.”  To which he replied, “You’re right…”, and then we waited longer.  I stayed and got that autograph.  In fact, I got the very last autograph that Ben signed at his very last MotoGP event’s Motul/Suzuki autograph session.  We didn’t get to see him race in World Superbike (not in person anyway), but hopefully we will be able to meet Ben Spies when he rides for Tech 3 Yamaha next year.

From Yamaha Racing Communications. Please see: a note about “press releases, news releases, and public service announcements”. Thank you.

Ben Spies was back on form today, working up speed through the Superpole sessions to end the final heat with an incredible lap, smashing last year’s record by nearly seven tenths and leaving the other qualifying riders nearly five tenths of a second behind. The ten poles by Spies mean he has now equaled Doug Polen’s 1991 record for the number of pole position starts in a season. Spies also enjoyed a productive earlier qualifying session, continuing to fine tune the set up for tomorrow’s two races, he ended in second behind Michel Fabrizio.

Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team, (1st, 1′37.709)

The Superpole lap was a great lap, we’ve spent the weekend and the qualifying sessions working more on race tyres and fuel loads and really looking to make sure the bike is ready come Sunday. Superpole was the first time we really got down to banging out a lap and it was a good one. It’s good to see Johnny is up there again, it’s pretty much the same four guys as last time so it should be a good race. I don’t think anybody is going to be getting away and I think it will be settled in the last few laps. I’m pretty confident with the bike so I’m happy going into Sunday.

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager

After yesterday we found some good improvements with the bike and Ben managed a really incredible lap, but most importantly we’ve found a really good set up for the race and our tyre choices are ready as well. Tomorrow will be a really tough race but we will be part of the front group and fighting for the win.

Circuit Length: 4411
Former Lap Record: 1′40.601 (Lorenzo Lanzi, 2005-01-01)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1′37.709 (Ben Spies, 2009-10-04)
Last Years Winner: Troy Bayliss

This is a version of the story written by the folks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  We have permission to publish their stories. Please see: a note about “press releases, news releases, and public service announcements”. Thank you.

Colin Edwards and Ben Spies will be the first all-American teammates in MotoGP since 2005 when they take on Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and the rest of the world's top riders in 2010.

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 – Team Texas is coming to the MotoGP World Championship in 2010.

Ben Spies will join fellow Texan Colin Edwards on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team in 2010, forming an all-American rider lineup. It’s the first time Americans will team up for a full season in the premier class since 2005, when Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins paired for Suzuki.

There will be three Americans on the MotoGP grid in 2010, as Kentucky native Nicky Hayden rides for the Ducati Team. Spies, Edwards and Hayden will join MotoGP stars Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa in the field for the third annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“I want to thank Yamaha globally for their faith in me,” Spies said. “They have treated me like royalty! Yamaha just recently allowed me to rethink my contract for 2010-2011. I did sign for WSB for 2010, but after Indy I began thinking of the competition and my age versus waiting until 2011.

“We will have learning curves to overcome next year, but I am up for the new goal. I hope to have a good year, and my goal is to try and stay in the top six to eight, which, given the talented lineup, will be a tall order.”

Spies, 25, from Longview, Texas, will make his full-season MotoGP debut in 2010. Edwards, 35, from Conroe, Texas, will enter his eighth MotoGP season next year and his third consecutive season with the Tech 3 team.

Spies moved to the Superbike World Championship in 2009 after winning his third consecutive American Motorcyclist Association Superbike title in 2008. He has enjoyed a superb rookie season in World Superbike with the Yamaha factory team, winning 12 of the first 24 races. He is second in the series standings, just three points out of the lead with four races remaining.

In 2008, Spies impressed the MotoGP paddock with three strong performances as a wild-card rider. He qualified eighth in wet conditions in his MotoGP debut in the British Grand Prix, finished eighth in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., and finished sixth in the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP in September at IMS.

Edwards is sixth in the MotoGP standings this season, with a best finish of second in the British Grand Prix on July 26. He is the top American and the top non-factory team rider in the standings this season.

“I am delighted that Colin will remain with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in 2010,” said Herve Poncharal, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team manager. “He has proved once again in 2009 that he remains one of the world’s best riders.

“It also gives me great pleasure to welcome Ben to Tech 3. It’s a very exciting prospect having a rider of Ben’s caliber join our team. Everybody is aware that he is a rider with incredible talent and huge potential, which he has proved with some outstanding performances for Yamaha in World Superbikes this season. And I have no doubt that together with Tech 3, Yamaha and Monster that Ben will be a big success in 2010 in MotoGP. Colin and Ben together means Tech 3 will arguably field its strongest-ever lineup, and everybody in the team can look forward to 2010 with tremendous excitement and optimism.”

***

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Please see: a note about “press releases, news releases, and public service announcements”. Thank you.

Yamaha Motor Company., Ltd herewith confirms that Ben Spies, currently 2nd in the World Superbike Championship, will be moving to the MotoGP Championship in 2010 to join the Tech 3 Yamaha Team. The Texan recently signed a two-year deal with Yamaha, which originally planned for him to remain in World Superbike for one more year before moving to MotoGP in 2011, but Spies and Yamaha together have decided to advance the move by one year. The 25-year-old is currently just three points behind and has just two more World Superbike rounds to contest in his efforts to win his and Yamaha’s first World Superbike title.“I want to thank Yamaha globally for their faith in me,” said Spies. “They have treated me like royalty! Yamaha just recently allowed me to rethink my contract for 2010-2011; I did sign for WSB for 2010 but after Indy I began thinking of the competition and my age versus waiting until 2011. This was not an easy decision, the Yamaha World Superbike Team crew and especially Massimo (Maio) Meregalli have been fantastic and it’s been great fun to put in a season together. I am hoping that I can give Maio, Laurens Klein Koerkamp and everyone else a championship to remember this year with me. My thanks also extend to ‘Infront’, the promoter of the WSB series, especially Paolo Ciabatti. I have enjoyed his series and this first year racing in Europe. Now I have two challenges, to complete this year giving my best and to move towards new goals in MotoGP. Herve Poncharal at Tech 3 is showing his support by allowing me to come on board with my Crew Chief Tom Houseworth and Gregory Wood, my mechanic, who have both been with me since AMA days. We will have learning curves to overcome next year but I am up for the new goal. I hope to have a good year and my goal is to try and stay in the top 6-8 which, given the talented line up, will be a tall order. With the world upside down, there is one constant for me and that’s Yamaha.”

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said “Following the announcement of Ben’s two year deal with Yamaha one month ago, he has reassessed his options and decided that he would like to move to MotoGP sooner rather than later. Yamaha has considered his request and together with Tech 3 we were able to find a way to make it happen. Ben has done a fantastic job in his rookie season in World Superbike and we are very excited to now be welcoming him into our MotoGP program sooner than we originally expected. We believe that Ben will be a fast learner next season and a strong future championship contender. We look forward to working with him in the years ahead“

Laurens Klein Koerkamp of Yamaha Motor Europe commented, “Of course we’re sorry to see Ben leave Yamaha’s World Superbike program and we are currently enjoying a fantastic season with him, but it’s clear that it’s the right decision for Ben’s career and for Yamaha. One of Yamaha’s goals is to bring up future MotoGP talent through Superbike and it is satisfying for us to see that this rider development route is working. Before he moves we still have some serious business to finish with Ben this year at the remaining two rounds!

“Although Ben will be missed I have no doubt that our new World Superbike line-up for next year will see us once again challenging for the title. We will be cheering loudly for Ben in MotoGP and we look forward to seeing him on the YZR-M1.”