Sunday 29 January 2023

Reflecting on ASBK Technical rule modifications and conundrums


ASBK Tech Speak

It’s regarding to listen to that technical breaches have once more come to gentle with Supersport machines offered to different opponents, who then have discovered the bikes to have unlawful modifications. These breaches are solely coming to gentle now after bikes have been bought by different riders to race in subsequent seasons went in for freshen ups forward of season 2023.

It’s not potential to use penalties retrospectively because the breaches have been found exterior of competitors. It have to be acknowledged that despite the fact that the small modification to the cylinder head is unlikely to have made a big distinction to any race outcomes on the observe, if any bike was discovered to be unlawful throughout competitors and the rider disqualified,then it might have actually modified the end result of any spherical the place the technical breaches have been found.

Since a lot time has handed and it can’t be confirmed that the engines haven’t been tampered with for the reason that bikes have been final raced, and the bikes have probably handed by many fingers, now we have determined to maintain names out of this piece as no official judgements have been made, nor can they be.

On the finish of the day, for those who promote your race bike on the finish of the season when you realize that bike is prohibited, that’s fairly dumb.  This can be very seemingly that you’d subsequently be discovered down the observe.

This leaves purchasers of bikes discovered to be in breach of technical rules out of pocket to the tune of many hundreds of {dollars} in an effort to make their machine authorized forward of season 2023, usually that features the acquisition of a brand new cylinder head. Certainly, some are scrambling to do precisely that now in an effort to be prepared for the looming ASBK Check periods at Sydney Motorsports Park this week.

It is crucial for consumers to conduct thorough inspections and due diligence earlier than buying a used race bike, to make sure that it’s compliant with rules and to keep away from pricey repairs or penalties down the street. Purchaser beware… The onus is on the entered rider and his group to guarantee that their bike meets the rules set by the governing physique.

However then that raises one other dilemma, who are you able to belief to do these inspections and engine freshens? There are some well-known engine builders who’ve had a couple of engine of theirs discovered to be unlawful. Hopefully as they’ve now been proven to be repeat offenders they gained’t nonetheless be doing it. And racers won’t be taking their engines to them…

Race groups themselves may not pay attention to these breaches, and notably with reference to many household run groups. Typically they’ve no one of their trusted internal circle with the requisite technical abilities to place their very own minds at relaxation by inspecting the engine internals.

It is crucial for opponents to be cautious when selecting an engine builder, particularly if the builder is claiming to have the quickest engines on the grid. This generally is a crimson flag, it’s necessary to be diligent in researching engine builders and their fame, and to make sure that the engine builder and the group are following the principles and rules set by the governing physique.

This generally is a difficult state of affairs, notably for family-run groups which might be comparatively new to the game and will not know who to belief for steering.

Newcomers to the game may additionally be prone to getting caught up in dishonest, which may have a unfavorable influence on their expertise within the sport which results in them leaving bike racing for different pursuits.

Moreover, stricter measures reminiscent of engine log books, licensing of engine builders, and elevated inspections may additionally maybe assist to stop illegalities and defend the integrity of the game.

This all prices time, and cash, two issues just about everybody within the sport has little of to spare…

Extra policing of the technical guidelines additionally prices the governing physique extra money and time, which results in elevated entry charges. Little bit of a vicious circle actually with no straightforward solutions…


From the Australian Supersport 600 guidelines…

The next OEM elements could also be modified:

a) Engine cam wheels could also be slotted or changed to change valve timing,

b) Gearbox drive canine could also be undercut,

c) Cylinder head valve seats could also be re-cut,

d) Cylinder head and cylinder block mating surfaces could also be machined.


Among the greatest riders Australia has ever produced have been purposefully given beneath common equipment to race on by their mother and father, forcing them to adapt and work exhausting, relatively than make excuses.

Harrison Voight dominated the ultimate spherical of the 2022 Australian Supersport Championship powered by a typical YZF-R6 engine that had by no means had its rocker cowl off. If you’re quick sufficient then you definitely don’t must chase tiny features that begin pushing the boundaries of the principles.


Supersport 300

The difficulty of dishonest within the smaller Supersport 300 class of ASBK has been much more of an ongoing concern in recent times, and it has led to some opponents leaving the game altogether.

Some believed dishonest was so rife throughout the class they’ve packed up their luggage right here and selected to race abroad. When opponents are discovered with such apparent and blatant breaches as bigger diameter throttle our bodies and main porting, it isn’t exhausting to see why they deemed the class corrupt. Hopefully issues have gotten a bit cleaner throughout the class over the previous 12 months…

Until you might be within the properly managed Asia Expertise Cup or Pink Bull Rookies Cup competitions, then heading abroad carries much more threat and expense.

We have now children paying €100,000 or extra to race dumbed down Moto3 bikes in European competitions. That’s earlier than you pay for any journey or everyday residing bills. You’re looking at over $200,000 AUD to place a teen on an affordable bike for a 12 months in Europe by the point coaching, meals, and lodging prices are additionally accounted for.  And what number of years do you then must finances doing that for…? One 12 months is at all times going to be a waste of time, so that you prepared and in a position to commit 200k+ a 12 months in funding for the following few years…? The place do you draw the road, half one million? One million?

Anyway, again to Australia… All potential options to our personal issues right here in Supersport 300 include extra prices and time for opponents, officers, and the entire governing physique itself.

Dishonest is nothing new in any class and has been happening since racing first began, and possibly at all times will.

Motorcycling Australia’s Technical Workers have already got a good larger workload this 12 months with the introduction of recent mixed rider and weight rules for the Supersport 300 class, getting the brand new SuperTwins class up and working, and that’s earlier than we even begin speaking concerning the policing of electronics in Superbike…


Supersport 300 minimal weights for every mannequin is as follows:
Model Exhausting Minimal Gentle Most Bike and Rider Weight*
KTM RC 390 140 kg 153 kg 205 kg
Ninja 400 145 kg 158 kg 210 kg
YZF-R3 (all) 140 kg 153 kg 205 kg

a) Mixed weight is the burden of the rider (in full racing gear) and bike, as used on observe.

b) If the bike has achieved or exceeded the “Gentle Most Weight” then the mixed minimal weight doesn’t should be reached. The bike alone could by no means at any time be beneath the “Exhausting Minimal Weight”. This limits the utmost quantity of ballast that may be added to the machines.

c) At any time in the course of the occasion, the burden of the entire bike (together with the gas tank and its contents) should not be decrease than the minimal weight.

d) There isn’t any tolerance on the minimal weight of the bike or rider.

e) Throughout the technical inspection on the finish of any race, chosen bikes and riders will likely be weighed within the situation they completed the race, and the listed weight restrict have to be met on this situation. Nothing could also be added to the bike. This consists of all fluids.

f) Throughout observe and qualifying periods, riders could also be requested to current their bike to technical management for weighing. Failure to adjust to any a part of this ASBK Regulation will consequence within the matter being referred to ASBK Race Route for additional motion and penalties.

g) The usage of ballast is allowed to remain over the minimal weight restrict and could also be required as a result of this handicap system. The usage of ballast and weight handicap have to be declared to the ASBK Chief Technical Officer throughout Technical Inspection.


They’re the brand new guidelines, however taking a look at this desk of weights will go away a number of which have been across the paddock for a very long time scratching their heads…. Youngsters are actually racing bikes twice as heavy because the 125 GP bikes they’d have been beginning out on 20 years in the past, is that this progress?  I don’t assume so, however on this new all four-stroke world that is the route the game has headed across the globe so what different alternative do now we have…


SuperTwins

The introduction of the SuperTwins class within the 2023 ASBK season brings new bike fashions to Australian racetracks, together with the Yamaha YZF-R7, Aprilia RS660, Suzuki SV650, and Kawasaki Ninja 650.

Nonetheless, the RS660 could have a big benefit, so efficiency balancing measures could should be applied in the course of the season to stage the taking part in discipline.

Aprilia RS660

Or we may find yourself just like the 250 Manufacturing days the place primarily the entire discipline finally ends up on essentially the most aggressive mannequin of bike. That in itself might be not a foul approach to go, however this new class helps convey extra Kawasaki and Suzuki involvement again to ASBK, which is an effective factor and positively one of many elements behind this new class becoming a member of ASBK in 2023.

The beginning minimal weight for every mannequin has been set, with the Aprilia RS660 at 172kg, the Yamaha R7 at 165kg, the Kawasaki Ninja 650 at 165kg, and the Suzuki SV650 at 165kg.

Let’s hope this class will be saved reasonably priced and aggressive. Fingers crossed some racers that in any other case would haven’t raced at ASBK rounds be a part of the competitors through this fledgling new class.


Testing Ban Extension

The testing window earlier than rounds is greater this 12 months than in earlier seasons, with riders not allowed on racetracks inside 14 days of a race assembly getting underway at that very same circuit.


Let’s get this occasion began…

Now, with a few of that soiled laundry aired and behind us, let’s get right down to enterprise this week on the two-day Sydney Motorsport Park Official ASBK Check.


However who’s lacking…?

As we reported this morning, Daniel Falzon is sitting this 12 months out.

Anthony West has said that he won’t race ASBK this 12 months, and now we have the likes of 2010 champ Bryan Staring and triple Superbike champ Glenn Allerton nonetheless with out confirmed rides.

Wayne Maxwell has retired.

Jed Metcher is barely anticipated to compete at sure rounds.

Lachlan Epis goes to focus on the Asian Highway Racing Championships.

Sounds just like the timing is correct for some younger weapons to step in to the breech……


Sydney Motorsport Park Official ASBK Check
Official Schedule

Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW – Official ASBK Check – Official Schedule
Wednesday, February 1
12.00 13.00 Signal-On (All Lessons) Signal-On 60 minutes
12.00 13.00 Technical – Bike Security Checks Technical 60 minutes
13.00 13.20 Riders Briefing (ALL) Briefing 1 20 minutes
14.00 14.15 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 1 15 minutes
14.20 14.45 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 1 25 minutes
14.50 15.15 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 1 25 minutes
15.20 15.45 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 1 25 minutes
15.50 16.05 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 2 15 minutes
16.10 16.35 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 2 25 minutes
16.40 17.05 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 2 25 minutes
17.10 17.35 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 2 25 minutes
17.35 18.30 Dinner Break – ASBK Media 55 minutes
18.30 18.45 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 3 15 minutes
18.50 19.15 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 3 25 minutes
19.20 19.45 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 3 25 minutes
19.50 19.55 Lighting System – Security Verify   5 minutes
19.55 20.20 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 3 25 minutes
20.25 20.40 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 4 15 minutes
20.45 21.10 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 4 25 minutes
21.15 21.40 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 4 25 minutes
21.45 22.10 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 4 25 minutes
Thursday, February 2
8.30 8.45 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 1 15 minutes
8.50 9.15 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 1 25 minutes
9.20 9.45 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 1 25 minutes
9.50 10.15 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 1 25 minutes
10.20 10.35 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 2 15 minutes
10.40 11.05 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 2 25 minutes
11.10 11.35 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 2 25 minutes
11.40 12.05 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 2 25 minutes
12.05 12.35 Lunch 30 minutes
12.35 12.50 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 3 15 minutes
12.55 13.20 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 3 25 minutes
13.25 13.50 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 3 25 minutes
13.55 14.20 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 3 25 minutes
14.25 14.40 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Observe 4 15 minutes
14.45 15.10 Michelin Supersport (inc. SuperTwins) Observe 4 25 minutes
15.15 15.40 Dunlop Supersport 300 – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup Observe 4 25 minutes
15.45 16.10 Alpinestars Superbike Observe 4 25 minutes
16.10 17.00 All Groups & Riders to Exit the Circuit by 5pm Pitlane 50 minutes
All Instances Listed are Australian Jap Daylight-Saving Time (NSW native time)

2023 ASBK Calendar

2023 ASBK Calendar
Spherical Circuit Location Date
Check Sydney Motorsport Park NSW Feb 1-2
R1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit VIC Feb 24-26
R2 Sydney Motorsports Park NSW Mar 24-25
R3 Queensland Raceway QLD Apr 28-30
R4 Hidden Valley Raceway NT Jun 16-18
R5 Morgan Park Raceway QLD Jul 14-16
R6 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit VIC Oct 27-29
R7 The Bend Motorsport Park SA Dec 1 – 3

2023 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship offered by Motul (ASBK)

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