Jack Kennedy has returned to the British Supersport Championship in 2024 and instantly slotted again into championship rivalry, regardless of using a 600cc Honda that he says is deprived by the championship’s present ruleset.
When Kennedy final raced in British Supersport — in 2022 — it was the final 12 months of the earlier ruleset, with all eligible bikes becoming into the ‘600cc’ class.
The championship has modified since then, with larger-displacement bikes — as massive as 955cc — now being allowed to compete within the class beneath the ‘Supersport Subsequent Technology’ guidelines that have been launched in 2023.
Requested by Crash.web on Friday on the current Donington BSB whether or not the balancing guidelines used to make the 600cc bikes aggressive towards the larger-displacement ‘Subsequent Technology’ bikes are working nicely, Kennedy was easy in his response.
“No,” he laughed.
“After all I’m going to say that life is tough for the 600 riders; and, sure, they will solely cap the bigger-displacement bikes a lot.
“However I do assume it could possibly be balanced a bit of bit extra pretty, or my bike and my workforce ought to have extra of an open taking part in discipline to, in a method, do no matter they need with it.
“However they’re not allowed to do no matter they need with it. I really feel that’s a bit of bit unfair while you see our dyno’ figures in comparison with the bigger-displacement bikes’ dyno’ figures.
“There’s fairly a spot, so I don’t see why we’re not allowed to discover each avenue, almost, till we get to the place they’re.
“So, I believe that’s a bit of bit unfair on the minute, as a result of we’re nonetheless fairly a method behind the [Yamaha] R6 when it comes to energy.
“So, once more you may say we’re on the decrease scale of energy in comparison with all people, so I can’t see why we aren’t allowed an open taking part in discipline to get us to the place we should be.
“However I suppose that’s as a result of we’re doing nicely, and we’re on the entrance.”
Kennedy entered the Donington Park spherical of this 12 months’s British Supersport Championship degree on factors with Triumph rider Luke Stapleford, however after a DNF for Stapleford within the first race the Honda rider is now 20 factors clear forward of this weekend’s Manufacturers Hatch finale.
If Kennedy is ready to be aggressive with bikes which can be quicker than his within the straights, he have to be making up time within the corners.
“Everybody says my bike is so quick within the corners,” Kennedy stated, “however you don’t assume I’ve to journey it?
“I’m pushing the boundaries, I’m getting essentially the most out of it. It doesn’t journey itself across the corners.”
An thrilling title struggle
Jack Kennedy, Luke Stapleford, Ben Currie, 2024 Donington Park BSB,…
The 2024 British Supersport Championship has seen four-times champion Kennedy go up towards 2015 champion Luke Stapleford and 2023 champion Ben Currie in a three-way battle for this 12 months’s crown.
It’s been an in depth struggle between all three of them, and though Kennedy heads to this weekend’s Manufacturers Hatch finale 21 factors clear, he was degree with Stapleford going into the Donington Park spherical two weeks in the past.
“It all the time retains the thrill excessive while you’ve received good battles and folks take pleasure in watching it,” Kennedy stated.
“It’s good to be part of an in depth, tight championship. It could all the time be satisfying while you’re racing on the entrance for wins, they usually form of imply that bit extra when as nicely while you do get these wins — when it’s so shut and so arduous to win, and racing towards the bigger-displacement bikes.”
The unpredictability of the season is part of what Kennedy calls “the great thing about racing”, and that’s highlighted getting into the ultimate races.
“I don’t assume anyone is aware of [how the last races will go],” Kennedy stated. “That’s racing, that’s the great thing about racing, I suppose. That’s why it’s so good to look at, as a result of no person is aware of.
“I can’t let you know which method it’s going to go, I don’t assume any of my opponents might let you know, both.
“Clearly, it is going to have quite a bit to do with climate, what method the races pan out; who’s quick at what monitor and what bike’s higher at this monitor and the final spherical. I can’t let you know, I truthfully can’t let you know.
“All I do know is I’m going to be centered on myself, doing the very best job I can, and I understand how to win championships as a result of I’ve gained 4 of them already on this class. So, I do know what I’ve received to do, we simply should see how every little thing else pans out.”
Such is the closeness of the 2024 title battle, it has evoked recollections of a few of the championship’s most thrilling conclusions, comparable to that between Alastair Seeley and Ben Wilson in 2011 which was determined within the last race of the season, and even the 2012 finale which noticed Kennedy lose out to Glen Richards when he suffered a mechanical within the final race of the 12 months.
Though that is clearly entertaining for these watching from the surface, Kennedy admitted that the strain for these instantly concerned is probably undesirable.
“It’s further strain on you, while you’re within the second it’s most likely not what you need,” he stated. You’d clearly prefer it to be executed earlier than [the final round].
“However for the thrill and the curiosity within the class, and within the race, it’s incredible as a result of it will get so many individuals watching it and , and speaking about it.
“That’s all the time a very good factor; for [the rider], the workforce, and everybody concerned.”
A decent championship battle is inevitably made much more intense and unpredictable within the British Championship due to the season ending in October and the inclement climate that always brings.
“No person can plan for the climate,” Kennedy stated. “You by no means know what it’s going to do. Sport plans and techniques form of exit the window and it’s a must to simply form of adapt to what you’re given.
“However I really feel I’m fairly good at that, adapting to any state of affairs, or any drawback if there may be one.
“I really feel assured in any situation — soaking moist, half-wet-half-dry, or baking sizzling, so I really feel fairly assured it doesn’t matter what the climate. I really feel prepared it doesn’t matter what occurs, and I do know my workforce will as nicely with the assets and gear that they’ve.
“It’s a manufacturing facility workforce, so there’s no corners reduce, no expense spared, and every little thing is there that I would like. So, I really feel assured going into these final two rounds it doesn’t matter what occurs.”
Growing a 600cc to beat the Subsequent Technology
Whereas Kennedy’s prowess within the Supersport class is past doubt by now, with already 4 British Championships to his title within the class, part of his success in 2024 has been the event of the Honda CBR600RR all year long.
Kennedy, who in his three title-winning Supersport campaigns on the Yamaha R6 had confirmed virtually unbeatable, had begun the 12 months with no wins from the primary six races, and was unable to even climb onto the rostrum on the Donington Park spherical in Might when WorldSSP regulars Tom Sales space-Amos and Can Oncu turned up.
However, within the eight races from spherical 4 at Knockhill to spherical seven at Thruxton, Kennedy gained on six events.
By now, Kennedy’s tally of eight wins makes him essentially the most victorious rider of 2024, in comparison with Stapleford’s six and Currie’s two, indicating the steps ahead each Kennedy and the Honda Racing UK workforce have made with the CBR600RR in comparison with the beginning of the 12 months.
In comparison with the higher-displacement machines, such because the 765cc Triumph Avenue Triple 765 RS ridden by Stapleford or the 955cc Ducati Panigale V2 ridden by Currie, the Honda CBR600RR has decrease base efficiency to start out from when turning it right into a race machine.
Whereas the inventory CBR600RR has a most energy output of 119bhp, the Avenue Triple is sweet for 128bhp out the field, and the usual Panigale V2’s most energy output is 155bhp.
“Me and the workforce have actually made progress,” Kennedy stated. “We have been struggling firstly of the 12 months for pace, however the workforce have improved the engine efficiency and saved some weight on the bike.
“The bike’s received lighter and the engine’s received quicker, so it’s made my life a bit simpler, however there’s nonetheless some areas the place I don’t assume a 600cc will ever match the bigger-displacement bikes — for torque off of sluggish corners. That’s one thing we’ve to stay with and attempt to journey round.
“I’ve form of accepted that, in a method. After all, it might be good to get some extra energy out of the CBR600RR, however we’re working with what we’ve received now, we’re form of maxed out.”
Kennedy added that the developments dropped at the CBR600RR haven’t arrived , however step by step all through the season.
“It’s form of been little bits all year long,” he stated. “HRC are closely concerned which is nice to know, it’s a pleasant peace of thoughts for me to know that the event continues to be going ahead and powerful for the 600.
“It’s all the time good know that you just’ve received this new half, otherwise you’ve saved a little bit of weight right here, otherwise you’ve improved efficiency right here, or improved suspension components as nicely.
“So, there’s all the time stuff coming for the bike, which is absolutely thrilling and promising.
“[It’s] good peace of thoughts for me, once I’m coaching at house, not less than I do know the venture isn’t standing nonetheless. While you’re making an attempt to remain as mild as attainable to make the distinction towards the larger bikes, as nicely.
“It’s 110 per cent effort from everybody concerned, me and the workforce.”
The assist from HRC has been each above and under Kennedy’s expectations, however he labelled it as “superb” total.
“It’s [the HRC support] barely extra in some areas and barely much less in others,” he defined.
“All people would love extra pace, however you possibly can’t click on your fingers and discover some horsepower.
“There’s been developments in different areas which have form of helped the general bundle.
“The extent of assist has been superb from HRC and the truth that we’re doing nicely and we’re on the entrance clearly makes them extra as nicely. It’s going rather well.”
