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World Superbike Championship

  • Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki has won the 2019 WorldSBK title – their fifth in a row.

  • Rea won Race Two at Magny-Cours while Alvaro Bautista crashed out again.

  • Rea is now the rider who has won the most WorldSBK titles.

Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki has won the 2019 WorldSBK title – their fifth in a row.

Rea won Race Two at Magny-Cours, France, enabling him to pull clear of closest challenger Alvaro Bautista on the Ducati V4 R. Rea had entered Race Two with a 100-point lead over Bautista and needed a victory and a hope that the latter does not score to put the title chase beyond contention.

Somehow and true enough, Bautista crashed after tangling with Toprak Razgatlioglu. Toprak had overtaken Bautista but the rear tyre of his bike lost traction and slowed, causing the Spaniard to ram his bike. Both riders went down and out of the race.

But it wasn’t an easy win for Rea as he had to battle Michael van der Mark for the win. Rea fought hard and his determination netted him the win that he needed.

It was his 12th win of the 2019 season. But winning the title fives times in a row set the record as the first rider to do so, besides being the first rider to win the title five times. Carl Fogarty held the previous record of four titles, albeit separated by a seasons in between.

The victory will also become one of the most famous comebacks in racing history. Bautista had destroyed the entire field with 11 consecutive wins when the season began and held a 64-point lead.

But Rea kept up with a metronome-like consistency, finishing second in ten of those races and another in third behind Bautista. Then Rea fought back to post wins in Imola and Jerez. Bautista crashed in Race 2 at Jerez and that was when everything started to unravel.

The Spanish would eventually crash six times in total, first blaming the bike but went quiet about what was actually the problem. Then he inked a deal with Honda, and is now embroiled in a war of words with Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali.

Rea kept up the pressure by winning races and finishing on the podium when he couldn’t, and look at where he is now.

Makes for a great movie, don’t you think?

  • Jentera Ducati Panigale V4 R akan dikurangkan sebanyak 250 RPM dalam kejohanan WorldSBK 2019.
  • Honda CBR1000RR pula akan mendapat tambahan 500 RPM.
  • Ducati dan Kawasaki juga tidak dibenarkan untuk melakukan penambahbaikan enjin pada jentera mereka.

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  • The Ducati Panigale V4 R will lose 250 RPM in WorldSBK 2019.

  • While the Honda CBR1000RR will gain 500 RPM.

  • Ducati and Kawasaki are also not allowed to bring engine upgrades to their bikes.

It’s bound to happen as per Dorna and FIM’s rules. The Ducati Panigale V4 R is set to lose 250 RPM off its peak from the next round in Assen.

The decision was made after Alvaro Bautista won the first six races and three Superpoles of the season on the Panigale V4 R. Besides docking its peak RPM (to reduce peak horsepower), Ducati will also lose their concession to bring further engine upgrades for the rest of the year. Consequently, Bautista and teammate Chaz Davies, as well as Eugene Laverty will have to compete on a bike with the same specs as it started the season.

A reduction of 250 RPM will not make a difference to Bautista. In fact, his Aruba.it Ducati team had tested a bike with 250 RPM less in Aragon earlier.

On the other hand, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR will not have its revs cut but they are also not allowed the concession to upgrade their engine, since the gap between Ducati and Kawasaki are only 7 points (below the 9-point threshold).

Other manufacturers are allowed concessions, including BMW and Yamaha (who are racing), as well as Aprilia, Suzuki and MV Agusta (who are not racing).

As for Honda, the CBR1000RR will receive a 500 RPM upgrade. The increase will take effect over two rounds i.e. 250 RPM at Assen and another 250 RPM at Imola, Italy.

Such “revisions” is not new. Kawasaki had their ZX-10RR’s rev limit cut last year after Jonathan Rea’s dominance. The idea is to keep the field competitive for close-in racing.

You can view the FIM ruling here.

The rev limits for different manufacturers are in the table below (Credit: WorldSBK/FIM).

Bautista – Sumber imej: bola.net
  • Alvaro Bautista dan Ducati telah meneruskan dominasi mereka dengan memenangi ketiga-tiga perlumbaan pada hujung minggu ini di Litar Buriram di Thailand.
  • Ini menjadikannya enam kemenangan dari enam buah perlumbaan setakat ini.
  • Juara bertahan, Jonathan Rea merupakan saingan paling sengit Bautista namun tidak mampu mengatasinya.

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  • Alvaro Bautista and Ducati continued on their dream weekend streak by winning all three races at the Buriram Circuit in Thailand.

  • That makes it six wins out six races, thus far.

  • Defending champion Jonathan Rea put up a fight for the win but was bested by Bautista.

Alvaro Bautista rode his Ducati Panigale V4 R to maximum points after six 2019 Motul FIM WorldSBK races, after winning all three at the Buriram Circuit in Thailand.

Race 1

Bautista being chased by Rea

Defending champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) overtook Bautista into Turn 1. Bautista made up for the disadvantage on Lap 3 in Turn 3, but Rea cut back inside, and the pair collided. Bautista managed to control his bike, but it allowed Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) to slip past.

The Spaniard repassed Lowes on Lap 4 and went after Rea. Bautista caught Rea and passed him with 12 laps to go, and made it stick. He romped away from his challenger to finish 8.2 seconds ahead.

  1. Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Ducati Racing)
  2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
  3. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team)
  4. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team)
  5. Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)

Tissot Superpole Race

Jonathan Rea – Credit asphaltandrubber

Rea took the holeshot this time but was passed by Bautista. The latter ran wide into Turn 3 was re-overtaken by Rea. But the Ducati rider fought back and retook the lead in Turn 4 and started pulling away.

Meanwhile, Alex Lowes started pressuring Rea. However, Rea made a massive effort to lose Lowes and slashed Bautista’s lead down under half-a-second. His determination also netted him the fastest lap.

Unfortunately, the red flag was shown just as the race was starting to heat up. Again, it was Turn 3 which provided the drama. Leon Camier (Moriwaki Althea Honda Racing) and Thitipong Warokon (Kawasaki Thailand Racing Team) collided in the hairpin. Warokon was sent to the medical centre and the hospital afterwards.

Bautista was pronounced the winner, followed by Rea with Lowes just behind.

  1. Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Ducati Racing)
  2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
  3. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team)
  4. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team)
  5. Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)

Race 2

Alex Lowes – Photo credit alexlowes22

Bautista didn’t want to hang around and scrap it out this time. So, he took off from the start and led all the way to the finish, leaving Rea to fight it out with Alex Lowes.

Bautista romped home to finish 10 seconds ahead of Rea and Lowes. His accomplishments equaled Neil Hodgson’s record of winning the first six races of the season in 2013.

Lowes’ teammate van der Mark held off Haslam’s intentions for a finishing order identical to Race 1 and Superpole.

  1. Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Ducati Racing)
  2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
  3. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team)
  4. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team)
  5. Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)

  • Motosikal Foggy-Petronas FP1 merupakan motosikal superbike buatan Malaysia.
  • Dibina untuk perlumbaan WSBK bermula tahun 2003, homologasi jentera ini menyebabkan terhasilnya 150 buah unit.
  • Petronas dan Momoto terlibat dalam kes guaman dan membantutkan pengimportan.

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  • Malaysia had our own superbike called the Foggy-Petronas FP1.

  • Built for WSBK racing from 2003, homologation called for 150 units.

  • Petronas and Momoto got into a legal case and importation stalled.

Did you know Malaysia did have our own superbike? Yes, we had the Foggy-Petronas FP1.

Background of the Foggy-Petronas FP1

Produced between January to July 2003, it was a homologation model for World Superbike Racing. Petronas and Sauber Petronas Engineering originally developed the Petronas 989cc GP1 prototype for MotoGP racing. However, the decided that they should try in Superbike racing first. The Suber Petronas F1 venture shot Petronas into international fame.

The FIM capped at 750cc for four cylinders, 900cc for triple, 1000cc for twins, however. In order to comply, the FP1’s engine capacity became 899.5cc. Petronas needed to produce 150 road-legal bikes for FIM Superbike homologation. The 899.5cc inline-Triple produced 127.4 bhp @ 10,000 RPM and 92.0 Nm @ 9,700 RPM. (The 300 PM space between max torque and max horsepower makes the engine peaky.) The FP1 is reputed to weigh only 181kg, giving the bike a good power-to-weight ratio, on the other hand.

Check out how it sounds like in Malaysia (possibly at Naza).

MSX International built the first 75 units in the UK by January 2003. They passed homologation inspection to contest in that year’s WSBK championship. Modenas needed to assemble the last 75 units by July 2003. Plans called for 100 for the public and 50 for racing.

World Superbike Racing

The Malaysian petroleum giant then secured the services of four-time WSBK Champion Carl “Foggy” Fogarty to run the team and the bike became better known as Foggy-Petronas FP1. The riders were WSBK Champion Troy Corser and James Haydon.

Unfortunately, the FIM shafted the entire FP1 racing concern. Suddenly, a new rule allowed ALL engine formats up to 1000cc. Sadly, everyone else outgunned the FP1, as a result.

In 2004, the FIM required that all bikes use Pirelli control tyres. In retaliation, the Japanese factory teams pulled out, leaving the Ducatis to run amok during the season. However, that allowed Corser to finish 2nd in San Marino. New signing Chris Walker finished 3rd at the Valencia season opener.

Momoto sues Petronas

In 2010, Motor Cycle New (MCN) discovered 60 FP1s in storage at Basildon, Essex. They were part of the first 75-unit batch to be shipped to Malaysia.

Malaysian motorcycle distributor bought them plus another 69 derelict ones and rebranded them as the Momoto MM1 in 2012. Unbeknownst to Momoto, Petronas had not paid for the approved permits (AP), customs and excise duties, which led to the Malaysian government seizing all 129 bikes.

Momoto sued Petronas for USD 83 million in 2013. The bikes ended up being forgotten.

Enter Lazante Motorsports

Fortunately, there seems to light on the horizon as the British race car restoration firm, Lazante Motorsports has acquired the bikes and will refurbish them to the original Petronas-green colour. It’s got the older-style four-piston Brembo brake calipers and Öhlins forks.

How will Petronas and Momoto react? We don’t know, but we do know that the intriguing Foggy-Petronas FP1 will be available at USD 32,000.

  • Model Ducati Panigale V4 RS19 2019 telah diperkenalkan secara rasmi di EICMA 2019.
  • Sebelum ini ia telah membuat kemunculan sewaktu pusingan WorldSBK di England.
  • Model Panigale V4 RS19 adalah jentera khusus untuk perlumbaan dan tidak disediakan untuk orang awam.

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  • The 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 RS19 was formally introduced at EICMA 2018.

  • It made an appearance earlier during the British round of WorldSBK.

  • The Panigale V4 RS19 is a race-only bike and not available to the buying public.

The 217-bhp Ducati Panigale V4 R not fast enough? How about this Ducati Panigale V4 RS19, then?

2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R Debuts at World Ducati Première 2019

Launched at EICMA 2018, the Panigale V4 RS19 isn’t for sale to public. That’s because it’s the racing machine which Ducati factory riders Alvaro Bautista and Chaz Davies will ride in the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) in 2019. Ducati has been trying very hard to retake the superbike honours since their domination in the 90’s.

The most important thing for race bikes is power. The homologation model Panigale V4 R produced 217 bhp in stock form but it’s raised to 231 bhp with the race exhaust and tuning of the ECU. Judging from this, the Panigale V4 RS19 should make at least that same amount or perhaps even around 250 bhp! That V-Four engine was developed as a direct lineage from the Desmosedici in MotoGP, anyway.

Secondly, weight is always an enemy when racing. We can expect the bike to tip the scales at the 168 kg weight limit set by the FIM. Ducati was proud to show off the bike wrapped in carbon fibre.

The Panigale V4 R has winglets on the fairings, paving the way for them on the Panigale V4 RS19. WorldSBK is production-based racing, so certain features of the race bike must be produced on road-going machines.

The Panigale V4 RS19’s fuel tank has also been moved backward and seems larger to make room for the airbox. Ducati didn’t release more details of the bike, of course.

Looks like Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki will have some real competition next year.

  • Kejohanan World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) 2019 akan menampilkan tiga buah perlumbaan pada setiap pusingan.
  • Pihak penganjur akan menambah ‘sprint race’ untuk Perlumbaan 1 dan Perlumbaan 2.
  • Perlumbaan tambahan ini sudah pasti akan memberikan lebih pendedahan pada siri perlumbaan ini.

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  • Kawasaki telah mengemaskini model Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R 2019 bagi menghasilkan lebih banyak kuasa kuda.
  • Pengemaskinian tertumpu pada valvetrain dan mengurangkan jisim bergerak.
  • Pengemaskinian ini menunjukkan kesungguhan Kawasaki dalam mengekalkan dominasi mereka di siri perlumbaan World Superbike.

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  • Kawasaki has updated the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R to produce more horsepower.

  • Updates are centred on the valvetrain and reducing moving mass.

  • The updates show that Kawasaki intends to retain the World Superbike crown.

Horsepower. You can never have enough. Kawasaki has announced that the 2019 Ninja ZX-10R will receive a list of changes that will take its power output even higher.

Kawasaki may have won four World Superbike championships in 2013 with Tom Sykes, and 2015, 2016, 2017 with Jonathan Rea, while currently leading the series with the latter rider, they know that they will be under stiff competition from Ducati with the new Panigale V4 and possibly a new Honda CBR1000RR next year.

The new Ninja ZX-10R’s cylinder head has been redesigned to be more compact to aid quicker combustion. The valvetrain will now have the cams acting directly on finger followers, rather than on tappets, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in mass. It also makes it easier to install more aggressive cam profiles. Consequently, the engine can sustain high RPMs more reliably.

Finally, to mark the updated engine, the cylinder head cover will be painted in red.

There are three variants of the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R: Base, SE and RR.

Ninja ZX-10R

The base 2019 Ninja ZX-10R will have its power increased to 203 PS (200 bhp), without ram air. Expect to see around 210 bhp with ram air. It will receive the updated valvetrain and cylinder head cover. It will also feature the bi-directional Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS) that was previously available on the SE and RR only.

 Ninja ZX-10R SE

The 2019 Ninja ZX-10R SE is considered the flagship model as the RR is a race homologation model. Apart from the valvetrain updates, it will feature Kawasaki’s advanced electronic suspension (KECS) and forged Marchesini rims. Areas prone to scratches are covered with Kawasaki’s proprietary “self-healing” paint, as with the 2019 Ninja H2. Power is the same as the based Ninja ZX-10R.

Ninja ZX-10RR

The 2019 Ninja ZX-10RR will receive Pankl titanium connecting rods that save 400g over the standard bike’s, reducing the crankshaft’s inertia by 5% and yield a 600 RPM increase. Kawasaki quoted 201 bhp peak power without ram air. It will be available only in Lime Green and production is limited to 500 units.

A “Performance” variant for all three types are also available.

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