Sources: Revzilla / CT, SB, MPT, B & B, BDN, AP, Reuters, MSNW, MCN, AMD news ROOM
NEWS
BRIEFS
Award-winning air filter manufacturer Twin Air is to support Rockstar Energy Husqvarna for the next three years in an extension of a partnership that has seen them being the official provider of air filter and performance accessories to the majority of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teams. Founded in 1972, the Dutch company was the first to introduce the washable and reusable dualfoam laminated air filter.
2015 British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes( making his Norton TT debut) and fellow Australian David ' Davo ' Johnson( seventh place in last year ' s Superbike TT) will ride the IOM for Norton in June on a race version of the recently launched V4 SS road bike in the Senior and Superbike TT races. Both riders will compete on the all-new SG6, derived from the recently launched V4 SS road bike.
British performance and handling technology firm HM Quickshifter has announced SpeedMob as its U. S. importer and distributor. Known for their strain gauge based technology, Quick Shifters are available for all riders, from the top-level MotoGP Teams to the street enthusiast. Their top of the range HMSS GP system“ uses intensive and very advanced mathematics and digital signal processing( DSP) to identify when the gears have fully engaged. This nullifies the requirement for kill times and not only ensures the shortest possible kill times between shifts, but also ensures the smoothest and safest gear changes possible regardless of the conditions, load, rpm or gearbox characteristics”.
Italian sportsbike parts and accessory specialist Bonamici Racing has announced a partnership with Aprilia Racing for the 2017 season to run in the WSBK Championship, SuperStock1000 Championship Photo and Italian: Lars Rulffs CIV SBK.
SBS’“ Partners in Racing” concept supports product development
Danish brake pad manufacturer SBS has been involved in the motorcycle racing business for almost 25 years now, and every year they have cooperated with leading international and national race teams and top riders. At SBS this concept is known as“ Partners in Racing”, and it is central to their ability to test and develop new and existing product.“ The programme plays an important role in our product development process”, says SBS Race Manager Allan Østli.“ Brake pads are one of the most important components in motorcycle racing. In today’ s racing, only a very few overtaking manoeuvres are the result of acceleration and pure engine power – the braking zone is where most of the action happens. With“ Partners in Racing” we get our products tested under the toughest conditions, and we get very useful feedback from the people who really know what braking is about. This is an important add-on to our own test activities”. The feedback from the world’ s racetracks results in R & D engineering staff being able to improve and develop the company’ s brake compounds, not only for race use, but also products that are used on the road – classic“ track trickle down”, says Allan.“ Especially when it comes to riders’ preferences and feelings for the final“ finger-tip” performance- our race tests and our close partnerships with riders and their teams have a deep impact on our R & D work”. Down the years some impressive names have contributed to the SBS mission – champions such as Carlos Checa, Kenan Sofuoglu, Andrew Pitt, Jonathan Rea, Tom Sykes, Troy Corser, James Toseland, Michael Dunlop and many others are not the worst references to have when talking about racing and braking. In 2017 the list of teams and riders that take part in World Championships as SBS’ partners“ is more or less endless”, says Allan. Riders such as Nicki Hayden and Stefan Bradl( Ten
Kate Honda World Superbike Team) and Marcus Reiterberger and Jordi Torres( BMW Althea Racing Team) in WSBK. In Supersport SBS have Roberto Rolfo( Team Factory Vamag), Kenan Sofuoglu and Kyle Ride( Kawasaki Pucetti Racing) and Jules Cluzel( CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) using their product, with Thomas Luthi( Car Expert Interwetten) in Moto GP2 and Philip Oettl( Südmetall Schedel GP Racing) in Moto GP3. In the World Endurance Championship“ where durability is the key parameter”, SBS has a
long-lasting partnership with the Swiss Bolliger Team, who have a long record of world championship top 5 results, and French Superstock world champions Tati Team. On a national level SBS has a test and development cooperation with Shane“ Shakey” Byrne and Marvin Fritz, who both achieved 2016 championship wins in the British Superbike and IDM German Superbike Championship respectively. SBS is also active in Motocross GP Championship racing- for 2017 the list of partners includes the ICE1 Husqvarna team owned by Finnish F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen, Wilvo Yamaha featuring Shawn Simpson and Gautier Paulin, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team, and others. In June SBS will continue its history of involvement in the unique demands road racing, again supporting Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson at the Isle of Man, the NW 200 and other events.
“ the pad for podium positions”
Allan Østli, SBS Race Manager, with Kenan Sofuoglu’ s Kawasaki –“ our‘ Partners in Racing’ concept is important for our product development”
For the race teams competing on asphalt, SBS typically offers the Dual Sinter compound for the front. Allan explains that“ this compound was introduced 10 years ago, but we have developed it regularly since then based on the feedback from our partners – feedback that has allowed us to also be testing some new innovations this season. For the rear, we typically recommend a carbon tech or a sintered compound, depending on riding style and motorcycle”. For Motocross, SBS recommends special sintered racing compounds.
www. sbs-friction. dk
Photo: Lars Rulffs
10 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS- APRIL / MAY 2017