TT Superstock bikes have edged closer and closer to the Superbike counterparts, questioning – why have a superbike?
For 2019, the TT organisers have tightened the Superstock rules, engines must remain stock - there’s no ‘mild’ engine tuning so the motors will be the same as our road bikes. Rear wheel changes during the pit stops have also been banned. How will these new rules affect the race this year?
Teams are no longer allowed to ‘tinker’ with engines, motors must remain ‘as they left the showroom’. Previously you could play with cam timing and change the head gasket but now it must remain stock, like a sealed engine from the showroom. Power is increased over standard with improved fuelling via a kit ECU and obviously a race air-filter and a full race exhaust.
The new rules favour some teams but hinder others. For example; a stock Honda Fireblade is around 180bhp, whereas a new BMW S1000RR or Kawasaki ZX-10R is close to 200bhp, which means the Honda teams are already 10% down on power in the Superstock class. The new rules will also create more testing/headache for the teams.
Interestingly the Superstock kit ECU will work in partnership with the standard bikes rider aids, anti-wheelie, traction control, even launch control. Surprisingly, this means the Superstock bikes have more rider aids than the Superbikes which run BSB MoTeC electronics, which forbids any rider aids ...
Isle of Man TT 2019: New Superstock rules explained
