Cycle News

VOL. 52 ISSUE 7 FEBRUARY 18, 2015 P95 other incident that puts their main bike out of action. It can only be used after authorization from the FIM Technical Director. There's a 370 lb minimum weight limit for everybody, no weight changes for balancing rules, just the possibility of air intake restrictors for Ducati (EBR is too new to be counted in the balancing rules yet). T H E M A C H I N E S A P R I L I A Just when I thought they were out, they pull themselves back in. Red Devils Roma will run the only two Aprilias in the paddock, but there will be direct factory support for the technology and de- velopment. Direct, as in Aprilia personnel in charge of the tech and constant development. It is a new homologation model this year after all, the RSV-4 RF. The best World Superbike machine in the past few years with three riders' champion- ships in the past five attempts, the sharp Aprilia should have no weaknesses again, only strengths. And that's de- spite losing or sharing many of its race specific design advantages over the others–cassette gearbox, ride-by-wire, adjustable chassis and engine position, split throttles and more. Aprilia, like most World Superbike four cylinder manufacturers, claim a drop of 15 bhp in top engine power under new tuning rules. Self-made electronics, so expect a high perfor- mance version. B M W A revamped set of electronics aside, the BMW's main issues are having no genuine world-class competi- tors on it and no direct factory team behind it. BMW just supplies cus- tomer teams with parts, so they have no special path back to the factory. In full spec and Evo guises, the original BMW has been fully competitive, high rev- ving and fast. So it is hard to see how the big- bore—but more control- lable—BMW will be less competitive as a World Superbike machine now that the rules have taken the edge off everyone's top power. It should even have a degree of engine friendliness it lacked before. It doesn't have the SUPERSPORT CONTENDERS For a category that everybody says is dying out because of low levels of 600cc sportbike street sales, World Supersport still performs important functions in the World Superbike paddock. One of which is training up-and- coming riders such as new World Superbike inductee Michael van der Mark, who now rides a Pata Honda in World Superbike. Not forgetting that World Supersport offers up thrills and spills by the skip load, more often than not. This year, the biggest target must surely be Ke- nan Sofuoglu and his new Kawasaki Puccetti squad. The Ninja ZX-6R is still a top bike, and Sofuoglu is by no means alone in rid- ing one. Kawasaki Intermoto Express' Lukas Mahias and American PJ Jacob- sen are podium prospects, and Marco Faccani joins Sofuoglu as Stock 600 championship winner. Top Honda rider could well be Superstock find from 2014—Kyle Smith. Smith, who attempts to fill the shoes of both Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti, as Pata Honda fields only one rider in 2015. A lot of expectation on his shoulders, and he has a lot of rivals on CBRs as well. Four guys will run in the CIA Landlords Insur- ance PTR Honda squad, including Moto2 refugee Gino Rea and former AMA Daytona Sportbike Cham- pion Martin Cardenas. Sheridan Morais and PTR were set to race together, but he was suddenly replaced by Rea. Ratthapark Wilairot is a lone CORE Motorsports Thailand Honda runner. Roberto Rolfo may be another threat on his Lorini Honda, but if you are look- ing for potential champions to rival Sofuoglu, look to the force of nature that is Jules Cluzel and his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3. Mr. Jules won races in 2014, was the only credible challenge to van der Mark for long periods and is on the same bike as 2015, only a better version. He is joined by Lorenzo Zanetti, who was also a race winner in 2014, so this effort seems to get better every time out. American PJ Jacobsen returns to campaign for the World Supersport title.

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