Asymmetric Superbike braking in France

8/31/2021

Braking data for the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours and Marchesini wheels for track and road motorcycles.

For the 19th year running, the Superbike World Championship was held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. According to Brembo technicians who work closely with 17 World Superbike riders, the French circuit is very demanding on the brakes. On a difficulty index scale of 1 to 5, it gets a 4 – only the Barcelona and Donington tracks get a higher rating.

It is a stop-and-go track with high-speed curves that alternate with intense braking sections where the braking system is really put to the test - there are four sections where the Superbike riders have to start up again at less than 75 km/h (47 mph). Conversely, rain can prevent the minimum working temperature being reached.

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 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.

Braking to the right

Superbike riders use their brakes on 9 of the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours turns, 7 on those to the right and just 2 of the 8 turns to the left. The riders use their brakes for an average of over 29 and a half seconds per lap – that's 31% of the total race time, the third highest percentage in the championship.

Summing all the forces applied by a rider to the brake lever from the starting line to the checkered flag in the two races over a traditional distance of 21 laps, the result comes to about 830 kg (1829 lb) compared with 395 kg (870 lb) in the Superpole Race. What is more, deceleration exceeds 1.2 G in only one part of the transalpine track.

85% less speed in 233 meters (254 yards)

Of the 9 braking sections at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, only one is classified as highly demanding on the brakes whereas 6 are of medium difficulty and the remaining 2 are light.

The most demanding of all is turn 5 (Adelaide) where there is a drop in speed of 244 km/h (151 mph): the Superbikes approach it at 288 km/h (178 mph) and slow down to 44 km/h in 5.6 seconds covering a distance of 233 meters (144 mph). The riders apply 6.3 kg of pressure to the brake lever and sustain 1.5 G deceleration.