BSB can learn from WSB – Simon Says in association with CIA Landlord Insurance

THE BSB Championship, led by ringmaster Stuart Higgs, could do a lot worse than learn from the positive changes taking place at WSB.

It would be good to see BSB working better with WSBK in the future because at the moment BSB seems to want to try and knock WSBK and Dorna down at every opportunity. Why? I do not know and as I said before, it is a great testament to BSB that its two very dominant Champions have both stepped up to the World stage. Luke Stapleford with us and Josh Brookes who has done it with his SMR team as well.

I hear BSB is going to the one lap Superpole format adapted by WSB in the old Flamini days. Maybe BSB is starting to look at some of the good things WSB does, even if this particular one is an idea that has been dropped. It is good TV but not great trackside viewing as it is hard for even the trained eye to see who is quickest. In some cases, the smoothest rider who does not seem the fastest actually is – like Jorge Lorenzo in MotoGP. It will be interesting to see how the trackside fans feel after a few rounds of one lap Superpole.

Having spoken with Luke Stapleford and his crew chief Tristan, I can see why Triumph dominates the BSS class. The rule of a 500 rpm limit (I believe) above standard is always going to favour a 675cc bike. There is no substitute for torque. Also, it favours the latest model.

I heard that some of the Triumph teams are using an engine per race. That is 12 or 13 engines. Come on BSB, learn from Dorna on this one. Restrict the engines you can use in a season. We are allowed six so I would suggest five would be good for BSS as they have less track time than us. Then you can forget the rev cap as it will be self-limiting due to the mileage teams will need to get from each engine to finish the season without penalty. You would then see a much more level Championship between the different marques. It would also be much more cost effective for all the teams. Mind you I do wonder if they are bothered about cost sometimes.

Recently we tested Shell V-Power Nitro pump fuel against Panta race fuel which is the control fuel in BSB. We found that if anything the Shell performed slightly better. The biggest difference is Shell V-Power is approx. £1.11. a litre against Panta BSB fuel at £3.60 I am told. Makes you think does it not…

The old Birdy story with his ban for two years in Rally driving has a bad knock on effect for BSB and all of us. Let’s hope title sponsor of PBM, Be Wiser, takes it all OK after its disappointment last year with Tommy Hill’s team folding during the season. Things like that always start rumours. If I were the BSB people, I would drug test at random, just to show everyone it is all clear. It goes on in other sports and we do not need it in motorcycle racing.

The start of the season is almost upon us. I can’t believe how the time has flown by since the last race in Qatar. That said, we have worked harder than ever to put the team where it belongs, fighting for the World Supersport Championship.

Normally you go into a new season more or less knowing how it will be if you are honest with yourself. This year however with the change in the rules mostly around electronics we are all not quite sure where we are at against the opposition.

I must say Stuart Millen, our senior technician, and the boys have done a great job for us. Despite the in-effect downgrading of electronics with kit ECU, we are in a position where we have lost nothing power wise as we have improved in other areas. So on the face of it we are in a good position.

We have all new riders and as I said before I believe we have by far the best line up since 2012 when we had Sam Lowes and Jules Cluzel in the team. Kyle won the last race so will be confident; and Luke is for sure going to be right there with him. Hikari could be the dark horse and young Stefan will be learning and improving rapidly throughout the year. I can’t wait for the lights to go out and then we will all know for sure in Phillip Island.

There have been other changes, most prominent of which has been the change in qualifying and the race schedule. From our side we are looking forward to the new qualifying format with Supersport also using the Superpole format with two fifteen minute sessions deciding the grid. It should be exciting stuff. The new rules will cut costs and I think Dorna have done a positive thing to take the Championship up another level.

On the Superbike side there is the one race on Saturday and one on Sunday which seems to have come in for some criticism, some of which has been hyped up by BSB’s Stuart Higgs. I agree with Paul Denning in that having two races close together leads to rushed repairs in case of problems, which can lead to safety issues and failure to finish, which can’t be good for the teams or fans. This way all the data can be studied and decisions made calmly to improve, which will give better racing for the fans.

I think the organisers are working to build a good support package programme around the World Championship Supersport and Superbike races to give the fans a great two days racing and a better Championship. I for one would like to see two Supersport races in the future. This has worked well in BSB – so credit to Stuart Higgs for that.

Well, the talking is nearly over so let’s get to Phillip Island and let the battle commence. I look forward to seeing as many British fans as possible in the new look race format at Donington.

Come on everyone, come and see a real title battle, not nine rounds of qualifying with a three round Championship at the end of it, BSB style, where it still has not gone to the wire for the last two seasons.

Cheers

Simon