Former AMA Superbike and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion Josh Herrin will race in the 2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship on an Attack Performance/Herrin Compound Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike built by Richard Stanboli.
In January, Stanboli said in an interview with Roadracingworld.com that he and Herrin were trying to piece together a deal for 2018. Since that interview was posted, Stanboli and Herrin have found what they needed to commit to the full 2018 MotoAmerica Championship.
“It’s definitely a go,” Stanboli told Roadracingworld.com Thursday. “We wired money to Italy for the electronics, and we’re just waiting for that stuff to show up. In the meantime, Yamaha U.S. has been helpful with information on their [electronics] setup — like wiring, pinouts and things like that – so we can start laying out our wiring harness in advance of getting the [electrical] components. We’re right in the middle of doing that.
“We did a deal with Graves Motorsports to get the same pipes that the factory team has. We’re waiting on the pipe from them before we can fabricate our swingarm.
“We did a deal with Superbike Unlimited. They’re going to supply the bodywork. So we’re waiting on that, too, because the pipe, the bodywork, all of that stuff makes a difference on how you have your swingarm.
“A lot of things have to happen in sequence, and if one supplier gets their timeline off then we’re screwed because we’re right up against it.”
One piece that is done is the Superbike’s fuel tank, a piece that only took Attack Performance two weeks to fabricate as opposed to the eight to 12 weeks it takes to get a custom Superbike fuel tank from companies that specialize in fabricating fuel tanks.
“It’s [fuel tank] very similar to our MotoGP bike’s tank,” said Stanboli. “There is no subframe. The fuel tank is the subframe, just like in MotoGP.”
With the electronics, suspension components, and the exhaust system all on order and the start of the 2018 MotoAmerica season just seven weeks away, April 13-15 at Road Atlanta, the Attack Performance/Herrin Compound effort may have to get creative to conduct any pre-season testing.
“Testing will be something to the effect of, ‘Hey, let’s stop and say hi to Micky [Grana] at Chuckwalla [Valley Raceway] on our way out of town,’” said Stanboli. “I’m sure that’s the way it’s going to be. It’s on the way. It’ll be the most efficient way just to stop there, do a few laps.
“Right now, all the pressure is on me to make sure all the parts show up. Then it will be a mad scramble to get it all together. Luckily, Josh knows the platform. The settings are going to be the same as what he finished the 2017 season with. The ergonomics will be very close. Maybe the seat will be a little lower for his liking. Last year, he wasn’t real happy with the height.
“We also did quite a bit of balance changing based on what we learned about the bike last year. We moved the ECU around, moved the IMU around, moved the fuel load around, things like that to try to get him and the bike into and out of the corner better. It is the next step of what we had before but with brand new engines, hopefully. I’m still waiting on parts for the engine, too.”
Stanboli said to offset their lack of traditional corporate sponsorship the Attack Performance/Herrin Compound Yamaha team is looking at ways to let fans become direct supporters of the project by purchasing apparel, merchandise and even special opportunities at the Herrin Compound. Stanboli said to look for more information about the team’s fan program in the near future.