No offense but as much as I appreciate Chanel Fashion in it's most stunning showcases, watching hardcore racers and their beastly-machines take down corners at the track is just so much more rousing! (Rousing, not arousing ah please).
So let's get readahhh for World Superbike Championship at Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!
Special thanks to Pirelli and Hodaka Motoworld for the invitation, I was holding on tightly to my seat throughout the flight from Singapore to KL because I was so excited to catch SBK for THE FIRST TIME.
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| Credits to crash.net |
Founded since 1988, SBK has been actively participated by over 100 riders representing 22 different countries competing in various classes of each round. Over the past years, SBK has climbed its way to being one of the top motorcycle race in the world today.
Arrived early on Saturday morning at Sepang International Circuit and I'm already hyped by the ear-piercing sounds of exhausts zooming down the track. Don't mind starting a morning every other day like that, just that I might need some good ear plugs though.
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| VP getting VIP Access :D LOL |
Instead of just watching the race from the main grand stand, with a VIP pass (hurhur), I get access from the Race Control Room to the Time Keeping Room, Media Centre to Pit Walk and the Podium itself!
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| An exclusive miniature Pirelli keychain. #justtoocute |
Experiencing an international race has never been this upclose! Follow me and let's check out what really goes on behind-the-scenes of SBK at Sepang!
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| Run only on the best ;) |
With Pirelli being one of the top sponsor for SBK, it's been revealed that a whopping 3,000 Pirelli slick tyres are brought in every time for each race.
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| Wa so many tyres, just take only! |
Behind this wall of tyres I'm standing in front of lies another 2,970 more! That's a lot of tyres. I could probably use them all to line a decent size race track. You think?
In comparison to MotoGP where the prototype bikes used are customized, unsuitable for road usage (just like F1 cars), SBK races with modified production bikes derived from fully stock and road-legal ones (those that you see on the roads).
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| Honda CBR600RR |
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| Mechanics working on Ducati |
Only four-stroke engine bikes are allowed.
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| Mechanics working on Kawasaki |
From there, manufacturers can make slight modifications to the bike such as the suspensions, swingarm and brakes but overall, it has to maintain its road usage profile.
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| A mechanic cracking his head on how to fix this bike that just crashed out |
That's why SBK is very popular especially among the manufacturers because every performance showcased on each race directly impacts the reputation and sales (of course) of the brand. People dig the idea of being able to own a race machine/brand and SBK bikes are within reach, compared to bikes in MotoGP.
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| A selfie with SBK Race 2 Winner, Chaz Davies! And we're both for DUCATI :D |
Oh by the way, eh hem, Ducati has apparently been the most successful manufacturer having clinched 15 winnings over the years of SBK Championship so far. And Chaz Davies just added to the winning line up for Ducati in SBK Race 2 at Sepang!
Just had to include that in HAHA :p
Pirelli Made In Brazil VS Made In Germany VS Made In China
Tyres play a huge role in motorcycling.
As the main tyre brand for SBK and a widely trusted brand based in Italy, Pirelli has a few manufacturing sites to cater to different parts of the world; from Brazil to Germany and introducing their newest addition - China.
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| Credits to nbcnews |
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As shared with me, it is a challenging part in tyre production to create tyres with the highest quality, performance and reliability suitable for all class of motorcycles from all over the world. But it's something Pirelli has managed to achieve all this while.
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| Credits to Pirelli |
Different countries have different weather conditions and terrains, different riders ride for different purposes, which are heavy factors when it comes to choosing the most ideal tyres for the job required. Pirelli's commitment has always been to fulfill every rider's needs.
China has been chosen to be Pirelli's newest manufacturer to cater to the large volume demanded in Asia market.
Starting right from the raw materials to application process, to design, development and technologies involved, all manufacturers are required to use the same grade of products, follow the same stringent rules and guidelines to ensure Pirelli worldwide tyre production standard is strictly maintained throughout.
So, it doesn't really matter where the tyres are made, as long as they're authentically Pirelli.
Media Room
Here in the Media Room, TV screens are everywhere with all the race results and information on, readily in reach for the media postings. This is where FOX Sports, ESPN and other media companies sits.. and here I am, updating my feed on my social media.. LOL.
Race Control Room
This is where all the action is captured from even before the race begins to when it ends. Way more than what you see on TV. Every corner, every angle, every situation and communication is captured here.
Closely watched by a panel of VVIP.
Time Keeping Room
When it comes to a race, timing precision is everything. Not a milli-second is missed here. The fastest lap times, or the minute a rider crashes out, is all clocked right here.
No wonder this guy here is in full concentration. Imagine reporting inaccurate timings.. the WHOLE WORLD is watching :O
Watching the time tick has never been so stressful.
Podium
So this is what is feel likes watching a race from the Podium, where Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez stood before.. Haha pretty awesome with such a close up view!
Top 3 spots for Race 1 and Race 2 waiting to be filled!
And when each round of the race ends, Top 3 racers will ride in according to their positioning where reporters and camera crew with huge ass filming equipment will flood in to get first hand updates and interviews to telecast what you're watching on SBK TV!
There you go ;)
The glorious SBK trophies sitting behind the Podium. Only the ones who has what it takes will bring the prize home!
SBK Race 1 & 2 results at Sepang International Circuit. Rea sweeps Davies off closely at the last lap in Race 1 for Kawasaki but Davies comes back stronger for Ducati, taking the win for Race 2.
Watch the intense close fight here, (especially the part where Davies and Rea came into contact) if you missed the action that happened over the last weekend!
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| Credits to mcnews |
Much thanks to Pirelli once again for such a supercharged weekend at Sepang International Circuit. Witnessing the World Superbike Championship has never been this upclose and personal!
Spain is up next! For Round 11 of SBK 2015 on 20th September.
Follow WSBK for the latest updates and excitement here!
