DFWminis
09-06-2004, 05:33 AM
Moto GP- World class motorcycle racing, like the F1 of motorcycles. Prototype machinery that has no basis in real street bikes but rather guides development of new concepts in street bikes most easily seen in bikes like the ZX-6R/10R and the Honda CBR600RR and 1000RR. Probably also responsible in part for the sudden iuncrease in popularity of underseat exhausts, although Ducati's influenced that more than anything I think.
SBK--usually used for World superbike, Again world class racing done with modified production motorcycles, the R1 races here but Yamaha fields no factory teams so they are largely uncompetitive. In Europe it's mostly Ducati dominated with some Japanese fours sprinkled in but with little effect save for 1 team in world superbike. America, Great Britain, and Canada all have National Superbike classes. The R1's are apparently very competitive in Canadian superbike but the Suzuki GSXR-1000 and Honda CBR1000RR dominate American Superbike. In world superbike, they run a spec tire and the japanese factories all backed out in protest leaving only Ducati and Petronas fielding full factory efforts however a Honda satellite team, Ten Kate Honda, has been giving the italian company fits for the better part of the season.
Supersport--Lightly modified production 600's, The rules for SS bikes are tight on which things can be changed but essentially they have to be very close to production bikes in the equipment they use but internal modification to the engine(limited) and suspension is allowed. Yamaha fields a very successful factory team here. R6's perform very well in this class on World, American, and club levels.
Superstock--American racing at it's best, essentialy production motorcycles very lightly modified. Also Yamaha factory effort. R1's again are very good in this class as are the ZX-10R's
Formula Extreme--Kinda like superbike but with 600's instead of liter bikes, dominated by the budget and factory riders of Honda. Nearly unlimited modifications (the 600RR's of Zemke and Duhamel run a lot of parts off the 1000RR and tons of custom fabricated stuff).
SBK--usually used for World superbike, Again world class racing done with modified production motorcycles, the R1 races here but Yamaha fields no factory teams so they are largely uncompetitive. In Europe it's mostly Ducati dominated with some Japanese fours sprinkled in but with little effect save for 1 team in world superbike. America, Great Britain, and Canada all have National Superbike classes. The R1's are apparently very competitive in Canadian superbike but the Suzuki GSXR-1000 and Honda CBR1000RR dominate American Superbike. In world superbike, they run a spec tire and the japanese factories all backed out in protest leaving only Ducati and Petronas fielding full factory efforts however a Honda satellite team, Ten Kate Honda, has been giving the italian company fits for the better part of the season.
Supersport--Lightly modified production 600's, The rules for SS bikes are tight on which things can be changed but essentially they have to be very close to production bikes in the equipment they use but internal modification to the engine(limited) and suspension is allowed. Yamaha fields a very successful factory team here. R6's perform very well in this class on World, American, and club levels.
Superstock--American racing at it's best, essentialy production motorcycles very lightly modified. Also Yamaha factory effort. R1's again are very good in this class as are the ZX-10R's
Formula Extreme--Kinda like superbike but with 600's instead of liter bikes, dominated by the budget and factory riders of Honda. Nearly unlimited modifications (the 600RR's of Zemke and Duhamel run a lot of parts off the 1000RR and tons of custom fabricated stuff).