Yamaha WorldSBK boss Andrea Dosoli is hopeful that Brembo’s MotoGP-derived, finned front calipers will help rider Toprak Razgatlioglu who is challenging Chaz Davies for the last of the late brakers title.
The calipers have been seen in MotoGP but have now been modified to work with steel discs instead of carbon fibre and were added to Yamaha’s test list at Misano where some parts had been tried out in a November test last year but there was some new stuff.
Dosoli talked bikesportnews.com through what the chassis developments and setup ideas were focused around. “Last year we were suffering with turning the bike when the temperature was high, and at some racetracks like Aragon we had been struggling,” he said.
“So, we have analysed what happened over there and tried to improve those characteristics of the bike to be more efficient in those situations. We have been working on the chassis side with different geometries and chassis components to improve this.
When the rider enters with brakes in the corner, we wanted to improve the feeling and to be more efficient. Under hard braking we are OK, but when we need to enter with the brake, we wanted to improve the turning of the bike. It looks like we got some benefit but now it has to be confirmed when the temperature will be higher.”
Thefinned WorldSBK calipers - the basic design of which started out in MotoGP but re-engineered for steel discs and cost-capped financial Superbike regulations - were also given a work out at Misano.
“We have available the new calipers and all the riders have the chance to test. There is some potential but also some work to be done.
“Especially with a rider like Toprak who is very aggressive in braking, achieving a very high temperature. We believe the new system will be helpful, but we need to work on it. It is not plug-and-play.”
WorldSBK is a tough environment for braking systems at some tracks and during the hotter months of the year. “The performance of the Superbikes keeps improving, same as the tyres from Pirelli, so of course we are reaching the limit of the brake,” explained Dosoli.
“Suppliers like Brembo are proposing new solutions that offer better braking performance, keeping the temperature under control. Sometimes it is an issue and for sure you have seen a lot of air ducts around the calipers, which are meant to cool them down. So, it is a clear indication that all the manufacturers are reaching the limits of the previous system.”
Ducati also ran the new brake components at Misano, although the Italian circuit is far from the most aggressive one for braking, or the hottest possible venue in mid-March.
