There's little hints to the trained eye that things are not as they used to be at Yoshimura Suzuki. Things like the carbon fiber scoop and electrical leads feeding to the dry clutch on Mat Mladin's GSX-R750 Superbike, the second brake caliper on the chain side of Ryo's GSX-R750, and the antenna sticking up from the tail section of Jamie Hacking GSX-R750 Superbike. 

Yoshimura Suzuki is testing a telemetry system on Hacking's bike, probably the first time true telemetry has been used in US Superbike. 

Just so we're clear, this is what is happening: Hacking's Superbike has a Motech data logger system on it that sends data via satellite from the bike to a computer in the pit lane. The system is read only, meaning that adjustments can NOT be made to the bike from the computer in the pit lane. 

This system will only be used in private testing, and not at AMA Superbike events where it is banned. 

Generally, the system is merely a time saver at this point. Instead of talking to the rider after a change, and downloading the data to a laptop, and then loading a program to read the data, then having the crew decide on a change, now, they can see the data from changes in real time. The rider comes in, gives feedback, and the crew tell him what the telemetry did during his lap. Boom--they save themselves five to ten minutes in testing time. 

Motech is a DA/Telemetry system used primarily in Le Mans cars and other forms of four wheel racing--although Attack Yamaha used it last year. The complete set-up for the Yoshimura Suzuki's system is estimated to cost $20,000. Other DA companies make systems that start at $50,000. 

The system is obviously still in baseline testing mode: that's why it's on Hacking's bike. 

Hacking's bike has three tire temp sensors on the rear tire alone, and the crew can watch his tire temp climb as he laps the Daytona facility. It also has an exhaust temp sensor in each exhaust head pipe, and has many different features. 

Mladin's GSX-R750 Superbike appears to have a makeshift air scoop over the dry clutch.

ENDS