WSBK – Buell and its 1190RX to conquer the 2014 WSBK – Buell to conquer the World Superbike

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Buell and its 1190RX to conquer the 2014 WSBK

WSBK - Buell and his 1190RX conquer the 2014 WSBK - Buell conquer the World Superbike

Erik Buell Racing and the latest version of his Superbike, the 1190 RX, are entered in World Superbike! Supported by the Indian giant Hero, the small American manufacturer hires its two pilots Geoff May and Aaron Yates in 2014. Presentations.

Buell conquers the World Superbike

Eight manufacturers will participate in the 2014 Superbike World Championship: Aprilia, Kawasaki, BMW, Suzuki, Honda, Ducati, MV Agusta and Buell, officially called Erik Buell Racing or "EBR" since its rebirth at the end of 2009 (read then).

Engaged for three years in AMA Superbike, the firm from East Troy (Wisconsin, USA) therefore tackles the World Superbike which will be next year a real world championship "all", with events scheduled in Europe, Australia , in the United States, in Russia but also in Malaysia and South Africa (see).

"The whole team is enthusiastic and can’t wait to take on the challenge"Says team manager Giulio Bardi, who has also been representing SBK teams with the FIM for several years."Our drivers Geoff and Aaron have both proven themselves in the American Championship and we will bring a lot of experience.".

EBR driver for three years already, Geoff May had his best season in 2012: fifth in the general classification, he had collected nine Top 5 in the race and even climbed the third step of a podium in the company of his 1190RS (read).

The 1190RX replaces the RS

Produced in only a hundred copies, the first machine of the EBR era – the 1190RS – could not compete in the World Superbike. "Hence the RX … I believe Erik’s goal is to launch a first production of 1000 models", Geoff May declared this fall to our colleagues at Cyclenews. A volume that the new manufacturer should have reached before the end of the year. For 2015, new minimums required and a maximum sales rate should be established. Stay tuned. !

Next year, the n ° 99 will drive the very last version of its favorite Superbike: the 1190RX (see box opposite). "This coming season is a new chapter for us and I can’t wait to start it", launches Mister May !

The soon-to-be 34-year-old driver has never been out of the United States and will therefore, in addition to adapting his mount to the new championship, have to learn a bunch of new circuits: "we know a great challenge awaits us, but we are all ready"he observes.

Aware that he will not be able to match the pace of top drivers, Geoff is nonetheless convinced that he can "enter the points regularly and create a surprise once or twice during the season"… At Laguna Seca for example, where his perfect knowledge of the circuit could erase the power deficit of the twin cylinder ?

Aaron Yates will also be one to watch: professional driver since 1993 – he blew out his 40th birthday on December 13 – he has spent his entire career on American soil and knows the small Californian track on the back of his hand !

Kept out of the circuits in 2010 and 2011 by a crushed broken leg, he only competed in two races in 2012 on BMW before signing in 2013 with EBR. Stainless, the n ° 20 finished the year in an honorable eighth place, and is looking forward to riding in the world championship..

"There will be a lot of new plots to learn and a lot of data to collect", predicts the three-time American Superstock champion,"but we have a strong team with knowledgeable staff so I am confident and excited to go to Australia", at the end of February for the opening of the championship…

Aaron will undoubtedly have dated: last year at Phillip Island, the 40-year-old Carlos Checa had taken pole position on the handlebars of the 1199 Panigale. Without aiming for such a feat, the American is certain that he and his teammate will have "strong chances of scoring points in both races". The bets are open !

Erik Buell: We don’t expect podiums

"Due to the winter break, we will have to wait before seeing where we stand in terms of performance.", warns Eric Buell Himself!"Podiums are not expected, but we will work hard, we will learn and we will progress".

Above all, the friendly and charismatic Erik (former AMA SBK rider on Ducati and Yamaha, read our!) Is certain that the arrival of his brand in the WSBK will bring a touch of "fun"… and a double dose of exoticism !

First of all, American machines arrive with technical solutions that clearly distinguish them from Japanese or European Superbikes: perimeter front brake, frame containing gasoline, swingarm containing oil … Even the Panigale seems classic on the side. !

On the other hand, Erik Buell Racing does not arrive alone: ​​is there too! "Hero is the first Indian two-wheeler manufacturer to be associated with this discipline"said Pawan Munjal, CEO of Hero MotoCorp.

The commitment of Team EBR Hero – this is its official name – in World Superbike intervenes, according to the big boss, "in perfect sync with the rapid global expansion of the Hero brand through new international markets".

Javier Alonso, Executive Director of the WSBK, is naturally delighted with this new registration: "it is a great pleasure to welcome such an attractive and unique brand as EBR", he notes, convinced that this new team"will add spectacle".

Between the lines, we can guess that the Spaniard is also counting on this merry Italo-American-Indian gang to open the doors of an Indian market not easy to approach … As a reminder, the first meeting scheduled in 2013 in Budhh, fell into the water (read).

"Also, it is really good to have two American drivers on the starting grid.", observes Senor Alonso,"they will represent an important nationality in the history of the series", which has no less than six champions: Ben Spies (2009), Colin Edwards (2001 and 2002), John Kocinski (1997), Scott Russel (1993), Doug Polen (1991 and 1992) and Fred Merkel (1988 and 1989) ).

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