Maybe Zemke, will look to get a ride in WSS or WSBK... I know Hayden on Kaw wasn't a competitive team, maybe some other American riders will move up. All theAmerican riders dropped back to AMA. Hope some of these guys will see how they ride with the worlds best.

 

We'll know more in the weeks to come. Tire testing isn't far off. The Buell will be back in Superbike this year. And I'd have to say that it will be a force to Recon with. They did very well last year by staying top 10 and on a very under powered bike. Next year the bike will not be a Buell but called EBC (Erik Buell Racing) RS1190. Goeff May will be aboard again.

 

It will be good to see more competition. I just truly hope AMA doesn't cater to the Buell again like it did when they rode supersport. That was one of the biggest let downs for me since I started to watch AMA many years ago. I truly don't understand how Eric Buell could even consider the supersport championship a real win by winning with a bike that was double the displacement of the competors bikes. At least in superbike, there shouldn't be an unfair edge. While they may have some competitive races, I don't see them in the top 5 of any race. But who knows, the break from Harley was probably the best thing to ever happen if he wants a truly good race team.

Yeah, it takes a very special rider to be able to compete on a world stage. not only the tracks and the worlds best riders, but the travel, the culture shock, the media... it all has to get to you after awhile. I don't think any rider is going to be 100 percent jumping into the world stage. Ben Spies is an example of an extraordinary rider.

Im pretty pumped to hear Roger got a ride though. I hope he gets in proper form quick and gets back to his winning ways.

 

Erik won it fair and square. And it wasn't SuperSport. First his bike the bike was putting down 128 hp. Second they strapped a 70 lb. weight to it. The 600's had just as fast of lap times then Eslick had. Also Eslick road a 600 this year and just barely lost the championship this year. It was a battle to the end this year as was last year. Erik took the same bike and entered it in Superbike this year and under powered by an aweful lot and kept the bike in the top ten every race. The reason the bike wasn't there this year is because Gieco would sponsor the bike because Buell the company nolonger existed. It forced Richie Morris to go to Suzuki. Erik though is concentrating on his new endeavor and quite frankly the bike is plain awesome

 

Even though, I love Honda. I have to say Ducatti FTW

 

I have to agree with Squid, the Buell should have never been in SuperSport... I felt AMA wanted the American bike to win something & that was the way to do it. Thats my opinion, no 1000s have been weighed down to compete in SuperSport, so why Buell. I will agree Erik proved to me he is a top rider by finishing 2nd this year.

Ten Kate Honda signed Spaniard Ruben Xaus as a rider for 2011 Superbike World Championship on a Honda CBR1000RR.

 

Its not just about hp. What about torque? Sure, it had close to the same hp, but it also had 2 times the torque. Every race I watched, the buell would just rocket past any bike pulling upwards of 5 bike lengths on the straights on some tracks. And forget about starts, how can a high hp, low tq 600 keep up with the Buell off the line? Thats not because the buell was so good, it was because it had a huge..... huge unfair advantage in the torque department. There is no way in the world anyone will convince me that was a fair race, or a "real" win for Buell. If anything, it made Buell look that much more inferior.

I did a laugh though. Buell's ads stating "own the corners"... even though every corner the Buell would get passed and swollowed up by the other bikes... only to rocket past them in the straights.

If they truly wanted to represent the "real american sportbike", he should have entered it in Superbike to start with. But as you said, it has a huge disadvantage in hp.... but who's fault is that? build the bike so it has some hp. Other companies have no problems putting out 160hp out of twin engines.. they shouldn't either.

and your right, it was sportbike. that was my mistake, but it was an 1125 in a 600 class.

 

Other companies make more are bigger companies then Buell also is why the bike didn't make more power. It's called development!!! You talk torque ??? Ok... A 1198rr just pounds torque out over the inline 1000's. And if you look at quarter mile times??? A 600 is just as fast as the 1125....look it up!!! Last year Cardenas battled with Eslick last year right to the very end.... points were close. Buell didn't run away with it in any term. Now lets fast forward to this year. Eslick and Cardenas battled again to the very end but wait........ Eslick was on a 600. It played out this year in the same fashion but this time cardenas narrowly won. Power to weight ratio the bike was competing with the 600's fairly. All twins have advantage coming out of corners oner inlines... its no secret. Most of you guys can't get past the number. Its about power to weight that made it fair. I'm eager to see the 1190 come into Superbike this year.

 

BadS1, Eslick proved hmself that it wasn't all bike advantage. I do feel what could be viewed as the Buell was way faster on the straights, & sucked in the corners. But again, if it's 1000cc bike race with other 1000cc bikes, not add weight to race with 600cc bikes.

 

AMA board of directors governed it a fair race and it was. The 600's were putting down the lap times that were of equal of the 1125 R. Also they did better by good margin at infineon and Miller. It doesn't matter about CC's it matter is it.... was it fair and yes it was. The inlines were going just as fast. Now Erik is in position to release the bike that HD wouldn't let him do with some tweaks. No side radiators like the 1125. The exhaust will exit in a different manner. I think most are going to really love the bike. Thing is hes such a very small company that if you want one it will not be cheap. Think Bimota prices. But he will be racing and I for one am very excited to see Erik do what he now can do without HD's approval.