Bridgestone R11 in the test

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Bridgestone R11 in the test
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Bridgestone R11 in the test

Bridgestone R11 in the test
The hot glue

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Bridgestone’s new, profiled racing tire is called Battlax Racing R11. Under the scorching sun of Spain, the successor to the R10 was able to show what it is made of for the first time.

Georg Jelicic

11/08/2017


Bridgestone R11 in the test


Bridgestone

Above the V-MSB belt layer (light blue), the threads of which run at different distances from one another, an additional layer called GP belt (dark blue) is used on the rear tire, which is derived directly from the Slick V02.

Spain, the hair on the head is not lying and the sweat runs in rivulets. “Damn it, it’s hot here, completely abnormal for the beginning of October”, our Spanish colleague Sergio reports. A look at the thermometer makes it clear why we are on the verge of dehydration. The measuring instrument shows 34 degrees. But hey, as a professional you have to be able to do that, after all, we’re at the invitation of Bridgestone here. The Battlax Racing R11 – successor to the R10 – has just slipped out of the baking tins and is ready for a brisk dance under the Spanish sun.

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The hot glue

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He should show what he can do on the test and race track in Monteblanco. Bridgestone has assembled more than 20 different sports motorcycles from 600 to 1200 cubic meters in the paddock – all of them fueled and provided with fresh R11 skins. But before the tire can prove its performance, a few details.


Bridgestone R11 in the test


Bridgestone

Although the R11 is street legal, the racing tires available in the mix types soft and medium were designed purely for the slopes. You need heated blankets to get up to temperature.

Even if the R11 has a few delicate tread grooves and is available including road approval in all common super sports car formats from March 2018 at the latest, it is a pure racing tire. Nothing works without electric blankets. As an air pressure recommendation, Bridgestone has issued 2.1 bar in the front wheel and a low 1.6 bar for the rear tire for the first serve in Monteblanco – measured when warm. The most important change compared to the R10 is the structure of the R11. The front and rear tires have a monospiral construction called V-MSB in the substructure. The spiral threads do not run evenly around the tire, but at different distances. They are further apart on the flanks in order to offer more flexibility and thus support surface in an inclined position. In the middle of the tire they are laid closer for more stability. In addition, there is a GP belt layer on the rear tire, which should ensure more grip and more constant performance.


Bridgestone R11 in the test


Jelicic

The great heat and the abrasive surface on the slopes in Spain really knocked out the tires. Especially after turns with calibers in the 200 hp class, the performance decreased slightly after a good three laps, but the tires remained manageable.

Up now. The engines are warm, the 4.4 kilometer long runway has to show it. And Bridgestone has been proven right with the stability of the front tire. At the end of the 940 meter long home straight, the bikes stay safely on course despite the hard anchoring and quick gear changes from fifth to second. The motorcycles equipped with the R11 can be casually tossed into an inclined position and sharply drawn along the curbs. Even in the tight changing chicane, the lean angle change works without having to pull the handlebars with brute force – with good, confidence-inspiring feedback.

But there is also a fly in the ointment. After three sharp laps, the rear tire on the test machines in the 200 hp class begins to float slightly. The abrasive surface in Monteblanco and the high outside temperatures take their toll. Ambitious racetrack heaters or drivers of cups in which tread tires are mandatory can in future include the Bridgestone R11 on the shortlist. A comparison must clarify how it stands in the ranking with the other profile sports tires.

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