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World
Superbike / Supersport 2005 - Round Six - Misano - FG Sport Preview June 23rd, 2005 |
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World
Superbike / Supersport 2005 - Round Six - Misano - FG Sport Preview June 23rd, 2005 |
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As the halfway point of an
exciting 2005 World Superbike Championship approaches, at Misano
Adriatico this weekend, Suzuki is still leading the championship
chase, although Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha have all
recently shown that they are much closer to the fleet-of-foot
GSX-R1000. Last year at Misano Ducati took a double victory with
privateer Pierfrancesco Chili (now with Honda Klaffi) and
factory entrant Regis Laconi. At Round Five, at Silverstone in the UK, we saw a really impressive race weekend both in terms of the strength of the riders (who could push hard for 28 laps) and for the performance of the tyres, which kept their consistency over full race distance, allowing impressive lap times. The forthcoming Misano round represents an important juncture for Pirelli. The first step of 2005’s development activity appeared at Monza, where Pirelli used evolutionary tyres, based in information from their experiences at Valencia and the two extra-European races. At Monza, Pirelli got great results in terms of performance, as well as reliability and wear. The subsequent round (Silverstone) used an unexpected configuration of circuit, a shorter version than of late, which makes any comparison with last year’s times impossible. Nonetheless, the tyres performed well and, considering the final lap times, it was a pity not to be able to make references with the previous layout. In the meantime, after Silverstone, Pirelli has run some testing activity at Brno and Magny Cours. Being the official tyre supplier means that tyres have to be developed to provide top-level performance to all the participants, irrespective of their machinery. For this reason the development is done in conjunction with a team representing each manufacturer, in accordance with directives from the organizers. This means seven World Superbike teams and five World Supersport squads. Every positive result is then shared between every entrant. To face a new - or at least a not so well known racetrack - provides a big challenge, like the first round this year in Qatar demonstrated. A real challenge, but an exciting one nonetheless, Brno revealed to be very tough on tyres, especially fronts. Thus Pirelli is already developing some new specifications to face this difficult track in race conditions, especially with very hot temperatures expected in mid-July. The teams tested there with good results, in both SBK and Supersport classes, so we look forward to a great race weekend. At Misano Pirelli will offer a special solution to each rider, in addition to the regular three choices that are ever-present. The new solutions will be: - A new front tyre, with a harder carcass and a medium compound. - A rear tyre will be made in a 190/65 size, with two different carcasses and a multi- compound solution - to deal with the high temperatures built up on the left side during the long corners, from 'Carro’ to ‘Tramonto.’ This tyre will come in 3 solutions. - There will be also a new size. Pirelli will bring a 200/65 rear tyre to SBK for the first time, based on the one who won the Le Mans 24 Hour race with GMT94. Greater rear width means an increased contact surface on the shoulder and a less “sharp” profile. A bigger contact area theoretically absorbs the high power produced by a modern Superbike better than a narrower one, while increasing the compound’s resistance to wear. They also deliver potential set-up problems, as they can make the bike’s steering feel heavier, and they push the front tyres more under acceleration. Last year results: SBK Superpole - Steve Martin 1'36.823 Race 1 Winner - Chili PF Race 1 Best lap - Laconi Régis 1'38.339 Race 2 Winner - Laconi Race 2 Best lap - Chili Pierfrancesco 1'42.997 SSP Pole Position - Charpentier Sébastien 1'40.422 Race winner - Karl Muggeridge Race best time - Parkes Broc 1'47.789 |
World Superbike / Supersport 2005 - Round Six - Misano
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-- Click here for all the round one content from Losail --
-- Click here for all the round two content from Phillip Island --
-- Click here for all the round three content from Valencia --
-- Click here for all the round four from Monza --
-- Click here for all the round five content from Silverstone --
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