The 2010 Loudon Road Race Series (LRRS) season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway began with three podium positions for the Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory for Seacoast Sport Cycle’s rider #11, Brett Guyer. Brett took 3rd in GTO, 3rd in Unlimited Supersport, and a very exciting 2nd in Unlimited Superbike!
To start, seasoned rider #11, Brett Guyer, removed the stock bodywork and fitted a freshly painted, fiberglass racing body. The addition of an Akrapovic titanium exhaust and some dyno-tuning by Charles Sandoz in Seacoast Sport Cycle’s dyno room, perfectly complimented the already enviable and potent RSV4 1000 Factory.
Next, the bike was fitted with new Dunlop racing Gp211A’s. After a couple of sessions, Brett was running 1:14’s on this 1.6 mile road course (famous for a variety of elevation changes, its challenging 12 turn layout, and the infamous “Bowl” which is one of the most exciting turns in road racing!) No one can doubt that 1:14’s are very impressive from a bike right off the showroom floor.
Brett said, “After about 40 practice laps it became obvious that the research and development team at Aprilia was spot-on with the RSV, as all the reviews of this bike mentioned. I’ve put in the least amount of work to begin a race season than any of the various bikes I’ve ridden in 20+ years.”
GTO was the first and only race on day one for unlimited displacement bikes and was 20 minutes timed. Brett got a decent starting grid position on the 2nd row and made good use of it as he was 3rd going into turn 1. He battled for 2nd as the 1st place rider was stretching out his lead. 2nd place was surrendered as he couldn’t keep the pace and lapped traffic was tough to navigate. Not a bad first shot on the new ride given that he was competing against well set-up and modified bikes and the young, upstart rider, Shane Narbonne, from AMA superbike on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. Lap times were impressive for the first race with loads of 1:14’s and a handful of 1:13’s on a bike with no wrench turned on the engine or suspension.
The RSV was then measured by GMD Computrack to check the rake and trail and swing-arm angle and decide what suspension adjustments would help in Sunday’s upcoming races. Small ride height adjustments were made to the front forks, including compression and rebound adjustments for both ends.
Sunday’s races consisted of #6 (Unlimited Grand Prix), #9 (Unlimited Supersport), and #12 (Unlimited Superbike) of the scheduled 13 races. This was set to be a very busy day with all three of the races so close together. Tire warming and changing tires would also prove to be a challenge with only one set of wheels Brett had to utilize.
Race #6, Unlimited Gran Prix, was a tough race as Brett got used to the changes made to the chassis on Saturday. 6th position was taken as he got caught up in an accordion-like battle for 5th.
Race #9, Unlimited Supersport, was a good race from the start as Brett got into 2nd position into the 1st turn, settled in for some hard charging laps, and attempted to keep up with 1st position as this rider was performing some miraculous 1:11’s in prior races. Brett, not being able to keep that nearly, track-record setting pace eventually slipped backward until surrendering 2nd position and settling for a 3rd place finish. Lap times were again impressive, and he was clearly getting used to the altered chassis set-up with lap times now in the 1:13’s.
Race #12, Unlimited Superbike, was the best race of the day as he snagged the hole-shot into turn 1 yet only to be passed in turn 3. He settled into 2nd position and held on to the tail of the 1st position for the rest of the race; clearly pushing to run some faster lap times and be in position to pass for the lead. In the end, 1st place stretched enough of a lead that a 2nd position was inevitable. Lap times on the RSV were inspiring, once again, with the best time now in the 1:12’s, just four races into this season!
On the second weekend, the RSV took one third place as Brett battled again with the young AMA rider and another young, fast rider on a Yamaha YZF-R1, and then took a few fourth places on the second day.
Three weekends are now behind us for Seacoast Sport Cycle’s Aprilia RSV4 1000. These showed better than expected results, lap times which are very encouraging – especially since performed on a basically stock RSV Factory – and given the fact that the competition had AMA-level riders with extensively modified and developed motorcycles in these classes.
There are five remaining race weekends at LRRS, including the 87th Annual Loudon Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway June 11th through the 13th. The Loudon Classic is the longest-running motorcycle event in
North America with over three days and 27 races for fans to enjoy. This exciting event includes the ASRA Pro Series. Brett will race the RSV in the four regular season LRRS races, plus qualifying and Pro Superstock ASRA Finals.
Brett stated, “Team Seacoast is looking forward to sending Aprilia our updates on upcoming race weekends, improving times, race results, and overall performance. We expect a lot out of this bike this year and everyone who sees it on the track is going to want one.”