ROAD TO RACE – THE HONDA CBR1000RR

Managing one of the most successful World Superbike teams, and running a busy motorbike dealership, means Ronald Ten Kate knows every nut and bolt of the road and race versions of Honda’s CBR1000RR. And it’s just as well. This in-depth knowledge makes the Dutchman ideally placed to lead a team of engineers and mechanics in taking the stock CBR1000RR, and turning it into the raw racing machine regularly at the sharp end of the World Superbike grid.

“That’s the beauty of Superbikes, it all starts with the road going machine,” explains Ronald. “The base platform is the mass production bike, just like people can buy for the streets. From the moment it is delivered by Honda, we will want to have it race-ready within about three months. Of course this is only for the first bike, at the start of the year. After that, it is about duplicating what we already have. So if we have to rebuild a bike, like after a big crash, it can be as fast as four to five hours.”

In line with the World Superbike regulations all bikes must originate from mass production models, which means that only a limited amount of parts can be swapped for pure race-bred technology. As a result, Ten Kate and Castrol engineers have to squeeze every last bit of performance from both the standard and aftermarket parts on the bike.

“Basically in racing we are taking everything to the extreme, so if there is wear we are going to find out very soon where it is,” continues Ronald. “We know from experience how important it is to use a good make of oil so we follow the complete maintenance package with both the road and race bikes, so from the engine oil, to the grease that is used to build the bike; everything is Castrol.”

Under one roof

One of the key strengths of the Ten Kate Racing team is that it is based on the same site as the family run Honda dealership, and the Ten Kate factory which produces performance and tuning products. The setup not only creates race-winning machinery, but also helps Honda and Castrol transfer race-bred technology to the road.
“All the key players are closely connected to each other, making the actual build of the machine a lot easier. The coordination is simpler when we have the dealership, the team, and the tuning under the same roof.” As a case in point, several customers have directly benefited from having the dealership, race team and tuning factory on one site.

“We have a few customers who have re-done their bikes quite a bit, but kept them road legal. One has around 210bhp at the rear wheel. He has lightweight racing wheels, increased fuel tank and upgraded brakes – so it’s very close to a World Superbike spec but just with a licence!”

Swingarm

Experience counts in racing and Ten Kate has worked with the best to develop the racing technology on the CBR1000RR in every area possible, and that includes the race-specific rear suspension. “We have found that over the years of racing working with partners like Castrol who have the production and development technology very useful. In developing the swingarm we worked closely with the former Kenny Roberts crew.”

Engine

In racing terms, power is everything. And the race prepared CBR1000RR can pack a hefty punch. However, a large portion of the engine remains in standard trim, proving just how powerful the Liquid-cooled four-stroke unit is. “Everything has been scaled up to bring it to race-spec; The power is up by around 50bhp” explains Ronald. The Ten Kate engineers are also now allowed to modify the crankshaft, engine and crank cases from stock form.

Brakes

Big power means big brakes, and the Ten Kate CBR1000RR is no exception. “We use Nissin race brakes on the bike”, explains Ronald. “These create a lot more stopping power than the road brakes, and are designed to cope with the extreme conditions we see during racing. Again, It’s just everything you have on the road bike but scaled up to increase the performance.”

Frame

Stand the road and race Honda CBR1000RR’s side by side and one major similarity will stand out immediately. The frame. To adhere with World Superbike regulations, the frame is one of the main components of the bike that must be run as stock and that the race engineers are not allowed to modify. “Basically the frame is still the same. Like I say, anything you get on the street bike is just ‘more’ on the racing bike.”

Castrol

The key to a smooth running and reliable machine is lubrication. And when it comes to the road and race Honda CBR1000RR’s Castrol is at the centre of it all. “Everything that relates to oil and fluid on the race bike is Castrol”, explains Ronald. “On the road bikes we follow the complete maintenance program, so from engine oil and chain lube, to the SRF brake fluid, and even the Castrol grease which is used to build the bike.”

The Ultimate Road Race

The annual Isle of Man TT event is one of motorcycle racing’s most prestigious road races, and Castrol’s winning pedigree in this unique test of rider and machine dates back to 1907. In June 1959 when Honda first visited the Isle of Man TT, its precision engineered motorcycles raced with Castrol’s high performance engine lubricant, Castrol ‘R’. Fifty years on, that relationship is still going strong, and this year’s TT saw John McGuinness power to victory on his Castrol lubricated HM Plant Honda Fireblade Superbike. His team mate Steve Plater came in second, underlining both Honda Racing and Castrol’s reputation on the legendary Manx TT course with a stunning 1-2.