Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"We think there is potential left in this architecture, this base architectural design that was homologated in 1994, and that's what the primary focus will be is to identify that and realize that potential so we can get the results we're looking for," Baker said. The test team takes over most of the development work previously done by Gemini Racing Technologies. Gemini isn't well known outside the racing industry, but it is the public face of the Harley race team. The company was formed early in the life of the Superbike racing effort as a way of keeping costs down. The Harley race shop is a union shop and works by union rules, which means eighthour days and overtime for nights and weekends. The costs were exorbitant, so a separate company was formed, a company which could not be incorporated within the same county as the factory. That company is Gemini. At the racetrack last year, all but two of the raceteam personnel worked for Gemini. Gemini performed race team operations and development, all under the guidance of former racing boss Steve Scheibe, the father of the VRI000 project. Scheibe resigned on January 2 and said at Laguna Seca that he was pursuing other projects. The same might be said for Gemini, who will no longer be doing the bulk of the development work. "There are two significant shifts in the R&D and development of the bike, which Gemini used to do as well," Baker said. "The responsibility has been pulled internal to Harley-Davidson to our new Superbike development team made of the top people from the engineering departments at Harley-Davidson and Buell engineering. "Engine assembly, which Gemini does, Cosworth [Racing) is now going to do the engine assembly by the end of the season," Baker said, adding he expected the work to be done at the Cosworth facility in Torrance, California. At this point, the relationship with Gemini appears to have some of the hallmarks of a shotgun wedding, but Baker insists that Gemini is "very supportive of those changes. They'll still continue to do some level of development for us as well as perform race-team operations." Baker knows they can't succeed unless everyone works together to improve the VR 1000. According to Baker, H-D has traditionally signed Gemini to a one-year contract, though he expects them to have a long-term relationship. "Performance is our top priority moving forward," he said. "I think that's fairly evident in the results of 2000. We think moving forward the right solution is a dedicated effort of highly talented engineers and the right technical partnerships. In addition to establishing the Superbike development effort, we strengthened our technical partnerships with Cosworth Racing and Ford Racing, both raceindustry veterans. We absolutely think a key to moving the program forward is establishing a yearround, dedicated effort to improving performance on the bike." Baker said that Harley had worked with Ford and Cosworth in the past "and we're going to continue those relationships. It's focused mainly on the technical aspects of power-train development." Ford stepped in as a sponsor in 1998, but it wasn't until 2000 that they were involved in the racing effort. "They've done some engineering tasks for us throughout the past year," Baker said of Ford, "and I can't really speak prior to that how integrated they were from a technical perspective." Engine testing has been ongoing with existing facilities and increased dynamometer capacity will be in place by early March, Baker said. of the testing will be focused on improving performance of the current powertrain. "My take on last year was the bike demonstrated reliability, which I think is obviously a key ingredient to moving forward. The output of last year demonstrated the robustness of the base platform and what's been developed over the years." Baker maintains that there's more to be had from the VRI000, but won't say why. "We think there is potential left in this architecture, this base architectural design that was homologated in 1994 and that's what the primary focus will be, to identify that and realize that potential so we can get Pascal Picotte aboard the VR. In the second of his the results we're looking for. I won't necesfour-yesr contnct with Hsrtey, a few Inspired rides sarily talk about the specific internal initiatives that we and an t t th-place finish In ..st yesr's points have where we think opportunity is, but, as you know, stsndlngs are all thst the ulentecl French c.n.disn the fundamentals of weight reduction, increasing rpm, has to show for the reilltionship thus "r. all the above, handling dynamics, each area is getting "Chassis evaluation has been ongoing, but the first the focus of attention from this engineering group in on-track test session with the new development order to improve that. Out of that is where we get the group will occur mid-February [at Carolina Motorsense that there's potential." One of the constant frustrations voiced by former sports Park]. " racing boss Scheibe was that the team had to both By the end of the month, the engineering team will race and develop the VR 1000 on race weekends, with be in their new facility. only limited outside testing. All of the other AMA The upcoming campaign will be a rebuilding year, teams, with the exception, this year, of Yamaha, have Baker says, and he won't make any predictions about counterparts at the World Superbike level to help with results. the development cycle. Being on its own means that "We're always concerned about results and interHarley-Davidson must gather and collate all their own ested in results, but our primary focus moving fordata, and develop and test new parts, all while trying ward this year is to establish the year-round developto win races. The test team changes all that, but at a ment effort so we can improve that performance of cost. the bike and once we improve that performance of "From a budget standpoint, total race organization, the bike, we're certainly going to have the results that we're looking at about anywhere from a 35 to a 50we're looking for." percent increase over the previous year's budgets, so He will, however, say where the program needs to go. it's another sign of the commitment to move this pro"I think moving forward, our top priority is to gram forward," Baker said. increase the performance of the bike," he said. The bigger question might be why? Or, rather, why "Whether that be through weight reduction or powernow? Who knew that the high mark of the program train improvements, all of the above. We think the would be Thomas Wilson's ninth-place finish in the solution that we're implementing, where we're 1996 championship? Since then, the best they've strengthening the engineering capabilities, applying done is Picotte's 11th this year, a mark Chris Carr the resources to enable the right testing, the iteration tied in 1997. Baker's answer has to do with Harley's that's required to move the bike forward, that will place in racing history. move us forward to the levels that we want to get to." "Harley has been in racing pretty much since day What the riders will tell you they need is more one," he said. "We're considered act~ally one of the power and to that end the team showed up for the founders of the sport, heavily involved in it. Superbike Laguna Seca test with a lighter crankshaft. Picotte racing in our home market is no different. This is a was able to lap the Monterey circuit over a second very important initiative to Harley-Davidson and faster than he ever had. Harley will stay committed and focused to become a "I think it's a combination of key variables: Baker leader in this series." said. "You're going to have handling and dynamics, Baker said the decision came at the end of last seawhich is going to relate to weight reduction or weight son to bolster the backing and it came from "underplacement on the bike. That'll be a focus, so both of standing what the potential of this series has to offer those. The mass distribution associated with the weight as well as Harley-Davidson's racing heritage and how placement. The other perspective is clearly the powerimportant the racing is. Which road are we going to train performance. Both of those are top priority from take? What level of commitment are we going to our perspective, so you can demonstrate to move this forward? And that's how it expect a large amount of basically wrapped up to looking forward and making the resources, a the changes we're making here. large amount "From an exposure standpoint and a passion ~I---------'" standpoint, our customers are passionate about it, our employees are passionate about it. We think the general public's passionate about it. Being a major manufacturer in the United States, this being a major venue, a top venue for motorcycle races, we believe it's a natural fit for the company." eN Sort of new guy: Replacing brother-In-law Scott Ru. .ell st Hartey for 200 t, fonner fsctory Kawasaki and Ducat! rider Mike smith has already had expertence with the ..ctory VA, subbing for Rus. .11 st Phoenix after RUlISell's well-elocumentecl Daytona bar fight. cue I • n e _ S • FEBRUARY 14, 2001 27

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