In an exclusive interview with Rob Mcelnea of RobMacRacing, Londonbikers.com gets the insight on the star of 2009, Yamaha’s all-new “long-bang” YZF-R1, already hailed by some as THE way forward for ALL 4-cylinder bikes. How Ducati’s departure from the British Superbike Series is a good thing for racing all round, and what the chances were of persuading Coca Cola’s marketing people to adopt a blue colour scheme…
In a word … NONE!
“We had a team set up with Graeme Gowland and Chris Walker and then the North West deal with Rutter came quite late. Initially we thought, “Can we look at bringing Michael into the team?” but the sponsor Coca Cola weren’t that keen on going blue. So we had the blue team set up and as it happened, we had Dan Linfoot (British Supersport rider – finished 3rd at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday) here with a backer and not a clear colour scheme if you like. No major sponsor to speak of, so we built this red team. It means that out of one garage we’ve got two branded up teams if you like.”
So having two different teams and sponsors under one roof isn’t a problem for you then?
“It’s actually very productive as the bikes at Superbike level are identical. The riders are very close to the same level so they share information which is very helpful. Over the last few years we’ve been running a one-man team, so it’s been quite tough but this year a brand new bike warrants more input and feedback from the guys. So we’ve got a great mix with different types of riding styles and different set ups.”
What’s the rivalry like between Michael Rutter and Chris Walker?
“Its healthy, it’s all good. They all get on, but no one wants to be the last man. You always want to beat your team mate, and as the young guy Graeme Gowland wants to beat both of them. There’s no real pressure on him but he is really keen to get a result.”
A seasoned Motocross rider, the 23 year old from Hexham in Northumberland has only been road-racing officially for 3 years now, but showed his mettle in the opening two races at Brands Hatch last weekend. Race 1 saw him finishing in an impressive 9th place, 5 places clear of Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha team mate, Chris Walker and 7 ahead of his red colleague North West 200 Coca Cola Zero pilot Michael Rutter.
Gowland started road racing in 2006 in the Virgin Yamaha R6 Cup. The following year he negotiated himself a ride in the Spanish Supersport Series which he won first time out. This led to what seemed like an excellent opportunity but may have proved a step too far for Graeme so early in his career.
“He went to World Supers with a half-funded team and you can’t do that at that level. He had a tough year, a few high points but a tough year.” said Rob Mac. “But we managed to get him back with us now. You’ve got to remember he’s only been racing for three years on tarmac. He’s done Motocross and he’s a great rider but only been three years on tarmac, and here he is now partnering Chris Walker and pretty much matching his lap times. Graeme I think could get rookie of the year. I hope he’ll settle in and so far he hasn’t put a foot wrong yet.”
Despite the global downturn, and the dreaded credit crunch we’re all sick of hearing about, Rob McElnea has done what no other team has managed in the BSB paddock. He has expanded his Yamaha team’s line up of both riders and lead sponsors. Other teams are facing such reduced budget situations that they are resorting to providing each rider with just 1 bike to use over a weekend. A risky strategy even for the most experienced rider and team.
But despite the tactics needed to fight for those vital grid positions and the on-going battle to finance a fully-fledged British Superbike team, let alone 2, Rob Mac is confident that this year's series will not only be great racing but stands to benefit from one vital change.
“I think with no Ducati’s to chase, it’ll make the playing field a lot more even.”
Was that a loss to the series or will that now make everyone else work harder?
“I don’t think it was a loss at all. It’s been a totally unfair playing field. Guys with the biggest budget go and buy a factory Ducati. We start with a couple of bikes out of a box that you and your mates can buy. That’s the essence of the championship. That’s the bones of how the whole championship should be.”
Can you describe the advantage Ducati had over other factory teams?
“It’s subtle but significant. Its hard to quantify what you get with an extra million dollars, but its fair to say you’re in with a pretty good shot at winning the championship. Honda spent similar money but the Ducati advantage is definitely there. For a start it’s a 1200cc bike. It’s built by a race division and then tested by Troy Bayliss for a year before you even get the chance to buy it. You buy a bike from Ducati and you can go and win the British championship. We get a bike with a ruddy tax disc.
The feeling you get through the paddock now is that more and more people think they have a chance. That’s healthy. People say that we lost all the talent so the series isn’t going to be as good but I think they say that every year. Over the last years, we lost Lavilla and Kiyonari, but Crutchlow and Sykes come through. Last year Shakey, Haslam, Sykes and Crutchlow. That’s 4 guys going, but we’ve now got Graeme Gowland, my new guy and Stuart Easton has also stepped up. With every year maybe it’s a chance for these guys who might not get a break to come through. The racing won’t suffer, we’ve lost a couple of names, but it won’t take us long to make our own names again. Graeme Gowland will be the new Leon Haslam. Stuart Easton could be the next Kiyonari.”
As well as the shift in terms of the playing field Rob Mac is working with a bike that has been one of THE most talked about new production bikes of the year. The 2009 “Long-bang” YZ-F R1 Superbike.
“Long bang in a nutshell is changing the firing order to make it a softer engine to ride essentially to try and compete with the Ducati type if you like. We did it in 2005. We were the first team to ride the R1 in Superbikes in the world. Trouble was, in Superstock form, it was world class, winning everything, but then when you give it another 50 horsepower it was a monster. We had no one to share info with and we had to learn everything on our own. It would just abuse tyres. When the tyres were good it was great, but when the tyre went it was a monster. We already thought, next year as the bike develops, we’re gonna have more and more problems, so we devised our own big bang version within the rules. The bike this year is homologated with the crankshaft, but in 2005 we actually did it with the camshaft. It isn’t ideal, but it gave us the same feeling.
We wanted a bigger pulse between the throttle and the tyre. This gives the revs more of a gap so the tyres can catch up and keep gripping. We had a win that year with Tommy at Cadwell. In fact, we were the ONLY non-factory team to win that year. There was HRC, Suzuki and Ducati, and we were the only non-factory. And it’s ironic now that the road bike 3 years later has come round to a big bang engine.”
So who are the real rivals for this season then?
“Stuart Easton is very under-rated and should be one to watch. He’s been around for quite a while but he’s never had a good bike under him. Hopefully they should look after him. He’ll surprise a few people. Won’t surprise me, but I think he’ll definitely surprise a few people. At the front, I think Camier is the bench mark. He’s jumped on the bike literally here (at Brands Hatch) and he’s running really strong straight away. The Honda’s are of course well-sorted. They’re 2 years old and you don’t get much more developed than they are now. They’ll be a strong. It’ll be a right mix out there. Josh Brookes should be over but he’s not racing this weekend cos he can’t get a Visa. He’s gonna be international flavour and then there’s Guintoli, an all-round class rider.”
Will he struggle with the shift from MotoGP prototypes to a Superbike?
“No once you’re a fast rider see, these are like pussycats compared to what he’s ridden. Everything happens a lot slower and when you’re as good and as fast as he is, it’s like no problems. When you’re that sharp everything slows down. He’s riding a superbike now which relatively is all a bit slow. The real disadvantage for Guintoli is will he get on with Cadwell Park, and other BSB tracks, but then you’ve got Ben Spies who’s never been to any tracks, I mean he’s won 3 races and had pole positions. If you’re fast you’re fast.”
Who are you keeping your eyes on in MotoGP and World Superbikes then?
“We’re all massive Rossi fans. The Ducati is a missile. It’s a shame that Moto GP is just about a 2 horse race. But we’d like to see Rossi do well.”
And how about James Toseland’s chances?
“I hope he can get on the podium. 6th is his best so far. If he can get Top 6 overall somehow, I think he’ll be happy with that. And as for World Superbikes, I’ve never seen Haga start like this, he’s settled down and I think he’ll be hard to beat at this. But I’d like to see Ben Spies win that cos I think Haga could cock up somewhere.”
Related Links
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Moto Professional - Motorpoint Henderson Yamaha
