Danish brake pad manufacturer SBS has been involved in the motorcycle racing business for almost 25 years now, and every year they have cooperated with leading international and national race teams and top riders.
At SBS this concept is known as “Partners in Racing”, and it is central to their ability to test and develop new and existing product. “The programme plays an important role in our product development process”, says SBS Race Manager Allan Østli.
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| Allan
Østli, SBS Race Manager, with Kenan Sofuoglu’s Kawasaki – “our
‘Partners in Racing’ concept is important for our product development” Photo: Lars Rulffs |
“Brake pads are one of the most important components in motorcycle racing. In today’s racing, only a very few overtaking manoeuvres are the result of acceleration and pure engine power – the braking zone is where most of the action happens. With “Partners in Racing” we get our products tested under the toughest conditions, and we get very useful feedback from the people who really know what braking is about. This is an important add-on to our own test activities”.
The feedback from the world’s racetracks results in R&D engineering staff being able to improve and develop the company’s brake compounds, not only for race use, but also products that are used on the road – classic “track trickle down”, says Allan.
“Especially when it comes to riders’ preferences and feelings for the final “finger-tip” performance - our race tests and our close partnerships with riders and their teams have a deep impact on our R&D work”.
“the pad for podium positions”
Down the years some impressive names have contributed to the SBS mission – champions such as Carlos Checa, Kenan Sofuoglu, Andrew Pitt, Jonathan Rea, Tom Sykes, Troy Corser, James Toseland, Michael Dunlop and many others are not the worst references to have when talking about racing and braking.
In 2017 the list of teams and riders that take part in World Championships as SBS’ partners “is more or less endless”, says Allan. Riders such as Nicki Hayden and Stefan Bradl (Ten Kate Honda World Superbike Team) and Marcus Reiterberger and Jordi Torres (BMW Althea Racing Team) in WSBK.
In Supersport SBS have Roberto Rolfo (Team Factory Vamag), Kenan Sofuoglu and Kyle Ride (Kawasaki Pucetti Racing) and Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) using their product, with Thomas Luthi (Car Expert Interwetten) in Moto GP2 and Philip Oettl (Südmetall Schedel GP Racing) in Moto GP3.
In the World Endurance Championship “where durability is the key parameter”, SBS has a long-lasting partnership with the Swiss Bolliger Team, who have a long record of world championship top 5 results, and French Superstock world champions Tati Team.
On a national level SBS has a test and development cooperation with Shane “Shakey” Byrne and Marvin Fritz, who both achieved 2016 championship wins in the British Superbike and IDM German Superbike Championship respectively.
SBS is also active in Motocross GP Championship racing - for 2017 the list of partners includes the ICE1 Husqvarna team owned by Finnish F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen, Wilvo Yamaha featuring Shawn Simpson and Gautier Paulin, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team, and others.
In June SBS will continue its history of involvement in the unique demands road racing, again supporting Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson at the Isle of Man, the NW 200 and other events.
For the race teams competing on asphalt, SBS typically offers the Dual Sinter compound for the front. Allan explains that “this compound was introduced 10 years ago, but we have developed it regularly since then based on the feedback from our partners – feedback that has allowed us to also be testing some new innovations this season. For the rear, we typically recommend a carbon tech or a sintered compound, depending on riding style and motorcycle”. For Motocross, SBS recommends special sintered racing compounds.
www.sbs-friction.dk
