Every detail counts when it comes to shaving off precious seconds to win a race. It is therefore not surprising that the motorcycles of the World Superbike Championship, machines derived from production motorcycles, have parts adapted to competition.
The team's technicians and mechanics are doubling their ingenuity to facilitate the replacement of certain parts, and to adapt the motorcycles to their riders, paying great attention to every little detail.
The blue anodized connector at the bottom right of the photo is a Staubli connector. It is a very specific component that allows the brake lines to be separated without having to bleed the system when they are reconnected. This connector is particularly useful because it means that the entire handlebar subassembly – one of the most vulnerable parts in the event of a fall – can be removed and replaced with a new subassembly without having to bleed the front brake. This saves valuable time during a race weekend when driving time is limited.
But then how are the throttle cables connected when the entire subassembly is replaced? The answer is that they are not. The Yamaha R1 2020 version uses a “ride by wire” accelerator, so it is an electrical wire that connects the throttle handle to a connector placed on the frame.
The fuel tanks of motorcycles entered in the WSBK championship are filled with foam to prevent fuel from moving towards the front of the tank when braking or towards the rear when the rider accelerates. The fuel load at the start of the race is around 15 kg, the risk of moving this mass being to modify the center of gravity.
A little detour in SuperSport, with a view here of the rear brake mounted on Jules Cluzel's handlebars. This one is necessary because he performs the gear shift on the right side of the motorcycle (due to a previous injury to his left ankle).
These radiator extensions, present on Team Kallio Racing machines, are designed to increase cooling. However, they also make it possible to generate additional aerodynamic downforce, like wings in MotoGP.
Inside the Evan Bros Racing Team box, we see the external heater they use to warm the coolant and oil before starting the bike. Thus, the rider can enter the track without needing to warm up his motorcycle.
Here we can see the cutout in Andrea Locatelli's clutch lever, which allows it not to be pushed back by air resistance (which could partially actuate the clutch) when at full speed .
Feeling is essential for a driver. Riders need specific rear brake feel. Some want almost no resistance, while others want much firmer feedback. The resistance is changed using springs with different stiffnesses, which are color coded to make it easier for the mechanics. Thus, Toprak Razgatlioglu uses a purple spring while Michael Van Der Mark uses a green spring. We won't know which of the two is more rigid.
Toprak Razgatlioglu is such a strong braker that when braking hard, the front tire almost touches the radiator. So, one of the mechanics is responsible for removing all the pieces of rubber from the radiator fins with tweezers to ensure maximum air flow.
