Check out this interview with Gavin Trippe regarding the 450 project. Chris Jonnum disect's the concept in Road Racer X Online and also in Current Issue on Newstands.
Click live link below from Road Racer- X Magazine.
http://www.roadracerx.com/article.php?article_id=454
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9 comments:
This is a great idea
I always loved the old SuperMono class when they were a support class for WSB.
It's still fairly popular in Europe
Alan Cathcart made quite a name for himself there before he became more well known for his writing
Mike "Spike" Edwards is another that still does quite well on singles
Tigcraft is one of the popular framebuilders with their Minimono kit using a trellis frame, alloy fuel and oil tanks, RS125 parts, and your choice of modern MX 4stroke single motors
There's some pretty exotic stuff out there
One guy is resurrecting the Ducati SuperMono with very modern resources
Another is grafting a ducati cylinder to a Rotax case
It would be great to see this stuff become popular enough to bring the build cost down to a reasonable level like has happened with SV650's
let's do it!!
glad to see this happen. a few of the mini racers (80cc and 65cc) have been doing the conversions for a while. the small dirt to road conversions keep up with rs125's that have an 80cc motor instaled.
The 450 project sounds pretty neat and i'd be looking to buy one, any news when they "might" be available??
The future of roadracing has been a a serious topic of discussion among my friends and I. We all agree some kind of 'spec' class would be great, as the racing would inevitably be heated and the riders' skills would truly be showcased.
This concept is an amazing idea. Keeps costs down, keeps the competition close all while adding diversification to the somewhat redundant (at least in the AMA) roadracing landscape. I'll be seriously disapointed if this doesn't become a reality.
ive wanted to see something like this for a long time but with the use of a Mx frame it makes things cheap and simple...i agree that 600's are to much bike for someone trying to learn how to race a motorcycle...450's would be an easy way for people to get involved in racing and enjoy track days without breaking the bank
Thanks Road Racer X for putting this up, just got my new copy. Please boost this project and keep the fires burning. Four classes in AMA Superbike series, all look the same, run the same and than fan cannot make out what brand, what capacity or even what number the bike is running on the fairing!!
A couple thoughts.
What is the real cost for the bikes off the shelf and parts availability? That's gonna dictate the success for many folks.
True, there are lots of established fast club racers who would give up their bigger bikes to be relatively more successful in this class. And that's probbaly how it will begin.
But if you want to grow it and draw in other less experienced racers to grow into the sport, you must make it super easy. Truly spec, with easy to obtain parts and service.
Another approach that could help keep this viable though not likely cheap is have a few full service teams. Racers pay flat fee and race, they wrench. Like many KART racers or Russell Race series does.
That system, however, may possibly harm the goodwill of a spec class? I don't know if true solo privateers are at competitive disdvantage to the arrive and drive KART teams. Just some ideas.
Another thing to consider, is having a series of clinics just for riders in this class, so less experienced racers can improve and enjoy the clubby nature of the class, feel completely supported.
like i said in another column, don't leave out the euro bikes. is there any idea of the cost of the fairing and proposed black box ?? lets see some numbers. stock hubs, spoked wheels ??/ if your putting r spec forks and such on the yamaha, what will be allowed on a euro bike ?? give us a number to call and somebody to talk to. nobody is returning call at RSD.............
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