This just in from Brembo:
Brembo Brake Facts for Superbikes at Nevers Magny-Cours
32 victories in 32 races for Brembo on the French racetrack
DETROIT, (September 26, 2018) – Third to last appointment of the season for the Superbike World Championship at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, September 28-30, in France. Located in Bourgogne Franche-Comté, the circuit’s 14 grandstands can welcome a full 139,112 spectators.
The racetrack hosted Formula 1 from 1991 to 2008 and the 500cc of Magny-Cours in 1992. The first Superbike race was held there in 1991, and then again in 2003. It has been part of the championship every year since then. As a homage to other historic racetracks, some of the bends of the Magny-Cours are named after other circuits.
The track features alternating high-speed curves, where brakes are hardly used at all, and intense braking sections where the braking system is really put to the test: in two spots the speed upon entering the bend is lower than 37 mph (60 km/h) and in a couple others no greater than 49 mph (80 km/h).
The characteristic rain and low temperatures can be an issue for the braking systems, keeping them from reaching the minimum working temperature: in 2015 Race1 was held under the rain at 51°F (11°C) while Race2, despite being dry, still only got up to 57°F (14°C). In the 2016 Race1 was held under the rain and in 2017 both Race1 and Race2 were held in dry weather but at just 61°F (16°C).
According to Brembo technicians, who work closely with 16 World Superbike riders, Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a demanding circuit for the brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it earned a four on the difficulty index, exactly the same as Spanish track of Aragon.
The demand on the brakes during the GP
Despite there being 17 bends, World Superbike riders use their brakes 9 times in each lap for a total 27 and a half seconds, equivalent to 25 percent of the time for each lap. Figures lower than that are only found at Philip Island, 22 percent.
At 1.08 G, mean deceleration per lap isn’t particularly elevated, but the value dips at the last curve, before the final chicane, which stands out at 0.7 G.
Summing up all of the force applied by a rider on the Brembo brake lever from the starting line to the checkered flag, the result comes in at about 1,763 lbs, (860 kg), that’s no small effort in the event of rain, which causes the rider’s body temperature to drop.
The most demanding braking sections
Of the 9 braking sections at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, four are classified as very demanding on the brakes, four are of medium difficulty and the remaining section is light.
The most demanding by far is Adelaide (Turn 5) with a speed gap of nearly 155 mph (250 km/h), Superbikes come in at 181 mph (292 km/h) and slow to 31 mph (50 km/h) in 5.5 seconds as they travel 734 feet (224 meters). The riders put 5.5 kg pressure on the brake lever and are subjected to a 1.5 g deceleration. The pressure of the Brembo HTC 64T brake fluid gets to 11.7 bar.
Despite an inferior speed gap, from 156 mph (252 km/h) to 88 mph (142 km/h) at Turn 11, the pressure still gets to 12.2 bar. This braking section only extends for 475 feet (145 meters) and 2.9 seconds. The load on the brake lever is also a noteworthy 12 lbs. (5.7 kg).
Nürburgring (Turn 6) is also demanding on both the rider and the braking system: from 154 mph (249 km/h) to 88 mph (142 km/h) with 1.5 G deceleration and brake fluid pressure at 11.1 bar. However, the braking session only lasts 2.6 seconds, through it extends for 449 feet (137 meters).
Lycéee (Turn 15) is also worth noting, at 4.3 seconds and 557 feet (170 meters) it is the second braking section on the track when focusing on time and distance. On the other hand, deceleration is lower (1.3 G), as are the load on the brake lever (11 lbs./5 kg) and brake fluid pressure (10.8 bar).
Brembo performance
Bikes with Brembo brakes have won all 32 of the Superbike World Championship races held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. An incredible result since it was achieved with bikes from 6 different brands: 16 Ducati victories, 6 Kawasaki, 4 Yamaha, 3 Aprilia, 2 Honda and 1 Suzuki.
Of the riders, Noriyuki Haga from Japan triumphed most often with 5 victories, while Tom Sykes, Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies won 3 times.
