Focal Point
BICKERS
Ferodo – 125 years of braking excellence For more than 125 years, Ferodo has been synonymous with excellence and a continued commitment to innovation. Pioneering research and development, bold engineering and extensive road and track testing, ensure performance, safety and reliability
W
hen it comes to “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday”, it doesn’t get much more authentic in race support terms than the decades-long pedigree that the Ferodo brand has been famous for. After a stunning FIM Superbike World Championship season in 2021, which saw the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team complete the “triple crown” of rider, manufacturer and team championships, Yamaha and technical partner Ferodo will continue the fight to out-brake the competition in 2022. Turkish sensation Razgatlıoglu’s spectacular “stoppies” and unbelievable bike control have become a talking point across top-level motorcycle racing worldwide, and in 2021 a total of 13 race victories and 29 podiums broke Kawasaki’s stronghold on the WorldSBK Championship in one of the most thrilling seasons of the production racing series’ history. While the spotlight has been on Yamaha’s recent achievements, its success certainly hasn’t happened overnight. Ferodo has supported the team – and its operations partner Crescent Racing – since Yamaha’s return to WorldSBK in 2016. Ferodo and Crescent’s partnership spans more than ten years in WorldSBK and UK off-road championships. Bickers tel 01394 604040 www.bickers-online.co.uk
www.britishdealernews.co.uk
RACING TECHNOLOGY
FERODO BRAKES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO EXCEL IN THE FOUR PHASES OF BRAKING
PHASE 1 – INITIAL BITE This is how quickly the brakes reach their operating torque. When pulling the lever, a racer wants to feel the brakes “bite” instantaneously.
PHASE 2 – STRAIGHT-LINE DECELERATION Most of the deceleration needs to be made when the motorcycle travels in a straight line when the tyre grip is at a maximum. In this phase, the rider wants the highest possible brake efficiency (deceleration for a given lever pressure.) The brake pad’s coefficient of friction (µ) represents this efficiency. The higher the coefficient of friction of the pad, the lower the lever force required to decelerate.
PHASE 3 – MODULATION PHASE The coefficient of friction can be affected by several factors, including disc temperatures, brake disc rubbing speeds and clamping forces. Ferodo develops its brake pads to provide
consistency during these changing operating conditions. This is key to the brake performing well in the final braking phase, when disc temperatures increase and rubbing speeds reduce. This is known as the modulation phase. A pad with good modulation maintains a linear relationship between lever pressure and deceleration, which means the brake is more “predictable.” This is extremely important as the tyres will often have reduced longitudinal grip (as the bike turns) and will be easier to lock during this final phase.
PHASE 4 – RELEASE At the end of the braking event, when lever pressure is released, it is essential that the brake pads release instantaneously from the disc and then cause low residual brake drag. When the brakes are not being used, it’s very important that pad-disc contact is at a minimum. This keeps drag at a minimum and hence speed at a maximum.
AUGUST 2022 47
