OMFG - WTF are they thinking?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Nov/081121fr.htm

 

Well, the concept of this has been a given for a very long time, ever
since the initial DSB announcement. The class concept would appear to
arise out of the desire to include European bikes (a la MOTO-ST) and
Harleys. This desire can be summed up as follows, paraphrasing
Hannibal Lecter, "What do they do, these clowns you dispise? They
covet. And what do they covet? They covet what they see every day."
Well, not every day, but every bike week, and that's lots and lots of
Harleys, ridden by guys who never set foot inside the Speedway. Just
as Tom suggests.

So DMG selected a bike from each of those manufacturers, the one
closest to middleweight performance. That Harley/Buell ended up with
the only SB base machine probably should be viewed as fortuitous, for
them and DMG.

The original concept used the power-to-weight ratio to equalize the
field, but the Japanese OEMs objected to a power cap and weight
minimum that wouldn't reward basic advancements in their machines. So
DMG relented, and here we are. Now the rules call for a minimum weight
determined for each machine ("Minimum weight for each machine will be
established during the homologation process, and listed on the TIF"),
and we have no idea what those will be. But one assumes it will have
something to do with what the actual machines weigh with allowable
mods, probably equal for all the 600s and the 675, and possibly the
848 as well (even though it should have a weight penalty). The bigger
bikes will certainly be heavier, but who knows if it will be adequate
to equalize performance. The Buell is almost certainly the biggest
concern. To the unbiased race fan, that is.

So until we see those TIFs we have no idea what the bikes will weigh,
and how much DMG has tried to equalize the field. Realize that they
could well backdoor the power-to-weight thing yet. And of course no
one knows what to target as they build their bikes. Including Graves
Yamaha, who will be rolling out their R6 DSBs at Daytona in a couple
weeks. And remember that the TIF is the manipulation mechanism for
DMG, that's how they will manipulate performance in order to achieve
desired results. So a given minimum weight today may not be in effect
tomorrow.

Anyway, the current situation is part of the reason I'd kind of
conceded the previous structure, although grudgingly - I'm not sure
that the current rules won't result in even more problems. Of course
that pales in impact compared to the lastest stalemate with the
OEMs...

 

And the Aprilia RSV. The previous rules said the Tuono. Is this a
mis-print, because the last RSV is a well developed machine that is
pretty close to the 999 in performance. I'd discount the Buell because
it's really not finished at the moment. And the HP2 BMW and Superduke
probably aren't competitive, fun as they might be to watch.

And note that DSB and Supersport allow virtually no tuning. These are
going to be effectively race prepared stock bikes. This will further
handicap the Buell, HP2 and Superduke.

So we're (you're) left with the 600s and the Triumph, vs a couple of
RSVs and 898s.

 

wondering what the street v race power-to-weight with a ride is for
the various sub-classes (600/4 v 1200/2 v 848/2)
Sounds look a very cool format.

 

they're not sub-classes - it is all one class

Bruce