Öhlins electronic suspension comes to WSBK Yamahas

[Cajun]

In a development that could possibly be significant for future Yamaha street bikes, Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser will run full electronic suspension on their R1s, during the Donington Park round of the World Superbike Championship this weekend.

Haga and Corser will run Öhlins electronic suspension units, with electronic damping control. These units have already been tested earlier at Vallelunga, where they are said to have performed very well. However, Donington Park is the first time this suspension will be used in an actual race.

‘We are expecting that we can do better with this suspension than the conventional set-up. It should assist Troy in particular, as he tested this system at Vallelunga and he was very happy with it. It should be good at some braking points at Donington, where we should really find an improvement with this type of system. We will run one bike for each rider on normal suspension and one with the new electronic system,’ says Yamaha Motor Italia team manager Massimo Meregalli.

‘Right now I am looking to Donington to get my first win for Yamaha – that's my aim this weekend. We will be using Öhlins electronic suspension and I think it will be most useful for bump absorption,’ says Corser.

Now we hope Corser and Haga do really well with the new electronic suspension, and that the team continues to use the super-trick Öhlins units for future races as well. And that’s because then this electronic suspension – or at least something that’s based on it – could possibly find its way to the road-going Yamaha R1s that we can buy. Öhlins electronic suspension on the 2010 Yamaha R1 SP?

Taken from http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2008/...-comes-to.html

Interesting electronic suspension, i remember reading something while ago from robert i think about this, it finally coming to a race track.

[Maido]

I wonder if this is used in conjunction with GPS or if it is like the early traction control where the rider had to select modes by a switch on the bars?
I imagine that this will be quite revolutionary it it works.

[slimjim]

huummm wonder if kit for upgrade

[Robert Taylor]

I wonder if this is used in conjunction with GPS or if it is like the early traction control where the rider had to select modes by a switch on the bars?
I imagine that this will be quite revolutionary it it works.

I would expect that there will be teething problems and if they get it right on its debut I will be very surprised. But the potential is enormous for improved brake dive control, bump absorption and sidegrip etc etc. As you lean over further and further the suspension effectively becomes stiffer and stiffer, the deflecting influences are still ''upright'' but the suspension is more and more obtuse to it. A lean angle sensor feeds the bank angle to the computer which then instructs a stepper motor to soften the suspension. That equals more sidegrip. It will also liberate tyre design further.
With bumps it calculates shock shaft speed early in its travel and adjusts accordingly. As this is something that will eventually make it to production I dont expect it will be GPS based as you would need data on every racetrack ( and road ) on the planet!
When it makes it to production ( very much do not hold your breath, this has not even made it to MotoGp yet ) it will be a self regulating system. The price will also have to be affordable which in this day and age of consumer electronics is attainable.
So the future is very exciting, pity that there is a personality within MNZ on a personal, ill concieved and poorly researched crusade to ban aftermarket suspension in at least one of the premier classes. Given the issues that modern production race bikes place on their suspension and tyres there can be no going back to the past. Im all for progress.

[JJ58]

It's about time that these showed up on bikes... Our four wheeled friends have been using these for some time...... I'm excited, race bikes are about to get a WHOLE lot faster :-)

[Shaun]

As Mr Ohlin's NZ said?

13. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:48.483
23. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:50.930, crashed twice



Guess they will get there though, given more time

[Wingnut]

As Mr Ohlin's NZ said?

13. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:48.483
23. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:50.930, crashed twice



Guess they will get there though, given more time

What times were the other front runners doing in comparison?

[Shaun]

What times were the other front runners doing in comparison?

CO www.crash.net


Comment on this Story
1. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 44.377 secs
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 44.528 secs
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 1min 44.627 secs
4. Tom Sykes GBR Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 44.682 secs
5. Leon Haslam GBR HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 1min 44.813 secs
6. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 45.384 secs
7. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 45.725 secs
8. Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 45.936 secs
9. Gregorio Lavilla SPA Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.044 secs
10. James Ellison GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.392 secs
11. Chris Walker GBR Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.553 secs
12. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 46.803 secs
13. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.912 secs
14. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo's 1098 RS08 1min 46.924 secs
15. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 47.114 secs

16. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 47.344 secs
17. David Checa ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 47.624 secs
18. Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing CBR1000RR 1min 47.778 secs
19. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 47.834 secs
20. Roberto Rolfo ITA Hannspree Honda Althea CBR1000RR 1min 48.031 secs
21. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 48.092 secs
22. Ayrton Badovini ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 48.463 secs
23. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 48.724 secs
24. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 48.841 secs
25. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA RG Racing 1098 RS08 1min 48.915 secs
26. Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 50.349 secs
27. Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha YZF-R1 1min 50.454 secs
28. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 51.703 secs
29. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 52.710 secs
30. Christian Zaiser AUT Grillini PBR Team YZF-R1 1min 53.923 secs
31. Luca Morelli ITA D.F. Racing CBR1000RR 1min 54.032 secs
32. Matt Lynn USA Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 54.910 secs
33. Shuhei Aoyama JPN Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 56.132 secs

ONLY 2.5 SECONDS of the pase

Not bad I guess

[Robert Taylor]

CO www.crash.net


Comment on this Story
1. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 44.377 secs
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 44.528 secs
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 1min 44.627 secs
4. Tom Sykes GBR Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 44.682 secs
5. Leon Haslam GBR HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 1min 44.813 secs
6. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 45.384 secs
7. Ruben Xaus SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 45.725 secs
8. Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 45.936 secs
9. Gregorio Lavilla SPA Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.044 secs
10. James Ellison GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.392 secs
11. Chris Walker GBR Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.553 secs
12. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 46.803 secs
13. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.912 secs
14. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo's 1098 RS08 1min 46.924 secs
15. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 47.114 secs

16. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 47.344 secs
17. David Checa ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 47.624 secs
18. Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing CBR1000RR 1min 47.778 secs
19. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 47.834 secs
20. Roberto Rolfo ITA Hannspree Honda Althea CBR1000RR 1min 48.031 secs
21. Regis Laconi ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 48.092 secs
22. Ayrton Badovini ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 48.463 secs
23. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 48.724 secs
24. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 48.841 secs
25. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA RG Racing 1098 RS08 1min 48.915 secs
26. Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 50.349 secs
27. Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha YZF-R1 1min 50.454 secs
28. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 51.703 secs
29. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 52.710 secs
30. Christian Zaiser AUT Grillini PBR Team YZF-R1 1min 53.923 secs
31. Luca Morelli ITA D.F. Racing CBR1000RR 1min 54.032 secs
32. Matt Lynn USA Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 54.910 secs
33. Shuhei Aoyama JPN Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR 1min 56.132 secs

ONLY 2.5 SECONDS of the pase

Not bad I guess

Well, if nothing else the current times certainly give a strong indication of the very real strength of British Superbike, given the riders in the front group.
New technology quite often has a baptism of fire especially when there are those ready to sieze on any initial shortcomings. I applaud what Ohlins are doing and have every confidence they will chip away and end up with a system and technology that will become an absolute neccessity to be competitive.
You dont go forward by standing still with existing technology, if you have to initially go a couple of steps back to end up going more steps forward then you do it. European companies such as Ohlins and WP are at the forefront of motorcycle shock absorber technology, Ohlins leading MotoGP and WSBK, WP leading 600 Supersport. Add to that works level Showa from Japan, but such equipment is not available to everyday buyers.

[Robert Taylor]

Well, if nothing else the current times certainly give a strong indication of the very real strength of British Superbike, given the riders in the front group.
New technology quite often has a baptism of fire especially when there are those ready to sieze on any initial shortcomings. I applaud what Ohlins are doing and have every confidence they will chip away and end up with a system and technology that will become an absolute neccessity to be competitive.
You dont go forward by standing still with existing technology, if you have to initially go a couple of steps back to end up going more steps forward then you do it. European companies such as Ohlins and WP are at the forefront of motorcycle shock absorber technology, Ohlins leading MotoGP and WSBK, WP leading 600 Supersport. Add to that works level Showa from Japan, but such equipment is not available to everyday buyers.

Actually, in all fairness I initially omitted to mention another technological player that is not so evident on the European road race season, Penske. They are especially a big player in indycar and Nascar etc where they are always in pitch battle with Ohlins. They too have their own clever ideas. My salient point remains the same, if you are not prepared to push forward with new technology you stagnate and go backwards.

[lostinflyz]

wasn't it raining during both practice sessions. And my understanding is donnington is a bit of a dog in the wet. so we shouldnt be too quick to think there pace is an indication of the possibilities or shortcomings.

And i agree with Mr. Taylor - good on ohlins and the yammy boys for giving it a shot. If it wasn't race ready - or pretty close i couldn't see a factory yamaha bolting it up and loooking slow. But maybe its a prep for next year.

[avgas]

wow i wonder if they will even need the riders anymore. I can think of some sexy girls who cant ride but look good on bikes. lets give them a go i say

[roogazza]

Anyone got any hot news on the Ohlins stuff used at Donington over the weekend ? Was it a success ?
Haga seems pissed , Corser crashed a few times and then got a 3rd in the second leg , but it was wet , so no surprise there.
A couple of local hot shoes showed their knowledge and Kio the Ten Kate rider won the second while looking for a place to jump off the whole time, Brave man ! Gaz.

[Cajun]

not seen anything maybe on yamaha wsbk site might have a write up from the rider/team about the weekend

[slimjim]

yes update please ....