848 track bike & AMA pics

[S4ROB]

Few pictures @ Infineon

[sugarcrook]

Nice ride.  Both of them. 

[androgynous]

+1

Nice ride.  Both of them. 

[JDS 07 S4Rs]

I see that Pegram is running 3rd in overall points with that 848. I wonder where that thing is lacking!
Just watched the Race from california on Speed channel the other day. Is that 848 getting blown away down the straight aways? They didnt show Pegram that much. So it was hard to see where he was loseing time.
U sure could here the 848's in the field.

[desmoquattro]

I see that Pegram is running 3rd in overall points with that 848. I wonder where that thing is lacking!
Just watched the Race from california on Speed channel the other day. Is that 848 getting blown away down the straight aways? They didnt show Pegram that much. So it was hard to see where he was loseing time.
U sure could here the 848's in the field.

From where I was standing (hot pit wall on the front straight), it didn't look like the 848 was losing any time down the straights. The Honda and Kawi boys got phenomenal starts, held really high corner speeds, and appeared to be picking up 10ths at strategic points in the track. And Infineon isn't exactly a horsepower track, but Pegram finished 5th there. It's probably a variety of factors, including the fact that the guys ahead of him are on true factory teams.

Oh...and they're phenomenal riders

[derby]

From where I was standing (hot pit wall on the front straight), it didn't look like the 848 was losing any time down the straights. The Honda and Kawi boys got phenomenal starts, held really high corner speeds, and appeared to be picking up 10ths at strategic points in the track. And Infineon isn't exactly a horsepower track, but Pegram finished 5th there. It's probably a variety of factors, including the fact that the guys ahead of him are on true factory teams.

Oh...and they're phenomenal riders

yeah, except for the fact that attack kawasaki is a privateer team.

for that matter, so is erion racing (though they are factory-supported).

[darylbowden]

for that matter, so is erion racing (though they are factory-supported).

And Pegram is also factory-supported (quite extensively in fact).

I'd say the first reason is that Pegram isn't as good a rider as Zemke or Hayes (although I am a fan of the worm, I'm not dumb).  The second reason is probably more to do with the fact that they're developing a brand new bike with a brand new chassis and a brand new engine - it's gonna take a good bit of time to get that thing really dialed in, especially when you're the only guy on one.   

[gm2]

not to mention the fact that water is still wet and the I-4s all still have a bigger top end.  twins get the power to the ground better, earlier.. but if you have a drag race the 4 is eventually going to walk away.

but if you're getting barely beat by any of the current Attack or Erion riders, you're no slouch.

[derby]

And Pegram is also factory-supported (quite extensively in fact).

I'd say the first reason is that Pegram isn't as good a rider as Zemke or Hayes (although I am a fan of the worm, I'm not dumb).  The second reason is probably more to do with the fact that they're developing a brand new bike with a brand new chassis and a brand new engine - it's gonna take a good bit of time to get that thing really dialed in, especially when you're the only guy on one.   

i don't really know how extensively the FACTORY is supporting him. i don't doubt that DNA is floating him some bikes and money (and a transporter?), though.

from what i understand, he got the same "standard" 848RS that anybody else (with a ton of money) could've bought.

now, if he has back-door 848F08s, that's a different story. 

[gm2]

now, if he has 848F08s, that's a different story.

i believe he does not.  they're customer bikes.

[darylbowden]

i don't really know how extensively the FACTORY is supporting him. i don't doubt that DNA is floating him some bikes and money (and a transporter?), though.

from what i understand, he got the same "standard" 848RS that anybody else (with a ton of money) could've bought.

now, if he has back-door 848F08s, that's a different story. 

I don't even know if there's such a thing as an 848F08.  Even if there is, I assume it would be much like the 1098RS and 1098F08 in that they're barely different anyhow.

And, even just getting 848RSs and a transporter is A LOT.  A hell of a lot more than other teams get.  Erion builds all their own FX bikes in-house, so it's not like Honda is shipping them HRC kit bikes or anything.  Now, Erion is probably getting more money, but I can pretty much guarantee you that the Erion FX bike is less costly than the Pegram racing bike.  Now, rider salary OTOH...

[derby]

i'd forgotten about this:

http://www.pegramracing.com/news/showNews.php?id=39

Larry's 848 race bikes began life as showroom-stock motorcycles, delivered through Larry's local dealer in Columbus and will be built entirely at the team's race shop in Ohio . The Pegram Racing crew will be receiving intellectual support from Ducati Corse in Italy , and have hired engineer Alessandro LaBarba from Moto GP to join Dave Weaver, Perry Melnciuc and Jim Pegram.

after digging a little, it seems that ducati doesn't offer a RS-model 848 (yet).

[darylbowden]

i'd forgotten about this:

http://www.pegramracing.com/news/showNews.php?id=39

Larry's 848 race bikes began life as showroom-stock motorcycles, delivered through Larry's local dealer in Columbus and will be built entirely at the team's race shop in Ohio . The Pegram Racing crew will be receiving intellectual support from Ducati Corse in Italy , and have hired engineer Alessandro LaBarba from Moto GP to join Dave Weaver, Perry Melnciuc and Jim Pegram.

after digging a little, it seems that ducati doesn't offer a RS-model 848 (yet).

I'd say that's a pretty sweet deal they have there.  A championship-winning MotoGP engineer and they get direct support from Ducati Corse.  WAY more than Erion is getting from HRC (nothing).  And, while I like John Ethel (actually know him pretty decently), he's not in danger of being recruited by any GP teams.