Archive for March, 2009
Prize Giving – Day change
At the request of a number of riders we have changed the prize giving to Saturday night. The format is still the same with all the 2008 trophies being presented as well as some “Special” awards, we will also present Saturdays racing awards, truly the Oscars of the Supermoto world.
All riders who come to the presentation will be entered into a draw and there will be SIX winners of a rear Michelin tyre. A Disco is booked and there will be hot food provided. You can bring your own booze or we will have some on sale. Tickets are only £5 to cover the DJ & the food. You can pay on the door but in order to get the food order done please reply with how many people you will be bringing by return.
Rule Addition – Axle Sliders & Footpeg Sliders.
As per last year it is COMPULSORY to run axle sliders & Footpeg sliders at EVERY round of the British Championship this year this is now included as Rule 33 in the Championship Conditions. The Rowrah circuit owners have made it clear that after their extensive re-surfacing of the circuit at considerable cost any rider found on track without sliders fitted will be expelled from the meeting. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Rule Modification – Michelin Tyre Rule.
The following paragraph has been added to Rule 32 of the Championship.
“When the Clerk of the Course or his deputy declares a “WET RACE” there is no requirement for tyre control stickers to be affixed to either the front or the rear wheel.”
Noise
One of the biggest challenges facing our sport is excessive noise leading to direct complaints from local residents to the Environmental Health Dept of the Local Authority. This then leads to difficulty in renewing circuit licences. We can all help our sport by ensuring our bikes are properly silenced. BSMC will be constantly monitoring noise levels at this years meetings and repeat offenders will be excluded from the series. Please cooperate.
Wet front tyres – Rowrah only.
Due to delays in delivery of the new front 16.5 Michelin wet tyre Competitors will be free to choose any manufacturer of front wet tyre for this one meeting only.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed at Rowrah but must be kept on a lead at all times.
David J Dearden
Director – British Supermoto Championship
www.britishsupermoto.net
Telephone Office +44 (0) 1706 241100
Telephone Mobile +44 (0) 7590 832058
One of the biggest changes we have made to the Championship this year has been the introduction of the one make tyre rule. This document deals with a lot of questions that have been raised by riders and also gives full technical details of the Michelin Supermoto Tyre range for 2009.
Q: Why did BSMC decide on a one manufacturer tyre championship?
A: For two main reasons, one to make the Championship cheaper by limiting the number of tyres being used, we felt that as the races got more and more competitive some riders were using many more tyres than others thereby creating a bigger gap between the haves & have not’s in the paddock. Secondly the money introduced by the tyre manufacturer would help us develop the sport, specifically this year with TV.
Q: Why was Michelin chosen?
A: We spoke to 3 tyre companies and received detailed offers from all of them. We chose Michelin as the best compromise from the rider’s point of view, it wasn’t the best financial deal for the series but based on product offering and the willingness to work with us to grow Supermoto we decided on Michelin. Two of the factors that swayed our decision was that the tyres where top class so we new the racing would be good and they had over half of the British Supermoto tyre market.
Q: Why do the Juniors & Quads not have to ride on Michelin?
A: Quite simply Michelin do not produce a tyre for these classes.
Q: How does the three tyre rule work?
A: When a rider signs on he will receive an envelope with 3 stickers in. Each meeting (that’s two most weekends) the colour of the sticker will change. From the first race onwards no bike will be allowed out on the track without a sticker on the front and rear wheel.
Q: Do I need stickers on my tyres for practice & qualifying?
A: No you do not need stickers on your tyres for practice or qualifying only racing BUT you must practice & qualify on Michelin Tyres.
Q: Do sticker have to be displayed on one particular side like in the World Championships?
A: No, we prefer for the stickers to be displayed on the left, (near side) of the bike but as the new front slicks are reversible you can turn your tyre without having extra stickers used.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: When the race is declared a wet race a sign will be displayed at the paddock holding area entrance, there will be NO requirement for stickers to be displayed during a “WET” race. However if you choose to use a wet tyre during a “DRY” race there must be a sticker fitted.
Q: Do we have to use new tyres?
A: No, one of the reasons we went with Michelin was that there was a lot of part worn tyres in circulation, part worn tyres can be used but they must carry a sticker just like new tyres.
Q: Some riders are entered in more than one class, how many stickers will they get?
A: If a rider enters 2 or more classes he will receive 3 stickers per class, but the stickers will be numbered for that class and therefore he will need to ensure he has the correct sticker on before he enters the holding area.
Q: Why are Michelin tyres suddenly so expensive?
A: Like all tyre manufacturers Michelin have seen their costs rise significantly and as they are made in France the exchange rate has created a big increase to us without the tyres actually going up. In fact Supermoto tyres have not been increased during the last few months as there has been price protection instigated, it is a fact however that compared to a year ago the price of the tyres will have risen by about £20 -£30 per pair but there has been a greater impact on other Michelin products and other manufacturers have had similar rises. When compared with the other mainstream premium Supermoto tyre the price is competitive.
Q: No one can get front 16.5 inch tyres, why not?
A: It is true that there has been a shortage of front 16.5 slicks; this has been down to a number of factors coinciding to make a temporary shortage. Michelin have pulled out all the stops and ensured that from next Monday all the Michelin Supermoto specialists will be in receipt of good stocks. One of the main problems is predicting the number of tyres needed, which is why it will be a great help for competitors to mark on the entry form what size of front wheel they run. Michelin predict they will sell around 2,800 Supermoto tyres this year and they will have delivered over 20% of this figure into their dealers before the first round of the championship.
Q: Will there be a recommended supplier?
A: One of the important considerations in doing the one make series was that no monopoly should exist. All Michelin tyre suppliers can supply the tyres and that ensures healthy competition in the market place to keep prices low. We do recognize that Supermoto is a specialist sport and therefore we have included a list of Suppliers who understand the sport and will be carrying stocks of tyres throughout the season.
Q: Will there be support at the meetings?
A: Yes Jim Gray from GBRacing will be attending all the meetings and will provide a full race service.
Q: Why is there no control tyre, surely this would be simpler?
A: One of the attractions of Michelin was the broad range of tyres offered for Supermoto. This means riders of differing abilities can find a tyre to suit their needs, for instance some clubmen may want a tyre that lasts longer as they don’t want to push for ultimate grip. It also ensures that race craft comes into the mix with some riders opting for harder compounds to have better life in the last race of the day. To make things easier we have attached a full technical chart for Supermoto to this email.
SUPERMOTO TYRE SPECIALISTS
GBRacing – Tel 07590 210173 Jim
Dave Clark Racing – Tel 01772 612118 Dave
SMD Tyres – Tel 01942 261111 Paul
Holbeach Tyres – 01406 423611
Triple D Racing – 01539 732666
DBC Dunstable – 01582 666312
Craig’s Motorcycles – 01924 488117
SUPERMOTO TYRE SPEC SHEET
Commercial designation
The commercial designation for the new 16.5” Supermoto tyre is: 12/60 – 420 SMF 29A
Product Code
The CAI for the new 16.5” Supermoto tyre is: 755063
Compound
The tread compound is similar to the existing 17” SMF 29A. This ‘Super Soft’ tread compound is recommended for relatively low temperature conditions (T <18°C) or very smooth, non-abrasive circuits where tire longevity is not of concern.
Tyre measurements and profile
As shown below, the overall diameter of the 16.5” compared to the existing 17” Supermoto front tyre is slightly smaller (-3mm) and could require a slight adjustment to the bike to optimize the performance.
|
Overall Diameter :
12/60 – 420 SMF ® 597 mm (16.5”) |
|
Although both tires have the same section width of 120mm, the 16.5” Supermoto front provides an increased side contact patch while on high lean angle compared to a standard 17” front tyre due to its rounder profile.
|
Section Width :
12/60 – 420 SMF ® 120 mm (16.5”) |
|
Rim Mounting Warning:
The new 16.5” Supermoto front tyre must only ever be mounted on a 16.5” (420mm) rim. Mounting this tyre on either a 17” or a 16” rim could result in serious injury.
Recommended Cold Inflation Pressure:
The 16.5” Supermoto front tyre should be inflated with a cold pressure of 1.8 bar +/- 0.2
Recommended Operating Conditions:
The new 16.5” Supermoto front tyre is most adapted to lower temperature conditions – i.e. temperatures below 18°C – and race tracks will low track abrasiveness. Using this ‘super-soft’ tread, designed to have an exceptionally quick warm-up time outside of the above noted conditions, will significantly lower overall tyre life.
Product Performance Advantages:
The most significant product performance advantages of the new 16.5” Supermoto front tyre compared to a standard 17” Supermoto front tyre are:
1. Improvement in braking progressivity, which allows later and harder braking into turns. The tyre gives back more “feeling” and is more predictable. This improvement in braking is a direct result of the increased side contact patch inherent in the 16.5” tyre profile (refer to tyre profile diagram above).
2. Improvement in stability while on angle and in keeping the desired trajectory entering and exiting corners.
3. Permits entry into higher lean angles more progressively.
4. Provides an improvement in the overall level of handling thanks to its rounder profile. The increase in handling is particularly noticeable during the transition between left/right lean angle changes.
Detailed Technical Information:
|
Rim Diameter |
Inflation Pressure |
Size |
Tread Pattern |
Section Width |
Overall Diameter |
Max Rim Width |
Weight |
|
(in) |
(psi) |
(mm) |
(mm) |
(in) |
(g) |
||
|
16.5 |
24-28 |
12/60 – 420 TL |
Supermoto Slick |
120 |
597 |
3.50 |
4367 |
3. Complete Supermoto Product Offer:
Highlighted in green below, you will find the new 16.5” Supermoto front tyres, along with a summary of our complete Supermoto product offer:
|
Dimension |
Tread or Full Slick |
Tread Compound |
MAX Rim Size |
Tyre Pressure – psi |
Riding Conditions |
|
12/60 – 420 TL SM F 29A |
Full Slick |
Super Soft |
3.50 |
24-28 |
Low temperatures T <18° and/or Twisty/Tight – Very smooth circuits- mainly tarmac |
|
12/60 R 420 Power One A |
Full Slick |
Soft |
3.50 |
24-28 |
Medium temperatures T <22° – Fast flowing circuit – smooth but some of Off road sections |
|
12/60 R 420 Power One B |
Full Slick |
Medium-Soft |
3.50 |
24-28 |
High Temperatures T >22° – abrasive surface – 50/50 tarmac and off road |
|
12/60 R 420 Power One Rain |
Full Wet |
Rain |
3.50 |
28-33 |
All Temperatures – Rain |
|
120/70-17 POWER ONE A |
Intermediate |
Light Rain |
3.50 |
28-33 |
All Temperatures – Light Rain |
|
12/60 – 17 TL S1270A |
Full Slick |
Medium |
3.50 |
26-28 |
High Temperatures T >22° – full tarmac, fast flowing circuits & long races |
|
12/60 – 17 TL S1246A |
Full Slick |
Medium Soft |
3.50 |
26-28 |
All Temperatures – Abrasive circuits |
|
12/60 – 17 TL P12325 |
Full Wet |
Rain |
3.50 |
28-33 |
All Temperatures – Rain |
|
12/60 – 17 TL SM F 15A |
Supermoto cut |
Medium |
5.00 |
24-28 |
All Temperatures – Abrasive and very abrasive circuits |
|
12/60 – 17 TL SM F 17A |
Supermoto cut |
Soft |
5.00 |
24-28 |
All Temperatures – Smooth and minimally abrasive circuits |
|
12/60 – 17 TL SM F 29A |
Supermoto cut |
Super Soft |
5.00 |
24-28 |
Low temperatures T <18° – Very smooth circuits |
|
12/60 – 17 TL SM F P18A |
Full Wet |
Rain |
5.00 |
24-28 |
All Temperatures – Rainy and wet conditions |
|
16/63 – 17 TL SM R 14A |
Supermoto cut |
Medium |
5.00 |
24-28 |
All Temperatures – Minimally to average abrasive circuits |
|
16/63 – 17 TL SM R 29A |
Supermoto cut |
Soft |
5.00 |
24-28 |
Low temperatures T <18° – Smooth circuits |
|
16/63 – 17 TL SM R P18A |
Full Wet |
Rain |
5.00 |
28-33 |
All Temperatures – Rainy and wet conditions |
|
160/60-17 POWER ONE A |
Intermediate |
Light Rain |
5.00 |
28-31 |
All Temperatures – Light Rain |
For any further information please don’t hesitate to contact any of the BSMC team.
David Dearden
Championship Director
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