The Kneeslider

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Buell 1125R 2nd and 4th in French Top Twin Race

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Buell 1125R

All of the Ducati 1098R owners who think they’re riding this year’s bad boy racer, might want to make sure their skills are razor sharp because there seems to be a problem cropping up as Buell 1125Rs keep passing them on the track. Right on the heels of Buells doing very well in Germany, a couple more just placed 2nd and 4th in a French Top Twin race on March 30th. If you look at the rundown, you’ll see a lot of Ducatis filling out the rest of the field, both 1098Rs and 999s plus a mix of some other bikes, as well.

Even though Erik Buell has said the 1125R was aimed at the rider experience on the street, I’m sure he’s smiling a lot these days as his new creation is mixing it up so well on the track. Nice job, Buell! Very, very nice.

Thanks for the tip, Gary!

Final results below:

1 8 MOUNIER Jean Yves DUCATI 1098 R 10 20:21.698 – 1:59.782
2 60 DESTOOP Bruno BUELL 1125 10 20:21.732 0.034 2:00.020
3 110 DALET Didier DUCATI 1098 R 10 20:42.932 21.234 2:02.128
4 34 AMALRIC Michel BUELL 1125 10 20:51.670 29.972 2:03.897
5 7 SOLARI Pierre DUCATI 999 R 10 21:27.009 1:05.311 2:04.439
6 78 RASTING Jeremy MILONA 10 21:32.893 1:11.195 2:05.385
7 5 BULLE Louis DUCATI 999 R 10 21:35.211 1:13.513 2:05.882
8 24 GRELAUD Guillaume HYPER 10 21:37.157 1:15.459 2:06.030
9 94 CHATILLON Jean Fra… DUCATI 1098 R 10 21:41.086 1:19.388 2:03.753
10 17 MATTHEWS Samuel HYPER 10 21:43.813 1:22.115 2:07.419
11 21 CANCELA Stephane DUCATI 999 R 10 21:48.468 1:26.770 2:08.731
12 75 ORSI Cristelle HYPER 10 21:48.772 1:27.074 2:08.466
13 13 CORBIER Alain DUCATI 999 S 10 21:50.360 1:28.662 2:07.539
14 400 FRASSIER Laurent DUCATI 916 10 22:03.209 1:41.511 2:05.736
15 93 PAPY Philippe DUCATI 999 R 10 22:09.482 1:47.784 2:07.066
16 86 GOMEZ Alain HYPER 10 22:14.169 1:52.471 2:09.482
17 18 ALPHONSE Dominique DUCATI 999 S 10 22:17.378 1:55.680 2:06.803
18 4 ROCHET Rodolphe HYPER 10 22:17.390 1:55.692 2:09.380
19 3 LE BRETON Regis DUCATI 10 22:26.872 2:05.174 2:09.555
20 69 PAGANI Stephane HYPER 10 22:29.886 2:08.188 2:11.531
21 71 BAUDRY Ludovic DUCATI 996 S 9 20:26.190 1 Tr. 2:07.568
22 23 DAROUX David APRILIA RSV 9 20:32.749 1 Tr. 2:11.117
23 26 BANTIGNY Aurelien HYPER 9 20:34.372 1 Tr. 2:13.641
24 33 KOVACS Eric HYPER 9 20:34.856 1 Tr. 2:12.541
25 64 HEBERT Xavier DUCATI 1098 S 9 20:49.932 1 Tr. 2:14.783
26 40 DESPOUYS Alain DUCATI 9 21:04.185 1 Tr. 2:16.456
27 10 MOLINIER Jean Michel HYPER 9 21:16.066 1 Tr. 2:14.890
28 9 ESCAICH Christian DUCATI 999 S 9 21:16.633 1 Tr. 2:13.888
29 12 VALLOCCHIA Remo DUCATI 999 R 9 21:55.826 1 Tr. 2:16.530
30 74 COCHEME David DUCATI 999 S 9 22:14.430 1 Tr. 2:22.800
31 14 GARDIEN Philippe DUCATI 999 S 9 22:22.727 1 Tr. 2:22.524

Here’s an image from the pdf:
Top Twin Results
Looks like 1st and 2nd place were really close!

Link: French Superbike via Bad Weather Bikers

Comments

  2. “What is “HYPER” ? Is it refering to Hyper Motard by Ducati?”

    Yep, that’s what it is. This race is like the LeMans series where there is more than one class on the track at the same time.

  3. Are those times beside the race results? If so, the top 4 bikes had to be gunning for the finish. I know senconds can seem like a mile on the track but still, thats pretty impressive. Wonder if Eric Buell spoke with them after the race?

  5. I wonder how long it will take now to see the usual argument between the pro “god bless america” and the pro “my GSX-R is fastest than your Buell” … 😉

    Everything that can bring some fresh air and new bikes in the race is great and welcome, would it even be a MZ or a Royal Enfield !

  6. 1200cc Ducati gets beaten out by 1125cc Buell? Oh, the Ducatisti will NOT be happy!

  7. Don’t forget the value of the rider. Buell would not have done so well with me on board. Would that have meant the bike was slower?

    -todd

  11. Thank you, that’s what I thought. This cool race should get better as the KTM is available.

    What’s not to like with a “newcomer” on the podium such as Buell, plus an air cooled engine still performing well.

    “Can you dig it?”

  12. Here’s something fun. Read what Ducati says about their 1098R on their web-site:

    “The 1098 R is the ultimate Superbike. The most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycle ever built. It is the product of a team of designers and engineers focussed on one objective only – to win.

    The ‘R’ is a race bike, pure and simple. Its competition specification and superior components together with advanced electronics and race-proven chassis technology deliver a level of performance that empowers you with confidence and capability. On the road, it distinguishes you as a connoisseur of high-performance motorcycles. On the track it promotes you to a higher level of riding and closer to realising your dreams.

    World Superbike rule changes mean that the road-going ‘R’ version is closer than ever to our factory race bike. The 1098 R is not a replica – it’s the real deal. An incredible 180hp L-Twin Testastretta Evoluzione engine in a race-winning Trellis chassis set-up tips the scales at an unbelievably lightweight 165kg (364lbs) and comes with a race kit that introduces Ducati Corse’s world championship winning traction control system.

    Once again, Ducati raises the bar and sets the world standard for sport bikes while turning the heads and racing the hearts of enthusiasts throughout the world.

    The 1098 R – Built to win.”

    As a Ducati fan, those words (and I know they’re not just words, Ducati has been backing their words up with Superbike wins) make me lust after the 1098R.

    And, while I still do lust after the 1098R, as a Buell fan, how cool is it that I can get a bike that at least comes close for MUCH less money, lower maintenance costs, less insurance, more comfortable riding position, etc. etc. etc.

    That’s pretty cool!

    Go Buell!!

  13. Another interesting fact is the gap between 1st and 2nd: 0.034s. Close just ain’t it in 😉

  14. I wonder how quickly we’ll hear less nit picking about the look of the Buell’s scoops or exhaust, too. Those pesky Buells earning podium finishes tend to direct attention to slightly more important items like power, speed and handling. 🙂

  15. I’ll tell you what, coming up with styling that doesn’t look “Italian” or “Japanese” is not easy. That’s mostly what we’re accustomed to in the sport bike world. What does American sport bike styling look like? Can anybody tell me? Who’s got the balls to break the status quo?

    Plus, some physics are involved, too. If a Salmon is believed to be the most aerodynamic shape, then it’s hard for a designer to create a completely different look yet retain similar aerodynamics to the most ideal shape. If my point there isn’t clear, think about why all bullets generally look the same and why non of them are square.

    So a designer must make sacrifices to be different. I believe the 1125r design is an evolution, though, and it’s a pretty darn good looking start for a new platform. I wouldn’t bet against Buell.

  16. Well said B. Case. If I a performance bike with a full fairing, I’ve got more bikes than I can count that all look (basically) the same.

    Buell’s probably lucky if they have more than 1% of the market right now. If they make a product that’s just like everything else on the market, they’ll die. They need to stand out. If they do something controversial and 60% of the people hate it and 20% love it, they just increased their sales.

  18. As long as Buell can develop the “Function First” reputation and Ducati ends up as the “Fashion First” STREETbike in the next few years – and I think that’s the direction things will go in – then the future belongs to Buell. Or KTM, if they blow it.

    Which seems kind of funny considering who owns Buell. But then again, much of what either comapany does that is unique gets copied eventually. The mass motorcycle market suffocates in the staleness of its own conformity and has to look elsewhere for inspiration.

  19. “What does American sport bike styling look like? Can anybody tell me?”

    The Firebolt fairing is a good start – original, unique, & still fresh. It hasn’t been copied, either.

    I know people say the lighting capabilities of the Firebolt are not as good, but lighting will hopefully go the way batteries are headed – smaller, lighter, & better. Then, lights can be placed in other locations.

    Performance does come first but what pays the bills, in addition to performance, is styling. Its keeping me from buying a 1125R, but had they used an iteration of the Firebolt, then I may have an extra payment each month….

    The pods stick out, so, enlarge the Firebolt fairing millimeter by millimeter until its proportionate & jives. Enlarge the lights mm-by-mm until they look right, which should also address the lighting issue.

    So what if the fairing was already used on the other platform. How long did the 916 aesthetic stick around? 10 yrs. for good reason.

    National Geogrpahic has a good article this month on design (of all sorts) taking the shapes of the natural world.

    There are beautiful things in Mother Nature and they function well. Proves to me that the 2 are not at odds.

  20. Hoyt,

    After seeing a few 1125Rs in person and sitting on one, I think it looks vastly better in person than on the monitor.

    Then again, I thought the 999 looked wicked in person and much better in the real world than on the monitor, but all of the negative comments about that one I’ve read came from the keyboard riding set.

    Ducati, stylewise, is stuck with the past. It sure is a good past to be stuck with, but sooner or later, the old becomes old and there is no escaping marketing death. Which is why 1125R Ninjectomy makes me yawn. The only benefit I can see from it is increased advertising space – very important for racing. But look at the rest of the bikes eligable for Moto-ST, and look at which series Buell sponsors, and it all makes a lot more sense.

  21. This I’d great. While I can think of at least five ducatis that I want Buell has really got something to get those results. While I love the ducatis Buell is thinking more radically and in the long run that will count for more. Can’t wait till the RC8s join the mix. I thought there would be more Aprilias in these races though.

  22. pods,pods,pods, all i ever here is about the pods. get over it if you want a bike that looks like everything else and performs like crap than the 1125r is just not for you. and guess what some guys in the UK i beleave made a full fairing for the 1125r with xb12r lights and covered up the pods. so now please find something else bad about the 1125r and get over the pods!!! buell does rock anyway

  23. If you can’t stand the styling of the 1125r maybe look at the 1125cr… same bike, but w/ a pretty little windscreen. Personally, as a muscle car enthusiast, I alway wonderd why sport bikes didn’t have big ram air scoops, and I think w/ a differant fairing the 1125r would be perfect, but it is still so dang cool. I am going w/ the cr though, because I will rarely be on the track, the cr is still very capable. (Comparable to the r even w/out the fairing I’ve read)

  24. From what I have read here, I am the only person who even owns a Buell. I also own a Honda CBR 1000rr. My pick is the Buell, the speed is more than capable (not as fast as the Honda) but the diffrence is minimal. The Buell is easier to drive and I like the way it looks better, it’s not your every day bike which in my opinion makes it exotic. I want to know who can actually USE all the power provided by some of these super bikes. I ride almost daily and it is a rare occasion where I can actually stretch the legs of my rockets. My opinion Buell rules! It has the most useable power in my experience.