Engine Smoke at the start of the AMA SS Race

[extrakt0r]

So, looking for some input...At the 1st and 2nd start of the AMA SS Race at VIR today, it appeared that Rodger's Kawi smoked quite a bit on both starts (quite a bit more on the 2nd)...

They talked about it for a little, but I was just wondering why, or what the most probable reason for all the smoke is from...I see it quite a bit in both AMA and MotoGP races...

My best educated guess, is that these guys are going out with brand new, fresh motors who's piston rings have not seated yet, and when they launch em' they are seating their rings and for a few seconds, oil is getting by...

Is that a good guess? I don't know much about motors and such...

Is it a safe beat to think that these factory guys are going out on a brand new, fresh motor every single race? Or do they run the same one for both pratice and race?

Discuss?

[Super Dave]

Texas Tea fuel used to smoke. 

Low tension oil rings to reduce friction, but allow a little oil to get into the combustion chamber. 

Engine defect.

[Jeff]

I don't believe that anyone in the AMA has a fresh motor for every race.  I'm sure the bikes are gone through, and probably rebuilt several times per season, but I don't know about every race.

MotoGP, probably every race, yes...

There is a big difference though in the $6M/yr budget for a MotoGP rider and that of an AMA rider.

[racerhall]

i know that the kawasaki team and yosh team have new engines for practice and new engines for races every weekend

[extrakt0r]

i know that the kawasaki team and yosh team have new engines for practice and new engines for races every weekend

Yeah, I would almost guarantee that riders like Maldin, Spies, Hayden's, Di Salvo, Hacking, etc...Have new motors for both pratice and races...

I would even go so far as to say other teams like Jordan, Eslick, etc...Have new motors for every weekend...May not for both pratice, and races, but at least everyweekend....

[JBraun]

I don't believe that anyone in the AMA has a fresh motor for every race.  I'm sure the bikes are gone through, and probably rebuilt several times per season, but I don't know about every race.

MotoGP, probably every race, yes...

There is a big difference though in the $6M/yr budget for a MotoGP rider and that of an AMA rider.

I talked with one of Graves Yamaha's mechanics, who is a "friend of a friend" and according to him their motors are fresh for every round, but not every race.

He is now working with EBoz, but was with Damon Buckmaster previously. I asked him if it sucks to wrench for a crasher like Buckmaster, and he said it really doesn't matter because the bikes are completely tore down after every round anyway. Fresh motors, suspension, everything.

Maybe I'm just stupid, but I can't see why a  team would replace an engine between practice and racing. Once the bike is dialed in why would you want introduce new variables?

[Jeff]

okay... i stand corrected...

damn.....

[racerhall]

because new is better than used and they have the time, money and man power

[afeuer]

I had a little smoke come out of my bike in Unlim GP...

[racerhall]

there was so much smoke i couldnt see and i thought maybe there was oil so i slowed down for safty reasons and then Doty went ripping by me

[superspud]

I had a little smoke come out of my bike in Unlim GP...

this bike per chance?

[251am]

 I saw A LOT of smome in T1 but it was from chain-smoking spectators..........................