True Production Racing series

[gav]

I'm in for that..... but the wee guys will crumble unber the 40 odd kgs they would have to stap on.

Only 40kg you reckon?

[steveyb]

In Italy and france (?) they have a similar production junior class except they use the plentiful aprillia and cagiva 125 road bikes. Rossi statrted there (after mini-motos)

Yep, so do we.
We call it Streetstock (150).
The Aprilia and Cagiva are eligible to be ridden in that class.

James Dean (our one, not the other one, although both taken WAAAAAY TOO young), used to race an Aprilia.
Unfortunately they are seen as being too dear to get into.
But I see a couple of '06 Aprilias on TradeMe for about $8k.
Bit of a diff from $2-3k for an old RG or KR though isn't it?

The Brits call theirs SuperTeen Cup and it is simply the Dogs Danglies for youth racing.

Moto Academy NZ was going to go that route until we did the numbers re price of bikes. If someone out there wants to sponsor or buy Moto Academy NZ 10-12 Aprilia RS125s or Cagiva Mito 595s then by all means let me know!!!!

Enjoy.

Steve

[puddytat]

Only 40kg you reckon?

'Bout 120 pies Id guess

[oyster]

Dear MotoAcademy NZ. Your ideas and observations are right on it.
Now, please please have a go at it.
No, Streetstock is NOT a junior race class under MNZ rules. It is open to all riders on a "free for all" basis. These overseas classes are restricted to young riders, and usually have good mentoring and support. A BIG difference.

In NZ we have the Sportzfotoz Junior Cup. This for under 17's and excludes riders with "more senior experience" (eg 125GP, F3, Pro twin experience)
Now in its fourth year it has yeilded the huge dept of youth talent and experience emerging from the South Island. It is the perfect development prerequisite to 125GP / Pro Twin. It definitely works, is aligned with similar successful programmes overseas, so why not use it universally throughout NZ?
And regarding bikes, there is NOTHING WRONG with RG 150's. They are just as capable as the ideal trainer for youngsters as any other megadollar brand/model.

[svr]

Im glad you clarified with your last sentence as tall poppy syndrome is one of the least appealing of kiwi character flaws. I dont have a problem with anyone having lots of money and using it, providing they grafted hard for it and have carried people along with them. What I do have a problem with is the dumbing down mentality ( rather than aspiration and a hard work ethic ) that has crept into our society at large.
Bear in mind that it will still be those with the most committment winning anyway.

Yeah, those 17-18yr old aspiring racers just need to `graft' harder. What is minimum wage Robert?
The good thing about proddie racing is that, no matter how many investment properties your Dad has, or who you know, getting on a bike that can win is achievable and if you're the best rider you will probably win.
Kinda the way any sport should be here in NZ.

[scracha]

We'll weight the heaviest person in the class...and everyone else gets to wear weight belts of lead balast to make them the same weight...and then we'll Race...I'm up in that case!!

Lets put the shorter riders on cushions and platformed shoes too. I mean, it's hardly fair that the tall people have to compensate for extra drag.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Yeah, those 17-18yr old aspiring racers just need to `graft' harder. What is minimum wage Robert?
The good thing about proddie racing is that, no matter how many investment properties your Dad has, or who you know, getting on a bike that can win is achievable and if you're the best rider you will probably win.
Kinda the way any sport should be here in NZ.

$12ph min wage.. You can race on that budget if you work hard... DAMHIK

[CHET]

Hey Shaun this all sounds pretty cool ive got a couple of questions for ya.
will you be running these in the vmcc winter series and if so will it be less to enter? I reckon if you ran it here you could have a prize for the winner of a partially paid (or full) in the same class im sure this would be a good incentive to get more riders on board.
P.S. I think this is a great idea and hope you have the success you deserve with this idea.

[cowpoos]

I'm in for that..... but the wee guys will crumble unber the 40 odd kgs they would have to stap on.

They are the ones predomently for the production type suspension...I think they will whigge more about the fact thier bikes will handle like pieces of shit...and especially can't brake as hard...

[vtec]

Why would people whinge if everybody's in the same boat. I love racing 1990 CBR250's with stock suspension. I'm happy as long as it's all fair.

[Cleve]

Why would people whinge if everybody's in the same boat. I love racing 1990 CBR250's with stock suspension. I'm happy as long as it's all fair.

and that's fine if we are talking about a CBR250 class, but we we are not... are we? We are talking 600/675's right? Same weight but DOUBLE (triple?!) the power?

I approve of ideas and go get 'em attitudes (although so far we have had only talk from Shaun ... show me the money!! then I will be 100% in praise) however I still fail to get why all the anti aftermarket suspension talk from people. It makes you a better/faster racer and if you are going to do more than, say 10 races on a 600, (wild guess here) you will SAVE money. What's the issue?!

[sidecar bob]

why all the anti aftermarket suspension talk from people. It makes you a better/faster racer

Its not anti aftermarket SUSPENSION, its anti aftermarket ANYTHING, production class equals production class.
Senior Production in the '80s produced some mega talented racers on standard suspension, including Brian Bernard, Andrew Stroud & Shaun Harris. The manufacturers & importers got right behind it.
Like i said in an earlier post, why stop at suspension? If we had Kevin from Kelford Cams on this forum pedaling his wares would that mean the bikes should have hot cams too? That would make the them go faster & make people into better/faster racers apparently.
Kelfords product made our sidecar go a damn site faster than any suspension upgrade ever will.
The point is, where do you stop with a low budget entry class?

[vtec]

and that's fine if we are talking about a CBR250 class, but we we are not... are we? We are talking 600/675's right? Same weight but DOUBLE (triple?!) the power?

I approve of ideas and go get 'em attitudes (although so far we have had only talk from Shaun ... show me the money!! then I will be 100% in praise) however I still fail to get why all the anti aftermarket suspension talk from people. It makes you a better/faster racer and if you are going to do more than, say 10 races on a 600, (wild guess here) you will SAVE money. What's the issue?!

The stock suspension on these newer 600's/675's are far superior to the 18 year old suspension on the CBR250RR's. The engineers at the big four japanese motorcycle do actually engineer their bikes to be ridden to the limit. I don't think that suspension mods makes someone a better racer. But it can help drop laptimes, still if everyone is in the same boat you'll have fair racing.

The K5 GSXR600 I raced last year had stock standard front forks, that I hadn't even checked the settings on, and I was top 5 with the VMCC and I only rode that bike 3 times. And the K5 600 that me and sketchy will be racing in the 3 hour endurance race has standard suspension all round, I'm sure we'll be reasonably competitive too.

Fair racing is fun racing, and provides a true proving ground for rising talent.

Also just wondering how you will save money by spending $2000 (conservative est.) on suspension modifications on a bike that will only be competitive for a season or two.

[brads]

The stock suspension on these newer 600's/675's are far superior to the 18 year old suspension on the CBR250RR's. The engineers at the big four japanese motorcycle do actually engineer their bikes to be ridden to the limit. I don't think that suspension mods makes someone a better racer. But it can help drop laptimes, still if everyone is in the same boat you'll have fair racing.

The K5 GSXR600 I raced last year had stock standard front forks, that I hadn't even checked the settings on, and I was top 5 with the VMCC and I only rode that bike 3 times. And the K5 600 that me and sketchy will be racing in the 3 hour endurance race has standard suspension all round, I'm sure we'll be reasonably competitive too.

Fair racing is fun racing, and provides a true proving ground for rising talent.

Also just wondering how you will save money by spending $2000 (conservative est.) on suspension modifications on a bike that will only be competitive for a season or two.

Far superior?? id hope its more than that!!!


Isnt dropping your laps times what most racers aim for?? so by bolting the lastest mods in,you then drop your times there for becoming a better racer?correct?


Its because thats what we all know and love about racing.
Untill we get a TRUE and successful production class thats the way it will continue.All the best Shaun

[ziepfenj]

I really hate to butt in, and I am sorry if I missed this (skipped to the last few pages), but i feel the main reason I enjoy aftermarket suspension is the predictability it brings. Consistent responses when pushing the suspension is what I look for, so I know what the bike is going to do, which in turn goes to safety. I mean, isn't this similar (not identical) to ss brake lines? You don't want your brakes to react completely different in the same turn on different laps, which means you are looking for consistency.