WSBK round 2 Donington Park 03/27/11 *SPOILERS*

[L8 Braker]

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VID

[OldSchlPunk]

Pics of the rim are posted at the other site now. Damn, bad PR for OZ Wheels! I've heard of similar things happening to crashed carbon rims but had never seen it with a forged aluminum.

By the size of the spokes on that rim, that must've been one light rim!

I love Fogarty's comments.

[LaurenOE]

When I was racing Mt. bikes, a few years ago, when carbon fiber was starting to show up on the start line, it was common for failures in ways that no one thought about. Carbon fiber was EVERYWHERE and they hadn't figured out where is would ultimately be used. I was given a Cannondale Raven - I think the last generation of it - and then after the Sea Otter Race in California, I was asked to give it back. The Raven was smashed in front of me because they were failing all over the country. I ended up with a free Jekyll.

As I watched that video of the motorcycle going around the turn, notice how he loads the bike coming around the turn, he's almost drifting it. He's also breaking and slowing. I'll bet there was a perfect storm! The wheel - already lightweight - took too much heat and lateral force along with the output of the Ducati's torque and it being a single sided swing-arm.

[LaurenOE]

They are also saying that Baldovini - the guy on the BMW - touched him going into the corner so that maybe that also contributed to the wheel.