Superbikes brake less than MotoGP bikes at Misano

6/8/2021

An in-depth look at braking at the Simoncelli circuit and Marchesini wheels for Superbikes and road bikes

After a year’s absence, the World Superbike Championship returns to the Adriatic Coast for the only Italian round in the season. This is the first time that the superbikes will race there since the asphalt was redone, even if last March a dozen riders tried it out with two days of test drives.

According to the Brembo technicians who work closely with 17 World Superbike riders, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is a track with a medium level of difficulty for brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it earned a 3 on the difficulty index, exactly the same as the Portimão circuit.

Marchesini, what else?

Marchesini has been part of the Brembo Group since March 2000 and shares the same production plant. Once again in the 2021 season, Marchesini forged magnesium wheels that will be used by 70% of the bikes competing in the World Superbike Championship with 5-spoke and 7-spoke lightweight Y design wheels at the front and 7-spoke lightweight wheels at the rear.

All these wheels are crafted by 3D closed-die multiforging and heat treatment and guarantee maximum rigidity and minimum inertia. The weight saving ensured by Marchesini wheels (which, together with the tires, are the most significant non-suspended rotating mass) boosts the motorcycle’s acceleration and its handling during changes of direction, and enhances brake response.

Lightness and less inertia for road motorcycles, too

Marchesini not only gives professional riders an exhilarating experience, but develops solutions that guarantee high performance for road motorcycle users, too. With their unique style, they are made using cutting edge methods of design, structural analysis and testing.

The M10RS Corse 17 inch multi-forged magnesium wheels have 10 Y-design spokes and come in three different colors: Glossy black, matte black and gold. They reduce weight by 25 to 40% and reduce inertia by approximately 30% compared with the original wheels.

Have fun with the Marchesini wheel configurator

2.5 seconds less than MotoGP

Even if there are 16 corners, there are only 9 braking sections because several changes in direction are made without using the brakes. The brakes are used for 28.5 seconds on each lap, 30% of the duration of the race. In MotoGP, on the other hand, the riders use their brakes for 31 seconds, the equivalent of 34% of the race.

Three of the Superbike braking sections cover less than 90 meters (98 yards) because the drop in speed is less than 100 km/h (62 mph). Maximum deceleration exceeds 1.1 G only in 3 sections, all in the first half of the circuit. The pressure of the brake fluid, on the other hand, reaches its maximum in the last two braking sections before the finishing line.

245 meters (268 yards) of braking

Of the 9 braking sections on the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, 2 are considered highly demanding on the brakes, 5 are of medium difficulty and 2 are light.

The most challenging of all is the first corner: The riders come into it at 261 km/h (162 mph) and then slow down to 108 km/h (67 mph) taking 4.1 seconds to cover 245 meters (268 yards) and applying a load of 4.9 kg (10.8 lbs) on the brake lever. The pressure of the Brembo fluid in the brake system reaches 10.5 bar at that point.