WSB: Brake cooling allowed to prevent more problems

World Superbike teams have been granted a special dispensation to use brake cooling systems for the upcoming rounds of Imola and Donington Park, the two most demanding circuits on the calendar for braking.

MCN has learned that the FIM emailed all teams on Tuesday to inform them of the exception currently made for Imola and Donington. This comes after concerns were raised when some teams, especially Kawasaki, were hit by major brake problems in Thailand this season; in a bid to make up for the decreased revs they have under this year’s changed regulations, the green bikes were over-stressing their brakes.

“It is a little carbon fender on the side of the calliper,” one team boss explains. “If somebody needs this help at these two upcoming rounds, it will be possible to use it to allow for more air to go through the calliper.”

MCN has obtained a copy of Tuesday’s email in which FIM WorldSBK Technical Director Scott Smart wrote to all teams:

‘Dear All,

For the following 2 events – Imola and Donington Park, with the agreement of Dorna I will be allowing the use of front brake cooling duct systems following concerns about brake system temperatures.

Following those two events the effectiveness of the parts will be reviewed and a decision made for future events.

Ducts are commercially available.

Scott Smart’

Dorna elected to communicate the story via the official WorldSBK website on Friday.

Teams are now able to decide whether or not they wish to run with the brake calliper cooling system, which would set them back by approximately 200 euros. The special ruling has been made as such a part would not be legal under the current rules.

Brake cooling is even more of an issue on the World Supersport bikes which, according to the technical regulations, must use standard production brake callipers as seen on the road bikes which are far less suited to the stresses of intense racing.